Current Projects
Implementing Solutions
The Local Government Commission has an extensive track record partnering with local communities as a technical assistance provider to design improvements to the built environment, engage stakeholders, and help shape local policy, plans and projects that result in sustainable solutions.
Technical Assistance
LGC provides assistance to local jurisdictions applying for state funding, including:
• State Active Transportation Program grants to develop or improve active transportation plans, programs and infrastructure projects.
• Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program for management and expansion of urban forestry.
• Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning grants (LGC has helped over 100 jurisdictions apply since 2000).
Community Support
Each year, LGC deploys 90 AmeriCorps fellows through CivicSpark, a Governor’s Initiative AmeriCorps program, to bridge critical gaps and partner with communities on water resilience, climate action planning, clean energy, public health, green buildings, waste management, and transportation initiatives.
LGC also provides direct planning assistance in the following areas: community engagement, multi-stakeholder facilitation, charrettes to assist with community visioning and planning, Community Image Surveys, Safe Routes to School and Complete Streets workshops and technical workshops for staff on Designing for Pedestrians and Bicyclists. LGC has partnered with over 70 local jurisdictions and tribal governments to implement over $10 million in projects through Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning grants alone. www.lgc.org/services/
Guidebooks and Factsheets
LGC also develops guidance for local agencies such as overcoming financial and institutional barriers to implementing smart growth and adaptation strategies, increasing public participation, improving water management, and achieving zero net energy. LGC has tools to help communities respond to evolving needs and mandates.
Connecting Leaders
The Local Government Commission provides a unique forum for innovative leaders to build networks, share experiences, and learn new strategies for creating livable communities. LGC reaches more than 4,000 smart growth leaders and practitioners every year through a variety of events and stakeholder networks.
Events
New Partners for Smart Growth™ Conference
The national New Partners for Smart Growth™ Conference brings together an average of 1,200 practitioners from across the U.S. to learn from engaging speakers, dynamic sessions and tours of local model projects and to build new partnerships through interactive networking opportunities.
California Adaptation Forum (CAF)
CAF connects hundreds of local, regional, and state leaders who are committed to addressing California’s adaptation needs. This biennial forum features cutting-edge policies, tools and strategies that address the challenges community leaders face in developing and implementing adaptation solutions.
Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) Forum
The annual SEEC Forum is offered at no-cost to hundreds of California local governments and features updates from key state agencies, innovative local energy and sustainability projects, capacity-building trainings, and networking opportunities.
Yosemite Policymakers Conference
Held in Yosemite National park since 1991, the annual Yosemite Policymakers Conference assists California’s policymakers with the tools and support they need to address society’s most pressing challenges and implement innovative solutions to build livable communities.
Dinner Forums for Local Policymakers
For over 15 years LGC has brought together policymakers in different regions across the state to learn about emerging smart growth opportunities and best practices and to discuss strategies to deploy new programs and policies to respond to community needs.
Networks
Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC)
The Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) provides no-cost trainings, resources, and technical assistance to support California local government efforts to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and act on climate change.
Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition (LGSEC)
LGSEC enhances the role of local governments in California’s sustainable energy future by providing a strong collective voice for its city, county and local agency members on sustainable energy policy decision-making in key regulatory agency proceedings.
Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA)
LGC-organized Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA) is a network of leading regional collaboratives from across California working together to advance adaptation statewide and increase local capacity to build community resilience.
Advancing Policy
LGC works on behalf of local leaders to participate in policy conversations at the local, regional, and state level on issues related to building livable communities. LGC maintains key partnerships with state, regional, and key federal entities and is called upon regularly to provide livable communities expertise and policy development and adoption assistance.
• Serving on state technical advisory committees: LGC staff are regularly asked to participate in statewide committees on climate change mitigation and adaptation, water management, transportation and energy.
• Supporting state legislation: LGC supports legislation on behalf of our board and members to advance livable communities (including measures to increase affordable housing, improve water management, address climate change and provide resources for alternative transportation).
• Coordinating stakeholder comments on state regulatory proceedings: LGC tracks regulatory processes and works with coalitions (including ARCCA and LGSEC) to provide in-depth comments on proceedings including: the AB 32 Climate Change Scoping Plan, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Investment Plan and Funding Guidelines, the “Safeguarding California” State Adaptation Strategy, the Governor’s Environmental Goals and Policies Report, and the California General Plan Guidelines.
• Policy development assistance: Drawing from extensive research on zoning codes, policies and ordinances that support livable, resource-efficient communities, LGC offers policy development assistance in the following areas: housing policies, design guidelines, street design standards, non-motorized transportation policies, low-impact development, Sustainable Groundwater Management, climate change mitigation and adaptation and measures for achieving energy efficiency and renewable energy generation.
Please see fundingresource.org for more information.