International Right of Way Association

Chapter 1 - Los Angeles County

David Graeler, Esq., President

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                                                                     Page Updated: May 3, 2013                                                                        

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Chapter's News & Announcements                                                                                      New> Online Member Network for Chapter members. Log in here using your membership user name and password.   Next Training Course: 5/09/13 - Managing the Consultant Process (Course # 303). Reserve your seat now!.. At Chapter 1, we frequently have course participants from out of town, state, and region. They come to benefit from classroom interaction and networking while enjoying the great weather and fun activities available only in L.A.!...   Next Function: 5/21/13 - General Membership Meeting and Officer Elections and Installations. The following slate of officers has been nominated to serve in 2013-2014 fiscal year: President Elect: Theresa Armistead, OPC, Inc. Treasurer: Norman Eke, Converse Consultants Secretary; Darryl Root, R/W-RAC, OPC, Inc. PDC Chair: Marilyn Stuart , SR/WA, R/W-NAC, LACSD As set forth in the Chapter 1 Bylaws, the Chapter President Elect Kenneth Stanberry, SR/WA, Port of Los Angeles, will be installed as President, whose term will begin upon the commencement of the following fiscal year. Nominations from the floor will be allowed. The event will also feature a luncheon and a guest speaker's presentation (See Calendar) Next Education Conference: October 2013 - Fall Conference (updates)       10.24.12 - This year's Right of Way Fall Conference, held yesterday,  was attended by approximately 80 Right of Way professionals. Slides from the presentations are available here. 5.22.12 - Congratulations to Kelly Kitasato, R/W-AMC on receiving the Professional of the Year Award! (more...) 5.22.12 - Annual General Membership Meeting was held as planned, at  Steven's Steak House in Commerce, CA. where the Chapter's new  slate of officers for the 2012-2013 fiscal year was elected and installed.   As stipulated in the Chapter 1 Bylaws, the Chapter President Elect was installed as President upon the commencement of the following fiscal year, while all other Chapter officers were chosen by election.  David Graeler, Esq., the current Chapter President Elect, will assume the Chapter presidency effective July 1, 2012.  The chapter members elected the following for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012: Kenneth Stanberry, SR/WA, President Elect; Theresa Armistead, Treasurer; Norman Eke, Secretary; Andrew Thompson, SR/WA, PDC Chair. Congratulations to the Newly Elected Officers! The new slate of officers will begin its service on July 1, 2012. Local Agency News ... / Announcements... Hot !  [your agency's announcement here] East Los Angeles incorporation. February 8, 2012 Staff Report                                                                                  Local Public Agencies - We Want Your News! Please share any news relevant to the sphere of public real estate and Right-of-Way disciples, such as RFP/RFQ, project news, press releases, etc. Your news will be published on this web site and/or our Newsletter.  >>>  click here to submit <<<                                                                                         Education Planning...     Our course schedule is designed in a way that allows you complete all educational requirements for SR/WA designation within 3 years. However, if you need a course not currently scheduled, we want to hear from you - please contact Tom Hanley, P.E., Education Chair.     We are very good at responding to members' feedback and needs. To date many courses have been scheduled in response to members' suggestions and/or requests. Institutional Training available...     If your organization needs Right of Way training for large groups, please contact Tom Hanley or Daniel Stekol, Business Development Officer, at IRWA HQ.     For information on candidacy for SR/WA designation or professional certification, please refer to the appropriate Program Guide on the IRWA's Credentialing web page.                                                                                         News Welcome - If your organization has newsworthy information and would like to have it published in the Chapter's Newsletter and/or on this website, please submit your news in the form of a "press release" to the Chapter's President. New Members - You are welcome to submit your photo and a brief paragraph about you for publication in the chapter's newsletter. Discover the power of networking! See you at the chapter functions and events! Not a member yet?.. Invest in yourself! Join IRWA and start enjoying the benefits of membership.   (Apply Now).                                                                                         For the Record... (some recent activity) 4.24.12 - The Annual Valuation Conference was attended by 94 Right of Way professionals. Speakers' presentations are now posted here: Previous Valuation Conferences 3.27.12 - The Chapter conducted a traditional annual joint function with Southern California Chapter of Appraisal Institute. The guest speaker, Mr. Zoraster, talked about employment trends in Los Angeles County and their relationshios to the types of real estate which are occupied by the various employment sectors.  He discussed which types of real estate have enjoyed strong demand, and which types of real estate have experienced weak demand, due to trends in employment. A total of 84 members and guests attended the event. 01.24.12 - A.J. Hazarabedian, Esq., of California Eminent Domain Law Group, APC discussed "Strategies for Minimizing Litigation Expenses in Property Acquisition (While Getting Great Results): An Eminent Domain Attorney’s Perspective”   12.07.11 - Almost 170 members and guests enjoyed the       Tri-Chapter Holiday Luncheon yesterday at The Grammy Museum in L.A. Live. The event was appreciated by participants and sponsors.

11.03.11 - All presentations from the 2011 Fall Conference are now available for downloading - Enjoy! 10.26.11 - This year's Right of Way Fall Conference, held yesterday,  broke the attendance record. The conference was attended by 85 Right of Way professionals who came from all over the region, including Riverside, San Bernardino, and Santa Barbara Counties. This was a record breaking attendance. Most of the attendees were repeat and regular attendees, who recognize the significant value of this educational and networking event. Every surveyed attendee stated that the value they received in return for the invested time and money was several times the cost. Feedback from the attendees continues to pour in, praising the high quality of the presentations and confirming the great value of the event.  Congratulations on the success to the Co-Chairs Kelly Kitasato of City of Pasadena and David Graeler, Esq of Nossaman, who organized the conference!   = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Attention Candidates: If you were an SR/WA Candidate as of June 2011, see this important update from the Professional Development Committee going into effect in 2012. Also, see current Courses schedule. September 2011. This is the fourth year the Chapter's leadership is doing it. To support the professional development of Chapter 1 members, the Chapter's Executive Board has approved 2012 Educational Scholarships for Chapter 1 members who aim to achieve the SR/WA designation or professional certification. Two (2) scholarships will be awarded in 2012 by the Professional Development Committee (PDC) to qualified applicants. Applications deadline was October 14, 2011. (official details) Update: The PDC has awarded three (3) scholarships! The Awardees will be announced at the luncheon on January 24, 2012. (this update added on January 4, 2012)   9.27.11 - The quarterly networking luncheon and presentation were enjoyed by 73 members and guests. The slide presentation is now available for downloading from this page. Don't miss the next event!..   Take advantage - Members' NEWS Welcome... Chapter 1 members are welcome to submit articles of interest for publication in the Chapter's Newsletter. Technical articles may be subject to evaluation and/or revision by the appropriate industry committee.      >>>  click here to submit your article material  <<< = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

News You Can Use...

News & Updates...

 Industry Committees Updates

updated 03/18/13

Asset Management Committee:                                    

(Chaired by Kelly Kitasato, R/W-AMC)

Education:

C700 - Introduction to Property/Asset Management

C701 - Property/Asset Management: Leasing

          Class scheduled for 10/17/13

C703 - Real Property Asset Management

          Class scheduled for 11/08/13

Law Committee:                                                                

(Chaired by Michael F. Yoshiba, Esq. )

Case of the month: Acosta v. City of Costa Mesa

(see September 2012 newsletter, page 4)

Education:

C-800 - Principles of Real Estate Law 

C-801 - United States Land Titles  

C-802 - Legal Aspects of Easements 

Pipeline Committee:                                                         

(Chaired by Gary Valentine, SR/WA, MAI, ASA, CCIM)

Break Through Article on Public Safety (6.30.12)

Education:

C215 - Right of Way Agent's Development Program.

Engineering & Surveying Committee:                    

Update pending. please check back soon...

Education:

C900 - Principles of Real Estate Engineering

C901 - Engineering Plan Development & Application

C902 - Property Descriptions

Industry News...

2012 ISEC Fall Forum Report

Environmental Committee:                                   

(Chaired by Norman S. Eke)

Education:

C600 - Environmental Awareness

C600 - Environmental Awareness (online version)

C603 - Understanding Environmental Contamination in Real Estate

C604 - Environmental Due Diligence and Liability

C606 - The Environmental Process

C606 - The Environmental Process (online version)

Industry News...

Streamlined Environmental Review Proposed For Rail Projects [January 2012]

Local Public Agency Committee:                            

(Chaired by Kelly Kitasato, R/W-AMC)

Education:

C303 - Managing the Consultant Process

C304 - When Public Agencies Collide 

(download article: UGH!! Why doesn’t that other *%#^&@* agency realize I also am a public agency???)

Industry news & buzz...

4.19.12 - Port of L.A. Adopts a 5-year Strategic Plan

2.13.12 - City of Santa Monica to pay $300K to relocate trees...

Relocation Committee:                                                   

(Co-Chaired by Dionisio Marquez and Konstantin Akhrem, SR/WA)

Committee Updates:

Read legislative updates in August 2012 Newsletter (page 16)

Read Focus on Relocation in March 2012 Newsletter (page 10)

Education:

C501 - Relocation Assistance 

C502 - Business Relocation

C504 - Computing Replacement Housing Payments

C505 - Advanced Residential Relocation Assistance

C506 - Advanced Business Relocation Assistance

more info...

Note: Relocation courses are not available online.

Transportation Committee:                                             (Chaired by Daryl L. Root, JD, MBA, R/W-RAC)

Committee Update:

On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law P.L. 112-141, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The bill contains many provisions for streamlining and acceleration of project delivery. The implementing regulations are yet to be developed. See a 14-page Summary of Highway Provisions.

Industry news & buzz...

Monitoring the California High-Speed-Rail Project -

Link to US House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. 

Utilities  Committee:                                                         (Chaired by Andrew Thompson)

Update pending. please check back soon...

Valuation Committee:                                                     

(Co-chaired by William Larsen, SR/WA and Bradford D. Thompson, MAI, SR/WA)

April 23, 2013 - Annual Valuation Conference

2012 Annual Valuation Conference was attended by 94 right of way professionals from 4  counties.  

Education:

See full list of Valuation courses.

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Opportunities...

RFP, RFQ's etc.

Los Angeles Business Assistance Virtual Network

SCAG Vendor Portal

California Energy Commission 

Federal Business Opportunities

Doing Business with GSA 

Procurement/Project Info for Western Federal Lands

WANTED: Expert Consultants to Review Enforcement Cases. (California State Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

Contracting Opportunities - San Bernardino Association of Governments (SANBAG).

Doing Business with Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).

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Recovery Update:

- L.A. County Recovery Tracker

- Caltrans Economic Recovery Website