Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 02-27-2007 workshop agenda — reading text

aTYOFFORTWALTONBEACH City Council Workshop Agenda - February 27, 2007 - 5: 30 P.M City Council Chambers 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Anderson I WORKSHOP AGENDA. 1. General Public on items of City business. ( No Backup) 2. Discussion regarding Department of Environmental Protection' s Brownfields program and discussion of Director) applying for this designation for property in the Commerce and Technology Park. ( Finance Backup forthcoming) 3. Discussion regarding the appraisals of the property located at 1958 Lewis Turner Boulevard. ( Council Member Hartwell) ( See Backup) ADJOURN at this meeting will need a Any person who decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter and for such need to ensure that a verbatim record of the record of the proceedings, purpose may which the appeal is to be proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon based. (FS286. 0105). The City of Fort Walton Beach adheres to the American with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to this meeting upon request. Please call City Clerk Helen Spencer at 850-833- 9509 TOO) or 1- to make a request. For Hearing Impaired dial the City Hall TOO # 850- 833- 9925 or 1- 800- 955- 8771 ( least 48 hours in advance of the meeting in order to 800- 955- 8770 (Voice). Requests must be received at allow the City time to provide requested service.  CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP February 27, 2007 Workshop Agenda General Public on items of City business WA- 1 Agenda Item Number:  CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP February 27, 2007 Workshop Agenda Discussion regarding DEP' s Brownfields program and discussion of applying for this designation for property in the Commerce and Technology Park Finance Director) WA- 2 Agenda Item Number:  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH MEMORANDUM To: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager From: Lisa Absher, Finance Director Date: February 22, 2007 Subject: Brownfield Designation Strategy for the Citis Hill Avenue Property Background: A " Brownfield" is designation a local government can make on any real property where the a expansion, redevelopment or reuse is complicated by actual or perceived contamination. This designation enables that property to be eligible for incentives, grants, tax credits and other advantageous programs available through the State and Federal Government. Sometimes the incentives are directly related to environmental clean up costs, but not always. Most incentives are related to redevelopment of the property and economic development activities such as new jobs or businesses. . The Brownfield designation is most useful in asslstmg local What is a Brownfield? government's economic development activities and to rehabilitate Any property where the under-utilized or vacant properties back into use and onto the tax roll. expansion, redevelopment or reuse is complicated by actual or eived er~ Brownfields are established by local government through authority J? contammatlon. under the Florida State Statutes and regulated by the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It is possible to have a property without any real contamination be declared a Brownfield. In some a property's a perception of exposure or contamination is necessary. For example, just cases only Brownfield proximity to Hurlbert Field or other military facility can be enough to enable the designation. clean Many local governments in Florida have successfully utilized the Brownfields designation to up properties and to promote reinvestment, encourage business location, job growth, increase tax bases, and to release liability and other pressures on otherwise undevelopable land. Local governments that utilize the Brownfields designation usually operate a Brownfields Program. Depending on the level of service the local government wishes to provide, a Brownfields Program may be limited or expansive. v' f 1 '\ ' A- " -- Discussion: The City of Fort Walton Beach is the property owner of several parcels of vacant land within the Citis Commerce and Technology Park It has been the Citis intention to sell these properties, and encourage business location and economic development within the Park Most of the City-owned parcels within the Citis Commerce and Technology Park would be perfectly suited for designation as a Brownfield. In doing so, those properties would be eligible for many advantages and incentives, for the City and for the prospective purchaser. Having the designation as a Brownfield- and the related opportunity for incentives- would make some otherwise more challenging properties more marketable. Making a property more marketable may provide a higher sales price or other returns to the City. The City currently owns an 11.5 acre parcel of land within the Park, identified as the 100 Hill Avenue property p(lease refer to the map, provided attached). This site has particular challenges for redevelopment including an isolated wetland and class III landfill. The Federal Express ( FedX) shipping company has shown interest in expanding their business located within the Park by purchasing an approximate 1.5 acre portion of the 100 Hill Avenue property which is adjacent to their location. It would be advantageous to both the City and FedX to designate this land a Brownfield. Recommendation: We recommend the City pursue a Brownfields designation for the 11.5 acre " 100 Hill Ave" needed to property. We recommend that the City dedicate staff time and other resources as facilitate a Brownfield designation at this location, and to work closely with FedX or other interested parties in pursuing incentives if they should choose to purchase the property from the City. Submitted By: Lisa Absher, Finance Director Date Reviewed and Concur: f/ UolY/ yce hanahan, City Manager Date Attachments: 1. Map showing the 100 Hill Avenue property. 2. DEP Brownfields Handout (2005) 2  which may be real property, the xp;1: n~ iQn, red~velopment or reuse of or perceived environmental contamination. 376. 79( 3), F. S. Brownfield area means a contiguous area of one or more brownfield sites, some of which may Such not be contaminated, and which has been designated by a local government by resolution. areas may include all or portions of community redevelopment areas, enterprise zones, zones, other such designated economically deprived communities and areas, and empowerment Environmental Protection Agency- designated brownfield pilot projects. 376. 79( 4), F. S. Bonus refunq forjob creation- up to $ 2, 500 per job Loan lenders gU;1: r;: 1ntee~ rforprimary Up t050% QI11;:11 sites Up to 75% when end. use is affordable housing Sales taxcreditQI1\bUilqing materials Brownfield area benefit$ administered by Enterprise Florida, Inc. All benefit~ QfBrownfield Area Regul(itQryfaneWokrclanup( Chapter 62- 785, F.A.C.) expedited technical review Dedicated ~ t(iff........ Liability protection T ax credits Florida. cQrpqrate income tax Gredit~ maypeJransferred one time Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement benefits admini.stered by Site Rehabilitation 50% No Further Action 25% $ 500, 000 Once i.e. SRCO) Affordable Housi Once 25% $ 500, 000 Solid Waste Once 50% $ 500, 000 Removal, Transport, and Disposal)  2/ 27/ 2007 Lisa Absher, Finance Director 1  2/27/ 2007 Lisa Absher, Finance Director 2  CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP February 27, 2007 Workshop Agenda Discussion