The powers of the district enumerated in this division shall, except as therein otherwise provided, be exercised by the board.
Powers and PurposesGoverning Body
Section § 55300
The authority given to the district, as listed in this division of the law, is usually carried out by the board unless stated otherwise in the law.
district authority board powers exercise of powers
Section § 55301
This section specifies who governs a district depending on its status. If a county board of supervisors governs, they will lead unless an older board of directors still exists from before a 1967 change. Any such existing directors serve at the county board’s discretion. If a district becomes part of a city under reorganization laws from 1965, the city council takes over as the governing board. When this happens, any current board of directors is automatically dissolved, and any mention of a county board of supervisors then refers to the city council.
The board of supervisors of the county is the governing board of the district unless a board of directors has been appointed under the provisions of this chapter as they existed prior to their repeal at the 1967 Regular Session of the Legislature. Each member of an appointed board of directors in existence on the effective date of the amendment of this section at the 1967 Regular Session of the Legislature shall continue to serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors of the county, rather than for the term for which he was appointed.
Where the district becomes a subsidiary district of a city pursuant to the District Reorganization Act of 1965, the city council of such city is the governing board of the district, as provided in Section 56539 of the Government Code. If, on the date the district becomes a subsidiary district of a city, there is an appointed board of directors, such appointed board of directors is automatically dissolved as of that date. The term “board of supervisors,” as used in this division, shall in regard to any such district which has become a subsidiary district of a city, refer to the city council of such city.
county board of supervisors governing board of the district appointed board of directors
Section § 55302
The county board of supervisors has the authority to dissolve any board of directors managing a district. After doing so, the board of supervisors will take over as the governing board for that district.
The board of supervisors of the county may, at any time, dissolve any board of directors governing any district, and thereafter the board of supervisors shall serve as the governing board of the district.
county board of supervisors dissolve board of directors district management
Section § 55305
This law section outlines how the board of directors can decide on their compensation for attending meetings, with a cap of $10 per meeting, and no more than two meetings each month. Directors can also earn up to $100 per day when performing other district-related duties and are entitled to travel and expenses reimbursement.
Decisions about whether directors’ activities are eligible for compensation must follow specific sections of the Government Code.
(a)CA Water Code § 55305(a) The board of directors may fix the compensation of its members for their services as directors not to exceed ten dollars ($10) for each meeting attended, not exceeding two meetings in any calendar month. If allowed by the board, a director shall also receive for performing duties for the district other than attending board meetings the following:
(1)CA Water Code § 55305(a)(1) An amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for each day performing such duties.
(2)CA Water Code § 55305(a)(2) Traveling and other expenses incurred by him or her in performing his duties.
(b)CA Water Code § 55305(b) For purposes of this section, the determination of whether a director’s activities on any specific day are compensable shall be made pursuant to Article 2.3 (commencing with Section 53232) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code. Reimbursement for these expenses is subject to Sections 53232.2 and 53232.3 of the Government Code.
board of directors compensation meeting attendance pay per diem duties
Section § 55307
This law states that any board of directors that existed when this section was amended in 1967 takes over the responsibilities and powers related to managing waterworks districts from the board of supervisors. The board of supervisors no longer has authority over these districts, except for appointing the board of directors.
Any board of directors in existence on the effective date of the amendment of this section at the 1967 Regular Session of the Legislature succeeds to and has all the powers conferred upon the board of supervisors in reference to the waterworks district. Except as provided in Section 55302, the board of supervisors shall have no further jurisdiction except the appointment of the board of directors.
board of directors board of supervisors jurisdiction transfer
Section § 55308
The board of directors must appoint a clerk whose job is to handle tasks normally done by a clerk of the board of supervisors, as well as any other tasks assigned by the board. The board decides how much the clerk is paid, and the clerk can be dismissed at any time. Importantly, a member of the board cannot be the clerk.
The board of directors shall appoint a clerk who shall perform all of the duties pertaining to the district required to be performed by the clerk of the board of supervisors and such other duties as may be imposed upon him by the board of directors. The clerk shall receive such compensation as the board of directors shall determine and shall serve at the pleasure of the board. No director shall be eligible to the position of clerk.
board of directors appoint a clerk clerk duties
Section § 55309
If a district's board existed when this law became effective, they needed to file a certificate with the Secretary of State by January 1, 1964. This certificate should include the district's name, formation date, and county, along with a description of its boundaries or a map showing them. Alternatively, they could file the order forming the district if it contains the same information.
The board of a district in existence on the effective date of this section shall file a certificate with the Secretary of State on or before January 1, 1964, listing:
(a)CA Water Code § 55309(a) The name of the district.
(b)CA Water Code § 55309(b) The date of formation.
(c)CA Water Code § 55309(c) The county in which the district is located, and a description of the boundaries of the district, or reference to a map showing such boundaries, which map shall be attached to the certificate, or reference to the county recorder’s office where a description of such boundaries has been recorded.
If the order declaring the district formed contains all of the information required to be in the certificate, the board may file a copy of the order in lieu of the certificate.
district board responsibilities certificate filing Secretary of State filing
Section § 55310
This law allows the Madera County Board of Supervisors to appoint a separate board of directors to govern the Madera County Waterworks District #2. The decision to appoint the board must be made during a public hearing at a regular meeting. If appointed, this board will consist of five directors who serve at the board of supervisors' discretion. These directors have all the powers that the board of supervisors had over the district, except for the responsibility of appointing future directors. Once the new board is appointed, the board of supervisors no longer has jurisdiction over the district, with an exception noted in another section.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 55301, the Board of Supervisors of Madera County may appoint a board of directors to serve as the governing board of Madera County Waterworks District #2. A determination by the board of supervisors to appoint a board of directors shall be made following a public hearing at a regular meeting of the board. In the event the board of supervisors determines to appoint a board of directors, it shall appoint five directors for the district, and each director shall serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors. Any appointed board of directors succeeds to and has all the powers conferred upon the board of supervisors in reference to the Madera County Waterworks District #2. Except as provided in Section 55302, the board of supervisors shall have no further jurisdiction except for the appointment of directors.
Madera County board of directors appointment public hearing
Section § 55310.2
This law outlines how the Board of Directors for the Mendocino County Waterworks District #2 is organized and operated. It establishes that the board will have five members who are elected at large from within the district, with each member serving a four-year term. Elections are held by mail and overseen by the county clerk, with the district covering the costs. In the event of a vacancy, the board has 60 days to fill it, failing which the County Board of Supervisors can appoint someone. Directors receive no compensation beyond actual expenses and need to be district residents. Any board powers previously held by the county's board of supervisors are transferred to this elected board starting July 1, 1996.
The directors are elected without being tied to specific districts or seats, and all candidates appear on the same ballot. After the initial election, terms expire in even-numbered years. Any unexpired terms are filled in the next district election, and directors assume responsibilities formerly held by a previously appointed board.
(a)CA Water Code § 55310.2(a) Notwithstanding Section 55301, the Board of Directors of the Mendocino County Waterworks District #2 shall be elected. The elected board of directors shall act as the governing board of the district.
(b)CA Water Code § 55310.2(b) There shall be five members of the board who shall be elected at large throughout the district. The directors shall be residents of the district at the time of election and shall remain residents throughout their term. Failure to maintain residency shall cause the director to vacate the office. The directors shall serve four-year terms. The election of directors shall be held by the all-mailed ballot procedure pursuant to Division 4 (commencing with Section 4000) of the Elections Code on the date described in Section 1500 of the Elections Code.
(c)CA Water Code § 55310.2(c) Elections for the directors shall be conducted by the county clerk or by another election officer designated by the Mendocino Board of Supervisors. The district shall be responsible for the cost of the district elections.
(d)CA Water Code § 55310.2(d) Unless otherwise provided or required by this section, Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10 of the Elections Code shall apply to the conduct of the district election.
(e)CA Water Code § 55310.2(e) Any vacancy on the board, other than upon the expiration of a term, shall be filled by a majority vote of the directors. However, no vacancy shall be filled by less than three members’ affirmative votes. If the board fails to fill a vacancy within 60 days of the vacancy or if the membership of the board is less than four, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors may appoint members to fill the vacancies. Appointed members shall serve until the next district election at which time the remainder of the unexpired term shall be filled at that election in the manner provided in this section.
(f)CA Water Code § 55310.2(f) Directors shall be elected without reference to districts and, except for the filling of unexpired terms, without reference to a specific directorship. All candidates for open seats, except for the filling of unexpired terms, shall appear on the same ballot. Voters shall be allowed to vote for the number of candidates equal to the open seats; that number of candidates equal to the number of open seats that receive a plurality shall be elected. Write-in votes shall be counted, provided that the write-in candidate shall have complied with the requirements of subdivision (d) pertaining to the filing of a nomination form and signatures with the county clerk no less than 14 days prior to the election.
(g)CA Water Code § 55310.2(g) Directors duly elected and certified at the first election shall assume office on July 1, 1996. The two-year terms shall expire on June 30, 1998. The first four-year terms shall expire on June 30, 2000. All subsequent terms shall expire on the last day of June in even-numbered years.
(h)CA Water Code § 55310.2(h) Directors shall receive no compensation for service, except as permitted under Section 55305, but may be reimbursed only for necessary and actual expenses. Regulations governing reimbursement may be adopted by the board.
(i)CA Water Code § 55310.2(i) Effective July 1, 1996, the elected Mendocino County Waterworks District #2 Board of Directors shall succeed to and have all the powers previously conferred upon the board of supervisors and the appointed board of directors in reference to this district.
Mendocino County Waterworks District #2 Board of Directors elected board
Section § 55311
This law allows a city's council to change the name of a district if the district operates under the city. To make it official, the city must file and record certified copies of the name change resolution with both the Secretary of State and the county recorder where the district is located.
When a district is a subsidiary district of a city, the city council may, by resolution, change the name of the district. The change of name shall be effective upon the filing of a certified copy of the resolution with the Secretary of State and the recording of a certified copy in the office of the county recorder of the county or counties in which the district is situated.
subsidiary district city council resolution name change
