Session Formats:

Formats other than the traditional presentation are encouraged including: Point/Counterpoint, Panel Discussions, Moderated Debate and Interactive Workshops.

Some Details:

• The number of presenters in each session is limited to 2-3 + moderator (60-90 minutes).
• Presenters are expected to register and pay to attend the APA Conference in accordance with the speaker registration policy.
• Each session will contain professional AV equipment (including laptops & LCD projectors) as well as a technician.
• Mobile workshop ideas for planning-related field visits should be within convenient travel distance of the Yakima conference center.

Submittal Instructions:

Please send a paragraph that describes the topic and message for your proposed session or mobile workshop. Be sure to include the proposed presenter(s) or workshop host(s) and their contact information.

Session and mobile workshop proposals may be submitted via e-mail to Kevin McDonald, kmcdonald@ci.bellevue.wa.us by the close of business on Friday, April 14, 2006.

*Speaker Registration Policy

• If speaker is a planning professional, they are expected to support the profession by participating and paying to attend the conference either as a full registrant or at the 1-day rate (whichever is pertinent to their participation).
• If speaker is only coming to their session and then leaving the conference, their registration fee is waived.
• Due to budget restraints, we are unable to pay honorariums or reimburse for expenses.

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

IT IS SHAPING UP TO BE A CHALLENGING YEAR
Steve Butler, AICP
sbutler@ci.seatac.wa.us

As you know, the Washington State Farm Bureau filed I-933, which is the “so called property rights” initiative, on February 8, 2006. Since then, the Washington Chapter’s (WA-APA) Committee on Regulatory Fairness has been busy with a number of activities, which are described elsewhere in this newsletter. I want to let you know that the WA-APA Board of Directors voted on March 14 to oppose I-933 and to authorize me as President to have our Chapter join the Communities Protection Coalition at my discretion. I will let all of know when this action takes place. In the meantime, I would ask that you go to our Chapter’s website washington-apa.org for updates on this important issue. For those of you whom will be attending APA’s national conference, there will be several sessions on “property rights” in San Antonio that should be of particular interest to Washington planners.

Three Washington State planners will be inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) at the National APA Conference in San Antonio, Texas: Tom Beckwith, Judith Stoloff, and Lisa Verner. To become a Fellow, a planner has to have a proven record of vision, leadership, innovation, and contributions to the planning profession. Congratulations to these three outstanding planners from our State!

The WA-APA Chapter held a successful workshop on March 14 entitled “Tested Messages and Proven Media Skills for Planners.” The primary speakers were APA Public Affairs Coordinator Denny Johnson and APA Communications Consultant Barbara Hummel from Washington D.C. The participants learned how to craft well-framed messages/”sound bites” and stay on point when talking to members of the media. This workshop used materials from APA's forthcoming website-based resource, Planners' Communications Guide – Strategies, Examples, and Tools for Everyday Practice. My thanks go to the Chapter’s Continuing Education Co-Chairs Judy Fani and Gina Mares Kurtz for organizing this event, as well as to National APA for financially underwriting a major portion of this workshop.

Please mark your calendar now for the Washington State Chapter’s 2006 Fall Conference, which will take place during October 4-6, 2006 in Yakima. I want to express my appreciation to Michael Kattermann for agreeing to be the Conference Chair, and to Deborah Munkberg and Page Scott for volunteering to be the Program Co-Chairs.

Finally, thanks to Angela Brooks for her hard work as editor of this newsletter. She has been instrumental in maintaining its high quality level, as well as expanding the scope of articles and transitioning us to a monthly newsletter (vs. bi-monthly). Thanks also to MRSC for their work creating and supporting our electronic newsletter.

That’s it for now. Keep up the great work that all of you are doing!

ELECTIONS

APA NATIONAL AND WASHINGTON CHAPTER ELECTION TIME

National APA Elections
2006 Election Ballots Due April 13

Ballots for the 2006 APA/AICP elections were mailed to members on March 11. Read all the candidates' position statements and answers to a standardized questionnaire, and vote. All ballots are due by April 13. www.planning.org

Washington Chapter Elections
Look for your Chapter Election Ballot in the Mail

Your Washington Chapter Election ballot should arrive in the mail within the next week. This year’s election is for the position of President–elect. The successful candidate will serve one year as President-elect, two years as Chapter President and one year as Past President. The position requires a significant time commitment over a period of four years. In return, the successful candidate will play a key role in setting the Chapter’s direction over the next several years.

The Nominating Committee consisted of Bill Grimes, Chapter Secretary and Inland Empire Section member; Laura Hudson, Southwest Section member and Bob Sokol, Nominating Committee Chair and Puget Sound Section member. An e-mail was sent out to all section members via the Chapter Yahoo Group to solicit members who might be interested in the position. In addition to the responses received to the e-mail, the Nominating Committee contacted numerous potential candidates between January and March. After extensive work, the Committee came up with one willing and well qualified candidate for the office of President–elect.

Below is a candidate statement for Joe Tovar. Your official ballot, which will also include an option for a write-in candidate, will arrive via mail in one week and be due on April 24. The new President-elect will be seated in July 2006. Please be sure to vote!

CANDIDATE STATEMENT: Joe Tovar, FAICP

I am pleased to stand for election as your President-elect. In my thirty-year planning career in Washington, I have worked for state and local governments, a university, and a consulting firm. I have served as Chapter Vice-President, chair of the Legislative Committee, co-chair of the Awards Committee, chair of an ad hoc Committee on Regulatory Fairness and co-chair of five annual conferences. In those capacities, I have worked with literally hundreds of colleagues from throughout the state and seen how their dedicated efforts yielded dramatic improvements in the number, effectiveness and value of Chapter programs.

Every aspect of Chapter operations and services is better than it has ever been. It is no accident that over the past dozen years APA National has twice recognized Washington as the “most improved chapter.” While we can take heart from our achievements and our capabilities as a Chapter, we cannot rest on our laurels.

Our most immediate and profound challenge will be to help defeat Initiative 933 this fall. Yet, many important tasks lie beyond this fall’s election. We must build on our successes in implementing the vision in our Chapter’s Strategic Plan. We must commit to making the Chapter an even more effective organization with greater capacity for good. We must continue to work both individually, and collectively through our Chapter, to build livable, prosperous, and sustainable communities while protecting Washington’s environmental heritage and resource industries.

We share a noble calling. I would be honored to serve as your President-elect for the coming year and to lead the Chapter as President for the two years beyond that. I ask for your support, not just as a voter in this election, but as an active volunteer and participant in Chapter activities in the important years ahead.

PLANNERS ON THE MOVE

City of Bellingham

Brent Baldwin, AICP, has moved from transportation planning to Development Review Manager in the Public Works Engineering Division.

Chris Comeau, AICP, has moved from long-range/comprehensive planning in the Plannning and Community Development Department to Transportation Planner in the Public Works Engineering Division.

Shokey/Brent, Inc.

Terry Brunner has joined Shockey/Brent, Inc. as a Senior Planner. His education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning from the University of Washington. As a Senior Planner, Mr. Brunner brings over 30 years of expertise in Land Use Planning. Mr. Brunner comes to Shockey/Brent, Inc. with a wealth of knowledge in local regulations and procedures, as well as agency coordination. Terry has spent more than 20 years in county government and several years in both local school district and private consulting work. Mr. Brunner spent five years at King County directly coordinating projects with school districts as the School Priority Services Supervisor. That was followed by several years with the Northshore School District as a planning administrator. His expertise and direct school project management background will compliment the Shockey/Brent, Inc. clientele in areas involving environmental permitting and master planning, as well as capital facilities projects. He is a member of the Council of Educational Facility Planners.

LEGISLATIVE CORNER

END OF SESSION
Michael Shaw
Washington APA Lobbyist

The 2006 legislative session adjourned sine die on the 59th day of the 60-day session. Apparently, the legislators decided that one more day of per diem pay was not worth it. Some have described this legislative term as the “session on steroids” because of the number of bills introduced; others say this session was a big yawn and will be quickly forgotten. For sex offenders the first opinion may be true, however, concerning land use bills, the latter view is a more honest description.

Several APA representatives spent the Fall 2005 working with executive branch officials on a plethora of GMA related bills. Of the seven proposals initially contemplated, only two passed the legislature: SB 6427, an act relating to GMA update timelines, and HB 2917, an act relating to assessory uses on designated agricultural lands. The other bills, dealing with eminent domain powers, best available science, GMA appeals, and pre-existing uses in critical areas, either never were introduced or perished soon afterward.

Other bills relating to school concurrency and annexation procedures met similar fates. Of the 126 bills that I tracked on behalf of the WA-APA, only 13 made it to the Governor’s desk. Of the 39 land use bills tracked, only 3 passed. None of the 11 eminent domain bills survived, nor did any of the 11 annexation bills that we tracked.

When the Legislature when it fails to act usually succeeds in pondering it, thus, there are several studies slated for this interim. Both studies concern transportation: a proviso in the supplemental transportation budget requires the Department of Transportation to study concurrency as it relates to state highways, and HB 2871 mandates a commission to study transportation governance in the Puget Sound region. WA-APA intends to be involved in both enterprises.

What does not pass during a session usually sets the agenda for the following session. Therefore, I expect that the 2007 legislature will struggle with pre-existing uses in critical areas – certainly after the State Supreme Court delivers its opinion on the issue stemming from a Skagit County case. Also, I foresee GMA appeals to be an issue – whether to consolidate the hearings boards. Lastly, the outcome of the initiative process will have a profound impact on the 2007 session. If I-917 succeeds, then a major hole in transportation funding will be created. If I-933, the property rights initiative, passes, then Washington will face the reality that Oregon is currently struggling with given its fiscal constraints.

Clearly, we will have our work cut out for us in 2007. Certainly, it will be more memorable than 2006.

2006 GOVERNOR'S AWARD

YOU MIGHT BE A WINNER ALREADY!

The Department of Ecology is seeking applications for the 2006 Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices. Businesses, government agencies, schools and organizations may apply from April 3 to June 2.

The award competition is open to any Washington facility in good standing with environmental regulations. Ecology is particularly interested in enterprises that have reduced or eliminated the use of hazardous materials, waste and emissions, or that have switched to practices that conserve resources and energy.

Gov. Christine Gregoire will honor the winners at a ceremony in the fall. Winners will also receive additional publicity about their achievements.

For more information contact Mariann Cook Andrews at (360) 407-6740, or e-mail: maco461@ecy.wa.gov, or visit the Web site at: www.ecy.wa.gov/sustainability/GovAward/gov_awards.htm.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

SAVE THESE DATES!

May 4-5, 2006
Annual Spring Planning Conference
INN at Gig Harbor and Conference Center

The Planning Association of Washington (PAW) invites you to join in the Annual Spring Planning Conference, Bridging the Future with Ease: Economic Development, Environment, Equality and Emergency Management. Our conference will be held at the INN at Gig Harbor and Conference Center on May 4th and 5th. This day and one half conference will feature speakers on a variety of planning hot topics and features, including this year’s 2006 APA/PAW Planning Awards luncheon.

Learn the latest about:

• Land conservation strategies that work
• The Cascade Agenda
• Property Rights Initiative
• Successful economic development strategies
• The role of planning in emergency preparedness
• Legal and Legislative Updates
• Growth Management Hearings Board review
• PAW/CTED’s “Planning Short Course Training” for Planning Commissions and Elected Officials

Full conference programs/registration forms have been mailed. Make your hotel reservations for May 3rd and May 4th (253-858-1111) now, and take advantage of the Inn at Gig Harbor’s government rate for $74 single (limited rooms available). Questions? Contact Chris Parsons at parsocbp@dfw.wa.gov or to register, contact Andrew Estep at pawoff@aol.com or 206-626-0391.

June 1-2, 2006
APA - Inland Empire Section 2006 Annual Conference
Spaces, Shapes, Movement

Form-based zoning is on the table. Can it work for your community? Join other planning professionals who are just as curious as you are at the Inland Empire Section’s 2006 Annual Conference. On Thursday, learn from those who are trying to make it happen. Then you will take a shot at it yourself in Friday’s charettes. Our featured speakers include planners, consultants and developers, each offering their views on how form-based planning can help create the shapes, spaces, and movement communities desire.

Elkin’s Resort at Priest Lake once again provides the beautiful and tranquil setting for the APA-Inland Empire Section’s Annual Conference. In addition to the sessions, the longstanding Cities vs. Counties Volleyball rivalry, Fun Run, Mountain Bike Ride, and Golf Tournament add to the many benefits derived from the conference. Thursday evening’s dinner will be followed by the APA Scholarship Fund T-shirt Auction.

For more information, please contact Susan Winchell at (509) 477-4237.

October 4-6, 2006
WA-APA Annual Conference, Yakima, WA

APA MEMBER PROFILE

PAUL KRAUSS, AICP

1. Where are you originally from and how long have you been in Washington State?
   Born/raised Brooklyn, New York. Worked in Washington since 1994.

2. What is your educational background?
   Master of Planning degree from Syracuse University 1977.

3. What made you decide on a career in planning?
   Social conscience, interest in cities and urban life.

4. Where are you currently living and working?
   Have worked for the City of Auburn as the Community Development Director since 1994. Live in Issaquah.

5. Describe the planning work you do and your agency/firm?
   Auburn is rapidly growing Metro city new in the middle of suburban area with population of nearly 50,000.

6. How would your city’s citizens describe you?
   Professional, involved, responsive and underpaid.

7. What are your primary planning interests? What types of projects really captivate you personally?
   Redevelopment.

8. Of which planning projects are you most proud?
   Auburn Station Sounder/Metro/retail and helping to create the FAST Corridor.

9. If you had the chance to do your whole career over, would you do anything different or are you happy with just the way it is?
   Probably ok as is.

10. Are you involved in any other divisions of the American Planning Association? If yes which ones?
    Current President of Puget Sound Section.

11. Do you have any words of wisdoms to younger professional planners who may be interested in following your career path?
    Diversity in experience.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Have a project you want to highlight for planners across the state? An issue you think more planners need information on? Planning Northwest is always looking to highlight projects and research of our members. If you are interested in having an article published feel free to contact the editor.

The deadline for the newsletter is the first of every month. Please submit all newsletter articles to Angela Brooks, AICP at angeladbrooks@gmail.com. Please include Planning Northwest in your subject line.