Annual SuperConference Live! CEQA · faculty of CEQA attorneys, planners, and experts to provide you with the latest CEQA developments, trends, debates, and practice advice. In addition

SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION INSIDE

Join Over 150 of Your Colleagues

Dear Colleague:

2019 has been another amazing year for CEQA law, policy, and practice! For its 15th year, CLE International’s CEQA conference features an outstanding faculty of CEQA attorneys, planners, and experts to provide you with the latest CEQA developments, trends, debates, and practice advice.

In addition to featuring the traditional case law review and ethics panels--and a deep dive on CEQA standards of review--a major theme for this year’s conference is how CEQA’s legal and policy framework can most effectively be used to address some of today’s most pressing and important public policy issues. A series of panels on CEQA success stories and best practices will cover how CEQA can best address streamlined housing approvals, sustainable transportation, tribal consultation, climate change, and wildfi re resilience.

This year’s panels and presentations will include:

• An in-depth analysis of 2019 case law developments

• Understanding CEQA standards of review after the Friant Ranch case

• How to successfully streamline CEQA compliance for housing approvals

• How to successfully implement new requirements for VMT analysis

• Updates and best practices for AB 52 tribal consultation

• Best practices for CEQA climate change analysis

• How CEQA can promote community wildfi re resilience

… and much more!

Whether you are an attorney, planner, consultant, agency staff, or project applicant, you will benefi t greatly from the knowledge you gain, as well as the opportunity to network with expert speakers and fellow attendees. Last year’s conference had over 175 attendees!

If you’re going to participate in only one CEQA conference this year, CLE International’s CEQA conference—widely recognized as the state’s best—is the one to attend! Please join us.

Sincerely,

Hilton Union Square333 O’Farrell StreetSan Francisco, California 94102

The Hilton Union Square is a TripAdvisor Green Leader, close to shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The hotel is only two blocks from cable cars and Westfi eld San Francisco Center shops. The airport is less than an hour away and the Hilton is close to MUNI and BART public transportation (Powell Street Station). There is also public parking across the street.

Enjoy the Hilton at specially discounted rates exclusively for Conference attendees!

Hotel ReservationsCall (415) 771-1400 and request the special rate for the CEQA Conference Group.

CONFERENCE LOCATION & HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

CEQA15th Annual SuperConference Live!

California Environmental Quality Act: The Year in Review

December 12-13, 2019 • Hilton Union Square • San Francisco

REGISTER NOW! cle.com/CEQA2019 or (800) 873-7130

Attorneys will earn Legal MCLE credits, including Ethics! Attorneys and Planners will earn AICP/CM and legal credits.

Curtis E. Alling, AICP , Program Co-ChairPrincipal, Ascent EnvironmentalSacramento

Al Herson, Esq., FAICP, Program Co-ChairOf Counsel, The Sohagi Law GroupSacramento

2004-2019

8:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 Welcome and IntroductionOverview of Day One

Curtis E. Alling, AICP, Program Co-ChairPrincipal, Ascent Environmental, Sacramento

Al Herson, Esq., FAICP, Program Co-ChairOf Counsel, Sohagi Law Group, Sacramento

8:45 Case Law and Legislative UpdateThe Year in Review

Robert “Perl” Perlmutter, Esq. Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, San Francisco

Andrew B. Sabey, Esq. Cox, Castle & Nicholson, San Francisco

10:15 Networking Break

10:30 Featured Presentation CEQA and the Sustainable City

Mayor Sam Liccardo City of San José

11:15 CEQA Streamlining for Housing ProjectsSuccess Stories

Barbara E. Kautz, Esq., FAICP Goldfarb & Lipman, Oakland

Mark Muenzer, DirectorMenlo Park Community Development Department, Menlo Park

Vincent Nicholas, Vice President of Real Estate DevelopmentCommunity Housing Opportunities Corporation, Fairfield

12:30 Lunch Break (on your own)

1:45 AB 52 Tribal ConsultationImplementation Update and Best Practices

Anecita Agustinez, Tribal Policy Advisor California Department of Water Resources, Sacramento

Merri K. Lopez-Keifer, Esq.Law Office of Merri Lopez-Keifer, Martinez

Holly A. Roberson, Esq Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard, Sacramento


3:30 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Analysis and Climate MitigationBest Approaches for a Challenging Topic

Allison C. Smith, Esq.Stoel Rives, Sacramento

Shaena B. Ulissi, Managing ConsultantRamboll, San Francisco, CA, and Pittsburgh, PA

Honey L. Walters, PrincipalAscent Environmental, Sacramento

4:45 Adjourn

8:00 Continental Breakfast

8:30 Welcome BackSummary of Day One and Overview of Day Two

Curtis E. Alling, AICP, Program Co-Chair

Al Herson, Esq., FAICP, Program Co-Chair

8:45 Innovations in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) AnalysisJuly 1, 2020 Is Quickly Approaching

Robert Swierk, AICP, Principal Transportation PlannerSanta Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose

Heidi Vonblum, Esq., Environmental Policy Program ManagerCity of San Diego

Terrell Watt, AICP, OwnerTerrell Watt Planning Consultants, San Francisco


10:30 CEQA Standards of Review after Friant RanchA Deep Dive

Susan Brandt-Hawley, Esq.Brandt-Hawley Law Group, Glen Ellen

Nicole H. Gordon, Esq. Sohagi Law Group, Los Angeles

James G. Moose, Esq. Remy Moose Manley, Sacramento

12:00 Lunch Break (on your own)

1:15 EthicsConsiderations for CEQA Practitioners

Joshua Nelson, Esq. Best Best & Krieger, Sacramento


2:30 How CEQA Supports Community Wildfire ResilienceStreamlining, Pace-and-Scale, Public Scrutiny

Heather Blair, Senior Project Manager Ascent Environmental, Sacramento

Ethan N. Elkind, Esq., Director of the Climate Program, CLEEUC Berkeley School of Law, Berkeley

Ken Schwarz, PhD, PrincipalHorizon Water and Environment, Oakland

4:00 Conference Review, Closing Remarks, and Evaluations Curtis E. Alling, AICP, Program Co-Chair

Al Herson, Esq., FAICP, Program Co-Chair

4:30 Adjourn


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13

Earn up to 12 Hours MCLE Credit Including One Hour of Ethics

Earn up to 12 Hours AICP/CM Credit Including AICP Legal Credits

MEET YOUR DISTINGUISHED FACULTY PROGRAM ATTORNEY: Michelle Messner, [email protected]


Tuition – same price as last year! Includes Course Materials$995 per person $895 each for 2 or more$795 each for 5 or more

Government or Nonprofit:

$895 per person$795 each for 2 or more$695 each for 5 or more

Course Materials provided in electronic format only.

Audio Home Study Course – available after the Conference$995 Audio Transcript and Course Materials

Course Materials Only – available after the Conference$250

CancellationFull tuition refunds (less a $75 administrative charge) will be given only if notice of cancellation is received at least seven days prior to the Conference. Substitutions may be made at any time.

©2019 CLE INTERNATIONAL SFOCEQ19

For a printable registration form, please visit www.cle.com/CEQA2019

PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS

Curtis E. Alling is a CEQA and NEPA expert with over 40 years of experience who specializes in wildfire resilience, natural resources management, climate change, and park and recreation projects. He is

a founding principal of Ascent, an environmental, climate change, planning/urban design, and natural resources consultancy.

Al Herson is a prominent environmental attorney and planner. He is a recognized authority on CEQA, NEPA, and natural resources law. He advises public agencies on complex

environmental and land use law matters and is co-author of California Environmental Law and Policy: A Practical Guide (2nd edition) and The NEPA Book.

FEATURED PRESENTER

Mayor Sam LiccardoCity of San Jose

SPEAKERS

Anecita Agustinez recommends policy and provides policy support to the Chief Deputy Director and Director at California’s DWR on all aspects of policy development and implementation related to tribal issues.

Heather Blair is a Senior Project Manager at Ascent Environmental. She assists federal, state, and local government agencies throughout California and the southwestern US in their compliance with CEQA, NEPA, and other environmental regulations.

Susan Brandt-Hawley represents public-interest groups in CEQA litigation statewide, with a primary focus on historic and aesthetic resources. Over 40 of her cases contribute to precedent in all districts of the California Court of Appeal and in the California Supreme Court.

Ethan N. Elkind is the Director of the Climate Program at CLEE and leads the Climate Change and Business Research Initiative on behalf of the UC Berkeley and UCLA Schools of Law.

SPEAKERS

Nicole H. Gordon litigates land use and environmental cases on behalf of public agencies and advises them on issues related to CEQA, NEPA, the ESA, and Planning and Zoning Laws.

Barbara E. Kautz is a partner at Goldfarb & Lipman, LLP in Oakland. She represents public and private clients in the areas of land use and real estate and has a particular focus on housing-related land use, CEQA, and fair housing laws.

Merri K. Lopez-Keifer is the Chief Legal Counsel for the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians. She is also a tribal member of the San Luis Rey band.

James G. Moose represents both public and private clients, including cities and counties, the State of California, special districts, environmental consultants, project applicants, environmental organizations, and individuals.

Mark Muenzer is the City of Menlo Park Community Development Director, overseeing the Planning, Building and Housing & Economic Development Divisions. His department is currently managing several proposed and under construction high-profile mixed-use developments.

Joshua Nelson is City Attorney for the cities of Gustine and Jackson, and General Counsel for the Alpine Springs County Water District, Beckwourth Fire District, North Tahoe Public Utility District, Plumas-Eureka Community Services District, and Tahoe Resource Conservation District.

Vincent Nicholas is responsible for Real Estate Development, which includes managing and creating real estate acquisitions in new and existing markets. This primarily includes projects in the development and construction process, ensuring ongoing project support.

Robert “Perl” Perlmutter focuses his practice on local initiatives and referendums, green building, land use, CEQA, NEPA, the Clean Water Act, Federal and California Clean Air Acts, California ESA, general planning and zoning laws, conservation easements, the Political Reform Act, and open meeting laws.

Holly A. Roberson represents public and private sector clients in natural resources and water law. Her practice focuses on environmental law and policy, CEQA, land use, water, climate change, and renewable energy. Prior to joining her firm, Holly served as Land Use Counsel at the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.

Andrew B. Sabey helps project applicants, land owners, and public agencies resolve disputes arising out of the land use entitlement and permitting process under state and federal laws. He has successfully resolved numerous cases involving CEQA, NEPA, and the ESA.

Ken Schwarz has technical expertise is in the fields of geomorphology, hydrology, and watershed management. He has directed complex projects throughout California involving flood and stormwater management, erosion and sedimentation, vegetation management and fire risk reduction, water rights, habitat conservation, and ecosystem restoration.

Allison C. Smith focuses her practice in environmental and energy law. Her experience includes CEQA and land use litigation, conducting environmental due diligence, and permitting solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and gas-fired energy facilities.

Robert Swierk is a planner with a focus on land use/transportation integration, congestion management, and Complete Streets. He has 20 years of professional experience, split between the public sector and private consulting firms.

Shaena B. Ulissi is a Managing Consultant at Ramboll who focuses on air quality and climate issues. She manages greenhouse gas, criteria air pollutant, and toxic air contaminant mitigation strategies and quantification for mixed-use projects, including large-scale net zero carbon developments.

Heidi Vonblum is the Environmental Policy Program Manager in the City of San Diego Planning Department’s Environment & Mobility Division. She previously served as a Deputy City Attorney in the Land Use Advisory and Litigation Units in the San Diego City Attorney’s Office.

Honey L. Walters is one of Ascent’s founding partners and leads her firm’s climate change and air quality practice. She is an expert in GHG analysis, reduction planning, air quality impact assessments, and modeling.

Terrell Watt has been the owner of Terrell Watt Planning Consultants since 1989, a firm specializing in planning and implementing projects that promote resource conservation and sustainable development patterns which are significant to the region.



CEQA

Earn up to 12 Hours MCLE CreditIncluding One Hour of Ethics

Earn up to 12 Hours AICP/CM CreditIncluding AICP Legal Credits

15th Annual SuperConference Live!

15th Annual SuperConference in San Francisco

Live!

Housing Crisis, GHGs, VMT & More


CEQACalifornia Environmental Quality Act: The Year in Review


Mayor Sam Liccardo City of San José

Mayor Sam Liccardo has led several environmental and sustainability initiatives in San Jose since taking office in 2015. The City has become the nation’s

largest to implement its own “Community Choice Energy” program, offering residents and businesses the option to use renewable energy sources at cost-competitive rates. Mayor Liccardo serves on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Valley Transit Authority boards and as co-chair of Joint Venture Silicon Valley.

Featured PresentationCEQA and the Sustainable City

“A terrific opportunity to receive updates from practitioners who are engaged in the implementation of CEQA, and who develop new rules, interpretation, legislation and guidelines.”

– Coleen Shade, Senior Planner, Nevada County Planning Department

“CLE International did an excellent job of bringing together panelists and speakers from a variety of professional backgrounds and roles in the practice of CEQA. Very well balanced discussion. Great organization, starting with case law from the year prior and (nearly) ending with the future of CEQA.”

– Rachel Schuett, Senior Environmental Planner, San Francisco Planning Department

“Good location. As always, incredibly valuable seminar. Well worth the money.” – Lisa E. Kranitz, Esq., Wallin, Kress, Reisman & Kranitz, Santa Monica

“Great conference. Lots of new and timely information.” – Robert Sawyer, Esq., Remy Moose Manley, Sacramento

Documents

Annual SuperConference Live! CEQA · faculty of CEQA attorneys, planners, and experts to provide you with the latest CEQA developments, trends, debates, and practice advice. In addition