Join us for the 94th Annual Conference of the California County Planning Commissioners’ Association (CCPCA), taking place October 24–25, 2025, in Tulare County. This statewide gathering will bring together Planning Commissioners and regional leaders to explore how thoughtful land use decisions shape stronger, healthier communities. 

Hampton Inn and Suites Tulare -- 100 North Cherry Street -- Tulare, California 
call: (559) 686-8700
or use this link for preferred CCPCA reservations:

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What You Will Learn:

  • Community Development: Housing and healthcare integration
  • Environmental Concerns: Water, drought resilience, and SGMA compliance
  • Rural Economic Development: Cross-sector collaboration with local, state, and federal partners
  • Planning Commissioner 101: A foundational training for new commissioners

The two-day educational and entertaining event will take you to a number of sites around Tulare County, featuring presentations, networking opportunities, and fascinating tours.  Saturday evening will conclude with a Gala Banquet featuring a Keynote Speaker.  Planning Commissioners from throughout the state are highly encouraged to attend, and may bring a spouse or guest to enjoy the social aspects of the event.  The conference is also open to interested parties from government and private sectors, including students, planning staffers, business, community, and civic leaders.

Highlights and Itinerary

Friday morning -- 
we will begin with event registration and initial introductions at the Sequoia Room in the hotel:  then we will board provided transportation to continue our meeting at Tulare's Business Incubator site, a few blocks away.  Morning presentations are expected to include:

  • Tulare Business Innovation Zone (TBIZ) - Donnette Silva-Carter, President/CEO, Tulare Chamber. The City of Tulare purchased the vacant former courthouse building adjacent to City Hall for the purpose of renovating the site into a Business Accelerator with an approximate 2,000sf Maker’s Space. The facility location in the center of Downtown Tulare offers space for a variety of start-up businesses (12-24 in total) including; transportation and logistics, technology, data processing, research and development and vocational trades such as wood working. TBIZ
  • Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – Rich Mostert, Executive Director, SBDC. The VCSBDC is dedicated to fostering the growth, success, and development of small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare Counties. Recognizing small businesses as a crucial driver of local economic development, individual opportunity, community well-being, and overall quality of life, VCSBDC works diligently to create a meaningful impact. SBDC
  • Zumwalt Park/Adventist Health Amphitheater – Marc Mondell, City Manager, City of Tulare. The City has completed the renovation of Zumwalt Park, establishing it as a premier regional destination with diverse recreational and entertainment amenities. Highlights include the newly constructed Adventist Health Amphitheater, featuring a stage, tiered seating, enhanced lighting, and landscaping, as well as a playground and splash pad. Zumwalt Park
  • Saving the Tulare Hospital – Tim Haydock, COO, Adventist Health in the Central Valley. Adventist Health played a crucial role in saving Tulare Regional Medical Center by leasing and managing it after a period of closure and financial difficulty. The hospital, now known as Adventist Health Tulare, reopened in October 2018 under Adventist Health's management after a nearly year-long closure. The transition involved a lease agreement with the Tulare Local Healthcare District and a name change to reflect the new ownership. The reopening was supported by the community, with voters approving Measure H to finalize the lease agreement.

Before Lunch, we will explore the Business Incubator Center, and Zumwalt Park.   During the remainder of the day we will embark on afternoon tours. 

Friday Afternoon Reception -- After returning to the hotel there will be a brief reception where participants can meet, socialize and debrief, and then will be able to enjoy the evening on their own.

Saturday morning --
we will once again convene at the hotel to board our coach bound for the Salt+Light Neighborhood Village near Goshen:  the first planned community offering permanent housing to those experiencing homelessness.  Morning presentations are expected to include the following:

  • Task Force on Homelessness - Noah Whitaker, Homelessness Taskforce Coordinator. The Task Force is focused on identifying, developing, and implementing innovative strategies. It is intended to serve as the platform for coordinating existing local services and programs for homeless populations, leading to an increase in service-delivery efficiency and an overall reduction of homelessness in Tulare County.Tulare County Homelessness Taskforce
  • The Neighborhood Village – Adrianne Hillman, CEO, Salt+Light.The Neighborhood Village is a community of 50 permanent supportive housing units with onsite whole-person care. We believe that stable, safe, and dignified living conditions are the first step to breaking cycles of poverty and homelessness. True healing happens in community, and The Neighborhood Village is dedicated to enhancing the well-being and community integration of individuals transitioning from homelessness.Salt & Light
  • Self-Help Enterprises – Betsy Garcia McGovern, Vice President, Self Help Enterprises and/or Tom Collishaw, President/CEO, Self Help Enterprise.Self-Help Enterprises is a nationally recognized community development organization whose mission is to work together with low-income families to build and sustain healthy homes and communities. Since 1965, Self-Help Enterprises’ efforts have touched the lives of over 65,000 families.Self-Help Enterprises
  • Tour of Neighborhood Village and Self-Help Sequoia Commons
    Neighborhood Village
    Sequoia Commons

After Saturday's lunch there will be the annual General Membership meeting of the CCPCA, with election of officers for 2026, and then we will embark on our afternoon tours.

Afternoon Tours--
Tulare county has a rich heritage including railroad, agriculture, water resources and recreation.  It is the gateway to Kings Canyon National Park, and extends to the crest of the Sierra Nevada range.  We will be traversing rural areas, with stops at several fascinating points of interest:

  • Setton Pistachios --  the plant here uses extensive robotics in the preparation of their product.
  • Rexford Solar --  a large solar energy facility including battery storage.
  • Eagle Mountain Casino -- we plan to stop here for lunch.
  • Calgren Renewable Fuels -- where corn, dairy and other organic waste, and even emissions are transformed into energy and valuable co-products.

Saturday Evening Banquet --  after returning to the hotel on Saturday afternoon, the event will conclude with a gala evening banquet at the famous Apple Annie's restaurant, featuring a keynote speaker.