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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC2014-345 - 10/21/2014 - Approved • TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT This Tax Abatement Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into by and between the City of Corpus Christi, Texas ("City") and Prosperity Bank, a Texas State Banking Association ("Owner" or "Prosperity"), the owner of taxable property in the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, located on 901 North Water Street, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas ("Property"). I. AUTHORIZATION This Agreement is authorized by the Texas Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act, Texas Tax Code, Chapter 312, as amended ("Act"), and is subject to the laws of the State of Texas and the charter, ordinances, and orders of the City. II. DEFINITIONS A. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings: 1. "Abatement" means the temporary or partial exemption from ad valorem taxes of certain added value to real and personal property in a zone designated for economic development purposes under the Act 2. "Base Year Value" means the assessed value of the Improvements on the Property as certified by the Nueces County Appraisal District as of the January 1 preceding the execution of this Agreement, plus the agreed upon value of Improvements made after January 1, but before the execution of this Agreement. 3. "Construction Phase" means the period during which a material and substantial improvement of the Property occurs which represents a separate and distinct construction operation undertaken for the purpose of erecting the Improvements. (a) The Construction Phase ends upon the earliest to occur of the following events: (1) When a certificate of occupancy is issued for the project (if within City limits). (2) When commercial production of a product or provision of a service is achieved at the facility. (3) When the architect or engineer supervising construction issues a certificate of substantial completion, or some similar instrument. (4) Two (2) years after the date of this Agreement. (b) The determination of the end of the Construction Phase is made by the City, in its sole and absolute discretion, based upon the above criteria and the other factors as the City may deem relevant. 2014-345 Page 1 of 14 10/21/14 Res. 030310 Prosperity Bank INDEXED • (c) The determination of the end of the Construction Phase by the City is conclusive, and any judicial review of the determination is governed by the substantial evidence rule. 4."Eligible Property" means the buildings, structures, site improvements, and that office space and certain personal property necessary to the operation and administration of the Facility to be constructed under this Agreement. A list of the Eligible Property is set forth in the Project Description, which is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A and made a part of this Agreement. During the Construction Phase of the Eligible Property, the Owner may make the change orders to the Eligible Property as are reasonably necessary to accomplish its intended use, provided that no change order may be made which will change the qualification of the project as a "Facility" under the Guidelines and Criteria for Granting Tax Abatement approved by the City. 5. "Facility" means a Basic Manufacturing or Service Facility, Regional Distribution Center Facility, Regional Telecommunications/Data Processing Center Facility, Regional Visitor Amusement Facility, Central Business District (CBD) Residential Facility, Renewal Community Facility, or Petrochemical Facility approved by the City as set forth in the Guidelines and Criteria for Granting Tax Abatement adopted by the City. 6. "Improvements" means the buildings, portions of buildings, and other improvements, including fixed machinery and equipment, used for commercial or industrial purposes on the Property. 7. "Ineligible Property" means land; inventories; supplies; tools; furnishings and other forms of movable personal property; vehicles; vessels; aircraft; housing; hotel accommodations; deferred maintenance investments; property to be rented or leased, except as provided in Section 2(e); any improvements, including those to produce, store or distribute natural gas, fluids or gases, which are not integral to the operation of the Facility; improvements to real property which have an economic life of less than 15 years; property owned or used by the State of Texas or its political subdivisions or by any organization owned, operated, or directed by a political subdivision of the State of Texas; unless any of the above types of property are specifically authorized by the City. 8. The Guidelines and Criteria for Granting Tax Abatement adopted by the City are incorporated as a part of this Agreement. Except as the guidelines and criteria are specifically modified by this Agreement, all definitions in the guidelines and criteria are applicable to this Agreement. III. PROPERTY A. The Property is an area within the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, located in whole or in part within the jurisdiction of the City, and is more fully described in Exhibit B, which is attached to this Agreement and made a part of this Agreement. The Property is located within a zone for tax abatement established under Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code, as amended, by the City of Corpus Christi, Texas. Page 2 of 14 B. The Nueces County Appraisal District has established the following values for the Property as of the January 1 valuation date prior to the date of execution of this Agreement. Account No. 0540-0024-0010 (191783) Land $533,162 Improvements $165,733 C. The City and the Owner agree that the value of any additions to the Improvements made after January 1 or not otherwise reflected on the above valuation of Improvements is: Additional Improvements: $2,686,000 D. The parties agree that, for purposes of this Agreement, the Base Year Value shall be as follows: Base Year Value: $165,733 IV. TERM OF ABATEMENT AND AGREEMENT A. The City agrees to abate the ad valorem taxes on the Eligible Property under this Article and Articles V and VI of this Agreement. The Abatement is effective with the January 1 valuation date immediately following the date of execution of this Agreement. The Abatement continues for up to two (2) years during the period of the Construction Phase and for the next six (6) full tax years after the Construction Phase, expiring as of December 31 of the 2022 tax year. If the period of the Construction Phase exceeds two (2) years, the Facility is considered completed for purposes of Abatement, and in no case may the period of Abatement, inclusive of construction and completion exceed eight (8) tax years. The years of Abatement provided in this Agreement in each instance coincide with the tax year commencing on January 1 and expiring on December 31, and in no event may the Abatement extend beyond December 31 of the 2022 tax year. This Abatement also covers as Eligible Property those supplemental improvements to the Eligible Property that are added or constructed during the post-construction two (2) year period of Abatement. In no event, however, may the total Abatement period for the Eligible Property exceed the maximum six (6) year Abatement period for the entire project as specified in this Agreement. B. The term of this Agreement continues for a period of five (5) years following expiration of the abatement period. All terms and conditions imposed upon the Owner continue in effect during the period, and the Owner is obligated specifically to continue the minimum employment levels specified in this Agreement. Any default is subject to the provisions of Article VIII of this Agreement. V. TAXABILITY During the period that the Abatement is effective, taxes are payable as follows: 1. The value of the land comprising the Property is fully taxable. 2. The Base Year Value of existing Improvements comprising the Property is fully taxable. Page 3 of 14 3. The value of Ineligible Property is fully taxable. VI. AMOUNT OF ABATEMENT A. The Abatement provided by this Agreement is based upon a Service Facility located in the Renewal Community, Owner represents and warrants that this project will retain fifteen (15) permanent or full-time operating or contract employee and will maintain the same level of employment for the term of the abatement agreement, the percentage of tax abated is under the following schedule: Percentage of Abatement Construction Period (not to exceed 2 years) 100% Year I 100% Year 2 100% Year 3 100% Year 4 75% Year 5 50% Year 6 25% B. In order to be counted as a permanent job under this Agreement, the job must be a full- time position providing regular work schedules at least 35 hours per week. For compliance purposes, the determination date is January 1 of each year commencing with the January 1 following the date of completion of construction. The percentage of abatement provided each year under this Agreement is based upon the employment information as of January 1 of the year. As a result, the actual amount of abatement may vary from year to year based upon employment levels and property valuations. C. At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Owner states to the City that the minimum investment comprising permanent Improvements upon completion of the Construction Phase is: $2,686,000 ("Minimum Investment"), of which $2,686,000 is eligible for tax abatement. D. The formula for calculating the additional tax is outlined as follows: (Tax Rate] x [(85% of Minimum Investment - Actual Minimum Investment ) x (100% - Abatement %)] =Additional Tax. Page 4 of 14 VII. CONTEMPLATED IMPROVEMENTS A. The contemplated improvements are set forth in the Project Description attached as Exhibit "A." During the Construction Phase, the Owner may make the change orders to the project that are reasonably necessary, provided that no change order may be made that will change the qualification of the project as a "Facility" under the Guidelines and Criteria for Granting Tax Abatement approved by the City. All improvements must be completed under all applicable laws, ordinances, rules or regulations. During the term of this Agreement, use of the Property is limited to operation of the Facility described in the Project Description consistent with the general purpose of encouraging development or redevelopment of the zone during the period of this Agreement. B. Owner represents and warrants that this project will retain fifteen (15) permanent or full-time operating or contract employee and will maintain the same level of employment for the term of the abatement agreement. Also, Owner represents and warrants the project is not expected to solely or primarily have the effect of transferring employment from one part of Nueces County to another. VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND RECAPTURE A. Failure to Commence Operation During Term of Agreement. In the event that the Facility is not completed and does not begin operation with the minimum number of fifteen (15) permanent jobs by the January 1 following the completion of construction, no abatement is given for that tax year, and the full amount of taxes assessed against the property is due and payable for that tax year. In the event that the Owner fails to begin operation with the minimum number of fifteen (15) permanent jobs by the next January 1, then this Abatement Agreement terminates and all abated taxes during the period of construction are recaptured and must be paid within 60 days of the termination. B. Discontinuance of Operations During Term of Abatement. In the event the Facility is completed and begins operation with the required minimum number of permanent jobs, but subsequently discontinues operations or the minimum number of permanent jobs is not maintained on any January 1 during the term of the Agreement after the completion of construction, for any reason except on a temporary basis due to fire, explosion, or other casualty, accident, or natural disaster, the Agreement may be terminated by the City, and all taxes previously abated by virtue of this Agreement are recaptured and must paid within 60 days of the termination. C. Delinquent Taxes. In the event that the Owner allows its ad valorem taxes to become delinquent or fails to timely and properly follow the legal procedures for their protest or contest, this Agreement terminates and the abatement of the taxes for the calendar year of the delinquency also terminates. The total taxes assessed without abatement for that calendar year must be paid within sixty (60) days from the date of termination. Penalty and interest do not begin to accrue on the additional amount of taxes due as the result of recapture under this provision until the first day of the month following the sixty (60) day notice, at which time penalty and interest accrues under the laws of the State of Texas. Penalty and interest on the amount of taxes originally levied based upon the Abatement begin to accrue as of the date the taxes were due under the laws of the State of Texas. Page 5 of 14 D. Notice of Default. Should the City determine that the Owner is in default under the terms and conditions of this Agreement, City must notify the Owner that if the default is not cured within sixty (60) days from the date of the notice ("Cure Period"), then this Agreement may be terminated. In the event the Owner fails to cure the default during the Cure Period, this Agreement may be terminated and the taxes abated by virtue of the Agreement will be recaptured and must be paid as provided in this Agreement. E. Actual Investment. Should the Company not reach the investment as stated in Section 6. C., the difference between the tax abated on the minimum investment and the tax that should have been abated based upon the actual investment as determined by the City must be paid within 60 days of notification to the Owner of the determination. Penalty and interest do not begin to accrue upon the sum until the first day of the month following the sixty (60) day notice, at which time penalty and interest accrue under the laws of the State of Texas. F. Reduction in Rollback Tax Rate. 1. If during any year of the period of Abatement any portion of the abated value is added to the current total value of the City, but is not treated as "new property value" (as defined in Section 26.012 (17) of the Texas Tax Code) for the purpose of establishing the "effective maintenance rate" in calculating the "rollback tax rate" under Section 26.04 (c) (2) of the Texas Tax Code and if the City's budget calculations indicate that a tax rate in excess of the "rollback tax rate" is required to fund the operations of the City for the succeeding year, then the City recaptures from the Owner a tax in an amount equal to the lesser of the following: (a) The amount of the taxes abated for that year by the City with respect to the Property. (b) The amount obtained by subtracting the rollback tax rate computed without the abated property value being treated as new property value from the rollback tax rate computed with the abated property value being treated as new property value and multiplying the difference by the total assessed value of the City. 2. If the City has granted an abatement of taxes to more than one taxpayer, then the amount of the recapture calculated under subparagraph (b) above is prorated on the basis of the value of the abatement with respect to each taxpayer. 3. This event does not constitute a "default" under this Agreement, and the sixty (60) day Cure Period provided above does not apply. The recaptured taxes must be paid within thirty (30) days after notice of the rollback in tax rate has been given to the Owner. Penalty and interest do not begin to accrue upon the sum until the first day of the month following the thirty (30) day notice, at which time penalty and interest accrue under the laws of the State of Texas. G. Continuation of Tax Lien. 1. The amount of tax abated each year under the terms of this Agreement is secured by a first and prior tax lien, which continue in existence from year to year until the time as Page 6 of 14 this Agreement between the City and Owner is fully performed by Owner, or until all taxes, whether assessed or recaptured, are paid in full, as applicable. H. City Council Reserves Right to Terminate of Modify Agreement. In the event of any default by Owner, the City Council reserves the right to terminate or modify this Agreement. I. Owner's right to appeal. 1. Owner must be afforded written notice of the default and the opportunity to cure as provided above. 2. If Owner believes the action was improper, Owner may file an appeal in Nueces County district court within sixty (60) days after written notice of the action by the City. 3. Owner shall remit to the City, within the 60-day period, any additional or recaptured taxes levied under the payment provisions of Texas Tax Code § 42.08. 4. If the final determination of the appeal increases Owner's tax liability above the amount paid, Owner shall remit the additional tax under Tax Code §42.42. 5. If the final determination of the appeal decreases Owner's tax liability, the City will refund the Owner the difference between the amount of tax paid and the amount of tax for which Owner is liable under Tax Code § 42.43. IX. ADMINISTRATION A. Inspections. The Owner shall allow employees and/or representatives of the City to have access to the Property during the term of this Agreement to inspect the Facility to determine compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. All inspections will be made only after the giving of twenty-four (24) hours prior notice, and conducted in the manner as to not unreasonably interfere with the construction or operation of the Facility. All inspections must be made with one or more representatives of the Owner and under Owner's safety standards. B. Appraisals. 1. The Chief Appraiser of the Nueces County Appraisal District annually determines: (a) The taxable value of the real and personal property comprising the Property taking into consideration the Abatement provided by this Agreement. (b) The full taxable value without Abatement of the real and personal property comprising the Property. 2. The Chief Appraiser records both the abated taxable value and the full taxable value in the appraisal records. Page 7 of 14 3. Each year the Owner shall furnish the Chief Appraiser with the information outlined in Chapter 22, Texas Tax Code, as amended, as may be necessary for the administration of the Agreement specified in this Agreement. C. Annual Reports. 1. Owner shall certify to the governing body of the City on or before April 1 each year that the Owner is in compliance with each applicable term of this Agreement. 2. Additionally, during the initial four years of the term of property tax abatement, Owner shall provide to the City an annual report covering those items listed on Schedule I attached to this Agreement in order to document the efforts of the Owner to acquire goods and services on a local basis. 3. The annual report is prepared on a calendar year basis and is submitted to the City no later than ninety (90) days following the end of each the calendar year. 4. Submit to the Nueces County Appraisal District an Application for Property Tax Abatement Exemption (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Property Tax Form 50- 116). A copy must be forwarded to the City. D. Utilization of Local Contractors and Suppliers. Owner agrees to exercise reasonable efforts in utilizing local contractors and suppliers in the construction of the Project, except where not reasonably possible to do so without added expense, substantial inconvenience, or sacrifice in operating efficiency in the normal course of business, with a goal of 50% of the total dollar amount of all construction contracts and supply agreements. For the purposes of this section, the term "local" as used to describe manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, and labor includes firms, businesses, and persons who reside in or maintain an office within a 50 mile radius of Nueces County. Owner agrees, during the construction of the Project and for four years after Completion, to maintain written records documenting the efforts of Owner to comply with the Local Requirement, and to provide an annual report to the City Manager or designee, from which the City Manager or designee shall determine if Owner is in compliance with this requirement. Failure to substantially comply with this requirement, in the sole determination of the City Manager or designee, shall be a default hereunder. E. Utilization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises ("DBE"). Owner agrees to exercise reasonable efforts in utilizing contractors and suppliers that are determined to be disadvantaged business enterprises, including minority business enterprises women-owned business enterprises and historically-underutilized business enterprises. In order to qualify as a business enterprise under this provision, the firm must be certified by the City, the Regional Transportation Authority or another governmental entity in the jurisdiction of the home office of the business as complying with state or federal standards for qualification as such an enterprise. Owner agrees to a goal of 30% of the total dollar amount of all construction contracts and supply agreements being paid to disadvantaged business enterprises, with a priority made for disadvantaged business enterprises which are local. Owner agrees, during the construction of the Project and for four years after Completion, to maintain written records documenting the efforts of Owner to comply with the DBE Requirement, and to provide an annual report to the City Manager or designee, from which the City Manager or designee shall Page 8 of 14 determine if Owner is in compliance with this requirement. Failure to substantially comply with this requirement, in the sole determination of the City Manager or designee, shall be a default hereunder. For the purposes of this section, the term "local" as used to describe contractors and suppliers that are determined to be disadvantaged business enterprises, including minority business enterprises women-owned business enterprises and historically-underutilized business enterprises includes firms, businesses, and persons who reside in or maintain an office within a 50 mile radius of Nueces County. F. Living Wage Requirement. In order to count as a permanent full-time job under this tax abatement program, the job should provide a "living wage" for the employee. The target living wage under this abatement program is that annual amount equal or greater than poverty level for a family of three, established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines, divided by 2,080 hours per year for that year. G. Health Insurance. To qualify for this incentive, an employer shall certify that it has offered a health insurance program for its employees during the term of the Agreement. H. Undocumented Workers. Prosperity does not and agrees that it will not knowingly employ an undocumented worker. If, after receiving payments under this Agreement, Prosperity is convicted of a violation under §U.S.C. Section 1324a(f), Prosperity shall repay the payments at the rate and according to the terms as specified by City Ordinance, as amended, not later than the 120th day after the date Prosperity has been notified of the violation. X. ASSIGNMENT A. The Owner may assign this Agreement to any one or more corporation(s), 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by one of the Owners, or any partnership(s) or limited partnership(s) in which an Owner, or a subsidiary of an Owner, is a general partner. B. The Owner may assign this Agreement to any other new owner or lessee of the Facility with the prior written consent of the City, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld. C. Any assignment must provide that the assignee shall irrevocably and unconditionally assume all the duties and obligations of the assignor and become the Owner upon the same terms and conditions as set out in this Agreement. D. In the event more than one entity is Owner under this Agreement, the obligations of the entities are joint and several. E. Any assignment of this Agreement is to an entity that must provide substantially the same improvements to the Property, except to the extent the improvements have been completed. F. No assignment is approved if the Owner or any assignee is indebted to the City for ad valorem taxes or other obligations. Page 9 of 14 XI. NOTICES A. Any notice required to be given under the provisions of this Agreement must be in writing and is duly served when deposited, with the proper postage prepaid, and registered or certified, return receipt requested, with the United States Postal Service, addressed to the City or Owner at the addresses listed below. B. If mailed, any notice or communication is deemed to be received three days after the date of deposit in the United States Mail. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices are delivered to the following addresses: To the City: CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI 1201 Leopard Street P. 0. Box 9277 Corpus Christi, Texas 78469 Attn: City Manager To the Owner: Prosperity Bank 500 North Water Street Suite 100 Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 Attn: David Weatherston, President C. Either party may designate a different address by giving the other party ten days written notice. This Section XI., Notices, survives expiration or termination of this Agreement. XII. CONFIDENTIALITY A. As a result of its relationship with Prosperity, City may learn or have access to various trade secrets, confidential and proprietary methods, techniques, processes, business plans, names of applicants, borrowers, customers (whether current, former, or prospective customers), or employees, customer account and other non-public personal information, procedures, business operations, credit policies and other information that is confidential and proprietary to Prosperity (collectively, the "Confidential Information"). B. City further agrees that it will use all reasonable means to safeguard the Confidential Information and return all Confidential Information in its possession to Prosperity upon Prosperity's written request and in all cases upon the termination or cancellation of this Agreement, subject however, to any applicable legal requirements concerning the maintenance of records or compliance with the Texas Public Information Act. Prosperity agrees that the City is a governmental entity bound by the Texas Public Information Act. C. This Section XII., Confidentiality, survives termination or expiration of this Agreement. Page 10 of 14 This Agreement has been executed by the parties in multiple originals or counterparts, each having full force and effect. Executed this 'j'.) day of 0 CiA2014. ATTEST: CITY 00 ' •RPUS CH' fifii By: T-2By' , Rebecca Huerta Ronald . Olson ��- City Secretary City Ma ager OWNER: Prosperity By: i1944fJbr)eeA"N David Weatherston1 0 President U11Wn cam• Prosperity Bank n awn. _IC` -2-1 1(4 SECRETA ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATE OF TEXAS § § KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS COUNTY OF NUECES § This instrument was acknowledged before me on 5 , 2014, by David Weatherston, President, Prosperity Bank, a Tex s stat financial institution, on behalf of the institution. tik16 rstSHARON J KNOPP r NOTARY PUBLIC, S -te of Texas `.$6 Notary Public, State of Texas 6 � ; My Commission Expires APRIL 17,2016 Page 11 of 14 SCHEDULE 1 "Buy Local"Annual Reports The following information is reported to the City on a calendar-year basis during the first four years of the tax abatement program: 1. Dollar amount spent for materials* (local). 2. Dollar amount spent for materials (total). 3. Dollar amount spent for labor** (local). 4. Dollar amount spent for labor** (total). 5. Number of jobs created in the construction project (local). 6. Number of jobs created in the construction project (total). 7. Number of jobs created on a permanent basis (local). 8. Number of jobs created on a permanent basis (total). * "Materials" are defined to include all materials used in excavation, site improvement, demolition, concrete, structural steel, fire proofing, piping, electrical, instruments, paintings and scaffolding, insulation, temporary construction facilities, supplies, equipment rental in construction, small tools and consumables. This term does not include major items of machinery and equipment not readily-available locally. ** "Labor" is defined to include all labor in connection with the excavation, site improvement, demolition, concrete construction, structural steel, fire proofing, equipment placement, piping, electrical, instruments, painting and scaffolding, insulation, construction services, craft benefits, payroll burdens, and related labor expenses. This term does not include engineering services in connection with the project design. The term "local" as used to describe manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, and labor includes firms, businesses, and persons who reside in or maintain an office within a 50 mile radius of Nueces County. Page 12 of 14 Exhibit A Project Plan Prosperity Bank already has a motor facility located on this site. They plan to demolish the existing structure and erect a two story building for their bank with a motor banking component. Page 13 of 14 EXHIBIT B Property Description The property is located at 901 North Water Street, Corpus Christi, Texas. More accurately described as Beach Frac Lot 1 and all of lots 2 through 6 less west 4 feet of lots 1 and 2 Block 24. The 4 feet is City property. Page 14 of 14