Planning Officials Training Workshop
Planning Officials Training Workshop
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 9 am – 4:30 pm
Maximum: 75 people.
Cost: $75
Registration: You must pre-registser for this workshop when you register for the conference. Please go here for all information and options for Planning Commissioners and Elected Officials. No walk-ins will be accommodated.
This all-day training that is ideal for appointed advisory board members, elected officials, utilities, historic preservation or water board members, city clerks, or a local government employee who is eager to learn more about local planning and zoning fundamentals, land use law, future planning trends, and effective public engagement tactics. All positions and backgrounds are welcome.
TOPICS COVERED:
Merle Bishop, FAICP, Implementing Comprehensive Planning Techniques + Ethics in Planning sessions. Florida planning as it relates to the comprehensive plan and the land development code will be discussed as well as exploring how they are different in their scope. Review processes for local and state planning will be explained, including state and local jurisdictions for roadways. EAR based amendments will be covered along with various topics related to Florida planning.
Peter Henn, AICP, Esq., Navigating Land Use Law Requirements. The legal aspect of planning will be discussed. Bert Harris basics as well as important case law will be discussed as it relates to land use planning. Quasi-judicial versus legislative decisions will be explained. An overview of new legislation will be provided as well as guidance regarding state preemption of local regulations.
Bob Cambric on Inclusive Public Engagement Practices. The planning board’s role versus the planning staff role will be explored. Best practices for public participation, public hearings and meetings will be explained for both in person and virtual meetings in the post COVID world. Meeting procedures will be explored including explaining Roberts Rules of Order. Finally, the Florida Sunshine Law requirements and the state’s code of ethics will be explained.
Owen Beitsch, FAICP, Ph.D., on Private Sector Perspectives on Current and Future Planning Trends. A variety of emerging trends in planning will be presented in this session. Architectural design, green infrastructure, low impact development, resiliency, sustainability and land use and planning in a post pandemic world will be covered.
AICP Exam Prep Workshop
AICP Exam Prep Workshop
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 10 am – 5 pm
Maximum: 100 people.
Cost: Free
(PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is FREE butonly available to those who have purchased at least a one-day registration to FPC26)
Registration: You must pre-registser for this workshop when you register for the conference. Select Workshop: AICP Exam Prep under Add Ons when registering. No walk-ins will be accommodated.
Gain an overview of the AICP exam, its content, and topic areas. In the morning, learn about successful strategies for applying to take the exam, how to address the five types of questions on the exam, and the abundant local, state, and national resources available to help you prepare for the exam. In the afternoon, gain training in several important exam topic areas (History/Law/Ethics), review past test takers’ comments, work on answering practice questions, and learn how to access the Florida Chapter study materials, including presentations, materials, and practice exams. Plenty of time will be available for your questions.
Speakers:
Henry F. Bittaker, FAICP – APA Florida & Treasure Coast Section PDO. Henry is currently the Chapter’s Vice-President for Professional Development and has prepared more than 1,100 planners to successfully pass the AICP Exam. He has served as an APA Peer Reviewer in the AICP application process, was one of ten national faculty, along with Susan, for APA’s 3.0 AICP exam prep guide, and authored about a third of APA’s new 2020/2021 CPC AICP Exam Study manual. Before retiring in 2011, he spent 14 years working in growth management at the Department of Community Affairs and 14 years working on Everglades and water planning issues at the South Florida Water Management District.
Susan M. Coughanour, FAICP – Program Chair, Treasure Coast Section. Susan is currently the APA Florida Treasure Coast Section’s Program Chair and, with Henry Bittaker, has run the Treasure Coast AICP Study Group since 2004. She and Henry were the co-recipients of the 2011 APA CPC National Leadership Award for their Chapter volunteer efforts, including the APA Florida Treasure Coast Section AICP Study Group. She also works extensively with FAU’s planning faculty and students, including the planning school’s accreditation. Before retiring in 2011, she spent 36 years working on regulatory, Everglades, land management, natural resource protection and water planning issues at the South Florida Water Management District.
Peter Henn, AICP, JD – FAU Department of Urban & Regional Planning. Peter is a faculty member at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in the Department of Urban & Regional Planning where he teaches urban planning, urban design, site planning, and land use and zoning law. Peter started his career as a land use attorney at Florida’s largest law firm and later transitioned into the real estate development industry, where he planned and developed numerous communities. He is a member of The Florida Bar and is an AICP certified planner. He received his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and received his B.A. and M.A. in Economics from FAU.
Leading Without a Title: A Leadership Experiment
Leading Without a Title: A Leadership Experiment
Tuesday, Oct. 13
9 – 11 AM
AICP CM credits: xx
Capacity: 50 people
Registration: You must pre-registser for this workshop when you register for the conference. Select Workshop: Leading Without a Title under Add Ons when registering. No walk-ins will be accommodated.
Many planners associate leadership with title or authority, yet leadership behaviors are practiced at every career stage. This interactive workshop helps participants recognize how they already lead, identify emotional triggers that affect decision-making, and intentionally choose leadership behaviors aligned with their values. Using a professionally designed workbook and guided facilitation, participants will reflect individually, identify patterns through small-group discussion, and apply the PAUSE framework to respond more effectively in challenging situations. The session concludes with participants designing a realistic leadership experiment they can test in their current role, supported by take-home resources that extend learning beyond the session.
Building Compassion, Connections, and Credibility
Building Compassion, Connections, and Credibility
Tuesday, Oct. 13
1:30 am – 1:30 pm
Cost: FREE
AICP CM credits: xx
Hard conversations are a big part of planning, but most of us were never trained on how to manage them. This interactive workshop builds the human skills behind effective engagement: grounding yourself under pressure, validating lived experience without centering your own reaction, and moving from tension to shared understanding. Through guided reflection and structured practice, participants will strengthen their ability to lead conversations with compassion and will gain practical tools they can apply immediately to build trust, defuse conflict, and continue to move the work forward.
FDOT Context Classification + Safer Routes to School
FDOT Context Classification + Safer Routes to School
Tuesday, Oct. 13
11:30 am – 3:45 pm
Cost: FREE
Maximum: 125 persons
AICP CM credits: xx
This interactive workshop session will provide overview of FDOTs context classification system and the process for assigning context classification, provide insight into why context matters in transportation planning today, and build linkages between land use, transportation systems, and safety outcomes. The workshop will also address Safe Routes to Schools and provide an overview of foundational elements and program delivery. The interactive exercise will apply knowledge attendees learned throughout the session including assigning a context classification to roadway segments and selecting design elements that support Safe Routes to Schools.
Leadership in Motion: Decisions Under Constraints
Leadership in Motion: Decisions Under Constraints
Tuesday, Oct. 13
1:45 – 3:45 pm
Cost: FREE
Maximum: 50 persons
AICP CM credits: xx
Registration: You must pre-registser for this workshop when you register for the conference. Select Workshop: Leadership in Motion under Add Ons when registering. No walk-ins will be accommodated.
This interactive workshop focuses on leadership as real-time decision-making and influence when authority is limited and conditions are changing. Participants work through realistic planning scenarios to examine constraints, tradeoffs, and momentum, using guided exercises and a professional workbook. Public-sector leaders and a private-sector firm owner each lead defined portions of the session, offering practical perspectives on how decisions move forward in complex environments. The session emphasizes action over discussion, helping participants practice decision logic, influence strategies, and next-step thinking they can apply immediately in their current role.
Home Matters: Understanding Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Florida’s Communities
Home Matters: Understanding Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Florida’s Communities
Tuesday, Oct. 13
1:45 – 3:45 pm
AICP CM credits: xx
Florida’s housing crisis is reshaping communities across the state — straining infrastructure, limiting workforce capacity, and challenging the core planning principle that communities should work for everyone. This session examines the root causes of housing unaffordability and homelessness, explores evidence-based policy and land use strategies that planners can champion, and highlights real-world models from Florida communities navigating these pressures. Attendees will leave with a stronger framework for integrating housing equity into comprehensive plans, zoning codes, and community partnerships. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or newer to housing policy, this session offers actionable insight for every level of practice.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED): Theory, Principles, & Case Study
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED): Theory, Principles, & Case Study
Tuesday, Oct. 13
4 – 6 pm
AICP CM credits: xx
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) examines how the built environment can be intentionally designed to reduce crime, enhance safety, and improve quality of life. This course introduces core CPTED principles—natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance—and explores how these strategies shape human behavior and perceptions of safety in residential settings. Using the multi-million-dollar redevelopment of Dunbar Village as a case study, participants will address real-world design challenges, assess environmental risks, and develop practical, equity-focused solutions. By the end, participants will gain actionable tools to transform design decisions into proactive strategies for safer, thriving communities.
Placekeeping as Practice in Changing Communities
Placekeeping as Practice in Changing Communities
Tuesday, Oct. 13
4 – 6 pm
AICP CM credits: xx
Planners shape what gets built, but we also shape what gets remembered and what gets erased. Placekeeping is a framework that focuses on protecting culture, memory, and local identity alongside growth.
This workshop focuses on placekeeping as a practical planning approach, showcasing historic preservation, cultural activation, and stewardship strategies across volunteer, academic, and municipal contexts. Participants will then move beyond inspiration into action, working through how to develop tangible placekeeping actions they can integrate into their own work regardless of budget or authority.
From No to Know: Code Clarity
From No to Know: Code Clarity
Tuesday, Oct. 13
4 – 6 pm
AICP CM credits: xx
Planning departments are often caught between rigid codes and ambitious development goals. This session introduces a solution-focused framework to help planners guide developers toward their desired outcomes; without compromising adopted regulations or public trust. Drawing from A Solution-Focused Culture, participants will explore practical communication tools, leadership techniques, and collaborative strategies that move conversations from “no” to “how.” Through real-world examples and interactive exercises, planners will learn how to, reduce conflict, increase transparency, and build stronger working relationships.
Planning Without a Script: Public Speaking and Engagement Workshop
Planning Without a Script: Public Speaking and Engagement Workshop
Tuesday, Oct. 13
4 – 6 pm
Maximum: 50 people
Cost: $20
AICP CM credits: xx
Registration: You must pre-registser for this workshop when you register for the conference. Select Workshop: Planning Without a Script under Add Ons when registering. No walk-ins will be accommodated.
This interactive workshop uses improv-based techniques to strengthen planners’ communication and collaboration in public engagement processes. Participants will explore storytelling, active listening, thinking on their feet, and responding effectively in high-stakes public settings. Through icebreakers, warm-ups, and group exercises, attendees will build confidence, adaptability, and presence—essential skills for meaningful public engagement and leadership in today’s planning environment. Attendees leave with concrete tools they can immediately apply in community meetings, stakeholder interviews, and contentious planning discussions.