BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
110 (Smyth)
Hearing Date: 08/27/2009 Amended: As introduced
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy Policy Vote: NR&W 9-1
_________________________________________________________________
____
BILL SUMMARY: This bill would allow the Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy to adjust the boundaries of the Rim of the Valley
Trail Corridor to include Elsmere Canyon.
_________________________________________________________________
____
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Fund
Updating maps Minor and absorbable Special
*
Land acquisition Unknown, potentially in the millionsBonds
**
* Environmental License Plate Fund
** Proposition 84
_________________________________________________________________
____
STAFF COMMENTS: Suspense file.
Under the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Act, the
Conservancy is required to develop hiking and equestrian trail
connections and accessways following the Rim of the Valley
Trail, as identified in statute. The Conservancy is required to
prepare and adopt a coordinated trail and development plan, and
a recreational access program for the Rim of the Valley Trail
Corridor.
AB 330 (Runner, 1999) specifically excluded Elsmere Canyon from
the Rim of the Valley Corridor due to concerns that inclusion
would impede the development of a landfill in the area. The Los
Angeles County Sanitation District has since abandoned plans to
develop a landfill in Elsmere Canyon.
SB 110 would allow the Conservancy to adjust the boundaries of
the Rim of the Valley Corridor to include Elsmere Canyon if
either 1) the Conservancy determines that the change is
justified by relevant scientific information and land use
planning information, or 2) the owner of property in Elsmere
Canyon submits a request to the Conservancy requesting that the
property owner's land be included in the corridor.
By expanding the Corridor, this bill would result in cost
pressures to acquire some or all of the lands in Elsmere Canyon.
The cost to acquire those lands is unknown. There is about $5.5
million remaining in Proposition 84 bond funds for Conservancy
projects.
SB 110 is substantially similar to SB 1180 (Runner) from last
year. However, SB 1180 was amended in this committee to prohibit
the use of state funds to acquire additional lands in Elsmere
Canyon. SB 1180 was vetoed by the Governor due to the late
adoption of the Budget Act.