The legislative body may establish a fee for processing reversions to acreage pursuant to this article in an amount which will reimburse the local agency for all costs incurred in processing such reversion to acreage. Such fee shall be paid by the owners at the time of filing the petition for reversion to acreage, or if the proceedings for reversion to acreage are initiated by the legislative body on its own motion shall be paid by the person or persons requesting the legislative body to proceed pursuant to this article before such initiation of proceedings.