BILL ANALYSIS
Bill No: AB
889
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 889 Author: Jones
As Proposed to be Amended: June 23, 2009
Hearing Date: June 23, 2009
Consultant: Art Terzakis
SUBJECT
Bushy Lake and Urban American River Parkway
DESCRIPTION
AB 889 is an urgency measure that codifies the latest
version of the American River Parkway Plan. Specifically,
this measure:
1. Expands the American River Parkway from a 23-mile open
space greenbelt to a 29-mile open space greenbelt and
declares that the County of Sacramento and the City of
Sacramento have adopted by resolution, and the City of
Rancho Cordova has endorsed by resolution, the 2008
American River Parkway Plan to prevent incompatible land
uses in the lower American River flood plain.
2. Allows for up to 34 days of parking on a section of the
California Exposition and State Fair (CalExpo) flood
plain for vehicles related to agricultural and
equestrian events taking place at Cal Expo.
3. Allows for an acre of the Cal Expo parking area to be
open to parkway users except when the area is being used
for the State Fair or agricultural and equestrian
events.
4. Requires that the Bushy Lake area be managed in a
manner consistent with the American River Parkway Plan
as well the state natural preserve areas.
AB 889 (Jones) continued
Page 2
5. Adds recognition of the City of Rancho Cordova (which
has incorporated since the 1985 plan update).
6. Allows for the plan to be amended by a local amendment
process (carried out by the Sacramento County Board of
Supervisors) without Legislative approval provided the
amendment is consistent with the existing goals and
policies of the plan.
7. Deletes outdated language regarding in-line skating on
the parkway and makes other minor necessary revisions to
the American River Parkway statute.
BACKGROUND/EXISTING LAW
The American River Parkway is a 29-mile open space
greenbelt that extends from Folsom Dam to the confluence of
the American River with the Sacramento River. A plan to
protect the parkway as an open space greenbelt was first
conceived in 1962 and most recently updated in 1985. The
regulatory document aims to preserve the recreational and
open-space functions of the river, including fishing,
hiking, bicycling, and other activities. It requires local
and state agencies' land use decisions to be consistent
with the act, with narrow exceptions for flood channel
operations, operations at the state fairgrounds, and
expansion of a water treatment plant and a sanitary
landfill.
The American River Parkway includes a portion of the
California Exposition flood plain including the Bushy Lake
Area. Under the Bushy Lake Preservation Act (commencing
with Section 5830), the flood plain must be preserved by
the Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors in a
manner similar to state parks except for an area that may
be used for State Fair parking. The Bushy Lake area must
be managed in a manner consistent with state natural
preserve areas except for a small area that may be open for
group picnics.
The author states, "The County of Sacramento, the Cities of
Sacramento and Rancho Cordova, and numerous stakeholders
from across the region have been working to update the 1985
Parkway Plan since 2002. The updated plan was created thru
extensive discussion and is the result [of] true
AB 889 (Jones) continued
Page 3
collaboration amongst the various stakeholders. The plan
seeks to provide greater access to the parkway while
ensuring the preservation of this unique cultural and
historical treasure for generations to come."
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
AB 951 (Jones) Chapter 19, Statutes of 2007. Prohibited
the possession of alcoholic beverages whether open or
closed, on non-motorized vessels along the American River
between the Hazel Avenue and Watt Avenue bridges during
three summer holiday periods - Memorial Day, 4th of July,
and Labor Day.
SUPPORT: As of June 19, 2009:
County of Sacramento (sponsor)
American River Parkway Advisory task Force
American River Parkway Volunteer Equestrian Trail Patrol
California Exposition and State Fair (CalExpo)
Cities of Rancho Cordova
City of Sacramento
Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates
Save the American River Association
Sunriver Neighborhood Association
OPPOSE: None on file as of June 19, 2009.
FISCAL COMMITTEE: Senate Appropriations Committee
**********