Implementing an Award-Winning General Plan: Equity, Climate Action, and Housing

Host: County of Ventura – Resource Management Agency
Region: Central California
Openings: 3
Project Focus: Affordable Housing, Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Urban Planning, Renewable Energy, Policy Planning
Skills Needed: Research, Data Collection, Self-Motivated

Service Needs & Plans

The County of Ventura adopted the 2040 General Plan in September 2020. There are over 700 goals, policies, and programs included in the General Plan that address a myriad of complex issues facing counties and cities in California, such as environmental justice, climate resilience, greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, energy and water resources, agricultural land conservation, healthy communities, and many others. In addition to the many innovative substantive policies and programs in the General Plan, the County has committed to annually report on the progress we are making on program implementation and GHG reduction efforts.

The County is looking to have three Fellows support the County’s Planning Division. This is a fast-paced work environment that requires flexibility and adaptability to varying project priorities. The Fellows will contribute to, and build capacity for, projects within the General Plan Section, Housing and State Mandates Section, and the Area Plans and Resources Section. Each Section has been assigned the development and implementation of several programs related to sustainable agricultural lands conservation, energy reach codes, oil and gas operations, designated disadvantaged communities, updates to zoning codes and ordinances, farmworker housing, implementation of housing regulations, sea level rise adaptation, active and passive parks planning, and an Area Plan policy update.

The Fellows may be assigned a variety of roles such as increasing climate resilience through researching and updating the County’s energy reach code to further reduce GHG emissions and supporting sea level rise policy and zoning amendments; assist staff in zoning code amendments to be consistent with state-mandated housing regulations to increase housing opportunities; assist in the creation of new zoning to expand park and recreation opportunities; and assist in developing and participating in public engagement workshops, and attending stakeholder meetings for these and other programs. In addition, one or more Fellows will attend Climate Emergency Council meetings, which is a newly formed Council established to advise the County’s Board of Supervisors on climate action planning.

One overarching goal of these projects is to assist County staff with the implementation of recently adopted General Plan programs. A second important goal is to build capacity through reporting procedures that will measure the progress made on program implementation, Climate Action Plan progress, and other housing and natural resource-oriented planning projects. Procedures and tracking are needed to inform the Board of Supervisors and the public using a variety of techniques to reach all interested stakeholders, including those in disadvantaged communities.

Project Description

The Fellows will assist the Planning Division in the projects below, which will result in updates to the County’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, zoning ordinances, building code, and reports on project outcomes to decision-makers. These projects support the County’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, implement strategies that support equitable public participation in the governmental decision-making process, promote environmental health, increase affordable housing development, plan for climate change and sea level rise adaptation, and conserve agricultural lands, all of which support a high quality of life for Ventura County residents. Several of these projects will include the support of consultant technical experts, which will provide Fellows with the opportunity to interact with both public planners and consultants. Fellows will perform a variety of tasks within three Sections in the Planning Division including, but not limited to, data gathering and reporting, research and report writing, (including maps, tables, graphs, etc.), stakeholder outreach (e.g., fact sheets, website updates), and meeting organization and logistics related to the projects described below.

One Fellow will support the General Plan Implementation Section with the following projects:

  1. Development of an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to address the loss of important farmland resulting from development projects;
  2. Implement the second phase of the County’s Energy Reach Code development, requiring that the building code “reaches” beyond the state minimum requirements for energy use in building design and construction;
  3. Update the County’s CEQA guidelines to be consistent with state CEQA guidelines, requiring applicants for development to evaluate environmental impacts where applicable;
  4. Update zoning ordinance policies related to oil and gas operations, including regulating the setbacks of oil and gas development from sensitive land uses; and
  5. Prepare and participate in public engagement efforts (e.g., workshops, stakeholder meetings, outreach in disadvantaged communities) for the implementation of various General Plan programs including, but not limited to, the County Energy Reach Code, oil and gas ordinance updates, designating Disadvantaged Communities, and Housing regulatory updates.

A second Fellow will support the Housing and State Mandates Section with the following projects related to the implementation of the County’s newly adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element, which may include outreach and program implementation components:

  1. Development of public information materials and homeowner tools for Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units;
  2. Ordinance amendments that include drafting regulations to ensure development of adequate affordable housing, density bonus requirements, and special needs housing to be consistent with state law;
  3. Development of a possible application for the State’s pro housing designation which would make the County eligible for state incentives and accelerated housing production;
  4. Development of a countywide farmworker housing study and action plan, which includes implementation of a countywide survey aimed at incentivizing additional housing production for the county’s farmworkers; and
  5. Coordinating a countywide forum of stakeholders, agencies, and utility service providers to discuss the policies that impact infrastructure necessary for housing development.

The third Fellow will support the Area Plans and Resources Section with the following projects:

  1. Development of Local Coastal Program amendments related to sea level rise, phased adaptation pathway planning, and community outreach to residential property owners, business owners, farmworkers, and advocacy groups.
  2. Development of zoning code amendments to expand parks and recreation opportunities, such as the creation of a new open space-parks and recreation zone;
  3. Update the Area Plan for a disadvantaged community (El Rio and Nyland Acres);
  4. Development of an ordinance amendment that will support the agricultural tourism program; and
  5. Development of zoning code amendments for wildlife crossing structures and habitat corridors.
Desired Skills

The ideal Fellows will be skilled in research methods, writing, and be comfortable interacting with and assisting the public. Project management skills are also desirable. Fellows will also possess a strong ability to synthesize and summarize technical information for the public and decision-makers and feel comfortable working both as a team member and independently. Experience with, knowledge of, and an interest in climate action programs, agricultural issues, environmental justice, and resilient development are desired. It is anticipated that some portion of community engagement may be bilingual (English/Spanish) and ability to speak Spanish is a plus. The ability to use GIS software is a plus, as is experience using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Organization & Community Highlights

The County of Ventura is the second largest employer in the county with more than 8,000 employees in 26 agencies and departments. The Fellows will be serving in the Resource Management Agency’s Planning Division, which provides land use and planning services within unincorporated County areas. Fellows will each be assigned to the General Plan Implementation Section, Housing and State Mandates Section, and Area Plans and Resources Section. The General Plan Implementation Section is focused on implementing programs in the adopted General Plan. In addition to reviewing, updating, and maintaining the County’s Zoning Ordinances to be consistent with State law and County policy, the Housing and State Mandates Section and the Area Plans and Resources Section are also tasked respectively with implementing housing related programs in the County’s 2021-2029 Housing Element, and updating and maintaining the County’s Area Plans. The General Plan includes programs that focus on environmental justice and equity, diversity, and inclusion such as, but not limited to Planning Division environmental justice guidelines, as well as prioritizing public engagement, infrastructure improvement, and climate resilience in disadvantaged communities.

The Division provides a supportive environment with a strong foundation for mentoring Fellows, encouraging Fellows to lead projects through initial project development, implementation, problem-solving, and reporting. Additionally, Fellows will have first-hand experience working in a professional, fast-paced environment where adaptability and flexibility are critical to managing frequently changing project priorities. Fellows will also gain skills in project management, policy research, technical writing, and public speaking, working both independently and in a team setting. Fellows will be mentored and given tools to highlight their developed skills in interviews and on resumes through practice interviews and professional support when deciding next steps.

Ventura County is situated along the central California coast between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. The population is approximately 850,000, yet many of the cities within the county retain a small-town feel. Ventura County is the gateway to the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary which is home to endangered species, sensitive habitats, and historic shipwrecks. The Los Padres National Forest within Ventura County offers hiking and camping, while the Santa Monica Mountains along the coast offer mountain biking, hiking, and amazing ocean views. Ventura County is the strawberry capital of the state and is home to some of California’s top beaches, championship golf courses, wine tasting, world-class dining, year-round whale watching, and a variety of recreational activities.

Remote or On-Site Placement

We are open to Fellows serving a combination of remote and on-site service which can be discussed further as this application for three Fellows moves forward.

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