President’s Update: February 2022
by Hollie Colony, PLA, ASLA
January was a month full of winter weather, but it did not slow down the planning efforts of the Executive Committee. We met in 3 different small sessions over the course of the month to review the previous year and plan for the following year. It was also a great opportunity for our new Executive Committee members to get acquainted with everyone.
During one of the first planning sessions, we identified 5 goals for the year we wanted to work on. We then worked through each of them in groups and broke them down into manageable plans we felt were measurable and achievable. The goals were:
Develop a licensure advocacy plan
Continue to offer vendors event sponsorship opportunities
Hold new member webinars twice a year
Consider expanding student award programs
Highlight scholarships, fellowships, and internships available for students
A part of the great brainstorming sessions was to identify people on the Executive Committee to champion these goals. If any of these goals sound interesting and you would like to know more about them or are interested in helping in any way, please reach out, we will put you in contact with the appropriate person!
Other topics included approving the 2022 budget, hearing about the updates to NCBLA, and learning more about the current and 2021 lobbying and legislative efforts. Our lobbyist specifically discussed the following bills and provided this great summary of information for us,
Tree ordinance prohibition - this was originally introduced in H496 and later added to the House budget. After strong grassroots advocacy from NCASLA and its members, the language was not included in the final budget and thus not enacted. See here: H496v3.pdf (ncleg.gov)
State budget - fortunately the Governor and lawmakers were able to agree on a budget this year which enabled the significant surplus and federal relief revenue to be appropriated. Among other things, the final budget funded a new $100M local government stormwater grant fund and appropriated $24.2M in FY21-22 and again in FT22-23 to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
Board combination - S188 combined the NC Board of Architecture with the Interior Designers. The bill was ultimately enacted after both groups agreed on terms. The new combined board is the NC Board of Architecture and Registered Interior Designers. Landscape Architects were never implicated. See here: S188v4.pdf (ncleg.gov)
Regulatory Reform - This year's regulatory reform bill - H366 - authorized a study by NCDEQ of the state's existing fast track permitting processes. DEQ is required to make a report on its findings and recommended changes to the Environmental Review Commission by March 1, 2022. We will review that report closely to ensure that there are no proposed changes to the professionals named in the fast track permitting statute. See here: H366v7.pdf (ncleg.gov)
Another highlight was getting to have lunch with the students at NC A&T. Thank you to Landscape Forms for sponsoring this! It was truly a great opportunity for the students and members of the Executive Committee to meet and learn more about each other and hear about their internships and how their school year is going. I for one am very excited to see what their futures hold and cannot wait to see them as they get to head out on some Firm Visits this year!
Lastly, don’t forget to get your award submittals in for 2022 (deadline 2/24) and to sign up for the 2022 NCASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture, Conference on Confluence, Thursday May 19 – Saturday May 21st in Wilmington, NC. I’ll be looking forward to being on the coast in May and seeing you all in person. Until then, stay warm and stay safe!