32510-32520
PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE
SECTION 32510-32520
32510. The San Joaquin River Conservancy is hereby established in the Resources Agency to acquire and manage public lands within the San Joaquin River Parkway, which shall consist of the San Joaquin River and approximately 5,900 acres on both sides of the river between Friant Dam and the Highway 99 crossing. Approximately 1,900 acres of the parkway shall be located in Madera County and 4,000 acres in Fresno County, of which approximately 1,250 acres are already in public ownership. The conservancy shall acquire and manage these lands in the parkway to provide a harmonious combination of low-impact recreational and educational uses and wildlife protection through the preservation of the San Joaquin River, existing publicly owned lands, the wildlife corridor, and natural reserves. 32511. The conservancy shall be responsible for operation and maintenance of the parkway. The conservancy shall close to the public any lands or facilities which it is unable to maintain in a clean and safe manner and to adequately protect the wildlife and rights of adjacent property owners from the public, including areas downstream from the Highway 99 crossing affected by the use of the parkway. 32512. The area under the jurisdiction of the conservancy includes that area of the parkway which is acquired by the conservancy. 32513. The jurisdiction of the conservancy consists of land and water areas acquired for parkway use within the parkway whether by purchase or lease; other public lands operated by the conservancy on behalf of another public agency; and private lands which are in a land mitigation bank or which are adjacent to the parkway and downstream from the Highway 99 crossing and for which the owner desires the conservancy's management and protection services or which are subject to a voluntary resource management agreement entered into with the conservancy. 32514. The conservancy shall coordinate the activities of state and local agencies and private entities interested in the San Joaquin River and its resources. State and local agencies shall retain title to any land owned within the boundaries of the parkway. Local agencies may enter into an agreement to transfer responsibility for the management of the land to the conservancy. Where there is no state or local public agency with operating and management responsibility, the conservancy shall exercise that responsibility. All zoning or land use regulations shall remain the exclusive authority of the member agencies. 32515. (a) The governing board of the conservancy shall consist of 15 voting members. (b) The 15 voting members of the board shall consist of the following: (1) One member of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County appointed by a majority of the members of that board. A majority of the members of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County may appoint an alternate member from that board. (2) The Mayor of the City of Fresno or a member of the Fresno City Council designated by the Mayor of the City of Fresno. The Mayor of the City of Fresno may designate an alternate member from the Fresno City Council. (3) One member of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County appointed by a majority of the members of that board. A majority of the members of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County may appoint an alternate from that board. (4) The Mayor of the City of Madera or a member of the Madera City Council designated by the Mayor of the City of Madera. The Mayor of the City of Madera may designate an alternate member from the Madera City Council. (5) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), one resident of Fresno County appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates provided by the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County. The board of supervisors shall develop its list from a list submitted by environmental organizations within that county. The board of supervisors may establish additional criteria for that appointment. (B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), one resident of Madera County appointed by the Governor from a list of property owners of San Joaquin River bottom in that county submitted by the Board of Supervisors of Madera County. The board of supervisors may establish additional criteria for that appointment. (C) Fresno County and Madera County shall rotate appointment qualifications pursuant to this paragraph so that each alternative time the Board of Supervisors of Madera County shall submit a list of candidates to the Governor derived from a list submitted by environmental organizations within that county and the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County shall submit a list of candidates to the Governor of property owners of San Joaquin River bottom in that county. (6) One resident of the City of Fresno appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by the Fresno City Council. The city council may establish criteria for that appointment. (7) The Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Board or a member of his or her staff designated by the executive director. (8) The Secretary of Resources or a member of his or her staff designated by the secretary. (9) The Director of Fish and Game or a member of his or her staff designated by the director. (10) The Director of Parks and Recreation or a member of his or her staff designated by the director. (11) The Director of Finance or a member of his or her staff designated by the director. (12) The Executive Officer of the State Lands Commission or a member of his or her staff designated by the executive officer. (13) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, or his or her designee. (14) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Madera Irrigation District, or his or her designee. 32516. A quorum shall constitute a majority of the voting members of the board. Meetings of the governing board shall be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code). 32517. The voting members of the board shall serve for four-year terms. Any member who is an elected or appointed official who ceases to hold that office shall automatically cease to be a member of the board. The office of any member of the board who is required to be a resident of a member agency shall become vacant upon that member ceasing to be a resident of the member agency. 32518. Members who are not elected or appointed officials shall receive compensation in an amount set by the board, not to exceed seventy-five dollars ($75) for each day, or portion thereof, and not to exceed four hundred fifty dollars ($450) in any year, while attending meetings of the board, or engaged upon official business of the board. All members shall receive reimbursement for actual, necessary, and reasonable expenses. Any member may waive compensation. 32519. The office of chairperson of the board shall rotate every two years among the Mayor or designated council member of the City of Fresno, the member of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County, and the member of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County. 32520. The conservancy shall obtain and maintain adequate liability insurance or its equivalent, and defend and indemnify the member agencies for acts or omissions of the conservancy's agents, employees, volunteers, and servants.