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:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
3(a) The Los Angeles River Greenway Trail system in the San
4Fernando Valley continues to expand and provides an
5unprecedented opportunity to establish a green, natural open space,
6with recreational, environmental, and economic amenities, that
7can serve all residents of the San Fernando Valley and other areas
8in Los Angeles County, as well as visitors from around the world.
9(b) River restoration and revitalization efforts throughout the
10United States have successfully reunited urban rivers with both
11the natural environment,
surrounding communities, and area
12businesses and have served to establish vibrant, regional,
13visitor-serving resources that contribute to the quality of life, public
14health, and regional economic sustainability.
15(c) There are hundreds of visitor-serving businesses adjacent
16to and in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River in the San Fernando
17Valley, but these businesses primarily face away from the river
18with limited or no established connection to the river or visitors
19to the river.
20(d) A planned regional bicycle network is being implemented
21that includes the Los Angeles River, wherein the river is intended
22to serve as the backbone of the network, and a plan is needed to
23ensure that businesses adjacent to and in the vicinity of the river
24are bicycle friendly and able to attract
and serve visitors to the
25river.
It is the intent of the Legislature to accomplish all of
27the following:
28(a) Advance the revitalization of the Los Angeles River in the
29San Fernando Valley by addressing the need for regional public
30access to the river and connectivity between businesses adjacent
31to and in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River with the Los
32Angeles River Greenway, river trails, and bicycle networks.
33(b) Enhance both the economic sustainability of businesses
34adjacent to and in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River Greenway
35in the San Fernando Valley and the experiencebegin insert
ofend insert visitors to the
36Los Angeles River by linking those businesses with the Los
37Angeles River Greenway.
P3 1(c) Identify the needs, opportunities, and constraints related to
2regional public access and the establishment of permanent
3connections between area businesses and the Los Angeles River
4Greenway in the San Fernando Valley.
Section 33213.5 is added to the Public Resources Code,
6to read:
(a) (1) The conservancy shall establish the Los
8Angeles River Regional Access and Economic Sustainability
9Working Group.
10(2) The conservancy shall consider requests from local
11government entities to have a representative serve as a member of
12the working group. The working group may include, but need not
13be limited to, representatives from the conservancy, the City of
14Los Angeles, nonprofit organizations, environmental organizations,
15the business community, and city council districts and legislative
16districts bordering the Los Angeles River.
17(b) The working group shall focus its efforts
on the geographic
18area from the headwaters of the Los Angeles River at the
19confluence of Bell and Calabasas Creeks to Griffith Park and its
20southern boundary along Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando
21Valley.
22(c) The working group shall do all of the following:
23(1) Review and evaluate the integration needs, opportunities,
24and constraints with respect to regional public access and the
25connectivity among businesses along and in the vicinity of the
26river, visitors to the river, and the Los Angeles River Greenway,
27river trails, and bicycle networks, including the use of the public
28parking garage located at Ventura Boulevard between Laurelgrove
29Avenue and Vantage Avenue and adjacent to the river.
30(2) Develop practical
recommendations for establishing
31permanent connectivity between area businesses, bicycle networks,
32and the river.
33(3) Develop recommendations for appropriate outdoor education
34and environmental interpretation signage for areas and facilities
35along the Los Angeles River.
36(4) Prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for
37implementation by the conservancy, including geographic scope,
38financing, and specific projects.
39(d) To assist the working group in carrying out its duties, the
40conservancybegin delete shallend deletebegin insert mayend insert do both of the following.
P4 1(1) Retain experts to conduct necessary technical economic and
2other studies and analyses, as requested by the working group.
3(2) Provide necessary staffing for the working group.
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