A MONTHLY BULLETIN FROM APA FLORIDA

APA FLORIDA ANNUAL SPONSORS

AUGUST 31, 2009


Preregistration for the 2009 APA Florida Conference is closed.  On-site registration will be accepted at the conference.

 

PARTICIPATE IN DCA'S EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT SURVEY
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) wants your opinion on how effective the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) process has been to your community.  To complete DCA's short, 20 minute survey, please go to http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/EAR/index.cfm.  Look on the right hand side of the page and click on "EAR Survey," and choose the category that best represents you.  If you would prefer a paper copy of the survey or if you have any questions, please contact Walker Banning at walker.banning@dca.state.fl.us or (850) 922-1785.  Your opinions and suggestions are important to the Department so please take the time to complete this survey.  The deadline is September 15, 2009.

"MODEL POLICIES FOR GREENHOUSE GASES IN GENERAL PLANS" RELEASED BY CAPCOA
The California Air Pollution Control  Officers Association recently released a new report designed to help local governments in moving toward greenhouse gas consideration in local plans  or in the development of specific Climate Action Plans.  The new document, Model Policies for GHG in General Plans, provides background information, examples, references, links, and a systematic worksheet.  Model policies are provided for nine different greenhouse gas reduction categories including land use and urban design; transportation; municipal operations; waste reduction and diversion, and education.  The full report can be viewed or downloaded at http://www.capcoa.org/ .

DCA CREATES WEB PAGES ON SB 360 AND MOBILITY FEES
Two new Web pages have been created on the Department of Community Affairs Web site.  For information on Senate Bill 360, go to http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/Legislation/2009/index.cfm#SB360 and for information on Mobility Fees, see http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/MobilityFees/index.cfm.   Please visit these sites often.  They are updated as new information and presentations become available.

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NEW REPORT CLAIMS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE COSTS UNDERESTIMATED
The global cost of adapting to climate change has been grossly underestimated, according to a study just released by the International Institute for Environment and Development.. Although it doesn't provide concrete new estimates, the report (titled Assessing the costs of adaption to climate change) suggests that the total cost of adapting to climate change could be at least 2-3 times more than the previous estimate from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). That figure, published in 2007, suggested that the annual cost from 2030 would be between US$49 billion and $171 billion. The main difference, the study says, is that the UN number did not account for climate change's effects on key sectors such as energy, manufacturing, tourism and natural ecosystems. The report can be downloaded at http://www.iied.org/pubs/display.php?o=11501IIED.

EPA PUBLISHES NEW GUIDE TO SMART GROWTH AND ACTIVE AGING
With a focus on basic principles of neighborhood and town design, the guide seeks to expand the awareness of why design matters, how involvement in community decisions about growth can make a place better for growing old, and how to remake a neighborhood for easier access regardless of whether it's a city, suburb or small town.  The guide also includes a community assessment tool   Download this publication at http://www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/guide/index.html .

REPORT SAYS UTILITIES NOT READY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
A report titled Carbon Disclosure Project Report, Global Electric Utilities: Building business resilience to inevitable climate change, and sponsored by International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), says that 90% of utilities around the world know they are at risk from climate change but fewer than a third said they have performed any financial review of the possible impacts on their business. Utilities face a variety of potential problems from climate change, including shortages of water to cool plants, increased generation demand from hotter summers and power outages from more frequent severe weather, according to the report. They also face challenges as society tries to address the need to curb carbon emissions with new technologies like electric vehicles, which will increase electricity demand. The report said 48% of respondent utilities say they manage their climate risk by curbing emissions or using other methods to prevent emissions in the future, but very few of those utilities have plans to adapt to climate change that is likely to result from greenhouse gasses already emitted. Access the report at 
http://www.cdproject.net/ .

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BALLOTS FOR PROPOSED APA FLORIDA BYLAW AMENDMENTS IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
Amendments were developed by the bylaws committee at the direction of the Executive Committee and the membership per the Strategic Operating Plan approved in September 2008. Additional amendments were identified by the executive committee relative to new procedures and processes, e.g. the Certification Maintenance Program, as well as various clarifications and formatting corrections.  All of the proposed amendments were sponsored by the Executive Committee and approved by the Executive Committee at their meeting in June 2009.   The proposed changes are available for review at http://www.floridaplanning.org/.  A Bylaws ballot and mailing envelope will be provided in the September/October issue of Florida Planning. Please carefully follow the directions for filling out the ballot AND the envelope to ensure your vote is counted! Ballots must be received by December 14th.

VIEW SESSIONS FROM THE NATIONAL APA CONFERENCE IN MINNEAPOLIS
 APA members are always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to stay on the cutting edge of planning, and find simple ways to obtain the necessary CM credit required to keep their credentials up-to-date. Digital Capture is a new way to experience sessions from the APA's 2009 National Planning Conference, held in Minneapolis April 25-29. In Digital Capture, PowerPoint presentations from individual speakers are synced with audio from their 2009 National Planning Conference sessions for viewing online.  Users can even earn CM credit by viewing approved sessions, and completing an acquisition of content survey at the conclusion. Digital capture is affordable and easy to use. At only $40 for each session, or the complete library for $995, a user can round out all necessary CM credits from the comfort of their own home, or office!  Visit http://www.planning.org/conference/previous/2009/digitalcapture.htm for complete information.

NEW AICP EXAM STUDY GUIDE AVAILABLE
The 2009-2010 edition of the CPC's Study Manual for the AICP Exam is now available (in cd format only).  If you are interested in purchasing a copy, mail a check for $18.95 (made out to APA Florida) to APA Florida, 2040 Delta Way, Tallahassee FL 32303.

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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.

 Professional Urban Planning Consultant Services
The City of Ocala is seeking competitive proposals from qualified firms or individuals capable of providing professional urban planning consultant services over the next three years that includes the following: evaluating and proposing amendments to the City's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations; preparing subarea or redevelopment plans and performing other tasks related to development of the City.  The deadline is 3 P.M. on September 4, 2009.  For details, go to http://www.demandstar.com/supplier/bids/BID_SupplierDetail.asp?BI=194052 .

GIS Support Services
METROPLAN ORLANDO, a transportation planning partnership for Central Florida, is requesting proposals for consulting services on an as needed basis to work with the Land Use Subcommittee and staff to identify and secure spatial and non-spatial databases necessary to support Long Range Transportation Planning activities.  These data may include those available from public sources (counties, municipalities) and/or private vendors. All spatial data acquired on behalf of METROPLAN ORLANDO will be fully documented and reviewed for completeness.  Non-spatial data and analysis may be developed as part of this scope in support of implementing the Alternative Land Use Plan adopted by the METROPLAN ORLANDO Board. See full Scope of Work and bidding instructions at http://www.metroplanorlando.com.  The deadline is September 14, 2009. 

Downtown Miami SIgnage and Wayfinding System
The Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is seeking the services of a qualified environmental graphics design firm to provide professional services for the planning, design, installation and long-term maintenance of a graphically unified family of directional and identification signs.  The DDA has already conducted a GIS based photographical survey of existing signage in Downtown.  New and renovated signs shall be developed to guide motorists, bicyclists, transit users, and pedestrians on streets throughout Downtown Miami, primarily within the DDA Boundary Area which includes Brickell, the Central Business District, Park West, and the Media and Entertainment District.  Please visit the following website for more information, and to download the RFP:  http://www.miamidda.com/rfp_signage.asp. The deadline is 5:00 P.M. on September 18, 2009.

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September 9-10, 2009:  The FBC 101 Introduction to FormBased Coding will be held in Sarasota.  Register at  
http://www.formbasedcodes.org/courses.html .

October 6-7, 2009: A workshop on Residential Market Analysis and Highest & Best Use, will be held in Tampa.  For details go to http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/education/course_descrb/Default.aspx?prgrm_nbr=200R&key_type=CO . 

November 4-6, 2009:  "Technical Innovations"  is the theme for the Florida Section Institute of Transportation Engineers (FSITE) Annual Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for November 4-6 in downtown Tampa.  Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend. AICP credits are offered.  The preliminary program, sponsorship information, registration form, room reservation link and other information is now on the FSITE website: http://www.floridasectionite.org/meeting.html .

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