2022 Regional Conference & General Assembly

May 5-6
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
We want to thank all attendees, speakers, and sponsors who attended SCAG’s 57th SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly. It was fantastic to convene in person—for the first time in three years—to get to the heart of how we can foster change and address challenges in our communities.
We want to sincerely thank our sponsors for their generous support of the program. Thanks also to our speakers, panelists, members, and partners who made the event successful.
Photos
Agenda
May 4 | Wednesday
TIME | AGENDA |
---|---|
6 – 8 p.m. | PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION (INVITATION ONLY) |
May 5 | THURSday
TIME | AGENDA |
---|---|
8 – 10 a.m. | REGISTRATION, NETWORKING & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST Sponsored by AT&T |
9 – 10 a.m. | REGIONAL COUNCIL MEETING |
10:15 – 11 a.m. | WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS |
11 a.m. – noon | GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING |
12:15 – 2 p.m. | SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS LUNCHEON Sponsored by Veolia |
2:15 – 3:15 p.m. | BREAKOUT SESSIONS I & STUDENT SHOWCASE
Bridging the Digital Divide – Getting to Universal Broadband
Panelists:
Advancing Housing Production Across Sectors: Tools, Resources & Opportunities
Panelists:
Student Showcase
|
3:15 – 3:45 p.m. | BREAK & NETWORKING |
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. | BREAKOUT SESSIONS II & STUDENT SHOWCASE
The Region’s Zero-Emission Transformation
Panelists:
Funding Futures of Growth
Panelists:
Student Showcase
|
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | EVENING RECEPTION Sponsored by Automobile Club of Southern California and Best, Best & Krieger |
May 6 | FRIday
TIME | AGENDA |
---|---|
8:00 a.m. | REGISTRATION |
8:30 – 9 a.m. | BREAKFAST Sponsored by Ullico |
9 – 9:10 a.m. | WELCOME |
9:10 – 9:30 a.m. | STUDENT SHOWCASE AWARDS |
9:30 – 10 a.m. | KEYNOTE ADDRESS John Quiñones, ABC News Veteran, Creator & Host, “What Would You Do?” |
10 – 11:15 a.m. | PLENARY SESSION
Connect SoCal: A Bold Vision for 2050
Panelists:
|
11:15 a.m. | CONFERENCE WRAP-UP |

California State Budget Reduces Barriers to Housing Production and Extends Deadline for Regional Early Action Planning (REAP 2.0) Program
Earlier this week, the governor signed the 2025-2026 state budget, which includes a suite of reforms to reduce barriers to housing production.

Connect SoCal 2024 Implementation Update: Sustainable Communities Strategy Accepted
On May 7, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) informed SCAG that it had accepted SCAG’s determination that the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) meets CARB’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets.

General Assembly Elects 2025-26 Board Officers
The General Assembly voted to approve the nominations for the SCAG 2025-26 Regional Council officers as recommended by the Regional Council: Hon. Cindy Allen (City of Long Beach) will serve as 2025-26 Regional Council president; Hon. Ray Marquez (City of Chino Hills) will serve as Regional Council first vice president; and Hon. Jenny Crosswhite (City of Santa Paula) will serve as Regional Council second vice president. Leadership also recognized Hon.

Surface Transportation Block Grant and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Call for Project Nominations Now Open
The federal fiscal year 2026-27 and federal fiscal year 2027-28 Surface Transportation Block Grant program (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program (CMAQ) SCAG online application opened for all eligible applicants on March 31. This application will be available through May 16 at 5 p.m.

Surface Transportation Block Grant and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Guidelines Now Available
On March 6, the SCAG Regional Council approved the federal fiscal year 2026-27 and federal fiscal year 2027-28 Surface Transportation Block Grant program (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program (CMAQ) Program Guidelines.