Governor's Office of Planning and Research

Governor's Office of Planning and Research
Name	Governor's Office of Planning and Research
Formed	1970
Jurisdiction	State of California
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Chief1 position	Director
Parent agency	Office of the Governor of California

Contents

Governor's Office of Planning and Research

The Governor's Office of Planning and Research is a state-level planning and policy staff agency located in Sacramento that advises the Governor of California on long-range planning, development, and policy implementation. It operates at the intersection of executive policymaking, land-use planning, environmental review, and interagency coordination, interacting with entities such as the California Environmental Quality Act, the Department of Transportation (California), the California Natural Resources Agency, and the State Legislature of California.

History

The office was established during the administration of Governor Ronald Reagan and later expanded under Governor Jerry Brown and Governor Gray Davis to address statewide planning needs, coordinating with actors like the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, and the United States Census Bureau. Early work involved collaboration with the California Coastal Commission, the California Air Resources Board, and the California State Water Resources Control Board to integrate environmental review practices after passage of the California Environmental Quality Act. During the 1990s and 2000s the office engaged with administrations of Governor Pete Wilson and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on transportation and infrastructure planning alongside the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the California High-Speed Rail Authority. In the 2010s the office worked with Governor Jerry Brown again on climate adaptation, partnering with the Public Utilities Commission (California), the State Water Project, and academic institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and the Claremont McKenna College.

The office's mission is to advise the Governor of California and provide statewide planning guidance, coordinating with agencies including the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the California Air Resources Board, the Department of Conservation (California), and the California Energy Commission. Core functions encompass environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, housing element guidance linked to the Regional Housing Needs Allocation process, and policy analysis that intersects with the Legislative Analyst's Office, the California State Treasurer, and the California Department of Finance. The office produces guidance documents, state planning priorities, and technical assistance used by local entities such as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the San Francisco Planning Department, and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.

The office is organized into divisions and program units that coordinate with agencies like the Department of Fish and Wildlife (California), the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Caltrans Districts. Leadership typically reports to the Governor of California and collaborates with cabinet-level secretaries from the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency. Staff roles include policy analysts with background from institutions such as the Rand Corporation, the Public Policy Institute of California, and the Urban Land Institute. Advisory committees have included representatives from the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Southern California Association of Governments, and nonprofit partners such as the Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club.

Programs administered or supported by the office interface with initiatives like the Transformative Climate Communities Program, the Strategic Growth Council, and the California Smart Growth framework. The office plays a role in statewide housing strategies connected to the No Place Like Home Program, disaster resilience initiatives aligned with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and climate adaptation efforts in coordination with the California Coastal Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It provides CEQA guidance used by municipal agencies such as the City of San Diego and regional bodies like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and contributes to statewide policy planning that resonates with federal programs from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Transit Administration.

The office has faced scrutiny over its role in approving and guiding land-use policies, with critiques voiced by organizations such as the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California Building Industry Association, and environmental groups including Friends of the Earth and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Debates have centered on housing mandates tied to the Regional Housing Needs Allocation process, CEQA guidance impacting development projects in jurisdictions like San Francisco and Los Angeles, and perceived tensions with local control advocated by county supervisors from Orange County and Los Angeles County. Controversies have also arisen during major planning efforts such as statewide climate resilience planning with input from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and legal challenges brought before the California Supreme Court and federal courts.