SUBURBAN GROWTH IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

SUBURBAN GROWTH IN THE
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Section 0365
Monday Evenings 6:40-9:30pm
Founders Hall 180

* Only Offered Spring 2000
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Course description:

This course is designed as a Special Topics Course. Using a geographical approach we will examine the cause and effect of growth upon the San Joaquin Valley. Weekly guest lecturers from the community will discuss their views of growth in our region. Speakers will include representatives from agriculture, business, construction, governments, transportation, and local interest groups. Emphasis will be place upon understanding the process of growth (how it occurs) and assessing the impact of local political decisions upon all aspects of our communities; our economy, agriculture, housing, transportation, schools, cultural diversity, our environment, and the character of our communities.

Texts:

Daniels, When Cities and Country Collide, 1998.
Carl Abbott, Urban America in the Modern Age,1987.
Annual Editions, Urban Society, 9th edition, 1999.

Probable Schedule of Topics/Speakers

January 10: Introduction

January 17: Martin Luther King Holiday, no class!

January 24: Greg Clark, American Farmland Trust
                   Scope of the problem; Growth Pattern in Stanislaus County
                   Probable causes of growth; relationship to Silicon Valley; effects of sprawl
                   Solutions to suburban growth

January 31: Lecture regarding urbanization, suburbanization, and rejuvenation processes

February 7: Urban Planners from Modesto and surrounding communities

February 14: County Board of Supervisors

February 21: Presidents Holiday- no class

February 28: Ray Simon, County Board of Supervisors* 1st exam due*

March 6: Miguel Galves, Past-Planner for the City of Modesto

March 13: Denny Jackman, the FOOD Initiative

March 20: Randy Seifkin, the politics of local governance

March 27: Wilton Fryer, TID - Tuolumne River Restoration

April 3: Ed Tosnosky - Building Industry Association (BIA)

April 10: Easter Vacation

April 17: Oakland, Palo Alto, Fresno - examples of planned development, Sierra Business Council (an superb example of planned growth)

April 24: Attend local meeting; city councils, planning commission, or county board of supervisors

May 1: Steve Burke - local interest groups

May 8: Conclusions

May 15: Final Exam