Resources

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” -Thomas Edison

We all need support at times. The resources below will help you connect with your community and find ways to make a positive difference.

Global Resources

African Centre for Cities (ACC)- based in Cape Town, researches urbanization in Africa and promotes sustainable planning models.

Asian Development Bank – Urban Development Invests in urban infrastructure and smart city initiatives across Asia, with a focus on inclusive growth.

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group- Unites 100+ cities to tackle climate change through urban planning, clean energy, and transportation reform.

Cities Alliance- Supports city development in low-income countries, focusing on slum upgrading, inclusive planning, and local governance.

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability- Helps cities implement sustainability strategies across energy, transport, biodiversity, and climate adaptation.

Inter-American Development Bank – Urban Development- Supports Latin American cities with funding and technical assistance for urban resilience and mobility.

ISOCARP (International Society of City and Regional Planners)- Connects planners worldwide to advance inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities. Hosts the World Planning Congress and publishes global best practices.

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy- Provides research and training on land use, taxation, and equitable urban development.

Manchester Urban Institute (MUI)- Academic hub for urban research, focusing on governance, infrastructure, and social equity.

Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI)- Empowers informal settlement communities to co-create planning solutions with local governments.

OECD – Urban Policy Division- Develops policy frameworks for smart cities, housing, and regional development across member countries.

UN-Habitat- Promote sustainable urban development and adequate shelter for all. Leads initiatives like the Global Network of Urban Planning and Design Labs to support cities with planning, finance, and legal frameworks.

World Bank – Urban Development Division- Funds infrastructure and planning projects to reduce poverty and improve urban services in developing countries.

California Resources

California Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)

MPO Counties Covered Objective Incorporated Cities Website
AMBAG Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz Regional planning for transportation, housing, and climate. Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Hollister, Seaside, Marina, Capitola ambag.org
BCAG Butte Transportation planning, air quality, and transit. Chico, Oroville, Gridley, Biggs, Paradise bcag.org
Fresno COG Fresno Transportation and land use planning. Fresno, Clovis, Coalinga, Sanger, Selma, Reedley, Kerman, Kingsburg fresnocog.org
Kern COG Kern Regional transportation, housing, and air quality. Bakersfield, Delano, Ridgecrest, Wasco, Arvin, Tehachapi, Shafter kerncog.org
KCAG Kings Transportation and transit planning. Hanford, Lemoore, Corcoran, Avenal kcag.org
MCTC Madera Transportation planning and funding. Madera, Chowchilla maderactc.org
MCAG Merced Transportation and housing planning. Merced, Atwater, Los Banos, Livingston, Gustine, Dos Palos mcagov.org
MTC/ABAG Bay Area (9 counties) Transportation, housing, and climate resilience. San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley, Fremont, Richmond, Vallejo, and 90+ others mtc.ca.gov
SACOG Sacramento, Yolo, Yuba, Sutter, El Dorado (partial), Placer (partial) Transportation, housing, and economic development planning. Sacramento, West Sacramento, Davis, Roseville, Folsom, Elk Grove, Woodland, Marysville sacog.org
SANDAG San Diego Transportation, housing, and climate planning. San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, National City sandag.org
SJCOG San Joaquin Smart growth and transportation planning. Stockton, Lodi, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop, Ripon, Escalon sjcog.org
SLOCOG San Luis Obispo Transportation and land use planning. San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Atascadero, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande slocog.org
SBCAG Santa Barbara Transportation and regional planning. Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria, Buellton, Solvang, Guadalupe sbcag.org
SRTA Shasta Transportation planning and funding. Redding, Anderson, Shasta Lake srta.ca.gov
SCAG Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura Regional planning for transportation, housing, and climate. Los Angeles, Anaheim, Riverside, Long Beach, Santa Ana, San Bernardino, Oxnard, and 190+ others scag.ca.gov
StanCOG Stanislaus Regional transportation and housing planning. Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Riverbank, Oakdale, Patterson, Hughson, Waterford, Newman stancog.org
TMPO El Dorado (partial), Placer (partial) Transportation and environmental planning in the Tahoe Basin. South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, Kings Beach trpa.gov/mpo
TCAG Tulare Transportation and regional planning. Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, Dinuba, Lindsay, Exeter, Farmersville, Woodlake tularecog.org
Sacramento County

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

Aspect CEQA NEPA
Enabling Statute & Jurisdiction California Environmental Quality Act (1970). Applies to discretionary projects by California public agencies. National Environmental Policy Act (1969). Applies to “major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.”
Trigger Any project undertaken or requiring approval by a California public agency, unless statutorily or categorically exempt. Federal permits, funding, or land-management actions that may have significant environmental impacts.
Lead Agency The California public agency has principal authority over the project. The Federal agency proposing, funding, or authorizing the action.
Exemptions & Exclusions Statutory exemptions (e.g., emergency repairs), categorical exemptions under CEQA Guidelines, and ministerial projects. Categorical exclusions per agency NEPA regulations, functional exemptions, and extraordinary circumstances may require an EA.
Core Environmental Documents Initial Study (IS) leading to: • Negative Declaration (ND) • Mitigated ND (MND) • Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Environmental Assessment (EA) leading to: • Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) • Mitigated FONSI • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Process Steps 1. IS → ND/MND or scoping for EIR
2. Draft EIR → public review
3. Final EIR → Findings & Record of Determination		 1. EA → FONSI (if no significant impact) or scoping for EIS
2. Draft EIS → public review
3. Final EIS → Record of Decision
Alternatives Analysis Required in every EIR; must include a range of reasonable project alternatives. Central to an EIS; must analyze alternatives and identify the agency’s preferred alternative (if one exists).
Public Notice & Comment Notice of Preparation (NOP) for EIR; Notice of Determination (NOD); 30–45-day comment periods; public hearings optional. Notice of Intent (NOI) published in the Federal Register; 30- to 45-day comment; agencies often mail notices or use clearinghouses.
Decision Document Findings of Fact & Statement of Overriding Considerations (for significant impacts) plus Notice of Determination. Record of Decision (ROD), summarizing alternatives considered, adopted mitigation, and the rationale for the chosen action.
Timing & Statute of Limitations No strict CEQA timeline; 30-day statute of limitations on NOD/ND/MND challenges. No firm deadlines in CEQ regulations; agencies set internal schedules; ROD cannot issue until at least 30 days after Final EIS.
Appeals & Enforcement CEQA is litigated in California courts; the project stays if an injunction is granted. NEPA compliance is enforced via federal court; injunctive relief may halt a Federal action pending NEPA review.
Integration & Joint Documents Joint EIR/EIS permitted via Memoranda of Understanding; CEQ-OPR NEPA-CEQA Handbook guides coordination. Encourages integration with state reviews; joint EIR/EIS satisfies both statutes when federal and state approvals overlap.
Mitigation Monitoring Mandatory Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for every EIR. Monitoring is required when mitigation is adopted in the ROD, but it is less prescriptive than CEQA’s MMRP.