HARNESSING THE POWER OF
PLANNING ASSISTANCE TO
THE BENEFIT OF OREGON
SMALL TOWNS
CRISTA GARDNER, 2013
Presentation outline

Background

Goals & objectives

Project process

Project outcomes

Significance

Leadership development

Acknowledgements
Background
Purpose

Strategic Goal:
 to

improve small town planning in Oregon
Strategic Objective:
 To
characterize needs and aid for professional
assistance on long-range community planning to rural
planning offices and councils in Oregon
 To identify improvements to existing programs or
additional programs to assist small town planning
 To create a way to match needs with resources.
Why it matters
Project process –
Cross-sectional Study
Planning Needs

Small towns in Oregon
Planning Assistance




Non-profits
Professional
associations
Universities
State of Oregon
Project outcomes

Assistance:
State of Oregon
 Universities
 University extensions
 Professional organizations


Most assistance
Portland metro region and larger towns with planning staff
 Based on relationships and professional interest


Small towns without planning staff receive little to no
planning or design assistance

Except State of Oregon model codes and training manuals
Project outcomes
Assistance
Portland metro
Small towns,
region & other larger With planning staff
towns
Small towns,
Without planning
staff
State of Oregon
TGM
TGM
TGM model codes
Universities
UO courses
PSU courses
PSU workshop
UO courses (few)
PSU workshop (few)
University extensions
UO SCI
Hatfield fellows
UO SCI
Hatfield fellows (few)
RARE
Professional
organizations
AIA
ASLA
APA
AIA (new)
Policy theory




Co-production
Network governance
Governance by partnerships
Rational choice theory
Councils
Towns
Planners
Designers
Students
Professors
Significance




Small communities in
Oregon lack capacity to
analyze and plan for the
challenges that face them.
Some organizations offer
planning assistance
But many are not aware
of the needs of small
communities
Nor do communities know
about resources available
to help them deal with
their challenges.
Policy recommendations:
 Central umbrella
organization - DLCD or
non-profit
 Coordinated criteria
 Collaborative network
EMPA leadership development
Leadership is an art and science focused on people
 Wicked problems
 Model the Way
 Enable Others to Act
 Inspire a Shared Vision
 Challenge the Process
 Encourage the Heart
Acknowledgements
THANK YOU!
Crista Gardner
MPA Candidate, 2013