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SPECIAL FOCUS WORKSHOPS
<br />FREE 90 minute Workshop in four locations!
<br />Understanding Groundwater:
<br />An Invisible Yet Critical Resource
<br />Presented by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water
<br />Conservation Districts (SWCD) with funding and support
<br />from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
<br />Every living thing requires water and it is a resource that we all share in
<br />Minnesota. While it appears on the surface that Minnesotans are water -rich, the
<br />availability of groundwater varies a lot throughout the state, with SW Minnesota
<br />having limited groundwater supply and the metropolitan region having fairly
<br />good groundwater availability. Come and hear about groundwater quality and
<br />quantity issues in your part of the state from local and state experts. Learn:
<br />• Partial results of a statewide survey of SWCD staff
<br />• Local groundwater issues
<br />• Why these issues are important
<br />• What local officials can do to help address those issues
<br />Audience: Local elected and appointed officials
<br />Presenters: A panel of state and local experts
<br />FREE, but registration is REQUIRED.
<br />Wednesday, July 15, 2015 — 4:00 - 6:00 PM (check-in - 3:30 PM)
<br />Location: Southwest State University, Marshall
<br />Wednesday, July 29, 2015 — 4:00 - 6:00 PM (check-in - 3:30 PM)
<br />Location: Thumper Pond Resort, Perham Area
<br />Thursday, August 13, 2015 —4:00 - 6:00 PM (check-in - 3:30 PM)
<br />Location: Cascade Meadow Wetland, Rochester
<br />Wednesday, August 19, 2015 — 4:00 - 6:00 PM (check-in - 3:30 PM)
<br />Location: Stearns County Service Center, Waite Park
<br />Community Solar Gardens
<br />Community Solar Gardens (CSGs) have quickly become one of the hottest
<br />energy topics in Minnesota. Xcel Energy's program received over 400
<br />applications for solar gardens in its first week, and several other utilities already
<br />have projects underway. With the advent of this new opportunity to participate
<br />in local solar power, many local units of government are considering their
<br />role in Minnesota's new Community Solar Garden market. This workshop will
<br />cover what local governments need to know about developing community
<br />solar gardens, including best practices for regulating land use, options for
<br />encouraging CSGs to capture benefits of local solar resources, and alternatives
<br />for participation. Participants will also learn about some of the tools being
<br />developed to help both consumers and local governments make informed
<br />decisions. Topics include:
<br />• What CSGs are — policy intent, legal foundation, differences from other
<br />types of solar development
<br />• Business models and likely markets; regulatory best practices
<br />• Participation possibilities — host site, subscriber, developer
<br />• What's involved in developing an RFP
<br />Audience: Local government staff, appointed and elected officials
<br />Presenters:
<br />Lissa Pawlisch, Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Director,
<br />University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
<br />and Extension
<br />Brian Ross, Senior Program Director, Great Plains Institute
<br />Trevor Drake, Project Coordinator, Great Plains Institute
<br />Thursday, May 21, 2015 — 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (check-in - 7:30 AM)
<br />Location: Shoreview Fee: $70
<br />A Practical Guide to Variances in
<br />Shorelands and Floodplains
<br />Minnesota variance laws have changed. Learn from the experts how to make
<br />decisions in light of the purposes and intent of those regulations. Topics include:
<br />• The criteria for reviewing variance requests in cities and counties
<br />• How to evaluate and develop findings for typical shoreland and floodplain
<br />variance requests
<br />• How to determine whether a practical difficulty exists
<br />• What it means to alter the essential character of a shoreland or floodplain
<br />• When to impose conditions to mitigate impacts on public water resources;
<br />examples of what's appropriate
<br />Audience: Elected officials, appointed planning commissioners and members
<br />of boards of adjustment, local staff making recommendations on variances
<br />Presenters:
<br />Jed Burkett, Land Use Attorney, League of Minnesota Cities
<br />Dan Petrik, Land Use Planner, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
<br />Paul Radomski, Research Scientist, Minnesota Department of Natural
<br />Resources
<br />Thursday, October 22, 2015 —1:00 - 5:00 PM (check-in - 12:30 PM)
<br />Location: St. Cloud Fee: $70.00
<br />Emerging Issues for Professional Planners
<br />(Advanced Zoning for Staff)
<br />Co -Sponsored by APA Minnesota
<br />Application forAlCP CM credits in process
<br />Designed in response to demand for in-depth offerings for practitioners, this
<br />workshop combines a rapid-fire review of fundamentals with a focus on key
<br />responsibilities they face as well as current challenges. Participants will:
<br />• Receive a complete refresher on planning principles, source and limitations
<br />of local government authority, different levels of legal discretion and an
<br />extensive review of frequently misused and misunderstood zoning tools
<br />• Learn how to avoid frequent mistakes when pursuing such advanced
<br />zoning techniques as community design standards, form -based codes and
<br />performance standards
<br />• Gain an in-depth understanding of the importance and specifics of an
<br />effective and complete public record (from administrative procedures to
<br />contents of planning reports, to solid findings of fact for supporting records
<br />of decision)
<br />• Understand the differences between hardship and practical difficulty as a
<br />result of recent case law and Minnesota statute changes
<br />• Test their ability to draft effective findings—through small group discussions
<br />regarding complicated hypothetical case studies
<br />• Become familiar with key recent court cases that affect local planning as
<br />well as results of on the current legislative session
<br />Participants will have the opportunity to identify priorities on a survey sent
<br />before the workshop.
<br />Audience: Planning professionals serving in staff or consultant positions,
<br />targeted to those with at least two years of professional planning experience
<br />Presenters:
<br />John Shardlow, Principal, Stantec
<br />Soren Mattick, Attorney, Campbell Knutson, PA.
<br />Thursday, July 23, 2015 — 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM (check-in - 8:00 AM)
<br />Location: St. Paul Fee: $70
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