Article 1. Inclusion Proceedings Initiated By Petition of California Water Code >> Division 20. >> Part 11. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.

72670.

Any portion of a district, whether contiguous or not to an improvement district thereof, may be annexed to such improvement district in the manner provided in this chapter.

72671.

Annexation proceedings may be initiated by petition. A petition, which may consist of any number of separate instruments, shall be filed with the secretary.

72672.

The petition shall be signed by the holders of title to at least 60 percent of the land in the portion proposed to be annexed, which land shall have an assessed valuation of not less than 50 percent of the land proposed to be annexed.

72673.

The petition for annexation shall contain all of the following:
  (a) A description of the area proposed to be annexed. Such description may be made by reference to a map on file with the secretary of the district, which map shall govern for all details as to the extent of the area proposed to be annexed, or may be made in any other definite manner.
  (b) The terms and conditions upon which the proposed area may be annexed as theretofore determined by resolution of the board.
  (c) A prayer that the board declare such area to be annexed to the improvement district.

72674.

The petition for annexation shall be accompanied by a certified check payable to the order of the district in a sufficient amount to reimburse the district for the expenses of processing and publishing the petition and preparing and making the filings required by law.

72675.

Within 10 days of the date of the filing of the petition for annexation, the secretary shall examine the petition and determine whether it is signed by the required number of property owners. Upon request of the secretary, the board shall authorize him to employ persons specially for this purpose, in addition to the persons regularly employed in his office, and shall provide for their compensation.

72676.

When the secretary has completed his examination of the petition for annexation, he shall attach to it his certificate, properly dated, showing the result of such examination.

72677.

If the secretary finds from the examination that the petition for annexation is signed by the requisite number of property owners he shall certify that the petition is sufficient. If he finds it is not so signed, he shall certify that the petition is insufficient.

72678.

If the secretary certifies in his certificate that the petition for annexation is insufficient, the petition may be amended by filing a supplemental petition or petitions within 10 days of the date of such certificate.

72679.

Within 10 days after the filing of any supplemental petition or petitions, the secretary shall examine them and certify to the result of such examination as provided in Sections 72675 to 72677, inclusive.

72680.

After the time for filing supplemental petitions has expired and all supplemental petitions have been examined, if the secretary' s certificate shows that the petition for annexation is sufficient, the secretary shall cause notice of hearing on the petition to be published and posted without delay.

72680.1.

In the event the petition for annexation is signed by all of the holders of title of land in the portion proposed to be annexed, the board may proceed and act thereon without notice and hearing, but shall otherwise comply with the applicable provisions of this article.

72681.

The text of the petition for annexation shall be published, pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code, prior to the time at which it is to be presented to the board, in at least one newspaper printed and published in the district, if there is a newspaper printed and published in the district, together with a notice stating the time and place of the meeting at which the petition will be presented. If the petition is contained upon one or more instruments, only one copy of the petition need be published.

72682.

No more than five of the names attached to the petition for annexation need appear in the publication of the petition and notice, but the number of signers shall be stated.

72683.

The petition and notice shall also be posted in three public places in the improvement district and three public places in the area proposed to be annexed at least two weeks prior to the hearing.

72684.

The board shall proceed to hear the petition at the time and place fixed therefor, and any person residing within the district or improvement district or owning taxable property in the district or improvement district may appear and be heard at such hearing. Such hearing may be continued from time to time by the board.

72685.

At the conclusion of the hearing, if the board finds and determines from the evidence presented at the hearing that the area proposed to be annexed to an improvement district will be benefited thereby, and that the improvement district to which the area proposed to be annexed will also be benefited thereby and will not be injured thereby, the board may, by resolution, approve the annexation. The resolution shall describe the annexed territory, which may be made by reference to a map on file with the secretary, which map shall govern for all details as to the extent of the annexed area, or may be made in any other definite manner. The resolution shall also state the terms and conditions of annexation as theretofore determined by resolution of the board.

72686.

From and after the date of the adoption of the resolution approving the annexation, the area named therein is added to and forms a part of the improvement district.

72687.

The taxable property in the annexed areas shall be subject to taxation after the annexation thereof for the purposes of the improvement district, including the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds and other obligations of the improvement district authorized and outstanding at the time of the annexation. If the terms and conditions established by the board specifically so provide, the taxable property in the annexed area shall be subject to taxation as if the annexed property had always been a part of the improvement district.

72688.

The board may do all things necessary to enforce and make effective the terms and conditions of annexation fixed by it.

72689.

Any action or proceeding in which the validity of an annexation to an improvement district pursuant to this article is contested, questioned, or denied shall be commenced within three months after the date of the resolution approving such annexation; otherwise the annexation shall be held to be valid and in every respect legal and incontestable.