TexasPlans Legislative and Advocacy Summit

Schedule-at-a-Glance

1:00 PM 1:15 PM
Welcome "Chance Sparks AICP, CNU-A, APATX President, Urban Planning & Design Group, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Welcome to our virtual summit!

1:15 PM 2:00 PM
Legislation, Land Use Case Law Update & Outlook
Kim Mickelson AICP, Assistant City Attorney, City of Houston ,Craig Farmer FAICP, President, Municipal Planning Services LLC, Chance SparksAICP, CNU-A, APATX President, Urban Planning & Design Group, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Planners often find themselves experiencing challenges when it comes to implementing local plans and administering regulations adopted by the State Legislature. Panelists will discuss the effects of recently passed legislation, how communities have responded, and the outlook for the 87th Texas Legislature.

2:00 PM 3:30 PM
Pandemics, Economic Meltdowns and Inequality
Jason Jordan, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, American Planning Association, Chris J. Sanchez, Senior Partner, Salient Strategies
What's happened since March? This session will investigate the impacts on the nation and Texas from the unexpected events of the past six months.  It will include a national perspective on community impacts and responses, as well as a view of the Texas situation.

3:30 PM 4:15 PM
Home, Housing, and Community
Jason Jordan, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, American Planning Association, Lee Battle AICP, LEED AP, Director of Community Enhancement, City of Allen, Christina Day AICP, Director of Planning, City of Plano
Housing affordability was a major challenge confronting American communities even before COVID-19 and its economic impact.  Housing choice is not just a matter of individual preferences, but an important ingredient in community vitality, sustainability and resilience.  While the housing crisis looks different across various places and markets, planners must play a central role in finding solutions to housing isues ranging from affordability to appropriateness and resilience to accessibility. This session will consider housing topics with possible legislative implications.

4:15 PM 5:00 PM
Plan, Prepare, Recover, Repeat
Kim Mickelson AICP, Assistant City Attorney, City of Houston, Kimberly Miller, Principal Planner for Resilience, Halff Associates
Communities worldwide are facing increasing impacts of flooding, hurricanes, fires, heat and climate change.  In Texas, we are experiencing all of these impacts.  How can our communities anticipate them and become more resilient in responding?

September 10th

8:30 AM 8:35 AM
Welcome Back
Chance Sparks AICP, CNU-A, APATX President, Urban Planning & Design Group, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
A preview of our second day.

8:35 AM 9:20 AM
Dynamics of the 2021 Legislative Session Chris J. Sanchez, Senior Partner, Salient Strategies
Following the 86th Texas Legislature, APA Texas secured assistance from Salient Strategies, a legislative services firm, to better prepare, advocate, act, and respond to planning-related legislation during the 87th Texas Legislature. This presentation will share the 2020-2021 APATX Government Relations Plan, Salient's role in assisting us in advancing high quality planning practices and policies in Texas, and in particular, how our members can be part of that process.

9:20 AM 9:55 AM
Reality, Alternative Reality, Facts and Fiction
Karen Walz FAICP, Principal, Strategic Community Solutions LLC, Craig Farmer FAICP, President, Municipal Planning Services LLC
How does planning really work in Texas communities? What actually happens when subdivisions are reviewed?  How does planning affect the issues that really shape the future for Texans? What perspectives do planners really hold?  For all these questions, there are perceptions and then there's reality.  This session will address these questions based on factual data from surveys of Texas communities and planners completed this summer.

9:55 AM 10:50 AM
Advocacy Tools and Training
Chris J. Sanchez, Senior Partner, Salient Strategies, Jason Jordan, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, American Planning Association
Becoming involved in advocacy is easier than you think, and it's benefits can make or break an organization. In this panel, you'll hear how to communicate effectively and efficiently with your elected officials, and how COVID-19 has impacted advocacy efforts.

10:50 AM 11:35 AM
APA Texas Advocacy Strategy for 2020 and 2021
Karen Walz FAICP, Principal, Strategic Community Solutions LLC, Craig Farmer FAICP, President, Municipal Planning Services LLC, Chris J. Sanchez, Senior Partner, Salient Strategies
APA Texas has created a new strategy for communication, partnership and effective advocacy.  This session will discuss the tools and approaches we'll be using and will help you decide where you want to be involved.

11:35 AM 11:55 AM
Next Steps, Schedule & Assignments
Craig Farmer FAICP, President, Municipal Planning Services LLC, Doug McDonald AICP, Planning Projects Manager, City of Richardson, APATX Immediate Past President, Chris J. Sanchez, Senior Partner, Salient Strategies
All of you need to be involved in effective advocacy before and during the 87th Session of the Texas Legislature!  In this session, we'll discuss the structure for involvement, immediate actions for you to take, and how you and your city can be involved.  We'll also hear a preview of the 2021 Planners Day on the Hill, an important component of our outreach during the session.

11:55 AM 12:00 PM
Closing
Chance Sparks AICP, CNU-A, APATX President, Urban Planning & Design Group, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Final thoughts and wrap-up for the Summit.