By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 2472
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Richfield Ranch Water Control and
Improvement District of Harris County, Texas; granting a limited
power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds;
providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle I, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended by adding Chapter 9086 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 9086. RICHFIELD RANCH WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 9086.0101. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the district's board of directors.
(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(3) "Director" means a board member.
(4) "District" means the Richfield Ranch Water Control
and Improvement District of Harris County, Texas.
Sec. 9086.0102. NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a water
control and improvement district created under Section 59, Article
XVI, Texas Constitution.
Sec. 9086.0103. CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTORS' ELECTION
REQUIRED. The temporary directors shall hold an election to
confirm the creation of the district and to elect five permanent
directors as provided by Section 49.102, Water Code.
Sec. 9086.0104. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
9086.0103 until each municipality in whose corporate limits or
extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located has
consented by ordinance or resolution to the creation of the
district and to the inclusion of land in the district.
Sec. 9086.0105. FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT.
(a) The district is created to serve a public purpose and benefit.
(b) The district is created to accomplish the purposes of:
(1) a water control and improvement district as
provided by general law and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
Constitution, including the collection, transportation,
processing, disposal, and control of domestic, industrial, or
communal waste and the gathering, conducting, diverting, and
control of local stormwater or other harmful excesses of water; and
(2) Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, that
relate to the construction, acquisition, improvement, operation,
or maintenance of macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
Sec. 9086.0106. INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY. (a) The
district is initially composed of the territory described by
Section 2 of the Act enacting this chapter.
(b) The boundaries and field notes contained in Section 2 of
the Act enacting this chapter form a closure. A mistake made in the
field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative process
does not affect the district's:
(1) organization, existence, or validity;
(2) right to issue any type of bond for the purposes
for which the district is created or to pay the principal of and
interest on a bond;
(3) right to impose a tax; or
(4) legality or operation.
SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 9086.0201. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district
is governed by a board of five elected directors.
(b) Except as provided by Section 9086.0202, directors
serve staggered four-year terms.
Sec. 9086.0202. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) On or after the
effective date of the Act enacting this chapter, the owner or owners
of a majority of the assessed value of the real property in the
district may submit a petition to the commission requesting that
the commission appoint as temporary directors the five persons
named in the petition. The commission shall appoint as temporary
directors the five persons named in the petition.
(b) Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under
Section 9086.0103; or
(2) the fourth anniversary of the effective date of
the Act enacting this chapter.
(c) If permanent directors have not been elected under
Section 9086.0103 and the terms of the temporary directors have
expired, successor temporary directors shall be appointed or
reappointed as provided by Subsection (d) to serve terms that
expire on the earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under
Section 9086.0103; or
(2) the fourth anniversary of the date of the
appointment or reappointment.
(d) If Subsection (c) applies, the owner or owners of a
majority of the assessed value of the real property in the district
may submit a petition to the commission requesting that the
commission appoint as successor temporary directors the five
persons named in the petition. The commission shall appoint as
successor temporary directors the five persons named in the
petition.
SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 9086.0301. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The district
has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
which the district is created.
Sec. 9086.0302. WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
POWERS AND DUTIES. The district has the powers and duties provided
by the general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 51,
Water Code, applicable to water control and improvement districts
created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and
specifically including the powers and duties authorized under
Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Water Code.
Sec. 9086.0303. AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS. Under Section
52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may design,
acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, operate,
maintain, and convey to this state, a county, or a municipality for
operation and maintenance macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
Sec. 9086.0304. ROAD STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. (a) A
road project must meet all applicable construction standards,
zoning and subdivision requirements, and regulations of each
municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial
jurisdiction the road project is located.
(b) If a road project is not located in the corporate limits
or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, the road
project must meet all applicable construction standards, zoning and
subdivision requirements, and regulations of each county in which
the road project is located.
(c) If the state will maintain and operate the road, the
Texas Transportation Commission must approve the plans and
specifications of the road project.
Sec. 9086.0305. COMPLIANCE WITH MUNICIPAL CONSENT
ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION. The district shall comply with all
applicable requirements of any ordinance or resolution that is
adopted under Section 42.042 or 42.0425, Local Government Code, and
consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of land
in the district.
Sec. 9086.0306. LIMITATION ON USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN. The
district may not exercise the power of eminent domain outside the
district boundaries to acquire a site or easement for:
(1) a recreational facility, as defined by Section
49.462, Water Code; or
(2) a road project authorized by Section 9086.0303.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 9086.0401. ELECTIONS REGARDING TAXES OR BONDS.
(a) The district may issue, without an election, bonds and other
obligations secured by:
(1) revenue other than ad valorem taxes; or
(2) contract payments described by Section 9086.0403.
(b) The district must hold an election in the manner
provided by Chapters 49 and 51, Water Code, to obtain voter approval
before the district may impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds
payable from ad valorem taxes.
(c) The district may not issue bonds payable from ad valorem
taxes to finance a road project unless the issuance is approved by a
vote of a two-thirds majority of the district voters voting at an
election held for that purpose.
Sec. 9086.0402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a) If
authorized at an election held under Section 9086.0401, the
district may impose an operation and maintenance tax on taxable
property in the district in accordance with Section 49.107, Water
Code.
(b) The board shall determine the tax rate. The rate may not
exceed the rate approved at the election.
Sec. 9086.0403. CONTRACT TAXES. (a) In accordance with
Section 49.108, Water Code, the district may impose a tax other than
an operation and maintenance tax and use the revenue derived from
the tax to make payments under a contract after the provisions of
the contract have been approved by a majority of the district voters
voting at an election held for that purpose.
(b) A contract approved by the district voters may contain a
provision stating that the contract may be modified or amended by
the board without further voter approval.
SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Sec. 9086.0501. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER
OBLIGATIONS. The district may issue bonds or other obligations
payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, impact fees,
revenue, contract payments, grants, or other district money, or any
combination of those sources, to pay for any authorized district
purpose.
Sec. 9086.0502. TAXES FOR BONDS. At the time the district
issues bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, the
board shall provide for the annual imposition of a continuing
direct ad valorem tax, without limit as to rate or amount, while all
or part of the bonds are outstanding as required and in the manner
provided by Chapter 51, Water Code.
Sec. 9086.0503. BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS. At the time of
issuance, the total principal amount of bonds or other obligations
issued or incurred to finance road projects and payable from ad
valorem taxes may not exceed one-fourth of the assessed value of the
real property in the district.
Sec. 9086.0504. BONDS FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
(a) The district may develop recreational facilities and issue
bonds for recreational facilities as provided by Chapter 49, Water
Code, regardless of whether the district's territory overlaps with
the territory of a political subdivision that is authorized to
develop recreational facilities and issue bonds for recreational
facilities under Chapter 49, Water Code.
(b) The authority of the district to develop recreational
facilities and issue bonds for recreational facilities under this
section does not limit the authority of another political
subdivision whose territory the territory of the district may
overlap, wholly or partly, to develop recreational facilities and
issue bonds for recreational facilities under Chapter 49, Water
Code.
SECTION 2. The Richfield Ranch Water Control and
Improvement District of Harris County, Texas, initially includes
all the territory contained in the following area:
Being a 514.99 acre tract of land located within the Edward
Goodsir Survey, A-285, and the H.T.&B.R.R. Co. Survey, A-402, all
in Harris County, Texas; said 514.99 acre tract being a part of a
call 2523.670 acre tract of land recorded in Harris County Clerk's
File (H.C.C.F.) Number U036618 of the Official Public Records of
Real Property of Harris County (O.P.R.R.P.H.C) and all of ten (10)
call 0.115 acre tracts of land recorded in Clerks File Numbers
V919383, V919382, V919381, V919380, Y493816, V925363,
RP-2018-129140, V925362, V925364 and V925366 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C;
said 514.99 acre tract being more particularly described by metes
and bounds as follows (all bearings are referenced to the south line
of said 2523.670 acre tract);
Commencing at a 3/4-inch iron rod found at an interior corner
of said 2523.670 acre tract and the northeast corner of a call 3.220
acre tract of land recorded in Volume 6368, Page 357 of the Harris
County Deed Records (H.C.D.R.), and being on the south Right-of-Way
(R.O.W.) line of the Union Pacific Railroad (100 feet wide)
recorded in Volume 964, Page 88 of the H.C.D.R.;
Thence, through said 2523.670 acre tract, South 17 degrees 34
minutes 16 seconds West, a distance of 450.37 feet to the Point of
Beginning of the herein described tract of land, same being on the
common line of said 2523.670 acre tract and a call 523.376 acre
tract of land recorded in Clerk's File Number H793053 of the
O.P.R.R.P.H.C.;
Thence, through said 2523.670 acre tract. the following five
(5) courses:
1. South 68 degrees 09 minutes 04 seconds East, a
distance of 2,829.49 feet;
2. 1,014.11 feet along the arc of a curve to the right,
said curve having a central angle of 05 degrees 50 minutes 03
seconds, a radius of 9,959.16 feet and a chord that bears South 00
degrees 42 minutes 03 seconds East, a distance of 1,013.67 feet;
3. South 02 degrees 12 minutes 59 seconds West, a
distance of 1,730.52 feet;
4. 1,477.19 feet along the arc of a curve to the left,
said curve having a central angle of 03 degrees 27 minutes 58
seconds, a radius of 24,418.32 feet and a chord that bears South 00
degrees 29 minutes 00 seconds West, a distance of 1,476.96 feet;
5. South 01 degrees 14 minutes 59 seconds East, a
distance of 2,109.44 feet to the common line of said 2523.670 acre
tract and a call 1158.2 acre tract of land recorded in Volume 3131,
Page 393 of the H.C.D.R.;
6. Thence, with said common line, South 88 degrees 00
minutes 19 seconds West, a distance of 3,191.76 feet to the
southwest corner of said 2523.670 acre tract and the southeast
corner of a call 100.228 acre tract of land recorded in Clerk's File
Number F333086 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C.;
7. Thence, with the west line of said 2523.670 acre
tract, the east line of said 100.228 acre tract, the east line of a
call 100.228 acre tract of land and a call 40.68 acre tract of land
recorded in Clerk's File Number D452281 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C, the
east line of a call 155.64 acre tract of land recorded in Clerk's
File Number T055320 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C., and the east line of
aforesaid 523.376 acre tract, North 02 degrees 35 minutes 16
seconds West, a distance of 6,474.00 feet;
8. Thence, continuing with the common line of said
2523.670 acre tract and said 523.376 acre tract, South 67 degrees 45
minutes 43 seconds East, a distance of 1,004.43 feet to the
southeast corner of said 523.376 acre tract;
9. Thence, continuing with said common line, North 02
degrees 09 minutes 14 seconds West, a distance of 1,406.52 feet to
the Point of Beginning and containing 514.99 acres of land.
SECTION 3. (a) The legal notice of the intention to
introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
Government Code.
(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has
submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the
lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives within the required time.
(d) All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled
and accomplished.
SECTION 4. (a) Section 9086.0306, Special District Local
Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, takes effect only if
this Act receives a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to
each house.
(b) If this Act does not receive a two-thirds vote of all the
members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter 9086, Special
District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, is
amended by adding Section 9086.0306 to read as follows:
Sec. 9086.0306. NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
not exercise the power of eminent domain.
(c) This section is not intended to be an expression of a
legislative interpretation of the requirements of Section 17(c),
Article I, Texas Constitution.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.