O-71-216 - 9/16/1971ORDINANCE NO 216
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE UNIFORM ACQUISITION
OF REAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY CF ROUND ROCK
Whereas, the City Council of the City of Round Rock, Texas
has been empowered under the language of S.3. No. 521, which
amends Chapter 45, Acts of the 61st Legislature, Regular Session,
1969 (Article 6674 n-4, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to pro-
vide for fair and equitable policies in the acquisition of Real
Property:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. OF THE CITY
OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS:
Section 1:
That the City of Round. Rock and its agents will be guided
to the greatest extent practicable by the following policies
regarding real property acquisitions.
1. The City of Round Rock will make every reasonable effort
to negotiate in the acquisition of Real Property.
2. That the City of Round Rock will appraise the property
sought before negotiation and the owner shall have the
right to accompany the appraiser during.:hisinspection.
3. That before negotiations the City will establish a just
compensation figure not less than the City's appraised
fair market value.
4. That the City of Round Rock will furnish the owner of
the property sought with a written statement, and. a
summary of the basis for the amount of compensation,
and where appropriate will state separately the amount
set for the taking of the property and the amount set
for the damages to the remainder.
5. That the City of Hound Rock will require no owner of
real property to surrender possession of that property
until such owner has received compensation or in cases
of condemnation, until the deposit of the award into
the court. In either case the amount of compensation
paid will not be less than the original offer established.
under sub .paragraph (3) above.,
6, That the City of Round Rock will require no person law-
fully occupying property to move without 90 days written
notice prior to the date required.
7. That the rental of propety not immediately needed shall
not exceed the fair rental value of the property to a
short-term occupier.
. That the City of Round Rock will make no advance or delay
in the times set for condemnation or negotiations or
for the deposit of funds in the court, or take any other
action coercive in nature in order to compel an agreement
on the price to be paid for the property,
9. That if eminent domain is necessary, it shall be
immediate and not wait for,nor force the owner to bring
suit.
10. That if the City of Round Rock takes a partial piece of
property and the remainder of the property not taken
is an "uneconomic remnant", then the City of Round Rock
will offer to acquire such remnant at a just price.
Section 2:
If the City of Round Rock acquires any interest in real
property it shall acquire at least a like interest in all
buildings, structures, or other improvements on the property
to be taken, which will be adversely affected by the proposed
use of such property or which will be required to be removed
from the real property.
In such instances, where the buildings, structures, or
improvements do not belong to the owner of the land, but are
the property of a tenant or other person holding legal possession;
for the purpose of determining the extent of the acquisition of
real property and the valuation thereof, no building, structure,
or other such improvement shall be deemed to be other than a
part of the real property solely because of the right or obligation
of a tenant to remove such building, structure or improvement
at the expiration of his term. The City of Round Rock will pay
such tenant the fair value of the building, structure, or im-
provement which shall be determined as the greater of (1) the
contributive fair market value of the improvement to the fair
market value of the real property to be acquired; or (2) the
fair market value of the improvement for removal from the property.
Such payment will not result in duplication of any payments
otherwise authorized by law. Also, before such payment is made,
the owner of the real property involved shall in writing disclaim
any interest in the improvements of the lessee; and the lessee in
consideration for such payment shall assign,transfer, and release
to the City of Round Rock all his right, title, and interest in
and to such improvements. No provision in this section shall
be construed to deprive the lessee of his right to reject such
payments and to obtain payment of just compensation for his
property interests as otherwise defined by law.
Section 3: The City of Round. Rock will reimburse the owners of
property acquired as soon as possible after the property has
been purchased or compensation awarded under condemnation with
respect to the following expenses:
(1) recording fees, transfer taxes, and similar expenses
incidental to conveying such real property to the City of Round Rock.
(2) penalty costs for prepayment of any preexisting recorded
mortgage entered into in good faith encumbering such real
property; and
(3)a pro rata portion of real property taxes paid which are
allocable to a period subsequent to the date of vesting title in
the City of Round Rock or the effective date of possession of
such real property by the City of Round Rock, whichever is the
earlier.
Section 4: In condemnation cases undertaken by the City of Round
Rock, the City will reimburse the owner of the property, for
reasonable legal;, appraisal and engineering fees actually incurred,
where the lawsuit is abandoned or. the court decides there was
no right to take the property.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS THE ,/A day of
i,
APPROVED:
ATTEST::
City, cretary
,197/.