Quick Highlights from International Making Cities Livable Conference
A preview of what you’ll be hearing in coming weeks on PlannersWeb — in reporting on sessions from the International Making Cities Livable Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Editor’s Notes & Interviews
Notes, updates, and interviews by Planning Commissioners Journal & PlannersWeb Editor Wayne Senville
HotReports Has Plenty of Information to Digest
The Partnership for Sustainable Communities has a useful new tool available on their web site. Called, “HotReports,” it allows you to measure how your county is doing on several “sustainability indicators” — which you can then compare to statewide and national averages.
“Tweet Us at the Twitter Town Hall,” say HUD, EPA, & DOT Top Brass
Top administrators from EPA, HUD, and DOT respond to questions “tweeted” in about the agencies’ joint Partnership for Sustainable Communities program. View the video of the “Town Hall” event.
Planner and Commissioner — The Relationship Between Staff & Commissioners
Our series wraps up, as our seven participants point to ways of strengthening the relationship between staff planners and planning commissioners.
Planner and Commissioner — Advice for Staff Planners
Today, suggestions for staff planners — based on our participants’ experience as planning commissioners.
Planner and Commissioner — Advice for Planning Commissioners
Our series continues, as we ask our seven planners what advice they’d give to planning commissioners — based on their experience as staff planners.
Planner and Commissioner — Surprises
Today, our seven planners tell us what most surprised them when they started serving on their planning commission.
Planner and Commissioner — Why Serve on a Planning Commission?
We asked seven individuals who have served both as professional and citizen planners to reply to a series of short questions. Today, they explain what got them interested in serving on their community’s planning commission.
They Were Part of Our Community
OK, I’ll admit it — this post doesn’t have much to do with city planning (at least directly). But it’s graduation time — and one tradition I and many other Burlington residents have is to walk over to the University of Vermont and watch the pomp of the commencement ceremony. This year we were also treated to a remarkable commencement address by jazz great Wynton Marsalis — just featured on NBC Nightly News.
The Art of Ross Racine
“My images of aerial views are totally fictional, although in the beginning I used aerial photographs as references for the overall appearance of the landscape. … What occurs in my pictures could be emblematic for society as a whole.”
The Return of Downtown?
Did you see a recent article in Forbes Magazine, “Downtowns: What’s Behind America’s Most Surprising Real Estate Boom”? See related articles we’ve published and join us on LinkedIN to discuss: Are there barriers in your community to having more downtown housing? Are there programs to encourage it?
Bridging the Digital Divide … in Our Libraries
Planners are increasingly relying on the web and online tools to gather public input. But there are concerns about the “digital divide” and whether all segments of the community can participate. A look at how public libraries are helping reduce the digital divide.
“It’s Like Planning in a Big Doll House”
Bath, Maine, is just nine square miles in size, with a population a little under 9,000. But it has a thriving downtown and riverfront. A look at some of the ingredients that have made downtown Bath so strong.
