Chapter 7. Effect Of Consolidation Of Cities of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 5. >> Part 5. >> Chapter 7.

If the successor city has a freeholder's charter, the successor city shall be governed as a new city under the freeholder's charter of the successor city. If the successor city was organized under former Part 2 (commencing with Section 35000) of Division 2 of Title 4, or its predecessors, the successor city shall be governed in the same manner as a new city. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the successor city shall be governed in the name of the successor city. If the electors have expressed a preference for the name of the successor city, the successor city is deemed to have the name favored by the electors. The predecessor cities are dissolved and disincorporated and if any of them has a freeholder's charter, it is deemed surrendered and annulled and they are merged into the successor city. Immediately upon qualifying, the officers of the successor city who have been elected shall enter upon the duties of their offices and hold office until the next general municipal election and until their successors are elected and qualified. All persons in possession of, or occupying, the offices in each of the predecessor cities shall surrender them immediately to the proper officers of the successor city.

Upon consolidation, the title to any property owned or held by, or in trust for, each predecessor city or by its officers or boards in trust for public use shall be vested in the successor city or its officers or boards.

Except as otherwise provided in this division, consolidation does not affect any debts, demands, liabilities, or obligations of any kind existing in favor of or against the cities consolidated at the time of consolidation. Consolidation does not affect any pending action or proceeding involving any such debt, demand, liability, or obligation or any action or proceedings brought by or against any city prior to consolidation. The proceedings shall be continued and concluded by final judgment or otherwise as if consolidation had not been effected. Those rights or liabilities are the rights and liabilities of the successor city.

Immediately upon consolidation, all ordinances of the predecessor cities are deemed repealed. That repeal shall not discharge any person from any existing civil or criminal liability nor affect any pending prosecution for violation of any of those ordinances.

The repeal of ordinances provided by Section 57478 shall not apply to any of the following:
  (a) Ordinances under which vested rights have accrued.
  (b) Ordinances relating to proceedings for street or other public improvements.
  (c) Ordinances relating to zoning or land use regulation.
  (d) Proceedings for opening, extending, widening, straightening, or changing the grade of streets or other public places. These proceedings shall be continued and conducted by the successor city with the same effect as if continued and conducted by the city which commenced them.

On and after the effective date of the consolidation, all ordinances, if any, of the successor city shall have full effect throughout the successor city.

Unless otherwise provided in the terms and conditions of the consolidation, the property in cities consolidated pursuant to this chapter shall not be taxed to pay any indebtedness or liability of any other city contracted or incurred prior to, or existing at, the time of consolidation.

The city council of the successor city shall separately levy and collect the taxes necessary to pay the indebtedness or liability of each predecessor city within the territory of each predecessor city.

Where the successor city is, or becomes, a chartered city, under a freeholder's charter providing that boroughs may be established in territories or cities annexed to or consolidated with it, this division does not prevent a predecessor city, or any part of it, from becoming a borough.