Host: San Joaquin Council of Governments
Region: Northern California
Openings: 2
Project Focus: Affordable Housing, Climate Adaptation,Climate Mitigation, Disaster Response / Emergency Management, Infrastructure Development,including Broadband, Transportation / Mobility, Urban Planning
Skills Needed: Community Engagement, Research, Data Analysis, GIS Mapping, Communication, Leadership

Service Needs & Plans

The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) is a planning agency that carries out planning and programming functions on a regional scale. SJCOG conducts activities related to air quality conformity, housing, transportation, climate resiliency, and regional planning. Additionally, SJCOG staff conduct regional planning studies, which range in topic from gentrification and displacement to transportation innovation and climate adaptation. However, in recent years, planning activities have shifted the agency to address issues more intentionally such as climate impacts, housing production, and mobility equity. SJCOG seeks to enhance its internal staff capacity with the request of two Civic Spark Fellows to support current and on-going efforts in equitable and inclusive public outreach, planning, and implementation activities related to regional housing, climate resiliency, and clean transportation.

The projects will generally address the following challenges:
•Expanding access of the community, especially impacted communities, to information and the decision-making process,
•Engaging local and regional partners in developing plans and policies that advance regional goals and implementation,
•Increasing staff knowledge and capacity in planning and programming areas identified above.

Project Description

Project 1: RTP/SCS Implementation (Climate Fellow)
-Project Goals: Support implementation of Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), a long-range plan for the region that includes integrated land use, housing, climate and environmental strategies
-Outcomes:
oResearch, develop technical memos and project proposals to advance RTP/SCS implementation at SJCOG, specifically related to adopted strategies for housing, climate resiliency, clean mobility, and other topics
oCommunity engagement and education to increase access to information about SJCOG’s plans and projects that address housing, climate resiliency, clean mobility, and other topics
-How the outcomes help increase agency’s capacity to address resilience challenges:
oAdvancing implementation of the RTP/SCS assists in addressing overall resilience challenges identified in the region’s long-range transportation plan
oAgency capacity is currently limited in delivering planned activities related to a new program, called the Regional Early Action Program (REAP) 2.0

Project 2: San Joaquin Regional Climate Collaborative (Climate Fellow)
-Project Goals: Build relationships and capacity across the region, with a focus on individuals and stakeholder groups aligned with planning, seeking funding, and implementing climate solutions in vulnerable and underserved communities
-Outcomes:
oEstablish a broad network of collaborators and partners across San Joaquin County working towards climate resiliency
oPlanning and coordination for a series of workshops and trainings to build local and regional capacity to pursue state and federal climate funding
oAdditional deliverables may include interim staff reports, interim project deliverables, meeting and outreach materials, and/or technical memos
-How the outcomes help increase agency’s capacity to address resilience challenges:
oBuild a network of collaborators and partners to address resiliency and climate challenges in the region
oImprove access for marginalized groups to information, tools, and resources to apply for funding
Project 3: Vamos EZHub Mobility App (Mobility Fellow)
-Project Goals: Assess agency’s mobility app to determine future development and sustainability
-Outcomes:
oSupport ongoing marketing, promotion, development, and customer service needs of retail app
oIncrease understanding of mobile applications, along with expanded awareness of e-bikeshare and e-carshare operations, implementation, and software integration challenges.
oDevelop white paper on the Vamos EZHub mobile app examining user experience, technical app development, funding and sustainability, and other topics
oAdditional deliverables may include staff reports, stakeholder outreach materials, and/or technical memos.
-How the outcomes help increase agency’s capacity to address resilience challenges:
oIncrease responsiveness of the agency to monitor data analytics and incorporate user interface feedback on mobile app improvements.
oIncrease teamwork amongst transit operators to better address needs of residents with mobility challenges.

Project 4: Travel Pattern Assessment (Mobility Fellow)
•Project Goals: Perform travel pattern assessment(s) with special focus on currently under-assessed travel modes (e.g. vanpooling, school bussing, and/or truck travel).
•Outcomes:
oIdentify under-assessed travel modes for investigation, analyze existing conditions, including challenges related to local road congestion, air quality, or VMT reduction, explore new technology and innovative case studies, and make recommendations for partnerships and/or funding opportunities.
oDevelop a strategic road map for these travel patterns and modes that support SJCOG RTP/SCS goals.
oAdditional responsibilities may include coordination with public agencies, SJCOG DIBS, others and analysis of travel data.
oOther deliverables may include staff reports, GIS analysis and/or shapefile creation, PowerPoints, and spreadsheets.
•How the outcomes help increase agency’s capacity to address resilience challenges:
oOpen partnership opportunities with new or non-traditional partners, including local school districts, vanpool service providers, goods movement stakeholders, and others.
oExpand agency capacity to deliver a variety of new transportation programs to the region.

Desired Skills

The ideal fellows for this project will have an interest in pursuing a career in urban planning, clean mobility, housing, or climate resiliency, and be excited about conducting community and stakeholder engagement. Successful fellows will possess a curiosity and willingness to ask questions, are energetic and self-starters, and practice proactive communication with team members and supervisor. While experience and technical skills are valuable, SJCOG is also willing to teach and provide opportunities for fellows to learn and gain core skills for a career in urban planning. Local knowledge about San Joaquin County and its communities is desired, but not required.

Organization & Community Highlights

SJCOG is a regional government agency located in Stockton, CA. There are approximately 30 staff who range in function from planning, programming, communications, finance, and support. The planning and programming teams, where Civic Spark Fellows are expected to serve, is highly collaborative. Fellows can expect to work in a fast-pace, dynamic, and adaptive organizational culture in which they will work closely with their direct supervisor and team members to develop and implement project activities. The mission of SJCOG is to partner with local governments, the private sector, and community groups as the forum, facilitator, and administrator of regional programs, and to advocate for regional and inter-regional issues in the development of a comprehensive strategy to achieve resolutions.

Stockton and San Joaquin County are a part of the Northern California Megaregion, which includes the Bay Area and greater Sacramento. The geographic location of the region has contributed to a growing trend of super commuters travelling 90+ minutes or 50 miles to and from the workplace. Stockton and San Joaquin County are also part of the San Joaquin Valley, a megaregion that is distinctly suburban and rural and faces long term economic and environmental challenges. The geography and location of the community places it at the literal crossroads of many urban planning challenges that one learns about in academic settings.

The opportunity to work here at SJCOG and in San Joaquin County would provide valuable learning and professional training in the public sector, especially for those interested in urban planning.

Remote or On-Site Placement

Hybrid