BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1556
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1556 (Torlakson)
As Amended August 21, 2006
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :23-13
WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 11-0 APPROPRIATIONS 13-5
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|Ayes:|Wolk, Villines, Berg, |Ayes:|Chu, Bass, Berg, |
| |Bermudez, Daucher, | |Calderon, |
| |Emmerson, Lieu, Matthews, | |De La Torre, Karnette, |
| |Maze, Pavley, Saldana | |Klehs, Leno, Nation, |
| | | |Laird, Ridley-Thomas, |
| | | |Saldana, Yee |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Sharon Runner, Emmerson, |
| | | |Haynes, Nakanishi, |
| | | |Walters |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Delta Protection Commission (DPC) to
establish a continuous trail around the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires DPC, if they receive sufficient funds from sources
other than the General Fund (GF) to cover the costs, to
develop a plan and implementation program for a continuous
regional recreational corridor that extends around the Delta,
including the Delta's shorelines in Contra Costa, Solano, San
Joaquin, Sacramento and Yolo Counties. Requires that the plan
include a bicycle and hiking trail, and consider the
relationship of the route to existing and proposed parks and
public transportation. Requires that the plan link the San
Francisco Bay Trail System to planned Sacramento River trails
in Sacramento and Yolo Counties, and requires that the plan
provide alternative routes to avoid impinging on traditional
hunting and fishing areas in the Delta.
2)Requires that environmentally sensitive areas, including
wildlife habitats and wetlands, not be adversely affected and
that the plan provide for buffer zones. Prohibits the land
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used for the trail from being considered mitigation for
wetlands losses. Requires that alternative routes be provided
to avoid environmentally sensitive areas and private use areas
when appropriate. Requires that the plan prohibit
non-emergency motorized vehicles on the trail.
3)Requires DPC to submit the plan and recommendations to the
Legislature and each county within its service area within two
years after DPC determines that sufficient funds are available
to complete the plan and implementation program.
4)Requires DPC to establish a technical advisory committee to
review proposals, and a stakeholder advisory committee to
advise DPC on the trail's impacts and uses. Meetings of both
these committees are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting
Act.
5)Authorizes transportation planning agencies that allocate
funds to cities and counties with jurisdiction or spheres of
influence within the Delta to allocate money to DPC for the
purposes of the Great California Delta Trail System plan.
6)States legislative findings regarding the values of the Great
California Delta region, including its natural resources,
agriculture, recreation, science, history, water, ecosystems
and beauty, the growing obesity crisis and need for more
recreational opportunities, and the values of a bicycle and
pedestrian trail to link the Delta and other areas, including
the San Francisco Bay Trail system.
EXISTING LAW : Establishes DPC to preserve, protect, maintain
and enhance the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region's
environmental resources and quality, including preserving and
protecting agriculture, wildlife habitat, open space, outdoor
recreation, and public access to public lands. Requires local
transportation planning agencies to allocate funds in the local
transportation fund for establishing and maintaining pedestrian
and bicycle trails. Authorizes the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission to allocate funds to establish a recreational
corridor, including a bicycle and hiking trail, around the
perimeter of the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, moderate costs, in range of $3 million over a
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three-year period starting in 2006-07 to DPC to develop and
implement the Delta Trail plan, with costs contingent on DPC
receiving sufficient funds to finance the plan. Allows funds
allocated to the Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission
for pedestrian and bicycle trails to be allocated to DPC for
development of the Delta Trail Plan. This bill does not
appropriate funds and the requirements of this bill are not
triggered until funding is made available from sources other
than the GF.
COMMENTS : The Great California Delta Trail is a proposed bike
and pedestrian trail system and recreation corridor covering
more than 1,000 miles of Delta waterfront in five counties.
According to the author, the Delta Trail vision was inspired by
the San Francisco Bay Trail, which serves as a model for the
Delta Trail and its planning process. The author believes that
the Delta Trail will provide a valuable recreational resource
and alternate transportation system for the Delta region,
linking existing and planned recreational resources, including
Sacramento River trails and Brannan Island State Park.
DPC surveys over the past ten years have found that there are
many unmet recreational needs for the Delta region, including
trails for hiking and bicycling, facilities for wildlife
observation and education, water sports access, bank fishing
access, and improved historical and cultural sites with
interpretive information. The Delta Trail proposal seeks to
link the many diverse areas of the Delta and provide enhanced
access through a contiguous corridor that would be planned and
developed through a collaborative visioning process.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. /
(916)319-2096
FN: 0016490