A MONTHLY BULLETIN FROM APA FLORIDA

APA FLORIDA ANNUAL SPONSORS

December 21, 2007


Important Announcements
(click on the one of interest)

Chapter Office Holiday Schedule

     Register for the 2008 Public Policy
Workshop

Reserve APA Conference Housing

Register to be a Sponsor or Exhibitor
at the 2008 APA Conference
 

STATE & FEDERAL HIGHLIGHTS

IMPACTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE MADE PART OF EIS REVIEWS
King County, Washington, Executive Ron Sims has issued an executive order requiring county departments to consider climate impacts as part of their project reviews under the Washington Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The order is the first of its kind in the country. It notes that, when acting as a SEPA lead agency, King County is in a unique position to require appropriate consideration of climate impacts in both public and private projects undergoing county review. The executive order became effective September 1, 2007.
(Courtesy of the APA Advocate)

FEMA DEVELOPS MITIGATION BEST PRACTICES PORTFOLIO
Find out how communities and individual homeowners around the country prevent or reduce the impact from disasters with FEMA's Mitigation Best Practices Portfolio. With the Best Practices Portfolio, you can search for examples of activities, projects, and potential funding sources that communities and individuals have implemented to protect both people and property.  To search this on-line data base or add your own best practice, go to http://www.fema.gov/mitigationbp/index.jsp

NEW WEBSITE TRACKS FLORIDA PERFORMANCE MEASURES
This new website provides performance information for key indicators in each sector of government: public safety, health and family, education, economy and taxes, transportation, and environment/conservation, including a running scorecard of a broad range of measures reflecting trends each area. Users can also access any measure used by an agency from this site.  View it at http://floridaperforms.com/

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REPORTS, PUBLICATIONS AND BRIEFINGS 

ESTIMATING THE FISCAL IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE FUTURES FOR THE CAPITAL REGION
In this new study, the Capital District Regional Planning Commission of New York analyzed what the future could look like for residents of Saratoga, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Albany counties--and what it might cost them. Looking at two different population growth rates over the next 30 years, researchers compared compact growth focused in existing urban and suburban centers to sprawling growth on rural land. Resoundingly, the study showed that more dispersed growth cost more in taxpayer dollars to service with water, sewer, education and emergency services. In fact, a concentrated growth pattern in the Capital District could save the region $1 billion over the next 25 years--all the more reason to invest in and promote protection of the region's best farmland. For the full report, see http://www.farmland.org/programs/states/ny/SavingMoneybyGrowingSmart.asp.

NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF TITLE I: FINAL REPORT
This two-volume report, published by the U.S. Department of Education,  presents findings from the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Title I on the implementation and impact of the program. Volume I contains key findings on the implementation of the program under No Child Left Behind, and Volume II presents a report on follow-up findings from Closing the Reading Gap, an evaluation of the impact of supplemental remedial reading programs on achievement of third and fifth grade students.  To read the report,  go to http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20084012/  .

A GUIDE TO TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Published by the Surface Transportation Policy Project, this guidebook is designed to demystify some of the complexities of the transportation laws, programs and processes, and reviews how federal surface transportation law can be used to support local and statewide efforts to build more livable communities and expand travel options.  Main topics discussed include key players, basic planning tools and how the money works, specific funding opportunities for a variety of issues, and broad strategies for to help citizens be more effective in achieving community goals.  Download a copy of the guide at  http://www.transact.org/PDFs/margins2006/STPP_guidebook_margins.pdf.

USING THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION LAW TO MEET THE MOBILITY NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITY:REPORT ON WORKSHOP DISCUSSIONS, FINDINGS AND NEXT STEPS
This Workshop Report describes key findings  from the surface Transportation Policy Project Partners workshop series, which were held in seven locations  from January - June 2006.  It is a companion piece to the Guide to Transportation Opportunities in Your Community listed above.  To read the workshop report, go to http://www.transact.org/PDFs/margins2006/stppnov7_workshoprpt.pdf

FLORIDA PARKS IN THE 21ST CENTURY 2008 REPORT RELEASED
The Florida Parks in the 21st Century 2008 report released on December 5, 2007, suggests that the need for local parks in Florida is growing. Local park departments have documented $10.5 billion they'll need to acquire land for new parks and maintain existing parks. Co-authored by The Trust for Public Land, Florida Recreation and Park Association, Florida League of Cities, and Florida Association of Counties, Florida Parks in the 21st Century 2008 is based on data provided directly by city and county park departments.  To read the report, go to http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=21988&folder_id=250

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NEWS CLIPS, MAGAZINE ARTICLES, ETC.

Some publications may require free registration.

Voters approve land-use changes
Oregon Voters overwhelmingly approved Measure 49, rolling back the property development rights approved just three years earlier.
Eric Mortenson, The Oregonian, November 6, 2007
http://blog.oregonlive.com/elections/2007/11/measure_49main.html

Goldwater Institute Sues City of Phoenix  over $100 Million Subsidy
Groups seek injunction against gift to CityNorth developer
Goldwater Institute, November 20, 2007
http://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/AboutUs/ArticleView.aspx?id=1711

Leasing Roads Could Cost Drivers
Mike Brassfield, St. Petersburg Times, November 26, 2007
http://www.theledger.com/article/20071126/NEWS/711260370/1003/NEWS01

Wal-Mart foes get ammunition
Swiftmud  says the project will disturb wetlands,which prompts an Army Corps of Engineers review
Elena Lesley, Times Staff Writer, St. Petersburg Times, November 23, 2007
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/23/Northpinellas/Wal_Mart_foes_get_amm.shtml

Sweden Turns to a Promising Power Source, With Flaws
Mark Landler, New York Times, November 23, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/business/23wind.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Sprouting shops in Newton
Bill Wichert, New Jersey Herald, November 14, 2007
http://www.njherald.com/290289165067055.php

City Council says green buildings can be bigger
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 17, 2007
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07321/834714-53.stm

States' green-building laws "lead by example"
Karen Nitkin, Special to Stateline.org, November 14, 2007
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=257232

Visitors saving the day for Florida's economy
Tom Bayles, Herald-Tribune. December 3, 2007
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071203/BUSINESS/712030306

River's depletion fosters grief, grit in seafood towns
Mike Williams, Palm Beach Post, December 3, 2007
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/12/03/m1a_oysters_1203.html

Crist Energy Plan: Clean or Costly?
Russell Ray, Tampa Tribune, December 4, 2007
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/04/na-crist-energy-plan-clean-or-costly/

Florida group reveals almost 75 energy-saving ideas
A state group comes up with almost 75 efficiency proposals. But when will changes actually kick in?
Kevin Spear, Sentinel Staff Writer, Orlando Sentinel, December 4, 2007
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-energy0407dec04,0,7594277.story

Crist signs deal with Google to make public records easier to find
The Associated Press, Orlando Sentinel, December 4, 2007
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-google0407dec04,0,1669522.story

Long-term care issue not being addressed, bipartisan panel says
Larry Lipman, Palm Beach Post Washington Bureau, Palm Beach Post, December 4, 2007
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/12/04/a2a_longterm_1204.html 

L.A. panel approves ambitious green building plan
L.A. panel approves rules to slash energy use up to 15% in large new developments. The plan seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the city.
Margot Roosevelt, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, November 16, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-green16nov16,1,6786979.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

County imposes 1-year moratorium on change request for DR/GR area
Charlie Whitehead, Naples Daily News, December 4, 2007
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/dec/04/county_imposes_1year_moratorium_change_requests_dr/?breaking_news

Housing dip slows sprawl around metro Atlanta
Kevin Duffy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 27, 2007
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2007/11/26/land_1127.html

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 APA FLORIDA/APA/AICP NEWS & INFORMATION

 CHAPTER OFFICE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
To allow staff to celebrate with their families, the Chapter office will be closed for the holidays from December 24 through January 1st.  If you have something urgent that cannot wait until our return, please call 850-294-2994 and leave a message.  Messages will be checked daily.  In addition, email will also be checked periodically.

REGISTER FOR THE 2008 PUBLIC POLICY WORKSHOP
There is still plenty of time to register for the APA Florida Public Policy workshop scheduled for February 7, 2008. A preliminary agenda will be posted on the web site next week.  To register as an attendee or a sponsor, go to http://www.floridaplanning.org/announcefiles/2008_PPW.asp

EARN AICP CM CREDITS THROUGH AUDIO/WEB CONFERENCING
If you are looking for ways that you and your coworkers can earn CM credits, consider one of the several audio/web conferences provided through APA.  These conferences provide long-distance training to planners, planning officials, researchers, students, and allied groups. These convenient, easy-to-use programs are delivered straight to your desktop or conference room.  Simply have one person register  on-line for the conference - the associated cost is based on the number of lines that you are going to use.  You can use just one line using a speaker phone, and invite as many people as can comfortably fit into the room.  After the audio/web conference is completed, those in attendance can file for the credits approved for that particular course. For more information on audio/web conferencing and the upcoming schedule of offered sessions, go to http://www.planning.org/audioconference/

RESERVE CONFERENCE HOUSING NOW!
Hotel reservations are now being accepted for APA's 2008 National Planning Conference in Las Vegas next April 27 - May 1, 2008.  APA has arranged to accommodate everyone who will need a reservation, but for the best selection, reserve housing soon. Please help to make the conference a success by staying in a designated conference hotel.  For more information, go to http://www.planning.org/2008conference/ .

RESERVE EXHIBIT BOOTH SPACE FOR APA CONFERENCE
More than 5,000 potential clients will be in Las Vegas at APA's 2008 National Planning Conference next April 27 - May 1, 2008. Use this opportunity to build business relationships and meet face-to-face with interested prospects. Booths are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis so get in quickly -- spaces are selling fast!  For even more impact, consider being a conference sponsor.  Sponsorship is a great way to get your name out to all conference registrants.  The deadline for exhibit and sponsorship applications is February 8th.  For more information, please go to  http://www.planning.org/2008conference/ .

WINNERS OF APA'S 2008 NATIONAL PLANNING EXCELLENCE, ACHIEVEMENT, AND LEADERSHIP AWARDS ANNOUNCED
The American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are pleased to announce the names of nine recipients of the 2008 National Planning Excellence, Achievement, and Leadership Awards. Recipient of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award, co-sponsored with APA, will be announced in early 2008. To see a list of the winners, go to http://www.planning.org/awards/2008winners.htm    

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OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE ANNUAL ULI CONFERENCE
The conference, "Reinventing Retail:Community, Mixed-Use, and Environment", will be held on February 14-15, 2008 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. It focuses on ways the world's most innovative developers are expanding their focus beyond the traditional shopping center to include niche markets such as low-income communities, deteriorated shopping strips, and downtowns (with a lot of emphasis being placed on mixed-use). For conference accommodations and information, visit
http://www.uli.org/conferences .

CALL FOR ENTRIES: 26TH ANNUAL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMUNITY DESIGN AWARDS
The Planning Commission is pleased to invite entries to its 26th Annual Community Awards Design Program to recognize  excellence in planning, landscape architecture, environmental sensitivity  and architectural  design in building and development projects throughout Hillsborough County. The deadline for entries is February 2, 2008.  For more information, go to http://www.theplanningcommission.org .

24TH ANNUAL GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING SHORT COURSE
The Florida Chamber's annual short course is scheduled for February 20-22,2008 at the Daytona Beach Hilton.  Secretary Tom Pelham will be the Keynote Speaker and Clay Henderson will be the course moderator.  The Florida Chamber has indicated that they will be applying for AICP CM credits.  For more information about the conference or to register, go to www.floridaenet.com .

1000 FRIENDS OF FLORIDA'S BETTER COMMUNITY AWARDS: CALL FOR ENTRIES
1000 Friends of Florida hosts the Better Community Awards program to showcase Florida's leading citizens, public servants, programs and communities that are contributing to an enhanced quality of life in this state. Nominations will be accepted through January 31, 2008.  For more information or to submit a nomination, go to http://www.1000fof.org/Awards/main.asp .

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RFPs/RFQs, GRANTS, AWARDS, ETC.

  RFQs/RFPs are listed in this newsletter and posted to APA Florida's website at no charge. APA Florida does this as a service to its members. Please take advantage of it.  Email a one paragraph summary to the Chapter Office at fapa@floridaplanning.org for posting.  Be sure to include a deadline and website link. 

City of Callaway: The City of Callaway hereby gives notice that a Request for Qualifications is invited for a professional planning/design consultant experienced with developing and preparing design standards for specific areas or corridors.   Interested professionals or firms will assist the City in the following types of services:  Developing and preparing overlay districts;  Initiating and conducting public workshops/charettes; Developing and preparing design standards for specific areas or corridors; Community, neighborhood and comprehensive planning;  Gateway, wayfinding and graphic design;  Collecting and evaluating data and analysis;  Preparing textual revisions and essential narratives for the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. Interested firms or individuals are invited to obtain a copy of the complete Request for Qualifications (RFQ) package from the office of the Director of Planning, City of Callaway, 6601 East Highway 22, Callaway, Florida 32404 (telephone 850 871-6000) during regular business hours (or via e-mail at arichard@cityofcallaway.com), and are requested to indicate their interest in providing the requested services by submitting one original and nine (9) copies of their Statement of Qualifications on or before December 21 2007, to Amanda J. Richard,  Director of Planning, at the same address.   The qualifications and other information should be submitted in strict compliance with the directives provided in the RFQ.  There is no express or implied obligation for the City to reimburse responding firms for any expenses associated with preparation and submittal of the Statement of Qualifications in response to this request.  Deadline: December 21, 2007.

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City of St. Petersburg: The City of St. Petersburg, Florida may issue a Request for Proposals ("RFP") on or around January 18, 2008 for an 86-acre assembled site located in downtown St. Petersburg, which could be available for phased development as early as 2009. The site is currently occupied by Tropicana Field, home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays. However, the Rays have submitted a plan to the City to construct a new ballpark at an alternative site and make the Tropicana Field site available for development. It is anticipated that responses to the RFP will be due approximately 60 days after it is issued. The site is adjacent to I-175 and I-275, with multiple interstate access points, and is located approximately one mile west of the St. Petersburg Tampa Bay waterfront.  For complete details and contact information, please visit the Notice of Intent online at http://stpeteshines.stpete.org/default.aspx?pageid=877

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JOB MART

Newest JOB MART advertisements now posted:

PLANNER (City of Cassellberry), PLANNER I (City of Daytona Beach); GROWTH MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR (Lake County); TRANSIT PLANNER (City of Gainesville); SENIOR PLANNER (Indian River County); TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR (Valdosta-Lowndes County Georgia MPO); PLANNING DIRECTOR (Central Florida Regional Planning Council); PRINCIPAL PLANNER (Martin County); REGIONAL PLANNER (East Central Florida Regional Planning Council); PLANNER (City of Palm Beach Gardens); LAND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR (Polk County); PLANNER I (City of Clearwater); SENIOR PLANNER I (West Florida Regional Planning Council); SENIOR PLANNER (Putnam County); PLANNER (Alachua County); PLANNER I (City of Eustis); PLANNING DIRECTOR (Jasper County South Carolina); SENIOR LAND USE/ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER (Ecology and Environment, Inc.); DIVISION MANAGER-LONG RANGE PLANNING (Escambia County); CHIEF PLANNER- PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DESIGN (Lake County); TRANSPORTATION PLANNER (HDR,Inc.); PLANNER II (PBS&J); 
SENIOR PLANNER II (West Florida Regional Planning Council)

 We encourage you to visit APA Florida's JobMart website at http://www.floridaplanning.org/jobs2.asp for salaries, descriptions, minimum requirements and application deadlines.  Also, don't forget about APA Florida's resume posting feature at http://www.floridaplanning.org/membership/resume_select.asp.

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APA FLORIDA CHAPTER & SECTION CALENDAR

JANUARY 16, 2008.  Join the SUNCOAST SECTION WALKING TOUR of the FDOT District 7 Intelligent Transportation Facility from 2:45 - 4:30 p.m. To register contact Mike Register at 813-866-1789.

JANUARY 18, 2008.  THE APA FLORIDA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE will be holding a regular quarterly meeting at the Embassy Suites Orlando Airport from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

JANUARY 25, 2008.  Join the Emerald Coast Section for its 2008 EMERALD COAST LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON at Landry's Seafood House in Destin from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. CT.

FEBRUARY 7, 2008.  Plan to attend the APA FLORIDA PUBLIC POLICY WORKSHOP at the Park Plaza Hotel in Tallahassee, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.floridaplanning.org/announcefiles/2008_PPW.asp

April 27 - May 1, 2008:  Las Vegas will host the American Planning Association's 2008 NATIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE. Enjoy 200-plus conference sessions, mobile workshops, training seminars, and networking opportunities. For more information, visit http://www.planning.org/2008conference/.

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OTHER STATE & NATIONAL EVENTS

January 16-18, 2008:  The NATIONAL CHARRETTE INSTITUTE CHARRETTE PLANNER® CERTIFICATE offered by the Knight Program in Community Building is an intensive, two-part certification program.  This course is organized as two modules: an introductory half-day course with open enrollment followed by an intensive 2.5-day course limited to 35 participants, leading to certification by the NCI as a charrette planner. Continuing education credits are available through AIA and AICP for this course.  For more information see the Knight Program website, http://www.arc.miami.edu/knight/,
e-mail knight@arc.miami.edu or call 305.284.4220.

April 3-6, 2008:  Save the date for the CNU XIV, the annual Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), to be held in Austin Texas.  CNU members come from far and wide to discuss development practices and public policies, learn from recent innovative work, and advance new initiatives to transform our communities.  For more information, go to the CNU website at http://www.cnu.org/cnuxvi/

Wishing you a safe, happy and healthy New Year!

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