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HomeMy WebLinkAboutT12-96 . 7 (0°- Ordinance No. T12-96 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR COOK COUNTY AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS WHEREAS, the City of Elgin is located in Cook and Kane Counties; and WHEREAS, the real estate assessment classification system for Cook County results in a competitive disadvantage for automobile dealers operating in the Cook County section of the City of Elgin with respect to automobile dealers operating in Kane County; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to protect the city' s tax base and promote employment within the City of Elgin to provide economic incentives to automobile dealers operating in that part of the City of Elgin situated in Cook County to continue such operations and invest in capital improvements at such locations; and WHEREAS, the City of Elgin is a home rule unit within the meaning of Article VII of the Constitution of Illinois of 1970; and WHEREAS, the program established herein is in furtherance of the promotion of the economic well being of the City of Elgin, a public purpose. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS : Section 1 . Incentive Program. That there is hereby established an economic incentive program to be known as the Cook County Automobile Dealership Incentive Program. Section 2 . Sales Tax Rebate Program. Any retail automobile dealership operating in that portion of the City of Elgin located in the County of Cook that makes a minimum capital improvement to property currently owned, including furniture and fixtures, in an amount in excess of two hundred percent (200%) of the average amount of local retail sales tax paid to the City of Elgin in the last preceding three years shall be eligible to receive a rebate of fifty percent (50%) of the increase in sales tax in excess of the preceding three year average distributed to the City of Elgin from the sale of automobiles . This incentive shall be available for a period of five years from the date of the approval of the corporate authorities of the City of Elgin of a participation agreement between the City of Elgin and an eligible dealer. Section .3 . Capital Investment Grant—Program. Any retail automobile dealership operating in the Cook County portion of the City of Elgin is eligible to receive an investment grant equal to fifteen percent ( 15%) of a capital investment in an amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars ( $50, 000) or more but not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand ( $200, 000) . Capital improvements qualifying for such grant shall be completed within two years after approval by the corporate authorities of the City of Elgin of an agreement which includes a description of the capital improvements to be made between the City of Elgin and the dealership under this program. At the end of the first full month of the year following commencement of construction, one half of the estimated investment grant shall be paid. The remainder of the grant shall be paid at the earlier of the completion of construction or thirteen months after commencement of construction. No dealership shall be eligible for a grant more than once in a period of five years . Any grant amounts received shall be repaid if capital improvements for which a grant is received are not completed within two years . Section 4 . Business Retention Rebate. Any retail automobile dealership operating in Cook County who agrees in writing to continue such retail operation in the Cook County portion of the City of Elgin for a period of not less than five years is eligible to receive a retail sales tax rebate in the amount of thirty-five ,percent ( 35%) of the increase in retail sales tax received by the City of Elgin from the sale of automobiles . Any such rebate shall be repaid with interest if a dealership fails to remain for the five year period. The rebate shall be based on the increase in sales tax over the average retail sales tax distributed to the City of Elgin during the past three years by the participating dealer. Section 5 . In order to participate in the Cook County Automobile Dealers Rebate Program, an applicant shall submit copies of all relevant documents including but not limited to verification from the Illinois Department of Revenue ( "DOR" ) of the revenues and sales taxes paid for the past three years and shall execute a written agreement which shall include the items necessary to comply with the provisions of this ordinance including but not limited to the following: 1 . The Automobile Dealer' s agreement that, at any time upon the reasonable request of the City, it will demonstrate evidence of the cost of improvements equivalent to the City' s payments hereunder. 2 . The Automobile Dealer' s agreement that it will not, during the life of the agreement, protest, contest, eft or in any other way seek to lower the amount of property tax rate with respect to the property. Nothing herein contained shall prevent Automobile 2 Dealer from protesting the assessed valuation of the property. 3 . The Automobile Dealer' s agreement to promptly commence and diligent pursue renovation activities . Once construction has begun, Automobile Dealer agrees to construct the improvements, both on-site and off-site, in substantial accordance with plans and specifications submitted at the time of application. 4 . The Automobile Dealer' s agreement that in the event that Automobile Dealer' s motor vehicle dealership ceases to operate at the property at any time during the duration of the agreement, Automobile Dealer agrees to remit to the City monies received from the City pursuant to this agreement. In order to secure the requirement to make repayment, the Automobile Dealer shall post or cause to be posted in favor of the City, a performance bond, letter of credit, or such other instrument acceptable to the City (the "Credit Facility" ) in an amount equal to any amounts paid out. 5 . Within seventy-five (75) days after each annual fir• period, Automobile Dealer shall provide the City with a statement signed by one of its officers as to the dollar amount of sales tax revenue paid to the State of Illinois for the benefit of the City during the prior annual period. Additionally, Automobile Dealer shall maintain and have available for inspection by the City copies of any and all sales tax returns, sales tax reports, amendments, proof of payment or any other sales tax information filed with the State of Illinois or other appropriate governmental entity, which documents are being held available for the City for purposes of identifying sales tax revenue collected pursuant to this agreement for calendar years 1996 through the life of this agreement. Additionally, the City shall use its best efforts to obtain such sales tax information directly from the Illinois Department of Revenue or the State of Illinois . To the extent permitted by law, the City shall endeavor to maintain the confidentiality of the information contained in such reports, but shall be permitted to disclose such information and documents to employees and consultants as the City (except for any consultant that has a financial interest in any motor vehicle dealership within the Chicago emk Metropolitan Area, which consultant shall not be retained) , in its sole discretion deems appropriate in order to monitor compliance and audit this agreement. Automobile Dealer also agrees, upon the 3 request of the City, to furnish such consents or waivers as may be required by the Illinois Department of Revenue to allow the Illinois Department of Revenue to furnish to the City sales tax information concerning the Automobile Dealer dealership. 6 . No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this agreement or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof shall be had against the City, its officers, agents and employees, in any amount or in excess of any specific sum agreed by the City to be paid to Automobile Dealer, subject to the terms and conditions herein, and no liability, right or claim at law or in equity shall attach to or shall be incurred by the City, its officers, agents and employees in excess of such amounts, and all and any such rights or claims of Automobile dealer against the City, its officers, agents and employees are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of and as consideration for the execution of this agreement by the City. No recourse under or upon any obligations, covenant or agreement of this agreement or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof shall be had against Automobile Dealer, its officers, agents and employees, in excess of their obligations to the City hereunder, subject to the terms and conditions herein, and no liability, right or claim at law of or in equity shall attached to or shall be incurred by Automobile Dealer, its officers, agents and employees, in excess of their obligations hereunder. 7 . The City and Automobile Dealer agree to do all things necessary or appropriate to carry out the terms and provisions of this agreement and to aid and assist each other in carrying out the terms hereof . 8 . This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the County of Kane, the State of Illinois, and the sole and exclusive venue for any disputes arising out of this agreement shall be any state or federal court located within the State of Illinois . A waiver of any part of this agreement shall be limited to that specific event and shall not be a waiver of the entire agreement. Any notices required in this agreement shall be effective when in writing and three ( 3) days after mailing by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by delivering the same in person or to an officer of such party or by prepaid telegram or private overnight courier, when appropriate, addressed to the party to be notified. 4 Section 6 . This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage. Kevin Kelly, Mayo Presented: August 28, 1996 Passed: August 28, 1996 Vote: Yeas 7 Nays 0 Recorded: August 29, 1996 Published: Attest: Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk 5