                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CREATION OF AUTHORITIES (§ 15.2-5702)

A. A locality may by ordinance or resolution, or two or more localities may by
concurrent ordinances or resolutions, signify their intention to create a park
authority, under an appropriate name and title, containing the word
&#8220;authority&#8221; which shall be a body politic and corporate.
			Whenever an authority has been incorporated by two or more localities, any
one or more of the localities may withdraw therefrom, but no locality shall be
permitted to withdraw from any authority that has outstanding obligations unless
United States securities have been deposited for their payment or without
unanimous consent of all holders of the outstanding obligations.
			Other localities may join the authority as provided in the ordinances or
resolutions.

B. Each ordinance or resolution shall include articles of incorporation setting
forth:

   1. The name of the authority and the address of its principal office.

   2. The name of each incorporating locality, together with the names, addresses
   and terms of office of the first members of the board of the authority.

   3. The purpose or purposes for which the authority is created.

C. Each participating locality shall cause to be published at least one time in
a newspaper of general circulation in its locality, a copy of the ordinance or
resolution together with a notice stating that on a day certain, not less than
seven days after publication of the notice, a public hearing will be held on
such ordinance or resolution. If at the hearing substantial opposition to the
proposed park authority is heard, the members of the participating
localities&#8217; governing bodies may in their discretion call for a referendum
on the question of establishing such an authority. The request for a referendum
shall be initiated by resolution of the governing body and filed with the clerk
of the circuit court for the locality. The court shall order the referendum as
provided for in &#xA7; 24.2-681 et seq. Where two or more localities are
participating in the formation of an authority the referendum, if any be
ordered, shall be held on the same date in all such localities so participating.
In any event if ten percent of the registered voters in such locality file a
petition with the governing body at the hearing calling for a referendum such
governing body shall request a referendum as herein provided.

D. Having specified the initial plan of organization of the authority, and
having initiated the program, the localities organizing such authority may, from
time to time, by subsequent ordinance or resolution, after public hearing, and
with or without referendum, specify further parks to be acquired and maintained
by the authority, and no other parks shall be acquired or maintained by the
authority than those so specified. However, if the governing bodies of the
localities fail to specify any project or projects to be undertaken, and if the
governing bodies do not disapprove any project or projects proposed by the
authority, then the authority shall be deemed to have all the powers granted by
this chapter.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 15-714.3; 1950, p. 1244; 1952, c. 401; 1962, c. 623, §
15.1-1230; 1975, c. 517; 1997, c. 587; 2023, cc. 506, 507.