HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-071 Community Empowerment Zone Designee ORDINANCE NO. 2001- 71
AN ORDINANCE relating to the Community Empowerment Zone of the City
of Yakima; and designating the Director of the Department
of Community and Economic Development, or the Director's
designee, as the Community Empowerment Zone
administrator for said Community Empowerment Zone.
WHEREAS, a Community Empowerment Zone was designated by the
State of Washington within the City of Yakima in 1994; and
WHEREAS, a Community Empowerment Zone designation enables
economically disadvantaged urban areas to qualify for special tax incentives,
including sales tax deferrals for qualified businesses, intended to support
reinvestment in the zone; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature passed enacted legislation
(RCW 43.31C.070) during the 2000 legislative session that requires each local
government to pass an ordinance designating a Community Empowerment Zone
administrator for the area designated as a Community Empowerment Zone that
is within its jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the new law requires that said administrator must be an
officer or employee of the local government; and
WHEREAS, the Yakima City Council finds that it is in the interest of the
City of Yakima to designate an Community Empowerment Zone administrator
in order to maintain the Community Empowerment Zone designation in good
standing as a means to maintain existing and future incentives from the State of
Washington for economic development of said area, now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. The City of Yakima hereby designates the Director of the
Department of Community and Economic Development, or the Director's
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designee, as the Community Empowerment Zone administrator for the area
designated as a Community
Empowerment Zone within the jurisdiction of the City of Yakima. This
designation is in fulfillment of the requirements of RCW 43.31C.070.
Section 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its
passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and the City Charter.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 18th day of
December, 2001.
,ede, _
ATTEST: ary Place, Mayor
City Clerk
Publication Date: 12 -21 -2001
Effective Date: 1 -20 -2002
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 4 a a
For Meeting Of: December 18, 2001
ITEM TITLE: Consideration of an ordinance designating the Director of Community and
Economic Development, or his /her designee, as the coordinator of the
sta Community Empowerment Zone.
SUBMITTED BY: l ook, Director of Community and Economic Development
CONTACT: Bill Cook, 575 -6113
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
In November 1994, the city applied to the state of Washington and received designation as a
Community Empowerment Zone (CEZ) for certain census tracts within the city. There are only
6 such designated cities in the state. The designation allows certain qualified businesses to
claim B&O tax credits, as well as credits on training, hiring and equipment. In 1998, these tax
credits were also extended to distressed counties, including Yakima.
The legislature has since refined the CEZ initiative and required city's to appoint (by ordinance)
a CEZ coordinator in order to maintain the designation. CEZ's will also be required to submit
annual reports on progress in meeting goals for the CEZ, based on updates of the original
strategic plan. There are no planning or reporting requirements for distressed rural counties.
While businesses located anywhere in Yakima County can apply for these same benefits, the
additional benefit of the designation to the city may come in the form of economic development
legislation or discretionary funding that could be targeted to selected communities as part of a
pilot project.
Resolution Ordinance X Contract
Funding Source:
Approval for Submittal:
City Manager
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the ordinance.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION:
COUNCIL ACTION: Ordinance passed. ORDINANCE NO. 2001 -71
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