Year in Review
2017 has been a remarkable year for APA MN, particularly in terms of our profile at the national level. Recognitions include:
- University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Planning Study Organization: APA’s 2017 Outstanding PSO Award
- Rita Trapp: APA’s Chapter Presidents Council Leadership Award for Chapter Professional Development Officer
- Planning for People Initiative: APA Planners4Health grant award recipient
- Seward Neighborhood: APA 2017 Great Places Initiative award
- All our great APA MN award winners and scholarship recipients (read more here)
We also appreciate everyone who did great work on behalf of their communities, with or without any official recognition. Thanks for all you do for the people and places of Minnesota.
Transitions
We are bidding Peggy and Otto Schmid farewell as our long-time chapter administrators – and welcoming Kathy Aro at the beginning of 2018. Look for many more details in the January 2018 newsletter. In the meantime, join us in thanking Peggy and Otto, and welcoming Kathy aboard!
New APA Student Representative
Congratulations to Austin Hauf, APA MN’s newest student representative. Austin is a first year MURP candidate at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and has previous experience as a Minnesota GreenCorps member. Austin is looking for ways to encourage reciprocal relationships with peers and professionals across the state.
Great Places: Seward Neighborhood
On November 8, APA MN participated in a ceremony recognizing the Seward Neighborhood in Minneapolis as one of APA’s 2017 Great Places in America. Seward was one of 15 places chosen nationwide for this honor. The award recognition noted “a wide variety of initiatives supported by this engaged and diverse Minneapolis community that helped build an improved quality of life for all.” Congratulations, Seward!
Business Memberships
Thanks for all our business/corporate members for your support of the chapter. We’re looking to renew memberships for 2018. Please let us know if there’s a better way we can partner with you to highlight the great work being done in communities.
AICP Exam and Scholarship
Now is the time to apply to take the May 2018 AICP Exam:
- Application window opened December 1, 2017
- Early bird deadline December 7, 2017
- Final application deadline December 28, 2017
- Testing window May 14-28, 2018
Additionally, APA MN is accepting applications through January 31, 2018, for a scholarship for individuals who may defer taking or are unable to take the AICP exam because of the high cost. For more information, contact Elise Durbin.
Resilience Exhibit
You are cordially invited to the final exhibit of "Resilience at the Urban Edge: Planning for the City of Ramsey". The Exhibit will take place at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs on Friday, December 8 from 12 to 6pm. You are welcome to come at any time.
Planning for an Aging Society
AARP and APA are collaborating on planning for an aging society. The initial research effort is seeks to learn how best to engage planners to incorporate ALL AGE considerations as an integral part of their everyday planning work. Participate in a survey to help inform this effort. Results will be shared with APA membership.
Need AICP CM Credits?
Still looking for AICP CM credits for the 2016-2017 reporting period? APA has identified opportunities to earn some free credits before the December 31 reporting deadline.
Autonomous Vehicle Resources
APA has released a free suite of resources to help plan for impacts that autonomous vehicle technology could have on communities. This includes a collection of reports, best practices, policy guides, continuing education opportunities, and more.
Autonomous Vehicle Survey
APA invites you to participate in a survey from the University of Wisconsin-Madison to help determine how local public planning agencies are planning for a future with self-driving cars, and to explore planners' perspectives on how a future with self-driving cars will impact land use and the environment. The survey will remain open until January 9, 2018.
Bicycle Facility Guidance
Streetsblog USA has provided a first look at NACTO's new guide to analyzing any street to determine which need protected bike lanes or other facilities. NACTO's full rollout of its "Designing for All Ages & Abilities: Contextual Guidance for High-Comfort Bicycle Facilities" will be happening soon.
Local Foods Toolkit
EPA is offering the Local Foods, Local Places Toolkit to help communities interested in using local foods to support downtown and neighborhood revitalization. Developed by EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities, it provides step-by-step instructions for planning and hosting the type of community workshop offered through the Local Foods, Local Places assistance program.
Bombs in Your Backyard
ProPublica has released a new interactive map that shows locations of military-related hazardous waste sites nationwide. This includes information on the overall risk rating, current status of cleanup, and estimated cost of cleanup.
Call for Presentations
The Canadian Institute of Planners is hosting its 2018 National Conference in Winnipeg (July 19 -22, 2018). The theme of the 2018 Conference is SOUL – focusing on how culture, the environment, social dynamics and history shape the SOUL of our communities. For more information on submitting presentation ideas, or to register, please visit: www.cip-icu.ca/soul_2018.
Small Scale Manufacturing Webinar
Participate in Smart Growth America’s webinar discussion of Made in Place: Small-Scale Manufacturing & Neighborhood Revitalization on December 7. Learn how to leverage recent technological and economic shifts to help more people produce and sell their own goods.
Walkable Redevelopment Webinar
The North Carolina Chapter of APA is sponsoring a free webinar entitled Step by Step: Catalyzing Walkable Redevelopment on December 8. Learn about how planners have worked to turn suburban districts into walkable places. CM | 1.5
Planning Career Webinar
On December 13, APA is holding a free webinar entitled Getting Started to Get Ahead: From Interview to First Days at a New Job," next in APA's Career Reality Webinar series. Registration is required.
Emerging Professionals Webinar
The Women in Planning Division of the APA is sponsoring a free webinar entitled Women in Planning: Guiding Emerging Professionals on December 15. Participate in a discussion focused on the most pressing career questions, and what seasoned planners wished they would have known in school and what they would have done differently. CM | 1.5
Smart Growth Webinars
Smart Growth Online, a partnership between the Maryland Department of Planning and the U.S. EPA Office of Sustainable Communities, has an archive of smart growth related webinars that can be viewed for free on You Tube. Recent additions include Using Health Impact Assessment to Improve Our Communities and Creating Healthy Places for Healthy People.
Job Opportunities and RFPs/RFQs
Job listings and RFPs/RFQs can be found on the APA MN website. Current listings (and application deadlines) include:
- City of Marshfield - Director of Development Services (12/6)
- Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Board - Planning Specialist (12/8)
- City of Minneapolis - Transportation Planner (12/10)
- West Central Initiative - Associate Planner (12/15)
- City of Princeton - Community Development Director/ Planner/ Zoning Administrator (12/17)
- St. Louis County - Planner/Senior Planner (12/18)
- Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments - Executive Director (1/6/18)
- MSA Professional Services - Client Service Manager (1/8/18)
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