(a) A district may lease, for a term not exceeding 99 years, subject to periodic review, district property that will not be needed for district purposes during the term of the lease, as a means of providing revenues to the district for the operation and maintenance of sanitary sewer system and waste water treatment and disposal facilities of the district, and to finance the acquisition, construction, and improvement of these facilities.
(b) Prior to entering into a lease, the board shall, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (e), publish notice pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code of the time and place of the meeting of the board at which the proposed lease will be considered, and at that time and place shall afford all persons present an opportunity to be heard with respect to the proposed lease.
(c) If the board finds that the subject property will not be needed by the district and that it is in the best interests of the district and the users of its sanitary sewer system that the lease be entered into, it may, by ordinance setting forth the findings, authorize the lease. The ordinance shall be subject to Article 2 (commencing with Section 9340) of Chapter 4 of Division 9 of the Elections Code.
(d) Every lease shall be awarded to the bidder which, in the determination of the legislative body, offers the greatest economic return to the district after competitive bidding conducted in the manner determined by the legislative body. Notice inviting bids may be published pursuant to Section 6066, in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the district.
(e) If the board makes a finding at a noticed public hearing that the subject property will be used for compatible uses, that it will be of public benefit, and that the term of the lease will not exceed 10 years, subdivisions (c) and (d) shall be optional.
(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 923, Sec. 122. Effective January 1, 1995.)