City of Galveston v. Texas General Land Office

OPINION

JANE BLAND, Justice.

This declaratory judgment action requires us to construe Texas Local Govern ment Code section 307.042(e), 1 which enabled the City of Galveston (“the City”) to sell the Flagship Pier and Hotel — property the Legislature requires be used for public park purposes — to Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. (“Landry’s”). The City and Landry’s contend the trial court erred in interpreting the statute to allow the General Land Office (“GLO”) to assess an annual lease payment for Landry’s use of the State-owned submerged land beneath the pier and hotel. We agree with the trial…