The firm’s special authority and water district practice encompasses issues in the areas of urban and public infrastructure development and the provision of utility services. The practice focuses on the acquisition, construction, and operation of facilities and services pertaining to water, wastewater, drainage, transportation, roadways, solid waste, police and fire protection, parks, recreation, and public landscaping and beatification.
Water Districts, including Municipal Utility Districts
The firm functions as general counsel for water districts created or operating pursuant to Chapter 49 (and Chapters 51 through 59), Texas Water Code, primarily municipal utility districts (Chapter 54, Texas Water Code). The role of general counsel involves a multi-discipline practice encompassing advice and counsel with respect to district creation; confirmation, bond, tax, and director elections; board of director qualifications, service, and ethics; open meetings; open records and record retention; public insurance; facilities construction, operation, and maintenance services; service rates and fees; property taxation; debt and bond financing; accounting and auditing; easement and property acquisition and disposition; land development; developer pre-financing and reimbursement, and district consolidation and termination.
Municipal Management Districts
The firm also functions as general counsel for municipal management districts created pursuant Chapter 376, Texas Local Government Code, which representation encompasses advice and counsel with respect to district creation; municipal participation and confirmation; regional economic development and esthetic enhancement; bond and tax elections; board of director qualifications, service, and ethics; open meetings; open records and record retention; public insurance; facilities construction, operation, and maintenance; assessment levy and collection; property taxation; debt and bond financing; accounting and auditing; easement and property acquisition and disposition; land development; and developer pre-financing and reimbursement.
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones
The firm also functions as general counsel for tax increment reinvestment zones created pursuant to Chapter 311, Texas Tax Code, which representation encompasses advice and counsel with respect to zone creation; municipal approval and participation; county and school district participation; regional economic development, board of director qualifications, service, and ethics; open meetings; open records and record retention; public insurance; facilities construction; increment funding and property taxation; debt and bond financing; accounting and auditing; easement and property acquisition and disposition; land development; and developer pre-financing and reimbursement.
Local Government Corporations and Redevelopment Authorities
The firm also functions as general counsel for local government corporations created pursuant to Chapter 431, Texas Transportation Code, and/or Chapter 394, Texas Local Government Code, which representation encompasses advice and counsel with respect to authority creation; municipal approval and participation; regional economic development; board of director qualifications, service, and ethics; open meetings; open records and record retention; public insurance; facilities construction; funding; debt and bond financing; accounting and auditing; easement and property acquisition and disposition; land development; and developer pre-financing and reimbursement.