BUSINESS MAINTENANCE AND CONTINUED PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTBUSINESS MAINTENANCE & CONTINUED
PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT
FOR USE BY APPLICANTS APPLYING IN THE
rwater
Mail to:
City of Clearwater
Attn: Economic Development Director
112 S. Osceola Ave
Clearwater, FL 33756
BUSINESS MAINTENANCE AND CONTINUED PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into this :21(/ day of MAI 2014 by and between
City of Clearwater, Florida, a municipal corporation of the State of Florida (the "City ") whose
mailing address is 112 South Osceola Avenue, Clearwater, Florida 33756 and Skye Lane
Properties, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, and Heritage Property & Casualty
Insurance Company, (together, "the Company "), whose mailing address is 700 Central Avenue,
Suite 500, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Florida and
Section 196.1995, Florida Statutes, provide that the City may grant Economic Development Ad
Valorem Tax Exemptions (EDAVTE) to New Businesses and Expansions of Existing
Businesses, as defined in Section 196.012 (15)(16), Florida Statutes, by ordinance provided that
the electors of the City, voting on the question in a referendum, authorize the City to adopt
such ordinances; and
WHEREAS, On November 6, 2012, City of Clearwater voters approved the
referendum, authorizing the City Council of the City of Clearwater (the "Council ") to grant
EDAVTEs pursuant to state law; and
WHEREAS, the Council recognizes that it is a function of local government to promote
economic development within its jurisdiction by providing financial incentives to encourage new
businesses to relocate within its jurisdiction and existing businesses to expand creating
employment opportunities and the utilization of local resources that will benefit the entire
community; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 29, Article VII of the Code of Ordinances City of Clearwater
(the "Code ") sets forth the process and procedures for implementing the EDAVTE program;
and,
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Section 29.204 of the Code, the Company submitted an
application to the City requesting an EDAVTE for the qualifying improvements to real property
and qualifying tangible personal property specified in its application, commencing with Tax
Year 2014 ( "the Company Application "); and,
WHEREAS, on January 16, 2014 , in recognition of the economic stimulus the Company
would provide to the community if it expanded its business, invested approximately six million
one hundred thousand dollars ($6,100,000.00), and relocated 54 jobs to the facility from St.
Petersburg, Florida, and created an additional 11 new jobs in the City paying an average annual
wage of no less than eighty -seven thousand ($87,000) the Council authorized an EDAVTE of the
assessed value of the net increase in qualifying improvements to real property and qualifying
tangible personal property as set forth in the Company Application, to facilitate the expansion of
its business ( "Skye Lane Properties, LLC, and Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption ") of seventy -five percent (75 %) for a period of five (5) years
commencing with Tax Year 2014 through Tax Year 2018 and fifty percent (50 %) for a period of
five (5) years commencing with Tax Year 2019 through Tax Year 2023; and,
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Ordinance No. 8536 -14, the Company agrees to satisfy the
continued performance conditions set forth in the Company Application.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and other
good and valuable consideration, hereby acknowledged by the parties, the Company and City agree
as follows:
1. Incorporation. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein in their
entirety.
2. Ad Valorem Tax Exemption. Pursuant to Ordinance No. 8536 -14, the
City shall provide an EDAVTE of the assessed value of the net increase in
qualifying improvements to real property and qualifying tangible personal
property as set forth in the Company Application, to facilitate the expansion of its
business ( "Skye Lane Properties, LLC, and Heritage Property & Casualty
Insurance Company Ad Valorem Tax Exemption ") of seventy -five percent (75 %)
for a period of five (5) years commencing with Tax Year 2014 through Tax Year
2018 and fifty percent (50 %) for a period of five (5) years commencing with Tax
Year 2019 through Tax Year 2023.
3. Business Maintenance and Continued Performance Conditions Requirement.
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 8536 -14, the Company, shall enter into an agreement
with the City satisfying the Business Maintenance and Continued Performance
Conditions as set forth in the Company Application as follows:
a. Commencement of Operations:
The Company will establish its corporate headquarters and
operations center at 2600/2650 McCormick Drive, Clearwater,
Florida 33759. They are currently located at 700 Central Avenue,
Suite 500, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. The Company, as of
November 25, 2013, has 54 full time employees at its current St.
Petersburg, Florida, facility. These employees will relocate to the
McCormick Drive facility.
b. Annual Report:
i. Evidence of satisfaction of information in the Company
Application dated November 25, 2013, and the Attachment Form
DR -418 must be provided in the Annual Report to the Economic
Development and Housing Department on or before March 1St of
each year for which the Exemption is granted. The Company shall
also timely comply with all filings required pursuant to F.S.
s.196.011.
c. Real Property Project Description:
i. The Company purchased the real property at 2600/2650
McCormick Drive, Clearwater, Florida, April 02, 2013 for nine
million two hundred thousand dollars ($9,200,000.00). New
construction to the real property at 2600/2650 McCormick Drive,
Clearwater, Florida will consist of a tri-level parking facility plus
interior renovations and other parking area renovations.
d. Tangible Personal Property and Real Property Capital Investment:
i. The Company shall purchase furniture, fixtures and equipment for
approximately two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00)
ii. Real property capital investment in the amount of approximately
four million dollars ($4,000,000.00) will be to construct a new tri-
level parking facility.
iii. Interior renovations and parking area renovations to the real
property will also be made for a capital investment of
approximately one million nine hundred thousand dollars
($1,900,000.00).
e. New Jobs:
i. The Company, will create eleven (11) additional jobs over a 1 -year
period. It is estimated that 75% of the employees will reside in
Pinellas County and 5% in the City limits.
f. Wages:
i. The Company represents that the average annual wage of all new
jobs shall together be no less than $87,000.
g.
Sales Factor /Current Sales:
i. The Company represents that for 2013 the sales inside the Tampa -
St. Petersburg - Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
was $36.3 million with a 27% sales factor and the sales outside the
MSA was $96.6 million with a sales factor of 73 %.
h. Other Council Considerations for Exemption Determination:
i. The Company shall use local suppliers, where available;
ii. The Company shall make every attempt to hire employees located
within City of Clearwater;
iii. The Company shall continue to be actively involved in the
community.
iv. The Company shall continue to strive to maintain a paperless
workflow in an industry that typically generates and consumes vast
paper resources.
4. Ordinance No. 8536 -14 Requirements. The Company shall abide by all other
requirements as defined in Ordinance No. 8536 -14.
5. Council Revocation.
a. If the Company fails to satisfy the Business Maintenance and Continued
Performance Conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement,
excluding 3(g) and 3(h), the Council may, upon 30 days written notice to
the Company adopt an ordinance revoking the ad valorem tax exemption
or take such other action with respect to the Skye Lane Properties, LLC,
Ad Valorem Exemption it deems appropriate.
b. Upon Revocation, the Council shall immediately notify the Pinellas
County Property Appraiser;
c. If it is determined that for any year within the Exemption Period, the
Company was not entitled to receive such Exemption, the Company shall
be subject to the taxes exempted as a result of such failure plus annual
interest at the maximum rate allowed by law;
d. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Company from reapplying for an ad
valorem tax exemption pursuant to State law.
6. Assignment. Except as hereinafter provided, neither this Agreement nor any
rights, privileges, or claims created by this Agreement may be transferred by the
Company without the prior written approval of the City, which approval will not
be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided that the Company
may assign this Agreement to any affiliate that assumes in writing all of the
Company's obligations under this Agreement and provides written notice of the
assignment to the City within thirty (30) days after such assignment. Any
attempted assignment in breach of this Agreement shall be void.
7. Controlling Law. This Agreement is entered into pursuant to the laws of the
State of Florida, and shall be construed and enforced thereunder. In the event of
litigation for any alleged breach of this Agreement, exclusive jurisdiction and
venue for such litigation shall be in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial District,
in and for City of Clearwater, Florida, or the United States District Court for the
Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. In the event of any litigation
concerning this Agreement, the parties waive all rights to a jury trial.
8. Notice. Any notices required under this Agreement shall be in writing and be
addressed to the parties as shown below. Notices shall be delivered by certified or
registered first class mail or by commercial courier service, and shall be deemed to
have been given or made as of the date received.
City of Clearwater
Economic Development & Housing
Dept
Attn: Geraldine Lopez, Director
112 S. Osceola Ave
Clearwater, FL 33756
727 -562 -4023 or 727 -562 -4031
Skye Lane Properties, LLC and
Heritage Property & Casualty
Insurance Company
Attn: Bruce Lucas, Board
Chairman & CIO
2600 McCormick Drive
Clearwater, FL 33759
727 - 362 -7261
9. Force Majeure. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Act or this Agreement
to the contrary, and subject to the terms of this Section, the Company failure to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, other than with respect to the
payment of money or the giving of any notice required hereunder, shall not be a
default, and no disqualification shall occur as a result thereof, if any such failure
or delay is due in whole in part to acts of God; acts of public enemy; war; riot;
sabotage; blockage; embargo; failure or inability to secure materials, supplies or
labor through ordinary sources by reason of shortages or priority; labor strikes,
lockouts or other labor or industrial disturbance (whether or not on the part of
agents or employees of either party hereto engaged in renovation or construction
at the Facility); civil disturbance; terrorist act; fire, flood, windstorm, hurricane,
earthquake or other casualty; any law, order, regulation or other action of any
governing authority; any action, inaction, order, ruling, moratorium, regulation,
statute, condition or other decision of any governmental agency having
jurisdiction over any portion of the Facility, over the renovation or construction
anticipated to occur thereon or over any uses thereof, or by delays in inspections
or in issuing approvals by private parties or permits by governmental agencies;
discovery of hazardous or toxic materials; failure of the Internet; failure of power,
telecommunication, data connectivity or other services to be delivered to the
Facility by any third party including any local utility provider; delays caused by
any dispute resolution process; or any cause whatsoever beyond the reasonable
control (excluding financial inability) of the party whose performance is required
hereunder, or any of its contractors or other representatives, whether or not similar
to any of the causes hereinabove stated.
10. Conflicting Law; Severability. If a Conflicting Law is enacted after the Effective
Date, then the City and the Company, shall meet and confer in good faith for a
period of no less than thirty (30) and no more than ninety (90) days to seek to
effectuate an amendment to this Agreement providing the City and the Company,
with the rights and remedies intended to be provided herein. Nothing herein shall
preclude either the City or the Company, from challenging the validity of any
Conflicting Law. Each provision in this Agreement is severable. If any such
provision is determined to be invalid or illegal, the validity and enforceability of
the remainder of this Agreement shall be unaffected. If the Economic
Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption, or any portion thereof, is deemed by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be ultra vices or not authorized by the laws or
Constitution of the State of Florida, then the City shall use reasonable efforts to
provide equivalent incentives to the Company,. as allowed by law.
11. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date of last signatory
hereto (the "Effective Date ") and, unless sooner terminated, shall continue in
force through December 31, 2023.
12. Amendments. This Agreement shall not be changed except by written instrument
signed by all the parties.
13. Binding Effect and Effectiveness; Representations and Warranties.
a. Subject to the specific provisions of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
parties and their respective successors and assigns, notwithstanding
changes in corporate or other governance.
b. The Company, represents and warrants to the City that as of the date
hereof and throughout the term of this Agreement:
i. The Company, is a for profit limited liability company, duly
organized under the laws of the State of Florida, maintains a place
of business within the State of Florida, and is validly existing and
is doing business in the State of Florida as the Company,.
ii. The Company, has the power and authority to own its properties
and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted and
has the power and authority to execute and perform this
Agreement;
iii. This Agreement (a) is the lawful, valid and binding agreement of
the Company, in its limited liability name enforceable against the
Company, in accordance with its terms; (b) does not violate any
order of any court or other agency of government binding on the
Companyā€˛ the charter documents of the Company, or any
provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which
the Company, is a party; and (c) does not conflict with, result in a
breach of, or constitute an event of default, or an event which, with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an event of
default, under any material indenture, agreement or other
instrument to which the Company, in its limited liability company
name is a party;
iv. The Company, has not received written notice of any action having
been filed against the Company, that challenges the validity of this
Agreement or the Company's, right and power to enter into and
perform this Agreement; and
14. Effective Date. This Agreement shall be effective on the date of the last signatory
hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City and Skye Lane Properties, LLC, and Heritage
Property & Casualty Insurance Company have executed the Agreement as of the date first above
written.
SKYE LANE PROPERTIES, LLC, AND
HERITAGE PROPERTY & CASUALTY
INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
Bruce Lucas
Title: Board Chairman & Chief Investment Officer
1 / 21
Date:
CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
By:
Approved as to form: Attest:
Pame a K Akin
City Attorney
William B. Horne II
City Manager
ut u, L
Rosemarie Call
City Clerk