In September of last year, a the Florida Board of Professional Engineers proposed to create a definition for "traffic engineering" (Rule 61G15-18.011, F.A.C.). Upon review by the FLASLA Government Affairs Committee, this rule proposed to restrict and exclude certain area of the practice of landscape architecture, giving only a professional engineer the ability to plan and design for transportation related elements such as roads, parking lots, bike paths, etc.

 

Welcome to the 20th piece of my Trustee report series where I share a few notes and items from our national organization over the last month or so. Remind people who may have lapsed in their membership to rejoin and that payment options are available. Please feel free to contact me at Trustee@FLASLA.org if you have any questions or concerns about ASLA issues.

 

The Smokey Hollow Historic American Landscapes Survey in Tallahassee is bringing national media attention to the ASLA Florida chapter. The project made the cut at the national level and ranked #1 in Florida in the HABS/HAER/HALS webpage celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act illustrating documentation that has been influential in preserving historic architecture, landscapes and engineering sites across the United States. See it here. Smokey Hollow also was featured in the Fall 2015 Landscape Issue of The Alliance Review, the publication of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions.

 

One of Dade County's first public recreation areas, historic Greynolds Park located in North Miami Beach on the banks of the Oleta River was designed by Landscape Architect William Lyman Phillips and constructed by the Great Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps between 1936 and 1939.

 

We have recently been dealing with a new threat to the practice of landscape architecture. Attached is a Notice of Proposed Rule for 61G15-18.011, F.A.C., which purports to create a definition of "traffic engineering" that would restrict a huge list of tasks to only engineers.

 

TRAFFIC AND MARINE ENGINEERING RULES Earlier this month, the Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE) met in Tallahassee. They withdrew the Traffic Engineering Rule. However, they are reconvening their Traffic Engineering Rules Committee to draft another version of the rule. The GAC will need to discuss whether the chapter should participate in the committee meetings, and who should attend. The FBPE did not take up the marine engineering rule. If it moves forward, it will need to be published, so we will have a point of entry to make comments and propose a Lower Cost Regulatory Alternative.

 

Deena R. Bell, Membership and Leadership chair for ASLA FL was re-elected to continue serving on the City of Miami Beach Design Review Board for a term of two more years. This appointment by Mayor Philip Levine and the City Commissioners is important for the profession of landscape architecture because it puts our profession in the forefront of urban planning solutions relating to building and development City- wide. The design review board studies projects proposed for renovation or new construction for aesthetics and functionality, and currently is especially focusing on environmental issues and sea level rise initiatives to create creative ways to solve the City's flooding problems.  The design review board is broadcast on local television during each monthly meeting. Please visit the City of Miami Beach website to view these podcasts to see landscape architects alongside architects, attorneys, real estate developers, public office holders, and environmentalists at work assisting with important planning and development decisions.

 

Adam McCollister, Member at Large for Public Relations and Marketing, represented Florida ASLA at the 2016 National ASLA Public Awareness Summit in Charleston, SC. This was the first year in the history of the summit that all 49 Chapters were in attendance!