McLean County, IL Regional Planning Commission

The Chairman of the McLean County Board shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the County Board, 11 members who have been nominated by the public bodies hereafter identified, which members shall be residents of McLean County. These members shall be appointed for a term of three years, except that the respective terms of the members first appointed shall be four for one year, four for two years, and three for three years. Terms of office shall begin on January 1, and extend to the end of the terms of office or until a successor is duly appointed and qualified. The first appointments and terms shall begin on January 1, 1993. Vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of terms shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. In the event any appointed member is currently holding a salaried public office, then such member shall be considered an "ex officio" Regional Planning Commission member while holding such public office, and said member shall be entitled to vote on all matters.

The public bodies entitled to nominate members are as follows:

(1)

Town of Normal: two members.

(2)

City of Bloomington: two members.

(3)

County of McLean: three members.

(4)

Bloomington Normal Water Reclamation District: one member.

(5)

Bloomington Normal Airport Authority: one member.

(6)

District 87 School District: one member.

(7)

Unit 5 School District: one member.

§ 12-11 Compensation and removal.

All members of the Commission shall serve without compensation. A member of the Commission, once qualified, shall not be removed during his term of office except for cause, and after a hearing held before the governing body by which he was appointed. A member is automatically disqualified and his seat vacant upon his failure to continue to reside in McLean County.

§ 12-12 Officers, meetings and rules.

Officers, meetings and rules be established as follows:

Chairman. The Commission shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman from its members. The terms of the Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be for one year, with eligibility for re-election.

Executive Committee. In the interest of effective functioning of the Commission, the Commission shall appoint an Executive Committee of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Commission and one other member named by the Commission. The Executive Committee shall receive assistance and advice of the City Manager, City of Bloomington, City Manager, Town of Normal, and the County Administrator, County of McLean. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at call of the Chair of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have authority to transact the administrative business of the Commission between meetings of the Commission and report said business to the Commission. The Executive Committee shall have responsibility for the preparation of an annual budget and attend to all personnel matters of the Commission and perform such other functions on behalf of the Commission as delegated by the Commission.

Meetings. The Commission shall meet regularly as determined by adopted bylaws and in no event fewer than four times a year. All meetings shall be open to the public except for executive sessions. A majority of the 11 appointed members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.

Rules. The Commission shall adopt bylaws, including rules for the transaction of business, and shall keep a complete record of its functions and activities, which shall be a public record.

§ 12-13 Powers and duties.

The McLean County Regional Planning Commission shall have the powers, duties, and functions as provided in Division 5-14, Regional Planning, of the Counties Code (ILCS 5/5-14001 through 5/5-14007). To further the means and methods of operation and functioning the Commission:

Shall prepare and recommend to the McLean County Board a Regional Plan, or functional segments thereof, looking to the present and future development of the region. Such Regional Plan may included recommendations for land use, circulation, future location of planned major and collector streets in unsubdivided land, general location of public works facilities, urban renewal, open space and park areas, school sites, stormwater or floodwater runoff channels and basins, and other such problems and development relevant to regional planning. Such plan shall be known as the "Official Regional Plan of McLean County." The Regional Planning Commission may thereafter, from time to time, recommend changes in such Regional Plan.

Shall prepare and recommend to the County Board, from time to time, plans for necessary and specific improvements in accordance with the Regional Plan.

Shall have access to information, reports, and data relating to planning in possession of departments of the County government.

May request for its information all municipal or other governmental agency plans, zoning ordinances, official maps, building codes, subdivision regulations, or amendments or revisions of any of them, as well as copies of their special reports dealing in whole or in part with planning matters.

Shall coordinate with units of government concerning the relationship of any plans, projects, proposals and policies applicable to the regional planning area.

Shall have authority to contract with any unit of government to provide specialized planning services with appropriate reimbursement when a unit of government so desires.

Shall review an annual budget prepared by the Executive Committee in the same manner as other departments of the County. Any monies received as gifts, donations or grants from private sources for planning purposes shall be deposited in a special nonreverting fund to be available for expenditures by the Regional Planning Commission.

Shall have authority, with the concurrence of the County Board, to accept, receive and expend funds, grants and services from the federal government, or its agencies, and from departments, agencies and instrumentalities of state and local governments.

Shall have authority to contract with respect to any funds, grants, or services from whatever sources derived.

Shall have authority to provide such information and reports as may be necessary to secure financial aid.

Shall have authority, upon approval of the McLean County Board, to appoint a Planning Coordinator and such other employees as it deems necessary, and engage consultants as it may require if funds are budgeted for such purpose.

Shall prepare an annual report and prepare and publish studies, reports, and plans in connection with its work.

May acquire equipment and materials for its use and incur necessary expenses within the limits of its budgets.

May, by formal and affirmative vote, pay, within the Commission's budget, the reasonable traveling expenses of members or employees of the Commission to attend planning conferences or meetings of planning institutes or hearings upon pending planning legislation, and meetings of the Planning Commission or its Executive Committee.

§ 12-14 Advice to County Board.

The Regional Planning Commission shall serve in a general advisory capacity to the McLean County Board, and to this end the County Clerk shall make available to the Regional Planning Commission, for its consideration, a copy of all ordinances, resolutions, plans and other data relative to capital improvements of any nature. The Commission may report in relation to the foregoing matters if it deems a report necessary or advisable or when specifically requested by the McLean County Board, for consideration of the McLean County Board before final action on them is taken by the Board.

§ 12-15 Short-range planning.

The Regional Planning Commission shall not be responsible for nor have any authority to engage in short-range planning issues. As used herein, the term "short-range planning issues" means specific zoning text amendments, Zoning Map amendments, subdivision plans, and historical preservation matters filed with the County or any unit of local government in the County.