Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Director of the Department of Development is proposing a Downtown Office Incentive Agreement with Steven Schaefer Associates, Inc. dba Schaefer.
Founded in 1976, Schaefer has distinguished themselves as being a “different kind of structural engineering firm”. Through innovative strategies Schaefer has the ability to stand out with ideas and insight, solving complex engineering challenges in new ways, going beyond the typical solution, embracing new ideas and new technologies that make Schaefer solutions smarter and more successful. With three locations across the country Columbus isn’t the only home to Schaefer, reaching both Cincinnati, OH and Phoenix, AZ Schaefer has prided themselves because of their extensive growth here in Ohio.
Schaefer is proposing to expand from their current location and establish a new location in an 8,400 square foot downtown office space located at 235 N. 4th Street, Columbus, OH 43215, parcel number 010-001756 (“Project Site”), to expand and grow further into the Columbus market. Additionally, the company will create twenty (20) net new full-time permanent positions with an associated estimated annual payroll of approximately $1,615,000.00, and retain and relocate twenty-one (21) full-time permanent positions with an estimated associated payroll of approximately $1,696,182.00 at the Project Site.
Schaefer is requesting a Downtown Office Incentive from the City of Columbus to assist in the relocation and expansion of their Columbus location.
This legislation is presented as 30-day legislation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Downtown Office Incentive Agreement with Schaefer for a term of up to five (5) consecutive years in the consideration of twenty (20) net new full-time permanent positions with an estimated associated payroll of approximately $1,615,000.00 and the retention and relocation of twenty-one (21) full-time permanent positions with an estimated associated annual payroll of approximately $1,696,182.00 as provided in Columbus City Council Resolution Number 0088X-2007, adopted June 4, 2007. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City desires to increase employment opportunities and encourage the creation of new jobs in the City in order to improve overall economic climate of the City and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, Resolution Number 0088X-2007, adopted June 4, 2007, authorized the Department of Development to establish the Columbus Downtown Office Incentive program as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development has received a completed application for the Downtown
Office Incentive program from Steven Schaefer Associates, Inc. dba Schaefer; and
WHEREAS, founded in 1976, Schaefer has distinguished themselves as being a “different kind of structural engineering firm”. Through innovative strategies Schafer has the ability to stand out with ideas and insight, solving complex engineering challenges in new ways, going beyond the typical solution, embracing new ideas and new technologies that make Schaefer solutions smarter and more successful. With three locations across the country Columbus isn’t the only home to Schaefer, reaching both Cincinnati, OH and Phoenix, AZ Schaefer has prided themselves because of their extensive growth here in Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Schaefer is proposing to expand from their current location and establish a new location in an 8,400 square foot downtown office space located at 235 N. 4th Street, Columbus, OH 43215, parcel number 010-001756 (“Project Site”), to expand and grow further in Downtown Columbus; and
WHEREAS, with this expansion, Schaefer will create twenty (20) net new full-time permanent positions with an associated estimated annual payroll of approximately $1,615,000.00, and retain and relocate twenty-one (21) full-time permanent positions with an estimated associated payroll of approximately $1,696,182.00 at the Project Site; and
WHEREAS, Schaefer has indicated that a Downtown Office Incentive is crucial to its decision to expand and relocate operations within City of Columbus Downtown; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus desires to facilitate the future growth of Schaefer at the Project
Site by providing a Downtown Office Incentive, NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. Columbus City Council authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a City of Columbus Downtown Office Incentive Agreement and Schaefer pursuant to Columbus City Council Resolution Number 0088X-2007, for an annual cash payment equal to fifty percent (50%) of the amount of City withholding tax withheld on new employees for a term up to five (5) consecutive years on the estimated job creation of twenty (20) net new full-time permanent positions with an associated estimated annual payroll of approximately $1,615,000.00, and retain and relocate twenty-one (21) full-time permanent positions with an estimated associated payroll of approximately $1,696,182.00 at the Project Site.
SECTION 2. Each year of the term of the agreement with Schaefer the City’s obligation to pay the incentive is expressly contingent upon the passage of an ordinance appropriating and authorizing the expenditure of monies sufficient to make such payment and the certification of the City Auditor pursuant to Section 159 of the Columbus City Charter.
SECTION 3. That the City of Columbus Downtown Office Incentive Agreement is signed by Schaefer within 90 days of passage of this ordinance, or this ordinance and the credit herein shall be null and void.
SECTION 4. The City Council hereby extends authority to the Director of the Department of Development to amend the Schaefer City of Columbus Downtown Office Incentive Agreement for certain modifications to the agreement requesting in writing by the company and/or the City and deemed appropriate by the Director of Development with these certain modifications being specifically limited to reductions in length of term, methods of calculating the incentive, or adding or deleting business entities associated with the employment commitments related to this incentive. All other requested amendments must be approved by City Council.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.