Section 40404 Of Article 1. General From California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 4. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 18. >> Article 1.

. The legislative body may acquire private property by condemnation or otherwise when it is necessary to take or damage such property for:
  (a) Establishing, laying out, extending, and widening streets and other public highways and places within the city.
  (b) Rights of way for drains, sewers, and aqueducts.
  (c) Widening, straightening, or diverting the channels of streams.
  (d) The improvement of water fronts.
  (e) The acquisition or maintenance of public harbors.
  (f) Any other purposes authorized by law.