In addition to, and as an alternative to, the powers contained in this division, the board may by resolution determine and declare that it is necessary to levy a special assessment of an equal amount upon each acre of developed land, upon each acre of undeveloped land, or both, within the district or within zones established pursuant to Sections 35534 and 35535 in order to cause just and equitable sharing among the district’s landowners of all or any portion of the district obligations for the next year in excess of receipts from water charges, as reflected in the district’s annual estimate of obligations filed pursuant to Section 36552 or 37206, and such resolution shall declare that a public hearing shall be held thereon at a specified time and place at which all interested persons may appear and be heard.

The resolution shall be published pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation published in each county in which district lands are located. A copy of the resolution shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to each holder of title to land within the district as shown by the last equalized assessment roll of the district, or, if the district has theretofore elected to use the last equalized county assessment roll or rolls for district assessment purposes, a copy of the resolution shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to each holder of title to land of the county or counties in which district lands are located.

The hearing may be adjourned from time to time at the discretion of the board and at its conclusion the board may determine and by a new resolution declare the amount of and levy a special assessment upon each acre of developed land in an equal amount per acre, upon each acre of undeveloped land in an equal amount per acre, or both, within the district, or within zones, sufficient to defray all or any part of the district obligations for the next year in excess of receipts from water charges, as reflected in the district’s annual statement of obligations filed pursuant to Section 36554 or 37206.

No levy of assessment shall be made pursuant to this article unless the resolution pursuant to the hearing is properly made and entered in the records of the district at least 31 days before the time for levying such assessment.

If, after the board adopts the resolution of intent to levy and before 30 days after the resolution pursuant to the hearing, the board receives a petition containing the signatures of persons holding title to 5 percent of the land area within the district, the board shall call an election of the qualified voters in the district and submit the resolution to levy the special assessment to the voters for their approval or rejection. When an election is required pursuant to this section, no levy of assessment pursuant to this article shall be made unless and until the election required by this section is held and the assessment is approved by a majority vote of the qualified voters of the district in such election. The election required in this section shall be called and noticed, held and conducted in the manner provided for bond elections of the district.

The resolution pursuant to the hearing, or, when required, the proposition submitted to the qualified voters of the district pursuant to Section 35539.3, shall specify the due date for such special assessment and may provide that it is payable in two equal installments, the first of which shall be delinquent if not paid within five calendar months after the due date and the second of which shall be delinquent if not paid within nine calendar months after the due date, and, if no such provision for payment in installments is made, such resolution or, when required, such election proposition, shall provide that the entire special assessment becomes delinquent if not paid within six months after the due date.

The special assessment shall be collected pursuant to the provisions of Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Part 7 of this division.

This chapter applies only to the Irvine Ranch Water District and Santa Margarita Water District. The powers granted in this chapter supplement the existing powers of the districts.

The districts may acquire, construct, operate, maintain, and furnish facilities for the diversion of urban runoff from drainage courses within the districts, the treatment of the urban runoff, the return of the water to the drainage courses, or the beneficial use of the water.

In order to carry out the powers and purposes granted under this chapter, the districts may exercise any of the powers otherwise granted to a district by this division to the extent those powers may be made applicable.

Nothing in this chapter affects any obligation of the districts to obtain a permit that may be required by law for the activities undertaken pursuant to this chapter.