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Home My WebLink AboutR-1998-139 Rural Empowerment ZoneRESOLUTION NO. R-98- 13 9 A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager to execute and submit an application regarding nomination of a portion of the Yakima Airport property and identified adjacent properties within the City limits for designation as a commercial/industrial developable site as part of the Yakama Indian Nation's application with the United States Department of Agriculture for designation of a Rural Empowerment Zone. WHEREAS, economic development is a priority of the City of Yakima, and the City intends to approach economic development on a comprehensive basis involving public, private and community-based efforts to achieve new investment and redevelopment in the City; and WHEREAS, the Yakama Indian Nation has requested that the City and Yakima County nominate a portion of the Yakima Airport property and surrounding properties for designation as a commercial/industrial developable site as part of the Yakama Indian Nation's application with the United States Department of Agriculture for designation of a Rural Empowerment Zone; and WHEREAS, the location of said Airport property and surrounding properties are shown on attached and incorporated Exhibit "A"; and WHEREAS, said . Airport property and surrounding properties are zoned for light industrial use consistent with the nomination of the property as a commercial/industrial developable site; and WHEREAS, said Airport property and surrounding properties are in close proximity to the borders of the Yakama Indian Nation; and WHEREAS, said Airport property and surrounding properties satisfy the federal eligibility criteria for designation as a Rural Empowerment Zone, including the fact that it is not currently within a designated Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community, or similarly designated area; and WHEREAS, based on the foregoing, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the City to authorize said application and nomination as part of the (1k)res/rural empowerment yakama nation/pm Yakama Indian Nation's application with the United States Department of Agriculture for designation of a Rural Empowerment Zone, now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute and submit an application regarding and nomination of a portion of the Yakima Airport property and identified surrounding properties within City limits for designation as a commercial/industrial developable site as part of the Yakama Indian Nation's application with the United States Department of Agriculture for designation of a Rural Empowerment Zone. The City Manager is also hereby designated as the official City representative to act in connection with the application and nomination, and is authorized to take such additional actions as may be necessary and prudent to complete the application and nomination process, including but not limited to the following: 1. To make all assurances required under the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Empowerment Zone ("REZ") Program. 2. To make, on behalf of the City of Yakima, local commitments contained in the Yakama Indian Nation REZ Program Strategic Plan and as required by the REZ Program. 3. To provide written assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of the Agriculture that these local commitments will be met. 4. To make assurances that the Yakama Indian Nation REZ Program Strategic Plan as it relates to the proposed commercial/industrial developable site will be implemented. 5. Take all necessary steps to ensure that information requested by the United States Department of Agriculture is made available to aid in the evaluation of the implementation of the Yakama Indian Nation REZ Program Strategic Plan. (1k)res/rural empowerment yakama nation/pm • • • • CITY COUNCIL this ' day BY THE � of October, 1998. AfiEST: City Clerk (1k)res/rural empowerment yakama nation/pm John Puccinelli, Mayor ' lrwm ml1 11P._j3 4 rlp1!*'1■ II1 == MEM i� l If1 E 1F4��"a'Cil lIIII C- EP CCiM� pig se .1� �_ la -= !! mu BE Er, winatinim =C _.. __ !!5 C! !IE .0 =1 #C niuEnsn in A. Airport dustrlal Property City Limits Urban Area Project Area Acreage: 680 _4,▪ a & ▪ I l • ' 0 1>< I�lo +•N,• Scale - lin = 1500ft 0 750 1500 Created: September 30, 1998 ITEM TITLE: SUBMITTED BY: CONTACT: BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 1 i For Meeting Of: October 6, 1998 Consideration of a Resolution to nominate an application for federal Empowerment Zone designation by the Yakama Indian Nation, and to authorize the City Manager to execute the application and required certifications. Glenn K. Rice, Assistant City Manager Bill Cook, Director of Community and con Bill Cook 575-6113 evelopment SUMMARY EXPLANATION: The City of Yakima has been approached by the Yakama Indian Nation to nominate a commerrial/industrial developable site for the Yakama Indian Nation's application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for designation as a Rural Empowerment Zone. The Yakama Nation recommended that a developable site be selected that would include some acreage along the northern border of the Reservation, south of Ahtanum Creek. Upon further review and discussion of possible options, it was proposed that the site include the Yakima Airport and land to the south of the Airport which would be contiguous with acreage located just south of Ahtanum Road and west of 16th Avenue. The proposed developable site would be included as part of the Yakama Nation's application. Should the application be awarded, the Yakama Nation census tract areas and developable site areas would receive federal designation and a grant of $40 million. Because the developable site would be considered an Empowerment Zone area, funding for business and manufacturing development, infrastructure and job training programs could be available. In addition, businesses locating to the site would be eligible for a number of federal tax incentives for employment and development.. The City would also receive priority in applying to federal agencies for community and economic development projects related to the site and surrounding areas. Resolution X OrdinanceContract X Other Funding Source: N/A Approval for Submittal: `�\ ''`� =...- City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: BOARD RECOMMENDATION: COUNCIL AC,1 ION: Staff recommends approval of the resolution. Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation September 30, 1998 John Puccinelli, Mayor 129 N. Second Street Yakima, WA. 98901 Dear Sir, f i� ei k//7-;27/ // Established by the June 9, 1855 af'iFq� OCT 61998 OFFICE OF CM( COUNCIL On August 5, 1997 President Clinton signed the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 which established a second round of designation for Empowerment Zone. Each rural Zone area recipient will receive $40 million over a ten-year period. The Yakama Nation is the lead agency in preparing this application. The following is a brief overview of the Empowerment Zone Plan application. On September 8, 1998 a letter of intent was submitted to Governor Gary Locke. At that time the plan was to identify three developable sites. We have proposed three sites, one being the community of White Swan (640) acres, the Mission site (195) and the AirportlAhtanum (1165) acres with great potential for the development of business and industry. There have been five (5) community meetings held at Toppenish, Wapato, Harrah, White Swan and one at the Winterlodge for the Yakama Tribal members to gather community input for the strategic plan. The following priority target areas include Culture, Well Being, Education, Self- sustaining elfsustaining Economy, Natural Resources and the Environment, Public Safety, and Infrastructure. Because the proposed airport site borders the city of Yakima, we are requesting a letter of support from the city and the Yakama Nation be co -nominated by the city to demonstrate community and governmental partnership. The Yakama Nation enjoys partnerships with the Federal, State, local and City governments as well as the institutions of learning. We look forward to expanding the levels or partnership so we can improve the quality of living for all who live in our communities. Sincerely, A ham Yallup S hairman Yakama Tribal • uncil Yakama Indian Nation Post Office Box 151, Fort Road, Toppenish, WA 98948 (509) 865-5121