Reports on "By Right" Portion of Conference Program

2009 APA National Planning Conference Program Meeting Conference Call

July 11, 2008 (Friday)

Notes prepared by: Carolyn Torma, Director of Education

Purpose: The organizers for conference sessions will meet to discuss the sessions that will be part of the 2009 conference program by right. Both the divisions and Local Host Committee will be accepting proposals over the summer and will not have a final set of sessions by the time of this call. Nonetheless, it allows us the opportunity to share ideas for Minneapolis. You will hear what others are doing, look for overlap, and make connections.

Note on CM

Last year, some division sessions and mobile workshops did not receive CM. If the divisions wish to have CM credit, here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Design the session for an audience with at least 3 years planning experience
2. Avoid these words:  introductory, primer, basics, introduction to
3. Avoid show and tell; make certain all descriptions focus on the substance of planning (which can include management) that will be conveyed in the mobile workshop or session. A visit to a planning firm without discussion on what in- depth knowledge will be conveyed will not receive CM.
4. Consider making all your programs more advanced — unless you intend to reach a non AICP planner audience. Challenge yourself and your audience by creating more advanced programs. 

Conference Tracks

www.planning.org/2009conference/sessionproposal/trackstopics.htm

Emphasis of the Minneapolis Local Host Committee

Richard Crier and Wayne Hurley could not join the call, however the Minneapolis planning department staff helped create the tracks and the descriptions, so the tracks will give everyone a sense of what the local committee is concerned with.

Local Host Committee Sessions Committee Chairs

Mobile Workshop Chairs

Symposia

Bettman Land Use Law
Lora Lucero, editor Planning & Environmental Law, reported that there will be 4 sessions on Sunday. They will include 1) a major article published in  P⪙ 2) the work of the amicus committee; 3) planning and law topic; 4) big ideas in planning law session.

Lora may invite a MN Supreme Court Justice to speak. She has considered something related to Native Americans (Water rights, casinos and land swaps) and planning law and climate change. The Planning & Law Division has suggested a session that covers both legal and planning ethics. She will be organizing a work group to help her develop the program.  

Israel Stollman Ethics Symposium
Monica Groh, Manager of Professional Development & AICP, reports that after the strong interest expressed in ethics with the new CM requirements, there will be 2 ethics sessions at the conference—one on Monday and one on Wednesday. If the joint legal ethics sessions is developed, then there will be 3 (or staff will possibly try to get CM credit for the planning commissioner ethics session and have it meet ethics criteria).  We will improve the discussion-based format and come with examples that chapters and divisions can use for their sessions.

Planning Magazine Forum
Ruth Knack, executive editor, Planning, did not attend the meeting

Planners Press Books
Jessica Campbell, Marketing Writer, reported that there will be a new planning commissioner publication on zoning (Chris Deurksen et al)ready by the 2009 conference that will have a session. In addition, two other books should be ready, one on affordable housing Alana Malloch) and one on impact fees (Chris Nelson). Lora Lucero reported that ABA and APA are partnering on a new publication in RLUIPA. Jessica said if the book gets published in time, we will also have a session based on that book.    

AICP Symposium
Monica Groh, Manager of Professional Development & AICP, reported that the topic is "Making a Difference with Green Infrastructure."

Special Project and Grant Program Sessions

Research Department
Bill Klein, Director of Research, reported that the following sessions are being planned:
2 sessions sponsored by Zoning Practice, on digital signs and TDR & rural zoning
1 PAS Memo session on car sharing programs
3 sessions on the new APA practice centers (green, hazards, and health)
1 Essential Planning Library
May have sessions related to grants—FHA and CDC
Workshop: New Directors Institute
Workshop (maybe): Mid level management
Workshop (maybe): climate action strategy
Workshop (maybe): green recovery efforts (Greensburg, KS)

Outreach & International Department
Jeff Soule and Ryan Scherzinger, did not attend. This is department is likely to do a session on China and the Global Planners Network.

Policy and Government Affairs Department
Jason Jordan, Director of Policy, reported that he will focus on top legislative priorities. Infrastructure investment and the APA task force will be one focus. Another emphasis will be on the re-authorization of SAFE-TEALU. Also Jason may cover climate change initiatives at the federal legislative level, such as cap and trade. There will also be an advocacy skills building workshop.  

Special Track of JAPA Sessions           
Carolyn Torma reported that JAPA will have 4 sessions on Sunday devoted to planning history, which will help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the planning movement.

Round Robin of Division Ideas

City Planning and Management

County Planning

Economic Development Division
Elaine Carmichael
Elaine@econstew.com
Division wants to balance practice and theory. They are merging with Resort and Tourism Division, so will be talking with the leadership of that division. They intend are doing the full day workshop again.

NOTE: As Economic Development Division and Resort & Tourism Division are two distinct divisions as of August 26, they will be considered separate divisions for the 2009 conference and each will have two sessions allocated to them.

Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources
Danielle Bower
Danielle.Bower@chplanning.com
No ideas yet. However, they are likely to docus on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions and inventories. Also the division is looking at the issue of falling water in the lakes and the Great Lakes Compact. They did energy plans last year and might repeat this year.

Federal Planning

Gays and Lesbians in Planning
Pat Finn
narrowback52@yahoo.com

1. Defining family, especially "single family"
2. this is a problem for Latino families and we may work with that division 

Housing and Community Development
Jennifer M. Raitt
JRaitt@mapc.org

1. Definition of family ; changing definition
2. Workshop with NeighborWorks America; might change the focus
3. Visitability session; ADA, universal design
4. MIT affordability index

International
Jennifer Venema
Jennifer.venema@gmail.com
Planning and regional collaboration across borders is the topic under consideration.

Latinos

New Urbanism
Suzanne Rhees
srhees@cuningham.com
May propose a mobile workshop; can offer potential case study sites

Planning and the Black Community

1. Division By-Right Sessions: PBCD Members

Possible Session Ideas:
Are We There Yet? – Diversity Planning
Engaging Underserved Communities
Engaging Youths in Planning Diverse Communities
Housing Choices & Economic Segregation
"Black is Green" or "Green Is Not Just a Color"

2. Mobile Tour Workshop:

• Title: Changing Faces onto West Broadway Alive
• Five-hour bus and walking tour
• PBCD sponsored with collaborative partners

Community initiated and collaborative revitalization plan visit of the West Broadway Avenue corridor in four north Minneapolis neighborhoods and the Cedar Riverside Somalian populated neighborhood within southern Minneapolis.

3. Training Workshop:

• One training workshop proposal sponsored by PBCD featuring a policy oriented look on urban redevelopment or green urban design and minority communities. Timeframe: 4 hours.

4. Facilitated Discussions: (PBCD Members)

• Career Ladders for Minority Planners
• Planners Toolbox for Communities of Color

5. Poster Presentation: PBCD Members

• 1 or 2 poster presentations by student members (case study, dissertation, school project, internship project, research paper, etc.)

6. Scholarship Luncheon: (Monday)

• CM oriented event
• Keynote Speaker TBD

7. Annual Business Meeting: PBCD Executive Board (Sunday)

8. Joint Division Reception: (Monday)

• Membership Committee (membership recruitment)
• Communications Committee (PBCD marketing materials)

PBCD Supplemental Conference Activities for Members Only:

• Conference summary on PBCD webpage
• PBCD Informal Walking Tour of Ethnic Eats downtown area or Near North Minneapolis neighborhood.
• Social Networking Activities  (diversity of local events)
• Special PBCD conference newsletter edition with itinerary included
• Partnership event with the University of Minnesota African Studies Dept.

Planning and Law

Planning and Women

Private Practice
Deborah Myerson
K/K. Gerhart-Fritz
planningworkshop@comcast.net
We did a survey last year of members to help select topics. We may have a joint proposal with the federal planning division.

Regional and Intergovernmental

Resort and Tourism
Anne Krieg
planner@barharbormaine.gov
WE are looking at a county in Oregon with seasonable population shifts. We may also focus on NIBY issues and the tourist town of "IF we don’t build it, will they stay away?" Also considering a session on cruse ship industry.

SEE NOTE ABOVE ON ALLOCATION

Small Town and Rural
Mickey Rhodes
mrhoades@warrentonva.gov
We are considering a session on economic development in small towns and rural areas. We would look at today’s conditions and how towns survive. A session may focus on challenges of moving from a rural to an urban community. We may also propose mobile workshops to 2 or 3 small cities under the size of 5000.

Technology
Ken Snyder
Jason Levy
Jason.Levy@wwu.edu
We may propose a session on motion and touch-sensitive location tools to collect data and use for public participation.

Transportation

Urban Design and Preservation
Darby
Ned Thomas
ned.thomas@cityofhenderson.com

1. "Design review process from scratch"
2. Green infrastructure and storm water
3. Green factor—regulate your landscape
4. New network—universal design and accessibility in perspective of existing buildings