City Council Workshop or Special Called Meeting

CANCELED 1 2  CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY - JANUARY 26, 2022 2801 Ranch Road 1869 - Liberty Hill AGENDA ITEM 2.a Discuss and consider Incentive Programs of the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation. 3  Liberty Hill EDC Booster Program Primary Jobs and Sales Tax Creation The purpose of the Booster Program is to encourage primary job and sales tax creation in the city limits of Liberty Hill. What it covers: Primary jobs, construction costs for buildings that will house jobs and/or boost municipal sales taxes. The per-job incentive will be paid one year after the opening of the business/business expansion to the public. Full-time equivalencies (FTEs) in excess of $80,000 will be incentivized at $2000 per FTE, and those in excess of $45,000 will be incentivized at $1000 per FTE. Only 40 hour per week jobs will count as an FTE. Jobs below 40 hours per week cannot be combined to create FTEs. The total maximum award: $100,000 total, with no more than $50,000 for jobs and no more than $50,000 for construction. How much it covers: 1% of construction costs (up to $50,000), and a per-job incentive. Applications for the program are reviewed by the LHEDC Board. In addition to review for basic eligibility requirements, applications will be reviewed for: (1) Newly-created or expansion of existing business activities; (2) Potential to diversify the economy; (3) Positive effect on and support for other businesses; and/or (4) Consistency with preferred redevelopment strategies. Businesses that accomplish two or more of the following will be given priority consideration: (1) Creating and sustaining primary jobs; (2) Creating new local sales taxes; (3) Creating new local ad-valorem taxes; (4) Bringing something new to town that enhances quality of life. The LHEDC Booster Program is a single or multiple payment grant fund for non- residential property owners and, in some situations, tenants. The annual funding cycle begins October 1st of each year and ends September 30th of the following year in alignment with the City’s Fiscal Year. Grants are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds for the funding cycle are depleted. If awarded a Booster grant, any deviation from the approved grant project may result in total or partial withdrawal of the grant. A Booster Program recipient sign, if requested by the LHEDC Executive Director, must be displayed in the recipient’s storefront window for a minimum of one year (beginning on the date the business is open to the public or on the date the grant funds are distributed, whichever is later) to publicly recognize the grant program. Instructions: Complete the Application: Fill out BOOSTER application and sign the agreement form. Provide Drawings/Estimates: All grant applications must include thorough estimates of building or other infrastructure costs. Provide Official State and Federal Employment Documents: While grant applications can estimate job creation, official employment documentation submitted to the State of Texas and any Federal agencies must be provided at the time of full-time equivalency (FTE) verification. Submit the Application: Submit completed application with the following, if applicable: (1) Construction estimates; (2) Job creation estimates Approval Process & Eligibility: The approval and eligibility process includes: a) All Booster projects must meet building Standards & Codes b) The LHEDC Board of Directors meets monthly and applicants are encouraged to attend. c) Only completed Applications with all required information will be considered. d) An Applicant denied a grant by the LHEDC Board is not eligible to re-submit a similar grant application for a minimum of six (6) months from the date the prior Application was declined.  e) Applicants who receive approval by the LHEDC Board must commence construction as described in the application within ninety (90) days of the grant being awarded. f) Applicants must complete construction described in the submitted Application within twelve (12) months of the grant being awarded. g) If the Applicant is unable to commence construction within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date granted, or complete construction within eighteen (18) months from the date granted, the Applicant must submit a written request for an extension. The extension request MUST be made prior to the one hundred and twenty (120) days or eighteen (18) month time limits. The LHEDC Board is not obligated to allow extensions but may do so for good cause. h) An extension, if granted, will be for the Terms & Conditions determined exclusively by the LHEDC Board. An extension denial cannot be appealed and will be final. i) As a condition of this grant, and in consideration of the opportunity to apply for a grant, Applicant consents to allow City inspections to determine if the building is in compliance with the Codes & Ordinances applicable to the construction outlined in the application. j) The LHEDC Board shall consider any Application within its discretionary authority to determine what grant amount will be in the best interests of the EDC, the Booster program, and the citizens of Liberty Hill. k) The review criteria will include, but is not limited to: (1) Compatibility; (2) Economic development objectives; and (3) Overall revitalization of the area. l) Applicant will provide photographs or renderings of the building’s exterior as part of the Application request and also after the construction is completed, as a condition of final grant funding. m) Applicant is required to obtain applicable City permits and approvals for construction. n) No Applicant, nor Applicant agent, representative or tenant shall be entitled to receive grant approval on the same property if requested within three (3) years of the date a previous grant was awarded by the LHEDC Board.  o) An Applicant can attend LHEDC Board meetings which consider the Application or when requested to do so by the LHEDC Board. Failure to attend an LHEDC Board meeting when requested shall be cause for rejection of the Application. p) When the entire grant project has been completed and reviewed, the applicant will present the LHEDC Executive Director with invoices and other proof of project completion. q) If the investment is for an existing business, applicant must clearly demonstrate how the improvement will lead to expanded business operations and employment.  Liberty Hill EDC INVEST Program Investment, Exterior, Signage, and Targeted Growth The purpose of the INVEST Program is to encourage positive business development and redevelopment in the city limits of Liberty Hill. What it covers: Exterior signs, façades, painting, or other improvements such as outdoor seating, accessibility upgrades, etc. that will enhance the viability of the business and the quality of life it offers Liberty Hill residents. How much it covers: 50% match up to $10,000 in improvements, and a further 25% match up to $20,000 in improvements. (Total available: $7,500) Applications for the program are reviewed by the LHEDC Board. In addition to review for basic eligibility requirements, applications will be reviewed for: (1) Potential to diversify the economy; (2) Effect and support on other businesses; and/or (3) Consistency with preferred redevelopment strategies. Businesses that accomplish two or more of the following will be given priority consideration: (1) Creating and sustaining primary jobs; (2) Creating new local sales taxes; (3) Creating new local ad-valorem taxes; (4) Bringing something new to town that enhances quality of life. The LHEDC INVEST Program is set up as single-payment grant funds to non- residential property owners, and in some situations, tenants. The annual funding cycle begins October 1st of each year and ends September 30th of the following year in alignment with the City’s Fiscal Year. Grants are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds for the funding cycle are depleted. No grant will be awarded for work that has already been done or covered by insurance. All submitted work will be reviewed and approved before any eligible work may begin. If awarded an INVEST grant, any deviation from the approved grant project may result in total or partial withdrawal of the grant. An INVEST Program recipient sign, if requested by the LHEDC Executive Director, must be displayed in the recipient’s storefront window for a minimum of one year (beginning on the date the business is open to the public or on the date the grant funds are distributed, whichever is later) to publicly recognize the grant program. Instructions: Complete the Application: Fill out INVEST application and sign the agreement form. Provide Drawings: All grant applications must include a scale drawing of the proposed work to be done with the name of the project manager or contractor. Support documentation and/or informational material needs to be included with the application for review by the LHEDC Board. Provide Estimates: Obtain itemized estimates on all project work from contractors. Self-contracted Work: Will be reimbursed for actual legitimate expenses, excluding labor. Construction Bids: Construction bids submitted by an Applicant must be current and dated no earlier than ninety (90) days prior to the Application request. Bids shall be submitted on the contractor’s or project architect’s letterhead and contain the contractors name, address, telephone number. Bids need to be itemized in a manner that allows the LHEDC Board to determine bid components and authenticity. Submit the Application: Submit completed application with the following, if applicable: (1) Original itemized work estimates; (2) Color samples; (3) Drawings; (4) Photo or drawing of sign (if one is being proposed); and (5) Notes on sign material of the proposed work. Provide color(s) for façades and signs. The EDC does not dictate coloring for façade and signs, however the color(s) need to be consistent with other buildings / properties. Signs that meet the following criteria will be prioritized in consideration: 1. Attached signs that are 90sf or less in size. 2. Monument signs that are no more than 15 feet wide and 8 feet tall, and have no more than a 70% total sign face area. 3. Take best “dark sky” practices into account. Please note that the sign preferences above do not reflect what is legally permissible in the City of Liberty Hill, but rather the adopted enhanced standards of the LHEDC. Signs not conforming to these standards may be able to be built, but will not be considered for incentivization. Approval Process & Eligibility: The approval and eligibility process includes: a) All INVEST projects must meet building Standards & Codes, including building and/or sign permit requirements. b) The LHEDC Board of Directors meets monthly and applicants are encouraged to attend. c) Only completed Applications with all required information will be considered. d) An Applicant denied a grant by the LHEDC Board is not eligible to re-submit a similar grant application for a minimum of six (6) months from the date the prior Application was declined. e) Applicants who receive approval by the LHEDC Board must commence construction as described in the application within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the grant being awarded. f) Applicants must complete construction described in the submitted Application within twelve (12) months of the grant being awarded. g) If the Applicant is unable to commence construction within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date granted, or complete construction within twelve (12) months from the date granted, the Applicant must submit a written request for an extension. The extension request MUST be made prior to the time limits elapsing. The LHEDC Board is not obligated to allow extensions but may do so for good cause. h) An extension, if granted, will be for the Terms & Conditions determined exclusively by the LHEDC Board. An extension denial cannot be appealed and will be final. i) As a condition of this grant, and in consideration of the opportunity to apply for a grant, Applicant consents to allow City inspections to determine if the building is in compliance with the Codes & Ordinances applicable to the construction outlined in the application.  j) The LHEDC Board shall consider any Application within its discretionary authority to determine what grant amount will be in the best interest of the Grant program. k) The review criteria will include, but is not limited to: (1) Compatibility; (2) Economic development objectives; and (3) Overall revitalization of the area. l) Applicant will provide photographs of the building’s exterior as part of the Application request and also after the construction is completed, as a condition of final grant funding. m) Applicant is required to obtain applicable City permits and approvals for construction. n) No Applicant, nor Applicant agent, representative or tenant shall be entitled to receive grant approval on the same property if requested within three (3) years of the date a previous grant was awarded by the LHEDC Board. o) An Applicant can attend LHEDC Board meetings which consider the Application or when requested to do so by the LHEDC Board. Failure to attend an LHEDC Board meeting when required shall be cause for rejection of the Application. p) When the entire grant project has been completed and reviewed, the applicant will present the LHEDC Board with copies of paid invoices, including copies of cancelled checks and/or credit card receipts, for single payment grant funds of the approved funding.  CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY - JANUARY 26, 2022 2801 Ranch Road 1869 - Liberty Hill AGENDA ITEM 2.b Discuss and consider strategic plan of the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation. 4 Goals: The EDC desires to produce a Plan that addresses current economic development practices; are easily understood by administrators, the public, and elected officials; and support the mission and vision of the EDC. Areas of key concern to be incorporated into the Strategic Plan include, but are not limited to, the following: • Maintaining the small-town charm and feel of Liberty Hill while improving quality of life • Primary job creation • Sales tax collection increases • Addressing market trends and incorporating best practices • Creating clear definitions and terminology • Providing graphics and illustrations to supplement, replace and/or clarify written regulations • Acknowledging the current staffing of the EDC  CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY - JANUARY 26, 2022 2801 Ranch Road 1869 - Liberty Hill AGENDA ITEM 2.c Deliberate the duties of the Economic Development Director and the Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors 5