SECTIONS 32604-32609 - California Statutes

PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE

SECTION 32604-32609

32604. The conservancy shall do all of the following:
(a) Establish policies and priorities for the conservancy
regarding the San Gabriel River and the Lower Los Angeles River, and
their watersheds, and conduct any necessary planning activities, in
accordance with the purposes set forth in Section 32602.
(b) Give priority to river related projects that create expanded
opportunities for recreation, greening, aesthetic improvement, and
wildlife habitat along the corridor of the river, and in parts of the
river channel that can be improved for the above purposes without
infringing on water quality, water supply, and necessary flood
control.
(c) Approve conservancy funded projects that advance the policies
and priorities set forth in Section 32602.
(d) Prepare a San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Parkway and Open
Space Plan to be approved by a majority of the cities representing a
majority of the population, the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles
County, the Central Basin Water Association, and the San Gabriel
Valley Water Association. The plan shall include, but not be limited
to, all of the following elements:
(1) A determination of the policies and priorities for the
conservation of the San Gabriel River and its watershed, the Lower
Los Angeles River, and the San Gabriel Mountains, in accordance with
the purposes of the conservancy as set forth in Section 32602.
(2) A plan for incorporating, as relevant, the principles and
planning work contained within the Los Angeles River Master Plan
prepared by the County of Los Angeles.
(3) An identification of underused existing public open spaces and
recommendations for providing better public use and enjoyment in
areas identified in the plan.
(4) An identification of, and a priority program for implementing,
those additional low-impact recreational and open space needs,
including additional or upgraded facilities and parks that may be
necessary or desirable.

32605. The board shall consist of 13 voting members and seven
nonvoting members, as follows:
(a) The 13 voting members of the board shall consist of all of the
following:
(1) One member of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los
Angeles, or his or her designee, who represents the area or a portion
thereof contained within the territory of the conservancy, appointed
by the Governor.
(2) Two members of the board of directors of the San Gabriel
Valley Council of Governments, one of whom shall be a mayor or city
council member of a city bordering along the San Gabriel River, and
one of whom shall be a mayor or city council member of a city
bordering the San Gabriel Mountains area. One member shall be
appointed by a majority of the membership of that board of directors,
and one member shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules
from a list of two or more potential members submitted by the board
of directors.
(3) Two members of the board of directors of the Gateway Cities
Council of Governments, one of whom shall be the mayor of the City of
Long Beach or a city council member of the City of Long Beach
appointed by the mayor, and one of whom shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the Assembly from a list of two or more potential members
submitted by the executive committee of the board of directors of the
Gateway Cities Council of Governments. The executive committee shall
submit lists of potential members to the Speaker of the Assembly
until an acceptable member is appointed.
(4) Two members of the Orange County Division of the League of
California Cities, both of whom shall be a mayor or city council
member of a city bordering along the San Gabriel River or a tributary
thereof. One member shall be appointed by a majority of the
membership of the city selection committee of Orange County, and one
member shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of two or more
potential members submitted by the city selection committee.
(5) One member shall be a representative of a member of the San
Gabriel Valley Water Association appointed by a majority of the
membership of the board of directors of the San Gabriel Valley Water
Association.
(6) One member shall be a representative of the Central Basin
Water Association appointed by a majority of the membership of the
board of directors of the Central Basin Water Association.
(7) One member shall be a resident of Los Angeles County appointed
by the Governor from a list of potential members submitted by local,
state, and national environmental organizations that operate within
the County of Los Angeles and within the territory of the conservancy
and that have participated in planning for river restoration or open
space, or both, or river preservation.
(8) The Secretary of the Resources Agency, or his or her designee.
(9) The Secretary for Environmental Protection, or his or her
designee.
(10) The Director of Finance, or his or her designee.
(b) The seven ex officio, nonvoting members shall consist of the
following officers or an employee of each agency designated annually
by that officer to represent the office or agency:
(1) The District Engineer of the United States Army Corps of
Engineers.
(2) The Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region of the
United States Forest Service.
(3) The Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public
Works.
(4) The Director of the Orange County Public Facility and Resource
Department.
(5) A member of the San Gabriel River Watermaster, appointed by a
majority of the members of the San Gabriel River Watermaster.
(6) The Director of Parks and Recreation.
(7) The Executive Officer of the Wildlife Conservation Board.

32606. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), the term of each
voting member of the board shall be two years. Any vacancy shall be
filled within 60 days of its occurrence by the appointing authority.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), no person shall continue as a
member of the board if he or she ceases to hold the office that
qualifies that person to be appointed as a member of the board, or in
the case of the member appointed pursuant to paragraph (5) or (6) of
subdivision (a) of Section 32605, ceases to represent a member of
the association. The membership on the board held by the person shall
terminate immediately upon ceasing to hold that qualifying office or
membership. Except as provided in subdivision (c), the position of
any member appointed by the Governor shall be deemed vacant
immediately if the member ceases to be a resident of the applicable
territory.
(c) The term of each of the members appointed pursuant to
paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 32605 shall be
two years, or until the member's successor is appointed, whichever is
longer.

32607. (a) The voting members of the board shall elect a
chairperson, vice chairperson, and other officers, as determined to
be necessary, from among the board members. The terms of those
offices shall be determined by the board.
(b) The conservancy may employ an executive officer and other
necessary staff to perform functions that cannot be provided by the
existing personnel, by others on a contract basis, or by volunteers,
and may enter into contracts for services requiring knowledge,
experience, and ability not possessed by the conservancy staff. All
those contracts shall be approved by the board.

32608. Members of the board who are not full-time public employees
shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed seventy-five dollars
($75) per regular meeting, not to exceed 12 regular meetings per
year, and the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties. Any member may waive compensation.

32609. (a) A quorum shall consist of a majority of the voting
members of the board. All meetings of the board shall be held in
accordance with the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act (Article 9
(commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3
of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(b) Any action of the board affecting any matter shall be taken by
a majority vote of the membership of the board, a quorum being
present.