As used in this article, “an issue of bonds” means the aggregate principal amount of all bonds authorized by a proposal approved by the city electors pursuant to this article.

As used in this article, “municipal improvement” includes bridges, waterworks, water rights, sewers, light and power works or plants, buildings for municipal uses, wharves, breakwaters, jetties, seawalls, schoolhouses, fire apparatus, street work, and other works, property, or structures necessary or convenient to carry out the objects, purposes, and powers of the city. “Municipal improvement” also includes the acquisition of real property for a civic center site or for any public use or uses, whether or not the improvement of said real property is part of the purposes for which the bonds are to be issued and whether or not funds for the improvement of said real property are presently available from other sources.

Pursuant to this article, a city may incur indebtedness for any municipal improvement requiring an expenditure greater than the amount allowed for it by the annual tax levy.

When a city planning commission and the legislative body approve a group of municipal improvements as constituting a city plan, the legislative body may submit a single bond proposition covering the entire group of improvements. The provisions of Title 7 of this code shall not apply to the formulation and approval of a city plan under this section.

Such a city plan may include land for public use, public buildings including auditoriums and stadiums, parks, streets, transportation facilities and other municipal improvements.

A city shall not incur an indebtedness for public improvements which exceeds in the aggregate 15 percent of the assessed value of all real and personal property of the city. Within the meaning of this section “indebtedness” means bonded indebtedness of the city payable from the proceeds of taxes levied upon taxable property in the city.

An indebtedness is incurred within the meaning of this article to the extent of the principal amount of bonds sold and delivered.

Proceedings are initiated when the city legislative body passes a resolution by a two-thirds vote of all its members determining that the public interest or necessity demands the acquisition, construction, or completion of any municipal improvement.

At any subsequent meeting, by a two-thirds vote of all its members, the legislative body may pass an ordinance ordering the submission of the proposition of incurring a bonded debt for the purpose set forth in said resolution to the qualified voters of the city at an election held for that purpose.

Propositions for more than one object or purpose may be submitted at the same election.

The ordinance shall recite:

The ordinance may provide that the estimated cost stated therein of the public improvements includes any or all of the following:

If such statement is made, the proceeds of the sale of the bonds may be used to pay such of the foregoing as are stated in the ordinance.

This section shall not be construed to authorize a city to use the proceeds of the sale of bonds for a purpose for which it could not use its general fund.

The ordinance shall be published once a day for at least seven days in a newspaper published at least six days a week in the city, or once a week for two weeks in a newspaper published less than six days a week in the city.

If there are no such newspapers, it shall be posted in three public places in the city for two succeeding weeks.

No other notice need be given.

If an election called pursuant to this article is consolidated with any other election, the ordinance calling the bond election need not set forth the election precincts, polling places and officers of election but may provide that the precincts, polling places and officers of election shall be the same as those set forth in the ordinance, order, resolution or notice calling or providing for or listing or designating the precincts, polling places and election officers for the election with which the election called pursuant to this article is consolidated, and shall refer to such ordinance, order, resolution or notice by number and title or date of adoption, or by date or proposed date of publication and the name of the newspaper in which publication has been or will be made, or by any other definite description.

Except as otherwise provided in the ordinance, the election shall be conducted as other city elections.

If two-thirds of the electors voting on the proposition vote for it, the bonds may be issued.

When two or more propositions for incurring indebtedness are submitted at the same election, the votes cast for and against each proposition shall be counted separately.

If any proposition is defeated by the electors, the legislative body shall not call another election on a substantially similar proposition to be held within six months after the prior election. If a petition requesting submission of such a proposition, signed by 15 percent of the city electors as shown by the votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last election, is filed with the legislative body, it may hold an election before the expiration of six months.

The legislative body shall prescribe the form of the bonds and interest coupons, and fix the date of the bonds.