Committees and Task Forces

APA Committees

AMICUS CURIAE COMMITTEE

The purpose of the committee shall be to prepare briefs and to develop a systematic method of tracking cases as they originate in lower courts; and to file amicus curiae briefs on behalf of the association in select court cases related to planning issues.

Time Commitment: 1 conference call every other month for 1 hour

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: Legal expertise or experience in land use, environmental, property rights, and municipal legal issues. Knowledge of legal issues and case law surrounding regulatory takings, zoning reform, land development regulations/litigation, comprehensive planning, and constitutional issues related to planning is desirable. Members will be asked to contribute substantively on litigation, legal strategy, and brief drafting.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Charge: Ensure that the educational needs of members are addressed through our programs and partnerships and bring a strategic focus to APA's educational activities.

Time Commitment: 90 minutes each, with no more than a total of three hours of preparation time required (e.g., reviewing APA's Trend Report).

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: To achieve the best outcome, this committee needs to include at least 2 EDI experts, 2 PlanTech experts, 2 planning directors, and 2 young professionals or students.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (EDI) COMMITTEE

Charge: To promote equity, diversity, and inclusion within the profession and the Association, help planners serve and support more diverse and inclusive audiences, and develop implementable strategies for consideration by the Board.

Time Commitment: Conference calls every 6 weeks, 1 hour each

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: Members spanning public and private sector and academia, student(s), and various career stages. Members representing smaller towns and rural communities, and major metropolitan areas, who are working to advance equity in their planning fields. Demographic diversity.

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

Charge: To conduct periodic reviews of the APA bylaws and policies as necessary and to recommend any changes or adjustments to the Board of Directors for review and approval.

Time Commitment: 6-8 conference calls per year, 1 hour each

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: Familiarity with developing and evaluating organizational policy and its implications. Understanding of APA governance structure and process, including elections.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Charge: Advise and oversee the ongoing program of recruitment, development, assessment, recognition, and retention of leaders across all components of the Association.

Time Commitment: 2-3 conference calls per year, 1 hour each

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: Experience with leadership development programs, as a mentor, volunteer leader planning the program, or as a participant.

LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY COMMITTEE

Charge: To coordinate and convene the delegate assembly to adopt national planning policies of the Association, and to recommend the legislative priorities of the Association to the Board for review and approval.

Time Commitment: Monthly conference calls, 1 hour each

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: Experience, expertise, or interest in policy and legislative issues related to housing, zoning reform, and federal (U.S.) transportation infrastructure programs.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Charge: To increase and retain members while increasing the cultural and professional diversity of the Association. The Committee shall monitor membership trends through analysis of membership information; examine areas of activity as they relate to membership and member services; make specific recommendations to the Board of Directors on recruitment and retention; coordinate with all membership recruitment and retention activities of the Association; and carry out such other membership-related duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.

Time Commitment: 1-3 conference calls per year, 1 hour each

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: Members who will bring their experiences and perspectives as planners are demographically diverse, including public and private sector employment, experienced in small town/rural planning, and represent a range of career stages.

NATIONAL PLANNING AWARDS JURY

Charge: To review and select recipients of the National Planning Awards for each category in which the jury finds an appropriately meritorious candidate.

Time Commitment: Roughly 30-35 hours of independent work (July-August) and 2 virtual calls, 90 minutes each (August).

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: Members should be representative of the vast subject areas of concentration within the planning profession (e.g. transportation, housing, resilience, etc.), diversity in geographic location, municipality size, job positions, overall professional experience, and different job sectors including private practice, public realm, and planning academia.

Planning Officials Committee

Charge: This Committee shall advocate for planning officials and help educate planning officials about implementing sound, ethical, inclusionary, and non-discriminatory planning practices.

Time Commitment: 3-4 conference calls, 1 hour each

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: Chapter leaders involved in programming for planning officials; members who currently serve as planning officials in their community.

Welcoming Environment Committee

Charge: The Welcoming Environment Committee will review any complaints made under the new APA Rules of Conduct (scheduled for release in January 2025) and shall adjudicate all contested Rules matters and disciplinary proceedings. The Committee shall advise the Board on measures to foster adherence to the Rules, shall monitor the effectiveness of the Rules, and shall take such other actions as are identified in the Rules. The Committee shall, in accordance with these Rules, authorize the engagement of an independent investigator to assist in the carrying out of these responsibilities.

Time Commitment: At least two required virtual meetings annually, with additional ad hoc meetings throughout the year, as needed, 1 hour each

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: Members in good standing, ability to work in a group setting, demographic diversity.

AICP Committees

COLLEGE OF FELLOWS

Charge: The College of Fellows Committee shall select a College of Fellows Selection Committee from among the Fellows of the AICP. The College of Fellows Selection Committee shall review all nominations for designation as a Fellow of the College of Fellows of AICP.

Time Commitment: Zoom calls as needed, less than an hour each

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: FAICP member in good standing, ability to work in a group setting. Willingness to assist with NPC and other planned activities for Fellows.

ETHICS COMMITTEE

Charge: The Ethics Committee works with the AICP Ethics Officer to issue formal advisory opinions, shall oversee the issuance of informal opinions, and shall adjudicate all contested ethics matters and disciplinary proceedings under the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. The Committee shall advise the Commission on measures to foster adherence to the Code, monitor the effectiveness of the Code, and take other actions identified in the Code.

Time Commitment: Bi-monthly Zoom calls, 1.5 hours each

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: AICP member in good standing, ability to work in a group setting

EXAM COMMITTEE

Charge: The Exam Committee shall be responsible for advising the Commission on, and for oversight of, all examinations associated with AICP certification and AICP advanced specialty certifications, if applicable. The Committee shall establish goals, objectives, and performance criteria for AICP certification and AICP advanced specialty certification examinations, if applicable.

Time Commitment: Varies by activity, some work is conducted via Zoom as a group (question review), and other activities (question writing) are done independently over a period of time. Question review meetings could be multiple 3-hour meetings; question writing varies.

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: AICP member in good standing, ability to work in a group setting. Not required, but helpful: familiarity with exam prep (question development) and prior service as a chapter Professional Development Officer (PDO).

NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Charge: The National Membership Standards Committee shall advise the Commission on policies affecting the recruitment, admission, and retention of members to AICP, review and comment on the proposals of other AICP committees as they affect membership, make recommendations to the Commission on the disposition of appeals of experience assessment, and advise the Commission on requests for reinstatement of members whose membership has lapsed.

Time Commitment: Monthly Zoom calls as needed, under an hour each.

Desired Competencies/Expertise and Multi-representational Factors: AICP member in good standing, ability to work in a group setting.