(a) In addition to the authority conferred in Section 5539.5, all provisions of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 (Division 15 (commencing with Section 22500) of the Streets and Highways Code) are applicable to a regional district if created and established in San Bernardino County. Whenever the public interest or convenience requires, the regional district may, at the discretion of its governing body, use any or all provisions of that act to carry out any purpose of the regional district.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the acts specified in Section 5539.5 and in this section, no assessment shall be levied on real property in a regional district created and established in San Bernardino County unless and until it is approved by a majority of the electors of the regional district. An election called for this purpose may be consolidated with the election for the creation and establishment of the regional district.

(c) The particular amount of the proposed assessment, or a range within which the governing body may fix the amount of the assessment and thereafter revise it during a specified period of time, and whether zones shall be established in the regional district for the purpose of having different assessment amounts, shall be specified in the measure submitted to the electors pursuant to subdivision (b). The governing body may exempt from the assessment any uninhabited parcel substantially used in agriculture and any parcel enforceably restricted as open-space land during the time in which the parcel is so used or restricted. In addition, the measure shall contain a provision obligating the regional district, if created and established, to issue, upon the request of any person paying the assessment, an annual pass or coupon entitling that person to the free use, or use on a reduced fee basis, of regional district lands and facilities, of a value not to exceed the amount of the assessment that is allocated to regional district facilities and lands and all phases of regional district operations and programs conducted on regional district lands. The pass or coupon shall not apply to special events at regional district facilities or lands and any charges payable to a concessionaire or private person or entity authorized to use regional district facilities or lands.

(d) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the land acquisition, improvements, and services provided by the regional district, if created and established, will specially benefit the properties assessed and the persons paying the assessments authorized in this section in at least the following respects:

(1) Enhanced recreational opportunities and expanded access to recreational facilities.

(2) Protection of views, scenery, wildlife, and other resource values enjoyed by residents of the regional district.

(3) Protection of historical and cultural assets of the region.

(4) Increased economic activity and expanded employment opportunities within the regional district.

(5) Reduced costs of local government in areas of law enforcement, fire prevention, natural disaster response, and public health care.

(6) Enhancement of the productivity of some lands and buffering of other lands from incompatible uses.

(7) Increased property values, resulting from the effects specified in this subdivision.

(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1017, Sec. 3.)