(a)
The authority shall review and assess the needs for acquisition, preservation, or maintenance of open-space lands. As part of this review and assessment, the authority shall solicit proposals from the cities in the county within the boundaries of the authority and from a citizens’ advisory committee, the membership of which shall be determined by the authority based upon criteria which provides a broad representation of interests within the authority’s jurisdiction. The membership of the citizens’ advisory committee shall reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the population within the authority’s jurisdiction. The authority shall adopt a procedure for evaluating these proposals in consultation with the cities and the citizens’ advisory committee in the authority’s jurisdiction. The entity submitting any proposal shall consider the impact the proposal may have on the availability of affordable housing.
(b)
Based on the evaluation, the authority shall prepare a plan for the expenditure of the revenues expected to be derived from funding provided for this division, together with other federal, state, local, and private improvements, and funding.
(c)
In addition to acquisition, preservation, or maintenance of open-space lands, the expenditure plan shall also include projections of revenues likely to be available in the next five years for capital, maintenance, and operational purposes. The expenditure plan shall establish general areas for acquisition without identifying specific parcels, and shall be periodically reviewed and amended. Before adoption or amendment of an expenditure plan, the authority shall conduct public hearings on that plan. No expenditure for open-space lands shall occur until the initial expenditure plan is approved.
