American Planning Association AICP Exam Practice Test Instant Access

Question 1

Scenario: Negative Comments about Consultant Work

At a recent national planning conference, you hear some very negative things about the quality of work done for clients by a well known consulting planning firm. Some of the comments are from people who may not have first-hand information At least one of the critical statements was made directly by a former client The firm, by coincidence, has now submitted a proposal to do work for your community. You call all of the references supplied by the consultant They check out fine. What should you do next?

Ethical Issues: How do you make sure that you don't pass on gossip, but do respond to legitimate issues affecting foe expenditure of public dollars?

Action Alternatives:

1. You have checked the references and they were fine. The folks you talked to are reasonable and had direct knowledge of the consultant's work. You do not want to appear to be looking to make trouble for yourself or anyone else You decide no further action is necessary.

2. When spending public money, you have a responsibility to make sure that the public will get the best value. This requires you to be zealous in determining whether there are any reasons for not hiring the consulting firm. After all, consulting firms do not ever list clients who they think might give them a bad reference. You call for references checking with names not on the list provided by the firm.

3. Other

Commentary: Negative Comments About Consultant Work

Code Citations:

C .1 A planner must protect and enhance the integrity of the profession and must be responsible in criticism of the profession

C .2 A planner must accurately represent the qualifications, views, and findings of colleagues.

C .3 A planner who reviews the work of other professionals must do so in a fair, considerate, professional, and equitable manner

AThe answer is given as an example. You need to write an essay based on the text given in the task.

Answer : A

You want to be fair in your treatment of a colleague while at the same time making sure that you do not engage a consultant who will not be able to fulfill the requirements of the professional services agreement.

Alternative 1 saves you work, but ignores the fact that you have information which affects your confidence in one of the proposers You would not be in violation of the Code by doing nothing because you would have followed all of your community's standard procedures for hiring However, you would have failed to be attentive to the apparitional intent of the Code.

Alternative 2 would be the most desirable and is most consistent with the Code requirement to fairly treat the views of a colleague In this case you wish to treat fairly the views of those who have disparaged the consultant as well as the view of the consultant him or herself Unless you have specifically stated in your RFP that the only references you will check are those provided by the consultant, you are free to seek out additional information. To be fair, you should mention to the consultant that you will be checking with other colleagues. If you have major unresolved issues as a result of further checking, the consultant should be given an opportunity to respond.

Question 2

Scenario

You are a planner in a city that has recently opened a new shelter for homeless people. The shelter opens each evening during the winter and provides a place for people to sleep during the night in dormitory-style rooms with cots. Some community members would like the shelter closed because they feel that the large number of people who congregate on the sidewalks near the shelter as they wait for it to open pose a threat to public safety. Your planning director decides to address these concerns by classifying the shelter as a hotel. The planning director knows that the zoning ordinance specifies that a hotel must provide private sleeping quarters, which the shelter does not. By classifying the shelter as a hotel, the planning director is taking steps to close the shelter based on the ground that it is in violation of the zoning ordinance. What might you do first?

AYou might gather additional information about the situation to be sure you fully understand it. You might find out if alternative locations for the shelter are feasible and if the shelter operators are aware of these alternatives. For example, you might locate a space where people may wait indoors until the shelter opens. You also might talk to the planning director about the situation so that you understand the reasoning behind the decision. You base your next move on your findings

BYou might gather additional information about the situation to be sure you fully understand it. You might find out if alternative locations for the shelter are feasible and if the shelter operators are aware of these alternatives. You also might talk to the planning director about the situation so that you understand the reasoning behind the decision.

Answer : A

Question 3

Which Act created the HOME program?

AStewart McKinney Act (1987)

BLow Income Housing Tax Credit (1986)

CFair Housing Amendments (1988)

DCranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (1990)

Answer : D

Question 4

Which Housing Act allowed for funds to be used for comprehensive planning for metro, state and regional levels?

AHousing Act of 1954

BHousing Act of 1959

CHousing Act of 1964

DHousing Act of 1965

Answer : B

Question 5

Which Housing Act allowed for Section 701 funds (funds to be used for comprehensive planning for communities less than 25,000)?

AHousing Act of 1954

BHousing Act of 1959

CHousing Act of 1964

DHousing Act of 1965

Answer : A

Question 6

What percentage of urban residing American's live in poverty, according to the 2000 Census?

A10%

B15.9%

C20%

D24%

Answer : B

Question 7

Who wrote ''Edgeless City in 2002?

ARobert Lang

BJoel Garreau

CAllan Jacobs

DAndres Duany

Answer : A

B . wrote Edge Cities in 1991

C . wrote Making City Planning Work in 1985

D . advocate for new urbanism or neotraditional design

American Planning Association AICP American Institute of Certified Planners Exam Practice Test