California Association of Councils of Governments

California Association of Councils of Governments
Name	California Association of Councils of Governments
Abbreviation	CACCOG
Formation	1970s
Type	Nonprofit association
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Region served	California
Membership	Regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations
Leader title	Executive Director

California Association of Councils of Governments

The California Association of Councils of Governments is a statewide nonprofit membership association that represents regional planning agencies across California. It serves as a coordinating body linking regional agencies with California State Legislature, Governor of California, and federal entities such as the United States Department of Transportation and United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The association provides technical assistance, policy analysis, and collaborative platforms for metropolitan planning organizations and regional councils.

Overview

The association functions as a network for regional entities including Sacramento Area Council of Governments, Southern California Association of Governments, San Diego Association of Governments, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and Association of Bay Area Governments, facilitating coordination on transportation, land use, and housing issues with stakeholders like the California Air Resources Board, California Department of Transportation, California Housing Finance Agency, and the California Strategic Growth Council. It engages with national organizations such as the National Association of Regional Councils, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and National League of Cities to align regional practice with federal programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.

Membership and Structure

Membership comprises regional councils of governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and subregional planning bodies including Butte County Association of Governments, San Joaquin Council of Governments, Monterey County Association of Governments, and Kern Council of Governments. The association’s governance typically includes a board of directors drawn from executives of member agencies, an executive committee, and technical committees that parallel committees at the State Transportation Agency (California), California Department of Housing and Community Development, and the California Environmental Protection Agency. It maintains working relationships with academic institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, University of Southern California, and California State University, Sacramento for research and workforce development.

Functions and Programs

The association offers programs in regional transportation planning, Sustainable Communities Strategy implementation, climate adaptation, Regional Housing Needs Allocation coordination, and grant-writing support tied to funding streams like the Senate Bill 1 (2017), Senate Bill 2 (2017), and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It convenes conferences, workshops, and peer-to-peer exchanges involving participants from California Air Resources Board, Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee, Federal Transit Administration Region IX, and advocacy groups such as the Public Policy Institute of California and the Urban Land Institute. Technical assistance includes modeling support using tools developed at California Department of Transportation research centers and partnerships with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Funding and Governance

Funding sources include membership dues from entities like the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, competitive grants from agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration, contracts with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and philanthropic support from foundations like the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation. Governance is informed by statutes and regulations enacted by the California Legislature, guidance from the Governor of California’s office, and federal requirements from the United States Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency. Auditing and financial oversight practices draw on standards promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and procurement norms consistent with Federal Transit Administration grant rules.

Key Initiatives and Policy Advocacy

The association advocates on statewide policy issues including transportation funding reform, regional housing allocation methodologies, climate resilience, and smart growth, engaging with policymakers at the California State Senate, California State Assembly, and executive agencies such as the California Air Resources Board and the California Natural Resources Agency. Initiatives often intersect with statewide efforts like SB 375, AB 32, and the California Environmental Quality Act, and with federal programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Federal Highway Administration. The association publishes policy briefs and model ordinances used by members and contributes to stakeholder coalitions including the Climate Mayors network and regional coalitions working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regional offices.

History and Development

Formed during the late 20th century amid growth in regional planning and transportation coordination, the association evolved alongside the creation of entities such as the Metropolitan Planning Organization framework, the passage of federal laws like the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, and California statutes shaping regional policy including Senate Bill 375 and housing legislation in the 2000s and 2010s. Over decades it has adapted to changes arising from court rulings, statewide ballot measures such as propositions affecting transportation and housing finance, and federal funding shifts under administrations from the Bill Clinton through Joe Biden presidencies.

Relationship with State and Federal Agencies

The association maintains formal and informal relationships with the California Department of Transportation, California Department of Housing and Community Development, California Air Resources Board, and federal agencies including the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency. These relationships enable coordination on grant programs, regulatory implementation, and compliance with federal planning requirements, while also situating members to influence rulemaking processes at the California State Capitol and in Washington, D.C., through partnerships with delegations from California's congressional delegation and federal regional offices.

Category:Organizations based in California Category:Regional planning organizations in the United States