Senate Bill No. 355

CHAPTER 677

An act to amend Section 32605 of the Public Resources Code, relating to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.

[Approved by Governor October 9, 2015. Filed with Secretary of State October 9, 2015.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 355, Lara. San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.

Existing law establishes the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, which is responsible for the preservation and protection of specified lands within the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains area, as defined. Existing law prescribes the duties of the conservancy, and requires that its governing board be comprised of 13 voting members and 7 nonvoting members, as specified. Existing law requires that the voting members include, among other members, representatives of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, and the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities, as prescribed.

This bill would increase to 15 the number of voting members of the governing board, by adding 2 members who are residents of a city not otherwise represented on the governing board at the time of the member’s appointment, one bordering the Lower Los Angeles River and the other bordering the San Gabriel River, as prescribed. The bill would also increase the number of nonvoting members to 9, and would require that one Member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and one Member of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, serve as nonvoting members. The bill would require that those legislators serving as nonvoting members participate in activities of the conservancy only to the extent that participation is compatible with his or her duties as a legislator.

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

SECTION 1.  

Section 32605 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

32605.  

The board shall consist of 15 voting members and 9 ex officio, nonvoting members, as follows:

(a) The 15 voting members of the board shall be the following:

(1) One member of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles, or his or her designee, who represents the area or a portion thereof contained within the territory of the conservancy, appointed by the Governor.

(2) Two members of the Governing Board of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, one of whom shall be a mayor or city council member of a city bordering along the San Gabriel River, and one of whom shall be a mayor or city council member of a city bordering the San Gabriel Mountains area. One member shall be appointed by a majority of the membership of that governing board, and one member shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules from a list of two or more potential members submitted by the governing board. If the governing board fails to provide to the Senate Committee on Rules a list of two or more potential members, at least 30 days prior to the date a current member’s term of office expires, the Senate Committee on Rules may appoint a mayor or city council member of a city bordering along the San Gabriel River or the San Gabriel Mountains, or a member of the public who resides within the territory of the conservancy.

(3) Two members of the Board of Directors of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, one of whom shall be the mayor of the City of Long Beach or a city council member of the City of Long Beach appointed by the mayor, and one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly from a list of two or more potential members submitted by the executive committee of the Board of Directors of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments. The executive committee shall submit lists of potential members to the Speaker of the Assembly until an acceptable member is appointed.

(4) Two members of the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities, both of whom shall be a mayor or city council member of a city bordering along the San Gabriel River or a tributary thereof. One member shall be appointed by a majority of the membership of the city selection committee of Orange County, and one member shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of two or more potential members submitted by the city selection committee.

(5) One member shall be a representative of a member of the San Gabriel Valley Water Association appointed by a majority of the membership of the board of directors of the San Gabriel Valley Water Association.

(6) One member shall be a representative of the Central Basin Water Association appointed by a majority of the membership of the board of directors of the Central Basin Water Association.

(7) One member shall be a resident of Los Angeles County appointed by the Governor from a list of potential members submitted by local, state, and national environmental organizations that operate within the County of Los Angeles and within the territory of the conservancy and that have participated in planning for river restoration or open space, or both, or river preservation.

(8) One member, appointed by the Governor, who is a resident of a city, not otherwise represented on the board at the time of the member’s appointment, bordering the Lower Los Angeles River. The Governor shall make the appointment from a list of two or more potential members submitted by the executive committee of the Board of Directors of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments. The executive committee shall submit lists of potential members to the Governor until he or she appoints a member.

(9) One member, appointed by the Governor, who is a resident of a city, not otherwise represented on the board at the time of the member’s appointment, bordering the San Gabriel River. The Governor shall make the appointment from a list of two or more potential members submitted to the Governing Board of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. The governing board shall submit lists of potential members to the Governor until he or she appoints a member.

(10) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or his or her designee.

(11) The Secretary for Environmental Protection, or his or her designee.

(12) The Director of Finance, or his or her designee.

(b) (1) Seven of the ex officio, nonvoting members shall be the following officers or an employee of each agency designated annually by that officer to represent the office or agency:

(A) The District Engineer of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

(B) The Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region of the United States Forest Service.

(C) The Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

(D) The Director of the Orange County Public Facility and Resource Department.

(E) A member of the San Gabriel River Watermaster, appointed by a majority of the members of the San Gabriel River Watermaster.

(F) The Director of Parks and Recreation.

(G) The Executive Officer of the Wildlife Conservation Board.

(2) (A) Two of the ex officio, nonvoting members shall be the following:

(i) One Member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(ii) One Member of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(B) A member appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall meet with the conservancy and participate in its activities to the extent that participation is compatible with his or her duties as a legislator.



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