Article 6. Compromise of California Government Code >> Division 4. >> Title 4. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 6.

Whenever a city has an outstanding indebtedness evidenced by bonds the legislative body may submit to the electors of the city, at any election held for that purpose, a proposition:
  (a) Declaring all or any of the bonds to be at once due and payable.
  (b) Compromising the bonded indebtedness.
  (c) Consenting to a judgment in favor of the bondholders.
  (d) Providing for the payment of such judgment in installments.

The election shall be called and held in the same manner as other elections in the city.

The notice of election shall state:
  (a) The bonded indebtedness which it is proposed to declare at once due and payable.
  (b) The terms of the proposed compromise.
  (c) The terms of the proposed judgment by consent in favor of the bondholders.
  (d) The proposed method of paying the judgment in installments.

The question shall be voted upon as an entirety. If two-thirds of the electors vote in favor of it, by ordinance the legislative body shall declare the bonds described in the notice due and payable.

The legislative body shall carry the compromise into effect and consent to the judgment specified in the notice of election and the proposed method of paying the judgment in installments. By resolution, it shall designate the officers and attorneys to sign the necessary documents.

It shall provide for the collection of an annual tax sufficient to pay the interest on the judgment as it falls due and such portion of the principal as is designated in the notice of election.

The rights of any nonconsenting holder of bonds specified in the notice are not affected by the proceedings.

In any action brought upon any of the bonds described in the notice, the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is conclusive as to the regularity of all proceedings taken.

In any action brought upon any of the bonds described in the notice of election, the plaintiff shall deposit in court the bonds upon which he sues.

When the judgment, rendered in accordance with the terms of the proposed compromise described in the notice, becomes final, the bonds sued upon shall be delivered to the treasurer of the city against which the judgment is rendered, to be held by him and his successors until the judgment has been fully satisfied.

If for any reason the judgment is reversed or set aside, or if any orders or writs under it are disobeyed by the defendant or its officers, the treasurer shall return the bonds to the plaintiff. At his option, the plaintiff may be relegated to all rights which he held and enjoyed under the bonds, crediting on such rights all amounts received on the judgment. The court in which the judgment is rendered shall enforce the duty imposed upon the treasurer.