Conference Program Spotlight:

Plenaries

March 13, 2018   |   Tyler Klein, VP Chapter Affairs

*All plenaries may be eligible for CM credits.

Monday, July 23

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The City with the Planned Future

Since the early frontier days of the eighteenth century, Harrisonburg, Virginia has been a vital agricultural, commercial, and political center in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. It was not until the 1950s, however, that it adopted the motto “The City with the Planned Future.” Join Dr. David Ehrenpries, author of Picturing Harrisonburg: Visions of a Shenandoah Valley City Since 1828 and 

understand how visions of a place shift over time can reveal a community’s values, how they evolved and what they mean.

This plenary will trace the historical shift in the municipal approach to urban planning, from the disastrous top-down vision of the Urban Renewal era to the more inclusive, and modest, conception in use today.

Speaker: Dr. David Ehrenpries, Professor, Director, Institute of Visual Studies, JMU

Tuesday, July 24

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2018 Legislative Update

*This session may fulfill Law 1.5 CM requirements.

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The Chapter’s Legislative and Policy Committee will provide a recap of the

2018 Virginia General Assemble Session. Hear from a panel of experts a

recap Key Bills for Planners (a preliminary version available for review) and

discussion of the legislation that will impact urban and regional planning

in the Commonwealth.

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Interested in advancing smart planning policies? Sign up with the Planners’ Advocacy Network.

Speakers:

Brandie Schaeffer, VP of Legislative & Policy Affairs

Eldon James, Eldon James Associates

Other Panelists, TBD

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Holzheimer Memorial Economic Plenary – Fiscal Stress in Virginia Localities

“The truth about a city’s aspirations isn’t found in its vision; it’s in its budget.”

– Brent Toderian, Urban Works

There has been greater, recent attention placed on the fiscal health of Virginia’s local governments. The Commonwealth’s 323 cities, counties, and towns are the foundation upon which a variety of services are delivered, and plans are made. How have commerce, finance, and demographics impacted existing conditions and what can be done to more harmoniously and sustainably plan for these factors and others in the future while also safeguarding local fiscal stability?

Speakers:

J. David Conmy, Local Government Policy Administrator, DHCD

James J. Regimbal, Jr., Fiscal Analytics, Ltd.

Other Panelists, TBD

Wednesday, July 25

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The 2020 Census & Federal Data Collection

Our annual “data and demographics” update, join experts from

the US Census Bureau and the Council of Professional

Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS) to understand what

changes are being made to the 2020 Census questionnaire and

collection methods, and how federal funding, new technology,

and declining responses may impact the quality of Census data

and ultimately federal funding at the state and local level.

Speakers:

John H. Thompson, Executive Director, COPAFS

Ronald E. Brown, Partnership Specialist, US Census Bureau – Philadelphia Region

Fernando Armstrong, Director, US Census Bureau – Philadelphia Region

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Ethics Case of the Year

*This session may fulfill Ethics 1.5 CM requirements.

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Join our Chapter’s Professional Development Officer (PDO) and representatives from the AICP Commission for a fun-filled refresher on the importance of the AICP Code of Ethics, with deeper consideration of potential ethical issues in planning. Learn how to negotiate challenging ethical and moral dilemmas we sometimes face as planners. Navigating the murky waters of “right vs. wrong” gets easier with experience and regular discussion with your planning peers.

Speakers:

Andrew Hopewell, AICP, Professional Development Officer (PDO)

AICP Commission Members (TBD)