[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1538-E1539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 2016 URBAN LAND INSTITUTE VISION HONORS AWARD 
                               RECIPIENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 2016

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Urban Land 
Institute (ULI) of Sacramento and the 2016 ULI Vision Honors Award 
recipients. As the members of the Urban Land Institute of Sacramento 
gather at the annual Vision Honors dinner to recognize the projects and 
individuals that have shown exemplary leadership in smart planning, 
urban growth, and sustainable communities, I ask all my colleagues to 
join me in honoring their contributions to the Sacramento region.
  The ULI's mission has long been to promote the responsible use of 
land for the benefit of local communities, and every year ULI 
recognizes leaders in the community who have upheld this mission. The 
ULI Principles Vision Honors Awardee is Mr. Mike McKeever, the outgoing 
Chief Executive Officer of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. 
For over a decade, Mr. McKeever led SACOG with a steady hand and 
contributed to the advancement of the region's infrastructure. His 
nationally acclaimed Blueprint regional planning scenario has become a 
model for sustainability planning and smart growth. Navigating an 
organization that represents six counties and 22 local cities is no 
easy task, but Mike proved time and again that he could bring people 
together and build a consensus among divergent viewpoints. I applaud 
Mike for his time at SACOG and his work that is not only improving the 
efficiency of Sacramento's transit network, but is also increasing the 
region's environmental friendliness through its plan to reduce 
emissions.
  The 2016 ULI Project of the Year award is presented to the Sacramento 
Kings and the City of Sacramento for the Golden 1 Center/Downtown 
Commons Project. The Golden 1 Center is a groundbreaking project in the 
heart of Sacramento's downtown that ties the most advanced technology 
in the world with environmental sustainability. As the first LEED 
Platinum-designated arena in the world, the Golden 1 Center counteracts 
climate change through its use of solar energy and its water 
efficiency. Even more importantly, it promotes environmental awareness 
and sustainability to its estimated 1.2 million annual visitors. The 
Golden 1 Center/Downtown Commons Project also contributes to a thriving 
local community through its commitment to sourcing 90 percent of all 
food services from local farms and businesses.
  The ULI Member/Achiever of the Year Vision Honors Awardee is Mr. 
Jeffrey M. Goldman, AICP, Principal of AECOM. Mr. Goldman has over 30 
years of experience in community planning, development codes, community 
outreach, and CEQA compliance. Over the last

[[Page E1539]]

decade, Mr. Goldman has led the Sacramento AECOM office with an 
increased focus on sustainability, climate mitigation, adaptation, and 
community resilience. Mr. Goldman has become a leader in coordinating 
climate action planning documents for local jurisdictions and has 
furthered sustainability through his numerous environmentally conscious 
development plans for the Sacramento region, as well as his community-
based housing and restoration projects.
  Mr. Speaker, as these leaders are being recognized for their forward-
thinking contributions to the Sacramento community, I ask all my 
colleagues to join me in honoring the impact they have made in the 
Sacramento region.

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