BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
Senator Fran Pavley, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2189 Hearing Date: June 28,
2016
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|Author: |Irwin | | |
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|Version: |March 28, 2016 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Katharine Moore |
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Subject: Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor: boundary revisions
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
1.The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (conservancy) was
established in the Natural Resources Agency in 1980 (see
Public Resources Code §§33000 et seq.). In the years since,
the conservancy has helped to preserve over 73,000 acres of
parkland in both wilderness and urban setting, and has
improved more than 114 public recreational facilities
throughout Southern California.
2.According to the conservancy, its mission is to "strategically
buy back, preserve, protect, restore and enhance pieces of
Southern California to form an interlinking system of urban,
rural and river parks, open space, trails and wildlife
habitats through direction action, alliances and
partnerships."
3.Existing law prescribes the functions and duties of the
conservancy with regard to the preservation, protection, and
management of specified lands in the Santa Monica Mountains
Zone (zone), as defined.
4.The boundaries of the zone have changed over time. In 1983,
the boundaries of the zone were altered to include hiking and
equestrian trail connections and accessways following the Rim
of the Valley trail corridor (trail corridor). The boundaries
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were expanded again in 1989 to include the Santa Clarita
Woodlands located in the Santa Susana Mountains. Other minor
boundary adjustments are also authorized. Certain boundaries
may be revised by the conservancy if it determines a boundary
revision is necessary based upon relevant scientific
information and land use planning studies and after holding at
least one public hearing, as specified.
5.Currently the southern portion of the City of Moorpark is
within the conservancy's corridor and the City of Moorpark has
held a seat on the conservancy's advisory committee since
1992.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would:
1)Authorize the conservancy to expand the boundaries of the Rim
of the Valley trail corridor in the vicinity, as specified, of
the City of Moorpark.
a) Any revision must be based upon relevant scientific and
land use planning studies and after holding at least one
public hearing in the affected area leading to the
determination that a boundary revision is necessary.
b) The executive director of the conservancy prepares and
files a revised map showing the changes in the Rim of the
Valley trail corridor's boundaries with the Secretary of
State and legislative committees. The revised map must be
in accordance with the purposes and objections of the
coordinated trail development plan and recreational access
program for the trail corridor.
2)Make relevant and appropriate legislative findings, and
3)Not affect the jurisdiction of the State Coastal Conservancy.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author, "[a]n 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
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common goals and objectives. The Conservancy and City [of
Moorpark] 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."
The conservancy, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation
Authority and the City of Moorpark in their letters of support
echo the author's comments.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received
COMMENTS
Those most directly affected by this proposal support the bill .
The City of Moorpark is the bill's sponsor, and the conservancy
supports the bill.
Recent related bills
AB 2534 (Nazarian, 2016) would allow the conservancy to
establish a working group for regional access and economic
sustainability along the Los Angeles River in its San Fernando
Valley reach, as specified (before the Senate Natural Resources
and Water Committee)
AB 110 (Smyth, c. 407, Statutes of 2009) expanded the geographic
area within which the conservancy may revise the boundaries of
the Rim of the Valley trail corridor to includes areas in the
vicinity of the City of Santa Clarita, including Elsmere Canyon
and its watershed.
SUPPORT
City of Moorpark (sponsor)
Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
OPPOSITION
None Received
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