HomeMy WebLinkAbout22887 RESOLUTION NO. 22887
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS OPPOSING THE GOVERNOR'S FISCAL
YEAR 2011-12 PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE ENTERRPISE
ZONES IN CALIFORNIA.
WHEREAS, the origins of California's Enterprise Zone came through enactment
of two separate programs in 1984 — the Enterprise Zone Act and the Employment and
Economic Incentive Act; and
WHEREAS, the Enterprise Zone provides a geographically-targeted economic
development tool for poor and blighted communities by creating incentives for
businesses to hire new employees and purchase equipment for their businesses; and
WHEREAS, on November 11t", 2006, the Coachella Valley Enterprise Zone
Authority received its renewed designation as an Enterprise Zone from the California
Department of Housing and Community Development; and
WHEREAS, the cities and communities of the Coachella Valley experience high
normal and seasonal unemployment each year; and
WHEREAS, the economic crisis has exacerbated this situation, resulting in
unemployment rates exceeding 20% in some cities and communities within the
Coachella Valley; and
WHEREAS, these high unemployment rates serve to increase poverty, crime,
and foreclosures of homes, and lead to the disruption of public services to those in the
community most in need of assistance; and
WHEREAS, the Coachella Valley Enterprise Zone Authority has worked to
combat these social problems by using the Enterprise Zone's incentives to encourage
new businesses to locate within the Enterprise Zone and existing businesses to expand
their operations; and
WHEREAS, the Coachella Valley Enterprise Zone has worked with local
organizations and programs, including the Riverside County Economic Development
Agency, the Riverside County Workforce Development Center, the Coachella Valley
Economic Partnership and the Economic Development Departments of the valley's
municipal jurisdictions in an effort to encourage businesses to hire the most at-risk
individuals; and
WHEREAS, the Coachella Valley Enterprise Zone has issued a total of 2,053
Hiring Credit Vouchers, with 473 being for New Positions to 169 local businesses in
2010; and
Resolution No. 22887
Page 2
WHEREAS, the Enterprise Zone has served to attract additional businesses,
including manufacturers to the Coachella Valley, and has helped many others stay in
business or expand their operations; and
WHEREAS, companies moving to or remaining in the Coachella Valley have
stated specifically that the Enterprise Zone was a key component in their decisions to
locate or remain within the Coachella Valley and California; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs within the Coachella Valley acknowledges
that the attraction of new businesses and the retention and expansion of existing
businesses is the most effective way of guaranteeing the long-term well-being of the
cities and communities of the Coachella Valley.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Palm Springs recognizes that the Enterprise Zone
Program is one of the most valuable state incentives to create new jobs, grow existing
businesses, and compete with other states to attract outside investment to California;
and
SECTION 2. The City of Palm Springs believes that the Enterprise Zone
Program has had a significant positive effect on business activity and economic growth
in the Coachella Valley; and
SECTION 3. The City of Palm Springs believes that eliminating the most critical
business assistance program in the state would be a huge setback to improving
California's business climate and its struggles to reach an economic recovery, and is
opposed to the State of California's attempt to eliminate the Enterprise Zone program.
ADOPTED THIS 16TH DAY OF MARCH, 2011
David H. Ready, anager
ATTEST:
ames Thompson, City Clerk
Resolution No. 22887
Page 3
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 22887 is a full, true and correct copy, and was dul� adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on the 15 day of March, 2011,
by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember Hutcheson, Mayor Pro Tern Weigel,
and Mayor Pougnet.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Councilmember Mills.
ABSTAIN: None.
?me2s-Thompson, City Clerk
f Palm Springs, California