AICP Exam Review Course August, 2004AICP Exam Review CourseTest Taking SkillsPlanning History & TheoryEthical Scenario #1Ethical Scenario #2Slide 7Ethical Scenario #3Ethical Scenario #4Ethical Scenario #5AICP Exam Review CourseAugust, 2004Presented by:Prof. Tony Filipovitch, Ph.D.Prof. David Laverny-Rafter, Ph.D., AICPMinnesota State Univ., Mankato, MN [email protected] [email protected] Exam Review CourseOutline of Presentation:Test Taking SkillsPlanning History and Influential PlannersQuantitative MethodsPlanning EthicsTest Taking SkillsComputer Exam Format-See On-Line Exam on AICP web site (www.planning.org)Type of exam questionsTest taking notation system – see pp.27-35 of 2004 Exam Study ManualDifficult areas for past test takers: (1) Plan making-includes data analysis, GIS, demographics, etc. (2)Public sector planning-includes ethics, budgeting, citizen participationFor recommended reading list, go to “selected readings” at www.planning.org/certificationPlanning History & Theory Planning History Timeline (1785-2002):see pp. 41-47 of 2004 Exam Study ManualInfluential Planners: see pp. 47-50 of Study ManualGood Stuff to know- see pp. 50-54 of Study ManualFor history reading, see Practice of Local Government Planning, 3rd ed. By C. Hoch et.alFor theory reading, see Planning Theory for Practitioners by M. Brooks and “Comparison of Current Planning Theories” by B. Hudson. JAPA, vol.42, no.4 (pp. 387-406Ethical Scenario #1SOURCE: “Ethics in Planning: You Be the Judge,” Carol D. Barrett (Planning, November, 1984)Potential Conflict of InterestsThe county council is considering an ordinance that would drastically increase the water and sewage fees for rental units. The county’s housing planner has analyzed the proposal and feels that the proposed fees are excessive because the amount of water consumed by apartment units is far less than that of single-family houses. The planner also feels the rate hikes will exacerbate the county’s existing rental housing shortage by encouraging the conversion of rental units to condominiums.The planner prepares a staff report that recommends that the revised fee structure not be approved. However, the planner does not declare a potential conflict of interests, even though her husband owns a small rental property.Was the behavior of the planner who prepared the staff report ethical, probably ethical, probably unethical, unethical, not sure?Ethical Scenario #2Letter to the EditorA city planner writes a letter to the editor of a local newspaper. The letter compliments the county’s planning commission on its refusal to approve a rezoning request that would have allowed further industrial development. The planner signs the letter with his name and home address only. The city’s planning director agrees with the planner’s conclusions and even notes that the comments expressed are of a professional, not a political, nature.The letter to the editor provokes behind-the-scenes activity in which pressure is put on the planning director to fire the planner. The director refuses. Instead, he inserts a memo in the office file listing several “legitimate vehicles”—going to meetings and giving speeches—through which staff planners can express themselves publicly. The planner also is told to use more discretion in the future and never to sign his own name to such a letter.Was the behavior of the planner who wrote the letter ethical, probably ethical, probably unethical, unethical, not sure?Ethical Scenario #2Gag OrderSeveral city planners oppose a freeway system plan that was adopted by a regional planning agency. They contend that the original staff plan has been emasculated and that the final product discredits the profession.The city’s planning director, who supports the freeway system plan, refuses to allow her staff to express public opposition to the plan, either as professionals or as citizens. She threatens to fire any planners who disobey her orders in this matter.The planners draft a statement for presentation at the local APA chapter meeting, but then receive word from a reliable source that pressure will be put on the planning director to fire them if such a statement is presented. Fearing for their jobs, the planners do not make any statements in opposition to the freeway system. But they do tell the local APA chapter, at a meeting attended by the director, that they have been forbidden from taking a public position on the freeway system plan.Was the behavior of the planning director in threatening to fire her employees ethical, probably ethical, probably unethical, unethical, not sure?Ethical Scenario #3Employment OpportunityA small city of 25,000 on a lovely lake is being wooed by several hotel entrepreneurs. In evaluating the various proposals, the city’s planning staff has been asked for information about the number and types of jobs to be made available and, also, how many of these jobs would be targeted to city residents.In reviewing the data submitted, the staff notices that the jobs are segregated by sex. For example, women are to be employed in the coffee shops as waitresses and men are to work in the main restaurant as waiters.A member of the planning staff meets with a planning commissioner to discuss this matter, and the commissioner volunteers to contact the developer and challenge the hotel’s policies. A debate develops among the planners, with some arguing that the management of the hotel is outside the purview of their responsibilities.Was the behavior of the planner who contacted the commissioner ethical, probably ethical, probably unethical, unethical, not sure?Ethical Scenario #4Saving the WetlandsA regional planner who worked on a wetlands preservation study gives certain findings to an environmental group, without receiving authorization from the director of the agency. The planner took his action because he felt the director had purposely left out of the study report those findings that did not support the agency’s official policies. The findings that were deleted had been well documented.Was the behavior of the planner who released the information ethical, probably ethical, probably unethical, unethical, not sure?Ethical Scenario #5Release of Development InformationThe staff of a state planning agency is reviewing a development proposal. Most of the data it has