[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Seward
as Ch. 1, Art. 15, § 1501, of the 1976 Code. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Amended 11-19-2002 by Ord. No. 42-02; 11-20-2012 by Ord. No. 32-12]
A.
The City Council for the City of Seward, Nebraska approved a proposed
plan for ballot language for the City of Seward Economic Development
Plan pursuant to the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act
(Neb. RS 18-2701 et seq.) after public hearing as provided by law.
B.
The proposed plan was submitted to the voters of the City of Seward
on November 5, 2002, at the general election by the following language:
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"Shall the City of Seward establish an economic development
program as described herein by appropriating annually from City sales
and use tax a maximum of $75,000 per year for a period of 10 years?"
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______ YES
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______ NO
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The terms, conditions, and goals of the Economic Development
Plan as approved by the City Council are summarized as follows:
A.
Length of time the program will be in existence. The length of time
the program will be in existence is approximately 15 years, beginning
upon the adoption of an ordinance by the City of Seward within 45
days after voter approval of the Economic Development Program (said
ordinance to be in conformity with the terms of such program as set
out in the original enabling resolution), and ending on March 31,
2018.
B.
Years that local sources of revenue are to be collected. Collection
of the funds from local sources of revenue for the Economic Development
Program shall be for a ten-year period beginning April 1, 2003, and
ending March 31, 2013.
D.
Total amount to be collected for the program from local sources of
revenue.
(1)
The total amount to be collected from the local sources of revenue
for the full length of the program for the City of Seward will not
exceed $750,000.
(2)
The total amount to be collected from local sources of revenue each
year will equal $75,000 or 10% of the proceeds from the imposition
of City sales and use tax in the amount of 1%, whichever amount is
less.
E.
Proposal to issue bonds to provide funds to carry out the Economic
Development Program. The City of Seward proposes to issue bonds pursuant
to the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act to provide
funds to carry out the Economic Development Program.
F.
Additional funds to be sought from other non-City sources. Additional
funds from other non-City sources will be sought beyond those derived
from local sources of revenue.
G.
Goals of the Economic Development Program. Goals of the Economic
Development Program are to create high-paying, quality jobs, attract
new capital investment, broaden the tax base, reduce reliance on property
taxes and ensure economic stability and vitality for Seward, Nebraska.
The County Clerk, as Election Commissioner, certified to the
City that the election results on the economic development ballot
were as follows:
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For:
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1,085
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Against:
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794
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The Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act directs
that the City of Seward shall, within 45 days after voter approval,
establish the Economic Development Plan by ordinance in conformity
with the terms of the program as set forth in Resolution No. 20-02.
There is hereby established an Economic Development Program
in conformity with the Local Option Municipal Economic Development
Act and the Economic Development Plan approved by the voters of Seward,
Nebraska, on November 5, 2002, for the period from the effective date
of this chapter to March 31, 2013.
The Economic Development Program shall have an Application Review
Board, which shall consist of six residents of the City who shall
be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council and serve
for terms of three years each; provided that such appointees shall
be appointed in such fashion that their terms shall be staggered,
and two members of the City Council, appointed by the Mayor and approved
by the City Council. Persons appointed and serving on the Application
Review Board shall serve without compensation, and shall be held harmless
for any and all actions in carrying out their responsibilities and
goodwill. The City Administrator shall serve as an ex-officio member
of the Application Review Board.
A.
The Mayor,
subject to the approval of the City Council, shall appoint a Citizens
Advisory Review Committee of five members, which committee will report
to the City Council on its findings and suggestions with regard to
the functioning and progress of the Economic Development Plan. The
City Administrator of Seward, Nebraska shall, as Program Administrator,
serve as an ex-officio member of this committee. The committee shall
be appointed and organized pursuant to the Economic Development Plan
and the requirements of Neb. RS 18-2715, as it may be amended from
time to time. All members shall be registered voters of the City of
Seward. No member shall be an elected or appointed City official,
an employee of the City, a participant in a decision-making position
regarding expenditures of the Plan funds, an official or employee
of any financial institution participating directly in the Plan or
any qualifying business receiving assistance. At least one member
shall have experience or expertise in business finance or accounting.
B.
The Citizens
Advisory Review Committee shall report to the City Council at intervals
of no less than six months at a public hearing called for that purpose.
Information given in the course of applying for assistance under
the Economic Development Program shall be confidential. The information
shall be available only to the Program Administrator, Application
Review Committee, and the City Council, for the limited purpose of
determining eligibility for assistance under the Plan. Unauthorized
disclosure of any business information which is confidential under
Neb. RS 84-712.05, as it may be amended from time to time, shall be
a Class III misdemeanor. All persons involved in the Program must
sign statements of confidentiality regarding all personal and private
submittals by qualified businesses.
