Management districts are special districts created by the Texas legislature. Generally, these districts are empowered to promote, develop, encourage and maintain employment, commerce, transportation, water and sewerage improvements, housing, tourism, recreation, arts, entertainment, economic development, safety and public welfare. Typically, management districts are given the power to finance their operations by issuing bonds or other obligations, payable in whole or in part from ad valorem taxes, assessments, impact fees or other funds of the district to provide improvements and services.
Furthermore, districts may levy a tax only after holding an election within the district. A management district is intended to supplement, not supplant, existing public services. Creation of these districts does not release Harris County or the City of Houston from its obligations to provide services to the areas; nor does it require additional services from the city. The City assumes no liability for the debts, obligations or liabilities of the district.
William Marsh Rice University, a Texas non-profit corporation, along with the other property owners have submitted a petition to the City Council of Houston for the written consent to the creation of a municipal management district. The name of this proposed district will be Rice Village Management District. The District will be created and organized under the terms and provisions of Article XVI, Section 59, Article III, Section 52 and Article III, Section 52-a of the Constitution of Texas and Chapter 375, Texas Local Government Code, together with all amendments and additions thereto.
Upon creation, the general nature of the work to be done by the district is the purchase, design, construction, acquisition, maintenance, ownership, operation, repair, improvement and extension of a waterworks and sanitary sewer system for residential and commercial purposes and the construction, acquisition, maintenance, ownership, operation, repair, improvement and extension of additional facilities and road facilities, systems, plants and enterprises.
The Planning and Development Department recommends that City Council consent to the creation of the 28.7262-acre Rice Village Management District.
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Vonn Tran
Director
Planning and Development Department