Whenever the electors of an irrigation district owning a majority of the number of acres [hectares] of irrigable land therein shall petition the board to submit to the electors of the district at a special election, or at the next regular election of the district, the question of the dissolution or discontinuance of such irrigation district, and the sale of its property, the board, if the district has no outstanding or unpaid bonds or district improvement warrants, or if the holders of district bonds or district improvement warrants consent thereto in writing, shall adopt a resolution calling a special election or providing for the submission of such question to the electors at the next regular district election.