Local government: organization.

(1) Existing law, the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act, provides the authority and procedure for the organization and reorganization of cities and districts. This bill would define "divestiture of power" as used in the act and would make additional changes to clarify and maintain the consistency of the act. (2) Existing law defines the composition and selection of members of an independent special district selection committee, and requires the executive officer of that committee to call meetings whenever a vacancy exists among the members or alternate member representing independent special districts on the committee or upon receipt of a written request by one or more members of the selection committee representing districts having 10% or more of the assessed value of taxable property within the county, as shown on the last equalized county assessment roll. This bill would define "executive officer" for purposes of these provisions, and would require the executive officer to call a meeting whenever the executive officer anticipates that a vacancy among the members or alternate member on the committee will occur within the next 90 days. (3) Existing law authorizes a local agency formation commission to initiate proposals for the consolidation or dissolution or formation of a district, a merger, the establishment of a subsidiary district, or a reorganization, as specified. This bill would specify that the commission may initiate these proceedings by resolution of application. (4) Existing law requires the commission to adopt an annual budget that apportions the net operative expenses of the commission as specified including the share for independent special districts. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to this provision. (5) Existing law requires the commission, for a proposed annexation of land to a city with more than 100,000 residents in a county with a population of more than 400,000, to make a finding regarding written protest filed and not withdrawn, and order one of 3 options, including an order requiring the territory be annexed subject to confirmation by the voters, and calling a special election. This bill would instead require the commission, upon making that order, to request the city council to call the special election, and would make conforming changes. (6) Existing law, for newly established cities, specifies that of the 5 newly elected city council members, the 3 receiving the lowest number of votes hold office until the first succeeding general municipal election and the 2 receiving the highest number of votes hold office until the 2nd municipal election, as specified. This bill would instead provide that the 2 city council members receiving the lowest number of votes hold office until the first succeeding municipal election, and the 3 receiving the highest number of votes hold office until the 2nd municipal election, as specified. (7) Existing law provides local agencies 60 days to negotiate the allocation of property taxes when jurisdictional changes are made pursuant to the act. This bill would authorize a local agency involved in a negotiation to extend the 60-day negotiation period to 90 days, upon notice to the local agencies involved, the county auditor, and the local agency formation commission, by the local agency that desires the extension.