Wednesday, September 28

Planning For Resiliency
Ballroom B

Hazard mitigation planning provides state and local communities the opportunity to reduce loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters. Participants will learn about updates to FEMA’s state and local mitigation planning policies, technical assistance FEMA and other partners can provide for applying for funding and implementation, and local community perspectives on these resources

Presenter: Logan Sand
Logan Sand is the acting Senior Community Planner for FEMA Region R8’s Mitigation Division. Logan manages the Mitigation Planning Program, and assists state, tribal, and local governments with natural hazard mitigation and climate adaptation planning. He holds a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado Denver.

1.25 CM

Planning For Community
Ballroom C

After decades of inaction on housing and zoning, ambitious pro-housing policies are sweeping the nation, from Spokane, WA, to Minneapolis, MN, to Charlotte, NC. Instead of surrendering to “Not In My Back Yard” NIMBYism, local governments are working strategically with abundant housing advocates and thoughtfully engaging their communities to create political will for much-needed reforms. Hear from the Welcoming Neighbors Network, a confederation of state and local pro-housing organizations, about the key ingredients for successful reforms – how to talk about pro-housing zoning policies, how to collaborate with local advocates, and how to ensure public comment processes elevate representative voices across your communities, not just the usual suspects. This session is for any MAP members who want their local comprehensive planning and rezoning processes to be more impactful and less exasperating.

Presenter: Henry Honorof

Henry Honorof has advised presidential campaigns and congressional offices on housing policy, helped pass statewide abundant housing policy as a citizen lobbyist, and co-founded a local pro-housing advocacy organization that successfully legalized triplexes, fourplexes, deed-restricted six-plexes, cottage courts, and townhouses on every residential lot in Portland, Oregon. In his current role as director of the Welcoming Neighbors Network, Henry supports the cross-country collaboration of America’s leading pro-housing organizations and provides consultation and incubation to rising abundant housing organizations and advocates in cities and states experiencing the latest wave of housing shortages.

1.25 CM

Mobile Tour

Explore Billings’ 1st neighborhood bikeway! Neighborhood bikeways (aka bike boulevards) are low-volume, low-speed, streets where bicycle traffic is prioritized. We will discuss the elements that make a successful neighborhood bikeway and the advantages of these types of routes.

There will be a limited number of bikes to borrow. Participants are encouraged to bring their own. Bring money for a snack; we will stop at the famous Carmel Cookie Waffle.

Presenter: Elyse Monat

Elyse is the Active Transportation Planner with the Billings/Yellowstone County Metropolitan Planning Organization. She manages biking and walking planning efforts, promotes active transportation via programs like the Commuter Challenge, and develops grant applications to secure funding for biking and walking projects. Prior, Elyse worked in the public health and non-profit sectors. She holds a BA from Tulane University in Environmental Studies and Spanish and a minor in Urban Studies.

Presenter: Dakota Martonen P.E., City of Billings Public Works, Engineering Division

2.5 CM

Planning For Resiliency
Ballroom B

In October, DEQ’s Brownfields Program will receive a $2 million state-wide Brownfields assessment grant. This grant will provide Phase I & II ESAs, hazardous building materials inspections, and planning assistance for blighted and underutilized properties. DEQ would like to provide examples of various Brownfields assistance tools and redevelopment success stories. DEQ’s Brownfields team would also like to openly discuss on how to best utilize this new planning funding to facilitate redevelopment

Presenter: Jason Seyler

Jason Seyler, the Brownfields Coordinator for the MT DEQ since 2009, enjoys finding creative solutions for non-profits, local communities, and developers to assess and cleanup underutilized properties. Jason has assisted with the cleanup and redevelopment of challenging properties such as rail yards, landfills, gas stations, and historic structures. Jason has a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from Colorado School of Mines. Jason previously served in Peace Corps-Africa.

1.25 CM

Planning For Community
Ballroom C

Billings Planners (Nicole Cromwell and Karen Husman) will review the community lead-up to the kick-off of a Zoning code renewal (45+ year old Zoning code) in 2017 (Project ReCode), and how Planning staff managed the change process – with internal and external “customers”.

Presenter: Nicole Cromwell, AICP

Nicole Cromwell is the Zoning Coordinator for the City and County Planning Division in Billings, MT & a member of the Planning Division since 2000. She has been instrumental in developing & implementing several zoning & land use code changes that build better neighborhoods ensuring compatible urban design. She received her training as a citizen planner & land use specialist for non-profit organizations on the east coast working with communities on regional & watershed level issues.

Presenter: Karen Husman

Karen Husman is the Planner I Team Leader for the City and County Planning Division in Billings, MT. She started her planning career in the City of America Canyon, CA in 1997 and moved to Montana in 2002 to serve with the Planning Division as a Planning Clerk. In 2005, she was promoted to Planning Assistant and then to Planner I in 2013. She currently leads a team of three planners working with the daily ebb and flow of all types of land use applications for Billings & Yellowstone County.

Presenter: David Goodridge

Dave Goodridge, founder of Good Ridge Real Estate, graduated from Billings Skyview High School in 1991 and then attended Cheyenne Aero Tech in Wyoming to obtain Airframe and Powerplant certificates. After working in the aircraft maintenance industry, Dave also obtained a private pilot’s license. In 1994, Dave was given the opportunity to run a restaurant delivery business in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It was this opportunity that broadened Dave’s career path from just aviation to the business world.

Presenter: Randy Hafer

Randy Hafer, cofounder of High Plains Architects, is an architect, developer, and thought leader committed to environmental sustainability, urban revitalization, and historic preservation. Since founding the firm in 1999, High Plains has completed 11 certified historic tax credit projects, 13 LEED Platinum Certified projects, and one Living Building Challenge certified project, Montana’s first.

1.25 CM

Mobile Tour

Bring your best walking shoes and join the manager of the Healthy By Design’s Coalition for a walking tour around the South Side Neighborhood! We will highlight various placemaking and revitalization projects designed to highlight the Bright Side of the Tracks. Learn about this neighborhood’s unique and complex history and how our Coalition worked with planners, engineers, artists and residents alike to make the neighborhood a healthier, more vibrant place.

Presenter: Eden Sowards, CHES

Eden Sowards is the Community Health Improvement Manager working on behalf of the Healthy By Design Coalition. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion from MSU-Billings in 2013 and worked 6 years with the health department, working with the coalition to implement the Gardeners’ Market and ParksRx. She started managing Healthy By Design in March 2022 and looks forward to moving along the work to create a healthier and more vibrant Yellowstone County.

1.25 CM

Planning For Resiliency
Ballroom B

Montana Disaster and Emergency Services is developing three regional hazard mitigation plans that will cover all counties, municipalities, and Tribal nations in Montana, enabling communities to mitigate risk to natural hazards and access funding for mitigation projects from FEMA. Participants will learn about the benefits of hazard mitigation planning, hear from local government about their involvement in the regional HMP process, and explore what role planners and other key stakeholders play.

Presenter: Rob Pressly
Rob Pressly is a Community Planner with FEMA Region 8’s Mitigation Division, providing technical assistance to local communities, Tribes, and states on developing hazard mitigation plans and strategies that reduce risk, enhance resiliency, address climate change, and integrate equity. Rob holds a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Michigan and bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond.

1.25 CM

Planning For Community
Ballroom C

Hear from Billings Planning Manager Monica Plecker, and Professional Engineer in the private sector, Craig Dalton as they critique of a newly implemented zoning tool in Billings. Craig and Monica have worked on opposite sides of several developments in Billings and will give a candid overview of the tool, what is working and what may be unintended consequences.

Presenter: Monica Plecker, AICP

Monica Plecker is the Planning Division Manager for the City of Billings and Yellowstone County oversees division operations. She has 11 years of planning experience in various capacities in Yellowstone County and has worked in both private and public sector planning. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and is a current board member for the Montana Association of Planners. She was recognized by the Billings Gazette in the 2020 class of 40 under 40.

Presenter: Craig Dalton, PE

Craig Dalton is a Project Manager for Performance Engineering. Craig has over 10 years of experience in civil and water resource engineering, with a strong background in land planning and development, stormwater hydraulics/hydrology, municipal infrastructure design, and cost estimating. Mr. Dalton also possesses extensive experience with permitting and regulatory structures, successfully designing and permitting over 50 land development projects in the Billings area.

1.25 CM

Planning For Transportation
Conference Room 1

The WTI traffic calming program partners with the City of Bozeman, rural communities & BikeWalk Montana to engage residents and staff in the process of designing and installing solutions to address traffic concerns, uncontrolled intersections, pedestrian/cyclist crossings, and placemaking. Projects are temporary and utilize planters, delineators, paint, and street art to achieve goals. The session will focus on project planning, implementation, partnerships, evaluation, and lessons learned.

Presenter: Matthew Madsen, MPH, CHES

Matthew Madsen is a public health professional with over 10 years of experience in the field focusing on community engagement on public health issues and the intersection of the built environment health. He manages the GoGallatin transportation demand management program and oversees the planning, installation, and evaluation of pop-up traffic calming projects in Bozeman and around Montana. When he’s not working, he can be found out and about in the mountains.

1.25 CM

Planning For Resiliency
Ballroom B

The presenters will cover a brief intro of what TIF is, how it is managed, processed, reviewed, & approved in the City of Billings as well as the associated positive impacts of it as an economic and collaborative tool encouraging private enterprises.

Presenters: Mehmet Casey, Zack Terakedis, Jim Tevlin

1.25 CM

Planning For Community
Ballroom C

The 5th Avenue North Corridor presented a rare opportunity for the Billings community to create a shared-use mobility route through the heart of Billings. This project kicked off in June of 2020, approximately 3-months after significant shut down of community activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the active rail spur, the corridor’s diverse constituencies, and the significance of impact to the community, property owner and public participation was critical in project success.

Presenter: Michael Sanderson PE, PTOE

Michael is President/CEO of Sanderson Stewart, a regional engineering, planning and design firm serving the northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest. In addition to his executive role, Michael has practiced in the area of engineering for over 25 years. He is a Fellow of the ITE, teaches as an adjunct member at MSU. Michael also holds BS and MS in Engineering.

Presenter: Lauren Waterton, AICP

Lauren is a senior planner and manager of the firm’s Placemaking Studio at Sanderson Stewart. With 25 years of experience in planning, development and design, both in the public and private sector. She has a diverse background in urban planning and design with experience in master planning, site analysis, trail plans, downtown plans, feasibility studies and development design. As the manager of the Placemaking Studio, Lauren works to bridge engineering, landscape architecture and planning.

Scott Walker

Scott walker is the Transportation Planning Coordinator for the Billings MPO and City/County Planning Division. He has more than 30 years of experience with transportation planning in Billings, MT.

1.25 CM

Mobile Tour

Learn how to conduct an I2 audit with expert Mark Fenton. An I2 audit is the first step to making your community more inclusive, walkable, and moveable for everyone. Mark will touch on why walkability is important for healthy, equitable communities, the 4 elements of walkable communities, and the 3 P’s of building a healthier community. Participants will conduct an I2 audit in downtown Billings and develop the skills they need to lead an I2 audit in their own communities.

Presenter: Mark Fenton

Mark Fenton is a transportation, planning, and public health consultant, author, PBS television host, and active transportation advocate. An adjunct associate professor at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, he combines a public health perspective with engineering expertise (BS and MS degrees from MIT) to provide innovative community-level program, design, and policy solutions to create more walkable, bicycle- and transit-friendly cities and towns.

2.5 CM