Tools for Civic Engagement

SACOG's Civic Engagement Program provides support to cities, counties, transit agencies and air districts in the Sacramento region to elevate the public education and involvement in infill and smart growth community development. In the summer of 2006, the SACOG Board of Directors authorized $500,000 for direct grants and services to these public agencies. The funding is divided into three categories: SACOG technical services, direct grants, and educational materials and services.

For many jurisdictions, SACOG provides computer visualizations. The visualizations are a useful tool at community workshops, where participants develop a vision for what an area may look like, and SACOG turns that vision into a computer simulation, showing what the area might look like in 3D as the viewer is flying through and around the area. To request technical support assistance, please contact us via e-mail at sacog@sacog.org.

Direct grants to support project-specific efforts in member jurisdictions

The SACOG Board authorized a competitive grant project for $500,000 in funding for jurisdictions that are developing new mixed use and infill housing projects. Nine grants were awarded in July 2006:

• City of Citrus Heights, Sunrise MarketPlace Visioning Project ($80,000)
• City of Davis, Tools of Engagement ($89,000)
• City of Live Oak, Imagine Downtown Live Oak ($25,000)
• City of Placerville, Placerville Drive Development and Implementation Program ($50,000)
• City of Roseville, Downtown Vernon Street and Historic Old Town Specific Plan Development ($80,000)
• Sacramento County, General Plan Photo Simulations ($33,000)
• Sacramento County, North Watt Avenue Corridor Public Outreach Visual Simulation Enhancement Project ($25,000)
• City of Sacramento, General Plan Community Congress ($100,000)
• City of Winters, Downtown Master Plan Design Program ($19,000)

Educational materials and services

SACOG is developing universal materials that all local agencies may use to show the benefits of new mixed use and infill housing projects. The Tools for Civic Engagement are listed below.

• Educational Videos and Powerpoint Presentations
• Photo Simulations
• Planning and Transportation Improvement Photo Database
• Visual Simulation (3D) Planning