Save the Date for the Holiday Party - December 3 We have outgrown our World Trade Center location and are shifting clockwise around Elliott Bay to West Seattle this year. Where: Salty's on Alki. When: Thursday, December 3rd 6:30pm to 11:00pm RSVP: For questions and to RSVP, please contact PSS Board Secretary, Kent Hale, at pugetsoundsectionapa@gmail.com PUGET SOUND SECTION WELCOMES NEW OFFICERS President's Message by Julia Park Congratulations and welcome to the three new officers who were elected to the Puget Sound Section Board of Directors this spring: John Davies, President-elect; Michael Booth, Snohomish County Representative; and Tony Russo, U.W. Student Representative. Welcome also to Steve DeGrush, who will share the PSS Quarterly Newsletter editorial responsibilities with our long-standing editor Michelle Whitfield. Our special gratitude goes out to Hiller West, Past-President, who completed his term this spring, for his long service and help with many Washington Chapter and PSS board organized events and programs. Thanks to Mike Stanger, Snohomish County Representative and Katie Lichenstein, U.W. Student Representative, for their service as well. Our board and friends in the planning community have pulled off another successful Planning Law Conference this spring. In spite of the economy, more than 150 people registered to attend the conference this year, in addition to several sponsors who were generous with their support. Our new and existing slate of board members are motivated to continue the high quality of programs we offer to our members and friends each year. In spite of fiscal challenges, the board is committed to apply creativity and dedication to continue to bring our popular and excellent offerings such as the Planning Law Conference, Brown Bag sessions, and Holiday Party. We plan to be prudent with our purse strings while maintaining our sights high to provide the best quality possible to our members benefit. See the announcement of the annual Holiday Party to be held at a new location this year. Our goal is to add interesting features in these events in order to promote lots of social interaction among members and to enhance professional development opportunities. We hope that ever increasing APA members and sponsors utilize and support these events and programs in the coming years! PLANNING LAW CONFERENCE AICP CM CREDITS We now have AICP CM credit approval for the Puget Sound Section's April 16th Law Conference. 11 of the 12 sessions were all granted credits, the lone exception was the "2009 Legislative Session Update". Many also received Law credits. You can add your credits at the APA website. SAVE THE DATE FOR THE APA STATE CONFERENCE - NOVEMBER 12-13 Join us at this year's State APA Conference in Vancouver WA at the Hilton Vancouver. The theme is "Changing Landscapes: Past Present and Future". For more information, view the conference program. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED FOR PSS NEWS To better have the PSS News represent the interests of our members, we are asking you to forward any news about events, innovations and other noteworthy news to our new e-mail address: PSSNews@washington-apa.org. We are especially interested in hearing about issues related to housing, the environment, hazard management, law, current planning, transportation and academia. As a regular feature, we are profiling one planner per issue and telling the story of their career. Upcoming newsletter topics being considered are: The Economy And How It Will Affect Planning Departments In The Future Housing - How The Buildable Lands Inventory Results Are Hitting The Ground Evaluation of Changes with GMHB And CTED (Department of Commerce) Land Use Law Sustainable Building and Land Preservation Hazard Management Planning ENTERING A NEW ERA FOR TRANSPORTATION IN THE PUGET SOUND AND BEYOND With the opening of the Sound Transit rail system and many communities around Puget Sound addressing the concept of designing streets with people in mind, it seems that we, as a region, are entering a new era for Transportation. This changing mindset seems well supported at the Federal level as well with the recent partnership for Smart Growth between the EPA, HUD, and DOT. Sound Transit in Seattle The events of the July opening of the Sound Transit rail system connecting the Seattle bus tunnel to the Rainier Avenue, and eventually to the Seatac airport, marked a new era in regional transportation. According to the Sound Transit web site, Opening weekend light rail service concluded with more than 92,000 boardings -approximately 51,000 in 10 hours on Saturday and 41,000 over an eight-hour period today. "The crowds at light rail stations throughout the weekend showed the excitement people feel as we have become a light rail region," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "That excitement about our mass transit future will only grow as we continue to build and expand on the light rail system." Keeping with the theme of transportation alternatives, Feet First was on the scene at the Sound Transit opening events educating riders of the many destinations accessible by foot. Feet First has prepared handy maps - one per station - that are available on line here. Complete Streets in Outlying Suburbs Further to the north and south of Seattle, cities are considering Complete Streets concepts. The Cities of Tacoma and Puyallup have been working with Dan Burden, Executive Director of Walkable Communities, Inc. and Principal at Glatting Jackson, to complete "Walking Audits" of portions of their cities. When asked about Complete Streets, Elliott D. Barnett, AICP, Urban Planner with the City of Tacoma said he concurs with Dan Burden's ideas. Dan Burden says it best-"for too long we've designed streets to make cars comfortable, it's time to design them to make people safe and comfortable. It must become standard practice to build streets that first and foremost serve pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders of all ages and abilities, as well as move cars and other vehicles." Elliot continues, "To a very large extent, the character of the street in the best case promotes a high quality of life and attracts investment, or in the worst case, acts as a major barrier to those goals. It is well established that we need complete streets if we want to meet our most dearly held land use, economic, transportation, environmental and quality of life goals. In some communities, cost may be a barrier, especially for retrofits. However, complete streets don't necessarily cost more to build, and certainly make sense in the long term from a cost-effectiveness perspective. We need to complete our streets!" "Regarding the National Complete Streets movement--while the focus is rightly on accommodating all travel modes, it should also be on creating streets that are aesthetically attractive and pleasant to be in, and incorporate green features and trees. This is not always the case, though many communities add these considerations to their own definitions of complete streets (as Tacoma has done)." Both Tacoma and Puyallup have been working with a team that includes the Tacoma - Pierce County Department of Health. Complete Streets Standards are being developed by AHBL. Federal Level At the Federal level, A "Partnership for Sustainable Communities" was formed between HUD, DOT, and the EPA on June 16, 2009. This partnership is established to create policy, such as guiding livability principles, to enhance transportation options. (Source: www.dot.gov/ affairs/dot3209.htm) GOING GREEN IN DOWNTOWN BOTHELL Greenroads project will ease gridlock and stimulate redevelopment By Steve DeGrush and Michael Booth, AICP Perteet Inc Old Downtown Bothell is about to get a major overhaul. Thanks to two ambitious projects that will reconfigure the city's distinctive crossroads, Bothell is on the verge of not only easing congestion in this chronically congested area, but integrating these roadway improvements with opportunities for mixed-use development. And the Solution? Realign the SR 522 arterial, which travels east/west, by shifting it south. Then create a Multiway Boulevard on SR 527, the downtown core's primary north/south route, which will link the city's historic Main Street on the east side to areas of potential infill development on the west. Make the Multiway Boulevard a "green road," which implements sustainable design elements from the University of Washington's pilot Greenroads Certification (think 'LEED' for roads), and downtown Bothell will have the infrastructure to transform from a place of gridlock to a less congested, safer, and more pedestrian-oriented focal point. Implementing the Greenroads program requires more effort than merely recycling roadway materials and stamping a mark of sustainability on the project, however. The program's rating system certifies projects at four different levels, which use a point system to determine the ultimate "greenness" of a particular street. Points are awarded for basic elements, like the use of bike lanes, low energy lighting, pervious pavers and other low-impact construction techniques, to more progressive components like the installation of electric car plug-ins. The Perteet team, partnering with Parsons-Brinckerhoff on the project, is designing the roadways, completing NEPA and SEPA coordination, and conducting transportation modeling. Combined, the projects will focus on serving pedestrians and vehicular access to Downtown mixed-use retail buildings, while accommodating through traffic on the state routes. Construction of the SR 522 realignment will begin in 2010 and Multiway Boulevard construction is expected to start in 2012. Multiway Boulevard How Multiway Boulevards Work The Multiway Boulevard is a street type unlike any other in the Puget Sound region. Based on a similar design to San Francisco's Octavia Boulevard, which opened in September 2005, the SR 527 Multiway Boulevard will create pedestrian spaces to the outside of the boulevard's local access lanes, while maintaining regional traffic flows in the middle lanes. These side access lanes will be separated by tree-lined medians and include parallel parking. The boulevard's signature wide, tree-lined sidewalks will provide a pedestrian-friendly environment. Bothell's Multiway Boulevard is just one step in its overall revitalization plans. The Multiway Boulevard demonstrates how street design that intimately considers the urban context can reinforce land use objectives, integrate new green initiatives, and be an integral part of a comprehensive revitalization effort. For further information on the Greenroads Certification, the project, or road design, please contact Michael Booth at Perteet (Mbooth@perteet.com). LOCAL ETHICS AND TOD CM OPPORTUNITIES Earn your AICP credits before December's deadline Community Transit and Perteet Inc. invite you to a morning of training Monday, September 14th featuring two APA training sessions: 8:30am - 10:00am: Zoning for Transit-Oriented Development (Earn 1.5 CM) Learn what elements are needed to integrate transit into a neighborhood successfully. 10:30am - Noon: Ethics in Planning (Earn 1.5 CM and Ethics requirement) Learn the fine line that will help you stay out of trouble when making public decisions. Attend one or both sessions - at no cost to you. RSVP by September 9th to: Stephanie Hansen, AICP, at shansen@perteet.com (425-252-7700) or Kate Tourtellot, AICP, at kate.tourtellot@commtrans.org (425-348-2314) Place: Community Transit Board Room, 7100 Hardeson Road, Everett Coffee and continental breakfast will be provided. Hosted by: Perteet Inc. (www.perteet.com) and Communtity Transit (www.communitytransit.org) 10 PROJECTS. 10 SLIDES. 10 MINUTES EACH. 6:30 pm Friday, September 25th at the Seattle Public Library Microsoft Auditorium More Information: ecobuilding.org/10x10x10/ Mark your calendars - you won't want to miss the 10x10x10, a high-energy introduction to ten cutting-edge sustainable building projects in and around Seattle. This annual green building "slam" features fast-paced presentations by the region's leading green builders and delicious food and drink. Tickets are on sale! Save money and help us plan by purchasing in advance. $20 advance BPT/ $25 cash/ check only at door. BRUCE MACKEY JOINS ESA ADOLFSON Bruce Mackey Olympia, Washington, July 23, 2009: ESA Adolfson announced that Bruce Mackey, Ph.D., has joined the firm as Director of its Olympia office. Dr. Mackey will direct and manage projects from ESA Adolfson's Olympia office, and will expand the firm's presence in the southern Puget Sound region. "Bruce brings a reputation for being objective and even-handed as well as for seeing complex projects from inception to completion," says Molly Adolfson, ESA senior vice president and Northwest Water Practice Leader, "His substantial experience brokering policy agreements, facilitation, and consensus-building among multiple jurisdictions throughout the state will be a tremendous asset to our clients." "Resource management is a growing market for us, and Bruce's experience as state-wide Lands Steward is an excellent fit," remarked Lloyd Skinner, ESA Adolfson senior vice president and Northwest Regional Director, "His expertise in resource economics and resolving land management conflicts adds to our overall capabilities in this area." Dr. Mackey brings over 30 years of natural resource management experience. He worked for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as the Lands Steward responsible for management of three million acres of state-owned agricultural and forested land. Dr. Mackey has conducted research and developed educational curricula and extension programs for ranching, commercial farming, and rural community development throughout the Northwest. He is currently the consultant project manager for the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority project, serving as facilitator for the Flood Authority and coordinating their efforts to develop a basin-wide package of flood control projects. ESA Adolfson is a West Coast-based environmental consulting firm specializing in land use and resource planning, environmental technical studies and investigations, environmental impact assessment and documentation, and environmental compliance. The firm has offices in Olympia and Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, Oakland, Petaluma, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Woodland Hills, and San Diego, California; and Tampa, Florida. OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE The City of Seattle is recruiting for Design Commissioners for the Seattle Design Commission. There are positions for an urban designer and either an urban or environmental designer, urban planner, landscape architect, or engineer. It's a volunteer position but Commissioners do get a small stipend. For more information, please contact Valerie Kinast, Design Commission Coordinator. City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development 700 Fifth Ave, 19th Floor Seattle, WA 98124 (206) 233-7911 www.seattle.gov/dpd/planning/ design_commission/overview/

IN THIS ISSUE SAVE THE DATE FOR THE HOLIDAY PARTY - DECEMBER 3 PUGET SOUND SECTION WELCOMES NEW OFFICERS PLANNING LAW CONFERENCE AICP CM CREDITS SAVE THE DATE FOR THE APA STATE CONFERENCE - NOVEMBER 12-13 YOUR HELP IS NEEDED FOR PSS NEWS ENTERING A NEW ERA FOR TRANSPORTATION IN THE PUGET SOUND AND BEYOND GOING GREEN IN DOWNTOWN BOTHELL LOCAL ETHICS AND TOD CM OPPORTUNITIES 10 PROJECTS. 10 SLIDES. 10 MINUTES EACH. BRUCE MACKEY JOINS ESA ADOLFSON OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE PSS APA EDITORIAL INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS ON NATIONAL APA SITE Update your e-mail address on the national APA site to ensure that you receive information about future elections. PSS NEWS FEATURED SPONSORS YOUR ADVERTISEMENT COULD BE HERE! For just $100 per year, you too can reach 800 practicing planners four times a year. Please call or e-mail Jim Colburn for more information. PSS OFFICERS President: Julia Park, 253-798-2783 jpark@co.pierce.wa.us President Elect: John Davies J.Davies@fehrandpeers.com Past President: Patricia Love, 425-355-4141, Ext. 226 plove@ci.mukilteo.wa.us Secretary: Kent Hale, 206-789-9658 KHale@esassoc.com Treasurer: Jim Colburn, 253-591-5221 jcolburn@cityoftacoma.org Snohomish Co. Rep: Michael Booth, 425-252-7700 MBooth@perteet.com Pierce Co. Rep: Emily Terrell eterrell@pmcworld.com King Co. Rep: Salina Lyons slyons@ci.covington.wa.us UW Student Rep: Tony Russo, 206-351-9646 amrusso@u.washington.edu Newsletter Co-Editors: Michelle Whitfield and Steve DeGrush PSSNews@washington-apa.org Brown Bag Coordinator: Stan May (206) 505-3400 stan.may@bhcconsultants.com PSS APA EDITORIAL INFORMATION The PSS APA newsletter is published quarterly electronically. If you would like to receive the newsletter in hard copy format, please contact us at 206-682-7436. The newsletter is also posted on our website at www.washington-apa.org. For story ideas or suggestions please contact Michelle Whitfield or Steve DeGrush at PSSNews@washington-apa.org. Article Submittal Deadlines are March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15. Employment ads from governments, non-profits or private consultants, who place business card ads in our newsletters, are encouraged and are at no cost, as long as space permits.