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 Riverbegin insert San Fernando Valleyend insert 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 and the Los Angeles
32River Greenway, river trails, and bicycle networks.
P3 1(b) Enhance both the economic sustainability of businesses
2adjacent to and in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River Greenway
3in the San Fernando Valley and the experience of visitors to the
4Los Angeles
River by linking those businesses with the Los
5Angeles River Greenway.
6(c) Identify the needs, opportunities, and constraints related to
7regional public access and the establishment of permanent
8connections between area businesses and the Los Angeles River
9Greenway in the San Fernando Valley.
Section 33213.5 is added to the Public Resources Code,
11to read:
(a) (1) The conservancy shall establish the Los
13Angeles Riverbegin insert San Fernando Valleyend insert Regional Access and
14Economic Sustainability Working Group.
15(2) The conservancy shall consider requests from local
16government entities to have a representative serve as a member of
17the working group. The working group may include, but need not
18be limited to, representatives from the conservancy, the City of
19Los Angeles, nonprofit organizations, environmental organizations,
20the business community, and city council districts and legislative
21districts bordering the Los
Angeles River.
22(b) The working group may focus its efforts on the geographic
23area from the headwaters of the Los Angeles River at the
24confluence of Bell and Calabasas Creeks to Griffith Park and its
25southern boundary along Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando
26Valley or any other part of the area adjacent to the Upper Los
27Angeles River.
28(c) The working group shall do all of the following:
29(1) Review and evaluate ways to increase connectivity between
30businesses adjacent to and in the vicinity of the river and the Los
31Angeles River Greenway, river trails, and bicycle networks.
32(2) Develop practical recommendations for establishing
33permanent
connectivity between area businesses, bicycle networks,
34and the river.
35(3) Coordinate with the Lower Los Angeles River Working
36Group established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 32622.
37(4) Develop recommendations for appropriate outdoor education
38and environmental interpretation signage for areas and facilities
39along the Los Angeles River.
P4 1(5) Prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for
2implementation by the conservancy, including geographic scope,
3financing, and specific projects.
4(d) To assist the working group in carrying out its duties, the
5conservancy may do both of the following:
6(1) Retain experts to conduct necessary technical economic and
7other studies and analyses, as requested by the working group.
8(2) Provide necessary staffing for the working group.
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