Article 1. Legislative Body As The Agency of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 24. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 1.

(a) As an alternative to the appointment of five members of the agency, the legislative body may, at the time of the adoption of an ordinance pursuant to Section 33101 or 33140 of this part, or at any time thereafter by adoption of an ordinance, declare itself to be the agency; in which case, all the rights, powers, duties, privileges and immunities, vested by this part in an agency, except as otherwise provided in this article, shall be vested in the legislative body of the community. If a member of the legislative body of a city or county does not wish to serve on the agency, the members may so notify the legislative body of the city or county, and the legislative body of the city or county shall appoint a replacement who is an elector of the city or county to serve out the term of the replaced member. However, in any community in San Bernardino County which is a charter city, the adoption of any order or resolution by the legislative body acting as the agency shall be governed by the same procedures as are set forth in the provisions of the charter, and the mayor shall be the chairperson of the agency, having the same power and authority in the conduct of the agency and the meetings of the legislative body acting as the agency, that the mayor has in the conduct of the affairs of the city. As part of the legislative body's ordinance declaring itself to be the redevelopment agency pursuant to this subdivision, the legislative body shall make findings that the action shall serve the public interest and promote the public safety and welfare in an effective manner.
  (b) In the event an appointive agency has been designated and has been in existence for at least three years, the legislative body shall not adopt an ordinance declaring itself to be the agency without first conducting a public hearing on the proposed ordinance. Notice of the public hearing required by this subdivision shall be published not less than once during the 10 calendar days immediately prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in the community, or if there is none, in a newspaper selected by the legislative body. The notice of hearing shall include a general statement of the procedure and effect of the legislative body's declaring itself to be the agency. Copies of the notice shall be posted throughout the affected project area or areas at least 10 calendar days prior to the hearing. The legislative body shall also mail by first-class mail copies of the notice at least 10 calendar days prior to the hearing, to all persons who have expressed to the agency or the legislative body an interest in receiving information on redevelopment activities. The legislative body shall cause the preparation of any report or reports or proposals, as are necessary to substantiate and explain the determination that the legislative body shall declare itself the redevelopment agency, to be presented at the public hearing. As part of the legislative body's ordinance declaring itself to be the redevelopment agency pursuant to this subdivision, the legislative body shall make findings that (1) the action will serve the public interest and promote the public safety and welfare in a more effective manner than the current organization, and (2) there has been full public disclosure of all reports and proposals relating to the legislative body's intent to declare itself the redevelopment agency.

(a) A legislative body which has declared itself to be the agency pursuant to Section 33200 may by ordinance create a community redevelopment commission. The ordinance shall establish the number of members of the commission, but not less than seven, their terms of office, and the method of their appointment and removal.
  (b) (1) No member of the commission shall acquire any interest in any property included within a project area. Any member who owns or has any direct or indirect financial interest in any property within a project area shall immediately make a written disclosure of that interest to the legislative body.
  (2) A rental agreement or lease of property which meets all of the following conditions is not an interest in property for purposes of paragraph (1):
  (A) The rental or lease agreement contains terms that are substantially equivalent to the terms of a rental or lease agreement available to any member of the general public for comparable property in the project area.
  (B) The rental or lease agreement includes a provision which prohibits any subletting, sublease, or other assignment at a rate in excess of the rate in the original rental or lease agreement.
  (C) The property which is subject to the rental or lease agreement is used in the pursuit of the principal business, occupation, or profession of the member of the commission.
  (D) The member of the commission who obtains the rental or lease agreement immediately makes a written disclosure of that fact to the commission and the legislative body.

If a community redevelopment commission is created as provided in Section 33201, its functions shall be to prepare a redevelopment plan for each project area, hold and conduct hearings thereon, adopt and submit such plan, together with a report, to the legislative body, pursuant to all of the provisions, requirements and procedures of Article 4 (commencing with Section 33330) of Chapter 4 of this part; and the agency, in such case, shall not be required to perform such functions. The legislative body may additionally delegate any of its functions as the governing body of the agency to the community redevelopment commission.

A legislative body which has declared itself to be the agency pursuant to Section 33200 may at any time by resolution determine that it shall no longer function as an agency, in which event, the mayor or chairman of the board of supervisors with the approval of the legislative body shall appoint five or seven resident electors of the community as members of the agency, and, upon such appointment, the community redevelopment commission, if any, shall no longer function.

A chartered city may enact its own procedural ordinance and exercise the powers granted by this part.

An agency is authorized to delegate to a community any of the powers or functions of the agency with respect to the planning or undertaking of a redevelopment project in the area in which such community is authorized to act, and such community is hereby authorized to carry out or perform such powers or functions for the agency.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a legislative body, at the time of the adoption of an ordinance pursuant to Section 33101 or 33140, and pursuant to a resolution authorizing such an action, may contract with the Department of Housing and Community Development, or any other agency or housing authority, for the furnishing by the department, agency, or housing authority of any necessary staff services associated with or required by redevelopment and which could be performed by the staff of an agency. In such a case the legislative body shall be vested with all of the rights, powers, duties, and privileges and immunities vested by this part in an agency.