AICP ETHICS & PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

1. AICP ETHICS & PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AICP Exam Review Session January 25, 2008 Georgia Tech, Atlanta

2. AICP Exam Review • Agenda • Public Participation • Introduction to AICP Code of Ethics • Discussion and Questions

3. AICP Exam Review • Code of Ethics = 5% of Exam • Public Participation and Social Justice = 10% of Exam • Public involvement planning • Public participation techniques • Identifying, engaging and serving underserved groups • Social justice issues, literature and practice • Working with diverse communities • Coalition building

4. Public Participation • Introduction • Community Based Planning • Not imposed by elected officials or business elite or by planning consultants • Everyday citizens have an opportunity to provide their input at every level of the planning process • Provide meaningful and real opportunities for anyone in the community affected by the plan to participate in creating the plan

5. Ladder of Citizen Participation Citizen Control Delegated Power Degrees of Citizen Power Partnership Placation Placation Degrees of Tokenism Consultation Informing Therapy Nonparticipation Sherry R. Arnstein; “A Ladder of Citizen Participation” Manipulation

6. Public Participation • Provide real notice and real opportunities for the public to participate • Not just a small legal ad in the newspaper • Appearances are important • i.e. Staff “backslapping” with applicant/developer prior to a public meeting • Put yourself in public’s position • Attend a meeting, sit in the back of the room for their perspective. Can you hear? Is everything explained? • Walk up to your zoning counter. Are you greeted? Are forms available and clear?

7. Public Participation • ADA and multi-lingual considerations for public at meetings • Location for public meetings • Government buildings can be intimidating • Churches, schools, community centers • Equity Planning – Davidoff and Krumholz • Provide choice to those in the community that otherwise do not have choices

8. Public Participation • Who are the individuals and groups that need to be specifically targeted for involvement in the planning process? • Identify “Stakeholders” • Two common ways to identify the stakeholders: • First, organized based on geographic locations throughout the community. • Neighborhood, political district, ward, etc. • Second, organized based on interest groups

9. Local elected officials Local appointed officials and boards, such as the planning commission Board of Education Local government staff - planning, engineering, and building inspections Utility authority staff, including water and sewer authorities Homeowners’ and neighborhood associations Major landowners Major employers Agricultural groups, such as farmers, extension agents and the Farm Bureau Development community, including builders, engineers, surveyors, land planners, and contractors Realtors Chamber of commerce Industrial development authority Environmental groups Health department Housing agencies Non-profit groups Civic, service, and business groups Churches and faith-based organizations University and college representatives Military base representatives Historic, museum, and heritage groups Senior citizens’ groups and retirement community residents Youth groups and students Stakeholder Groups

10. Public Participation • Next, how much and what types of participation? • Consider level of involvement desired and available budget and staff/consultant resources • Planning team should prepare a “plan to plan” for public involvement • Community Participation Program under Georgia DCA rules

11. Public Participation Activities • Two (2) Public Hearings (Minimum) • Stakeholder Interviews • Kiosk/Lobby Displays • Technical Advisory Committee • Community Preferences Meetings • Website – Information only • Website – Response Capability (e-mail) • Website – Interactive with Surveys • Intergovernmental Partnership Meetings

12. Public Participation Activities • Steering Committee • Kick-Off Public Information Meeting • Visioning Meetings • Printed Public Information • Direct Mail Surveys • Design Charrettes • Media Plan - Press Releases • Student Program • E-mail “blast” – Database • Cable TV Information • Speakers Bureau

13. Public Participation • Review of AICP Exam Issues • Public involvement planning • Public participation techniques • Identifying, engaging and serving underserved groups • Social justice issues, literature and practice • Working with diverse communities • Coalition building

14. Public Participation • Sources • American Planning Association (APA), www.planning.org • The National Charrette Institute, www.charretteinstitute.org • State of Maryland, Office of Smart Growth, www.smartgrowth.state.md.us • State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs, Office of Smart Growth www.dola.state.co.us/SmartGrowth/Documents/CitizenInvolvement • Civic Strategies, Inc., www.civic-strategies.com • Center for Urban Built Environment (Box City), www.cubekc.org • Print Resources • “Successful Public Meetings,” by Elaine Cogan, available from APA Planners Press, Chicago • “The Community Planning Handbook,” edited by Nick Wates, available from Earthscan Publications Ltd., London • “Youth Participation in Community Planning,” by Ramona Mullahey, Yve Susskind, and Barry Checkoway, available from the Planning Advisory Service at APA, Chicago

15. AICP Code of Ethics • Introduction • Many professions have codes of ethics • Unique to planners is the “Public Interest” • State and local government employees usually have ethics responsibilities and local laws • Possible conflicts between AICP and local ethics • Possible conflicts with dual specialists, i.e. Lawyers

16. AICP Code of Ethics • Revised Code of Ethics • 1st Revision in 25 years (1978 Adoption) • Adopted March 15, 2005 • Became Effective June 1, 2005 • AICP Exam questions are now based on this new Code of Ethics

17. AICP Code of Ethics • Revised Code of Ethics • Main point of confusion was between Aspirational and Enforceable Standards • Reorganized the Code • Separate these two categories of Standards • Clarification of Procedures for Administration • Clearly States the Process to File a Charge • Establishes Time Limits for Responses and Action • Appointment of an Ethics Officer = APA Executive Director

18. AICP Code of Ethics Organized into Three Sections: • Section A: Principles to Which We Aspire • Section B: Our Rules of Conduct - Enforceable Standards • Section C: Our Rules of Procedure

19. AICP Code of Ethics • Section A: Principles to Which We Aspire Our Responsibility to… • Public – provide information, opportunity for public input, advocacy, equity and fairness. • Clients & Employers – professional judgment, avoid conflict of interest. • Profession – Enhance integrity,fairness to other planners, contribute time to young professionals and students, continuing education.

20. AICP Code of Ethics • Section B: Our Rules of Conduct • New Style - “We Shall Not…” • List of Twenty-five (25) Rules – Enforceable Standards • Review this List for Exam

21. AICP Code of Ethics • Section C: Our Rules of Procedure • Informal Advice • Non-Binding • Not in Writing • Formal Advice • Binding from AICP Ethics Officer • Provided in Writing • Twenty-one (21) Days Response Time Limit

22. AICP Code of Ethics • Section C: Our Rules of Procedure • Formal Advisory Rulings Still Possible • Added as Needed to the Existing Six (6) • Filing a Charge of Misconduct • AICP Ethics Officer Receives Charge • Ten (10) days to Transmit to the Certified Planner – the “Respondent” • Right of Counsel – Clearly Stated

23. AICP Code of Ethics • Section C: Our Rules of Procedure • New Section 16 – Important! • Regarding Resignation or Membership Lapse During an Ethics Charge and Investigation • i.e. Resignation to “Avoid” Answering Ethics Charges • If Planner Applies for Reinstatement within two (2) years, Ethics Matter is Revived • If Planner does not Apply for Reinstatement within two (2) years, Planner may not Reapply for Certification for ten (10) years.

24. AICP Code of Ethics • Section C: Our Rules of Procedure • Responses, Investigation, Hearings, Decisions and Settlement • Each is Assigned Specific Time Limits • Roles and Responsibilities of: • Charging Party • Respondent • AICP Ethics Officer = APA Executive Director • AICP Ethics Committee • AICP Commission

25. AICP Code of Ethics • Three (3) Levels of Action in Code of Ethics • Reprimand • Suspension from AICP • Expelled from AICP

26. AICP Code of Ethics • Advisory Rulings • Important and Recurring • Incorporated into the Code: • Sexual Harassment • Conflict of Interest • Moonlighting • Providing Full Information • Duties to Help Enforce Code • Disclosure (VERY Important)

27. AICP Code of Ethics • On AICP Exam, Ethics will likely have situational questions (Ethical Scenarios) • Best answer will be how the AICP Code of Ethics would address the situation • NOT how your boss or employer might want you to handle the situation

28. AICP Code of Ethics • Study Procedural Guidelines • There WILL likely be questions on the AICP Exam that deal with Procedures under the Code • Informal Advice • Formal Charges • Know the Roles of: • AICP Ethics Officer = APA Executive Director • AICP Ethics Committee • AICP Commission

29. AICP Code of Ethics • Sources • “Everyday Ethics for Practicing Planners”, by Carol D. Barrett, FAICP, 2001, APA Press • APA Website, Code of Ethics: www.planning.org/ethics/conduct.html • Certified Planners and Ethics, by Paul Farmer, FAICP: www.planning.org/ethics/pdf/farmeraddress.pdf

30. AICP Exam Review • Questions about Public Participation? • Questions About AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct? Thank You and Good Luck!