Loading...
11-18-2010 (WEDC) Minutes Minutes Wylie Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, November 18, 2010 — 6:30 A.M. Inwood National Bank — Conference Room 200 South Highway 78 — Wylie, Texas CALL TO ORDER Announce the presence of a Quorum President Fuller called the meeting to order at 6:30 a.m. Board Members present were: John Yeager, Mitch Herzog, Todd Winners, and Chris Seely. Mr. Fuller left the meeting at 8:00 a.m. WEDC staff present was Executive Director Sam Satterwhite and Administrative Assistant Gerry Harris. Ex-officio member Mindy Manson was present. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION There being no citizen participation, President Fuller proceeded to Action Items. ACTION ITEMS ITEM NO. 1 — Consider and act upon approval of the November 9, 2010 Minutes of the WEDC Board of Directors Meeting. MOTION: A motion was made by Chris Seely and seconded by John Yeager to approve the November 9, 2010 Minutes of the WEDC oard of Directors Meeting. The WEDC Board voted 5 — FOR and 0 — AGAINST in favor of the motion. ITEM NO. 2 — Consider and act upon approval of the October 2010 WEDC Treasurer's Report. Mr. Fuller asked that the minutes reflect that the expense shown as the 'Yellow & Black Tie Gala' was a benefit for the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Foundation, Inc. at which staff, Mayor Hogue, and City Manager Manson was in attendance. MOTION: A motion was made by John Yeager and seconded by Chris Seely to approve the October 2010 WEDC Treasurer's Report. The WEDC Board voted 5 — FOR and 0 — AGAINST in favor of the motion. DISCUSSION ITEMS The Board members were reminded by staff that the Board may not discuss an item which is not specifically identified on the agenda. Only those items listed on the agenda can be discussed. WEDC — Minutes November 18, 2010 Page 2 of 5 Illoodbride Crossing Staff reported that Woodbridge Crossing is currently in compliance with all terms of the Amended and Restated Performance Agreement. A Sales Tax Reimbursement Report was presented which identifies all sales taxes generated and reimbursed through August 2010 within Woodbridge Crossing for the City General Fund, the WEDC, and the 4B Corporation. Staff also reviewed that the City and WEDC will be reimbursing 85% of all sales taxes generated within Woodbridge Crossing through September 2013 and beginning October 2013, 65% of all sales taxes generated will be reimbursed. The next performance measure of 64,000 square feet of lease space constructed on the in-line lots adjacent to Target between McCreary and Springwell shall be completed no later than May 1, 2011. There is currently $1,000 square feet under construction slated to be completed by March, 2011. A 'critical dates analysis' was also presented for the Board's review. Refinancinf, WEDC Debt Staff indicated that Mr. Don liughes and Mr. Marty Anderson were contacted requesting that an interest rate reduction be implemented on WEDC notes held by the two individuals. The payoff for Mr. Hughes was reported at S217,140 and $172,173 for Mr. Anderson. The interest rate on both notes is 6% with 67 and 82 payments remaining respectively. The 4.5')/0 rate being requested by staff will save the WEDC approximately $2,500 annually. Staff reported that both Hughes and Anderson are contemplating stafrs request and will provide a response within a week. WEDC Office Relocation Staff reported that the office relocation which has been contemplated for several months will take place on December 6th. WEDC/Holland USA Purchase Agreement The WEDC has yet to receive a partial release from Holland USA which is required prior to closing on the 1.33 acre purchase. Holland's attorney has very little impact on the timing as he is awaiting the release from the International Bank of Luxembourg which has a $90 mm lien against Holland's business operations. Holland's attorney assured staff that the release is forthcoming. Regional Housing Starts Housing starts were reported as up this month in Wylie, Lavon, and Murphy. Staff indicated that Wylie is on pace to permit approximately 290 new homes in 2010. Staff Recommendation No action was requested by staff. WEDC — Minutes November 18, 2010 Page 3 of 5 EXECUTIVE SESSION The WEDC Board recessed into Closed Session at 7:00 a.m. in compliance with Section 551.001, et.seq. Texas Government Code, to wit: Section 551.087 (Economic Development Negotiations) of the I.ocal Government Code, Vernon's Texas Code Annotated (Open Meetings Act). • Deliberate a Performance Agreement between the WEDC and Project 95k. • Deliberate a Commercial Lease Agreement between the WEDC and Project 95k. RECONVENE INTO OPEN MEETING The WEDC Board of Directors reconvened into open session at 8:10 a.m, Staff indicated that after months of negotiations with Ascend Custom Extrusions and Highlander Partners, staff was prepared to make final recommendations surrounding a Performance Agreement and Commercial Lease for the construction and occupancy of a 96,000 square foot industrial facility to house Ascend operations. Staff began by summarizing the Performance Agreement between the WEDC and Ascend. In order to accommodate the initial 96,000 square feet and the Phase II expansion of ±35,000 square feet, 1.33 acres is required to be purchased from Holland Hitch, which is adjacent and to the north of the WEDC site (21 acres), for the purchase price of 8225,000. In addition to the land acquisition, the WEDC/Ascend will be relocating a fence and a concrete storage area which has a projected cost of S50,550. The Performance Agreement requires that Ascend fund 50% of the Holland expenses up to S150,000. Also within the Performance Agreement, Ascend commits to maintaining a personal property valuation ranging from 54.7 million in year one to 57.1 million in year five. If all performance measures are met within the Agreement, the WEDC will fund S76,518 per year for 5, years. Staff reiterated that the City of Wylie has no financial commitment within this Agreement. Total cash incentives over a 5 year term of the Agreement equal S382,590. Staff did point out that the Agreement allows for Ascend to assign the benefits to an affiliate as further defined in the Commercial Lease which is an exhibit to the Performance Agreement. MOTION: A motion was made by John Yeager and seconded by Chris Seely authorizing Marvin Fuller to execute a Performance Agreement between the WEDC and Ascend Custom Extrusions. The WEDC Board voted 4 — FOR and 0 — AGAINST in favor of the motion. Staff continued its summary with the Commercial Lease between the WEDC and Ascend. With an estimated construction cost of 55.22 million, the WEDC is committing to construct and maintain ownership of the 96,000 square foot facility for the term of the lease (15 years). Ascend however has the option to purchase the facility in an amount equal to the outstanding WEDC— Minutes November 1.8, 2010 Page 4 of 5 debt associated with construction between year three and year ten. Staff anticipates construction beginning on or about January 1, 2011. Should Ascend choose to not exercise its purchase 01)nm:1,, the WEDC will be obligated in no way to sell the facility to Ascend at the end of the Lease. Staff did clarify that should Ascend lease the facility for the full term of the lease and not exercise its purchase option, the WEDC will reimburse Ascend for all costs associated with the Holland Property Consideration referenced with the Performance Agreement (up to $150,000). Classified as 'Prepaid Rent', Ascend commits to wire $500,000 to the WEDC which will be used to reduce the debt associated with construction, fund interim interest, closing costs, and fees associated with a WEDC-hired construction manager. No less than $300,000 will be applied to construction costs with $200,000 attributed to interest, closing costs, and construction management. Combined with the Holland costs and development fees, Ascend will have contributed in excess of 5700,000 to the construction process in addition to the $13.4 million in. plant and equipment purchases. While staff has yet to receive a Gross Maximum Price from Rill &i Wilkinson, it is anticipated. that the WEDC will have a maximum construction loan of $4.9 million which will equate to S490,274 debt service/lease payments. Staff continued that per the Lease, Ascend is responsible for obtaining and carrying property insurance for this property with the Economic Development Corporation as the named insured and Ascend being responsible for all premiums and deductibles with policy limits no less than construction cost. It was also requested by the Board that staff negotiate within the Lease for 'Rental Loss' insurance to cover the WEDC should there be an event of casualty requiring repairs over a 120 clay period. Staff reiterated that similar to the Performance Agreement, the WEDC allows assignment of the Lease to an affiliate with the definition of an affiliate being an entity that owns Tenant or is owned by or is under common control with Tenant. The WEDC can assign its rights under the Lease to the City of Wylie or any governmental entity that replaces the WEDC at any time in the future. In addition to all Board members, Board Member Herzog specifically requested that the record reflect that the principals for Ascend are comprised of ex-employees of Extruders Division of Atrium Company which recently resigned their positions with Atrium. Further, the Board is aware that Ascend will be a direct competitor of Extruders. However, the WEDC Board stood firm in the fact that Ascend would absolutely be operating in a neighboring community, continuing to compete with Extruders, with no benefit from the additional tax base and jobs created. MOTION: A motion was made by John Yeager and seconded by Chris Seely authorizing Marvin Fuller to execute a Performance Agreement between the WEDC and Ascend Custom Extrusions. The WEDC Board voted 4 — FOR and 0 AGAINST in favor of the motion. WEDC — Minutes November 18, 2010 Page 5 of 5 ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Vice President Herzog adjourned the WEDC Board meeting at 8:20 a.m. v (/tfiltiir(7/ Marvin Fuller, President ATTEST: Samuel D. . Satterwhite Executive Director