ABOUT THE PROJECT

Broadband deployment in Mendocino County is one of the most critical missing infrastructure components. Its absence precludes unserved and underserved communities from participating in the 21st-century economy, and puts life and safety at risk, places students behind their urban and suburban peers and adds significant costs to healthcare and other public services. Mendocino County is working on refining local broadband data and developing strategies to maximize efforts in FirstNet deployment, efforts on middle-mile broadband infrastructure access, and California Advanced Services Fund grants in conjunction with the local Broadband consortium and community groups. The Broadband Fellow will support county staff on data analysis and broadband project implementation, including mapping, analysis, and policy development that will be the foundation needed for the county to access and leverage state and federal resources to expand broadband access for residents. This will include policy review, research and analysis of the federal FirstNet program and contract language to identify areas in Mendocino County that received inadequate implementation; report development and presentation summarizing the County’s efforts on broadband including past efforts, plans, project and initiatives; research in AT&T’s plans to replace copper lines with wireless in services areas, identification of areas or projects that have used wireless over copper infrastructure, and recommendations from research for a pilot program proposal utilizing wireless as an option for broadband expansion.

Given current challenges with COVID-19, the Fellow will also support COVID response and recovery activities for the county as part of their involvement. Activities may include mobilizing direct support for response efforts to address near-term gaps in the delivery of services, such as statistical and data analysis; supporting the coordination of volunteer activities and resources; enhancing local government capacity to sustain response through logistical support by developing and implementing recovery programming, and empowering long-term response and recovery through research on the economic, workforce, and other recovery options and support the development of recovery plans through analysis, content development, and stakeholder engagement.

The ideal Fellow will be self-motivated and have strong project management and research skills and should be comfortable with data management and collection, and have strong spatial analysis and ArcGIS experience.  

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Mendocino County is located about 100 miles north of San Francisco and is bordered by Sonoma County to the south, Humboldt County to the north, Lake County to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The County has a population of approximately 90,000 with about 16,000 people living in Ukiah, the largest city and the County seat. Additionally, there are three incorporated cities: Willits, Fort Bragg and Point Arena. Mendocino County encompasses an area of over two million acres or approximately 3,500 square miles and is known for its redwood forests, 120+ miles of rugged coastline, picturesque villages and award winning wineries – and is larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Residents and visitors enjoy camping, fishing and water sports at Lake Mendocino as well as throughout the coastal areas of Mendocino County. Combining the best of the outdoors with the finest aspects of living well, Mendocino County embodies the very best that California and Mother Nature have to offer.

Mendocino County is a general law county established in 1850 by the State legislature and is a political subdivision, or unit, of the State. The County is represented by five non-partisan, elected members comprising the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is the governing body and sets policy and priorities for the County and Water Agency. The County is responsible for providing municipal programs and services in unincorporated areas of the County, and its powers are limited to those granted by the State. The County implements many programs in the areas of health, welfare and law enforcement, which are mandated, regulated and mostly funded by the State. The Board of Supervisors has limited authority over the policy and administration of these programs. The County also provides local services, such as public safety, libraries, land-use planning, county road construction and maintenance, and a museum. Working in a rural county will provide Fellows the opportunity to work on high-level projects and gain more experience than offered in a larger organization.  Mendocino County thrives to be a great place to work and prioritizes leadership at all levels.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Mendocino County Water Agency, on behalf of the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (UVBGSA), is implementing a $2.3 million grant to develop a Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and California Department of Water Resources (DWR) SGMA Regulations. 

The Fellow will support the Mendocino County Water Agency and serve collaboratively with consultants, local agencies, and the public. The three main areas of the project include grant management, stakeholder outreach and GSP development. Grant management components will include invoicing, project management and reviewing project deliverables. Stakeholder outreach will be focused on disadvantaged communities, tribal communities, beneficial water users and the public. The Fellow will support outreach through public meetings, forums, stakeholder one-one meetings, educational material development and mailers. The Fellow will also work on the development of the GSP focused on complying/analyzing data, reviewing plan chapters and analyzing public comments and feedback for incorporation into the plan, as well as be able to work directly with the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Technical Advisory Committee on GSP development.

The ideal Fellow will be able to manage multiple projects, as well as have the ability to conduct field monitoring, assess data and prepare reports to share with multiple audiences from that information, present to various audiences in both public and professional settings, and be detail-oriented.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Mendocino County is located about 100 miles north of San Francisco and is bordered by Sonoma County to the south, Humboldt County to the north, Lake County to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The County has a population of approximately 90,000 with about 16,000 people living in Ukiah, the largest city and the County seat. Additionally, there are three incorporated cities: Willits, Fort Bragg and Point Arena. Mendocino County encompasses an area of over two million acres or approximately 3,500 square miles and is known for its redwood forests, 120+ miles of rugged coastline, picturesque villages and award winning wineries – and is larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Residents and visitors enjoy camping, fishing and water sports at Lake Mendocino as well as throughout the coastal areas of Mendocino County. Combining the best of the outdoors with the finest aspects of living well, Mendocino County embodies the very best that California and Mother Nature have to offer. 

Mendocino County is a general law county established in 1850 by the State legislature and is a political subdivision, or unit, of the State. The County is represented by five non-partisan, elected members comprising the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is the governing body and sets policy and priorities for the County and Water Agency. The County is responsible for providing municipal programs and services in unincorporated areas of the County, and its powers are limited to those granted by the State. The County implements many programs in the areas of health, welfare and law enforcement, which are mandated, regulated and mostly funded by the State. The Board of Supervisors has limited authority over the policy and administration of these programs. The County also provides local services, such as public safety, libraries, land-use planning, county road construction and maintenance, and a museum. 

Mendocino County Water Agency is an ideal place to gain experience in water management and project management.  The fellow will have an opportunity to grow and be hands on with projects. The Fellow will also learn how to develop plans and policies while working with community partners and government agencies.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Humboldt County is on the front lines of sea level rise – Humboldt Bay has the highest rate of relative sea level rise of the entire West Coast of the US. The Humboldt County Planning Department has done the research to know what assets are at risk from sea level rise and it is alarming – there is a vast array of land uses and development at risk from sea level rise,  including urban and rural lands, a variety of coastal access and other types of visitor serving uses, coastal-dependent industrial land, unique environmentally sensitive habitat areas, prime agricultural land, and critical infrastructure without which Humboldt County could hardly function (including Highway 101, and two wastewater treatment plants that serve the majority of the County’s population). Humboldt County has been selected by the California Coastal Commission to lead a regional planning effort with funding from the California Climate Investments program. The focus of this effort will be the Humboldt Bay region – the lands surrounding Humboldt Bay within the City of Eureka and Arcata’s local coastal program (LCPs) and the County’s Humboldt Bay Area Plan (HBAP).  Lands in the project area that could be impacted by 1 meter or more of sea level rise include many critical assets located in multiple hydrologic units and in multiple federal, state and local jurisdictions with regulatory authority over development. Since there are critical assets that could be impacted by sea level rise which are owned by various public agencies and private property owners, and that cross various jurisdictional boundaries, and because there are numerous agencies that will be adopting sea level rise policies and/or would need to issue permits for sea level rise strategies, coordination of sea level rise adaptation policies and adaptation strategies for the Humboldt Bay region is critical.

A regional sea level rise regulatory framework and ultimately a regional plan is considered the best approach to addressing sea level rise around Humboldt Bay. The first step toward creating such a framework and plan is to develop a feasibility study, and drafting that study will be the primary role of the Fellow. The goal of this project is to develop options for Humboldt Bay regional sea level rise adaptation planning to foster a cooperative and coordinated regional approach to sea level rise policy and adaptation strategy development and implementation, with resulting regulatory and financial benefits.   This goal will be achieved by preparing a feasibility study considering the following project objectives: (1) outreach to local LCP agencies, federal, state and local permitting agencies, asset owners (transportation, utilities, shoreline protection, recreational, cultural, marine, environmental) and the community; (2) research on various types of regulatory frameworks for a regional planning effort, opportunities for cross-jurisdictional coordination and funding, and regulatory pathways and barriers; and (3) report development through exploring regional planning framework options, creating summary of outreach and research and meeting notes, and sharing recommendations for next steps.

The ideal Fellow would have some understanding of federal, state and local laws, regulations, policies, procedures and standards pertaining to the planning process. The ability to interpret maps, site and building plans and specifications, graphs and statistical data is preferred. Strong research and writing skills is required, and the Fellow should be comfortable making sound independent judgement and maintaining effective working relationships.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Our team is a highly motivated group consisting of land use planners, attorneys and scientists that prioritize coordination and effectiveness in addressing economic, social and environmental issues affecting our region. We work in the City of Eureka which has almost no traffic. There is an abundance of experiences offered in Humboldt County. Mostly we are known for our laid-back approach to life, and with the stunning natural beauty of our County. We’ve got an abundance of recreational activities for outdoor enthusiasts.  The depth of our recreational opportunities are complimented by a vibrant community that takes pride in our civic and social pursuits as well. From outdoor art and music festivals to high end schools to great cultural touchpoints and more shops and restaurants than you could visit in a year.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Lake County Water Resources Department is responsible for the preservation, health and growth of Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in California. In order to promote an environmentally and economically healthy watershed, the Water Resources Department is identified by two main branches – Lakebed Management and Lake County Watershed Protection District. These branches encompass all of the programs and projects that work towards the goal of sustainable watershed management for Clear Lake. 

The CivicSpark Fellows will work closely with Water Resources staff to spearhead the Clear Lake Shoreline Assessment and Inventory, which will encompass the collection and organization of data used for the management of Clear Lake. Through these efforts, the Fellows will be an asset in strengthening the organizational capacity of Lakebed Management by identifying and documenting the features and conditions of Clear Lakes’ shoreline. This is a crucial aspect for the Department’s task of improving and protecting the public’s interest in the waters and the bed of the waters in and around Clear Lake, and to ensure that the lands will be used for general statewide interests in furtherance of commerce, navigation, fishery, recreation and, wherever possible and appropriate, preservation of the land and waters in their natural state. By conducting a Clear Lake Shoreline Assessment and Inventory, the Fellows will play a substantial role in fulfilling obligations outlined in the County of Lake’s, Clear Lake Integrated Watershed Management Plan (CLIWMP), particularly those chapters focusing on Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Resources, Lake Recreation, and Lake Management. While doing this, the Fellows will equally be fulfilling obligations outlined in the Lake County, California – Code of Ordinances / Chapter 23 – Clear Lake Shoreline. Spearheading a Clear Lake Shoreline Assessment and Inventory will fill in a much needed missing piece of the Lakebed Management puzzle. Once completed, Lakebed Management will have an updated inventory from data gathered by the Fellows which will support the Departments’ role of providing sustainable management throughout the Clear Lake watershed.

The ideal Fellows will be comfortable being on the water and working in a small vessel and / or kayak in order to collect data, along with working in a variety of field conditions. Interest in local government and day to day operations will also be of benefit. A sense of enthusiasm, strong project management skills, experience with ArcGIS and Microsoft Office (Excel), formal writing abilities, community outreach and strong communication skills are important for Fellows serving with the Lake County Water Resources Department.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Settled between Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties, Lake County is a rural Northern California community with a population of a little under 65,000 residents. With the Mayacamas Mountains running along the Westside portion of the county, one of the oldest lakes in the country and largest in the state of California in the northernmost part of the county, and rolling hills in between, Lake County is a unique and beautiful gem of Northern California. Although a rural county, Lake County prides itself on creating a sense of community. From the Annual Kelseyville Pear Festival, The Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In, farmers markets, the weekly live music events that occur throughout the County to guided nature hikes, there is constantly something to do to immerse yourself in the quaint and welcoming community of Lake County.

This sense of community also rolls over to the Lake County Water Resources Department. The Department has 8 employees, the Water Resources staff works as a team within the Department along with other local agencies, departments, and tribes to fulfill its mission and the community’s mission in protecting Clear Lake and its watershed. The Fellows will quickly gain the understanding that it takes a village to fulfill this mission – this will be of benefit to the Fellows as they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the multiple projects and programs under the Lake County Water Resources Department. From Flood Management, Aquatic Plant Management, Highland Springs Recreation Area, Invasive Mussel Prevention, Middle Creek Restoration Project, Clean Water Program, to Sustainable Groundwater Management, the Fellows will have plenty of opportunity to hone in on professional development skills such as GIS, community outreach, report writing, project management, and data management.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Lakeport owns and operates water and sewer infrastructure that serves a population of approximately 5,100 people. In order to operate more effectively, the City needs to identify all of the assets associated with these operations and plot them onto a GIS platform; many have already been identified and mapped but there is much more work to be done. This will require field investigation for obtaining GIS coordinates of assets and effectively labeling them into the asset management program. This project would require strong organizational skills with knowledge of the GIS platform.

The Fellow would be supporting the Public Works Department by obtaining and documenting infrastructure data onto a GIS platform used for tracking maintenance and condition assessments of the various assets. The goal of this project would be to have all assets identified and properly labeled. This will provide the city with accurate information for identifying future capital needs to improve capacity and resiliency.

The ideal Fellow will have a strong background in utilizing database platforms and have experience with GIS mapping.  They would be able to work independently and in a group or team setting as needed and have strong organizational skills and task oriented.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Lakeport is a small city located in a rural county with a population of about 76,000. The workplace is located at our Corporation Yard. It is a professional office environment with a supportive staff. There are many city functions performed here that offer opportunities to learn and grow as you navigate through your project.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Lake County has been severely impacted by catastrophic wildfires in recent years, with nearly three quarters of the land in the County having burned since 2015. In 2018, in response to the fires, local leaders formed the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority (RRA), a Joint Powers Authority consisting of the County of Lake and all five local Fire Protection Districts. A first of its kind authority in the state, the RRA was formed to support the entire county in fire resiliency efforts. The Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC), a nonprofit organization serving Lake County, is coordinating projects throughout the county to help combat the impacts of wildfire, promote positive regeneration of burned areas, and preserve the forest and woodlands that have not been destroyed by fire. CLERC’s overall goal is to work with the RRA and other partners to increase the amount of land in Lake County being actively managed for fire resilience. CLERC was recently awarded a $3M grant from CAL FIRE to complete a series of fire resiliency projects including fuel reduction on both public and private land, development of a regional prioritization plan to streamline development of future projects, and support an ongoing ecological restoration workforce development program operated by a local education nonprofit. The regional prioritization plan is a key component to capturing future funding for landscape-scale fire resilience projects in Lake County and reducing the overall impacts of wildfires in the future.

The Fellow will collaborate with partners in the community to develop a fire resilience prioritization plan for the Authority. This plan will be submitted to the California Department of Conservation in tandem with the other plans to be developed through the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity program. With a completed prioritization plan, it will be easier for Lake County to access future state funding and programs regarding forest and fire management. The Fellow will assist with all aspects of the plan development process including scoping, public outreach, data inventory and collection, GIS mapping, and technical report writing. The plan is open-ended and customized for the community, so the Fellow will help determine the plan’s content and development process and will need to take into account ongoing maintenance of projects and permitting requirements. To provide a broader view of fire resilience and forest health projects, the Fellow will also assist CLERC staff in implementation of fuel reduction and reforestation projects on both public and private lands. These projects require clear communication with landowners, contractors performing the work, the projects’ Registered Professional Forester, and CAL FIRE. The work will involve integration of GIS data with various forest management activities and environmental permitting depending on the details of each specific project site. These projects will also entail on-site monitoring with mobile GIS applications, which will be developed and refined as part of the project. The resources to be developed by the Fellow will include the prioritization plan that will allow the RRA to concentrate its resources on the highest priority projects. In achieving a method of prioritization, many steps will occur requiring development or creation, including networking, reporting, GIS integration and visualization. It is the intention that the plan will include a dynamic GIS database that will be continuously updated as fuel reduction projects are completed and new monitoring data is submitted from partners.

The ideal Fellow will be passionate about forest health and wildfire resiliency and also be highly organized, willing to take ownership of project goals, and comfortable coordinating with a wide range of people and interests. The Fellow will also need to have had some previous exposure to ArcGIS and be somewhat familiar with different plants and vegetation types.  The Fellow will also need to enjoy working with people and technology both indoors and outdoors.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Founded in 2014, CLERC is still a relatively new organization that has only recently stepped into the role of coordinating forest health and fire resiliency projects in Lake County. CLERC hired their first Executive Director in October 2019 and has a small, but growing staff. The Fellow will get a chance to help shape CLERC’s workplace culture during a critical organizational growth period. Working with CLERC will allow the Fellow to be exposed to a variety of topics and fields including project management, GIS, forestry, wildfire resilience, contracting, grant compliance, budgeting, and community partnership building. CLERC works with partners across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to achieve our mission.

Lake County is one of the most ecologically and geologically diverse counties in California. It is home to Clear Lake, the largest natural lake in the state and oldest lake in North America, and to Mount Konocti, a 4,300-foot tall volcano. It is, in part, home to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and the Mendocino National Forest. The county is also home to the largest geothermal power complex in the world, known as the Geysers. Lake County is believed to have had the longest continuous human habitation (17,000 years) of anywhere in the nation, largely due to the abundance of natural resources centered around Clear Lake.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Much of the street lighting, water and wastewater features for which the Lake County Special Districts (District) are responsible for have been captured via GPS for display and use in the GIS application; however, there are additional tasks needed to provide asset management capabilities using ArcGIS. Various features such as manholes, sewer mains, cleanouts, and others need to be assigned unique identifiers using built-in tools in GIS. Each feature in the District’s GIS has fields in the data table which contain or can contain searchable information related to asset management, and these fields can be searched to identify risk and forecast useful life and replacement cost cycles. Data entry using existing databases, inspection logs, as built plans and other sources to be determined will aid in the use of GIS data for asset management.

The ArcGIS based asset management project will benefit the District by providing documentation for short and long term capital improvement planning that will reduce sewer spills, protecting Clear Lake, groundwater and the environment. The project will allow the District to be more proactive and mitigate the effects of the many natural disasters that have occurred in our county over the last five years. Through the project, the Fellow will identify prioritized needs within the sanitation District that will enable the District to reduce Inflow and Infiltration which is causing sanitary sewer overflows during peak rain events. The Fellow will be working with existing district resources to create the ArcGIS based asset management system. With prioritized short and long term planning, the District can be proactive in addressing needs and improvements which will result in lower Operation and Maintenance costs, as well as a reduction in the need for increased user fees for the economically challenged community.

The idea Fellow will be a self motivated individual that can read as-built / construction plans and recognizes features that need to be included in an asset management program / plan. They should also have computer skills, including ArcGIS, GPS and asset management knowledge.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The Special Districts Administration is a public health and safety department that manages water, wastewater and street lighting districts for the County of Lake. Special Districts employs approximately 50 professional, certified staff to provide customer service, operations and maintenance of water and wastewater systems, and the planning and management of improvement projects. The agency’s mission includes providing safe, reliable drinking water to all of our customers in each of our water districts; maintaining a safe collection, transfer and treatment of waste water throughout our sewer districts; and promoting awareness, protection and conservation of our natural resources and environment. Special Districts achieves this mission with an integrated approach to resource management that recognizes the critical importance of the local water cycle. We strive to be proactive and a leader in advanced technology. In 2010, our solar arras were the largest County-owned solar facilities in the State of California. In 2018, we installed the first public owned floating solar power system in California.

Since 1997, Lake County has led the nation in recycling wastewater for environmental and geothermal energy benefits.  Our injection of effluent at the Geysers for geothermal steam production and power generation was the first of its kind in the world. Lake County Sanitation was the first municipality in the nation to install and utilize a new natural technology to dissolve bio-solids in the treatment ponds, (Blue Frog System). The Blue Frog system works by moving oxygen laterally through the water column rather than vertically, where an entirely different treatment process becomes possible.  The system mimics natural bodies of water keeping the water in three distinct layers (top-Aerobic, middle-Facultative, and bottom-Anaerobic). This system digests organic sludge in place, increases retention time, and lowers BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), odor, ammonia, SS (suspended solids) and pathogens without adding chemicals.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Sierra Business Council (SBC) is a community-based non-profit seeking an enthusiastic and passionate individual to support SBC’s two climate change programs working with local governments and public agencies in the Sierra Nevada. SBC pioneers and demonstrates innovative approaches and solutions to increase community vitality, economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social fairness in the Sierra Nevada. 

The Fellow will be supporting 2 projects: 1) Energy Action Planning and Implementation and 2) Regional Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. The first project will support Sierra Nevada special districts and jurisdictions in the implementation of their Energy Action Plan (EAP). The Fellow will support the facilitation of a community working group to help develop and implement the EAPs, coordinate outreach and education events, develop outreach materials for the City, and track EAP progress. They will also support County staff in identifying and using implementation resources. For the second project, the Fellow will support a Sierra Nevada triple bottom line climate change vulnerability assessment by facilitating community capacity workshops. This includes supporting the planning and facilitation of up to 4 workshops in rural mountain geographies throughout the Sierra Nevada, coordinating outreach and education campaigns to increase attendance to workshops, assisting in writing the vulnerability assessment report using applicable GIS data, US Census data, climate data, and economic data, along with referencing the California Adaptation Planning Guide.

The ideal Fellow will have a willingness to engage with community members and stakeholders on a variety of climate and energy issues faced by rural mountain communities. Comprehensive research and writing skills, both technical and narrative, are also important, as well as a demonstrated ability to recognize the importance of the triple bottom line as the underpinning for the social, environmental, and economic vitality of Sierra Nevada communities.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

SBC is located in Truckee; a vibrant outdoor recreation hub in the central Sierra Nevada, a 22-county forested mountain region, with close proximity to outdoor attractions like world-renowned ski destinations, Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River, and the Pacific Crest Trail. SBC Staff embody a workplace culture to support a region and a lifestyle that is based on a deep passion for the environment, recreation, and the close-knit small-town communities that characterize the region. 

The SBC office is a fast-paced, open environment where staff are encouraged to work across programs and support each others’ projects. SBC has a robust state advocacy department and while only a few staff actually engage in lobbying activities, all staff benefit from regular opportunities to learn about state policy and governance proceedings affecting the region. All SBC programs are designed to address community, economic, and social issues together, and prioritize equity and access to opportunity for the Sierra Nevada region’s populations. SBC supervising staff are approachable and professional development-oriented, and are almost always available to help project staff with training and career goals. All SBC staff have opportunities to sit in on Board Meetings, strategic discussions, and SBC program events. SBC’s Office Manager is well-known for hosting excellent birthday parties and distributing humorous GIFs.

Truckee is characterized by four seasons, and can experience 90 degree beach-worthy weather in the summer, crisp and colorful autumn tree foliage, and 20 degree, 2-foot deep snowy powder days in the winter. Living in this highly variable environment requires a willingness to live with and manage the elements – i.e. lots of sunscreen and a solid snow shovel. The huge recreation economy and many visitors the region welcomes each season provide both the charm and the challenges of living in Truckee – which at times can mean bumper to bumper traffic and high housing rental costs. Renting in Truckee requires foresight and effort to find affordable options a few months ahead of moving in to ensure housing, but SBC staff are more than willing to help identify opportunities and even avail their couches and spare bedrooms for temporary situations. A personal vehicle is strongly recommended, as local public transportation is limited and bus times can be impacted by tourism.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Sierra Nevada Alliance has a long history of supporting sustainable planning. Since 1998 Alliance staff have actively partnered with member groups and allies to develop and implement local and regional resources plans. These plans, in compliance with the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets from SB 32 and SB 375, serve as models for a resilient and thriving Sierra region to successfully face unique economic, environmental, and societal challenges, including climate change. The Alliance’s Climate Resiliency Program goals consider both climate action planning and climate adaptation. We aid communities that are taking action on climate change by assisting in the development and implementation of climate action and adaptation plans. Similarly, we work to meet or exceed local renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. In accordance with our organizational goals, our team aims to provide assistance and resources to partners working on these types of initiatives–those that align with our mission.

The Alliance aims to support and build the capacity and increase the pace and scale of climate action implementation projects by local jurisdictions in the Tahoe/Truckee area such as City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Through this project, the Fellow will help implement local agencies’ Climate Action or Conservation Plans, gather and analyze data, and conduct public outreach/collaboration. The Fellow will also help push for energy efficiency upgrades and help coordinate the regional SEED Solar project and have the opportunity to develop communications material, facilitate and present to the public on regional climate mitigation and adaptation projects. All of these entities are limited in sustainability staff to accomplish these tasks and are greatly in need of staff support.

The ideal Fellow will have a background in sustainability, experience conducting outreach, public speaking, research and data analysis. The ability to take initiative and manage various stakeholder relationships and project goals is essential for this position.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The Sierra Nevada Alliance is a progressive non-profit serving as a hub for conservation, in the Sierra Nevada region. Working with us provides a great mix of learning non-profit work skills and government at the same time as we facilitate sustainability action with jurisdictions. Our culture is professional and fun! Living in Lake Tahoe provides for great recreational opportunities in all seasons.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Town of Truckee is at a crossroads; literally as the transportation connection across the northern Sierra and figuratively as Truckee grapples with growth, affordability, environmental quality, and community resilience. As a rural mountain town, climate action planning is not explicitly required, but true to its entrepreneurial and progressive spirit, Truckee has embarked on climate change strategies by adopting 100% renewable energy and 80% GHG emissions reduction goals, new recycling and waste reduction programs, and a comprehensive General Plan update which will embed climate and resiliency policies to foster a culture of equitable sustainability. The Town is proposing dedicated sustainability resources within the FY 2020/21 budget, and the Fellow will be a key asset in helping to shape what sustainability looks like for Truckee.

The Fellow will split their time between the Planning Division and the Solid Waste and Recycling Division. For the Planning Division, the Fellow will build capacity in initiatives related to climate action planning, energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicle charging, and community outreach by supporting the development of the Town’s first Climate Action Plan, and designing and implementing initial sustainability actions to meet community GHG goals. Additionally, the Fellow will support community outreach through bilingual public meeting facilitation and the roll out of the Town’s new website by updating the current Keep Truckee Green brand to encompass sustainability more broadly. Within the Solid Waste and Recycling Division, the Fellow will build capacity in new organics program by supporting research and implementation of edible food recovery requirements and best management practices. The Fellow will support new waste reduction programs by analyzing the Town’s 2018 waste & recycling program’s first performance baseline study, and informing the efficacy and purpose of new program updates to be rolled out in 2020. Additionally, the Fellow will assist the Town in preparations and/or implementation of a new single-use reduction ordinance, most notably expanding the source reduction efforts of the Town by piloting a reusable to-go box program and reducing single-use items.

The ideal Fellow will have good communication and prioritization skills, not only in completing tasks and engaging with the community, but also internally working on a team and dealing with competing objectives. Bilingual in Spanish is preferred, as it is essential for the outreach and engagement tasks that are planned for both Planning and Recycling projects. Technical skills and knowledge that could be applied to greenhouse gas emissions and energy reduction projects is also preferred. In addition, the Town is looking for certain traits or soft skills that may help a Fellow to be successful, such as curiosity, passion, and flexibility.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The Town of Truckee is a unique place to live and work. Nestled in the mountains, near Lake Tahoe and the many ski resorts, Truckee is prideful of its tight-knit small town community and the extraordinary natural environment surrounding us. At the Town, the Fellow will be working with a lively team of like-minded people who value a “work hard, play hard” work ethic. Staff love to work where they live, and are often found skiing, biking, running or recreating in the mountains when not in the office. 

Working in Truckee is extremely rewarding for someone who wants to have the ability to have profound impact as a big fish in a small pond. Because it is a small town with a relatively small local government organization, the work is very meaningful when implementing new programs and policies, like drafting the Town’s climate action plan, or rolling out a single-use foodware ordinance. This fellowship will provide a great opportunity for a candidate looking to utilize excellent community engagement and project management skills.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Sacramento has a long-standing commitment to foster sustainability in government operations and community activities. Most recently, it has participated in regional efforts such as the Mayor’s Commission on Climate Change and the Capital Region Urban Heat Island Mitigation Technical Advisory Committee. The City is also working to update its General Plan and Climate Action Plan. 

The City is seeking a Fellow to leverage findings from these activities, research, and community engagement to develop more concrete actions the Department of Public Works can take to operationalize and test effective resiliency, heat, and infrastructure interventions throughout the City’s assets. The Fellow will equip the City to build capacity and advance key initiatives resulting from the City’s ambitious planning efforts by advancing research and analysis to identify high-impact, City-specific heat and resiliency implementation opportunities. The Fellow will support the development of an internal analysis and staff capacity assessment, especially considering what will be needed to achieve the ambitious community priorities. The Fellow will dive a level deeper to provide specific information and options to implement resilient infrastructure, policies, and programs, including in the public right of way, core City services, and other related opportunities. Additional activities will include support for other sustainability initiative implementation, including implementation of EV charging infrastructure at City facilities. Tasks may include data collection for the City’s climate action plan update, awards submissions, and updates to City content. As the capital of California, the City has prime opportunity to showcase new and innovative sustainability programs in the heart of California. 

The ideal Fellow will need to have strong research and analysis skills, with the ability to work independently. It’s essential that the Fellow is detail oriented and organized in order to document findings and recommendations in a manner that can be quickly found and referenced after their service year. Some experience in GIS mapping or community-wide analysis of spatial issues will be helpful. Lastly, the Fellow needs the ability to communicate (both written and verbal) with a range of partners and stakeholders, potentially including City staff/other departments, senior leadership, elected officials, and community members.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Sacramento is located in the heart of California’s Central Valley at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers. Sacramento is located roughly halfway between San Francisco to the west and Lake Tahoe to the east. Sacramento covers a total area of approximately 99 square miles and is the seventh most populous city in California with a 2014 estimated population of 475,122. Sacramento has a Mediterranean climate that is characterized by mild winters and dry, hot summers. Sacramento is the cultural and economic center of its six-county metropolitan area (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties) and the largest city in the Central Valley. The greater Sacramento area has been cited as one of the five “most livable” regions in America, and the city has been touted as one of America’s most diverse cities.

As headquarters of State government, Sacramento is widely regarded as the center of policymaking in the state. Sacramento is currently one of the fastest growing metropolitan regions in the country. Sacramento is the regional cultural and recreational destination, with an orchestra, professional opera and ballet companies, numerous performing arts venues, a lively museum community including the oldest art museum west of the Mississippi River, professional sports, and endless opportunities for sporting and recreational activities. Sacramento has been an agricultural powerhouse for centuries, boasting a year-round growing season, ideal climate and a mouth-watering bounty of crops – truly making it a farm to fork destination for foodies.  

This position will be embedded within the City’s Department of Public Works, sitting within the Office of the Director’s Sustainability Team and the Fellow will be exposed to diverse departments and divisions throughout the City through the nature of their work. The employees in the Department of Public Works are committed to providing innovative and sustainable public infrastructure and services. They manage almost everything you see at the City of Sacramento — buildings, streets, lights, signs, trees, bridges, fleet, parking, and more! It is the second largest department in the City of Sacramento, with 750+ employees dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life for the community. The employees are known problem solvers and the Department has a culture of teamwork and collaboration.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (District)’s mission is to achieve clean air and climate goals, working with residents, organizations, and local municipalities within Sacramento County and the greater region. The District supports local jurisdictions in adopting climate action plans and implementing solutions to achieve zero-emissions, equitable mobility, and compact, transit-oriented development, with the goal to enable greater transportation equity and support the development of climate-smart, climate-resilient communities. As transportation is the main source of GHG emissions and air pollutants in California, the District aims to bring transportation equity to Sacramento’s under-served communities through innovative programs like zero-emissions car share, rebates, and incentives for low-income residents, and mobility hubs that serve a range of mobility needs.

One Fellow will be supporting 2 projects: 1) Climate Planning Toolkit and 2) Mobility Hubs and Transportation Equity. The first project is to develop an innovative statewide toolkit to help local jurisdictions capture the GHG and air pollutant emissions from land use development projects, as well as how these new developments may be impacted by climate change. The Fellow will develop an online-cloud based tool that will help to estimate the GHG and air pollutant emissions from the construction and operations of new land-use projects; build geospatial components to analyze the effects of climate change on the project, understand climate vulnerabilities, and quantify climate adaptation actions and co-benefits; and update a handbook that provides guidance to cities, counties, and consultants, on how to reduce GHG emissions from new land-use projects. The second project is to support the development and advancement of mobility hubs within Sacramento County, focusing on low-income and under-served communities. Through this project, the Fellow will help to identify sites, engage with residents to understand their needs, wishes, and concerns; collaborate with community-based organizations, businesses, and vendors; develop reports, plans, and maps; and provide other assistance as needed to develop and implement mobility hubs.

One Fellow will support the Clean Cars 4 All program. Clean Cars 4 All helps lower-income California residents replace old, polluting cars with cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Programs are available in select air districts including the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, and each individual air district administers their locally adapted Clean Cars 4 All program. The program’s guiding legislation aims to focus the benefits of the program to low-income and disadvantaged communities and has a heavy emphasis on consumer protections, education of the new technologies, and coordination with other clean transportation programs. The Fellow will support District capacity for this program by engaging in project planning, data mining, story-telling, outreach, and collaboration at the community partner level. Through this project, the Fellow will help to plan and implement Sacramento-specific program adaptations that increase program efficacy and benefit to income-qualified community members.

Ideal Fellows will have strong GIS skills, GHG emissions, quantification and mitigation knowledge, an interest in climate planning and transportation, and a desire to develop their technical skills. They will be excited about lifting up environmental justice communities, as well as supporting local agencies in their climate planning. The District aims to support Fellows in their career development while helping to further emerging climate change and mobility projects.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Known as the City of Trees, Sacramento is a medium-sized city that is not too boring and not too exciting. It’s close enough to the Bay Area for weekend visits to San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley and where your friends are likely to be anyway. It’s also just an hour and a half from awesome hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains or the redwood forests and beaches of Marin. All that could be yours for a far more reasonable cost of living than you’ll find in the Bay Area. The central city is walkable and bikeable‚ and many use the JUMP scooters and bikes to get around and there’s a good bike trail along the American River. Downtown and midtown Sacramento are slowly becoming more vibrant, with a growing number of cafes, bars, breweries, and places to eat. Residents are friendly and generally have a lot of local pride. 

The Sacramento Air District is a friendly and relaxed workplace, with a casual dress code, and many office events center around delicious food (like Pi day and root beer floats). The Air District’s downtown location also makes it convenient for attending speaker events and seminars at nearby state agencies and other venues. During the warmer months, Fellows often enjoy their lunch break at the park around the State Capitol, or visit the nearby weekly farmers and market in Cesar Chavez park. District staff are very engaged and devoted to their work, however, and are constantly developing new programs to further the clean air and climate action goals. 

The Fellow will be working closely with the climate change, land use planning, and mobile sources staff. Because of the air district’s many collaborations, the position will offer many opportunities to attend meetings and work with  partners, which range from community-based organizations, regional collaboratives, local agencies, and consultants. This will offer important professional development opportunities to meet and work with many professionals in the climate space. The Sacramento location also means that the Fellow will have opportunities to attend many speaker series, networking events, workshops, and more, while also learning about working at State agencies and other cross-regional opportunities. Particularly for Fellows interested in urban planning as a career, the position also offers opportunities to learn more about the day-to-day realities of planning, air quality, and health.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Placer County’s General Plan is in need of a comprehensive update to include new land use strategies that align with the County’s SB743 and recently adopted Sustainability Plan. This project will be a part of a multi-year effort that builds off the work of previous CivicSpark Fellows and is intended to further the goals of the both the SB 743 Implementation and the Sustainability Plan. The Fellow will be assisting the Planning Department with the development of a General Plan update work program which aims to explore how land use patterns and planning can help the County meet its sustainability goals included in the Placer County Sustainability Plan and SB743 state goals related to reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).  The major assignment for the Fellow will be to assist County staff with research and development of targeted land use scenarios, as well as development of a community outreach plan for the General Plan update. 

The project would include researching other government land use alternatives, and transportation initiatives/policies as they relate to transportation demand management and reduction of VMT; collecting/reviewing VMT data from County’s SB 743 Implementation Program and exploring VMT reduction   associated with land use mapping/planning; working with the GIS team to conduct land use mapping for the development of targeted land use alternatives; and exploring parallels between air quality, GHG, and VMT benefits associated with targeted land use alternatives. The public outreach component would include researching and developing outreach material pertaining to land use alternatives; developing content for web-based platforms to engage and educate community stakeholders; conducting outreach to diverse community-based stakeholders especially disadvantaged communities and those with limited English proficiency; and conducting land use alternative surveys. Other tasks include assisting the Planning Department to coordinate with various County departments to implement the Placer County Sustainability Plan and assisting the Planning Department with implementation of the County’s Open Space and Conservation Program.

The ideal Fellow will be resourceful, can focus on research and analysis, and has knowledge and a good understanding of land use planning, land use policy, climate action planning, and transportation planning. Strong communication skills and outreach experience are also desired skills.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Placer County comprises over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County’s jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. The Fellow’s working space will be provided in the Planning Department with the Long Range Planning Team. The Long Range Planning Team includes a progressive group of planners who focus on shaping our County with good land use practices and policy. The team believes in close collaboration, empowering our peers, and having fun in the workplace.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

In 2012, the Chico City Council adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that identified actions to be taken by the City and the community to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 25% below 2005 levels by 2020 (consistent with State efforts). To meet recent state GHG reduction standards, in 2019 Council directed staff to update its Climate Action Plan (CAP 2.0) to meet new GHG reduction targets of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Additionally, the Council appointed a newly established Climate Action Commission who will advise the council on how to strategically accelerate Chico’s progress towards achieving the goals in the climate action plan. The CAP 2.0 is currently in development and expected to be completed by April of 2021.  

The Fellow will have the opportunity to implement a variety of projects related to climate adaptation, climate action planning, and community engagement. The Fellow will hit the ground running, taking the baton from the 2017-2018 CivicSpark Fellow to aid the City in meeting SB 379 regulations. Using the Vulnerability Assessment, the Fellow will assist in drafting adaptation strategies to bolster the city’s resilience to climate change. To this effort, the Fellow would engage with the Chico government, business, academia and community groups to share best practices, identify critical needs, and conduct research, education, and outreach around climate adaptation. The CAP 2.0 will have identified numerous actions to be taken by the City and the community over the coming decade to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Fellow will get the opportunity to support the CAP 2.0 implementation through the facilitation of working group meetings, coordination of outreach events, educational activities, creation of community GHG reduction campaign, community training, progress tracking, and other activities. Other tasks may include research on; developing a carbon-free building code, developing a program to support decarbonization retrofits, and development of an electric vehicle strategic plan. With a list of specific actions to pursue, the Fellow will build capacity by leading a robust community outreach campaign that will create a number of beneficiaries throughout the City of Chico Government agency and the community at large.

The ideal Fellow will possess strong research abilities, writing skills and a working knowledge of sustainability practices and processes. The Fellow will have the ability to effectively work with community organizations to plan community meetings and engage with community residents, document the energy and environmental needs of the communities, and assist with the creation of long-term strategic plans. The Fellow should be comfortable in multi-tasking and setting work priorities and working in a collaborative environment, as well as independently with minimal supervision.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Chico’s workplace culture mimics the community’s spirit. Located Downtown in the central gathering place for many community events, employees engage with community residents and visitors to help provide a Beautiful, Clean, and Safe Chico. With a short walk to community events such as Thursday night, Friday night concerts, Taste of Chico, and parades, it’s hard not to pick-up on the city’s vibe – even when at work. Chico’s Downtown is adjacent to Chico State, and provides a food and drinking hub with College “specials” available to all.

Living in Chico there is a diverse range of things to keep you interested: outdoor activities, arts & culture, education, unique dining options, and athletics all provide for an environment that balances living and working lives. Chico is a dream for those who love the outdoors. Bidwell Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States and is home to hiking and biking trails, Sycamore Pool, Bidwell Golf Course, Bear Hole, and much more. As a university community, Chico Performances hosts performances in theater, comedy and music, as well as lectures typically found in big cities. Sierra Nevada Brewery brings live concerts to Chico in its Big Room venue as well as host many other community events. Lassen National Volcanic Park, Mount Shasta, and Lake Oroville Recreation Area are just a short drive away where there are unlimited outdoor activities including camping, hiking, backpacking, snowboarding, and kayaking. Chico is also a perfect place for bicycle enthusiasts, the City was ranked in the top 15% of over 500 US cities in the League of American Bicyclists Places for Bikes city ratings.

Chico provides an excellent opportunity for professional development experience. The City works closely with organizations such as the Downtown Chico Business Association, Chico Chamber of Commerce, Butte Environmental Council, Chico State, and local newspapers to create a thriving and healthy community.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) actively works to enhance the state’s overall resiliency by better integrating climate change planning and guiding local jurisdictions in proactively planning for and responding to disasters and the unavoidable consequences of climate change. With approximately 80% of California’s population living within 30 miles of the Pacific Ocean, many of them are vulnerable to sea-level rise and impacts of climate change. The rate of sea level rise is quickly accelerating and causing coastal communities to face increasing flood risk.

Cal OES is seeking a Fellow to help coordinate plans with other cities and counties, and regionally, to identify risks and opportunities for integrated management. Challenges addressed with this project include assisting the local jurisdictions with planning for and mitigating damage and/or loss of buildings, roads and critical infrastructure caused by Sea Level Rise. The Fellow will assist local jurisdictions to provide tools necessary to build resilience to the effects of climate change, specifically sea level rise. The Fellow will work with two local coastal communities in the following areas: engaging with local government staff to socialize the Adaptation Planning Guide (APG), gathering feedback on its usage and applications, and updating the web-based application with valid conclusions obtained. Using the updated APG, the Fellow will provide technical assistance on incorporating climate change into current local planning processes and simultaneously update and expand the upcoming APG User Guide and Adaptation Clearinghouse web-based tool with case studies and lessons learned from the new projects. Using the updated APG, the Fellow will develop a gap analysis and work plan to increase the number of project beneficiaries statewide. By the end of the service year, the Fellow will have contributed to ongoing networking, engagement, sharing of valid, innovative advancements on climate change planning, and continued socialization of the APG. The results of this project will further ensure that the APG is regarded as one of California’s leading resources for local-level climate adaptation planning, while also ensuring that California jurisdictions have access to the most innovative best practices available. 

The ideal Fellow will have a passion and background in climate adaptation and sea level rise and experience in research, data collection and analysis. Strong communication and relationship building skills are important for working with local government agencies from within a state agency. The ability to take initiative and be flexible and adaptable is key.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Cal OES is responsible for overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery, hazard mitigation, and homeland security activities within the state. Working at CalOES Headquarters in the Sacramento area (the State Capitol of California) will enhance the Fellow’s ability to work among state and government leaders. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to travel to communities on the Pacific Coast. The workplace environment is an open, communicative and collaborative workspace located near public transportation.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Placer County Board of Supervisors has placed a priority on the development of an inclusive and multi-faceted approach to serving the diverse needs of Placer County residents in all income categories. With this focus, Placer County staff has made great strides in effecting policy, code, and finance changes towards the development of new housing units. Placer County, in conjunction with a variety of cities, towns, and stakeholders within the County, are actively developing and executing a comprehensive approach to addressing the County’s housing needs. The County is working to take a regional approach to housing throughout the County that includes revising standards and regulations to minimize barriers to housing, creating an investment strategy that supports the development of affordable housing for all income households, utilizing publicly-owned properties for housing projects, and creating public-private partnerships for affordable housing construction.

Placer County is seeking a Fellow with an interest in housing policy, funding, and housing development to assist in the implementation of a County-wide Housing Strategy and Development Plan. The Fellow will gain a wide range of experiences including: collecting and analyzing relevant housing reports, policies, plans, codes, ordinances, design standards and other background material; assisting with the development of an existing conditions assessment to provide contextual information necessary to develop revised housing policies and code; assisting with a Public Participation Outreach Strategy such as the coordination and presentation at local municipal advisory councils, key stakeholder meetings, virtual town hall meetings, and other community workshops on affordable housing needs and solutions; assisting with the maintenance of a Land Supply Assessment utilizing parcel database and ArcGIS to retain a current land inventory suitable for residential development; assisting with the implementation of the County’s Site Evaluation Tool developed to assess indicators pertaining to the likely feasibility (market demand, profitability) of developing profitable and marketable housing opportunity sites; and assisting with the implementation of State housing resource programs including CDBG, HOME and other funding programs including but not limited to anticipated funds from the 2017 passage of SB2 and SB3.

The ideal Fellow should also have an interest in housing, economic development, and learning about land use, zoning and housing laws at a local level. They should also be detail-oriented, have communication and public outreach skills, and a willingness to jump in and join staff in developing a new approach for housing development. Experience with GIS and project management is preferred.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Placer County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state of California. From the majesty of North Lake Tahoe to the rich heritage of the Gold Rush era, Placer County offers a wealth of opportunities and experiences. Placer County strives to be a county government known for providing exceptional local and regional leadership, that works in partnership with the community to develop creative solutions to the diverse issues facing our region, and bestows to current and future generations even better communities in which to live, raise families, work, vacation, and conduct business. The Long Range Planning (LRP) team is responsible for helping the Board of Supervisors (Board) develop plans, policies, ordinances and programs. Long range planning involves highly complex and diverse land use decisions that require a careful balancing of competing economic, social and environmental interests. LRP comprises two teams: the Advanced Planning (AP) team, and Housing & Economic Development Planning (HEDP) team.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The existing Butte County General Plan 2030 is approaching 10 years since its adoption on October 26, 2010; a variety of updates are needed to keep the plan topical and relevant to account for existing and future conditions. A variety of factors contribute to the need to perform a General Plan update at this time, including the redistribution of population due to the historically significant Camp Fire, the impact of the Camp Fire on the communities of Magalia, Concow, Yankee Hill, and Butte Creek Canyon; legislative mandates from the State concerning the impacts of climate change and adaptation policy and environmental justice policy, and to address fire hazard impacts. The General Plan 2040 is the culmination of all of these individual tasks into a cohesive, strategic and comprehensive General Plan update in accordance with state law and the California General Plan Guidelines. The overarching goal of this process is to create a General Plan that responds to the future needs of Butte County and strategically responds to the interrelated issues of Camp Fire recovery, public safety, environmental justice, adaptation, and community resilience. 

The Fellows will support three grant-funded projects that are separate but clearly related to the General Plan 2040 Update. The first consists of the creation of an Upper Ridge Community Plan that has been generously funded by the North Valley Community Foundation to address the specific needs of that area in response to recovery after the devastating effects of the Camp Fire, and to provide a vision and policy for future development, conservation, adaptation and resilience. Second, the North Chico Specific Plan Re-Visioning and Design Plan for the Village Core area will be developed, which will reinvigorate planning for this area and increase affordable housing opportunities in conjunction with the City of Chico. Third, the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) will be updated in accordance with SB 32, which will help to streamline CEQA review for individual development projects that comply with the CAP. All three of these grant funded projects are expected to complement and enhance the larger General Plan 2040 process. The Fellows will support the overall project, especially with respect to climate, environmental justice, sustainability, and resilience. Aspects of the project that will need Fellow participation includes SB-1000 compliance, as the County works towards developing an Environmental Justice Element, complying with SB 244 regarding disadvantaged unincorporated communities, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and coordinating and sharing between various sub-projects. Under the direction of staff planners within the Department of Development Services, Fellows will be asked to work directly with consultants and planning staff on a variety of tasks, supporting outreach, social media, and to develop and participate in creative and new approaches in public engagement, as well as staff local workshops and charrettes. 

The ideal Fellows will have a particular interest in community planning, as well as an interest in pursuing a career in urban planning. They will also have an interest in natural resource management, community development, and participating in complex planning processes, such as what will be undertaken in Butte County in response to the Camp Fire disaster and subsequent recovery are of most interest to Butte County.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Butte County encompasses both rural and urban environments; although it emphasizes an agricultural lifestyle and economy, it is also home to academic institutions such as Butte College and CSU Chico. Oroville is the County seat and is where the Fellows will work. Butte County is made up of a variety of landscapes including the Sacramento Valley, Foothills, and higher areas in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Many recreational opportunities are available including the sprawling and beautiful Bidwell Park in Chico, and Feather Falls and Lake Oroville near Oroville. The City of Chico is home to the Sierra Nevada Brewery, known for its sustainable practices, taproom and restaurant. Local creeks and rivers include Butte Creek and the Sacramento River provide opportunities for rafting, swimming and cooling off in the summer. The Fellows’ office will reside in the Planning Division where they will have the opportunity to interact with professional planners and participate in department-wide staff meetings and informal discussions. The Department of Development Services provides a supportive professional environment and opportunities for exposure to Planning Division work will be made available. Staff planners will help the Fellows navigate the County’s organization and personnel, and to become familiar with available resources.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Office of the Tribal Policy Advisor coordinates communication and consultation with California Native American tribes to ensure proactive and meaningful consultation. The Tribal Policy Advisor works with Tribal governments and Tribal communities to identify areas of mutual concern, develop partnerships, and consensus in water management. DWR’s Division of Regional Assistance, Financial Assistance Branch provides financial and technical assistance to 48 established Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) regions in the State – working closely with the Tribal Policy Advisor, Sustainable Groundwater Management Office and other DWR groups. DWR is implementing a program to build capacity with Tribes and Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) to ensure more meaningful involvement in the overall IRWM program, including access to technical and financial assistance. Due to climate change, groundwater and other growing issues, the gap for Tribes and DACs to successfully adapt and handle the associated problems will continue to widen more than their resource capacity. This project is designed to assist DWR in its efforts to increase the Tribes’ and DACs’ resiliency and ability to respond to water management challenges facing them. This effort will highlight the Tribes’ and DACs’ needs so that more state and federal resources can be garnered collaboratively for current and future challenges and opportunities.

DWR is seeking two CivicSpark Fellows to assist Tribes and DACs in participating in regional IRWM programs that build water resiliency and sustainability. The Fellows support DWR to: (1) identify, characterize and map the Tribes and DACs in CA; (2) document and understand the water and sanitation needs of these traditionally underrepresented communities (and present findings and recommendations to CA water leaders to inform policy and other decision making); (3) establish and convene venues for collaboration and input (CA Tribal Government Roundtable, Tribal Advisory Council for Water Resilience Portfolio, DAC Involvement Working Group, Tribal Summit); and (4) improve Tribal and DAC grant applications to be more competitive and have better grant administration through develop opportunities for Tribes and DACs to increase capacity to apply for and receive state funding through workshops or resource materials. In this unique opportunity to work in the State Capitol with DWR, Tribes and DACs, where the Fellows will learn about statewide water management challenges, such as: sustainable groundwater management and regional water balance, planning for implementation of the Water Resilience Portfolio, climate change adaptation, drought and flood preparedness and response, water conservation and supply, and fiscal challenges.

The ideal Fellows will have an interest in assisting underrepresented demographics, the ability to connect people and topics, and excellent communication skills (verbal and written), as well as people who enjoy organizing outreach and educational events, and have the ability to work effectively as part of a team. A majority of the Fellows’ time will be spent in an office environment and attending meetings, while a smaller significant of their time will be spent traveling to various parts of the State with other DWR managers and staff. Fellows should have strong organizational, project management, database and presentation skills.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Being in the Department of Water Resources will provide the Fellows with a statewide view of issues and the demographics affected by water management issues. In addition to Tribal and DAC work, DWR provides essential information to legislation and policy issues, for many water resources topics such as water management and water supply, power and infrastructure, dam safety and flood management, emergency response and education. DWR is headquartered in California’s capital city of Sacramento. The area is known as the City of Trees and as a Farm-to-Fork Capitol. It is rich in fresh produce with nearby agriculture, an abundance of natural recreation areas for hiking, camping, and boating, and also 2-3 hours away from Napa/Sonoma, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the Santa Cruz/Monterey Peninsula. The two Fellows will be a welcome addition to DWR’s 35-person Financial Assistance Branch team, composed of environmental scientists, engineers, analysts and program managers. There will be many opportunities for developing new friendships with colleagues, getting coaching and mentorship, interacting with other DWR divisions and groups, and participating in monthly Branch meetings and team building activities.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Climate change presents the City of Richmond with complex challenges and tremendous opportunities. The City is committed to creating a healthy, equitable community for all of its residents. The Richmond Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a multi-objective plan that addresses environmental, social and economic issues related to climate change. The CAP builds on the goals and policies in the City’s General Plan and the Health in All Policies Strategy (HiAP) to further the City’s efforts to build health equity through the reduction of local GHG emissions, and to simultaneously ensure that the community is well prepared for the impacts of climate change. It elevates health equity priorities in the selection of climate action measures, building on the City’s existing policy framework to support a healthy, vibrant, and equitable City. 

The CivicSpark Fellow will support the continued development and implementation of climate strategies in the City’s open data and performance management system. The Fellow will engage with the public and decision-makers to identify and build more integrations with the City’s software systems, state data, and partnering agency datasets with a goal of automating the performance management to meet the City’s climate and adaptation goals. Tasks will include: (1) Assisting with the development and implementation of the City’s building decarbonization, clean air, low-income solar, and zero-waste programs, (2) Managing a portfolio of projects and support cross-functional City staff to implement the City’s Climate Action Plan, (3) Becoming an expert in the City’s open data initiative, (4) Build stories, analyze data, share insights, and automate performance management tools to track climate action plan implementation, and (5) Integrate climate adaptation data and policies into the City’s open data initiative.

The ideal Fellow will be self-driven and excited about how automation and excellent data management can drive organizational results, as well as have great communication skills and experience and interest in working with diverse populations. They should also have knowledge of public policy and smart governance, climate change, community resilience, and adaptation strategies. Some preferred, but not required, qualities and experiences include the ability to draft and edit technical reports, strong math background with experience and coursework in statistics, graphic design and understanding of how to clearly present and communicate information, and experience or a strong interest in working with Excel, SQL, Python, GIS, or Google Earth Engine. 

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Richmond is home to diverse neighborhoods, intermodal transit hubs, pristine marinas, shopping, recreational and cultural amenities, and 32 miles of trail-lined shoreline. This all contributes to making Richmond among the most desirable up-and-coming communities in California.

The City’s approach to professional development is to help Fellows achieve their goals over the service term by encouraging Fellows to attend conferences, regional meetings, training, and help connect fellows to informational interviews. The Environmental Initiatives Division practices radical candor and strive to be good mentors, challenge each other, and discuss ideas openly and freely. The City of Richmond is the only city in the CivicSpark program to have had two members stay for two program years as Senior CivicSpark Fellows.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Dublin will soon adopt a new Climate Action Plan (CAP) in April 2020 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. 

The Fellow will assist in community engagement and education as Dublin begins implementation of the new CAP. This will involve leading workshops and providing presentations to community organizations. The Fellow will update the City’s electronic and printed material related to CAP implementation programs to make them easy to understand and motivational, as well as develop a social media plan to promote engagement around the climate actions established in the soon to be adopted new CAP. The Fellow will develop workshop and training templates on topics and actions in the new CAP. The Fellow will facilitate at least two of these workshops. They will also support the development of an SB 1383 implementation plan, which will lay out a pathway for Dublin’s compliance with the new and extensive SB 1383 requirements.

The ideal Fellow will be outgoing, well spoken, and excited to motivate the community around climate action. The Fellow will have knowledge and skills in stakeholder engagement, public speaking, professional writing, and have a good attention to detail. The Fellow should also be comfortable working somewhat independently. Experience specifically with the principles of Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM) is a plus.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Dublin is a suburban community in eastern Alameda County, approximately 35 miles southeast of San Francisco. Relatively affordable housing, a low crime rate, and award winning schools make Dublin a great community in which to live and work. Dublin prides itself on its parks and recreational opportunities. Two local rapid transit stations (BART) connect Dublin with the rest of the Bay Area.  

For a city of Dublin’s size and growth, the number of full-time city employees is relatively small (approximately 80). The benefit of this is that staff here are engaged on many different projects and interact with people throughout the organization. The future Fellow would work on and be exposed to many different subjects and departments.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) manages an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water, flood protection, and ecosystem stewardship for Silicon Valley’s 2 million residents. Climate change is predicted to cause more droughts, reduced imported water supply, increased storm intensity, sea level rise, and increased flood potential. Thus, climate change may challenge Valley Water’s ability to provide a reliable water supply, flood protection, and ecosystem stewardship in the future. To respond to these challenges, Valley Water created a Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), which includes mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting the water supply, flood protection and stewardship efforts to climate change. Valley Water must now develop a program to implement the CCAP. This implementation program will provide the capacity and tools to guide and monitor progress towards climate resilience. The implementation program will develop, conduct, and monitor actions and projects to maximize resilience to climate change, such as stormwater management projects.

One Fellow will support Valley Water to implement its Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP). The Fellow’s role would be to develop and launch an implementation program, actively monitor the program’s progress and make informed suggestions for improvement, and report on the program to ensure that solutions to climate risks are implemented effectively. The Fellow will also focus on solutions related to water quality and stormwater management. The Fellow would be a point of contact for staff in all areas of the agency to direct their questions about planning and acting for climate change. They would develop direction on specific climate resilience-building actions and projects, update the agency on anticipated changes to the program based on new climate data and projections, and lead the regular assessment of overall agency progress towards climate resilience. Specifically, the Fellow will work with specific workgroups to select, prioritize, and finalize the CCAP actions that will be undertaken beginning in the next fiscal year. This will be done through a collaborative process with work groups responsible for implementing actions. They will also monitor and track  projects that have been implemented in order to accurately understand progress towards the CCAP’s goals. Additionally, the Fellow will develop metrics to assess actions for the purpose of determining their success, and to determine the actions that lead to greatest impact. Given the unpredictability associated with climate change impacts, it is crucial that the Fellow establish a plan for regularly assessing the program and preparing subsequent reports to ensure that the collective impact of the program’s actions and projects is understood. In addition, the Fellow will engage in outreach activities with internal stakeholders to ensure participation in the Climate Action Program throughout the agency.

A second Fellow will help Valley Water develop water temperature models for reservoirs and river reaches that are of aquatic habitat management interest to Valley Water. The Fellow will work closely with staff from multiple units within the agency on data collection and model development and application. Developing a dynamic water temperature model requires a significant amount of data. The Fellow will contact people inside and outside the agency to locate and collect all the data that is required to build a water temperature model for both reservoirs and river reaches. The Fellow will QA/QC the data to ensure they are suitable for use in model development and properly documented. In addition, the Fellow will collect and review important literature on water temperature modeling, in order to gain knowledge, insights, and lessons learned from previous studies. Valley Water intends to use CE-QUAL-W2 for reservoir temperature modeling. Under the guidance of the supervisor, the Fellow will use the CE-QUAL-W2 model platform to develop temperature models for up to three of Valley Water’s reservoirs. With the support of the supervisor, the Fellow will lead the entire model development effort, from preparing model input data/files, model setup, calibration and validation, and writing a technical report to document all aspects of model development. Once the model development is completed, the Fellow will work with staff from multiple units within the agency to develop and evaluate a range of operational scenarios to help inform reservoir operations and downstream temperature management. A separate model is needed to simulate the influence of reservoir releases on stream temperatures downstream of the reservoir. The fellow will evaluate model platforms for simulating stream temperature to determine which platforms may be appropriate for Valley Water’s streams, and will lead the development of a stream temperature model for selected river reaches. This model will work in concert with the reservoir temperature model to provide information needed to assess and inform reservoir operations for fish habitat protection.

The ideal Fellows will value teamwork and collaboration and have the ability to work with both internal and external stakeholders while also taking initiative to lead the development and launch of a new program. Strong oral and written communication skills are necessary to present on climate change initiatives and provide regular program updates. The climate Fellow should also have the ability to understand and apply climate change science and water management knowledge. The water Fellow should have an engineering, physical, or biological science background. Computer-based modeling or programming experience is preferred, as is an understanding of GIS.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Valley Water is nationally recognized as a leading water resources management agency, and offers the opportunity to work with a talented group of professionals. We are ethnically diverse, inclusive, and family-friendly, with employees who are committed to public service and working collaboratively in carrying out our mission. This project offers a unique professional development opportunity to lead and conduct an advanced effort – the launch and development of a new program and implementation of the agency’s CCAP. This is an excellent professional development opportunity as it will enhance the Fellows’ skills in program development, leadership, speaking, and public service. Valley Water is located in Silicon Valley, a world-renowned urban area and tech hub. It has a sunny, Mediterranean climate and a diverse, multicultural population, with access to outdoor areas like beaches, mountains, and redwood forests.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The San Francisco Estuary Institute is a center of independent environmental science. SFEI’s staff of more than 65 science and technical experts inform, inspire and empower citizens and governments to use innovative science and technology to define and resolve complex local and regional issues between people and nature. SFEI provides technical and scientific support, studies and analytical tools related to water quality management, urban sustainability, and ecological resilience to government agencies, NGOs, communities, and business leaders. Along 450 miles of San Francisco Bay shoreline are 8 million people, 101 municipalities, 9 counties, and dozens of regional agencies. The impacts of climate change are progressing at an accelerating pace, with as much as 7 feet of sea level rise (SLR) predicted by 2100. The consequences are enormous as Bay Area counties contain 20% of the state population, 25% of state GDP, and 1/2 of California’s coast/shoreline. With most of the responsibility for SLR preparation left to local governments, under-resourced municipalities turned to SFEI for advice and support and in response SFEI created the “San Francisco Bay Shoreline Adaptation Atlas.” The Atlas provides a framework from which planners can coordinate and identify where nature-based approaches can be used to create a more adaptive and resilient shoreline, while ensuring that taxpayer investments are wisely spent and unintended consequences are avoided. The Aquatic Science Center (ASC) is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) created in 1993, designed to assist with the efficient delivery of scientific, monitoring, analytical and data management support functions to public, resource management agencies and nongovernmental organizations. 

The Fellow will help ASC/SFEI build capacity in both external and internal facing roles and gain first-hand knowledge of how multi-agency public processes operate and how diversity efforts are undertaken in a non-profit agency. The Fellow will support collaboration with agencies and leaders working on the Bay Area’s climate adaptation issues as they pertain to water quality, aquatic and riparian ecosystems, and major infrastructure planning. They will attain a working knowledge of the range of stakeholder science needs as well as the many ASC/SFEI toolsets to facilitate wetlands and watershed management, visualize and assess water quality and green infrastructure options, and manage regional environmental data to support adaptation solutions. The Fellow will apply science, policy, and communication skills to support strategic outreach to public agencies, NGOs, and the business community seeking to respond to the local and regional challenges. Because disadvantaged communities in the Bay Area are expected to be affected first and worst by increased flooding and sea level rise, ASC/SFEI has engaged over the past few years in processes and with communities foregrounding this challenge through various partnerships and development of resources. To become an even more effective advocate for community-centered climate resilience and adaptation planning, ASC/SFEI must also address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) issues internally. We have begun internal planning on a series of initiatives to promote DEI. The Fellow will work to implement these initiatives and to develop organizational capacity to: diversify staff and leadership; foster an increasingly inclusive office culture; increase staff literacy on environmental justice issues and organizational DEI; promote DEI through outreach, partnerships, and contracts; and increase usability and accessibility of scientific data and technical products in community-centered planning.

The ideal Fellow will possess an outgoing manner and an entrepreneurial spirit, with an enthusiasm for the programs and goals of ASC/SFEI. They should be comfortable with a complex and fast-evolving policy environment, and with a busy, time-constrained team working on multiple projects and deadlines. The ideal candidate will have the ability to think on their feet, ask good questions, and carry out basic assignments independently and with efficiency. The Fellow should have a science or environmental policy background, and some training or experience in project management. The Fellow should have excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, be a careful and empathic listener, and ideally have a strong interest and/or capability with social media and literacy. A familiarity with environmental justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts and issues is required.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Uniquely positioned at the intersection of government, academia, and the private sector, SFEI has been trusted for over 25 years to provide strong science that supports effective environmental management and collaborative policy making among government, community and business leaders. SFEI’s 60+ staff members come from a diverse range of scientific and management backgrounds. Together they form SFEI’s three departments: Clean Water, Resilient Landscapes, and Environmental Informatics. Each of these programs utilizes the most up-to-date technology, scientific techniques, and management approaches to address pressing environmental issues in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. As a workplace, employees at SFEI take great pride in the camaraderie inherent in the organization. SFEI’s staff members are united in their environmental mission, as well as in the desire to foster a workplace of diversity, inclusion, support, and friendship. Any new employee at SFEI is exposed to a community of mentors that work hard to promote a positive work environment and a launching pad and extensive network of senior professionals for a career in the environmental sector.

The Bay Area is known for its progressive approach to social and environmental management, which fosters an entire community of stakeholders working toward the same goal of urban-environmental sustainability. This means that SFEI staff are highly respected and trusted partners, with several decades of working closely with water and wastewater utilities, and a wide range of local, regional, state and federal agencies and other leaders. SFEI is also a trusted source of objective information by local, state and national journalists including NPR, the New York Times, and Bay Nature and National Geographic magazines. Collaborating with such a diverse range of stakeholders, communicators and leaders presents a unique professional development opportunity for any early career environmentalist.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Solano County Water Agency has a mandate to serve water to urban and agricultural users in an environmentally sustainable way. Water supplies face increasing demands – how to address the needs of a growing population while meeting environmental goals. California has a population of almost 40,000,000. Yet we have the same amount of water as when the population was less than half of that. Additionally, agriculture accounts for the majority of water use in Solano County as well as in California. The Water Agency is partnering with other governmental agencies to assist local farmers and ranchers in increasing agricultural water use efficiency. Since no new water is going to be created, we need to make the most of what we have. The prospective Fellow will have the opportunity to gain first hand knowledge of current water management techniques.

The Fellow would be involved in assisting agency staff in performing and scheduling irrigation evaluations, pump efficiency testing, soil sensor installation, maintenance of weather stations, field measurements of nitrogen in irrigation water, and outreach efforts like irrigation efficiency workshops and working on the newsletter. The Fellow will also be directly working with Water Agency staff to support a range of tasks ranging from data collection, scheduling and performing irrigation evaluations, conducting pump tests, outreach to local growers, assisting in conducting irrigation workshops, and generally promoting and implementing urban and agricultural water use efficiency practices.

The ideal Fellow will have a strong background, knowledge, and interest in agriculture. Prior research and field work experience is preferred. 

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The Solano County Water Agency is strongly supportive of providing a workplace environment that encourages individual initiative and self motivation. We strongly encourage all staff to continually seek out avenues for professional growth. The last five interns that worked for Solano County Water Agency were hired by the Agency in a permanent position. Many of our other interns have gone on to successful professional careers with other agencies or in the private sector. Solano County is one of the nine Bay Area counties. Since it lies halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento, the county has a climate that is a mix of the Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley. The Delta is on the southeast border of the county. Anheuser Busch brewery, many small family wineries, and biotech firms like Genentech are located in the county because of the reliable, high quality water provided by Lake Berryessa. The county is also home to Travis Air Force Base. Housing is more affordable than in areas closer to San Francisco. However San Francisco and the Bay is only an hour away. Tahoe a couple of hours to the east.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Milpitas is initiating an effort to update its Climate Action to include near and long term goals and actions to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the update to the CAP will include a resilience and adaptation component to better prepare the Milpitas community when faced with the impacts of climate change. While the City has funding for technical consultant support, the City lacks the resources for local coordination and community engagement. The Fellow will serve a key staff support on the project, develop and implement a community engagement strategy to involve our diverse community throughout during the update process, and based on this community engagement experience, develop a recommended engagement strategy to guide on-going community engagement as part of future CAP implementation. The on-going strategy will serve as a guide for City staff going forward and will steer the work of future interns and new staff charged with CAP implementation. This will allow future staff to leverage the work and the networks that the Fellow established during their fellowship cycle.

The Fellow will serve a key staff support on the project, develop and implement a community engagement strategy to involve our diverse community throughout during the update process, and based on this community engagement experience, develop a recommended engagement strategy to guide ongoing community engagement as part of future CAP implementation. The ongoing strategy will serve as a guide for City staff going forward and will steer the work of future interns and new staff charged with CAP implementation. This will allow future staff to leverage the work and the networks that the Fellow established during their service year. The Fellow will also support community engagement in ongoing sustainability programs and work to elevate the commitment to sustainability among the Milpitas community. The City has several going initiatives including clean energy, energy and water efficiency projects at City facilities to leverage and use to motivate community action. The Fellow will also support community engagement in ongoing sustainability programs and work to elevate the commitment to sustainability among the Milpitas community.

The ideal fellow will be an energetic and self-directed project contributor. The Fellow should possess a passion for community engagement and be a strong communicator and storyteller. The Fellow will have the ability to analyze data, see critical trends, and be able to communicate key points and positions in a meaningful and motivating manner. The Fellow should be comfortable speaking with small and large groups of community members and city staff at varying levels of the organization.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Milpitas is a growing community and growing organization. We have more than 400 professional employees as diverse as the city we support. We are privileged to have such a unique workforce and to foster an environment that encourages those differences. We believe in supporting our employees’ abilities and desires for professional growth, to better support retention and commitment throughout all career stages. Milpitas employees are proud and know that their contributions make a difference to the community as well as to their own career. This fellowship will offer many opportunities to provide a lasting impact in our community. Additionally, the City staff often coordinate with neighboring cities and agencies which will provide robust networking opportunities.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Of the cities in Alameda County, the City of Piedmont has the highest number of residential accounts receiving electricity from 100% renewable sources. 92% of accounts are enrolled in East Bay Community Energy, the local Community Choice Aggregation, and subscribe to the 100% renewable energy plan. As a result, the City is presented with the rare chance to continue to significantly reduce  greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the most direct ways to capture these emission reductions are in implementing policies and building code changes to clear the path towards electrification of existing and new buildings. This is a difficult task since it requires the switch from gas appliances to electrical appliances in existing single-family residential buildings. This past year, the 19-20 CivicSpark Fellow helped staff launch a Community Engagement online tool which had an impressive participation turnout from the community, and work with building professionals and single-family property owners to create and implement reach codes for energy efficiency and appliance electrification projects. The next step is to incorporate all the previous work under a bigger umbrella brand called “Piedmont Evergreen”, to create a vision for Piedmont by the year of 2050 – a community that emits much less carbon and is cleaner, greener and more resilient. The main target of this program is Piedmont’s building sector, both residential and commercial. A second tier of the project would target municipal energy efficiency projects at city facilities, such as the installation of solar panels with battery back-up and upgrading to heat pump water heater and ventilation systems.

Working directly with Planning & Building staff, and interacting with other city departments, the Fellow will gain exposure to municipal project management from an interdisciplinary standpoint. The Fellow will support the City in: (1) Conducting effective community engagement and outreach for private projects to reduce emissions through an interactive online emissions tracking tool, developing communications materials, and planning public workshops; (2) Implementing energy efficiency projects to bring municipal buildings and operations close to carbon zero through project such as LED streetlight replacements, energy efficient lighting installation, heating/cooling systems in city facilities, purchasing electric vehicles and bikes for city fleet, and installation of EV charging stations; (3) Researching and actively looking for ways to create incentives, programs, or policies for energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and carbon neutrality; (4) Completing a GHG inventory for 2018. The Fellow will also work with community-based groups such as Piedmont Connect, members of the public, news outlets, agencies such as StopWaste, service providers like EBCE and PG&E, and research groups like Cool Climate Network at UC Berkeley. The projects listed above are expected to increase the City’s resilience and adaptation to climate change induced challenges, including the threats of wildfire, drought, warmer temperatures and other severe weather.

The ideal Fellow will have strong writing and analytical skills. They should have effective public engagement skills, as community engagement is a key area of value for the City. An outgoing personality that facilitates public speaking and interaction with strangers is highly valued. An understanding of the variety of GHG emissions reduction projects that can be implemented by single-family property owners would be helpful. An active imagination used towards developing effective public engagement is a plus.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Piedmont, located in the East Bay Hills of the San Francisco Bay area with a population of approximately 11,000, is known for its beautiful neighborhoods, high-quality historic homes, excellent schools, attractive parks, responsive City services, and small town charm. The city, which is completely surrounded by the City of Oakland, overwhelmingly consists of single-family homes and has been fully developed for more than 50 years. Piedmont is a small city and, thus, city staff is small in number. The Fellow will be embedded in the Planning & Building Department that consists of 10 full-time employees and has  a very cordial and family-like atmosphere. The Fellow will receive  a good amount of one-on-one experience with other staff members including other departments and department heads. The Fellow will also be able to engage with regional agencies and develop professional relationships with their staff and with members of the public as part of the public engagement responsibilities. This is an exciting time for Piedmont, as it continues facing challenges but also unique opportunities in sustainability.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

All Californians have the right to access the coast and should live in a healthy environment. However, the management of natural resources, including the California coast, has been fraught with exclusion, displacement, injustice, and extractive practices. The environmental burdens of development and industry are often borne by frontline communities, while environmental preservation and restoration primarily benefit the affluent. The Coastal Conservancy is a state agency that funds planning and construction of projects that protect and restore natural resources, and increase public access to California’s coast, ocean, and coastal watersheds. The Coastal Conservancy’s vision is of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future generations of Californians. The Coastal Conservancy recognizes its role in a history of inequity along the California Coast and commits to addressing injustices and moving forward in an equitable, inclusive manner. In April 2020, the Coastal Conservancy will approve its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Guidelines. These Guidelines are the result of a two-year public process to clarify the agency’s role in increasing racial equity in its projects and programs. The Fellow will help the agency initiate many of the actions identified in the JEDI guidelines and will be the first JEDI-focused staff person that the agency employs.

The Fellow will help the agency to: (1) Improve its policies, programs, and practices to advance equitable access to the environmental, social, and economic benefits of California’s coast and coastal watersheds; (2) Evaluate and modify program priorities, grant funding, contracting, hiring practices, communications, and community engagement practices, to address existing inequities; and (3) Increase the involvement marginalized and indigenous communities in local projects that improve environmental conditions and access to the coast. The Fellow will support a mapping effort to analyze the Conservancy’s investments and share that information with the public and an agency-wide effort to develop ‘community benefits’ grant scoring criteria and outreach materials that support meaningful community engagement and benefit frontline communities in grant scoring processes. The Fellow will assist the Conservancy to initiate an equity impact review of Coastal Conservancy programs. In addition to helping with agency-wide JEDI initiatives, the Fellow will help  local partners (City of Oxnard, Contra Costa County, and National City) increase their capacity to conduct meaningful community engagement in their environmental justice and climate resilience projects. The three communities have census tracts with the highest scoring disadvantaged communities within range of predictable sea-level rise, according to CalEnviroscreen 3.0. The Fellow will also support the Coastal Conservancy in the development of a coastal access and habitat conservation project at Ormond Beach in the City of Oxnard and help with adaptation planning and community engagement around the bayfront area in the City of Pittsburg. The Fellow will support community-based organizations (including the Environmental Health Coalition) and National City to identify key strategies to maintain and enhance community awareness and engagement around sea-level rise planning at the Port of San Diego.

The ideal Fellow should have interest or experience in community engagement, environmental justice, and social equity issues; building trust with community leaders in vulnerable or disadvantaged communities; and organizing within these communities and/or conducting outreach/engagement in these communities. Effective writing and verbal communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as a team member are critical.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The Coastal Conservancy is known for being an engaging, fun, and dynamic workplace. We value work-life balance and staff take time during the day to exercise, attend free yoga classes in our building, or grab coffee and chat. Conservancy staff are an energetic, passionate group of people who genuinely care about the work they do and are dedicated to ensuring all Californians can enjoy the coast. The Conservancy Fellow will benefit from meeting and building relationships with multiple local, State, and Federal agencies and organizations and will have many opportunities to travel throughout the State.  Our office is located in vibrant downtown Oakland surrounded by great food, coffee, and culture. The train system (BART) connects Oakland to San Francisco, Berkeley and beyond in a matter of minutes.  We also reimburse employees for transit or bike commuting. The Fellow’s supervisor is a caring and fun person who provides intentional training opportunities and is genuinely devoted to the personal and career growth of employees. The Broad mission of our agency will give the Fellow experience in an array of topics including coastal policy, conservation, habitat restoration, trails, coastal accommodations, and implementing equity policies.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

RecycleMore (West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority) is a Joint Powers Agency which manages the waste stream from the cities of Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules & El Cerrito. RecycleMore promotes and facilitates the recycling, composting and hazardous waste programs in the West County region through outreach, education and technical assistance. It is a small local government agency with a staff of 5 dedicated employees. Organic material (food & plant debris) generate climate changing methane when landfilled. By facilitating participation in the compost program, we are reducing methane and creating a usable agricultural product. New State laws require businesses that generate organic materials to properly manage them. Our project identifies who is required to manage their organics, facilitates their participation and monitors compliance through a new on-line database. 

The project goal is community awareness of the importance of organic material management, facilitating the diversion of organic materials and monitoring compliance with State law. The project utilizes waste hauler account data to determine who is required to manage organic materials. These accounts are reviewed through a combination of desk audit, phone calls and site visits to identify the materials each business generates and the diversion services they have, or are required to have. The account and follow-up information will be uploaded to a new data tracking software platform. RecycleMore will work as a team to configure the software to generate the reports needed to identify next steps and to demonstrate compliance to the State. The Fellow will help track waste tonnage data to identify disposal trends and propose new program targets, coordinate directly with businesses to assist in the actions required to comply with state laws, partner with the school district to implement cafeteria composting and waste reduction programs, help to develop content and structure for a new agency website, print and social media outreach, and assist with community outreach events, research and plan for compliance with upcoming climate pollutant reduction laws (SB 1383), including edible food recovery, and participate in many aspects of local government agency operations through stakeholder meetings, Board agenda process and the decisions that govern the direction of a small agency.

The ideal Fellow will have a desire to protect the environment. As members of a local government agency, it is important to be professional, accurate and have excellent communication skills. Basic computer, email and data management skills are required. Proficiency in Excel and a second language is desirable.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

RecycleMore is a small local government agency who has a responsibility to ensure that all materials collected by the private hauler are managed properly. We are asking a lot of our community members to reduce or modify what they consume and to prepare and sort their waste for its highest and best use. We create accountability with the private hauler by monitoring their compliance with our written agreement. Although challenging at times, it is incredibly satisfying to be taking direct climate action and to assist and enable members of the community to do the same. West Contra Costa is a diverse set of communities with some real environmental ethics. Our agency is made up of 5 environmentally minded staff who believe in the power of teamwork and in consideration of all opinions. With decades of waste management experience between staff, the Fellow will learn everything they ever wanted, or didn’t want to know, about the solid waste industry. New goals and agreements between our hauler and our member cities make this an exciting time to be involved in the reduction of climate changing waste in West County.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

As one of the first cities in the county, the City of Antioch has a lot of older housing stock and a sizable population of lower income, elderly and disabled households. All of these groups need deeply affordable housing and access to the various programs and services provided by City government and nonprofit partners. The City is interested in understanding the total number of housing units that are affordable to people with incomes between 0-30% of the area median income, which is the range most needed to house persons who are disabled and elderly living on fixed incomes, and persons who are homeless. The City is committed to increasing the number of units at this level and needs a baseline. To meet other State requirements, the City must also compile and maintain a database of existing, new and substantially rehabilitated housing units developed or assisted with funding from the former Redevelopment agency. To address these equity issues and increase access to resources by all members of the Antioch community, the City seeks to increase outreach to lower income residents to increase awareness of available programs that can reduce their housing costs. The City is also currently working on a Climate Action and Resilience Plan that includes actions to address energy efficiency in low income housing as well as outreach and engagement to disadvantaged communities.

The Fellow will support projects focused on ensuring equity as local government reaches out to a diverse population to offer and provide a variety of housing and environmental services while helping to modernize the housing programs and housing stock. The Fellow will learn how affordable housing is subsidized and funded, then assist affordable housing developers to create an expanded countywide housing inventory of affordable housing, and assist in the monitoring compliance with those funding sources in Antioch. The Fellow will also compile a database of existing, new and substantially rehabilitated housing units developed or assisted with funding from the former Redevelopment agency, and design and implement effective outreach strategies to residents in lower income census tracts to promote a variety of new and existing housing programs and all environmental programs to lower income and disabled renters and homeowners. They will also build off the work of the previous CivicSpark Fellow to broaden the City’s communication channels and create lasting networks with local groups and organizations through the new climate action platform.

The ideal Fellow will be proactive and willing to seek guidance and support from staff as needed and have an interest in the challenges and issues faced by disabled and lower income communities. Strong writing and verbal communication skills are a must as the primary focus of the program year will be interacting with the general public and reaching out to community groups. They will be empathetic and open to learning and possess basic Excel skills and analytical skills. Bilingual/Spanish speaking is a plus. 

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Antioch is the second largest city in Contra Costa County, located on the banks of the San Joaquin River just off of Highway 4 in East county. Residents enjoy beautiful river views with kayaking, boating and fishing, as well as some of the most affordable housing in the Bay Area. The City provides a friendly and welcoming work environment with the opportunity to interact directly with all levels of staff and outside agencies. Working here will give the Fellow a basic understanding of the way local government works but not frustrate them with lots of bureaucracy. There is a real ability to move things forward and work with a team that is motivated and able to implement change.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Cupertino is located against the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the west end of Silicon Valley. Home to high-tech companies like Apple, Cupertino has a highly educated and culturally diverse population. The City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) was adopted in 2015 and is implemented by the Sustainability Division. The small but formidable Sustainability Team is challenged with updating the CAP to align community greenhouse gas emissions targets with updated state requirements and include targets and measures addressing equity and adaptation. As part of the CAP update, the Environmental Programs Division will complete a Zero Waste Plan. 

The Fellow will support the City’s CAP update outreach, which includes reviewing best practices around embedding equity into outreach for the CAP update, other cities’ CAP updates, toolkits created by equity organizations (i.e. APEN, GARE, Greenlining Institute), and the Sustainability team’s current outreach strategies, messaging, and outlets. The result will be an assessment and framework for embedding equity into the team’s CAP update outreach planning. The Fellow will also support the development of the Zero Waste Plan policy and data analysis. This includes reviewing an initial Santa Clara University research project document and related resources, as well as local waste characterization studies and data, and then implementing components of the plan such as completing a lifecycle emissions analysis of an item found in the City’s waste characterization study and providing recommendations on how to incorporate the emissions data into the Zero Waste Plan. The Fellow will also support community outreach using the Community Climate Solutions platform or other engagement tool to enhance outreach on energy, waste, water, and pollution prevention for residents and staff. The Fellow will assist staff with engagement to hard to reach small businesses to pursue California Green Business Certification and conserve resources, manage waste, and lower emissions. The Fellow will engage underserved or disconnected populations in the CAP update process (i.e. community college students and faculty, working population, renters, and youth / students). These activities will boost the power of the small team to reach new segments of the residential, workforce, and business community with existing programs and expand the network for engagement on the CAP update.

The ideal Fellow will be a self-starter with outreach / social media experience, with a foundational understanding and training in equity. They will have research and data analysis skills, strong interpersonal skills, and an ability to work independently. Language skills preferred (i.e. Asian languages).

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Cupertino, with a population of 60,000, is known throughout the world as a center of innovation. Rich in diversity, Cupertino is committed to becoming a model multicultural community for the 21st century. Corporate headquarters blend with tree-shrouded residential neighborhoods that climb into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountain range. Quality schools and proximity to high-tech jobs and beautiful open spaces make Cupertino a desirable location for a highly educated and culturally diverse population. The Fellow will be a key part of our Sustainability Division, which consists of two full time staff members and works closely with the Environmental Programs Division. Our team has a collaborative and supportive work culture and a friendly office. As we are a small city and a small team, the Fellow will have a lot of autonomy and room to be creative in their role. We support Fellows in pursuing career and personal development opportunities and bring them to networking meetings with staff and encourage them to attend networking events.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Today’s Bay Area stands at a crossroads: housing costs continue to rise, traffic congestion is worsening, gaps in income inequality are growing and the region faces increasing risk from the effects of climate change. Global and national shifts both today and in the coming decades – from immigration and trade policies to driverless vehicles and sea level rise – may exacerbate these regional challenges, making the Bay Area’s future more uncertain than ever. Working closely with the public, as well as with partner agencies and policymakers, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) aim to develop a plan that will better prepare Bay Area residents for the many challenges the region may face through 2050. Plan Bay Area is a long-range plan charting the course for the future of the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. It pinpoints policies and investments necessary to advance the goal of a more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant Bay Area and will identify a path to make the Bay Area more equitable for all residents and more resilient in the face of unexpected challenges. Ultimately, Plan Bay Area 2050 reflects a shared vision – one that cannot be implemented by any single organization or government agency. Once the Plan is adopted, MTC and ABAG, along with partner organizations, will create an Implementation Plan that will advance strategies outlined in Plan Bay Area 2050.

The Fellow will support the Plan Bay Area by first supporting the development of the Implementation Plan, then support staff with specific implementation actions on resilience and affordable housing identified therein. MTC and ABAG will lead engagement with partners and communities to develop the Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan will evolve strategies from high-level concepts into detailed steps the agencies and its partners can take to advance the strategy in the next four years, operationalizing the strategies for implementation. The Fellow would help produce materials for engagement events with the public & partners, synthesize feedback and develop findings, as well as help agency staff respond to questions raised by partner agencies and local governments. The Fellow will also support the Regional Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan by working with partners to prioritize where advanced adaptation planning funds are needed in the region or completing feasibility research of new resilience funding proposals. Another area the Fellow can play a role in is in supporting existing building retrofits – the Bay Area region has over one million homes that were built before modern codes. Wildfire, floods, earthquakes, extreme heat, power shut offs and a range of other impacts are threats to the region’s residents and their housing. To support this space, the Fellow would help develop a methodology to update existing regional grant programs to better integrate equity or partner with leading county programs to spread effective programs to neighboring counties. On the housing side, the agency boards have committed to advancing affordable housing more significantly than in past plans. Because MTC and ABAG do not have direct control over local land use and housing approval processes, implementing regional housing programs will require close collaboration with the 109 jurisdictions that constitute the Bay Area. The Fellow would assist in gathering feedback from local jurisdictions, tailoring programmatic responses to meet local needs while also advancing regional goals, and developing materials on best practices across a range of housing policies and programs.

The ideal Fellow will have a deep interest and passion for resilience and housing planning issues. Past research experience or coursework related to resilience, climate impacts, affordable housing, or long-range planning is desirable. A candidate with the ability to present qualitative and quantitative findings with oral, written, and graphic communication is important. Candidates who also have analysis experience with tabular and geographic data, or an interest in developing these skills, is a plus. Most importantly, the Fellow must enjoy working in a project and team environment. Candidates who are curious, enthusiastic about the planning discipline, and show initiative and a willingness to learn will get the most out of a Fellowship with MTC/ABAG.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

MTC and ABAG are deeply engaged in core planning challenges facing the San Francisco Bay Area region. The agency leads and supports local governments on a range of planning topics like housing affordability, climate resilience and emerging mobility. Most efforts led by the agencies require strong partnerships with other local jurisdictions and other regional and state agencies. This partnership-based approach provides ample exposure into different levels of government and the opportunity to plan in a variety of different contexts and scales. The work led by MTC and ABAG is award winning and is often at the cutting edge of the state of planning practice in California.

The offices of ABAG and MTC are in the Bay Area Metro Center, a 2016 renovated building with ample co-working space which supports the collaborative work of the agency. Fellows can expect to spend a good portion of the week problem solving in the many conference room and atrium spaces in the building. The offices are centrally located in San Francisco’s south of market neighborhood. The central location offers easy access to all transit modes, offering easy travel across the nine-county region. As such, the office is a common convening space for the region, where staff and elected officials gather frequently to discuss planning challenges. Fellows can expect to participate in workshops, committee meetings, and networking events in the offices, and at partner events across the city and region.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Fire Safe Sonoma (FSS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to increase awareness of wildfire issues in Sonoma County and help local residents and firefighting agencies to achieve improved wildfire safety. Formed in 1998, Fire Safe Sonoma has been instrumental in helping to educate residents about wildfire prevention and safety. Fire Safe Sonoma, the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District & Sonoma Resource Conservation District (RCDs) are working together to increase access to information around wildfire awareness. The Gold Ridge and Sonoma RCDs were established in the 1940s to promote soil conservation and have continued as a local leader in environmental conservation for climate adaptation, water quality improvement, wildlife habitat enhancement and agricultural sustainability. 

The Fellow will serve as the Sonoma Wildfire Awareness Outreach Coordinator, and will serve all of Sonoma County in increasing community resilience in the face of increased wildfire risk and other adverse effects exacerbated through the changing climate. Working with FSS and the RCDs, the Fellow will support two projects to assist the RCDs and FSS achieve strategic goals. The first project is an outreach and coordination plan and execution of this plan, which will include social media, phone calls, email correspondence, website updates and newsletter articles. This may also include public events, workshops and creating, updating and distributing written materials. This will increase the capacity of FSS to meet the great demand for information the public requests after having 2 devastating wildfires in 2 years. The second project will be to incorporate forest management and wildfire preparedness planning into the Gold Ridge RCDs Strategic Plan. The Fellow will work with the Gold Ridge RCDs Executive Director and staff to identify community needs and opportunities around forest management and wildfire safety and preparedness. Assisting with identifying needs and opportunities will increase the RCDs capacity to identify and prioritize funding proposals and project development. The position will be housed at the Gold Ridge RCD and work in partnership with Fire Safe Sonoma and the Sonoma RCD. 

The ideal Fellow will have an interest in improving and protecting natural resources and enjoy working with diverse people and organizations. They should also have an interest in learning or experience in social media and website maintenance. The Fellow should also be organized, prompt, respectful and responsive, and be motivated and self-directed once given a task. They should have strong written and verbal communication stills. Spanish language skills are very desirable, but not required.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The Gold Ridge RCD is located outside of the small towns of Sebastopol and Graton. We have 10 experienced, kind, and thoughtful staff. Our office is in an old farmhouse situated on an orchard and vineyard property down a gravel road. There is not regular public transportation to our office, but many staff enjoy biking to work. A CivicSpark Fellow placed with us will have a great opportunity to network with not only dozens of different community organizations but many professional individuals and community members as well. Sonoma County is beautiful with a great need to improve engagement with under-served populations and innovative land managers.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

StopWaste is a Joint Powers Authority in Alameda County that includes 14 cities and the County. StopWaste works on materials management and energy initiatives within the county, and regionally through partnerships such as the Bay Area Regional Energy Network. It serves member agencies by running environmental programs in their communities and providing technical assistance on their work such as policy and plan development. Last year, StopWaste’s board adopted a guiding principle to “prioritize waste reduction and prevention projects that have beneficial climate impacts”. StopWaste has been supporting member agencies’ climate action work since the first GHG inventories conducted in 2008, and most recently assisted them by reviewing and offering guidance on their CAP 2.0’s. Much of this support is housed in the built environment and planning sections of the agency, where there’s also a focus on advancing the circular economy and reducing embodied carbon in building materials. Due to COVID-19, member agencies will be struggling to recover economically, and resources will be stretched thinner for sustainability initiatives. This project’s intent is to strengthen collaborations across member agencies and with partners across the Bay Area to keep the momentum going forward and amplify the work of individual jurisdictions during a time of financial limitations.

The Fellow will reside within StopWaste, supporting projects that will benefit multiple StopWaste member agencies. The projects collectively aim to assist member agencies in navigating the COVID-recovery period in a way that advances sustainability despite potentially reduced resources. Projects include: 1) facilitating Technical Advisory Group (TAG) conversations by developing content and discussion prompts to respond to the TAG member’s interests and needs, maximizing the potential impact of cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and organizing logistics and content management for the discussions, generating summaries and synthesizing key points for subsequent exploration and refinement; 2) supporting a Regional Circular Economy Recovery Strategy by initiating a regional discussion on what a circular economy would look like for the Bay Area. This project will evolve and its shape will depend on the partners that agree to participate in its development. StopWaste’s involvement and role will adjust as appropriate. Partners may include regional agencies, other counties and cities in the Bay Area, community choice aggregators, academics and research institutions, and private and nonprofit sector partners; 3) Beginning conversations around adapting the built environment to changing contexts by convening discussions and hosting presentations around the changing sense of place caused by shifting employment and commute patterns and their relationship to the built environment. These discussions will explore how to better utilize the built environment, such as through adaptive reuse of underutilized buildings and streamlining environmentally high-performing ADUs. This includes new ways that the built environment may be permanently changed by COVID-19 (increase in remote working and decrease in the number of office buildings needed in main commercial areas). This will also explore the less concrete impacts that the built environment has on community cohesion, morale, and a sense of belonging and caring. The Fellow would work closely with StopWaste staff in agenda development for each of the projects and support them with logistics such as scheduling and file management. The Fellow would also be tasked with following up on research or collateral development as requested by member agencies or partners (for example, compiling a list of community-supported agriculture services available within each jurisdiction). Overall, the projects will generate reports and findings of the process, and recommendations for new frameworks the member agencies can use to advance their sustainability work. The resources and capacity provided by the Fellow would enable Agency staff to engage in each of these efforts with more bandwidth, while also having an extra set of eyes and ears to observe the moving parts of the processes to better inform their progression. Some research and resources would not be conducted without a Fellow, which means the quality of the overall work products will benefit from the Fellow’s service.

The ideal Fellow will have research skills, organizational skills, concise business writing skills, systems thinking and intellectual humility. They should also have a degree in environmental science, sociology, psychology, economics, architecture, engineering, or similar. Volunteer experience in local communities is desired. They must have a curiosity for systemic issues and intersection between materials, energy, climate, equity, economy. Must enjoy working in a team but also be able to work independently. A passion for enabling others to succeed.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Alameda County ranked #1 in a recent national survey of awareness of climate change. As far as we know, it is the first county in which every jurisdiction/city adopted a climate action plan or GHG reduction strategy. It is also one of the most diverse counties. Our member agencies represent a mix of urban, suburban, and some rural communities. As a public agency that is not a typical city or county government, and one that is entirely focused on waste/materials and energy, we operate differently than most public agencies. We work with residents, businesses, and schools across the county and directly with our member agency staff. We strive to be nimble and proactive. We are seen as a convener/facilitator and an incubator/catalyst for new ideas. 

Our agency culture is dynamic, aiming to continuously develop our capabilities to empower and equip staff to do their best work; balance storytelling, data-informed decision making and responsible risk taking; and improve the lives of those we serve. People work here for a long time (25+ years) evolving their projects and skills across multiple topic areas. We recently had a significant number of retirements and hiring of new staff, so there is now a good mix of seniority and length of service. Serving with StopWaste will provide a few unique opportunities: To work for a public agency that is entirely devoted to environmental issues; visibility and connection into the 15 municipalities in the county; exploration of cutting-edge topics such as regenerative economics and embodied carbon.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of San José was one of the first U.S. cities to adopt a Paris Climate Agreement-aligned climate action plan, Climate Smart San José (Climate Smart) in February 2018. Climate Smart includes goals and milestones to ensure San José can reduce its GHG emissions, including building zero net carbon buildings, greening commutes, and transitioning to a renewable energy future. San José has made significant progress towards its climate action goals through policies, such as the Water and Energy Building Performance Ordinance (BPO), and community engagement activities, such as the Better Performance Leaders (BPL) pilot. Passed in December 2018, San Jose’s BPO replaces and goes beyond the California State AB 802 Benchmarking Reporting requirements. The BPO uses a phased-in enforcement approach to annually increase both the scope of requirements and number of covered buildings each year of implementation. In 2021, the BPO will require water and energy benchmarking for ~2500 large buildings and begin to implement new “Beyond Benchmarking” requirements for water conservation or energy efficiency (EE) measures based on benchmarking report data. Ramping up for these new requirements will require coordination among local or state officials and community or industry stakeholders, and outreach to covered building owners. Building on the BPO, San José is currently executing a one-year BPL for the K-12, municipal, commercial, and institutional sectors to reduce building GHG emissions. The BPL supports BPO compliance by providing personalized technical guidance, networking, and promotion to expedite benchmarking and EE progress. Across all these projects, a Fellow will offer vital capacity to meet program goals and deepen stakeholder engagement with the City.

A motivated Fellow will gain firsthand experience and understanding of how community-wide sustainability initiatives are implemented through local government and strategic partnerships. The BPO Fellow will assist with communication and coordination among local business owners and municipal staff to ensure BPO compliance. BPO support will involve working with building owners and utilities (i.e. PG&E, water companies) to gather facility details, establish energy or water use benchmarking data in Energy Star Portfolio Manager®, perform data quality assurance and reporting measures, and assist comparison of facilities’ energy and water usage. The Fellow may also assist coordinating “Beyond Benchmarking” required energy improvement audits; and facilitate marketing, planning, or implementation of EE improvement pilots for public or private sector building owners/managers and their tenants to enact building upgrades or retro-commissioning, behavior change campaigns, and other measures that significantly reduce GHG emissions. The Fellow may also help design Beyond Benchmarking performance metrics based from benchmarking data and/or EE audits. The BPO Fellow will be a critical resource for creatively engaging stakeholders, coordinating with internal (i.e. Environmental Services, Financial, and Building Departments) and external partners (e.g. local government, private businesses), promoting program activities and uptake, conducting research, and organizing, reporting, and/or presenting program-supporting data. The Fellow will also help plan and implement related trainings, events, and behavior change campaigns. 

The ideal Fellow will have some database management experience (e.g. Excel, Access, etc.), interpersonal and customer service skills, and communication and writing abilities. They would also be a self-starter with excellent analytical, project management, and public speaking skills.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of San José is the tenth largest in the U.S. and third largest in California. With a population of over 1 million people, it is the economic and cultural heart of Silicon Valley, known as a vibrant and multicultural center for innovation that values equity and opportunity for all. The City has a walkable downtown and neighborhood communities within its ten council districts and is considered one of safest and cleanest big cities in America. A haven for urbanites and outdoor enthusiasts alike, residents enjoy 300+ sunny days a year with access to an international airport, professional sports and other entertainment, museums, diverse dining, and ~200 parks comprising over 15,000 acres of open space.

San José’s Environmental Services Department has established a national reputation for environmental leadership with award-winning recycling, water conservation, water quality protection, wastewater treatment, and sustainability programs. ESD’s employees are a diverse group of motivated and passionate professionals who care about protecting the environment and supporting sustainability initiatives both at work and home. A fellowship with San José Climate Smart/Silicon Valley Energy Watch will provide a rich opportunity to learn a variety of sustainability and project management skills, as well as provide exposure to citywide operations and procedures.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

SF Department of the Environment (SF Environment, or SFE) is the steward of climate action in San Francisco and is tasked with leading mitigation efforts to meet City greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets and collaborates with other city departments on climate adaptation. This requires ongoing maintenance of the City’s GHG inventory, critical analysis of sector emissions, and engagement with internal and external stakeholders. Through these efforts, the Fellow will learn how to use industry leading analytical tools and learn about the wide breadth of mitigation and adaptation policies unique to San Francisco’s climate action efforts. The Fellow will aid efforts to reduce emissions across the municipal, commercial and residential building sectors. 

Housed within the SFE’s Climate Program, the Fellow’s primary responsibility is to coordinate closely with a wide range of city and non-city data providers to conduct the annual GHG inventory, and share information with a large and diverse local and global audience; the emissions inventory is the scientific backbone for all of the City’s climate action planning. Additionally, the Fellow will support comprehensive cross-sector climate-related activities for the City, including but not limited to: collaborating on projects with SFE’s globally-recognized green building and environmental justice programs; supporting a range of community climate engagement activities with diverse community stakeholders; and being a part of a multidisciplinary team working to deliver integrated solutions for the most pressing environmental challenges while advancing improved quality of life and human dignity for all. The Fellow will engage internal SFE, partner City Agencies, and Global City Networks to refine and report out emissions as well as San Francisco’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. The Fellow will also develop ways to collect, calculate, track, visualize, and report key performance indicators identified during the development of the City’s 2020 Climate Action Strategy update.

The ideal Fellow will have an enthusiasm for and education in sustainability, climate action and/or green buildings and strong research and communication skills. The Fellow will have a demonstrated ability to take initiative on projects and work both independently and as part of a team. Experience and knowledge of Excel, database management, and Google and Microsoft products is preferred.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The SFE provides solutions that advance climate protection and enhance quality of life for all San Franciscans. SFE consists of nine programs, including Climate Change, Green Building, Energy, Zero Waste, Toxics Reduction and Integrated Pest Management, Environmental Justice, Clean Air Transportation, Urban Forest and Public Information. SFE’s cross-functional Climate Program engages a variety of partners and stakeholders, other City departments, community-based organizations, private sector and the general public to mitigate climate change impacts, green the built environment, and enhance equitable access to services in San Francisco. 

SFE engages with over 30 city departments on climate action planning and is working in close collaboration with the Department of Public Health, Municipal Transportation Agency, County Transportation Authority, Building Department, SF Public Utilities Commission, Planning Department, Office of Resilience and Capital Planning and others on integrating climate mitigation and adaptation into strategic plans and policies. SFE also engages with regional partners such as MTC/ABAG/BayREN, BAAQMD as well as national and global partners such as USDN and C40 on climate planning efforts.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
: San Francisco Department of the Environment (SFE) is the steward of the City’s zero waste goals. We are tasked with leading efforts to meet the Advancing Toward Zero Waste Commitment, a rigorous declaration from the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit that was instigated by San Francisco with more than two dozen city signatories globally. Since about 25% of San Francisco’s landfill consists of discarded building materials, the construction and demolition sector will play a significant role in meeting this Zero Waste Commitment. San Francisco’s Construction and Demolition Debris Recovery Ordinance (No. 27-06) took effect in 2006. After much success and local market transformation, SFE is now researching discarded material reduction, recovery, and policy options to create and address changes in markets and industry practices, including upstream practices that improve recovery efforts. Through this project, the Fellow will gain a distinct perspective about material use and discarded urban resources; embodied carbon and avoidance of landfilled organics; construction, deconstruction, and demolition practices; and the policies and industries that inform these areas of impact.
The Fellow will play a critical role helping to bridge materials management strategies that support the City’s zero waste and green building commitments. Additionally, the Fellow will support cross-sector green building-related activities for the City by participating on projects with SFE’s globally-recognized Green Building, Climate, and Environmental Justice programs, and being a part of a multidisciplinary team working to deliver integrated solutions for the most pressing environmental challenges while advancing improved quality of life and human dignity for all. Under supervision of SFE’s Green Building team staff, the Fellow will track and analyze green building trends in the design, construction, and operation phases, with a particular emphasis on the City’s municipal building stock. The Fellow will evaluate emerging building industry trends that account for the life cycle impacts of building products, reduce the embodied carbon of urban fabric, and optimize the potential for material reduction, recovery, and reuse. The Fellow will also participate in pioneering studies with industry partners and leading practitioners to establish precedent and appropriate context for the drafting of policy to support a circular economy. The Fellow will also assist with the development and deployment of initiatives to support building electrification. To that end, the Fellow will also coordinate outreach, public meetings, trainings, and events. Some additional tasks include conducting research on local, regional, state and national policy as well as industry best practices; assisting with efforts to create new and evolve existing policy recommendations as well as tools for implementation oversight; coordinating special projects and communications with stakeholders; and preparing written project materials.
The ideal Fellow will have an enthusiasm for and education in sustainability, climate action and/or green building.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
The San Francisco Department of the Environment (SF Environment, or SFE) provides solutions that advance climate protection and enhance quality of life for all San Franciscans. SFE consists of nine programs, including Climate Change, Green Building, Energy, Zero Waste, Toxics Reduction and Integrated Pest Management, Environmental Justice, Clean Air Transportation, Urban Forest and Public Information. SFE’s cross-functional Climate Program engages a variety of partners and stakeholders, other City departments, community-based organizations, private sector and the general public to mitigate climate change impacts, green the built environment, and enhance equitable access to services in San Francisco.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to make funding available to all local governments in California under the Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) Planning Grants Program. The program is intended for the preparation, adoption and implementation of plans that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production. SB 2 is part of a 15 bill housing package aimed at addressing the state’s housing shortage and high housing costs. Specifically, SB 2 established a permanent source of revenue intended to increase the affordable housing stock in California. The planning grant program is a one-time component of SB 2 that, among other provisions, provides financial and technical assistance to local governments to update planning documents in order to accelerate housing production, streamline the approval of housing development, facilitate housing affordability, promote development consistent with the State Planning Priorities, and ensure geographic equity in the distribution and expenditure of allocated funds. With the maximum SB 2 grant allocation of $310,000, the County of Tulare will complete an infrastructure feasibility analysis utilizing its Strategic Growth Council Infrastructure Study (2017), the 2014 Housing Element’s (Action Program 9), and SB 244 (Disadvantaged Communities) infrastructure studies. 

The Fellow will support the County in furthering those studies as the background to gauge the improvements necessary to bring its infrastructure in line with the development potential of the County. This will also maximize the utilization of infrastructure and implement the Community Plan policies related to County Zoning. The Fellow will also assist in updating the County’s Zoning Code and amend its General Plan, as necessary to address housing development in Tulare County. Additionally, the County will document countywide housing programs and policies based on statewide housing financing programs that it can feasibly and realistically implement. The Fellow will support the County to further implement its 2015 Housing Element, and assure General Plan and Zoning Code compliance with state mandates. These mandates include the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, Sustainable Ground Water Management Act, Vehicle Miles Traveled, Environmental Justice Policies, and Adaptation and Resiliency policies based on Statewide Climate Action Programs. It is noted that these policies and priorities create a multitude of potential land use conflicts. However, as the state has mandated, the County must align all the state’s current land use policies to match the statewide housing demand crisis. Where the County has already streamlined most of its decision-making and subdivision/housing building permitting approval process, there may be other mechanisms to streamline the process even further. One mechanism will be for the County to implement the 2015 Housing Element through a Zoning Code Update, including allowing multi-family (High Density Multi-Family or R-3) developments completely by right, without site plan review, and to allow the County to update other sections of its Zoning Code (1978) in the process.

The ideal Fellow will have a background and interest in urban or regional planning, or in a related field such as Environmental Studies, Geography or Architecture. The Fellow should have strong research, writing, and project management skills. 

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Located at the center of California, Tulare County has everything from world-class national parks, the scenic California Coast, and great outdoor activities – hiking, biking, boating, and skiing – all a short drive away. Our eight incorporated cities, and over 40 towns and communities include large cities such as Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, and unique mountainside art communities like Three Rivers and Springville. Tulare County is also the top agricultural producing county in the U.S. and home to the world’s largest Ag Expo every February. Our wonderful more rural lifestyle makes the perfect place to raise your family without the congestion, stress and drama of urban centers. Plus, cultural and entertainment venues around here, from great museums to theaters and a magnificent symphony orchestra. We’re also proud of our low cost of living, especially in comparison to neighboring metropolitan areas. And Tulare County also boasts excellent outlets and a plethora of downtown shops and convenient curbside parking.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Stockton, the 13th largest city in California with more than 300,000 residents, is only 60 miles from the Bay Area. Nevertheless, Stockton is also 18th in the nation for child poverty, and 25% of all residents live below the poverty line. Obesity, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions that elevate the severity of risk brought on by COVID-19 are prevalent. It is likely to also be among the cities hardest hit by the ongoing economic crash. These challenges are even greater in South Stockton, where communities have struggled with lack of access to resources for generations, illustrated by the 20.5-year difference in life expectancy versus more affluent areas of the city. The Reinvent South Stockton Coalition (RSSC) is a public-private-nonprofit collaborative which aims to empower residents to transform their community through improvements in safety and community trust, education, housing, job creation, economic development, and health. Over the past eight years, RSSC and more than 60 cross-sector partners have built a unique collective impact project focused on the needs of the South Stockton Promise Zone (SSPZ), which are neighborhoods in the city most impacted by historic underinvestment, redlining, and persistent poverty, and home to roughly 100,000 residents. 

Two Fellows will support RSSC to engage adults and youth in South Stockton in working towards systemic equity in decisions and investments that affect their communities and to implement action plans in partnership with local government agencies. Stockton has been locked in a housing and affordable housing crisis for more than a decade that continues to grow more severe. In response to this crisis, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs convened a Task Force on Affordable and Workforce Housing in 2018 that developed a set of 25 recommendations. The City is now asking for support from the community to develop and launch a 10-year Implementation Plan that will establish the policies and financial tools to increase housing production and preservation. At the same time, RSSC sees the need for a strong community voice that will foster a public conversation around solutions to our housing crisis, ensure these decisions increase housing supply without displacing current residents, and build public support for public investment in more housing that is affordable to all residents. One Fellow will work on Housing Justice by engaging the community to work towards more housing that is affordable to all residents and work with City agencies to develop the policies and financial tools that will increase housing production and preservation. The Fellow, with support from the RSSC team, will work closely with the City’s Economic Development Department (EDD) and the Office of the Mayor to develop key agreements and policies, including an Affordable Housing Trust Fund and key progressive policies. At the same time, the Fellow will co-design and implement a strategy to build community consensus for housing by organizing a community coalition that supports residents to understand the issues involved, their connections to residents’ daily lives, and how to raise awareness in their community. 

After decades of neglect and active disinvestment in their neighborhoods by institutions including local government, nonprofits, and health care, South Stockton residents held little trust in them. RSSC and Mayor Tubbs therefore put rebuilding trust at the center of their early efforts to “reinvent South Stockton.” Meanwhile, local government and health and community organizations are poised to push resources into parks activation and community engagement in the SSPZ as the key strategy to improve community health in San Joaquin County over the next few years. While health care institutions are investing community benefit funds in parks activation, the City of Stockton is securing funding to make substantial capital improvements in 3-4 South Stockton parks and reaching out to partners to engage residents. The second Fellow will help to rebuild trust and improve community health by organizing residents around parks activation events and building sustained engagement between the community and its parks. The Fellow will develop and implement strategies that connect SSPZ residents to resources and opportunities to meaningfully participate in civic and RSSC initiatives that benefit their neighborhoods, with a focus on activating several South Stockton parks for increased use by the community over the long term. Through these plans, community connections, and park activation events, the Fellow will build key capacity and resources to meet the goals of the City of Stockton Community Services Department and San Joaquin County Public Health Services.

The ideal Fellows will have strong communication skills. Fellows must also be able to work closely with people of all backgrounds with respect and empathy, and have self-discipline and the ability to work effectively in a relatively unstructured setting. An educational background and/or experience in Community Organizing, Community Development, Social Work, Public Administration, Public Policy, Education, Public Health, and/or Business Administration would be a plus. The Fellow working on the housing project should have a background in housing and/or homelessness finance and policy. Fluency in Spanish is preferred.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

In 2011, Stockton was named “America’s most miserable city.” by Forbes due to high unemployment and violent crime rates. The following year, the municipal government declared bankruptcy, becoming the largest city in the U.S. to do so to that point (Stockton exited bankruptcy by 2015). Today, however, Stockton has become a community on the rise and a place where youth and innovation can thrive. Michael Tubbs became the youngest mayor of a large city in the U.S. when he was elected in 2016 at age 26, bringing national attention and investment to the City. Health outcomes have slowly improved over the past few years, while violent crime has dropped. Innovative new economic strategies, more professional jobs, and a new sense of community ownership have brought many young entrepreneurs, skilled workers, and community activists back to their hometown. And numerous new initiatives – including the Stockton Scholars college scholarship program, a project to train health workers to provide trauma-informed care, and the first citywide guaranteed income demonstration project – have shown that Stockton is now a community where new ideas are implemented.

The Reinvent South Stockton Coalition has been the backbone for many of these ongoing initiatives and innovations. RSSC is a community-led collective impact project to drastically improve health, housing, public safety, economic development, equity, and education outcomes in the South Stockton Promise Zone. We have engaged deeply with our South Stockton community to determine and advocate for solutions to the issues that most affect their lives. RSSC’s Fellows will help to coordinate collaborative, cross-sector working groups that bring together residents, local government, and community-based organizations. RSSC’s Fellows will also serve alongside and have many opportunities to interact and learn with more than 100 other AmeriCorps Fellows who are placed at local organizations through the Stockton Service Corps. Lastly, RSSC’s office space is located in a co-working facility in the heart of revitalizing Downtown Stockton. The building is filled with nonprofit and for-profit entrepreneurs and is near a number of diverse restaurants.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Arvin is situated in one of the most fertile and productive agricultural areas of California, yet is heavily impacted by air pollution, lack of safe water, a dearth of affordable housing, and social equity challenges. With a population of more than 21,000, 29.3% of the community is at the Federal poverty level or lower and the household median income is $35,609 versus the U.S. national household median income of $56,516. The City is linguistically isolated, with 97% of the population speaking Spanish as a first language, and, of those, 48% do not speak English fluently or at all. In 2018, the City updated its Housing Element, which included outreach and engagement programs that would accelerate housing production and infill development. However, due to the lack of staff and funding capacity, the City has not been able to implement these programs. Apart from this, compounded by poor air quality and climate and social equity challenges, Arvin has seen the highest rates of COVID-19 cases in Kern County. Even with these challenges, this small city is committed to making huge strides to create a vibrant, sustainable community with sufficient opportunities for affordable housing, economic development and energy efficiency. To improve quality of life and reduce burdens of air quality and energy bills, the City is an early adopter of alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy. Challenged by the inequities of air pollution, water contamination, and poverty, the City approaches energy reduction and greenhouse gases using a multi-layered methodology that includes energy efficiency, solar power, electric vehicle charging stations, urban greening and more.

The CivicSpark Fellow will support the planning necessary to implement affordable housing, energy efficiency and clean energy, and economic development programs for the City of Arvin and develop education and engagement materials to catalyze action at a community scale. Under housing, the Fellow could serve as a catalyst for moving the outreach and engagement programs forward and unlock the potential of the Housing Element Update, leading to transformative housing improvements to Arvin. This would happen through conducting research related to affordable housing and infill development best practices and supporting outreach, education and engagement opportunities with the community. For economic development, since the City has been hit hard by the pandemic, a Fellow can help to reignite and reinvigorate innovative economic development programming to support local businesses in the city through research, public engagement and partnerships. This would happen through economic development research into best practices and innovative program approaches; support and implementation of public engagement and outreach to connect local businesses to resources, key stakeholders and other strategic partners; and assisting with connecting the City to subject matter experts and other strategic partners to assist in the creation of economic development programs and funding resources that uplift both the local business and residents who are impacted from reduced revenues. The City also needs the creativity, enthusiasm and tenacity of a CivicSpark Fellow to facilitate and support community engagement in energy efficiency and clean energy programs that can lead to positive benefits for the city as a whole. The Fellow would conduct energy efficiency research and aid in coordinating public outreach to support energy efficiency programming; support facilitation of partnerships and relationship building with community-based organizations, key stakeholders and strategic partners to advance clean energy project development; and support community outreach assistance focused on increasing resident interest, understanding and readiness of solar, electric vehicles (EV), renewable energy, and energy efficiency initiatives through assistance with outreach events and direct engagement.

The ideal Fellow will be creative, hardworking and team oriented to be able to participate in a variety of projects across several departments. The role requires someone who can work semi-independently, conduct research, proactively coordinate with other staff members and the project partners, develop well written educational materials and think creatively about solving problems and developing products that support the needs of the community. Experience with environmental justice and/or sustainability/climate and equity issues is desired, as well as a basic understanding of cities and housing and/or economic development. Experience engaging disadvantaged communities and working with community based organizations preferred. Spanish language fluency is a plus.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Arvin is a collaborative, diverse and service-driven workplace. City staff council are committed to providing high levels of service to the community and are willing to do whatever it takes to make a difference in Arvin. The City is the recipient of multiple Institute for Local Government Beacon Awards, which recognize commitments to climate action through sustainability best practices and energy savings. Arvin has also been honored with a Regional Award of Merit by the Kern Council of Governments for innovative transportation. A small but mighty staff collaboratively addresses environmental, economic, and social challenges to foster a more vibrant community. You’ll join a team of motivated and enthusiastic staff who will ensure professional development opportunities are offered every step of the way, helping to build your experience working across multiple departments, engaging with diverse stakeholders, developing plans that will lay the groundwork for the next several years of programming at the city, and more. 

The City of Arvin was incorporated in 1960, and is located in the southern-most portion of California’s Central Valley. The City, known as “The Garden in the Sun,” is situated in one of the most fertile and productive agricultural areas of the nation. Much of this agricultural land is protected by the Williamson Agricultural Preservation Act, which sets forth strong financial incentives for maintaining agricultural uses on the land. Incorporated in 1960, the City of Arvin’s growth, like much of the surrounding cities in Kern County, is driven by its agricultural community. Agricultural crops such as cotton, grain, carrots, potatoes, almonds, oranges, and grapes, surround the City as well as numerous private dairies and farmland. Situated in the foothills of the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains and a short drive from the Sequoia National Forest and the Kern River, which hosts some of the best river rafting in the county, there is no shortage of adventure surrounding Arvin. With Bakersfield 20 miles the north and Los Angeles 100 miles to the south, Arvin sits at the crossroads of rural and urban experiences enriched by a diverse and connected community.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The County of Santa Barbara’s Sustainability Division collaborates across County departments and regionally to create opportunities that empower and connect people to enhance the environment and quality of life. The Sustainability Division (SD) is a small but growing office within the Community Services Department. SD is a lead partner within the Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3CREN), and has several active regional and local projects. The current year (2020) is an inflection point for the County of Santa Barbara. Since 2007, community GHG emissions have only increased. In 2018, the region suffered from the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow highlighting the urgency of the climate crisis. The Sustainability Division is leading a community wide effort to develop a new Climate Action Plan taking a regional approach and integrating resilience. Simultaneously, SD will need to prepare a 2020 GHG Inventory and 2015 Energy & Climate Action Plan Final Report at the conclusion of 2020. 

The Fellow will support the Division as it sunsets the 2015 Energy & Climate Action Plan, develops a new 2030 Climate Action Plan and sustains the Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative. The Fellow will collect data from County departments and divisions and relevant stakeholders, analyze program and project outputs and outcomes, draft reports and presentations for the 2015 Energy & Climate Action Plan Final Report. This will also include preparing a 2020 GHG Inventory. The Fellow will also support the development process of the 2030 Climate Action Plan. This will include supporting community presentations, stakeholder meetings, report drafting, social media and newsletter management. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to support the development of policies for existing commercial buildings, an area that has not yet been explored by staff.

The ideal Fellow will have experience with Excel and graphic design and have strong communication skills such as using social media and with public speaking. A bilingual Spanish-speaking individual is preferred.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The County of Santa Barbara encompasses 8 incorporated jurisdictions, a tribal nation and an air force base and is characterized primarily by suburban and rural settings. The County of Santa Barbara’s main offices are located in downtown Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara enjoys pleasant weather year-round, and a relaxed atmosphere. Outdoor activities such as surfing, hiking and camping are popular. Santa Barbara also enjoys a variety of local wine, beer and food establishments. 

The Sustainability Division staff are creative and resourceful and the office enjoys a friendly atmosphere. Dogs are welcome in the office too! The Sustainability Division develops and implements countywide programs and policies primarily covering climate and energy, but the Division also leads all interdepartmental and stakeholder efforts on a variety of sustainability issues such as community planning, climate adaptation, sustainable transportation, waste reduction & recycling and municipal facilities. The Fellow would have the opportunity to be exposed and involved with a variety of interest areas.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of San Luis Obispo (SLO) is about to adopt a climate action plan that lays the foundation for achieving one of the most ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in the nation: carbon neutrality by 2035. The City operates on two-year budget cycles, which include the identification of high priority policy areas (referred to as “Major City Goals”, or MCGs). Climate Action was identified as a MCG for the first time in the 2017-19 Financial Plan. In that time period, the City hired a Sustainability Manager, established the Office of Sustainability, and began implementing initial GHG reduction actions, including joining an existing Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). Climate Action was reconfirmed as a MCG for the 2019-21 Financial Plan and will now focus on 1) building organizational and community capacity and processes for substantial, sustained, and effective climate action; 2) implementing priority Climate Action Plan measures to lay the foundation for achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, and 3) assessing, planning, and implementing measures to enhance the community’s resilience to the impact of climate change.

Fellows will be training and providing technical support on discrete tasks through the first part of their term and will gradually shift to task and project management through the end of the term. The City anticipates finalizing the Fellows’ scope based on the selected candidates’ experience, interest, and skill sets, but Fellows can broadly be expected to support 2019-21 City work plan items including developing a program to support decarbonization retrofits in existing community buildings, developing a plan to achieve carbon neutral municipal operations, and implementing other priority climate actions. Additional project areas are available to Fellows based on interest is integrating climate change projections into our City’s General Plan and supporting the City’s Housing MCG. One Fellow can anticipate working on innovative program development in support of implementing the Climate Action Plan, including development of a carbon neutral city operations plan, development of a community wide building retrofit program, support of a carbon farm pilot project, and numerous other priority CAP actions, as well as development and piloting of a Climate Action Plan monitoring tool. Another Fellow will support the comprehensive community assessment of vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and eventual integration of climate adaptation into the City’s General Plan. The Fellow can anticipate supporting the LGC/City of San Luis Obispo collaborative project, which will include a comprehensive assessment of the community’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, development of adaptation policy and programs, and integration into the City’s General Plan.

The ideal Fellows will be self-starters and be able to complete complicated tasks while also understanding when to ask for help. They should also be passionate and able to face hard problems and take on daunting challenges. 

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

San Luis Obispo is the perfect place to launch a career in sustainability. The City is fortunate to be in a moment of significant alignment between the City Council, senior management, staff, residents, and the business community on the importance of deep decarbonization and adaptation/resilience. The City’s organizational culture is deeply collaborative, and provides deep trust; everyone from program managers to interns are empowered to lead, learn, grow, and succeed. The office has fun, and supports each other personally and professionally, but also cares deeply about climate action and is dedicated to contributing to completing as much meaningful climate work as possible.  It should also be noted that the Central Coast is one of the most beautiful regions of the state. Fellows will be able to surf, hike, mountain bike, and kayak through some of the most pristine and gorgeous breaks, trails, and waters in the world.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Goleta’s Sustainability Program within the Community Development Department supports efforts to create and implement a long-term sustainability vision for the City and incorporates sustainability into core processes and decision-making. Along with the Sustainability Coordinator, the Fellow will have the opportunity to substantially contribute to a variety of projects, including public outreach, that help the City address climate action and community resilience goals including: 1) Implementation of projects identified in the Strategic Energy Plan to support the City’s 100% Renewable Energy goals; 2) Participation in formation of the Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative; 3) Assist in development of pilot bikeshare and plastics reduction programs, and 4) Gather data and track key indicators in support of the City’s designation as a LEED City.

The Fellow will support the projects in the following ways:

• The Strategic Energy Plan (SEP) was developed as a roadmap to identify how the City could reach its adopted 100% Renewable Electricity goal by 2030. The SEP identifies barriers to renewable energy development and recommends strategies to overcome the barriers, with equity considerations and outreach to the City’s Spanish speaking population as a particular focus of the Plan. The Fellow will support development of an Energy Assurance Plan, identified as a strategy in the SEP to create a plan to protect critical municipal facilities so that they continue to operate in the event of an electricity outage in their house  vulnerable region, assist with tasks related to procurement management and implementation of a clean energy demonstration project including solar PV, battery storage, and/or electrical vehicle charging infrastructure, and assist with the development of a community outreach plan for the Community Choice Energy launch. 
• The Fellow also has the opportunity to support the City’s participation in topic-area committees for the recently formed Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative in researching best practices and strategies to bolster city resiliency and GHG emissions reductions. 
• The Fellow will also support the implementation of a pilot bikeshare program by analyzing the policies and approaches utilized by neighboring jurisdictions for adoption and operation of bikeshare programs, as well as assist with development of a potential RFP and assist with the development of ordinances addressing the distribution of Expanded Polystyrene foam (EPS) products and single use se plastics. 
• The City of Goleta is a designated LEED City by the United States Green Building Council. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) helps cities and communities benchmark current performance, track performance metrics, communicate continuous improvement, educate residents, visitors and business owners, and demonstrate commitment to sustainability, human health and economic prosperity. The Fellow would help build capacity by utilizing the LEED Arc platform tool to track metrics to support the future development of a Sustainability Plan.

The ideal Fellow will have excellent interpersonal skills and be open to interacting and collaborating with staff from different City departments, as well as members of the public and other agency staff. Curiosity, flexibility, as well as strong written communication and analytical skills are key. The Fellow should be able to take initiative, work independently, and conduct self-directed research, but also be comfortable asking for assistance when needed. Being comfortable conducting outreach and community engagement, a high attention to detail when performing data collection, and project management skills are all beneficial.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Goleta is located on the south coast of Santa Barbara County, approximately 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles; adjacent to the University of California, Santa Barbara, and ten miles west of the City of Santa Barbara. Home to 30,000 residents, the City stretches approximately eight square miles along a narrow coastal plain between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The City has the warmth and charm of a small town. Beaches and well-maintained parks and open spaces add to its attraction. The City incorporated in 2002, and contributing to the young community’s outstanding quality of life are the City’s low crime rate, mild coastal climate, and desirable location. The City of Goleta is a great place to work, with close to 100 employees. Our diverse group of staff members are dedicated to serving our citizens and enhancing the functions of public administration through innovation and partnerships in the community. Serving as a Fellow with the City of Goleta Sustainability Program provides the opportunity to learn about and work on a myriad of sustainability issues as well as collaborate regionally with other jurisdictional staff and CivicSpark Fellows to positively address these complex issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Santa Cruz is a leader in sustainability and climate action, having adopted its first Climate Action Plan and Climate Adaptation Plan, both in 2012, as well as Climate Emergency and Green New Deal resolutions in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The City’s Climate Action Program, in the City Manager’s Office, works with other departments and the community to implement these Plans. While the City achieved its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction goal 18 months early due to implementation of its community choice energy program, progress on the 12 Climate Action Plan milestones is mixed, impeded to some degree by lack of capacity. The Climate Action plan sunsets in 2020. Beginning in July 2020 and over the next year, the City will collaboratively develop a state-of-the-art Climate and Energy Action Plan with a sunset year of 2030. This is a prime opportunity for the City to reflect on its successes and challenges in the Climate Action Plan 2020 implementation, identify a carbon neutrality year and pathway, financing mechanisms, cost savings through energy management, and process and structural changes that prioritize sustainability while centering equity in our work.

The Fellow will support the goals of this project, which are to bring value and capacity to the Public Works Department’s facilities division in supporting the Energy Projects Coordinator and energy related project development and implementation and, bring value and capacity to the Climate Action Program supporting the Climate and Energy Action Plan 2030 development process. The City’s Public Works Department Facilities Division Supervisor and Energy Projects Coordinator are responsible for development, implementation and monitoring of a wide range of energy related infrastructure in municipal facilities. The Facilities Division recently led a formal solicitation process to hire an energy services company (ESCO) to guide the City in developing, financing and implementing next phases of more complex energy related projects. The Facilities Division is also interested in developing an Electric Vehicle Fleet Transition Plan. The Fellow will support the Facilities Division and Energy Projects Coordinator by obtaining and preparing data for planning and reporting, assisting the Energy Projects Coordinator in installation, testing and troubleshooting of energy related systems, working directly with the ESCO to develop phased energy related projects and prepare funding applications, and producing an Electric Vehicle Fleet Transition Plan. The Fellow will also work in the Climate Action Program at City Hall, report to the Sustainability and Climate Action Manager and participate in the Sustainability Team and Climate Action Task Force, both key stakeholder groups in the Climate and Energy Action Plan 2030 process. Specifically, the Fellow will assist with the request for proposal process and contracting with a vendor, compile and analyze historical climate action and energy data, develop and execute an equity focused community outreach plan, prepare and deliver reports and presentations, and manage fiscal transactions and communications.

The ideal Fellow will be reliable, professional, creative, flexible, analytical, have excellent communications skills, both written and verbal. They should also have a knowledge of the state of climate and energy practice, have climate and energy fluency and general experience in both of these spaces. They should also have Excel, PowerPoint and other analysis and display tools (e.g., Tableau) experience, as well as with public speaking, communications and engagement, including experience with operationalizing equity in climate work. The Fellow should thrive in a team environment but able to also work independently.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Santa Cruz may be a small city but boasts a lot of character and endless opportunities to enjoy the arts, connect with the community, and explore the great outdoors. A short skip away from the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains’ redwood forests and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, our unrivalled environment creates a thriving and open culture that invites innovation, entrepreneurship, and an ethos of keeping it real. The City is a tourist destination yet our residents are very involved in local government.

The City’s Climate Action Program and Public Works Department’s Facilities Division are both fast-paced environments with dynamic teams that are flexible and responsive to shifting priorities and opportunities. The Climate Action Program’s work environment is casual professional. The Facilities Division’s work environment is more casual where work may involve office and field settings on the same day. Serving the City will enable participation in local government processes, planning, policy and project development, community consensus building, and equity in action. With the variety of cross cutting concepts addressed through the two projects, the year-long fellowship will foster a unique depth and breadth in sustainability and energy best practices.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

As required by California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), all high and medium priority basins must meet certain requirements such as the development and implementation of groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) that achieve and maintain sustainability over the next twenty years and beyond. Recently, the promotion of stormwater capture was identified as a key basin-wide management action in the adopted GSP for the Paso Robles Subbasin, a state-designated high priority basin that is subject to critical conditions of overdraft. As the San Luis Obispo County’s Public Works Department has been involved with the planning, monitoring, and implementation efforts in many local groundwater basins — and together with a diversity of agencies and partners — the Fellow’s service for promoting stormwater capture will increase the regional stakeholder engagement and education of this management strategy and help achieve water resource sustainability in all areas of the County. The Fellow’s support of stormwater capture planning efforts will help the groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in San Luis Obispo County progress towards their basin’s long-term sustainability goals.

The Fellow will support the County in promoting stormwater capture as a water resource management strategy for groundwater sustainability, divided into two distinct capacities: (1) stakeholder and regulatory process; and (2) technical needs and challenges. For the first project, the Fellow will support the Public Works Department — and together with GSA and other agencies and partners — in facilitating stakeholder groups and regulatory agency outreach and engagement to discuss the planning and process for developing and implementing stormwater capture for recharging groundwater basins. The Fellow’s role will be facilitating stakeholder engagement including conducting meetings and hosting discussions amongst various stakeholder groups and regulatory agencies. The Fellow’s role will also include strategizing and planning with key stakeholders on initiatives resulting from discussions including developing whitepapers, recommendations on strategies, processes, or funding, and further steps to take for planning, programs or projects. For the second project, the Fellow will identify and analyze the technical needs and challenges in planning for stormwater capture as a management strategy. While a background in watershed and hydrogeological processes would aid the Fellow, the role will be focused on gathering and organizing all the various considerations needed prior to developing programs and projects related to stormwater capture. For instance, the water rights of property owners are key issues for both surface water and groundwater domains, and so researching and consolidating that information as it relates to stormwater capture will be valuable toward project planning. Other technical aspects may involve programmatic-based considerations such as centralized versus decentralized approaches to project development as well as understanding what objectives/metrics and connection to other planning documents would be necessary.

The ideal Fellow will have excellent organizational and collaboration skills and will be highly effective in both verbal and written communication, thriving at facilitating and leading workshops, public meetings, presentations and other public engagement. They should have a forward thinking mindset to explore creative solutions to long standing community challenges.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The County of San Luis Obispo Public Works Department is an APWA accredited organization and provides the full range of public works services across San Luis Obispo County such as transportation, land development, water resources, master planning for the County, and more. Over 300 public works professionals in the Department serve a variety of functions for the community of about 270,000 residents. Of the twelve divisions in the department, the Water Resources Division is a small team of about fourteen professionals and interns (primarily engineers and technicians) who develop plans and studies, facilitate stakeholder meetings, collect and analyze hydrological data and other activities to support achieving water resource sustainability in all areas of the county. The Water Resources Division offers an opportunity to work with dozens of stakeholders with a variety of interests in water resources (e.g., urban/municipal, agricultural, environmental) and collaborate on finding solutions unique to the central coast area of California.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Planning Division of the Ventura County Resource Management Agency is currently preparing for the adoption of a comprehensive update of their General Plan (2040 General Plan)  in the latter half of 2020. The 2040 General Plan is a long-range plan that reflects the County’s vision for the future, guides decision-making, development and resource protection in the unincorporated County through 2040. In addition, the General Plan includes Area Plans that specifically address growth, development and resource protection within nine unique planning areas of the County.

Following general plan adoption, and as part of the general plan’s implementation process, the Fellow will assist with the preparation of Area Plan updates. Because a number of the Area Plans serve some of the most vulnerable populations in Ventura County (e.g., designated disadvantaged communities), these plans will address accessibility to key services, civic participation and inclusion, public health risks from pollution and other sources, and other environmental justice concerns. As part of updating the County’s Area Plans, the Fellow will assist with key meetings, community engagement and workshops, and public hearings for the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The Fellow will complete research, synthesize and analyze community and decision-maker input, and work with County Departments/Agencies as part of the process to develop Area Plan goals, policies, and implementation programs. As a secondary effort, the Fellow will support the Planning Division in implementation of additional general plan programs. These efforts may include assisting with the development of sustainable building strategies; working with other County Departments/Agencies as part of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory updates; and assisting with communication/outreach strategies related to climate resilience, building healthy communities and access to locally grown agriculture products. Depending on Board of Supervisor direction and Planning Division work plan priorities, implementation program priorities will be further refined during the Fellow service year.

The ideal Fellow will have an interest in and experience with local government, land use planning, environmental studies, water resources planning, energy, climate, statistics and/or GIS. They should possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, including listening, verbal communication, and collaborative problem solving. They will possess good writing/editing skills and be proficient with standard digital office tools including Office, Excel, and PowerPoint. They should have an attention to detail, ability to communicate orally and in writing, ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines, and be comfortable working individually and in group settings. Additionally, the Fellow should have a strong ability to research, synthesize and summarize technical information for the public and decision-makers. Desired skills include experience with and/or knowledge of environmental justice/equity to assist in the development of environmental justice goals, policies and programs targeted to designated disadvantaged communities. The project’s community engagement campaign will be bilingual (English/Spanish) and therefore the ability to speak Spanish is also desirable. Additional desirable skills and interests include the ability to use GIS software, interest in public speaking, and interest in conducting public outreach.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Ventura County was recently rated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the most desirable place to live. Nestled between rows of citrus and strawberry fields and 42 miles of pristine coastline, Ventura County is the ideal California community; with a small town feel there are numerous opportunities to explore local, state and national parks, such as the Channel Islands National Park, Los Padres National Forest, or the Santa Monica Mountains for surfing hiking or enjoying the vibrant culture of the area. 

The County of Ventura is the second largest employer in the county with more than 9,000 employees in 25 agencies and departments that provide various safety, social and health care services to the public. The Fellow will be serving in the Resource Management Agency’s Planning Division, comprised of dedicated, hard-working individuals and teams. The agency’s Planning Division provides land use and planning services to the public within unincorporated areas of the County. The Division’s staff provide a supportive environment with a strong foundation for mentoring Fellows.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Ventura County Film Commission (Commission) is a resource and liaison program of the Economic Development Collaborative. Film Production is a business that is light on environmental impact and high on economic impact. The film industry is for the most part low impact and high value, similar to the tourism industry inasmuch as it brings significant economic opportunity to the area through spending at local vendors, but results in little lasting negative impact. In 2019, the County experienced more than 4,000 film days resulting in a positive economic impact in excess of $76 million. Production activity benefitted more than 3,500 Ventura County trade workers and professionals part of industry guilds and unions who live locally. However, due to COVID, the first quarter of 2020 saw those film days and impact fall to zero, with little sign of significant reopening on the horizon. As such, a significant labor and economic force in the region, reopening film activity represents a foundational element of Ventura’s recovery, helping to replace the jobs lost since the onset of COVID. Bringing back film activity — through more shoots in Ventura County and increased activity in production and post-production— is a vital positive multiplier effect for the economy, creating and sustaining at least two new jobs for every job generated in local film production.  

As the local economy reopens, various permitting jurisdictions and productions need help in leveraging technology and dynamic data to engage more effective and resilient ways to support a safe and resilient film industry for the County – while also demonstrating more streamlined, COVID responsive planning processes for the County. Every production in a location shoot requires the engagement of several layers of permitting for most projects. The Commission maintains relationships with all of the permitting jurisdictions and serves as a guide to help manage production’s engagement with those permitting schemes. The Commission has been facilitating the increase in film projects in Ventura County since 2013. With COVID, that increase dropped to zero and the various permitting schemes that film uses to facilitate the orderly and managed processes of production have undergone a major shuffling in response. The goal of this project is to map the next iteration of coordination and facilitation by and between production, locations, permitting and support services in the County, while maintaining health and safety standards for all involved. The Fellow will have the opportunity to be part of a deep dive into the various layers of permitting, project design and impact mitigation that are designed to fundamentally reopen opportunity and activity in the County. The Fellow will play an integral role in this effort through activities including, 1) interviews to determine current capacity, mapping standard elements of each permitting authority; 2) developing web templates for a ‘standard’ guide to permit processes, automating contact collection and streamlining film days data collection; 3) building capacity for information distribution using dynamic and web-based communications.  Taken together, this project will support the re-emergence of resilient and safe film activity while setting a model for more efficient, effective planning process across the county.

The ideal Fellow will possess a strong ability to synthesize, summarize and provide compliance mapping  for production and permitting systems. The Fellow will be skilled in research methods, compliance methods with rules/ordinances and public engagement, and the design and deployment of dynamic web systems. The Fellow should have good communication and interpersonal skills, as the Fellow will participate in regional efforts to ensure that the Commission’s information systems are consistent with all regional permitting schemes, as much as it is feasible. The Fellow is also anticipated to provide assistance to facilitate public workshops and prepare and revise contact and permit information links based on regulatory scheme framing and input.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The culture of the EDC is one of peer to peer. The Fellow will be engaged as a peer as well as exposed to multiple levels of government and multi-agency collaboration. A private nonprofit, the EDC was founded in 1996 with funding from the County of Ventura, the 10 cities in the county and key private-sector companies to provide a pathway to business growth, economic prosperity and high quality of life for all. Today, in partnership with the Small Business Development Center, the EDC is a regional asset for economic vitality in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, giving businesses, community partners and civic leaders the resources they need to succeed. By leveraging public and private funds, the EDC has become a key player in delivering business consulting, funding and strategic initiatives that support the regional economy. The Film Commission is one of those strategic initiatives. Ventura is unique as a film location for its ability to be anywhere. The vast opportunities for visual working landscapes that are so close to the center of production is both unique and a constantly evolving ecology. The Fellow who engages this project will come away with a working knowledge of film, permitting processes in an array of subsets of government and experience in the liaison function necessary to keep this a well facilitated process. The portfolio has no authority and so needs to manage relationships by and between all the parties.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

In 2008, Rancho Cucamonga’s City Council made a decision to create a healthier and more environmentally sustainable city and established the Healthy RC Initiative with a vision to inspire a lifestyle that embraces a healthy mind, body and earth through lifelong learning and enrichment, active and healthy living, and environmental sustainability. The City later adopted its Sustainable Community Action Plan in April 2017 which serves as a roadmap for sustainability efforts. Through the City’s Healthy RC Program, Rancho Cucamonga hopes to develop strong community partnerships and support regional collaboration through modeling an electric vehicle (EV) strategy for other cities in San Bernardino County to reduce emissions in our region through the adoption of EVs and infrastructure. With the current designation as an EV Friendly City, efforts to continually enhance our infrastructure, policies, and programs are needed to maintain this status. 

The Fellow will assist the City Manager’s Office of Building and Safety in achieving a higher utilization of EV chargers throughout the community through strategically expanding infrastructure, policies and programs such as implementing new standards within the development code to accommodate the ever-growing population of EV’s within our community. The project will include research and analysis that outlines electric vehicle readiness strategies for Rancho Cucamonga. The Fellow will support efforts to upgrade the City’s Level 2 EV Charger infrastructure to smart chargers, streamline permitting for residential and commercial EV infrastructure installation, and develop an outreach plan outlining EV facts, benefits, and strategies to install and utilize EV chargers. The Fellow will explore requirements for new multi-family residential and non-residential development projects to include charging stations, evaluate off-site signage policy to facilitate EV charging infrastructure installation, and research incentives related to the number of required parking spaces for new development projects.

The ideal Fellow will be a motivated self-starter and independent worker who is interested in energy and environmental issues with the ability to balance multiple projects and experience working with Google platforms. A strong background in research and analytical data analysis and exceptional writing and verbal skills is essential. Experience in applying evidence-based strategies in community programs and services is preferred.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in San Bernardino County, the City of Rancho Cucamonga is a relatively large, ethnically and racially diverse city located approximately 45 miles east of Los Angeles and 40 miles northeast of Orange County. The population of Rancho Cucamonga is 172,269, making it the fourth largest city in San Bernardino County. The City of Rancho Cucamonga has made a significant commitment to improving health and environmental sustainability city-wide through our Healthy RC initiative and Sustainable Community Action Plan. Healthy RC strives towards a greener, cleaner Rancho Cucamonga by adopting policies and implementing programs and strategies that advance environmental sustainability in the community and in City operations.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability & the Environment (OSE) has an ambitious work plan and set of objectives related to climate, energy, and resiliency and there are many opportunities for the CivicSpark Fellows to become involved depending on the level of interest and skill. The OSE is tasked with getting the City to achieve water-self-sufficiency by 2023, zero-waste by 2030, and carbon neutral by 2050 or sooner. The Fellows will learn how the City’s recently adopted budget was restructured as a Framework, connecting goals and outcome areas drawn from the Sustainable City Plan and Wellbeing Index. The Fellows will be trained in performance management and how to use SaMoStat, a tool that utilizes data to drive performance and monitor successes related to sustainability. 

The City is seeking to address challenges associated with affordably retrofitting existing buildings to become more efficient while also replacing gas systems with grid-optimized electric systems. Both consumers and the workforce responsible for implementation must be educated and inspired. The Fellows will have the opportunity to dive deep into what makes an effective building decarbonization policy and help remove roadblocks to smart electrification, particularly for large users, and low-income and environmental justice communities. In addition, the Fellows would facilitate the creation of a network for a local, trained workforce and financial partners that will be critical to implementing projects. The Fellows would be tasked with reaching out to regional partners, including the U.S. Green Building Council LA-Chapter, the Building Decarbonization Coalition, NRDC, the Sierra Club, ASHRAE, BOMA, and others to collaborate. As the City continues to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, efforts for a citywide sustainable food system need to be furthered. The City is committed to promoting the following five basic pillars of sustainable food: reduce meat and dairy, reduce waste, eat organic, avoid processed food, buying locally grown and in season. Fellows will also have the opportunity to help shape Santa Monica’s Sustainable Food Master Plan, fostering a food system that reduces emissions and creates a healthier community. The Fellows will also support OSE staff with the research and implementation of policies to support the transition to carbon neutrality. The Fellows would research policies and resources the City of Santa Monica could implement that require existing buildings to reduce emissions. The policy would be supported by educational materials on how to maximize energy efficiency of building envelopes, installing efficient light bulbs, revamping the water system of older builds, retrofitting old heating and cooling systems, and energy generation and on-site storage. 

The ideal Fellows will have basic knowledge of environmental and sustainability issues, be proficient in research and have the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. The Fellows should be detail oriented, self-motivated, and have the ability to adapt to varying levels of workload. The Fellows will be expected to conduct studies and prepare reports recommending appropriate courses of action and strategies in support of the goals and objectives of the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. Knowledge of green building strategies, electric vehicles, and sustainable food systems is a plus.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Working in the Office of Sustainability and the Environment is rewarding and collegial. Because the City of Santa Monica has been a leader in sustainability for over 25 years, it is considered a hub for innovation and collaboration. OSE staff are experts in their field, speak at conferences around the country, and frequently collaborate with other cities, universities, non-profits, and consultants that are driving cutting-edge sustainability policies in the region. Staff are friendly, supportive and approachable. The Fellows will have the opportunity to work in the new OSE offices which are located on the top floor of the recently completed City Services Building, which is Living Building Certified and attached to a historic City Hall. The City Services Building is perhaps the greenest municipal building in the world, achieving net-zero energy and net-zero water with no red-list materials. 

OSE offices are two blocks from the iconic Santa Monica Pier and Muscle Beach. The offices are in the heart of “Silicon Beach” the term that describes the vibrant start-up culture and tech scene. Surrounded by amazing restaurants, shops, parks, bars, coffee shops, and of course, the beach, there is an abundance of places to explore and participatory activities. The City is also bordered by Malibu to the north and Venice Beach to the south. Living in Santa Monica is hard to beat, the weather is beautiful all year round. The City is home to community events such as the LA Marathon, Concerts on the Pier, COAST Open Streets Festival, Restaurant Week, and four farmers markets per week, just to name a few. Walking or biking is the easiest way to explore the community. There are also extensive micro-mobility options and a public transportation network that includes bus lines operated by the City of Santa Monica, LA Metro, and Culver City. In addition, Santa Monica has a rail line that connects the City to downtown Los Angeles and abroad.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Inland Southern California Climate Collaborative (ISC3) launched in February 2020 with the purpose of facilitating collective action to address climate change among local and regional governments, as well as other sector stakeholders in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties. Through knowledge exchange and coalition-building, ISC3 mobilizes its members around a shared vision and policy agenda. By providing local capacity-building support, ISC3 catalyzes equitable action at all scales, and pursues climate change mitigation to avoid the worst effects of climate change, as well as adaptation, to build resilience to the climate change impacts communities face today – from extreme heat and droughts to wildfires and floods. The initial start-up phase of the collaborative has focused on recruitment and governance structure, ensuring that participation and processes were in place to support a robust, diverse community of leaders. For the next phase, the collaborative will engage in a strategic planning process, to hone in on its major priorities and develop approaches for achieving its goals. Climate Resolve, a local non-profit organization that focuses on equitable solutions to climate change, is ISC3’s facilitator, and the Fellow will work with Climate Resolve senior staff in service of the collaborative.

The Fellow will help develop a network among local and regional governments as well as other sector stakeholders in the Inland Southern California region. This includes hosting monthly meetings for Collaborative members (alongside senior Climate Resolve staff), structured to allow for knowledge exchange and project partnership development. The Fellow will also be creating newsletters to keep Collaborative members updated about the latest scientific findings, policy mechanisms, inspirational case studies, and funding opportunities. Additionally, the Fellow may be tasked with developing guides or resources for the Collaborative, such as tips on where to access climate data. Coverage of initiatives that ISC3 members are engaging in is another area of communication needs. The Fellow will play a critical role in equipping local and regional governments and other sector stakeholders with the scientific data they need to understand climate-related risks and will build local capacity to act on climate and help the region develop a shared vision and actionable priorities. Some initial regional climate-related issues that have been raised and which may become the foci of a collective agenda include: emissions from the logistics sector, poor air quality, and a just transition of the workforce; wildfires, and planned power shut-offs; farmland conversion; and extreme heat exposure.

The ideal Fellow will be a go-getter who has what it takes to get things done, and who approaches things with a positive, can-do attitude. They will have strong communication skills, especially the ability to synthesize written information in easily digestible formats. The Fellow should be able to engage with external partners in a tactful way that is respectful of their capacity limitations.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Climate Resolve has its office at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles. The setting is a lively one, with lots of events and surrounded by peers doing interesting work. LACI hosts various community-building events for people who work there, including Chat-and-Chews and holiday-themed gatherings. Whether there or in the staff kitchen, there’s plenty of opportunity to strike up conversation with people who each have a different take on how to make LA a greener place.

Climate Resolve has a staff of 15, plus ~3 fellows or interns at any given time. We keep up with everyone’s projects, and contribute ideas to help advance each other’s work. Each staff meeting starts with a joke, and our theory of change has to do with focusing on solutions to motivate action, not slipping into overwhelmed-by-doom-and-gloom mode. We respect a diversity of lived experiences that everyone brings to the table, and value input from everyone. We have a culture of giving constructive feedback and learning from past work to always improve upon the work we do. Advancing equity is central to our mission, and that means that we are conscientious to do process in an equitable way, and also always pursuing equitable outcomes.

Climate Resolve has two mantras of sort: make it relatable and make it actionable. We push ourselves to frame issues in ways that people can grapple with, we solicit meaningful community input to develop solutions that work best for them, and we do what’s needed to turn ideas into action. Our approach tends to take on an air of humility – the work we do is in service to empowering and enabling others’ actions. We celebrate the leadership of our partners, and through positivity, we inspire further action. Working at Climate Resolve, the Fellow will be exposed to a collaborative, diversity-valuing team of hard-workers. The Fellow will receive constructive feedback to develop their professional skills, and will have plenty of opportunities for leadership (coming up with ideas, developing action plans, etc.).

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is the regional planning agency for Southern California and responsible for developing long-range transportation plans and a sustainability strategy for a vast and varied region. The centerpiece of that planning work is Connect SoCal, SCAG’s 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). 

SCAG is looking for three Fellows to help advance the goals of Connect SoCal. Fellows will have the opportunity to work collaboratively and conduct research, data collection, and outreach efforts for the following project areas: 1) Public Health/Climate Adaptation: Fellows will have the opportunity to spearhead research on communities most vulnerable to extreme heat that are traditionally under resourced or underrepresented by analyzing existing conditions (exposures, sensitivities, and adaptive capacities) and identifying best practices and/or test cases of projects and programs that can help these communities mitigate or adapt to extreme heat; 2) Housing Supportive Infrastructure & Tax Increment Financing: Connect SoCal is encouraging housing construction and housing affordability in areas that are best served by transit. One tool that will be utilized to address funding issues for housing construction is Tax Increment Financing. Fellows will be involved with SCAG efforts to promote tax increment financing solutions through local training sessions, as well as offering technical assistance and information resources through interactive web tools. 3) Regional Greenprint: SCAG, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and GreenInfo Network, is developing the SCAG Regional Greenprint, an online mapping platform illuminating the multiple benefits of natural and agricultural lands through data related to key topics such as habitat connectivity, biodiversity, clean water, agriculture, and greenhouse gas sequestration. Fellows will conduct policy and planning research on open space and water, outreach to stakeholders and local governments, and support trainings on how to use the tool. 

The ideal Fellows will have strong writing and communication skills, as well as be able to conduct organized and independent research. Successful Fellows will have strong time management skills, as well as some knowledge of GIS mapping and data collection, and interests in environmental/sustainability issues, public health impacts of climate change, and health equity. It will also be helpful to have good communication skills in order to collaborate with staff both internal and external to SCAG.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

SCAG is a regional planning agency covering 6 counties and 191 cities in Southern California. Our headquarters is in downtown LA near mass transit connections. SCAG occupies two floors in a professional high-rise building and has about 150 employees that work on housing, GIS, transportation, air pollution, climate change and land use issues. Fellows interact with all employees, attend all agency meetings, workshops, professional development and trainings. There is an onsite kitchen and eating area with free coffee and tea. SCAG frequently hosts the CivicSpark meetings for the region. Fellows are provided a permanent work space and computer in a professional work environment.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) Regional Affordable Housing Initiative will help cities plan for and construct new affordable housing in order to meet state housing goals. Broadly, the goal of this program is to accelerate housing production and produce a net-positive effect on housing supply – both production and preservation. This is a new program at SCAG to build local public sector capacity to address critical housing needs in the region and develop authentic community engagement. The Regional Affordable Housing Initiative includes a broad cross-departmental staff cohort of 6 senior planning staff, as well as dedicated resources to accomplish the goals of this 3 year project. Three Housing Fellows are needed to help support this major SCAG effort. The project will address social equity, climate, affordable housing, resiliency, community outreach and work with local jurisdictions. Involvement in this program will provide Fellows with career experience and training in community planning leadership.

CivicSpark Fellows will be assigned to and principally support two major initiatives, but may also support a third indirectly. The first is a partnerships and outreach initiative focused on building regional and subregional capacity to address housing needs. One Fellow will be primarily involved with this effort which includes a range of projects including providing technical assistance to specific communities on housing needs assessments and responses, providing prohousing education and training to stakeholders and community members, creating and disseminating resources on housing strategies, identifying and sharing innovative housing solutions for the region, and building consensus on housing approaches among different stakeholder groups. The second is the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) Integration initiative focused on advancing housing elements of SCAG’s recently adopted SCS. Two Fellows will be primarily involved with this effort which includes two major projects; one focused on fostering more transit oriented development (TOD) through research and partnership development, and one focused on identifying and mapping potential priority growth areas (PGA) for the region. Additionally, Fellows will support implementation of SCAG’s Sustainable Communities small grant program for local communities which is being enhanced to include more housing support. A third initiative will focus on data analysis modeling, and policy analysis around housing in the region. Fellows may indirectly engage with this initiative as elements of their projects draw from or contribute to this work. Specific focus activities for each Fellow within each initiative will be determined based on skills, interests, and emerging project needs. 

The ideal Fellows will have strong writing and communication skills, as well as be able to conduct organized and independent research, prepare reports and/or presentations. Some knowledge of GIS mapping and data collection desired. Successful Fellows will also have strong time management skills, and an interest in or experience with affordable housing and housing policy. It will also be helpful to have good communication skills in order to collaborate with staff both internal and external to SCAG.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

SCAG is a regional planning agency covering 6 counties and 191 cities in Southern California. Our headquarters is in downtown LA near mass transit connections. SCAG occupies two floors in a professional high-rise building and has about 150 employees that work on housing, GIS, transportation, air pollution, climate change and land use issues. Fellows interact with all employees, attend all agency meetings, workshops, professional development and trainings. There is an onsite kitchen and eating area with free coffee and tea. SCAG frequently hosts the CivicSpark meetings for the region. Fellows are provided a permanent work space and computer in a professional work environment.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) coordinates environmental/energy, transportation, and homelessness programs among 10 cities, Riverside County, and Tribal governments in the desert area from Palm Springs to Blythe. The region is socio-economically diverse and facing impacts of a warming climate on agriculture, natural areas, and communities, especially those who are disadvantaged. The Coachella Valley Conservation Commission (CVCC) oversees the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, which ensures habitat conservation in a 1.1 million-acre area bounded by Joshua Tree National Park on the north and the Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on the south. CVAG and CVCC will both benefit from this project, and they are co-located in the same offices with shared staff. CVAG coordinated preparation of Climate Action Plans (CAPs) for many of their cities, which were adopted in 2013 and other city CAPs were adopted with their general plan update; however, they have had varying degrees of success tracking progress on their climate action goals. The region is also subject to intense heat, flooding, and increasing nighttime temperatures, and it needs to build resilience to address these impacts. In the hot dry climate of the desert, urban greening will help reduce the heat island effect and increase carbon sequestration. The CVCC acquires land to preserve as habitat for rare and endangered plants and animals, some found nowhere else in the world; however, these conservation lands are often at the urban/wildland interface where unauthorized vehicles, dumping and other challenges impact the habitat. The effects of climate change are also visible, as non-native plants invade canyons, sand dunes and mountain slopes, out-competing native species in a landscape where water is already scarce.

The goals of the CVAG project is to enhance the communities’ ability to track progress on climate action plans, provide tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to integrate the human and natural elements of climate resilience. The goal of the CVCC project is to build the agency’s capacity to track the impacts of climate change and land management actions to promote survival of rare and endangered species. The Fellow will support the coordination of the project and deliverables, with help from CVAG/CVCC staff and other partners. Three primary projects will be the focus of their work: (1) developing tools to help cities track progress on climate action plans adopted in 2013; (2) preparing an implementation guide for valleywide urban greening program; and (3) establishing a training program for volunteers to track climate change impacts and land management actions to promote survival of endangered species. These projects will involve extensive coordination with our cities, local non-profits, other local, state, and federal agencies. As a first step, the Fellow will gather information and research similar programs by reaching out to other agencies. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the tasks may be shifted as recovery needs evolve in the coming months. 

The ideal Fellow will have research skills and the ability to collect, analyze, and synthesize data and best practices information from multiple sources and have an interest in habitat conservation and climate change. The Fellow should have strong project management and writing skills. Familiarity with how local governments work and graphic design and GIS skills would be a plus but not required. Prior experience in outreach/education and working with volunteers is preferred. The Fellow must possess the ability to work with multiple stakeholders to develop and implement project plans. Basic knowledge of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint is required.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

CVAG has a small staff, a strong sense of teamwork, and a desire to make things better in our community. Our programs are diverse and focused on regional collaborations. Most staff members work on a variety of projects and coordinate with other departments as needed. Serving with CVAG/CVCC will give the Fellow an opportunity to work with a wide variety of local and state agencies to develop and complete several projects with guidance from our experienced staff and partners. Completing research which will be used to develop the proposed project plans will hone skills in gathering and synthesizing information. Individuals from partner agencies are here to help. The Fellow will work in the Energy/Environmental Resources Department which handles energy, recycling, air quality, habitat conservation, and water conservation programs. The Fellow will be expected to work independently with support and guidance available as needed. 

The Coachella Valley includes the communities from Palm Springs to Coachella surrounded by the dramatic backdrop of some of the highest mountains in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Salton Sea. Outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, and camping are popular. The region is the site of the music festivals including Coachella and Stagecoach, as well as local music venues, culture, museums, and many events. It is a diverse community with a younger demographic than in the past. Traffic is limited and farmer’s markets offer produce from nearby agricultural areas. The desert offers dark skies, great stargazing, lots of sunshine, and the magic of our spectacular landscapes.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Beverly Hills is an incorporated city that is a full service city ranging from public safety, public works, community services, and building and safety. The City has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by adopting a Sustainability Plan in 2009, and have completed more than 150 programs and projects that support the policies and objectives of the 2009 Plan. The City is in the process of updating its Sustainability Plan, which includes major environmental, economic and social equity initiatives. Some of these initiatives include completing a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, Single-Use Plastic and Styrofoam Ban, Affordable Housing Plan, and several development zoning code amendments to break down barriers in zoning and to provide goods and services to all citizens of Beverly Hills.

The Fellow will be under the direction of the Public Works Department that will be leading on completing the following environmental sustainable initiatives: Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), Public and Stakeholder Outreach Program, and Single-Use Plastics and Styrofoam Ban. The City of Beverly Hills is committed to meeting the overarching goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, and as a member of the Climate Mayors Coalition, is committed to mitigating the effects of climate change through various sustainable initiatives that reduces Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in city operations and improving city emissions by adopting ordinances that reduces GHG emissions from energy, building and transportation sectors. The City plans to develop a CAAP, where the Fellow will support an inventory of city-wide GHG emissions including city operations, private building energy use and city-wide transportation; study and evaluate the city master plans and build code ordinances that impact GHG emissions; and develop a tier level GHG reduction plan that includes milestones such as hitting 30 to 50% GHG emission reduction by 2035 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2045. The Fellow will also support the Public Stakeholder Outreach Programs through supporting stakeholder meetings during the CAAP process and outreach at other citywide events that include citywide community meetings, students and small group meetings. For the Single-Use Plastics and Styrofoam Ban, the City is planning to reduce single-use plastics and Styrofoam in the waste stream and considering to ban such materials in food service establishments and hotels and encourage businesses to establish sustainability programs which would prohibit the use of single-use plastics and Styrofoam. The Fellow will help with research, ordinance development, program outlines, stakeholder meetings and public education and enforcement.

The ideal Fellow will have a scientific or environmental science/engineering background that has basic knowledge of climate action related planning documents. The ideal Fellow will be able to provide critical insights on the best sustainable practices that would reduce GHG emissions. The Fellow should have a basic understanding of Excel and Word to create reports and datasheets. The Fellow should also exhibit college level basic math, statistics and oral and written communication skills.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Beverly Hills prides itself as a small urban community in the greater Los Angeles region. The citizens of Beverly Hills expect world class service and programs that keep Beverly Hills known worldwide. For the level of work quality, the City of Beverly Hills has a limited number of staff to consistently provide world-class service. As a result, City staff always “thinks outside the box” and exhibits exemplary teamwork and a close knit work environment to complete tasks acceptable by the citizens of Beverly Hills. The Fellow joining the City will need to exercise their creative, critical thinking and team oriented skills in order to complete these tasks. The Fellow will be able to experience how to develop programs that are acceptable in a world-class city with limited resources. The Fellow will be exposed to receive feedback from public stakeholders, appointed officials (commissioners) and elected officials (city council members) regarding t5rhrhe CAAP and Single-Use Plastic and Styrofoam Ban. The public process will help the Fellow develop pragmatic skills that are essential in proposing and developing public programs and initiatives.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Please note that the needs and scope of the project may change due to COVID impacts. 

The City of Riverside is launching an effort to update its citywide sustainability and resiliency policies and programs as well as to address community recovery in response to the COVID-19 Emergency. As the City launches into these efforts, the development of a robust community outreach strategy that will reach all sectors of the Riverside community with a specific focus on reaching hard-to-involve stakeholders in low-income, minority, or disadvantaged communities, is important. The focus of this outreach will be the development of a sustainability vision that encompasses the environmental (including climate change), social, and economic overarching goals and outcomes the community desires.

The Fellow will support various projects, including 1) recovery planning from the COVID-19 emergency by supporting both the business and residential communities of the City and include, but not be limited to economic support planning; 2) developing a Sustainability and Resiliency Community Outreach Plan for the Office of Sustainability (housed in the City Manager’s Office). The Fellow will prepare the document with the input of City staff and assist coordination with the City’s consultants who will be working on a comprehensive General Plan update; 3) creation of a Climate Adaptation Needs Assessment to identify actions necessary for performing a climate adaptation analysis, including assessing data availability and needs. Depending on the fellow’s background, they can provide staff training as needed; and 4) (Optional if time allows) conducting staff and community education around climate change and other aspects of sustainability. The Fellow would help to identify topics, coordinate speakers and events, including webcast. The Fellow will create an education plan as well as events. 

The ideal Fellow will have strong organizational skills and knowledge of community and stakeholder involvement, climate change and adaptations strategies for cities, and skills in assessing community needs for greenhouse gas emissions. The tasks assigned to the Fellow will reflect the skill set of the Fellow within these broad categories.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Riverside offers an opportunity for a fellow to work in a professional level position located within the City Manager’s office of the City organization. The City is an exciting and forward-thinking community that values its residents, businesses, and visitors. A strong ethic of community service overrides all activities. The City is the County Seat in Riverside County and offers the opportunity to learn about working with City Councils, local elected officials as well as City staff and the community.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Gateway Cities Council of Governments (COG) is a joint-powers authority located in southeast Los Angeles with a membership of 27 cities, the Port of Long Beach and unincorporated areas of the County of Los Angeles. The COG recognizes the importance of programs and services provided to disadvantaged communities related to energy efficiency, project identification and development, and climate mitigation, as well as the severity of climate- and extreme heat- hazards that will impact these communities. Higher temperatures may increase energy use for air conditioning, increase community exposure to urban heat effects, and make active transportation modes in the region uncomfortable and unsafe for residents. The COG region is highly dense with low canopy cover and limited investments in climate mitigation and adaptation. With a large proportion of disadvantaged, lower-income and persons of color, the population is more likely to be disproportionately affected by the impacts of a warming climate. Overall, the COG seeks to provide support to cities to implement energy efficiency solutions in municipal facilities/operations and also increase resilience to urban heat through natural solutions. The Fellow will support the COG region increase overall sustainability and climate change activity.

The COG seeks a Fellow to support two main projects – the first through the Gateway Cities Regional Partnership with Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) by providing regional public agency engagement, outreach and implementation support for Gateway Cities jurisdictions. The goals of this project will focus on supporting energy efficiency efforts for the multiple cities within the COG by providing assistance with energy planning and project identification, energy efficiency education and training, agency recognition, and with development of a regional competitive model to incentivize action toward energy projects. In a second project through a grant provided by the Bay Area Council, the Fellow will support the COG in conducting urban canopy prioritization assessments for two disadvantaged communities. The Fellow will assist the project team with community engagement, data gathering and analysis and report writing. The Fellow may also encourage and assist cities in participation in the Beacon Program and assist in educating local officials and staff more broadly about climate action planning. In previous years, (2016-18), two past Fellows assisted in the development of the COG’s regional Climate Action Planning Framework. The Fellow will continue updating the Framework with new data and tools, and assist member cities in using the tool for their climate action efforts. 

The ideal Fellow will be curious and an open learner; have strong written and verbal communication skills; be an efficient multitasker; and be comfortable working with numbers, models and spreadsheets. They should also have an interest in learning about local and regional government, energy efficiency, energy use, project development and delivery, climate adaptation, urban greening, and supporting disadvantaged communities. Previous work experience with research, data collection and evaluation, community engagement and report writing is preferred. Familiarity with Gateway COG communities would be desirable. Experience working with low-income or disadvantaged communities is also desirable, as is experience working for local governments and in energy efficiency.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The Gateway Cities COG is based in the City of Paramount in southeast Los Angeles and engages in long-range planning and policy development to improve the quality of life for our 2.1 million residents in the areas of Air Quality/Climate, Economic Development, Housing & Homelessness, and Transportation. Our office is centrally located in a highly dense, diverse and urban environment. The Fellow will gain experience working directly with local governments and gain knowledge in planning, research, project development and delivery for various project topics (energy efficiency, urban heat, and climate tools). While the COG boasts only 6 full-time staff, we maintain frequent and direct engagement with our 27-member jurisdictions for all program areas. The COG engages with local governments at all levels (City Council, City Manager, Planning, Public Works). The southeast Los Angeles region has diverse housing types, a large transportation network, and is considered the manufacturing hub of Southern California. Working at the COG provides a unique opportunity to learn and engage with various communities across the region and impact change at both local and regional scales.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Signal Hill is a small city located in southern LA County. The City is required to comply with new upcoming organics mandates related to waste management. The Fellow will support the City by developing and advancing a program focused on organics recycling and community outreach and education related to energy efficiency rebates/incentives that would place the City in compliance with upcoming mandates. 

The Fellow would take the lead, to benefit the City of Signal Hill and its residents and businesses, in reviewing legislation, acting as ambassador between the City and community stakeholders, the City’s waste management provider, and other public agency stakeholders. A definitive program with associated policies and practices, including educational materials for the public, would allow the City to comply with State mandates while supporting environmental sustainability. The public outreach/education component would also include other opportunities related to energy efficiency rebates and incentives.

The ideal Fellow will be committed to the ideals of continuous improvement and change management and will help identify effective, efficient, and sustainable practices. They should be interested in getting broad exposure to, and experience in, the field of Public Works. Strong analytical abilities, writing skills, and verbal communication skills are important. The Fellow should also be able to work independently, be comfortable speaking up and asking questions for clarification, comfortable in meetings and representing the City, and be able to problem solve.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

We are a small, tightly knit work group. Being a small group, we all wear many hats. Working at Signal Hill, you will get a much broader exposure to various departments and divisions compared to a larger city where functions are siloed. Signal Hill is 2.2 square miles, but completely surrounded by the City of Long Beach. We are just a few miles from the beach and straddle the County line between LA County and Orange County.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The State’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and specifically the Division of Housing Policy Development (HPD) works to tackle a variety of functions and housing-related topics, including the implementation of California’s recent advances at multiple levels of government addressing issues such as housing supply and affordability and affirmatively furthering fair housing. The Department is implementing housing planning grant programs with local and regional governments to accelerate housing production. Due to the economic impacts of COVID-19, further assistance and support is needed at the local level to respond to financial impacts, begin recovery, and continue addressing the housing crisis. The overall goal of the project is to engage directly with local governments within the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (COG) to promote innovative housing strategies and inform policy-making related to pandemic response and recovery. The COG engages in policy and planning efforts to improve the lives of its residents in the areas of air quality/climate, economic development, housing and homelessness, and transportation. The COG recognizes the significant housing challenges the region is facing in providing adequate and affordable housing for its diverse and growing population, and the added strain to address these challenges due to the widespread economic impacts of COVID-19. The overarching goal of this project is to encourage and promote the development of affordable housing and affirmatively further fair housing in the Gateway Cities region. An understanding of current conditions and challenges in the region has been critical in identifying opportunities for policies and programs that will address affordable housing and assist local governments in getting the support, funding and partnerships needed to increase housing development. These opportunities include development of regional tools and frameworks, such as a multi-jurisdictional housing element and site inventory, affordable housing policy development, attracting partners and developers to our region, and building capacity within local governments to address the housing crisis.

The Housing and Community Development Fellow will be placed with the COG to guide HCD programs and initiatives as part of the housing-related COVID-19 response. Working directly with the COG’s Executive Director and the Director of Regional Development, the Fellow will support the COG’s economic development and housing programmatic efforts guided by HCD, the COG’s member cities, the Economic Development Working Group and the recently completed Housing Needs Study. The Fellow will engage with regional partners and member cities to conduct research, gather and analyze data, provide technical assistance and support to cities, and support economic development and housing policy and program creation at the COG level. The Fellow will support Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) and Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) funding outreach and coordination, including planning and land use best practices for pandemic response and recovery. Through research, the Fellow will help jurisdictions with analysis needs related to COVID-19 recovery, including identifying areas with severe COVID-19 economic impacts with related housing market impacts and support regional economic development strategic planning and coordination. The Fellow will overall explore opportunities for development of regional tools, inventories, and resources to inform housing and economic development policymaking related to pandemic response and recovery and develop regional collaborative approaches for sharing of knowledge, resources and models.

The ideal Fellow should have an interest in learning about economic development, land use, zoning and housing laws, housing policy, development at a local and regional level and commitment to equity in pursuing innovative policy solutions. They will have previous work experience with research, data collection and evaluation, and report writing. Strong written and verbal communication skills, flexibility, and ability to multitask effectively are key skills. Familiarity with Gateway COG communities would be desirable, as would experience working with low-income or disadvantaged communities.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The Gateway Cities COG, based in the City of Paramount in southeast Los Angeles, has a membership of 27 cities in addition to the Port of Long Beach and unincorporated areas of the County of Los Angeles. The COG engages in long-range planning and policy development to improve the quality of life for our 2.1 million residents in the areas of Air Quality/Climate, Economic Development, Housing & Homelessness, and Transportation. Our office is centrally located in a highly dense, diverse and urban environment. The Fellow will gain experience working directly with local governments and gain knowledge of policy- and tools-development for improving affordable housing at the local and regional scale and addressing pandemic-related impacts to the economic within our region. While the COG boasts only 6 full-time staff, we maintain frequent and direct engagement with our 27-member jurisdictions for all program areas. The COG engages with local governments at all levels (City Council, City Manager, Planning, Public Works). The southeast Los Angeles region has diverse housing types, a large transportation network, and is considered the manufacturing hub of Southern California. Working at the COG provides a unique opportunity to learn and engage with various communities across the region and impact change at both local and regional scales. Skill and knowledge development for the Fellow will include research, data collection and analysis, and other related policy activities for preparation of reports, papers, briefs, analyses, data summaries, and other products related to housing, land use and community development, and economic development.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Garden Grove’s Community and Economic Development Department (CEDD) is responsible for implementing regulatory codes and programs that maintain and improve the quality of life for the community. The CEDD takes a proactive approach in developing innovative policies, strategies, and programs to address emerging issues affecting the community. By serving with the City’s CEDD, the Fellow will gain valuable experience, and be an active participant, in developing, implementing, and administering policies and programs that comply with regulatory requirements that promote energy efficiency and sustainability. 

The Fellow will support four key efforts – 1) assist with implementing the goals of the City’s Active Downtown Plan, and implementing a tracking system for EV charging stations; 2) conduct research, analyze, and provide recommendations to reduce the carbon footprint through possible parking standard reductions; as well as, evaluation and archiving of sustainable regulations to increase energy savings opportunities within the City’s facilities through building development; 3) provide support to City staff with the upcoming Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice updates, including support with community outreach, research, and policy and goal recommendations to address housing, climate adaptation, resiliency, disadvantaged communities; and 4) to assist with the creation and implementation of homeless and affordable housing programs with an emphasis on energy efficiency. 

The ideal Fellow will be highly motivated and proactive with strong research, data analysis, writing and verbal communication skills, and have the ability to prioritize tasks to accomplish the projects within determined timelines. They must also possess the ability to simply and clearly explain the results of thorough, well-documented research, be able to work collaboratively with a wide range of staff, and process good customer service skills.  

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Garden Grove is located in north central Orange County, approximately 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles with a population of 174,010. Garden Grove is a culturally diverse community that is composed of 36.9% Hispanics, 37.5% Asians, 22.6% Whites, and 3% other. The City is adjacent to the Little Saigon district in the City of Westminster and has a significant number of persons of Vietnamese descent. The City is also home to the original Koreatown and the largest Islamic mosque in Orange County.  The City has an ideal geographical location within one of the nation’s strongest and most desirable commercial and housing markets. The City continues to find innovative solutions to addressing the increased demand for housing, and also continues to promote the development and reinvestment within the community.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is a 700-employee state agency leading the state to a 100% clean energy future for all. The Fuels and Transportation Division supports the advancement, deployment, implementation of clean transportation technologies and projects. The CEC values and embeds equity into all of its endeavors, prioritizing underrepresented communities to engage in and benefit from these Clean Transportation Program investments. As part of the CEC’s commitment to diversifying participation in the program, funding opportunities are scoped to provide equal access and participation in clean transportation solutions affecting California’s most vulnerable communities and to support economic sustainability in these areas. To better align clean transportation projects, economic development, and workforce training and development with the critical needs of equity communities, the CEC has developed the IDEAL (Inclusive, Diverse, Equity, Access, and Local) Communities Pilot Project, working with local governments, community-based organizations, high schools, and community colleges in the San Joaquin Valley, Inland Empire, Imperial Valley, and the Central Coast. Meetings with these and other stakeholders allow communities and local governments to conceptualize their vision of a clean transportation economy, express the needs of their community to the CEC, and build on existing and future investments to local communities.

The CEC is seeking two Fellows to strategically support zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) capacity building for selected local government entities in the Inland Empire and the Imperial Valley. Fellows will conduct an analysis of a regions’ clean transportation landscape with respect to existing ZEV projects, clean transportation supply chains, and workforce training and development along with challenges and opportunities to establish or expand market development. The Fellows will work with participating local governments and related stakeholders to conduct research and gather findings, inform and educate their respective communities about the Clean Transportation Program, develop publicly-facing resources and tools for the community, identify and share resources for clean transportation, and communicate participating local governments’ issues and opportunities for clean transportation to CEC leadership and the Advisory Committee for the Clean Transportation Program. The Fellows will engage with state agencies, local governments, high school and college automotive/environmental programs, community leaders, and clean transportation industries. Outcomes for these capacity building and strategic development efforts can be measured by data collection and analysis, fruitful collaborations, cultivating new partnerships, enhanced community engagement, new investments, and new policies. Products will include reports, communications documents, strategic plans, and a database of actions/activities conducted over the course of the project.

The ideal Fellows will be professional and outgoing; they should effectively work with community organizations to plan community meetings and engage with community residents, document the energy and environmental needs of the communities, and assist with the creation of long-term strategic plans and resource tools. They should have excellent written and verbal communication skills, project management experience, and database skills. Being bilingual and having familiarity with the local culture is preferred; graphic design skills for creating community flyers and program brochures is a plus.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The CEC values diversity and invests to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace culture for everyone. Fellows will have access to network and learn from savvy and experienced energy experts invested in advancing clean energy equity. Since transitioning to a teleworking environment, the CEC has been developing an effective onboarding process for new employees, interns, and Fellows. Through this project, one Fellow will be supporting the Coachella region and another the Imperial region. There is some flexibility for remote service and location.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Sustainability sits within the broader Office of Budget and Innovation and is tasked with the implementation of Los Angele’s Green New Deal (GND) – an expansion of the vision of Mayor Garcetti’s 2015 Sustainable City pLAn to tackle the climate crisis with accelerated targets and aggressive new goals, setting Los Angeles on a path to carbon neutrality by 2050. Made up of ten full-time staff, the Office of Sustainability collaborates across city departments and policy shops within the Mayor’s Office to implement the goals laid out in L.A.’s GND. On June 19, 2020, Mayor Garcetti signed Executive Directive 27 – “Racial Equity in City Government” – which outlines how Los Angeles will place racial equity and inclusion at the center of policymaking to ensure that all in our community are given the opportunity to thrive and reach for their full potential. To build capacity to this effect, the CivicSpark Fellow will sit within the Office of Sustainability and help the team to enhance capacity to sustain and accelerate deployment of equity initiatives through LA’s Green New Deal by conducting an audit and producing a report on progress, and help empower communities of color to express their needs and engage with the City to craft solutions.

The Fellow will assist the Office of Sustainability in conducting an audit of the equity initiatives laid out in the Environmental Justice chapter of LA’s GND. This will include assessing progress and interpreting data collected quarterly from city departments on the barriers and successes of GND initiatives. Additionally, the Fellow will work with Chief Sustainability Officers from each department and various policy leads within the Mayor’s Office to track down additional data or troubleshoot issues that arise. The assessment will result in a public-facing report where the City will share progress on implementation of the GND. This will not only build internal capacity for public accountability but also allow the team to determine where we may be able to accelerate initiatives or where additional resources are needed. Furthermore, the Fellow will research training opportunities, webinars, and other resources to grow knowledge and understanding of racial justice and environmental justice impact areas for the Sustainability team and beyond. The Fellow will also support continued engagement with community members and help synthesize their ideas for new initiatives and programs. Reflecting on calls for racial justice locally and nationally, the Office of Budget and Innovation is assessing current community engagement practices across the city, reviewing best practices and models nationally, and working towards a more equitable framework. Members of the sustainability team participate in this working group and the Fellow will have the opportunity to participate as well and help bridge discussion with sustainability-specific policies and programs. This will result in an internal community engagement plan focused on recommendations for improving stakeholder engagement around the GND. Furthermore, theFellow will support the Chief Sustainability Officer as they work to build up a newly created Office of Climate Emergency Mobilization.

The ideal Fellow will be a self-starter, team-player, and great communicator. The team is dynamic, collaborative, and fast-paced. The Fellow should excel at prioritizing work, take independent initiative but seek help when needed, and be comfortable with short turnaround time for projects. Specifically, the Fellow will have experience in project management and community engagement with a passion for environmental and racial justice and equity. Given the fast-paced environment, attention to detail and ability to balance various responsibilities will also be key.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Just as L.A. is a diverse and exciting city to live in, so is the Mayor’s Office. Made up of over 200 staff, the Office includes various policy shops which all work to make L.A. a more just and prosperous city. The Mayor’s Office of Budget and Innovation (MOBI) helps transform the City of Los Angeles’ operations by bridging core government functions with new technology and innovative practices. MOBI manages the Mayor’s budgeting and performance management processes (more than $10B in annual spending), along with overseeing personnel, sustainability, data management and analysis, and gender equity functions for the city. The Sustainability Office is a small but mighty team overseeing the implementation of L.A.’s Green New Deal, which Mayor Garcetti released in April 2019. The Mayor’s Office overall is an exciting and fast-paced environment. Although the sustainability team is operating remotely during this time due to L.A.’s Safer at Home Order, our weekly team check-ins will ensure that the Fellow remains connected and feels supported by the team. As a leading global city on climate action, we are certain L.A. will provide exciting opportunities and career exposure for the CivicSpark Fellow

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of San Diego is a world-class hub for clean energy, technology, research and development, and the perfect place to demonstrate how energy and innovation can come together to create a more prosperous economy, environment, and quality of life for all. The newly created Sustainability Department leads sustainability, climate, and energy policy and projects for the City. A large portion of the department’s work is driven by the implementation of the City’s legally-binding Climate Action Plan (CAP) adopted in 2015 which aims to reduce local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50 percent below 2010 levels by 2035. Energy efficiency is the first resource in CA’s energy loading order and the Plan provides a roadmap to improve existing building efficiency; AB 802 and SB 350 further call for energy benchmarking and increasing savings goals. The City’s proposed project and outreach plan will help the City meet and exceed these roadmap goals and state mandates, as energy efficiency is the first step to ensuring that the City is on track to achieve its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035. 

The City is launching an advanced Smart City Open Urban Platform (SCOUP) network which will automatically track, benchmark, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use associated with its municipal facilities. The existing City infrastructure lacks integrated instrumentation, automation, and control. The City is currently operating under an isolated systems model; unable to share data related to multiple facilities between departments. By implementing the proposed project, the City will have an integrated and open platform from which to make data-driven energy-related decisions on a broad scale. By applying global control strategies and advanced analytics of data from many sources, SCOUP is allowing for increased ease of use by building operators as well as interconnected control of multiple building systems through a single intelligent control server and data analytics engine. These central controllers can automatically identify opportunities for energy savings and adjust implement energy saving and greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies. This web-based platform can also provide a publicly available resource for City residents and other local governments to track the City’s aggressive CAP progress and learn more about the City’s sustainability-related efforts. The Fellow will conduct public outreach meetings to introduce the new dashboards and share results from the project with other local governments, elected officials, residents, and other stakeholders. Sharing the results and lessons learned with local governments across the state is a large part of how the City and the California Energy Commission see this project being successful and replicable. The Fellow will organize and conduct a series of stakeholder workshops around key elements of the program for specific audiences (elected officials and businesses), and provide educational opportunities through on-site tours and seminars and outreach at local events (e.g. farmers markets, community group meetings, etc). The stakeholder workshops will provide detailed information on the program activities, how they relate to key policy goals and requirements (e.g. AB 820), and guidance on how to implement similar efforts. The on-site seminars and tours as well as the outreach at local events will provide a more general way for community members – particularly residents – to learn more about policy goals; access city, utility, and state energy programs; and prepare for pending requirements such as the municipal energy disclosure and conservation ordinance. The City further plans to share these results more widely through LGC’s statewide network of local governments. 

The ideal Fellow will have strong interpersonal skills & patient-centered customer service experience, good organization skills, the ability to work quickly and effectively, be an effective communicator & problem solver, and have computer skills (Microsoft office incl. Excel, Outlook, database management, etc). They should also be a self-starter yet team oriented, and have an understanding of building science concepts. Knowledge of building automation system equipment, materials and terminology is a plus.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

With more than 1.4 million people, the City of San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. The City of San Diego’s strong economy, diverse population, great educational institutions, unsurpassed quality of life, and world-renowned location makes it the ideal place to work, live, and play. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego has something to offer for everyone.

The City’s Mission, as found in our Strategic Plan, is “To Effectively Serve and Support Our Communities.” Our core values are Integrity, Service, People, and Excellence. The City’s Vision is “A World-Class City for All.” Though various City departments are involved in the implementation of the strategies outlined above, the Sustainability Department is responsible for the cross departmental coordination of these efforts on a day-to-day basis. The Sustainability Department currently has 24 budgeted positions and a Fiscal Year 2019 budget of approximately $4.9 million.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The City of Encinitas has one dedicated full-time employee working to implement the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). The City’s plan includes 19 very ambitious actions that the City will accomplish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and 2030. Increasingly, high demands are being placed on this individual to quickly achieve progress on a number of specific projects. With a focus on these critical projects, very limited time is left for the more indirect, but still critical components of the CAP, specifically public outreach and progress tracking. Additionally, the Public Works Department dedicates 0.4 employees to manage the City’s Solid Waste Program. To meet recently introduced state mandates and support the City’s CAP goals through zero waste initiatives, more resources are needed with regard to program development and support. Because of this, the City is seeking 2 prospective Fellows to support capacity building projects for the Environmental Services Division within the City Manager’s Office and the Solid Waste Division within the Public Works Department. 

The Environmental Services Division is responsible for implementing the City’s CAP. This includes initiating and completing the various actions prescribed in the plan, conducting outreach, and reporting on implementation progress. The Fellow on this project will play a leading role in engaging the Encinitas community to become involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Utilizing an Outreach Toolkit, the Fellow will implement outreach activities throughout the service year and refine the toolkit as appropriate. The Fellow will also utilize the City’s CAP Monitoring Protocol to track and measure progress being made toward the City’s specific 2020 and 2030 Climate Action Plan targets. The Fellow will also assist with data collection and tracking, as well as reporting progress on the City’s Climate Dashboard and helping to complete the annual CAP Monitoring Report. For the Solid Waste Division, the second Fellow will provide support on SB 1383 compliance, which requires the City to provide organics recycling collection services, establish an edible food recovery program, perform outreach and education, and track and monitor compliance. The Fellow will assist with the initial outreach and education to businesses and residents through phone calls and site visits. The Fellow will also revamp the City’s solid waste website with a focus on zero waste. If time permits, the Fellow will also develop and administer a pilot program conducting residential and/or business zero waste surveys. 

The ideal Fellows will have both technical skills and people skills, and love to dive into data and strike up a conversation. Knowledge of web design and GIS is a plus. The Fellows will be expected to organize and host outreach events (with staff support), speak in front of large groups, as well as establish data protocols and manage large data sets (with staff oversight). A science degree in the climate or air quality field is preferred; however degrees in social science or computer science would also be supportive of the City’s needs. Fellows interested in the Solid Waste Program position should possess a strong interest in zero waste initiatives.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

The City of Encinitas is staffed by a 250-member team of hard-working individuals, committed to supporting each other and serving the community. The professional yet laid-back culture of the organization makes the City an ideal place to work. Located along six miles of Pacific coastline in northern San Diego County, the City of Encinitas offers a unique blend of old-world charm and sophistication, and new-world culture. Incorporated in 1986, the city brought together the communities of New Encinitas, Old Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Olivenhain and Leucadia to create a single city rich in history and steeped in tradition. With a population of 60,000 people, the City has something for everyone. With its pristine beaches, rolling hills, a famous Botanical Garden and vibrant downtown business district, Encinitas attracts visitors from all over the world.

The century-old Downtown 101 coastal shopping district features historic architecture, quaint shops, sidewalk cafes, specialty retail stores and upscale restaurants. Encinitas is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in California and is known for its excellent surfing conditions. Each year, surfers from all over gather in Encinitas to compete in local surfing tournaments. The San Elijo Lagoon Reserve boasts the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County and is home to nearly 300 different bird species throughout the year. San Diego Botanical Gardens, complete with an Amazon Rainforest, showcases the largest display of bamboo in the world, while the gardens of the Self Realization Center offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean in a serene garden-like setting. And the warm California sunshine provides for year-round enjoyment of our beautiful parks, beaches and trails and makes Encinitas a spectacular place to live, work, and visit.