Section 5977 - Compliance with Environmental Quality Act(a) The project is subject to compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code). Neither the act of selecting a private entity, nor the execution of an agreement with the private entity, shall require prior compliance with the act. However, appropriate compliance with the act shall thereafter occur before project construction commences.(b) The public portion of the project, at all times, shall be owned by the city, unless the city, in its discretion, elects to provide for ownership of the project by the private entity through a separate lease agreement. Notwithstanding Section 5956.6 or any other provision of this code, the agreement shall provide for the lease of all or a portion of the project to, or ownership by, the private entity or entities, for a term up to 50 years. In consideration therefor, the agreement shall provide for complete reversion of the public portion of the project to the city at the expiration of the lease or transfer term.(c) The private portion of the project shall not be financed or developed by the public-private partnership or otherwise using public or tax-exempt financing.(d) The plans and specifications for the project shall comply with all applicable governmental design standards for that particular infrastructure project. The private entity studying, planning, designing, constructing, developing, financing, operating, maintaining, or any combination thereof, the project shall utilize private sector firms for studying, planning, designing, constructing, developing, financing, operating, maintaining, or any combination thereof, the project. However, a facility subject to this chapter and leased to a private entity, during the term of the lease, shall be deemed to be public property for purposes of identification, maintenance, enforcement of laws, and for purposes of Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810). All public works constructed pursuant to this chapter shall comply with Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1720) of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code.(e) This chapter shall not be construed to authorize the city to use tidelands trust revenues that are subject to Section 6306 of the Public Resources Code or any other applicable granting statute for general municipal purposes or any other purpose unconnected with the public trust.Added by Stats 2015 ch 178 (SB 562),s 2, eff. 1/1/2016.