AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

In the late 1990s, the City of Austin purchased the Onion Creek Metropolitan Park (park), an approximately 800-acre park, with the vision of dedicating 400 acres to developed parkland and 400 acres to woods and trails. Nearly 15 years later, the park is undeveloped because the city does not have enough funding to maintain its existing park system, much less improve upon (and add to the maintenance needs of) the park.

 

Located to the south of the park and just to the east of I-35 is the Goodnight Ranch, nearly 700 acres of undeveloped land that is slated for development into a master-planned community that will consist of residential units and neighborhood retail/office space.

 

To develop, operate, and maintain recreational park amenities at the park, a special tax district that would dedicate a steady source of funding to the park is necessary. S.B. 1872 establishes the Onion Creek Metro Park Improvement District to fund the capital improvements, operations, and maintenance of the park.

 

S.B. 1872 amends current law relating to the creation of the Onion Creek Metro Park District, provides the authority to issue bonds, and provides the authority to impose assessments, fees, or taxes.

 

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 Subtitle C, Title 4, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 3924, as follows:

 

CHAPTER 3924.  ONION CREEK METRO PARK DISTRICT

 

Sets forth standard language for the creation of the Onion Creek Metro Park District (district).  Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:

 

Creation, purpose, and approval of the district (Sections 3924.001-3924.010);

 

Size, composition, election, and terms of the board of directors, including the appointment of temporary directors (Sections 3924.051-3924.055);

 

Powers and duties of the district (Sections 3924.101-3924.113); and

 

General financial provisions and authority to impose a tax and to issue bonds and obligations for the district (Sections 3924.151-3924.206).

 

Prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

 

SECTION 2.  Sets forth the initial boundaries of the district.

 

SECTION 3.  Provides that all requirements of the constitution and the 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.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.