2006 Legislative & Policy Conference Schedule

Conference topics include ...

Disaster mitigation, recovery and community safety policy
Takings and redevelopment legislation
Implementing SAFETEA-LU
Planning and sustainable energy policy
Inside the federal budget
New challenges in federal housing policy
Responding to BRAC
The future of CDBG and community development programs
Analysis of the future of the Endangered Species Act and NEPA
Planning at the ballot box

Sunday, January 29

All-day Focus on Post-Katrina Policy for Disaster Mitigation and Recovery
Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding was the greatest urban and regional disaster in U.S. history. The disaster was soon made worse by Hurricane Rita. The rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will involve the largest and most complex planning effort in our lifetime. This all-day program will focus on some of the most difficult planning issues of our time — environmental justice, racial equity, restoration of natural systems, infrastructure repair, property acquisition and condemnation, environmental clean-up, cultural heritage preservation, hazard mitigation, economic development, and urban redevelopment.

opening general session: Rebuilding the Gulf Region after Katrina
1:00-2:15 p.m.
The rebuilding of the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will be the largest and most complex planning effort in generations. How will federal, state, and local governments shape this effort? What can the planning community do to ensure the quality, equity, and efficiency of the effort?

New Directions in Federal Disaster Mitigation and Community Safety Policy
2:30-3:45 p.m.
Recent events — from the September 11 terrorist attacks to the 2005 hurricane season — have communities across the country evaluating their safety. How can you protect your community from natural and manmade disasters? What do the Safe Communities Act of 2005 and the Disaster Mitigation Act mean to your community?

Tomorrow's Cities, Tomorrow's Suburbs
4:00-5:15 p.m.
New analysis of the 2000 census finds signs of resurgence in cities and omens of decline in many suburbs. How are income disparities, housing age and size, racial segregation, immigration, and poverty affecting population trends? How will this new information affect federal policies and local plans?

William H. Lucy, AICP, will present this session, which is based on his new book, Tomorrow's Cities, Tomorrow's Suburbs, available from APA's Planners Book Service.

Welcome Reception
5:30-7:00 p.m.

Monday, January 30

general session: Takings and Redevelopment Legislation in the Aftermath of Kelo
9:00-10:15 a.m.
The Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London is prompting legislation that could restrict your ability to implement good plans. What are the latest eminent domain and takings bills in Congress? What can you expect from state and local governments?

Click here to learn more about this session

concurrent session: Implementing SAFETEA-LU
10:30-11:45 a.m.
After three years of debate, the TEA-21 reauthorization is finally law. How are federal programs changing? What's in store for planning, the environment, and air quality?

Click here to learn more about this session

concurrent session: Planning a Sustainable Energy Policy
10:30-11:45 a.m.
The recently passed energy bill will have a marked impact on planning. What opportunities does it provide for promoting sustainability? What new energy bills are waiting in the wings?

Click here to see APA's Policy Guide on Energy

luncheon: Inside the Federal Budget
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Understanding the federal budget can help you do your job more effectively. What are experts saying about the new federal budget? What trends are affecting federal programs of interest to planners?

concurrent session: New Challenges in Federal Housing Policy
1:45-3:00 p.m.
In 2006, APA will launch an initiative focused on housing. How will it help you address housing in your community? What federal initiatives and existing policies will affect housing choice and affordability?

Click here to see APA's Policy Guide on Housing

concurrent session: Responding to BRAC
1:45-3:00 p.m.
Military base closures can be devastating to communities. Will the latest round of realignments and closures affect your community? How can you respond to the economic, human, and environmental effects of base closings?

concurrent session: The Future of CDBG and Community Development Programs
3:15-4:30 p.m.
The Bush administration has proposed a dramatic reorganization of the nation's community development programs. What do policymakers and experts think about this? What is the outlook for HOPE VI, HUD, and CDBG?

Click here to learn more about this session

concurrent session: Are Changes Ahead for ESA and NEPA?
3:15-4:30 p.m.
Federal conservation programs may become an endangered species. How can states and municipalities respond to changes in ESA and NEPA? Which new approaches are working to encourage conservation and heritage areas?

Click here to see APA's Policy Guide on Endangered Species and Habitat Protection

general session: Planning at the Ballot Box
4:45-5:30 p.m.
Initiatives and referenda increasingly decide planning issues. What does the use of these tools mean to the planning profession? What can planners learn from Oregon's Measure 37 and transit, tax, and eminent domain initiatives?

Click here to learn more about this session

free reception: Networking Reception for Students
Following the General Session that ends at 5:30 p.m.
Join us for an informal reception in Woodley Park. Several former APA Congressional Fellows who decided to stay in D.C. will be available to share stories and insights with you. Hear more about how they built on their planning school background to work in the legislative and policy process. Walk around D.C.'s hip Woodley Park neighborhood, check out the nightlife scene, and mingle with fellow planning students and other interesting young professionals.

Location TBD. Information will be posted at the Omni Shoreham Hampton foyer where the conference registration tables are located.