Tailgate Time: Eastern vs. Montana State

A message from APA-IES Secretary Lori Barlow:

Hello Planners!

The Inland Empire Section, Washington Chapter, American Planning Association invites you to join us for a Tail Gate Party, Saturday, September 24, 2011, 1:00 P.M. til Kickoff Time at 4:05 P.M.

Neighborhoods 101

The City of Spokane's Neighborhood Services office is conducting a free Leadership Workshop on Saturday, October 22 from 9:00-11:00a.m. at the East Central Community Center 500 S Stone. According to the email, "Neighborhoods 101 is designed for new and seasoned neighborhood leaders who want to know how to effectively represent their neighborhood in the government decision making process. At this workshop you will learn the answers to the following questions: What are neighborhood councils and the Community Assembly and what do they do? What are the steps you can take to impact government decision making? How does the legislative process work and where do neighborhoods come in?"

This is a good opportunity for planning students to see how the system is set up in Spokane and to start thinking about how processes are integrated into planning.

The City asks that you RSVP to Sandy Scott at 625-6734 or sscott@spokanecity.org.

Unpaid Internship for a GIS School Walk Route Intern in Olympia

The WSDOT Highways and Local Programs Office is seeking a motivated college student to join their team as a summer intern. In this position, you will gain valuable working experience to supplemental your educational goals and help you on the road to career success. The position will perform the following work:

• On a daily basis, transfer hand drawn mapping information into ArchView (sic) School Walk Route template.
• Verify accuracy of map content using Google maps, SR View and other resources as available.
• Communicate with schools, school district, state, regional, city and or county transportation professionals regarding school walk route content.
• Finalize School Walk Route maps as JPG files and email them to school district personnel.
• Document the process and resources used to complete maps in order to create a working trail for review of best practices.
• On occasion, answer questions regarding School Walk Route maps and other Safe Routes to School Program services.

From the manager’s perspective, the ideal intern will:

• Have the ability to import data into GIS software.
• Have familiarity with ArcView version 10 or higher.
• Be able to read and interpret basic hand drawn map information.
• Have experience working with Microsoft Office Suite, email and internet browser programs.
• Be enrolled in a recognized curriculum at a higher education institution and have completed at least one semester/quarter in Geographical Information Systems class work.

Please note: this position is an unpaid internship where the intern will be expected to work between 20-40 hours per week until the end of the summer. Actual schedule and timeframe will be decided upon appointment.

To view the full announcement and to apply online, please visit: GIS School Walk Route Internship (Unpaid)

Internship Opportunities at the Embassy of Canada

The Canadian Embassy in Washington offers internships for American and Canadian students, as well as recent graduates. Our internship program provides students with tremendous opportunity for growth, both professionally but also in terms of opportunities that correspond to their education and interests.

As a recipient of the Program Enhancement Grant, your commitment to US-Canada relations is critical to helping us continue to maintain this relationship. Our interns are certainly an asset as well. We are now accepting applications for our Fall 2011 term. Please distribute this opportunity to all interested students, being sure to remind them of the approaching deadline of June 24. Applications must be submitted online and may be retrieved using the following link: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/washington/offices-bureaux/intern_stages.aspx?lang=eng

If you should have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Kirsten Kazlauskas
Intern and Events Coordinator | Coordinatrice des stages et événements
Embassy of Canada | Ambassade du Canada
501 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
kirsten.kazlauskas@international.gc.ca
T: 202-448-6218
F: 202-682-7791
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

Volunteers Needed at Summer Parkways, July 24

July 24, 2011, North Hill Neighborhood, 10 am – 2 pm

Looking for an opportunity this summer to join your friends and neighbors and enjoy walking, running, cycling, and other forms of active transportation on city streets…all in a car-free environment? Well, you’re in luck, because Summer Parkways is back!

On Sunday, July 24, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4 miles of roadway will be closed to automobiles and opened up to create a loop for bikes, pedestrians, skaters, and other human-powered forms of transportation. The course will run through the North Hill neighborhood, with fun events along the route.

Physical fitness activities like yoga, dance, exercise classes, bike rodeos, and martial arts will also be offered for free along the route, and there will be live music as well. Folks of all ages and abilities may enter and exit the course at any point and enjoy these activities!

You are needed!

Visit summerparkways.com <http://summerparkways.com/volunteer-opportunities/> and sign up to direct traffic, assist vendors, or provide information to participants. Your help at Summer Parkways is crucial for its success...and as a thank you you’ll receive an awesome bandana!

Volunteers are still needed for the following shifts:

9:45 am – 12:15 pm: intersection volunteer
11:45 am – 2:15 pm: intersection volunteer

Questions: Contact Kristen at summerparkways@gmail.com If you know of anyone else who may be interested in volunteering, please share this opportunity with them! This could be a great way for teenagers and students to get involved with the community over the summer break as well.

Understanding Our Water Resources

Water is vital to the needs of growing communities and as we learn more about our water supply, the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, we can more successfully plan for this growth. In Spokane County, watershed planning has been underway for years and recently, a model was developed to forecast water demand based upon population, housing units, and employment projections. The model is currently being used to analyze alternative scenarios under consideration in the Urban Growth Area Update for Spokane County and its cities.

Presenting the outcome of this first assessment of land use on water demands will be Rob Lindsay, Spokane County Water Resources Manager, and Mike Hermanson, Spokane County Water Resources Specialist. Steve Davenport, AICP, Spokane County Senior Planner, will describe the integration of the model into the on-going growth management planning. They will also discuss the integration of water supply and land use planning in rural settings.

Join your fellow planners for an eye-opening look at what the future holds for water resources in our region and how we as planners can be on the forefront of ensuring this valuable resource is sustained.

Friday, July 22, 2011
9:30 am – Noon
Spokane County Public Works Building
Lower Level Hearing Room
1026 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane
For more information, contact Steve Davenport at 477-7221 or sdavenport@spokanecounty.org

Spokane City Council Intern

From former ASP President, Melissa Owens:

Just in case this information didn't make it to you, the Spokane City Council is looking for an intern. I don't have all the details, but it might be worth contacting Jennifer Westfall (jwestfall@spokanecity.org) at the City Council offices for more detail if you think planning students would be interested.