Planning and Community Development

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The Planning and Community Development Department provides networking opportunities and fosters professional development for department members through Cal Cities' educational and communication tools. It also serves as a technical and advisory resource to Cal Cities through its policy committee representatives.

Subscribe to the Planning and Community Development Listserv to receive the latest updates and information.

Department Goals and Activities

Hone your skills as a planner or planning commissioner by participating in specially designed educational training, including the annual Planning Commissioners Academy, which includes sessions for both new and advanced commissioners and planning staff; professional-development focused webinars; and sessions on city issues at Cal Cities’ Annual Conference. Our members also engage in:

Advocacy

Work with Cal Cities as it advocates for the interest of cities on statewide issues that affect city planning matters by:
Keeping abreast of breaking legislative developments through the CA Cities Advocate email newsletter, Western City magazine, legislative briefings and the Housing, Community and Economic Development Listserv.
Join a policy committee;
Participating in monthly department conference calls; and
Working with your city manager and city council to respond to calls to action on planning-related legislation.

Networking

Connect with your colleagues from throughout California to:
Build professional relationships;
Tap into planning trends and resources;
Exchange best practices through the HCED Listserv; and
Partner with professionals and other elected officials across other departments to improve local government.

Department Officers

President - Benjamin Yee, Planning Commissioner, Fremont

First Vice President - Larry Koman, Planning Commissioner, Bakersfield

Second Vice President - Vacant

Department Director* - Eric Nelson, Planning Commissioner, Dana Point

Immediate Past President - Debbie Chamberlain, Community Development Director, San Ramon

*Department Director serves for a two-year term, beginning in even years.

Policy Committee Representatives

Appointed by the department president, each department has at least one representative on each of Cal Cities seven standing policy committees that can provide technical information to the committee as a whole to ensure that the department has a voice in the decision-making process, and make recommendations to the board of directors on legislative and policy issues.

Community Services – Larry Koman, Planning Commissioner, Bakersfield
Environmental Quality – Matthew Downing, City Manager, Arroyo Grande
Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations – Gary Alpert, Planning Commissioner, San Ramon
Housing, Community, and Economic Development – Debbie Chamberlain, Community Development Director, San Ramon
Public Safety – Eric Nelson, Planning Commissioner, Dana Point
Revenue and Taxation – Joel Rojas, Development Services Director, San Juan Capistrano
Transportation, Communications, and Public Works – Omar Dadabhoy, Deputy City Manager/Community Development Director, Fountain Valley

For more information about the appointment process, please contact Meg Desmond.

Useful Links

Secretary Wade Crowfoot - California Natural Resources Agency

June 2, 2021 10:00 AM-11:00 AM

Speaker Series

Register Now

As the state enters a drought compounded with continued impacts of wildfires, join the League of California Cities and California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot for a timely presentation discussing these threats to our cities and what communities can do to prepare.

Registration is offered at no charge as a benefit for Cal Cities members and League Partners.

About the Speaker

Secretary Crowfoot oversees an agency of 19,000 employees who protect and manage California’s natural resources. This includes the state’s forests and natural lands, rivers and waterways, coast and ocean, fish and wildlife, and energy development. As a member of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s cabinet, he advises the Governor on natural resources and environmental issues.

Secretary Crowfoot believes good natural resources management helps natural places thrive and allows communities and our economy to prosper. His key priorities include:

Building California’s resilience to climate change-driven threats, including wildfire, drought, flooding, and sea-level rise.
Expanding access to parks, natural places, and outdoor recreation for all Californians.
Preserving California’s world-renowned biodiversity of plants and animals.

Prior to leading the Natural Resources Agency, Crowfoot served as chief executive officer of the Water Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropy that builds shared water solutions across the American West. Before that Crowfoot served in Gov. Jerry Brown’s Administration as deputy cabinet secretary and senior advisor to the Governor. He also previously served as West Coast regional director for the Environmental Defense Fund and a senior environmental advisor to then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Secretary Crowfoot received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996 and earned a master’s degree in public policy from the London School of Economics in 2004, graduating with honors.

A native of Michigan, Crowfoot grew up spending his summers outdoors at a YMCA camp and at his family’s remote cabin in Northern Ontario. Upon moving to California in the mid-1990s, he became an avid hiker and backpacker and marks his first time in the redwoods at Big Basin State Park as one of his defining California moments. Now he spends his time outside of work hiking and camping with his wife, Lisa, and their young daughter.

About the Cal Cities Speaker Series

The Cal Cities Speaker Series features government leaders and policy experts, sharing insights on big picture issues and trends that matter most to cities. Our speakers, like our cities, have diverse perspectives and Cal Cities is excited to provide meaningful dialogue that engages, enlightens, and inspires. The Cal Cities Speakers Series will feature high-profile speakers monthly and is free to members and League Partners.

Registration must be completed by June 2 at 9:30 a.m. Non-Cal Cities members will be charged $150. Please note that registration is limited to 1,000 people.

For questions about webinar registration, please contact Megan Dunn. For all other questions, please contact Christina George.

Contact Staff

Meghan McKelvey
Department and Member Services Senior Manager
(916) 658-8253

Isaac Black
Administrative Associate, Member Services

Join a Listserv

Listservs are an easy way to share resources and information with other city officials about specific subject areas. Listservs are open to all Cal Cities member cities.

Join the Housing, Community, and Economic Development Listserv.