(1) Any twenty-five residents of the city may file a petition with the city clerk setting forth that there is a need for an authority to function in the city. Upon the filing of such a petition, the city clerk shall give notice of the time, place, and purposes of a public hearing at which the council will determine the need for such an authority in the city. Such notice shall be given at the city's expense by publishing a notice, at least ten days preceding the day on which the hearing is to be held, in a newspaper having a general circulation in the city, or, if there is no such newspaper, by posting such a notice in at least three public places within the city at least ten days preceding the day on which the hearing is to be held. (2) Upon the date fixed for said hearing, held upon notice as provided in this section, a full opportunity to be heard shall be granted to all residents and taxpayers of the city and to all other interested persons. After such a hearing, the council shall determine: (a) Whether unsanitary or unsafe inhabited dwelling accommodations exist in the city; or (b) Whether there is a lack of safe or sanitary dwelling accommodations in the city available for all the inhabitants thereof. (3) In determining whether dwelling accommodations are unsafe or unsanitary, the council shall take into consideration the following: The physical condition and age of the buildings; the degree of overcrowding; the percentage of land coverage; the light and air available to the inhabitants of such dwelling accommodations; the size and arrangement of the rooms; the sanitary facilities; and the extent to which conditions exist in such buildings which endanger life or property by fire. (4) If it determines that either of the conditions enumerated in subsection (2) of this section exist, the council shall adopt a resolution so finding and shall cause notice of such determination to be given to the mayor or such other appointing authority as is otherwise provided by charter or ordinance who shall thereupon appoint, as provided in section 29-4-205, no more than nine commissioners to act as an authority; except that, in any city and county having a population of more than three hundred thousand, the mayor or such other appointing authority as is otherwise provided by charter or ordinance shall appoint nine commissioners to act as an authority whose appointments shall be conditioned upon confirmation by the council. The number of commissioners shall be specified by the council in the resolution. A certificate signed by such commissioners shall then be filed with the division of local government in the department of local affairs and there remain of record, setting forth that a notice has been given and public hearing has been held, that the council made a determination after such hearing and that the mayor or such other appointing authority as is otherwise provided by charter or ordinance has appointed them as commissioners. Upon the filing of such certificates with said division, the commissioners and their successors shall constitute a housing authority, which shall be a body corporate and politic. (5) The boundaries of such authority shall include the same geographical area as is then or thereafter included within the boundaries of the city which caused such authority to be created. (6) If the council determines after a hearing that neither of the conditions enumerated in subsection (2) of this section exist, it shall adopt a resolution denying the petition. After three months have expired from the date of the denial of such petition, subsequent petitions may be filed and new hearings and determinations made thereon. (7) In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of any bond, contract, mortgage, trust indenture, or other agreement of the authority, the authority shall be conclusively deemed to have been established in accordance with the provisions of this part 2 upon proof of the filing of the aforesaid certificate. A copy of such certificate, duly certified by the division of local government, shall be admissible in evidence in any such suit, action, or proceeding and shall be conclusive proof of the filing and contents thereof. (8) If the council of any city denies any petition filed for the creation of a housing authority, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (6) of this section, and the residents of such city determine that there is in fact a shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling accommodations in the city, a petition may be filed with the council requesting that the question of the approval or disapproval of creating a housing authority be submitted to a vote of the registered electors of such city. If the petition, which may consist of one or more separate copies, contains the signatures and residence addresses of registered electors of such city equal in number to not less than five percent of the votes cast for governor or for president and vice- president of the United States at the last preceding general election held within such city, the council shall cause a special election to be held on the question of the creation of a housing authority. All registered electors within the city shall be eligible to vote at said election, which shall be conducted insofar as possible in accordance with the provisions of sections 29-4-604 to 29-4-607; except that the question to be voted on shall be the creation of a housing authority.
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