Code Section Group

CHAPTER 3. Conservancy [32555 - 32561]

32555.

There is in the Natural Resources Agency, the Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy, which is created for the following purposes:

(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) To acquire lands for open space within the territory of the conservancy.

(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.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 714, Sec. 5. (SB 1052) Effective January 1, 2023.)

32556.

(a) The board shall consist of 15 voting members and 12 nonvoting members.

(b) The 15 voting members of the board shall consist of the following:

(1) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or the secretary’s designee.

(2) The Director of Parks and Recreation, or the director’s designee.

(3) The Director of Finance, or the director’s designee.

(4) The Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, or the director’s designee.

(5) The Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, or the mayor’s designee.

(6) The Mayor of the City of Culver City, or the mayor’s designee.

(7) An appointee from the South Bay Cities Council of Governments.

(8) A member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors representing District 2, or the member’s designee.

(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) 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) The 12 nonvoting members shall consist of the following:

(1) The Secretary for Environmental Protection, or the secretary’s designee.

(2) The Executive Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy, or the executive officer’s designee.

(3) The Executive Officer of the State Lands Commission, or the executive officer’s designee.

(4) An appointee of the Governor with experience in developing contaminated sites, commonly referred to as “brownfields.”

(5) The Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, or the executive director’s designee.

(6) The Director of the Culver City Human Services Department, or the director’s designee.

(7) The Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, or the director’s designee.

(8) The Director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, or the director’s designee.

(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) The President of the Board of Airport Commissioners of Los Angeles World Airports, or the president’s designee.

(11) The Director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, or the director’s designee.

(12) The Director of Conservation, or the director’s designee.

(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) The board shall do both of the following:

(1) Study the potential environmental and recreational uses of Ballona Creek and the adjacent property described in subdivision (a) of Section 32553.

(2) Develop a proposed map for that area.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 714, Sec. 6. (SB 1052) Effective January 1, 2023.)

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) 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.

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 223, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2006.)

32558.

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.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 428, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

32559.

The conservancy may employ an executive officer and other staff to perform those functions that cannot be provided by volunteers.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 428, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

32560.

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).

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 223, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2006.)

32561.

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.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 428, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)