Consultants Directory

2008 Call for Sessions

2008 APA Conference is being held on November 5-7, 2008 at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel and Conference Center at Pivot Point in Yuma, AZ.

The Conference Planning Committee is making a call to the members and other interested persons for session proposals. The sessions need to be consistent with the theme of the conference “Navigating the Current” and reflect one of the five track themes described in the attachment. This is a great opportunity to share information and together navigate new courses with Yuma as our backdrop. We look forward to receiving your conference session submissions. Click here to download the Call for Session form.

AZone

May 30, 2008--APA Professional Ethics Professional Develpoment Seminar held at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ from 8:30 am-12:00 pm. Click here for flyer.

June 6, 2008--AzPA and State Bar Annual Land Use Law Seminar held at Orange Tree Golf Resort in Scottsdale, AZ from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. For more details and to register, click here to download the flyer.

AzPA Board Adopts the 2008 Work Program
Click here to view.

Final 2007 Legislative Session Laws
Attached is the final 2007 session laws from the Arizona State Legislature as well as a brief powerpoint summary from the Dorn Policy Group. The session lasted 164 days (tied for longest session) and 1,434 bills were introduced. 296 bills were signed into law by Governor Napolitano and 22 were vetoed. The general effective date for the new laws will be September 19, 2007. Click here for Final 2007 Legislative Session Laws and click here for powerpoint summary.

Proposition 207

Proposition 207 (Private Property Protection Act) is billed as a measure to fix perceived eminent domain abuses as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision (Kelo v. City of New London, Connecticut). In reality this is an issue about "regulatory takings," a legal concept relating to regulation of property that has been appropriately guided by Supreme Court decisions since 1922. This issue is too complex to address with a sledge-hammer approach that will surely create a whole new series of problems, problems that cannot be addressed, changed or fixed without yet another amendment at the ballot or costly litigation. Once approved, propositions cannot be amended by the Legislature. In the future a new proposition will need to be passed to fix the problems/issues that arise.

In its simplest form, Prop 207 mandates that cities, towns, counties and the state pay a property owner for any reduction in value of private property as a result of a newly approved "land use law." Yes, any reduction, no matter how small will require compensation. Land use law in this case is "any statute, rule, ordinance, resolution or law enacted by this state or a political subdivision of this state that regulates the use or division of land or any interest in land or that regulates accepted farming or forestry practices." There are exclusions for laws that are enacted for public health and safety purposes, limitations concerning public nuisances, regulations concerning illegal drugs, liquor, pornography, nude or topless dancing; utilities; regulations not directly impacting an owner's land; and regulations enacted prior to the adoption of the initiative.

The Arizona Planning Association is a supporter of private property rights and advocates for the balanced and reasonable regulation of property to create a good quality of life for all residents of Arizona. Proposition 207 is not consistent with that guiding principle and as such the Chapter is devoting resources to oppose Proposition 207.

In the interest of professional education (on the potential impacts of Prop 207), please download the additional materials below.

Proposition 207 Fact Sheet
Proposition 207 Impacts

You can find additional information at the below websites:

www.noprop207.org (group opposing Prop. 207-AzPA is a member of this group)
www.thinkaz.org (an independent, non-partisan research institute)
www.planning.org (National Takings Movement Information)
www.hopeforarizona.com (Proponents of Prop 207)

An excellent PowerPoint presentation has been created and will be very useful in your efforts related to Preposition 207. Download by clicking here.

If you have any questions or desire additional information, please contact Alan Stephenson at (602) 790-3132 or alan.stephenson@hotmail.com