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POLICY AND ADVOCACY
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Take action: Support the Senate's Farm Bill
Today marks the start of Congress's August recess, when elected officials return to their districts and states to connect with constituents. During this recess, APA is calling on planning advocates to ask their representatives in Congress to support the Senate version of the Farm Bill.
While the bipartisan Senate measure advances important planning and local-food initiatives, expands access to healthy food, and builds on communities' efforts to improve rural economies, the House version does not. Planners who explain now to elected officials why the Senate bill is better for planning may influence the eventual legislative outcome.
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A new approach to funding infrastructure
Congressman Bill Schuster (R-Pa.) has proposed a federal infrastructure plan that would temporarily raise the gas tax — for the first time since 1993 — before eliminating it in 2028. APA Policy Director Jason Jordan assessed the proposal and its prospects.
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Policy and Advocacy Conference
You can see why you shouldn't miss APA's Policy and Advocacy Conference, September 23–25, in Washington. Catch up on current planning policy and legislation in sessions on infrastructure financing, housing affordability, economic development, and more. Learn how to be an effective advocate for planning and use your new skills during Planners' Day on Capitol Hill. View the full program. CM
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EVENTS
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Water and Planning Connect
September 11–12, Kansas City, Missouri
Attend APA's Water and Planning Connect for thoughtful discussions on integrated water resource management during sessions and site visits in and around Kansas City. Speakers and panelists span the full range of land use planning and water resource management. Explore the program. CM | 9.75 (includes CM | 1.5 | Law)
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RESOURCES
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Timely help for the Wildland-Urban Interface
APA's Green Communities Center has released a Multihazard Planning Framework and accompanying Audit Tool. The planning framework provides a menu of planning tools to address wildfires and other natural hazards faced by communities in the Wildland-Urban Interface. The audit tool will help them assess how their current plans and policies address multihazard risks and evaluate how plans, policies, and public investments align.
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Planning
The August/September issue of Planning focuses on resiliency planning and communities that are embracing opportunities for economic development, public engagement, and increased equity as they prepare to meet climate-related challenges. "The Commissioner" describes Rhode Island's unique resiliency training requirement for local commissioners and board members.
Be sure to check out the magazine's new section, "Intersections," and answer this month’s question: "What climate change issue most impacts your community?"
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More on resiliency planning
Norfolk, Virginia, which is struggling to simultaneously manage rising seas and expand high-density housing, adopted the nation's most resilience-focused zoning ordinance earlier this year. Relaxing restrictions on affordable dwelling units is a key element of the new law.
Preparing for high water has been on APA's radar for a while. Check out oceanographer John Englander's "Rising Seas" keynote address at the 2016 National Planning Conference.
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Downtown revitalization resource collection
For many urban visitors and residents, a vibrant downtown equals a healthy city. Some cities' central business districts are thriving while others struggle to attract residents and employers. Explore Downtown Revitalization, the latest addition to APA's Research KnowledgeBase for members, for background, practical guidance, and examples of plans and regulations that illustrate how to breathe new life into older downtowns.
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From our blog
Learn about the Six Feelings Framework for designing infrastructure and public spaces that are comfortable for people with autism. It is also the subject of the July/August issue of PAS Memo, which is free for APA members.
Read a Plan4Health success story from Wisconsin, where the state chapter used grant funds to share coalition-building resources with public health professionals and integrate public health into local and regional planning practices.
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FHWA tools to monetize transportation value
The Federal Highway Administration's Value Capture webpages describe how various planning tools can be used to capture the value created by transportation improvements and pay it forward for transportation services.
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APA NEWS
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Don't get hooked
Some members have received phishing emails that appear to be from APA, asking them to register for an event and including a link to registration. Clicking on the registration link brings up a webpage that looks like — but is not — the APA login page. Entering an APA login ID and password gives the bad guys information they use later to extort or threaten the member.
Here are some tips to avoid being phished:
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- Check the "from" email address. Messages from APA will always come from the domain "planning.org." (Know your APA chapter's domain, too.)
- Hover your mouse over any embedded link before you click it. If the link address seems suspicious — especially if it goes to a domain other than the "from" address — don't click on it. APA's login webpage address is "www.planning.org/login."
- Don't open unexpected or suspicious attachments. APA never adds attachments to bulk emails.
- Be wary of emails with notably bad spelling or poor grammar. (We aim to make APA emails error-free!)
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Prepare for chapter and division elections
Survey & Ballot Systems will administer the upcoming elections for chapter and division leaders. To ensure you receive your online ballot, add noreply@directvote.net to your list of approved email senders. Expect to receive your election email on August 7 or 8. If you have not received it by August 9, please contact support@directvote.net.
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OPPORTUNITIES
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Great news, bookworms!
Get a 30 percent discount when you order any Planners Press book from Routledge.com. Enter discount code APA30 at checkout. Shop now.
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AICP
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Why hire a certified planner?
In a new video in APA's employer-focused marketing campaign, Melissa Zornitta, AICP, Executive Director of the Hillsborough County (Florida) City-County Planning Commission, discusses how her agency's AICP-certified planners bring added credibility to their work with other government entities.
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Earn CM credits at fall chapter events
Just as the 2017–18 CM reporting period nears its end, the fall chapter conference season begins. The APA Georgia Chapter kicks it off on September 5. Check out your chapter's conference program for CM-eligible sessions, and use the CM Search to find other live and online events.
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Need a CM completion letter posthaste?
AICP members who complete their 2017–18 CM requirements will receive confirmation next January. If you need documentation sooner, please email your request — including your APA ID — to APA customer service at AICPCM@planning.org.
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CM exemption request deadline
December 31 is the last day to apply for an exemption from 2017–18 CM requirements. Members in this reporting period who have not met their CM requirements by then will be granted a four-month grace period to earn and log required credits.
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Maricopa County Planning and Development
Phoenix, AZ
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Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District
Taunton, MA
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Skagit Council of Governments
Mount Vernon, WA
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City of Corpus Christi Development Services
Corpus Christi, TX
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New Hanover County
Wilmington, NC
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City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Engineering
Los Angeles, CA
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