The recession's very personal impacts provide the real story at the APA California conference that concludes Wednesday in Squaw Valley.
Sure, we're all going to panels about climate change and LEED and CEQA and form-based zoning codes. But in between and after the panels about saving the world, the talk is about layoffs, unexpected career changes, firm mergers, doing more with less, and a lack of private sector work.
Last year's APA California conference took place while the economic collapse was just getting started. There were a lot of nervous jokes about what it all might mean for people in the land use profession. Now we know, and it's no joke.
On Monday morning, a recent San Jose State University graduate stared in disbelief at a completely empty job board. By Tuesday morning, he was back at the board taking notes on the five jobs that had been listed. At a typical conference, there might be upwards of two dozen postings.
When one panel presenter said that Yolo County intends to make its general plan update EIR so comprehensive that the county will not need to prepare subsequent EIRs for compatible projects, there was an audible groan from consultants in the audience. Cross off Yolo County as a potential client.
Several people told me about having to take jobs only tangentially related to land use planning. Others told me they had to cover at least some of the cost of the conference themselves because their employer's travel budget was virtually nil. Public sector employers said they are as busy as ever – especially if they have their fingers in the climate change business – but they have fewer resources than ever. Fee revenue has dried up, and the staff has shrunk. The only thing growing is state mandates.
And no one seems to think the situation is going to be a whole lot better by the time of APA California's 2010 conference.
– Paul Shigley
