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PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
Title 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title 2 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE*
Title 3 RESERVED
Title 4 BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS*
Title 5 HEALTH AND SANITATION*
Title 6 ANIMALS
Title 7 RESERVED
Title 8 TREES AND VEGETATION
Title 9 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY*
Title 10 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC*
Title 11 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
Title 12 PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Title 13 IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE*
Title 14 RESERVED
Title 15 FIRE PREVENTION*
Title 16 BUILDING REGULATIONS*
Title 17 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE*
Title 18 ZONING*
Title 19 MASTER PLAN*
Title 20 PRECISE PLANS*
Title 21 SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND*
Title 22 PARKS*
ORDINANCE LIST AND DISPOSITION TABLE
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13.16.070   Charges for collection costs.
   In lieu of any provisions of the law relating thereto, the city in posting assessments to the tax roll when collected thereon may add to the amount of each principal and interest installment the sum of not to exceed one dollar to cover the costs and expenses incurred by the city in the levy and collection of said installments. This section shall not apply to the collection of unposted or unbilled installments paid before their maturity.
(Ord. 2277 (part), 1966: prior code § 40.501(o))
13.16.080   Division of assessments.
   In lieu of the procedure provided in Sections 13.16.110 and 13.16.130 for the division of assessments, said assessments may be divided upon the written application of the property owner affected in the manner provided in the Revenue and Taxation Code for the division of taxes; provided, however, that any such application shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in the municipal fee schedule if the original lot has been divided into two parcels, or a fee as set forth in the municipal fee schedule for each if the original lot has been divided into three or more parcels, plus county recording fees.
(Ord. 2960 § 49, 1976: Ord. 2768 § 1, 1974: Ord. 2277 (part), 1966: prior code § 40.501(p))
13.16.090   Distribution of surplus remaining in redemption fund.
   In the event of a surplus remaining in the redemption fund after payment of all bonds issued under any plan mentioned in this chapter and the interest thereon, for retirement of which such fund was established, such surplus, subject to any other special provision therefor in this chapter, shall be applied first to repayment to the city of any balance due it for contributions and advances which it may have made to the redemption fund and of any special taxes which it may have levied in aid thereof other than any regular taxes levied to retire any such bonds, and also of any moneys due it for costs incurred or charges allowed, together with interest on such sums at the rate mentioned in said bonds. The excess, if any, shall be paid into the general fund of the city.
(Ord. 2277 (part), 1966: prior code § 40.501(q))
13.16.100   Bond plan A - Lot bonds.
   (a)   Powers. When bonds are issued pursuant to this plan, the bond provisions of the Improvement Act of 1911 shall apply.
   (b)   Interest. When the assessment is levied under Section 13.12.020, interest shall run from the date of filing the list of unpaid assessments. Otherwise, interest shall run from a date to be determined by the council.
   (c)   Assessments under Fifty Dollars. As an alternative method for the collection of such assessments which are of an amount less than fifty dollars, proceedings may be had in accordance with the alternative provisions of Section 13.12.020.
(Ord. 2277 (part), 1966: prior code § 40.502)
13.16.110   Bond plan B - District bonds.
   (a)   Powers. Where bonds are issued pursuant to this plan, the Improvement Bond Act of 1915 shall apply.
   (b)   Assessments under Fifty Dollars. Bonds may be issued in the total amount of all assessments in amounts of less than fifty dollars which are unpaid at such time, to mature at the same time as the maturity of the first series of such serial bonds, and which assessments shall become due and payable at the same time as that portion of the larger assessments which has been collected for the payment of the first series of the serial bonds and the interest thereon.
   (c)   Unpaid List. The list of unpaid assessments filed with the city treasurer by the street superintendent shall separately state in such list the total of the assessments which are of fifty dollars or over in amount, and the assessments which are under fifty dollars in amount.
   (d)   Denominations. Bonds for the amount of the assessments which are not an even multiple of not less than one hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars may be made to mature at the same time as the first series of bonds.
   (e)   Payment of Assessments after Bonds Issued. After the bonds are issued, the assessment on any parcel may be paid in advance in the manner provided in the 1915 Act by paying to the treasurer the unpaid balance of principal, plus one year's interest, plus five percent of the unpaid principal amount of the assessment, plus ten dollars for the cost of publication of notice of call. The person paying shall not be entitled to any refund.
   (f)   Calling Bonds. When sufficient surplus moneys are in the redemption fund with which to call a bond, the treasurer shall call and retire a bond in the manner provided in the 1915 Act; provided, that the notice need only be given for a period of thirty days.
(Ord. 2277 (part), 1966: prior code § 40.503)
13.16.120   Bond plan C - District liability bonds.
   (a)   Powers. When bonds are issued pursuant to this plan, the provisions of Section 13.16.110 shall apply, except as provided in this section.
   (b)   Bond Form. Appropriate changes shall be made in the form of the bonds to show that they have been issued for a public improvement or acquisition pursuant to this chapter.
   (c)   Supplemental Advances. The provisions of the Improvement Bond Act of 1915 which require the city to advance, as a loan to the bond redemption fund from available surplus funds, the amount of any delinquent installment of principal, interest and penalties thereon shall not be mandatory and shall not be enforceable.
   (d)   Supplemental Levies. The provisions of the 1915 Act which require that the city shall cause to be levied a special tax of not to exceed ten cents on the one hundred dollars of taxable property in the city shall be restricted to the taxable property within the assessment district created in the proceedings or other district deemed benefited thereby and described in the resolution of intention, and shall not be enforceable against the city as a whole.
   (e)   Advance Payment and Calling Bonds. Subsections (e) and (f) of Section 13.16.110, shall apply to this section.
(Ord. 2277 (part), 1966: prior code § 40.504)
13.16.130   Bond plan D - Ad valorem land bonds.
   (a)   Powers. There is hereby vested in the council the power to issue serial ad valorem land bonds upon any district created under this title.
   (b)   Assessment District. The proposed district shall be described in the resolution of intention and established as provided in the section of Chapter 13.12 pursuant to which said proceedings are had.
   (c)   Improvement Bonds. If said proceedings are had pursuant to Section 13.12.020 hereof, then upon completion of the work, the person appointed by the council to be in charge of the work shall prepare and file with the council a declaration that the work has been completed according to the contract therefor, together with an itemized statement of the cost of such work and of the expenses incidental to said proceedings, estimated to the conclusion of said proceedings. The amount of any contribution shall be stated therein as well as the balance for which bonds are to be issued. When the bonds have been issued they shall be delivered to the contractor upon his paying to the city any moneys due it for incidental expenses as stated in the declaration. The council may provide in the resolution of intention that the contractor shall be paid in cash from advances to be made to said project or from the proceeds of the sale of the bonds, in which event the bonds shall be issued as provided for the issuance of acquisition bonds.
   (d)   Acquisition Bonds. If the proceedings are had pursuant to Section 13.12.030, then upon the entry of all interlocutory judgments in any eminent domain proceedings brought pursuant thereto, proceedings shall be had substantially as provided herein for the issuance of improvement bonds. The bonds shall be sold by the council and the proceeds shall be used to pay the costs and expenses of the project.
   (e)   Municipal Improvement District Bonds. If proceedings are had pursuant to Section 13.12.040, then in the resolution ordering the acquisitions or improvements the council shall determine the estimated cost of said acquisitions and improvements and of the expenses incidental thereto, and the total estimated amount of the bonds to be issued. The bonds shall be issued and sold and the proceeds shall be used to pay the costs and expenses of the project.
   (f)   Possession Bonds. If assessment proceedings are had pursuant to Sections 13.12.030 and 13.12.040, and proceedings shall be had for the taking of immediate possession of the property to be acquired, then the person in charge of said proposed acquisitions shall prepare and file with the city an estimate of the amount of money necessary to be deposited in court for immediate possession, and proceedings shall be had for the issuance and sale of bonds therefor as provided for the issuance of acquisition bonds. In such event the council shall issue only such amount of additional bonds as is necessary to provide for the additional costs of said project and the proceeds of the possession bonds shall be finally used to apply to the cost of the acquisitions and improvements and expenses incidental thereto.
   (g)   Notice of Hearing. The clerk shall give notice of a time and place of hearing on the declaration filed in relation to the issuance of any bonds to be issued other than pursuant to Section 13.12.040. Such notice shall be published.
   (h)   Form of Notice. The notice shall refer to the resolution of intention in the proceedings for identification, for a description of the work to be done or acquisitions or improvements to be had and for the boundaries of the assessment district, and notice shall be given therein to all persons interested that it is proposed to hear the report and issue bonds pursuant to this section, and any person feeling aggrieved by any act or determination done or made in said proceedings or claiming that any previous acts or proceedings were irregular, defective, erroneous or faulty, or claiming that the work or improvement has not been performed according to the contract in a good and substantial manner, or claiming that any potion of the work or improvement for any reason was omitted or illegally included in the contract, or having any objections or reasons why bonds should not be issued in the amount set forth in the declaration and statement on file, may appear before the council at the time and place so fixed by it and be heard.
   (i)   Hearing. All objections shall be made in writing and signed by the protestant and any grounds not stated therein and filed at or before the time fixed for hearing shall be deemed waived. The contractor or his assigns, and any other person or persons interested in said matter, may appear and be heard upon any of the matters referred to in said notice. The council may confirm, amend, alter, modify or correct the report in such manner as it shall deem just, and require the work to be completed according to its directions or those of the person designated by it therefor.
   (j)   Issuance of Bonds. In the council's final order upon the hearing, or in the resolution ordering the acquisitions or improvements when the proceedings are had pursuant to Section 13.12.040, the council shall by resolution order the issuance of bonds. The resolution shall state the total principal amount thereof, and the amount to mature in each year during their term. The first maturity of the bonds may be postponed for a period not beyond July second on the fifth calendar year following their date. The bonds may be made to mature on July second over a period not to exceed forty years from their date.
   (k)   Bonds, Form and Execution. The bonds shall be in such form, shall be executed by the officers, and shall be made payable at the place or places within or without the state as the council shall determine. The bonds shall be negotiable in form and be payable to bearer.
   (l)   Issues - Series - Divisions. An issue of bonds shall constitute all of the bonds issued pursuant to a resolution of intention. Each issue shall be given a serial designation. The council may, in its discretion, divide the issue into two or more divisions and fix different dates for the bonds of each division, in which event the bonds of each division shall be made payable at such time or times as the council shall determine. Possession bonds shall constitute a division of an issue. All bonds of any issue shall have equal priority.
   (m)   Callable Bonds. Bonds are not subject to call or redemption prior to their fixed maturity date unless the right to exercise the call is expressly stated on the face of the bonds. Provision may be made therein for a premium on call.
   (n)   Supplemental Bonds. If the proceeds of the bonds for any reason are less than the cost of the acquisitions and improvements and expenses incidental thereto, additional bonds may be issued by filing with the clerk a declaration or statement of the amount necessary therefor and by giving notice and holding a hearing and determining the amount of bonds to be issued therefor as provided herein for the issuance of bonds upon declaration, notice and hearing. The bonds shall be deemed a division of the bonds of the main issue.
   (o)   Interest. Semi-annual interest coupons shall be attached to said bonds and be made payable on the second days of January and July of each year, excepting that the first coupon shall be for interest from their date to the second day of January next succeeding four months after the date of such bonds. Provision may be made for the payment of interest from the proceeds of the sale of the bonds for the period of acquisition and construction of the project and for one year thereafter. If upon presentation at maturity payment of any bond is not made as herein provided, interest shall continue at the same rate until the principal is paid in full.
   (p)   Ad Valorem Tax. For each district in which an issue of bonds has been had pursuant hereto the council shall annually, until all of the bonds and interest thereon have been paid in full, at the time of levying the taxes for general city purposes, levy an ad valorem assessment upon all lands within said district except publicly owned property, which levy shall be in an amount clearly sufficient, together with any moneys which are or may be in the redemption fund and after making adequate allowance for estimated delinquencies to pay all of the principal of and interest on said bonds which shall become payable before the proceeds of another such levy shall be available therefor.
   (q)   Id. - Method of Collection. Said special assessment levy shall be levied and collected upon the last equalized secured and utility tax rolls upon which general city taxes are collected. It shall be in addition to all other taxes levied for general city purposes, and shall be levied, computed, entered, collected and enforced in the same manner and by the same persons and at the same time, and with the same penalties and interest, as are other taxes for city purposes, and all laws applicable to the levy, collection and enforcement of taxes for city purposes are hereby made applicable to said special assessment levy, and be subject to redemption within one year from the date of sale in the same manner as such real property is redeemed from the sale for general city taxes, and if not redeemed shall in like manner pass to the purchaser.
   (r)   Contributions. The council may annually, at or prior to the time the levy is made, or at such other time as it shall determine, transfer to the redemption fund of said bonds such amount or amounts as it shall determine.
   (s)   Zones. If, in the judgment of the council conducting the proceedings, varying benefits to be derived by the different parcels of land lying within the assessment district so require, the district may be divided into zones according to benefits. The district may be divided into as many zones - up to the total number of parcels of land in the district - as may be deemed necessary, and each zone shall be composed of and include all the lands within the district which will be benefited in like measure. The council shall also determine the percentage of the sum to be raised each year by the levy and collection of the special assessment taxes in the district for the payments on the principal and interest of the bonds, which will be raised from the lands in each zone. Each zone shall be designated by a different letter or number and shall be plainly shown on the map or plat of the assessment district filed in the office of the city clerk and referred to in the resolution of intention, either by separate boundaries, coloring or other convenient and graphic method, so that all persons interested may with accuracy ascertain within which zone any parcel of land is located. It shall be sufficient in all cases where the assessment district is to be divided into such zones according to benefits if the resolution of intention states that fact and refers to the plat or map for the boundaries and all details concerning the zones.
   (t)   Validity of Bonds and Tax Rate. All bonds issued and all taxes levied and collected pursuant to the provisions of this section shall by their issuance be conclusive evidence of the regularity, validity and legal sufficiency of all proceedings, acts and determinations in anywise pertaining thereto, and after the same are issued no tax levied or collected for the purpose of paying the principal or interest on said bonds shall be held invalid or illegal, or set aside by reason of any error, informality, irregularity, omission or defect in the proceedings, not amounting to a want of due process of law.
   (u)   Issuance of New Bonds when Proceedings for Bonds Irregular. When any court of competent jurisdiction determines that any contract purporting to have been made, or any proceedings, steps or actions purporting to have been taken, or any bond or bonds issued, or any levy of assessment made, under this section, is or are void, invalid or unenforceable for any reason, or shall for any cause enjoin the issuance of any bonds proposed to be issued under said code, said court shall also determine that new bonds shall be issued in the place thereof. The council may also order the issuance of new bonds when it determines the existence of such voidness, invalidity or unenforceability. In such event the council shall cause a declaration to be filed which shall state the amount of any work performed, improvements made, acquisitions had, and the expenses incidental thereto, and the estimated cost of any to be had. The declaration shall be noticed and heard and new bonds issued as herein provided for acquisition bonds.
   (v)   Maintenance. An annual assessment may be levied for maintenance and/or operation of the facilities acquired or constructed with the proceeds of the bonds in the manner provided in Section 13.16.130.
   (w)   Alteration of Boundaries. The boundaries of the assessment district may be enlarged at any time in the manner provided in Section 13.16.130.
   (x)   Supplemental Remedies. The supplemental security and remedy provisions of Part 13 (commencing at Section 8800) of Division 10 of the Streets and Highways Code shall apply. This section is adopted pursuant to Section 43240 of the Government Code.
   (y)   Election. No assessment district shall be formed nor any bonds issued nor assessments levied under this section unless and until such formation and levy have been approved by majority vote of the qualified voters of the assessment district in the manner herein provided. The election shall be called and conducted in the manner provided in Article 6, commencing with Section 2285, of Chapter 3 of Part 4 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California, except that:
   (1)   If there are less than twelve registered voters, as defined in the Elections Code, residing within the assessment district, the proposition submitted at the election shall be approved by majority vote of both registered voters and landowners as defined in Section 2285 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (2)   The election shall be conducted by the city clerk in the manner provided for general city elections.
   (3)   The election may be held at any time not less than thirty nor more than sixty days after the call of the election by the council.
(Ord. 2798 § 6, 1974: Ord. 2402 (part), 1968: Ord. 2277 (part), 1966: prior code § 40.505)
13.16.140   Bond plan E - Ad valorem realty bonds.
   (a)   Powers. There is vested in the council the power to issue serial ad valorem realty bonds upon any district created in this title.
   (b)   Ad Valorem Assessment. The annual ad valorem assessment to be levied therein shall be upon all lands and improvements within the assessment district excepting publicly owned property.
   (c)   Procedure. Except as in this section otherwise provided, all of the provisions of Section 13.16.130 shall apply.
(Ord. 2277 (part), 1966: prior code § 40.506)
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