BILL NUMBER: SB 1177 CHAPTERED 10/01/01 CHAPTER 379 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 1, 2001 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 28, 2001 PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 23, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 14, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 5, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 2, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 27, 2001 INTRODUCED BY Senator Polanco (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Cedillo and Goldberg) FEBRUARY 23, 2001 An act to add Section 5006.42 to the Public Resources Code, relating to parks and recreation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1177, Polanco. Cornfield rail yards. Existing law requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to develop, operate, and maintain units of the state park system. This bill would authorize the department to use $36,000,000 appropriated by specified items of the Budget Act of 2001 for the acquisition, planning, design, environmental assessment, and environmental cleanup of the 32-acre parcel known as the "Cornfield" rail yards in the City of Los Angeles. The bill would require the Director of Parks and Recreation, not later than February 1, 2002, to establish the Cornfield State Park Advisory Committee, which would be responsible for assisting the department, in an advisory capacity, to plan for interim and permanent land uses and facilities through the general planning process for the Cornfield site. The bill would also require the department to take specified actions with respect to the development of a state park at the Cornfield site. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (a) The Cornfield property is a 32-acre abandoned railroad yard in downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the Chinatown district and the Los Angeles River. (b) The development of the Cornfield property as a public park presents a unique opportunity to create a major park, open space, and recreation complex in downtown Los Angeles. (c) The site's history as a cornfield in the 19th century and as the location of the city's original aqueduct presents significant opportunities for learning. A rail transit station is planned to be located at the in the vicinity of the property, making it easily accessible to millions of low-income, transit-dependent families, senior citizens, youths, persons with disabilities, and children from across urban Los Angeles. (d) The Cornfield site offers a once-in-a-century opportunity to create a world-class park and playground, and to develop other compatible uses in one of the city's most diverse and park-poor communities. (e) Urban parks have historically played a pivotal role in shaping the success of cities by bringing residents and visitors new resources for environmental enrichment, educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities, and otherwise enhancing urban community life. SEC. 2. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide park and recreational opportunities for the Los Angeles region and the state by appropriating funds to the Department of Parks and Recreation to be used to purchase the 32-acre parcel known as the "Cornfield" rail yards in the City of Los Angeles. (b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that local, state, and federal agencies, environmental, recreational, historic preservation, and cultural organizations, museums, educational institutions and organizations, private persons and entities, and community-based organizations, including groups instrumental in community advocacy leading to current plans for development of the Cornfield rail yards as an urban state park have the opportunity to participate in project planning and development. SEC. 3. Section 5006.42 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 5006.42. (a) On or before February 1, 2002, the director shall establish the Cornfield State Park Advisory Committee, which shall be responsible for assisting the department, in an advisory capacity, to plan for interim and permanent land uses and facilities through the general planning process for the Cornfield site. The director shall terminate the advisory committee after the adoption of a general plan for the state park. (b) The director shall convene and appoint the advisory committee. The members of the committee shall be selected by the director, who shall include, in the advisory committee, representatives from entities, including, but not limited to, local, state, and federal agencies, environmental, historic preservation, and cultural organizations, museums, educational institutions and organizations, individuals and private sector entities, and community-based organizations, including Asian-Pacific Americans, Chinese Americans, Latino community organizations, and other interested ethnic groups. (c) The department shall take all of the following actions with respect to the development of a state park at the Cornfield site: (1) Coordinate the implementation of the Cornfield rail yards project, considering recommendations for uses and development from the advisory committee. (2) Survey statewide and community preferences in a range of park services appropriate for urban state park settings, as assisted by the advisory committee. (3) Seek input and cooperate with local, state, and federal agencies, environmental, recreational, historic preservation and cultural organizations, museums, educational institutions and organizations, individuals and private sector entities, and community-based organizations, as appropriate, that are interested in the use or development of park and recreational facilities and programs for public benefit at the state park proposed to be located at the "Cornfield" rail yards, including the special needs of children, youths, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. (d) The advisory committee shall identify and recommend to the director, not later than 12 months after the date of acquisition of a fee title to the Cornfield site, priorities for long-range plans for the site that meet the needs of Californians and the general public, including park and recreational facilities and programs serving residents within communities surrounding the Cornfield rail yards in central Los Angeles. SEC. 4. The Department of Parks and Recreation may use the sum of thirty-six million dollars ($36,000,000) for the acquisition, planning, design, environmental assessment, and environmental cleanup of the 32-acre parcel of real property known as the "Cornfield" rail yards in the City of Los Angeles, to be expended from the following sources: (a) The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) appropriated from the General Fund pursuant to Schedule (2) of Item 0540-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2001. (b) The sum of thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) appropriated from the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Fund pursuant to Schedule (30.92) of Item 3790-301-0005 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2001.