 VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2006
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A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL IN YAKIMA, AND THE AFTERMATH OF THE I-933 VOTE
Election Day is right around the corner and, hopefully, all of our hard work will pay off with the defeat of Initiative 933! This misguided initiative will negatively impact the future of good community planning in Washington and hurt the quality of life that we all enjoy in our State. With the defeat of I-933, the Washington Chapter (WA-APA) will still need to work with the Governor and the State Legislature to revise our State laws, where necessary, to ensure that they are functioning to better meet the needs of all of our citizens.
This year’s Annual Fall Conference, which was held October 4–6, 2006, at the Yakima Convention Center, was a great success. Over 400 people attended and enjoyed the many instructive sessions, fascinating mobile workshops, and captivating keynote speakers. I would like to thank the following people for doing such a great job in organizing the conference: Conference Chair and Sponsorship Chair Michael Kattermann; Program Co-Chairs Deborah Munkberg and Page Scott; Host Committee Chair Dave McFadden; Keynote Chair Ikuno Masterson; and Joanie Pop and the rest of the conference management team at Event Dynamics, Inc.
A few people received special recognition during the conference. The President’s Award, which recognizes persons who have made outstanding contributions to the Chapter, was awarded to Joe Tovar (City of Shoreline) for his dedication and hard work in leading our fight against I-933. Dick Winchell (Eastern Washington University) received this year’s Myer Wolfe Award, which recognizes great achievement to the planning profession. Dick’s dedication to his students, along with his many academic and professional achievements, was cited as a major reason for his receiving the award. The Barbara Grace Award, which is given to a mid-level planner who exemplifies the qualities of an excellent planner and provides great customer service, was presented to Joyce Phillips (Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development; formerly with the City of Lacey).
Finally, congratulations to Sharon Wright for winning the conference raffle’s grand prize, which was a free registration to next year’s conference.
That’s it for now. Keep on planning!
REPORT ON CHAPTER’S ACTIVITIES AGAINST I-933 AT THE YAKIMA CONFERENCE AND BEYOND
The annual Chapter conference in Yakima on October 4–6 was a great opportunity to provide information, materials, and organization to support the Chapter’s activities opposing Initiative 933. A number of significant actions took place. On Wednesday morning, the APA Chapter’s board heard a report from the Chapter’s Committee on Regulatory Fairness/NO on 933 campaign, and approved a donation of $20,000 to the campaign.
On Thursday, the Committee hosted a wine-tasting reception where the latest television ad was previewed, 700 yard signs were distributed, and members donated another $5,000 to the NO campaign. The largest single contribution was made by the Chapter’s membership chair, Anna Nelson, who made a very generous donation of $933. Thanks to all of you for your generous donations, and a special big thank-you to Anna. Way to go, people!
During all three days, the Committee staffed a booth with literature and signs. We added another 80 Chapter members to the Committee’s “NO on 933” email network. As of this week, we now have over 200 Chapter members who are sending weekly NO messages to their friends, neighbors and relatives. Kudos to Jodie Vice who took care of logistics for the booth, the logistics for the reception, building the email network, and staffed the NO on 933 activities at the conference.
On Friday morning there was a property rights session with a panel of three: Ed Sullivan, Portland attorney, spoke about Measure 37; Yakima-area rancher David Taylor spoke on behalf of I-933 for the Farm Bureau, and yours truly presented the Chapter’s position opposing I-933. A lot of light was shed on both Measure 37 and Initiative 933 and session attendees seemed to enjoy the exchange. An added bonus was that the panel was broadcast on Yakima local public TV. Although not sure of a cause-and-effect, the following week the Yakima Herald-Republic newspaper came out with an editorial opposing the Initiative.
I reported to the conference attendees that polling results in late September showed significant movement relative to results from July. The Elway poll for September showed that the 933 YES support had melted from 55% in July to just 47%. The NO increased from 26% in July to 31% in September. The trend was clear even at the Yakima conference in early October.
As of this writing (mid-October), the trend continues to move in favor of the NO vote as undecideds are reached by the television ads, yard signs, NO on 933 editorials across the state (Yakima, Tri-Cities, Olympia, Bellingham, Bremerton, and Seattle), the press conference with all seven living governors opposing 933, over 40 cities passing resolutions opposing 933, and the doorbelling and phonebanking efforts. Mid-October poll results show that NO has pulled even with the YES vote.
Chapter members are urged to join the final push during the last week of the campaign. They can be most effective by helping with either doorbelling or phonebanking efforts. Results to date show that support for 933 melts rapidly in the face of even the few facts that can be related with a brief phone message or doorstep discussion with voters. When we hang up the phone or walk away from the door, only 2% (yes, that’s right, TWO PERCENT) of people say they will be voting YES on 933. They just need to hear our message.
The Tide is turning. With the help of every Chapter member, we can contribute greatly to the defeat of this misguided, wrong-headed, and potentially very damaging initiative. To help with the final push please contact the campaign office at www.noon933.org or email me at jwtovar@comcast.net. CAMPAIGNING CAN SURE BE FAST AND FUN
After bringing hundreds more doorhangers home than intended from the NO on 933 reception in Yakima, I was initially dismayed. In fairytales, heroes encounter impossible tasks, only to have ants or birds or other unexpected helpers show up. Sure enough, two girls on bikes were thrilled to morph into NO on 933 missionaries over the weekend.
After a parental okay, they dumped their bikes and ran up and down stairs and pathways faster than I could say Citizens for Community Protection. Added bonus: both girls knew which dogs were harmless despite fierce barking. Plus they were charming campaign ambassadors when a disgruntled homeowner spotted us approaching, as they were already known and trusted.
I’d like to reward these junior campaigners with special T-shirts. You can print NO on 933 T-shirts, too, for young helpers, adult allies, and yourself. Or print a dog-wrapper (remember the funny sheep-wrappers shown in the plenary “Ubertrends” slide show in Yakima?). Paper signage is of course an option. Click on the logo to be instantly transported to the download depot. And bring your own sign to wave at an election-night victory party.
For a more extensive campaign toolbox, visit the NO on 933 website. Even if doorbelling or distributing doorhangers doesn't quite seem like the stuff of fairytales, here are surprising side benefits to embrace.
Homeowners, renters, and business owners need only look around to see that we must protect what we've got in Washington. Those crows overhead see the big picture, and they are cawing, no, No, NO!
PUGET SOUND: BROWN BAG POPULARITY BUILDS
Planners enjoy learning from peers and special guests at this top-tier continuing education program. And it’s free! Bring your own lunch, or for those who RSVP (to Steve Ladd) and show up early, a substantial bag lunch may be provided to you for only two dollars.
See information on the Puget Sound Section webpage for details. If you regret missing a session, you can also check the webpage for a recap (scroll below the series schedule to see links to available recaps).
Suggestions for topics and speakers for the 2007 season are invited. Think about nominating yourself, a co-worker, staff, or someone you admire and would like to learn from.
INLAND EMPIRE: VOLLEYBALL, CHILI COOK-OFF, AND MORE
As reported at the board meeting, this Section maintains an active social calendar to supplement professional networking and continuing education.
I was born and raised in southern California. However, most of my family is from the Pacific Northwest. I moved to Oregon in 1973 and to southwest Washington in 2002.
BS in Geography from Portland State University and a MPA from Lewis and Clark College. I am working on getting accepted into a PhD program with Washington State University (Vancouver).
I live and work in Clark County. My wife and I live on 21 acres in the rural area with two daughters, three horses, three chickens, two dogs, two cats and one ATV.
I have been the Director of the county’s Community Development department for eight years. I manage planning, engineering, building, code enforcement, the fire marshal, and for some reason animal control.
These days I write and speak a lot about planning issues.
When I was director of METRO (the Portland regional government), we created the Region 2040 Plan, the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan and the Metropolitan Greenspaces Plan. These plans covered 24 cities, 3 counties and about 1.2 million people.
I wouldn't change anything. I love my job and have a great staff. I have worked in the city, county, regional, and state levels, as well as the private sector. I liked the diversity of scale and projects.
I am the President and founder of the Southwest Section of the Washington Chapter and on the Chapter board. I was previously an elected member of the Oregon Chapter board. I am also an Executive Board member for the Urban Land Institute’s Oregon-Southwest Washington Council.
If you want to be a manager, then consider getting a Master of Public Administration instead of a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree. Editor’s note: You may explore Richard Carson’s essays on this website: www.carsonessays.org
This fall, Eric Holmes joined MacKay & Sposito, Inc. in Vancouver, Washington in the role of Chief Operating Officer. He previously was the City Manager for Battle Ground, Washington.
Editor’s note: more submittals regarding job promotions and career moves among planners and their allies are welcome. If a planner is moving on to retirement or another career field, that may be noted, too.
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Chapter’s 2005 Legislative Platform is being updated and a draft version has been prepared by a subcommittee of the Legislative Committee. Among other items, the following have been identified as top priorities for WA-APA in the 2007 legislative session.
The draft platform has been posted to the Legislative Committee page of the website. You can access it directly at http://www.washington-apa.org/aWAapa/WAPA-07LegPltfrm-proposed-v3.pdf
Comments from the membership are requested to provide input for finalizing the platform. The timeline is as follows.
Comments are due by Friday, November 3, 2006. Send to: Esther Larsen and Ivan Miller at their email addresses listed on the Legislative Committee page of the website.
Comments will be compiled and reviewed by the Legislative Committee, and the final Recommended Legislative Platform will be provided to Steve Butler on November 17, 2006. The Board will be asked to consider adoption of the 2006 Legislative Platform for WA-APA at its December meeting.
COMING SOON TO CITIES NEAR US?
Here’s a fun new spin on livability, emerging in that dare-to-be-green state, Oregon. Will planners and their allies in Washington’s cities join the games? How about 'maple leaf' members of WA-APA, north of the 49th parallel? This may be the Next Big Thing, so let the founders know if you want to jump in at the design and start-up phase. To volunteer, contact me at the email address provided above.
The Livability Games will provide the final word as to which Cities are the Coolest, Most Sophisticated, Urban, or Tops in a fourth category (to be announced). The games will provide IMPerical evidence on livability that will justify a year’s worth of Bragging Rights and will be accompanied by Great Prizes.
There is no limit on the number of teams in each city. Each will compete against other teams in their own city with the best team's scores used for the National competition. Pitting uptown against downtown or city planning staff versus consulting firms, teams from the same city will compete against each other and may use different neighborhoods for their games. Citizen-activists may want to play. Each team can compete in either one game or all four. An overall winner—the city with the best score in all four games—will be crowned the Most Livable City 2007.
The Games: Fall 2006 Preview (subject to further development)
S I P
G U L P
P E D A L
P L A Y
For each of the four games, there will need to be a Captain at both the local and national levels. The National Captains will need to provide a modicum of oversight on the games, and help cultivate participation and support from agencies and local, related businesses (like cycle shops for the Pedal Game). Unlike many programs of this sort, centralization will be minimized, relying on the honor system and emphasizing local activities. The National Team will provide materials including a Web-based registration system, clip art, branding, etc.
The website will provide a clearinghouse for supporting materials, registrant information such as short biographies and photos, plus documentation of the game sites. The transparency of each game course, with the photos and descriptions on the website, will allow opposing teams to review each others’ games.
Schedule
Put your favorite city on the map! Your opportunity for early involvement is but a click away: dchisholm@parametrix.com
WORLD TOWN PLANNING DAY TURNS 57
The late Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera of the University of Buenos Aires founded World Town Planning Day (WTPD) in 1949. Her mission was the advancement of public and professional interest in planning, both locally and abroad. Wednesday, November 8th can serve as a special day to recognize and promote the role of planning in creating livable communities. WTPD also presents an opportunity to consider a global perspective with the planning profession, planning related policies, and citizen actions pertaining to planning. For small cities in Washington that have sister cities, WTPD may offer a special theme for launching cross-cultural sharing. (Marking next year’s calendar and planning ahead might be a start in that direction.)
November 8th became widely celebrated on several continents two to three decades ago. WTPD still has unrealized growth potential. The national APA website contains further information. WTPD is promoted annually by the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISoCaRP) headquartered at The Hague in The Netherlands.
NOVEMBER 2 MARKS 30-YEAR MILESTONE A rookie planner reaped victory on November 2, 1976, when voters in a conservative community bordering Interstate 5 approved a proposed transit plan. The newly hired Associate Planner who was appointed lead planner for the second Public Transportation Benefit Area in Washington state shares her story from an earlier era of planning.
IDENTIFYING MILESTONES Editor’s note: The “Milestones” column can appear monthly, quarterly, or occasionally. Content is dependent on contributions from planners with robust memory banks, or perhaps students doing factual research or wanting to explore legacies. Reaching back several decades is not necessary. Significant changes, achievements, and pivotal issues of the past 3, 6 or 16 years could be worthy of reflection and may also tie to current opportunities or conundrums. The column may shape-shift. A longer article referencing no Internet hot links may be posted as a PDF file, linked to an introductory blurb within the main body of Planning Northwest. A shorter article, such as a handful of factoids or a list of the top-five hurdles or breakthroughs in recent years (perhaps related to a certain geographic area or expertise or constituency), may be featured on the newsletter’s main page and include hot links. Visual elements are possible additions and can break up blocks of text in longer articles. If you have access to vintage graphics, consider scanning them and and saving in a file format specified for online publication: JPEG or GIF files, not TIFF. Images optimized to less than 100 KB display fine on a webpage, given the industry standard of only 72 dots-per-inch screen resolution. Minimizing file size by decreasing resolution keeps Web-based publishing lean and manageable. For further clarification, or to request special assistance with vintage graphics, consult with the Editor when a submittal deadline is not looming. 
WA-APA NOT WA APA AND CERTAINLY NOT WAPA Upon approval last month to join the Washington Chapter’s board as the new Editor of Planning Northwest and chair an Editorial Committee (which is now soliciting members), I called for uniformity regarding the use of an acronym for our APA chapter. I’d like my volunteer job to have time for much more than repetitively proofreading at the hyphen-level of detail, which is called for if contributors are unsure what the accepted acronym is. Following the fall board meeting, I agreed to use only WA-APA going forward, and urged other board members with other communications-related duties to spread uniformity regarding the acronym throughout all our electronic and print publications, so folks won't get confused. Considering that it took at least a year for the widely unpopular SayWA? tagline or slogan of Washington State Tourism to exit, I bet we planners can regroup much faster to achieve uniform use of a sole acronym: WA-APA (when choosing not to type the long form of the Chapter name). As for adding a catchy tagline for WA-APA, let’s hold off on that for now; we don't have the global reach or marketing budget of a state tourism agency. If anyone has clung to WAPA as an acronym for the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association, it’s time to stop. Western Area Power Administration (a federal agency within the Department of Energy that serves many western states) is know by that acronym, for one thing. Let’s not confuse ourselves or others anymore. Usage of other acronyms and words will eventually be covered in a handy guide for submitting content to Planning Northwest. The guide, like a ‘mechanics’ brief used to guide commercial publication query letters and the other writing, will be available to serve as a quick reference source while you are at your computer, typing your first (or even your tenth) article for submission to the newsletter. For now, just look at the November edition of the newsletter and emulate what you see. Planners are good at grasping checklists and thoroughly applying them, right? So here is a two-page checklist to help you emulate, deal with details, and make last-minute improvements to content you want to submit to Planning Northwest for online publication. Click here for an advance copy of a checklist to print and keep on hand.
REMINDER Last year the board approved a new chapter-only group membership opportunity. This membership is available to planning commissions, city councils and commissions, tribal councils, and board members of non-profit organizations and other professional associations. Up to 10 members may be included in a group membership. The group rate is $150 and is administered by the chapter office. To obtain a group membership form or learn more about the benefits of this membership, contact Anna Nelson, AICP, Membership Committee chair, at (206) 382-9540 or anelson@buckgordon.com.
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, preceding the publication month. Please submit all newsletter articles to newsletter@washington-apa.org.
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RICHARD CARSON
Dulce Setterfield, Editor
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