Amended in Assembly March 19, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 735


Introduced by Assembly Member Gomez

February 21, 2013


An actbegin insert to add Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) to Division 5 of the Public Resources Code,end insert relating to the Los Angeles River.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 735, as amended, Gomez. Los Angelesbegin delete River.end deletebegin insert River Rehabilitation Project.end insert

Existing law, the Los Angeles County Flood Control Act, establishes the Los Angeles County Flood Control District and authorizes the district to control and conserve the flood, storm, and other wastewater of the district. Under existing law, the act includes in the objects and purposes of the district to provide for public use of navigable waterways under the district’s control that are suitable for recreational and educational purposes, when these purposes are not inconsistent with the use thereof by the district for flood control and water conservation.begin insert Existing law also establishes various plans and programs intended to preserve, protect, and rehabilitate lands adjacent to rivers in the state.end insert

This bill wouldbegin delete state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to implement the provisions contained within the Los Angeles River Master Plan in order to maintain the river as a resource that provides flood protection and opportunities for recreational and environmental enhancement, improves the aesthetics of the region, enriches the quality of life for residents, and helps sustain the economy of the regionend deletebegin insert, until July 1, 2020, require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to establish a Los Angeles River Rehabilitation Project policy committee, which would include members of appropriate public agencies, nonprofits, stakeholders, developers, cities, and environmental organizations to assist in the development and rehabilitation of the Los Angeles River. The bill would require that the secretary collaborate with and establish a cooperative working relationship with public agencies that are affected by the project and consider all existing Los Angeles River rehabilitation plans in effect in implementing actions pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The bill would require that the Natural Resources Agency use existing state resources and available federal funds to implement the provisions of the billend insertbegin insert and would authorize the agency to apply for and accept grants, donations, and other financial support from public or private sources for purposes of those provisionsend insert.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1begin insert

begin insertSECTION 1.end insert  

end insert
begin insert

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares
2all of the following:

end insert
begin insert

3(1) A Los Angeles River Rehabilitation Project would foster job
4creation by investing in parks and multiuse public trails.

end insert
begin insert

5(2) The Los Angeles River Rehabilitation Project would improve
6the conditions of daily life along the river in a safe environment
7that promotes walking, jogging, biking, recreation, and living
8along the Los Angeles River.

end insert
begin insert

9(3) The Los Angeles River Rehabilitation Project would directly
10improve the quality of life in Los Angeles by providing important
11recreational, open-space, wildlife, flood-management,
12water-quality, and urban waterfront revitalization benefits to
13communities.

end insert
begin insert

14(4) The Los Angeles River Rehabilitation Project would foster
15livable communities through placemaking that provides public
16amenities, links communities, reduces residential segregation, and
17facilitates healthy behaviors.

end insert
begin insert

18(5) The Los Angeles River Rehabilitation Project would support
19linkages to community and economic development similar to other
20transit oriented developments.

end insert
begin insert

21(b) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature in enacting
22Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) of Division 5 of the
P3    1Public Resources Code to support rehabilitation and development
2along the Los Angeles River.

end insert
3begin insert

begin insertSEC. 2.end insert  

end insert

begin insertChapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) is added
4to Division 5 of the end insert
begin insertPublic Resources Codeend insertbegin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert

5 

6Chapter  begin insert10.5.end insert The Los Angeles River Rehabilitation
7Project
8

 

9

begin insert5845.end insert  

(a) For purposes of this chapter, “agency” means the
10Natural Resources Agency.

11(b) For purposes of this chapter, “secretary” means the
12Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.

13

begin insert5845.1.end insert  

(a) The secretary shall establish a Los Angeles River
14Rehabilitation Project policy committee, which shall include
15representatives from appropriate agencies, nonprofits,
16stakeholders, developers, cities, and environmental organization,
17to assist in the development and rehabilitation of the Los Angeles
18River.

19(b) The secretary shall collaborate with and establish a
20cooperative working relationship with public agencies that are
21affected by the project, and shall consider all existing Los Angeles
22River rehabilitation plans in effect pursuant to subdivision (a) of
23Section 5753 in implementing actions pursuant to this chapter.

24

begin insert5845.2.end insert  

The agency shall use existing state resources and
25available federal funds to implement this chapter. If state or federal
26funds are not available or sufficient, the office may apply for and
27accept grants and receive donations and other financial support
28from public or private sources for purposes of these sections.

29

begin insert5845.3.end insert  

This chapter shall become inoperative on July 1, 2020.

end insert
begin delete
30

SECTION 1.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
31legislation to implement the provisions contained within the Los
32Angeles River Master Plan in order to maintain the river as a
33resource that provides flood protection and opportunities for
34recreational and environmental enhancement, improves the
35aesthetics of the region, enriches the quality of life for residents,
36and helps sustain the economy of the region.

end delete


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