Public Utilities Code, 1951

This section says two terms used in the article have the meanings given in the Government Code.

A district change of organization or reorganization may be carried out under the District Reorganization Act of 1965, and that act governs those changes.

Territory outside the district that is contiguous to and annexed to the City of Bakersfield is automatically included in the district, if Chapter 8 requirements are met.

Municipal corporations in the State are granted a right of way over certain State public lands for water works and electrical power works.

Every municipal corporation of the State is entitled to take certain needed materials from adjacent state-owned lands for original construction of its works and adjuncts.

Every municipal corporation of the State is granted a right to take certain State waters for needed water supply.

If the works no longer cover or cross the selected lands, or if use of the land is abandoned, the selected lands revert and title is reinvested in the State or its grantees.

A municipal corporation selecting a right of way or land must send a verified plat to the State Lands Commission, State Controller, and county recorder.

This part may be cited as the “Sacramento Regional Transit District Act.”

The Legislature states that a transit district is needed for the Sacramento region and that a special act is required to create it.

The Legislature states that forming this district should promote regional rapid transit and transit districts.

This section says the article is meant to help make the listed work and improvements useful to the lands or property that pay for them, and that the powers it grants to counties or cities are additional to other legal powers.

This chapter controls how this part is construed, unless the context requires otherwise.

“District” means the Sacramento Regional Transit District.

“Transit” means transporting passengers and their incidental baggage by any means.

This section defines “transit works” or “transit facilities” and says they include property, equipment, rights, or interests used by the district for transit-related purposes.

This section defines “board of directors,” “board,” and “directors” to mean the district’s board of directors.

This section defines “City” for this part of the code.

This section defines “County” for this part of the code.

“Public agency” is defined to include the State of California and specified local or public entities.

“System” is defined as the transit works and transit facilities owned, held, to be owned, held, or used by the district for transit purposes.

“Revenues” includes the district’s received or receivable rates, fares, tolls, rentals, and other income from operating the system, plus related interest, security-sale profits, and consideration from district property.

If a legislative body chooses to proceed under this article, it must follow the article’s provisions and limitations.

This section defines “person” to include several types of entities and individuals, but it excludes a public agency.

This section defines “establish” to include several actions, such as constructing, acquiring, extending, or rerouting.

This section defines “Sacramento Area Council of Governments” as that agency, or any successor to it.

“Tax or financial support” includes funds made available under the Mills-Alquist-Deddeh Act, also known as the Transportation Development Act, or a successor to that act.

This section defines “member entity” as a city or county within the district boundaries described in Section 102052.5.

This section defines “participating entity” and “participating entities” for the Sacramento Regional Transit District.

This section defines “voting entity” and “voting entities.”

This section says that “transportation planning agency” means the definition found in Section 99214.

This article must be interpreted broadly so its purposes can be effective.

This provision defines “district” for this article to include any district whose county or city legislative body may make contracts.

A city or county legislative body may allow water or gas service to be furnished in certain street-improvement situations.

The Sacramento Regional Transit District may be formed under this chapter; if formed, it is designated a rapid transit district and treated as a public corporation for those purposes.

The district may include specified cities and described territory in Sacramento and Yolo Counties. In this section, references to roads and similar ways also include their rights-of-way.

The district is formed only after both the Sacramento City Council and the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors adopt resolutions.

This section sets the Sacramento Regional Transit District’s boundaries, explains when territory is included or remains in the district after annexation or incorporation, and says newly annexed territory becomes subject to district taxation.

The district may operate and exercise its powers within any city, but it may not levy an ad valorem property tax in a city outside the district boundaries defined in Section 102052.5.

The district may operate in all or part of any county’s unincorporated area, but it may not levy an ad valorem property tax in unincorporated areas outside the district boundaries defined in Section 102052.5.

A city or county eligible under Section 102051 may be annexed to the district, but only if its legislative body and the board of directors agree in writing on the annexation terms.

Territory can be detached from the district if the board and the territory’s governing body both approve, and required notice is given.

A county or city may grant permission to use an improvement for water or gas only after its legislative body finds the required public-interest and necessity conditions.

A permission must be signed by the city’s mayor or chief executive, or by the county board of supervisors’ chairman, and also by the permittee or the permittee’s authorized officers.

The permission must state its duration (no more than two years), describe the work or improvement, and require the permittee to maintain it, make necessary repairs, and supply gas or water to the assessed lands.

If extra utility extensions or installations are needed to serve all required land, the permittee does not have to make them, but must allow the landowner to make them under regulations set by the city engineer or county surveyor.

A permission must limit gas or water charges to no more than what the permittee charges elsewhere for the same service, and require a reasonable use charge paid at least twice a year to the county or city treasurer.

Permission to a private corporation or individual to furnish gas or water under this article does not make that party a public utility or mean it is holding itself out to serve everyone.

A permission must reserve the legislative body’s right to end it when the city or county can conveniently provide gas or water.

The board of directors must determine all questions of district policy and serves as the district’s legislative body.

The board of directors of the transit district has listed powers and duties over district operations, budgeting, rates, rules, and annual audits.

The board may adopt ordinances to regulate conduct on district property, set bicycle boarding/stowage rules, and provide fines and community service for violations.

The legislative body may terminate certain permissions if a district or public corporation is formed or extended and can conveniently be served with gas or water.

The board may establish an advisory commission to the board under this article.

Each voting entity’s legislative body appoints three commission members, and at least one appointee must be a sitting member of that legislative body.

The commission must meet as often as the board decides is necessary, but at least twice a year, and must advise the board on district policy matters.

The district’s officers consist of the board members, the chair, chair pro tem, and secretary, with the secretary allowed to be an appointed district employee instead.

Cities, counties, and other public agencies may contract with the district to have certain officials perform services for the district.