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A MONTHLY BULLETIN FROM APA FLORIDA | |
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| STATE & FEDERAL HIGHLIGHTS |
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VIRGINIA ADOPTS SMART STREET RULES
Virginia has adopted new requirements designed to make neighborhood streets more connected, walkable, and safe. In particular, the new regulations limit the number of new dead-end cul-de-sacs, require sidewalks in most new subdivisions, and encourage narrower street widths that slow traffic. Developers must meet the new criteria in order for their streets to be eligible for maintenance by the state. To read about these standards, go to http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/resources/SSAR_Summary_03-20-09.pdf.
SMART GROWTH IMPLEMENTATION ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS
The Development, Community, and Environment Division in EPA's Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation is seeking applications for technical assistance from communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. Eligible entities are tribal, local, regional, and state governments, and nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a governmental entity. Applications are due at 5:00 pm EST, April 23, 2009.
EPA has identified some key areas in which communities are likely to benefit from technical assistance: Climate change (both mitigation of and adaptation to); Green job development; Corridor redevelopment; Green building development; Suburban retrofitting; and Disaster resiliency. Proposals are not limited to requests for technical assistance in only these thematic areas; other topics for assistance are welcome and encouraged, provided they demonstrate cutting-edge challenges and the possibility of replicable solutions. Selected communities or states will receive assistance in the form of a multi-day visit from a team of experts organized by EPA and other national partners to work with local leaders. EPA plans to assist three to five communities over a period of twelve months. The Agency anticipates announcing the selected communities in fall of 2009. For more information and application materials, visit http://epa.gov/smartgrowth/2009_sgia_rfa.htm.
NEW FEMA WEBSITE FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE
FEMA introduced the launch of a new user-friendly website called Disasterassistance.gov on December 31, 2008. Disasterassistance.gov was developed to ease the frustration felt by disaster victims obligated to search through multiple federal programs to find aid. This website will centralize the application process for federal disaster assistance and offer a clearinghouse for information on programs administered at the federal, state and local levels.To develop the website, DHS/FEMA partnered with 16 federal agencies that collectively sponsor more than 50 forms of disaster assistance. For the initial launch phase, the site will include only limited forms of federal assistance. Over the coming months the website will add federal assistance programs administered at the state level, then local, tribal and finally those of public non-profit organizations.
FLORIDA OFFICE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY CREATED
Governor Crist recently created the Florida Office of Economic Recovery, tasked with ensuring Florida receives its fair share of the federal stimulus dollars and then infuses the funding into Florida's economy as quickly and efficiently as possible. To help inform the public about the status of progress of the recovery effort and to provide a clearinghouse of all public records and documents related to the implementation of the federal stimulus dollars, a web page has been established at http://flarecovery.com/.
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| REPORTS, PUBLICATIONS AND BRIEFINGS |
2008 FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT AVAILABLE
The Florida Housing Corporation recently released its annual report for 2008. Available at http://www.floridahousing.org/NR/rdonlyres/1418F202-DBB7-4ECC-AD92-8662F786E0B1/0/2008AnnualReport_CDfile.pdf, the report provides a good overview of various affordable housing programs and a summary of programmatic activity over the past year.
TWO SMART GROWTH PUBLICATIONS RELEASED
1000 Friends of Florida recently released two new publications focusing on smart growth in Florida. Working with APA Florida and leading conservation organizations, Smart Growth for Florida's Future outlines a series of proposed reforms to the state's growth management process. Included among the many recommendations are establishing meaningful urban growth boundaries, redirecting state transportation funding to better support passenger and freight rail, direct state resources and develop incentives to promote appropriate infill development. A companion report, Why Florida Needs Smart Growth, presents a series of essays written from a variety viewpoints, from developers to environmentalists and public officials. The common thread is that smart growth is essential shaping a better future for Florida. Both publications can be downloaded at http://www.1000friendsofflorida.org/.
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| NEWS CLIPS, MAGAZINE ARTICLES, ETC. |
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Some publications may require free registration.
Breaking Silos: Momentum Builds in Washington for Livable Communities, Sustainable Networks
Congress for the New Urbanism, March 18, 2009
http://www.cnu.org/node/2772
Editorial: Don't hide government meeting ads
Fort Myers News-Press, March 23, 2009
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090323/OPINION/903230326/1015
Zombie Banks Build Ghost Towers
Don't let Boston and Brooklyn turn into Bangkok
Paul Smalera, Slate, March 18, 2009
http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/judgments/2009/03/18/zombie-banks-build-ghost-towers
10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now
Barbara Kivat, Time Magazine,
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1884779_1884782_1884749,00.html
Suburbia R.I.P
Michael Cannell, Fast Company, March 11, 2009
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/michael-cannell/cannell/suburbia-rip
Goodbye Denver
NCSL Communications Division, The Thicket at State Legislatures, February 27, 2009
http://ncsl.typepad.com/the_thicket/2009/02/goodbye-denver.html
Commentary: Getting On The Right Track
Pam Iorio, Mayor of Tampa, Tampa Tribune, February 28, 2009
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/feb/28/co-getting-on-the-right-track/news-opinion-commentary/
Infrastructure: A Hacker's Manifesto
Kazys Varnelis, The Architects Newspaper, March 18, 2009
http://archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=3316
In Markham, the dream of an urban village that never was
Barry Hertz, National Post, March 13, 2009
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/03/13/in-markham-the-dream-of-an-urban-village-that-never-was.aspx
Draft of master plan for New Orleans asks,"Why not?"
Chance to grow, build on strengths forecast
Bruce Eggler, Staff Writer, NOLA.com, March 20, 2009
http://www.nola.com/news/?/base/news-1/1237526743227630.xml&coll=1
In Detroit, Artists Look for Renewal In Foreclosures
Jennifer Guerra, NPR, March 18, 2009
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102053853
Why College Towns Are Looking Smart
Kelly Evans, Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2009
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123783142333116161.html
Worldchanging interview: Amory Levins
Julia Levitt, Worldchanging, March 23, 2009
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/009560.html
Stimulus Ideals Conflict on the Texas Prairie
Michael Cooper, New York Times, March 22, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/us/23sprawl.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1237814292-xmxfGz3lxE3gjDZG72v8rg
Housing slump luring new wave of buyers
Zac Anderson, Herald Tribune, March 18, 2009
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090318/ARTICLE/903181055/2055/NEWS
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| APA FLORIDA/APA/AICP NEWS & INFORMATION |
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APA FLORIDA 2009 PROJECT AWARDS NOMINATIONS CYCLE NOW OPEN
It is time to submit your nominations for the APA Florida Project Awards, to be presented at the annual conference in Jacksonville. The deadline for submitting nominations is May 1, 2009. For details, go to http://www.floridaplanning.org/conference/2009/Revised%202009%20Project%20Awards%20Announcement.pdf.
JOIN US AT THE APA FLORIDA/FLORIDA PLANNING SCHOOLS RECEPTION IN MINNEAPOLIS
APA Florida members attending the APA Conference in Minneapolis are cordially invited to the annual APA Florida/Florida Planning Schools Joint Reception on Monday, April 27th from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Hard Rock Cafe, located at 600 Hennepin Avenue. To get there, take Marquette to 7th Street South, turn left and go to 1st Avenue North. Take a right on 1st Avenue North and the Hard Rock Cafe will be on your right. This is walkable but if driving, the parking garage is on the right on 7th Street South between Hennepin and 1st Avenue North.
TWO ONLINE AICP CM OPPORTUNITIES
Here are two free online Certification Maintenance (CM) programs available for AICP planners. The first one, Making a Difference with Green Community Strategies, is available at http://www.planning.org/aicp/symposium/2008/index.htm, but you'll need to act soon as the 2.5 CM credit program is good only until March 31st. The second program, Planning for Healthy Places with Health Impact Assessments, is available online at http://professional.captus.com/Planning/hia/default.aspx and is good for 6.0 CM credits.
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| OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST |
CAPTURING THE VALUE OF TRANSIT
Over the past decade, it has become increasingly clear that the presence of transit can increase property values and result in valuable development opportunities. In this era of constrained transit funding and widespread demand for new and expanded transit systems, policy makers, transit planners and elected officials are increasingly interested in harnessing a portion of the value that transit confers to surrounding properties to fund transit infrastructure or related improvements in station areas. This idea, known as "value capture," is much discussed in planning, transit, and local government circles. However, confusion abounds. Where does the value come from? What is the best way to measure it? And, most importantly, what is the best way to capture this value? Those are the questions addressed in "Capturing the Value of Transit," a new report by Reconnecting America's Center for Transit-Oriented Development. Download the report at http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/public/display_asset/ctodvalcapture110508v2
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| RFPs/RFQs, GRANTS, AWARDS, ETC. |
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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. Include deadline and web link.
No RFP's currently posted
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| JOB MART |
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Newest JOB MART advertisements now posted:
No JobMart ads currently posted
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 |
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March 27-28, 2009: APA Florida Sun Coast Section presents its 2009 AICP Exam Prep Seminar at the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, Ybor City, Tampa. For more information and registration, contact Debra Hempel, AICP, at 813-282-2444 or email her at debra.hempel@hdrinc.com .
April 16, 2009: The APA Florida Legislative Policy Committee will hold a meeting at the Embassy Suites Orlando Airport in Orlando. Contact the Chapter Office at mailto:fapa@floridaplanning.org for more information.
April 17, 2009: The APA Florida Executive Committee will hold its Quarterly Meeting at the Embassy Suites Orlando Airport in Orlando. Contact the Chapter Office at fapa@floridaplanning.org for more information.
May 19-21, 2009: GreenCities, in partnership with APA Florida, presents GreenCities Florida- Sustainable Solutions for Business and Government at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Visit http://greencitiesflorida.com for more information.
May 27, 2009: APA Florida and the Florida Biofuels Association will hold two courses focusing on The BioFuels Sector in Destin. Go to http://www.flbiofuels.org/PDF/FBFA-Planning-Workshop-Brochure_Registration-Form.pdf for more information.
June 25-26, 2009: Save the date for the DCA Growth Management Workshop, to be held at the Hilton in Walt Disney World Resort. Check http://www.dca.state.fl.us/ for updates.
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| OTHER STATE & NATIONAL EVENTS |
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April 3, 2009: APA will be hosting a webcast on Agricultural Preservation from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM. Go to http://www.utah-apa.org/webcasts.htm for details.
April 10, 2009: APA will be hosting a webcast on Social Networking: Applications for Planners, from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM. Go to http://www.utah-apa.org/webcasts.htm for details.
April 24, 2009: The Florida Bar will be hosting a one day seminar, 2009 Hot Topics in Environmental and Land Use Law, at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale. Go to http://www.floridabar.org/CLE to register.
April 25-29, 2009: APA will be hosting the 2009 National Planning Conference in Minneapolis. Go to http://www.planning.org to register.
April 27-May 1, 2009: The American Public Works Association Florida Chapter will hold its annual meeting and trade show, Public Works: Overcoming Today's Challenges for a Better Tomorrow, in West Palm Beach. Go to http://florida.apwa.net for details.
May 11, 2009: A one day seminar, Team-Building, Mentoring and Coaching Skills for Managers & Supervisors, will be presented by Fred Pryor Seminars in Tallahassee. Go to http://www.pryor.com for details. |
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Julia "Alex" Magee, Executive Director
Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association
2040 Delta Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone: 850/201-3272
Email: fapa@floridaplanning.org
Web Site: www.floridaplanning.org |
APA Florida's Mission:
The Florida Chapter of APA provides statewide leadership in the development of sustainable communities by advocating excellence in planning, providing professional development for its members, and working to protect and enhance the
natural and built environments. |
Disclaimer
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