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Alhambra Overview
Alhambra, California Code of Ordinances
Alhambra, California Code of Ordinances
CHARTER
TITLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE II: ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL
TITLE III: FINANCE
TITLE IV: FRANCHISES
TITLE V: BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
TITLE VI: HEALTH AND SANITATION
TITLE VII: ANIMALS
TITLE VIII: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BOND LAW
TITLE IX: PUBLIC PEACE AND SAFETY
TITLE X: BICYCLES
TITLE XI: VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
TITLE XII: PARKING LOTS
TITLE XIII: STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
TITLE XIV: PARKS AND PUBLIC GROUNDS
TITLE XV: WATER
TITLE XVI: SEWERS
TITLE XVII: INDUSTRIAL WASTE
TITLE XVIII: COMMUNITY NOISE AND VIBRATION CONTROL
TITLE XIX: FIRE
TITLE XX: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
TITLE XXI: OIL AND GAS WELLS
TITLE XXII: SUBDIVISIONS
TITLE XXIII: ZONING
TITLE XXIV: SOLAR ENERGY
TABLE OF SPECIAL ORDINANCES
PARALLEL REFERENCES
ARTICLE VII. POWERS OF THE
CITY AND THE COUNCIL
SEC. 59. GENERAL POWERS OF CITY ENUMERATED.--
   The City of Alhambra, in addition to any other powers now held by or that may hereafter be granted to it under the constitution or laws of the state, shall have the right and power -
   1.   To have perpetual succession.
   2.   To exercise the right of eminent domain for the purpose of acquiring real or personal property of every kind for public use.
   3.   To acquire private property by excess condemnation when the same shall be permitted by the constitution or laws of the state.
   4.   To erect and maintain buildings for municipal purposes, and provide by purchase, lease, condemnation, construction or otherwise, and to establish, own, equip, maintain, conduct and operate any and all buildings, establishments, institutions and places, whether situated inside or outside of the city limits, which are necessary or convenient for the transaction of public business, or for promoting the health, morals, education or welfare of the inhabitants of the city or for their benefit.
   5.   To acquire by purchase, condemnation or otherwise, and to establish, maintain, equip, own and operate waterworks, gas works, electric light, heat and power works, or any other works for the produc-tion of a public utility, within or without the city, and to supply therefrom or purchase and supply the city and its inhabitants and also persons, firms and corporations outside the city, with water, gas and electricity, and the product of any other public utility.
   6.   To acquire by purchase, lease, condemna-tion, construction or otherwise, and to establish, own, equip, maintain and operate telegraph, telephone, and telecommunications systems, cable, electric, steam, or other railways, and transportation service of any kind within or without the city.
   7.   To acquire by purchase, condemnation, construction, lease or otherwise, and to establish, maintain, equip, and operate tunnels and conduits through or under any street, right of way or any public property, for carrying wires, pipes, or other means of conduit, and to use or lease or rent to persons the use of such tunnels and conduits; provided, however, that the exclusive use of any tunnel or conduit shall never be leased or rented to any one person, firm or corporation unless by its nature the tunnel or conduit cannot be shared.
   8.   To sell, within or without the city, gas, water, electric current and any form of light, heat or power and all products of, or service by, any public utility conducted or operated by the city.
   9.   To acquire by purchase, condemnation or otherwise, such lands or other property within or without the city, as may be necessary or convenient for the establishment, maintenance and operation of any public utility or to provide for and effectuate any other public purpose, and to hold, use, improve, operate, control, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of the same for the benefit of the city.
   10.   To lease to persons, firms or corporations for the purpose of maintenance, operation or use, any public utility owned or controlled by the city, and to provide for the leasing of any lands now or hereafter owned by the city, except lands donated, purchased or used as public parks; provided, that any such lease for a term exceeding one year shall be made only to the highest responsible bidder, for a term not exceeding fifty years; and provided further, that the council may, at its discretion, reject any and all bids.*
   10a. Any real property owned by the City of Alhambra may be leased for the purpose of producing or effecting the production of minerals, oil, gas or other hydrocarbon substances for any term which at the time the lease is executed may be permitted by the General Laws of the State of California and all such leases heretofore executed by the City of Alhambra are hereby validated.**
   11.   To join with one or more other munici-palities or public corporations for the purpose of the acquisition, development, construction and joint ownership, operation, control or use, whether within or without, or partly within and partly without the city limits, of parks and public utilities of every kind, including a source or sources of water supply, water, or the use of water; works, property or appliances for the disposition or destruction of garbage, the disposi-tion and treatment of sewage or refuse matter, or the disposition of storm water, upon the terms and condi-tions and to the extent provided by a general law or by ordinance; to enter into contracts or agreements of any nature with persons, firms or corporations, to effectuate the purposes hereof, to incur bonded indebtedness for any of such purposes; provided that the city shall not so join for any such purposes without the assent of a majority of the qualified electors of the city voting on the question at a general or special election at which such question shall be submitted.
   12.   To acquire by purchase or lease from any municipal corporation contiguous thereto, water or the use of water, electricity or the use of electricity for light, heat or power, upon such terms and condi-tions, for such compensation and during such period of time as is now or may hereafter be prescribed by Charters or laws then in force; to enter into contracts or agreements of any nature to effectuate the acquisi-tion of or right to use water or electricity for any of said purposes, and the distribution, sale or disposal of such water or electricity; to acquire or construct, equip, maintain, operate and use a distributing system and works necessary to supply therefrom the city and its inhabitants and also persons, firms and corpora-tions outside the city with water or electricity for light, heat or power: and to incur bonded indebted-ness for any of said purposes.
   13.   To receive bequests, gifts and donations of lands in fee simple, in trust, or otherwise, and of all other kinds of property, for charitable or other uses, and to manage, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the same absolutely or in accordance with the terms of such bequest, gift, donation or trust, and to do whatever may be necessary to fulfill the purpose thereof.
   14.   To create, subject to the restrictions and limitations of the constitution and general laws of the State of California and of this Charter, indebtedness not to exceed in all fifteen per cent of the assessed valuation of all the real and personal property of the city, to pay the costs of municipal improvements, the acquisition of public utilities, or for any lawful purpose whatever, requiring an expenditure greater than the amount which can be appropriated for such purpose out of the annual tax levy.
   15.   To levy and collect taxes upon all property subject to taxation, for municipal purposes, subject to the provisions of this Charter, and to levy taxes exceeding the limit fixed by this Charter; provided, the proposition to make such levy shall have been authorized by two-thirds of the qualified electors voting thereon at a general or special election. At such election the council may be authorized in cases where public necessity requires the expenditure of any sum so voted before the next succeeding tax levy, to borrow such sum and provide in the next succeeding tax levy for its repayment with interest at not exceeding five per cent per annum. Or the council may be authorized to levy a special tax each year for a period of years not exceeding three years in all, for any permanent municipal improvement and the money so raised may be expended for such permanent municipal improvement each year after the same is collected and available.
   16.   To levy and collect, or cause to be levied and collected, assessments upon property according to frontage, or upon property in districts according to benefits, to pay for the opening, widening, vacating or improvement of streets, or for the construction in any public street, alley or other public place, or in any right of way owned by the city, of sewers, drains, water or gas mains, and lines and conduits, for transmitting electric current, and other pipes, mains, lines and conduits, or for other public improvement.
   17.   To sue and defend in all courts and places and in all actions and proceedings.
Editor's note:  
   *This subsection was amended by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 72, which was approved by the voters of the city at an election held June 7, 1966.
   **This subsection was added by Assembly Resolution No. 9, chapter 16, 1952.
   This section was amended by the voters of the city on March 26, 1996; and was further amended by the voters of the city on March 5, 2002.
SEC. 59A. POWER TO INCUR INDEBTEDNESS FOR OFF-STREET PARKING FACILITIES.
   The City of Alhambra, in addition to any other powers now or hereafter held by it, shall have the right and power to incur indebtedness to pay the cost of establishing, maintaining and operating public off-street parking facilities, consisting of public places or garages for the parking of automobiles, and all appropriate appurtenances and improvements related thereto, including all incidental costs, and to issue revenue bonds to evidence such indebtedness.
   The council shall provide by ordinance for the procedure and general terms and conditions under which such revenue bonds shall from time to time be sold and issued, and any other matters pertaining to such bonds.
   It shall also provide by ordinance with reference to each issue of such bonds, the amount and all of the particulars, terms and conditions thereof and of their sale and issuance, which shall be consistent with the procedure ordinance provided for in the preceding paragraph.
   The aggregate principal amount of bonds issued pursuant to this section shall not exceed two hundred thousand dollars unless the proposition of issuing such bonds in excess of said amount shall have been submitted to the electors of the city and shall have been approved by a majority of voters voting upon the proposition.
   Such bonds shall not constitute general obliga-tions of the city, but each issue thereof shall be payable solely from revenues specified in the proceedings for the issuance thereof which may include revenues of off-street parking facilities, whether provided out of the proceeds of such issue, or previously existing or thereafter to be established, and revenues from street-parking meters or other revenues not derived from taxation.
   Such bonds, and any interest coupons pertaining thereto, may be issued in negotiable form.
   Such bonds and coupons, and any other bonds and coupons issued by the city, shall be payable upon presentation, without the presentation and auditing of demands, or the drawing of warrants, provided for in sections 131 and 132 of this Charter.
   Whenever the council may deem that it will enhance the salability of any such bonds, or of any other bonds issued by the city, so to do, it may employ attorneys other than the city attorney to furnish an opinion as to the validity thereof or to render other services relating to the issuance of such bonds.
   Indebtedness created under this section shall not be included in determining the amount of indebted-ness which may be created pursuant to subsection 14 of section 59 of this Charter. (1951, A. C. Res. C. 211.)
SEC. 59B. POWERS TO INCUR INDEBTEDNESS RESTRICTED.
   The City of Alhambra shall be restricted from incurring, directly or indirectly, any indebtedness by reason of its power to enter into “Joint Powers Agreements” as authorized by Chapter 5, Division 7, Title-I (commencing with Section 6500) and any sections amendatory or supplementary thereto of the Government Code of the State of California, unless -
   1.   The aggregate principal amount of revenue bonds to be issued shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) unless the proposition of issuing such revenue bonds in excess of said amount shall have been submitted to the electors of the city and shall have been approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of voters voting upon the proposition at a prior General or Special Municipal Election;
   2.   Every Joint Powers Agreement presented to the electors for its consent shall recite, in detail, the specific projects to be financed;
   3.   Every Joint Powers Agreement presented to the electors for its consent shall recite a specific financial obligation limit (debt ceiling) to be committed, and, for which amount only (or lesser amount) the authorized revenue bonds shall be issued and sold. Said debt ceiling shall restrict the city from incurring additional indebtedness without the further consent of the electors as stated above per Subsection 1;
   4.   Such Joint Powers Agreement shall be with other entities for the purpose of providing liability insurance for the City of Alhambra against public liability for damages.
Editor's note: This section was added by Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 99, which was ratified by the qualified electors of the city June 2, 1979; and amended as approved by the voters of the city at a general municipal election held November 4, 1986. This section was further amended by the voters of the city on March 26, 1996.
SEC. 60 ELECTORS MAY ENACT LEGISLATION TO CARRY OUT POWERS OF CITY AND COUNCIL.
     The qualified electors of the city shall have power through the initiative or otherwise, as provided by this Charter and the general laws of the state, to enact appropriate legislation to carry out and enforce any of the general powers of the city or any of the specified powers of the council.
SEC. 61. COUNCIL TO EXERCISE GENERAL POWERS OF CITY; ADDITIONAL POWERS OF COUNCIL.
   Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, the council shall exercise all the general powers of the city herein set forth, and all powers now held by or that may hereafter be given to the city under the constitution or laws of the state; but only in the manner and under the conditions of this Charter, and subject to all its provisions.
   In addition to all such powers, the council, subject to the provisions and restrictions of this Charter, shall have power:
   1.   To make and pass all ordinances, resolutions and orders not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States or the State of California, or to the provisions of this Charter, necessary for the municipal government and the management of the affairs of the city, for the execution of the powers vested in the city, and for carrying into effect the provisions of this Charter, and shall exercise all municipal powers necessary to the complete and efficient management and control of the municipal property, and for the efficient administration of the municipal government, whether such powers be expressly enumerated herein or not.
   2.   To make and enforce within its limits, such local, police, sanitary and other regulations as are deemed expedient to maintain the public peace, protect property, promote the public morals and preserve the health of its inhabitants.
   3.   To provide a corporate seal, with appropriate device, to be affixed to all instruments or writings needing authentication.
   4.   To provide for the holding of municipal elections, give notice thereof, establish and alter election precincts, as provided in this Charter, and appoint necessary election officers.
   5.   To prescribe fines, forfeitures and penalties for the violation of any provisions of this Charter or of any ordinance; to make the violation of any of the city ordinances a misdemeanor or infraction and to prescribe the punishment thereof by fine or imprisonment, or by both fine and imprisonment; but no such penalty or punishment shall exceed for each offense, one thousand dollars or six months' imprisonment, or both.
   6.   To cause persons imprisoned for violation of any ordinance or of any provision of this Charter, to labor on the streets or other public property or works within or without the city.
   7.   To declare what shall constitute a nuisance and to provide for the summary abatement of the same at the expense of the person or persons creating, causing, committing or maintaining such nuisance, and all remedies which are or may be given by law, for the prevention and abatement of nuisances, shall apply thereto; to make such expense a lien and charge upon the property whereon such nuisance exists, and to make provision for the enforcement of such lien by the sale of such property or otherwise.
   8.   To organize, provide, maintain and operate police, fire and health divisions; erect necessary buildings and acquire all implements and apparatus necessary therefor, subject to the provisions of this Charter.
   9.   To establish, operate and maintain a fire alarm and police telegraph, telephone, or telecommunication system, and to manage and control the same, with the right to use the poles placed in the streets by public utility companies, whether such right has been set forth and reserved in their franchise or not.
   10.   To regulate or prohibit the manufacture, keeping, storage and use of gun cotton, nitro-glycerine, powder, dynamite, fireworks and other explosive materials and substances within the limits of the city, or any specified part thereof.
   11.   To regulate the storage of hay, straw, gasoline, benzine, oil and other inflammable and combustible materials.
   12.   To regulate the use of steam engines, gas engines, steam boilers, electric motors and all other means of generating heat or power, and to prohibit their use in localities where in the judgment of the council the public health, comfort, or safety would be endangered, and to provide for the examination and licensing of all persons engaged in operating the same.
   13.   To prescribe fire limits and determine the character and height of buildings that may be erected therein and the nature of the materials to be used in the construction, alteration or repair of such buildings or in the repair or alteration of existing buildings within such fire limits.
   14.   To regulate the construction of and the materials used in all buildings, chimneys, stacks, scaffolding, staging, false work and other structures; to prevent the erection and maintenance of insecure or unsafe buildings, walls, chimneys, stacks or other structures, and to provide for their summary abate-ment or destruction: to regulate the materials used in and the method of construction of foundations and foundation walls, the manner of construction and location of drains and sewers, the materials and methods used in wiring buildings or other structures for the use of electricity for lighting, power, heat and other purposes, and materials and methods used for piping buildings or other structures for the purpose of supplying the same with water, steam, oil or gas, and the manner of so doing; to regulate and prescribe all methods and materials used for the plumbing of all buildings and to prohibit the construction of buildings and structures which do not conform to such regula-tions.
   15.   To require the owners and lessees of buildings or other structures to place upon them or in them fire escapes and appliances for protection against fire and for the extinguishment of fires.
   16.   To prevent the construction and to cause the removal of dangerous chimneys, fireplaces, hearths, stoves, stove pipes, ovens, boilers, apparatus and machinery used or existing in any building or place in the city; to regulate the carrying on of manu-factories liable to cause fire; to prevent the depositing of ashes, the accumulation of shavings, rubbish, or any combustible or explosive material in unsafe places, and to make other provisions to guard against fires.
   17.   To regulate the size, position and construc-tion of entrance to and exits from, and the size and position of aisles, open places and stairways in all theaters, lecture rooms, halls, schools, churches, and other places for public gatherings of every kind, and to prohibit the placing of seats, chairs, benches or other obstructions in the hallways, aisles or open places therein.
   18.   Repealed.
   19.   To provide for the naming of streets and the numbering of houses; to regulate or prohibit the exhibition, posting or carrying of banners, placards, or advertisements, and the distribution of handbills in the streets, sidewalks, or other public places; regulate or prohibit the flying of banners, flags or signs across the street or from buildings; to regulate or prohibit traffic and sales in the streets and public places; to prevent encroachments upon or obstructions in the streets and to require their removal; to regulate street speaking and gatherings; to regulate all public meetings and gatherings, parades and processions in the streets or parks, and to determine what public meetings, gatherings, parades or processions upon the streets or parks shall be unlawful and to declare the same nuisances.
   20.   To require owners of real property in the city to remove grass, weeds, rubbish or other obstruc-tions from the public sidewalks, parkings, streets and alleys in front thereof, or upon which said property abuts, and upon their default, to cause such work to be done, and the cost thereof to be made a lien and charge upon any such real property, and to make provisions for the enforcement of such lien by the sale of such property or otherwise.
   21.   To require or provide by ordinance for the removal from property, lands or lots, of all weeds, rubbish or any other material which may endanger or injure neighboring property, or the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the vicinity, and to make the cost thereof a lien and charge upon such property, lots or lands, and to make provision for the enforce-ment of such lien by the sale of such property, lots or lands, or otherwise.
   22.   To require by ordinance the owners of real property fronting upon any street, lane, alley, or other public place in which there are, or in which it is proposed to construct sewers, water or gas mains, or other mains or conduits, to connect their several premises therewith or to cause such connection to be made and to make the cost thereof a lien and charge upon the property so connected, and to make provi-sion for the enforcement of such lien by the sale of such property, or otherwise.
   23.   Except as otherwise provided in this Charter or in the constitution of the State of California, to regulate and control for any and every purpose, the use of streets, lanes, alleys, courts, and sidewalks, and other public places, in the city.
   24.   To regulate, license or prohibit the construc-tion and use of billboards and signs on public or private property.
   25.   To regulate and prevent the running at large of any animals; to provide for the destruction of vicious dogs; to require the payment of license fees by owners or persons having possession of dogs; to impose penalties upon such persons for refusing to pay such license fees, and to establish and maintain a pound and authorize the destruction or other disposi-tion of any animals running at large.
   26.   To prohibit and punish cruelty to animals and to require the places where they are kept to be maintained in clean and healthful condition.
   27.   Repealed.
   28.   To regulate the maintenance of chemical works, slaughterhouses, washhouses, laundries, stables, tanneries, glue factories, garages, planing mills, foundaries, boiler shops, undertaking establish-ments and business of every description that may endanger the public safety, health or comfort, and to restrict the conduct thereof to such fixed limits as may seem proper, or to exclude such works and business from the city; to make and enforce regula-tions for the suppression of disagreeable or offensive noises or odors; and to provide for the punishment of all persons violating such regulations, and of all persons who knowingly permit the same to be violated in any building or upon any premises owned or controlled by them.
   29.   To provide for and regulate the inspection of all things used for food and drink or for human consumption, stored, manufactured, sold, given away, or exchanged in the city and to provide for taking and summarily destroying any such products as are unsound, spoiled, adulterated or unwholesome, and to regulate and prevent bringing into the city or having or keeping within the city any such unsound, spoiled, adulterated or unwholesome products.
   30.   Repealed.
   31.   To regulate hotels, lodging, tenement and apartment houses, and to prevent the overcrowding of the same, and to require that they be put and kept in proper sanitary condition.
   32.   To regulate or prohibit the construction, repair and use of sewers, sinks, gutters, wells, cesspools and vaults, and to compel the connecting, draining, cleaning or emptying of the same, and to designate the time and manner in which the work of draining, cleaning or emptying the same shall be done.
   33.   To provide for the collection and disposal of garbage, ashes, animal and vegetable refuse, dead animals, animal offal, rubbish and waste matter.
   34.   To license for purposes of regulations and revenue all and every kind of business not prohibited by law, ordinance or this Charter, to be transacted or carried on in the city; to fix the rate of licenses upon the same, and to provide for the collection thereof by suit or otherwise.
   35.   To establish stands for hacks, public carriages, automobiles, express wagons and other public vehicles for hire, and regulate the charges of such hacks, public carriages, automobiles, express wagons and other public vehicles, and to require schedules of such charges to be conspicuously posted in or upon such public vehicles, and to provide penalties for collecting charges in excess of such schedules.
   36.   Repealed.
   37.   To regulate the use, distribution, quality, pressure, and sale of water, gas, electric light, heat, power and other light, heat and power within the city; to fix and determine the price thereof, and to provide for the inspection and connection of all meters used in the measurements of said commodities.
   38.   To license, regulate, restrain or prohibit all exhibitions, public shows, games and amusements; to prevent and prohibit all descriptions of gambling or fraudulent devices, and practices; all playing of cards, dice, or other games of chance for the purpose of gambling; the keeping or operating of card machines, slot machines or other contrivances upon or into which money is staked, hazarded, deposited or paid upon chance, and the selling of pools on races, and to authorize the confiscation and destruction of all instruments used for the purpose of gambling.
   39.   To restrain and punish vagrants, mendicants, lewd persons and prostitutes; to prevent and punish drunkenness, prize fights, vagrancy, mendicancy, prostitution, and all offensive, immoral, indecent and disorderly conduct and practices in the city.
   40.   To levy and collect taxes upon all real and personal property within the city, subject to the limitations elsewhere in this Charter provided.
   41.   To provide for the repayment by the director of finance of any taxes, percentages or costs erroneously or illegally collected.*
   42.   To fix the fees and charges for all official services not otherwise provided for in this Charter.
   43.   To provide an urgent necessity fund, to be expended by or under the direction of the mayor.
   44.   To provide for the purchase of property levied upon or sold under execution in favor of the city, but the amount bid on such purchase shall not exceed the amount of judgment, interest, if any, and costs.
   45.   To provide for the sale at public auction upon five days' published notice or by notice posted in three public places in the City of Alhambra, for a period of five days, of personal property unfit or unnecessary for the city; provided, that personal property of less than one hundred dollars valuation may be sold at private sale without notice; provided further, that if the provisions of Section 135 of this Charter shall have been complied with as to the execution of a contract or the purchase of personal property by the city, personal property unfit or unnecessary for the use of the city may be traded in as part payment on account of the purchase of similar new personal property, without any requirement of auction, notice or separate bid.**
   46.   To provide for the execution of all trusts confided to the city.
   47.   To offer rewards for the apprehension and conviction of any person who commits a felony in the city, and to authorize the payment thereof.
   48.   To provide by ordinance for the planting, maintenance, or care of shade and ornamental trees in streets and other public places, and for the removal of unsightly and dead trees therefrom; to make the cost thereof a lien and charge upon the abutting property, and to make provision for the enforcement of such lien, and upon a petition of the owners of the majority of the frontage abutting upon any street or part thereof, by ordinance to require, or provide, or adopt general laws or laws for the planting, maintenance, or care of grass plots between the sidewalk and roadway in such street or part thereof, and to make the cost thereof a lien and charge upon the abutting property, and to make provision for the enforcement of such liens by the sale of property or otherwise.
   49.   To establish or change the grade of any street or public place.
   50.   To order the whole or any part of any street, avenue, lane, alley, court or public place within the City of Alhambra to be graded or regraded to the official grade, planked or replanked, paved or repaved, macadamized or remacadamized, graveled or regraveled, piled or repiled, capped or recapped, sewered or resewered, and to order sidewalks, man-holes, culverts, cesspools, gutters, tunnels, curbing and crosswalks to be constructed therein or thereon, and to order levees or walls of rock or other material to protect the same and also any other work or improvement therein or thereon, and also to order drainage or sanitary sewers or storm water sewers to be constructed on or through private property.
   Whenever in the judgment of the council, the cost and expense of any of the foregoing improvements should be paid in whole or in part by special assessments on private property under the provisions of the general laws of the State of California then in force, such general laws shall thereupon govern and control, and all proceedings for such improvements shall be in conformity thereto.
   51.   To order the opening, extending, widening, vacating, straightening or closing in whole or in part of any street, lane, alley, court, or public place within the city, and to condemn and acquire any and all property necessary or convenient for that purpose.
   Whenever, in the judgment of the council, the cost and expense of any of the foregoing improvements should be paid in whole or in part by special assessments on private property under the provisions of the general laws of the State of California then in force, such general laws shall thereupon govern and control, and all proceedings for such improvements shall be in conformity thereto.
   52.   Whenever in the judgment of the council public necessity requires, to require by ordinance any person, firm or corporation operating a public utility within said city for the distribution and furnishing of water, gas or electricity to construct, maintain and operate in or along any street, lane, alley or public place in said city, mains, pipe lines or conduits for the carriage and distribution of water, gas, or electricity, including suitable lateral pipes or conduits extending from the main pipes or conduits to the property lines of each lot fronting on said street or other public place, to carry water, gas or electricity to said property and to require the entire cost and expense of such construction to be borne and paid by the person, firm or corporation operating such public utility, and also to require such person, firm or corporation to furnish and maintain service of the product of such public utility through said mains, pipes or conduits and the council shall have all remedies for the enforcement of the provisions of this section.
   53.   To set apart as a boulevard or boulevards any street or streets over which there is no existing franchise for any railroad and to regulate and prevent heavy teaming thereon; and when any such street shall have been set aside as a boulevard, no franchise for a railroad, interurban railway or street railway of any kind shall be granted upon such boulevard and no railroad track of any kind shall ever be laid thereon, except to cross the same, unless a franchise therefor shall have been duly granted by vote of the people.
   54.   To construct, establish and maintain drains and sewers; to build and repair bridges.
   55.   To prohibit the diversion or drainage into a public sewer of any refuse or waste material from gas works, chemical works or refineries or other sources destructive to the use of sewer pipe or conduit, and to prohibit the diversion or drainage into any public sewer of any matter that will render the sewage unfit for irrigation.
   56.   To prescribe sewerage districts, and to require and compel the owners of all buildings and dwellings situated within such districts to connect the same with the city sewer system and in case of default on the part of such owners to cause such work to be done and the cost thereof to be made a lien and charge against such property and to provide for the enforcement of such lien.
   57.   To form, out of any territory within said city, storm water districts, and provide that the real estate in each district so formed be assessed to pay the expenses of constructing storm drains and acquiring rights of way therefor, for the purpose of diverting, conducting and caring for storm water and protecting property therein from injury therefrom; provided no such district shall be formed if a protest, signed by the owners of two thirds in assessed value of all the real property in such proposed district as it appears on the last equalized assessment roll as assessed for city purposes be filed before the final passage of the resolution or ordinance providing for the formation thereof, provided notice of such proposed passage must be published once in each week for three weeks prior thereto.
   58.   To provide for the lighting of streets, alleys, highways, public places and public buildings and for supplying the city with water for municipal purposes.
   59.   Repealed.
   60.   Repealed.
   61.   To require any person, firm or corporation, exercising or enjoying any franchise, permit, or privilege in, over, under, or along any of the streets, highways, or public places in the city for railway purposes, to sprinkle, clean, plank, or replank, pave or repave, macadamize or remacadamize the entire length of the street, highway or other public place used by the track or tracks of said railway, and between the rails, and for two feet on each side thereof, and between the tracks, if there be more than one, and to keep the same constantly in repair, flush with the street, and with good crossings, and to require such street work to be done with such kind of materials and in such manner as the council may by ordinance direct at the same time and as a part of the same operation as the work on the remainder in width of said street, highway or other public place, to the satisfaction of the superintendent of streets.
   62.   To permit the laying of spur or side tracks and running cars thereon for the purpose of con-necting warehouse, manufactories or other business industries and enterprises with any line of railroads, which do now or may hereafter enter the city, subject to such regulations and conditions as may be prescribed from time to time by the council, to be used for the transportation of freight only and not to be used as a main line or a part thereof, and also for the purpose of excavating or filling in a street or portion of a street or adjoining land during such limited time as may be necessary for such purpose and no longer. Such tracks must be laid level with the street and must be operated under such restrictions as not to interfere with the use of the streets by the public. All permits granted under the provisions of this subdivision shall be revocable at the pleasure of the council.
   63.   To cause the removal and placing under-ground of all telephone, telegraph, telecommunication, electric light or other wires within the city, or within any designated portion thereof, and to regulate or prohibit the placing of poles and suspending of wires along or across any of the streets, alleys, highways and public places in the city and to cause the immediate removal of all anchor posts or anchor wires or any other device now existing for bracing poles, and to prevent the placing of any such devices in the future.
   64.   To regulate the quality, size and location of all water pipes, gas pipes, mains, fire plugs and all other pipes and conduits laid or constructed in the streets or public places, provide for and regulate the construction, maintenance and repair of pipes, hydrants, fire plugs, cisterns, pumps and such other appliances as may be requisite to effect the distribu-tion of water and gas in the city, and to require the filing of charts and maps showing the size, character and location of such pipes, hydrants, fire plugs, cisterns and conduits.
   65.   To provide by ordinance a fund from which the expenses of all necessary matters of public entertainment and advertisement shall be met.
   66.   To provide a suitable procedure for taking over or otherwise acquiring municipal ownership of public utilities.
   67.   Lastly, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter, the council shall have the power to legislate over any municipal affair, subject to the limitations of the United States and California Constitutions, and in the absence of any such legisla-tion or provision of this Charter governing any such municipal affair, the general law of this State, where not inconsistent with any express provisions of this Charter, shall prevail until such time as legislation is adopted by the council or amendments to this Charter are made governing such municipal affair.
Editor's note:  
   *This subsection was amended by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 72, which was approved by the voters of the city at an election held June 7, 1966.
   **This subsection was amended by Stats. 1938, p. 151, and by Resolution 23241 of the Alhambra City Council which was approved by the voters of the city at an election held June 4, 1963.
   This section was amended by the voters of the city on March 26, 1996; and was further amended by the voters of the city on March 5, 2002.