OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

CHERYL L. BROWN                                                                                                                     117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

            DIRECTOR                                                                                                                                                                                                 4TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

   OFFICE (904) 630-1452                                                                                                                                                                                  JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA  32202

     FAX (904) 630-2906                                                                                                                                                                                                               

  E-MAIL: CLBROWN@coj.net

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING

January 22, 2013

1:00 p.m.

 

Location:  City Council Chamber, 1st floor, City Hall – St. James Building; 117 West Duval Street

    

In attendance:  Council Members John Crescimbeni (Chair), Bill Gulliford, Greg Anderson, Lori Boyer, Johnny Gaffney, Clay Yarborough and Stephen Joost (arr. 1:05)

Also: Council Member Doyle Carter (arr. 1:09); Peggy Sidman – General Counsel’s office; Jeff Clements – City Council Research Division,  Carol Owens – Legislative Services Division; Kirk Sherman and Janice Billy  – Council Auditor’s Office; Joe Whitaker – Office of Economic Development; Tom Stoltz and Tim Benson – Body Central Corp.

 

Meeting Convened: 1:03 p.m.

 

2013-43 (economic development incentives for Body Central Corp. for expansion of headquarters and distribution operations): Joe Whitaker of the Office of Economic Development gave an overview of Body Central’s corporate history in Jacksonville and its expansion plans.  The company’s growth has caused a need to move from the current facility on Powers Avenue (less than 200,000 square feet) to a new expanded location.  The company has chosen the Imeson International Industrial Park where it will lease approximately 400,000 square feet, pending the City’s decision on the requested incentive package.  Committee members asked questions of Mr. Whitaker about the incentive proposal and of Tom Stoltz, acting CEO of Body Central about the company’s financial performance and expansion plans.

 

Assistant Council Auditor Janice Billy explained several Auditor’s Office proposed amendments, including: a) listing the specific amounts being allocated  to the Enterprise Zone bonus, the Brownfield bonus and the QTI; b) attaching a revised agreement to correct the REV grant percentage to 35%, include a records retention requirement, and correct the base year amount to $2,683,276;  c) correcting a year reference to 2013; and d) attaching a revised Exhibit 1 (project summary) to include the correct capital investment of $10 million.  Mr. Whitaker indicated that the OED and Body Central were in agreement with the amendments.  The Auditor’s amendments were approved 7-0.

 

The bill was recommended for approval as amended 7-0.

 

Meeting adjourned:  1:22 p.m.

 

Minutes:           Jeff Clements, Council Research Division

             1.23.13     Posted: 10:00 a.m.

 

Tape:               Special Finance Committee  1.22.13

                        Legislative Services Division