AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law requires a city to hold a citywide election for approval before selling, transferring, or conveying park land. However, Section 253.001 (Sale of Park Land, Municipal Building Site, or Abandoned Roadway), Local Government Code, has allowed certain municipalities to sell or transfer park land without voter approval under limited circumstances.
C.S.S.B. 930 exempts the conveyance of certain park lands from the provisions governing the sale of park lands, municipal building sites, or abandoned roadways.
This bill applies only to HemisFair Park in San Antonio.
C.S.S.B. 930 amends current law relating to the sale and use of certain land used for a world exposition.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 253.001, Local Government Code, by adding Subsections (m), (n), and (o), as follows:
(m) Provides that Subsection (b) (relating to prohibiting certain land from being sold unless the issue of the sale is submitted to the qualified voters of the municipality at an election and is approved by a majority of the votes received at the election) does not apply to the sale of a public square or park if:
(1) the land was part of the site of a world exposition recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions; and
(2) the remainder of the world exposition site includes a dedicated public square or park that has a total area of 18 acres or more.
(n) Authorizes the area dedicated under Subsection (m)(2) to include an area for which the municipality commits to demolishing any non-park improvements within 48 months after the date of the dedication.
(o) Requires that a petition for judicial review of a sale under Subsection (m) be filed on or before the 60th day after the date the ordinance or resolution authorizing the sale is adopted. Provides that a petition filed after that date is barred.
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 253, Local Government Code, by adding Section 253.0011, as follows:
Sec. 253.0011. SALE OR LEASE OF LAND USED FOR WORLD EXPOSITION RESTRICTED. (a) Prohibits the aggregate square footage of hotel improvements to be constructed on any property sold or leased that was part of the site of a world exposition recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions, if a municipality sells or leases land described by Section 253.001 (m)(1), from exceeding the greater of 20 percent of the aggregate square footage of any improvements other than a convention center on that land that are constructed by the municipality after June 1, 2013, or 400,000 square feet.
(b) Defines “hotel improvements” in this section.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage, or September 1, 2013.