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Department of Urban and Regional Planning
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Old Music Hall/925 Bascom Mall; Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-1004
Spring 2016
URPL 590: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
1 Credit Module
9:00-11:30 a.m. (Jan 22nd, Jan 29th, Feb 5th, Feb 12th, and Feb 19th)
Room 208, Old Music Hall
Instructor:
Sonja Reichertz, AICP
City Planner & Economic Development
Director, City of Monona
sreichertz@ci.monona.wi.us
(608) 222-2525
Office Hours:
Upon request from 11:30-12:30 p.m. on
Fridays, 204 Old Music Hall, or by
appointment or email.
COURSE OVERVIEW: This course will introduce students to professional practice in urban
planning and related fields. The course will focus on project management in a professional
context and will prepare students for the fall 2016 Workshop focused on the UniverCity
Alliance planning projects with the City of Monona. The 590 course covers overall project
management approaches as well as “nuts and bolts” techniques including communicating
effectively, facilitating meetings, and engaging stakeholders. Course topics covered
include:
• Class 1 - January 22, 2016: Workshop Introduction, the Life of a Planner
• Class 2 - January 29, 2016: UniverCity Alliance and Project Management
• Class 3 - February 5, 2016: Facilitation, Meeting Management & Public Participation
• Class 4 - February 12, 2016: City Visit and Project Overviews
• Class 5 - February 19, 2016: Team Presentations and Course Summary
Active participation in class discussions is expected and will help ensure the most
productive examination of course concepts. As this is only a five-week course, please let
me know ahead of time if you anticipate needing to miss any of the classes.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Consistent with our program’s accreditation (Planning
Accreditation Board), this course is designed to provide students with certain knowledge,
skills, and values central to the planning profession. Knowledge: as a result of this class,
students will be expected to understand and generally appreciate the purpose and meaning
of planning, including ideas about planning and the role of planners, and the institutional
contexts within which planning occurs. Skills: students in this class will develop skills in
communication, plan creation, planning process methods, and leadership, including
methods for team building, stakeholder involvement, project management, meeting

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facilitation, and public participation techniques. Values and ethics: students will be
expected to understand and apply ethical principles to planning in a democratic society and
understand key issues of ethical planning practice, including issues of governance and
participation.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: It is assumed that students are familiar with the policies,
definitions and procedures regarding academic misconduct, as specified in UWS 14. Under
the policies regarding academic misconduct, an instructor has discretion as to which
penalties will be imposed. The most frequent cases of academic misconduct involve
inadequate attribution or citation of source materials gathered from the internet. Students
who are unfamiliar with standards of citation and attribution should consult the Writing
Center. See: http://www.wisc.edu/writing/
RECOMMENDED READINGS: This course will include two sets of readings. The first set is
designed to expose students to different perspectives on professional practice and project
management. The second set is intended to prepare students for the UniverCity Year
projects to be carried out in the fall 2016 Workshop course. Please be prepared to discuss
the readings during class. All of the readings for this class will be available digitally.
Professional Practice:
• Project Management for Planners, a Practical Guide. Terry A. Clark, AICP, PMP.
Introduction and Chapter 4.
UniverCity Year & City of Monona:
• UniverCity Alliance Background Materials (to be distributed)
• Housing:
• City of Monona Draft Comprehensive Plan 2016-2036: Introduction, Issues &
Opportunities, and Housing Element.
• Connected Monona – Radio & Municipal Broadband:
• Dunham, C. (2015, September 19). A Voice for Monona, a New Low-Power
Radio Station Gets Residents Talking. Isthmus
• Glaze, J. (2015, February 2015). Focus on Dane County: Monona Eyes Mid-
July Launch for Radio Station. Wisconsin State Journal.
• Transportation:
• Rickert, C. (2014, December 23). Now Broadcasting from the City Where the
Sidewalk Ends. Wisconsin State Journal.
• City of Monona Draft Comprehensive Plan 2016-2036, Transportation
Element
• Parks:
• City of Monona, Draft Parks and Open Space Plan, January 15, 2015, pages
22-23.

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ASSIGNMENTS: Students are expected to complete the recommended readings prior to
each class. Written assignments are described below:
• Read recommended readings as listed for each class.
• Written Assignment #1: Personal project management chart (hardcopy due
February 5th at Class #3)
• Written Assignment #2: Each team develops one draft written approach/scope of
services for each project. (hardcopy due February 19th at Class #5)
• Oral Presentation Assignment: Each team presents project scope of services (copy of
slides due February 19th at Class #5). Students sit on evaluation panel for one other
team presentation. Additional guidance to be provided.
• Written Assignment #3: Prepare a 2-page paper summarizing the course and key
lessons learned for professional practice (due February 26th by email).
GRADES: Each student will be expected to participate individually and as a member of
small teams. Grades will be based on the following schedule:
• Attendance and participation (15%)
• Written Assignment #1: Project Management Chart (15%)
• Written Assignment #2: Scope of Services (30%)
• Oral Presentation Assignment (25%)
• Written Assignment #3: Course Summary (15%)

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COURSE SCHEDULE
Class 1: January 22, 2016: Workshop Introduction, the Life of a Planner
1. 590 Course Outline and Expectations
2. Introductions
3. Workshop Introduction
o UniverCity Alliance Overview
 Wisconsin Idea
 Other campus models
o City of Monona Overview
 Government structure
 Issues & Opportunities
 Review of four City of Monona UniverCity Year projects.
4. The Life of a (Public) Planner
o Municipal Planner Perspectives:
 Basic Responsibilities:
• Administer the codes
• Facilitate implementation of plans
• Draft new plans (or hire consultants to draft them) at the request
of elected and appointed officials
• Advise policy makers, elected and appointed officials
• Act as liaison between the public, developers, business owners,
and the government.
• Meetings, meetings, meetings!
 Additional Responsibilities:
• Incremental improvements
• Visioning
• Advocating
• Researching
• Facilitating meetings and negotiation skills
Readings Completed Prior to Class #1:
• Housing: City of Monona Draft Comprehensive Plan 2016-2036: Introduction, Issues
& Opportunities, and Housing Element.
• Connected Monona – Radio & Municipal Broadband:
• Dunham, C. (2015, September 19). A Voice for Monona, a New Low-Power
Radio Station Gets Residents Talking. Isthmus
• Glaze, J. (2015, February 2015). Focus on Dane County: Monona Eyes Mid-
July Launch for Radio Station. Wisconsin State Journal.
• Transportation:
• Rickert, C. (2014, December 23). Now Broadcasting from the City Where the
Sidewalk Ends. Wisconsin State Journal.
• City of Monona Draft Comprehensive Plan 2016-2036, Transportation
Element
• Parks: City of Monona, Parks and Open Space Plan, January 15, 2015, pp. 22-23.

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Class 2: January 29, 2016: UniverCity Alliance and Project Management
1. Jason Vargo, UniverCity Alliance: higher education model, Monona-UW pilot
partnership, role of URPL, other campus departments
2. Mayor Bob Miller, City of Monona: Monona’s participation, expectations for the City of
Monona
3. Ken Genskow, URPL Chair: relationship to Fall 2016 workshop, internal URPL roles for
workshop
4. Project Management
• Video – Zen and The Art of Project Management, Jim Barnes, AICP.
• What is project management?
i. Initiating
ii. Planning
iii. Executing
iv. Controlling
v. Closing
• Why do we need project management?
• Why planners make good project managers.
• Project management approaches and software.
• Perspectives and review of written assignment #1.
Readings Completed Prior to Class #2:
• UniverCity Alliance Background Readings (to be distributed).
• Project Management for Planners, a Practical Guide. Terry A. Clark, AICP, PMP.
Introduction and Chapter 4.
Assignment:
• Written Assignment #1: Personal Project Management Chart due at Class #3

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Class 3: February 5, 2016: Facilitation, Meeting Management and Public Participation
1. Facilitation and Meeting Management: distinct from public participation, but focused on
the role of planner as facilitator and meeting manager in multiple settings (with elected
officials, city staff, multiple agencies/organizations, with consultants, and with various
stakeholder and public groups).
2. Guest speaker: Scott Harrington, AICP, Principal Planner - Vandewalle & Associates
o Overview of role of private consultant
o Who do I involve in a project and how?
 Building ownership
 Obtaining public input and feedback
 Understanding the public
 Designing input tools
 The art of listening
 Interpreting input
o Identifying and involving other key stakeholders
 Recognizing the value of their time
 Balancing input (including maintaining perspective)
o Working with political decision makers and administrators
 Dealing with different styles
 Understanding assignments, priorities, and levels of involvement
o Basic stakeholder involvement tools
 Surveys
 Vision/goal setting forums
 Design charettes/visual preference exercises
 Interviews/focus groups
 Workshops
 Open houses
 Web/email
 Regular committee meetings and communications
o Challenges
 Balancing competing input
 When to get input
 Matching appropriate tools to project
 How much input is enough?
 Involving underrepresented groups
 Dealing with difficult people
3. Public Participation Exercise (30-40 minutes)
Assignments:
• Written Assignment #2: Each team develops one written approach/scope of services
for each project (hardcopy due February 19, 2016).
• Oral Presentation Assignment: Each team presents project scope at final class (copy
of slides due on February 19, 2016).
• Students sit on “evaluation panel” for one other team presentation. Additional guidance
to be provided.

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Class 4: February 12, 2016: City Visit and Project Overviews
1. Class will meet at 9:00am in Monona. Specific location TBD.
• Presentation from Sonja Reichertz (Housing & Economic Development)
• Presentation from Jake Anderson (Parks & Recreation)
• Presentation from Will Nimmow (Media & Municipal Internet Service)
• Presentation from Brad Bruun (Transportation)
2. Remaining class time to ask questions of presenters and work on scope of services and
oral presentation.
Assignment:
• Written Assignment #2 (Scope of Services) and Oral Presentation due at Class 5, on
February 19, 2016.
Class 5: February 19, 2016: Team Presentations and Course Summary
1. Team Presentations
2. Course Summary
• Questionnaire to determine interest in key topic areas for workshop
• Identification of workshop project resources
• Between now and fall: opportunities to remain engaged
Assignment:
• Written Assignment #3: Prepare a 2-3-page paper, double-spaced, summarizing the
course and key lessons learned for professional practice. Due on February 26, 2016 by
email.