Upcoming Events

Adopted as a result of the 2021 Legislative Session, HB 59 amended Florida’s Community Planning Act to require each local government “to include in its comprehensive plan a property rights element.” Each local government must adopt this new element “by the earlier of the date of its adoption its next proposed plan amendment that is initiated after July 1, 2021, or the date of the next scheduled evaluation and appraisal of its comprehensive plan.” In response, 1000 Friends of Florida has authored a model property rights element which meets the applicable standards of the Community Planning Act as well as affirms local government support for the rights of all people to participate in planning decisions that affect lives and property.  1000 Friends Policy & Planning Director Jane West and University of Florida Master of Urban and Regional Planning Online Program Director Thomas Hawkins will share the model ordinance and discuss its provisions.

This event is free of charge and has been approved for professional certification credits.  See the registration page for more details.

Florida’s communities are facing increasing need to address sea level rise, intensified storms, flooding and other impacts of climate change in their planning processes.  This webinar will focus on state programs, resources and assistance to address community resilience.  Whitney Gray, Florida Resilient Coastlines Program administrator in the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, will focus on DEP’s work to implement the Sea Level Impact Projection (SLIP) studies for certain state-financed coastal construction and the recently enacted Senate Bill 1954 to promote a coordinated approach to Florida’s coastal and inland resiliency. Florida Department of Transportation Statewide Community Planning Coordinator Jennifer Carver, AICP, will focus on FDOT’s resiliency policy and current efforts to address resiliency within the Department.  Also on behalf of FDOT, Pavement Design Engineer Mary Jane Hayden, P.E., will present some recent project-specific examples of addressing resiliency.  Melissa Coleman Corbett, CFM, Community Resilience Planner with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will cover DEO’s efforts related to addressing the Peril of Flood statutory requirements and the Agency’s Community Planning Technical Assistance Grants.  The event will conclude with a question-and-answer session.  1000 Friends has applied for professional certification credits for this event.  Click on the event link to find out more.

Day 1: Virtual Sessions

Thursday, October 21, 2021

1:00 – 4:00 p.m., EST

Cost: $55

Register Here

Increasing the adoption of sustainable landscape practices will help create a more vibrant, healthy, and sustainable future for all Floridians. Rapid population growth, water responsibility issues, land conservation challenges, sea-level rise, coastal community resilience, biodiversity loss, and climate change are a few examples of the challenges facing the Florida landscape. These vital issues in Florida require us to take action and change certain landscaping behaviors and patterns, so we can contribute to the solutions needed in the future.

 Day 1 of the OUTSIDE 2021 Collab will be a virtual event with unlimited registration. It will be accessible via your web browser and/or mobile device. With live discussions, polling, and more, attendees will be able to partake in an interactive and engaging experience. The virtual event includes panels, presentations, keynote speaker Doug Tallamy, and more.

This event has been approved for 3 AICP CM for planners (9218879), 1 CEC for Certified Floodplain Managers, and 2.5 credits for Florida environmental health professionals (DOH). 1000 Friends is applying for professional certification credits for Florida attorneys (CLE) but cannot guarantee they will be approved.

Day 2: Tours

Friday, October 22, 2021

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., EST

Cost: $100

Register here

Day 2 of the OUTSIDE 2021 Collab will be an in-person event with limited registration. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience several Central Florida Tours at Cherrylake and Victory Pointe Park along with networking opportunities during lunch and an after-hours event. Keynote speaker Doug Tallamy will be attending day 2 as well to engage in person with attendees.

This event has been approved for 5 AICP CM for planners (9218879), 4 CECs for Certified Floodplain Managers, and 4 credits for Florida environmental health professionals (DOH). 1000 Friends is applying for professional certification credits for Florida attorneys (CLE) but cannot guarantee they will be approved.

For more information about OUTSIDE Collab 2021, visit http://outsidecollab.com.

Preemption has been described as the use of state law to nullify a local government ordinance or authority.  This issue is becoming increasingly problematic in Florida, as each year the legislature passes bills that supersede local authority on issues ranging from collecting impact fees, regulating building design, banning plastic bags, regulating cruise ships and more.  We anticipate even more proposals will surface during the 2022 session.  Find out why this is a critical issue as 1000 Friends of Florida Policy & Planning Director Jane West, Florida League of Cities Deputy General Counsel Rebecca O’Hara, and Florida Association of Counties Executive Director Ginger Delegal discuss the impacts of inappropriate preemption and the need for more proactive advocacy to counter the problem.  1000 Friends has applied for professional certification credits for this event.  Click the link to find out more.

The 2022 Florida Legislative Session, slated to start January 11, will have significant public policy impacts for planning, conservation, transportation, community design and other issues of concern to many Floridians. 1000 Friends Board Member Emeritus and Past Chairman Lester Abberger, President Paul Owens, Policy & Planning Director Jane West, and Outreach Director Haley Busch will discuss key bills and budget recommendations related to planning and growth management, conservation, transportation and water that are likely to be considered, including how legislation could impact Florida governance and planning practices.

This event is free of charge and has been approved for professional certification credits.  See the registration page for more details.