2014 Local Government Exchange

2014 Western Maryland Local Government Exchange

Affording a Quality Community:

Balancing the Quality of Life Versus the Cost of Living

Friday, May 9, 2014 - 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Ramada Plaza Hotel

1718 Underpass Way, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740: (301) 797-2500

Hosted by the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, University of Maryland Extension, and the Western Maryland Local Government Exchange Steering Committee. Event funding is provided by the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund, the Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association, and University of MD Extension.

We are pleased to provide the opportunity for you to attend the 8th annual Western Maryland Local Government Exchange. The Exchange’s goal is to provide an event where local government representatives can share information concerning best management practices for land use and other issues. The focus this year is on “Balancing the Quality of Life Versus the Cost of Living”.

Agenda topics include:

• Assess and understand what our community has at the moment (Strengthening the Local Housing Stock)
• Discuss and consider what our community wants to plan for the future (Environmental Regulatory Mandates: The Cost of Implementation)
• Determine how to pay for the plans (The Changing Face of Energy in Western Maryland)

The complete agenda is available at: https://extension.umd.edu/woodland/events

Thanks to our funders, the registration fee is $25 per participant. Registrations and payments must be received by Friday, May 2, 2014 unless other arrangements have been made.

** No refunds will be issued after May 2, 2014

AICP CM credits have been previously granted to those that attend the Local Government Exchange and we anticipate they will be granted again this year, but approval is pending.

To register by mail and pay by check:

• Complete the registration form
• Mail your check payable to the University of Maryland ($25 per participant) with your registration form to: Pam Thomas, University of Maryland Extension, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, Maryland 21756-1104. Please include the participant name on the check. If paying for more than one participant, please include the names of all participants
• Receipts for both type of payments will be provided at the meeting.

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2014 Western Maryland Local Government Exchange

Affording a Quality Community: Balancing the Quality of Life versus the Cost of Living

Friday, May 9, 2014

Ramada Plaza Hotel, 1718 Underpass Way, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740

Agenda

9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Jim Wieprecht, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer, City of Taneytown

on behalf of the steering committee

9:10 a.m. Keynote: How do we become affordably sustainable under the largely urban definition used in MD? How will rural areas achieve it and how will it affect the cost of living (housing, environment, and energy)? What are the employment and regulatory issues?

Facilitator: Dave Umling

9:40 a.m. Session 1: Breakout – Topic: Strengthening Local Communities and Encouraging Investment.

Economic changes have impacted the quality and quantity of housing stocks in communities. This session will discuss trends in different types of housing stocks and business-based strategies to improve them.

Presenter: Tamar Osterman, Frederick County Realtor Association & Carroll County Realtor Association

Facilitator: Ted Shankle, Director, Hagerstown Housing Authority – Washington County

10:40 a.m. Break

10:55 a.m. Session 2: Environmental Regulatory Mandates: Reasonableness of Implementation.

Counties and municipalities in western Maryland are dealing with the implementation of the TMDL regulations and how to implement best practices in a cost effective fashion to get the most impact. This session will provide the county and municipal perspective.

Presenters: Shannon Moore, Director, Sustainability and Environment Resources, Frederick County, Jim Bender, Assistant City Engineer, City of Hagerstown

Facilitator: Alex Rohrbaugh, Planner, City of Hagerstown

11:40 Session 3: Recap of the 2014 Legislative Session

Presenters: Les Knapp, Legal and Policy Counsel, Maryland Association of

Counties Tom Curtin, Associate, Governmental Relations and

Research, Maryland Municipal League

Colby Ferguson, government Relations Director, MD Farm Bureau

12:30 p.m. Networking Lunch

1:30 p.m. Session 4: The Changing Face of Energy in Western Maryland

Changes are occurring in the mix of energy sources due to new regulation and new technologies. This session will investigate some of the potential economic implications for the five western Maryland counties.

Commercial Wood Energy A Reality

Presenter: Jonathan Kays, Extension Special Natural Resources, University of Maryland Extension

Changing market demand with Electricity: Changes in How Power is Generated and Distributed to the Region

Presenter: John emerick, Alleghany Power

New Hydroelectric Potential in Western Maryland

Presenter: Shawn Seaman, Power Plant Site Assessor, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Update on Marcellus Shale and the Governor’s Safe Drilling Initiative

Presenter: Brigid Kenney, Senior Policy Advisor, Maryland Department of Environment

Facilitator: Dave Umling, City Planner, City of Cumberland

2:45 p.m. Recap of Day's Sessions: Next Steps

Presenters: Alan Imhoff, Alex Rohrbaugh, Dave Umling

3:00 p.m. Adjourn

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MAIL REGISTRATION FORM AND CHECK TO:

Pam Thomas

University of Maryland Extension

18330 Keedysville Road

Keedysville, MD 21756-1104

Ph: (301) 432-2767 x315; FAX: (301) 432-4089; pthomas@umd.edu

*Registration fee is $25.00 per person. Please make checks payable to the University of Maryland

Registrations and payments must be received by Friday, May 2, 2014 unless other arrangements have been made.

** No refunds will be issued after May 2, 2014

If you have a disability that requires special assistance for your participation in a program please contact Pam Thomas at the University of Maryland Extension Western Maryland Research and Education Center at 301-432-2767, Fax: 301-432-4089, at least two weeks prior to the program.

The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.

For additional information about registration or payment, please contact Pam Thomas at pthomas@umd.edu or (301) 432-2767. For additional information about the program, contact Nancy Nunn at nnunn@umd.edu or (410) 827-8056, ext. 128.