(a) The agency and legislative body shall not authorize or approve the settlement of any judicial action specified in Section 33501 that contests the validity of the adoption or amendment of a redevelopment plan if the settlement requires the expenditure of funds outside the project area unless the agency and the legislative body have first held a public hearing on the proposed settlement pursuant to this section.
(b) Notice of the public hearing shall be published once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the community. Notice of the public hearing shall be posted in at least five prominent locations inside the project area for at least two weeks before the hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed by first-class mail to the project area committee, if any, and to any other persons or organizations who have filed a written request for public notice.
(c) Copies of the proposed settlement shall be available for public inspection and copying not later than the first date of publication of the public notice.