Gov 2.0, digital democracy and crowdsourcing recently joined the planning lexicon of new community engagement terms, tools and techniques. Learn 10 lessons abou ... more

Gov 2.0, digital democracy and crowdsourcing recently joined the planning lexicon of new community engagement terms, tools and techniques. Learn 10 lessons about using on line community engagement technology from planners who have at the forefront of inventing, introducing and implementing technology into the community engagement toolbox of cities, counties, MPOs and other agencies across the country and around the world. From Los Angeles, CA to Barnstable, MA and back to Des Moines, we will present, discuss and dissect 10 critical lessons we have learned. Naturally, in 140 characters or less!

Instructors:

Steve Miller AICP

This session will address the ethical requirements for planners under the APA and AICP codes. Participants will work through scenarios of ethical dilemmas plan ... more

This session will address the ethical requirements for planners under the APA and AICP codes. Participants will work through scenarios of ethical dilemmas planners may face.

Instructors:

Erik Lundy AICP

An overview of current legal issues facing planners in Iowa and across the country based on current caselaw and legislation. This years topics include sexually ... more

An overview of current legal issues facing planners in Iowa and across the country based on current caselaw and legislation. This years topics include sexually oriented businesses, cell towers, and various interesting constitutional issues.

Instructors:

Gary Taylor AICP

This mobile tour will begin with a discussion of the importance of construction aggregate to infrastructure development. After safety training, participants wi ... more

This mobile tour will begin with a discussion of the importance of construction aggregate to infrastructure development. After safety training, participants will travel to the Martin Marietta Materials Ames Mine. Once at the site participants will venture 500 feet underground to see the inner workings of an operating limestone mine. Iowa Limestone Producers Association representatives will discuss permitting considerations for mining operations.

Instructors:

Neil Grant

This tour will orient conference attendees to the city of Ames and Iowa State University. It will highlight planning successes and challenges that Ames has fac ... more

This tour will orient conference attendees to the city of Ames and Iowa State University. It will highlight planning successes and challenges that Ames has faced through the years, including collaborations between the city and the university, downtown revitalization, historic neighborhood preservation, and development challenges brought about by the frequent flooding of Squaw Creek and the Skunk River. The tour will take approximately 2 1/2 hours to complete.

Instructors:

Ray Anderson

The City of Ames provides electricity to its residents via a municipally-owned electric utility. The utility uses a diverse portfolio of generation to meet its ... more

The City of Ames provides electricity to its residents via a municipally-owned electric utility. The utility uses a diverse portfolio of generation to meet its customer’s needs which include coal, wind, refuse derived fuel, and market energy purchases. The City has taken a unique approach to recycling and disposal of garbage in the county. All material is brought to the Resource Recovery Center where renewable material is separated and sold. In this way the City has a very high participation level in recycling. Burnable material is shredded and “blown” to the power plant where it is burned to produce electricity. The tour of the power plant will present the planning challenges associated with the resource recovery process, and ongoing efforts to continue with a diverse portfolio of energy sources. Participants will see how someone’s “trash” can be the power plant’s “treasure”.

Instructors:

Tim McCollough

In the 2010 legislative session, the Iowa General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law Senate File 2389, which provided guidance for Smart Planning ... more

In the 2010 legislative session, the Iowa General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law Senate File 2389, which provided guidance for Smart Planning in Iowa and established the Iowa Smart Planning Task Force. This Task Force was charged with recommending policies and strategies for creating a stronger planning culture in Iowa, producing more resilient and sustainable communities. In particular, the Task Force was asked to consider how best to: Integrate the Iowa Smart Planning Principles into appropriate state policies and programs;  Determine an effective and efficient coordination and information sharing system to support local and regional planning;  Suggest appropriate technical and financial incentives to support local and regional planning, and;  Develop a framework for regional planning. The Task Force submitted its report to the Governor and General Assembly on November 15, 2010. The report contains a number of recommendations, and the proposed conference session is in support of the recommendations listed below.  Recommendation 3.4: Create a smart planning education program and toolbox for local government staff, officials, and the public.  Recommendation 1.5: Identify “State of Iowa Smart Planning Goals and Benchmarks” as measurable goals and benchmarks for the state.  Recommendation 4.1: Enhance watershed planning, coordination, and implementation by creating goals and strategies referencing land use for each of Iowa’s six major river basins and three major river regions. The proposed session is anticipated to be an afternoon-long “charrette-type” session at which participants will develop the framework for a smart planning education program and toolbox, including plan development, implementation, and review for use by local government staff, officials and the public (recommendations 3.4); the refinement of smart planning benchmarks that local governments and regions can use to measure and report progress on smart planning implementation (recommendation 1.5); and strategies for integrating watershed planning and land use planning (recommendation 4.1).

Instructors:

Les Beck

In its 2008 Park System Plan, Dakota County, Minnesota, established a vision for a 200 mile regional greenway system. More than a trail system, Dakota County’s ... more

In its 2008 Park System Plan, Dakota County, Minnesota, established a vision for a 200 mile regional greenway system. More than a trail system, Dakota County’s greenways will provide enhanced open space corridors that will improve water quality, protect habitat, and provide opportunities for active recreation and non-motorized transportation. Implementation of this vision requires a collaborative effort across the County, including local governments, non-profits, school districts and property owners. Located in the southeastern Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, this visionary plan has the potential for significant impact given that Dakota County is projected to grow by more than 35% by 2030 to over 500,000 residents. The greenways are proposed for both developed and undeveloped areas of the County. Approximately two-thirds have been identified on property owned by public or semi-public agencies. Recognizing the financial and staffing constraints posed by today’s economic climate, Dakota County established the Greenway Collaborative, a practical model for collaborative planning and implementation across multiple jurisdiction. Using this model Dakota County has completed 4 Master Plans for 50 miles of greenway. The collaboration between Dakota County and its communities has also facilitated the securing funding or constructing 100 miles of the greenway (roughly half of the planned network). Using Dakota County Greenways as a case study, this session will describe the steps involved in greenway planning: the planner’s role in moving vision to master planning to project delivery; design features that make greenways more than just trails but a multi-functional, green infrastructure system that contributes to healthy communities; an approach for working collaboratively across agencies; methods for gaining public support; and funding strategies. The session's primary focus will be to provide participants with a wealth of knowledge about the practical aspects of planning, designing and implementing an ambitious cross-jurisdictional greenway network. The session will address regional, county, city, and project scales and perspectives.

Instructors:

Lil Leatham

This presentation will be of interest to planners in the Des Moines metropolitan area interested in seeing the connections between zoning and the Des Moines Are ... more

This presentation will be of interest to planners in the Des Moines metropolitan area interested in seeing the connections between zoning and the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (the Tomorrow Plan). As part of the Tomorrow Plan DMAMPO contracted with Iowa State University Department of Community & Regional Planning to systematically analyze the development codes of the participating cities and counties and develop broad generic “zoning districts” – general categories of residential densities/lot sizes, commercial use categories, industrial use categories, parking requirements, etc. – in order to create a uniform zoning classification system for the study area. Using this uniform classification system we then placed existing city and county zoning districts into one of the generic district categories. A general, region-wide “zoning map” was then created using the generic district categories. This presentation will explain the assumptions, processes and metrics that went into the creation of the uniform classification system and region-wide zoning map. The contract also calls for ISU to develop and execute an “audit” of existing city and county codes to gain insights into whether existing regulations are appropriate for carrying out the goals and objectives of the sustainability plan as those goals begin to emerge. Depending on the progress of the planning effort at the time of the conference, the presentation will also include discussion of this step.

Instructors:

Gary Taylor AICP

Monica Haddad

Dubuque County, the City of Dubuque, and six small cities-- Peosta, Asbury, Dyersville, Farley, Epworth, and Cascade – and the Dubuque Soil & Water Conservation ... more

Dubuque County, the City of Dubuque, and six small cities-- Peosta, Asbury, Dyersville, Farley, Epworth, and Cascade – and the Dubuque Soil & Water Conservation District have formed a partnership to create a regional smart plan that includes sustainability and watershed planning. The Dubuque County Smart Planning Consortium, with staff support from East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA), is utilizing the Sustainable Dubuque plan and the Iowa Smart Planning legislation’s recommended format for comprehensive plans to create the Dubuque County Smart Plan as a model for other local governments. Dubuque County and the Consortium also are collaborating with the small cities of Bankston, Durango and Sageville and a planning consultant to create a rural model smart code for energy conservation and the use of smart growth principles through development codes and ordinances as an implementation tool for the Dubuque County Smart Plan. This session will review the collaborative process and lessons learned.

Instructors:

Anna O'Shea

Dan Fox

Laura Carstens