ARTICLE 6. Municipal Park Improvement District Bonds [5350. - 5370.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 6.
in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5350. Section 5350.

Any portion of a municipality incorporated under the laws of this State may be formed into a municipal park improvement district for the purpose of creating an indebtedness, to be represented by bonds of the district, the proceeds from the sale of which shall be used for the acquisition or construction of any public park improvement or work which such municipality is authorized by law to acquire or construct, pursuant to this article. “Work” or “improvement” whether used singly or in combination mean and include any work or improvement for public park or recreation purposes together with the acquisition of property necessary and convenient therefor, as well as the construction, reconstruction and repair of all or any part of such work or improvement.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5351. Section 5351.

Whenever a petition, verified by one or more persons and signed by not less than 10 percent of the qualified electors residing in the territory which is proposed to be formed into a municipal park improvement district, setting forth a general description of the improvement or work to be acquired or constructed and a general description of the exterior boundaries of such proposed district, shall have been filed in the office of the clerk of the legislative body of the city, and the genuineness of the signatures shall have been certified to by the city clerk, the legislative body may adopt an ordinance declaring its intention to call an election in the proposed district for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the district the proposition of authorizing the issuance and sale of bonds of the district in the manner and for the purpose set forth in the ordinance of intention. The legislative body shall have power to change or modify the boundaries of the district and the nature, character or extent of the proposed public improvement or work.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5352. Section 5352.

The ordinance of intention shall contain: (a) An accurate description of the exterior boundaries of the proposed municipal park district; (b) A general description of the improvement or work proposed to be acquired or constructed; (c) An estimate of the cost of the proposed improvement or work, and an estimate of the incidental expense in connection therewith; (d) A statement declaring the intention to call an election to be held in the district for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters in the district the proposition of incurring indebtedness by the issuance of bonds of the district to pay the cost and expenses of the proposed improvement or work, and stating that a map showing the exterior boundaries of the district with relation to the territory immediately contiguous thereto, and a general description of the proposed improvement are on file in the office of the clerk of the legislative body of the city; which map shall govern for all details as to the extent of the district; (e) A statement of the date, hour and place fixed for the hearing of protests.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5353. Section 5353.

The ordinance of intention shall be published in the city pursuant to Section 6062 of the Government Code. The ordinance, unless otherwise provided by charter of the municipality, shall take effect upon the completion of publication. In municipalities where no newspaper is published the ordinance shall be posted in three public places, and in case of posting notice the ordinance shall take effect two weeks after date of such posting of notice.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5354. Section 5354.

Any person interested, objecting to the formation of the district, or to the extent of the district, or to the proposed improvement or work, may file a written protest, setting forth such objection, with the clerk of the legislative body at or before the time set for the hearing of the petition. The clerk of the legislative body shall endorse on each protest the date of its reception by him, and, at the time appointed for the hearing above provided for, shall present to the board all protests filed with him. The legislative body shall hear the protests at the time appointed or at any time to which the hearing may be adjourned, and pass upon the same, and its decision thereon shall be final and conclusive.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5355. Section 5355.

If the protest is against the proposed work or improvement and the legislative body finds that the protest is made by the owners of more than one-half of the area of the property to be taxed for the work or improvement, and protests are not withdrawn so as to reduce the same to less than a majority, no further proceedings shall be taken for a period of one year from the date of the decision of the legislative body on the hearing.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5356. Section 5356.

If any protests are against the extent of the district or against the inclusion of property in the district, then the legislative body shall have power to make such changes in the boundaries of the proposed district as it shall find to be proper and advisable, and shall define and establish such boundaries, but such boundaries shall not include any territory which will not be benefited by the improvement or work. The legislative body shall not modify the boundaries except after notice of its intention given in the same manner as publication of the ordinance of intention to call the bond election, describing the proposed modification, and specifying a time for hearing objections to such modification, which time shall be at least 10 days after the publication of the notice, and the objections shall be heard and determined as are objections to the proposed improvement or work.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5357. Section 5357.

If the legislative body has denied all protests, it may call an election to be held within the district described in the ordinance or resolution calling the election, which description shall conform with any changes in boundaries that may have been made under Section 5356, and provide for the submission of the proposition of incurring a debt by the issuance of bonds of the district for the purposes set forth in the ordinance of intention. The ordinance or resolution calling such election, shall also recite the objects and purposes for which the proposed indebtedness is to be incurred, the nature of the improvement or work, the estimated cost, the estimated cost of the incidental expense, the amount of the principal of the indebtedness to be incurred and the rate of interest to be paid on such indebtedness; provided, however, that in its discretion the legislative body may recite in the ordinance or resolution a maximum rate of interest to be paid on such indebtedness not to exceed 8 per centum per annum, which rate when so recited shall not be exceeded in the issuance of bonds for such indebtedness; and said ordinance or resolution shall fix the date on which the election shall be held, the manner of holding the election and the manner of voting for or against the proposition.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5358. Section 5358.

For the purposes of the bond election the legislative body shall establish in the ordinance, or resolution, one or more precincts within the boundaries of the district, designate a polling place and appoint one inspector, one judge and one clerk for each precinct. In all particulars not recited in such ordinance, or resolution, the election shall be held as provided by law for the holding of general municipal elections in such city. The ordinance, or resolution, ordering the holding of the election shall be published in the same manner as was the ordinance of intention.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5359. Section 5359.

If at such election two-thirds of all the voters voting, vote in favor of incurring the bonded indebtedness, then the legislative body shall thereupon be authorized and empowered to issue the bonds of the district for the amount provided for in the ordinance or resolution calling the election.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5359.1. Section 5359.1.

The legislative body may divide the principal amount of any issue into two or more series and fix different dates for the bonds of each series. The bonds of one series may be made payable at different times from those of any other series. The maturity of each series shall comply with this article.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5361. Section 5361.

The legislative body may fix a date, not more than two years from the date of issuance, for the earliest maturity of each issue or series of bonds. Beginning with the date of the earliest maturity of each issue or series, not less than one-fortieth of the indebtedness of such issue or series shall be paid every year; provided, however, the bonds of any issue or series may be made to mature and become payable in approximately equal total annual installments of interest and principal, during the term of the bonds computed from the first year in which any part of the principal shall mature to the date of final maturity, which annual installments may vary one from the other in amounts not exceeding in any year more than 5 percent of the total principal amount of the bonds of such issue or of the series thereof then proposed to be issued. The final maturity date shall not exceed 40 years from the time of incurring the indebtedness evidenced by each issue or series. The bonds shall be payable at a place to be fixed by the legislative body and designated in the bonds, together with the interest on all sums unpaid on such date, interest to be paid semiannually, except that interest for the first year after the date of the bonds may be made payable at the end of said year, until the whole of the indebtedness shall have been paid. The principal and interest on the bonds shall be paid by the city treasurer in the manner provided by law for the payment of bonds of the city. Such bonds shall not be an obligation of the municipality issuing them but shall be payable from the funds of the district as herein provided and neither the municipality nor any officer thereof shall be holden for payment otherwise of their principal and interest.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5362. Section 5362.

The bonds shall be issued in such denomination as the legislative body may determine, except that no bonds shall be of a less denomination than one hundred dollars ($100), nor of a greater denomination than one thousand dollars ($1,000), and shall be signed by the chief executive of the municipality, or by such other officer thereof as the legislative body of the municipality shall, by resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of all its members, authorize and designate for that purpose, and also signed by the treasurer thereof, and shall be countersigned by the clerk. The interest coupons on said bonds shall be numbered consecutively and signed by the treasurer of such municipality by his engraved or lithographed signature. In case any such officers whose signatures or countersignatures appear on the bonds or coupons shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such bonds to the purchaser, the signature or countersignature shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if such officer had remained in office until the delivery of the bonds.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5363. Section 5363.

The legislative body may issue and sell the bonds at not less than par value, and the proceeds of the sale of the bonds shall be placed in the treasury of the municipality to the credit of the proper district funds and shall be applied exclusively to the purposes and objects mentioned in the ordinance or resolution ordering the holding of the bond election and to the incidental expense in connection therewith.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5363.1. Section 5363.1.

An action to determine the validity of bonds may be brought pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5364. Section 5364.

The legislative body of the city shall, at the time of fixing the general tax levy, and in the manner for the general tax levy, levy and collect a tax each year upon the taxable land in the district sufficient to pay the interest on the bonds for that year, and such portion of the principal as is to become due before the time for making the next general tax levy; provided, however, that if the maturity of the indebtedness created by the issue of such bonds be made to begin more than one year after the date of issue, such tax shall be levied and collected, each year sufficient to pay the interest on the indebtedness as it falls due, and also to constitute a sinking fund for the payment of the principal on or before maturity. The tax shall be in addition to all other taxes levied for municipal purposes and when collected shall be paid into the treasury of the city and be used for the payment of the principal and interest on such bonds and for no other purpose. The legislative body may provide, in the resolution or ordinance calling the election, that the tax to pay principal and interest on the bonds provided for in this section shall be levied and collected upon all taxable property in the district rather than on taxable land. If the proposition submitted pursuant to such resolution or ordinance is approved as provided in Section 5359, the tax shall be levied as provided in such ordinance or resolution.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5365. Section 5365.

All contracts for the construction or completion of any work or improvement, or for furnishing labor, materials or supplies shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder. The legislative body shall advertise in the city pursuant to Section 6062 of the Government Code, inviting sealed proposals for furnishing labor, materials and supplies for the proposed improvement before any contract shall be made; provided, however, that if chartered the city shall follow its charter as to making of contracts. The legislative body shall have the right to require such bonds as it may deem best from the successful bidder to insure the faithful performance of the contract, and shall also have the right to reject any and all bids.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5366. Section 5366.

The State Contract Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code) and Part 7 (commencing with Section 1720) of Division 2 of the Labor Code shall be applicable to this article.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5367. Section 5367.

The municipality shall have full power and authority to expend the proceeds acquired from the sale of bonds for the acquisition or construction of the improvement or work set forth in the ordinance calling the election, and shall also have full power and authority to acquire or construct the improvements or works, and the improvements or works so acquired or constructed shall be the property of the municipality.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5368. Section 5368.

Any district formed under the provisions of this article shall be known as Municipal Park Improvement District No. ____ (insert number) of the City of ____ (inserting the name of the municipality in which the district is located).

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5368.5. Section 5368.5.

Any property in the municipality within which the municipal park improvement district is formed may be annexed to such district in the manner provided in Part 11 (commencing with Section 72670) of Division 20 of the Water Code, applicable to municipal water district improvement districts.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5369. Section 5369.

This article shall not affect any other act or acts relating to the same, or a similar subject, but it is intended to provide an alternative method of procedure governing the subject to which it relates. When proceeding under the provisions of this article, its provisions and none other shall apply.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5370. Section 5370.

The provisions of this article shall be liberally construed to effect the purpose thereof and no provision shall be deemed or construed to prohibit the inclusion within the boundaries of any district formed under the provisions of this article, or any other act, of any territory which has or which may be included within any other district formed under the provisions of this article, or any other act.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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