BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2189
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Date of Hearing: April 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Das Williams, Chair
AB 2189
(Irwin) - As Amended March 28, 2016
SUBJECT: Rim of the Valley Trail corridor: boundary revisions
SUMMARY: Expands the geographic scope within which the Santa
Monica Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) may revise the
boundaries of the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Creates the Conservancy to protect the natural resources of,
and promote recreational opportunities in, the Santa Monica
Mountains. The Conservancy is authorized to acquire land from
willing sellers, and to provide grants to local governments
and non-profit organizations for planning, acquisition,
improvement, and operation of wildlife habitat and recreation
resources within the Santa Monica Mountains Zone (Zone).
2)Expanded the boundaries of the Zone twice: first in 1983, to
include hiking and equestrian trail connections and accessways
following the Rim of the Valley Trail; and again in 1989, to
include the Santa Clarita Woodlands portion of the Santa
Susana Mountains and other minor boundary adjustments.
3)Required the Conservancy to prepare and adopt a coordinated
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trail development plan and recreational access program for the
Corridor by 1990. In order to implement the plan, the
executive director of the Conservancy was authorized to make
minor boundary changes prior to July 31, 1990.
4)Authorizes the Conservancy to revise the boundary of the
Corridor near Placerita Canyon State Park east of State Route
14, including Whitney Canyon and its adjacent watersheds, if
it determines, based on scientific information and land use
planning studies and after holding a public hearing, that such
a revision is necessary.
5)Expands the geographic scope within which the Conservancy may
revise the boundaries of the Corridor to include areas in the
vicinity of the City of Santa Clarita, including Elsmere
Canyon and its watershed.
THIS BILL:
1)Expands the geographic scope within which the Conservancy may
revise the boundaries of the Corridor to include areas in the
vicinity of the City of Moorpark.
2)Requires the determination on whether to revise the boundaries
to be based on relevant scientific information.
3)Describes the area in the vicinity of Moorpark.
4)Requires any revised map prepared by the Conservancy to be in
accordance with the purposes and objectives of the coordinated
trail development plan and recreational access program for the
Corridor.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
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COMMENTS:
1)Background: The Conservancy was established by the
Legislature in 1980. Since that time, it has helped preserve
over 73,000 acres of parkland in both wilderness and urban
settings, and has improved more than 114 public recreational
facilities throughout Southern California. Currently, the
southern portion of Moorpark is within the Conservancy's
Corridor and Moorpark has held a seat on the Conservancy's
Advisory Committee since 1992. The mission of the Conservancy
is to strategically preserve and protect portions of Southern
California to form an interlinking system of parks, open
space, trails, and wildlife habitats through direct action,
alliances, and partnerships. The author states:
An expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
boundaries to include areas in and around the City of
Moorpark would greatly strengthen the partnership
between the two entities and aid both in accomplishing
their common goals and objectives. The Conservancy and
City could then combine both financial and technical
resources to preserve open space, establish
greenbelts, and create new recreational and
educational opportunities for both residents and
visitors in the Moorpark area.
This bill would permit the Conservancy to revise its
borders based on scientific information, which can
include land use planning studies and information to
evaluate the conservation and habitat value of the land.
The Conservancy conducted a similar process in the
vicinity of the City of Santa Clarita, which resulted in
Elsmere Canyon being added to the Conservancy.
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2)Prior Legislation.
AB 110 (Smyth), Chapter 407, Statutes of 2009, expanded the
geographic scope within which the Conservancy may revise
the boundaries of the Corridor to include areas in the
vicinity of the City of Santa Clarita, including Elsmere
Canyon and its watershed.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
City of Moorpark
Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Michael Jarred / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092
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