SB 1374: The Lower Los Angeles River Recreation and Park District.

Existing law provides a process for the establishment of recreation and park districts, which includes certain provisions of the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, and provides that a recreation and park district may organize, promote, conduct, and advertise programs of community recreation, establish systems of recreation and recreation facilities, and acquire, construct, improve, maintain, and operate recreation facilities. Existing law enumerates the powers and duties of recreation and park districts.

Existing law establishes the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for the purpose of, among others, providing for the publics enjoyment and enhancement of recreational and education experiences on public lands in the San Gabriel Watershed and Lower Los Angeles River. Existing law requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, in consultation with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to the extent the board wishes to consult, to appoint the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group to develop, on or before March 1, 2017, a revitalization plan for the Lower Los Angeles River watershed that addresses the unique and diverse needs of the Lower Los Angeles River and the communities through which it passes, as prescribed.

This bill would specifically authorize the establishment of the Lower Los Angeles River Recreation and Park District, by petition or resolution submitted to the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission before January 1, 2019, subject to specified existing laws governing recreation and park districts, including their formation, except as provided. The bill would authorize specified city councils and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to appoint the initial board of directors of the district. The bill would specify that certain of the enumerated powers and duties of the Lower Los Angeles River Recreation Park District provided by existing law are subject to the review and approval of the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission upon formation, change of organization, or reorganization under the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000. The bill would specify that the district has financing authority under existing law and would further prescribe additional functions and duties of the district, including, but not limited to, the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, and operation of open space and parks along the Lower Los Angeles River. Because a violation of an order or rule of the district would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the district to conduct those functions and duties in coordination with the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group and the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Lower Los Angeles River Recreation and Park District.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.