CC - Item 7A - Resolution no 04-42 Regarding the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains ConservancyTO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS
ROSEMEVCITY COUNCIL
FROM: BILL CROWE, CITY MANAGER
DATE: . SEPTEMBER 22, 2004
RE: RESOLUTION NO. 04-42 REGARDING THE SAN GABRIEL AND
LOWER LOS ANGELES RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY
Mayor Clark has requested that this item be placed on the Agenda for your consideration. The
resolution opposes the recommendation of the California Performance Review (CPR) to disband
the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. Attached is a letter
from the Gateway Cities Council of Governments explaining the issue as well as a sample letter
to the governor.
RECOMMENDATION,
It is recommended that the Rosemead City Council adopt Resolution No. 04-42 Regarding the
San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and direct the City
Clerk to distribute it to the appropriate government offices.
Dili
SEP 2 b 2004
1 TEM N0. A
ent by:i.Gateway Cities 162634.8216; 09/22/04. 9:30AM;#172; Page 214
GATEWAY-CITIES
CO;INC,Ii OF G(-)Vf RN!dl N7F
September 17, 2004
Dear City Managers.:
I
Letter Requesting Support Concerning the Proposal of the California Performance Review
Commission to Remove the RMC as a State Agency
The Board of Directors of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (COG) voted unanimously at its
September meeting to oppose the recommendation of the California Performance Review (CPR)
Commission to disband or "devolve" the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains
Conservancy (RMC).
At you may recall, the RMC was founded by legislation sponsored by the COG. We envisioned a
sf to-local partnership that would bring state resources and expertise to bear on the desperate need for
th preservation and expansion of open space while respecting local land use control The RMC has
m t our expectations bringing millions of dollars and heightened environmental awareness into our sub-
r ion. In fact the RMC is doing pioneering work as-an urban conservancy.
FQr years, our sub-region has voted and paid for state park bonds and not seen an equitable return of
dgliars. It is unacceptable to revert to that status. The recommendation preserves the Santa Monica
Mountains Conservancy, while dissolving the RMC, even though there is no State General Fund money
nlthe RMC budget. Instead, we are advised to form a non-profit or local joint powers authority.
COG Board of Directors urges you to contact Governor Schwarzenegger and the CPR
nission, both of which may be reached at:
Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
ched for your use are a sample resolution and a sample letter. Please use whichever format will
w you to quickly and forcefully contact the.-Governor's office. The due date for filing either form is
Member 30". You may file an electronic POP version via the in,ternet at www.cpr.ca.c.ov or US mail
Iso acceptable. Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact Deborah Chankin of
staff at (562) 663-3850 or dchankin@earthiink.net.
d Powers
tive Director
16401 Paramount Boulevard . Paramount, California 90723 . phone (562) 6636850 fox (562) 6321-8216
v^vW.gotewoycog.org
Sent bv:SGateway Cities
1626348216;
SAMPLE LETTER
Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
09/22/04 9:30AM;N172; Page 3/4
Request to Reconsider Recommendation to Remove RMC as a State Agency
The San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC)
represents an extraordinary achievement of state and local government working in an
effective partnership. Over 60 cities and two participate in the work of the RMC and
have approved its Open Space Planz: a plan that spans political jurisdictions and
recognizes the watersheds of two important Southern California Rivers and the
mountain range that nurtures their. headwaters. Environmental groups and agencies
-have learned to work in cooperation with local government without usurping their land
I use authority and responsibility.
The RMC further represents California's belated recognition of the endangered natural
resources in our urban areas and the recreational and open space needs of our urban
populations. The 7 million residents of the RMC territory demand a fair return from their
contributions to state park and open space bond measures and respect for their less
famous but equally precious natural resources.
The recommendation by the California Performance Review Commission to disband the
RMC is misguided. RMC staff is supported primarily by State Bond funds and not at all
by the State General Fund. State Bond funds will pay for the administration of projects,
with or without the RMC. With the RMC, that administration is both more
programatically effective: and more cost effective than administering the same projects
from Sacramento. The RMC has, proved an effective tool for creating the kind of inter-
jurisdictional master planning called for by the Commission. The RMC has deliberately
chosen not to become a major landholder in order to avoid duplication of services.
Furthermore, by disbanding the RMC while maintaining the SMMC, the Commission
appears to be favoring more established institutions and more privileged populations.
This decision would be a blatant denial of environmental justice to the people of
Southern California.
The RMC has benefited our community through its funding of With a
waiting list of projects in the hundreds of millions of dollars, we know that this is only the
beginning. The full promise of this agency will be fulfilled only over the coming years.
On behalf of the City of we strongly urge you to retain the RMC as a
state agency.
Sincerely,
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-42
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ROSEMEAD REGARDING THE SAN GABRIEL AND
LONER LOS ANGELES RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS
CONSERVANCY
WHEREAS, the territory of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and
Mountains Conservancy contains resources of statewide, nationwide and worldwide significance
that benefit all Californians, and
WHEREAS, those resources include one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems
in the world, and
WHEREAS, the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains
Conservancy has served as a necessary conduit for state bond funding to protect those significant
resources, and
WHEREAS, the governance structure now in place provides state-level oversight
combined with an appropriate level of local accountability, and
WHEREAS, the area protected by the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers
and Mountains Conservancy will benefit from continuing as an integral part of a statewide
conservation plan, and
WHEREAS, the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains
Conservancy has assisted the City of Rosemead in obtaining grant funding for the City of
Rosemead, and
WHEREAS, for all of the foregoing reasons, the City Council of the City of
Rosemead fully supports the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains
Conservancy in its efforts to protect and promote parks, trails, open space and wildlife habitat for
all Californians to enjoy;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Rosemead resolves as
follows:
Section 1. That the Legislature of the State of California is urged to continue
the current statutory authority of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains
Conservancy, as a separate agency under the California Resources Agency or its successor
agency, including current funding for staff support and state-level majority participation on the
Conservancy Executive Board.
Sec. 2. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to the
Governor of the State of California, the members of the California Legislature representing the
Long Beach area, and other officials, agencies, entities, and individuals as may be deemed
appropriate.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City
Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting this resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 281n day of September, 2004.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK