Idaho APA Members –
Hello fellow planners. My name is Brian Billingsley. I have served the City of Caldwell as their Planning & Zoning Director for the past 10 years and I have been appointed by the Idaho Chapter of the American Planning Association as your Legislative Liaison. This position is essentially your “eyes and ears” on all planning-related issues that pass through the Idaho Legislature.
The Idaho APA Chapter has formed a Legislative Committee, comprising of 6 – 8 planners that will advise the Idaho APA Board on proposed bills and policy statements. We have representation from around the state and from both urban and rural areas. The committee will do most (if not all) of its work by phone and e-mail. Our responsibility is focused primarily on the session itself (typically mid-January through mid-April), with very little commitment post-session. The 2017 Legislative Committee is comprised of the following planners:
- Brian Billingsley, AICP, Chair, City of Caldwell
- Lisa Ailport, AICP, City of Bonners Ferry
- Hilary Anderson, City of Coeur d’Alene
- Cynda Herrick, AICP, Valley County
- Clare Marley, AICP, Ruen-Yeager & Associates
- Jeff Patlovich, AICP, All Idaho Land Consulting
- Joel Plaskon, AICP, City of Lewiston
If you are aware of any bills being drafted, industry or advocacy groups that are working on planning-related topics and/or similar activity “brewing” within your region, please either let me or your APA Region Representative know so we can track any potential legislation.
Beyond the session nuts-and-bolts, one of our primary goals is relationship-building, both with legislators and partner organizations who share APA’s commitment to good planning. We want to develop a reputation as being proactive vs. reactive and having a strong influence on planning within Idaho. This will take time and it will require having a consistent presence over many years. It also means engaging, making phone calls and visiting with decision-makers. Please make an attempt to reach out and start a dialogue on planning and community development with your legislators during the legislative session.
I look forward to serving you and our chapter in this position. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or information that you want to share at 208-455-4666 or bbillingsley@cityofcaldwell.org