(a) Whenever the governing body of any city which has established a recreation system deems it advisable to combine the operation and administration of its park system and its recreation system, it shall publish a notice of its intention to combine the two systems and establish a single department. Such notice shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in the official city newspaper and if within 30 days after the last publication of the notice a petition signed by at least 5% of the qualified voters of the city requesting an election upon such question, an election shall be called and held thereon. Such election shall be called and held in the manner provided by the general bond law, and the cost of the election shall be borne by the city. If no protest or no sufficient protest is filed or if an election is held and the proposition carries by a majority of those voting thereon, the governing body, by ordinance, may provide for the combining of its park system and its recreation system and the establishment of a combined park and recreation department. All property under the control or jurisdiction of either of such systems, upon the combination of the same, shall be transferred to such department which shall administer the city’s park and recreation system. The governing body shall provide by ordinance for such officers and employees which may be necessary for the proper operation of the department who shall be appointed or employed in the manner provided for other officers and employees of the city.

(b) Whenever the governing body of a city in which a recreation system which was established by a school district or by a school district and city acting jointly, wishes to combine the city park system with the recreation system into a single city park and recreation department, the governing bodies of both, if they agree to such combination, jointly shall publish notice of the intention to combine the two systems into a single city department of parks and recreation. Such notice shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in the official city newspaper and if within 30 days after the last publication of a petition signed by at least 5% of the qualified voters of the city requesting an election upon such question, an election shall be called and held thereon. Such election shall be called and held in the manner provided by the general bond law, and the cost of the election shall be borne equally by the city and the school district. If no protest or no sufficient protest is filed or if an election is held and the proposition carries by a majority of those voting thereon, the governing body, by ordinance, may provide for the combining of its park system and its recreation system and the establishment of a combined park and recreation department. All property under the control or jurisdiction of either of such systems, upon the combination of the same, shall be transferred to the department which shall administer the city’s park and public recreation system. The governing body shall provide by ordinance for such officers and employees which may be necessary for the proper operation of the department who shall be appointed or employed in the manner provided for other officers and employees of the city.