BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2189
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
2189 (Irwin)
As Amended March 28, 2016
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Natural |9-0 |Williams, Jones, | |
|Resources | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Cristina Garcia, | |
| | |Gomez, Hadley, | |
| | |Harper, McCarty, Mark | |
| | |Stone, Wood | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Appropriations |19-1 |Gonzalez, Bigelow, |Gallagher |
| | |Bloom, Bonilla, | |
| | |Bonta, Calderon, | |
| | |Chang, Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, Roger | |
| | |Hernández, Holden, | |
| | |Jones, Obernolte, | |
| | |Quirk, Santiago, | |
| | |Wagner, Weber, Wood | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
AB 2189
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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.
Specifically, 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)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.
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
trail development plan and recreational access program for the
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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.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)Potential administrative cost pressures resulting from the
potential boundary expansion in the $100,000 to $200,000 range
(Environmental License Plate Fund).
2)Potential unknown acquisition or development cost pressures to
preserve open space and create recreational and educational
opportunities in the Moorpark area (various funds).
COMMENTS: 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
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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.
Analysis Prepared by:
Michael Jarred / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN:
0003111
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