Introduced by Council Bill No. R 20-12 A RESOLUTION establishing an Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board; finding and certifying that a portion of the City and Boone County is blighted as that term is defined in Chapter 135 RSMo.; and directing the City Clerk to send a copy of this resolution to the Missouri Department of Economic Development. WHEREAS, RSMo. 135.950-967 passed in the 2004 legislative session by the 92 nd General Assembly, created the new Enhanced Enterprise Zone ( EEZ ) Program and require that any governing authority seeking designation of an enhanced enterprise zone shall establish an area designated to be in blighted conditions; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Columbia supports this type of incentive to assist businesses in their effort to locate in the City of Columbia; and WHEREAS, the City of Columbia plans to submit an application to the Missouri Department of Economic Development for an Enhanced Enterprise Zone designation with the qualifying area to be designated as the Columbia, Missouri Enhanced Enterprise Zone as set forth in RSMo. 135.950; and WHEREAS, the City of Columbia has made studies of the City, and in particular certain areas within the City, a description of which is attached hereto and marked Exhibit A; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Columbia have examined the above described areas and find that it presents some or all of the following characteristics which warrants it being considered a blighted area, or containing inadequacies which lead to blight within the meaning of the RSMo. 135.950,(2): a. Defective or inadequate street layout; b. Unsanitary or unsafe conditions; c. Deterioration of site improvements; d. Improper subdivision or obsolete platting; or e. Conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes; or f. Any combination of such factors, retards the provision of housing accommodations or constitutes an economic or social liability or a menace to the public health safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use. 1
WHEREAS, the City Council by this resolution establishes an Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board as directed by RSMo. 135.957. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council hereby establishes an Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board consisting of the following members: one member appointed by the Columbia Public School District; one member appointed by the other taxing districts in the proposed Enhanced Enterprise Zone and five members appointed by the mayor. The members appointed by the School District and the other taxing districts shall serve an initial term of five years. Of the members appointed by the mayor, two shall serve an initial term of four years; two members shall serve an initial term of three years and one shall serve an initial term of two years. Thereafter, members shall serve terms of five years, except all vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms in the same manner as with the original appointment. SECTION 2. The Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board shall meet as needed; however, not less than once per year, to review all completed Enhanced Enterprise Zone applications for approvals. SECTION 3. Each member of the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board shall serve without compensation. The members of the Board annually shall elect a chair from among the members. SECTION 4. The Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board s responsibilities include advising the City Council on the designation of the Enhanced Enterprise Zone and any other advisory duties as determined by the City Council; review and assess applications within the Enhanced Enterprise Zone; and submit an annual report to the Missouri Department of Economic Development regarding the status of the zone and business activity therein. SECTION 5. The City of Columbia has found and determined that the area described in Exhibit A qualifies as a blighted area, or contains inadequacies which lead to blight because of the existence of some or all of the conditions enumerated above, and the City Council supports and endorses an application for an Enhanced Enterprise Zone, as outlined in the map attached as Exhibit A. SECTION 6. The area described in Exhibit A is hereby certified by the City Council of the City of Columbia, Missouri as a blighted area. SECTION 7. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to forward to the Missouri Department of Economic Development, by registered or certified mail, a certified copy of this resolution and the map attached as Exhibit A clearly showing the blighted areas within the Enhanced Enterprise Zone. 2
ATTEST: ADOPTED this day of, 2012. City Clerk Mayor and Presiding Officer APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Counselor 3