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memorandum <br />TO: Mayor & City Council <br />FROM: John Godwin, City Manager <br />SUBJECT: NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT ZONE <br />DATE: December 20, 2016 <br />BACKGROUND: Chapter 378 of the Local Government Code of the State of Texas provides <br />that a municipality may create a neighborhood empowerment zone covering a part of the <br />municipality if the municipality determines the creation of the zone would promote, among other <br />things: the creation and/or rehabilitation of affordable housing in the zone, and/or an increase in <br />economic development within the zone. A zone can be created through passage of a simple <br />resolution of the city council containing its finding that creation of the zone benefits, and is for <br />the public purpose of increasing, the public health, safety, and welfare of persons in the city. <br />STATUS OF ISSUE: Within an empowerment zone, the city may: waive or reduce fees related <br />to the construction of buildings, including inspection fees; enter into development agreements for <br />up to ten years to rebate sales taxes paid within the zone for the purpose of benefiting the zone; <br />enter into agreements abating municipal property taxes on property within the zone; and set <br />baseline performance standards to encourage the use of alternative building materials that <br />address concerns relating to the environment or to the building costs, maintenance, or energy <br />consumption. <br />BUDGET: NA. <br />RECOMMENDATION: Provide direction to staff on preparation of a possible resolution for <br />adoption at a future date. <br />