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Several years ago, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley recognized the need for a new spirit of cooperation between the Chicago area's municipalities. His vision was to unite Mayors from the six-county region in a common cause — to push beyond the boundaries of local interests in order to serve the greater interests of us all. In 1997, Mayor Daley invited Mayors from nine suburban municipal associations to talk about this vision. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus was formed out of that discussion. Today, it is an active collaboration between Chicago and the suburban associations. It is a forum for independent thinking and discussion regarding important public policy issues. And, when there is consensus, it is also a powerful voice and force for change, creating programs and supporting legislation that improves our well-being and overall quality of life. Much has been accomplished to date. More will be done tomorrow, not just for a few, but for the 8 million people in 273 municipalities that the Caucus proudly serves.
The 273 Mayors who make up the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus understand that Chicago and its surrounding municipalities have much in common. We know that the metropolitan areas that work together will be the ones that succeed in the global economy of the 21st Century.
Since the Caucus was founded in 1997, we’ve achieved notable successes in the areas of economic development, electrical service reliability, workforce development, affordable housing, infrastructure, the environment and emergency preparedness. In seeking new industries, we try to compete against other regions and other countries, not against each other. On many area-wide issues, we now speak with a unified voice in the legislative chambers in Springfield and Washington. We expect to achieve even more in the future — working through the Caucus toward the common vision of a better quality of life for all of us who live and work in the metropolitan Chicago region.
Welcome from the Caucus' 2009-2010 Chair
Joe Cook
Mayor, Village of Channahon
Welcome to the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus’ website on behalf of the Chicago Region’s 273 Mayors and Village Presidents!
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus brings our region’s leaders together to develop consensus and meet the many challenges and opportunities we face collectively as municipalities. By uniting regionally and working with the Illinois General Assembly, we are able to address topical issues and promote our constituencies’ interests across the state and nationally.
Our committees and task forces meet regularly to craft policy and act on current needs and issues. Guided by Mayors, they provide information, technical assistance, programs, and support to communities across the region.
This website will provide you with information regarding our work, and we hope that you find it useful.
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Last Updated: August 25, 2010
- : Find out what the Dutch already know!
Please join us for a free symposium that brings Dutch transportation experts together with the transportation experts from the Chicago Metropolitan Region to identify solutions to being more bikeable.
Keynote address by Eric Gilliland, executive director of the National Association of the City Transportation Officials. RSVP here.
- : On July 27, CMAP and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Illinois Chapter held “Going Green and Paying for It,” a set of panel discussions focusing on green buildings, energy efficiency, renewable energy, funding, and other resources to support these initiatives. The City of Evanston served as a case study to exemplify sustainable practices and process to receive funding. Presentations were given by Doug Widener, USGBC Illinois Chapter; Jamie Peters, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance; Peter Matuszewski, Windy City Renewable Energy LLC; Bob Romo, Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation; Kate Tomford, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Becky Werra, Siemens Industry; and Wally Bobkiewicz, City Manager of the City of Evanston. Stay tuned for future USGBC and CMAP collaborations to bring local governments opportunities to learn more about green building and sustainable neighborhood development practices.
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Mayor Jerry Bennett joins Political Update Paul Lisnek is joined by Palos Hills Mayor Jerry Bennett on Wednesday, July 28th. For details, click here.
- : On Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, the Active Transportation Alliance will again partner with RTA, Pace, Metra, CTA and communities around the region for Chicagoland Car-Free Day. Active Trans encourages local cities, towns and villages to participate by passing resolutions declaring Sept. 22 Car-Free Day. The event is part of World Car-free Day, the one moment when people around the world pledge to go sans auto and rediscover public transit, biking and walking. Download a sample resolution here. For more information visit their website.
- Public Works Director position listed on the opportunities page.
- Please contact Eve Pytel to receive free or low cost residential electronic recycling services.
- July 27th from 8:00am to 12pm at CMAP. For more information, click here.
- Housing page updated to include tools to deal with foreclosure and vacant property. In addition, new summaries have been added to the resource Home Grown: Local Housing Strategies in Action. Click here to visit the housing page.
- The Caucus welcomes new Director of Housing Initiatives, Allison Milld. Allison recently graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago where her studies focused on urban policy. Prior to graduate school, Ms. Milld worked at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, where she was tasked with assessing and improving the success of various housing programs across the agency. Allison is excited to join the Caucus and looks forward to working with Mayors from across the region to address housing issues in their communities.
- In 2009, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus undertook a project to help its members adopt the 2009 IECC residential energy code. With funding from Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the Caucus provided code training and technical assistance designed to enhance compliance with the new code to pilot municipalities. As part of this project, the Caucus identified “best practices” in code enforcement and compliance used by municipalities across the country. Our findings are summarized in this report.
- Oak Park
Two to three times per month, scouts, students, and neighboring communities come out to see Oak Park’s LEED certified public works building. The highlight of the tour is the building’s green roof, which is the topic of this month’s CMAP Spotlight on Green Communities..
- Despite pledging cities share would remain 10 percent at the December 14, 2009 Metropolitan Mayors Caucus meeting, the governor’s budget proposal includes a $300 million cut from the share of state income tax revenues earmarked for local government. For coverage, please visit the Caucus in the New Page
- To download the first report to the full Caucus, click here.
The report examines the approaches municipal officials have relied on to deliver all elements of municipal operations and
identifies the next generation of service delivery initiatives which will reduce costs and create operational efficiencies.
- To read letter, click here.
- sets out a vision for an interconnected network of stream- and land-based green corridors and 2700 miles of multi-use trails throughout the seven-county region. The CMAP plan consists of both a map, back of map, and document and was developed in coordination with CMAP partners. It serves as a basis for planning and programming funding; as a framework and guide for making connections between communities and to regional greenways and trails; and as a consideration in major infrastructure investments. If you would like a paper copy of the map and/or plan document, contact Curtis Kelley by phone at: 312/386-8636. Please direct questions about the greenways and trails map or text document to Lori Heringa by phone at: 312/ 386-862.
- Chicago Mayors Richard M. Daley (City of Chicago) and Jeffery T. Sherwin (City of Northlake and Chair, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus) host mayors from the metropolitan area honoring the company of JERSEY BOYS, commemorating over two years of performances in Chicago at the Bank of America Theatre. For pictures and video click on the news page.
- clean up your municipality’s diesel truck and construction equipment fleet with advanced pollution controls with funding from IL EPA.
- In 2008, the Electronic Products Recycling & Reuse Act was signed into law. The legislation makes electronics manufacturers responsible for recycling or refurbishing E-Waste, the fastest growing component of the solid waste stream. The Caucus has created this FAQ to help municipal leaders understand how the legislation will impact communities.
On July 9, 2007, member mayors attending the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus’s business meeting unanimously approved a motion to recommend the region’s nine Councils of Government and the City of Chicago approve adoption of the Caucus’s Greenest Region Compact. The Compact is a voluntary initiative to improve the region’s air, water and land, reduce greenhouse gases, minimize waste, and reduce energy consumption through a series of environmental actions. Three priority strategies have been identified: residential water conservation education and regulation, e-waste recycling, and CFL bulb distribution. It is our goal that all our municipalities join onto the Compact and implement the priority strategies as a first step. If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Kate Agasie at (312) 201-4508.
The Caucus and its partners have produced Retail 1-2-3, a toolkit for local elected and appointed officials, citizen leaders, and the development community as they work to attract and retain businesses. For more information, please go to the Economic Development page.
The Caucus recently released Home Grown: Local Housing Strategies in Action, a compilation of housing-related best practices from the Chicago region. To download a copy, or for more information, please check out the Housing page.
Updated information on the Telecommunications Task Force, including a Video Programming and Internet Protocol Service Tool Kit is available to assist our member municipalities with potential changes in the cable television/video services industry.
Last Updated: May 26, 2010
[Listing of Events]
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