The winners of the 2024 Western Planner Awards were announced and awarded during the Wyoming Planning Association / Western Planner Conference in Cheyenne, Wyoming. A sincere congratulations to each of our award winners, for their efforts and achievements for planning in the West.

Planner of the Year

Angela Parker, AICP

WYOPASS President

Angela has passionately dedicated her time to advancing planning in Wyoming. As president of WYOPASS, she has been a key volunteer, representing WYOPASS at legislative meetings, and advocating for planning-related issues, including regulatory reform. Angela's commitment extends to supporting non-professional planners by organizing training and sessions at WYOPASS events and ensuring their needs are met. We honor her ongoing involvement with Western Planner and dedication to supporting planning efforts across Wyoming and the West.

Citizen Planner Of The Year

Tim Baumann

Minot Planning Commission

Tim Baumann has displayed excellent leadership skills as Vice-Chair of the Minot, North Dakota Planning Commission. He successfully advocated for a city-wide recycling program that was enacted in 2023. He is a co-leader of the 1,000 Trees for Minot program and Union Silos art project. He was the Planning Commission's representative on the Minot Zoning Ordinance Steering Committee that completely overhauled the city's land development ordinance. Tim advocates for sensible policy changes and sustainable development. He dedicates countless hours of his personal time to make Minot a better place to live for all.

Kenneth G. Waido Award, For Planning Team Of The Year

Teton County Planning Department

Chris Neubecker and the entire planning staff in Teton County confront a myriad of distinctive challenges that extend beyond mere land planning considerations; they grapple with complex political dynamics as well. Their responsibilities demand thoroughness, depth of thought and innovation that is truly commendable. They prioritize outcomes for both private citizens and the government. Many of the staff do not reside in Jackson due to the exorbitant housing costs, a testament to their commitment as they endure long hours to fulfill their duties. Despite these hurdles, their dedication remains unwavering, driving them to work late into the night to address the pressing issues facing our community. Their tireless efforts merit acknowledgment and praise for the invaluable contributions they make to our community. See their plans here.

The Team: Chris Neubecker; Emily Yeates; Christopher Pietrafeso; Monica Lohn; Ryan Hostetter; Grace Kelley; Erin Monroe; Hamilton Smith; Chandler Windom; Claire Lazes

Rural Innovation Award

The City of Craig, Colorado Peter Brixius, Shannon Scott, Marlin Eckhoff, Melanie Kilpatrick & Ryan Dennison

Located in the Northwest corner of Colorado, the city of Craig represents the ideals of a hard-working, rural mountain town and the face of a changing energy policy gets very personal. The fate and fortunes of this tight-knit city of +/- 9,000 people have been hitched to coal since the nearby Craig Station power plant was built in the early 1970s. Yet with the pending closure announcement, the City began looking to diversify its economic base with a commitment to utilize planning to build a brighter future. When it comes to leveraging plans into successful implementation, Craig is a small but mighty force in creating positive change rooted in innovative planning for this up-and-coming rural community. Check out a storymap of their work here.

Sheldon D. Gerber Merit Award, For Excellence And Outstanding Achievements In Environmental Planning

Cindi Martinez, Wyoming Brownfields Assistance Program (SPURR)

Launched in 2023, Wyoming DEQ's SPURR program is a Wyoming Brownfields Initiative aimed at providing environmental solutions to communities through the State Partnership for Urban and Rural Revitalization. Funded by a mix of state and federal sources, including the EPA Brownfield program, SPURR has assisted over 50 properties statewide, focusing on the environmental cleanup of neglected areas. It represents Wyoming's spirit of resilience and innovation, revitalizing forgotten spaces, and demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable community investments and ensuring the prosperity of every Wyoming community for future generations.

Student Planning Project Of The Year

Arizona State University's Spring 2024 Planning Workshop

Breanna Fulton, Logan Lowery, Quinton Burden & Noah Bulson for the City of Chandler's Sustainable Park Maintenance & Development Strategy

Students applied a range of environmentally sound planning skills to develop a hands-on playbook, which included extensive site visits, data analysis of City-provided water usage data, expert interviews, and comparative case analyses. At the end of the course, the team presented their work to the City of Chandler. The students created a useful, high-quality product that will help shape Chandler’s future parks strategy, demonstrating a high degree of professionalism, innovation, and applied solutions. Their efforts were student-led and produced, showcasing sophistication in planning techniques and a commitment to best practices.

Stan Steadman Award, For Article Of The Year

Freddie R. Olin IV For the Article: The Alaska Unorganized Borough & Public Funding Implications

From the article. "The unorganized borough covers vast areas of Alaska where there are sparse populations and few established communities. Residents of these areas often rely on state agencies or local community organizations for essential services. The lack of a centralized borough government can present challenges in terms of governance, infrastructure development, and resource allocation in these areas." Read the full article here.

President's Award

City of Westminster, Colorado

Westminster 2040 Comprehensive Plan

This Plan, developed alongside the City’s first Sustainability Plan, citywide Transportation & Mobility Plan, and updated Water Supply Plan, integrates six themes and six cross-cutting topics to create a coordinated strategy for all public services. Unique in its dual function as a visioning and regulatory document, the Plan mandates new development compliance, aligning land use with water supply planning to ensure a resilient future. Through an interactive online tool assessing land use impacts on water demand, an annual reduction of 613 acre-feet is projected. Additionally, the Plan preserves 40% of the city’s land for parks and open spaces, supporting both recreational and environmental needs. Click here to view the plan.

Lester Award

Lonnie Olson

Project Manager - Planning

Wyoming Water Development Office

2024 Award Winners