The awards program showcases county and city/town program/project oriented work and elected officials, who have taken actions that demonstrate a significant commitment to achieving the regional planning goal of “complete communities.” The awards single out counties and cities and towns that meet the day-to-day needs of residents and promote conservation efforts that protect vital natural, scenic, and agricultural resource areas. There is also a distinguished leadership category which honors an elected official. Individual local governments or groups of jurisdictions working in partnership may submit nominations for the regional Growing Smarter Together Awards.

Submittals are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2012.

2012 Call for Entries

Descriptions and videos of previous award winners are below.

Fifth Annual ABAG Growing Smarter Together
AWARDS PROGRAM

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• Welcome from ABAG's President
  
  
• Distinguished Leadership Award
  Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty was named the 2011 Distinguished Leader for his visionary leadership and ability to translate strategies for sustainable communities into action, focusing on the benefits of integrated land use and transportation. His far-reaching policies have strengthened and supported Livermore and other east Alameda Cities and helped create Livermore’s compact downtown, Livermore Film Commission, enhanced public safety, and increased transportation efficiency. His leadership in advocating and supporting open space and agricultural land preservation has also had a positive impact on neighborhoods and the business community partnerships in Alameda County and region-wide. His regional leadership and commitment were cited as models for how to make a difference. Supervisor Haggerty is currently Metropolitan Transportation Commission Chair and Alameda County Transportation Commission Vice Chair. He is ABAG Past President, Past Chair of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District), and has served as chair of Alameda County Transportation Authority and Alameda County Congestion Management Agency.
  
  
• Sharing the Benefits
  The Sharing the Benefits Award was given to the City/County Association of Government (C/CAG) of San Mateo County for the Sub-RHNA Process in San Mateo County -- the first sub-regional approach in the state for handling the state mandated regional allocation of housing numbers (RHNA) within their county. The groundbreaking collaborative of the County and the 20 cities and towns in San Mateo County was managed by C/CAG. Through collaboration, sharing, and housing need trades, the sub-regional approach allowed the 21 jurisdictions to determine their own methodology for clustering housing in areas of greatest need. Working together, they were able to creatively plan for all levels of housing to meet specific community needs and to find the greatest benefits for the county as a whole, while taking into consideration commuting patterns, job locations, and affects on air quality.
  
  
• Building a Better Bay Area – Urban Design
  The Urban Design Award was given to the City of Oakland /Oakland Housing Authority for Tassafaronga Village. Tassafaronga Village was a 7.5 acre brownfield infill site located in East Oakland—previously home to decrepit public housing, an abandoned factory building, and unused train tracks. Through the innovative sustainable design of the architect, David Baker and Associates, Tassafaronga Village is now a vibrant, green community filled with multiple housing types, including energy-efficient affordable family rental apartments, for-sale townhouses, and service-enhanced housing with access to an on-site medical clinic. Specially landscaped walking paths and pedestrian-friendly public and private roadways connects residents to a new public library, elementary schools, and a city park and recreation center. Under the leadership of the City of Oakland Housing Authority, Tassafaronga Village now serves as a model of sustainable green development and affordable housing urban design, achieving the first LEED Neighborhood Development Gold Certified Plan in California.
  
  
• Preserving and Protecting the Environment
  The Preserving and Protecting the Environment Award was given to the County of Alameda/Flood Control and Water District for the Castro Valley Creek Daylighting and Restoration Project. The Castro Valley Creek restoration involved removal of an underground 300 foot culvert and “daylighting” this section into a more natural channel. This restoration of the urban stream created new habitat for birds and riparian wildlife, provided flood protection for the adjacent new Castro Valley Library and Castro Valley neighborhoods, and helped Union City meet mitigation requirements necessary to build a new multimodal transportation hub. The natural design also provided improved water quality by slowing and filtering the flow of water. Project partners included the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District and the Alameda County Arts Commission. Castro Valley Creek, situated in unincorporated Alameda County, now provides a scenic destination and educational community center and increases access to public transportation and the town’s commercial area.