Legislative Update
By: Josh Stephens, SCAPA Director-At-Large and Legislative Liaison

The Georgia Planning Association (GPA) and South Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (SCAPA) are seeking session proposals for their joint Fall 2016 Conference scheduled for Sept. 21 - 23, 2016 at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center (2 Tenth Street, Augusta, GA). The session proposal form can be found on-line at http://georgiaplanning.org/conference/conference-session-form/.  It is a digital form that you will fill out and submit on-line.  Note: session presentations do not need to be complete until the conference. The submittal deadline has been extended to 5:00 PM Friday, July 8, 2016.  Following this deadline, a Programs Committee made up of representatives from both GPA and SCAPA will review all submitted session proposals and determine which to include in the conference agenda.  We will notify all those that submit proposals by July 15.  Please feel free to pass this information along to colleagues, etc. that you think might be interested in submitting a session proposal form.  Please contact Andrea Pietras, SCAPA President-Elect/Programs Chair, at apietras@charlestoncounty.org with any questions.

 

Starting April 1, 2016, AICP members can earn CM credits for pro bono planning service. Credit for pro bono planning service is a component of the self-report option, which allows members to claim up to eight credits per reporting period. One credit can be claimed for each hour of eligible pro bono planning service. More information about CM credits for pro bono planning service can be found here. In order to claim credits for pro bono service, members must watch a web-based tutorial and complete a self-reporting form to document what they learned.  A great way to provide pro bono planning service is to participate in a Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT).  Learn about the SC CPAT Program here.
 

The Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook: A Tool for Planners, Parks and Recreational Professionals, and Health Practitioners is a quick guide for incorporating public health considerations in the development and improvement of a park or trail. This tool can help start collaborative discussions about the health benefits of parks and trails and prepare for a health impact assessment (HIA). You can find the workbook at: go.nps.gov/parkstrailshealth_workbook
 
The tool includes information to help users find health data and learn about completed HIAs that included parks, trails, or greenways. It also includes case studies that pilot its use in Whatcom County, Washington and a Mescalero Apache tribal area in New Mexico. The workbook consists of five sections:

•        Community health profile.
•        Site information.
•        Site planning (includes subsections on physical health and social and mental wellness).
•        Park and trail system planning.
•        Monitoring and evaluation. 

The workbook was jointly developed by the CDC Healthy Community Design Initiative (www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces) and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (www.nps.gov/rtca). Have questions? Contact Dee Merriam (Dmerriam@cdc.gov) and Attila Bality (attila_bality@nps.gov).
 

Useful Links
 

SCAPA Executive Committee
American Planning Association
AICP
Planetizen
SC Association of Counties
Municipal Association of Counties
SCAPA Job Postings