The commission has the following duties and responsibilities:
(a) Be fully informed regarding all governmental activities affecting the program.
(b) Meet at least four times per year at various locations throughout the state to receive comments on the implementation of the program. Establish an annual calendar of proposed meetings at the beginning of each calendar year. The meetings shall include a public meeting, before the beginning of each grant program cycle, to collect public input concerning the program, recommendations for program improvements, and specific project needs for the system.
(c) Hold a public hearing to receive public comment regarding any proposed substantial acquisition or development project at a location in close geographic proximity to the project, unless a hearing consistent with federal law or regulation has already been held regarding the project.
(d) Consider, upon the request of any owner or tenant, whose property is in the vicinity of any land in the system, any alleged adverse impacts occurring on that person’s property from the operation of off-highway motor vehicles and recommend to the division suitable measures for the prevention of any adverse impact determined by the commission to be occurring, and suitable measures for the restoration of adversely impacted property.
(e) Review and comment annually to the director on the proposed budget of expenditures from the fund.
(f) Review all plans for new and expanded local and regional vehicle recreation areas that have applied for grant funds.
(g) Review and comment on strategic plans periodically developed by the division.
(h) Prepare and submit a program report to the Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of each house of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2022, and every three years thereafter. The report required to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. The report shall be adopted by the commission after discussing the contents during two or more public meetings. One of the public meetings shall be held in northern California and one shall be held in southern California. The report shall address the status of the program and off-highway motor vehicle recreation, including all of the following:
(1) A summary of the process, standards, and plans developed pursuant to this chapter.
(2) The condition of natural and cultural resources of areas and trails receiving state off-highway motor vehicle funds and the resolution of conflicts of use in those areas and trails.
(3) The status and accomplishments of funds appropriated for restoration pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 5090.50.
(4) A summary of resource monitoring data compiled and restoration work completed.
(5) Actions taken by the division and department since the last program report to discourage and decrease trespass of off-highway motor vehicles on private property.
(6) Other relevant program-related environmental issues that have arisen at state vehicular recreation areas since the last program report, including, but not limited to, actions undertaken to ensure compliance with federal and state Endangered Species Acts, local air quality laws and regulations, federal Clean Water Act and regional water board regulations, or permits.
(i) Make other recommendations to the deputy director regarding the off-highway motor vehicle recreation program.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 459, Sec. 7. (SB 249) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018