02/04/2002-CC-Minutes-Work SessionMINUTES: CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
FEBRUARY 4, 2002
PRESENT: Mayor Tommy Kincaid, Councilman Andy Garza, Councilman Joe Higgs,
Councilman Craig Waggoner, Councilman Jimmy Evans, Councilman Glenn
Ervin
OTHERS
PRESENT: City Manager Jack Smith, City Secretary/Assistant City Manager Rose
Chavez, Assistant City Secretary Samantha Renz, Woodrow Barton, Mike
Prater
1. Mayor called meeting to order.
2. Discussion on Possible Tax Abatements for New Business.
City Manager indicated he gave the Council a copy of the current tax abatement
guidelines. He indicated currently the city requires a 20 million dollar building
before giving tax abatements.
He advised there was a business coming in and the owner had asked about tax
abatements.
Discussed type of business would be wood working.
Councilman Waggoner asked if staff had checked with any other cities.
City Manager indicated some are as low as 4 or 5 million dollars on the cost of the
building before they would consider a tax abatement.
Councilman Waggoner asked if it would still be at Council's discretion if they give
the abatements after they meet the guidelines.
City Manager indicated it would be.
Discussed guidelines for tax abatements.
Councilman Evans indicated he wasn't going to be for tax abatements because as a
business owner you can write off the taxes.
Councilman Ervin asked if this was the same thing the Council just turned down.
Staff indicated they were asking for a letter of intent that the City would give them
as much as a 5% abatement.
Discussion continued regarding the tax abatements and tax revenues.
Councilman Ervin indicated he felt maybe they should leave it alone.
Councilman Evans indicated if they hold out and wait the growth will come without
giving abatements.
Consensus of Council to leave the guidelines as they are.
Discussion regarding development in other cities.
3. Meeting Adjourned.
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