Commissioners

lecture session at a conferenceLouisiana Act 859 and Revised Statute Title 33,  33:103.1 mandates four (4) hours of approved training for planning commissioners, advisory board members, historic district commissioners, and boards of zoning adjustment before or during their first year of public service in this role. APA-LA offers periodic training sessions to new commissioners and advisory board members covering the topics of duties, responsibilities, and ethics.

§103.1.  Training requirements; commission and advisory board members
A.  All appointed members of parish and municipal planning commissions and of advisory boards to such commissions, including boards of zoning adjustment, shall receive at least four hours of training in the duties, responsibilities, ethics, and substance of the positions held or to be held, either prior to taking office or no later than one year after office is assumed. All training shall be approved by the parish or municipal planning commission or advisory board.
B.  The provisions of this Section shall only apply to members appointed to such boards and commissions on or after July 12, 2004.

Two seasoned, AICP certified planners serve as Planning Commission Education Chairpersons, offering two or more events annually in different areas of the state. One training is always held during our annual conference (which rotate around the state on a four-year cycle,) the other training varies in time and location but attempts to reach populations not able to attend the conference event. Our Planning Commissioner Trainers are:

  • Mart Black, AICP - Director of the Coastal Restoration and Preservation Department of Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government
  • Joanne Poret, AICP - Director of Planning & Zoning at the City of Monroe

Here are a few Planning Commissioner resources from our old website: Planning Commissioner Content