BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
Senator Fran Pavley, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 392 Hearing Date: June 23,
2015
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|Author: |Atkins | | |
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|Version: |May 5, 2015 Amended |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|William Craven |
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Subject: San Diego River Conservancy.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
1)Established the San Diego River Conservancy (SDRC) in 2002 in
the Natural Resources Agency (NRA) which is authorized to
acquire and accept donations of land or interests in land that
are located within one-half mile of the San Diego River and
its tributaries, historic flumes, and otherwise within the San
Diego River Watershed.
2)Prohibits the SDRC from levying taxes, regulating land use,
and exercising the power of eminent domain.
3)Specifies the SDRC's governing board of eleven members
including the Secretary of Resources, the Director of Finance,
the Director of Parks and Recreation, the Mayor of San Diego,
a San Diego City Council member, a San Diego County
Supervisor, and five public members. Of the five public
members, three are appointed by the Governor, the Senate Rules
Committee, and the Assembly Speaker appoint one each.
4)Sunsets the SDRC on January 1, 2020.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill eliminates the sunset date and creates biannual
reporting requirements that describe all expenditures, all
projects, a progress report, and any recommendations that the
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conservancy has to improve the statutes under which it operates.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
1)According to the author, the San Diego River is an important
historic, archaeological and cultural area within California.
Making the SDRC permanent will assist with long-term planning
and development as well as make more practical the
conservancy's expenditure of $17 million in Prop 1 water bond
funds that will take up to 10 years.
2)The SDRC watershed spans 440 square miles, includes 6 major
reservoirs, 4 cities, a large area of unincorporated county
lands, Cleveland National Forest, and Native American
reservations, with 700,000 people living within its area of
influence and an additional 2 million people in adjacent
communities. The river is 52 miles from its headwaters near
Julian to the Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach. Its rich cultural
and historic connections began with the Kumeyaay who settled
in the area more than 11,000 years ago and extends through
Spanish, Mexican, and early Californian settlements. In its
12-year history, SDRC has overseen over 100 acres of
restoration along the river, the construction and renovation
of approximately 15 miles of a public trail along the river
that is well used by people of all ages, and the acquisition
of over 200 acres of land. Currently, the mission of the SDRC
will be advanced by building, with partners, a San Diego
River Park and hiking trail stretching from the headwaters in
Julian to the Pacific Ocean.
3)According to the author, even though the SDRC does not sunset
until 2020, the SDRC has shown progress toward achieving its
mission and has worked well with local organizations and other
state agencies. SDRC has a history of clean audits and
continues to assist the Resources Agency and the State Coastal
Conservancy in expending funds from Propositions 13, 40, and
84. SDRC has yet to receive its own appropriation of
conservation bond funds, although, as noted, it was allocated
$17 million from Prop 1. The Proposition 1 funds are meant for
multibenefit water quality, water supply, and watershed
protection and restoration projects. Another sunset review of
SDRC could allow the Legislature to scrutinize the spending of
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these funds, but the reporting requirements now in the bill
will also give the Legislature the opportunity and the
information to do that. Only three other conservancies have
similar reporting requirements-State Coastal Conservancy,
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and Sierra Nevada
Conservancy.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received.
SUPPORT
Sierra Club of California
San Diego County Board of Supervisors
OPPOSITION
None Received
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