BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER Senator Fran Pavley, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Bill No: AB 1089 Hearing Date: June 9, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Author: |Eduardo Garcia | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Version: |February 27, 2015 Introduced | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Consultant:|Angee Doerr | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Coachella Mountains Conservancy. BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW Background: The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC) was established by legislation in 1991. In 1996, at the request of a broad array of interests from the Coachella Valley, the CVMC became part of the Resources Agency, as are other state conservancies. The CVMC is tasked with acquiring and protecting natural resources within the Coachella Valley region in order to ensure the longevity of these resources and enhance public enjoyment of the region. Existing Law: Public Resources Code (PRC) section 33500 declares the importance of the Coachella Valley and the need to hold the region in trust for present and future generations. PRC section 33501 creates CVMC within the Resources Agency to hold and manage public lands and resources within the Coachella Valley region. PRC section 33502.5 excludes the cities of Coachella and Indio from the territory of the CVMC. PRC section 33503 defines the governing board of CVMC. Currently, the board consists of 21 voting members, including "the mayor or a member of the city council of each of the Cities of Cathedral City, Desert Hot AB 1089 (Eduardo Garcia) Page 2 of ? Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council of each city." PROPOSED LAW This bill repeals PRC section 33502.5, which excludes the cities of Coachella and Indio from the territory of the CVMC. The bill amends PRC section 33503 to add members from Coachella and Indio to the governing board of CMC. ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT The Coachella Valley Conservation Commission writes "Coachella and Indio are home to over 120,000 residents, and providing representation for their residents would bring the Conservancy local expertise and contacts to help design and implement its conservation, trails, and restoration projects." The City of Indio's City Manager writes that this bill will clarify that the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy's "territory includes Indio and Coachella," allowing the cities to more fully participate in Conservancy programs. ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION None Received COMMENTS Why add Coachella and Indio? In 1993, under SB 494, the governing board of the CVMC was reduced in size by deleting representatives from the cities of Coachella and Indio. At the same time, the incorporated areas of Coachella and Indio were removed from the territory of the conservancy. Since that time, however, the CVMC has increased its focus on the Coachella Valley, rather than simply on the mountains surrounding it. In order to achieve long term goals of resource preservation in the region, the CVMC recognizes the need to bring the cities of Coachella and Indio back in the territory of CVMC and provide the cities representation on the governing board. SUPPORT Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC) (sponsor) Coachella City Council Coachella Valley Association of Governments Coachella Valley Conservation Commission City of Indio AB 1089 (Eduardo Garcia) Page 3 of ? Indio City Council John Benoit, Supervisor, Fourth District Riverside County OPPOSITION None Received -- END --