Great Redwood Trail Agency: County of Humboldt: state moneys: compatible offices.

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, and, on March 1, 2022, renamed the authority the Great Redwood Trail Agency, as specified. Existing law requires the agency, to the extent funding is available, to complete a railbanking process on its rail rights-of-way and to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain a trail in, or parallel to, those rail rights-of-way. Under existing law, the state is not liable for any contracts, debts, or other obligations of the authority or agency. This bill would prohibit the use of state moneys to initiate or operate rail service on those rail rights-of-way north of the City of Willits or for a project that is designed to rehabilitate, modernize, maintain, or repair an existing operation or facility, including a rail terminal, a railyard, a rail facility, and rail infrastructure, except for trail design or construction or to satisfy railbanking requirements, on those rail rights-of-way north of the City of Willits. The bill would prohibit spending state moneys for any new bulk coal terminal project, as defined, within the County of Humboldt. Existing law prohibits a public officer, including, but not limited to, an appointed or elected member of a governmental board, commission, committee, or other body, from simultaneously holding 2 public offices that are incompatible, as specified. Under existing law, offices are incompatible under specified circumstances, unless simultaneous holding of the particular offices is compelled or expressly authorized by law. Existing law expressly authorizes a local government officer to be appointed to and serve as a member of the Great Redwood Trail Agency's board of directors, if the officer also meets the other applicable qualifications. This bill would also expressly authorize a member of a state commission to be appointed to and serve as a member of the Great Redwood Trail Agency's board of directors, if the member also meets the other applicable qualifications. The bill would also expressly authorize a member of the agency's board of directors to serve as a local government officer or a member of a state commission. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for those rail rights-of-way north of the City of Willits and the County of Humboldt.