Upon application by a municipal corporation with a population of less than 5,000 persons according to the latest United States census entitled to a conveyance of tide and submerged land under AS 38.05.820(b), the director of the division of lands of the Department of Natural Resources may make or provide for the making of surveys that may be required for the transfer of tide and submerged land to the municipal corporation, and as may be required for subsequent conveyance of the tide and submerged land by the municipal corporations to occupants of the land who hold preference rights. When the application by the municipal corporation is accepted, the governing body of the municipal corporation shall execute a contract on a form approved by the attorney general providing for the survey under the sole management and supervision of the director and for repayment according to the provisions of this chapter.