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25217-25217.4

GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 25217-25217.4

25217.  (a) Whenever the board determines that it is in the public
interest to provide different authorized services, provide different
levels of service, provide different authorized facilities, or raise
additional revenues within specific areas of a county service area,
it may form one or more zones pursuant to this article.
   (b) The board shall initiate proceedings for the formation of a
new zone by adopting a resolution that does all of the following:
   (1) States that the proposal is made pursuant to this article.
   (2) Sets forth a description of the boundaries of the territory to
be included in the zone.
   (3) States the reasons for forming the zone.
   (4) States the different authorized services, different levels of
service, different authorized facilities, or additional revenues that
the zone will provide.
   (5) Sets forth the methods by which those authorized services,
levels of service, or authorized facilities will be financed.
   (6) Proposes a name or number for the zone.
   (c) A proposal to form a new zone may also be initiated by a
petition signed by not less than 10 percent of the registered voters
residing within the proposed zone. The petition shall contain all of
the matters required by subdivision (b).
   (d) Upon the adoption of a resolution or the receipt of a valid
petition, the board shall fix the date, time, and place for the
public hearing on the formation of the zone. The clerk of the board
of supervisors shall:
   (1) Publish notice of the public hearing, including the
information required by subdivision (b), pursuant to Section 6061.
   (2) Mail the notice at least 20 days before the date of the
hearing to all owners of property within the proposed zone.
   (3) Mail the notice at least 20 days before the date of the
hearing to each city and special district that contains, or whose
sphere of influence contains, the proposed zone.
   (4) Post the notice in at least three public places within the
territory of the proposed zone.


25217.1.  (a) At the public hearing, the board shall hear and
consider any protests to the formation of the zone.
   (b) (1) In the case of inhabited territory, if at the conclusion
of the public hearing, the board determines that more than 50 percent
of the total number of voters residing within the proposed zone have
filed written objections to the formation, then the board shall
determine that a majority protest exists and terminate the
proceedings.
   (2) In the case of uninhabited territory, if at the conclusion of
the public hearing, the board determines that more than 50 percent of
the property owners who own more than 50 percent of the assessed
value of all taxable property in the proposed zone have filed written
objections to the formation, then the board shall determine that a
majority protest exists and terminate the proceedings.
   (c) If, pursuant to subdivision (b), the board determines that a
majority protest does not exist, then the board may proceed to form
the zone.
   (d) If the resolution or petition proposes that the zone use
special taxes, benefit assessments, fees, standby charges, or bonds
to finance its purposes, the board shall proceed according to law. If
the voters or property owners do not approve those funding methods,
the zone shall not be formed.



25217.2.  The board may change the boundaries of a zone or dissolve
a zone by following the procedures in Sections 25217 and 25217.1, as
appropriate.


25217.3.  A local agency formation commission shall have no power or
duty to review and approve or disapprove a proposal to form a zone,
a proposal to change the boundaries of a zone, or a proposal to
dissolve a zone.


25217.4.  (a) The board may provide any authorized service, any
level of service, or any authorized facility within a zone that the
board may provide in the county service area as a whole.
   (b) As determined by the board and pursuant to the requirements of
this chapter, the board may exercise any fiscal powers within a zone
that the board may exercise in the county service area as a whole.
   (c) Any special taxes, benefit assessments, fees, rates, charges,
standby charges, or bonds which are intended solely for the support
of services or facilities within a zone, shall be levied, assessed,
and charged within the boundaries of the zone.
   (d) The board shall not incur a general obligation bonded
indebtedness for a zone pursuant to this section that exceeds 5
percent of the assessed value of the taxable property in the zone as
shown by the last equalized assessment roll.