(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director of General Services may acquire, on behalf of the state, a fee or lesser interest in such real and personal property located in the vicinity of Ocotillo Wells in San Diego County as is designated in writing to the Director of General Services by the Director of Parks and Recreation. If the property is leased, the lease shall be for such term and for such consideration as is mutually agreed upon by and between the Director of General Services and the lessor, and with the rental to be paid by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
(b) Prior to making any acquisition:
(1) The Director of Parks and Recreation shall recommend to the State Park and Recreation Commission his designation of lands presently owned by the department to be included in the vehicular recreation area provided in subdivision (d), and no acquisition may be made unless and until the commission has concurred in that designation.
(2) The director shall conduct at least one public hearing in San Diego County regarding the designation of lands presently owned by the department to be included in the vehicular recreation area. The director shall consider and be guided by testimony presented at the hearing.
(c) Any interest acquired pursuant to this section shall be subject to the provisions of the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The proviso in Section 5019 shall not apply to any property acquired pursuant to this section that is subject to a reservation of oil and mineral rights if the Director of Parks and Recreation finds that the proposed prospecting or extraction of oil and minerals will not unreasonably interfere with the use of the property or adjoining property for recreation and if the grantor or lessor of the surface of the property, if other than the state or the holder of such a reservation, consents to the proposed prospecting or extraction.
(d) Upon acquisition of the interest, the Director of General Services shall forthwith transfer the interest to the jurisdiction of the department, which shall administer the property as a unit of the state park system. The department shall carry out a program in that unit of development, maintenance, administration, and conservation of trails and areas for the recreational use of off-highway vehicles and for other related state park system purposes. Areas for the recreational use of off-highway vehicles shall be administered pursuant to Chapter 1.25 (commencing with Section 5090.01).
(e) Any fees, rentals, or other returns collected by the department in its administration of the unit shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Off-Highway Vehicle Fund.
(f) The Director of Parks and Recreation shall review, and report annually to the State Park and Recreation Commission regarding, the development, maintenance, administration, and public usage of the vehicular recreation area and its success, effects on the environment, and appropriateness as a unit of the state park system.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 994, Sec. 4.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018