BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2214
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 19, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Wesley Chesbro, Chair
AB 2214 (Fuentes) - As Amended: April 6, 2010
SUBJECT : Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy: Pacoima Wash.
SUMMARY : Requires the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
(Conservancy) to develop a feasibility study for the Pacoima
Wash.
EXISTING LAW : Establishes the Conservancy to award grants or
loans to cities, counties, districts, or nonprofit organizations
to restore, enhance, acquire, or conserve resources or develop
recreational opportunities in and around the Santa Monica
Mountains environment.
THIS BILL :
1)Requires the Conservancy to develop a feasibility study for
the Pacoima Wash, to:
a) Establish objectives for development of a greenbelt
around the Pacoima Wash to expand recreational
opportunities and improve natural habitat;
b) Establish the boundaries of the study;
c) Inventory existing land and its uses;
d) Analyze land parcels along the Pacoima Wash that show
potential for development of a greenbelt and other
recreational development;
e) Engage in community outreach and input; and,
f) Analyze the topology (sic) of the Pacoima Wash.
2)Specify that in preparing the study, the Conservancy use
existing budget resources and voluntary private and non-profit
local resources, and request voluntary cooperation of the
other governmental authorities with jurisdiction over the
Pacoima Wash.
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3)Specifies that the study shall provide for:
a) Development of a greenbelt around the Pacoima Wash;
b) Acquisition of real property in and abutting the Pacoima
Wash and the acceptance of dedications or easements of tax
delinquent property;
c) A means by which to apply for grants or loans to
purchase or restore park, recreation, conservation, or
open-space opportunities;
d) Recommendations designed to provide and enhance
recreational access; and,
e) The establishment of a greenbelt in the Pacoima Wash.
4)States the Legislature's intent that the Conservancy prepare
the study using existing resources and directs the Conservancy
to apply for grants. In cases in which the Conservancy is not
eligible for a grant, directs it to partner with Pacoima
Beautiful to apply for grants.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to the author, the Pacoima Wash is a
10-mile flood control channel built in the 1940s that runs from
the Pacoima Dam in the San Gabriel Mountains to the Arleta
Spreading Grounds. Currently enclosed by fencing with few
pedestrian crossings, the Wash attracts trash, graffiti, and
fosters undesirable uses and activities. The author states that
the Wash presents a great opportunity for recreational
activities and wildlife habitat.
Pacoima Beautiful, a community-based non-profit organization's
stated mission is to "empower the Pacoima community through
programs that provide environmental education, advocacy and
local leadership in order to foster a healthy and safe
environment." The organization has created the Pacoima Wash
Vision Plan Initiative (Initiative) to "create a Vision Plan for
areas of the Wash located within Los Angeles city limits,
specifically in the community of Pacoima and Sylmar. The Vision
Plan will call for the transformation of the Pacoima Wash from
an eye-sore into a vital recreational amenity, composed of bike
and pedestrian lanes linking together new parks and open space
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and allowing the residents of the Northeast Valley access to the
Angeles National Forest."
This bill is intended to codify the importance of the Pacoima
Wash and further the goals of the Initiative.
As currently drafted, this bill includes several provisions that
would be appropriate for an access plan, but are not consistent
with a feasibility study. The committee may wish to amend the
bill to clarify that this bill applies to a feasibility study,
and make conforming technical and clarifying changes, as
follows:
1)Replace "topology" with "topography" on page 2, line 24.
2)In order to allow the Conservancy to pursue all available
funding sources for the study required by this bill, delete
"local" on page 2, line 27.
3)Delete a drafting error that left duplicative language in the
bill by striking Section 33216 (c) (page 2, line 30 through
page 3, line 9).
4)Clarify the legislative intent language, to read:
(d) The Legislature intends that at the beginning of its new
charge to prepare a study pursuant to subdivision (a), the
Conservancy do so within its existing budgetary resources. As
grant opportunities present themselves become available , the
Legislature intends that the Conservancy apply for those
grants. In instances when it cannot apply for grants due to
ineligibility, the Legislature encourages the commission
Conservancy to partner with on those grants with the
community-based organization Pacoima Beautiful, which is a
major community stakeholder in the San Fernando Valley with a
vested community-based organizations with an interest in
seeing the Pacoima Wash develop into a greenbelt.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Opposition
AB 2214
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None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092