(a) In lieu of submission of a petition pursuant to Section 1162, formation of a division may be initiated by a resolution of the board of supervisors. The resolution shall meet all the requirements of Section 1162 except those relating to signatures of landowners. In addition, the resolution shall fix a time and place for a public hearing on the establishment of the proposed division which shall not be less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the adoption of the resolution.

(b) The clerk of the board of supervisors shall publish a notice of the hearing pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county, or, if there is no newspaper published in the county, in a newspaper of general circulation which is circulated in the territory proposed to be included within the division. Publication shall be complete at least seven days prior to the date of the hearing. The notice shall contain the text of the resolution, the time and place for the hearing, and a statement that at the hearing the testimony of all interested persons for or against the establishment of the division will be heard.

At least 20 days before the date set for the hearing, the clerk of the board of supervisors shall mail copies of the notice to all affected landowners whose names appear on the last equalized assessment roll.

(c) At the hearing, protests against the establishment of the division may be made orally or in writing by any interested person. Any protests pertaining to the regularity or sufficiency of the proceedings shall be in writing and clearly set forth the irregularities and defects to which objection is made. All written protests shall be filed with the clerk of the board of supervisors on or before the time fixed for the hearing and may be withdrawn in writing at any time before the conclusion of the hearing. The board may waive any irregularities in the form or content of any written protest and at the hearing may correct minor defects in the proceedings.

(d) If written protests are received from at least 25 percent but not more than 50 percent of the affected landowners, or landowners who would be required to pay any proposed special tax or parcel charge which represents more than 25 percent of the total amount of the expected revenue necessary to finance the division, and those protests are not withdrawn by the end of the hearing, the proposed division shall be submitted to the landowners for majority voter approval.

If written protests are received from 50 percent or more of the affected landowners, or landowners who would be required to pay any proposed special tax or parcel charge which represents more than 50 percent of the total amount of the expected revenue necessary to finance the division and those protests are not withdrawn by the end of the hearing, the proposed division shall be abandonded for at least one year.

(e) The board of supervisors may conduct, by mail, any election held to approve or disapprove a proposed division.

(f) If no election is required pursuant to subdivision (d), the division may be formed pursuant to Section 1166.

(g) If an election is required pursuant to subdivision (d), the board of supervisors may include on the same ballot the question of whether a special tax shall be levied within the division. The board of supervisors may submit the question of levy of a special tax to the voters separately from the question of formation of the division, or may consolidate both questions into a single measure. Sections 1173 to 1178, inclusive, are applicable to an election held pursuant to this subdivision.

(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 70, Sec. 1.)