SECTIONS 50575-50583 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 50575-50583

50575. This chapter may be known and cited as the Open Space
Maintenance Act.

50576. The procedure established herein shall be additional or
alternative to any other procedure established by ordinance or state
law. The election to proceed under this chapter shall be expressed in
the ordinance of intention to form the district.

50577. Unless the particular provision or the context otherwise
requires, the definitions and provisions contained in this section
shall govern the construction and the meaning and application of
words and phrases used in this chapter.

50578. "Clerk" means the clerk of the legislative body of the local
agency.

50579. "Maintenance" means the performance of all acts and doing of
the things necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter,
including the maintenance and improvement of open areas and the doing
of those acts set forth in Section 50583.

50580. "Open space" or "open area" means any space or area
characterized by great natural scenic beauty or whose existing
openness, natural condition, or present state of use, if retained,
would enhance the present or potential value of abutting or
surrounding urban development, or would maintain or enhance the
conservation of natural or scenic resources.

50581. "Open space maintenance district" or "district" means any
district created pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to pay
the assessments for the maintenance work to be done hereunder.

50582. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a means whereby
any local agency may form maintenance districts within which property
may be assessed to pay the costs and expenses of improving and
maintaining open spaces which the local agency has acquired pursuant
to Sections 6950 to 6954, inclusive, and to maintain such open spaces
in a way that will reduce the danger of fire which exists when open
areas covered with vegetation remain in their natural state.

50583. In addition to matters specified elsewhere in this chapter,
the acts authorized under this chapter include the following:
(a) The formation of districts pursuant to this chapter.
(b) The planning, maintaining, improving, protecting, limiting the
future use of or otherwise conserving open spaces and areas within
the local agency and the reduction of the hazards of fire, erosion,
and flooding in such areas by:
(i) Clearing and removing or ordering the clearing and removal of
dry grass, stubble, brush, rubbish, litter or other inflammable
material which endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard
and which is not provided for by the regular controls exercised by
the fire department of the legislative body, if any.
(ii) Acquiring, constructing and maintaining works, not otherwise
regularly provided by the local agency which are necessary or
convenient for the prevention and extinguishing of fires;
(iii) Destroying and removing noxious, dangerous or unsightly
weeds;
(iv) Planting and maintaining trees, shrubs, lawns and other
vegetation;
(v) Making such regulations as are necessary or desirable to limit
the future use of the areas in order to maintain or enhance the
conservation of their natural or scenic resources and to protect the
public health and safety; and
(vi) Constructing and maintaining such other improvements as may
be necessary or convenient for the accomplishment of the purposes of
this chapter.
(c) The doing of all acts and things necessary or convenient for
the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter.