SB 69

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law creates the North Coast Railroad Authority with various powers and duties relating to rail service in the north coast area of the state, including the authority to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the operation and maintenance of railroads, the planned transfer of all of the authority's assets, and the authority's dissolution. Under existing law, the authority is governed by a board of directors composed of appointees from the Counties of Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, and Sonoma, a city representative selected by the cities served by the authority's rail line, and a nonvoting, ex officio member of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. Existing law requires the authority to plan for the transfer of all of its assets and liabilities and for its dissolution. Under existing law, the state is not liable for any contracts, debts, or other obligations of the authority. This bill would rename the North Coast Railroad Authority the Great Redwood Trail Agency on March 1, 2022. The bill would remove the ex officio member of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District from the board, and authorize the Governor to appoint a nonvoting director from the Transportation Agency and a nonvoting director from the Natural Resources Agency. The bill would delete the requirement that the agency plan for the transfer of all of its assets and liabilities and for its dissolution. The bill would, to the extent funding is available, require the agency to, among other things, (1) inventory any parcel, easement, or contract related to its rail rights-of-way, (2) complete an environmental assessment of the conditions of its rail rights-of-way for purposes of trail development, (3) plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain a trail in, or next to, the rail rights-of-way, and (4) complete a federal railbanking process for the rail rights-of-way. The bill would also give the agency certain enumerated rights and powers, including, among other things, the right and power to fix and collect fees, make grants, acquire interests in real property, enter into contracts and joint powers agreements, adopt ordinances, and adopt and enforce rules and regulations, as specified. The bill would expressly subject the agency to the Ralph M. Brown Act and California Public Records Act. The bill would require the agency, before January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, to report to the Legislature on the agency's progress towards fulfilling the requirements and goals relating to its rail rights-of-way. The bill would require the agency to convey and transfer all of its rights, interests, privileges, and title, lien free, relating to its rail right-of-way south of the county line separating the Counties of Mendocino and Sonoma, including any associated real property, rail easements, branch or spur lines, leases, contracts, licenses and certificates of public convenience and necessity, common carrier obligations, and railroad assets, to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. Existing law creates, within the Counties of Sonoma and Marin, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District, which is governed by a 12-member board of directors, with specified duties and powers. Existing law requires the district to work with specified authorities, including the North Coast Railroad Authority, to achieve a safe, efficient, and compatible system of passenger and freight rail service and authorizes the district to, among other things, provide a rail transit system for the provision of freight service by rail and own, operate, manage, and maintain a passenger rail system within the territory of the district. This bill would give the district's board of directors the duty and power to, among other things, own, operate, manage, and maintain a freight rail system within the district and fix rates, rentals, charges, and classifications of freight service operated by the district. The bill would also give the district's board of directors the duty and power to consider potential alternatives to help address the housing needs of current and future employees. The bill would repeal the requirement that the district obtain coverage for itself and its employees under certain federal laws. This bill would designate the ancillary bicycle and pedestrian pathways that provide connections between and access to district station sites and the district's other pathways as "The Great Redwood Trail, Southern Segment," and would authorize the district to partner and contract with trail agencies, as provided. By imposing new requirements on local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.