BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
Senator Fran Pavley, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2534 Hearing Date: June 28,
2016
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|Author: |Nazarian | | |
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|Version: |June 9, 2016 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Katharine Moore |
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Subject: Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy: working group:
Los Angeles River Greenway
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.The Los Angeles River (River) forms from its headwaters in the
western San Fernando Valley and flows easterly across the
Valley through Griffith Park where the river turns to the
south, and passes through downtown Los Angeles and additional
downstream cities en route to its estuary in Long Beach. The
River is entirely with the County of Los Angeles (County).
4.The approximately 32 miles of the River upstream of the City
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of Vernon is considered to be the upper River and is within
the bounds of the City of Los Angeles.
5.The areas surrounding the River are widely considered to have
relatively few open space and park areas. Historical
development along the River in many instances served to
isolate the River from the surrounding communities.
6.In the early 1990s, community activism over turning a railyard
adjacent to the River into open space coincided with the
County beginning a process that - after considerable input
from stakeholders and community outreach - resulted in the
County's Los Angeles River Master Plan (Master Plan) in 1996.
The Master Plan described how economic growth could be spurred
along the River in the County through zoning changes and the
development of open space, recreational, cultural, artistic,
educational and other opportunities. Ultimately over several
decades, the River will be returned to a less-polluted,
functioning riparian environment in as many reaches as
possible, while still controlling flooding and providing
recreational opportunities.
7.The City of Los Angeles' Los Angeles River Revitalization
Master Plan (Revitalization Master Plan) was released in 2007.
Continuing the long-term goals of the County Master Plan, the
Revitalization Master Plan also promoted the revitalization of
the River as a multi-benefit solution to addressing and
enhancing water quality and flood control while enabling safe
access to the River and restoring a functional river
ecosystem. The City's Revitalization Master Plan focused on
the upper River.
8.Both plans contain a list of River projects to be completed
and seek to re-focus the surrounding neighborhoods on the
River to help form a sense of identity, improve the quality of
life and boost civic pride. Since the Master Plan and
Revitalization Master Plan were developed, numerous River
restoration efforts including the creation of habitat, pocket
parks and bikeways have been undertaken, as well as guidelines
established for signage and other features.
9.The conservancy, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation
Authority and others are working to transform the Los Angeles
River (River) into a continuous recreational greenway composed
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of trails, parks and natural lands to provide new recreational
opportunities with accompanying economic benefits. The
conservancy's website notes several parks among its efforts to
implement the River greenway project. Additionally, both City
and County planning efforts include bikeways adjacent to
virtually all reaches of the River and its tributaries.
Several stretches have already been built.
10.In 2014 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommended that the
most extensive restoration alternative provided by its Los
Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Report be
undertaken at an estimated cost of over $1 billion. The area
to be restored focuses on the 11 mile soft-bottomed stretch of
the River from roughly Griffith Park to downtown called the
ARBOR reach. There are also additional federal efforts
underway to coordinate revitalization efforts along the River.
11.In 2015, AB 530 (Rendon, c. 684, Statutes of 2015)
established the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group to
develop revitalization plans for the lower River.
12.In 2015, it was also announced that the noted architect,
Frank Gehry, was recruited by the Los Angeles River
Revitalization Corporation (now "River LA") to develop a
restoration plan for the River. River LA is a public-private
partnership whose founding was one of the recommendations of
the City's Revitalization Master Plan.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would require the conservancy to establish the Los
Angeles River Regional Access and Economic Sustainability
Working Group (working group) to evaluate and make
recommendations for conservancy action in areas along and in the
vicinity of the Los Angeles River in the San Fernando Valley, as
prescribed.
More specifically, the bill would:
1)State legislative intent to advance the revitalization,
enhance the economic sustainability of businesses and the
experience of visitors, and identify the needs, opportunities
and constraints related to regional public access and
permanent connections between area businesses along and
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adjacent to the Los Angeles River in the San Fernando Valley,
as specified.
2)Require the conservancy to establish the working group with
specified membership and geographic focus.
3)Direct the working group to:
a) Review and evaluate methods to increase connectivity
between businesses and the river's greenway, trails and
bicycle networks.
b) Develop practical recommendations for permanent
connectivity between businesses, bicycle networks and the
river.
c) Coordinate with the Lower Los Angeles River Working
Group.
d) Develop recommendations for outdoor education and
environmental interpretation signage along the River, as
specified.
e) Prepare and report of its findings and recommendations,
as specified.
4)Authorize the conservancy to provide certain assistance to the
working group, and
5)Make appropriate and relevant legislative findings.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author, "[r]iver restoration and revitalization
efforts throughout the U.S. have successfully reunited urban
rivers with the natural environment, surrounding communities,
and area businesses. [?] Existing businesses in the city of Los
Angeles, especially the San Fernando Valley, provide a unique
opportunity to further revitalization efforts given their
proximity. Angelenos and visitors will frequent the River more
often if: 1) getting to the River is made easier; and, 2)
awareness of existing businesses along the River is provided to
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patrons. This bill will allow stakeholders to develop ways to
improve access and, in turn, generate further economic growth."
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received
COMMENTS
Proposed working group furthers the goals of existing
revitalization efforts . The working group's charge is well
within the stated goals of existing River revitalization
efforts. The working group is directed to work with additional
revitalization efforts underway on different reaches of the
River. However, the existing geographical jurisdiction of the
conservancy and the proposed area for the working group, while
defined differently, include the western reaches of the river.
Therefore the Committee may wish to revise the name of the
working group to better reflect this. [Amendment 1]
Funding for the working group? While outside this Committee's
jurisdiction, the conservancy suggests in its letter of support,
the following amendment - "The development and implementation of
[the] working group may be eligible for funding from any public
or private source, including, but not limited to, funding
pursuant to Section 79735 of the Water Code." The referenced
Water Code section is to the support for projects that protect
and enhance urban creeks and their tributaries, as specified, in
2014's voter-approved Proposition 1.
Recent related legislation
SB 1374 (Lara, 2016) would create the Lower Los Angeles River
Recreation and Park District, as specified. (before the Assembly
Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee)
AB 530 (Rendon, c. 684, Statutes of 2015) created the Lower Los
Angeles River Working Group to develop a revitalization plan for
the Lower Los Angeles River watershed.
AB 1251 (Gomez, c. 639, Statutes of 2015) enacted the Greenway
Development and Sustainment Act that, among other things,
defined greenway as a pedestrian and bicycle, nonmotorized
vehicle transportation and recreational travel corridor that
meets specified requirements with legislative findings specific
to the development of greenway along the Los Angeles River and
its tributaries.
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SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS
AMENDMENT 1
On page 3, line 10, add "San Fernando Valley" between
"River" and "Regional"
SUPPORT
Community Conservation Solutions (sponsor)
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
OPPOSITION
None Received
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