Elaine Cogan, founding principal of the Portland, Oregon planning and communications firm of Cogan Owens Cogan, has consulted for more than 36 years with communities undertaking strategic planning and visioning processes. Elaine has been honored for her work on a variety of citizen involvement projects, including “Complete Communities for Clackamas County,” which received the American Planning Association's 2002 Public Education Award.
Between 1991 and 2009, her “The Effective Planning Commissioner” column ran in the Planning Commissioners Journal. All of her past columns (along with her new ones) are available here on PlannersWeb.com.
What attributes should you look for in a new planning director? Columnist Elaine Cogan describes what she learned from facilitating a series community forums as part of Portland, Oregon’s search for a new planning chief.
How long have you served as a planning commissioner? How long should you serve? Elaine Cogan asks whether you know when enough is enough.
A poorly thought out and sloppily executed agenda can hinder the smooth operating of your meeting. Tips on how to better organize your agendas.
In increasingly diverse communities, it is essential that all planning board members reach out beyond their ordinary circles of relationships. Elaine Cogan discusses several ways in which commissioners can do this.
How to deal with newcomers to your board who either hold up meetings with question after question or are too nervous to jump into the discussion.
Columnist Elaine Cogan on the importance of clear written communications in public notices and postings.
Elaine Cogan offers some guidelines for designing and carrying out effective public meetings.
What do you do when a member of your commission does not fully participate in meetings or commission business?
Elaine Cogan considers three basic variations in the role planning commissions and commissioners can take.
Elaine Cogan on how committees can assist planning commissioners in their work.
As a planning commissioner, how do you deal with controversial projects? Some ideas on how to be more proactive, and less reactive.
Has your commission been looking for a way to get beyond the regular meeting routine? Some tips on organizing for a successful retreat.
Elaine Cogan discusses ways of dealing with planning commissioner burnout.
