Chapter 5.36
TAX RELIEF FOR ENTERPRISE ZONE INVESTMENTS

Sections:

5.36.010    Policy.

5.36.020    Qualified investment.

5.36.030    Eligible enterprises.

5.36.040    Local benefits.

5.36.050    Regulatory assistance.

5.36.010 Policy.

The city of St. Helens hereby find and declares that the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this city are dependent upon the continued encouragement, development, growth and expansion of employment, business, industry and commerce within this city. Therefore, it is the purpose of this chapter to stimulate employment, business and industrial growth by providing local assistance to qualified businesses and industries consistent with the state of Oregon designation of the St. Helens/Columbia City enterprise zone. (Ord. 2500 § 1, 1986)

5.36.020 Qualified investment.

To qualify for local tax and regulatory relief, new development and expansions within the city must have obtained certification from the county assessor of Columbia County, in accordance with Oregon laws. (Ord. 3059 § 1, 2007; Ord. 2500 § 2, 1986)

5.36.030 Eligible enterprises.

Businesses that meet the requirements for enterprise zones as provided by Oregon law shall qualify for tax and regulatory assistance under this chapter if they are:

(1) New businesses starting up; or

(2) Existing businesses that increase the average number of full-time employees within the zone by at least 10 percent over the preceding year. (Ord. 3059 § 2, 2007; Ord. 2500 § 3, 1986)

5.36.040 Local benefits.

Eligible enterprises with a qualified investment qualify for the following local tax and fee benefits:

(1) All city permits associated with the qualified investments shall be reduced by 50 percent of the permit fee to be charged at the time the permit is issued.

(2) Business license fees shall be reduced by 50 percent for the first calendar year of business; 40 percent for the second calendar year of business; 30 percent for the third calendar year of business; 20 percent for the fourth calendar year of business; and 10 percent for the fifth calendar year of business after the new capital expenditures of the qualified investment.

(3) City sewer and water fees for unincorporated lands served by the city of St. Helens shall be based on rates for businesses inside the city.

(4) No surplus water agreement shall be required for unincorporated lands served by the city and water service shall not be interruptible so long as the user’s annexation agreement is not violated. (Ord. 2534, 1987)

5.36.050 Regulatory assistance.

All city departments are hereby directed to cooperate to ensure that eligible enterprises with qualified investment receive the following considerations:

(1) Processing of all permit applications for qualified investments ahead of all others.

(2) Submission of any ordinance with a direct economic impact on local businesses to the port of St. Helens and St. Helens chamber of commerce for 30 days for review and comment prior to final adoption unless an emergency is identified and formally declared.

(3) Personal staff assistance for potential developers of qualified investments and cooperation with the staffs of Columbia City and Columbia County to facilitate the processing of any permits.

(4) Facilitating the extension of urban services into unincorporated areas when the city’s planning interest can be protected by a delayed annexation agreement. (Ord. 2500 § 5, 1986)