The Randall Lewis Seminars are held the Third Thursday of every month except July, August and December. They usually will begin at 5:30 p.m.

All seminar series are free of charge; however, reservations are requested to ensure adequate space and refreshments.

Topic suggestions for the Randall Lewis Seminar Series are welcome by emailing rick.burnham@ucr.edu.
 

2008 Seminars

October 16, 2008 - Developing a Sense of Place:
                                  How Do We Nurture Community?

What, exactly, is community and how do we find it? How do you feel when you feel you belong? What is it you feel when you feel “at home”? Historian Karen Wilson, Ph.D., Assistant Director of the Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts at UC Riverside, will consider these questions, examine case studies of old and new community-making, and discuss guidelines to building community.

 

Past Seminars

September 18, 2008 - How Do We Meet The
                                       Rising Cost of Child Care?

The availability of child care has not kept pace with the Inland region's rapid population growth. In Riverside County, for example, there has been a 20 percent increase in the birth-through- age-five population in the past five years, creating a significant gap in the number of licensed child care spaces. Deborah Clark-Crews, Executive Director of the Riverside County Child care consortium; and Kristi Van Heule, Program Coordinator with First 5 Riverside, will discuss the problem, analyze solutions and offer assistance for those seeking child care.

June 19, 2008 - What's Important To
                            Riverside County Residents?

Results of a recent survey of Riverside County residents will be analyzed and discussed by Dr. Martin Johnson, UCR Associate Professor of Political Science and Co-Director of the UCR Survey Research Center. Survey topics include the economy, housing, transportation, education, health care, public service and policy issues and political participation.

 

May 15, 2008 - How Will Changing U.S. Census
                           Affect Decision-Making?

David A. Swanson, nationally known demographer, Interim Director of the Blakely Center and UCR Professor of Sociology will discuss recent and upcoming changes in the U.S. Census and their effects on decision-making on social and economic issues. 
 

April 17, 2008 - Why Good Planning is Always
                            Overpowered by Bad Prices

Over his 40-year career in public management, Norman King has been developing and articulating a different way of looking at public policy based on the concepts of demand management and using market-based policies to achieve policy goals.  The result is what he describes as a somewhat contrary approach to many of the politically correct and ideological policies advocated on both the left and the right.

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

March 20, 2008 - Tips and Tricks for Surviving
                               the Daily Commute

Dr. David Rizzo, also known as Dr. Roadmap, will discuss how those daily commutes can affect your health and what to do to make the trip more pleasant.

 

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
 

 

Feb. 21, 2008 - Advancing Urban Systems Models
                            in the 21st Century

Dr. Jeff Tayman’s presentation will provide a brief history of Urban Systems Models, the general framework of integrated land use and transportation models, their application to policy and decision-making; and future directions of USM. He also will discuss the interregional commuting between San Diego and southwest Riverside County and other USM efforts in California.
 

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 

Karen Wilson

Martin Johnson
 

David A. Swanson

Norman King
 

Dr. David Rizzo

Jeff Tayman



 

Jan. 17, 2008 - The Economics of Curbside Parking -
                            Should It Be Free?

Richard J. Arnott, Distinguished Professor of Economics at UCR, will discuss whether curbside parking should be free. His talk will explore such issues as whether curbside parking creates less space for traffic and increased traffic congestion, subsidized parking in shopping centers and parking's effects on downtown revitalization.
 

Nov. 15 - The Inland Region's
                 Emerging White-Collar Workforce

Mary Sullivan, a commercial real estate consultant formerly with Grubb & Ellis Co. in Ontario, will discuss the growth of high quality office development and how an increase in highly educated white-collar workers is changing the region's blue-collar workforce image. What challenges and opportunities will this employment shift present to employers, educators and students? And where will emerging office markets develop in the near future?

Richard J. Arnott

Mary Sullivan  

Oct. 18 - Building A Sense Of Community
                In A Commuter Society

Karthick Ramakrishnan, UCR Assistant Professor of Political Science, will present findings from a large-scale research project on civic engagement in the Inland Empire. The research, funded by the James Irvine Foundation, includes a survey of 2,000 residents, five focus groups with members of different racial and ethnic groups, and dozens of interviews with elected officials and community organization leaders throughout the region. 


 

Sept. 20 - Factory Constructed Homes:
                  An Option for Affordable Housing?

Billie A. Tribbett, Director of Local Government Relations for the California Manufactured Housing Institute, will discuss how factory constructed homes fit into the affordable housing mix,  how they can assist municipalities in achieving "Green" housing standards, and related topics.The seminar series is on summer break. The fall seminars will begin on Sept. 20. The speaker, time and location will be announced at a later date.

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

une 21 - Intelligent Transportation Systems:
                 Hope for Today’s Traffic?

After realizing that we can no longer build ourselves out of congestion (i.e., creating new roads), transportation planners have turned to “Intelligent Transportation System” technology to improve transportation efficiency using our current infrastructure. UCR Professor Matthew Barth, Director of UCR’s College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) will discuss how — through the use of today’s latest computers, control systems, and communications technology — ITS attempts to improve safety, throughput, and reduce the environmental impacts of transportation. 

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

May 17 - Transportation for Livable Communities

Ryan Snyder of Ryan Snyder Associates, a Los Angeles new-urbanist transportation planning firm, will discuss why planning transportation should be a top priority for livable communities. He will discuss transportation-mindful land use planning, how to plan for walkable communities, integrating bicycles, the role of various transit service tiers and auto parking policies. His presentation will include several examples contrasting communities where transportation planning incorporates livable community concepts with conventional suburbia.

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

April 19– Designing Healthier Communities

Dr. Eric Frykman, Riverside Community Health Agency Director and Public Health Officer in Riverside County; and Michael Osur, Deputy Director for the Riverside County Department of Public Health, will discuss efforts being made to create healthy communities in the Inland region.

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Karthick
Ramakrishnan
 

Billie A. Tribbett
 

Matthew Barth
 

Ryan Snyder

Dr. Eric Frykman

March 15– Planned Communities: The Changing Role

Steve Johnson, Director, Metrostudy Southern California region; and Randal W. Jackson, President of The Planning Center of Costa Mesa, will discuss how today's planned communities are being created to better meet the needs and desires of future homebuyers.

Location: Humanities 1500, UCR campus, Riverside

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Steve Johnson

Feb. 15– Can the U.S. Gain Independence from Foreign Oil?

Joseph Norbeck, Director of the Blakely Center and the Environmental Research Institute at UCR, will discuss how the U.S. can reduce its dependence on foreign oil in a sustainable manner.

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Joseph Norbeck

Jan. 18 – Transit making a comeback

As future growth puts increasing demands on available land and transportation infrastructure, there is a growing need to examine alternative planning and growth options. One such alternative is transit-oriented development, considered a major solution to peak oil and global warming through development of compact, mixed-use communities that make it more convenient for residents and employees to travel by transit, bicycle, on foot or by car. Rick Bishop, Executive Director of the Western Riverside Council of Governments, will present an overview of the transit-oriented development concept and discuss WRCOG's study for creating transit-oriented development at six existing and potential rail and bus rapid transit station areas in western Riverside County.

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Rick Bishop

Nov. 16 – Will We Have Enough Water

Arthur L. Littleworth, one of the preeminent water attorneys in the United States and a senior partner in the Environmental Law and Natural Resources Practice Group at Best Best & Krieger LLP in Riverside, will discuss California’s current water supply and how it is allocated among environmental, agricultural and urban uses. Mr.Littleworth will explore our water supply system’s reliability, and whether it is at risk from earthquakes, flooding disasters in the Delta and effects from global warming. He will examine whether conservation is the answer to growing water demand, and discuss opportunities for increasing our developed water supply.

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Arthur L. Littleworth

Oct. 19 – Reducing Wildfire Risks

Continuing growth of suburban development into forests and wildlands is increasing the dangers to life and property from wildfires. Margaret Reams, associate professor of the Department of Environmental Studies at Louisiana State University, has conducted research on state and local wildfire mitigation programs and will discuss her recent survey on the most effective wildfire risk reduction strategies being implemented and the significant obstacles being met in creating effective local partnerships.

Speaker: Margaret Reams, associate professor, Department of Environmental Studies, Louisiana State University

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Sept. 21 – Is Housing Boom Going Bust?

After more than three years of steady gains, the region’s home sales have reversed course and fallen the past eight months, and recent double-digit gains in home values also are slowing. Are these signs of a severe market correction, a more gradual slowdown or merely a statistical blip? John Karevoll, analyst for La Jolla-based DataQuick Information Systems, will discuss a wide range of data on the housing markets in Southern California and the Inland area.

Speaker: John Karevoll, analyst, DataQuick Information Systems

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

John Karevoll

June 15 – Sprawl Ain’t the End of the World

In contrast to May’s speaker, architectural historian Robert Bruegmann isn’t all that upset about sprawl. The suburban growth patterns seen in the U.S. over the past few decades are right in line with historical trends, he says, and are counterbalanced by the return of the wealthy to central cities. His new book, Sprawl: A Compact History, draws examples from centuries of urban growth around the world.

Speakers: Robert Bruegmann, Professor of Art History, Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Illinois, Chicago

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Robert Bruegmann

May 18 – Land Use Zoning: An Idea Whose Time Has Passed

Zoning laws were created in the wake of muckraker journalism such as Shame of the Cities. But, says Rick Cole, they wound up contributing to sprawl by separating potentially compatible land uses. And, they contributed to a system which deals with approving projects rather than creating places people want to live.

Speakers: Rick Cole, City Manager, City of Ventura

Location: Chancellor’s Conference Room, University Village, UV 207

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Gallery

Rick Cole

April 20 – Regional Infrastructure for Southern California

Increasingly, Southern California competes with other regions around the world. For the region to succeed, Pisano, says, we must put our priorities on airports, seaports, their transport connections and the other kinds of infrastructure that will ensure the region remains a highly attractive place to live and do business.

Speakers: Mark Pisano, Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments

Location: UCR Extension Building: Conference Room E

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Gallery

Mark Pisano

March 16 – What’s Next in Residential Architecture?

American families are changing. Residential developments are getting denser. Land is more expensive. How are all these factors affecting the design of new houses, and why. Principals from two major Southern California architectural firms show their conceptions of the next generation of home design and discuss the way social and market changes are redefining their work.

Speakers: Donald Jacobs, President, JZMK Partners

Bob Wilhelm, Senior Principal-Senior Designer, William Hezmalhalch Architects

Location: HMNSS 1500

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Gallery

Don Jacobs

Bob Wilhelm

February 16 – Density: Where and Why

With another million or so people headed to Inland Southern California over the next 20 years, some planners are advocating greater density in new developments to create more intimate communities, cut down on auto travel and preserve open space. But others feel that there is plenty of acreage in the two-county area that can provide the 7,200-square-foot lot house that so many buyers want. What’s a good idea in downtown Riverside or San Bernardino might make no sense in Menifee or Apple Valley. See the debate.

Speakers: John David Petty
Riverside County Planning Commissioner

Dan Silver
Executive Director, Endangered Habitats League

Location: Riverside City Council Chambers, City Hall, 3900 Main St., Riverside

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Gallery

John Petty

Dan Silver

January 19 – Thinking Even Bigger – At Least in Planning

Robert Johnson, Riverside County’s Planning Director, wants the people bringing proposals in his department, and his own planners, to start thinking bigger. Even if the project is small, he wants everyone thinking about how it fits into the larger community. He’ll talk about getting everyone to buy into this concept. Visit Riverside County Planning Department’s page, to view several presentations on planning ideas as well as documents.

Speakers: Robert Johnson
Planning Director, Riverside County

Location: Chancellor's Conference Room at the University Village.

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Gallery

Robert Johnson

November 17 – Ontario: A New Model Colony

Ontario is one of the older, and better established cities, in Inland Southern California. But, with the breakup of the Chino Dairy Preserve, it gained 8,200 new acres and the chance to re-make itself. A plan for the area adopted in 1998 focused on residential development. City Manager Greg Devereaux will talk about the challenges of implementing the plan and the way it is changing the city. City Manager’s Current update

Speakers: Greg Devereaux
City Manager, Ontario

Location: The Preserve at Chino. See map.

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Gallery

Greg Devereaux

October 20 – Traffic, Logistics, Railroads and Their Costs

Waiting for a train to pass, or dodging trucks on Inland Southern California freeways, it’s become apparent how much the region’s transportation infrastructure has been burdened with the growth in international trade and the port complex of Los Angeles-Long Beach. Southern Californians are suffering the traffic consequences of providing cheaper televisions in Iowa. They are also sharing the burdens of paying for the improvements. Now, a movement is growing up to spread the infrastructure costs of international trade across the country.

Speaker: Robert Wolf
Co-Chair, Southern California Leadership Council

Commentator: Marlon Boarnet
Chair, Department of Policy, Planning and Design, UC Irvine.

Location: UCR Extension Center. See Map.

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Gallery

Robert Wolf

Marlon Boarnet

September 15 – California 2025: Taking on the Future

Over the next 20 years, between 7 and 11 million people will join California’s population. They will enter a state already concerned with building and maintaining infrastructure for the existing 37 million people. Playing catchup on highways, schools and water facilities while adding that many people offers a daunting prospect for policy makers on both the state and local levels.

Speakers: Elisa Barbour
PPIC Researcher

Norm King
Executive director of the San Bernardino Associated Governments

Location: SANBAG Headquarters at Sante Fe Depot. See map

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Gallery

Elisa Barbour

Norm King

PPIC CA2025

June 16 – Inclusionary Zoning: Can It Meet Its Quotas?

Inclusionary Zoning, or mandating that a percentage of every residential development be affordable to lower income families, is being considered by a number of city councils around the region. But, there’s a lively debate about whether it will really accomplish the goal of more affordable housing.

Speakers: Dr. Victoria Basolo
Professor in the Department of Planning, Policy and Design, UC Irvine and author of Policy Claims with Weak Evidence: A Critique of the Reason Foundation Study on Inclusionary Housing in the Bay Area.

Dr. Adrian Moore
Executive Director, Reason Public Policy Institute and Project Director for Housing Supply and Affordability: Do Affordable Housing Mandates Work?, the study critiqued by Dr. Basolo.

Janice Rutherford
City Councilwoman, City of Fontana, one of the Inland Southern California cities considering an inclusionary zoning ordinance.

Location: UC Riverside campus, Chancellor's Conference Room UV207, University Village.See map

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Gallery.

Dr. Victoria Basolo

Dr. Adrian Moore

Janice Rutherford

May 19 – The Paris Opera and the Role of Cultural Institutions in City Development.

Speaker: Dr. Christopher Mead
Dean, College of Fine Arts,  University of New Mexico

Panelists: Dr. Toby Miller
Director, UCR’s Department of Film and Visual Culture

Ellen Estilai
Executive Director, Riverside Arts Council

Dr. Patricia Morton
Associate Professor and Chair of the UCR Art History Department and Faculty Director of the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts

Location: UC Riverside campus, Arts 335. See map

Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Gallery.

Dr. Christopher Mead

Dr. Toby Miller

April 26 – Air Quality in Inland Southern California.

Speaker: Dr. James Lents
Director, Edward J. Blakely Center for Sustainable Suburban Development and former Executive Officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District

Commentator: Dr. Barry Wallerstein
Executive Director, South Coast Air Quality Management District

Location: UC Riverside campus, Chancellor's Conference Room UV207, University Village. See map

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pmw

Gallery

Dr. Jim Lents

Dr. Barry Wallerstein