CHICAGO, November 7, 2005 -- The Regional Planning Board (RPB) has
elected its first slate of officers to lead the organization, which was
created by the State of Illinois to integrate planning for land use and
transportation in the Chicago region. The RPB's service area covers Cook,
DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.
By unanimous vote, the board selected its executive committee, with
Palos Hills mayor Gerald Bennett as its chair. Also elected was a pair of
vice chairs: City of Chicago deputy chief of staff Rita Athas and New
Lenox mayor Michael Smith. In addition, the RPB's executive committee
includes at-large members Elliott Hartstein (mayor of Buffalo Grove), Al
Larson (mayor of Schaumburg), and Nigel Telman (partner in the Sidley
Austin Brown Wood law firm).
"The elected officers have a good mix of experience," said Bennett,
"and the executive committee's geographical balance will ensure that the
region's communities are well-represented. On behalf of my fellow elected
officers and all RPB members, we are excited to begin the board's
important work, which will help the region speak with one voice on vital
matters of land use and transportation."
Passed unanimously in the General Assembly, the Regional Planning Act
was signed into law on August 8 by Governor Blagojevich. It calls for
creation of the RPB, which is to oversee consolidation of two existing
organizations: the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) and the
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC). CATS was created in
1955 as the federally designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO)
for the region, and NIPC was created by the General Assembly in 1957 to
conduct comprehensive land-use planning and generate official forecasts
of population and employment growth.
The RPB will coordinate regional transportation and land-use planning
while identifying and promoting regional priorities. By combining CATS
and NIPC into a single planning agency, the RPB will help northeastern
Illinois protect natural resources and minimize traffic congestion as the
seven-county region plans for the 21st Century and beyond.
Among its first tasks is to hire an executive director who will
oversee its daily operations. The executive committee will begin that
search process and define by-laws that will govern the board's
operations. The organization will also address personnel and operational
issues of merging the CATS and NIPC staffs.
In October, the RPB began a 36-month transition period that will lead
to the board's becoming fully operational. In September 2006, the RPB
will report to the Illinois General Assembly with recommendations on a
permanent structure and funding for the board. A four-fifths majority
vote is required for any action by the board. The executive committee
officers will serve until September 2006, after which new elections will
be held. The RPB's members are:
City of Chicago Appointments
Rita Athas, deputy chief of staff, City of Chicago
Frank Beal, executive director, Metropolis 2020
Raul Raymundo, executive director, Resurrection Project
André Rice, president, Muller and Monroe Asset Management
Nigel Telman, partner, Sidley Austin Brown & Wood law firm
Cook County Appointments
Gerald Bennett, mayor, Palos Hills (Southwest Cook)
Anthony Calderone, mayor, Forest Park (West Central Cook)
Zenovia Evans, mayor, Riverdale (South Cook)
Calvin Jordan, highway commissioner, Rich Township (Cook)
Al Larson, mayor, Schaumburg (Northwest Cook)
Collar County Appointments
Elliott Hartstein, mayor, Buffalo Grove (Lake)
Marilyn Michelini (Kane/Kendall)
Dan Shea, McHenry County board member (McHenry)
Michael Smith, mayor, New Lenox (Will)
Rae Rupp Srch, former mayor, Villa Park (DuPage)
Agency Representatives (non-voting members)
Stephen Schlickman, executive director, Regional Transportation Authority
(CATS)
Ed Paesel, executive director, South Suburban Mayors and Managers
Association (NIPC)
