By: Creighton  S.B. No. 2162
         (In the Senate - Filed March 25, 2021; April 1, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Local Government;
  April 23, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9,
  Nays 0; April 23, 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. 578; 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 7914A to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 7914A.  HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 578
  SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 7914A.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. 578.
         Sec. 7914A.0102.  NATURE OF DISTRICT.  The district is a
  municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
  Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 7914A.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. 7914A.0104.  CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
  temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
  7914A.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. 7914A.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. 7914A.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. 7914A.0201.  GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district
  is governed by a board of five elected directors.
         (b)  Except as provided by Section 7914A.0202, directors
  serve staggered four-year terms.
         Sec. 7914A.0202.  TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) The temporary
  board consists of:
               (1)  Sam Cocke;
               (2)  Lauren Brigance;
               (3)  Alissa Payne;
               (4)  Christopher Townsend; and
               (5)  Terry O'Kelley.
         (b)  Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
               (1)  the date permanent directors are elected under
  Section 7914A.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 7914A.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 7914A.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. 7914A.0301.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.  The district
  has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
  which the district is created.
         Sec. 7914A.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. 7914A.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. 7914A.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. 7914A.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.
  SUBCHAPTER D.  GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 7914A.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
  7914A.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. 7914A.0402.  OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX.  (a)  If
  authorized at an election held under Section 7914A.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. 7914A.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. 7914A.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. 7914A.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. 7914A.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.
  578 initially includes all the territory contained in the following
  area:
         Being 143.34 acres of land located in the Humphrey Jackson
  Survey, Abstract 37, Harris County, Texas, Said 143.34 acre tract
  being the remainder of that certain called 175.61 acre tract,
  conveyed to Rampart Holding LP, by an instrument of record under
  File Number Y254152, of the Official Public Records of Real
  Property of said Harris County (H.C.O.P.R.R.P.); said 143.34 acre
  tract being more particularly described by metes and bounds as
  follows with all bearings referenced to the Texas Coordinate
  System, South Central Zone, NAD 83 (NA2011);
         BEGINNING at a 1/2-inch iron rod, found for the Northeast
  corner of that certain called 32.272 acre tract conveyed to
  Stonebridge at Newport, Inc by an instrument of record under File
  Number RP-2016-30087, H.C.O.P.R.R.P.; same being on the south
  right-of-way line of Diamondhead Boulevard (100' wide), as shown on
  Newport Section 2, a subdivision of record in Volume 195, Page 35 of
  the Map Records of said Harris County, Texas (H.C.M.R.), common
  with the north line of said 175.61-acre tract, the beginning of a
  curve;
         Thence, 683.85 feet with said common line, along the arc of a
  non-tangent curve to the left, having a radius of 2,050.00 feet, a
  central angle of 19° 06' 47", and a chord which bears North 83° 44'
  23" East, 680.68 feet to a point for corner;
         Thence, North 74° 10' 59" East, continuing along said common
  line, 614.03 feet to a point for corner, the beginning of a curve;
         Thence, departing the south right-of-way line of said
  Diamondhead Boulevard, along the east, south and west lines of said
  175.61-acre tract the following seven (7) courses:
         1.  953.50 feet along the arc of a non-tangent curve to the
  right, having a radius of 1200.00 feet, a central angle
  of 45° 31' 34", and a chord which bears South 09° 25' 13"
  West, 928.61 feet to a point for corner;
         2.  South 32° 11' 00" West, 140.56 feet to a point for corner,
  the beginning of a curve;
         3.  441.82 feet along the arc of a tangent curve to the left,
  having a radius of 2100.00 feet, a central angle of 12°
  03' 16", and a chord which bears South 26° 09' 21" West,
  441.01 feet to a point for corner;
         4.  South 20° 07' 44" West, 509.92 feet to a point for corner,
  the beginning of a curve;
         5.  367.37 feet along the arc of a tangent curve to the left,
  having a radius of 2100.00 feet, a central angle of 10°
  01' 24", and a chord which bears South 15° 07' 02" West,
  366.90 feet to a point for corner;
         6.  South 88° 20' 45" West, 2983.90 feet to a point for
  corner;
         7.  North 01° 33' 15" West, 2308.16 feet to a point for corner
  in the south right-of-way line of the aforementioned
  Diamondhead Boulevard, the beginning of a curve;
         Thence, along the south right-of-way line of said Diamondhead
  Boulevard, same being the north line of the aforementioned
  175.61-acre tract the following five (5) courses:
         1.  307.04 feet along the arc of a non-tangent curve to the
  left, having a radius of 2,050.00 feet, a central angle
  of 08° 34' 53", and a chord which bears North 78° 39' 01"
  East, 306.75 feet to a point for corner;
         2.  North 74° 21' 35" East, 100.00 feet to a point for corner,
  the beginning of a curve;
         3.  1,320.66 feet along the arc of a tangent curve to the
  right, having a radius of 1,950.00 feet, a central angle
  of 38° 48' 15", and a chord which bears South 86° 14' 18"
  East, 1,295.56 feet to a point for corner;
         4.  South 66° 50' 10" East, 100.00 feet to a point for corner,
  the beginning of a curve;
         5.  405.52 feet along the arc of a tangent curve to the left,
  having a radius of 2,050.00 feet, a central angle of 11°
  20' 02", and a chord which bears South 72° 30' 11" East,
  404.86 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod found for the
  northwest corner of the aforementioned 32.272-acre
  tract;
         Thence, along the interior and exterior lines of the
  aforementioned 32.272-acre tract the following the fifty-five (55)
  courses:
         1.  South 23° 24' 08" West, 98.33 feet to a point for corner;
         2.  South 40° 32' 00" West, 518.07 feet to a point for corner,
  the beginning of a curve;
         3.  95.27 feet along the arc of a non-tangent curve to the
  left, having a radius of 280.00 feet, a central angle of
  19° 29' 42", and a chord which bears South 27° 25' 38"
  East, 94.81 feet to a point for corner;
         4.  South 52° 49' 33" West, 152.91 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         5.  South 87° 00' 20" West, passing at 116.70 feet, a found
  5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped "LJA ENG", continuing
  for a total distance of 570.80 feet to a 1/2-inch iron
  rod found for corner;
         6.  North 83° 00' 00" West, 730.02 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         7.  South 12° 20' 00" West, 186.03 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  (bent) found for corner, the beginning of a curve;
         8.  59.67 feet along the arc of a tangent curve to the left,
  having a radius of 970.00 feet, a central angle of 03° 31'
  28", and a chord which bears South 10° 34' 16" West, 59.66
  feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod (bent) found for corner;
         9.  South 80° 00' 00" East, 80.00 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         10. South 03° 43' 00" West, 129.96 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         11. South 86° 17' 00" East, 20.59 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner, the beginning of a curve;
         12. 18.14 feet along the arc of a non-tangent curve to the
  right, having a radius of 1,130.00 feet, a central angle
  of 00° 55' 12", and a chord which bears South 85° 58' 31"
  East, 18.14 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod found for corner;
         13. North 04° 38' 12" East, 125.55 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         14. South 79° 58' 22" East, 560.67 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         15. North 83° 19' 11" East, 143.74 feet to a point for corner;
         16. North 69° 10' 00" East, 422.60 feet to a point for corner;
         17. North 71° 58' 11" East, passing at 84.38 feet a found
  5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped, "LJA ENG", at 313.60
  feet found 5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped, "LJA ENG",
  continuing for a total distance of 414.60 feet to a point
  for corner;
         18. North 23° 54' 00" East, 407.00 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         19. North 84° 00' 00" East, 182.00 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         20. South 30° 38' 00" East, 207.00 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         21. South 24° 57' 00" East, 280.96 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         22. South 20° 00' 00" East, 800.67 feet to a point for corner;
         23. South 33° 18' 00" West, 130.55 feet to a point for corner;
         24. North 72° 34' 14" West, 164.95 feet to a point for corner;
         25. North 69° 28' 00" West, passing at 680.61 feet a found
  5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped, "LJA ENG",
  continuing for a total distance of 442.12 feet to a
  1/2-inch iron rod found for corner;
         26. South 16° 00' 00" West, 19.60 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         27. North 74° 00' 00" West, 60.00 feet to a point for corner;
         28. North 63° 29' 54" West, 159.72 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod
  with cap stamped, "LJA ENG" found for corner;
         29. North 87° 37' 27" West, 991.57 feet to a point for corner,
  from which a found 1/2-inch iron rod bears South 65° 25'
  50" West, 3.16 feet;
         30. North 80° 00' 00" West, 457.09 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         31. North 86° 20' 00" West, 71.88 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         32. North 03° 31' 41" East, 122.80 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner, the beginning of a curve;
         33. 5.99 feet along the arc of a non-tangent curve to the
  left, having a radius of 1,070.00 feet, a central angle
  of 00° 19' 15", and a chord which bears North 85° 42' 50"
  West, 5.99 feet to a point for corner;
         34. North 85° 52' 28" West, 24.01 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         35. South 03° 31' 41" West, 123.05 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         36. North 82° 48' 31" West, 212.69 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  with cap stamped "CEI 5127" found for corner;
         37. South 88° 56' 00" West, 84.42 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  with cap stamped "CEI 5127" found for corner;
         38. South 00° 40' 45" West, 56.19 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  with cap stamped "CEI 5127" found for corner;
         39. South 76° 40' 00" East, 297.72 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found corner;
         40. South 68° 04' 14" East, 575.03 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  (bent) found corner;
         41. South 84° 45' 58" East, 672.07 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  with cap stamped "CEI 3438" found for corner;
         42. South 77° 59' 50" East, 314.70 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  with cap stamped "CEI 5127" found for corner;
         43. South 87° 18' 47" East, 487.09 feet to a 1/2-inch iron rod
  found for corner;
         44. South 66° 32' 04" East, 349.78 feet to a point for corner;
         45. South 86° 35' 17" East, 193.19 feet to a point for corner;
         46. North 44° 36' 00" East, 41.91 feet to a point for corner;
         47. North 07° 48' 02" West, 391.41 feet to a point for corner;
         48. North 09° 10' 00" West, 438.39 feet to a point for corner;
         49. North 04° 20' 00" West, 284.56 feet to a point for corner;
         50. North 15° 39' 28" West, 137.52 feet to a point for corner;
         51. North 33° 08' 00" West, 242.74 feet to a point for corner;
         52. North 27° 18' 00" West, 95.00 feet to a point for corner;
         53. North 00° 18' 00" West, 53.22 feet to a point for corner;
         54. South 89° 42' 00" West, 44.24 feet to a point for corner;
         55. North 32° 10' 53" West, 159.95 feet to the POINT OF
  BEGINNING and containing 143.34 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)  If this Act does not receive a two-thirds
  vote of all the members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter
  7914A, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of
  this Act, is amended by adding Section 7914A.0306 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 7914A.0306.  NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
  not exercise the power of eminent domain.
         (b)  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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