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Ordinance No. 15,783 ORDINANCE NO. 15,783 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, ESTABLISHING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE ACT, CHAPTER 2303, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE (ACT), PROVIDING TAX INCENTIVES, DESIGNATING A LIAISON FOR COMMUNICATION WITH INTERESTED PARTIES AND MAY NOMINATE PROJECTS TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (EDT) THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK(BANK)AS AN ENTERPRISE PROJECT (PROJECT), AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF. ********************************************************************************************* Whereas,the City Council of the City of Baytown,Texas desires to create the proper economic and social environment to induce the investment of private resources in productive business enterprises located in severely distressed areas of the city and to provide employment to residents of such area; Whereas,the City of Baytown elects to participate in the Texas Enterprise Zone Program and may provide local incentives enumerated in this ordinance; Whereas, the City of Baytown pursuant to Chapter 2303, Subchapter F of the Act, may provide a designation for eligible projects or activities as an enterprise project; and Whereas, after proper notice, a public hearing to consider this ordinance was held by the City Council on April 11, 2024; BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN,TEXAS: Section 1: The following local incentives, at the election of the governing body, are or will be made available to the nominated project or activity of the qualified business: a) The City may abate taxes on the increase in value of real property improvements and eligible personal property that locate in a designated enterprise zone. The level of abatement shall be based upon the extent to which the business receiving the abatement creates jobs for qualified employees, in accordance with the City of Baytown Tax Abatement Policy, and with qualified employee being defined by the Act. b) The City may provide regulatory relief to businesses, including: 1) zoning changes or variances; 2) exemptions from unnecessary building code requirements, impact fees, or inspection fees; or 3) streamlined permitting. c) The City may provide enhanced municipal services to businesses, including: 1) improved police and fire protection; 2) institution of community crime prevention programs; or 3) special public transportation routes or reduced fares. d) The City may provide improvements in community facilities, including: 1) capital improvements in water and sewer facilities; 2) road repair; or 3) creation or improvement of parks. e) The City may provide improvements to housing, including: 1) low-interest loans for housing rehabilitation, improvement,or new construction; or 2) transfer of abandoned housing to individuals or community groups. f) The City may provide business and industrial development services, including: 1) low-interest loans for business; 2) use of surplus underutilized publicly owned facilities as small business incubators; 3) provision of publicly owned land for development purposes, including residential,commercial,or industrial development; 4) creation of special one-stop permitting and problem resolution centers or ombudsmen; or 5) promotion and marketing services. g) The City may provide job training and employment services to businesses,including: 1) retraining programs; 2) literacy and employment skills programs; 3) vocational education; or 4) customized job training. Section 2: The enterprise zone areas within the City are reinvestment zones in accordance with the Texas Tax Code, Chapter 312. Section 3: The City of Baytown City Council directs and designates its City Manager or his designee as the City's liaison to communicate and negotiate with the EDT through the Bank and enterprise project(s)and to oversee zone activities and communications with qualified businesses and other entities in an enterprise zone or affected by an enterprise project. Section 4: All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the terms of this ordinance are hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such inconsistency, and in all other respects, this ordinance shall be cumulative of other ordinances regulating and governing the subject matter covered by this ordinance. Section 5: If any provision, section, exception, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance or the application of same to any person or set of circumstances shall for any reason be held unconstitutional, void, or invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this ordinance or their application to other persons or sets of circumstances; and to this end, all provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable. 2 INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED by the affirmative vote of the City Council of the City of Baytown this the 25"'day of April, 2024. 3 BRANDON CAPETILLO Mayor ATTEST: 0— �mep vcpooTt,�Y A a o (!1 0 0 0 ANGELA CKSON, itW*Clerr�/ n • n n �6°+uoee�'o APPROVED O FO SCOTT LE OND, City Attorney R:Scott Ordinances 24-04-25 Revised Enterprise Zone Ordinance 4.19.2024.docx 3