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Local Government Commission

LGC Events
Ahwahnee Hotel

Building Livable Communities

Livable Communities Meet the Global Warming Challenge
The 18th Annual Ahwahnee Conference for Local Elected Officials

Dates:March 13-15, 2009, Yosemite National Park

This Year's Topic

This year's conference focused on effective, cutting-edge, local government responses to Climate Change including measures that concurrently rebuild the local economy through green jobs — a special opportunity that appears to be getting a big boost from the new Administration in Washington.

Since we met in 2008, much has happened at the State level to address global warming. There is some confusion about SB 375, CEQA and general plan guidelines, and the California Air Resources Board's AB 32 implementation plan. We received updates and clarification from members of the California Air Resources Board, the Office of Planning and Research, the California Energy Commission, and the California Transportation Commission. We heard from local elected officials about new, cutting-edge projects that reduce the major sources of greenhouse gases and they offered ideas for funding them. We heard from communities actively engaged in green job development. And we discussed some of the major barriers to moving ahead — focusing particularly on opposition from NIMBYs — and how we address this challenge.

Sponsors

Agenda

Pre-Conference Session — Thursday, March 12 — Colonial Room, Ahwahnee Hotel
6:00 pm Conference Registration
7:30 pm Pre-Conference Session: Adaptation
9:30 pm Adjourn for the evening

Friday, March 13 — Tudor Lounge, Ahwahnee Hotel
7:15 pm Conference Welcome
  • LGC Chair: Councilmember Tom Butt, City of Richmond
  • Conference Host: Councilmember Jake Mackenzie, City of Rohnert Park
7:25 pm Introducing the New Ahwahnee Principles for Climate Change
  • Councilmember Jake Mackenzie, City of Rohnert Park
7:30 pm Participants Address Implementing the Ahwahnee Principles: The 60 Second Report
  • Councilmember Jake Mackenzie, City of Rohnert Park
8:30 pm Keynote Presentation: The Reality of Climate Change
  • Cliff Rechtschaffen, Special Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General Download Presentation (PDF)
9:30 pm Adjourn for the evening

Saturday, March 14 — Cliff/Falls Room, Yosemite Lodge

8:00 am Continental Breakfast
8:45 am Participants Address Implementing the Ahwahnee Principles: The 60 second report (Continued)
  • Conference Host: Councilmember Jake Mackenzie, City of Rohnert Park
9:15 am The Current Climate: Status of California’s Fight Against Global Warming/Climate Change
  • Moderator: Judy Corbett, Executive Director, Local Government Commission
  • General Plans/ CEQA guidelines/ Coordinating Council: Julia Lave Johnston, Senior Planner, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Download Presentation (PDF)
  • AB 32 Scoping Plan & CEQA Thresholds: James Goldstene, Executive Officer, California Air Resources Board Download Presentation (PDF)
  • Regional Blueprints: Gregg Albright, Deputy Secretary of Environmental Policy and Integration, Business, Transportation & Housing Agency
  • California Transportation Commission: Carl Guardino, President and CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Commissioner, California Transportation Commission Download Presentation (PDF)
  • California Energy Commission: Panama Bartholomy, Executive Analyst, California Energy Commission Download Presentation (PDF)
11:15 am Break
11:30 am Addressing the Major Sources of GHG Emissions : Homes and Offices

Cutting Electricity Use
  • Moderator: Pat Stoner, Director of Resource Conservation Programs, Local Government Commission
  • Financing Retrofits: Councilmember Jim Ferguson, City of Palm Desert
  • Marin Clean Energy: Supervisor Charles McGlashan, Marin County Download Presentaion (PDF)
12:30 pm Boxed Lunch and Hiking Break
(Conference resumes at 4:30 pm in the Cliff/Falls Room, Yosemite Lodge)
4:30 pm Addressing the Major Sources of GHG Emissions: Cars and Light Trucks

Reducing Transportation Emissions
  • Moderator: Councilmember Brian Brennan, City of Ventura
  • Form Based Codes: Paul Zykofsky AICP, Director of Land Use & Transportation Programs, Local Government Commission Download Presentation (PDF)
  • Sacramento Alley Infill Project: Councilmember Steve Cohn, City of Sacramento Download Presentation (PDF)
  • Stockton General Plan: Councilmember Susan Eggman and J. Gordon Palmer, City Manager, City of Stockton Download Presentation (PDF)
5:30 pm Reception
6:15 pm Dinner
7:15 pm Changing to a Green Economy
  • Moderator: Rick Cole, City Manager, City of Ventura
  • Phil Angelides, Chairman, Apollo Alliance
  • Carl Guardino, President and CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Commissioner, California Transportation Commission
  • Councilmember Tom Butt, City of Richmond Download Presentation (PDF)
9:15 pm Being Fair to the Next Generation
  • Panama Bartholomy, Executive Analyst, California Energy Commission
9:30 pm Adjourn for the evening

Sunday, March 15 — Tudor Lounge, Ahwahnee Hotel
8:30 am Continental Breakfast
9:00 am Remaining Challenges: The Public’s Response to Density
  • Moderator: Councilmember Brian Brennan, City of Ventura
  • Councilmember Helene Schneider, City of Santa Barbara Download Presentation (PDF)
  • Mayor Ken Genser, City of Santa Monica
10:15 am The Economic Recovery Act
  • Tom Bohigian, State Director, Office of Senator Barbara Boxer
11:00 am Placing Our Work in a Global Context
  • Councilmember Jake Mackenzie, City of Rohnert Park
  • Dr. Bob Wilkinson, Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara

    Download Presentation (PDF)
11:20 am Conference Wrap Up
  • Councilmember Jake Mackenzie, City of Rohnert Park
11:30 am Conference Adjourns