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Posted  Past Announcements
04/25/2008

12th Annual Regional Assembly on June 13

Mayor John Hickenlooper
Mayor John Hickenlooper
Keynote Speaker

MARC will hold its 12th Annual Regional Assembly on Friday, June 13, 2008, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Westin Crown Center, 1 East Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri. John Hickenlooper, Mayor of Denver, Colo., will provide the keynote address on regional collaboration, progress in his community in areas of transportation and infrastructure and natural resource protection. MARC will also present its annual Regional Leadership Awards at the event.
More information and how to register>

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05/05/2008
Time Sensitive
Action Alert: Missouri Legislative Action Alert: SCS HB1832 = Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 1832

Please phone these two Senate leaders NOW. We are at a critical time with our planning bill.

Sen Mike Gibbons 573-751-2853 or 314-966-2526
Pres. ProTem of Senate - from west St. L. suburbs

Sen Charlie Shields 573-751-9476
Majority Floor Leader - from Platte and Buchanan counties

The message: Get SCS HB1832* on the Senate floor for debate and a vote. It's good for all Missouri.

There are only two weeks left in this session and our bill, which passed the House easily, is mired in the Senate. Farm Bureau has been making a push to stop it. Senator Griesheimer, our sponsor, is engineering a compromise and the strategy now is to get a bill through the Senate, then reconcile the House and Senate versions in the conference committee. Please drop me an email to let me know you called. THANKS.

* SCS HB1832 = Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 1832

Bruce Wiggins
Chair, Planning Statutes Committee, MOAPA
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01/25/2008

2% Solution web cast

Dear Climate Protectors:

Mayor McConwell has requested that I inform you of a future event that will be hosted by the City of Mission. On Wednesday January 30, 2008, the City of Mission will participate in Focus The Nation, an unprecedented teach-in model on global warming solutions. Focus The Nation has created a teach-in model centered on the three most essential pillars for today’s youth to embrace solutions to global warming: education, civic engagement and leadership.

The teach-in will kick off with the 2% Solution web cast produced by the National Wildlife Federation and aired by the Earth Day Network. Panelists will include actor Edward Norton, Stanford climate scientist Steve Schneider, Hunter Lovins, CEO, Natural Capitalism and environmental justice leader, Van Jones, executive director, Ella Baker Center in Oakland, Calif. The webcast will be presented the night of Wednesday January 30 at 7:00 PM, at the Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center (6200 Martway), in the City of Mission.

The final piece of Focus The Nation’s teach-in model will be the Choose Your Future vote. All students, faculty and community participants will be encouraged to vote on what they think are the top five solutions from a list of ten to 15 that will be available Jan. 21, 2008 at www.focusthenation.org. Vote results will be presented nationally in mid February. All students who vote on the Choose Your Future ballot will be eligible to win a $10,000 leadership scholarship for a project to be completed by end of August 2008.

Please let me know if you would like more information about this event. We look forward to seeing you there!


Danielle Murray, AICP
City Planner
City of Mission
6090 Woodson
Mission, KS 66202
913.676.8363
dmurray@missionks.org

08/10/07

 

STPP AND CNT ANNOUNCE NEW SESSIONS

The Surface Transportation Policy Partnership (STPP) and the Center for Neighborhood Technology announce new sessions to offer more in depth education and training on topics you identified at the STPP’s 2006 workshops. We will host two webinars this fall and two workshops in spring 2008 focusing on four areas.

Past Webinars:

September 25, 2007, 11-1 pm CSTT

 November 9, 11-1 pm CST

“Understanding the Transportation Models and Asking the Right Questions”

“Planning Transit Routes that Meet Your Community’s Goals”

February 2008

April 2008

“Getting Transportation and Land-use Decisions that Create Walkable Communities with Mobility Choices”

“Designing Transportation Projects that Enhance Your Community’s Character”

More information about these webinars and workshops and how to register will be forth coming. Please check back again.  

Funding for this program is proved by the Federal Transit Administration, the Oak Foundation, and AARP.

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02/11/2008

TO: Persons expressing interest in updating MO county planning statutes

We are trying again to update the county planning statutes, Chapter 64 RSMo. This year, the bills are SB729, sponsored by Sen John Griesheimer, and HB1832, sponsored by Rep. Shannon Cooper and 22 cosponsors. We have worked with a variety of partners, including MO Assoc. of Counties, AIA, St. Louis Home builders, and others, to draft the language. MACOG staff has been working closely with us for the past few years.

Attached is a flier we are using to help explain the bills, the need and reasons for support. Our lobbyist tells us to push local control of land use decisions, so that is repeated several times. Please feel free to print this and hand it out to your elected officials to publicize it and ask your electeds (city, county, and state) for support!

(See attached file: Statutes Flier 2-6-08.doc)

We have hearings next week in the legislative committees. If you know the sponsors (look on the state web page for the bills) or the individuals on the committees listed below, PLEASE CONTACT THEM TO EXPRESS YOUR SUPPORT. If you contact any of them, please let our lobbyist, Jim Farrell, know by emailing him: jefarrellassoc@charter.net


House Local Government Committee


Senate Economic Development, Tourism
and Local Government Committee

Thank you!
Bruce
______________________________
Bruce G.S. Wiggins, AICP
American Institute of Certified Planners

City of Kansas City, MO
City Planning and Development Dept.
15th floor, City Hall
414 E. 12th St., KCMO 64106
816.513.2835

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02/14/2008 Dear Missouri Planners,
 
You have the opportunity to reach out to tomorrow's planners today.  MAPS is conducting a survey of Missouri planners requesting lessons from your experiences in the planning field.  Your real life stories in the field will be compiled into a pamphlet and used as an educational resource by Missouri State planning students.
 
Attached is that survey where you can write as much or as little as you want.
 
Please return no later than March 1st, 2008.
 
Sincerely,
 
Shaun Tooley
 
President
Missouri Association of Planning Students
02/28/2008 

A Celebration in Planning

You and a guest are cordially invited to attend a party hosted by the Kansas City Chapter of  the American Planning Association.  The event is FREE and open to everyone!  Bottomless glasses of Boulevard Beer and light appetizers will be served.  Come join friends, community planners, and like-minded professionals for a fun filled evening at the Boulevard Brewery (http://www.blvdbeer.com).

 

When:  Wednesday, March 26

Time:   5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Where: Boulevard Brewery

            Muehlebach Suite

            2501 Southwest Boulevard

            Map

Why:    A Celebration of Community and Regional Planning (aka The KCAPA Annual Event)

RSVP: Not required. However…The first 150 people to RSVP receive a free Boulevard Brewery pint glass. RSVP to Brian Pitts at bpitts@di-kc.comm

 

Brian M. Pitts

Development Initiatives, Inc.

423 Delaware, Suite 101

Kansas City, MO 64105

Mobile: 816.588.6112

Fax: 816.421.2622

http://www.di-kc.com

 

 

04/24/2008

Job Posting - Code Enforcement Officer #101653

The Johnson County Planning, Development and Codes Department, located in the Kansas City Metro area is seeking a Code Enforcement Officer on a full-time basis.

The Code Enforcement Officer is responsible for processing zoning violations and zoning permits, including conducting site inspections and record keeping. This position also handles Planning responsibilities, such as reviewing building permits, handling customer inquiries, and for performing research projects as assigned.

Requires a high school diploma or equivalent; Vo-Tech Degree or an Associate’s Degree is preferred; code enforcement experience as well as customer service experience is preferred; requires a valid driver’s license.

Interested applicants may send resume and cover letter to Stacy Barr, Recruiter; stacy.barr@jocogov.org or for complete details and to apply on-line, visit http://hr.jocogov.org; or fax resume to (913) 715-1419; or mail to: Johnson County Human Resources; 111 S. Cherry, Suite 2600; Olathe, KS 66061. EOE M/F/D

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04/25/2008

Washington Wheatley Neighborhood Action Plan

UMKC Urban Planning + Design

A Plan Produced with the Washington Wheatley Neighborhood Improvement Association  

Wednesday May 7, 2008

5:30 p.m. Open House and Food

6 p.m. Presentation 

Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center

3700 Blue Parkway, Kansas City, MO 

What’s next for the Washington Wheatley Neighborhood in Kansas City’s Third District?  After 50 years of neglect and population decline, we need new strategies to turn urban neighborhoods around and to create a truly sustainable urban community.

 A sustainable city requires jobs and businesses to return to local corridors like Prospect Avenue, 27th Street and Indiana Avenue. Kansas City must reverse the trend of abandonment and stop the unnecessary demolition of historic structures east of Troost. The Washington Wheatley neighborhood needs smart infill housing and innovative land use solutions that prevent vacant lots from becoming dumping sites full of trash. Residents want to see people come back to their neighborhood to raise families in a safe, walkable community they can be proud to call home.

Residents need a healthier environment and the air quality in the neighborhood must be improved. Neighborhoods want a safe and reliable public transportation system and bicycle network so residents don’t have to depend on automobiles to get to work and other places. Residents want a strong and innovative school system so families know their children are being prepared for an emerging, green economy.  The neighborhood needs energy efficient homes and businesses that save money and are more sensitive to the environment.

Being “green” is not just about buildings - it’s about the social, environmental and economic fabric of a neighborhood. A sustainable Washington Wheatley will improve air and water quality, enhance the health and well-being of residents, minimize the strain on infrastructure, and help reduce the pressure to develop the exurban fringe.

 It is time for Kansas City to become a true leader in urban environmental restoration and sustainability. Our future depends on it.

Please join us for a lively presentation and discussion about the future of one of Kansas City’s great urban neighborhoods!  

UMKC Planning Team: Ashley Winchell, Chad Shearer, Andrew Orel, Joey Pruett, Casey Hartline, Jerame Gray, Ashley Damon, Kristian Corbin, and Jerod Rivers

With guidance from: Marlon Hammons and the Washington Wheatley Neighborhood Improvement Association, Pat Jordan and Associates, Sonny Gibson, Dr. Jacob Wagner, Dr. Michael Frisch and Cameron Washington, UMKC.

UMKC Urban Planning + Design

hhttp://cas.umkc.edu/aupd/

Questions? Please call: 816-235-6053

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05/01/2008

BFC_banner_top3.gif
Becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community
Regional Bicycle Friendly Community Workshop


Thursday, May 22, 2008
8:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
$45 *
Old Shawnee Town Hall • 11600 Johnson Drive • Shawnee, Kansas

Continental breakfast and lunch provided
Register at
www.marc.org/sustain/bikefriendly.asp or call 816/8234

The League of American Bicyclists has a program to designate a community as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” (BFC) if it meets certain criteria. The cities of Shawnee, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., and the regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee invite you to learn about the benefits of this designation and how your community can work towards becoming bicycle friendly. The program includes both a policy overview and technical guidance. Trek Bicycles is a sponsor of the event.

7:30 a.m.          Registration

8:15 a.m.          Overview of BFC action plan

• Rebecca Anderson, Trek Advocacy Director
• Andy Clarke, League of American Bicyclists Executive Director

9:00 a.m.          Joint signing of action plan by area mayors

9:30 a.m.          Technical session

• Identifying local issues
• Achieving BFC designation 

1:00 p.m.          Closing

Register at www.marc.org/sustain/bikefriendly.asp oor call 816/701-8234

* Local elected officials are invited to attend this session free of charge in order to learn how they can play a leadership role in creating bicycle friendly communities. Please contact Eliza Waterman directly at 816/701-8387 or ewaterman@marc.org.
BFC_banner_bottom.jpg

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05/05/2008

Community-Based Brownfields Redevelopment
May 21, 2008, 3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Mid-America Regional Council

600 Broadway, 2nd Floor-Heartland Conference Room

Kansas City, MO 64105

Community-Based Brownfields Redevelopment:

Too often, community groups and residents of low-income communities are left out of the brownfield redevelopment process. Learn how to engage community members so they can see the opportunities presented by brownfield sites. Assess how community development corporations can play a major role and find out how the community can weigh the costs of brownfield redevelopment. Hear from community members as well as technical experts. Co-sponsor: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

As always, this audio / web conference is free, but registration is required.  Please click on the link below to conveniently sign up.  http://www.marc.org/Sustain/Land_Use/audioconferenceregistration.asp

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