Tag: Urban Planning

Meet our RARE participants: Stephen Dobrinich & City of Creswell

Posted on January 9, 2013December 12, 2013 by Admin

Stephen Dobrinich grew up in Brecksville, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati. As a student, Stephen interned as a GIS specialist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as well as Cleveland Metroparks. Additionally, he completed a senior thesis cataloguing vacant land and identifying areas for redevelopment in the Hough neighborhood in Cleveland. Following his second year as a Community Development Coordinator for the City of Creswell, Stephen hopes to find work in the community development field.

Placement: City of Creswell

Population: 5,015

Location: Creswell

Sponsor: City of Creswell

Supervisor: Mark Shrives

County: Lane

Willamette Valley. City Planning.

The City of Creswell is one of the fastest growing communities in Lane County. Currently, it has a population of approximately 5,015 with a projected population of 12,172 by 2035. The City maintains a number of local facilities including but not necessarily limited to a general aviation airport, community center, civic center, parks, water plant, and wastewater treatment plant. In addition to City Council, the City has a Planning Commission, Airport Commission, Parks Advisory Board, and Chamber of Commerce. Incorporated in 1891, the City of Creswell is led by an elected Mayor, a City Administrator and six City Councilors.

The RARE participant placed with the City of Creswell will build upon a wide array of local initiatives. Using existing momentum, the RARE participant will assist with development of a number of community-based planning documents, such as a Community Vision Action Plan, an Airport Marketing Plan and an Emergency Preparedness Plan. Also, the RARE participant will help move forward a number of endeavors that have been successfully developed and implemented by past RARE participants. Ongoing projects for which past RARE participants have been responsible for include management of the Cobalt Building Redevelopment Project, planning and development of Creswell’s Earth Day Celebration and providing oversight for Creswell’s Social Services Office.

Meet our RARE participants: Katya Reyna & City of Florence

Posted on January 8, 2013December 12, 2013 by Admin

Katya received her Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Public Affairs from the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a student, she participated in the Institute of Public and Civic Engagement’s Urban Public Policy Fellowship Program (UPPFP). The UPPFP entailed an internship at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, where Katya was assigned to work with an environmental planner that focused on food policy and systems in Chicago and its surrounding counties. While in school, Katya also studied abroad in both India and the Netherlands. After attaining her Bachelors Degree, Katya decided to apply to the RARE Program in hopes of applying her education and experience in a rural context. Following her year with the RARE Program, Katya hopes to complete a master’s degree in urban planning.

Placement: City of Florence

Population: 8,466

Location: Florence

Sponsor: City of Florence

Supervisor: Jacque Betz

County: Lane

Coast. City Planning.

The Florence area was originally inhabited by the Siuslaw tribe of Native Americans. In the second half of the 19th century, Anglo-Americans permanently settled the area that would become Florence. This rugged frontier community depended on the logging and fishing trades for its economic survival. The town incorporated in 1893 and hit a population of 300 in the year 1900, a year when it was proud to boast a lumber mill, two general stores, two canneries, a saloon, and a weekly newspaper. Incorporated in 1893, the City of Florence is led by an elected Mayor, a City Manager and four City Councilors.

The RARE participant placed with the City of Florence will help build organizational and community capacity in a number of important arenas. Specifically, the participant will work with an array of local businesses and organizations to increase participation in the City’s efforts to reduce solid waste; work with City staff to improve the level of customer service in the processing of land use applications; and help implement a number of projects/programs indentified in the City’s Transportation System Plan.

Tag: Urban Planning

Take Action