Learn how California’s creative culture is changing—shaped by the cost of living, access to funding, technology, climate change, and the resilience of our communities and culture. The California Arts Council, in partnership with state agencies, has developed a strategic framework to strengthen California’s $2.9 billion creative sector. This panel brings together statewide leaders who shaped the plan to share key findings and discuss innovative policies—from workforce development to cultural districts and artist housing—that can expand opportunities for creative workers and position California as a global leader in arts and culture.

Join VTA for a guided ride along the future Central Bikeway in San Jose — the county’s first on-street bike highway. Starting at the Santa Clara Caltrain Station, the 6-mile roundtrip will showcase planned features like protected bike lanes, safer intersections, and connections to Caltrain and BART. The project, shaped through community input, aims to make biking a safe, low-stress, and practical option for commuting, errands, and recreation while promoting healthier, more connected communities. This 6-mile roundtrip ride is mostly flat but includes some riding along busier streets, so it may not be entirely beginner friendly. Bring your bike, helmet, water, and enthusiasm!

Join the San Jos é Chamber of Commerce and SPUR for a lunchtime meet-and-greet with San José ' s newest Councilmember, Anthony Tordillos, at the San Jose Chamber office in downtown San José. Joining as moderator will be Silicon Valley Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Gary Boulanger. This “brown bag” event is a chance to bring your lunch, connect with fellow community members, and hear directly from Councilmember Tordillos about his goals for downtown San José. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts.

Cities across the country are facing multiple planning challenges: housing demand, complex zoning, environmental constraints, seasonal construction windows, and limited staff capacity. These pressures slow permitting, frustrate applicants, and pull planners away from the work they came to do -- building great communities. This session will present case studies from two startup companies that are collaborating with city planners, land use attorneys, developers, and architects to improve permitting outcomes. Join us to learn about strategies used to streamline workflows, increase transparency, and support timely housing delivery.

Join us for a virtual Open House to learn about the draft San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP)—the City’s roadmap for reducing the impacts of climate-related threats such as wildfires, flooding, sea level rise, and extreme heat events. This event will provide an overview of the plan and explain how community members can share public comment. Don’t miss this opportunity to understand the strategies being proposed to build a more climate-ready San José and add your voice to the conversation.

Join SPUR’s Transportation Policy Director, Laura Tolkoff, in conversation with Oakland's Director of Transportation, Josh Rowan, about building safer streets across the city. Come hear how his team is advancing this vision, what progress has been made so far, and what’s next in their efforts to create a safer, more accessible transportation network for all Oaklanders.

This summer, Urban Land Institute (ULI) San Francisco invited designers, planners, and community members to reimagine Market Street—San Francisco’s most iconic civic boulevard—as a place that better serves everyone who lives, works, and visits the city. Six winning visions were selected as part of the Market Street Reimagined program. Join us at SPUR as we welcome the six winners to present their ideas. Each team will share a 5-minute presentation of their vision board, followed by time for conversation and discussion with the audience.

As federal support for climate action and resilience recedes, state and local governments must step up. This program will explore how SPUR and partners are responding, the policies and coalitions emerging, and how we can all help advance climate action, resilience, and equity.