Spring Workshop
The annual Spring Workshop was held April 23-23, 2010 in Thermopolis. About 50 planners and commissioners enjoyed the informative presentations. Ken Market provided some history on how the Town of Thermopolis was established and took participants on a tour of the Town. After the tour, he asked for some ideas that could be incorporated into the Town’s Comprehensive Plan Update.
April Getchius, reviewed Exceptions, Variances and Adjustments, and emphasized how important it is for planning staff and commission members to be consistent in their review of whether or not a property owner’s hardship deprives them of reasonable use of his or her property.
Diana Hulme, Assistant Director at the Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming, highlighted the findings in the Institute’s 2009 publication, Wyoming’s “State of the Space” and talked about some current studies the Ruckelshaus Institute is conducting.
Michael Surface and Pepper McClenahan gave an AICP Ethics session and talked about the value of the planning code. They presented had some scenarios that planners and commissioners may actually face and participants had to decide the best thing to do in each situation.
Kathy Patceg gave a very interesting presentation on working with the different generations. Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y’s all have different communication styles. Understanding the differences will help everyone to get along better and have better communication.
We have extra handouts available for all the sessions. Please let Debbie Ehlers dseconsulting@msn.com know if you would like a set of the handouts.
Training Material
WYOPASS has added a new book to its library. Downtown Planning for Smaller and Midsized Communities by Phillip Walker is now available for checkout in addition to several APA CM CD’s, and video training packages. A complete list of available training materials is also on the WYOPASS Web site <www.wyopass.org>. If you would like to check out any educational materials, call or e-mail Debbie Ehlers, at 307-234-9442 or <dseconsulting@msn.com.
Fall Conference
WYOPASS Conference Coordinator Jeff Noffsinger is looking for presentations for the Fall Workshop, schedule for October 6-8 in Jackson. You can contact Jeff at jnoffsinger@ci.jackson.wy.us or 307-733-0440 ext. 1302.
The opening reception will be held at the Snake River Brewery on Wednesday, October 6. It is not too early to make your room reservations at the Snow King Lodge. Call 1-800-522-KING and be sure to ask for the WYOPASS block rate of $85.00.
Awards
We are looking for Award Nominations in four categories: Planning Project of the Year; Planner of the Year; New Professional Planner of the Year; and Planning Commission or Commissioner of the Year. Please submit your nominations to WYOPASS Secretary Megan Lehman no later than August 1, 2010. The Awards will be presented at the Fall Conference in Jackson, October 6-8. You can contact Megan at 307-685-8061 ext. 6447 or MBL08@ccgov.net if you have any questions.
If you are interested in volunteering for a WYOPASS Committee, or have any questions about WYOPASS, please contact President Kathy Patceg at 307-436-9294 ext. 314
