Hearings for the Formation of Harbor Districts

Division 8, Part 3, Chapter 1, Article 2 of the Harbors and Navigation Code deals with hearings related to the formation of harbor districts.

Section 6020 provides that, at the time and place specified in the notice, the board of supervisors is required to consider the petition and may continue the hearing from time to time, not exceeding a period of 90 days. At the hearing by the board of supervisors, a certificate issued by the assessor of the county and filed with the clerk of the board of supervisors in the proceedings stating that the name of any signer of the petition appears upon the last equalized assessment roll of the county for land assessed to that signer and located within the boundaries of the proposed district, is prima facie evidence that the signer is a freeholder within the proposed district.

Section 6021 states that, at the hearing, the board of supervisors may change the exterior boundaries of the proposed district, as set forth in the petition, by excluding lands which would not be benefited by the improvement or development of the harbor.

Section 6022 specifies that land may not be added to or included in the proposed district until notice is served upon the owner of the lands affected. The notice must contained specified information.

Section 6023 requires the board of supervisors to investigate and determine whether or not the improvement and development work generally described in the petition is feasible and whether, when completed, it will result in the improvement and development of the harbor and become a benefit to the property within the district.

Section 6024 requires, upon the completion of the hearing, the board of supervisors to have a finding of facts entered upon the minutes if four circumstances are met.

Section 6025 specifies that the findings of fact required to be made by the board of supervisors must set forth three specified items.

Section 6026 provides that the findings are conclusive evidence of the existence of every fact so found by the board of supervisors and of the due signing and publication of the petition and of the publication or personal service of all notices and vest the board of supervisors with authority to proceed pursuant to this part.