BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 735
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 15, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 735 (Gomez) - As Amended: April 23, 2013
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 11-3
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the statewide Greenway Initiative to
promote the development of greenways along rivers in the state,
including a greenway along the Los Angeles River. Specifically,
this bill:
1)Defines Greenway as a pedestrian and bicycle, non-motorized
vehicle transportation and recreational travel corridor that
parallels an urban waterway as specified and meets the
following requirements:
a) Separated and protected from shared roadways and
incorporates access to adjacent communities, amenities and
services.
b) Publicly accessible and located on a combination of
public and private lands.
c) Reflects design standards with appropriate widths,
clearances, and setbacks from obstructions, and centerlines
protecting directional travel, where appropriate.
d) Incorporates appropriate landscaping, lighting, public
amenities, and art.
1)Authorizes a local government entity to designate lands along
a river in its jurisdiction as a greenway, upon approval of
its legislative body by ordinance or resolution, or by
incorporating such a designation into an adopted general plan
element or an adopted river master plan.
2)Authorizes a local government entity to adopt ordinances that
regulate public health and safety or traffic within a
designated greenway in its jurisdiction.
AB 735
Page 2
3)Authorizes a local government entity to apply for public or
private funding available for the development of a greenway in
its jurisdiction, to the extent any funds secured for that
purpose are used in a manner consistent with applicable state
laws.
FISCAL EFFECT
Unknown state cost pressures, potentially in the millions of
dollars, once a greenway obtains state designation.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. The author intends this bill to promote the
establishment of greenways, including the LA River greenway,
to improve the quality of life in communities and provide
connectivity between them and important recreational, open
space, wildlife, flood management, water quality, air quality,
transportation, emergency response, world peace, and urban
waterfront revitalization opportunities.
2)Other Similar Programs. It is unclear how this statewide
designation would differ from the River parkway program
administered by the Natural Resources Agency and the Urban
Streams program administered by the Department of Water
Resources.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081