Chapter 1. Inclusion of California Water Code >> Division 18. >> Part 7. >> Chapter 1.

Any territory including unincorporated territory or incorporated territory or a part of either, and lying within one or more counties of this State may be annexed to a water replenishment district under the provisions of this part.

A petition, which may consist of any number of separate instruments, shall be filed with the secretary of the district, signed by registered voters residing within the boundaries of the area proposed to be annexed equal in number to at least 10 per centum of the number of such voters residing within the area so proposed to be annexed.

Such petition shall set forth and describe the boundaries of the area proposed to be annexed and shall contain a prayer that such area be annexed to such district.

The text of such petition and a notice stating the time of the meeting at which the same will be presented shall be published in the affected county pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code. When contained upon one or more instruments, one copy only of such petition need be published. No more than five of the names attached to the petition need appear in the publication of the petition and notice, but the number of signers shall be stated. Publication shall be complete at least seven, but not more than 28, days before the time at which the petition is to be presented to the board.

Within 10 days of the date of filing of such petition the secretary of the district shall examine the same and ascertain whether or not such petition is signed by the requisite number of voters.

When the secretary of the district has completed his examination of the petition, he shall attach to the same his certificate, properly dated, showing the result of such examination, and if from such examination he shall find that said petition is signed by the requisite number of voters or is not so signed, he shall certify that the same is sufficient or insufficient, as the case may be.

If, by the certificate of the secretary of the district, the petition is found to be insufficient, he shall also certify to the number of voters required to make such petition sufficient, and it may be amended by filing a supplemental petition or petitions within 10 days of the date of such certificate.

The secretary of the district shall, within 10 days after the filing of such supplemental petition or petitions, make like examination of the same and certify to the result of such examination as hereinbefore provided.

If his certificate shall show any such petition, or such petition as amended, to be insufficient, it shall be filed by him with the board of the district and kept as a public record, without prejudice, however, to the filing of a new petition to the same effect, but if, by the certificate of the secretary, such petition, or petition as amended, is shown to be sufficient, the secretary shall present the same to the board without delay.

If any supplemental petition be filed, all the signatures appended to the petition or to the supplemental petition or petitions shall be considered in determining the number of voters signing the petition.

After an election for the annexation of such area to the district the sufficiency of such petition in any respect shall not be subject to judicial review or be otherwise questioned.

Such petition may be granted by ordinance of the board of such district. No petition for inclusion may be granted unless and until the board finds that the persons and property within the territory proposed to be included will benefit directly or indirectly from the use of or right to use the ground water supplies within the district and the replenishment thereof. The petition may be granted in its entirety or only as to the part of the territory proposed to be included for which such a finding of benefit is made. If the petition be denied, either as to the whole or part of the territory to be included, no new petition for the inclusion of such territory shall be filed within six months after such denial. In granting such petition, such board of directors may fix in said ordinance the terms and conditions upon which such annexation may occur, and such terms and conditions may provide, among other things, for the levy by such district of special taxes upon the real property and improvements thereon, but not on personal property within such annexed area or areas in addition to the taxes elsewhere in this act authorized to be levied by such district, and in case such terms and conditions shall provide for the levy of such special taxes, the board, in fixing such terms and conditions, shall specify the aggregate amount to be so raised and the number of years prescribed for raising such aggregate sum and that substantially equal annual levies will be made for the purpose of raising such sum over the period so prescribed.

If such petition is granted, the proposition of such annexation subject to the terms and conditions so fixed, shall be submitted to the vote of the voters in the proposed addition, at an election called by the board and held, as herein provided, within 70 days after the effective date of such ordinance.

Notice of such election shall be published in the affected county pursuant to Section 6063 of the Government Code. Publication shall be complete at least seven, but not more than 28, days prior to the date fixed for such election. Such notice shall describe the boundaries of the area or areas so proposed to be annexed and shall designate such territory by some appropriate name, or other words of identification, by which such territory may be referred to and indicated upon the ballot to be used at any election at which the question of such annexation is submitted, as in this act provided.

Such notice also shall contain the substance of the terms and conditions fixed by the board of directors, as herein provided.

The measure so submitted at such election shall be stated on the ballot substantially as follows: "Shall ____ (giving the name or other designation of the territory proposed to be annexed, as stated in the notice of election) be annexed to ____ (name of water replenishment district) subject to the terms and conditions fixed by the board of directors of said district?" At the right of such proposition there shall be printed the words "yes" and "no" with voting squares.

The board shall canvass the votes cast at such election and, if such proposition is approved by a majority of the voters voting thereon at such election, the president and secretary of the board of directors shall certify that fact to the Secretary of State and shall record a certificate stating that such proposition was adopted with the county recorder of each affected county in which such district is located.

Upon receipt of such last-mentioned certificate, the Secretary of State shall, within 10 days, issue his certificate reciting the passage of said ordinance and the addition of said area or areas to said district. A copy of said certificate shall be transmitted to, and filed with, the county clerk of each affected county in which such district is situated.

From and after the date of such certificate, the area or areas named therein shall be deemed added to, and shall form a part of, said district, and the taxable property therein shall be subject to taxation thereafter for the purposes of said district, including the payment of bonds and other obligations of such district at the time authorized or outstanding, and the board of the district shall be empowered to do all things necessary to enforce and make effective the terms and conditions of annexation fixed as hereinabove authorized.