Committee on Government Affairs — September 14, 2009

Next Meeting:  Mon., Sept. 14, 2009, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Please note the unusual time.)

Place:  Berkeley Chamber Conference Room, 1834 University Ave.

Featured Panelists: 

     *John Gooding, Quadric Group (Emeryville political consulting firm)
     *Mark Rhoades (CityCentric Investments)
     *Michael Goldin (Goldin Design)

Topic:  How the Chamber can work to Promote and Implement Smart Growth* in Berkeley

*"The features that distingish smart growth in a community vary from place to place.  In general, smart growth invests time, attention, and resources in restoring community and vitality to center cities and older suburbs.  New smart growth is more town-centered, is transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses.  It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities." (www.smartgrowth.org)

Please join us for a timely discussion of the role the Chamber can play in promoting and implementing "smart growth" in Berkeley.  "Smart growth" has been a hot topic over the past three years in Berkeley and promises to be only more so over the next two.

We are very fortunate to have three panelists:

*John Gooding, a political consultant in Emeryville and Board President of the Emeryville Chamber

*Mark Rhoades, a principal in City Centric Investors, former Principal Planner for the City of Berkeley, and a member of the Berkeley Chamber Board

*Michael Goldin, a designer/architect, a principal in the Berkeley design company, Swerve, and a member of the Berkeley Chamber Board

Please note the unusual time of this event - 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  We are meeting an hour earlier than usual because this was the only time that all three of our panelists could be present.  Immediately following the brief presentation by panelists, there will be ample time for Q&A.