Article 1. Annexation Agreement of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 10. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 9. >> Article 1.

Unincorporated territory may be annexed to a district in the manner provided in this chapter.

Unincorporated territory not contiguous to a district may not be annexed if the district does not possess facilities for supplying transit service to that territory.

A petition signed by voters within the territory proposed to be annexed equal in number to at least 10 percent of the total vote cast, describing the territory and asking that proceedings be taken for its annexation, shall be addressed to the board and filed with the secretary of the district.

The secretary shall compare the signatures on the petition with the affidavits of registration on file with the county elections official and if he or she finds that the petition has been signed by the required number of voters he or she shall attach his or her signature thereto and present the petition to the board.

If the board determines that the annexation of the territory would facilitate the acquisition or operation of any transit facilities for the district, or be of advantage to the district, then the board shall also determine the terms and conditions upon which the annexation should be made.

Provisions may be made (among other things) for payment of taxes within the territory to be annexed in addition to the taxes elsewhere in this part provided for, the fixing of rates, rentals, and charges differing from those fixed or existing elsewhere within the district, the incurring or assumption of indebtedness, or the making of a payment or payments, or the transfer of property, real and personal, and other assets to the district by the territory proposed to be annexed. The boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed need not be coterminous with any election precincts. The terms and conditions shall become effective and be binding upon the district and the territory to be annexed when approved in the manner set forth in this chapter.

The annexation agreement may also provide that the unincorporated territory's annexation to the district shall constitute annexation to any existing special transit service district. Approval of the annexation by the voters, pursuant to this chapter, if the agreement includes provision for inclusion in a special transit service district, shall constitute full compliance with the provisions of Article 6 (commencing at Section 27461) of Chapter 10.5.

As an alternative to commencement of annexation proceedings by a petition by the voters within any unincorporated territory, proposed to be annexed, the legislative body of an unincorporated territory may agree in writing upon the terms and conditions of annexation, which agreement may contain (among other things) provisions as set forth in Sections 26656 and 26657.