2025 OAPA/WP/TIPD Annual Planning Conference 2025 Conference Call for Sessions Open!

The Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association (OAPA), Western Planner (WP), and the Tribal & Indigenous Planning Division of APA (TIPD) invite submissions for session proposals for the 2025 OAPA/WP/TIPD Annual Planning Conference, held October 15-17, 2025, at The Riverhouse Lodge in Bend, Oregon.

This year’s conference will be different from past conferences. This year, we are excited to partner with Western Planner and the APA Tribal and Indigenous Division. We encourage you to include presenters from the other Western Planner states. Panels from other states are good, and integrated panels with presenters from multiple states are even better.

Western Planner conferences are well known for featuring sessions with “hands-on” topics such as code writing, sign regulation, manufactured housing issues, water resource management and planning, wildfire prevention, and subdivision regulation.

Voices of the West: Planning in an Era of Transformation – Across the American West, communities are navigating rapid change — climate shifts, housing pressures, demographic transitions, technological innovation, and evolving expectations for justice and equity. In this transformation era, local and regional planners are uniquely positioned to respond to these trends and signals through collaboration and planning to create better community outcomes. This year’s conference intends to be a confluence of diverse viewpoints and invites reflection, dialogue, and ingenuity as we explore how planning can respond to the challenges of our time.

Call for Session Information

Outstanding Chapter Volunteer Jonathan Harker Recognized as Outstanding Chapter Volunteer

OAPA volunteer Jonathan Harker is being recognized by APA National as an Outstanding Chapter Volunteer for 2024. Nominees for this award are volunteers who have demonstrated commitment and leadership and played a key role in supporting and enhancing their chapter's mission.

Jonathan has been a volunteer with OAPA's Legislative and Policy Affairs Committee (LPAC) since 2019. During that time, he represented OAPA on the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rule-making advisory committee, which led to new statewide rules. Last year, he stepped up to the role of committee Chair. In that role, Jonathan has worked tirelessly to lead LPAC, facilitating monthly meetings, serving as a liaison to the OAPA Board of Directors, and working with a legislative advocate to ensure LPAC and OAPA have a voice in the current legislative session. To date, LPAC has provided testimony on 18 bills related to OAPA priorities around housing, transportation, climate, and public participation. Jonathan was also instrumental in the creation of House Bill 2950, which would implement much needed updates to Statewide Planning Goal 1: Citizen Involvement. He is currently working with State representatives, other organizations, and OAPA’s legislative advocate as HB 2950 advances through the legislative process.

Please join us in congratulating Jonathan on this award and thanking him for his steadfast dedication to OAPA!

To learn more about LAPC's legislative priorities and to see testimony submitted by Jonathan and LPAC on behalf of OAPA, visit the LPAC website here