Events

November Citizens Planning Academy

October 10, 2019 by Sarah

Where do I start? A step-by-step guide to taking action.

Wednesday, November 6th at 6 PM. Free and open to the public.

Attend Online:

Join remotely from any internet-connected device by clicking this link:
https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/110700170

Attend In Person:

U of I Legacy Pointe Conference Room, Idaho Water Center, 322 E. Front Street, Boise. Free off-street parking is available in the Idaho Water Center and Ada County Courthouse garages. More information and links maps can be found here.

About our Speakers:

November 6th is the final Citizens Planning Academy of our 2019 series, and we are going out on a high note. After a year of learning, we are ready to take action!

Join Mark Baltes and Cynthia Gibson as they present “Where do I start? A step by step guide to taking action.”

Mark Baltes is the current president of the North End Neighborhood Association. A longtime Boise resident, Mark grew up on the bench and attended Boise State University. An entrepreneur, his graphics business has been located in Garden City’s Live, Work, Create District since 1979. He has lived in all areas of the valley before settling into the North End in 1995.

Since the ‘90s he has been actively engaged in community and preservation issues, serving 20 years on the NENA board before becoming its current president. Mark has also served on the Historic Preservation Commission for the city of Boise as well as History Committee Chairman emeritus with the Department of Arts and History.

Cynthia Gibson is the executive director of Idaho Walk Bike Alliance. She has lived in Boise for the last twenty-plus years after leaving the east coast congestion behind. She has loved every single moment in Idaho and now considers this vast state her home.

Cynthia is passionate about being outdoors, whether she is travelling to work or recreating in Idaho’s wilderness. Working for Idaho Walk Bike Alliance allows her to share her love to move more and drive less, which she relishes every day. Now that she has landed her dream job, she enjoys connecting with all the amazing advocates throughout the state to make their communities safer, healthier and more liveable.

The C.P.A. is a collaboration of Idaho Smart Growth and the University of Idaho’s College of Law in Boise and Bioregional Planning Program. Monthly sessions are designed to help citizens become effective advocates on a wide range of planning topics. Learn more about the Citizens Planning Academy here.

RSVP office@idahosmartgrowth.org. Learn more about the series here or view past session videos on our YouTube channel.

2019 Grow Smart Awards Announced

October 1, 2019 by Sarah

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Grow Smart Awards, to be honored at our annual awards celebration on Wednesday, November 13, at the Linen Building in downtown Boise. This year’s program highlights smart growth examples from a cross-section of five Idaho places.

Smart growth strategies help communities bring positive social, environmental and economic benefits to all residents, visitors and local businesses. For the past fifteen years Idaho Smart Growth has presented these awards to recognize projects, plans and other efforts from around the state that illustrate smart growth “in action.” Award nominations are reviewed and selected by a jury of experts for their application of smart growth principles.

The evening event includes a reception and awards presentation and will feature a short talk by Robert Liberty, a leading advocate for smart growth strategies. Liberty currently is director of the Institute for Sustainable Studies at Portland State University. Prior to PSU, he served two terms as a Metro councilor (the Portland area’s regional elected government), was senior counsel to Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer and a staff attorney and executive director at 1000 Friends of Oregon, one of the nation’s first smart growth organizations.

Wednesday, November 13th
5 PM – 7 PM
The Linen Building,
1402 W Grove St Boise, ID 83702

Click to RSVP

Table sponsorships also available; contact sarah@idahosmartgrowth.org.

2019 Award Recipients:

Lewiston City Library

This project relocated and expanded the public library through the adaptive reuse of a 1900s hardware store and in doing so helped to spur revitalization of the 5th Street corridor in Lewiston’s historic downtown.

Boise River Greenbelt

The Greenbelt is a linear riverbank parkway that was planned over 50 years ago and is now Boise’s premier natural asset, providing significant recreational, environmental, economic and social benefits.

Kootenai Street Traffic Calming

This is a citizen-driven plan that will calm vehicle traffic, improve walking and biking and reclaim a distinctive neighborhood street in Boise. The innovative design is a result of intensive planning and collaboration by a wide range of stakeholders.

McCall in Motion

McCall in Motion was the robust public outreach process for two separate planning projects in McCall—it brought together the outreach efforts in land use and transportation planning to create efficiencies and maximize input. The result is an example of community collaboration leading to a more holistic vision of a multimodal city.

Eljay Waite—Charles Hummel Award

This award is given by the Idaho Smart Growth Board of Directors in honor of architect, civic leader and Idaho Smart Growth cofounder Charles Hummel. The 2019 award is given to Eljay Waite, longtime finance director and urban renewal chairman for the city of Caldwell. Eljay developed the funding for a wide range of civic, educational and open space projects that have completely transformed Caldwell. In his retirement, he continues to consult on Caldwell URA projects and is currently assisting the agency in planning for new urban renewal districts.