By: Miles S.B. No. 2166
(In the Senate - Filed March 25, 2021; April 12, 2021, read
first time and referred to Committee on Local Government;
April 27, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 0; April 27, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Harris County Municipal Utility
District No. 580; 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 F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended by adding Chapter 7923A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 7923A. HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 580
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 7923A.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 Harris County Municipal
Utility District No. 580.
Sec. 7923A.0102. NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a
municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
Texas Constitution.
Sec. 7923A.0103. CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTOR 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. 7923A.0104. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
7923A.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. 7923A.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 municipal utility district as provided by
general law and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution; 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. 7923A.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. 7923A.0201. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district
is governed by a board of five elected directors.
(b) Except as provided by Section 7923A.0202, directors
serve staggered four-year terms.
Sec. 7923A.0202. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) The temporary
board consists of:
(1) Maria Ramirez;
(2) Courtney Johnson Rose;
(3) Robert Walters;
(4) Andrew Lynton Smith; and
(5) Austin Baker.
(b) Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under
Section 7923A.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 7923A.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 7923A.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. 7923A.0301. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The district
has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
which the district is created.
Sec. 7923A.0302. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT POWERS AND
DUTIES. The district has the powers and duties provided by the
general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code,
applicable to municipal utility districts created under Section 59,
Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
Sec. 7923A.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. 7923A.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,
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. 7923A.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 54.016 or 54.0165, Water Code, and that
consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of land
in the district.
Sec. 7923A.0306. LIMITATION ON USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN. The
district may not exercise the power of eminent domain outside the
district to acquire a site or easement for:
(1) a road project authorized by Section 7923A.0303;
or
(2) a recreational facility as defined by Section
49.462, Water Code.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 7923A.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
7923A.0403.
(b) The district must hold an election in the manner
provided by Chapters 49 and 54, 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. 7923A.0402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a) If
authorized at an election held under Section 7923A.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. 7923A.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. 7923A.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. 7923A.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 Sections 54.601 and 54.602, Water Code.
Sec. 7923A.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.
SECTION 2. The Harris County Municipal Utility District
No. 580 initially includes all the territory contained in the
following area:
Being 105.1803 acres of land located in the J. Halloway
Survey, Abstract Number 339, Harris County, Texas, more
particularly being all of Lots 142 through 149, Block 9 of
Almeda-Genoa Place recorded in Volume 31, Page 10 of the Harris
County Map Records (H.C.M.R.) (Tract 1), all of a called 4.813-acre
tract of land recorded in Clerk's File Number RP-2020-21652 of the
Official Public Records of Real Property of Harris County, Texas
(O.P.R.R.P.H.C.) (Tract 2), all of the west half of Lot 176 (Tract
3) of Minnetex Place a subdivision recorded in Volume 2, Page 57 of
the H.C.M.R., all of Lots 129, 131, 178, 179, the east 1/2 of Lot
132, the West 1/2 of Lot 130, and the east half of Lot 177, of said
Minnetex Place (Tract 4), and all of a called 33.9393-acre tract
recorded in Clerk's File Number U087981 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C.
(Tract 5); said 105.1803 acres being more particularly described by
metes and bounds as follows;
TRACT 1 - 6.428 ACRES
All of Lots 142 through 149, Block 9 of Almeda-Genoa Place
recorded in Volume 31, Page 10 of the Harris County Map Records.
TRACT 2 - 4.813 ACRES
4.813 acres of land out of Lot 132, of MINNETEX PLACE, a
subdivision according to the map or plat recorded in Volume 2, Page
57, of the Harris County Map Records the same tract of land
described in Harris County Clerk's File No. VI61329 and being more
particularly described by metes and bounds as follows:
Basis for bearings: West line of Lot 132 being North.
BEGINNING at a 1/2 inch iron rod found for the Southwest
corner of the herein described 4.813 acre tract, said point also
being the Southwest corner of Lot 132 and being the common corner of
Lots 175, 176, 133, and 132, of said Minnitex Place;
THENCE along the common line of Lots 133 and 132, North a
distance of 774.80 feet to a 1/2 inch iron rod found for the
Northwest corner, said point also lying in the established South
R.O.W. line of Allison Road (60 feet R.O.W.), a.k.a. Lawson Street
per recorded plat;
THENCE along the South R.O.W. line of Allison Road, East, a
distance of 270.60 feet to the Northeast corner of the herein
described tract, from which a l-1/4 inch iron pipe bears South 23°
53' 00" East-0.89 feet;
THENCE along a line parallel to the common line of Lots 133
and 132, South a distance of 774.80 feet to a l/2 inch iron rod found
for the Southeast corner;
THENCE along the common line of Lots 176 and 132, West a
distance of 270.60 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING and containing
4.813 acres. (being more commonly known as 5006 Allison Road,
Houston, Texas 77048).
TRACT 3 - 5 ACRES
West 1/2 of Lot 176 of MINNETEX PLACE, a subdivision recorded
in Volume 2, Page 57, of the Harris County Map Records.
TRACT 4 - 55 ACRES
All of Lots 129, 131, 178, 179, the East 1/2 of Lot 132, the
West 1/2 of Lot 130, and the east half of Lot 177 of MINNETEX PLACE,
a subdivision recorded in Volume 2, Page 57, of the Harris County
Map Records.
TRACT 5 - 33.9393 ACRES
A TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND CONTAINING 33.9393 ACRES BEING ALL
OF LOTS 128, 180, 181 AND THE WEST 1/2 OF LOT 127 OF MINNETEX
SUBDIVISION IN THE JOHN HOLLOWAY SURVEY, ABSTRACT 339 IN HARRIS
COUNTY, TEXAS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT
THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 2, PAGE 57 OF THE HARRIS COUNTY MAP
RECORDS SAID 33.9393 ACRE TRACT BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED
BY METES AND BOUNDS AS FOLLOWS TO-WIT:
BEGINNING at a nail at the southwest corner of Lot 109 and the
Northwest corner of Lot 128 and the Northeast corner of Lot 129
marking the centerline of Allison Road (60 ft. in width) and Kier
Street (60 ft. in width);
THENCE North 87 degrees 33 minutes 10 seconds East with the
centerline of said Allison Road and the North line of Lot 128 and a
portion of Lot 127 a distance of 691.35 ft. to a nail at the
Northeast corner of the herein described tract and marking the
Northeast corner of the West 1/2 of said Lot 127 and marking the
Northwest corner of a certain so called 1.0000 acre tract conveyed
to Donald w. Mather recorded in Film Code 123-96-1150 of the Clerk
Records of Harris County, Texas instrument of which is dated March
28, 1979;
THENCE South 02 degrees 33 minutes 28 seconds East with a
chain link fence and with the West line of said Mather Tract passing
a 1/2 inch iron rod in the South right-of-way line of Allison Road
at 30.00 ft. in all a distance of 363.00 ft. to a 1/2 inch iron rod
found at a chain link fence corner and marking a reentrant corner of
the herein described 33.9393 acre tract;
THENCE North 87 degrees 33 minutes 10 seconds East with the
South line of said Mather 1.0000 acre tract a distance of 120.00 ft.
to a 1/2 inch iron rod found at the Southeast corner of said Mather
Tract and marking the mid Northeast corner of the herein described
tract in the West boundary line of the Paul L. Yeatts so called
5.0000 acre tract described in instrument dated May 1, 1995
recorded in Clerk's File No. 185-64-2027 of the Clerk Records of
Harris County, Texas;
THENCE South 02 degrees 33 minutes 28 seconds East with the
division line of Lot 127 in all a distance of 441.26 ft. to a 3/4
inch pinch top iron pipe found at an old fence corner and marking
the so called mid point in the South line of Lot 127 and in North
boundary of said Lot 181;
THENCE North 87 degrees 43 minutes 14 seconds East with the
division line between Lots 127 and 181 a distance of 26.69 ft.
(called 270.60 ft.) to a 3/4 inch pinch top iron pipe at the lower
Northeast corner of the herein described tract and said Lot 181 as
delineated on said map or plat recorded in Volume 2, Page 57 of the
Harris County Map Records also marking the Southeast corner of said
Yeatts 5.0000 acre tract;
THENCE South 02 degrees 21 minutes 23 seconds East with an old
fence line and with the East boundary line of said Lot 181 a
distance of 779.94 ft. pass a 1/2 inch iron pipe in the North
right-of-way line of unimproved Fuqua Road (50 ft. in width) a total
distance of 804.94 ft. (called 804.9 ft.) to a nail at the southeast
corner of the herein described tract and said Lot 181 in the
centerline of said Fuqua Road;
THENCE South 87 degrees 42 minutes 33 seconds West with the
South line of Lot 181 and Lot 180 a distance of 1078.74 ft. to a nail
found at the Southwest corner of said Lot 180 the Northwest corner
of Lot 204 and Northeast corner of 205 and the Southeast corner of
Lot 179;
THENCE North 02 degrees 32 minutes 20 seconds West with the
centerline of Kier Street (60 ft. in width) and with the West line
of Lot 1 80 and 128 and 179 and 129 a distance of 1608.60 ft. (called
809.8 ft.) to the PLACE OF BEGINNING and containing 33.9393 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 7923A.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 7923A, Special
District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, is
amended by adding Section 7923A.0306 to read as follows:
Sec. 7923A.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, 2021.
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