Existing law creates the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy in the Natural Resources Agency and, among other things, authorizes the conservancy to acquire and hold specified lands in the Coachella Valley and the Coachella Mountains for certain open-space, wildlife protection, and recreational uses. Existing law specifies that the governing board of the conservancy consists of 21 voting members, including, among other members, the mayor or a member of the city council of each of the Cities of Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council or each city.

This bill would expand to 23 the membership of the governing board of the conservancy, and would include the mayor or a member of the city council of the Cities of Coachella and Indio, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council of those cities.

Existing law prescribes the territory of the conservancy, but expressly excludes the incorporated areas of the Cities of Coachella and Indio, as they exist on January 1, 1994.

This bill would delete that provision excluding those lands in the incorporated Cities of Coachella and Indio from the territory of the conservancy.

Existing law creates the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy in the Natural Resources Agency and, among other things, authorizes the conservancy to acquire and hold specified lands in the Coachella Valley and the Coachella Mountains for certain open-space, wildlife protection, and recreational uses. Existing law specifies that the governing board of the conservancy consists of 21 voting members, including, among other members, the mayor or a member of the city council of each of the Cities of Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council or each city.

This bill would expand to 23 the membership of the governing board of the conservancy, and would include the mayor or a member of the city council of the Cities of Coachella and Indio, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council of those cities.

Existing law prescribes the territory of the conservancy, but expressly excludes the incorporated areas of the Cities of Coachella and Indio, as they exist on January 1, 1994.

This bill would delete that provision excluding those lands in the incorporated Cities of Coachella and Indio from the territory of the conservancy.

Existing law creates the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy in the Natural Resources Agency and, among other things, authorizes the conservancy to acquire and hold specified lands in the Coachella Valley and the Coachella Mountains for certain open-space, wildlife protection, and recreational uses. Existing law specifies that the governing board of the conservancy consists of 21 voting members, including, among other members, the mayor or a member of the city council of each of the Cities of Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council or each city.

This bill would expand to 23 the membership of the governing board of the conservancy, and would include the mayor or a member of the city council of the Cities of Coachella and Indio, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council of those cities.

Existing law prescribes the territory of the conservancy, but expressly excludes the incorporated areas of the Cities of Coachella and Indio, as they exist on January 1, 1994.

This bill would delete that provision excluding those lands in the incorporated Cities of Coachella and Indio from the territory of the conservancy.

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 1089

Author: Eduardo Garcia (D)

Introduced: 2/27/15

Vote: 21

SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE: 9-0, 6/9/15

AYES: Pavley, Stone, Allen, Hertzberg, Hueso, Jackson, Monning, Vidak, Wolk

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 5/4/15 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Coachella Mountains Conservancy

SOURCE: Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy

DIGEST: This bill adds members from Coachella and Indio to the governing board of the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Declares the importance of the Coachella Valley and the need to hold the region in trust for present and future generations (Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 33500).

2. Creates the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC) within the Resources Agency to hold and manage public lands and resources within the Coachella Valley region (PRC Section 33501).

3. Excludes the cities of Coachella and Indio from the territory of the CVMC (PRC Section 33502.5).

4. Defines the governing board of CVMC. Currently, the board consists of 21 voting members, including “the mayor or a member of the city council of each of the Cities of Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council of each city” (PRC Section 33503).

This bill:

1. Repeals PRC Section 33502.5, which excludes the cities of Coachella and Indio from the territory of the CVMC.

2. Amends PRC Section 33503 to add members from Coachella and Indio to the governing board of CVMC.

Background

The CVMC was established by legislation in 1991. In 1996, at the request of a broad array of interests from the Coachella Valley, the CVMC became part of the Resources Agency, as are other state conservancies.

The CVMC is tasked with acquiring and protecting natural resources within the Coachella Valley region in order to ensure the longevity of these resources and enhance public enjoyment of the region

Comments

Why add Coachella and Indio? In 1993, under SB 494 (Kelley, Chapter 1286), the governing board of the CVMC was reduced in size by deleting representatives from the cities of Coachella and Indio. At the same time, the incorporated areas of Coachella and Indio were removed from the territory of the CVMC. Since that time, however, the CVMC has increased its focus on the Coachella Valley, rather than simply on the mountains surrounding it. In order to achieve long term goals of resource preservation in the region, the CVMC recognizes the need to bring the cities of Coachella and Indio back in the territory of CVMC and provide the cities representation on the governing board.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/23/15)

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (source)

Coachella City Council

Coachella Valley Association of Governments

Coachella Valley Conservation Commission

City of Indio

Indio City Council

John Benoit, Supervisor, Fourth District Riverside County

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/23/15)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The Coachella Valley Conservation Commission writes “Coachella and Indio are home to over 120,000 residents, and providing representation for their residents would bring the Conservancy local expertise and contacts to help design and implement its conservation, trails, and restoration projects.” The City of Indio’s City Manager writes that this bill will clarify that the CVMC’s “territory includes Indio and Coachella,” allowing the cities to more fully participate in CVMC programs.

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 5/4/15

AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins

NO VOTE RECORDED: Campos, Dahle

Prepared by: Angee Doerr / N.R. & W. / (916) 651-4116

6/24/15 15:48:11

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER

Senator Fran Pavley, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular

Bill No: AB 1089 Hearing Date: June 9, 2015

Subject: Coachella Mountains Conservancy.

BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW

Background:

The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC) was established by legislation in 1991. In 1996, at the request of a broad array of interests from the Coachella Valley, the CVMC became part of the Resources Agency, as are other state conservancies.

The CVMC is tasked with acquiring and protecting natural resources within the Coachella Valley region in order to ensure the longevity of these resources and enhance public enjoyment of the region.

Existing Law:

Public Resources Code (PRC) section 33500 declares the importance of the Coachella Valley and the need to hold the region in trust for present and future generations. PRC section 33501 creates CVMC within the Resources Agency to hold and manage public lands and resources within the Coachella Valley region.

PRC section 33502.5 excludes the cities of Coachella and Indio from the territory of the CVMC. PRC section 33503 defines the governing board of CVMC. Currently, the board consists of 21 voting members, including “the mayor or a member of the city council of each of the Cities of Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council of each city.”

PROPOSED LAW

This bill repeals PRC section 33502.5, which excludes the cities of Coachella and Indio from the territory of the CVMC. The bill amends PRC section 33503 to add members from Coachella and Indio to the governing board of CMC.

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT

The Coachella Valley Conservation Commission writes “Coachella and Indio are home to over 120,000 residents, and providing representation for their residents would bring the Conservancy local expertise and contacts to help design and implement its conservation, trails, and restoration projects.” The City of Indio’s City Manager writes that this bill will clarify that the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy’s “territory includes Indio and Coachella,” allowing the cities to more fully participate in Conservancy programs.

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION

None Received

COMMENTS

Why add Coachella and Indio? In 1993, under SB 494, the governing board of the CVMC was reduced in size by deleting representatives from the cities of Coachella and Indio. At the same time, the incorporated areas of Coachella and Indio were removed from the territory of the conservancy. Since that time, however, the CVMC has increased its focus on the Coachella Valley, rather than simply on the mountains surrounding it. In order to achieve long term goals of resource preservation in the region, the CVMC recognizes the need to bring the cities of Coachella and Indio back in the territory of CVMC and provide the cities representation on the governing board.

SUPPORT

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC) (sponsor)

Coachella City Council

Coachella Valley Association of Governments

Coachella Valley Conservation Commission

City of Indio

Indio City Council

John Benoit, Supervisor, Fourth District Riverside County

OPPOSITION

None Received

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 1089

Author:(Eduardo Garcia)

As Introduced Ver:February 27, 2015

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Expands the Coachella Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) jurisdiction to include the lands of the Cities of Coachella and Indio and expands the membership of the governing board to include representatives from these cities.

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:

1. Minor, absorbable cost increases of less than $1,000 per year.

2. Conservancy board members are entitled to a $75 per diem for board meetings, the Conservancy typically meets six times per year.

COMMENTS: The diverse desert landscape of the Coachella Valley (Valley) provides habitat for dozens of plant and animal species, some found nowhere else in the world. The Valley is also one of the fastest growing areas in rapidly expanding Riverside County. The Valley has a projected population growth of 600,000 over the next 10 years. The Conservancy’s mission is to protect the natural and cultural resources of the Coachella Valley: the scenic, wildlife, cultural, geologic, and recreational resources. Since its inception, the Conservancy and its partners have conserved over 81,000 acres. The Cities of Indio and Coachella, located on the Valley floor, were not originally included within the Conservancy's jurisdiction.

In 1997, the boundaries of the Conservancy were expanded to coincide with the boundaries of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan (MSHCP). The MSHCP identified an additional 160,000 acres of land to be acquired to create a total system of 725,000 acres of conserved lands. The Conservancy has done trail work and acquisitions on the borders of both the Cities of Coachella and Indio. The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1) allocated $10 million for the Conservancy to do multibenefit water quality, water supply and watershed protection and restoration projects. This bill would allow for some of those projects to be in the Cities of Coachella and Indio and revises the Conservancy jurisdiction to be consistent with the MSHCP.

Analysis Prepared by: Michael Jarred / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN: 0000246

Date of Hearing: April 29, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Jimmy Gomez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1089

Author:(Eduardo Garcia) – As Introduced Ver:February 27, 2015

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable:

SUMMARY:

This bill expands the jurisdiction of the Coachella Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) to include the lands of the cities of Coachella and Indio, and expands the membership of the governing board to include representatives from these cities.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Minor, absorbable cost increases of less than $1,000 per year.

Conservancy board members are entitled to a $75 per diem for board meetings, The Conservancy typically meets 6 times per year.

COMMENTS:

1. Rationale. When the Conservancy was first established in 1990, its mission was to acquire and protect open space in the mountainous lands surrounding the Coachella Valley and natural community conservation lands within the Valley. The purpose of protecting such open space is to provide for the protection of wildlife resources and provide public educational and recreational opportunities.

The cities of Indio and Coachella, located on the Valley floor, were not originally included within the Conservancy's jurisdictions.

In 1997, the boundaries of the Conservancy were expanded to coincide with the boundaries of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan (MSHCP). The MSHCP identified an additional 160,000 acres of land to be acquired to create a total system of 725,000 acres of conserved lands.

This bill expands the membership of the board to include representation from Coachella and Indio and revises the Conservancy's boundaries to be consistent with the MSHCP.

2. Conservancy Board. The Board currently consists of 21 voting members including the Mayor or Members of the City Council from Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage.

State representatives include the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Finance, the Natural Resources Agency, the University of California, and the Wildlife Conservation Board.

Federal representatives include the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.

The remaining board members include the Chairperson of the Tribal Council of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and three public members appointed by the Governor, Senate Rules Committee and Speaker of the Assembly.

3. State Conservancies. There are currently 10 state conservancies located within the Natural Resources Agency: a) Sierra Nevada Conservancy; b) California Tahoe Conservancy; c) State Coastal Conservancy; d) San Joaquin River Conservancy; e) Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy; f) Coachella Mountains Conservnacy; g) San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers Conservancy; h) Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; i) Baldwin Hills Conservancy; and j) San Diego River Conservancy.

4. Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) and Natural Communities Conservation Plans (NCCPs). HCPs and NCCPs are cooperative efforts designed to protect species and their habitats through an ecosystem approach. These programs help identify and provide for large area-wide protection of plants, animals, and their habitats while allowing for compatible and appropriate economic activity.

Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 13, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Das Williams, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1089

Author:(Eduardo Garcia) – As Introduced Ver:February 27, 2015

SUBJECT: Coachella Mountains Conservancy

SUMMARY: Expands the Coachella Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) jurisdiction to include the lands of the cities of Coachella and Indio and expands the membership of the governing board to include representatives from these cities.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the Conservancy in the Natural Resources Agency and authorizes the Conservancy to acquire and hold specified lands in the Coachella Valley and the Coachella Mountains for open-space, wildlife protection, and recreational uses.

2. Requires the governing board of the Conservancy to consist of 21 voting members, including, among other members, the mayor or a member of the city council of Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage, appointed by a majority of the membership of the respective city council of each city.

3. Excludes the incorporated areas of the cities of Coachella and Indio, as they exist on January 1, 1994, from the jurisdiction of the Conservancy.

THIS BILL:

1. Deletes the exclusion of the incorporated areas of the cities of Coachella and Indio, as they exist on January 1, 1994, from the jurisdiction of the Conservancy.

2. Expands the membership of the governing board of the Conservancy to include two additional members. The additional members must be either the mayor or a member of the city council from the cities of Coachella and Indio.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

1. Author’s statement.

When first established, the Conservancy’s role was to protect the biological resources in the mountains surrounding the Coachella Valley. As a result of the cities of Indio and Coachella being geographically located on the valley floor, they were not included in the Conservancy. When the boundaries of the Conservancy were expanded to coincide with the Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan, which includes the cities of Coachella and Indio, these two cities were still not included in the Conservancy board.

2. Coachella Valley. The diverse desert landscape of the Coachella Valley provides habitat for dozens of plant and animal species, some found nowhere else in the world. The Valley is also one of the fastest growing areas in rapidly expanding Riverside County. The Valley has a projected population growth of 600,000 over the next 10 years. The Conservancy’s mission is to protect the natural and cultural resources of the Coachella Valley: the scenic, wildlife, cultural, geologic, and recreational resources. According the Conservancy, since its inception, the Conservancy and its partners have conserved over 81,000 acres. The Conservancy has done trail work and acquisitions on the borders of both the cities of Coachella and Indio. The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1) allocated $10 million for the Conservancy to do multibenefit water quality, water supply and watershed protection and restoration projects. AB 1089 would allow for some of those projects to be in the cities of Coachella and Indio.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Coachella Mountains Conservancy (Sponsor)

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC)

Friends of the Desert Mountains

Granite Construction Co.

Gregory S. Pettis, Mayor Pro Tem, Cathedral City Council

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Michael Jarred / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092