2023 CivicWell Policymakers Conference

Creating Sustainable Solutions

This past year has seen both increasingly extreme climate events and an escalating governmental response to support resilience and adaptation. Local governments will have opportunities to use federal and state funding for impactful community solutions.

Our state’s most urgent imperatives—affordable and accessible housing, racial equity, reducing emissions, wildfire and drought resilience, and more—require courageous and innovative responses. Time and again, we see local governments at the forefront of these actions. Local and community leaders encourage and implement solutions, and where our peers have succeeded, we learn and adopt.

Given the momentous challenges we face, from climate resilience and housing to transitioning our energy and mobility sectors, now is the time for local leaders to come together to share ideas and best practices, and advance forward-thinking solutions. The right choices today can help create the resilient, healthy, and equitable communities of tomorrow.

Download the conference agenda.

The conference will take place from Thursday evening, March 16th to Sunday morning, March 19th. The below agenda is tentative and subject to change at any time. Topics and speakers will be added as they are confirmed.

Thursday, March 16

4:30 – 6:00 pm
Registration

6:00 – 7:30 pm
Welcome Reception with heavy appetizers

7:30 – 8:00 pm
Opening Remarks

8:00 – 9:15 pm
How to Build More Housing in Your Town

• Stacy Atkins-Salazar, Councilmember, City of Arcata
• Alexander Casey, Director, Housing Affordability Data Lab at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation
• Julia Kingsley, Senior Consultant, California State Assembly Transportation Committee
• Moderator: Anu Natarajan, Lead, Meta Housing Initiative

Friday, March 17

7:30 – 9:00 am
Breakfast

9:00 – 10:15 am
Effectively Influencing State Climate Policy from a Local Level

• Catherine Blakespear, California State Senator
• Das Williams, Santa Barbara County Supervisor
• Moderator: Roger Dickinson, Policy Director, CivicWell

10:15 – 10:30 am
Coffee Break

10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Building Decarbonization: What Local Governments Can Do

• Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara County Supervisor
• Bill Hayward, Executive Chairman and Chief Sustainability Officer, Hayward
• Garrett Wong, Board Member, Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition
• Moderator: Wendy Root Askew, Monterey County Supervisor

12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch / Networking

1:00 – 2:30 pm
The Challenges and Promises of Offshore Wind

• Eddie Ahn, Executive Director, Brightline Defense
• Siva Gunda, Vice Chair, California Energy Commission
• Arne Jacobson, Director, Schatz Energy Research Center
• Moderator: Mike Wilson, Humboldt County Supervisor

Participants are free for the remainder of the day

Saturday, March 18

7:30 – 8:30 am
Breakfast

8:30 – 9:15 am
Keynote Address from CA State Senator John Laird

9:15 – 10:30 am
Solar, Battery Storage, and Grid Reliability

• Jan Pepper, CEO, Peninsula Clean Energy
• Heidi Sanborn, Board President, SMUD
• Genevieve Shiroma, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission
• Moderator: Pam O’Connor, Vice-Chair, Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission

10:30 – 10:45 am
Coffee Break

10:45 am – 12:00 pm
The Remote Workforce: Environmental and Equity Implications

• Alberto Ayala, Executive Director, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
• Darcy Totten, Director of Communications, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
• Mitch Weiss, Executive Director, California Transportation Commission
• Moderator: Carl Guardino, Vice President for Global Government Affairs, Tarana Wireless

12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 – 5:30 pm
Group activities (optional)

5:30 – 6:30 pm
Dinner

6:30 – 7:30 pm
CivicWell Remarks

7:30 – 9:00 pm
Firepit Chat Reception sponsored by SMUD

Sunday, March 19

7:30 – 9:00 am
Breakfast

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

This conference is for elected officials only. If you are not an elected official but would like to attend, we invite you to explore our sponsorship opportunities below.

This year the registration fee INCLUDES lodging for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at the beautiful Asilomar Hotel; most meals*, a welcome reception, and a firepit reception; and all conference materials, panels, keynotes, and breakout sessions. Meal tickets will be provided to all participants during onsite check-in for meals included in the program. You will not need to book lodging separately from your registration. This is due to Asilomar’s registration policy.

Local attendees may select the offsite option, which does not include lodging but does include meals and a daily facility fee. This is due to Asilomar’s registration policy.

Special Note About Member Discount

Become a CivicWell member today! First year memberships are $125 for individuals, but if you add on a membership below you automatically get the member registration rate for the conference. Because the member registration rate is $100 less than the non-member rate, the additional total for a year of membership is only $25!

*If a meal is not included, it will be noted on the agenda.

Cancellation Policy

Registrations may be cancelled up until February 23, 2023. The cancellation fee is 50% of the total registration.
In lieu of cancellation, registration may be transferred to another elected official at any time before March 10, 2023 free of charge. After March 10th, no refunds will be offered.

The 2023 CivicWell Policymakers Conference will be held at the Asilomar Hotel & Conference Grounds. Your lodging is included in your registration fee.

We are looking for Conference Sponsors – agencies, organizations, foundations, and companies – who are leading the way in innovative resilience solutions and smart growth strategies.

Our flagship event is an excellent opportunity for sponsors to build meaningful relationships with local policymakers, highlight and deepen your commitment to sustainable communities, and raise your profile in the smart growth arena. 

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, view the Sponsorship Brochure or contact Kathy Chow at kchow@civicwell.org for information.

Download the Sponsorship Brochure

For questions about conference registration and logistics, please contact:
Heather Killion
Operations Coordinator
(916) 448-1198  x303
hkillion@civicwell.org

For questions about conference sponsorship and program, please contact:
Haley Ausserer-Zelaya
Communications Manager
hazelaya@civicwell.org