AB 769

Existing law establishes procedures for the formation of regional park, park and open-space, and open-space districts and prescribes the powers, functions, and duties of those districts.

Existing law requires the board of directors of these districts to appoint a general manager as chief administrative officer of the district and a controller and authorizes appointment of other subordinate officers, as provided.

This bill would consolidate and modify roles and compensation of board-appointed officers, as specified.

Existing law prohibits a district from validly conveying land actually dedicated and used for park or open-space purposes without the consent of a majority of the district's voters voting at a special election when the lease of the land exceeds 25 years.

This bill would require, for the conveyance described above to occur, the consent of the district's voters voting at a special election when the lease of the land exceeds 50 years.

Existing law authorizes a district to exchange park and open-space land by a unanimous vote of the board if the new park and open-space land is equal or greater in value and needed for park or open-space purposes. Existing law authorizes the East Bay Regional Park District, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District to exchange up to 40 acres of district-owned park or open-space land in a calendar year.

This bill would instead authorize the exchange of park or open-space land by a 23 vote of the board, and would authorize the East Bay Regional Park District when a compatible and comparable exchange is not feasible, to accept compensation in an exchange with a public agency, provided that compensation is used to purchase park and open-space land. The bill would authorize the above-listed districts to exchange up to 80 acres of district-owned land in a calendar year.

This bill would make other changes related to park and open-space districts, including, among others, repealing specified authorizations and requirements regarding the East Bay Regional Park District.

Existing law generally authorizes the general manager of a regional park, park and open space, and open-space district, with district board approval, to bind the district, in accordance with board policy, and without advertising, for the payment for supplies, materials, labor, or other valuable consideration for any purpose in amounts not exceeding $50,000. Existing law authorizes the district, by action of the board in an open meeting, to increase the amount by which the general manager of the district may bind the district above that limit.

This bill would authorize a general manager of a district with a population of 200,000 or more, with the approval of the board, to bind the district, in accordance with board policy that has been adopted in an open meeting, for the payment for equipment, supplies, and materials for any purpose, including new construction of a building, structure, or improvement, excluding labor and services, when the annual aggregate cost does not exceed $150,000, as provided.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the East Bay Regional Park District.