Planner Positions 

The City of Cape Coral, located on Florida’s southwest coast, is seeking well qualified and motivated professionals to join its Planning Division within the Department of Community Development.  A rapidly growing City in southwest Florida, this gulf community with over 400 miles of canals has unique planning challenges and dynamic opportunities.  Click here to view positions.

The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, the Oklahoma City area metropolitan planning organization, has an opening for a transportation planner. Responsibilities involve land use and socioeconomic data development, and bicycle & pedestrian trails coordination. Must possess excellent communication and quantitative skills; and database management and GIS software skills.

Requires Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Geography, or related field, plus two years relevant professional experience. Master's Degree plus one year professional experience desired. Starting salary range: $36,000 to $46,000 DOQ

For a detailed job description, please click on the following link:

http://acogok.org/Newsroom/Downloads/tpdsjobdescription.pdf

Send resume, writing sample, copy of BA & MA transcripts by fax, mail or email to: ACOG 21 E. Main Street, Ste. 100, Oklahoma City, OK 73104-2405.

FAX: 405-234-2200. Email: bgarner@acogok.org 

8/1/2005

Update

8/30/2005

Register online by clicking the link above!2005 Missouri APA Chapter Annual Conference (Sept. 21-23, 2005)

The conference web page has been updated with detailed session descriptions & keynote speaker bios. Visit <http://www.mo-apa.org/index.asp?NID=68>

Don't forget about the mobile workshops!
It's not too late to add a workshop to your registration by calling (816) 474-4240.

Downtown Kansas City
Take a 2 hour guided bus tour through Kansas City's downtown with stops and tours of some of the more significant projects. Find out how Kansas City was able to do the impossible by breathing new life into its historic downtown and when the grand re-opening is set to occur. Lunch, snacks, and souvenirs will also be provided courtesy of various tour sponsors. (More details online).

Gale Communities Workshop
Take a tour of the Longview Farm development in Lee's Summit, MO. Gale communities has completed an adaptive reuse of a horse arena into an elementary school. New Urbanism commercial and residential completes this mixed-use development. Explore the elementary school, commercial development, or the residential neighborhood with this half day workshop. (More details online).

Liberty Memorial Tour
Explore the Liberty Memorial with a guided tour showcasing the restoration and expansion plans. Attendees will view unfinished and restricted areas of the expansion. View Kansas City from the top of the 217 ft tall Memorial Tower. Opening reception is immediately following the tour across the street at Union Station. (More details online).

All conference information is available at <http://www.mo-apa.org/index.asp?NID=68>
Contact Bart Rudolph at <mailto:brudolph@marc.org> if you have any questions.

Regards,

Kim Gordanier, KCAPA Secretary
Planning Coordinator
City of De Soto, Kansas
www.desotoks.us

You are invited to submit a nomination for the 2005 Missouri Chapter Awards. Chapter awards are given in four categories: Plan; Project, Program, or Tool; Implementation; and Special Community Initiative. Awards recognize plans or projects that demonstrate outstanding originality, quality, and effectiveness. Additional information about awards and the nomination form may be found online at

The Chapter can't recognize outstanding efforts without your nominations. We look forward to receiving yours!

Questions about awards or nominations may be directed to Sara Copeland at 913-381-7852 or e-mail  Sara Copeland

LID Seminar June 22

Low-Impact Development: Cost-effective Tools for Storm Water Management Technical Seminar and Local Officials Luncheon

June 22, 2005

8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Lenoir Community Center

Columbia, Missouri

$15

http://www.dnr.mo.gov/oac/workshop-lid-brochure.pdf

Register on-line at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/oac/rmi-regform.htm

http://list.planning.org/mailman/listinfo/apamissouri

If there are any questions, please contact Ruth Wallace at 573-526-6627.

June 17: Social, Happy Hour, and Party to Honor Carol Bloom 

4:30 - 7:00 (or later) The Dish "Famous Stuffed Pizza Bar and Restaurant", 846 S. 291 Highway, Liberty, MO

June 24: Lunch program - tour of SubTropolis

the world's largest underground business complex The extensive network of underground business parks is one of the unique aspects of the Kansas City Metro Area 11:30 - 1:00, 8300 NE Underground Drive Near Worlds of Fun - East of I-435 at MO 210 Highway, just north of MO River
* SubTropolis is an 1,200-acre subterranean industrial park
* Nearly 5,000,000 sq. ft. of leasable space, 6 miles of paved roads, 2 miles of railroad track and 394 truck docks -- all underground
* See  www.huntmidwest.com/Subtropolis/Index.shtml  

Mid July: Program with ITE and APWA about transportation in revitalizing/redeveloping downtown KCMO

Kim Gordanier, APA Kansas City Section Secretary Planning Coordinator City of De Soto, Kansas www.desotoks.us 

2004/2005 Audio Conference Series for Planning Commissioners and Planning Professionals

The Mid-America Regional Council and the Kansas City Chapter of the APA are pleased to announce the 2004/2005 Audio Conference Series for Planning Commissioners and Planning Professionals.  All presentations are free of charge and will be held at the MARC offices, 600 Broadway, Suite 300, KCMO

Click here   for more information: http://www.marc.org/archives/PZaudio2004-5.htm.  You may register online or by calling Michele Ludeman at (816)474-4240 ext. 487.

Conference Topics include:

Economic Development for Small Towns, October 6, 2004

New Technologies for Planning and Public Participation, November 3, 2004

• Planning and Public Health, December 1, 2004

• Project Management, January 19, 2005

• Zoning Clinic, February 16, 2005

• Planning for Safe Growth, April 20, 2005

• Development Finance and Pro Formas, May 25, 2005

• Planning, Environmental, and Land-use Law, June 29, 2005

The Mid-America Regional Council will also be hosting the Fall 2004 Planning and Zoning Commissioners Workshop on Wednesday, September 29, from 8:00 a.m to 3:30 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn and Jack Reardon Civic Center, 500 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS.  More information on this event can be found by clicking here:  http://www.marc.org/archives/fall2004plan-zoneworkshop.htm

Michele Ludeman

Administrative Assistant

Mid-America Regional Council

600 Broadway, Suite 300

Kansas City, MO  64105

816/474-4240

mludeman@marc.org

www.marc.org

 Ethics, Ex Parte Communications and Conflict of Interest Co-sponsored by the Kansas City Section and the Kansas Chapter of the American Planning Association. The session will offer an update on the newly adopted "Code of Ethics" by the American Institute of Certified Planners as presented by, Paul Farmer, Executive Director of the APA.  David Corliss, Assistant City Manager and Legal Services Director for the City of Lawrence will also discuss the individual roles of planners and planning commissioners in ethical considerations.  A light dinner will be provided.

WHEN: May 19th

5:30 p.m. Registration begins

6:00 p.m. Program starts  

8:30 p.m. Program ends

WHERE: Mid America Regional Council

600 Broadway, Suite 170, Kansas City, MO

You may register for this event at the Mid America Regional Council site:

http://www.marc.org/archives/spring2005plan-zoneworkshop.htm

For additional information please contact:

Fred Sherman, AICP, APA Kansas Chapter President Community Development Director City of Gardner Direct 913.856.0911 Fax 913.856.4562 fsherman@gardnerkansas.com

Thank you,

Kim Gordanier, APA Kansas City Section Secretary

Planning Coordinator

City of De Soto, Kansas

www.desotoks.us

The State of Real Estate and Planning in the Kansas City Region Co-sponsored by the Kansas City Section and the Kansas Chapter of the American Planning Association Kevin Nunnink with Integra Realty Resources and Dan Whitney with Landmarketing, Inc. will discuss the state of the area's real estate market with a focus on the retail sector and local housing development trends.  Paul Farmer, Executive Director of the APA, will provide an update on the APA's strategic plan and communication plan, and an update on the direction and initiatives that the APA is undertaking as a professional organization.  A light breakfast will be provided. 

WHEN: May 20th

8:30 Registration begins

9:00 Program starts  

11:30 Program ends

WHERE: Leawood City Hall, Oak Room

4800 Town Center Dr., Leawood

You may register for this event at the Mid America Regional Council site:

 www.marc.org/archives/plan-zoneregistration05-20-05.htm

For additional information, please contact:

Fred Sherman, AICP, APA Kansas Chapter President Community Development Director City of Gardner Direct 913.856.0911 Fax 913.856.4562 fsherman@gardnerkansas.com

Thank you,

Kim Gordanier, APA Kansas City Section Secretary

Planning Coordinator

City of De Soto, Kansas

www.desotoks.us

Open to the public

For Directions http://www.follytheater.com/location.html

Lunch Program Kansas City Section, American Planning Association

Kansas City SmartPort, a virtual success story, will be presented at the KCAPA meeting Friday, April 22, 2005. This international trade initiative, linking Canada and Mexico along the I-35 corridor, made national news at inception. Its activities have been in the headlines in recent weeks. The focal point of SmartPort is the Richards-Gebauer Air Force Base, which has been adapted to bring together the SmartPort components of freight, transportation and distribution. It has become one of the region’s hot sites for development.

The program will be presented by Chris Gutierrez, President of KCSmartPort and Tim Cowden, Sr. Vice President for Business Development, Kansas City Area Development Council. The two will highlight their joint initiatives to further strengthen Kansas City’s vital role in the transportation and distribution industry. Topics to be covered include an explanation of the “nodes” of potential development linked to SmartPort, economic impact of SmartPort, potential for location of new international firms, implications for infrastructure and other future construction.

WHEN: April 22nd 11:30 Registration begins 12:15 Program starts

WHERE: Burns & McDonnell

9400 Ward Parkway, KC, MO

Transportation Planner  

The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, the Oklahoma City area metropolitan planning organization, has an opening for a transportation planner. Responsibilities involve long range transportation planning, congestion management studies, and air quality analysis. Must possess excellent communication and quantitative skills; and database management and GIS software skills. 

Due to an emergency Mike Waiczis will not be in KC on March 12 as originally planned. The AICP Exam Preparation Class will be postponed until Saturday, April 2, 2005.

We apologize for any inconvenience and will refund the course fee for anyone who cannot attend the class at that time. Mike informed us of the situation yesterday and we have moved as quickly as possible to get the class rescheduled. The class on April 2 will still be held in the offices of the Mid-America Regional Council at 600 Broadway, Ste. 300 in downtown Kansas City, MO, with registration from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m., class running from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with refreshments and lunch provided.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Steve Noble at the email below or by phone at 816-513-2805. 

You may receive a subsequent e-mail message sent to the KC APA Section and/or either the KS or MO Chapter. 

Steve

Steve Noble, AICP
Transportation Planning Manager
City Planning and Development Department
City of Kansas City, Missouri
voice: 816-513-2805
email: stephen_noble@kcmo.org

Click Here Assistant City Planner 

Company/Agency: City of Springfield

Location: Springfield, Missouri

Position Title: Assistant City Planner

Job Category: Neighborhoods

Salary Range: $25,756.22 to $35,260.99/annually, DOQ

AICP: Not required at time of hiring. 

Congratulations to our newly elected officers and thank those that are leaving the board:  New officers for 2005-2007:

• President - Jim Hubble, Transportation Planner II, Mid-America Regional Council
• Vice President - Sean Ackerson, AICP, Community Development Director, City of Parkville, Missouri
• Kansas Section Representative - Sara Copeland, AICP, Planner/Project Manager, Planning Works LLC 
• Missouri Section Representative - Brian Pitts, Planner, City of Kansas City, Missouri  

A sincere thank you to Diane Wickland (Kansas Section Representative for 2003 to 2007) and Heath Courtney (Missouri Representative, 2002 – 2005) who are leaving the KC Metro APA board this year. We greatly appreciate all the time and effort you have dedicated to promoting planning and APA over the last few years.  

Congratulations also go to the new officers for the Missouri Chapter including two of our own KC Metro members:

• State Chapter President - R. Todd Ashby, AICP, Assistant Director of Transportation, MARC
• Secretary/Treasurer - Steve Noble, AICP, Transportation Planning Manager, City Planning & Development Department, City of Kansas City, Missouri

Also congratulations to our newest KC Metro APA Board members:

• Secretary – Kim Gordanier, Planning Coordinator, City of De Soto, Kansas
• KU Student Representative – Andrew Wright
• KU Student Alternate – Dirk Goering§ UMKC Student Representative – Bart Rudolph§ UMKC Alternate – Vanessa Spartan

 You can help advance planning in Missouri.

We are looking for people who are willing to contact their county commissioners and state representative, particularly if the Rep. is a member of the House of Representatives Local Government Committee where a bill we want to pass will likely have a hearing. You can see the members of this committee here: http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills051/commit/com173.htm.

We are also looking for stories about how the state statutes are problems for what you want or need to do. If you have any experiences or anecdotes, please let me know. We are starting with county statutes (chapter 64 RSMo), and want eventually to get to municipal statutes, too.

We have a bill (HB 465) that Rep. Todd Smith (Sedalia area) has introduced based on recommendations submitted by a Working group we convened last year. The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Charles Denison (Springfield area). We anticipate it will be assigned to the Local Government Committee, chaired by Rep. Robert Thane Johnson (Lee's Summit area). You can see the bill here:
http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills051/bills/HB465.HTM

We have a hurdle to overcome, because the bill and the summary on the top of this web page make it sound like we are mandating state planning. But we not, because other provisions of Chapter 64 remain intact, in which a county commission may appoint a planning commission or a citizen vote is needed in order to start planning. This bill provides modern language for comp plan purposes and contents. It is not perfect - the drafters (legislative staff) do not know much about planning. So we can offer a substitute bill. If you have specific comments on the draft bill, please contact me, or reply to this email to get a conversation going.

This is only the first phase of our efforts to update the statutes. We anticipate having a more thorough rewrite of Chapter 64 next year. We want to use the bill this year to talk about the overall effort, including the need to simplify so there are not six sets of rules for planning -- one for lake districts, one for first class charter counties, one for second and third class counties, an alternate set of rules, etc.

Attached is a digital version of the brochure we have produced for this effort. It provides some background. Our motto is:
"Improve Missouri by providing planning tools for citizens to create the communities they want."

( Statutes Brochure Final.pdf)

If you are willing and able to help, please contact me. Reply to this on the new listserv, or email me or phone me.

______________________________
Bruce G. S. Wiggins AICP
American Institute of Certified Planners

City of Kansas City, MO
City Planning and Development Dept.
816.513.2835
bruce_wiggins@kcmo.org

University of Kansas 

Graduate Program in Urban Planning 30th Reunion 

Graduates of KU's Urban Planning Program:

It is time to register for the 30th Reunion of the Graduate Program in Urban Planning at the University of Kansas. The Program, along with the Kansas Association of Planning Students (KAPS) will be hosting this event, and we hope that you can attend. It will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2005. The festivities will include an open house in Marvin Hall, a dinner at the Crystal Ballroom of the Eldridge Hotel with a reception to follow in the ballroom and the lobby of the hotel.

Please complete the registration form and send it with a check made out to KAPS. The cost is $45.00 per person. Even if you cannot attend, please complete the registration form, keeping the Program up to date on where you live and work.

Please come and reconnect with your fellow graduates and with the faculty and staff of the Program. We look forward to seeing you again.

All the best,

Kirk McClure, Associate Professor

Graduate Program in Urban Planning

University of Kansas

Register early for the March 19-23 conference in San Francisco to guarantee spots in popular mobile workshops and special events. The deadline for registering by web, mail, or fax is February 22. After that date, you must register in San Francisco, and fees are higher.
Click here for full details

Click Here for More Information

Sponsored by:

Kansas Association for Conservation & Environmental Education K-State Research & Extension

Funded by: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Some of today’s most important decisions impacting the Kansas environment take place at the local level. Yet often, decision-makers find it difficult to fully take into account the potential impacts to our land, water, air, natural resources, and wildlife. This two-day hands-on professional development opportunity is designed to provide decision- making tools, processes, and resources for local Kansas leaders.

Participants will explore methods to help communities make better, more informed decisions that involve/impact the environment, such as wind energy development, water resource protection, or land use management. Participants will also engage in a leadership pilot project with team members to test these tools and resources in a variety of settings in their communities.

Application Click Here

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO REQUEST BROCHURES & APPLICATION FORMS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Exam Study Session

Brought to you by the Kansas and Missouri Chapters of the American Planning

For more information see the attached flyer (includes session topics, registration fees, deadlines, and directions) or contact Steve Noble at (816) 513-2805

Senior Planner – Current Planning

Blue Springs, Missouri (pop. 50,000), is a second-tier suburban community in the Kansas City metro, with young, growing households, nationally ranked and “blue ribbon award” schools, a nationally recognized parks system, and higher than average educations and incomes.  The City is strategically positioned for rapid residential and commercial growth in the next several years.

The City of Blue Springs is seeking an energetic, goal oriented Senior Planner for Current Planning in the Community Development Department. This position is a key middle management position within this progressive, growing city, and will be involved with all aspects of current planning and special projects.  Position is responsible for current planning services including land use, zoning, development review, Unified Development Code (UDC) interpretation and application, and serving as staff liaison to Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Committee, and Appearance Review Committee.

The Senior Planner for Current Planning works directly for the Community Development Director and side-by-side with the Senior Planner for Long Range Planning and the Codes Administrator.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Planning or closely related field and six (6) years experience in urban planning.  Must possess excellent communication and analysis skills and interact effectively with the public, City officials, staff and other agencies.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Planning or related field and six (6) years experience in urban planning, including three (3) years supervisory experience.  Knowledge and experience in GIS desirable.  AICP certification preferred.

Salary DOQ.

Send resume, salary history and 3 examples of recent written work to: Director, Human Resources, 903 W. Main Street, Blue Springs, MO  64015.

More information on our web site: www.bluespringsgov.com, EOE/MV/F/H

Position open until filled.

 KC Metro APA Annual Meeting and Social.  

Hear about current and future plans for Union Station.  Catch up on Section happenings as we look back on last year’s accomplishments and announce plans for this year’s events.

WHEN: Friday, January 28, 2005, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (feel free to come early and stay late)
WHERE: U nion Café at Union Station Kansas City  (Union Café is located in the middle of the Grand Hall.  We’ll meet in the 2nd level of the café)
COST: APA Members: No charge for hors d’oeuvres, and 2 drinks.  Friends: Students - $5.00; Others - $10.00.

RSVP: No RSVP required.  However, a courtesy response to Bruce Wiggins at 816.513.2835 or bruce_wiggins@kcmo.org is greatly appreciated by end of the day Thursday, January 27th.

See the attached flyer for more details, including maps and parking information.

We hope to see you there.