Health & Saf. Code, § 55002

(a) Pursuant to this division, the local agency may provide financing to pay for eligible costs to an owner of an eligible building only if the legislative body of the local agency makes one of the following findings:

(1) The owner to whom financing would be made available pursuant to this division is unable to qualify for or could not afford financing for eligible costs from private lending institutions.

(2) Absent the availability of financing pursuant to this division, the eligible building would be demolished.

(3) Absent the availability of financing pursuant to the division, the costs of modifying the eligible building to meet reconstruction standards, pursuant to Sections 19162, 19163, and 19163.5, or to mitigate potentially hazardous buildings, as defined by subdivision (a) of Section 8875 of the Government Code, would cause severe economic hardship to the businesses in the building.

(b) Financing provided by a local agency pursuant to this division shall not, when combined with existing liens on the property, exceed 80 percent of the current appraised value of the property, as determined by an independent, certified appraiser, unless existing lienholders consent in writing to a higher loan-to-value ratio. Notice of the intention to provide financing to the owner of the property shall be given to existing lienholders of record not less than 30 days prior to any vote of the local agency authorizing the provision of financing to the owner of the property.