Article 3. Election On Formation of California Harbors And Navigation Code >> Division 8. >> Part 7. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 3.

After adoption of the resolution provided for in Section 7024 the board of supervisors shall call and give notice of an election to be held in the proposed district for the purpose of determining whether or not it shall be formed and for the election of five persons who shall serve as the first directors of the district if the district is formed.

The resolution calling the election shall contain:
  (a) The date of the election.
  (b) The name of the proposed district.
  (c) The official name by which the harbor will be known.
  (d) A description of the exterior boundaries of the proposed district.
  (e) The hours that the polls will be open, the election precincts, the polling place or places and the election board or boards appointed to conduct the election.
  (f) The statement of the proposition to be voted upon.

The election shall be called and conducted and candidates nominated in the manner provided for general district elections, except that the board of supervisors shall establish election precincts, designate the polling place or places, appoint the election board or boards and canvass the returns.

The resolution calling the election shall be published pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the proposed district is located, the first publication to be at least 30 days prior to the date of election.

Within five days after the district formation election has been called, the legislative body which has called the election shall transmit, by registered mail, a written notification of the election call to the executive officer of the local agency formation commission of the county or principal county in which the territory or major portion of the territory of the proposed district is located. Such written notice shall include the name and a description of the proposed district, and may be in the form of a certified copy of the resolution adopted by the legislative body calling the district formation election. The executive officer, within five days after being notified that a district formation election has been called, shall submit to the commission, for its approval or modification, an impartial analysis of the proposed district formation. The impartial analysis shall not exceed 500 words in length and shall include a specific description of the boundaries of the district proposed to be formed. The local agency formation commission, within five days after the receipt of the executive officer's analysis, shall approve or modify the analysis and submit it to the officials in charge of conducting the district formation election.

The board of supervisors or any member or members of the board authorized by the board, or any individual voter or bona fide association of citizens entitled to vote on the district formation proposition, or any combination of such voters and associations of citizens, may file a written argument for or a written argument against the proposed district formation. Arguments shall not exceed 300 words in length and shall be filed with the officials in charge of conducting the election not less than 54 days prior to the date of the district formation election.

If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with the election officials within the time prescribed, such election officials shall select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters. In selecting the arguments, the election officials shall give preference and priority in the order named to the arguments of the following:
  (a) The board of supervisors or any member or members of the board authorized by the board.
  (b) Individual voters or bona fide associations of citizens or a combination of such voters and associations.

The elections officials in charge of conducting the election shall cause a ballot pamphlet concerning the district formation proposition to be voted on to be printed and mailed to each voter entitled to vote on the district formation question. The ballot pamphlet shall contain the following, in the order prescribed:
  (a) The complete text of the proposition.
  (b) The impartial analysis of the proposition, prepared by the local agency formation commission.
  (c) The argument for the proposed district formation.
  (d) The argument against the proposed district formation. The elections officials shall mail a ballot pamphlet to each voter entitled to vote in the district formation election at least 10 days prior to the date of the election. The ballot pamphlet is "official matter" within the meaning of Section 13303 of the Elections Code.

The vote shall be canvassed by the board of supervisors not more than 10 days after the election.

If less than a majority of the votes cast upon the proposition are in favor of forming the district the board of supervisors shall declare the proceedings terminated.

If a majority of the votes cast upon the proposition are in favor of forming the district the board of supervisors shall by resolution declare the district duly organized under this part. Said resolution shall state:
  (a) The name of the district.
  (b) The official name by which the harbor will be known.
  (c) The exterior boundaries of the district. A certified copy of the resolution declaring the district formed shall be filed with the Secretary of State. The organization of the district shall then be complete.

No informality in any proceeding, including informality in the conduct of the election not substantially affecting adversely the legal rights of any person, shall invalidate the formation of the district. Any proceedings wherein the validity of the formation of a district is denied shall be commenced within six months from the date of filing of the certified copy of the resolution declaring the district formed with the Secretary of State; otherwise the formation and legal existence of the district and all proceedings in respect thereto shall be incontestable.