Thursday, September 10, 2026

Beier Auditorium

Montana and Idaho face a paradox of shared challenges: the open lands that shape our identity also attract growth and housing pressures that change our communtiies; the landscapes that power our economy also send wildfires to our doorsteps every year. These are the defining issues of this moment, and planners are uniquely equipped to help our communities meet them head-on. In this talk, Kelly Pohl from Montana-based Headwaters Economics shares practical recommendations and resources that Montana and Idaho planners can use right away to build communities that are safer, more resilient, and more affordable. Because planning isn’t just policy, it’s a superpower.

Presenter: Kelly Pohl

Kelly Pohl is Associate Director at Headwaters Economics, a Montana-based independent, nonprofit research organization that works to improve community development and land management decisions so that people and places can thrive. Kelly’s work centers on how communities use and manage land amid rapidly changing economies and risk–from reducing wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface through land use planning, to balancing recreation, conservation, and development. Before joining Headwaters, she coordinated public-private land conservation and public access projects and has worked as a fire ecologist and park naturalist.

1 CM: Sustainability

Beier Auditorium

Building on a definition of entrepreneurship as the pursuit of opportunities to advance a vision through innovative and strategic action amid uncertainty, this panel brings together planning professionals with experience across multiple sectors to share strategies for overcoming common challenges. Through a moderated discussion, panelists will explore staffing and capacity constraints, political barriers, organizational dynamics, client relationships, and regulatory uncertainty, while offering practical insights for advancing a vision in complex environments.

Presenters: Daniel Pauly, Mitra Mehta-Cooper AICP, Morgan Landers AICP, James Roddin

Dan Pauly is a Senior Planner with Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group, managing complex entitlement projects including energy facilities, waste infrastructure, and master-planned communities. Previously, he spent 17 years with the City of Wilsonville, Oregon, where he advanced to Planning Manager and led long-range planning, code updates, and growth area master planning. He holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University.

Rory Ruffner is the Property Management Section Supervisor for the Forestry & Trust Lands Division of the DNRC.  Prior to joining the DNRC three years ago, he worked for the Dept. of Defense for nearly twenty years doing natural resource management, both in the field and in the office.  One of his primary roles within the DNRC deals with the Commercial Leasing of State Trust Lands in rural and urban areas. Rory earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Utah State University.

Mitra Mehta-Cooper, AICP: Mitra Mehta-Cooper, AICP, is a Principal Planner with Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group (P&P), where she continues to build on a distinguished career leading innovative planning projects. Her experience includes master-planned communities, comprehensive planning, facility master planning, energy infrastructure, and other large, complex developments such as landfills. Prior to joining P&P, she served as Land Use and Building Director for Elmore County, Idaho; Strategic Planning Manager for Ada County, Idaho; and Principal Planner for the County of Riverside, California. She holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a Bachelor of Architecture from CEPT University in Ahmedabad, India.

Morgan Landers, AICP brings 20 years of experience in public, private, and non-profit planning and community development. After working in brownfield redevelopment across the country, she joined the public sector as Town Planner for Eagle, Colorado, and Planning Manager for Eagle County before relocating to Ketchum, ID in 2021. Following her time as Director of Planning and Building for Ketchum, she is now the Owner and Principal Planner for TIIR Consulting, LLC specializing in planning and development services supporting small and medium sized jurisdictions solve their most challenging issues. Morgan is celebrated for building collaborative partnerships, strategic solutions for navigating land use issues, and training high-performing teams to create great communities.

James Roddin serves as the Land Use and Building Director for Elmore County, Idaho. Drawing on extensive experience in local government, land use, development, and community planning, he brings a balanced perspective to the opportunities and challenges facing rapidly growing communities. Although his tenure as Director is still relatively recent, James has stepped into the role during a period of significant growth, providing firsthand experience in addressing complex issues related to development, housing, infrastructure, and long-term community planning. He is committed to advancing practical, responsible solutions that support growth while respecting the needs of residents, property owners, developers, and the broader interests of Elmore County. Focused on continuous improvement, James works to strengthen departmental processes, support his staff, and learn from planning professionals and neighboring communities. Outside of work, he is a devoted husband and father whose commitment to family and community shapes his thoughtful approach to public service.

1 CM

Lewis and Clark Room

In 2026, the City of Boise revamped their incentives for affordable and sustainable housing development to provide expanded benefits and improved functionality. The implementation process included creation of resources for developers, development of a staff training program, and cross-department collaboration. This session will provide an overview of the changes made to the incentives, with a focus on the implementation process and lessons learned.

Presenters: Sebrina Mortensen, Doug Exton

Sebrina Mortensen is a Senior Planner for the City of Boise. Her interest in urban planning was sparked while learning about the relationship between planning and sustainability as an environmental studies student. Since then, she has obtained a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University and has held various roles within the City of Boise’s Planning Department. In her free time, Sebrina enjoys reading and roaming the city and nearby foothills with her dogs.

Doug Exton is an Associate Planner with the City of Boise. Prior to his current role, he worked for a nonprofit as a grants manager, funding and training cultural organizations across Idaho. His interest in planning was nurtured during his time at Boise State University while studying for a bachelor’s in History with a minor in Urban Studies/Community Development. Since then, he has obtained a master’s degree in GIS from Johns Hopkins University. Doug also served on Ada County’s Planning and Zoning Commission during that time. In his free time, you can find Doug baking, reading, at a concert, or running a trail.

1 CM

STC Conference Room

Transportation safety and public health are closely connected in rural and tribal communities. This session highlights a collaborative SS4A Safety Action Planning effort on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation involving the Chippewa Cree Tribe, MT DPHHS, MSU AHEC and WTI. Presenters will share lessons on culturally responsive engagement, Safe System planning, cross-sector collaboration, and integrating local knowledge, community strengths, and health priorities into transportation planning.

Presenters: Jennifer MacFarlane MPH, Mike Geboe MA LAC, Grace Behrens MPH, Matt Madsen MPH

Jen MacFarlane is a researcher with the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University whose work focuses on transportation safety, rural and tribal transportation planning, and integrating public health into transportation decision-making. Her recent work includes Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) planning efforts, active transportation safety initiatives, and collaborative projects with tribal and rural communities across Montana.

Mike Geboe is a Prevention Specialist at the Rocky Boy Health Center and a Chippewa Cree tribal member and lifelong resident of Rocky Boy. He supports community wellness initiatives through the Montana CDC REACH Program, focusing on improving health outcomes, strengthening community partnerships, and advancing culturally grounded approaches to physical activity, wellness, and transportation safety.

Grace is an Assistant Director at the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center. With more than a decade of experience working alongside rural communities, Grace focuses on building connections between public health, healthcare systems, community organizations, and local leaders to support collaborative, community-driven solutions. Her work centers on engaging rural and Tribal communities and translating community priorities into programs to improve health.

Matt is a researcher at the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University whose work focuses on the intersectionality of the built environment, transportation, and health, and how community engagement leads to better long-term outcomes. Matt currently manages engagement for multiple rural and tribal SS4A projects as well as works with rural communities on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of quick-build traffic-calming projects.

1 CM: Transportation and Mobility Tentative

Library Conference Room

In this workshop, we’ll stop asking how you can lead more engagement – and start asking how can your engagement be more effective? We’ll do that by providing tools, examples, and thought partnership for you to develop aligned public participation goals, methods, and evaluation standards.

Presenters: Rachel Huff-Doria, Glenn Ingram

Rachel Huff-Doria helps civic and place-based leaders build alignment, capacity, and actionable plans to guide meaningful change. Through her consulting practice, RHD LLC, she partners with public agencies, coalitions, and community members on facilitation and designing participatory engagement processes. She recently led the consultant team behind the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization’s redeveloped Public Participation Plan, bringing together a graphic designer and evaluator to build a process leaders could actually use. Rachel brings a design-thinking and organizing background to public participation work, helping leaders move past checklist engagement toward processes that build relationships, maintain trust, and focus on usable input. Rachel holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Marshall University and is a graduate of UPenn’s Executive Program for Social Innovation Design.

Glenn Ingram is a Transportation Planner with the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization and the City of Missoula. In this role, he helped develop the MPO’s Public Participation Plan and Long-Range Transportation Plan, plans which guide community engagement, investment, and future projects to improve how people move throughout the Missoula area. He works on regional planning initiatives that prepare for growth while balancing the diverse ways people travel in and around Missoula.

1 CM

Beier Auditorium

As planners, we are tasked to always look to the future and keep the next generations in mind as we plan. We can also not just look to, but listen to the future, by engaging youth, and creating space for them to influence and lead planning processes. This session examines two projects – Boise’s Youth Roadmap and Idaho Youth Homelessness Assessment – specifically focused on youth, and the different approaches and methods they employed to live by the ideal of “nothing about us without us.”

Presenters: Ellen Nelson, Garrett Lamm, Abigail Morgan

Ellen is a Principal and Co-Owner of Agnew::Beck, a 40-person multidisciplinary consulting firm serving Tribes, communities, and organizations throughout the West. Ellen has 20+ years of experience in planning, visual communications, community engagement, and collaborative partnership development. She helped lead the Idaho Youth Homelessness Assessment, Idaho’s first statewide study of youth experiencing homelessness.

Garrett Lamm works for the City of Boise as the Director of Partnerships and Communication, where he liaises with education, health, nonprofit, and faith community leaders. He works with the mayor, city council, city departments, public sector agencies, and key stakeholders to strengthen the city across social determinants of health. In this capacity, Garrett spearheaded the creation of the City of Boise Youth Roadmap, a collaborative initiative that gathered youth and community perspectives to shape long-term strategies and policy recommendations for supporting Boise’s next generation. Before his time at the City of Boise, Garrett worked in Washington, D.C. in Congress and at the White House in the Obama and Biden Administrations in a variety of legislative, policy, and communications roles. He was raised in Boise, and holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Studies, Political Science, and French from the University of Idaho.

Abigail specializes in community engagement and network development. She works with nonprofit organizations, public agencies, educational institutions, and community-based organizations to strengthen partnerships, support collaborative planning, and advance shared goals. Abigail has recently done work engaging youth and incorporating their lived experience into planning and decision-making, including leading youth engagement efforts for Idaho’s Youth Homelessness Assessment through interviews, questionnaires, and Youth Action Board partnership. Her work also includes supporting regional and statewide networks focused on community wellbeing and systems change, helping partners translate community input into coordinated action and lasting impact.

1 CM: Equity

Lewis and Clark

Rural communities are often grouped together, despite major differences between them. This interactive session explores gateway and recreation communities across the Mountain West, sharing new data on how they have changed over the last decade and introducing a practical rural community typology. Participants will classify real communities, discuss planning challenges, and explore strategies to better support rural places.

Presenter: Lindsey Romaniello

Lindsey Romaniello is a PhD student at the University of Utah and a researcher with the GNAR Initiative, studying planning challenges in rural and gateway communities across the western U.S. She previously worked as a planning consultant and municipal planner in the Rocky Mountain West. Her research focuses on long-range planning, housing affordability, infrastructure development, and water access.

1 CM

STC Conference Room

Rural communities are often grouped together, despite major differences between them. This interactive session explores gateway and recreation communities across the Mountain West, sharing new data on how they have changed over the last decade and introducing a practical rural community typology. Participants will classify real communities, discuss planning challenges, and explore strategies to better support rural places.

Presenters: Dr. Kris Smith, Jennifer Flynn, Marina Lundy, Svein Newman, Patrick Swart

Dr. Kristin (Kris) Smith is a principal researcher at Headwaters Economics, where her work focuses on the challenges facing rural communities and the local government capacity needed to meet them. Drawing on a background in community development, applied economics, and geography, she pairs on-the-ground engagement with rigorous research to help rural places strengthen their economies and reduce risk from climate-driven hazards like flooding. Her work on rural capacity, disaster funding, and improving benefit-cost analysis for smaller communities speaks directly to the resource and policy hurdles communities face.

Jen hails from Colorado Springs but considers Pocatello her home. She grew up in an Army family and lived in 7 locations over 15 years! Jen went to college at Idaho State University, served a year of volunteer service in an AmeriCorps program called City Year New Hampshire, and went to graduate school in Virginia at George Mason University. Jen loves being civically engaged and contributing to the progress of projects and events. In Jen’s free time she loves to volunteer, raft, hike, bike, camp, cross country ski, play poker, and hang with her family. Jen’s been with the City of Pocatello for over 8 years and currently serves as the City’s Assistant Planner. Jen is passionate about Planning and excited by the various activities one encounters every day in this role.

Marina Lundy is an Associate Planner with the City of Kuna, Idaho, specializing in long-range planning. She holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) with an emphasis in Environmental Governance and has academic and professional experience in Environmental Studies and GIS. Her work focuses on land use planning, community engagement, data analysis, and policy design.
A lifelong Idahoan, Marina grew up in Coeur d’Alene and now lives and works in the Treasure Valley. Marina is a current board member of the Boise Urban Garden School and outside of work; she enjoys hiking, biking, fishing, and paddleboarding with her dog.

Svein Newman is Missoula County’s Climate Action Program Manager, where he works to incorporate sustainability, energy, and waste reduction considerations into County policies, programs, practices, and regulations. Prior to joining the County in early 2005, he spent 15 years in the Montana nonprofit sector working on energy, water, and family agriculture initiatives. Svein served on the Planning Department review team for Missoula County’s first AI data center proposal, and is currently working on developing local data center zoning regulations, along with co-panelist Patrick Swart and another county planner.

Patrick Swart is a Planner III with the Missoula County Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability. Patrick has worked for the Missoula County Planning Department since March 2024 on both the development review and long-range planning teams. In July 2026, the Missoula County Commissioners adopted interim zoning regulations placing a yearlong moratorium on the approval of new data centers in unincorporated Missoula County. Patrick is currently working with a small group of Missoula County staff to investigate impacts associated with data center development and to develop a proposal for zoning regulations that address these impacts.

1 CM

Library Conference Room

Both our states are part of the nation’s historic preservation program, administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS runs the National Register of Historic Places and a system of State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), and Idaho/Montana SHPOs administer the Certified Local Governments (CLG) program. This session will focus on Idaho Falls and Butte Silver Bow CLGs and discuss common challenges of working with Federal/State programs, funding preservation work, and saving historic sites in the “wild west.”

Presenters: Sheri Freemuth AICP, Caitlin Long AICP, Kate McCourt

Sheri Freemuth, AICP, is an accomplished city planner with over 40 years of experience in local government planning, environmental consulting, and historic preservation. At J-U-B Engineers, Inc., she is a Senior Planner/Discipline Lead based in the Meridian, Idaho headquarters. Her project work focuses on comprehensive plans for small cities and rural counties. She has a Master of City Planning degree from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Scripps College.

Caitlin Long, AICP, Planner II with the City of Idaho Falls, serves as the staff liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission. Since joining the City in 2021, she has supported both long range and current planning, preparing ordinance amendments and the development of a new Comprehensive Plan, as well as working with the Downtown Development Corporation. Her prior experience has included working for a large homebuilder/developer in the Midwest, serving as a Historic Specialist in Stanley, Idaho, and preparing a community assessment with NeighborWorks in Pocatello. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree (History and Political Science – 2011) and a Master of Public Administration degree (2014) from Idaho State University. She enjoys exploring the built environment of Idaho Falls, always looking for great used bookstores and hidden gems in the thriving downtown, walking neighborhoods with her dog, and traveling with her husband.

Kate McCourt is an archaeologist and historic preservationist currently living and working in Butte, Montana. She grew up in the Hudson River Valley in New York State, cultivating a love of anthropology and Revolutionary War history, working as an interpreter in a 1750 fieldstone farmhouse where George Washington lived. After earning degrees in History SUNY Albany (B.A.) and Archaeology from University College London (M.A.), she moved to Montana in 2008 and was the Cultural Resource Manager in Virginia City, where her love affair with Montana began. Continuing her education in historic preservation, she received a master’s certification from University of Kentucky. She has practiced archaeology and historic preservation in Virginia City, Great Falls, and Helena, and has served as Butte-Silver Bow’s Historic Preservation Officer since 2022.

1 CM

STC Conference Room

Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) are increasingly being used to align major development projects with local priorities. As communities evaluate proposals for data centers, energy infrastructure, and other large-scale developments, planners play a critical role at the intersection of land use, public engagement, and long-term community outcomes. This interactive workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of CBAs. Following a brief overview of CBA principles and emerging applications in the United States, participants will work through a realistic development scenario using a facilitated negotiation exercise that explores stakeholder priorities, competing interests, and opportunities for consensus. The session will conclude with a discussion of practical considerations for planners, including public engagement, implementation challenges, and strategies for supporting transparent, community-centered decision-making. Participants will leave with a foundational understanding of Community Benefit Agreements, hands-on experience navigating a negotiation scenario, and practical tools for evaluating how CBAs can support more effective planning processes.

Presenters: Dr. Kris Smith, Jackson Rose

Dr. Kristin (Kris) Smith is a principal researcher at Headwaters Economics, where her work focuses on the challenges facing rural communities and the local government capacity needed to meet them. Drawing on a background in community development, applied economics, and geography, she pairs on-the-ground engagement with rigorous research to help rural places strengthen their economies and reduce risk from climate-driven hazards like flooding. Her work on rural capacity, disaster funding, and improving benefit-cost analysis for smaller communities speaks directly to the resource and policy hurdles communities face.

Jackson Rose is a geographer at Montana State University who has worked the community side of Community Benefit Agreement talks over large-scale development in Montana and Idaho. As Executive Director of the Meagher County Stewardship Council, he represented community interests in negotiations over the proposed Black Butte Copper mine. He later advised Salmon Valley Stewardship in Salmon, Idaho, on agreement structure and benefit mechanisms tied to a cobalt mining project. He is Assistant Director and Operations Manager of the MSU Geospatial Core Facility and an instructor in Earth Sciences, where his work centers on spatial analysis, rural places, and energy and natural resource policy.

1.25 CM

Lewis and Clark

Planners from the Montana Department of Commerce’s Community Technical Assistance Program share statewide resource development updates, new information on the Community Planning Platform, and how you can request land use planning assistance.

Presenters: Dani Arps AICP, Ann Schwend, Jacob Cote AICP

Dani Arps is a Planner with the Community Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) with the Montana Department of Commerce. Prior to that, she was the Planner, Floodplain Administrator and Grant Administrator for Teton County. She has been assisting with a variety of CTAP projects around the state as well as providing free trainings for local government planning boards and supporting implementation of Montana’s Land Use Planning Act. She lives in Dillon and spends her time camping, fishing, snowboard

Ann has spent her career in watershed and community planning supporting integrated water and land use. She loves to live and work in rural communities and help them achieve their full potential through good planning, conservation and economic vitality. As the state Community Technical Assistance Program supervisor at the Department of Commerce she, her planning team, and contracted consultants deliver direct technical planning assistance to communities as well as develop statewide model documents to ensure statutory compliance.

Jacob is a planner with experience in the public and private sectors throughout Montana and the Mountain West, largely in small, rural communities with unique planning needs and limited local capacity. His background with housing, infrastructure, historic, and land use planning provides him with crucial insight into the complicated and challenging mechanisms that support successful long-range planning projects. In his current role, Jacob assists local governments and NGO partners as they pursue planning projects in support of long-term goals, housing affordability, and economic development.

1.25 CM

STC Conference Room

How can communities of all sizes expand transportation options and improve connectivity? This session explores two innovative approaches to creating more accessible, multimodal transportation systems. Learn how the City of Nampa is planning a network of mobility hubs that connect walking, biking, transit, microtransit, and shared mobility through a phased, context-sensitive framework. Then, discover how small cities, suburbs, and rural communities are successfully implementing right-sized micromobility programs using practical strategies for operations, funding, stakeholder engagement, and phased implementation. Together, these case studies offer scalable solutions for improving access, equity, and mobility in communities of every size.

Presenters: Jacob K. Miller AICP, Molly Loucks PE

Jacob K. Miller, AICP, is a Transportation Planner at B&N focused on active transportation, micromobility, and community planning. He supports projects with skills in graphic design, data visualization, and 3D rendering to help communities communicate plan benefits. Jacob chairs his neighborhood Planning & Development Committee, serves on the Yay Bikes! board, and holds a bachelor’s in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University.

Molly Loucks, PE, is a Transportation Project Manager and Boise Office Director with 12 years of experience delivering multimodal and active transportation projects, including shared-use paths, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, complete streets, and corridor improvements. A leader in roundabout planning and design, she has contributed to more than 35 roundabouts nationwide and serves on TRB’s Standing Committee on Roundabouts and Alternative Intersections.

1.25 CM

Library Conference Room

Recent legislation from Helena, Boise, and Washington is shaking up housing on both sides of the divide, hoping to increase supply. Small and medium-sized communities have more limited resources, lots of demand, and operate with different paradigms – what to do? Let’s learn from each other: lessons learned, hopeful outcomes, and not getting your heart broken. This won’t be a panel presentation – we’ll shape the discussion around the points that interest you, whether it’s the other state’s recent actions or directions from the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. If housing isn’t an issue in your community…are you kidding?

Presenters: Don Matson, Ali Rabe, Alan Tiefenbach

Don Matson has worked as a planner in a variety of settings and assignments, ranging from plans for small towns and rural areas, urban areas, trails, and highway corridors. Like most planners, Don has also worked through many code revisions, land use debates, demographic studies, and other duties as assigned. After leaving his hometown in eastern Idaho to study city/regional planning in Provo, UT, and Knoxville, TN, his career took him to southern Nevada for 14 years before returning to Idaho in 2006. His first public meeting was in a rural community center that started late because the Chairman’s pig had gotten out of its pen. Rumors brought out angry residents, and yes, his life was threatened – but he stayed with planning. He is also passionate about planning for and enjoying our national parks and monuments, and building relationships between parks, other land agencies, and nearby communities.

Ali Rabe is the Founding Executive Director of Idaho’s first statewide pro-housing organization, Gem State Housing Alliance. She previously served as a State Senator from 2020-26 and led Jesse Tree, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing eviction and homelessness in the Treasure Valley, where she spent several years growing the organization tenfold. Ali has also worked as an attorney with local governments and service providers on their efforts to end homelessness and spent the early years of her legal career supporting refugees and displaced populations around the world. These experiences deepened her commitment to building communities where every person has access to a stable home. Ali is a proud graduate of The College of Idaho, holds a J.D. from William & Mary Law School, and is a member of the Idaho State Bar. She and her husband are Treasure Valley natives, raising their two boys.

Alan Tiefenbach’s career in City Planning spans nearly 25 years, with the majority of his experience working in mountain communities in Colorado. He is presently the Long Range Planner with the City of Whitefish and the primary author of the Vision Whitefish 2045 community plan – the first comprehensive rewrite in nearly 20 years and developed in the context of the recently enacted Montana Land Use Planning Act. He has broad knowledge in current and long-range planning, as well as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Alan graduated summa cum laude from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in City and Regional Planning. Alan is a veteran who served 5 years in the amphibious Beachmaster Unit One Team of the United States Navy.

1.25 CM

Beier Auditorium

Let’s be honest: no amount of graduate coursework or textbook theory truly prepares you for the realities of the planning profession. From chaotic public hearings and unexpected political landmines to the nuances of project management and navigating complex team dynamics, the real lessons are often learned the hard way. In this fast-paced, highly collaborative dialogue, seasoned planners will share their most memorable “war stories” from the trenches. This isn’t just a venting session—it’s a candid, humorous, and deeply practical exploration of leadership and career development. We will unpack the mistakes we made, the unexpected challenges we faced, and the critical skills we wish we had mastered before entering the workforce. Whether you are a new planner trying to find your footing or an experienced professional looking to mentor the next generation, this session offers a supportive space to share stories, laugh at our collective missteps, and build the resilience needed to thrive in the field.

Presenters: Allison Mouch AICP, Staron Faucher AICP, Ben Hitchings FAICP, CZO, Aaron Wilson, AICP

Allison Mouch, AICP, is the managing partner and a planner with Orion Planning + Design, where she specializes in comprehensive planning, code development, and public engagement. Allison has over twenty years of professional planning and design experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, focusing on collaboration as a means of achieving positive outcomes and fostering meaningful partnerships that result in sound policy and planning decisions. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in architecture from Miami University (OH) and a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She is the current Region V Board Director for the American Planning Association, having previously served two terms as president of APA’s Western Central Chapter and spending fourteen years on the Montana Association of Planners (now MT APA) Board of Directors. In her spare time she enjoys reading, riding her horses, trail running with her dog Izzy, backpacking, rafting, skiing, camping, or doing pretty much anything outdoors in the wilds of Montana!

Staron Faucher, AICP is a Senior Transportation Planner at Gresham Smith in Dallas, Texas, with over 18 years of experience in mobility planning, Active Transportation studies, corridor redevelopment, land use analysis, and public engagement. He received his Master in Regional and City Planning from the University of Oklahoma and Master of Environmental Studies from Baylor University.
Staron is the Chair of the American Planning Association’s AICP Ethics Committee, the AICP Region III Commissioner, and Professional Development Officer for the North-Central Section of the Texas APA Chapter. As Staron has progressed in his career, he has realized the importance of considering all realms of planning and every stakeholder in endeavor.

Ben Hitchings, FAICP, CZO, is the Principal of Green Heron Planning, LLC based in Durham, North Carolina, and a fellow at the UNC School of Government. He has more than 30 years of experience working on planning issues, and has developed award-winning community plans and professional publications. A former planning director for the towns of Chapel Hill and Morrisville, North Carolina, Ben is a member of the American Planning Association’s Board of Directors. He is the co-author of Managing Disruption in a Rapidly-Changing World: A Briefing Book for Decision-Makers in North Carolina, published in 2024 by the UNC School of Government.

Aaron Wilson, AICP is the Transportation Planning Manager for the City of Missoula, where he oversees the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization, Missoula In Motion, and the City’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Program. His focus in this position is currently figuring out how we make ambitious plans and goals a reality. Prior to concentrating on Missoula’s many transportation issues, Aaron gained experience understanding how our natural and built environment systems interact through work on land use planning, open lands preservation, and wildfire research. Aaron attended Cornell University where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, and later earned a Master’s degree in urban and regional planning at Portland State University.

1 CM

Lewis and Clark

As Montana continues to experience population growth and development, understanding the relationship between land use and groundwater resources has never been more important. Yet, there appears to be little coordinated effort to study the condition of Montana’s aquifers and how they are responding to prolonged drought and increased demand. This session will highlight Ravalli County’s effort to implement a Groundwater Monitoring Plan with the goal of identifying monitoring priority areas based on water-level trends and providing our community with more site-specific data on the condition of its local aquifer so residents can make informed decisions regarding water use.

Presenter: Rob Livesay

Rob Livesay is the Ravalli County Planning Director and Floodplain Administrator, driven by a genuine passion for tackling water issues in Montana. Before moving into local planning, he spent a decade studying and working as a geologist. Rob holds two degrees from the University of Montana, a bachelor’s in International Field Geoscience and a master’s in Watershed Hydrology. Today, he blends his background in geology and hydrology to guide subdivision reviews, develop policy, and manage floodplains. Rob loves connecting with people and is excited to share his experiences and perspectives on the vital link between Montana’s land and water.

1 CM

STC Conference Room

How do small communities turn downtown plans into real projects? This session features two complementary case studies that highlight practical, community-driven approaches to implementing downtown improvements. Speakers will share lessons learned from Bellevue, Idaho’s temporary pop-up plaza demonstration and Sandpoint, Idaho’s transition from a free parking system to a managed parking program. Together, these projects illustrate how pilot projects, public engagement, data, and phased implementation can help communities build support, test ideas, and move from planning to action. Attendees will gain practical insights and transferable strategies for advancing downtown revitalization in communities of all sizes.

Presenters:Jason Welker AICP, Brian Parker, Aaron Mondada, Josiah Brown, AIA NCARB

Jason Welker is Planning and Community Development Director for the City of Sandpoint, Idaho, where he leads planning, zoning, economic development, historic preservation, parks and recreation planning, and major implementation projects. His recent work includes downtown code updates, housing-related zoning reform, parks capital planning, and Sandpoint’s downtown and waterfront parking management program. Formerly an Economics educator, Jason is preparing for his AICP certification this year.

Brian is the current Community Development Director for the City of Bellevue, Idaho, and oversees the Bellevue Urban Renewal Agency (BURA). Brian previously worked in planning at the City of McCall (ID) and NeighborWorks Montana. Brian holds a Master of Science degree focused on Bioregional Planning and Community Design from the University of Idaho.

Aaron is an experienced planner, stakeholder engagement specialist and data analyst working to address key issues including community supported development and site designs, housing affordability, homelessness, transportation equity, parks and trail access, and agricultural land preservation. He has managed and designed dozens of inclusive public engagement processes that have yielded information necessary for our clients to confidently move forward with project implementation. He has particular expertise in arts economic development and has engaged with hundreds of artists and arts and culture organizations. Aaron is also an accomplished data analyst who strives to turn complex information into easily digestible content that creates broader community understanding of planning and development processes.

Josiah is an interdisciplinary designer with experience and education that spans the architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design disciplines. Beginning his career as an architect in northwestern Montana, Josiah grew a deep appreciation for wild places while also recognizing the risk uncoordinated development places on wild lands. Motivated to find sustainable forms of human settlement, Josiah went on to study urban design at Washington University in St. Louis and landscape architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Josiah brings that training back to the Mountain West to ensure the region’s rapid growth doesn’t compromise the landscapes known and loved by so many. Josiah’s project work focuses on large-scale land planning, climate adaptation, next-generation infrastructure, sustainable development, and public realm design. Josiah believes that by building continued awareness and understanding of sustainable development practices, a world in which human and environmental flourishing go hand in hand is possible.

1 CM

Library Conference Room

Flooding is a shared risk that continues to impact communities throughout the country. Dillon is one such community that has historically struggled with flooding. In 2009, the City and County identified and completed mitigation projects on Blacktail Deer Creek. The focus on this training is floodplain management and how mitigation, regulations, permitting, and mapping work together to assist communities and property owners. Floodplain Management, like other land use programs, is often hard to quantify, but it is critical for public health, safety, and welfare. When appropriately administered, floodplain management can help guide safe development.

Presenter: Traci Sears

Traci Sears is part of the Montana Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation Water Resource Division. She has served as the National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP) Coordinator for the State of Montana since 2007. She has over 24 years of experience in floodplain management, recovery, and mitigation. Traci is actively involved in local, state, and national flood programs and policy issues. Currently, Ms. Sears is Co-Chair of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Regulations Committee and serves as a board member with the National Hazard Mitigation Association. She holds a BA in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University. As a former county floodplain administrator and CFM, she understands the impacts that unmet needs, increased risks, and recent program changes have on local floodplain programs.

1 CM

Beier Auditorium

When municipal growth accelerates, local governments face a delicate balancing act between economic development and emergency service capacity. In Idaho and across the country, tax increment financing (TIF) can become a significant flashpoint: while urban renewal agencies reinvest property tax increments to spur growth, special districts—like fire protection districts—must absorb higher call volumes and expanded infrastructure demands without immediate tax revenue increases. Recent legislative shifts (such as Idaho House Bill 436) expanded options for fire districts to opt out or withdraw from urban renewal areas, creating an ultimatum between protracted interagency disputes and collaborative compromise. Rather than letting competing financial priorities stall community progress, the City of Victor, the Victor Urban Renewal Agency, and Teton County Fire & Rescue chose a different path. This panel explores how these three entities navigated statutory complexities, aligned urban renewal capital with emergency response needs, and forged a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Panelists will share practical insights on how they moved past institutional friction to create a win-win agreement—utilizing urban renewal frameworks to directly fund critical fire and public safety infrastructure without overburdening local taxpayers. Attendees will gain actionable strategies for turning statutory hurdles into opportunities, bridging the gap between growth and safety, and transforming an interagency dynamic of “no” into a sustainable, shared “yes.”

Presenters: Troy Butzlaff, ICMA-CM, Mike Maltaverne, Kimberly Kolner, AICP

Troy Butzlaff brings over 35 years of public sector experience to local government agencies in California and Idaho. As the founder of his consulting firm, Athenian Partners, LLC, he currently serves as Special and Capital Projects Manager for the City of Victor, Executive Director of the Victor Urban Renewal Agency, and City Administrator for the City of Carey. Troy retired from California municipal government in 2018 after serving in executive leadership roles across eight cities, including Azusa, Placentia, Palm Springs, and Indian Wells. An ICMA Credentialed Manager since 2006, he holds a B.A. and M.P.A. from the University of La Verne, alongside advanced certifications from the Berkeley Executive Seminar, Gettysburg Leadership Institute, and Williamsburg Institute

Mike Maltaverne serves as Fire Chief for Teton County Fire & Rescue in Driggs, Idaho. With decades of public safety leadership, Mike previously served as Deputy Chief of Operations for the Bozeman Fire Department (MT) for six years and spent 26 years with the Rapid City Fire Department (SD), including seven years as Fire Chief. He holds a B.S. in Public Safety Administration and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Beyond his extensive local experience in risk management and emergency response, Mike actively contributes to state, regional, and national committees focused on wildfire policy.

Kimberly Kolner, AICP serves as the Planning and Zoning Director for Victor, Idaho. With two decades of urban planning experience spanning municipal leadership and zoning reform, she specializes in land use planning and community-first spaces. Kimberly graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning. At this event, Kimberly will share insights on foundational city planning challenges and strategies. Outside of public service, she enjoys spending time with her family exploring trails and rivers and is an award-winning pie baker.

1 CM: Sustainability Tentative

Lewis and Clark

Many Mountain West communities face wastewater challenges related to growth, difficult terrain, aging infrastructure, and dispersed development. Pressure sewer systems can provide an alternative to conventional gravity sewers, offering a practical and cost-effective solution in situations where traditional systems may be difficult or expensive to install. This presentation will provide an overview of pressure sewer technology, including how it works and where it is most effectively applied. Using examples from communities across the Mountain West, attendees will learn how pressure sewer systems have been used to support growth, overcome topographic challenges, reduce infrastructure costs, and extend wastewater service to areas that might otherwise be difficult to serve. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the technology, its advantages and limitations, and the factors that contribute to successful projects.

Presenters: David Benson, Eric Wendland

David Benson is Regional Manager for Environment One Corporation (E/One), where he works with engineers, developers, utilities, and local governments throughout the western United States on wastewater infrastructure projects. Over the course of his career, he has helped communities evaluate pressure sewer systems as a solution for challenging terrain, dispersed development, aging infrastructure, and growth-related needs. David has worked on projects ranging from small rural communities to larger municipal systems, helping stakeholders identify practical and cost-effective approaches to wastewater collection. His experience includes working closely with consulting engineers, planners, utility operators, and public officials to address local infrastructure challenges. Through this work, he has seen firsthand how pressure sewer technology can help communities expand service, manage costs, and support long-term growth.

Eric Wendland is the Managing Member of ENA C&C, a Montana-based construction company he founded in 2007. Eric brings nearly two decades of construction and project management experience, along with a strong commitment to serving his community. Prior to founding ENA C&C, Eric served as a U.S. Navy Search and Rescue Swimmer, an experience that helped shape his leadership, discipline, and problem-solving approach. His firsthand experience developing and implementing wastewater infrastructure projects in Montana provides valuable insight into the collaboration, communication, and perseverance required to successfully deliver critical community infrastructure improvements.

1 CM

STC Conference Room

The Safe System Approach is reshaping how communities improve transportation safety, but what does it look like in practice? This session combines an overview of Safe System principles with a hands-on look at right-sized Road Safety Audits (RSAs) that fit the corridor, community, budget, and decision at hand. Participants will learn how agencies can apply proven safety strategies, adapt RSAs for projects of varying scales, and develop practical, implementable recommendations for rural highways, main streets, and growing communities.

Presenters: Katie Carlos, Nick Foster

Katie Carlos is a transportation safety engineer focused on right-sized Road Safety Audits that turn limited budgets, field observations, and roadway data into practical safety actions. Her experience with ODOT and Western Federal Lands shaped her understanding of rural, urban, and public lands corridors, including complex rural/urban fringe settings with competing users. Katie helps agencies tailor RSA methods to fit local needs and resources.

Nick Foster is a Principal Planner at Kittelson & Associates in Boise. He has been helping communities of all sizes develop actionable plans to create safer and more livable multimodal transportation systems for 20 years.

1 CM

Library Conference Room

Short-term rentals have become a major planning issue across the rural West. This session explores data on STR trends, housing impacts, and community change, while examining regulatory approaches used across the Intermountain West. Through interactive discussion, participants will evaluate how these strategies may or may not fit Montana and Idaho’s unique local, political, and economic contexts and lets collaborate on potential policy solutions for western communities.

Presenter: Lindsey Romaniello

Lindsey Romaniello is a PhD student at the University of Utah and researcher with the GNAR Initiative, studying planning challenges in rural and gateway communities across the western U.S. She previously worked as a planning consultant and municipal planner in the Rocky Mountain West. Her research focuses on long-range planning, housing affordability, infrastructure development, and water access.

1 CM