Section 66031 Of Chapter 9.3. Mediation And Resolution Of Land Use Disputes From California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 7. >> Chapter 9.3.
66031
. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any action
brought in the superior court relating to any of the following
subjects may be subject to a mediation proceeding conducted pursuant
to this chapter:
(1) The approval or denial by a public agency of any development
project.
(2) Any act or decision of a public agency made pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with
Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(3) The failure of a public agency to meet the time limits
specified in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 65920), commonly
known as the Permit Streamlining Act, or in the Subdivision Map Act
(Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410)).
(4) Fees determined pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section
17620) of Division 1 of Part 10.5 of the Education Code or Chapter
4.9 (commencing with Section 65995).
(5) Fees determined pursuant to the Mitigation Fee Act (Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 66000), Chapter 6 (commencing with Section
66010), Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 66012), Chapter 8
(commencing with Section 66016), and Chapter 9 (commencing with
Section 66020)).
(6) The adequacy of a general plan or specific plan adopted
pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 65100).
(7) The validity of any sphere of influence, urban service area,
change of organization or reorganization, or any other decision made
pursuant to the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government
Reorganization Act of 2000 (Division 3 (commencing with Section
56000) of Title 5).
(8) The adoption or amendment of a redevelopment plan pursuant to
the Community Redevelopment Law (Part 1 (commencing with Section
33000) of Division 24 of the Health and Safety Code).
(9) The validity of any zoning decision made pursuant to Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 65800).
(10) The validity of any decision made pursuant to Article 3.5
(commencing with Section 21670) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 9
of the Public Utilities Code.
(b) Within five days after the deadline for the respondent or
defendant to file its reply to an action, the court may invite the
parties to consider resolving their dispute by selecting a mutually
acceptable person to serve as a mediator, or an organization or
agency to provide a mediator.
(c) In selecting a person to serve as a mediator, or an
organization or agency to provide a mediator, the parties shall
consider the following:
(1) The council of governments having jurisdiction in the county
where the dispute arose.
(2) Any subregional or countywide council of governments in the
county where the dispute arose.
(3) Any other person with experience or training in mediation
including those with experience in land use issues, or any other
organization or agency that can provide a person with experience or
training in mediation, including those with experience in land use
issues.
(d) If the court invites the parties to consider mediation, the
parties shall notify the court within 30 days if they have selected a
mutually acceptable person to serve as a mediator. If the parties
have not selected a mediator within 30 days, the action shall
proceed. The court shall not draw any implication, favorable or
otherwise, from the refusal by a party to accept the invitation by
the court to consider mediation. Nothing in this section shall
preclude the parties from using mediation at any other time while the
action is pending.