 VOLUME XXI, ISSUE 4 APRIL 2008
|
|
|
|
CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Dear Chapter members. It is with mixed emotions that I announce my resignation as your President and from my career in planning. Those of you who know me have probably seen this coming for a while. Maybe you noticed my penchant for wide collars and long sideburns. Or the way my upper lip would sometimes curl into an amused sneer. I suppressed it for a long time, but when I saw the Preliminary Program for the upcoming National Planning Conference in Las Vegas (April 27 to May 1), I knew I’d have to pull on those blue suede shoes and answer my true calling. To each of you who has worked with and supported me during my planning career, all I can say is thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. The rest of my message is not for April Fools. Seriously, I am looking forward to the conference. I will attend the FAICP Induction Ceremony to congratulate our friends and colleagues elected to the Class of 2008: Steve Butler, Bill Trimm, and Jerry Ernst. On a different note, I still need a few volunteers to join me in representing Washington APA at the Delegate Assembly which will take place on Sunday, April 27th, 11:30 - 2:30 pm. In addition to a freshly-minted Climate Change policy guide, the Delegate Assembly will also act on a proposed update to the APA surface transportation policy guide update. I will provide chapter delegates with the proposed guides prior to the conference. If you are going to the conference and would like to join our delegation, please email me at jwtovar@comcast.net. One other conference detail – at this writing we do not know the particulars of the Chapter social gathering in Las Vegas. We will send an update to the membership via email in early April when we have that information. You may recall quite a flurry of Chapter email activity last month, precipitated by a Seattle Times story about the “Cost of Regulation” which highlighted a report by UW economics professor Theo Eicher. I received excellent response to a call for volunteers to work on a Washington APA response, not only to the Eicher study, but the more general subject of the cost of regulation. I have appointed Rose Curran to chair this committee, which also consists of David Anderson, Ken Dueker, Mark Hinshaw, Mike Hubner, Gary Lawrence, Don Miller, Fred Satterstrom, Mike Stanger, Tim Trohimovich, and Ron Turner. This committee has just met and will look for ways to prepare an appropriate professional response, as well as appropriate venues to share that response. I expect that will include a session at the fall conference in Spokane as well as posting of a “white paper” on the Chapter website. A number of useful links to resources on this subject have already been posted on our website at www.washington-apa.org. Also recently posted on the Chapter website is a heading “AICP Certification Maintenance Update” with an update from AICP President Graham Billingsley. You may have seen an article in Planetizen where several planners have expressed their objections to the program as it is presently constituted and have called for reform. Titled “AICP’s Continuing Education Program Needs to be Fixed” it’s posted at http://www.planetizen.com/node/29996. A response to the Planetizen piece was prepared by Monica Groh, Manager of Professional Development and AICP for APA National. Her response is also posted on the Chapter’s website. Does there need to be reform to the CM program? From reading these three pieces, you can see that a healthy debate has been engaged. My own view is that the success of CM is of vital importance to the profession and that AICP is open to considering needed system improvements over time. As with all human endeavors (planning included!) it’s rare to get something exactly right on the first iteration, but I think AICP has mostly gotten CM right. I’m sure we’ll all be hearing more on this subject in the inaugural years of the program, which is as it should be. More good news about Chapter members. Congratulations and thanks are in order for chapter member Bob Sokol. He has recently been hired as the new Planning Director for the District of West Vancouver, B.C. Way to go, Bob! Or as they say up in the Great White North: “Beauty, eh!?” Here’s a press release about Bob’s new gig. I want to thank Bob for his years of service to APA Washington as the Chairman of our Awards Committee. Hopefully, we’ll see Bob on both sides of the border in the coming years, perhaps as we ponder another joint event with our friends at the Planning Institute of British Columbia. This also means we have a need for a volunteer to serve as Chair of this committee. If this strikes your fancy, please contact me. In closing, as I’ve said many times before, APA Washington is doing more than ever for its members and the communities we serve. In next month’s message, I’ll update you on the results of our upcoming Chapter Board meeting where we’ll update our Strategic Plan. Until then, Upward and Onward! 
LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS
The 2008 session ended on time, within the 60 day constitutional limitation. Now, the House members can start campaigning as can a large contingent of Senators, and, of course, the Governor. This session was largely unremarkable, which is not unexpected during an election year. However, this session did have see some interesting bills pass, and APA Washington weighed in on many of these. Below is a sample of approved bills, which have all been delivered to the Governor for signature (as of 3/15/08): 2815: Climate change, emissions assessment (signed by the governor on March 13). Requires that state shall limit emissions by 2020 (to 1990 levels); by 2035 (to 25% below 1990 levels); and by 2050 (to 50% below 1990 levels). By 12/1/08, the Washington State Dept. of Ecology (DOE) shall submit a greenhouse gas reduction plan to the legislature describing action necessary to achieve emission reduction goals. DOE shall develop and implement a system for monitoring and reporting emissions and track progress. Every 2 years, DOE shall report to legislature the total emissions of the preceding 2 years. In coordination with western climate initiative, the DOE director shall design a regional multisector market-based system to limit and reduce emissions. By 12/1/08 DOE & Washington State Dept. of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED) directors shall deliver to legislature final Climate Advisory Team (CAT) recommendations, and recommendations for implementing a regional multisector market-based system (including proposed legislation for implementation by 1/1/12).
DOE shall establish benchmarks using a statewide baseline of 75 billion vehicle miles traveled less the vehicle miles traveled by commercial trucks and buses.
By 7/1/08, the Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT), with DCTED, shall establish a “collaborative process” to develop best practices and tools to assist state, regional and local entities in making progress toward these benchmarks. By 12/1/08, DOE shall report to legislative transportation committees on the process and recommendations. Lastly, the bill establishes green economy jobs growth initiatives based on goal of, by 2020, increasing number of green jobs to 25,000. 2844: Urban forestry. Provides incentives to cities and counties to develop urban forest management plans and ordinances and become designated an Evergreen Community. DCTED is required to develop model “Evergreen Community Management Plans” for locals to consider. The Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) may conduct an urban forest assessment and develop recommendations to the legislature by 12/1/08. DNR must conduct an inventory and assessment of one county east of the Cascades and on county west of the Cascades by 6/1/10. 6580: Local solutions to climate change. Requires DCTED to develop and provide counties and cities with advisory methodologies, a computer modeling program, and estimates of emission reductions resulting from specific measures. Creates pilot program of 3 counties and 6 cities (Local Government Global Warming Mitigation & Adaptation Program). Prohibits Growth Management Hearings Boards from hearing petitions alleging non-compliance with mitigation and adaption program. Creates study by 25 member policy committee. DCTED shall submit a report to legislature by 12/1/08. Other bills impacting transportation, the shoreline management act and housing were wrestled with by the 2008 legislature, but the above bills were the most notable. Moreover, they will require additional APA Washington involvement since all have report, taskforce, or stakeholder recommendation provisions. Thus, this interim appears to be a busy one for us particularly since these bills all have December 1st deadlines. My reports on transportation, environment, land use and housing bills of interest to APA Washington members can be found on the chapter website.
SPEAKERS’ SERIES ON PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
In coordination with the University of Washington, the Washington Chapter APA and the Puget Sound Section APA have arranged a Speakers Series to support the continuing education of our membership on this significant issue. Speakers from the UW and various Northwest cities and counties will describe what communities and their planners can do to address climate change and sustainability. The series is being offered in conjunction with a course for graduate and undergraduate students at the UW and will be enriched by faculty and students contributions whenever possible. Professionals registering for the speakers’ series will also receive a reading list to further enhance their learning. Thursday Evenings, April 10 - June 5 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Costs: $10 per session or $70 for the series of 8 For more information or to register visit the chapter website. April 10 - Understanding the Science of Climate Change & Local Impacts
We are applying for Certification Maintenance (CM) credits and plan to provide 12 credits for the Series or 1.5 credits per session. Also, we will webcast the Speaker’s Series for those who cannot attend in person. Please visit http://www.washington-apa.org/events/training.shtml for more information.
IT’S TIME TO VOTE FOR A NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT It is time for APA Washington Chapter members to select a new President-Elect. This position is a four-year commitment to the Chapter beginning in July 2008. The successful candidate will serve on the Board for four years - one as President-elect; two as Chapter President; and a fourth year as Immediate Past President. In return, the successful candidate will play a key role in setting the Chapter’s direction over the next several years. The two candidates are Jennifer Aylor, AICP, and Scott Greenberg, AICP. The Nominating Committee consisted of: Steve Butler, Nominating Committee Chair and Chapter Immediate Past President; Bill Grimes, Chapter Secretary; and Esther Larsen, Chapter Legislative Committee Co-Chair. Two newsletter articles were written to solicit interest in the position, and the Nominating Committee contacted numerous potential candidates between January and March. After extensive work, the Committee came up with two willing and well qualified candidates for the office of President–elect. The ballots for this election have been mailed and you should be receiving one soon, if you haven’t already. Your completed ballot must be postmarked by April 18, 2008, so don’t delay in casting your vote. If you haven’t received a ballot by April 4, 2008, please contact Andrew Estep, Chapter Administrator (206-682-7436 or office@washington-apa.org). If you have any questions about the nomination or election process, please feel free to contact Steve Butler, AICP, Nominating Committee Chair (206-973-4830 or sbutler@ci.seatac.wa.us)). Be sure to vote!
I have spent nearly seventeen years as a professional planner in Washington State. I graduated from Western Washington University with a BS in Environmental Science (Social Impact and Policy Assessment), and later attended graduate school at Seattle University. My experience has been divided between the public and private sectors. While planning for local government, I worked in current and long-range planning, for both planning and public works departments, writing plans, preparing staff reports, signing permits, revising ordinances, managing contracts and budgets, and ensuring policy compliance. While in the private sector, I entitle complex projects at all levels of government. I have served as the Northwest APA Section President, and am a member of both the Washington State APA Board and the Executive Board for nearly four years. The complexity of our profession increases as policies and people collide. I offer my passion, experience, and skills to lead this state as your President Elect. I’ve experienced first hand as a State APA Board Member that we can influence meaningful change in our State. I would be honored to continue serving our profession and help facilitate planning leadership as President Elect, and later as President and Past President. These positions require a significant time commitment. As Partner and Principal with Cherry Creek Environmental, I am able to dedicate time to be an effective Chapter President. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration.
As your President-Elect, I will:
I have been a public and private sector planner for 29 years, currently as Burien’s Community Development Director, as well as a leader on a City Council, Planning Commission and Design Review Board. I am currently Chapter newsletter editor and have worked on the Legislative, Proactive, Communications and No on I-933 committees. I have been involved on the “front lines” supporting the Chapter’s climate change position in Olympia, and spent many hours doorbelling, phoning, writing letters and responding to the threat once posed by I-933. I am ready to take my commitment to planning to the next level. I’d be honored to once again have your vote and will work hard to help us fulfill APA’s mission of Making Great Communities Happen. Please contact me with your ideas at scottg@burienwa.gov.
EWU STUDENTS ENGAGE COMMUNITY IN PLANNING PROCESS & MARDI GRAS PARTY
This year has seen Eastern Washington University’s (EWU) Department of Urban & Regional Planning continue its focus on community service learning. Pathways to Progress, a Main Street program in Cheney, Washington—home to EWU’s main campus—is entering its tenth year of community-based collaboration between the university, the City of Cheney, downtown merchants, and property owners. The partnership between EWU, Community Colleges of Spokane, and Spokane’s East Central neighborhood also continues, with EWU planning classes working to facilitate neighborhood and strategic planning initiatives for East Central neighborhood organizations. In addition to ongoing projects in Cheney and Spokane, graduate and undergraduate students spent 2007 helping the City of Prosser plan for the impacts of continuing growth in the area’s burgeoning wine and agriculture-based tourism industry. Acting as consultants, students from Professor Bill Kelley’s undergraduate planning studio course visited Prosser in spring 2007 to do a field study and interview stakeholders. They presented preliminary findings from stakeholders and generated feedback based on case studies of other wine tourism areas in Washington State and beyond. In the fall, Master of Urban & Regional Planning students continued the planning process by following up with stakeholders through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. Students calculated the fiscal impacts of wine and agriculture tourism, and offered several land use and economic development policy alternatives for the city to consider in advance of increasing numbers of residents and visitors. At a public meeting on December 7th, elected officials, staff and residents of Prosser provided feedback and extended appreciation for the contributions by EWU faculty and students, particularly emphasizing the community dialogue, consensus building, and strategic decision-making that resulted from the project. The report reached a wider audience when EWU graduate planning students Josh Hall and Shawna Ernst joined Professor Kelley to present the project at the Faculty Serving Washington event, held January 23 in Olympia. Most recently, on February 23, the EWU Association of Student Planners hosted the Inland Empire Chapter’s annual Mardi Gras fundraiser at the historic Woman’s Club in Spokane. Not only was it a good time, but Mardi Gras was once again a very successful fundraiser thanks to the generosity of partygoers (many planners among them) and several local businesses. After sending eight students to the Washington/Oregon APA Conference held in Tacoma last October, part of the proceeds from this event will be used to help send fourteen EWU planning students to the APA National Conference in Las Vegas later this month. See you at Mardi Gras next year!
COLUMBIA SECTION UPDATES The APA Washington board recently approved formation of a new Columbia Section to encourage and support sound planning that works to improve the quality of life throughout Central and Southeast Washington. The Columbia Section will join five other sections of the Washington Chapter, each representing different regions of the state in support of the Chapter’s mission to build an effective constituency for planning our state’s economic and human resources and its built and natural environment. The new Columbia Section includes Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan and Yakima counties. For more information about the Columbia Section, please contact David Miller, AICP, Public Information Officer, at dmmiller@eburg.com. The first meeting of the Columbia Section board was held just recently in Yakima on February 22 of this year. The founding board is working towards setting up the path for the section’s future. As there has been a long need for a section in the Columbia region in order to create a common platform among planners within this region, the board hopes to add programs and activities to meet that need. As a new section, connecting the members and communities within the region will be one of the major goals this year. Web-based outreach tools such as e-newsletters have been considered as an option. The section will work in cooperation with the chapter to bring forth continuing education and AICP credit opportunities to planners within the region. The Columbia Section will also seek opportunities of coordinating joint programs with the Inland Empire Section. The next board meeting has been scheduled for May 2nd, 2008 at Chelan County. Please visit the Columbia Section page for further meeting and activity information. Join the Board!
DUAL PROMOTIONS FOR DEVERY AND WHITE AT BERGER/ABAM Federal Way-based BERGER/ABAM Engineers Inc. is proud to announce the promotion of Helen Devery, the firm’s current planning manager, to the position of Vancouver office branch manager, and John D. White, current vice president and branch manager, to the position of regional client development director for BERGER/ABAM’s Vancouver office. Helen Devery has been with the company for more than 14 years. John White founded The JD White Company in 1976, 30 years before its 2006 acquisition by BERGER/ABAM, when he became vice president and branch manager. “Helen and John bring enormous strengths to the company,” said Arnie Rusten, BERGER/ABAM president and chief executive officer. “Helen will couple her extensive knowledge of industry sectors in this region with her immense experience with land use planning, regulatory compliance, and environmental work to help lead the JD White division of BERGER/ABAM as branch manager,” said Rusten.
2008 APA NATIONAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW
The more than 5000 expected attendees of the 100th annual conference will be able to customize their schedule to best meet their needs and interests. With hundreds of sessions and workshops to choose from, there is truly something for every interest. The APA has organized suggested conference tracks around topics such as transportation, economic development, and housing. There are also special events and activities for target audiences such as students, new professionals, and planning commissioners. There are three keynote speakers at this year’s conference. UN Undersecretary and UN-Habitat Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka will consider the future of sustainable development. ESRI President Jack Dangermond will offer a geographic perspective of the future. And New Yorker architectural critic Paul Goldberger will look back on the seminal work Learning from Las Vegas. Beyond the conference venues, there will be opportunities to explore and learn about planning and life in Las Vegas through tours and mobile workshops available throughout the conference. Details on the Washington Chapter’s annual evening social event will be announced soon. While online registration ended on March 27th, late registration is still available onsite. Student, new professional, and retired/life members of the APA receive discounts on the registration fees. For further conference details, see www.planning.org/nationalconference/. Although most of what happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, this conference proves that there are some things that you can take home to share with others. HELPING FUEL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The American Planning Association (APA) received a Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to assist communities and regions with economic development practices. This is the first time APA has received the grant. The grant enables APA to share its economic development resources and best practices with a larger audience of economic development practitioners, community leaders and engaged citizens. Information disseminated through a monthly e-newsletter, a quarterly broadcast and publication will target recovery of distressed regions or stressed economies. Each publication issue will focus on various aspects of economic development such as innovation, entrepreneurship, regionalism and world-wide competitiveness. "Planning for economic development is vital to create healthy and thriving communities," said Jeff Soule, FAICP, APA Director of Outreach and International Programs. "This grant will ensure that planners, economic development advocates, and community leaders receive necessary and timely information to help revitalize communities all across the US." For more information and to subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter visit: www.eda.gov/NewsEvents/Edevinfocoalition.xml. APA members are invited to contribute case studies on economic development for consideration by contacting Richard Lukas, Senior Outreach Associate, at rlukas@planning.org. NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH – GREEN COMMUNITIES Celebrate the achievements of planning this October during National Community Planning Month. Each year APA, its members, chapters, divisions, and professional institute sponsor National Community Planning Month to raise the visibility of the important role of planners and planning in communities across the U.S. Planners address both the existing and future needs of a community. This year's theme, Green Communities, recognizes the role planners have in helping ensure our communities are environmentally-friendly and sustainable. From alternative energy sources to reducing automobile dependence, planners can have key role in changing how our communities work, function, and impact the earth. You're invited to celebrate how your town, neighborhood, or community already is or working to become a green community this October. If you have plans to celebrate National Community Planning Month this October, share your event. E-mail ncpm@planning.org. For more information and resources for National Community Planning Month, go to www.planning.org/ncpm/index.htm.
QUALITY DESIGN TO HELP AVERT NIMBYISM Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse
The Affordable Housing Design Advisor assists housing developers by bringing together real world examples of high-quality affordable housing projects from the people who have successfully developed, designed, and built them. The website houses over 80 case studies, each covering an affordable housing development from concept to execution. Additionally, the website provides a step-by-step guide to achieving quality design and includes a variety of tools and resources assembled to help affordable housing developers understand the design process and improve the quality of their own projects. With community support and a high-quality design, affordable housing developers can enhance all stages of development, alleviate “Not in My BackYard” (NIMBY) concerns, accelerate the approval process, and ensure overall resident satisfaction. Additional information about the Affordable Housing Design Advisor can be found at www.huduser.org/rbc/search/rbcdetails.asp?DocId=1560. We hope this information proves useful to you in your efforts to grow your region’s affordable housing stock. If you have regulatory reform strategies or resources that you'd like to share, send us an email at rbcsubmit@huduser.org, call us at 1-800-245-2691 (option 4), or visit our website at www.regbarriers.org.
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@GordonDerr.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 fifteenth of every month, preceding the publication month. Please submit all newsletter articles to newsletter@washington-apa.org. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jennifer Aylor, AICP
Scott Greenberg, AICP
The 2008 American Planning Association National Planning Conference will take place April 27 to May 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Affordable housing developments often experience community opposition due to a perception that such projects will be based on poor designs that don’t blend in with the surrounding neighborhood. For this reason, HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research, in partnership with New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Center for Architecture and Building Science Research, the American Institute of Architects, and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., has created the 
|
|
|