Local government: infrastructure and revitalization financing districts.

Existing law authorizes the creation by a city, county, or city and county of an infrastructure financing district, as defined, for the sole purpose of financing public facilities, subject to adoption of a resolution by the legislative body and affected taxing entities proposed to be subject to division of taxes and 23 voter approval. Existing law authorizes the legislative body to, by majority vote, initiate proceedings to issue bonds for the financing of district projects by adopting a resolution, subject to specified procedures and 23 voter approval. Existing law requires an infrastructure financing plan to include the date on which an infrastructure financing district will cease to exist, which may not be more than 30 years from the date on which the ordinance forming the district is adopted. Existing law prohibits a district from including any portion of a redevelopment project area. Existing law, the Polanco Redevelopment Act, authorizes a redevelopment agency to take any action that the agency determines is necessary and consistent with state and federal laws to remedy or remove a release of hazardous substances on, under, or from property within a project area, whether the agency owns that property or not, subject to specified conditions. Existing law also declares the intent of the Legislature that the areas of the district created be substantially undeveloped, and that the establishment of a district should not ordinarily lead to the removal of dwelling units. This bill would authorize the creation by a city, county, city and county, or joint powers authority of an infrastructure and revitalization financing district, as defined, and the issuance of debt with 23 voter approval. The bill would authorize the creation of a district for up to 40 years and the issuance of debt with a final maturity date of up to 30 years, as specified. The bill would authorize a district to finance projects in redevelopment project areas and former redevelopment project areas and former military bases. The bill would authorize the legislative body to dedicate any portion of its funds received from the Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund to the district, if specified criteria are met. The bill would authorize the formation of a district to finance a project or projects on a former military base, if specified conditions are met. The bill would authorize a district to fund various projects, including, among others, watershed land used for the collection and treatment of water for urban uses, flood management, levees, bypasses, open space, habitat restoration, brownfields restoration, environmental mitigation, purchase of land and property for development purposes, including commercial property, hazardous cleanup, former military bases, and specified transportation purposes. The bill would authorize a district to implement hazardous cleanup pursuant to the Polanco Redevelopment Act, as specified. The bill would impose a specified reporting requirement on districts. The bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature that the establishment of a district should not ordinarily lead to the removal of existing functional, habitable, and safe dwelling units, as specified. The bill would define the term "public works" for purposes of these provisions. This bill would incorporate additional substantive changes in Section 33459 of the Health and Safety Code made by SB 470, to become operative if SB 470 and this bill become effective on or before January 1, 2014, and this bill is enacted last.