Host: San Joaquin Council of Governments
Openings: 3
Project Focus: Affordable Housing, Climate Adaptation (e.g., sea level rise planning, environmental justice, climate migration planning), Infrastructure Development – including Broadband, Public Health, Transportation / Mobility, Urban Planning
Skills Needed: Community Engagement, Research, Data Analysis, GIS Mapping,

Remote or On-Site Placement

Hybrid – Because of SJCOG’s role in the region, it is important for the fellow to perform duties in-person when required. SJCOG currently offers a hybrid work environment with flexibility to serve remotely for up to 3 days per week. The agency also has a Covid-19 Safety Program that meets local, state, and federal guidelines regarding safety and prevention of spread.

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 and projects, 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 three CivicSpark 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

Project Goals: Support implementation of Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), a long-range plan that includes integrated land use, housing, climate and environmental strategies

Outcomes:

• Research, develop technical memos and project proposals to advance RTP/SCS implementation at SJCOG
• Community engagement and education to increase participation in the 2026 plan update
• How the outcomes help increase agency’s capacity to address resilience challenges:
• Assists in addressing resilience challenges identified in the region’s long-range plan
• Agency capacity is currently limited in delivering planned activities related to new grants and programs

Project 2: San Joaquin Regional Climate Collaborative

Project Goals: Build relationships and capacity across the region, with a focus on implementing climate solutions in vulnerable and underserved communities

Outcomes:

• Planning and coordination for a series of workshops and trainings to build local and regional capacity to pursue climate funding
• Assist with development of project deliverables, such as outreach materials, event planning, research and data collection, etc.
• Additional 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:
• Build a network of collaborators to address resiliency and climate challenges in the region

Project 3: Vamos EZHub Mobility App

Project Goals: Assess agency’s mobility app to determine future development and sustainability

Outcomes:

• Support ongoing marketing, promotion, development, and customer service needs of retail app
• Develop white paper on the Vamos EZHub mobile app examining user experience, technical app development, funding and sustainability, and other topics
• Additional deliverables may include staff reports, stakeholder outreach materials, and/or technical memos.
• How the outcomes help increase agency’s capacity to address resilience challenges:
• Increase monitoring of data analytics and incorporate user feedback on mobile app improvements.
• Increase teamwork amongst transit operators to better address needs

Project 4: Travel Pattern Assessment

Project Goals: Perform travel pattern assessment(s) with special focus on under-assessed travel modes (e.g. vanpooling, school bussing, and/or truck travel).

Outcomes:

• Identify 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.
• Other 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:
• Expand agency capacity to deliver a variety of new transportation programs to the region.

Project 5: Green House Gas Reductions through Transit

Project Goals: Support the Programming and Project Delivery Team in implementing the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program and Zero Emission Transit Capital Program, identify unmet transit needs, and work with transit partners to align projects with funding

Outcomes:

• Conduct community outreach for the unmet transit needs assessment, focusing on underserved communities
• Work with regional transit partners to identify projects that reduce greenhouse gases and increase transit ridership
• Support SJCOG in developing program guidelines, implementation programs, and allocation packages
• How the outcomes help increase agency’s capacity to address resilience challenges:
• Support regional transit partners in delivering transformative transit projects throughout the region that reduce greenhouse gases and increase ridership

Project 6: Increasing Access and Mobility through Active Transportation Projects and Programs

Project Goals: Support the Programming and Project Delivery Team with collaborating with local jurisdictions on active transportation projects (ie. Bicycle, pedestrian, and safe routes to schools)

Outcomes:

• Assist SJCOG staff and consultants on a countywide bike and pedestrian study
• Support effort to conduct a regional ATP call for projects
• Work with local jurisdictions to support the implementation of local/state/federal active transportation projects
• Update existing ATP maps using geographic information systems

Desired Skills Organization & Workplace 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.

Community Highlights

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.