Chapter 1The County Road System
Section § 2004.5
This law says that if a city hasn't had an election for city officers in the last 10 years, the streets in that city will become part of the county's road system.
Section § 2006
Every county in California must have a road commissioner appointed by the board of supervisors who is a registered civil engineer, except in San Francisco, where this requirement doesn't apply. However, those appointed before the end of 1965 don't need to be engineers if deemed competent. Public hearings are required before appointing a road commissioner, with proper notice given to the community. The appointee works under the board's oversight and can be fired after a hearing with a majority board vote.
Counties must prove they've followed these rules to the Controller to receive state highway tax funds. Payments from these funds are withheld if a county doesn't comply, but if there's a vacancy, they have 180 days to fill it, as long as someone temporarily steps into the role.
Section § 2006.1
This law says that a county's board of supervisors can get rid of the road commissioner position if they give all the road commissioner's duties to the county director of transportation. The director doesn't need any special permits or licenses. However, any engineering work that the road commissioner used to do must be handled by a registered civil engineer working for the director.
Section § 2006.2
This law allows the Merced County Board of Supervisors to eliminate the position of road commissioner by assigning all related duties to the county director of public works. The director doesn't need any special licenses. If there are civil engineering tasks involved, they must be done by a registered civil engineer under the director's supervision.
Section § 2006.3
The law allows the Board of Supervisors in Colusa County to eliminate the position of road commissioner. They can do this if they move all the commissioner’s responsibilities to the county's public works director. The director doesn’t need special permits or licenses. However, any required civil engineering tasks must still be done by a registered civil engineer working under the director.
Section § 2006.4
This law allows the Board of Supervisors in Glenn County to eliminate the road commissioner position if they give all the duties of that role to the county director of public works. The director doesn’t need any special permits or licenses. However, any civil engineering tasks must still be handled by a registered civil engineer working under this director.
Section § 2006.5
The Board of Supervisors in Orange County can eliminate the position of road commissioner if they reassign the commissioner's duties to an environmental management agency. The person leading this agency won't need any special licenses or permits. However, any civil engineering work previously done by the road commissioner must be carried out by a licensed civil engineer who works for the agency.
This law is specific to Orange County due to its unique challenges in managing county roads because of the high number of incorporated cities within the county.
Section § 2006.6
The County of Siskiyou's Board of Supervisors can eliminate the role of road commissioner if they assign all the duties to the county's public works director. The new director doesn't need any special license or permit to take on these responsibilities. However, any civil engineering tasks that the road commissioner used to do must be handled by a registered civil engineer under the public works director's authority.
Section § 2007
Each year, the road commissioner must prepare a draft budget for county road expenses for the next fiscal year and submit it to the board of supervisors, following specific government guidelines and timelines. The board will hold public hearings on this road budget alongside the general county budget, allowing for public input.
Once the budget is adopted, the road commissioner can only spend funds as outlined in it. However, the board of supervisors can adjust the budget during regular or special meetings to best serve public interests, including transferring funds to different road-related needs. Any such transferred funds become immediately available for the road commissioner to use.
Section § 2008
This law states that it's the job of the county's board of supervisors to set the salary for the road commissioner. The commissioner's salary will come out of a specific $1,667 monthly budget given to the county. Also, the road commissioner must provide an official bond in an amount set by the board of supervisors, unless they are already covered by a broader bond agreement as per a different law.
Section § 2009
The board of supervisors sets the policies for managing county highways, which the road commissioner must follow. The road commissioner is responsible for administering their department based on the board’s budget, and can hire necessary staff with the board's approval of salaries. The commissioner manages personnel and assigns them to county road projects. They can also acquire equipment needed for road work, but must follow county and budget policies and get board approval on costs.
Section § 2010
This law requires county supervisors in California to inspect roads funded by specific county funds effectively. They can charge up to $600 annually to the county's monthly allocation for the additional travel. Supervisors using personal cars for these tasks are entitled to extra compensation: $25 per month for the first 250 miles without needing a detailed report, and if they travel more than 250 miles, they earn 10 cents per mile, up to a total reimbursement of $50 for 500 miles. They must provide a report for these additional miles.