Planning for Change: From Fragile to Agile

The 25th Annual UCLA Lake Arrowhead Symposium on the Transportation – Land Use – Environment Connection

Sunday through Tuesday, October 18th – 20th, 2015 at UCLA’s Lake Arrowhead Conference Center

Change, and how public sector agencies respond to change, is a perennial topic at the annual UCLA Lake Arrowhead Symposium on the Transportation – Land Use – Environment Connection.  In our 25th year, we explicitly endeavor to examine the many changes faced in urban and regional planning while presenting the innovative tools and strategies agencies use to thrive in an era of accelerating change.  Those feeling pressure in managing any of the following changes will find the 2015 Arrowhead Symposium a highly worthwhile experience:

• physical form of urban regions.  Focus had been on growth at the periphery.  Development was focused on planning for agricultural and open space conversion and greenfield infrastructure.  New focus is infill growth near existing infrastructure.
• the implementation tools of planning.  The practice of planning is shifting from a focus on construction of new facilities, toward policies and programs focused on managing both supply of and demand for existing facilities.
• big data and the pace of information flows. We are now able to collect more data than ever before.  And we’re developing a greater ability to continually process this data into meaningful information for regional and urban planning.  And this information can flow to the public and decision-makers faster than ever before.
• the public-private gap.  The growing gap between the private and public sector’s ability to leverage data and technology to accomplish an organizational mission.  This gap affects the public sector’s ability to absorb or respond to change, including change brought by private sector data and technology ventures.
• emissions of concern. Concerns about global warming and greenhouse gas emissions have been added to historic concerns about localized air pollutants which have direct human health effects.
• a changing environment.  Environmental planning used to be concerned with assessing the impact of the project on the environment. Now, the environment is changing around parcels and infrastructure.
• finance and future revenue expectations.  A structural deficit in transportation finance has progressed from an impending challenge to the new normal.
• social context and cultural expectations of planning and government.  Preferences are changing for residents of urban centers of urban centers.  They demand new services and new technology-enabled pathways to access existing services.  Some demand a more urban environment, with denser mixed-use neighborhoods and alternative transportation options.

The annual Symposium brings together a small, invitation-only group of policy makers, professional staff, consultants and academics to take an in-depth look at a topic facing the planning & policy professions in a beautiful mountain retreat setting at UCLA’s Lake Arrowhead Conference Center.  The program is curated by UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs faculty and staff.  The $799 regular registration rate includes two days of lodging, meals, and drinks, making the annual event one of the best deals around.  The 2.5-day event, now in its 25th consecutive year,  is cited by many as one of the most valuable and unique conferences experiences they’ve ever attended.

Cost of Attendance

Total Symposium Costs Attendance:

$699 (early registration)
$799 (regular registration)
$899 (late registration)

Attendance includes lodging, meals, and program registration.  Those seeking employer reimbursement subject to per-diem rates may want to see a breakdown of these costs.

Scholarships

Over the years we’ve heard from many community leaders, nonprofit managers, and those who won’t receive employer reimbursement for attendance and recent graduates who were concerned about the costs of attendance.

This year, we’re excited to offer a limited number of scholarships to invited symposium attendees:

• 8 half scholarships will offer recipients a $399 registration fee
• 4 full scholarships will offer recipients free attendance

We are accepting scholarship applications from July 1, 2015 through August 14, 2015.   Applicants will learn of their scholarship status by August 28th, 2015.

Nominations

Attendance is open only to those who are invited.  Those interested in attending can self-nominate for invitation consideration by emailing the following to arrowhead@lewis.ucla.edu:

• a short note about how you will learn from and contribute to the conversation
• a link to your CV, LinkedIn, or other public profile