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563 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in special session in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center in Concord, North Carolina on Thursday, April 16, 1998, at 7:00 P.M. with the Concord City Council. The purpose of the meeting was to conduct a closed session to discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in Cabarrus County as authorized by North Carolina General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(4) and to receive presentations and consider action to such in open session. Present - Chairman: Sue B. Casper Vice-Chairman: Carolyn B. Carpenter Commissioners: Jeffrey L. Barnhart Kenneth Mills Dr. Franklin C. Niblock, Jr. Also present were Mr. Frank W. Clifton, Jr., County Manager, and Mrs. Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to the Board. City of Concord officials present for the meeting included the following: Mayor George Liles; Council Members Alfred Brown, Lamar Barrier, Scott Padgett, Jim Ramseur, Allen Small and David Phillips; City Attorney Gordon Belo; Interim City Manager Tim Lowder; Planning Director Jeff Young; Finance Director Joyce Allman; and Deputy City Clerk Jill Chunn. Chairman Casper called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. and turned the meeting over to Mayor Liles. Mayor Liles called the Concord City Council meeting to order. He stated the purpose of the meeting was to discuss a possible incentive grant of some form to Marriott Conference Center to construct a resort conference hotel next to the Rocky River Golf Club on property to be purchased from the City of Concord. He further said the proposed facility would fill a need for a civic/conference center in this area, and the sale of the property would provide funds to build roads. However, Mayor Liles advised that incentives are necessary for Marriott to build the proposed facility. Also, he stated the City had determined there was no need for a closed session and would not go into a closed session unless the Board of Commissioners wished to do so. There was general consensus to remain in open session to hear the presentation by the City of Concord concerning the Marriott development. Mr. Leonard Sossamon, former Concord City Manager and current Consultant for the City, reviewed the interest in building a civic/conference center in Cabarrus County. He described various public/private partnerships that other communities have used to attract this type of facility. However, Mr. Sossamon stated in his opinion incentives such as those used for industrial and commercial/retail projects were preferable since the incentives have a defined start/stop date. He reported that he and Mr. Clifton as well as other City and County staff members visited a new conference facility in Kingsport, Tennessee in January 1997. At that time, they met Mr. Terry Harwood with Marriott who had indicated that he was looking for a site in this area to build a new facility. Mr. Jeff Young, Concord Planning Director, outlined the incentive proposal for the Marriott Resort Hotel and Conference Center. He proposed an increase in the local room tax from three to five percent, a grant equal to the five percent room tax for 10 years and a grant equal to 1.5 percent sales tax for 10 years. According to Mr. Young, the use of incentives would provide approximately $400,000.00 in property tax, approximately $45,000.00 in sales tax, room tax after the agreement term and a full service hotel and a conference/civic center. He stated the conference/civic center would fill a community need, the full service hotel would be a catalyst for quality development in the area and the land sale would provide funds needed to extend Weddington Road. In conclusion, Mr. Young recommended that the two boards direct staff to draft the hospitality industry incentive program with the provisions as proposed. Mr. Clifton stated that incentives are usually based on specific financial information and pro forma for a proposed project. Stating he was unaware of the Marriott proposal until tonight, he questioned the availability of figures and detailed information regarding the proposed project. Mr. Young stated only rough numbers were available and the City's proposal regarding the proposed Marriott project was in concept only at this time.