April
2005 Design Session
Public
Officials
Martin County Commissioner Doug Smith, Fellsmere
Councilman Joel Tyson, Stuart Mayor Mike Mortell,
Oakland Park Commissioner Layne Walls, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
Commissioner Chuck Clark
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Session
Summary
The Florida
Public Officials Design Institute at Abacoa, dedicated
to improving South Florida communities by offering training
in smart growth and design, hosted its sixth session
in Jupiter, Florida, on April 14 & 15, 2005. Four
public officials learned first hand how to apply sound
design principles to their cities, based upon the projects
they brought to the Institute. April's session included
the communities of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Oakland Park,
Fellsmere and Stuart, the latter collaborating on a
project with Martin County.
The two-day session began
with teams of design experts visiting the communities
for site tours by the officials and presentations by staff.
Later that evening, on April 14th, the Design Institute
participants joined the public for a keynote lecture by
Walter Kulash, a leading transportation planner, at the
Florida Atlantic University Jupiter Campus Auditorium.
The second
day of the Design Institute consisted of a workshop
during which the resource experts addressed the challenges
of each project. Through facilitated brainstorming,
the team suggested ideas, developed alternative solutions
and made recommendations. At day's end each public official
left with a flip chart of short and long-term recommendations
and drawings, as well as a sense of optimism about creating
a place of distinction in their community. The Design
Institute staff will continue to monitor the progress
of these locales, as well as the other 18 communities
that have participated in this innovative program.
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