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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' 2007-2008 Chair
Jeffery D. Schielke
Mayor, City of Batavia
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: June 2, 2008
On November 13, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Chicago Metropolis 2020 released Homes for a Changing Region, Phase 2 , which provides housing policy plans for three local communities as well as supply/demand information for their associated COGs. For more information and to download a copy of the report, see the Housing page.
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. Please access the Greenest Region Compact, a resolution for your town supporting the Compact, and a workbook to assist your municipality in implementing the strategies recommended in the Compact. If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Kate Agasie at (312) 201-4508.
On Monday, July 9, the Caucus and City of Chicago hosted “Innovative Foreclosure Prevention Strategies: Keeping Communities Stable.” At this meeting, attendees discussed how foreclosures are becoming a growing problem in the region and learned about some innovative solutions being implemented in Chicago, DuPage and Lake Counties and across the nation. For more information, see the the Housing page.
On April 10, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus' Education Reform Committee released its recommendations to improve the fiscal accountability of Illinois' schools. Partnered with funding reform, these changes will create a stronger and more equitable system of education in the state. For more information, see the Education Reform page.
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.
Each month, the Caucus produces its newsletter, Memo to the Mayors. This newsletter updates the Mayors regarding the Caucus' activities, committees and task forces. To see the latest Memo to the Mayors, click here or go to the Memo to the Mayors 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.
In partnership with Energy Choices and enterpriz Cook County, the Caucus has been offering consultant services – the Municipal Energy Collaborative – to assist municipalities manage their electricity purchases. Please use the following link to complete a survey we developed to help us provide the best possible service to our member municipalities.
Learn about best management practices for storm water controls for high-level decision-makers, such as Planning Commissioners and Board Members, with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus’ Storm Water Best Management Practices brochure.
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.
The Caucus' Clean Air Counts program won a Clean Air Excellence Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The Award recognizes the work Clean Air Counts has done regarding education and outreach. For more information, see the Clean AIr Counts page
The Clean Air Counts (CAC) campaign is pleased to announce that we have $503,078 available to offer a variety of grant opportunities to municipalities participating in the CAC campaign. For more information, see the Clean AIr Counts page
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is working to help communities affected by the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeals Act, including aiding in the creation of Guidelines for Model Affordable Housing Plan. Visit the Housing Initiative site for more information on this effort.
Last Updated: June 2, 2008
[Listing of Events]
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City of Chicago
DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference
Lake County Municipal League
Metro West Council of Governments
McHenry County Council of Governments
Northwest Municipal Conference
South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association
Southwest Conference of Mayors
West Central Municipal Conference
Will County Governmental League
Clean Air Counts
Meeting Agenda Archives
Monday, December 2, 2002
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