Chapter 3Conservancy

Section § 32555

Explanation

The Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy is part of the Natural Resources Agency, focused on acquiring and managing public lands in certain areas like Baldwin Hills and southern Ballona Creek Watershed. Its goals include creating recreational spaces, protecting wildlife habitats, restoring lands, and providing educational uses.

The Conservancy aims to obtain open spaces and enhance public enjoyment and educational experiences on these lands, while ensuring the protection of these areas and resources.

There is in the Natural Resources Agency, the Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy, which is created for the following purposes:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 32555(a) To acquire and manage public lands within the Baldwin Hills, southern Ballona Creek Watershed, and Upper Dominguez Channel area, and to provide recreational, open space, wildlife habitat restoration and protection, and lands for educational uses within the area.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 32555(b) To acquire lands for open space within the territory of the conservancy.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 32555(c) To provide for the public’s enjoyment, and to enhance the recreational and educational experience on public lands in the territory in a manner consistent with the protection of lands and resources in the area.
Baldwin Hills Urban Watersheds public lands management recreational spaces wildlife habitat protection open space acquisition Ballona Creek Watershed Upper Dominguez Channel educational land use public enjoyment land restoration conservancy goals Natural Resources Agency resource protection habitat restoration
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 714, Sec. 5. (SB 1052) Effective January 1, 2023.)

Section § 32556

Explanation

This section establishes a board consisting of 15 voting members and 12 nonvoting members. The voting members include high-ranking officials from various cities and departments within Los Angeles County, as well as public members appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, and Senate Committee on Rules.

The nonvoting members are leaders from environmental and conservation agencies. A quorum requires eight voting members, and actions need a majority vote, with at least five affirmative votes for any business transaction.

The board is tasked with studying environmental and recreational uses of Ballona Creek and surrounding areas, and developing a proposed map for this region.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(a) The board shall consist of 15 voting members and 12 nonvoting members.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b) The 15 voting members of the board shall consist of the following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(1) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or the secretary’s designee.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(2) The Director of Parks and Recreation, or the director’s designee.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(3) The Director of Finance, or the director’s designee.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(4) The Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, or the director’s designee.
(5)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(5) The Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, or the mayor’s designee.
(6)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(6) The Mayor of the City of Culver City, or the mayor’s designee.
(7)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(7) An appointee from the South Bay Cities Council of Governments.
(8)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(8) A member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors representing District 2, or the member’s designee.
(9)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(9) Five members of the public appointed by the Governor who are residents of Los Angeles County, as nominated by a city council or a neighborhood empowerment group, and who represent the diversity of the community surrounding the Baldwin Hills, southern Ballona Creek Watershed, and Upper Dominguez Channel area.
(10)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(b)(10) A resident of Los Angeles County appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and a resident of Los Angeles County appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c) The 12 nonvoting members shall consist of the following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(1) The Secretary for Environmental Protection, or the secretary’s designee.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(2) The Executive Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy, or the executive officer’s designee.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(3) The Executive Officer of the State Lands Commission, or the executive officer’s designee.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(4) An appointee of the Governor with experience in developing contaminated sites, commonly referred to as “brownfields.”
(5)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(5) The Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, or the executive director’s designee.
(6)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(6) The Director of the Culver City Human Services Department, or the director’s designee.
(7)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(7) The Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, or the director’s designee.
(8)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(8) The Director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, or the director’s designee.
(9)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(9) The Director of the City of Inglewood Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department or the Director of the City of Inglewood Public Works Department, or their designee.
(10)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(10) The President of the Board of Airport Commissioners of Los Angeles World Airports, or the president’s designee.
(11)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(11) The Director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, or the director’s designee.
(12)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(c)(12) The Director of Conservation, or the director’s designee.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(d) A quorum shall consist of eight voting members of the board, and any action of the board affecting any matter before the board shall be decided by a majority vote of the voting members present, a quorum being present. However, the affirmative vote of at least five of the voting members of the board shall be required for the transaction of any business of the board.
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(e) The board shall do both of the following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(e)(1) Study the potential environmental and recreational uses of Ballona Creek and the adjacent property described in subdivision (a) of Section 32553.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 32556(e)(2) Develop a proposed map for that area.
board composition voting members nonvoting members Los Angeles County Environmental uses Ballona Creek public members Governor appointments Speaker of the Assembly Senate Committee on Rules brownfields development quorum requirements majority vote proposed map recreational studies
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 714, Sec. 6. (SB 1052) Effective January 1, 2023.)

Section § 32557

Explanation

The board members serve two-year terms. If a board position becomes vacant, it must be filled within 60 days by whoever appointed the member. If a person stops holding the office that qualified them for the board, they automatically lose their board membership.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 32557(a) The voting members of the board shall serve for two-year terms. Any vacancy on the board shall be filled within 60 days from its occurrence by the appointing authority.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 32557(b) A person shall not continue as a member of the board if that person ceases to hold the office that qualifies that person for board membership. Upon the occurrence of that event, that person’s membership on the board shall automatically terminate.
board membership term two-year terms board vacancy appointing authority automatic termination office holder change board position qualification 60-day vacancy filling membership qualifications board member appointment
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 223, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2006.)

Section § 32558

Explanation

This law states that the board members will choose their chairperson and vice-chairperson by majority vote, and each will serve a one-year term.

The chairperson and vice-chairperson of the board shall be selected by a majority of the voting members of the board for one-year terms.
chairperson selection vice-chairperson selection board voting majority vote requirement one-year term board leadership term length board roles leadership election board members voting governance structure term limits selection process board officers annual terms
(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 428, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

Section § 32559

Explanation

This law allows the conservancy to hire an executive officer and other employees for tasks that volunteers cannot handle.

The conservancy may employ an executive officer and other staff to perform those functions that cannot be provided by volunteers.
conservancy employment executive officer hiring staff employment volunteer limitations conservancy staff employee roles hiring authority executive officer duties staff functions workforce requirements conservancy operations employment authority conservancy hiring staff recruitment volunteer capacity limitations
(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 428, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

Section § 32560

Explanation

This law states that all meetings of a certain board must follow the rules set by the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. This Act ensures that meetings are open to the public and that there is transparency in governmental proceedings.

All meetings of the board shall be subject to the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
board meetings public access transparency government meetings open meeting requirements Bagley-Keene Act public participation meeting transparency government transparency state board meetings
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 223, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2006.)

Section § 32561

Explanation

Members of the board are paid back for any necessary and reasonable expenses they incur. Board members who aren't full-time public employees can earn up to $100 for each regular meeting they attend, but they can only be paid for up to 12 meetings a year. If they prefer, board members can choose not to receive this compensation.

All members shall receive reimbursement for actual, necessary, and reasonable expenses. Any member of the board who is not a full-time public employee shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per regular meeting, not to exceed 12 regular meetings a year. Any member of the board may waive compensation.
board member reimbursement expense reimbursement meeting compensation public employee compensation rate per meeting waive compensation maximum meetings per year non-full-time board members meeting attendance payment compensation cap reasonable expenses necessary expenses board compensation policy public board meetings payment compensation waiver
(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 428, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)