Sacramento-area Council of Governments delegation visits Met Council to share regional planning lessons

A delegation from the Sacramento-area Council of Governments (SEIKOG) visited the Metropolitan Council on June 24 for a peer-to-peer exchange, outlining their regional planning framework, funding tools and recent programs aimed at housing and infrastructure.

SEIKOG Chair Jill Galdo and Executive Director James Corass described the region’s voluntary long-range plan, called the ‘‘blueprint,’’ and a pilot program—referred to as ‘‘green means go’’—that pools state, federal and private funds to upgrade water and sewer infrastructure and unlock housing development along transit corridors. Corass said the approach has helped the Sacramento region increase infill housing production from roughly 1,000 to 3,000 units a year in their targeted areas.

SEIKOG representatives also described governance and funding arrangements—multiple votes required on their board to balance county, city and population interests—and highlighted programs to improve bus operations, trail networks and climate-related housing strategies. They described public engagement tactics including outreach at farmers markets, park-and-rides and paid nonprofit partners to gather broader input.

Metropolitan Council members asked how SEIKOG secured grassroots buy-in for its blueprint and about definitions of housing-product types; SEIKOG staff said outreach was broadened beyond traditional hearings and cited a 5,500-square-foot ‘‘small lot’’ benchmark used in their materials. Council members and SEIKOG delegates said they expect ongoing dialogue during the delegation's stay and future peer-region visits.

Why it matters: Peer exchanges give regional agencies concrete examples of implementation tools—especially regarding housing, infrastructure finance and public engagement—that could inform Met Council approaches to housing production, trails and transit-oriented development.