A Remote Possibility for Brown Act Reform

Open and public meetings are a cornerstone of California’s democracy. The public has a right to know what local government is doing.  The Ralph M. Brown Act (Brown Act) guarantees to that local meetings are properly noticed and transparent. To date, the emphasis of in-person meeting been an important means to assure transparency.  Some remote …

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Tribal Government Inclusion in SANDAG’s Planning & Delivery

Over the last 15 years, SANDAG has worked with regional tribal nations to incorporate their views and needs into SANDAG’s planning and project selection program. In doing so, they have developed one of the outreach and public engagement models in the state for tribal inclusion. It has also resulted in planning elements and project selection …

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Toolbox Tuesday: More Than A Catchy Name

Toolbox Tuesday Graphic: Tune in for TA

One often-overlooked service that regional agencies offer successfully is providing technical assistance to their members (cities and counties) on a wide variety of topics. Regional governments provide a natural forum for information sharing because their members often share similar needs and issues. As a result, the technical training can be tailored to address the most important issues facing a region.

SCAG’s Toolbox Tuesday workshops are a great example.

Toolbox Tuesdays provide a quick, one-and-a-half-hour focus on a single subject. The sessions are planned at a level that a variety of people—including elected officials, local planners, community organizations, students, and community members—can gain practical skills and knowledge on timely planning issues. Offering this training virtually and free of cost provides all local jurisdictions access to high-quality training and technical assistance.

As SCAG staff pointed out, planning is one of the only fields/professions where you are sharing work and ideas in hopes of others stealing your ideas. Toolbox Tuesday is a great example of how to build regional capacity and support member agencies on planning activities that support regional goals.

Toolbox Tuesday works because:

SCAG Invests the Prep Time.

SCAG hosts Toolbox Tuesdays monthly. There is ongoing staff time to organize sessions and topics, get speakers, prepare presentations, keep the website up-to-date, and communications support and marketing. Sessions are coordinated by presenters, moderators, and technical support staff. The surging attendance indicates SCAG’s member agencies and partners value the program.

Toolbox Tuesday is a great example of how to build regional capacity and support member agencies on planning activities that support regional goals.

It’s (mostly) Virtual and Free.

Toolbox Tuesday training sessions have been offered since 2017, when they were held in person. However, the series really took off when it began to transition to virtual in 2019 going fully virtual in 2020. The online format has allowed SCAG to reach a bigger and broader audience as well as tap into a wider range of presenters. The cost-free trainings and potential for AICP credits coupled with innovative planning topics help boost attendance.

It’s Collaborative.

Toolbox Tuesday facilitates greater collaboration between SCAG and its members. The sessions themselves aim to provide a collaborative environment for sharing best practices and tools. Sessions allow members to learn from each other about the successes and nuances of policies. As a result, trainings often equip local government planners to think beyond their traditional roles and respond to new challenges that require collaboration and public participation.

It’s Timely.

Topics are carefully curated to ensure SCAG meets the needs of its members. This year, for example, one session each quarter has an intentional equity focus. Other recent topics have included: Accessory Dwelling Units, ArcGIS Story Mapping, SB 379 Compliance. Additionally, the SCAG Local Information Services Team is available to provide personalized, one-on-one technical assistance to local cities and counties on the topics covered at Toolbox Tuesday.

Planning is one of the only fields where you share work in the hope that others will steal your ideas.

And There’s that Catchy Name.

Though the catchy name adds to the program’s appeal, the substantive information in these sessions is the true attention-keeper. The Federal Highway Administration noted the program in SCAG’s recent re-certification process, saying, “The review team appreciates the continuance of this platform as an excellent opportunity for interested stakeholders to learn and discuss transportation planning related themes.”

Recent Toolbox Tuesday Topices
– Equity In Action: Developing Equity Tools
– SB 379 Compliance: Resources for Local Jurisdictions
– Census and American Community Survey Data
– Smart Growth Financing and Funding
– Innovative Parking Solutions

To learn more about Toolbox Tuesday, watch previous sessions or join future a session, check out SCAG’s website.

What Do Regional Governments Do? “CARL” Answers the Call

How do you explain what a regional government does if you only have a moment?  Do you have an elevator speech?  Or have you given up on trying to explain it, even to your friends and family? Telling the story of regional government is challenging.  It’s complex, unwieldy, and filled with nuance.  It also varies …

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Imperial’s Mission Borders on Diplomacy

The city of Calexico is a fraction of the size of its sister city on the other side of the border, Mexicali.

Regional governments often serve as a venue where local agencies solve transboundary issues. But what happens when an international boundary bisects the region?  That is the issue faced by the Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC), which frequently engages with their regional partners in Mexico and two other sovereign nations – the Fort Yuma Quechan Indians and the …

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Regions 101

Cubed word cloud featuring the words Governance, Regional and Agency

We admit it. Regional governance often defies easy classification. Various agencies have grown and adapted to best serve their local communities.  The role of each agency also influences its structure.  As a result, there are instances where two agencies with different structures undertake the same mandate. Likewise, two regions that share the same structure may …

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WRCOG takes on the Challenge to save the “SKR”

Stephens Kangaroo Rat, (US FWS)

The Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi; or SKR) is a nocturnal rodent that is unique to southwestern California. The species was listed as federally endangered in 1988 after half of the habitat it historically occupied was lost to residential, commercial, and agricultural development. While kangaroo rat populations have dwindled over the years, the species remains in portions of western Riverside County and parts of northern and central San Diego County.

In 2015, Western Riverside Council of Governments took over the management of a habitat conservation plan to protect the Stephen Kangaroo Rat as a way to achieve governmental efficiencies and reduce costs. It working for WRCOG and the rats.