80(R) HB 4045 - Enrolled version

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	H.B. No. 4045

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Towne Lake Management District;

providing authority to levy an assessment, impose a tax, and issue

bonds.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. TOWNE LAKE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. Subtitle C,

Title 4, Special District Local Laws Code, is amended by adding

Chapter 3839 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 3839. TOWNE LAKE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 3839.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Board" means the board of directors of the

district.

(2) "District" means the Towne Lake Management

District.

Sec. 3839.002. TOWNE LAKE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. The Towne

Lake Management District is a special district created under

Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.

Sec. 3839.003. PURPOSE; DECLARATION OF INTENT. (a) The

creation of the district is essential to accomplish the purposes of

Sections 52 and 52-a, Article III, and Section 59, Article XVI,

Texas Constitution, and other public purposes stated in this

chapter. By creating the district and in authorizing the City of

Houston, Harris County, and other political subdivisions to

contract with the district, the legislature has established a

program to accomplish the public purposes set out in Section 52-a,

Article III, Texas Constitution.

(b) The creation of the district is necessary to promote,

develop, encourage, and maintain employment, commerce,

transportation, housing, tourism, recreation, the arts,

entertainment, economic development, safety, and the public

welfare in the district territory.

interpreted to relieve Harris County from providing the level of

services provided as of the effective date of the Act enacting this

chapter to the area in the district. The district is created to

supplement and not to supplant the county services provided in the

area in the district.

Sec. 3839.004. FINDINGS OF BENEFIT AND PUBLIC PURPOSE. (a)

The district is created to serve a public use and benefit.

(b) All land and other property included in the district

will benefit from the improvements and services to be provided by

the district under powers conferred by Sections 52 and 52-a,

Article III, and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and

other powers granted under this chapter.

and is essential to:

(1) further the public purposes of developing and

diversifying the economy of the state;

(2) eliminate unemployment and underemployment; and

(3) develop or expand transportation and commerce.

(d) The district will:

(1) promote the health, safety, and general welfare of

residents, employers, potential employees, employees, visitors,

and consumers in the district, and of the public;

(2) provide needed funding for the district to

preserve, maintain, and enhance the economic health and vitality of

the district territory as a community and business center; and

(3) promote the health, safety, welfare, and enjoyment

of the public by providing pedestrian ways and by landscaping and

developing certain areas in the district, which are necessary for

the restoration, preservation, and enhancement of scenic beauty.

(e) Pedestrian ways along or across a street, whether at

grade or above or below the surface, and street lighting, street

landscaping, parking, and street art objects are parts of and

necessary components of a street and are considered to be a street

or road improvement.

(f) The district will not act as the agent or

instrumentality of any private interest even though the district

will benefit many private interests as well as the public.

Sec. 3839.005. DISTRICT TERRITORY. (a) The district is

composed of the territory described by Section 2 of the Act enacting

this chapter, as that territory may have been modified under:

(1) Subchapter J, Chapter 49, Water Code; or

(2) other law.

(b) The boundaries and field notes of the district contained

in Section 2 of the Act enacting this chapter form a closure. A

mistake in the field notes or in copying the field notes in the

legislative process does not in any way affect the district's:

(1) organization, existence, or validity;

(2) right to issue any type of bond for a purpose for

which the district is created or to pay the principal of and

interest on the bond;

(3) right to impose or collect an assessment or tax; or

(4) legality or operation.

Sec. 3839.006. ELIGIBILITY FOR INCLUSION IN SPECIAL ZONES.

All or any part of the area of the district is eligible to be

included in:

(1) a tax increment reinvestment zone created under

Chapter 311, Tax Code;

(2) a tax abatement reinvestment zone created under

Chapter 312, Tax Code; or

(3) an enterprise zone created under Chapter 2303,

Government Code.

Sec. 3839.007. APPLICABILITY OF MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT

DISTRICTS LAW. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter,

Chapter 375, Local Government Code, applies to the district.

Sec. 3839.008. LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER. This

chapter shall be liberally construed in conformity with the

findings and purposes stated in this chapter.

[Sections 3839.009-3839.050 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sec. 3839.051. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district is

governed by a board of five voting directors who serve staggered

terms of four years, with two or three directors' terms expiring

June 1 of each odd-numbered year.

(b) The board by resolution may change the number of voting

directors on the board, but only if the board determines that the

change is in the best interest of the district. The board may not

consist of fewer than five or more than 15 voting directors.

Sec. 3839.052. APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS. The Texas

Commission on Environmental Quality shall appoint voting directors

from persons recommended by the board.

Sec. 3839.053. NONVOTING DIRECTORS. The board may appoint

nonvoting directors to serve at the pleasure of the voting

directors.

Sec. 3839.054. QUORUM. For purposes of determining the

requirements for a quorum, the following are not counted:

(1) a board position vacant for any reason, including

death, resignation, or disqualification;

(2) a director who is abstaining from participation in

a vote because of a conflict of interest; or

(3) a nonvoting director.

Sec. 3839.055. COMPENSATION. Sections 375.069 and 375.070,

Local Government Code, do not apply to the board.

Sec. 3839.056. INITIAL VOTING DIRECTORS. (a) The initial

board consists of the following voting directors:

Pos. No.

Name of Director

David Templeton

William F. Heavin

Larry Covert

Tom Read

Michael C. Shannon

(b) Of the initial voting directors, the terms of directors

appointed for positions 1 through 3 expire June 1, 2009, and the

terms of directors appointed for positions 4 and 5 expire June 1,

2011.

(d) This section expires September 1, 2012.

[Sections 3839.057-3839.100 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES

Sec. 3839.101. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION POWERS.

The district may exercise the powers given to an industrial

development corporation under Section 4B, Development Corporation

Act of 1979 (Article 5190.6, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes),

including the power to own, operate, acquire, construct, lease,

improve, or maintain a project described by that section.

Sec. 3839.102. NONPROFIT CORPORATION. (a) The board by

resolution may authorize the creation of a nonprofit corporation to

assist and act for the district in implementing a project or

providing a service authorized by this chapter.

(b) The nonprofit corporation:

(1) has each power of and is considered for purposes of

this chapter to be a local government corporation created under

Chapter 431, Transportation Code; and

(2) may implement any project and provide any service

authorized by this chapter.

nonprofit corporation. The board of directors of the nonprofit

corporation shall serve in the same manner as the board of directors

of a local government corporation created under Chapter 431,

Transportation Code, except that a director of the corporation is

not required to reside in the district.

Sec. 3839.103. AGREEMENTS; GRANTS. (a) The district may

make an agreement with or accept a gift, grant, or loan from any

person.

(b) The implementation of a project is a governmental

function or service for the purposes of Chapter 791, Government

Code.

Sec. 3839.104. AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

To protect the public interest, the district may contract with a

qualified party including Harris County or the City of Houston for

the county or the city to provide law enforcement services in the

district for a fee.

Sec. 3839.105. MEMBERSHIP IN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. The

district may join and pay dues to a charitable or nonprofit

organization that performs a service or provides an activity

consistent with the furtherance of a district purpose.

Sec. 3839.106. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. (a) The

district may establish and provide for the administration of one or

more programs to promote state or local economic development and to

stimulate business and commercial activity in the district,

including programs to:

(1) make loans and grants of public money; and

(2) provide district personnel and services.

(b) For purposes of this section, the district has all of

the powers of a municipality under Chapter 380, Local Government

Code.

Sec. 3839.107. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. The

district may negotiate and enter into a written strategic

partnership agreement with the City of Houston in the same manner as

a district under Section 43.0751, Local Government Code.

Sec. 3839.108. NO EMINENT DOMAIN. The district may not

exercise the power of eminent domain.

[Sections 3839.109-3839.150 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER D. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 3839.151. DISBURSEMENTS AND TRANSFERS OF MONEY. The

board by resolution shall establish the number of directors'

signatures and the procedure required for a disbursement or

transfer of the district's money.

Sec. 3839.152. MONEY USED FOR IMPROVEMENTS OR SERVICES.

The district may acquire, construct, finance, operate, or maintain

any improvement or service authorized under this chapter or Chapter

375, Local Government Code, using any money available to the

district.

Sec. 3839.153. PETITION REQUIRED FOR FINANCING SERVICES AND

IMPROVEMENTS WITH ASSESSMENTS. (a) The board may not finance a

service or improvement project with assessments under this chapter

unless a written petition requesting that service or improvement

has been filed with the board.

(b) A petition filed under Subsection (a) must be signed by:

(1) the owners of a majority of the assessed value of

real property in the district subject to assessment according to

the most recent certified tax appraisal roll for Harris County; or

(2) at least 50 persons who own real property in the

district, if more than 50 persons own real property in the district

according to the most recent certified tax appraisal roll for

Harris County.

Sec. 3839.154. METHOD OF NOTICE FOR HEARING. The district

may mail the notice required by Section 375.115(c), Local

Government Code, by certified or first class United States mail.

The board shall determine the method of notice.

Sec. 3839.155. ASSESSMENTS; LIENS FOR ASSESSMENTS. (a)

The board by resolution may impose and collect an assessment for any

purpose authorized by this chapter in all or any part of the

district.

(b) An assessment, a reassessment, or an assessment

resulting from an addition to or correction of the assessment roll

by the district, penalties and interest on an assessment or

reassessment, an expense of collection, and reasonable attorney's

fees incurred by the district:

(1) are a first and prior lien against the property

assessed;

(2) are superior to any other lien or claim other than

a lien or claim for county, school district, or municipal ad valorem

taxes; and

(3) are the personal liability of and a charge against

the owners of the property even if the owners are not named in the

assessment proceedings.

resolution imposing the assessment until the date the assessment is

paid. The board may enforce the lien in the same manner that the

board may enforce an ad valorem tax lien against real property.

(d) The board may make a correction to or deletion from the

assessment roll that does not increase the amount of assessment of

any parcel of land without providing notice and holding a hearing in

the manner required for additional assessments.

Sec. 3839.156. AD VALOREM TAX. (a) If authorized at an

election held in accordance with Section 3839.160, the district may

impose an annual ad valorem tax on taxable property in the district

for any district purpose, including to:

(1) maintain and operate the district;

(2) construct or acquire improvements; or

(3) provide a service.

(b) The board shall determine the tax rate.

district.

Sec. 3839.157. UTILITY PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM IMPACT FEES OR

ASSESSMENTS. The district may not impose an impact fee or

assessment on the property, including the equipment,

rights-of-way, facilities, or improvements, of:

(1) an electric utility or a power generation company

as defined by Section 31.002, Utilities Code;

(2) a gas utility as defined by Section 101.003 or

121.001, Utilities Code;

(3) a telecommunications provider as defined by

Section 51.002, Utilities Code; or

(4) a person who provides to the public cable

television or advanced telecommunications services.

Sec. 3839.158. BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS. (a) The

district may issue by competitive bid or negotiated sale bonds,

notes, or other obligations payable wholly or partly from taxes,

assessments, impact fees, revenue, grants, or other money of the

district, or any combination of those sources of money, to pay for

any authorized purpose of the district.

(b) In addition to any other terms authorized by the board

by bond order or resolution, the proceeds of the district's bonds

may be used for a reserve fund, credit enhancement, or capitalized

interest for the bonds.

bonds, notes, and other obligations provided by Section 49.4645,

Water Code, does not apply to the district.

Sec. 3839.159. TAXES FOR BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS. At

the time bonds or other obligations payable wholly or partly from ad

valorem taxes are issued:

(1) the board shall impose a continuing direct annual

ad valorem tax, without limit as to rate or amount, for each year

that all or part of the bonds are outstanding; and

(2) the district annually shall impose an ad valorem

tax on all taxable property in the district in an amount sufficient

to:

(A) pay the interest on the bonds or other

obligations as the interest becomes due;

(B) create a sinking fund for the payment of the

principal of the bonds or other obligations when due or the

redemption price at any earlier required redemption date; and

Sec. 3839.160. TAX AND BOND ELECTIONS. (a) The district

shall hold an election in the manner provided by Subchapter L,

Chapter 375, Local Government Code, to obtain voter approval before

the district imposes an ad valorem tax or issues bonds payable from

ad valorem taxes.

(b) Section 375.243, Local Government Code, does not apply

to the district.

Sec. 3839.161. CITY NOT REQUIRED TO PAY DISTRICT

OBLIGATIONS. Except as provided by Section 375.263, Local

Government Code, the City of Houston is not required to pay a bond,

note, or other obligation of the district.

Sec. 3839.162. COMPETITIVE BIDDING. Section 375.221, Local

Government Code, applies to the district only for a contract that

has a value greater than $50,000.

Sec. 3839.163. TAX AND ASSESSMENT ABATEMENTS. The district

may grant in the manner authorized by Chapter 312, Tax Code, an

abatement for a tax or assessment owed to the district.

[Sections 3839.164-3839.200 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER E. DISSOLUTION

Sec. 3839.201. DISSOLUTION OF DISTRICT WITH OUTSTANDING

DEBT. (a) The board may dissolve the district regardless of

whether the district has debt. Section 375.264, Local Government

Code, does not apply to the district.

(b) If the district has debt when it is dissolved, the

district shall remain in existence solely for the purpose of

discharging its debts. The dissolution is effective when all debts

have been discharged.

SECTION 2. BOUNDARIES. As of the effective date of this

Act, the Towne Lake Management District includes all territory

contained in the following described area:

A 59.799-ACRE TRACT OF LAND SITUATED IN THE EVAN THOMAS

SURVEY, ABSTRACT 775, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, SAID 59.799-ACRE TRACT

BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY METES AND BOUNDS AS FOLLOWS,

(BEARINGS BASED ON THE TEXAS COORDINATE SYSTEM OF 1983, SOUTH

CENTRAL ZONE, AS DETERMINED BY GPS MEASUREMENTS):

COMMENCING at a 3/4-inch iron with cap stamped "C.L.R." found

for the northeast corner of Cy-Fair College as recorded under Film

Code Number 543031 of the Harris County Map Records (H.C.M.R.) and

in the westerly right-of-way line of Barker-Cypress Road

(100-feet-wide) as recorded under Clerk's File Numbers (C.F. Nos.)

M889508 and M922710 of the Official Public Records of Real Property

of Harris County, Texas (O.P.R.O.R.P.), also being in the northerly

line of that certain called 160-foot wide Drainage Easement as

recorded under C.F. No. V782766, O.P.R.O.R.P., and in the southerly

line of that certain called 180-foot-wide Houston Lighting and

Power Company Electric Transmission Easement as recorded under C.F.

No. C274826, O.P.R.O.R.P., from which a 3/4-inch iron pipe bears

South 14°40' East, 0.5 feet;

THENCE North 02°48'58" West, with said westerly right-of-way

of Barker-Cypress Road, a distance of 255.16 feet to a point of

curvature to the left;

THENCE, continuing with the said westerly right-of-way of

Barker-Cypress Road in a northwesterly direction along said curve

to the left, having a radius of 2950.00 feet, a central angle of

03°49'15", an arc length of 196.72 feet, and a chord bearing of North

04°43'36" West, a distance of 196.69 feet to a 3/4-inch iron pipe

found for the point of tangency;

THENCE North 06°38'13" West, continuing with said westerly

right-of-way of Barker-Cypress Road, a distance of 100.00 feet to a

3/4-inch iron pipe found for a point of curvature to the right;

THENCE, continuing with the said westerly right-of-way of

Barker-Cypress Road in a northwesterly direction along said curve

to the right, having a radius of 3050.00 feet, a central angle of

03°49'15", an arc length of 203.39 feet, and a chord bearing of North

04°43'35" West, a distance of 203.35 feet to a 3/4-inch iron pipe

found for the point of tangency;

THENCE North 02°48'58" West, continuing with said westerly

right-of-way of Barker-Cypress Road, a distance of 438.86 feet to

the POINT OF BEGINNING of the herein described tract;

THENCE South 89°12'34" West a distance of 1139.55 feet to a point for

corner;

THENCE North 40°38'18" West a distance of 270.36 feet to a

point for corner;

THENCE North a distance of 1037.29 feet to a point for corner;

THENCE North 26°46'14" East a distance of 104.38 feet to a

point for corner;

THENCE North 26°49'32" East a distance of 49.85 feet to a

point for corner;

THENCE North 20°35'48" East a distance of 77.03 feet to a

point of curvature to the left;

THENCE in a northeasterly direction along said curve to the

left, having a radius of 900.00 feet, a central angle of 32°18'20",

an arc length of 507.46 feet, and a chord bearing of North 04°26'38"

East, a distance of 500.76 feet to the point of tangency;

THENCE North 11°42'32" West a distance of 187.14 feet to a

point for corner;

THENCE North 78°17'28" East a distance of 230.07 feet to a

point for corner;

THENCE South 52°35'28" East a distance of 295.90 feet to a

point for corner;

THENCE North 37°24'32" East a distance of 257.44 feet to a

point of curvature to the right;

THENCE in a northeasterly direction along said curve to the

right, having a radius of 25.00 feet, a central angle of 49°46'30",

an arc length of 21.72 feet, and a chord bearing of North 62°17'47"

East, a distance of 21.04 feet to the point of tangency;

THENCE North 87°11'02" East a distance of 473.95 feet to a

point for corner, being in the said westerly right-of-way of

Barker-Cypress Road;

THENCE South 02°48'58" East, with the said westerly

right-of-way of Barker-Cypress Road, a distance of 2226.18 feet to

the POINT OF BEGINNING and containing 59.799 acres of land.

SECTION 3. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds

that:

(1) proper and 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 by

the constitution and laws of this state, including the governor,

who has submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality;

(2) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has

filed its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor,

lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives

within the required time;

(3) the general law relating to consent by political

subdivisions to the creation of districts with conservation,

reclamation, and road powers and the inclusion of land in those

districts has been complied with; and

(4) 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 have

been fulfilled and accomplished.

SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2007.

______________________________

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 4045 was passed by the House on May 2,

2007, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not

voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.

No. 4045 on May 25, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 0,

2 present, not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 4045 was passed by the Senate, with

amendments, on May 23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor