36601.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Businesses located and operating within the business districts of this state’s communities are economically disadvantaged, are underutilized, and are unable to attract customers due to inadequate facilities, services, and activities in the business districts.

(b) It is in the public interest to promote the economic revitalization and physical maintenance of the business districts of its cities in order to create jobs, attract new businesses, and prevent the erosion of the business districts.

(c) It is of particular local benefit to allow cities to fund business related improvements, maintenance, and activities through the levy of assessments upon the businesses or real property that benefits from those improvements.

(d) Assessments levied for the purpose of providing improvements and promoting activities that benefit real property or businesses are not taxes for the general benefit of a city, but are assessments for the improvements and activities which confer special benefits upon the real property or businesses for which the improvements and activities are provided.

36603.5.

 Any provision in this part that conflicts with any other provision of law shall prevail over the other provision of law.

36606.

 “Assessment” means a levy for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, installing, or maintaining improvements and promoting activities which will benefit the properties or businesses located within a property and business improvement district.

36621.

 (a) Upon the submission of a written petition, signed by the property or business owners in the proposed district who will pay more than 50 percent of the assessments proposed to be levied, the city council may initiate proceedings to form a district by the adoption of a resolution expressing its intention to form a district. The amount of assessment attributable to property or a business owned by the same property or business owner that is in excess of 40 percent of the amount of all assessments proposed to be levied, shall not be included in determining whether the petition is signed by property or business owners who will pay more than 50 percent of the total amount of assessments proposed to be levied.

(b) The petition of property or business owners required under subdivision (a) shall include a summary of the management district plan. That summary shall include all of the following:

(1) A map showing the boundaries of the district.

(2) Information specifying where the complete management district plan can be obtained.

(3) Information specifying that the complete management district plan shall be furnished upon request.

(c) The resolution of intention described in subdivision (a) shall contain all of the following:

(1) A brief description of the proposed activities and improvements, the amount of the proposed assessment, a statement as to whether the assessment will be levied on property or businesses within the district, a statement as to whether bonds will be issued, and a description of the exterior boundaries of the proposed district. The descriptions and statements do not need to be detailed and shall be sufficient if they enable an owner to generally identify the nature and extent of the improvements and activities and the location and extent of the proposed district.

(2) A time and place for a public hearing on the establishment of the property and business improvement district and the levy of assessments, which shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 36623.

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 and, if businesses are to be assessed, each business 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 affected lands and businesses 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, and debt service 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 or business owner to calculate the amount of the assessment to be levied against his or her property or business. The plan shall also state whether bonds will be issued to finance improvements.

(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. Notwithstanding these limitations, a district created pursuant to this part to finance capital improvements with bonds may levy assessments until the maximum maturity of the bonds. 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 or businesses to be assessed, including the assessor’s parcel numbers for any properties to be assessed, and a statement of the method or methods by which the expenses of a district will be imposed upon benefited real property or businesses, in proportion to the benefit received by the property or business, 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 assessment on real property.

(l) Any other item or matter required to be incorporated therein by the city council.

36623.

 If a city council proposes to levy an assessment that is consistent with the assessment proposed in the petition of property owners or businesses submitted pursuant to Section 36621 and with the management district plan submitted pursuant to Section 36622, the city shall provide notice of the public hearing set pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 36621 to the property or business owners as required by Article XIII D of the California Constitution. The petition shall serve as the equivalent of a protest ballot procedure for purposes of Article XIII D. If a city council proposes to levy a new or increased assessment, or an assessment that is materially different from the assessment proposed in the petition and management plan, the notice and protest and hearing procedure shall comply with Section 53753 of the Government Code. However, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 53753 of the Government Code, if the assessment will be levied on businesses, the required notice shall be provided to the businesses that would be assessed, and only assessment ballots submitted by owners of those businesses shall be tabulated in determining whether a majority protest exists.

36625.

 (a) If the city council, following the public hearing, decides to establish the proposed property and business improvement district, the city council shall adopt a resolution of formation that shall contain all of the following:

(1) A brief description of the proposed activities and improvements, the amount of the proposed assessment, a statement as to whether the assessment will be levied on property or businesses within the district, a statement about whether bonds will be issued, and a description of the exterior boundaries of the proposed district. The descriptions and statements do not need to be detailed and shall be sufficient if they enable an owner to generally identify the nature and extent of the improvements and activities and the location and extent of the proposed district.

(2) The number, date of adoption, and title of the resolution of intention.

(3) The time and place where the public hearing was held concerning the establishment of the district.

(4) A determination regarding any protests received. The city shall not establish the district or levy assessments if a majority protest was received.

(5) A statement that the properties or businesses in the district established by the resolution shall be subject to any amendments to this part.

(6) A statement that the improvements and activities to be provided in the district will be funded by the levy of the assessments. The revenue from the levy of assessments within a district shall not be used to provide improvements or activities outside the district or for any purpose other than the purposes specified in the resolution of intention, as modified by the city council at the hearing concerning establishment of the district.

(7) A finding that the property or businesses within the area of the property and business improvement district will be benefited by the improvements and activities funded by the assessments proposed to be levied.

(b) The adoption of the resolution of formation and recordation of the notice and map pursuant to Section 36627 shall constitute the levy of an assessment in each of the fiscal years referred to in the management district plan.

36627.

 Following adoption of the resolution establishing the district pursuant to Section 36625 or 36626, the clerk of the city shall record a notice and an assessment diagram pursuant to Section 3114. If the assessment is levied on businesses, the text of the recorded notice shall be modified to reflect that the assessment will be levied on businesses, or specified categories of businesses, within the area of the district. No other provision of Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 3100) applies to an assessment district created pursuant to this part.

36628.

 The city council may establish one or more separate benefit zones within the district based upon the degree of benefit derived from the improvements or activities to be provided within the benefit zone and may impose a different assessment within each benefit zone. If the assessment is to be levied on businesses, the city council may also define categories of businesses based upon the degree of benefit that each will derive from the improvements or activities to be provided within the district and may impose a different assessment or rate of assessment on each category of business, or on each category of business within each zone.

36628.5.

 The city council may levy assessments on businesses or on property owners, or a combination of the two, pursuant to this part. The city council shall structure the assessments in whatever manner it determines corresponds with the distribution of benefits from the proposed improvements and activities.

36629.

 All provisions of this part applicable to the establishment, modification, or disestablishment of a property and business improvement district apply to the establishment, modification, or disestablishment of benefit zones or categories of business. The city council shall, to establish, modify, or disestablish a benefit zone or category of business, follow the procedure to establish, modify, or disestablish a parking and business improvement area.

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. Assessments levied on real property 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) Assessments levied on businesses pursuant to this part shall be levied on the basis of the estimated benefit to the businesses within the property and business improvement district. The city council may classify businesses for purposes of determining the benefit to the businesses of the improvements and activities provided pursuant to this part.

(c) 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.

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), in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 36627.

36640.

 (a)The city council may, by resolution, determine and declare that bonds shall be issued to finance the estimated cost of some or all of the proposed improvements described in the resolution of formation adopted pursuant to Section 36625, if the resolution of formation adopted pursuant to that section provides for the issuance of bonds, under the Improvement Bond Act of 1915 (Division 10 (commencing with Section 8500)) or in conjunction with Marks-Roos Local Bond Pooling Act of 1985 (Article 4 (commencing with Section 6584) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code). Either act, as the case may be, shall govern the proceedings relating to the issuance of bonds, although proceedings under the Bond Act of 1915 may be modified by the city council as necessary to accommodate assessments levied upon business pursuant to this part.

(b) The resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall generally describe the proposed improvements specified in the resolution of formation adopted pursuant to Section 36625, set forth the estimated cost of those improvements, specify the number of annual installments and the fiscal years during which they are to be collected. The amount of debt service to retire the bonds shall not exceed the amount of revenue estimated to be raised from assessments over 30 years.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, assessments levied to pay the principal and interest on any bond issued pursuant to this section shall not be reduced or terminated if doing so would interfere with the timely retirement of the debt.

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, including any categories of business, 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 or classification of property or businesses 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 or business owner, as appropriate, to estimate the amount of the assessment to be levied against his or her property or business 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, including any commitment to pay principal and interest on any bonds issued on behalf of the district.

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 or businesses not included in the prior district, the remaining revenues shall be spent to benefit only the parcels or businesses in the prior district. If the renewed district does not include parcels or businesses included in the prior district, the remaining revenues attributable to these parcels shall be refunded to the owners of these parcels or businesses.

(c) Upon renewal, a district shall have a term not to exceed 10 years, or, if the district is authorized to issue bonds, until the maximum maturity of those bonds. There is no requirement that the boundaries, assessments, improvements, or activities of a renewed district be the same as the original or prior district.

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 or of businesses 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 or to the owner of each business subject to assessment in the district, as appropriate. The city shall conduct the public hearing not less than 30 days after mailing the notice to the property or business 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, or from bond reserve or construction funds, shall be refunded to the owners of the property or businesses 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.