SECTIONS 32510-32520 - California Statutes

PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE

SECTION 32510-32520

32510. The San Joaquin River Conservancy is hereby established in
the Resources Agency to acquire and manage public lands within the
San Joaquin River Parkway, which shall consist of the San Joaquin
River and approximately 5,900 acres on both sides of the river
between Friant Dam and the Highway 99 crossing. Approximately 1,900
acres of the parkway shall be located in Madera County and 4,000
acres in Fresno County, of which approximately 1,250 acres are
already in public ownership. The conservancy shall acquire and manage
these lands in the parkway to provide a harmonious combination of
low-impact recreational and educational uses and wildlife protection
through the preservation of the San Joaquin River, existing publicly
owned lands, the wildlife corridor, and natural reserves.

32511. The conservancy shall be responsible for operation and
maintenance of the parkway. The conservancy shall close to the public
any lands or facilities which it is unable to maintain in a clean
and safe manner and to adequately protect the wildlife and rights of
adjacent property owners from the public, including areas downstream
from the Highway 99 crossing affected by the use of the parkway.

32512. The area under the jurisdiction of the conservancy includes
that area of the parkway which is acquired by the conservancy.

32513. The jurisdiction of the conservancy consists of land and
water areas acquired for parkway use within the parkway whether by
purchase or lease; other public lands operated by the conservancy on
behalf of another public agency; and private lands which are in a
land mitigation bank or which are adjacent to the parkway and
downstream from the Highway 99 crossing and for which the owner
desires the conservancy's management and protection services or which
are subject to a voluntary resource management agreement entered
into with the conservancy.

32514. The conservancy shall coordinate the activities of state and
local agencies and private entities interested in the San Joaquin
River and its resources. State and local agencies shall retain title
to any land owned within the boundaries of the parkway. Local
agencies may enter into an agreement to transfer responsibility for
the management of the land to the conservancy. Where there is no
state or local public agency with operating and management
responsibility, the conservancy shall exercise that responsibility.
All zoning or land use regulations shall remain the exclusive
authority of the member agencies.

32515. (a) The governing board of the conservancy shall consist of
15 voting members.
(b) The 15 voting members of the board shall consist of the
following:
(1) One member of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County
appointed by a majority of the members of that board. A majority of
the members of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County may appoint
an alternate member from that board.
(2) The Mayor of the City of Fresno or a member of the Fresno City
Council designated by the Mayor of the City of Fresno. The Mayor of
the City of Fresno may designate an alternate member from the Fresno
City Council.
(3) One member of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County
appointed by a majority of the members of that board. A majority of
the members of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County may appoint
an alternate from that board.
(4) The Mayor of the City of Madera or a member of the Madera City
Council designated by the Mayor of the City of Madera. The Mayor of
the City of Madera may designate an alternate member from the Madera
City Council.
(5) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), one resident of
Fresno County appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates
provided by the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County. The board of
supervisors shall develop its list from a list submitted by
environmental organizations within that county. The board of
supervisors may establish additional criteria for that appointment.
(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), one resident of Madera
County appointed by the Governor from a list of property owners of
San Joaquin River bottom in that county submitted by the Board of
Supervisors of Madera County. The board of supervisors may establish
additional criteria for that appointment.
(C) Fresno County and Madera County shall rotate appointment
qualifications pursuant to this paragraph so that each alternative
time the Board of Supervisors of Madera County shall submit a list of
candidates to the Governor derived from a list submitted by
environmental organizations within that county and the Board of
Supervisors of Fresno County shall submit a list of candidates to the
Governor of property owners of San Joaquin River bottom in that
county.
(6) One resident of the City of Fresno appointed by the Governor
from a list submitted by the Fresno City Council. The city council
may establish criteria for that appointment.
(7) The Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Board or a
member of his or her staff designated by the executive director.
(8) The Secretary of Resources or a member of his or her staff
designated by the secretary.
(9) The Director of Fish and Game or a member of his or her staff
designated by the director.
(10) The Director of Parks and Recreation or a member of his or
her staff designated by the director.
(11) The Director of Finance or a member of his or her staff
designated by the director.
(12) The Executive Officer of the State Lands Commission or a
member of his or her staff designated by the executive officer.
(13) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Fresno
Metropolitan Flood Control District, or his or her designee.
(14) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Madera
Irrigation District, or his or her designee.

32516. A quorum shall constitute a majority of the voting members
of the board. Meetings of the governing board shall be subject to the
Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of
Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code).

32517. The voting members of the board shall serve for four-year
terms. Any member who is an elected or appointed official who ceases
to hold that office shall automatically cease to be a member of the
board. The office of any member of the board who is required to be a
resident of a member agency shall become vacant upon that member
ceasing to be a resident of the member agency.

32518. Members who are not elected or appointed officials shall
receive compensation in an amount set by the board, not to exceed
seventy-five dollars ($75) for each day, or portion thereof, and not
to exceed four hundred fifty dollars ($450) in any year, while
attending meetings of the board, or engaged upon official business of
the board. All members shall receive reimbursement for actual,
necessary, and reasonable expenses. Any member may waive
compensation.

32519. The office of chairperson of the board shall rotate every
two years among the Mayor or designated council member of the City of
Fresno, the member of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County, and
the member of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County.

32520. The conservancy shall obtain and maintain adequate liability
insurance or its equivalent, and defend and indemnify the member
agencies for acts or omissions of the conservancy's agents,
employees, volunteers, and servants.