Liu introduces bill to increase cooperation between conservancy, forest

State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) introduced legislation Tuesday to increase cooperation between the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Angeles National Forest.

Liu’s bill, SB 238, would allow the superintendent of the Angeles National Forest to vote as a conservancy board member on projects located in or adjacent to the forest and projects that would substantially affect the forest.

Currently, forest superintendent Thomas Contreras is a non-voting board member of the conservancy.

“Giving the supervisor of the Angeles National Forest voting rights on local matters will strengthen collaboration and the decision-making process,” Liu said in a statement.

The conservancy, established in 1980, has worked to preserve more than 69,000 acres of parkland in wilderness and urban settings.

Liu’s bill would place the forest supervisor in a role similar to that currently held by Joan Cardellino, the Coastal Commission representative, who only votes on projects directly related to her area of expertise.

--Mark Kellam, Times Community News
Follow Mark Kellam on Twitter: @LAMarkKellam.