Sec. 15. (a) If the consolidated city desires to obtain all or a part of the money necessary to pay the cost of any parking facility or facilities by the issuance of revenue bonds, then bonds to carry out the purposes of this chapter may be authorized by ordinance of the legislative body. The ordinance must set out the amount, date, denominations, terms, conditions, and form of the bonds and the interest coupons, and any covenants relative to safeguarding the interest of the bondholders. The ordinance must specify in detail the revenues pledged to the payment of the interest on and the principal of the bonds and may contain provisions for the issuance of additional bonds of equal priority or junior and subordinate from time to time under restrictions set forth in the ordinance.

     (b) Upon the sale and delivery of the bonds authorized, the ordinance constitutes a contract between the city and the bondholders, and may not be amended so as to affect adversely the rights of the holders of the bonds.

     (c) In case different parcels of land, buildings, or air rights are to be acquired or more than one (1) parking facility is to be constructed or more than one (1) contract for work is let by the board at approximately the same time, whether under one (1) or more declaratory resolutions, the ordinance may provide for the total cost of them by bonds of the same series. If the cost of construction of more than one (1) parking facility is financed from the same issue or series of bonds, all of the parking facilities shall be considered as a single parking facility for the purposes of this chapter with regard to the custody, application, and accounting of funds and remedies upon default.

     (d) The revenue bonds may bear interest at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate fixed by the ordinance, payable semiannually, may be payable in such amounts and at such times, not exceeding fifty (50) years from the date of issuance, at such place or places, either within or without Indiana, and may be redeemable before maturity on such terms and conditions, all as determined by the board and provided in the authorizing resolution.

     (e) In case any of the officers whose signatures or countersignatures appear on the bonds or the coupons cease to be officers before the delivery of the bonds to the purchaser, the signatures or countersignatures are nevertheless valid and sufficient for all purposes as if the officers had remained in office until the delivery of the bonds.

     (f) The authorizing ordinance may provide for the redemption of the bonds on call, before maturity, on terms as set out in the ordinance and the bonds, and may include such provisions and covenants relative to the operation, protection, and insuring of the parking facility and the safeguarding of funds and rights of the bondholders as the board considers expedient.

     (g) The bonds of the same series may be in one (1) or more issues of the same or different priorities, as stated in the authorizing ordinance and on the face of the bonds, and are payable from the net revenues derived from the operation of the parking facility or facilities on account of which the bonds of that series are issued, from net revenues derived from other parking facilities, of the on-street parking meters or parking mechanisms pledged as authorized in this chapter, or from the proceeds derived from the disposition of the parking facility or facilities. The bonds constitute a charge on these revenues, or a lien on the property acquired from the proceeds of the bonds, or both, to the extent and with such priority as may be provided in the authorizing resolution and expressly stated in the bonds.

     (h) All bonds issued under this chapter, in the hands of bona fide holders, have all of the qualities of negotiable instruments under negotiable instruments law. The bonds and the interest on them are exempt from taxation as provided by IC 6-8-5.

     (i) Unless registered, the bonds are payable to bearer, and the interest payable shall be evidenced by attached coupons. The bonds may be registerable as to principal only in the holder’s name on the records of the city kept by the city fiscal officer. This registration shall be noted on the bond by the fiscal officer or other designated officer, after which no transfer is valid unless made on the books of the city by the registered holder and similarly noted on the bond. Any bond so registered as to principal may be discharged from registration by being transferred to bearer, after which it is transferable by delivery, but may again be registered as to principal as before. The registration of bonds as to principal does restrict the negotiability of the interest coupons by delivery only.

     (j) Notwithstanding any other law, the authorizing resolution or ordinance may provide for a pledge of all or a certain designated part of the gross or net revenues derived from:

(1) other parking facilities, on-street parking meters, and parking mechanisms;

(2) parking and traffic violation fines and fees;

(3) lease rentals in connection with any parking facilities;

(4) private pledges and contributions; and

(5) any federal and state grants and distributions not dedicated or restricted by law to other purposes, to the payment of principal of and interest on revenue bonds issued or to be issued under this chapter and the accumulation and maintenance of the reserve for them, to the extent and in the manner provided in the resolution or ordinance authorizing the issuance of the bonds.

If such a pledge is made, it is irrevocable so long as any of the bonds on account of which the pledge is made are outstanding, and the pledge takes precedence over any budget provision or appropriation payable out of unobligated revenues so pledged where the provision or appropriation is made after the authorization of the pledge by the legislative body.

     (k) So long as the net revenues derived from other parking facilities, on-street parking meters, or parking mechanisms are not needed for the payment of any pledge made under this section, the city may use and expend those revenues as otherwise authorized by law. The city may not make any covenant relative to the number or location of the parking meters to be maintained by it in and along its public ways.

     (l) Any bonds may be sold at public or private sale for such price or prices, in such manner, and at such time or times as may be determined by the board. The bonds must be executed in the name of the city, as other bonds of the city are executed. Each bond must state on its face that it does not constitute an obligation of the city in any respect, or within the meaning and limitations of the constitution of Indiana, but is payable solely from the revenue funds or property pledged to it. Each bond must contain a reference to the authorizing resolution or ordinance and the date of its adoption.

     (m) An action to question the validity of any bonds issued under this chapter, or to prevent their issuance, sale, or delivery, must be brought within thirty (30) days following the adoption of the ordinance approving the bonds. All such bonds after that time are incontestable, except for fraud, forgery, or violation of constitutional provisions.

     (n) Bonds may be issued under this chapter for the purpose of providing money to pay the cost of completing, improving, or enlarging any parking facility or facilities acquired under this chapter and also for the purpose of funding judgments or refunding bonds previously issued under this chapter.

     (o) Preliminary expenses advanced by any person or governmental agency may be reimbursed from the proceeds of the bonds. The proceeds of the bonds of each issue after reimbursement shall be used solely for the payment of the cost of the parking facility or facilities on account of which the bonds were issued, including incidental expenses and interest, and shall be disbursed in such manner and under such restrictions, if any, as the board may provide in the resolution or the legislative body may provide in the ordinance authorizing the issuance of the bonds.

     (p) If the proceeds of the bonds of any issue, by error of estimates or otherwise, are less than the cost, additional bonds may in like manner be issued to provide the amount of the deficit. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds, the additional bonds shall be considered to be of the same issue and shall be entitled to payment from the same fund without preference or priority of the bonds first issued. If the proceeds of the bonds of any issue exceed the cost of the parking facility or facilities on account of which they have been issued, the surplus shall be deposited in the fund or account from which the bonds are payable.

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.77, SEC.13.