Chapter 6. Powers And Duties Of The Commission of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 16. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 6.

The commission shall be the governing body of the district, and shall exercise all of the powers which are vested in the district. At its first meeting or as soon thereafter as may be practicable, the commission shall choose one of its members as president, and another of its members as secretary. All written documents shall be signed in the name of the district by the president of the commission, and countersigned by the secretary.

The commission shall hold all meetings in the district at an appointed place, at such times as may be convenient. If either the president or the secretary are absent or unable to act, the commission shall, by order entered upon its minutes, choose from its members a president pro tempore, or secretary pro tempore, as the case may be.

A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and every decision of the majority made when duly assembled, is valid as an act of the commission.

The district may use a common seal, alterable at the pleasure of the commission and may:
  (a) Sue and be sued in its own name.
  (b) Lay out, establish, construct, acquire and maintain boulevards within the district, and for this purpose acquire by purchase, gift, devise, condemnation proceedings or otherwise, and pay for and hold, real and personal property and rights of way within the district. Any easement procured for the building of a boulevard, whether procured by grant or condemnation, shall permit the use of the boulevard by a railroad, electric road, or street railroad pursuant to this part.
  (c) Make and accept all contracts, deeds, releases and documents of any kind which shall be necessary or proper to the exercise of any of the powers of the district.
  (d) Direct the payment of all lawful claims and demands against the district.
  (e) Issue bonds as hereinafter provided, and provide for their payment.
  (f) When directed to do so by a vote of the people of the district, have sufficient taxes levied for the construction, maintenance or repair of district boulevards, and the payment of all indebtedness and running expenses of the district.
  (g) Employ all necessary engineers, surveyors, agents and workmen to do the work on or in connection with the boulevards in the district.
  (h) Do any and all things necessary or proper for the complete exercise of its powers and the accomplishment of the purposes for which it was formed.

For the purposes of this part the district may take over, control, operate, and use in whole or in part any county road or public highway and may construct any boulevard in whole or in part, over, along, or upon all or any part of any county road or public highway. District funds may be expended in the improvement of such road or highway to conform to the width and general character of the balance of the boulevard.

At its option, the commission may make application to the Department of Transportation for the exercise by the department of any powers, duties, or authority which the department may have with respect to the ownership, construction, maintenance, or improvement of any boulevard pursuant to this part, including the preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates and the handling and expenditure of district moneys for such construction, maintenance, or improvement. Any such application to the Department of Transportation shall be made in accordance with the provisions of law defining the powers, duties, or privileges of the department in relation to such matters, and, upon the granting of any such application by the department, the commission shall have full power to carry out the terms of the application on its part.