California Code, Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 11101

(a) To establish pedestrian malls.

(b) To prohibit, in whole or in part, vehicular traffic on a pedestrian mall.

(c) To pay, from general funds of the city or other available moneys or from the proceeds of assessments levied on lands benefited by the establishment of a pedestrian mall, the damages, if any, allowed or awarded to any property owner by reason of the establishment of a pedestrian mall. No money available for expenditure within the city from the proceeds of any tax, license or fee imposed by any public agency upon the ownership or operation of vehicles or the fuel used therein shall be used to pay such damages, except as may be permitted by Section 11005 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(d) To construct on city streets which have been or will be established as a pedestrian mall improvements of any kind or nature necessary or convenient to the operation of such city streets as a pedestrian mall, including but not limited to, paving, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, sewers, drainage works, street lighting facilities, fire protection facilities, flood protection facilities, water distribution facilities, vehicular parking areas, retaining walls, landscaping, tree planting, statuary, fountains, decorative structures, benches, restrooms, child care facilities, display facilities, information booths, public assembly facilities, any improvements necessary or convenient for a covered air-conditioned mall, and other structures, works or improvements necessary or convenient to serve members of the public using such pedestrian mall, including the reconstruction or relocation of existing city-owned works, improvements or facilities on such city streets. The foregoing, or any portions thereof, are sometimes in this part referred to as “improvements.”

(e) To pay, from general funds of the city or other available moneys or from the proceeds of assessments levied on property benefited by any such improvements, the whole or any portion of the cost of such improvements. No money available for expenditure within the city from the proceeds of any tax, license or fee imposed by any public agency upon the ownership or operation of vehicles or the fuel used therein shall be used to pay such cost or expense, except as may be permitted by Section 11005 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(f) To do any and all other acts or things necessary or convenient for the accomplishment of the purposes of this part.