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Home My WebLink AboutR-09-11RESOLUTION NO. R-09-11 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, APPROVING A DRAFT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN DATED MARCH 2009 AND USING SUCH PLAN AS THE GROUNDWORK FOR A FINAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AT A LATER DATE; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the need for a City of Sebastian Economic Development Plan to encourage commercial and light industrial development for job growth in the City of Sebastian; and WHEREAS, the City of Sebastian in conjunction with the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Economic Development Task Force have worked together over the last two years to develop an economic development plan; and WHEREAS, City Council at its February 18, 2008 workshop discussed the draft plan and directed staff to bring back a Resolution for adoption. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, as follows: Section 1. AUTHORIZATION. The City Council hereby adopts the March 2009 Draft City of Sebastian Economic Development Plan as attached hereto as Exhibit "A". Section 2. CONFLICTS. All resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. The foregoing Resolution was moved for adoption by Council member Simchick The motion was seconded by Council member boy -~-:: and, upon being put into a vote, the vote was as follows: Mayor Richard Gillmor Vice Mayor Jim Hill Council Member Andrea Coy Council Member Dale Simchick Council Member Eugene Wolff aye aye aye aye aye The Mayor thereupon declared this Resolution duly passed and adopted this 11th day of March, 2009. CITY OF SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA B ----~, Richard H. Gillmor, Mayor ATTEST: ~~- Sally A. io, MMC city cl Approved As to Form And Legality For Reliance by the City Of Sebastian Only: Robert A. Ginsburg, Ci ttorney arvo~ ~~- ~ HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT MARCH 2009 Prepared By: City of Sebastian Growth Management Department 1225 Main Street Sebastian, Florida 32958 Preamble In April 2007, the Sebastian City Council conducted an Economic Development Workshop. This exercise was held in conjunction with the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, who sponsored Bill Fruth, a nationally renowned economist, as a speaker for the meeting. As a result of the workshop, the City Council unanimously agreed to create an Economic Development Plan for the City of Sebastian. Subsequently, the City Council adopted Resolution #R-07-45, which enlisted the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce to help develop a plan. Accordingly, the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce started the task assigned by the City Council and created an Economic Development Task Force. The task force's members were appointed by the Chamber of Commerce and included citizens with business backgrounds and perspectives. From November 2007 through April 2008, the task force met and deliberated. Their final product entitled "Economic Development Plan for the City of Sebastian" was presented to the City Council in a workshop on January 7, 2009. The Council formally accepted the plan as presented by the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce. In moving forward with this endeavor, the Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Plan was used as the foundation for this element of the City of Sebastian's Comprehensive Plan. Adopted 3/21 /09 Economic Development Element - 1 GOAL It is the goal of the City of Sebastian to promote economic growth through commercial development, light industrial development and job creation. OBTECTIVE 1: Identify business sector targets that offer light clean business/ industry and support a living wage. Policy 1.1: The City shall support primary and secondary target industries as adopted by Indian River County. In addition, the City recognizes the special characteristics of the local economy and will develop Sebastian target industries as an addendum to County wide targets. The City also identifies industries which are detrimental to the community and seeks to avoid. The target list shall be reviewed as needed in order to reflect the current economic climate. Primary Target Industries 1. Clean Light Industrial -Warehousing, Distribution 2. Aviation/Aerospace Technology 3. Medical Industry 4. Marine -Boat Manufacturer, Fishing Equipment 5. Eco-Tourism Related Businesses 6. Green Initiatives Secondary Target Industries 1. Retail 2. Aquaculture 3. Automotive 4. Surfing/Fishing Equipment 5. Family Entertainment Industries to Avoid 1. Heavy Industrial/Manufacturing 2. Chemical 3. Fertilizer 4. Cement Objective 2: The City of Sebastian will provide new and expanding businesses with incentives, if certain job criteria are met Policy 2.1: New and expanding business shall diversify the local economy and increase the tax base by paying wages that are equal to or above 75% of the average wage and benefits in Indian River County as published and identified by the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce. Policy 2.2: New and expanding business seeking City of Sebastian incentives shall create a minimum of five (5) new jobs. Objective 3: For new and expanding business that meet the policies in Objective 2, the City shall provide financial and other incentives Adopted 3/21/09 Economic Development Element - 2 Policy 3.1: The City of Sebastian will offer expedited site plan review that guarantee administrative determination, and permit issuance, within sixty (60) days of formal permit application. Administrative determination and permit issuance that require review, approval, and issuance by the appropriate local advisory board and/or City Council, will be guaranteed review by the local authority within sixty (60) days from formal permit application. Policy 3.2: Partner with Indian River County in providing ad valorem tax credits. Policy 3.3: Provide CRA financing for County Impact Fees. Policy 3.4: Allow the use of CRA funds to reduce the cost of: 1. Water/Sewer Connections; 2. Local Building Permit Fees Policy 3.5: Provide special lease arrangements at the Sebastian Municipal Airport that mitigate construction and future costs. OBJECTIVE 4• The City of Sebastian recognizes that all new, expanding and existing business is important to the local economy. The City shall implement policies that promote business development no matter their size or impact on the local economy. Policy 4.1: Develop a marketing plan to target the identified sectors. Policy 4.2: Consider areas outside the City for annexation that could provide future areas for commercial or industrial development. Objective 5• The City of Sebastian shall promote, develop and enhance the use of the Sebastian Municipal Airport. Policy 5.1: The Sebastian Municipal Airport shall actively market airport industrial lots and space and coordinate its marketing plans with other area marketing plans. Policy 5.2: The Sebastian Municipal Airport will seek grants and other funding opportunities to improve roads and infrastructure delivery. Policy 5.3: In developing the Sebastian Municipal Airport, win-win scenarios will be realized that support the economy, while protecting the natural environment and conservation areas that encompass the airport. Objective 6• The City of Sebastian will promote and provide a skilled labor force by ensuring that educational and housing opportunities flourish. Policy 6.1: Establish a list of training needs for target and other businesses. Policy 6.2: Further education efforts for job training programs through local high schools that provide vocational training and assist, if necessary, in providing venues for training. Adopted 3/21/09 Economic Development Element - 3 Policy 6.3 Continue partnering with Indian River State College for post-secondary educational training opportunities. Policy 6.4: Develop other contacts for four-year colleges or universities to determine the probability of a branch campus or research facility being established in Sebastian. Policy 6.5: The City will work with the County's Local Housing Assistance Program, Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program, and other housing programs, to provide and continue to provide affordable housing opportunities within Sebastian. OBJECTIVE 7: Provide technical assistance to business. Policy 7.1: The City of Sebastian will create a Business Assistance Team in order to promote Sebastian, as well as provide technical assistance to existing, expanding, or new businesses through the regulatory processes of the City, County, State and Federal governments. Policy 7.2: The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce and other economic development groups designated by the City Council shall develop and provide a community information package for new businesses and or businesses relocating to Sebastian. OBJECTIVE 8: Intergovernmental Coordination with other local municipalities the County_ State, and Federal agencies for economic development. Policy 8.1: The City shall involve appropriate parties in any economic development project so that all entities are properly represented. Policy 8.2: The City through pre-application meetings and site plan review meetings, shall review procedures, identify needed permits, and provide information and feedback to applicants to expedite the permitting process. The City shall also assist applicants by providing information on non-county required permits or reviews and provide contact information. OBJECTIVE 9: Tourism Development Policy 9.1: Market the City's historic themes on an eco-tourism and cultural tourism basis. Policy 9.2: Support the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce efforts to market the Sebastian area as a vacation/recreation area. Policy 9.3: The City shall maintain gateway corridors (primarily 512 and US 1) with landscaping and pedestrian amenities. Policy 9.4: The City shall explore historic tourism opportunities including walking tours. Polio 9.5: The City shall participate with the MPO in the North County Greenways plan for pedestrian, bicycle and waterway corridors. Adopted 3/21 /09 Economic Development Element - 4