Idaho APA Members –
Hello fellow planners. My name is Brian Billingsley and I am the Planning & Zoning Director for the City of Caldwell. I serve as the Legislative Liaison for the APA Idaho Chapter. This position is essentially your “eyes and ears” on all planning-related issues that pass through the Idaho Legislature.
I have formed a legislative committee comprising of eight (8) city, county, and private sector planners that will advise the APA Idaho 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 January through 1st or 2nd week of April), with very little commitment post-session. The legislative committee for the 2018 legislative session is comprised of the following planners:
- Lisa Ailport, AICP, City of Bonner’s Ferry
- Brian Billingsley, AICP, Chair, City of Caldwell
- Beth Bresnahan, Elmore County
- Tom Cluff, AICP, Fremont County
- Cynda Herrick, AICP, Valley County
- Mauri Knott, Latah County
- Claire Marley, AICP, Ruen Yeager
- 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.
APA Idaho is sponsoring another legislative reception in the Idaho State Capitol next year. The event will take place on Monday, January 29, 2018 between 4:00—5:30 on the first floor of the Capitol rotunda. We held a similar event last year. We hope to see a large contingent of planners make their way to Boise for this event. This is a great opportunity to mingle with your state representatives and network with your colleagues.
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
Brian K. Billingsley, AICP – Legislative Liaison Idaho Chapter | American Planning Association Office: 208-455-4666 | Fax: 208-455-3050 http://www.idahoapa.org | bbillingsley@cityofcaldwell.org