Amended in Assembly April 12, 2016

Amended in Assembly March 18, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2534

Introduced by Assembly Member Nazarian

February 19, 2016

An act to add Section 33213.5 to the Public Resources Code, relating to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2534, as amended, Nazarian. Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy: working group: Los Angeles River Greenway.

Existing law establishes the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and prescribes the membership and functions and duties of the conservancy with regard to the protection and preservation of lands within the Santa Monica Mountains Zone, as defined.

This bill would require the conservancy to establish the Los Angeles River Regional Access and Economic Sustainability Working Group to evaluate and make recommendations for conservancy action pertaining to public access and business integration needs, opportunities, and constraints in areas along and in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River in the San Fernando Valley, as prescribed.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(a) The Los Angeles River Greenway Trail system in the San
Fernando Valley continues to expand and provides an
unprecedented opportunity to establish a green, natural open space,
with recreational, environmental, and economic amenities, that
can serve all residents of the San Fernando Valley and other areas
in Los Angeles County, as well as visitors from around the world.

(b) River restoration and revitalization efforts throughout the
United States have successfully reunited urban rivers with both
the natural environment, surrounding communities, and area
businesses and have served to establish vibrant, regional,
visitor-serving resources that contribute to the quality of life, public
health, and regional economic sustainability.

(c) There are hundreds of visitor-serving businesses adjacent
to and in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River in the San Fernando
Valley, but these businesses primarily face away from the river
with limited or no established connection to the river or visitors
to the river.

(d) A planned regional bicycle network is being implemented
that includes the Los Angeles River, wherein the river is intended
to serve as the backbone of the network, and a plan is needed to
ensure that businesses adjacent to and in the vicinity of the river
are bicycle friendly and able to attract and serve visitors to the
river.

SEC. 2.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to accomplish all of
the following:

(a) Advance the revitalization of the Los Angeles River in the
San Fernando Valley by addressing the need for regional public
access to the river and connectivity between businesses adjacent
to and in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River with the Los
Angeles River Greenway, river trails, and bicycle networks.

(b) Enhance both the economic sustainability of businesses
adjacent to and in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River Greenway
in the San Fernando Valley and the experience visitors to the Los
Angeles River by linking those businesses with the Los Angeles
River Greenway.

(c) Identify the needs, opportunities, and constraints related to
regional public access and the establishment of permanent
connections between area businesses and the Los Angeles River
Greenway in the San Fernando Valley.

SEC. 3.  

Section 33213.5 is added to the Public Resources Code,
to read:

33213.5.  

(a)  begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert The conservancy shall establish the Los
Angeles River Regional Access and Economic Sustainability
Working Group.

begin insert

(2) The conservancy shall consider requests from local
government entities to have a representative serve as a member
of the working group. The working group may include, but need
not be limited to, representatives from the conservancy, the City
of Los Angeles, nonprofit organizations, environmental
organizations, the business community, and city council districts
and legislative districts bordering the Los Angeles River.

end insert

(b) The working group shall focus its efforts on the geographic
area from the headwaters of the Los Angeles River at the
confluence of Bell and Calabasas Creeks to Griffith Park and its
southern boundary along Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando
Valley.

(c) The working group shall do all of the following:

(1) Review and evaluate the integration needs, opportunities,
and constraints with respect to regional public access and the
connectivity among businesses along and in the vicinity of the
river, visitors to the river, and the Los Angeles River Greenway,
river trails, and bicycle networks, including the use of the public
parking garage located at begin delete ____ end delete Ventura Boulevard begin insert between
Laurelgrove Avenue and Vantage Avenue end insert and adjacent to the river.

(2) Develop practical recommendations for establishing
permanent connectivity between area businesses, bicycle networks,
and the river.

begin insert

(3) Develop recommendations for appropriate outdoor education
and environmental interpretation signage for areas and facilities
along the Los Angeles River.

end insert begin delete

(3)

end delete

begin insert (4) end insert  Prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for
implementation by the conservancy, including geographic scope,
financing, and specific projects.

(d) To assist the working group in carrying out its duties, the
conservancy shall do both of the following.

(1) Retain experts to conduct necessary technical economic and
other studies and analyses, as requested by the working group.

(2) Provide necessary staffing for the working group.