Division 9 of the California Public Resources Code defines the State's framework for conducting the business of resource conservation within California.  Further information may be obtained from the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts at:  http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/

     Division 9 defines the roles and responsibilities of RCDs, as well as the directors that are selected to govern them.      In addition to defining RCD formation and operation, Division 9 also authorizes the existence of a Resource Conservation Commission, to be served by a Division of Resource Conservation within the Department of Conservation. The Commission was conceived to establish soil and water resource conservation policy and provide guidance to RCDs. Although Division 9 still provides the format for which the Commission would function, the Commission was administratively abolished in the mid 1970's, and has never been reconstituted.

     Other sections also remain in place in Division 9, even though they are no longer applicable. Most notable among these are sections relating to the authority of RCDs to levy property taxes. Much of this authority was made obsolete by the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, which placed restrictions on property taxation through the addition of Article 13A to the State Constitution.

     Since its inception in 1938, Division 9 has been periodically revised and updated. Most recently, an ad hoc Soil Conservation Committee appointed by the Secretary of the Resources Agency proposed a comprehensive revision to Division 9 in 1990, while working in an advisory capacity to the Department of Conservation. A number of these recommendations were subsequently introduced as legislation and adopted (Ch. 831, Statutes of 1991). Most of these revisions address broadening the authorities of RCDs, and removing former ambiguities in the law.

  The following version of Division 9 incorporates all of the most recent revisions which took effect January 1, 1992. The document has been formatted to facilitate the referencing of sections. Also included are notes on certain key sections, providing additional information in legislative history and relationships with other state and federal laws.

Chapter 1:  General Provisions

9001.
    (a) The Legislature hereby declares that resource conservation is of fundamental importance to the prosperity and welfare of the people of this state. The Legislature believes that    the state must assume leadership in formulating and putting into effect a statewide program of soil and water conservation and related natural resource conservation and hereby declares that this division is enacted to accomplish the following purposes:

        (1) To provide the means by which the state may cooperate with the United States and with resource conservation districts organized pursuant to this division in securing the adoption in this state of conservation practices, including, but not limited to, farm, range, open space, urban development, wildlife, recreation, watershed, water quality, and woodland, best adapted to save the basic resources, soil, water, and air of the state from unreasonable and economically preventable waste and destruction.

        (2) To provide for the organization and operation of resource conservation districts for the purposes of soil and water conservation, the control of runoff, the prevention and control of soil erosion, and erosion stabilization, including, but not limited to, these purposes in open areas, agricultural areas, urban development, wildlife areas, recreational developments, watershed management, the protection of water quality and water reclamation, the development of storage and distribution of water, and the treatment of each acre of land according to its needs.

    (b) The districts, in addition to any other authority provided by law, may do all of the following:

        (1) Ensure consistency with the authorities and policies of the United States, this state, counties, cities, public districts, other resource conservation districts, persons, associations, and corporations.

        (2) With the consent of the owner, construct on privately or publicly owned lands any necessary works for the prevention and control of soil erosion and erosion stabilization.

        (3) Facilitate coordinated resource management efforts for watershed restoration and enhancement.

    (c) The districts shall not conserve water for power purposes or produce or distribute power for their own use or for the use of others.

9002.
It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination:
    (a) That the construction and maintenance on privately or publicly owned land of works for resource conservation is in the general public interest and for the general public benefit.

    (b) That the expenditure of state, county, city, district, or other public funds that are available or may become available for planning, designing, or implementing the above and for the construction or maintenance of such control or preventive works on privately or publicly owned land constitutes expenditure for the general public benefit.

9003.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares that resource conservation districts are legal subdivisions of the state and, as such, are not-for-profit entities. For the purpose of contracting with state agencies only, resource conservation districts shall be considered agencies of the state.

9015.
As used in this division the following terms have the meanings attributed to them in this article, unless the context otherwise requires.

9016.
"Commission" means the State Resource Conservation Commission.

9017.
"Department" means the Department of Conservation.

9018.
"Director" means the Director of Conservation.

9019.
"Division" means the Division of Resource Conservation of the department.

9020.
"Chief" means the Chief of the Division of Resource Conservation.

9021.
"District" or "soil conservation district" means a resource conservation district.

9022.
"Public district" means a district established under the law of this state, other than a resource conservation district.

9023.
"Directors" means the board of directors of a district, and when powers are conferred or duties are imposed upon directors in this division the powers shall be exercised and the duties performed by the directors acting as a body and not as individuals.

9024.
"Board" means the county board of supervisors.

9025.
"Principal county" means the county in which all or the greatest portion of privately owned land of a district is situated. The principal county remains the same regardless of any change in boundaries. The principal county of a consolidated district is that county in which all or the greatest portion of the privately owned area in the consolidated district is located.

9026.
"Principal district" means the district which has the greater land area of two districts proposed to be consolidated.

9027.
"Landowner" or "owner of land" includes a holder of evidence of title and, also, a holder of land under a possessory right acquired by entry or purchase from the United States or the State of California. A guardian, executor, administrator, or other person holding property in a trust capacity under an appointment of court is the "owner" of such property for the purposes of this division and as such may do and perform any act provided for herein when authorized by an order of court which order may be made without notice.

If any land is assessed on the assessment roll to unknown or fictitiously named owners, or to unnamed owners in addition to any owner or owners named thereon, the land has, for the purposes of this division, but one owner in addition to any owner or owners whose true name or names may be purported to be given on the assessment book. The holder of title to an undivided interest in any land is an owner as to his interest for the purposes of this division, and such
undivided interests shall be counted and valued as though they were separate interests. If the assessment roll fails to indicate the extent of any undivided interest, the holders of title whose undivided interests are not specifically defined are owners for the purposes of this division, of equal shares therein.

The value of any land and the owners of any land are conclusively determined, for the purposes of this division, by the last equalized assessment roll.

9028.
"Land occupant" or "occupant of land" means a person in possession of land within a district whether as owner, lessee, tenant, or otherwise. A person legally entitled to possession of land is a land occupant as to that land whether in actual possession or not. A person in actual possession of land is a land occupant regardless of his right of possession.

9029.
"Voter" means an elector who is registered to vote pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2100) of Division 2 of the Elections Code, and residing within the district.

9030.
"Proxy" means a written authorization to sign a petition. Landowners may sign petitions under this division by proxy. The proxy of an individual landowner shall be acknowledged by him. The holder of a proxy of an individual landowner shall be an individual 18 years of age or over or a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity. The proxy of a corporation shall contain a statement by the secretary or manager of the corporation that the proxy was authorized by the corporation. A corporation owning land may sign a petition only by proxy.

9031.
"Person" includes person, association, or corporation.

9032.
"Assessment roll" means the entire assessment roll upon the basis of which real property is taxed for county purposes.

9033.
"Assessment records" includes the assessment roll and all maps and other records relating to the assessment, levy, and collection of taxes, whether in the custody of the assessor or not.

9034.
"Assessor" means the assessing officer of a county by whatever title he may be known.

9041.
This Division 9 of the Public Resources Code, insofar as it is substantially the same as the Division 9 of that code repealed upon the enactment of this Division 9, shall be construed as a restatement and continuation of the existing law and not as a new enactment nor shall anything in this division impair the validity, the rights, or the obligations of any district formed prior to the effective date of this act.

9042.
No action or proceeding relating to or arising out of the Division 9 of the Public Resources Code repealed upon the enactment of this Division 9 commenced before the effective date of this Division 9, and no right accrued, pursuant to that repealed Division 9, is affected by the provisions of this Division 9, but any step thereafter taken in such action or proceeding shall conform to the provisions of this Division 9 insofar as is possible.

9043.
All persons who, at the time this Division 9 (commencing with Section 9001) goes into effect, are officers or employees of a soil conservation district operating under the Division 9 repealed upon the enactment of this Division 9 shall continue to be officers or employees, of a resource conservation district as though Division 9 had not been repealed.

9044.
The Imperial Irrigation District may exercise the powers of a resource conservation district under this division in any area within its boundaries in which there is no resource conservation district organized and operating.

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Chapter 2:  The Division of Resource Conservation

9051.
There is in the Department of Conservation the Division of Resource Conservation.

9052.
The Division of Resource Conservation is in charge of a chief, designated as Chief of the Division of Resource Conservation, who is appointed by the director with the advice and consent of the commission. The appointment shall be made pursuant to the State Civil Service Act from an eligible list prepared by the State Personnel Board from the results of an open examination.

9061.
The chief shall be responsible to the director for properly carrying out his functions under this division.

9062.
The chief shall assist in the formation, organization and operation of resource conservation districts.

9063.
He may advise with organized resource conservation districts as to plans and proposals relating to resource conservation activities, and, when such plans or proposals are presented to him, approve, disapprove, or suggest modifications of such plans or proposals.

9064.
He may, with the approval of the State Resource Conservation Commission, provide technical assistance to resource conservation districts to aid cooperators in carrying out conservation practices and to aid districts in developing plans for achieving their soil and water conservation objectives. These plans shall include but not be limited to watershed planning pursuant to the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law 566, Chapter 656, 83rd Congress, Second Session, as amended).

9065.
He may cooperate with the United States, any resource conservation district, county, public district, or person in the furtherance of the purposes of this division, and to that end may receive and use contributions of funds or services or both for the investigating of, or planning works for, the control of runoff or the control or prevention of soil erosion.

9066.
Insofar as consistent with the duties, obligations and responsibilities of other public agencies, the chief may promote coordination of the activities of such agencies in furtherance of the control of runoff and the prevention and control of soil erosion.

9067.
The chief may employ such clerical, technical, or other assistants as he deems necessary.

9068.
The official headquarters of the chief shall be at Sacramento, California.

9069.
All persons, other than temporary employees, serving in the state civil service and engaged in the performance of a function transferred to the Division of Resource Conservation, Department of Conservation or engaged in the administration of a law, the administration of which is transferred to said division, shall remain in the state civil service and are hereby transferred to the division on the effective date of this act. The status, positions, and rights of such persons shall not be affected by their transfer and shall continue to be retained by them pursuant to the State Civil Service Act, except as to positions the duties of which are vested in a position that is exempt from civil service.

9070.
All money available, including money which becomes available after the effective date of this Division 9, for expenditure by any department, division, board, authority, commission, or officer or employee thereof, to be used in the administration of any function, the exercise of any right, or performance of any duty, which function, right or duty is transferred by this Division 9, shall be transferred to the department, commission, division, board, authority, or officer or employee thereof which is to administer the function, exercise the right, or perform the duty.

9071.
The Division of Resource Conservation shall succeed to and is hereby vested with all of the powers, duties, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction in matters pertaining to resource

conservation now or hereafter vested by law in the State Resource Conservation Commission, or any officer or employee thereof. The division shall have possession and control of all records, books, papers, and other property, real, personal and mixed, now or hereafter held for the benefit or use of the State Resource Conservation Commission, except that property heretofore purchased or acquired by the commission for the use of districts may be disposed of by the commission pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 9081) of this chapter.

The Chief of the Division of Resource Conservation shall succeed to and is hereby vested with all the powers, duties, responsibilities and jurisdiction now or hereafter vested by law in the commission, except as to duties specifically vested in the commission by this code.

9081.
The commission may receive contributions from the United States, public districts, resource conservation districts, public agencies, or persons and may use such contributions for the purposes of the district.

9082.
The commission is authorized on behalf of the state to accept grants from the United States for the control of runoff and floods, the prevention or control of soil erosion, and for water conservation and to administer such grants pursuant to the terms thereof.

9083.
All equipment and machinery made available to any resource conservation district pursuant to this Division 9 is subject to call for emergency use in fire, storm, flood or disaster by a federal or state agency, a county, city, or district of this state.

9084.
    (a) Subject to the availability of funds and any limitations imposed by this division, the department may provide grants to resource conservation districts for the purpose of assisting the districts in carrying out any work that they are authorized to undertake, including, but not limited to, grants for watershed projects.

    (b) (1) To qualify for a grant under subdivision (a), a resource conservation district may, until January 1, 2000, and shall, on and after January 1, 2000, do all of the following:

        (A) Prepare an annual and a long-range work plan pursuant to Section 9413. The long-range work plan shall reflect input from local agencies and organizations regarding land use and resource conservation goals.

        (B) Convene regular meetings in accordance with the open meeting requirements of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code and the requirements of this division.

        (C) Secure sources of local support funding, which may include funding from in-kind contributions and services.

        (2) A resource conservation district seeking a grant pursuant to this section may, until January 1, 2000, and shall, on and after January 1, 2000, submit to the department a grant proposal that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following information:

        (A) A description of the work for which the grant is sought.

        (B) An explanation of the public or private need for the work, including, but not limited to, any revelant information demonstrating the urgency of the project.

        (C) An itemized summary of the projected cost of the work.

        (D) An estimate of the amount of the projected costs of the work that will be covered by local support funding, including funding from in-kind contributions or services.

        (3) To qualify for a grant awarded pursuant to this section, a resource conservation district may, until January 1, 2000, and shall, on and after January 1, 2000, be required to provide at least a 25

percent local match of funding, of which 40 percent of that amount shall be provided in cash. The department shall give preference in the awarding of grants to those districts that, among other things, provide a greater percentage of local match funding than the minimum required by this paragraph.

        (4) A resource conservation district that receives a grant awarded under this section may, until January 1, 2000, and shall, on and after January 1, 2000, provide the department with an informal accounting summary that describes how the grant money was spent in accordance with the purposes and conditions of the grant.

        (5) Prior to January 1, 2000, the department may, in making grants to a district pursuant to subdivision (a), take into consideration whether, and to what extent, the district has chosen to exercise the authority provided in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive.

9101.
There is in the Department of Conservation the State Resource Conservation Commission. It shall consist of nine members who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to the confirmation of the Senate, and shall be appointed for a term of four years.

9102.
The members of the commission to be appointed shall consist of the following:

    (a) Five persons who are directors of resource conservation districts. In making such appointments, the Governor shall provide as nearly equal representation as possible from all portions of the state.

    (b) Two persons from the general public.

    (c) One person who has expertise in, and represents the interests of, wildlife conservation.

    (d) One person who resides in, and represents the concerns of, the major urban areas of this state.

9103.
Within 30 days after his appointment the appointed member shall take and file his oath of office as member of the commission.

9104.
The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services as members, but each shall be allowed reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in attendance at meetings of the commission or when otherwise engaged in the work of the commission at its direction.

9105.
Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for any purpose, including organization.

9106.
The commission shall elect a chairman from their number who shall serve as chairman for one year and until his successor is elected.

9107.
The commission shall appoint a secretary. The secretary shall be a paid employee of the commission. The secretary shall be allowed his reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his official duties as such secretary.

9108.
The commission shall cause to be studied and shall consider the whole problem of soil conservation within the state, and it may formulate, in cooperation with other state agencies, interested organizations, and citizens, a comprehensive resource conservation policy for the state.

9109.
The commission shall determine and advise policies for the guidance of the chief of the division in the performance and exercise of his duties and powers.

9110.
The commission shall aid and encourage, but not conduct, resource conservation activities.

9112.
The commission shall be responsible to the director for properly carrying out its functions under this division.

9113.
The commission shall report annually to the Governor on the resource conservation projects and improvements accomplished by or with the aid of the state, and the commission may from time to time prepare and publish reports on the needs of the state and the local subdivisions thereof for resource conservation programs, developments, facilities and activities.

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Chapter 3:  Resource Conservation Districts

9151.
A resource conservation district may be formed pursuant to this division for the control of runoff, the prevention or control of soil erosion, the development and distribution of water, and the improvement of land capabilities.

9152.
The lands included in a district shall be those generally of value for agricultural purposes, including farm and range land useful for the production of agricultural crops or for the pasturing of livestock, but other lands may be included in a district if necessary for the control of runoff, the prevention or control of soil erosion, the development and distribution of water, or land improvement, and for fully accomplishing the purposes for which the district is formed.

9153.
The lands included in any one district need not be contiguous but they shall be susceptible of the same general plan or system for the control of runoff, the prevention or control of soil erosion, and the development and distribution of water, or land improvement. No lands may be included in more than one district.

9154. The lands included in any one district may be situated in one or more counties.

9155.
The lands included in a district may be publicly owned or privately owned.

9161.
    (a) A new district may be formed pursuant to this chapter.
    (b) A proposal to form a district may be made by a petition of registered voters or by the adoption of a resolution of application.

9162.
A proposal to form a new district may be made by petition which shall do all of the following:
    (a) State that the proposal is made and request that proceedings be taken for the formation pursuant to this chapter.
    (b) Set forth a description of the boundaries of the territory to be included in the district.
    (c) Set forth the methods by which the district will be financed.
    (d) State the reasons for forming the district.
    (e) Propose a name for the district.
    (f) Designate not more than three persons as chief petitioners, setting forth their names and mailing addresses.
    (g) State whether the formation is consistent with the sphere of influence of any affected city or affected district.
    (h) Specify the number of members, whether five, seven, or nine, of the initial board of directors and the method of their selection, as provided by Article 4 (commencing with Section 9201).

9163.
    (a) Before circulating any petition, the chief petitioners shall publish a notice of intention which shall include a written statement not to exceed 500 words in length, setting forth the reasons for forming the district. The notice shall be published pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the territory proposed to be included in the district. If the territory proposed to be included in the district is located in more than one county, publication of the notice shall be made in at least one newspaper of general circulation in each of the counties.

    (b) The notice shall be signed by at least one, but not more than three, chief petitioners and shall be in substantially the following form:

"Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition"

Notice is hereby given of the intention to circulate a petition proposing to form the ____ (name of the district). The reasons for the proposal are: ____."

    (c) Within five days after the date of publication, the chief petitioners shall file with the executive officer of the local agency formation commission of the principal county a copy of the notice together with an affidavit made by a representative of the newspaper in which the notice was published certifying to the fact of publication.

    (d) After the filing required pursuant to subdivision (c), the petition may be circulated for signatures.

9164.
The petition shall be signed by not less than 10 percent of the registered voters residing in the area to be included in the district, as determined by the local agency formation commission pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 56375 of the Government Code. Sections 100 and 104 of the Elections Code shall govern the signing of the petition and its format.

9165.
A petition may consist of a single instrument or separate counterparts. The chief petitioner or petitioners shall file the petition, including all counterparts, with the executive officer of the local agency formation commission of the principal county within six months of the date on which the chief petitioner or petitioners filed the affidavit with the executive officer pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 9163.

9166.
    (a) Within 30 days after the date of filing a petition, the executive officer of the local agency formation commission shall cause the petition to be examined and shall prepare a certificate of sufficiency indicating whether the petition is signed by the requisite number of signers.

    (b) If the certificate of the executive officer shows the petition to be insufficient, the executive officer shall immediately give notice by certified mail of the insufficiency to the chief petitioners. That mailed notice shall state in what amount the petition is insufficient. Within 15 days after the date of the notice of insufficiency, the chief petitioners may file with the executive officer a supplemental petition bearing additional signatures.

    (c) Within 10 days after the date of filing a supplemental petition, the executive officer shall examine the supplemental petition and certify in writing the results of his or her examination.

    (d) The executive officer shall sign and date a certificate of sufficiency. That certificate shall also state the minimum signature requirements for a sufficient petition and show the results of the executive officer's examination. The executive officer shall mail a copy of the certificate of sufficiency to the chief petitioners.

9167.
    (a) A proposal to form a new district may also be made by the adoption of a resolution of application by the legislative body of any county or city which contains territory proposed to be included in the district. Except for the provisions regarding signers and signatures, a resolution of application shall contain all of the matters specified for a petition in Section 9162. Before submitting a resolution of application, the legislative body shall conduct a public hearing on the resolution.

    (b) Notice of the hearing shall be published pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the county or city.

    (c) At the hearing, the legislative body shall give any person an opportunity to present his or her views on the resolution.

    (d) The clerk of the legislative body shall file a certified copy of the resolution of application with the executive officer of the local agency formation commission of the principal county.

9168.
Once the chief petitioners have filed a sufficient petition or a legislative body has filed a resolution of application, the local agency formation commission shall proceed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 56825) of Part 3 of Division 3 of Title 5 of the Government Code.

9181.
    (a) If the local agency formation commission approves the formation of a district, with or without amendment, wholly, partially, or conditionally, the executive officer shall mail a copy of the resolution of the commission's determinations to the board of supervisors of each county within which territory of the proposed district lies. Within 35 days following the adoption of the commission's resolution, the board of supervisors shall call and give notice of the election to be held in the proposed district. If the proposed district lies in more than one county, the board of supervisors shall call and give notice of the election to be held in the territory of the proposed district which lies in that county.

    (b) The election shall be held on the next regular or special election date not less than 113 nor more than 150 days after the date the board of supervisors calls and gives notice of the election.

    (c) Notice of the election shall be published pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation circulated within the territory of the proposed district which lies in the county.

9182.
    (a) Notwithstanding Section 9181, if the board of supervisors of the principal county finds that the petition filed with the executive officer of the local agency formation commission pursuant to Section 9165 has been signed by not less than 80 percent of the registered voters residing within the area to be included within the district, the board may dispense with an election, adopt the resolution required pursuant to Section 9188, and designate the members of the board of directors pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 9201).

    (b) Notwithstanding Section 9181, if the local agency formation commission approves a consolidation or reorganization pursuant to Section 56839 of the Government Code which results in the formation of a district without an election, the commission may designate the members of the board of directors from the membership of the board of directors of any of the consolidated or reorganized districts pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 56844 of the Government Code.  The terms of office of the directors shall be determined pursuant to Section 10505 of the Elections Code.

9183.
    (a) Within five days after the district formation election has been called, the board of supervisors of each county within which territory of the proposed district lies shall transmit by registered mail a written notification of the election call to the executive officer of the local agency formation commission of the principal county. The written notice shall include the name and a description of the proposed district and may be in the form of a certified copy of the resolution adopted by the board of supervisors calling the district formation election.

    (b) The executive officer of the local agency formation commission shall submit an impartial analysis of the proposed district formation to the officials in charge of conducting the district formation election, pursuant to Section 56859 of the Government Code.

9184.
    (a) (1) The chief petitioners, the agency filing the resolution, or any member or members of the board of supervisors authorized by the board, any individual voter or bona fide association of citizens entitled to vote on the district formation proposition, or any combination of these voters and associations of citizens, may file with the elections official of the principal county a written argument for or a written argument against the proposed district formation.

        (2) Arguments shall not exceed 300 words in length. Based on the time reasonably necessary to prepare and print the text of the proposition, analysis, arguments, and sample ballots and to permit the 10-day public examination period as provided in Section 9190 of the Elections Code for the particular election, the elections official of the principal county shall fix and determine a reasonable date prior to the election after which no arguments for or against the measure may be submitted for printing and distribution to the voters, pursuant to Section 9185. Notice of the date fixed shall be published by the elections official pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code. Arguments may be changed until and including the date fixed by the elections official.

    (b) If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with the elections official within the time prescribed, the elections official shall select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters.  In selecting the arguments, the elections official shall give preference and priority in the order named to the arguments of the following:

        (1) Chief petitioners, or the agency filing the resolution.

        (2) The board of supervisors, or any member or members of the board authorized by the board.

        (3) Individual voters, or bona fide associations of citizens or a combination of these voters and associations.

    (c) When the elections official of the principal county has selected the arguments for and against the measure which will be printed and distributed to the voters, he or she shall send copies of the argument in favor of the measure to the authors of the argument against, and copies of the argument against to the authors of the argument in favor. The authors may prepare and submit rebuttal arguments not exceeding 250 words. The rebuttal arguments shall be filed with the elections official of the principal county not more than 10 days after the final date for filing direct arguments. Rebuttal arguments shall be printed in the same manner as the direct arguments. Each rebuttal argument shall immediately follow the direct argument which it seeks to rebut, and shall be titled

"Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Measure (or Proposition) ____" or

"Rebuttal to Argument Against Measure (or Proposition) ____," the blank spaces being filled in only with the letter or number, if any, designating the measure. Words used in the title shall not be counted when determining the length of any rebuttal argument.

9185.
    (a) The elections officials in charge of conducting the election shall cause a ballot pamphlet concerning the district formation proposition to be voted on to be printed and mailed to each voter entitled to vote on the district formation question at least 10 days prior to the date of the election. The ballot pamphlet is "official matter" within the meaning of Section 13303 of the Elections Code. Section 9190 of the Elections Code shall apply to the materials required to be contained in the ballot pamphlet.

    (b) The ballot pamphlet shall contain the following, in the order prescribed:

        (1) The complete text of the proposition.

        (2) The impartial analysis of the proposition, submitted by the executive officer of the local agency formation commission.

        (3) The argument for the proposed district formation.

        (4) The rebuttal to the argument in favor of the proposed district formation.

        (5) The argument against the proposed district formation.

        (6) The rebuttal to the argument against the proposed district formation.

9186.
The notice of the election published pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 9181 shall contain all of the following:

    (a) The date of the election.

    (b) The name of the proposed district.

    (c) The purposes for which the district is to be formed.

    (d) A statement that the first directors will be elected at that election or will be appointed, as the case may be, if the district is formed.

    (e) A description of the boundaries of the proposed district.

9187.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the formation election and the election of members of the district board shall be held and conducted in accordance with the Uniform District Election Law (Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10 of the Elections Code).

    (b) If less than a majority of the votes cast at the election is in favor of forming the district, the board of supervisors of the principal county shall declare the proceedings terminated.

9188.
If the majority of the votes cast at the election is in favor of forming the district, the board or boards of supervisors shall by resolution entered on its minutes declare the district duly organized under this division, giving the name of the district, and the purposes for which it is formed, and describing its boundaries. If the district lies in more than one county, the clerk of the board of supervisors of the principal county shall transmit a certified copy of the resolution to the clerk of the board of supervisors of each of the other counties in which the district lies.

9189.
Immediately after adoption of a resolution pursuant to Section 9188, the clerk of the board of supervisors of the principal county shall transmit a certified copy of the resolution along with a remittance to cover the fees required by Section 54902.5 of the Government Code to the executive officer of the local agency formation commission. The executive officer shall complete the proceedings pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 57200) of Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 5 of the Government Code.

9190.
    (a) No informality in any proceeding, including informality in the conduct of any election not substantially affecting adversely the legal rights of any person, shall invalidate the formation of any district.

    (b) The validity of the formation and organization of a district shall not be contested in any proceeding commenced more than 60 days after the date that the formation of the district is complete.

9201.
The initial board of directors of a district formed on or after January 1, 1992, shall be determined pursuant to this article.

9202.
In the case of a district which contains only unincorporated territory in a single county, the district board may be elected or may be appointed by the county board of supervisors.

9203.
In the case of a district which contains only unincorporated territory in more than one county, the district board may be elected or may be appointed by the boards of supervisors of the counties in which the district is located. If the district board is appointed by the boards of supervisors, they shall appoint directors according to the proportionate share of population of that portion of each county within the district, provided that each board of supervisors shall appoint at least one director.

9204.
In the case of a district which contains unincorporated territory and the territory of one or more cities, the district board may be elected or appointed by the county board of supervisors and the city councils in which the district is located. If the district board is to be appointed, the board of supervisors and the city council or councils shall appoint directors according to the proportionate share of population of that portion of the county and each city within the district, provided that the board of supervisors and each city council shall appoint at least one director.

9205.
In the case of a district which includes only incorporated territory within a single city, the district board may be elected or appointed by the city council.

9206.
In the case of a district which includes only incorporated territory in more than one city, the district board may be elected or appointed by the city councils in which the district is located. If the district board is appointed, the city councils shall appoint directors according to the proportionate share of population of that portion of each city within the district. However, each city council shall appoint at least one director.

9301.
(a) The board of directors shall consist of five, seven, or nine directors. The number of directors may be changed by resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the board of directors after publication of notice of the intended change at least once in a newspaper of general circulation published in each county in which the district is located.

    (b) If the number of directors is increased, the new positions shall be treated as vacancies and shall be filled as provided in Section 9317, except that if the board of directors is appointed as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 9314, then the new positions shall be filled in the same manner pursuant to Section 9316. If the number of directors is decreased, the terms of the directors in office on the date of the resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be reduced. (c) The directors first elected shall take office immediately upon qualifying.

9301.1.
    (a) Notwithstanding Section 9301, the local agency formation commission, in approving either a consolidation of districts or the reorganization of two or more districts into a single resource conservation district may, pursuant to subdivisions (k) and (n) of Section 56844, increase the number of directors to serve on the board of directors of the consolidated or reorganized district to 7, 9, or 11, who shall be members of the board of directors of the districts to be consolidated or reorganized as of the effective date of the consolidation or reorganization.

    (b) Upon the expiration of the terms of the members of the board of directors of the consolidated district, or a district reorganized as described in subdivision (a), whose terms first expire following the effective date of the consolidation or reorganization, the total number of members on the board of directors shall be reduced until the number equals the number of members permitted by the principal act of the consolidated or reorganized district, or any larger number as may be specified by the local agency formation commission in approving the consolidation or reorganization.

    (c) In addition to the powers granted under Section 1780 of the Government Code, in the event of a vacancy on the board of directors of the consolidated district or a district reorganized as described in subdivision (a) at which time the total number of directors is greater than five, the board of directors may, by majority vote of the remaining members of the board, choose not to fill the vacancy. In that event, the total membership of the board of directors shall be reduced by one board member. Upon making the determination not to fill a vacancy, the board of directors shall notify the board of supervisors of its decision.

    (d) For the purposes of this section: "consolidation" means consolidation, as defined in Section 56030 of the Government Code; "district" or "special district" means district or special district, as defined in Section 56036 of the Government Code; and "reorganization" means reorganization, as defined in Section 56073 of the Government Code.

9302.
Each director shall take the oath of office.

9303.
The directors shall receive no compensation for their services as such, but each shall be allowed reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in attendance at meetings of the directors or when otherwise engaged in the work of the district at the direction of the board of directors. The directors shall fix the amount allowed for such necessary expenses, but no director shall be appointed to any position for which he would receive compensation as a salaried officer or employee of the district.

9304.
No director or other officer of the district shall be interested directly or indirectly in the sale of equipment, materials, or services to the district.

9305.
After all have qualified the directors first elected shall meet and classify themselves by lot into two classes as nearly equal in number as possible. The term of office of those in the class having the least number shall expire at noon on the last Friday in November of the next even-numbered year after the year in which the meeting is held. The term of office of those in the other class shall expire at noon on the last Friday in November of the second even-numbered year after the year in which the meeting is held.

9306.
After such classification the directors shall organize and elect a president from their number who shall serve as such at the pleasure of the directors.

9307.
The directors shall appoint a secretary who shall serve at the pleasure of, and whose compensation shall be fixed by, the directors.

9308.
The directors shall select a date, time, and place at which regular monthly meetings of the directors shall be held. Upon the completion of all the foregoing determinations by the directors, the district shall be declared to be organized.

9309.
The directors may, by resolution, change the time or place of regular meeting but no such change shall be effective until after a notice of the change is published pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code in the principal county and in each other county in which any portion of the district lies.

9310.
Special meetings of the directors may be held as required when ordered by a majority of the directors. The order shall be entered in the records of the district and five days notice of the meeting shall be given by mail by the secretary to each director not joining in the order.

9311.
The order for a special meeting shall specify the business to be transacted. No other business shall be transacted at a special meeting unless all of the directors are present, in which case matters not specified may be considered by unanimous consent and acted upon.

9312.
A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum but on all questions requiring a vote there shall be a concurrence of at least the number constituting a quorum, except that a number less than a quorum may adjourn or adjourn to a stated time.

9313.
All meetings of the directors shall be open to the public. All records of the district shall be open to public inspection during business hours.

9314.
    (a) The term of office of the directors, except those first elected, shall be four years. The expiration of the term of any director does not constitute a vacancy, and the director shall hold office until his or her successor has qualified.

    (b) (1) As an alternative to the election of directors, the board of directors may, by a resolution presented to the board of supervisors of the principal county, request the board of supervisors to appoint directors, except those first elected. In any election year, the board of directors shall file its request with the board of supervisors not later than 125 days prior to the election. A copy of the resolution shall be furnished to the official responsible for conducting the election at the time it is presented to the board of supervisors of the principal county. The board of supervisors shall appoint directors, after consultation with the board of supervisors of any other county which contains any part of the district, from those candidates who have filed an application with the board of supervisors, as prescribed by the board of supervisors. If the directors are to be appointed, a notice of election shall not be published, but a notice of vacancy shall be posted pursuant to Section 54974 of the Government Code.

        (2) The resolution shall remain in effect until rescinded by the board of directors, or until a petition requesting the rescission is received by the elections official. The petition shall be signed by 5 percent of the registered voters in the district, and shall be received not later than the 120th day before the election. Upon verification by the elections official that the petition contains the requisite number of signatures, the resolution shall be rescinded.

        (3) The appointment of directors by the board of supervisors does not affect the status of a district as an independent special district.

        (4) If the board of supervisors does not conduct interviews of potential candidates or make an appointment within 60 days after the expiration of the term, the board of directors may make the appointment.

    (c) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage districts to opt for the selection of directors by election, but where directors are appointed pursuant to subdivision (b), it is the intent of the Legislature that the board of supervisors solicit recommendations from within the district, including public, private, and nonprofit entities, and appoint only applicants who are determined by the board of supervisors to have a demonstrated interest in soil and water conservation. In selecting directors pursuant to subdivision (b), the board of supervisors shall endeavor to achieve balanced representation on the board of directors. To avoid undue financial burdens to districts and to thereby promote the objectives of this division, the Legislature hereby encourages counties to waive or minimize the charges for costs of elections conducted pursuant to this division.

9315.
Resignations of directors shall be made in writing to the board of supervisors of the principal county.

9316.
In case of a vacancy in the office of director appointed pursuant to Section 9314, the vacancy shall be filled, as provided in Section 9314, by appointment for the unexpired term by the board of supervisors of the principal county.

9317.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vacancy in the office of a director who has been elected shall be filled pursuant to Section 1780 of the Government Code.

9351.
"General district election" is the district election required to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year, at which a successor shall be chosen for each director whose term of office expires in that month.

9352.
    (a) Directors shall be registered voters in the state.

    (b) Except as provided in subdivision (d), directors shall

        (1) reside within the district and either own real property in the district or alternatively have served, pursuant to the district's rules, for two years or more as an associate director providing advisory or other assistance to the board of directors, or
        (2) be a designated agent of a resident landowner within the district.

    (c) If the board of directors has provided for selection of directors by division, these residency requirements shall apply to the division the director represents, rather than to the district as a whole.

    (d) The Legislature finds and declares that the primary function of the Suisun Resource Conservation District and Grasslands Resource Conservation District in maintaining wildlife and wetland habitats will be impaired unless there is adequate opportunity for participation by landowners on the boards of directors of those districts. The Legislature further finds and declares that, because of the natural conditions prevailing in the territory of those districts, the majority of privately owned lands therein are owned by persons residing outside the districts. Therefore, owners of land within the Suisun Resource Conservation District and Grasslands Resource Conservation District, or their agents, may serve on the respective boards of directors thereof, regardless of whether they are residents of the district. For purposes of this subdivision, ownership of land shall be determined from the last equalized assessment roll of the county or counties within which the district is situated.

9353.
Except as otherwise provided in the chapter, districts governed by this chapter are subject to the provisions of the Uniform District Election Law.

9354.
Elected directors shall qualify within 20 days from the date of receipt of their certificates of election by taking the oath.

9355.
The directors so elected and qualified shall take office at noon on the last Friday in November following their election.

9356.
    (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), directors shall be elected at large.

    (b) A district may, by ordinance, provide for the election of directors by division. In order to reduce election costs, the divisions shall be established along the boundaries of existing voting precincts. Prior to adopting an ordinance pursuant to this subdivision, the text of the proposed ordinance, including proposed division boundaries, shall be published pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code, together with notice of the hearing at which the ordinance will be considered. At the time stated in the notice for the hearing, the board of directors shall consider the proposal and shall hear any and all objections thereto. If, after the hearing, the board determines it to be in the best interests of the district, it shall adopt the ordinance as proposed or as amended at the hearing. Directors in office at the time of adoption of the ordinance shall remain in office until the next general district election, at which a director shall be elected to each division established by the ordinance. The directors elected at that election shall meet and classify themselves by lot into two classes as nearly equal in number as possible. The term of office of those in the class having the least number shall expire at noon on the last Friday in November of the next even-numbered year after the year in which the meeting is held. The term of office of those in the other class shall expire at noon on the last Friday in November of the second
even-numbered year after the year in which the meeting is held.

    (c) If it is proposed to change the number of directors of a district divided into divisions, or if it is proposed to change the number of divisions in a district, that change shall be conditional upon adoption by the board of directors of a new or revised ordinance under subdivision (b) and the provisions and procedures of subdivision (b) shall be applicable thereto.

    (d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c), in any district in which directors are appointed pursuant to Section 9314 or 9316, the board of supervisors of the principal county shall make the appointments by division, as called for in the ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (b), and those appointments shall become effective, and the terms of existing directors shall expire, on the same date as if the directors were elected.

9357.
Members of county boards of supervisors shall not be eligible to simultaneously hold office as a district director.

9358.
Nomination of candidates shall be in writing and signed by at least five landowners of the district. Nominations shall be filed with the clerk of the board of supervisors of the principal county.

9359.
Except as election of directors by division may be provided pursuant to Section 9356, all registered voters in a district shall be qualified electors and eligible to vote in district elections.

9401.
The board of directors of a district shall manage and conduct the business and affairs of the district.

9402.
The directors shall be empowered to conduct surveys, investigations, and research relating to the conservation of resources and the preventive and control measures and works of improvement needed, publish the results of such surveys, investigations, or research, and disseminate information concerning such preventive control measures and works of improvement; provided, however, that in order to avoid duplication of surveys, investigations, and research activities, the directors shall seek the cooperation of local, state, and federal agencies.

9403.
The directors may accept gifts and grants of money from any source whatsoever to carry out the purposes of the district.

9403.5.
The directors may establish and charge fees for services provided by the district to, and upon the request of, persons or governmental entities. No fee shall exceed the cost reasonably borne by the district in providing the service.

9404.
The directors may execute all necessary contracts. They may employ such agents, officers, and employees as may be necessary, prescribe their duties, and fix their compensation.

9405.
The directors may acquire by purchase, lease, contract, or gift all lands and property necessary to carry out the plans and works of the district. The directors may acquire conservation easements as provided in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 815) of Title 2 of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Civil Code on lands within the district. A district acquiring a conservation easement shall prepare a management plan for the easement which fully describes the intent and legal obligations respecting the easement and which shall be consistent with the goals of the State Soil Conservation Plan and other policies adopted pursuant to Section 9108.

9406.
The directors may take conveyances, leases, contracts, or other assurances for all property acquired by the district, in the name, and for the uses and purposes, of the district.

9407.
The directors may sue and be sued in the name of the district and may appear in person or by counsel.

9408.
    (a) The directors may cooperate and enter into contracts or agreements with the state, the United States, any county, any city, any other resource conservation or other public district in this state, any person, or the commission, in furtherance of the provisions of this division, and to that end may use any funds available to the district as provided in this chapter, and may accept and use contributions of labor, money, supplies, materials, or equipment useful for accomplishing the purposes of the district.

    (b) Districts may cooperate with counties and cities on resource issues of local concern. It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage districts to facilitate cooperation among agencies of government to address resource issues of local concern.

    (c) Districts may cooperate with federal, state, and local agencies and owners of private lands under the agreement between the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts and various public and private entities known as the coordinated resource management and planning memorandum of understanding.

9409.
The directors may make improvements or conduct operations on public lands, with the cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction thereof, and on private lands, with the consent of the owners thereof, in furtherance of the prevention or control of soil erosion, water conservation and distribution, agricultural enhancement, wildlife enhancement, and erosion stabilization, including, but not limited to, terraces, ditches, levees, and dams or other structures, and the planting of trees, shrubs, grasses, or other vegetation.

9410.
The directors may operate and maintain, independently or in cooperation with the United States or this state or any state agency or political subdivision or any person, any and all works constructed by the district.

9411.
The directors may disseminate information relating to soil and water conservation and erosion stabilization, and may conduct demonstrational projects within, or adjacent to, the district on public land, with the consent of the agency administering or having jurisdiction thereof, or on private lands, with the consent of the owners thereof, independently or in cooperation with the United States, this state or any political subdivision or public district thereof, or any person.

9412.
Each district may provide technical assistance to private landowners or land occupants within the district to support practices that minimize soil and related resource degradation. When in the judgment of the directors it is for the benefit of the district so to do, they may give assistance to private landowners or land occupants within the district in seeds, plants, materials and labor, and may loan or rent to any such private landowner or land occupant agricultural machinery or other equipment. No such assistance shall be given or any such loans made unless the landowner or land occupant receiving the aid or assistance agrees to devote and use the aid or assistance on his or her lands within the district in furtherance of objectives of the district and in accordance with district plans or regulations. Notwithstanding the fact that the landowner or land occupant is also a director, any landowner is qualified to and may receive assistance or loans under this section.

9413.
    (a) Each district may develop districtwide comprehensive annual and long-range work plans as provided in this section. These plans shall address the full range of soil and related resource problems that are found to occur in the district.

    (b) The long-range work plans may be adopted and updated every five years, in accordance with a standard statewide format which shall be established by the commission. Districts may amend the long-range plan prior to the five-year update in order to address substantive changes occurring since the adoption of the most recent long-range work plan. The long-range plans shall serve the following functions:

        (1) Identification of resource issues within the district for purposes of local, state, and federal resource conservation planning.

        (2) Establishment of long-range district goals.

        (3) Provision of a framework for directors to identify priorities for annual district activities.

        (4) Provision of information to federal, state, and local governments and the public concerning district programs and goals.

        (5) Setting forth a basis for evaluating annual work plan achievements and allocating available state funding to the district.

        (6) Involvement of other agencies and organizations in the district planning process in order to help ensure support in implementing district plans.

    (c) The annual work plans may be adopted on or before March 1 of each year in a format which shall be consistent with the district's long-range work plan. The annual work plans shall serve the following functions:

        (1) Identification of high priority actions to be undertaken by the district during the year covered by the plan.

        (2) Identification of the person or persons responsible for undertaking each planned task, how it will be performed, when it will be completed, what constitutes completion, and the cost.

        (3) Demonstration of the relationship of annual tasks to the long-range district goals identified in the long-range work plan.

        (4) Provision of assistance to the local field office of the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture in adjusting staff and program priorities to match district goals.

        (5) Informing the public of the district's goals for the year.

        (6) Involvement of other agencies and organizations in the district planning process in order to help ensure support in implementing district plans.

        (7) Provision of a basis for assisting the commission in determining district eligibility for state funding under this division.

    (d) A district may prepare an annual district report. The annual district report shall be completed on or before September 1 of each year in a format consistent with the long-range and annual plans, so that progress made during the reporting period towards district goals can be readily determined. The annual report shall serve the following functions:

        (1) To report on the district's achievements during the reporting period to the commission, the department, the board of supervisors of any county in which the district is located, and any agency that reviews district requests for funding assistance.

        (2) To increase public awareness of district activities.

        (3) To compare district accomplishments during the reporting period with annual work plan objectives for that period and to identify potential objectives for the next annual work plan.

9414.
Directors may accept, by purchase, lease, or gift, and administer any soil conservation, water conservation, water distribution, erosion control, or erosion prevention project located within the district undertaken by the United States or any of its agencies, or by this state or any of its agencies.

9415.
The directors may manage, as agents of the United States or any of its agencies, or of this state or any of its agencies, any soil conservation, water conservation, water distribution, flood control, erosion control, erosion prevention, or erosion stabilization project, within or adjacent to the district; and may act as agent for the United States, or any of its agencies, or for this state or any of its agencies, in connection with the acquisition, construction, operation, or administration of any soil conservation, water conservation, water distribution, flood control, erosion control, erosion prevention, or erosion stabilization project within or adjacent to the district.

9416.
The directors may establish standards of cropping and tillage operations and range practices on private land as a condition to expenditure by the district of district or other funds, or to the doing by the district of any work of any nature, on private lands.

9417.
    (a) The directors of any district may cooperate with the directors of any other district in respect to matters of common interest or benefit to the districts. An association of resource conservation districts may be organized to facilitate that cooperation, to provide for the loan of equipment and tools by one district to another, and for the making of investigations and studies and the carrying out of projects of joint interest to the districts participating therein.

    (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage districts to organize in countywide or regional associations for the purposes of (1) providing coordinated representation of districts before federal, state, and local governmental agencies and (2) coordinating program planning, funding, and delivery of services.

9417.5.
It is the intent of the Legislature that concerned state agencies, in cooperation with resource conservation districts and other appropriate local entities, work with the agencies of the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies, to maximize cooperative opportunities for federal, state, and private funding for competitive grants and contracts for watershed protection, restoration, and enhancement programs of resource conservation districts.

9418.
The directors of any district may call upon the district attorney of the principal county for legal advice and assistance in all matters concerning the district, except that if the principal county has a county counsel, then the directors shall call upon him for such legal advice and assistance. The district attorney or county counsel, as may be appropriate, shall, upon the request being made, give such advice and assistance.

9419.
    (a) The directors may engage in activities designed to promote a knowledge of the principles of resource conservation throughout the district and for that purpose may develop educational programs both for children and for adults. In the development of those programs, the directors may authorize the giving of awards and prizes for outstanding achievement.

    (b) Each district may develop and disseminate or utilize conservation education programs for use in kindergarten through grade 12. As an option to developing these programs independently, it is the intent of the Legislature to encourage both collaboration with other organizations and incorporation of elements of existing programs.

    (c) A district may conduct workshops on the relationships between soil and related resource problems and their effects on other resources, such as wildlife and water quality.

    (d) A district may sponsor programs that address land use practices which reduce water and wind erosion, soil contamination, soil salinity, agricultural land conversion, loss of soil organic matter, soil subsidence, and soil compaction and associated poor water infiltration.

9420.
The board of directors of a district may appoint advisory committees to provide technical assistance in addressing soil and related resource problems, to assist in coordinating conservation programs and activities, and to share information relating to the functions or purposes of the district. Representatives of state, federal, and local governmental agencies, including school districts, as well as private organizations, may serve on these advisory committees.

9451.
The legal title to all property acquired by a district under the provisions of this division shall immediately and by operation of law vest in such district, and shall be held by such district for its uses and purposes under this division.

9452.
The directors are hereby authorized and empowered to hold, use, acquire, manage, occupy and possess property of any kind, and may lease or sell it as provided in this article.

9453.
The directors may determine by resolution entered upon their minutes that any property, real or personal, held by such district is no longer necessary to be retained for the uses and purposes of the district, and may thereafter sell or lease such property.

9454.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9453, the directors may lease district equipment to any other public district for use by such public district for resource conservation purposes on land within the boundaries of a resource conservation district or on land adjacent to the district and under the jurisdiction of such other district, if such use will directly affect the land within the resource conservation district.

9455.
A sale or conveyance of any property held by a resource conservation district, executed by the president and secretary thereof, in accordance with a resolution of the directors of the district, when the property is sold for a valuable consideration, shall convey good title to the property so conveyed.

9456.
The proceeds of any such sale shall be paid into the county treasury of the principal county for the use of the district.

9457.
The board of directors shall adopt purchasing policies and procedures governing the purchase of supplies and equipment as required by Sections 54201 through 54204, inclusive, of the Government Code. The policies shall be in writing, copies of which shall be available for public distribution.

9481. The inclusion of additional lands in a district shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the District Reorganization Act of 1965, Division 1 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 6 of the Government Code, except that unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the lands included in any district need not be contiguous but they shall be susceptible of the same general plan or system for the control of runoff, the prevention or control of soil erosion, and
the development and distribution of water, or land improvement.

9491.
A district may be dissolved in accordance with the provisions of the District Reorganization Act of 1965, Division 1 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 6 of the Government Code.

Return to TOC

Chapter 4:  District Finance

9501.
The directors shall, on or before January 1 of the calendar year during which an assessment is to be levied for the first time, notify the State Board of Equalization as provided in Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 756 and 759 and, annually on or before August lst, furnish the county auditor and the board of supervisors an estimate in writing of the amount of money necessary to be raised by assessment for the purposes of the district for the next ensuing fiscal year.

9502.
If the district lies in more than one county the directors shall divide the amount of the estimate in the proportion to the value of the land in the district lying in each county. The value shall be determined from the last assessment rolls of the counties. The directors shall furnish the auditors and boards of supervisors of each of the respective counties a statement of the part of the estimate apportioned to the county.

9503.
The total amount of the estimate shall be sufficient to raise the amount of money necessary during the ensuing year to pay the incidental expenses of the district, the costs of the work which the directors may deem advisable to be done during the ensuing year, the estimated costs of repairs to and maintenance of the property and works of the district, and the estimated expenses of any action or proceeding to which the district is or may be a party, including the cost of employing engineers and attorneys.

9504.
Assessments levied pursuant to this article shall be known as regular assessments.

9505.
The regular assessment in any one year shall not exceed two cents ($0.02) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation of the land, exclusive of improvements, trees, and mineral rights, within the district. The valuation shall be determined according to the last assessment roll, reduced proportionately when mineral rights, standing trees, or timber are involved. The cost to the assessor, if any, of recomputing assessed valuations in accordance with this section shall be paid by the district requesting an assessment levy pursuant to this article.

9506.
The board of supervisors of each county in which there lies any portion of the district shall, annually, at the time of levying county taxes, levy an assessment on the land exclusive of improvements, trees, and mineral rights, within the county and within the district to be known as the " ____ (name of district) Resource Conservation District assessment," sufficient to raise the amount reported to them in the estimate of the directors.

9507.
The rate, as determined by the board, shall be such as will produce, after due allowance for delinquency, the amount determined as necessary to be raised by taxation on the secured roll. On or before September 1st of each year the board shall fix the rate, composed of the number of cents or fraction thereof for each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation of land exclusive of improvements and mineral rights, such as will produce, after due allowance for delinquency, the amount determined as necessary to be raised by taxation on the secured roll.

9508.
If the board fails to levy the assessment the auditor of the county shall do so, providing the directors have requested the assessment.

9509.
The assessment shall be computed and entered on the assessment roll by the auditor.

9510.
The provisions of law relating to the levy and collection of county taxes and the duties of county officers with respect thereto, insofar as they are applicable and not in conflict with this chapter, are hereby adopted and made part of this chapter. Said officers are liable on their several official bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties under this chapter.

9511.
The treasurers of each of the counties, other than the principal county, shall, not less than twice a year or upon order of the directors, settle with the directors and pay to the treasurer of the principal county all money belonging to the district and in their possession.

9512.
If during the current fiscal year the directors are not, by reason of the fact that no assessment has been levied, collecting a regular assessment levied during the year immediately preceding, then notwithstanding other provisions of this code, the board of supervisors in each county in which a soil conservation district, or a portion thereof is located may, upon a showing by the directors that funds are needed for the purposes of the district for the current year, appropriate money from the general fund of the county for the use of said district in an amount equal, during any one year, to the amount which said district could have raised by assessment, as limited by this code, in said current year, or so much thereof as may be required. This provision shall not be deemed to prohibit the board of supervisors from appropriating to such districts sums in excess of these amounts.

9513.
A district may impose a special tax pursuant to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 50075) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code. The special taxes shall be applied uniformly to all taxpayers or all real property within the district, except that unimproved property may be taxed at a lower rate than improved property.

9521.
    (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the treasury of the principal county is the depository of all of the funds of the district.

    (b) As an alternative to using the county treasury as depository, a district may adopt a resolution transferring responsibility for the district treasury to the board of directors of the district, which shall deposit district funds as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 53630) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code. Following adoption of the resolution, the provisions of this article relating to the county treasurer and
county treasury shall not apply to the district.

9522.
The treasurer of the principal county shall receive and receipt for all money of the district and place the same to the credit of the district. He is responsible on his official bond for the safekeeping and disbursement, in the manner provided in this article, of the money of the district held by him.

9523.
The treasurer shall pay out money of the district only upon warrants approved by the county auditor, drawn upon order of the board of directors signed by the president and attested by the secretary.

Whenever two or more districts enter into a joint powers agreement, or whenever a district enters into a joint powers agreement with other agencies of the state, the agency or entity administering the agreement shall determine where its funds shall be deposited and how such funds shall be paid out.

9524.
The treasurer shall report in writing at each regular meeting of the directors and as often at other times as the directors may request the amount of money on hand, and the receipts and disbursements since his last report. The report shall be verified and filed with the secretary.

9525.
The directors or other officers or employees of a district shall have no power to incur any indebtedness or liability in excess of the amount of money available under the provisions of this division. Any debt or liability incurred in excess of the express provisions of this division is void. Except, however, that nothing in this section shall prevent the directors from borrowing from such federal, state, county, public or private funds which are, or which may in the future become, available to the directors for the furthering of the work of the district in any manner or by the sale of bonds payable solely from any revenue of the district, if the assets acquired by such a loan or bond constitute the entire security for the loan or bond and if no indebtedness or liability is incurred by the directors in excess of the amount of the assets acquired.

9526.
The directors at their regular monthly meeting in July of each year shall make and file with the secretary a verified statement of the financial condition of the district showing particularly the receipts and disbursements of the preceding fiscal year together with the source of the receipts and the purposes of the disbursements.

9527.
The annual financial statement shall be posted or published as the directors may determine. Such posting or publication shall be commenced within 10 days after the financial statement is filed with the secretary. If it is posted it shall be posted at the place of regular meeting of the directors and copies thereof shall be made available for delivery to any landowner in the district upon his request to the secretary. If the statement is published, it shall be published pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code in the principal county and in each other county in which any part of the district lies.

9528.
An annual audit of the books, accounts, records, papers, money, and securities shall be made as required by Section 26909 of the Government Code.

9529.
The directors of the district may, at such times as they deem necessary, determine whether any portion of the money on deposit in the treasury of the principal county is not necessary for immediate use; and if so, it shall determine the amount, which amount shall thereupon be designated as "surplus money" and transferred to a "surplus money account" in the treasury of the principal county.

9530.
    (a) "Surplus moneys," as determined pursuant to Section 9529, shall be invested exclusively in bonds or interest-bearing notes or obligations of the United States, or those for which the faith and credit of the United States are pledged for the payment of principal and interest.

    (b) Interest earned and other increment derived from any investment under this section shall be credited to the surplus money account for investment under this section.

9541.
All claims for money or damages against the district are governed by Part 3 (commencing with Section 900) and Part 4 (commencing with Section 940) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code except as provided therein, or by other statutes or regulations expressly applicable thereto.

9545.
Except as provided in Section 9546, the county shall pay any and all costs attributable to the conduct of district elections and shall be reimbursed for such expenditure the following year by a special assessment levied and collected in the same manner as regular assessments pursuant to the provisions of Article 1 (commencing with Section 9501), except that the limitations set forth in Section 9505 shall not apply to such assessment.

9546.
The county shall bill any candidate for district office for the actual prorated costs of printing, handling, and translating his statement of qualifications contained in the voter's pamphlet accompanying the sample ballot.

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Chapter 5:  District Reorganization

9601.
Any two or more contiguous districts, or districts situated within the same geophysical area, organized under this division may consolidate in accordance with the provisions of the District Reorganization Act of 1965, Division 1 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 6 of the Government Code.

9611.
A partition of a district shall be made in accordance with the District Reorganization Act of 1965, Division 1 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 6 of the Government Code.

9621.
A district may change its name by action of the board of supervisors of the principal county as provided by this article.

9622.
Whenever in the judgment of the board of directors it is for the best interest of a district that its name be changed to a stated name, it may pass a resolution reciting such fact.

9623.
A copy of the resolution shall be forwarded to the board of supervisors of the principal county with the request that the name of the district be changed to the stated name.

9624.
The board of supervisors of the principal county shall consider this request at their next regular meeting and may grant or deny the request. Their action shall be officially recorded in their minutes.

9625.
If the action of the board of supervisors on this request is negative, they shall forward a copy of the resolution to the board of directors initiating the request.

9626.
If the action of the board of supervisors on this request is favorable, it shall cause certified copies of the resolution to be forwarded to the board of directors initiating the request, the boards of supervisors and county clerks of all the other counties in which any portion of the district lies and the State Board of Equalization.

9627.
On acknowledgment of the change of name by the Secretary of State, the name of the district shall be considered changed.

9635.
One district may transfer land within its boundaries to a district contiguous thereto in accordance with the provisions of the District Reorganization Act of 1965, Division 1 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 6 of the Government Code.

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Chapter 9:  Federal Aid Projects

9751.
In order to carry out the purposes of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act enacted by the Congress of the United States, the State Resource Conservation Commission (hereinafter referred to as "commission") is hereby designated as the agency of the State of California to administer any state plan authorized by this chapter which shall be approved by the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary of Agriculture") for the State of California pursuant to the provisions of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act.

9752.
The commission is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to formulate and submit to the Secretary of Agriculture, in conformity with the provisions of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, a state plan for each calendar year beginning with the year 1949. It shall be the purpose of each such plan to promote such utilization of land and such farming practices as the commission finds will tend, in conjunction with the operation of such other plans as may be approved for other states by the Secretary of Agriculture, to preserve and improve soil fertility, promote the economic use of land, diminish the exploitation and wasteful and unscientific use of natural soil resources, and reestablish and maintain the ratio between the purchasing power of the net income per person on farms and that of the income per person not on farms as defined in subsection (a) of Section 7 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act. Each such plan shall provide for adjustments in the utilization of land and in farming practices, through agreements with producers or through other voluntary methods, and for benefit payments in connection therewith, and also for such methods of administration not in conflict with any law of this state and such reports as the Secretary of Agriculture finds necessary for the effective administration of the plan and for ascertaining whether the plan is being carried out according to its terms.

9753.
Upon the acceptance of each such plan by the Secretary of Agriculture, the commission is authorized and empowered to accept and receive all grants of money made pursuant to the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act for the purpose of enabling the state to carry out the provisions of such plan, and all such funds, together with any moneys which may be appropriated by the state for such purpose, shall be available to the commission for expenditures necessary in carrying out the plan, including administrative expenses, expenditures in connection with educational programs in aid of the plan, and benefit payments.

9754.
In carrying out the provisions of each such plan, the commission shall have power: to employ such agents or agencies, and to establish such agencies, as it may find to be necessary; to cooperate with local and state agencies and with agencies of other states and of the federal government; to conduct research and educational activities in connection with the formulation and operation of such plan; to enter into agreements with producers, and to provide by other voluntary methods, for adjustments in the utilization of land and in farming practices, and for payments in connection therewith in amounts which the commission determines to be fair and reasonable.

9755.
For the purpose of carrying out each such plan according to its terms, the commission is hereby authorized to delegate any of the powers herein conferred to such agents or agencies as may be designated by the commission and approved by the Secretary of Agriculture.

9756.
The commission shall render for each year an annual report to the Governor, who shall transmit a copy thereof to each house of the Legislature, covering its administration of such plan and all operations thereunder, including also the expenditure of funds, and each such report shall be printed as a public document promptly upon its transmittal to the Governor.

9757.
Nothing herein shall be construed or operate to impose any obligation or liability upon the commission or other than as herein specified.

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Chapter 10:  Improvement Districts in Resource Conservation Districts

9801.
For purposes of cooperating with landowners or any other agency or for purposes of cooperating with the United States under provisions of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Chapter 656, Public Law 566, 83rd Cong., 2nd Session), and all acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, lands which need not be contiguous may be formed into an improvement district for constructing, both in or for the improvement district, one or more of the following:

    (a) Flood prevention improvements, including structural and land treatment measures.

    (b) Improvements for the agricultural phases of conservation, development, utilization, drainage disposal, and distribution of water.

    (c) Improvements for prevention or stabilization of soil erosion.

9802. As used in connection with improvement districts:

    (a) "Improvement" includes operation, maintenance, change, and acquisition of existing works, and the construction, operation, and maintenance of new works.

    (b) "Construction" includes, but is not limited to, the preparation and execution of plans, maintenance and operation.

    (c) "Real property" means land only.

    (d) "Owner of real property" means "owner of land".

    (e) "Improvement district" means a resource conservation district improvement district formed pursuant to this chapter.

    (f) "Land" means land within the improvement district or proposed improvement district.

9803.
The formation of an improvement district shall be proposed and the petition therefor shall be signed by two-thirds or more in number of the owners of real property in the proposed improvement district.

9804.
A petition for the formation of an improvement district shall contain all of the following:

    (a) Statement of the plans of the proposed improvement.

    (b) Description of the land of the proposed improvement district.

    (c) Names of the owners of all real property within the proposed improvement district with their last known addresses.

    (d) Description and assessed value of the real property owned in the proposed improvement district by each owner, which shall be according to the next preceding equalized assessment roll. District owned real property in the proposed improvement district shall be described whether or not it appears on the next preceding assessment roll.

    (e) Signatures of the petitioners.

9805.
The petition, all proceedings in reference to it, the improvement district, and the real property in it shall be designated by a number.

9806.
The petition may consist of any number of separate instruments, which shall be duplicates except as to signatures.

9807.
A petition to form an improvement district shall be filed with the secretary of the district and may be inspected by all persons interested.

9808.
Upon receipt of a petition to form an improvement district the directors shall cause a survey to be made of the proposed improvements, if any.

9809.
If the survey shows that the improvements are feasible, the directors shall cause to be prepared the following:

    (a) Plans and specifications of the improvements proposed to be constructed when the petition proposes the construction of improvements.

    (b) An estimate of the cost of the proposed improvements, which may include an amount not in excess of 10 percent of the aggregate cost of the proposed improvements to create a reserve fund to be used and applied as additional security for the payment of principal of and interest on any warrants of the improvement district issued against assessments levied for the payment of the cost of the proposed improvements.

    (c) Statement of the proposed assessment for the cost of the proposed improvements apportioned to each parcel of real property in the proposed improvement district as the parcels appear on the last equalized assessment roll and to district owned real property in the proposed improvement district whether or not it appears on the last equalized assessment roll, which assessments shall be apportioned in accordance with the assessed value of the real property, as such value is shown on the next preceding equalized assessment roll.

9810.
If there are any, the plans and specifications, estimate of cost, and the statement of the proposed assessment shall be filed with the secretary of the district and may be inspected by all persons interested.

9811.
After the filing of the formation petition, and if any, the plans and specifications, the estimate of cost, and statement of the proposed assessment, the directors shall give notice of a hearing upon the petition, and if a special assessment is to be levied in the improvement district pursuant to this chapter, the notice shall also state that the hearing is called to determine whether or not the special assessment should be levied.

9812.
Notice of the hearing shall be given by all of the following:

    (a) Posting a notice in three public places within the proposed improvement district.

    (b) Publication of the notice pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code in the principal county of the district.

    (c) Mailing a copy of the notice to the last known address of all of the owners of real property in the proposed improvement district to the addresses appearing in the petition. The notices shall be posted and mailed not less than 20 days prior to the date set for the hearing.

9813.
At the hearing the directors shall hear any objections coming before it to any of the following:

    (a) The petition.

    (b) The formation of the improvement district.

    (c) The real property to be included within the improvement district.

    (d) The plans and specifications.

    (e) The estimate of cost.

    (f) The proposed assessment.

    (g) The apportionment of the assessment.

9814.
At the hearing the directors shall make any changes in reference to the matters set forth in Section 9813 as they consider proper. The directors may exclude any part of the real property described in the petition from the proposed improvement district and may include additional real property.

9815.
If any additional real property is included in the proposed improvement district, the hearing shall be continued and the owners of the added real property given personal notice of not less than 20 days of the addition of the land to the improvement district.

9816.
The directors may include in the plans and specifications such terms and conditions as to the respective parcels of real property in the improvement district with respect to tolls, charges, assessments, or the conservation or use of soil and water or any other matters as the directors deem necessary or proper.

9817.
Regardless of any findings made by the directors if more than one-third in number of the holders of title to the real property within a proposed improvement district object at the hearing to its formation or the levy of the proposed assessment, the directors shall deny the petition, and no further proceedings shall be had on it.

9818.
If at the hearing the directors find that it would not be for the best interests of the district and the proposed improvement district to form the improvement district the directors shall order the proceedings dismissed without prejudice to their renewal.

9819.
If the directors find that it would be for the best interests of the district and the proposed improvement district to form the improvement district, they shall make and enter in their minutes a final order:

    (a) Approving the petition.

    (b) Forming the improvement district.

    (c) Levying the assessment if any is provided for and if the assessment is necessary.

    (d) Apportioning the assessment, if levied, to the real property in the improvement district according to assessed value as shown on the next preceding equalized assessment roll.

9820.
The order shall contain a description of the lands within the improvement district.

9821.
The secretary shall cause a certified copy of the order creating the improvement district to be recorded in the office of the county recorder in each county in which any land of the improvement district is situated.

9831.
Any assessment levied pursuant to Section 9819 shall include both of the following sums:

    (a) An amount equal to interest on any deferred payments at a rate not exceeding 7 percent each year.

    (b) An amount equal to 10 percent more than all other sums to be raised by the assessment, in order to provide for anticipated delinquencies.

9832.
The assessment may be made payable in not more than 10 annual installments.

9833.
The directors, on or before the 15th day of August of each year, shall furnish the auditor and board of supervisors of each county in which any portion of the improvement lies a statement in writing of the amounts of the installments of the improvement district assessment, if any, due for the next ensuing fiscal year in respect of each parcel of real property within the improvement district.

9834.
Each annual installment of the improvement district assessments shall be collected by county officers in the same manner and at the same times as county taxes.

9835.
The provision of law relating to the collection of county taxes and the duties of county officers with respect thereto, insofar as they are applicable and not in conflict with this chapter, are hereby adopted and made a part of this chapter. Said officers are liable on their several official bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties under this chapter.

9836.
The treasurers of each of the counties, other than the principal county, shall, not less than twice a year or upon order of the directors, settle with the directors and pay to the principal county all money belonging to the improvement district and in their possession.

9837.
The assessment and each installment of it shall be and remain a lien on the real property in the improvement district in the same manner as and in addition to the annual assessment of the district.

9838.
Upon a change or resubdivision of any parcel of real property in an improvement district, the directors upon their own initiative or upon a petition of the owner of the parcel so changed or resubdivided, may reapportion the improvement district assessment upon the parcel, and the order of reapportionment shall be recorded in the same manner as the order levying the original assessment.

9839.
If the actual cost of the improvements is substantially less than the estimated cost the assessment may be reduced proportionately on each parcel by recomputing it based on actual costs with the percentage and interest provided for in Section 9831 added thereto. The reapportionment or a statement that the assessment on each parcel has been reduced by a designated percentage shall be recorded in the same manner as the order levying the original assessment. Installments of assessments levied on district-owned real property becoming due while the real property is still owned by the district shall be paid by the district. Conveyance of such real property into private ownership shall not release the lien thereon of the assessment and the unpaid installments of it.

9840.
 If the assessments levied upon real property in an improvement district are insufficient to pay the cost of improvements or the warrants issued for the improvements, a supplemental assessment shall be levied upon all of the real property in the improvement district sufficient to pay the cost or the warrants.

9841.
The procedure followed in making the supplemental levy shall be substantially the same as for making the original levy, except that no petition is required.

9842.
Whenever it is desired to do additional work or acquire additional property in or for an improvement district, upon the petition of two-thirds in number of the owners of real property in the improvement district, an additional assessment may be levied substantially in the same manner as the original assessment.

9851.
If at any time it is desired to include additional real property within an improvement district, a petition for inclusion signed by the owners of real property to be included may be filed with the directors.

9852.
The inclusion petition shall describe the boundaries of the improvement district as enlarged by the proposed inclusions and give the names and addresses of the owners of the additional real property in substantially the same manner as in the original petition for forming an improvement district.

9853.
The same proceedings shall be had on the improvement district inclusion petition as upon the original petition for the formation of an improvement district.

9854.
The directors may prescribe any conditions upon the inclusion of the real property that they deem just.

9855.
If any conditions not contained in the petition for inclusion are prescribed by the directors the real property shall not be included until two-thirds in number of the petitioners approve the conditions in writing.

9861.
In a district containing an improvement district the directors and all of the officers of the district each respectively has all the rights, powers, and privileges as to the improvement district, its real property, and the proceedings in relation to the improvement district that each respectively has for the district of which the improvement district is a part including the right of the district to acquire, own, and hold property.

9862.
The directors may also hold property used or acquired in connection with the improvement in the name of the directors and their successors in office as trustees for the improvement district.

9863.
The directors of a district in which an improvement district exists may allow on terms that may be agreed upon any person to carry water through any conduit for the improvement of which the improvement district was formed and may cancel the right in the event that payments are not made in accordance with the agreed terms.

9864.
The work of improvement provided for in this chapter and the purchase of all supplies, material, and equipment therefor shall be performed by the district, or in the discretion of the directors contracts may be made for the work and material after notice calling for bids, as prescribed by the directors.

9865.
The directors may, in lieu in whole or in part of levying assessments for the operation of improvement district works, fix and collect reasonable charges for the use of water or for any other service furnished by means of the improvement district works.

9866.
All such tolls, connections charges, and additional assessments shall be held and applied upon and reduce the last installment or installments of the improvement district assessment.

9867.
The directors may provide for the maintenance and operation of the works of an improvement district from the funds of the resource conservation district in lieu of levying further improvement district assessments for such purposes.

9868.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the directors of a district in which an improvement district exists may establish facilities use charges for the use of the facilities in such improvement district and, in establishing such charges, may provide that water shall be furnished or delivered through such facilities only to lands and real property in such improvement district in respect of which such facilities use charges or annual installments thereof, fixed as provided in this section, shall have been paid in advance. Such facilities use charges shall be in amounts equal to the respective amounts of the assessments theretofore levied against the real property in such improvement district for the purpose of providing such facilities. In establishing such charges the directors shall provide (a) that payment in full of any such assessment shall constitute payment in advance in full of such facilities use charge; (b) that all facilities use charges not so paid in advance in full shall be payable in annual installments, each such annual installment to be equal in amount to (i) the annual installment of the unpaid assessment theretofore levied against the real property in respect of which such charge is payable and due on or before the next succeeding November 20th plus interest thereon at the rate provided in the order levying such assessment plus 10 percent in addition (added for anticipated delinquencies), plus (ii) all delinquent annual installments, if any, of such unpaid assessment together with penalties and interest at said rate on such delinquent installments; and (c) that payment of any annual installment of any such facilities use charge shall constitute payment in full of the annual installment of such unpaid assessment due on or before the next succeeding November 20th and of all delinquent annual installments, if any, of such unpaid assessment.

9869.
On behalf of an improvement district the directors may do any or all acts necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the improvement district, including, but not limited to any or all of the following:

    (a) Acquire without cost to the United States such land, easements, or rights-of-way as will be needed in connection with improvements installed or constructed with the financial assistance of the United States;

    (b) Assume such share of the cost of installing or constructing any improvements involving the financial assistance of the United States as are equitable in consideration of the anticipated benefits from such improvements;

    (c) Defray the costs of operation and maintenance of such works of improvement in accordance with such terms as may be agreed upon;

    (d) Acquire, or provide assurance that the district, the improvement district, or the owners of real property have acquired, such water rights as may be needed in the installation and operation of the work of improvement;

    (e) Obtain agreements to carry out soil conservation measures and proper farm plans from owners of real property in connection with such a work of improvement.

9870.
On behalf of an improvement district, the directors may cooperate and contract with the United States, or with any officer, department, bureau, or agency thereof, to accomplish any of the purposes of the improvement district, or to exercise any of the powers of the directors in relation to such improvement districts.

9881.
A district may issue improvement district warrants signed by its president and secretary in face amount not exceeding in the aggregate the cost of the improvements exclusive of interest and amounts paid prior to the issuance of these warrants on the assessment levied to pay for the improvement.

9882.
Improvement district warrants shall be made payable in amounts and at the times corresponding substantially to the amounts and times of payment of the installments of the improvement district assessment.

9883.
Improvement district warrants shall bear interest at the rate fixed at the time of the levy of the improvement district assessment, and the interest may be made payable semiannually.

9884.
Coupons for the interest on these warrants may be attached to them.

9885.
Improvement district warrants may be made payable to any of the following:

    (a) Bearer.

    (b) Persons furnishing work, labor, or material.

    (c) The contractor if the work of improvement is to be done under contract.

9886.
Improvement district warrants may be sold by the district for not less than par at either public or private sale.

9887.
Any surplus funds and any money held by a district in a sinking or depreciation fund may in the discretion of its directors be invested in the warrants of any improvement district within the district.

9888.
Except as otherwise provided by law, the cost of constructing, acquiring, or improving works of an improvement district shall be paid only out of the proceeds of an improvement district assessment levied upon and collected from the real property in the improvement district for such purposes.

9889.
Improvement district warrants shall be paid only out of the proceeds of an improvement district assessment levied upon and collected from the real property within the improvement district for improvement purposes.

9890.
Improvement district warrants or their proceeds shall be used solely for making the improvements for which the improvement district was formed and the necessary incidental expenses.

9901.
At any time before improvement district warrants are issued, the amount of any improvement district assessment on any real property, exclusive of interest and the 10 percent added for anticipated delinquencies, may be paid in money to the treasurer of the principal county of the district.

9902.
Real property on which the amount of the improvement district assessment has been paid pursuant to Section 9901 shall not be subject to the annual installments of the assessments levied for the purposes of the improvement, but it shall be and remain liable for any assessments levied for operation and for any supplemental or additional improvement district assessments levied.

9903.
Any owner of real property of an improvement district who desires at any time to lessen or remove the lien upon his real property of any improvement district assessment may deliver to the treasurer of the principal county for cancellation warrants payable out of the assessment.

9904.
The directors may require warrants delivered to lessen or remove an improvement district assessment lien to be substantially of the average maturities of the issue of warrants.

9905.
The treasurer of the principal county shall notify the directors of the amount of the principal and interest due and to become due on the warrants delivered for cancellation. The directors shall thereupon cause the proper cancellation and proper record and credit to be made against the improvement district assessment on the real property of the person delivering the warrants.

9911.
All acts, proceedings, conclusions, and findings of fact, including the levy of an assessment, by the directors of a district concerning an improvement district therein shall be conclusive except in an action or proceeding instituted within six months after the acts, proceedings, conclusions, or findings were had or made.

9912.
An action to determine the validity of an assessment or of any warrants may be brought pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

9921.
At any time prior to the incurring of any indebtedness or upon the full payment of all indebtedness of an improvement district, a petition, signed and acknowledged by not less than the number of owners of real property constituting the improvement district required to sign a petition to form the improvement district, may be filed with the directors requesting that the improvement district be dissolved.

9922.
A hearing on dissolution shall be had in the same manner and after the same notice as is required for the formation of an improvement district.

9923.
The directors may, after the hearing, order the improvement district dissolved.

9924.
The order of dissolution shall be recorded in the same manner as the order forming the improvement district.

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Chapter 11:  Tahoe Resource Conservation District

9951.
The Tahoe Resource Conservation District is hereby created to consist of those parts of the Counties of Placer and El Dorado lying within the Tahoe Basin adjacent to Lake Tahoe and that additional and adjacent part of the County of Placer outside of the Tahoe Basin which lies southward and eastward of a line starting at the intersection of the basin crestline and the north boundary of Section 1, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 3, thence south to the intersection of the basin crestline and the west boundary of Section 10; all sections referring to Township 15 North, Range 16 East, M.D.B. & M. The district lands defined and described herein shall be as precisely delineated on official maps of the district.

9952.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the organization and functions of the Tahoe Resource Conservation District shall be governed by the provisions of this division.

    (b) The initial Board of Directors of the Tahoe Resource Conservation District shall be composed of the following five persons who shall each be an owner of land within the area described in Section 9951:

        (1) One person appointed by the California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency who may be a member of such agency.

        (2) One person appointed by the City of South Lake Tahoe.

        (3) One person appointed by the Board of Supervisors of El Dorado County.

        (4) Two persons appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Placer County.

    (c) The members of the initial board of directors shall classify themselves by lot so that the term of three members shall expire November 1976, and the term of two members shall expire November 1978. The members of the initial board of directors shall qualify, take office, and serve exactly as if elected at a general resource conservation district election. The expiration of the term of any such director shall not constitute a vacancy and he shall hold office until his successor has qualified. Successors to the members of the initial board of directors shall be elected at a general resource conservation district election in accordance with the provisions of this division.

    (d) Moneys received by any resource conservation district pursuant to Section 9505 on lands transferred to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District shall be transferred to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, and any and all costs of establishing the Tahoe Resource Conservation District shall be a first charge on any such funds. The Board of Directors of the Tahoe Resource Conservation District shall determine whether the treasury of Placer County or of El Dorado County shall be the depository of the funds of the Tahoe Resource Conservation District for the purposes of Article 2 (commencing with Section 9521) of Chapter 4 of this division.

9953.
It is not the intent of the Legislature that the Tahoe Resource Conservation District shall in any way affect the responsibilities, authority, and jurisdiction of the California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the California Tahoe Conservancy Agency, or the Tahoe Conservancy Agency.

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Chapter 12:  Suisun Resource Conservation District

9960.
The following definitions shall govern the interpretation of this chapter:

    (a) "Suisun Marsh" means the Suisun Marsh as defined in Section 29101.
    (b) "Primary management area" means the primary management area as defined in Section 29102.
    (c) "Suisun Marsh Protection Plan" means the plan identified and defined in Section 29113.
    (d) "District" means the Suisun Resource Conservation District.
    (e) "Board" means the board of directors of the district.
    (f) "Individual ownership" means a separate privately owned parcel of land within the primary management area. Contiguous parcels of land owned by the same legal entity comprise a single individual ownership.
    (g) "Department" means the Department of Fish and Game.

9961.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, the organization, powers, and functions of the district shall be governed by the provisions of this division.

9962.
    (a) The district shall have primary local responsibility for regulating and improving water management practices on privately owned lands within the primary management area of the Suisun Marsh in conformity with Division 19 (commencing with Section 29000) and the Suisun Marsh Protection Plan.

    (b) The district shall issue regulations requiring compliance with any water management plan or program for privately owned lands within the primary management area if the plan or program has been prepared by the district and approved and certified by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission as a component of the local protection program required by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 29500) of Division 19.

    (c) Following certification of the district's component of the local protection program by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the board or its employees may, after approval by a vote of four-fifths of the membership of the board, obtain an inspection warrant pursuant to Title 13 (commencing with Section 1822.50) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure and enter onto privately owned lands within the primary management area for the
purpose of determining whether or not the landowner is complying with the regulations of the district. Following a determination that a landowner is violating the regulations, and after written notice to the landowner, the board may request the District Attorney of the County of Solano to take appropriate action.

    (d) The first violation by any person of any district regulation adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500). A subsequent violation of the same district regulation by the same person shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).

    (e) The civil penalties prescribed in this section shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the District Attorney of the County of Solano. Such an action shall take precedence over all other civil matters on the calendar, except those matters to which equal precedence on the calendar is granted by law. Any penalty collected under this section shall be paid to the Treasurer of the County of Solano and shall be credited one-half to the county general fund and one-half to the district.

9963.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9803, the formation of an improvement district within the primary management area may be proposed and the petition therefor may be signed by a majority of the members of the board. Thereafter, proceedings with regard to the formation of the proposed improvement district shall be in accordance with Sections 9804 through 9821, inclusive. However, wherever "petition" is used in those provisions, it shall be deemed to refer to the petition of the majority of the members of the board; and, notwithstanding Section 9817, the petition shall not be required to be dismissed unless more than one-half of the holders of title to the real property within the proposed improvement district object to its formation or the levy of the proposed assessment.

9964. The district may, with the consent of the owner, levy special assessments on the lands of the consenting owner within the district pursuant to the Municipal Improvement Act of 1913 (Division 12 (commencing with Section 10000) of the Streets and Highways Code) or the Improvement Act of 1911 (Division 7 (commencing with Section 5000) of the Streets and Highways Code) and issue bonds to represent unpaid assessments pursuant to the Improvement Act of 1911 or the Improvement Bond Act of 1915 (Division 10 (commencing with Section 8500) of the Streets and Highways Code) to finance the construction of improvements on those lands as provided by Section 9409.

Notwithstanding any provisions of Division 7 (commencing with Section 5000) or Division 12 (commencing with Section 10000) of the Streets and Highways Code, the district may contract for the construction of these improvements without inviting public bids therefor.

9965.
    (a) The Legislature finds that compliance with the mandated regulations of the district will produce public benefits by improving wildlife habitat in the primary management area and that providing public funds to partially offset the costs of complying with those regulations would serve a valid public purpose. Assistance under this section shall not be treated as taxable income to a private landowner.

    (b) Each year the district shall submit to the department an estimate of an amount sufficient to reimburse the private landowners in the primary management area for 50 percent of the operation and maintenance costs which it anticipates they will incur the following fiscal year in carrying out this chapter and Division 19 (commencing with Section 29000). Funds for this purpose shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per individual ownership. The funds shall be included in the budget of the department payable from the Wildlife Restoration Fund and shall be available to the department for disbursement to the private landowners in accordance with subdivision (c).

    (c) Each fiscal year, any private landowner in the primary management area who desires to qualify for the assistance provided by this section shall, by December 31, submit to the district a claim for those costs incurred that calendar year in carrying out the operation and maintenance activities specified in that landowner's individual ownership management program. Each claim shall be accompanied by substantiating documents, as determined by the district. The district shall review each claim to determine its appropriateness by, including, but not limited to, an onsite inspection to establish that the physical improvements or management procedures for which a claim is submitted have been satisfactorily completed. The district shall submit the individual ownership claims to the department for review and approval for payment equal to 50 percent of each claim. However, no payment shall exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). In any fiscal year in which the funds appropriated for purposes of this section are insufficient to pay 50 percent of each claim, the department shall pay all approved claims on a pro rata basis. In any fiscal year in which no funds are appropriated for purposes of this section, the department shall pay no claims.

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Chapter 13:  Ventura County Resource Conservation District

9970.
The provisions of this chapter apply only to the Ventura County Resource Conservation District. For the purposes of this chapter, "district" means the Ventura County Resource Conservation District.

9971.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the organization and functions of the district shall be governed by the provisions of this division.

9972.
Whenever any territory in the district is included in a city by reason of incorporation or annexation, that territory may be excluded from the district upon the effective date of its inclusion in the city, subject only to compliance by the district with the requirements of Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 54900) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code.

Upon the exclusion of such territory, all unencumbered funds standing to the credit of the area upon the date of its exclusion shall be divided between the city and the district in proportion to the assessed value of real property of the territory excluded and the portion remaining. For the purpose of this section, "unencumbered funds" means a sum of money consisting of uncollected taxes, including taxes levied and collected for the territory on property withdrawn after the date of exclusion, and other uncollected amounts belonging to or due such territory, that is in excess of an amount sufficient to pay all claims and accounts against the territory.

In the event the district has indebtedness evidenced by bonds and the indebtedness is outstanding and owing on the date of exclusion, the property within any territory excluded from the district shall remain liable for assessment and payment of its pro rata share of the tax therefor.

9973.
The district shall consist of three divisions, conforming generally to the major natural resource areas of the county, as follows:

    (a) Division 1 (Northern): the Ojai Division, generally coextensive with the boundaries of the predecessor Ojai Resource Conservation District.

    (b) Division 2 (Central): Santa Clara Valley Division, comprising the area generally embracing the Santa Clara River Watershed.

    (c) Division 3 (Southern): South Ventura County Division, conforming generally with the boundaries of the predecessor South Ventura County Resource Conservation District.

9974.
    (a) Within 60 days after the initial organization meeting of the board of directors of the district, a description and map of the district showing recommended division boundaries thereof shall be adopted by the board of directors with a resolution petitioning the Board of Supervisors of the County of Ventura to review and approve such boundaries.

    (b) Within 30 days after receipt of the petition, the board of supervisors shall refer the request to the local agency formation commission for recommendations and report.

    (c) Within 30 days after receipt of the request from the board of supervisors, the local agency formation commission shall conduct a noticed public hearing at which any interested person may appear and present testimony relative to the proposed boundaries.

    (d) Within 30 days after the hearing, the local agency formation commission shall submit its boundary recommendations to the board of supervisors.

    (e) Within 30 days after receipt of the commission's boundary recommendations, the board of supervisors shall conduct a noticed public hearing to consider the recommendations. If the board of supervisors approves the boundaries as recommended, it shall certify the boundaries by resolution and file a copy with the board of directors of the district.

    (f) Once certified by the board of supervisors, boundaries of a division may be modified pursuant to the procedures for their initial certification, as provided in this chapter.

9975.
    (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 9183 or Sections 9241 and 9242, the board of directors of the district shall be composed of nine persons initially appointed by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Ventura, with three directors appointed to represent each division.

    (b) A director shall be an owner of land, or a designated agent of an owner of land, within the territory included in the division of the district he or she will represent. An agent of a landowner shall reside within the territory included in the division of the district he or she will represent.

    (c) Notwithstanding any other law, at the first regular meeting of the board of directors of the district after January 1, 1989, the directors shall classify themselves into two classes. One class shall have four members and the other class shall have five members. The term of office of those in the class having four members shall expire at noon on the last Friday in November 1990. The term of office of those in the class having five members shall expire at noon on the last Friday in November 1992. The board of directors shall arrange the classification so that not more than two directors from any division are in one class.

9976.
Upon the expiration of the terms of office of directors pursuant to Section 9975, their successors shall be elected in the manner provided in Article 8 (commencing with Section 9351) of Chapter 3. Directors shall be nominated by divisions and elected at large. After the expiration of a term of office, a director shall continue to hold office and serve until his or her successor has qualified.

9977.
At least 110 days prior to the day fixed for the general district election, the secretary of the district shall deliver to the county clerk a map and description of the boundaries of the divisions from which directors shall be nominated. The number designated shall equal the number of directors to be elected at that election as determined in accordance with subdivision (d) of Section 975.

9978.
Five directors shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of the business of the board of directors of the district.