Article 2. General Provisions of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 10. >> Part 9. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 2.

It is necessary that a transit district be established in the Santa Barbara metropolitan area which includes the City of Santa Barbara and adjacent territory, including but not limited to the Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito and Goleta areas, all situated in Santa Barbara County, in order to meet the public transit problem of the area. The geographic location of the city in relation to the adjacent territory requiring transportation services makes it necessary to develop a single transit system to protect the public interest and welfare.

The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District may be created as provided in this act and when so created may exercise the powers herein granted.

Except as otherwise provided in this act elections shall be held and conducted and the result ascertained, determined, and declared in, all respects as nearly as practicable in conformity with the general elections laws of the state.

Except as otherwise provided in this part all ordinances and notices which are required to be published shall be published within the district pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code.

Whenever the signature of any officer or employee of a district or of any member of the retirement board or of any officer or employee of the retirement system is authorized or required under the provisions of this act, except in the single instance provided in Section 96443, the signature may be made by the use of a plate bearing facsimiles of such signatures.

The boundaries of the district shall not be affected by reason of the incorporation of any territory wholly or partly within the boundaries of the district, or by reason of annexation to or detachment from any city of territory wholly or partly within the boundaries of the district, except as provided in this part. Where territory outside the district is annexed to any city included in the district, said territory shall, upon the completion of such annexation proceeding, be deemed incorporated into and annexed to the district; provided that, where territory which is incorporated as a new city is partly within and partly outside the district, that territory which is outside the district shall, upon the completion of such incorporation proceeding, be deemed incorporated into and annexed to the district; and provided further that no incorporated city now lying entirely outside the boundaries of the district shall be included within the district without the consent of the legislative body of said city, and any territory annexed by such city, if such annexed territory is then within the district, shall be automatically excluded from the district, unless the legislative body of the city shall otherwise declare in its ordinance of annexation. Whenever territory is deemed incorporated into and annexed to the district pursuant to this section, such territory shall be subject to taxation, in accordance with the assessable valuation of the property thereof, for general district purposes and for the payment of any indebtedness theretofore or thereafter incurred by the district.