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The Value of Planning in Your Community

Reframing the Voice of Planning

As part of a larger effort to increase awareness of planning and boost the influence planners have on vital local and state issues, APA is seeking input for how members currently view themselves, their values, and their impact on communities.  

By completing this anonymous survey with candid responses about your experience working with local officials, as well as your views on the role of planning in the communities you support, you can help us begin to "Reframe the Voice of Planning."
1.Are you an APA member?(Required.)
2.What is your race or ethnicity?
3.In what state do you practice planning?(Required.)
4.What size is your community?(Required.)
5.What is your job title?(Required.)
6.What area of planning do you primarily practice?(Required.)
7.How long have you been a practicing planner?(Required.)
8.What first drew you to planning?
9.Was there anything that surprised you about being a planner once you started practicing?
10.How frequently are you making decisions with local elected and appointed officials regarding each of the following:(Required.)
Always
Often
Sometimes
Never
Development
Funding
Zoning
Transportation
Housing
Climate Change and Resilience
11.Why might a local official seek out your opinion, and on what topics?(Required.)
12.Do you feel you have influence over the decision-making process in your community?(Required.)
Yes, I have influence
Sometimes I have influence
Rarely do I have influence
No, I do not have influence
13.Are you comfortable proactively expressing your opinions on a local planning issue to local officials?
14.How would you describe the relationship between local officials and planners in your community?(Required.)
15.In your ideal world, what would the relationship between local officials and planners look like?
16.How confident do you feel that the following individuals understand the role of planners in your community?(Required.)
Very confident
Somewhat confident
Skeptical
Not at all confident
N/A
Mayor
Deputy Mayor
Mayor's Chief of Staff
City Manager
Public Works Director
17.List three words that you think your mayor would use to describe planning. If your community does not have a mayor, write n/a and choose another local elected leader:(Required.)
18.List three words that you think your city manager would use to describe planning. If your community does not have a city manager, write n/a and choose another local appointed leader:(Required.)
19.How confident do you feel in your ability to communicate the importance of planning to your local officials?(Required.)
Very confident
Somewhat confident
Not at all confident
20.Are there any misconceptions or criticisms of planning you wish you could explain to local officials?
21.If you had the attention of all your local officials, what is the one thing you would tell them about planning/planners?
22.As a professional planner, what is your superpower? What is your kryptonite?(Required.)
23.What unique skills do planners bring to their community? What makes planners different than other allied professionals? (architects, other design professions, etc.)(Required.)
24.What to you is the value of planning?(Required.)
25.May we contact you for a more in-depth conversation about your perceptions of planning? If yes, please provide an email address below.
Current Progress,
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