Subject:     APPROVAL OF Cooperation AGREEMENT WITH YERBA BUENA, OPCO, LLC                   

 

COUNCIL DISTRICT:  8

SNI AREA:  N/A

 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Approval of an agreement with Yerba Buena, OPCO, LLC for funding and investigation of the feasibility of providing public financing for the acquisition and construction of public infrastructure improvements required for the Evergreen Industrial Development.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Evergreen Benefit Assessment District included along its eastern boundary approximately 352 acres of vacant land zoned for Industrial Park.  The property owner (Yerba Buena, OPCO, LLC) of the southern most 120 acres has received zoning and planned development approval for a 1,769,060 square foot industrial park.  They Yerba Buena, OPCO LLC have has requested that the City form a community facilities district to provide financing for the local public infrastructure improvements required for the development of their its project as well as some offsite public infrastructure improvements that are necessary for both their its development and the development of the remaining adjacent 232 acres adjacent to their site.

 

ANALYSIS

 

The City of San José creates community facilities districts (CFDs) to provide tax exempt bond in order to provide a financing mechanism to support the development of land in conformance with the City’s General Plan.   Typically, tax-exempt bonds are issued by the City for the public infrastructure required for development of the property within the CFD.  These bonds are offered through issued by the City and are repaid through special taxes, usually continuing for twenty to thirty years, against the properties within the boundaries of the proposed district. 

 

This agreement with the property owner/developer is being proposed to provide the City with funding to investigate the feasibility of forming and to take the initial steps towards formation of a community facilities district to fund the construction of public infrastructure to support the development.  It requires the developer to deposit $30,000 with the City to cover costs incurred by the City and it’s its consultants in the investigation of the feasibility of forming the district and performing the preliminary steps required for the formation of a district.  If costs exceed the initial deposit the agreement has provisions for additional deposits.  Upon formation ofIf the district is formed and bonds are issued and delivery of bond proceeds the developer shall be reimbursed from the bond proceeds for monies advanced to the City and expended on eligible investigation and formation costs.  Attached is a map of the proposed community facilities district.

 

PUBLIC OUTREACH

 

The Department of Public Works has been in contact with the property owner/developer throughout the development review process.  Staff has also contacted the owner of the adjacent 232 acres of developable land. 

 

COORDINATION

 

This memorandum and related documents were prepared in cooperation with the Office of the City Attorney and the Finance Department.

 

COST IMPLICATIONS

 

The deposit required by the agreement will cover all City staff and consultant costs in the event that a district is not formed or bonds are not sold.  If the district is formed and bonds are sold the developer shall be reimbursed from the bond proceeds for monies advanced to the City and expended on eligible investigation and formation costs. 

 

CEQA

 

Not applicable.

 

 

RAJEEV BATRA

Acting Director, Public Works Department