A MONTHLY BULLETIN FROM APA FLORIDA

APA FLORIDA ANNUAL SPONSORS

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND GREEN BUILDING TOOLKIT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
In June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments to assist local governments with identifying and removing barriers to sustainable design and green building within their permitting process. This Toolkit addresses the codes/ordinances that would affect the design, construction, renovation, and operation and maintenance of a building and its immediate site. There are two sections to the Toolkit; the first section is an Assessment Tool and Resource Guide. The second section is a guide to developing an Action Plan for implementing changes within a community's permitting process.   Download the guide at http://www.epa.gov/region4/recycle/green-building-toolkit.pdf .

PUTTING SMART GROWTH TO WORK IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
ICMA and the Smart Growth Network recently released Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities.  This report focuses on smart growth strategies that can help guide growth in rural areas while protecting natural and working lands and preserving the rural character of existing communities.  These strategies are based around three central goals: 1) support the rural landscape by creating an economic climate that enhances the viability of working lands and conserves natural lands; 2) help existing places to thrive by taking care of assets and investments such as downtowns, Main Streets, existing infrastructure, and places that the community values; and 3) create great new places by building vibrant, enduring neighborhoods and communities that people, especially young people, don't want to leave.    Download the report at http://icma.org/en/icma/knowledge_network/documents/kn/Document/301483/Putting_Smart_Growth_to_Work_in_Rural_Communities.

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CONNECTING TOD, FAMILIIES AND SCHOOLS
The Center for Cities and Schools recently released a new report titled Putting Schools on the Map: Linking Transit-Oriented Development, Families and Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area.  This new report examines the connections between Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), families, and schools, with a focus on expanding educational opportunities for all children. Taking an exploratory approach to understanding and framing these interconnections, its authors provide a rationale for the linkages at this nexus, presenting ''Ten Core Connections'' between TOD and public education, and highlight five case studies in the San Francisco Bay Area. From these, recommendations are provided for enhancing city-school collaboration in TOD for improved transit use and high-quality educational opportunities.   It can be downloaded at http://citiesandschools.berkeley.edu/pubs.html . 

HIGH SPEED RAIL REPORT RELEASED BY US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
The United States Conference of Mayors, in its report The Economic Impacts of High-Speed Rail on Cities and their Metropolitan Areas, evaluated the impact of high-speed rail (HSR) in four urban areas.  The report focuses on four hub cities: Albany, N.Y.; Chicago; Los Angeles; and Orlando. The report found that high-speed rail network effects include expanding markets; making business travel more efficient; and encouraging mixed-use development. The report states that "By 2035, HSR can annually add roughly $255 million in new spending in Orlando; $360 million in the Los Angeles; $50 million in the Chicago area; and more than $100 million in the greater Albany area."  Read the report at http://www.usmayors.org/highspeedrail/ .

MEETING THE ENERGY CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE: A GUIDE FOR POLICYMAKERS
The National Conference of State Legislatures released the above report this month.  The report provides a detailed analysis of the various fuel sources, including nuclear; fossil fuels; renewable sources such as wind, hydropower and solar; energy efficiency; and issues facing the current energy delivery infrastructure, including transmission. This analysis summarizes information on these topics for state legislators, legislative staff and others. It can help facilitate discussions within each state as the legislature works to define
energy needs and determine policies that would best achieve a reliable, efficient and cost-effective energy system.  Review the report at
http://www.ncsl.org/documents/energy/FutureEnergyChallenges0710.pdf .

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Some publications may require free subscriptions.

Mixed-Use Downtown Development Puts Standard Malls' Tax Yield to Shame
Mary Newsom, citiwire.net, July 9, 2010

DOE Announces $30 Million for Energy-Efficient Housing Partnerships
US Department of Energy, July 20, 2010

Salt Lake officials promoting sustainability
Arthur Raymond, Deseret News, July 15, 2010

Revamping Cities to Attract the Elderly
Melissa Lafsky, The Infrastucturist, July 20, 2010
http://www.infrastructurist.com/2010/07/20/revamping-cities-to-attract-the-elderly/

Meier Flies the Coop
Kelsey Keith, Architizer, July 20, 2010

Sound wall made of vegetation to be studied by ODOT as alternative to concrete wall
Karen Farkas, Cleveland.com, July 18, 2010 

Transit Agencies Finding New On-Ramps to the Information Superhighway
Social Media's Stock on the Rise As a Tool to Reach the Public
Josh Stevens, intransition Magazine, Summer/Spring Issue 2010

Bike parking takes over car parking spaces
Matthew Blackett, Spacing Toronto, July 13, 2010

City of the Future
ABC News, video, July 16, 2010

Street renaissance under way in Vancouver
Ian Bailey,  The Globe and Mail, July 9, 2010

The Incredible Shrinking City
What Dan Kildee wants America to learn from the sorry tale of Flint, Mich.
Gordon Young, Slate, July 16, 2010

Green Developments, and Tension Aplenty
Jonathan Weber,  The New York Times, July 2, 2010

From a Tiny Town, A Cautionary Tale for Environmental Advocates
Hamida Kinge, The Next American City, June 2, 2010

Disney World's New Thrill Ride: Selling Luxury Vacation Homes
Juliet Chung, The Wall Street Journal, June 23, 2010

There's No Such Thing as Free Parking
How eliminating parking spaces could make cities more nimble and efficient.
Tom Vanderbilt, Slate, June 22, 2010

The Grey And The Brown: The Generational Mismatch
A contrast in priorities is arising between non-white young voters and white, older voters
Ronald Brownstein, National Journal Magazine, July 24, 2010

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REGISTER NOW FOR THE APA FLORIDA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Save money by registering for the conference by August 5th.  Pre-registration ends on August 26th.  Go to http://www.floridaplanning.org/conference/ for details.  All sessions and mobile workshops have been approved for AICP CM credits, and Florida Bar CLER approval has also been obtained.  Go to the website for details.

STILL TIME TO BE A SPONSOR OR EXHIBITOR AT THE 2010 APA FLORIDA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
There are still opportunities for you to become a sponsor or exhibitor at the annual conference to be held September 14-17, 2010 at the Tampa Convention Center. The deadline to participate is August 20th.  Go to http://www.floridaplanning.org/conference/2010/2010_APA_FL_Sponsor_and_Exhibitor_Guide_FINAL.pdf for details or contact the Chpater Office at 850-201-3272..

CAST YOUR VOTE FOR APA FLORIDA OFFICERS
Don't forget to vote in the APA Florida Officers election.  Go to http://www.floridaplanning.org/index.asp for details.  The deadline for voting is August 20th so let your voice be heard! 

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING IN TAMPA
The 2010 Annual Business Meeting will be held at the Tampa Convention Center on September 16th from 4:45 pm-5:45 pm.  At this meeting, members will be asked to vote on the 2011 Budget, the 2011 Strategic Operational Plan, and the 2011 Legislative Platform and Policies.  In addition, the results of the upcoming officer election will be announced.  The agenda and materials that will be voted on are posted on the Chapter website at http://www.floridaplanning.org/exec_committee/2011/announce.asp, along with a proxy form (to vote in advance or delegate your vote.) If you have any questions, contact the Chapter Office at fapa@floridaplanning.org or 850-201-3272. 

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 APA FLORIDA APPROVED AS AMICUS IN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION CASE
The APA Florida Chapter recently was approved  to file an Amicus Brief in support of a petition for a rehearing before the State's Fifth District Court of Appeals (DCA) regarding a decision by the Court which upheld the decision of a local governing board in a zoning action.  The courts' decision supported the local government's quasi-judicial process in which the board denied the ability of affected parties to cross examine expert witnesses.  The Court ruled that due process was provided to the affected parties because they had the ability to make a presentation before the local governing board; however the only parties allowed to cross examine witnesses are the applicant and the governing board.

The petition for rehearing argues that the Court departed from an essential requirement of law in concluding that the petitioners, as an affected party, did not have a due process right to cross-examine adverse witnesses during the local governing board's quasi-judicial hearing on a zoning matter. In order to respond to the request to support the petition for a rehearing as an Amicus party, the Legislative Leadership Committee met in conference call to discuss the request and determine if there is sufficient guidance to support the request.

The committee agreed that there is sufficient guidance in the Chapter's policy statement on "Citizen Participation," and "Citizen Standing" which are restated below:

Citizen Participation: APA Florida strongly supports citizen access and public input to the planning process and is committed to improving citizen involvement through local planning initiatives and legislative changes to Florida's growth management framework. APA Florida supports an open and collaborative planning process that includes meaningful citizen participation through reasonable notice, open public records and accessibility to all stages of the planning process, as well as promoting the use of citizen participation best practices at the local level.

Citizen Standing:  Citizen standing and public participation are fundamental to an effective growth management process.  APA Florida supports the rights of citizens to meaningfully participate in the planning process and will oppose proposals to weaken citizen standing.

The committee concluded that the Fifth DCA decision is contrary to meaningful citizen participation and existing Florida case law regarding the rights of affected parties in quasi-judicial zoning proceedings, which holds that affected parties must be able to present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and be informed of all the facts upon which the local government acts.

An additional consideration in making this decision to support the petition for a rehearing is the Chapter's strong advocacy of ensuring meaningful citizen participation and citizen involvement in the Comprehensive Planning process as an alternative to Amendment 4 or referenda for Comprehensive Planning.

In deciding to participate as an Amicus party, the Committee determined that the Chapter should not take a position on the merits of the zoning decision made by the local government, but on the decision which did not recognize the ability of an affected party to cross examine adverse witnesses, which is in conflict with our statements to support meaningful citizen participation and accessibility to all stages of the planning process.  Furthermore, the Committee believed that our position should recognize the local government's ability to establish guidelines and procedural rules which would ensure fairness and order to a process which enables affected parties to fully participate in the process, including the cross examination of adverse witnesses. The brief must be filed by August 2, 2010.

If you have any questions regarding this decision, please contact Alex Magee at fapa@floridaplanning.org or Merle Bishop at Merle.Bishop@kimley-horn.com . 

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 There are no RFPs currently posted. 

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August 6, 2010:  The APA Florida First Coast Section will host a short preparation course for the AICP exam in Jacksonville.  For details, contact Tony Robbins at trobbins@prosserhallock.com.

August 10, 2010:  The APA Florida Orlando Metro Section and Rollins College will host a discussion  around WPBR2's original production, "Imagining a New Florida" at Rollins College in Winter Park.  Contact Jenny Jagmohan at 407-423-8389 for more information.

August 20, 2010:  The APA Florida Emerald Coast Section will host its Annual Meeting and Amendment 4 program in Pensacola. Contact Tim Brown at downtown54@hotmail.com.

September 14, 2010:  The APA Florida Executive Committee will hold an Executive Committee Meeting at the Tampa Convention Center from 1:30 - 4:30 PM.  For more information, contact the Chapter Office at fapa@floridaplanning.org.

September 14-17, 2010:  Register for the APA Florida 2010 Annual Conference in Tampa by going to www.floridaplanning.org.

September 16, 2010:  APA Florida will hold the APA Florida Annual Business Meeting at the Tampa Convention Center from 4:45 - 5:45 P.M.  Go to http://www.floridaplanning.org/exec_committee/2011/announce.asp for more details. 

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August 6, 2010:  The Florida Redevelopment Association will hold a workshop on Brownfield Funding and Programs on the UCF Campus in Orlando.  Call Jan Piland at 850-701-3622 for details and to RSVP. 

August 11-13, 2010:  The Farm-to Fuel Summit will be held by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Orlando.  Go to http://www.floridafarmtofuel.com/summit_2010.htm for more information.

August 19 -20, 2010:  The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a Statewide Transportation Summit on the 2060 Florida Transportation Plan and the update to Florida's Strategic Highway Safety Plan, in Orlando.  Go to www.2060ftp.org to register.

October 24-26, 2010:  Save the date to attend the Florida Section of ITE's 50th Anniversary Celebration Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. The program will offer AICP credits. Stay tuned to the FSITE website (www.FloridaSectionITE.org) for all of the latest information.

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