CHAPTER 613

An Act to amend and reenact § 15.1-1282 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to powers of park authorities. rH 905]

Approved April 4, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 15.1-1232 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted
as follows:

§ 15.1-1232. Powers of authority.—Each authority created hereun-
der shall be deemed to be an instrumentality exercising public and essen-
tial governmental functions to provide for the public health and welfare,
and each such authority is hereby authorized and empowered:

(a) To have existence for such term of years as specified by the par-
ticipating political subdivisions:

To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct
of its business;

(c) To adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure;

(d) To maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate;

(e) To sue and be sued;

(f) To acquire, purchase, lease as lessee, construct, reconstruct, im-
prove, extend, operate and maintain parks within or partly within and
partly without one or more of the political subdivisions by action of whuse
governing body or governing bodies the authority was created; and to
acquire by gift, purchase or the exercise of the right of eminent domain
lands or rights in land or water rights in connection therewith; and to
sell, lease as lessor, transfer or dispose of any property or interest therein
acquired by it, at any time; provided, however, that the power of eminent
domain shall not extend beyond the geographical limits of the political
subdivision or subdivisions composing the authority:

(zg) To regulate the uses of all lands and facilities under control of
the authority;

(h) To issue revenue bonds and revenue refunding bonds of the
authority, such bonds to be payable solely from revenues derived from the
use of the facilities or the furnishing to any political subdivision of park
services;

(1) To accept grants and gifts from the political subdivision forming
the authority, the State of Virginia. the federal government or any other
governmental bodies or political subdivisions. and from any unit, private
corporation, copartnership, association or individual;

(j) To enter into contracts with the federal government, the Com-
monwealth of Virginia, any political subdivision. or anv agency or instru-
mentality thereof, or with any unit, private corporation, copartnership,
association, or individual providing for or relating to the furnishing of
park services or facilities ;

(k) To contract with any municipality, county, corporation, indi-
vidual or any public authority or unit of this or any adjoining state, on
such terms as the said authority shall deem proper, for the construction,
operation and maintenance of any park which is partly in this Common-
wealth and partly in such adjoining state;

(1) To exercise the same rights of acquiring property for the con-
struction or improvement, maintenance or operation of a park as the
county or city or counties or cities by which such authority is created
may exercise. The governing body of any unit, notwithstanding any con-
trary provision of law, is hereby authorized and empowered to transfer
jurisdiction over, to lease, lend, grant or convey to the authority upon
the request of the authority, upon such terms and conditions as the gov-
erning body of such unit may agree with the authority as reasonable and
fair, such real or personal property as may be necessary or desirable in
connection with the acquisition, construction, improvement, operation or
maintenance of a park, including public roads and other property already
devoted to public use. Agreements may be entered into by the authority
with the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any agency acting on behalf of
the Commonwealth of Virginia, for the acquisition of any lands or prop-
erty, owned and/or controlled by the Commonwealth of Virginia, for
the purposes of construction or improvement, maintenance or operation
of a park;

(m) In the event of annexation by a municipality not a member of
the authority of lands, areas, or territory served by the authority, then
such authority may continue to do business, exercise its jurisdiction over
its properties and facilities in and upon or over such lands, areas or terri-
tory as long as any bonds or indebtedness remain outstanding or unpaid,
or any contracts or other obligations remain in force;

(n) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary
or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its
powers under this chapter, including a trust agreement or trust agree-
ments securing any revenue bonds or revenue refunding bonds issued
hereunder: and

(o) To do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out
the powers granted by this chapter.

(p) To borrow at such rates of interest not to exceed six percent per
annum as the authority may determine from individuals, partnerships, or
private or municipal corporations, for the purpose of acquiring park lands
and improvements thereon, to issue its notes, bonds or other obligations.
to secure such obligations by mortaqage or pledge of the property and
improvements being acquired and the income derived therefrom, and to
use any revenues and other income of the authority for payment of tnterest
and retirement of principal of such obligations; provided that prior
approval of the governing body of the county or city shall be obtained by
an authority created by a single political subdivision. Any county, city or
town which has formed or joined an authority may lend money to such
authority. The power to borrow set forth in this § 15.1-1282 (p) shall be in
addition to the power to issue revenue bonds and revenue refunding bonds
set forth in § 15.1-1232 (h) and § 15.1-1287. Notes, bonds or other obli-
gations issued under this subsection (p) shall not be deemed to constitute
a debt of the Commonwealth or of any political subdivision of the Com-
monwealth or a pledge of the faith and credit of the Commonwealth or of
any political subdivision of the Commonwealth.