Winter 2006 Newsletter

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Letter From the President
With 2006 starting, it only means that March is coming soon. The initial conference mailing has been sent out. With that mailing, I have one request of the entire membership; review the nomination form and think hard about individuals that deserve to be recognized.

In the past two years, I have challenged the District Representatives to nominate someone for each category from each District. In order for this goal to occur, I think that all of us need to take an active role in nominating these deserving people.

Planning and zoning, especially in Nebraska, is rooted in the people that volunteer time and energy to make life in their communities and counties better. The least that can be done is that we recognize these dedicated people.

The primary categories needing nominations are: Appointed Official and the Elected Official In addition, NPZA gives out the Mitsuo Kawamoto Excellence in Planning Award, a Professional Planner Award and the Loretta Ludemann Achievement Award for Excellence in Planning by a Woman in the State of Nebraska

Any suggestions for special awards are always considered through Presidential Awards. NPZA has also given special recognition awards for outstanding contributions to planning and zoning. For example, this type of award has been given to the UNL College of Architecture; Nebraska Department of Economic Development; and the Grand Island Independent. If you are aware of a special contribution to advance planning and zoning in Nebraska, please let myself, another board member, or your District Representative know.

Nothing would please me more than to give out a minimum of two awards per District. Please let us know of those deserving people.

As always, I look forward to seeing everyone again in Kearney.

- Dave Ptak

David Siegel, AICP to Speak during Conference
David M. Siegel, AICP, is the current National President of APA, and is a resident of Portland, Oregon. Dave has a long record of serving and involvement in APA.

He has served the planning profession for several years. His positions include: two terms on the APA Board as Director at-large, President of the Oregon Chapter Board member of the Oregon Chapter, leadership positions in chapter committees. He was installed as the National APA President in San Francisco last spring.

Dave is the Director of Planning and Communications for Parametrix, Inc., in Portland, Oregon, where he manages community visioning, long-range planning, and growth management projects. In a 28-year career, he has worked in a variety of planning and public works agencies in both the public and private sectors, and served as a planning commissioner in Keizer, Oregon.

He has a master's degree in City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University, and a B.A. in Political Science and Urban Studies from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. He is a closet musician, a good cook, and is kind to dogs.

Dave will be the Keynote Speaker during lunch on Wednesday and will be doing the General Session with Joanne Garnett on Thursday morning.

Joanne Garnett, FAICP to Speak during Conference
Joanne Garnett, FAICP is a senior planner with Worthington, Lenhart, and Carpenter, based in Casper and Gillette, Wyoming. She works on planning projects for local governments throughout the state.

Some of her projects have included the Casper Mountain Land Use Plan, Community Development Plans for the Towns of Chugwater, Evansville, Greybull, La Barge, and Pinedale, City of Gillette Comprehensive Plan, Casper Area Annexation Study, and Town of Mills code update.

Before joining WLC, Joanne was the planning director for Sublette County, Wyoming, where she worked in development regulation, subdivision review, coordination with federal and state agencies, pathway development, and the county comprehensive plan update.

Joanne was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners in 2004. Joanne has been a leader in the field of planning, including leadership at the national level. These positions include: American Planning Association National president, 1999-2001 APA past president, 2001-2002 APA president elect, 1998-99 American Institute of Certified Planners National President, 1994-95 AICP Commissioner, Region V, 1990-94 Western Central Chapter-APA President, 1986-89 Montana Association of Planners President and board member, 1978-1981 Board of Directors, Western Planning Resources (publisher of Western Planner), 1986-present Wyoming Planning Association (WYOPASS) board of directors, 2001-2006.

Slate of Officers Announced for 2006-2008
The Nomination Committee has met and has provide the slate of officers for consideration during the next two years. The nominated officers for the coming two years are:

President - David Ptak
1st Vice-President - Chad Nabity, AICP
2nd Vice-President - Rick Houck, AICP
Secretary - Tam Babcock
Treasurer/Membership Secretary - Steve Charleston

Membership to Vote on Change to the By-Laws
The membership of NPZA is being asked to vote YES or No on a proposed change to the organizational by-laws. This changes would be a complete modification to the district layout and boundaries. The request is being put forth to the membership due to the extremely large configuration of District 1 and District 3.

Maps showing the existing district boundaries and the proposed boundaries are  below.

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