Preparing Effective Staff Reports

REGISTER

Registration closes on Wednesday, May 20 at 5 PM. All registrants will also receive a link to view the webinar recording.

Webinar Overview

Staff reports are among the most critical documents in local government decision-making. They form a core part of the official record and provide the foundation for decisions on policies, regulations, plans, and permits. Staff reports also serve as a primary communication tool for elected officials, the public, the media, and other interested parties. Despite their importance, formal training on how to prepare effective staff reports is limited, and most local government professionals develop these skills on the job.

This webinar examines the essential components of a strong staff report, offering practical guidance on how to make reports clear, well-organized, and legally defensible. The content applies to staff reports across all subject areas, and the session places particular emphasis on staff reports prepared for development permit decisions, given their unique role as records of decision that are frequently scrutinized and may be appealed. Using real-world examples, the webinar explores staff reports from multiple perspectives, including those of elected officials, local government staff, project applicants, and the general public.

Educational Objectives

This webinar will provide practical techniques, tips, and examples to help local government staff prepare effective staff reports across all subject areas, including:

• Legislative and policy actions (ordinances, resolutions, code and plan amendments).
• Development and land use decisions (permits, variances, subdivisions, design review, findings, records of decision).
• Advisory body recommendations (planning commissions, boards, and committees).

By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

• Use staff reports as a clear and effective communication tool for conveying complex policy and regulatory issues to elected officials and the public.
• Understand the role of a staff report as the decision-making record for development permit decisions, and how to write reports that support legally defensible outcomes.
• Organize staff reports in a logical, consistent, and reader-friendly format that meets the needs of diverse audiences.

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is designed for local government professionals who prepare, review, or rely on staff reports in the decision-making process, including planners and policy staff, city and county executives, elected officials, and attorneys.

Credits

This training is eligible for:

• 1.5 hours of CM credit from the American Planning Association (Pending Approval).

Presenters

• Elizabeth Chamberlain, City Manager, City of Walla Walla. Elizabeth is the City Manager for the City of Walla Walla. She joined the City over eleven years ago as the Development Services Director, transitioned Deputy City Manager, July 2020, and appointed City Manager December 2022. Under Elizabeth’s leadership, the city adopted a tax increment financing area in 2024 which is financing construction of the last leg of key north/south transportation route that will facilitate the construction of 70 acres of commercial and residential development anchored by a WinCo. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2001. Elizabeth worked for several jurisdictions in the Puget Sound region before moving to the City of Walla Walla. Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys book club (aka wine club), skiing, cycling, traveling, and cooking as well as spending time with family especially her niece and nephew.
• Mindy Brooks, Community Development Director, Lewis County. Mindy Brooks is Director of Community Development for Lewis County, where she previously served as Senior Long Range Planner. Prior to moving to Lewis County, she worked for the City of Portland as a Planner for 22 years. Her experience includes comprehensive planning for port districts, updating environmental regulations, conducting subarea plans, negotiating development agreements and conducting public engagement. She currently lives in Packwood, WA with immediate access to skiing, hiking and mountain biking.
• Vanessa Dolbee, Community and Economic Development Director, City of Lacey. Vanessa Dolbee brings nearly two decades of hands-on experience in land use, permitting, and community development. She began her career in 2007 and spent many years with the City of Renton’s Community and Economic Development Department, where she served as Current Planning Manager, Planning Director, Interim Community and Economic Development Administrator. Vanessa holds a Bachelor's degree in Planning from the University of Colorado. She is also an active member of the Washington State Planning Directors Association and currently serves as the Past President. Vanessa is known for her ability to make complex land use and regulatory issues clear and workable. She has deep expertise in preparing strong, defensible staff reports that help planning commissions, hearing examiners, and elected officials make informed decisions. She has spent years managing development review processes and mentoring staff.
• Leonard Bauer, FAICP, Planning Consultant, MRSC (moderator). Leonard joined MRSC in June 2024 as a planning consultant. Leonard has over 35 years of public service experience in planning and community development. He served as the managing director of the Washington State Growth Management Services Office at the Department of Commerce for 12 years. Most recently he was the community planning and development director for Olympia for ten years. He also served the Cities of Sumner and Tumwater, and a regional council of governments in Eugene, OR. 

Payment Policy: Payment is completed online by card. If you need to be billed to pay offline, there will be a $5.00 administrative fee added to the total cost of registration. To request an invoice, please contact Jacob Rice (jrice@mrsc.org).

Refund Policy: Refunds will be provided minus a 5% administrative fee until the registration deadline at 5 PM on Wednesday, May 20. No refunds for cancelations or no-shows after the registration deadline. To request a refund, please contact Jacob Rice (jrice@mrsc.org).

If you are registered for the webinar and are unable to attend, you will still be able to view the recorded webinar afterwards. However, if you cancel your registration, you will not receive a link to the recording.