Friday, April 8, 2016

SD Port Commissioner Earns National Planning Award

By Mark Edward Nero

Port of San Diego Commissioner Ann Moore has been selected by the American Planning Association for the 2016 National Planning Excellence Award for a Planning Advocate.

The Planning Advocate award recognizes citizens or public officials whose work has advanced the cause of planning—the endeavor of creating and enriching communities—and is presented to just one individual nationwide each year.

Moore received the award as the result of her work in launching a planning initiative overseeing the San Diego Bay waterfront.

As chair of the Board of Port Commissioners in 2013, Moore campaigned for a better approach to planning for the port’s 6,000 acres of land and water, which spans five cities. Many previous planning efforts were largely developer driven, posing a challenge in balancing multiple priorities for the greater good.

In launching the Integrated Planning initiative, she focused on ensuring a meaningful civic engagement process. She personally conducted outreach to multiple stakeholders and the general public on the importance of planning for the port, emphasizing that better planning would increase financial return on investment.

In August 2014, the Board of Port Commissioners unanimously adopted the Vision Statement and Guiding Principles that Moore helped shepherd.

“Through her tireless and ambitious efforts in creating a proactive, long-term plan for the Port of San Diego, Ann has been instrumental in driving consensus among multiple divergent interests and ensuring a sound vision for the port’s future,” said Port Commissioner Bob Nelson, who nominated Moore for the award.

Moore was honored during a special April 4 luncheon at the APA National Planning Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.