Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Existing law requires various state agencies to carry out programs, projects, and activities on behalf of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Johnston-Baker-Andal-Boatwright Delta Protection Act of 1992 creates the 23-member Delta Protection Commission and requires the commission to prepare and adopt a comprehensive long-term resource management plan for specified lands within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. That act establishes a primary zone where further development is barred and a secondary zone surrounding the Delta where development may proceed under certain conditions. This bill would revise and recast the provisions of the act to, among other things, reduce the number of members to 15 members, as specified. The bill would require the commission to conduct its meetings in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. The bill would require the commission to appoint at least one advisory committee consisting of representatives from specified entities to provide input regarding the diverse interests within the delta. The bill would require the commission to adopt, not later than July 1, 2011, a comprehensive resources management plan containing specified elements and would require the commission to update the plan every 5 years. The bill would require the Delta Stewardship Council, when developing a delta plan, to take into consideration recommendations made by the commission. The bill would require all general plans of cities and counties within the delta to be consistent with the resources management plan that would be created and adopted by the commission, and the delta plan created and adopted by the Delta Stewardship Council, and thereby impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would revise and recast the process by which local government is to submit proposed general plan amendments and land use elements to ensure that the general plan is consistent with the resource management plan. The bill would require the commission to submit to the Legislature, by January 1, 2012, recommendations on the potential expansion of the primary zone. The bill would require the commission to develop a regional economic development plan for the delta region that is consistent with the delta plan. This bill would establish the Delta Investment Fund within the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would be used by the commission for the purposes of enhancing delta communities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.