BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Fran Pavley, Chair |
| 2013-2014 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: SB 238 HEARING DATE: April 9, 2013
AUTHOR: Liu URGENCY: No
VERSION: As Introduced CONSULTANT: Leonardo Scherer
Alves
DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy members: voting.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (conservancy) was
established by the California State Legislature in 1980. It has
helped to preserve over 69,000 acres of parkland in both
wilderness and urban settings. The mission of the conservancy is
to acquire interests in property to help preserve, protect,
restore, and enhance treasured pieces of southern California and
making them easily accessible to the general public. The
conservancy is composed of nine voting members and three ex
officio members.
Under existing law, the ex officio members appointed by the
California Coastal Commission, the State Coastal Conservancy,
and the Supervisor of the Angeles National Forest, or his or her
designee, serve as ex officio nonvoting members.
However, on matters relating to a project undertaken within the
coastal zone portion of the zone, the appointed member of the
California Coastal Commission may vote.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would allow the Supervisor of the Angeles National
Forest, or the designee, to vote as a Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy member on matters related to projects located
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within, or substantially affecting, the Angeles National Forest.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author, this proposed provision would allow the
forest supervisor to share his or her expertise with the
conservancy in a meaningful way. The ability to vote on matters
pertaining to the Angeles National Forest will enhance the
supervisor's relationship with many other San Gabriel foothill
conservancies that are also members of the Santa Monica
Mountains Conservancy.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received
COMMENTS
Why? This bill amends the Public Resources code to provide
similar voting rights to the Supervisor of the Angeles National
Forest already enjoyed by another ex officio member.
Why not before? The voting rights of the Supervisor of the
Angeles National Forest were apparently never a discussed topic
when the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy was established.
With the special resource study of the area known as the "Rim of
the Valley" the conservancy agrees that the Angeles National
Forest should be included in the discussion as a voting member.
The purpose of this study is to determine if any portion of the
Valley Corridor is eligible to be considered a unit of the
national park system, or added to an existing national park.
9+1= 10 In the event of any of the ex officio members voting
there is a possibility of a tie vote. Such possibility is not
addressed in this bill or in existing law.
SUPPORT
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Sierra Madre Mountain Conservancy
OPPOSITION
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None received
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