Local Governments Driving Change in the Valley

What are the steps between the BIG VISION

and local implementation?

Sustainable Communities Strategies

BIG VISION!

ON THE GROUND CHANGE

General Plans

Specific Plans

Zoning Codes

Sustainable Communities Strategies

LOCAL PLANNING

• 8 counties / 8 COGs

• 62 cities

• 16 cities with populations over 50,000

• 46 cities with populations under 50,000

The San Joaquin Valley

San Joaquin Valley BlueprintPlan adopted in 2009

Corridor Reinvestment PlanCities of Modesto, Riverbank, and Oakdale

Integrating Health in PlanningCity of Delano

General PlanCity of Fresno

Vs. Business As Usual

A B C D

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%25%

18% 18%

23%

-10%

-21% -21%

-14%

Existing Optimal

Impact of Fresno General Plan scenarios on General Fund at existing and optimal service

levels

Potlucks and Community Meetings

Popular Education Zoning Exercise• Easily accessible• Low-Tech,• Colors, not Words• All Language Groups can

participate equally

Challenges for Local Implementation

• Lack of Planning Staff • Tools to Evaluate Performance of Growth Plans• Capacity of Local Policy Makers• Difficult to Make Innovative Projects Pencil• Outdated Community Engagement Practices

New Partners & New Players

Young ProfessionalsHealth CommunityBusiness CommunityNew Breed of Builders

How Funders Can Make a Difference

• Sustain and grow networks of stakeholders to engage in local and regional planning efforts.

• Support grassroots organizing.• Support efforts to improve local

governments’ civic engagement practices to be more inclusive.

• Provide assistance to local planning departments.

• Support the use of technical tools that measure fiscal, environmental, health, and social benefits

• Educate local policy makers.