OAPA News: Goal 1 Modernization Public Hearing Announcement | Register for the Portland Metro Planner Network Meeting | New AICP Members

Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association

February 11, 2025

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In this newsletter:

‣ Goal 1 Modernization Public Hearing Announcement

‣ Portland Metro Planner Network Meeting

‣ New AICP Members

‣ Spring and Summer Internships

‣ Mitch Rohse, AICP 1943-2024

‣ Upcoming events and webinars

‣ Job opportunities

Public Hearing Announcement:

Goal 1 Modernization

This legislative session, OAPA’s Legislative and Policy Affair Committee (LPAC) has been working with state legislators, partner organizations and its legislative advocacy team on crafting and advancing House Bill 2950: Modernizing Public Participation in Land Use Decision s .

HB 2950 would require DLCD to audit and amend Statewide Planning Goal 1, using a comprehensive goals advisory committee process tasked with addressing the inequities, inaccessibility and inefficiencies in our existing public engagement strategies and modernizing them for the 21st Century.

Interested in helping to support HB 2950? We have good news!

HB 2950 was scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water this Wednesday, February 12.

OAPA is looking for members interested in showing support for this bill through written testimony. The more support on the record, the better. The LPAC has crafted an advocacy toolkit to help get you started, including a written testimony template with talking points, and a one-pager for your reference.

The deadline to submit testimony into OLIS is Friday, February 14 at 8:00am.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to OAPA’s legislative advocate Heather Rockwell at heather@mahoniapublicaffairs.com.

Click here to submit writtentestimony on HB 2950

Planner Network Meeting

Join us in Sherwood on February 27 from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm for the Portland Metro Planner Network Meeting.

Cost: OAPA Members - $65 • Non-Members - $99

Here is the agenda:

8:30-9:00 am • Registration

9:00-9:15 am • Welcome and Introductions

9:15-10:15 am • Sherwood West UGB expansion and Planning (1CM)

10:15-10:30 am • Break

10:30-11:30 am • Metro Transportation initiatives which includes: (1 CM)

• Safe Streets for All Program

• Community Connector Transit Study

• Cooling Corridors Project

11:30-12:30 pm • Lunch Break

12:30-1:30 pm • Rulemaking efforts for Farms, Forests and Cultural Resources (1 CM)

1:30-3:00 pm • DLCD update on Housing initiatives (1.5 CM)

3:00-3:15 pm • Break

3:15-4:30 pm • Sherwood Old Town Walking Tour (1 CM)

Click here to register

Congratulations to our New AICPs!

Sam W Huck, AICP

Nikki J Meusch, AICP

Lekshmy Hirandas, AICP

Emelia R. Shoup, AICP

Jeff Broderick, AICP

Cassandra O'Donnell, AICP

Brendan J Irsfeld, AICP

Jamie Arnau, AICP

Jessa Miller, AICP

Molly Gaughran, AICP

Spring and Summer Internships

Greetings from OAPA’s Emerging Planners Group (EPG)! Our committee coordinates network- and career-building events and programs for planning students and professionals who are new to the field.

This is a gentle reminder that the time for announcing spring and summer internships starts now! To be sure, many students are already on the lookout for placements. Remember: you can post your internship announcement (for free!) in the OAPA newsletter.

Click here for details and helpful links.

Mitch Rohse, AICP

1943-2024

One of our own has passed. A pioneer in Oregon land-use planning, author and photographer, Mitch Rohse, AICP, was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1943. With his wife Louann and several friends by his side, Mitch passed away on November 29 from cancer.

After World War II, his parents moved to Oregon and Mitch graduated from McMinnville High School in 1961, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, band president, and a four-year letterman on the track and swim teams. An adventurous spirit, Mitch became a Peace Corps Volunteer in Borneo, a weather observer for the Air Force in Texas and Vietnam, and a graduate teaching assistant in Hawaii.

Click here to read more....

Planning Webcast Series

The Planning Webcast Series offers a fantastic opportunity for OAPA members to access dozens of free CM approved webcasts each year. These sessions cover a variety of topics, including the popular AICP-required subjects and both trending and foundational planning themes. Hosted by APA Chapters and Divisions across the country, these webcasts ensure a wide range of perspectives and expertise.

Here are some key details about the Planning Webcast Series:

Membership Access: Open to all OAPA members!
Webcast Schedule: Fridays from 1:00 to 2:30 PM ET.
CM Credits: Each session qualifies for 1.5 CM credits, covering all required topics.
Recorded Sessions: Available on the Webcast Series YouTube Channel for on-demand viewing.

If you are interested in staying informed and participating, make sure to sign up for the mailing list to receive monthly updates about upcoming sessions and relevant links.

Join the Mailing List

Upcoming Events

Overview

Urban Design Panel - A Comprehensive Approach to Sustainable Urban Design

February 18 | 12:00 pm | Virtual | Learn More | cm 1

OAPA Portland Metro Planners Network Meeting

February 27 | 9:00 am - 4:30 pm | In Person | Learn More

Save the Date: OAPA Annual Planning Conference

October 15-17 | The Riverhouse Lodge | Bend, Oregon