9 plantoplace.com
City of South San Francisco | Facilitation Services
C. DESCRIPTION OF
PROPOSER’S FIRM
10 plantoplace.com
City of South San Francisco | Facilitation Services
C. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSER’S FIRM
Plan to Place is a four person community engagement and communication firm founded in 2016 and based in Marin County. At Plan to Place we value highly collaborative and inclusive community-based, neighborhood and urban planning efforts. As a full-service engagement firm, we are continually exploring and innovating new outreach tools that are tailored to meet the needs of our clients and the communities we work with. We implement an array of communication, facilitation and engagement in-person and digital platforms designed to provide access to a wide range of participants. We specialize in:
• Comprehensive community engagement strategies
• Customized outreach tools that spark imagination and intrigue • Interactive and approachable visioning exercises
• Inclusive processes that prioritize equitable integration of all voices and aspirations • Genuine and active listening to and empowering of stakeholders • Creative community-facing design and branding
• Thoughtful translation of complex planning challenges into collaborative community-supported
OUR APPROACH TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We take a holistic approach to community engagement that integrates client and stakeholder input throughout the process. We design context-sensitive and inclusive engagement plans that reach broad and representative audiences using the following strategies:
• Designing compelling outreach campaigns via virtual technologies and in-person events; • Bringing engagement opportunities to the places where people already are - be that at the park or on their smartphone;
• Building consensus among diverse groups by establishing strong relationships of trust; and • Cultivating community partnerships with local CBOs, and (whenever possible) employing locals to assist with project execution (e.g., event promotion, advisory groups, translation/ interpretation).
OUR EXPERIENCE
We have extensive experience working with communities throughout the Bay Area on complex and dynamic urban design and planning projects at a range of site scales from City-wide General Plans, Climate Adaptation Planning, Specific Plans, and Housing Elements, to the adaptive reuse of discrete sites and Vision Plans. We regularly facilitate conversations related to housing and displacement, adaptive reuse, accessibility and mobility, vital infrastructure improvements and essential services, environmental justice and climate resilience, and community benefits including parks and community gathering spaces. Our strength lies in fostering trust and generating authentic conversations with community ambassadors and representatives of difficult to reach sub-populations throughout the jurisdictions we work within. Our objective is to ensure that all perspectives are represented in the final outcome of any project; our sole focus is on the publicfacing side of the project, crafting tailored and adaptable engagement strategies, preparing attractive outreach materials, and developing accessible engagement activities. We have included a description of relevant projects in the reference and staff sections of this proposal, and would be happy to share other examples if desired.
11 plantoplace.com
City of South San Francisco | Facilitation Services
D. PROPOSER’S STAFF TEAM
12 plantoplace.com
City of South San Francisco | Facilitation Services
D. PROPOSER’S STAFF TEAM
DAVE JAVID, AICP, LEED AP
Principal
Dave will provide oversight and co-manage the project to review contracts, strategy, timeline and deliverables, and co-produce messaging and facilitate meetings. Dave has over 20 years of experience leading a diverse range of award-winning community-based planning efforts.
Dave’s experience as a project manager on vision, corridor, strategic/specific plan and placemaking projects has provided invaluable insight on the opportunities and the challenges of balancing client objectives while meeting community expectations. Dave has been fortunate to work with the community of South San Francisco on impactful planning projects including the General Plan Update and Lindenville Specific Plan.
RACHAEL SHARKLAND
Sr. Community Engagement Specialist and Designer (Point of Contact) Rachael will collaborate with the project team to prepare messaging and outreach materials and facilitate meetings, and will co-manage the project as the main point of contact between Plan to Place and the City. Rachael has 10 years of experience working as a researcher, designer, and project manager on complex urban design projects including master plans for higher education and health campuses and civic design and transit guidelines. Her experience in dance, counseling, and ecology informs her reverence for a participatory design process grounded in an ethics of resilience, equity, empathy, and agency. She is skilled in various community engagement and communication technologies and methods that advance a participatory design process. Rachael recently worked closely with City staff on the Lindenvill Specific Plan project.
QUENTIN FREEMAN
Outreach Specialist and Graphic Designer
Quentin will collaborate with the project team on both outreach materials and communication templates and assist with meeting logistics and facilitation. Quentin’s multidisciplinary work spans community-based research, visual arts, and place-based analysis and design to imagine and enact futures rooted in climate resilience and equity. A recent graduate from UC Berkeley’s Urban Studies program with emphasis on landscape architecture and socio-ecological sustainability, she is working to build connections between people and place, and believes wholly in a design process grounded in authentic and empowering participation at every step. www.plantoplace.com
DAVE JAVID, AICP, LEED AP
Founder + Principal
Dave has over 20 years of experience leading a diverse range of award-winning community-based planning efforts. Dave’s experience as a project manager on vision, corridor, strategic, specific plan and resilient placemaking projects has provided invaluable insight on the opportunities and the challenges of balancing client objectives while meeting community expectations. By implementing a range of engagement and communication platforms, Dave has forged relationships with key community leaders to establish partnerships and a common dialogue that has led to successful policy outcomes.
FEATURED PROJECTS
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE + EIR | SOUTH FRANCISCO + PETALUMA, CA Leading the community engagement effort in in collaboration with Raimi + Associates in both cities, co-facilitating meetings with advisory groups/committees, faith-based organizations, the business community, and regional agencies. Prepared interactive activities for in-person meetings and workshops and sub-areas meetings. We also developed virtual platforms to provide access to the planning effort through online media, surveys and feedback forms to engage diverse perspectives.
DIRIDON STATION AREA COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | SAN JOSE, CA Led a comprehensive engagement strategy in partnership with Raimi + Associates, through collaboration with City staff to facilitate a range of community and passionate stakeholder input related to the transformation of a transit hub in the heart of the downtown, targeted by Google for a mixed-use campus.
Outreach includes monthly meetings with a 38-person advisory group, stakeholder meetings, pop-up events, surveys, digital tools and a custom project website.
Creative solutions have been implemented to ensure all community members have an equal opportunity to share their perspectives, while navigating large protests that often occur during community meetings.
MULTI-FAMILY OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS | MARIN COUNTY, CA Led the community engagement strategy working closely with Planning Directors from 11 jurisdictions across Marin County to collectively prepared Objective Design Guidelines and Standards that will be used as a toolkit County wide.
Outreach includes in-person workshops and a range of virtual platforms and interactive online tools.
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT PROJECTS
LINDENVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN | South San Francisco, CA
HARBOR INDUSTRIAL AREA SPECIFIC PLAN | Belmont, CA
EASTSIDE INNOVATION DISTRICT AND NORTHEAST AREA PLANS | San Carlos, CA 2023–2031 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE | Corte Madera, Los Altos, Piedmont, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Larkspur
ASHBY + N. BERKELEY BART STATION ZONING | Berkeley, CA
DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AND EIR | San Mateo, CA
MTC REGIONAL “PLANNING INNOVATIONS” FORUMS | Bay Area, CA DOWNTOWN VISION PLAN | Los Altos, CA
EXPERIENCE
PLAN TO PLACE
Founder + Principal, 2016 – present
M-GROUP
Principal Planner + Designer, 2013 – 2016
PMC
Senior Urban Planner, 2011 – 2013
MIG INC.
Project Manager, 2009 – 2011
RRM DESIGN GROUP
Senior Planner, 2004 – 2009
EDUCATION
MASTER OF ARTS
City and Regional Planning
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Urban Studies and Planning,
Visual Arts Minor
University of California, San Diego
San Diego, CA
PRESENTATIONS
“Retooling the Outreach Toolkit”
CCAPA Conference, Oakland, CA
“Achieving Sustainable Results: Public
and Private Efforts & Coordination”
CCAPA Conference, Hollywood, CA
"The Planner’s Guide to Implementing
Green Principles”
CCAPA Conference, San José, CA
MEMBERSHIPS +
ACCREDITATIONS
Co-Director, Sustainability Committee,
APA, Cal Northern - 2012-2015
American Institute of Certified Planners
(AICP)
Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
San Francisco Bay Area Planning and
Urban Research (SPUR)
www.plantoplace.com
RACHAEL SHARKLAND
Sr. Engagement Specialist + Designer
Rachael has 10 years of experience working as a researcher, designer, and project manager on complex urban design projects including masterplans for higher education and health campuses and civic design and transit guidelines. Her experience in dance, counseling, and ecology informs her reverence for a participatory design process grounded in an ethics of resilience, equity, empathy, and agency. She is committed to design and leadership that promotes well-being for all life.
FEATURED PROJECTS
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE | SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Collaborated with the City in a three-year public engagement campaign that reached all 15 neighborhoods through sub-area advisory group meetings, pop-ups, in-person and virtual workshops, online feedback forms, and a dynamic project website.
HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATES | BAY AREA, CA
Designed and managed an inclusive engagement strategy in compliance with State Law and AFFH requirements including interactive mapping and website development, project videos, field interviews and workshops, and pop-up events.
REIMAGINE HILLSDALE | HILLSDALE SHOPPING CENTER, SAN MATEO, CA Co-designed and co-managed a comprehensive engagement with Gehl Studios including project messaging and branding, promotional collateral, a dynamic project website, virtual and in-person workshops.
NORTHEAST AREA SPECIFIC PLAN | SAN CARLOS, CA
Designed and managed an inclusive outreach campaign to foster dialogue and build consensus among stakeholders to determine a long-term vision for zoning, land use, transit, infrastructure, and environmental remediation for San Carlos’ industrial Northeast Area.
NORTH VENTURA COORDINATED AREA PLAN | PALO ALTO, CA
Managed a comprehensive, community-centered engagement and design process with the City of Palo Alto to transform a light industrial site into a mixed-use neighborhood with an equitable open space, housing, and transit strategy. Outreach included stakeholder and community advisory meetings, surveys, polls, digital mapping, and facilitated walking tours.
SOCIAL EQUITY & INCLUSIVE OUTREACH TOOLKIT | SAN FRANCISCO, CA Co-created a guide for design professionals that outlines principles, frameworks, and tools to implement an equitable and inclusive public engagement process.
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT PROJECTS
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE | Petaluma, CA
HARBOR INDUSTRIAL AREA SPECIFIC PLAN | Belmont, CA
LINDENVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN | South San Francisco, CA
MISSION ROCK DESIGN GUIDELINES | San Francisco, CA
EXPERIENCE
PLAN TO PLACE
Sr. Engagement Specialist + Designer,
2021-present
PERKINS & WILL
Designer + Project Manager, 2016-2020
GLS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Designer + Project Manager, 2014-2016
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
Project Manager
2008-2010
DANCE EDUCATOR
2016-present
CERTIFIED SOMATIC PRACTICIONER
2023
EDUCATION
MA Landscape Architecture
Harvard University, 2010-2013
BA Philosophy, Literature, and
History
Wesleyan University, 2003-2007
TRAINING
Integrative Counseling
Hakomi Institute, 2020–2022
Equity & Anti-Racism
Facilitation
Holistic Resistance, 2020-present
Mind-Body Coaching
Embody Lab, 2023
www.plantoplace.com
QUENTIN FREEMAN
Outreach Specialist and Graphic Designer
Quentin’s multidisciplinary work spans community-based research, visual arts, and place-based analysis and design to imagine and enact futures rooted in climate resilience and equity. A recent graduate from UC Berkeley’s Urban Studies program with emphasis on landscape architecture and socio-ecological sustainability, she is working to build connections between people and place, and believes wholly in a design process grounded in authentic and empowering participation at every step.
FEATURED PROJECTS
BELMONT HARBOR INDUSTRIAL AREA SPECIFIC PLAN | BELMONT, CA Collaboratively creating high-level engagement strategies, designing outreach materials, and co-facilitating virtual and in-person pop ups, community workshops, and stakeholder meetings to empower the Belmont community to shape the future of the HIA. Ongoing creation of new, interactive engagement strategies.
LINDENVILLE SPECIFIC PLAN | SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Creating outreach materials in four languages, facilitating pop-up events and community workshops, and synthesizing feedback from the community for incorporation into the Lindenville Specific Plan.
SAN CARLOS NORTHEAST AREA SPECIFIC PLAN | SAN CARLOS, CA Crafting high-level engagement strategies, designing virtual engagement materials, and co-facilitating virtual engagement events to give San Carlos residents a platform to shape the future of the Northeast Area.
CORTE MADERA CLIMATE ADAPTATION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN | CORTE
MADERA, CA
Analyzing community needs and sentiments to craft effective engagement strategies, designing outreach materials, website, and project graphics to make the planning process as transparent and equitable as possible.
RELEVANT RESEARCH
“Cultural and Climatic Resiliency of Local Food Systems, Región de la Araucanía, Southern Chile.” University of California and Pontificia Universidad de Chile, Villarrica. Villarrica, Chile.
“Mapping the History of the Land in the East Bay, 1800-present day., to Understand Present Day Social Geographies and Access to Food and Land.” University of California, Berkeley.
“The Case for Cultural Districts as Restorative City Planning in Oakland,” researched and written for the East Side Arts Alliance, Oakland, CA.
EXPERIENCE
PLAN TO PLACE
Outreach Specialist + Graphic Designer,
2023-present
LEXICON OF SUSTAINABILITY
Graphic Designer + Storytelling Intern,
2022
CENTER FOR CITIES + SCHOOLS
Youth Planning Mentor, 2022
GROUNDWORK
Environmental Fellow, 2021
SANTA CRUZ MUSEUM OF ARTS +
HISTORY
Youth Arts Coordinator, 2015-2019
FREELANCE ARTIST + ILLUSTRATOR
2020 - present
EDUCATION
BA Urban Studies
University of California, Berkeley, 2019-
2023