Planning agency management Flashcards
First official permanent planning body
Hartford Commission on a City Plan crested by state legislature on 1907
The Planning Function in Urban Government
Written in 1941 by Robert Walker
Stated that planning needed to be more comprehensive and include more than infrastructure and zoning; should include social realm
City planning should be close to
Chief executive
Role of planning commissions
Hold public hearings on comprehensive plans
Hold public hearings on zoning amendments
Review land subdivision plays to ensure conformance of subdivision regulations
Hold public hearings relating to capital improvement plans
Role of zoning board of appeals (adjustment)
Mechanism to hear appeals for variance from the strict interpretation of an ordinance
Planning management
Defined as the planning, operation, and direction of an organization to achieve certain objectives
Strategic planning
Strategic planning was an alternative to the traditional comprehensive plan
Strategic planning is a plan for the organization (to interact with and influence the environment)
Implementation is the key to strategic planning as opposed to long range planning and goal setting
Ways to divide agency into divisions
By function
By process
By time
By area
Planning agency and local legislatures
Because the council adopts the budget and passes local laws it is the final decision maker on most fundamental policy issues in the community
The council is the ultimate audience for recommendations that emerge from planning activities
Most of the interaction between planning agencies and legislative body happens in the context of zoning decisions
Planning agency and local boards and commissions
A major objective of planning agency contact with boards and commissions is to encourage them to pursue policies that support overall plans for the community
Planning agencies and line departments
We can do better program planning so planning for more effective delivery of services
Line government includes employees who collect garbage, repair streets, and fight fires
Relationship with the media
It is important to keep door open to the media even if planners detect bias. Regardless of how a planner or planning agency is treated, it’s essential to remain professional. Planners should always show interest and willingness to meet with the media to ensure they’re not seen as uncooperative.
Even if a publication hasn’t shown interest in planning, they shouldn’t be excluding them in the distributions list when there is communications outreach.
Comprehensive Plans
The first step in developing a comprehensive plan is to get authorization to start the planning process from the elected body and to ensure that adequate resources are available to support the planning process
Internal structure: Flat
To enhance communication, a flat organization places more responsibility among individual employees resulting in greater communication among ppl in the organization.
This is compared to a hierarchical Organization where Info can sometimes be held at key ranks in the organization
PERT Network Chart
Program evaluation and review technique is a decision making tool designed to achieve objectives in which time is a critical factor. This technique is most useful when time expectations are significant (ex:
Project manager overseeing a eminent domain and redevelopment project over the course of 9 months)
Management Audits
Used to examine the efficiency and effectiveness of management in carrying out its activities. Areas of auditor interest include the nature and quality of management decisions and operating results. It focuses on results, evaluating effectiveness and suitability of how an organization conducts business.
Example: developer and business owner complaints to you regarding: lack of affordable housing for employees, expensive permits, long development process
