Summary

What you will learn:

• You’ll get samples of effective commission and board by-laws and learn what they should minimally contain. You’ll learn appropriate rules of procedures, how to keep your meeting flowing and well-organized in a way that gives your meeting that stamp of professionalism. We’ll discuss recording and documenting meeting activities.
• You’ll learn some practical and proven means to manage meetings, how to defuse unruly or disruptive attendees, and how best to manage large crowds. How to deal with the media on politically charged issues.
• You’ll learn more about, and practice some of the latest techniques to resolve conflict amicably.
• You’ll learn some simple and proven mediation techniques for dealing with contentious disputes – with develops and others.
• We’ll discuss some of the highlights of recent legislation affecting both commissions and boards.
• You’ll also hear what changes may be on the horizon for municipal and county planning in Alabama and what they will mean for you as a commission or board member.
• And at the end of the day, you will receive recognition as a “Certified Alabama Planning and Zoning Official” if you have completed the 30 hour course requirements.

Speaker

Katherine Ennis recently retired as the Director of Planning & Inspections for the City of Northport, Alabama, where she oversees the administration of the City’s zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, comprehensive plan and building code standards. Katherine has over 28 years of experience in municipal, county, and regional planning. In addition to her work with Northport, Katherine is an elected official sitting on the City Council of the City of Helena, Alabama. She has also served on Helena’s planning commission, design review board and chaired their greenway committee. Katherine is a member of the Auburn University Planning Advisory Council, has served nine years in various positions on the Executive Committee of the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association, currently as its President, and sits on the Board of Directors of Your Town Alabama. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Katherine moved to Alabama in 1980. She is a Graduate of Auburn University with Masters Degrees in both Community Planning and Public Administration and holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing. Katherine began her career in public service in 1982 with the City of Auburn where she worked for 18 years in the planning department. In 2000 she joined the staff of Shelby County’s Planning Department as the Senior Planner in charge of land development. In 2002 she took a position with Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission as Senior Planner, serving the three counties and ten cities in that region. In 2006 Katherine assumed her current position with the City of Northport. 

CAPZO Credits

0.6 credits are available for this event.

Registration / More Information

To register, visit the Alabama Planning Institute’s website or call 1-800-825-5862, ext. 4862.

This course is part of a six-course series that can be taken for CAPZO certification.