Joliet council adopts ordinance to create comprehensive plan advisory committee after heated debate over appointments

The City of Joliet City Council on Jan. 7 adopted an ordinance establishing a Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee to guide an 18-to-24-month citywide comprehensive planning process, after extended debate over committee composition and whether appointments should be delayed.

The ordinance creating the advisory committee passed on a voice roll call after several council members and the mayor disputed whether nonresidents should be eligible for appointment and whether neighborhood councils had been adequately consulted. Mayor Terry Darcy, who proposed the initial slate, defended the selections as strategic outreach to stakeholders with broad reach; council members pressed for more resident representation and time to recommend additional appointments.

Council members who opposed delaying the ordinance said establishing the committee now would allow the planning process to begin and the city to move forward on outreach and subcommittees. Councilwoman Reardon, Councilman Cardenas, Councilman Clement, Councilman Guerrero, Councilman Hug, Councilwoman Ibarra, Councilman Mudrin, Councilwoman Kliman and Mayor Darcy voted to adopt the ordinance. No roll-call nay votes were recorded at the ordinance adoption. Todd Lindsey, the city attorney, clarified that the ordinance language mirrors City Code…