Article 2a. Formation Of Districts In Two Or More Municipal Corporations And Also In Unincorporated Territory of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 5. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 2a.

Districts may be formed pursuant to this article for the purpose of making any improvement which will be of benefit to territory partially within the initiating city and partially within any other city or within unincorporated area of the same county, or both.

Any city may initiate proceedings for the formation of a district and the making of improvements pursuant to this article whenever the governing body of such city determines that it is desirable that a district be organized pursuant to this article. Except as otherwise provided in this article, the procedure for the formation of a district pursuant to this article shall be the same as the procedure which is provided in this chapter where the district is within a single city.

If the proposed district includes any part of any other incorporated city, the governing body of the initiating city shall file with the governing body of each such other city a certified copy of its resolution adopted pursuant to Section 4607, which resolution shall contain a request that the governing body of each such other city consent to the formation of such district. The governing body of the initiating city shall not form the district unless prior to the conclusion of the hearing which is provided for by Section 4611 the governing body of each city, any part of which is proposed to be included in the district, by resolution, consents to the formation of the district.

If any part of the district includes any unincorporated territory of the county, the governing body of the initiating city shall file with the board of supervisors of the county in which such unincorporated territory is situated a certified copy of its resolution adopted pursuant to Section 4607, which resolution shall contain a request that the board of supervisors consent to the formation of such district. The governing body of the initiating city shall not form the district unless prior to the conclusion of the hearing which is provided for by Section 4611 the board of supervisors of the county in which such unincorporated territory is located, by resolution, consents to the formation of the district which will include such unincorporated territory within its boundaries.

Whenever the governing body of each city which is included in whole or in part within the district which is to be organized, and the board of supervisors if the district includes any unincorporated territory, has consented to the formation of the district by filing a resolution of concurrence with the governing body of the initiating city, the governing body of the initiating city has full jurisdiction to proceed with the formation of the proposed district. Upon the filing with the governing body of the initiating city of all necessary concurring resolutions of the governing body of any city or of the board of supervisors of the county, as the case may be, the governing body of the initiating city has the sole and exclusive jurisdiction to proceed with the formation of the district, to conduct all hearings on the formation of the district, to make all necessary changes in the boundaries of the proposed district or improvement, to conduct all proceedings on the formation of the district and to take any other action permitted by this chapter with like force and effect as though such district were wholly within the boundaries of the initiating city. The governing body of the initiating city shall not, however, add to the district at the hearing which is provided for by Section 4611 any territory within another city or within unincorporated territory unless it first obtains a consent to such addition which is expressed by a resolution adopted by the governing body of such other city or by the board of supervisors, as the case may be.

Upon the formation of any district pursuant to this article, the district shall be governed by and under the jurisdiction of the governing body of the initiating city. The governing body of the initiating city may conduct all of the affairs of the district, call and hold bond elections in the district, construct all improvements in the district, cause taxes to be levied and collected upon all taxable property in the district, and pass such necessary legislation as may be required for such improvements, with the same force and effect as though all of the area in the district were included within the boundaries of the initiating city.

If bonds are authorized and are issued or are expected to be issued on behalf of any district which is organized pursuant to this article, the governing body of the initiating city shall, on or before the 15th day of July of each year, certify to the board of supervisors of the county in which the district is located, the amount to be raised for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds in accordance with Section 4638 and, if applicable, Section 4639.5. The county auditor shall determine the rate of taxation which shall be clearly sufficient to raise such amount. The county auditor shall compute and enter in a separate column in the county assessment roll the respective sums to be paid as the district tax on the taxable property in the district. The board of supervisors of the county in which the district is located shall, at the time of fixing the general county tax levy and in the manner which is provided for such tax levy, levy and collect each year upon all of the taxable property in the district a tax in accordance with Section 4638 and, if applicable, Section 4639.5. The taxes so levied shall be in addition to all other taxes levied for county or city purposes and in addition to taxes levied pursuant to Section 4614.14 and shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as county taxes are collected. When such taxes are collected they shall be paid to the county treasurer who shall forthwith remit them to the city treasurer of the initiating city. The taxes are a lien on all taxable property in the district and shall be of the same force and effect as the lien for county taxes. Their collection shall be enforced by the same means as provided for the enforcement of the lien of county taxes. The city treasurer of the initiating city shall hold such taxes in trust, separate and apart from all other city funds and use and apply them solely to the payment of bond principal and interest.

This chapter does not prevent two or more cities or the board of supervisors of any county from entering into co-operation agreements for the joint acquisition, construction, or use of joint sanitary sewage facilities, flood control works, and storm water drainage systems.