Article 8. Public Buildings of California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 8.

As used in this article, "public square" means any area or open space showing on a map or plat of a city, town, or village which has been filed or recorded in the office of the county clerk or county recorder of any county for more than fifty years and which is designated on the map or plat as a "square" or by other similar designation when no other words or insignia appear upon the map or plat showing the purposes for which the square may have been dedicated and when no deed, offer of dedication or other instrument appears of record in the office of the county recorder showing or indicating the purposes for which the same may have been dedicated.

Pursuant to this article, after acquiring by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise all outstanding titles, reversions, easements, or other interest in or to the public square, the city in which the public square is located, or if it is not located in a city, the county in which it is located, may erect upon the public square a city hall, county courthouse, or other public building with appurtenances or the city in which the public square is located may grant or lease it to the county in which the city is located for the erection thereon of a county courthouse or other public building.

The legislative body of the local agency in which the land is located shall first adopt a resolution declaring its intention to erect a public building on the public square or the legislative body of the city shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to grant or lease the land to the county for the erection of a public building. The resolution shall be referred to the city or county planning agency, as the case may be, for a report and recommendation thereon pursuant to Section 65402.

If the legislative body of the local agency in which the public square is located finds that the highest and best use to which the land may be put is the erection thereon of the proposed public building, it may provide by ordinance that the public square may be used as a site for the proposed public building or, if located in a city and it is the intention of the city to grant or lease the public square to the county, that it may be granted or leased to the county for the erection thereon by the county of the proposed public building.

A county and a retirement board created pursuant to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 may contract for the erection of public buildings on public squares pursuant to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 and other applicable statutes. All work on the buildings shall be subject to the provisions of Division 2 (commencing with Section 1270) of Part 7 of the Labor Code.