How areas are chosen and nominated as enterprise zones

(a) The mayor or council may nominate an area to be designated as an enterprise zone; provided, that all nominations shall be approved by the council by resolution. (b) The nominated area shall be located within one or more contiguous United States census tracts that, based upon the latest census tract data, meet at least one of the following criteria: (1) Twenty-five percent or more of the population of the area shall have incomes below eighty percent of the median family income of the County; or (2) The unemployment rate in the area shall be one and a half times the average unemployment rate for the State. (c) In nominating an area for designation as an enterprise zone, the mayor and the council shall consider the economic conditions of the area, the potential benefits which may accrue to the County from business and industrial development in the area, and the need and potential for job creation in the area. (d) Following approval by the council by resolution, the mayor or the mayor's designated representative shall submit an application to the State DBEDT for processing and recommendation to the governor for designation of the nominated area as an enterprise zone. The application shall include: (1) A written description of the boundaries of the proposed zone; (2) A map identifying the proposed enterprise zone boundaries relative to the boundaries of the census tracts that will be fully or partially included in the zone; and, relative to the State land use district classifications, publicly held lands, and County general plan and/or development plan designations; and (3) A statement indicating the local incentives proposed by the County. (1994, ord 94-8, sec 1.)31-3