Roger W. Caves

Adopting innovations in information technology: The California municipal experience

Abstract This paper examines how municipalities in California and other areas of the United States are going about incorporating advanced information technology into their civic operations. Whereas earlier cities prospered because of their location as transportation crossroads or as centers of industrial production, today cities are reassessing their role and capacities in relation to the emerging new knowledge-based economy and the needs of their citizens in this new social and economic environment. In this effort, cities are using a variety of new technologies to better prepare citizens to compete in the new economy to help in the delivery of public services, and to enhance the quality of life in their communities. The paper explores the development of the “smart communities” initiative in California and the California municipal experience in the adoption of municipal web sites.

Determining land use policy via the ballot box: The growth initiative blitz in California

Abstract Californians are afforded the opportunity to participate in the planning process and to voice their opinions to their elected officials in a variety of ways. However, for various reasons citizens have taken the opportunity to develop local legislation designed to manage or control growth. Once passed by the electorate, this legislation becomes law and must be enforced by the municipality. The use of direct democracy and ballot box planning in California is increasing and is expected to increase in the future. This paper examines how and why Californians have turned to the ballot box to decide land use matters. Examples of recent ballot measures and implications of ballot box planning are provided.

Counties and land-use regionalism: Models of growth governance

This article examines the contrasting roles of county government in state and regional growth management programs in the United States, and focuses on the potential utility of citizen-inspired land-use regionalism in stimulating county home-rule and modernization efforts. Two types of county involvement in intergovernmental growth management programs are discussed--a subordinated implementation function in “top-down” state growth programs, and an empowered role in “bottom-up” regionalism wherein county governments are key participants and mediators in the formulation of regional growth policy. A case study of grassroots regionalism in Cape Cod, Massachusetts between 1988-1991 spotlights how growth concerns can provide a compelling need for county government modernization and restructuring of land use control. The article concludes by discussing the benefits and costs of citizen-inspired regionalism, and recommends that states should do more to encourage locally-formulated regional solutions.

An Historical Analysis of Federal Housing Policy from the Presidential Perspective: An Intergovernmental Focus

The Federal government in the United States has been involved in housing policy for over 80 years. The involvement has grown from a handful of programmes to a vast array of programmes dealing with numerous aspects of housing. This paper provides an historical examination of how Presidents, from Herbert Hoover to Ronald Reagan, have viewed housing, their role in initiating Federal housing policies and programmes, and the role of the Federal government in resolving the countrys housing problems. Essentially, we have experienced three periods of Federal housing policy - a period where Presidents set the Federal housing policy agenda, a period where Congress became the centre of action, and a period where Presidents and Congress shared the initiative in developing and setting the Federal housing policy agenda. This paper examines Federal housing policy through these three periods.

Are Planning Programs Delivering What Planning Students Need? Perspectives on Planning Education from Practitioners

In our quest to determine the future needs of planning education, we asked three well-respected, long-time planning practitioners to provide their insights as to what planning students need to excel in their professional careers. These three individuals have all been honored with the designation of Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP) for their work and achievements in the field of planning. This chapter presents these three professionals’ views on their own planning careers and how their experiences in hiring and working with young planners have influenced their views on what university planning programs should be offering, in order to graduate the best prepared planning professionals.