The board shall act only by ordinance, resolution, or motion.
Internal OrganizationBoard Action
Section § 60160
This section states that any decisions or actions taken by the board must be made through formal methods, such as an ordinance, resolution, or motion. Essentially, the board cannot act informally or without proper procedures.
board decisions formal action ordinance
Section § 60161
Whenever the board passes an ordinance, they must take a roll call vote and record each member's vote as 'yes' or 'no' in the official records of their meetings.
On all ordinances the roll shall be called and the ayes and noes recorded in the journal of the proceedings of the board.
ordinance voting roll call vote ayes and noes recording
Section § 60162
This law allows decisions to be made verbally, but if any member of the group wants, they can require each person to voice their individual vote.
Resolutions and motions may be adopted by voice vote, but on demand of any member the roll shall be called.
voice vote resolutions motions
Section § 60163
For any ordinance, motion, or resolution to be approved or take effect, it must receive a positive vote from more than half of the board members.
No ordinance, motion or resolution shall be passed or become effective without the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board.
board approval affirmative vote majority votes
Section § 60164
This law specifies that any ordinances (which are like local laws) created by the board of a Water Replenishment District must begin with a specific sentence: “Be it ordained by the Board of Directors of _______ Water Replenishment District as follows:” This ensures uniformity and clarity in how these ordinances are formally introduced.
The enacting clause of all ordinances passed by the board shall be: “Be it ordained by the Board of Directors of _______ Water Replenishment District as follows:”.
water replenishment district ordinance introduction board of directors
Section § 60165
This law allows people living in a district to pass ordinances, or district rules, by voting on them. These rules can be created using the same methods that cities use for direct legislation according to the Elections Code.
Ordinances may be passed by the voters of any district organized under the provisions of this act in accordance with the methods provided by the Elections Code for direct legislation in cities.
district ordinances voter-passed rules direct legislation
Section § 60166
This section states that voters in certain districts have the power to reject and veto ordinances by following the procedures outlined in the Elections Code that allow cities to protest against legislation.
Ordinances may be disapproved and thereby vetoed by the voters of any such district by proceeding in accordance with the methods provided by the Elections Code for protesting against legislation in cities.
voter veto ordinance disapproval district procedures
Section § 60167
This law says board members of a district cannot use their position to influence any decision if they know that the decision affects the financial interests of their relatives or people they live with. Relatives include anyone related by blood, adoption, or marriage (even if the marriage ended). Cohabitants are people who live in the board member's home or get their mail there.
(a)CA Water Code § 60167(a) In addition to the prohibitions set forth in the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code), a board member of a district may not make, or in any way attempt to use his or her official position to influence, a decision in which the board member knows, or has reason to know that any of the board member’s relatives or cohabitants, whose interests are not otherwise regulated by that act, has a financial interest.
(b)CA Water Code § 60167(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1)CA Water Code § 60167(b)(1) “Relative” means any person related to the board member by blood or adoption, including all relatives whose status is preceded by the words “step,” “great,” or “grand,” or the spouse of any of these persons, even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution.
(2)CA Water Code § 60167(b)(2) “Cohabitant” means any person who regularly resides in the board member’s household or who uses the board member’s residence address to receive mail.
district board member official position influence financial interest conflict
