Joliet mayor defends citizen advisory committee amid residentsconcerns about representation

Mayor Terry Darcy defended a newly formed Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Thursday after multiple residents and at least two council members said the proposed 13-member panel did not include enough everyday Joliet residents and gave unfair advantage to people with existing public or business roles.

The criticism came during the City of Jolietpre-council meeting as residents said the advisory committee should be populated by people who have experienced negative effects from past development decisions rather than by government or business leaders.

The mayor said he solicited names and worked with staff to assemble a group he said reflects community reach and expertise. "If I have two council members on this committee, the mayor can't show up because it's an Open Meetings Act," Darcy said, adding the city will add three more members and that staff and consultants would expand outreach.

Why it matters: The committee will guide an 18-month long comprehensive planning process that city officials say will shape Jolietland use, transportation, housing and economic development policies for years to come. Who sits on the advisory body will influence which community voices are heard in early plan development.

Residents raising concerns said the list leans toward people with government, development or business connections rather than ordinary homeowners. Trista Brown asked why the committee appeared to consist largely of people who "hold positions" rather than neighborhood residents. Megan Cooper, identifying herself from District 5, said District 5 is historically underserved and called it unfair that only one member she identified as from District 5 was listed while other neighborhoods appear to have broader representation.

Mayor Darcy said the committee includes a range of local leaders and community partners, and he listed members and roles during the meeting, including Wendell Martin (District 5 pastor), Nora Gruenberg (3 Rivers Association of Realtors), Jen Howard (Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce), Doug Pryor (Will County Center for Economic Development) and Theresa Ralph (District 86 superintendent). He also said the consultant Lamar Johnson Collective will lead the outreach and that subcommittees will be formed for topics such as housing, transportation and environmental quality.

City staff and the consultant described the committee as a first step: Dustin from the Lamar Johnson team said the advisory group will help define areas for deeper public engagement, after which the consultant will narrow policy options through public charrettes and stakeholder interviews.

Several council members asked that the council be consulted on nominee names. One council member said decisions "do not move forward without every member of this council" and asked that the council be given a chance to provide recommendations, even if the mayor makes the final appointments.

Darcy acknowledged he did not consult the entire council before finalizing the list and accepted responsibility for that decision. He said officials will add three additional members and that the committee will begin meeting about a month after appointment with monthly meetings scheduled for the first Tuesday at 10 a.m.

The ordinance establishing the comprehensive plan advisory committee (Council memo 39-25) was on the agenda for the council meeting the following day; the pre-council discussion did not record a formal vote.

Looking ahead: City officials said they expect a large public engagement process over the next 18 months, with subcommittees created where the advisory group and the consultant determine more focused study is needed.