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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20170702.tiffRESOLUTION RE: APPROVE AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 30-11-123, C.R.S. AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN - J.M. SMUCKER, LLC WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with an Agreement Pursuant to Section 30-11-123, C.R.S. between the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, and J.M. Smucker, LLC, with terms and conditions being as stated in said agreement, and WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Agreement Pursuant to Section 30-11-123, C.R.S., between the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, and J.M. Smucker, LLC, be, and hereby is, approved. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chair be, and hereby is, authorized to sign said agreement. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 8th day of March, A.D., 2017. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO ATTEST: Weld - . my Clerk to the BY: County Attorney Date of signature: GG FT COL J) o3lIO(t1 Steve Moreno, Pr"o-Tem Sean P. Conway arbara Kirkmey 2017-0702 F 10064 AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO C.R.S. & 30-11-123 THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into by and between the County of Weld, a body corporate and politic of the state of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Weld, whose address is P.O. Box 758, 1 150 O Street, Greeley, CO 80632, hereinafter referred to as, "Taxing Authority," and J.M. Smucker LLC, an Ohio limited liability company, with Colorado address of 545 Highway 119, Longmont, CO 80504 (the "Facility") and referred to hereinafter as "Taxpayer" or the "Company", to be effective in accordance with Section 11(e) hereof. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, Taxing Authority desires to promote economic development within Weld County, Colorado, for the purposes of generating employment opportunities for residents of Weld County, thereby stimulating the economic well-being of Weld County's citizens, and WHEREAS, C.R.S. § 30-I1-123 provides that the Taxing Authority may negotiate incentive payments to taxpayers who establish new business facilities in Weld County or who expand existing business facilities in Weld County, and WHEREAS, Taxpayer represents that it intends to invest in qualifying personal property to be located in the Facility, and wishes to receive the incentive payment benefits available pursuant to C.R.S. § 30-I1-123, and WHEREAS, Taxing Authority has determined that Taxpayer is currently eligible to receive the incentive payment benefits available pursuant to C.R.S. § 30-1 1-123, and there are no other eligibility criteria imposed by the Taxing Authority, and WHEREAS, the Weld County Technical Job Training Program (the "Program") is an investment in training Weld County residents who are working in Weld County in an effort to enhance the Weld County workforce, and WHEREAS, Taxpayer represents that it intends to invest in the Facility for use as a food processing facility that will offer long term employment opportunities within and for residents of Weld County, and WHEREAS, Weld County has approved a $500,000 grant award to Taxpayer under the Weld County Technical Job Training Program in order to help pay for a portion of the training costs for newly hired full-time employees (as further defined herein, "FTE's") who are residents of Weld County, which grant will assist with training costs necessary for the Facility to become operational, support the Taxpayer's competitiveness, increase transferable job skills for such FTE's, enhance worker's resumes and increase long- term employment opportunities for FTE's, and 2017-0702 {Qz2?t24s_12} Page 1 of 10 WHEREAS, Taxing Authority has determined that the combined payment of the $500,000 grant award by the Taxing Authority for training and the Taxing Authority's repayment for fifty -percent (50%) of the amount of personal property taxes paid by the Taxpayer for personal property per this agreement do not exceed the amount allowable as incentive payments pursuant to C.R.S. § 30-I 1-123, and WHEREAS, Taxing Authority has developed training program requirements and eligibility requirements for the Program, and the Taxpayer is required to enter into an agreement with Taxing Authority which summarizes the Program grant award parameters applicable to Taxpayer's award. NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree to the following: 1. Recitals; Defined Terms. The foregoing recitals are incorporated into and expressly made a part of this Agreement. Capitalized terms used in the recitals shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals. In addition, the following definitions shall apply to capitalized terms set forth in this Agreement: a. "Eligible Employees" are employees who meet the criteria set forth in Paragraph 2(a). b. "Eligible Property" means any item of personal property located at the Facility first appearing on the personal property declaration schedule submitted by the Taxpayer to the Weld County Assessor in calendar years 2018-2023 and which otherwise meets the criteria to qualify for incentive payments under C.R.S. § 30-I1-123, as in effect on the date of this Agreement. c. "FTE" or "full-time employees" means individuals who are scheduled to perform services for Company at the Facility for at least 40 hours per week, including one or more individuals who together perform services for such time periods through a job -sharing arrangement. d. "Person" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, or any other business entity. e. "Rebate Term" means a ten (10) year period commencing with the calendar year the Taxpayer first pays personal property taxes on each item of the Eligible Property to the Weld County Treasurer and continuing through the tenth (10th) calendar year thereafter. By way of example, the Rebate Term for an item of Eligible Property reported on a personal property declaration schedule submitted to the Weld County Assessor during the calendar year 2018 will be assessed and taxed on January I, 2019, and the tax payment will be due and payable on January I, 2020. Thus, the Rebate Term for that item of Eligible Property would be calendar year 2020 through calendar year 2029. Similarly, if an item of Eligible Property is first reported on a personal property declaration schedule submitted to the Weld County Assessor during the calendar year 2022, it will be assessed _{ozz?t24s= t2} Page 2 of 10 and taxed on January I, 2023, with the tax payment due and payable on January 1, 2024, and the Rebate Term for that item of Eligible Property would be calendar year 2024 through calendar year 2033. f. "Training Costs" shall include (i) development costs for training materials (including the Company's internal development costs consisting of out-of-pocket costs for materials, and internal costs for personnel involved in the production of such materials), (ii) amounts paid to local community colleges for costs or tuition or services, or reimbursed to employees in connection with classes attended at local community colleges, (iii) amounts paid to vendors for services or materials used in training employees, and (iv) travel costs incurred in connection with or reimbursed to employees for travel expenses to train on equipment. g. "Wages" shall include all amounts for labor or service performed by employees, whether the amount is fixed, by salary or ascertained by the standard of time, task, piece, commission basis, or other method of calculating the same (and including overtime pay), all amounts paid for vacation days and holidays, all bonus payments and all commission payments. 2. Job Training Grant. Taxing Authority hereby grants Taxpayer a job training grant in the amount of $500,000 (the "Grant"), under the Program, for reimbursement of Training Costs for Eligible Employees, subject to the following terms and conditions: a. Eligible Employees. Eligible Employees must be (i) a Weld County resident at the date of employment and through the period of training, (ii) have not been previously employed by Company in the last 12 months, (iii) eligible to work in the United States of America, and (iv) employed by the Company as a permanent, non -seasonal FTE. b. Company Certification. To receive payment of the Grant, the Company must: (i) certify that the Facility -wide average hourly Wage is either (A) on schedule to be, by December 31, 2023, or (B) is then, equal to or greater than $23.55/hour or an annual salary of $48,976.20, and that the FTE's for whom payment is sought are Eligible Employees; (ii) provide the documentation described in Paragraph 3 below; and (iii) submit a request for payment as described in Paragraph 3 below. 3. Payment of Job Training Grant. Each request for payment shall be submitted to the Program Representative, no more frequently than quarterly, beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2017 and ending with the quarter ending December 31, 2023 and shall include: a. A list of the Eligible Employees trained during the preceding calendar quarter and any preceding calendar quarter for which a request has not already been made, including the reported residence address for such Eligible Employee. _(02Z7_1 246_712} Page 3 of 10 b. A summary of the type of training such Eligible Employees have received. c. A dollar value request for reimbursement. d. Documentation of the Company's total aggregated Training Costs, along with the calculation of Training Costs for the Eligible Employees listed in the request, determined by dividing total aggregate Training Costs by total FTE's that attended training to arrive at a Training Cost per FTE, multiplied by the number of Eligible Employees. e. Calculation of the Facility -wide average hourly Wage, which must be equal to or greater than $23.55/hour or $48,976.20 annual salary no later than December 31, 2023 to qualify for payment of the amount requested and, if such Wage has not yet been attained, a certification that Company reasonably believes such Wage will be attained. f If requested, an explanation of the purpose and utility of the training for which Training Costs were incurred. Requests can be submitted through the quarter ending December 31, 2023, subject to availability of unused funds in the Grant. 4. Program Representative. The designated representative administering the Program on behalf of Weld County (herein referred to as the "Program Representative") is currently the Director of Finance and Administration, with an address of PO Box 758, 1150 O Street, Greeley, Colorado 80631. Such Program Representative may be changed by the Taxing Authority upon written notice given to Taxpayer, no less than 30 days prior to its effective date. 5. Rebate of Personal Property Tax. Subject to annual appropriation by Taxing Authority, fifty -percent (50%) of the amount of personal property taxes paid by the Taxpayer during the Rebate Term attributable to Eligible Property ("Tax Incentive Payments") shall be paid to the Taxpayer by the Taxing Authority. Taxpayer shall submit to the Weld County Assessor an affidavit certifying the aggregate cost and year of acquisition of Taxpayer's personal property that, to Taxpayer's best knowledge, information and belief, is Eligible Property, during each Rebate Term. The amounts so certified shall be subject to review by the Weld County Assessor. Any Tax Incentive Payments made pursuant to this Agreement shall be rebates of taxes assessed and paid and shall not be deemed to reduce the assessed value of, or the levy of taxes upon, any property within Weld County for the purposes of Article XIV, Section 14-7 of the Home Rule Charter of Weld County. 6. Conditions to Tax Incentive Payments. Tax Incentive Payments shall be made by Taxing Authority only upon appropriation, and only if: _[02271246_12) Page 4 of 10 a) All taxes and assessments levied and assessed on Taxpayer by Taxing Authority for the Facility are current, and b) Taxpayer remains eligible to receive the Tax Incentive Payments under C.R.S. § 30- 11-123, as in effect on the date of this Agreement. 7. Payment of Tax Incentive Payments. Taxpayer shall request a Tax Incentive Payment by submitting a written request for such payment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, to Weld County Director of Finance and Administration, which request shall (i) be made after payment of all personal property taxes due and payable by Taxpayer for that calendar year but no later than October V of each year, (ii) include a copy of the current Property Tax Notice with verification that all taxes are paid, (iii) certify the cost of the Eligible Property by providing an itemized list that includes, for each piece of Eligible Property, a brief description of such equipment, the year acquired, the original cost, and confirmation that the equipment is being utilized at the Facility, and (iv) identify the current number of FTE's employed by the Taxpayer along with the percentage of whom claim residence in Weld County. The Tax Incentive Payment shall be paid to Taxpayer within 90 days of delivery of such completed request for payment. Requests for a Tax Incentive Payment shall be submitted to the Weld County Director of Finance and Administration by Taxpayer on or before October 1st of each year or Taxpayer waives the right to receive payment for that year. 8. Restriction on Payments. If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any portion of this Agreement, or declares C.R.S. § 30-11-123 (as may be amended from time to time), to be invalid or unconstitutional as it applies to this Agreement, then Tax Incentive Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary to render this Agreement valid and constitutional. 9. Limitations. Taxing Authority has determined that all Tax Incentive Payments agreed to be made under this Agreement and the Grant are currently legal under the laws of the State of Colorado and all laws, rules, resolutions and policies of Taxing Authority, and will not cause a reduction in the annual assessment and levy of ad valorem taxes pursuant to either Article XIV, Section 14-7 of the Home Rule Charter of Weld County or C.R.S. § 29-1-301. However, should a final, non -appealable ruling by a court of law or other adjudicative body (excluding Taxing Authority) determine that any payments made by Taxing Authority hereunder are illegal or must be applied to reduce the total ad valorem tax levies in Weld County, then Taxpayer shall repay such amounts to Weld County to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to comply with law or to avoid a reduction of the Weld County ad valorem tax levies. 10. Appropriation/TABOR. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed a pledge of the Taxing Authority's credit or a payment guarantee by the Taxing Authority. All financial obligations of the Taxing Authority under this Agreement are contingent upon appropriation, budgeting, and availability of specific funds to discharge such obligations. Any financial obligation of the Taxing Authority under this Agreement which may mature in a future fiscal year is subject to the availability of revenues and appropriation by the Taxing Authority of sufficient funds to meet such obligation. Consequently, this Agreement does not create a multiple fiscal year obligation of the .10227124@_12} Page 5 of 10 Taxing Authority under Article X, Section 20 (4) of the Colorado Constitution. Nevertheless, the Taxing Authority hereby represents to Taxpayer that it has appropriated funds sufficient to discharge its obligations hereunder for the year 2017, and that it will take reasonable steps to appropriate all other funds sufficient to discharge its obligations hereunder in a timely manner to meet its financial obligations hereunder. II. Miscellaneous. a. This Agreement is not assignable by either party, except with the express prior written consent of the parties, provided however that Taxpayer may, without consent, assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Affiliate. For purposes of this provision, an "Affiliate" of Taxpayer means any other Person which, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, Taxpayer, and "control" means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting capital stock, by contract, or otherwise. Taxpayer shall promptly notify Taxing Authority of any such assignment to any Affiliate of Taxpayer. b. Acceptance of any Tax Incentive Payment by Taxpayer constitutes agreement by both parties to fund the Tax Incentive Payment for the tax year involved. c. Taxpayer agrees that it shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of its workforce employed at the facility are Weld County residents during the term of this Agreement. d. Each of the parties will execute and deliver such other instruments and documents and will take all such other actions as the other party may reasonably request and as may reasonably be required in order to effectuate the purpose of this Agreement and to carry out its terms. e. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. "I his Agreement shall be effective on the last date on which this Agreement is executed by both the Taxing Authority and Taxpayer. f. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes and replaces all prior and contemporaneous agreements and representations, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. g. No variation or modification of this Agreement, nor any waiver of the Agreement's provisions or conditions, shall be binding unless made in writing and signed by duly authorized officers of the County and Taxpayer. h. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. _�o_zzTlza6_12) Page 6 of 10 i. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the state of Colorado. j. Captions and headings contained herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this Agreement. 12. Notices. All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be effective when delivered in the case of hand delivery or delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when transmitted, in the case of electronic transmission receipt of which is acknowledged and confirmed, or five days after mailing, when mailed, provided that mailed notices shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be sent to the following addressees at the following addresses or email addresses or to such other addressees or email addresses as a party may designate from time to time by notice given pursuant to this paragraph: If to the County: With a Copy to: If to Taxpayer: Board of County Commissioners P.O. Box 758 Greeley, CO 80632 Weld County Attorney 1150 O Street Greeley, CO 80631 J.M. Smucker LLC Attn: Legal Department One Strawberry Lane Orville, OH 44667 13. No Third Party Beneficiaries. It is expressly understood and agreed that the enforcement of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and all rights of action relating to such enforcement, shall be strictly reserved to the undersigned parties and nothing in this Agreement shall give or allow any claim or right of action whatsoever by any other person not included in this Agreement. It is the express intention of the undersigned parties that any entity other than the undersigned parties receiving services or benefits under this Agreement shall be an incidental beneficiary only. [BALANCE OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW.] .L0_2271246_l2} Page 7 of 10 P1 The above and foregoing Agreement was hereby accepted and approved on the �day .D., 2017. ATTEST: W S JCS ;04. Weld Co . n % Clerk to the Bo. rd BY: Deputy Cl -,� to he B APPROVED AS TO FUND aitut Controller APPROj(.�D AS• TO FORM: County Attorney BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD CO �, TY, COLORADO Julie A. ozad, Chair 0 8 2Q17 VED AS TO SUBSTANCE: [BALANCE OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK; TAXPAYER SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW.] _ razzi?4s_ 12} Page 8 of 10 O10 /7-070 rf1 Accepted and agreed on the day ofira-4•f '11, 2017. TAXPAYER: J.M Smucker LLC, an Ohio limited liability company By: _ Name: / Mark R. Belgya Its: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 02271246 -12} Page 9 of 10 EXHIBIT A SAMPLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REFUND REQUEST LETTER [Date] Weld County Commissioners Attn: Director of Finance & Administration P.O. Box 758 Greeley, CO 80632 Re: Weld County Personal Property Tax Refund Incentive Agreement (tax notice account # Dear Per agreement number [insert County incentive agreement number], enclosed please find our affidavit certifying the aggregate cost and year of acquisition of eligible personal property for our facility located at 545 Highway 119, Longmont, CO 80504 (the "Facility") and appearing on the personal property declaration schedule submitted to the Weld County Assessor. This personal property first appeared on a schedule submitted to the Weld County Assessor in calendar years 2018-2023 and the equipment is currently in use at this facility. Enclosed you will also find verification that all current personal property tax/assessments have been paid in full. [J.M. Smucker LLC] currently employs full-time employees at the Facility and (% ) of these employees have reported residency in Weld County. Per the agreement, 50% of the personal property taxes paid on this property shall be reimbursed to J.M. Smucker LLC during the Rebate Term (as defined in the agreement). Therefore, we anticipate a refund of approximately $ per the attached [insert year] personal property tax notice for taxes due in [insert year]. Should you have any questions or need additional information please contact me at (phone number). Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Company Official Name & Title Attachments X02271246_10 Page 10 of 10 Hello