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AB-1021 Parking and business improvement areas: benefit assessments.(2001-2002)

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AB1021:v93#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 1021
CHAPTER 88

An act to amend Section 36622 of, to add Section 36614.5 to, to add Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 36631), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 36650), Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 36660), and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 36670) to Part 7 of Division 18 of, and to repeal Section 36605 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 36631), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 36640), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 36650) of Part 7 of Division 18 of, the Streets and Highways Code, relating to benefit assessments.

[ Filed with Secretary of State  July 23, 2001. Approved by Governor  July 20, 2001. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1021, Goldberg. Parking and business improvement areas: benefit assessments.
The Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994 authorizes cities to form property and business improvement districts that may levy assessments within a business improvement area for the purpose of making improvements and promoting activities of benefit to the properties within the district. Existing law requires that for the purpose of making improvements and promoting activities of benefit to the properties within the district, the collection of assessments shall be made at the time and in the manner set forth by the city council in the management district plan, as specified. Existing law requires that the management district plan include, among other things, the specific number of years, to a maximum of 5, in which assessments would be levied.
This bill would recast and reorganize those provisions. The bill, in addition and among other things, would require that all delinquent payments for assessments levied shall be charged interest and penalties. The bill would also permit the renewal of any district previously established whose term has expired, by following specified procedures. Upon renewal, a district would have a term not to exceed 10 years. The bill would also define “owners’ association” for purposes of the law and require an owners’ association to comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act and the California Public Records Act under certain conditions.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 36605 of the Streets and Highways Code is repealed.

SEC. 2.

 Section 36614.5 is added to the Streets and Highways Code, to read:

36614.5.
 “Owners’ association” means a private nonprofit entity that is under contract with a city to administer or implement activities and improvements specified in the management district plan. An owners’ association may be an existing nonprofit entity or a newly formed nonprofit entity. An owners’ association is a private entity and may not be considered a public entity for any purpose, nor may its board members or staff be considered to be public officials for any purpose. Notwithstanding this section, an owners’ association shall comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code), at all times when matters within the subject matter of the district are heard, discussed, or deliberated, and with the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code), for all documents relating to activities of the district.

SEC. 3.

 Section 36622 of the Streets and Highways Code is amended to read:

36622.
 The management district plan shall contain all of the following:
(a) A map of the district in sufficient detail to locate each parcel of property within the district.
(b) The name of the proposed district.
(c) A description of the boundaries of the district, including the boundaries of any benefit zones, proposed for establishment or extension in a manner sufficient to identify the lands included. Under no circumstances shall the boundaries of a proposed district overlap with the boundaries of another existing district created pursuant to this part. Nothing in this part prohibits the boundaries of a district created pursuant to this part to overlap with other assessment districts established pursuant to other provisions of law including, but not limited to, the Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989.
(d) The improvements and activities proposed for each year of operation of the district and the maximum cost thereof.
(e) The total annual amount proposed to be expended for improvements, maintenance and operations in each year of operation of the district.
(f) The proposed source or sources of financing including the proposed method and basis of levying the assessment in sufficient detail to allow each property owner to calculate the amount of the assessment to be levied against his or her property.
(g) The time and manner of collecting the assessments.
(h) The specific number of years in which assessments will be levied. In a new district, the maximum number of years shall be five. Upon renewal, a district shall have a term not to exceed 10 years. The management district plan may set forth specific increases in assessments for each year of operation of the district.
(i) The proposed time for implementation and completion of the management district plan.
(j) Any proposed rules and regulations to be applicable to the district.
(k) A list of the properties to be assessed, including the assessor’s parcel numbers, and a statement of the method or methods by which the expenses of a district will be imposed upon benefited real property, in proportion to the benefit received by the property, to defray the cost thereof, including operation and maintenance. The plan may provide that all or any class or category of real property which is exempt by law from real property taxation may nevertheless be included within the boundaries of the district but shall not be subject to the assessment.
(l) Any other item or matter required to be incorporated therein by the city council.

SEC. 4.

 Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 36631) of Part 7 of Division 18 of the Streets and Highways Code is repealed.

SEC. 5.

 Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 36631) is added to Part 7 of Division 18 of the Streets and Highways Code, to read:
CHAPTER  3. Assessments

36631.
 The collection of the assessments levied pursuant to this part shall be made at the time and in the manner set forth by the city council in the resolution establishing the management district plan described in Section 36622. The assessments may be collected at the same time and in the same manner as for the ad valorem property tax, and may provide for the same lien priority and penalties for delinquent payment. All delinquent payments for assessments levied pursuant to this part shall be charged interest and penalties.

36632.
 (a) The assessments levied on real property pursuant to this part shall be levied on the basis of the estimated benefit to the real property within the property and business improvement district. The city council may classify properties for purposes of determining the benefit to property of the improvements and activities provided pursuant to this part.
(b) Properties zoned solely for residential use, or that are zoned for agricultural use, are conclusively presumed not to benefit from the improvements and service funded through these assessments, and shall not be subject to any assessment pursuant to this part.

36633.
 The validity of an assessment levied under this part shall not be contested in any action or proceeding unless the action or proceeding is commenced within 30 days after the resolution levying the assessment is adopted pursuant to Section 36626. Any appeal from a final judgment in an action or proceeding shall be perfected within 30 days after the entry of judgment.

36634.
 The city council may execute baseline service contracts that would establish levels of city services that would continue after a property and business improvement district has been formed.

36635.
 The owners’ association may, at any time, request that the city council modify the management district plan. Any modification of the management district plan shall be made pursuant to this chapter.

36636.
 (a) Upon the written request of the owners’ association, the city council may modify the management district plan after conducting one public hearing on the proposed modifications. The city council may modify the improvements and activities to be funded with the revenue derived from the levy of the assessments by adopting a resolution determining to make the modifications after holding a public hearing on the proposed modifications. Notice of the public hearing and the proposed modifications shall be published as provided in Section 36623. If the modification includes the levy of a new or increased assessment, the city council shall comply with Section 53753 of the Government Code.
(b)The city council shall adopt a resolution of intention which states the proposed modification prior to the public hearing required by this section. The public hearing shall be held not more than 90 days after the adoption of the resolution of intention.

36637.
 Any subsequent modification of the resolution shall be reflected in subsequent notices and maps recorded pursuant to Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 3100).

SEC. 6.

 Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 36640) of Part 7 of Division 18 of the Streets and Highways Code is repealed.

SEC. 7.

 Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 36650) is added to Part 7 of Division 18 of the Streets and Highways Code, to read:
CHAPTER  4. Governance

36650.
 (a) The owners’ association shall cause to be prepared a report for each fiscal year, except the first year, for which assessments are to be levied and collected to pay the costs of the improvements and activities described in the report. The owners’ association’s first report shall be due after the first year of operation of the district. The report may propose changes, including, but not limited to, the boundaries of the property and business improvement district or any benefit zones within the district, the basis and method of levying the assessments, and any changes in the classification of property, if a classification is used.
(b) The report shall be filed with the clerk and shall refer to the property and business improvement district by name, specify the fiscal year to which the report applies, and, with respect to that fiscal year, shall contain all of the following information:
(1) Any proposed changes in the boundaries of the property and business improvement district or in any benefit zones within the district.
(2) The improvements and activities to be provided for that fiscal year.
(3) An estimate of the cost of providing the improvements and the activities for that fiscal year.
(4) The method and basis of levying the assessment in sufficient detail to allow each real property owner to estimate the amount of the assessment to be levied against his or her property for that fiscal year.
(5) The amount of any surplus or deficit revenues to be carried over from a previous fiscal year.
(6) The amount of any contributions to be made from sources other than assessments levied pursuant to this part.
(c) The city council may approve the report as filed by the owners’ association or may modify any particular contained in the report and approve it as modified. Any modification shall be made pursuant to Sections 36635 and 36636.
The city council shall not approve a change in the basis and method of levying assessments that would impair an authorized or executed contract to be paid from the revenues derived from the levy of assessments.

36651.
 The management district plan may, but is not required to, state that an owners’ association will provide the improvements or activities described in the management district plan. If the management district plan designates an owners’ association, the city shall contract with the designated nonprofit corporation to provide services.

SEC. 8.

 Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 36650) of Part 7 of Division 18 of the Streets and Highways Code is repealed.

SEC. 9.

 Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 36660) is added to Part 7 of Division 18 of the Streets and Highways Code, to read:
CHAPTER  5. Renewal

36660.
 (a) Any district previously established whose term has expired, may be renewed by following the procedures for establishment as provided in this chapter.
(b) Upon renewal, any remaining revenues derived from the levy of assessments, or any revenues derived from the sale of assets acquired with the revenues, shall be transferred to the renewed district. If the renewed district includes additional parcels not included in the prior district, the remaining revenues shall be spent to benefit only the parcels in the prior district. If the renewed district does not include parcels included in the prior district, the remaining revenues attributable to these parcels shall be refunded to the owners of these parcels.
(c) Upon renewal, a district shall have a term not to exceed 10 years. There is no requirement that the boundaries, assessments, improvements, or activities of a renewed district be the same as the original or prior district.

SEC. 10.

 Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 36670) is added to Part 7 of Division 18 of the Streets and Highways Code, to read:
CHAPTER  6. Disestablishment

36670.
 (a) Any district established or extended pursuant to the provisions of this part, where there is no indebtedness, outstanding and unpaid, incurred to accomplish any of the purposes of the district, may be disestablished by resolution by the city council in either of the following circumstances:
(1) If the city council finds there has been misappropriation of funds, malfeasance, or a violation of law in connection with the management of the district, it shall notice a hearing on disestablishment.
(2) During the operation of the district, there shall be a 30-day period each year in which assessees may request disestablishment of the district. The first such period shall begin one year after the date of establishment of the district and shall continue for 30 days. The next such 30-day period shall begin two years after the date of the establishment of the district. Each successive year of operation of the district shall have such a 30-day period. Upon the written petition of the owners of real property in the area who pay 50 percent or more of the assessments levied, the city council shall pass a resolution of intention to disestablish the district. The city council shall notice a hearing on disestablishment.
(b) The city council shall adopt a resolution of intention to disestablish the district prior to the public hearing required by this section. The resolution shall state the reason for the disestablishment, shall state the time and place of the public hearing, and shall contain a proposal to dispose of any assets acquired with the revenues of the assessments levied within the property and business improvement district. The notice of the hearing on disestablishment required by this section shall be given by mail to the property owner of each parcel in the district. The city shall conduct the public hearing not less than 30 days after mailing the notice to the property owners. The public hearing shall be held not more than 60 days after the adoption of the resolution of intention.

36671.
 (a) Upon the disestablishment of a district, any remaining revenues, after all outstanding debts are paid, derived from the levy of assessments, or derived from the sale of assets acquired with the revenues, shall be refunded to the owners of the property then located and operating within the district in which assessments were levied by applying the same method and basis that was used to calculate the assessments levied in the fiscal year in which the district is disestablished. All outstanding assessment revenue collected after disestablishment shall be spent on improvements and activities specified in the management district plan.
(b) If the disestablishment occurs before an assessment is levied for the fiscal year, the method and basis that was used to calculate the assessments levied in the immediate prior fiscal year shall be used to calculate the amount of any refund.

SEC. 11.

 The changes made by this act, insofar as they repeal and reenact prior law, shall be construed as a continuation of the prior law.