Plan and Policy Development

Question 1

Process whereby citizens attend a series of meetings that provide an opportunity to offer input on how the community could be in the future.

What does the community want to be instead of what are the current conditions.

Takes place early in process.

ID a _____ statement that looks forward 20-30 years.

When broken down, should represent some level of community consensus.

Can be used for all types of municipal projects - more than just planning.

Catalytic and exciting for non-planners. Supports engagement and focus on trade-offs and implementation.

Costly - requires facilitation and staff support.

Answer 1

Visioning

Question 2

In _______ Rule states, an article or amendment to the state constitution grants cities, municipalities, and/or counties the ability to pass laws to govern themselves as they see fit.

Higher level of local government autonomy.

Article/amendment to State’s constitution.

Cities/municipalities/counties can govern themselves as they see fit.

Answer 2

Home Rule

Question 3

There are about 40 _______ rule states that practice this principle which determines the bounds of a municipal government’s legal authority.

Principle that cities, towns, and counites have no powers other than those assigned to them by state governments.

Cities established by charter, ex.

All local powers are given by the State. Unless State gives it to you, you don’t have that power.

Answer 3

Dillon’s Rule

Question 4

This level of government grants police powers to local governments (allows zoning) and sends more funding than the Federal Government.

Answer 4

State Government

Question 5

Local, State, Federal Government comments.

Some land use decisions are split. Ex. Cell towers…

Location regulated by local governments. Broader industry regulated by Federal Government - FCC or state-level utility commission.

Question 6

A type of local government. Ex. counties, cities, townships, etc.

Answer 6

General-Purpose local government

Question 7

A type of local government. Ex. school districts, fire districts, etc.

Answer 7

Single-purpose local government

Question 8

Independent unit of local government often created by referendum and organized to perform government functions in a specific geographic area.

Typically have power to incur debt and levy taxes.

Similar to single-purpose local governments but terminology may vary depending on state law.

Answer 8

Special District

Question 9

This body provides grants and planning assistance, coordinates intergovernmetnal actitivities.

Not a separate layer of government.

Answer 9

Area Wide Planning Organization

Question 10

This body develops regional plans and reviews regional impacts and projects.

A local government may transfer some local government powers to a regional agency - not usually the case.

Answer 10

Regional Planning Agency

Question 11

This occurs when the law of a higher level of government limits or eliminates the power of a lower level of government.

Not good or bad - can be both. (Ex. Fair Housing Act 1968 overruled discriminatory local laws).

Lately - mostly bad. Ex. State legislatures passing laws banning inclusionary zoning policies; however, California combats NIMBY with this.

Answer 11

Preemption

Question 12

How many tribal governments does the Federal Government recognize and where does their power come from?

Answer 12

583 - power comes from themselves per Williams v. Lee (1959)

Question 13

Can tibes make their own laws?

Answer 13

Yes - tribes are soverign nations with power to make their own laws and be ruled by them; however, some Federal laws may still apply (ex. waterways).

Question 14

__________ reviews the intended and unintended consequences of policies, plans, programs, and projects.

Answer 14

Assessment

Question 15

_________ examines a plan, project, or program against a set of criteria, usually to establish organizational accountability.

Answer 15

Evaluation

Question 16

Main purpose of ________ analysis is to estimate the impact of a development or a land use change or a plan on the costs and revenues of governmental units serving the development.

Looks at a city’s property tax rate, avg. cost of educating a child in local schools, and avg. cost per square foot of constructing a public building.

Does not care about historic trends.

Answer 16

Fiscal Impact Analysis

Question 17

________ analysis is a quantified comparison of costs and benefits generally expressed in monetary or numerical terms.

The actual and hidden costs of a proposed project are measured against the benefits to be received from the project.

Answer 17

Cost-benefit Analysis

Question 18

_______ analysis focuses on cash flow to the PRIVATE sector (income, jobs, output, indirect impacts, etc.)

Answer 18

Economic Impact Analysis

Question 19

______ analysis established by National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 - created Council on Environmental Quality.

Requires an assessment of the environmental impacts of a federally funded project via the environmental impact statement (EIS) to determine affect on human and natural environment.

_______ assessment determines whether or not an EIS is required.

Answer 19

Environmental Assessment

Question 20

This document requires “scoping” AKA the first contact between proponents of a proposal and the public via meetings to introduce and engage parties on both sides of an issue/proposal.

This document must track affected agencies’ and individuals thoughts, comments, and alternatives from the beginning of the process.

Four Sections:
1. Introduction - purpose statement and explanation of the Need of the proposed action.

2. Description of the affected environment.
3. Range of alternatives to the proposed action. Alternatives are the “heart” of this document.
4. Analysis of the environmental impacts of each of the possible alternatives.

Must address five topics:
1. Probably impact of the proposed action.
2. Any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided.
3. Alternatives to proposed action.
4. Relationship between local short-term uses of the environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity of land.
5. Any irreersible and irretrievable commitments of resouces that would be involved in the proposed action.

Answer 20

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Question 21

This alternative to litigation involves discussion to reach an agreement.

Usually results in a memorandum of agreement but is generally not legally binding.

Informal, flexible, and low-cost.

No neutral 3rd party required.

Harder to stay on track and may be affected by power imbalances.

Answer 21

Negotiation

Question 22

This alternative to litigation is….

Focused on one task (specific) - not a conflict resolution, more of a discussion about a specific issue.

Not conflict resolution.

Facilitator must be skilled.

Answer 22

Facilitation

Question 23

This alternative to litigation involves a third party, but it is non-binding.

Can compliment public engagement like charrettes as pre-step before public hearing phase.

A trained third party can establish, agreed-upon ground rules and establish parties’ true interests rather than their stated positions on controversial issues.

Works well in complicated issues like nonconforming uses, small infill, CUPs, and NIMBY situations where leeway and room for compromise exists.

Can lower the temperature, reduce legal fees, and tension.

Still, fairly informal and flexible.

Answer 23

Mediation

Question 24

This alternative to litigation involves a third party, and is legally bindng.

Third party determines a resolution “award”

Formal.

Results in a win-lose statement.

Appeal is difficult.

Answer 24

Arbitration

Question 25

Gender Statistics

Feminism grew 60s & 70s during urban renewal, suburbanization, and higher divorce rates.

1. There is a larger portion of women over the age of 65 than men.
2. Gender wage gap is 20% or 80.5 cents/dollar (2016).
3. Single-woman-headed hoouseholds are common and growing.
4. Women have different uses of transportation than men.
5. Women have different safety needs than men.

Plan for home-based businesses and housing options for those that you’re planning for (women, minorities, etc.).

Gender remains important organizing principle in terms of distribution of opportunities, responibilities, and resources. Relates to social equity for planners.

Feminist theory rejects theory as value-neutral - planners too reject the rational planning model.

Question 26

Social Justice Notes:

“Equal access to wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society”.

In planning, it’s about people being able to realize their potenial in the communities in which they live.

*Spatial Justice = how our cities are organized has a significant bearing on whether people have access to what they need.

Elderly/minority populations are at greater risk of being killed by car while walking.

Native American men wer four times more likely than white men to be killed while walking.

Fatality rates for balck and hispanic men are twice that of white men.

Question 27

Policy analysis that takes place BEFORE the fact.

“If I implement this, what will happen?”

Use past trends, data, and analysis.

Answer 27

Predictive Analysis

Question 28

Policy analysis that takes place AFTER the fact.

“We implemented this policy, what happened?”

Uses more measurements like jobs, etc.

Answer 28

Descriptive Analysis

Question 29

What is the basic 6-step policy analysis process?

Answer 29

1. Verify, define, and detail the problem. (Who/how define(s)?)
2. Establish evaluation criteria.
3. Identify alternative policies.
4. Evaluate alternative policies. (What data is available?)
5. Display & distinguish among alternative policies.
6. Monitor the implemented policy.

Question 30

What are good data sources?

Answer 30

US Census (pop and housing)
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Labor Statistics
State, local, private, or non-profit sources
Local busineses (may or may not share data)

Question 31

Word for whose changes are counted. For example, did this policy make the poor poorer and/or the rich richer? Who has __________?

Answer 31

Standing

Question 32

Positive or negative impact of a policy action.

Hard to measure - if you can’t measure, you msut aknowledge and reference as a limitation.

Answer 32

Externalities

Question 33

What happens to deman when price rises?

How much do people want a good?

Does demand reflect a need or a want? How tight is that need or want? Is it life-sustaining?

Does demand stay the same when prices go up/down? Ex. gas (necessary) vs. organic fruit (unnecessary).

Answer 33

Elasticity

Question 34

Cost or benefit of the last piece provided - sometimes seen as in “equilirbium” when marginal cost is the same as marginal benefit.

Classic example - your fifth candy bar brings you less joy than the first candy bar.

Ex. school enrollment. One additional student may or may not be accomdated easily or not.

Answer 34

Marginal Analysis

Question 35

How important is it to spread cost and benefit evenly vs. providing a service at a large scale?

Are you being fair by spreading cost and benefit evenly or can you make it up by taxing that wealth efficiently?

Answer 35

Equity and Efficiency

Question 36

How complicated is the scheme? Would this work in real life? Can you measure it? Can you implement it?

Can the grant money even be spent in that way?

Answer 36

Technical/Economic/Financial Feasibility

Question 37

Are programs that are a good idea politically viable over long periods of time and broad populations?

Answer 37

Political and Administrative Operability

Question 38

What’s the difference between fiscal impact and economic impact?

Answer 38

Economic Impact = cost/benefit to entire city, residents, and businesses.

Fiscal Impact = looks more closely at the City as an organization. Is it a loser or a leader for the City (and its revenue generation) regardless of it’s broader economic impact?

Question 39

Comp. Plan step 1 = Scoping

Why?
Key objectives?
Work statement/major deliverables
Milestones
Constraints (financial/political)
Exclusions (what you will/won’t cover - be upfront!)
Participant questionaire
Select your software, website, etc.

Question 40

Comp. Plan Step 2 (A) = Phase 1 Development

What are we now and where are we headed?

ID shared community values.

Analyze existing conditions/trends.

Determine issues for the future.

Decide if there are local issues you want to address that go above & beyond state requirements.

Might include community vision statement.

Think about jobs, job creation, production, environment = drivers of change.

Question 41

Comp. Plan Step 2 (B) = Phase 1 Development

Ariculate future vision/goals alternative to existing condition.

Be positive/present tense and inclusive.

Highlight region’s uniqness, standards, and quality of life.

What is your vision’s time period?

Question 42

Comp. Plan Step 2 (C) = Phase 1 Development

How do we get there?

Formulate/evaluate scenarios

ID preferred scenario.

Develop policies, actions, and implementation plan.

Question 43

Implementation Plan

Normative (should be)
Predictive (will be)
Exploratory (can be)

Question 44

Describe Visioning flow

Answer 44

1. Vision statement - Ex. Salt Lake City’s neighborhoods are diverse, exciting, safe, well maintained, and supportive of families and young people.
2. Principles - Ex. “Make housing affordable and accessible”.
3. Goals - In 2040, Minneapolis will see all communities fully thrive regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, country of origin, religion, or zip code having eliminated deep-rooted disparities in wealth, opportunity, housing, safety, and health.

Question 45

This mayor setup expedites decision-making, hopefully good decisions are being amde.

Major redevelopments can be challenging without this leadership.

Works best when you have good relationship and similar values/vision.

Answer 45

Strong Mayor

Question 46

This government setup removes daily operations from politics (for good and bad).

Can result in a situation where planning is in the shadwos when decisions get made.

Buffer between staff and political leaders/electeds.

These leaders are similar to strong mayors.

Answer 46

City Manager

Question 47

This setup works results in planners being pulled in hundreds of directions.

Othen best for preserving the status quo.

Very disperate - best for towns that don’t need a lot of change.

Answer 47

Town Meeting (Representative or open)

Question 48

Variables affect one another.

Output affected by one or many inputs.

Ex. How does price of housing and transportation affect/determine the population that lives in your community.

Answer 48

Multi-Variate Analysis