BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1251 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 1251 (Gomez) As Amended April 14, 2015 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------+------+--------------------+--------------------| |Water |10-4 |Levine, Dodd, |Bigelow, Beth | | | |Cristina Garcia, |Gaines, Harper, | | | |Gomez, Gray, Lopez, |Mathis | | | |Medina, Rendon, | | | | |Ridley-Thomas, | | | | |Williams | | | | | | | |----------------+------+--------------------+--------------------| |Local |9-0 |Maienschein, | | |Government | |Gonzalez, Alejo, | | | | |Chiu, Cooley, | | | | |Gordon, Holden, | | | | |Linder, Waldron | | | | | | | |----------------+------+--------------------+--------------------| |Appropriations |12-4 |Gomez, Bonta, |Bigelow, Gallagher, | | | |Calderon, Daly, |Jones, Wagner | | | |Eggman, Eduardo | | | | |Garcia, Gordon, | | | | |Holden, Quirk, | | | | |Rendon, Weber, Wood | | AB 1251 Page 2 | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Enacts the Greenway Development and Sustainment Act. Specifically, this bill: 1)Authorizes a tax-exempt nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is the development of a greenway to acquire and hold conservation easements. 2)Defines a greenway for purposes of this section as, among other characteristics, a pedestrian and bicycle, non-motorized, vehicle transportation and recreational travel corridor with specified requirements. 3)Adds greenways, as defined in this bill, to the definition of "open-space" land which can be included in the open space element of a county or city general plan. Identifies the uses of greenways, as a type of open-space land, to include both preservation of natural resources and outdoor recreation. 4)States legislative findings and declarations regarding the suitability of the area along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries for development of a greenway, the benefits that a greenway that focuses on public private partnerships aimed at establishing a continuous pedestrian bikeway along the River would provide for job creation, economic development, and community revitalization, and the availability of funding sources for these purposes. EXISTING LAW: AB 1251 Page 3 1)Authorizes a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has as its primary purpose the preservation, protection, or enhancement of land it its natural, scenic, historical, agricultural, forested, or open-space condition or use, to acquire and hold conservation easements. 2)Defines "open space land" for local land use planning purposes. FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, state cost pressures, potentially in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and other special funds) to fund greenways and transportation corridors. COMMENTS: The author's stated purpose in introducing this bill is to promote greenway development in California. This bill clarifies that a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose primary purpose is to develop a greenway, is authorized to acquire and hold conservation easements. This bill also defines a greenway for these purposes. In addition, this bill adds greenways to the types of open space lands that may be included in the open space element of a county or city general plan. The author notes that greenways improve the quality of life in communities by providing connectivity between communities, and important recreational, open space, wildlife, flood management, water quality, air quality, transportation, emergency response, and urban waterfront revitalization opportunities. This bill is focused on promotion of greenways generally throughout the state. As an example of a proposed greenway, there has been significant interest in the potential for development of a Los Angeles River Greenway through public-private partnerships AB 1251 Page 4 aimed at establishing a continuous pedestrian/bikeway along the Los Angeles River and its key tributaries. Supporters of the proposed project highlight the potential for job creation, economic development, and community revitalization that could be fostered by investing in a non-motorized commuter and recreational transit route following the 51 mile Los Angeles River corridor, and connecting existing communities to a network of parks and multi-use trails. For a more detailed discussion and background on the history of the Los Angeles River, and recent efforts to restore the river and revitalize surrounding communities, see the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee analysis of AB 1922 (Gomez) of 2014. This bill is substantially similar to AB 1922 (Gomez) of 2014 which was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee, and AB 735 (Gomez) of 2014, which proposed to create a Greenway Initiative, including development of a greenway along the Los Angeles River. AB 735 was held in Assembly Appropriations Committee. Analysis Prepared by: Diane Colborn / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0000594