HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-06-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - COMMON GROUND SUPPORT (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager's Approva .
Item To Be Presented By: Rick Gould
DATE: June 25, 2002
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR: "COMMON GROUND: FROM THE
MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA"
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt the attached resolution approving the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers
Watershed and Open Space Plan, "Common Ground: from the Mountains to the Sea."
BACKGROUND
In October 1999, Governor Davis signed into law AB1355 (Havice) and SB216 (Solis) establishing the
Lower Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC). Since a portion of
the City of Santa Clarita (the City) lies within the area of the RMC's jurisdiction, it is represented
on the governing board through the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The RMC's
jurisdiction includes the northern slope of the San Gabriel Mountains, including the portion of the
Santa Clarita Valley south of Highway 14.
The legislature charged the RMC with developing a parkway and open space plan to establish policies
and priorities emphasizing "river related projects... without infringing on water quality, water supply,
and necessary flood control." The plan, entitled, "Common Ground: from the Mountains to the Sea,
San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers Watershed and Open Space Plan" (the plan), first describes the
history and current condition of the watersheds and then lays out a vision, guiding principles,
strategies, and opportunities for future development. The plan recognizes the importance and
validity of both natural and manmade systems in our region. The vision is summarized as, "Restore
balance between natural and human systems in the watersheds."
The plan identifies six strategies for implementing open space and watershed enhancements, which
are:
1. Education
2. Partnerships
3. Funding
4. Multiple -objective planning
5. Management of public lands
6. Monitoring and assessment
Agenda Item:
The plan further discusses opportunities within the watersheds upon which the RMC can capitalize.
These opportunities are in the areas of land acquisition, connectivity of open space, public access,
native plants and wildlife, and water resources.
The plan was circulated to cities and other interested organizations in draft form and the comments
received were incorporated into the final document. The plan provides an approach to future
improvements in the region but does not adopt specific projects or impose specific obligations or
development plans. The plan includes a legal opinion affirming that its adoption will not interfere
with the authority of any city to regulate land use within its boundaries. Specifically, in case of any
current or future conflict, there is no requirement that the City amend its General Plan to conform
with the RMC Plan.
The plan was approved by the RMC on October 17, 2001. The plan will take effect when it has been
adopted by a majority of the cities representing a majority of the population in the Conservancy area,
the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Central Basin Water Association, and the San
Gabriel Valley Watermaster.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. City Council may choose not to adopt the Resolution of Support
2. Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of the plan does not impose any costs on the City. To the contrary, the Conservancy is
expected to bring significant state funding into the region for open space, environmental education,
water quality, and habitat restoration projects. The next of these funding opportunities consists of
$15 million in Proposition 12 State Park Bonds which is expected to use the plan as one of the tools
for project evaluation. Proposition 40 has also earmarked $40 million for the Conservancy.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution: San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers Watershed and Open Space Plan
CouncUNAgnrpts\2002\Rivers and Mts. Consenanry -Agenda Report Rasolution.dac