SECTIONS 57475-57483 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 57475-57483

57475. If the successor city has a freeholder's charter, the
successor city shall be governed as a new city under the freeholder's
charter of the successor city. If the successor city was organized
under former Part 2 (commencing with Section 35000) of Division 2 of
Title 4, or its predecessors, the successor city shall be governed in
the same manner as a new city. Except as otherwise provided in this
chapter, the successor city shall be governed in the name of the
successor city. If the electors have expressed a preference for the
name of the successor city, the successor city is deemed to have the
name favored by the electors. The predecessor cities are dissolved
and disincorporated and if any of them has a freeholder's charter, it
is deemed surrendered and annulled and they are merged into the
successor city. Immediately upon qualifying, the officers of the
successor city who have been elected shall enter upon the duties of
their offices and hold office until the next general municipal
election and until their successors are elected and qualified. All
persons in possession of, or occupying, the offices in each of the
predecessor cities shall surrender them immediately to the proper
officers of the successor city.

57476. Upon consolidation, the title to any property owned or held
by, or in trust for, each predecessor city or by its officers or
boards in trust for public use shall be vested in the successor city
or its officers or boards.

57477. Except as otherwise provided in this division, consolidation
does not affect any debts, demands, liabilities, or obligations of
any kind existing in favor of or against the cities consolidated at
the time of consolidation. Consolidation does not affect any pending
action or proceeding involving any such debt, demand, liability, or
obligation or any action or proceedings brought by or against any
city prior to consolidation. The proceedings shall be continued and
concluded by final judgment or otherwise as if consolidation had not
been effected. Those rights or liabilities are the rights and
liabilities of the successor city.

57478. Immediately upon consolidation, all ordinances of the
predecessor cities are deemed repealed. That repeal shall not
discharge any person from any existing civil or criminal liability
nor affect any pending prosecution for violation of any of those
ordinances.

57479. The repeal of ordinances provided by Section 57478 shall not
apply to any of the following:
(a) Ordinances under which vested rights have accrued.
(b) Ordinances relating to proceedings for street or other public
improvements.
(c) Ordinances relating to zoning or land use regulation.
(d) Proceedings for opening, extending, widening, straightening,
or changing the grade of streets or other public places.
These proceedings shall be continued and conducted by the
successor city with the same effect as if continued and conducted by
the city which commenced them.

57480. On and after the effective date of the consolidation, all
ordinances, if any, of the successor city shall have full effect
throughout the successor city.

57481. Unless otherwise provided in the terms and conditions of the
consolidation, the property in cities consolidated pursuant to this
chapter shall not be taxed to pay any indebtedness or liability of
any other city contracted or incurred prior to, or existing at, the
time of consolidation.

57482. The city council of the successor city shall separately levy
and collect the taxes necessary to pay the indebtedness or liability
of each predecessor city within the territory of each predecessor
city.

57483. Where the successor city is, or becomes, a chartered city,
under a freeholder's charter providing that boroughs may be
established in territories or cities annexed to or consolidated with
it, this division does not prevent a predecessor city, or any part of
it, from becoming a borough.