by Jackie Whitelam, AIA, CET Chair
The Chapter’s CET works to build public awareness of architects as stewards of the built environment; to strengthen our reputation as a go-to-resource amongst local groups, governmental agencies and other professional associations; and to act as the eyes and ears for members on matters affecting the practice of our profession. All are welcome to participate on the CET, or to alert us to matters you feel need the Chapter’s attention.
The CET meets virtually at 12 noon on the first Tuesday of each month. The meeting agendas are generally posted the Friday before the meeting on our Basecamp site. Links to the meetings as well as the Basecamp are available from the Chapter office. The general order of the CET meetings is as follows:
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Guest Speaker
This section of the meeting is often recorded so it can be made available for later viewing on the Chapter video channel.
3. New Business / Opportunities / Future Planning
Items discussed always include events we are hosting which, at a minimum, include a Citizen Architect Event and an event during Experience Architecture. In 2022, the Citizen Architect Event was “A Seat at the Table” — a panel discussion by members active in advocacy that was held virtually in September. Our Experience Architecture event in October was “Coming Soon to a Store Near You” — a presentation we co-hosted with CivicWell on the re-purposing of commercial strips for mixed-use housing.
Much time in 2022 was spent in addressing a proposal by the California Architects Board to require architects to include their license numbers on all forms of advertisement, including business cards and project site signs. By working with other AIA Chapters, as well as the AIA California, it appears that the implementation of the requirement has been held in abeyance.
4. Local Government Reports
For the last several years, Chapter member Bruce Monighan, AIA who is the City of Sacramento’s Urban Design Director, has kept us apprised of matters at the City by his attendance at our meetings. In 2022, through the attendance of members including Dustin Littrell, AIA Mike Chambers, FAIA, Chris Holt, AIA and Maria Ogrydziak, AIA we have expanded these update reports to include Sacramento County, Elk Grove, Woodland and Davis.
5. Other Matters
Typically, this is used for us to set an item for discussion at next month’s meeting or, if more timely attention is needed, to direct the matter for continued dialogue on our Basecamp site.
6. Adjournment and Announcement of Next Meeting
In addition to the CET Basecamp, there is a Basecamp for the Design Guidelines Study Group and the Housing Task Force. The first Bascampamp was set up several years ago when the City and County of Sacramento enacted design guidelines. While this group does not regularly meet, we continue to use this Basecamp project to facilitate member input—including the Missing Middle Housing Design Guidelines the City will be producing this Spring. A Housing Task Force Basecamp was recently set up to facilitate dialog for this group, which meets virtually every Wednesday at 3:30 PM.
In closing, I thank Mike Chambers, FAIA for stepping up to serve as CET Vice Chair, Paul Menard, AIA for his continuing passion on addressing the housing crisis, Bob Chase, AIA Chris Holt, AIA and other Chapter members who serve on local boards and commissions and Alicia Moniz, AIA – for first bringing the California Architects Board’s plan to require architects to include their licenses on all advertisements, including business cards and project site signs to our attention. Please consider joining the Chapter’s civic engagement efforts in whatever way you can – as an active member of the CET, an attendee at one of our events or monthly meetings, or providing feedback and comments on Basecamp. Contact us via the Chapter office: info@aiacv.org or call 916-444-3658.
The laws, regulations and policies of our federal, state, and local governments affect your practice, whether you are engaged or not. Per the 2021 NCARB by the Numbers, there are only 121,997 licensed architects in the United States. Against a total population of 331.9 million people, it takes a concerted effort for our voices to be heard.