BILL ANALYSIS 1
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Darrell Steinberg, Chair |
| 2007-2008 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: SB 669 HEARING DATE: April 24, 2007
AUTHOR: Torlakson URGENCY: No
VERSION: March 26, 2007 CONSULTANT: Marie Liu
FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: Continuous regional recreation corridors: funding.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
On November 7, 2006, the voters approved the voter initiative
titled The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood
Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (aka
Proposition 84). Proposition 84 authorizes the state to sell
about $5.4 billion in general obligation for safe drinking
water, water quality, and water supply; flood control; natural
resource protection; park improvements; and sustainable
community planning.
Last year the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1556 (Chapter 839,
Statutes of 2006) which created The Great California Delta
Trail. The intent of this measure was to create a continuous
regional recreation corridor that would extend around the delta
and would link the San Francisco Bay Trail system to the planned
Sacramento Rivers trails. The trail was to relate to existing
park and recreational facilities, existing and proposed public
transportation facilities, and existing land and water trail
systems, including the San Francisco Bay Trail System. To this
end, the Delta Protection Commission (Commission) was directed
to develop and implement a program, including a finance and
maintenance plan, for the Great California Delta Trail.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would specify that continuous regional recreation
corridors are eligible for planning incentives made available
through the passage of Proposition 84.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
The purpose of this bill is to assist with the planning of
continuous regional recreation corridors such as The Great
California Delta Trail. The author states that, "Currently, much
of the Delta is inaccessible except by boat, or in some cases,
by car. Delta Protection Commission surveys over the past ten
years have found that there are many unmet recreational needs
for the Delta region including trails for hiking and bicycling,
facilities for wildlife observation and education, water sports
access, bank fishing areas, and improved historic and cultural
sites with interpretive information. The Delta Trail will
provide recreational access to the Delta ecosystem, 22 current
recreational facilities, and miles of historic and small towns."
According to the author, the Delta Protection Commission has
begun developing the stakeholder groups as required by SB 1556
and they have drafted a request for proposal to begin the
planning process, however without a funding source, they cannot
begin.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received.
COMMENTS
Are continuous regional recreation corridors consistent with the
terms of Proposition 84? Section 75065(c) of The Safe Drinking
Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and
Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 made available $90 million
for planning grants and planning incentives to encourage the
development of regional and local land use plans that are
designed to:
1. promote water conservation,
2. reduce automobile use and fuel consumption,
3. encourage greater infill and compact development,
4. protect natural resources and agricultural lands, and
5. revitalize urban and community centers.
While the Delta Trail may create multiple benefits that the
committee supports (as evidenced by the passage of SB 1556 last
year), the committee may wish to consider whether the planning
for a recreation corridor qualifies as a regional land use plan
that will include all five of the required elements listed in
the bond. For example, a recreation corridor can certainly be
designed to reduce automobile use and fuel consumption, however
a recreation plan may not be able to plan for greater infill and
compact development or urban revitalization.
However, the benefits of the continuous regional recreation
corridor could certainly be a valuable component of a larger
regional land use plan. The committee may consider specifying
that regional land use plans that incorporate continuous
regional recreation corridors are eligible for planning grants
and planning incentives under Proposition 84. (See Amendment 1)
What is an "continuous regional recreation corridor?":
Presumably, this term may also apply to other trail systems and
parks such as the San Francisco Bay Trail, the Tahoe Rim Trail,
the California Coastal Trail, and the American River Parkway.
The author may wish to consider adopting a definition of this
term. Defining this term may also help address the issue of
whether a continuous regional recreation corridor is consistent
with Proposition 84 requirements.
Related legislation: The committee should be aware that SB 732
(Steinberg) also proposes to implement this category of funding.
SB 732 is an omnibus Proposition 84 implementation bill that is
also before the committee today.
Because this bill and SB 732 suggest compatible policies, if the
committee chooses to pass this bill, the committee may wish to
direct the author to work with committee staff to eliminate any
differences between this bill and SB 732 in order to reach one
unified policy.
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS
AMENDMENT 1
On page 2, delete lines 1-5 and replace with "Regional
plans that incorporate continuous regional recreation
corridors are eligible for planning grants and planning
incentives pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 75065."
SUPPORT
California State Grange
OPPOSITION
None received