Agenda 07/09/2013 Item #10D Proposed Agenda Changes
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
July 9,2013
Add On Item 10D: Recommendation that
the Board of County Commissioners
direct staff to research the economic
development tools (as outlined in the
executive summary) as part of the overall
economic development program for the
county and bring back recommendations
to the Board in October 2013.
(Commissioner Hiller's request)
Withdraw Item 16A13: Recommendation to acknowledge and allow for 2210 Vanderbilt
Beach Road,LLC to proceed at their own risk in replace existing non-conforming signage on their
property,while seeking a Variance from the existing sign regulations. (Staff's request)
Move Item 16F3 to Item 11C: Recommendation to approve a Change Order#5 to Contract# 10-
5541 with Paradise Advertising and Marketing,Inc.for Tourism Marketing Services to reflect a
requested increase for marketing services for the Office of Business and Economic Development in
the amount of$75,000 and authorize the Chairwoman to execute the Change Order.
(Commissioner Nance's request)
Add On Item 16K1: Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to execute a
Settlement Agreement and Amendment in the lawsuit entitled Collier County et al v. Florida
Georgia Grove,LLP, et al, filed in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in and for Collier County,Florida
(Case No. 11-1640-CA)and direct County staff to commence the process of vacating any claimed
public right-of-way or prescriptive easement interest to a portion of Mamie Street. (County
Attorney's request)
-1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners direct staff to research the
following economic development tools as part of the overall economic development
program for the county and bring back recommendations to the board in October, 2013:
1. Consider developing a public-private partnership with the Chamber of Commerce with
the county providing an operational, performance-based subsidy conditioned upon the
Chamber agreeing to implement an economic development program that will serve to
recruit businesses to Collier county, and, that such a Chamber program shall be led by a
new Chamber executive director that has demonstrated marketing and sales skills, along
with a proven track record in economic development transactions. The county would
then shift it's focus from business recruitment to administrative facilitation and backing.
It is suggested that the County Manager meet with the new incoming Chamber Chair
and new executive director to discuss such a partnership. Further consider hiring a
consultant with knowledge of public-private economic development partnerships to
model the relationship and recommend how new businesses would be recruited through
such a partnership.
2. Consider the following economic development incentives that do not require an outlay of
public tax dollars and as such will not result in an increase in taxes, nor a shift in existing
program support:
A. Property Tax Abatement - Both constitutionally and statutorily allowed, this program
would allow for property tax abatements from 1 to up to 10 years with BCC approval ,
awarded based on job creation and/or possibly capital investment. Requires
referendum approval by the tax payers. Already in place in numerous competing
Florida counties. Consider that if the business is not drawn to the county, then the tax
revenue wouldn't be generated; therefore, the county is net gaining tax revenues it
would otherwise not have in the long run.
B. Short Term Moratorium Countywide of Commercial Impact Fees - Consider fee credits
for all commercial development to encourage new businesses growth which will allow
for increased employment opportunities and future growth in property tax revenues.
Again, if the business won't come to and/or build in the county because the fees are a
major impediment, then future tax revenues are forfeited and employment opportunities
are lost. The amount of impact fees exempted would be about $2-3 million which will be
rapidly paid back by the future property taxes the new property will generate. The net
result is a positive increase in overall county revenues.
C. Real Estate Data Base and a Rent Abatement Program - That the county have it's
professional real estate department in conjunction with it's outside commercial brokers
list all commercial properties and land available for sale in Collier county on the
county's website, much like Lee county has done. Further, that staff develop a short-
term rent abatement program for emerging or recruited businesses that need to be
housed pending construction or improvement of their new facilities. Incentivize based
on job creation.
To ensure that these programs have the intended long term financial benefit to the county,
it's recommended that an outside consultant be retained to pro forma the return on these
programs. Hiring a highly regarded consulting firm like a McKinsey, Boos or a Big 4 firm
to quantify the impact of these incentives would help the BCC and staff develop an
incentive program with substantive impact.
3. Federal and State Grant Procurement - The county does not currently have a fully
developed federal and state grant procurement program directed at economic
development. To the end that the county will be bringing in a consultant to aid in
developing it's grant administration operations, there should be an overlap with the
county's Office of Economic Development to allow that office to know that economic
development grants will be professionally administered. For example, seeking grant
funding for the construction of incubator facilities, economic development marketing
etc. should be aggressively pursued.
OBJECTIVE: That the Board of County Commissioners direct staff to research the following
economic development tools as part of the overall economic development program for the
county and bring back recommendations to the board in October, 2013.
CONSIDERATIONS: That staff research the following for BCC consideration:
1. A public-private economic development partnership with the Chamber
2. A property tax abatement program
3. A short term commercial impact fee moratorium
4. Develop a commercial and land data base like Lee county's
5. Development of a federal and state economic development grant procurement program
FISCAL IMPACT: To be determined.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: That the County Attorney provide assistance with the research
to ensure that legal impacts/considerations are not overlooked.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners direct staff to research the
following economic development tools as part of the overall economic development program for
the county and bring back recommendations to the board in October, 2013:
1. Consider developing a public-private partnership with the Chamber of Commerce with the
county providing an operational, performance-based subsidy conditioned upon the Chamber
agreeing to implement an economic development program that will serve to recruit businesses
to Collier county, and,that such a Chamber program shall be led by a new Chamber executive
director that has demonstrated marketing and sales skills, along with a proven track record in
economic development transactions. The county would then shift it's focus from business
recruitment to administrative facilitation and backing. It is suggested that the County Manager
meet with the new incoming Chamber Chair and new executive director to discuss such a
partnership. Further consider hiring a consultant with knowledge of public-private economic
development partnerships to model the relationship and recommend how new businesses
would be recruited through such a partnership.
2. Consider the following economic development incentives that do not require an outlay of
public tax dollars and as such will not result in an increase in taxes, nor a shift in existing
program support:
A. Property Tax Abatement - Both constitutionally and statutorily allowed, this program would
allow for property tax abatements from 1 to up to 10 years with BCC approval , awarded
based on job creation and/or possibly capital investment. Requires referendum approval by
the tax payers. Already in place in numerous competing Florida counties. Consider that if the
business is not drawn to the county, then the tax revenue wouldn't be generated; therefore, the
county is net gaining tax revenues it would otherwise not have in the long run.
B. Short Term Moratorium Countywide of Commercial Impact Fees - Consider fee credits for
all commercial development to encourage new businesses growth which will allow for
increased employment opportunities and future growth in property tax revenues. Again, if the
business won't come to and/or build in the county because the fees are a major impediment,
then future tax revenues are forfeited and employment opportunities
are lost. The amount of impact fees exempted would be about $2-3 million which will be
rapidly paid back by the future property taxes the new property will generate. The net
result is a positive increase in overall county revenues.
C. Real Estate Data Base and a Rent Abatement Program - That the county have it's
professional real estate department in conjunction with it's outside commercial brokers list all
commercial properties and land available for sale in Collier county on the county's website,
much like Lee county has done. Further, that staff develop a short-term rent abatement
program for emerging or recruited businesses that need to be housed pending construction or
improvement of their new facilities. Incentivize based on job creation.
To ensure that these programs have the intended long term financial benefit to the county, it's
recommended that an outside consultant be retained to pro forma the return on these programs.
Hiring a highly regarded consulting firm like a McKinsey, Boos or a Big 4 firm to quantify the
impact of these incentives would help the BCC and staff develop an incentive program with
substantive impact.
3. Federal and State Grant Procurement - The county does not have a fully developed federal
and state grant procurement program directed at economic development. To the end that the
county will be bringing in a consultant to aid in developing it's grant administration
operations, there should be an overlap with the county's Office of Economic Development to
allow that office to know that economic development grants can be professionally
administered. For example, seeking grant funding for the construction of incubator facilities,
economic development marketing etc. should be aggressively pursued.
PREPARED BY: Commissioner Georgia Hiller, Chair- District 2