DOCSLIB.ORG

Council of Mayors Executivecommittee

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Council of Mayors Executivecommittee Jeffery Schielke, Chairman Mayor, City of Batavia Kane/Kendall Council Council of Mayors Executive Committee Leon Rockingham, Jr., 1st Vice Chair November 19, 2013 Mayor, City of North Chicago Lake Council 9:30 a.m. Eugene Williams, 2nd Vice Chair CMAP Offices – Cook County Conference Room Mayor, Village of Lynwood South Council George Van Dusen 1.0 Call to Order and Introductions – Mayor Schielke Mayor, Village of Skokie North Shore Council Sandy Frum 2.0 Agenda Changes and Announcements President, Village of Northbrook North Shore Council Al Larson 3.0 Approval of Minutes – September 10, 2013 President, Village of Schaumburg Northwest Council ACTION REQUESTED: Approval Karen Darch President, Village of Barrington 4.0 Transportation Programming Updates/Action Items Northwest Council 4.1 Roads Update/ STP Expenditure Report (Chad Riddle) Jeffrey Sherwin Mayor, City of Northlake The IDOT Bureau of Local Roads & Streets status sheets will be North Central Council distributed at the meeting. The STP expenditure report is available in Joseph Tamburino Mayor, Village of Hillside the committee packet. North Central Council ACTION REQUESTED: Information James Discipio President, Village of LaGrange Park Central Council 4.2 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Update William Rodeghier President, Village of Western (Kama Dobbs) Springs Central Council The most current CMAQ Obligation Report is attached. An update on Dave Brady the Program will be provided. President, Village of Bedford Park Southwest Council ACTION REQUESTED: Information John Mahoney Mayor, Village of Palos Park Southwest Council 4.3 Transportation Alternatives Program (Doug Ferguson) Michael Einhorn It is anticipated that the Transportation Committee will release the President, Village of Crete South Council draft Transportation Alternatives Program for public comment from Rodney Craig November 15, 2013 to December 16, 2013. Staff will provide a President, Village of Hanover Park DuPage Council summary of the proposed program. Thomas Karaba ACTION REQUESTED: Information President, Clarendon Hills DuPage Council 4.4 FFY 2014-2018 STP-L Marks (Russell Pietrowiak) Ed Ritter President, Carpentersville Staff has prepared the FFY 2014-2018 STP-L marks. Kane/Kendall Council ACTION REQUESTED: Consideration of FFY 2014-2018 STP-L Marks TBD Lake Council Richard Mack 4.5 City of Chicago Regional Project (David Seglin) President, Village of Ringwood McHenry Council Per the Memorandum of Agreement, the City of Chicago will receive Robert Nunamaker 5% of the total STP-L allotment to the CMAP region for programming President, Village of Fox River Grove McHenry Council on a project that benefits both the City of Chicago and the suburban Roger Claar councils. The City of Chicago will present the project. Mayor, Village of Bolingbrook Will Council ACTION REQUESTED: Concurrence Jim Holland Mayor, Village of Frankfort Will Council 4.6 Advanced Funding (Patricia Berry) As requested at the last meeting, a memo reporting on Advanced Funding issues has been prepared and is included in your packet. ACTION REQUESTED: Discussion 4.7 Advanced Funding Requests (Chalen Daigle) The McHenry Council is requesting just under $4 million in advanced funding for projects on the February and June 2014 IDOT Lettings. ACTION REQUESTED: Consideration of Advanced Funding Request 5.0 GO TO 2040 Update (Andrew Williams-Clark) CMAP staff will provide an update on the GO TO 2040 update process, specifically the financial plan, indicators and major capital project element. Memos to the Transportation Committee on these elements of GO TO 2040 are included in your packet. ACTION REQUESTED: Information 6.0 Legislative Update (Gordon Smith) CMAP staff will provide an update on state legislative activities. ACTION REQUESTED: Discussion 7.0 USDOT Certification Review (John Donovan) CMAP, as the Chicago area’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, must be reviewed and certified by the USDOT every four years. The purpose of the review is not only to ensure that federal regulatory requirements for transportation are being met but to highlight good planning practices and share information among participating organizations. FHWA staff will provide information on this process. ACTION REQUESTED: Information 8.0 Climate Change Adaptation Toolkit (Erin Aleman) A brief presentation will be given on the CMAP resource for communities to adapt their planning and investment decisions to a changing climate. ACTION REQUESTED: Information 9.0 Local Technical Assistance and Major Capital Project Update The current status reports of the ongoing LTA program and the GO TO 2040 Major Capital Projects are available. An update on the recently added projects to the LTA program is included. Additional input, comments and questions are welcome. ACTION REQUESTED: Information 10.0 Other Business 11.0 Public Comment This is an opportunity for comments from members of the audience. The amount of time available to speak will be at the chair’s discretion. 12.0 Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2014. The remaining dates for 2014 are May 20, 2014; September 9, 2014; and November 4, 2014. 13.0 Adjourn Council of Mayors Executive Committee Members: President Dave Brady President Thomas Karaba Mayor Jeffery Schielke* Mayor Roger Claar President Al Larson Mayor Jeffrey Sherwin President Rodney Craig President Richard Mack Mayor Joseph Tamburino President Karen Darch Mayor John Mahoney Mayor George Van Dusen President Jim Discipio President Robert Nunamaker Mayor Eugene Williams** President Mike Einhorn President Ed Ritter Lake, Vacant President Sandy Frum Mayor Leon Rockingham, Jr** * Chairman Mayor Jim Holland President William Rodegheir ** Vice-Chairman Jeffery Schielke, Chairman Mayor, City of Batavia Kane/Kendall Council Council of Mayors Executive Committee Leon Rockingham, Jr., 1st Vice Chair Mayor, City of North Chicago Lake Council DRAFT Minutes of the September 10, 2013 Meeting Eugene Williams, 2nd Vice Chair CMAP Offices – Cook County Conference Room Mayor, Village of Lynwood South Council Executive Committee and Elected Officials Present George Van Dusen Mayor, Village of Skokie Mayor Jeffery Schielke, Chairman; President Dave Brady; President Rodney Craig; North Shore Council Mayor Karen Darch; President Sandy Frum; President Michael Einhorn; Mayor Jim Sandy Frum President, Village of Northbrook Holland; President Thomas Karaba; Mayor Al Larson, President Ed Ritter; President North Shore Council William T. Rodeghier; Mayor Jeffrey Sherwin; Mayor George Van Dusen, Mayor Al Larson President, Village of Schaumburg Northwest Council Eugene Williams. Karen Darch Mayor, Village of Barrington Northwest Council Others Present Jeffrey Sherwin Jennifer Becker, Lenny Cannata, Bruce Carmitchel, Bruce Christensen, Chalen Daigle, Mayor, City of Northlake North Central Council John Donovan, Janet Henderson, Patrick Higgins, Patrick Knapp, Katie Kukielka, Tam Joseph Tamburino Kutzmark, Hugh O’Hara, Andy Plummer, Dave Seglin, Chris Schmidt, Ron Shimizu, Mayor, Village of Hillside North Central Council Deb Spencer, Chris Staron, Mike Sullivan, Thomas Vander Woude, Mike Walczak, James Discipio Barbara Zubek President, Village of LaGrange Park Central Council dc William T. Rodeghier President, Village of Western CMAP Staff Present Springs Central Council Erin Aleman, John Allen, Patricia Berry, Randy Blankenhorn, Teri Dixon, Kama Dobbs, Dave Brady Doug Ferguson, Tom Garritano, Lindsay Hollander, Matt Maloney, Holly Ostdick, President, Village of Bedford Park Southwest Council Russell Pietrowiak, Justine Reisinger, Gordon Smith, Andrew Williams-Clark John Mahoney Mayor, Village of Palos Park Southwest Council 1.0 Call to Order and Introductions Chairman Schielke called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Introductions were Michael Einhorn President, Village of Crete South Council made. Rodney Craig President, Village of Hanover Park DuPage Council 2.0 Agenda Changes and Announcements Thomas Karaba Mayor Schielke announced that IDOT is holding public hearings regarding their President, Clarendon Hills DuPage Council 2015-2020 multi-modal transportation improvement Program Development. Ed Ritter President, Carpentersville Kane/Kendall Council 3.0 Approval of Minutes – March 26, 2013 TBD On a motion by Mayor Sherwin and a second by Mayor Holland, the March 26, Lake Council Richard Mack 2013 minutes were approved as presented. President, Village of Ringwood McHenry Council John Schmitt 4.0 Transportation Programming Updates/Action Items President, Village of Algonquin McHenry Council 4.1 IDOT Bureau of Local Roads Update/ STP Expenditure Report Roger Claar Mr. Pietrowiak described the latest STP-L expenditure report from June and Mayor, Village of Bolingbrook Will Council pointed out that the expenditures exceed the allotment, which is good because Jim Holland the suburban councils are getting closer to using all of their allotment. Mayor, Village of Frankfort Will Council 4.2 Advanced Funding Ms. Daigle of the McHenry Council of Mayors requested $3.9 million in advance funding for 4 projects scheduled for lettings in November 2013 and January 2014. Ms. Berry added that the McHenry, Central and DuPage Councils have already requested and received advanced funding in FFY 2013 and will return to positive balances in 2017, 2015 and 2014 respectively. She stated that in the distant past, the Executive Committee policy was to not advance fund beyond the expiration of the current transportation bill. The committee discussed the
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Youth Courts: Lawyers Helping Students Make Better Decisions
    For more information about the Journal of Law & Social Change, this issue, and the annual Edward V. Sparer Symposium, Coming of Age Against the Odds: Advocating for At-Risk Youth, please visit our website: jlasc.org Published by Penn Law: Legal Scholarship Repository, 2012 VOLZ, TREVASKIS & MILLER YOUTH COURTS: LAWYERS HELPING STUDENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS GREGORY VOLZ* DAVID KELLER TREVASKIS* RACHEL MILLER* “Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.” – Thomas Paine1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 200! I.! ! DISCONNECTED YOUTH.............................................................................................. 202! II.! ! ZERO-TOLERANCE SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY POLICIES ....................................... 204! III.! ! RESPONSES TO THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE ............................................ 205! A.! Youth Courts and Racial Justice................................................................................ 205! B.! Kids for Cash and the Interbranch Report ................................................................. 207! C.! A Response from the Pennsylvania Bar Association ...............................................
    [Show full text]
  • Public Information Office
    PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE Sally Ellertson Public Information Officer 141 West Renfro March 13, 2013 Burleson, Texas 76028-4261 817-426-9622 F: 817-426-9390 [email protected] www.burlesontx.com Sunshine Review, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency, announced that the City of Burleson’s website was one of the winners of the fourth annual Sunny Awards. The City of Burleson earned a Sunny for the third consecutive year. The award, which honors the most transparent government websites in the nation, went to 250 government entities. Other Texas winners include the McKinney Independent School District, City of Houston, City of Huntsville, City of Keller, City of Laredo and City of New Braunfels. Burleson earned an A- for the 2013 Sunny. The minus was for not disclosing if the City engaged in lobbying activities or if it is a member of a government lobbying association. The total cost of lobbying activities or membership dues was also not available. The City of Burleson is a member of the Texas Municipal League, which is considered a lobbying association. The dues for TML administrative services are $3,931, which is based on the City’s population. The City’s 2012 population was 38,130 residents. “The City of Burleson knows the importance of promoting transparency in everything we do,” City Manager Dale Cheatham said. “We are honored to receive a Sunny Award and will continue to empower citizens by providing the necessary information to keep them informed on the actions their government is taking on their behalf.” For the 2013 awards, Editors at Sunshine Review analyzed more than 1,000 qualifying government websites and graded each on a 10-point transparency checklist.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendices to Illinois Reform Commission 100-Day Report
    Appendices to Illinois Reform Commission 100-Day Report April 28, 2009 Table of Contents Page A. Listing of Materials Provided to Commissioners.......................................... A-1 1. Campaign Finance .............................................................................. A-1 2. Procurement ........................................................................................ A-7 3. Enforcement ...................................................................................... A-12 4. Government Structure ...................................................................... A-14 5. Transparency..................................................................................... A-18 6. Inspiring Better Government ........................................................... A-23 7. Additional Materials Considered...................................................... A-28 B. Meeting Minutes............................................................................................ B-1 1. Minutes for Meeting of the Illinois Reform Commission — Thursday, January 22, 2009............................................................... B-1 2. Minutes for Meeting of the Illinois Reform Commission — Thursday, February 5, 2009 ............................................................... B-9 3. Minutes for Meeting of the Illinois Reform Commission — Thursday, February 23, 2009 ........................................................... B-19 4. Minutes for Meeting of the Illinois Reform Commission — Thursday, March 5, 2009
    [Show full text]
  • Transparency in State Budgets a Search for Best Practices
    Transparency in State Budgets A Search for Best Practices For a Budget Transparency Profile for each individual state, visit http://igpa.uillinois.edu/FiscalFutures September 2011 Richard F. Dye Nancy W. Hudspeth David F. Merriman The Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) is a public policy research organization based in all three University of Illinois campus cities. IGPA‟s mission is to improve public policy and government performance by: producing and distributing cutting-edge research and analysis, engaging the public in dialogue and education, and providing practical assistance in decision making to government and policymakers. The institute‟s work not only advances knowledge, but also provides real solutions for the state‟s most difficult challenges. IGPA plays an important role in assisting government to better serve the public good. IGPA provides access to top-quality University of Illinois research to improve decision-making at every level of government. To learn more, visit igpa.uillinois.edu © 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Edited and designed by Kelsey McCoy, IGPA Communications and Marketing Specialist. ii Executive Summary Complicated, hidden, and inconsistent budget practices are not desirable, and greater transparency would facilitate more informed policy making. How does one go about measuring budget transparency? State budgets are often massive, complicated the findings and scores for each state in detailed documents that use idiosyncratic and sometimes tables. inconsistent accounting conventions. Moreover, budget information is not always presented in a timely Finally, we develop four original indicators of fiscal manner or an easily accessible form. Worse, transparency: the share of total spending that comes confusion follows transactions that can flow through from special—as opposed to General—funds; year-to- multiple funds or accounting treatments that change year variation in that share; the magnitude of net from one year to the next.
    [Show full text]
  • Pennsylvania Spending Transparency 2.0: Online Tools for Better Government
    Pennsylvania Spending Transparency 2.0: Online Tools for Better Government Pennsylvania Spending Transparency 2.0: Online Tools for Better Government Fall 2010 Kari Wohlschlegel and Elizabeth Ridlington, Frontier Group Megan DeSmedt, PennPIRG Education Fund Phineas Baxandall, Ph.D., U.S. PIRG Education Fund Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Steve Herzenberg, Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center for his review of this report. Phineas Baxandall of U.S. PIRG Educa- tion Fund shared his expertise and advice at numerous points during the development and writing of this report. Clair Embry provided valuable research assistance. Thanks to Tony Dutzik and Travis Madsen of Frontier Group for editorial assistance. This report is made possible with funding from the Ford Foundation. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of our funders or those who provided editorial review. Any factual errors are strictly the responsibility of the authors. © 2010 PennPIRG Education Fund With public debate around important issues often dominated by special interests pursuing their own narrow agendas, PennPIRG Education Fund offers an indepen- dent voice that works on behalf of the public interest. PennPIRG Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, works to protect consumers and promote good government. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public, and offer Pennsylva- nians meaningful opportunities for civic participation. Frontier Group conducts independent research and policy analysis to support a clean- er, healthier and more democratic society. Our mission is to inject accurate informa- tion and compelling ideas into public policy debates at the local, state and federal lev- els.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Our Apps Today (Or Simply Surf to Mackinac.Org on Your Mobile Device)
    THE Check the MIballot2012M.orgIflap!ballot2012.org ROAD MIballot2012.org The Magazine of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 SHOW Mackinac Center analysis of ballot proposals reaches beyond Michigan Center analysts gave no fewer than 100 talks in Michigan about the recently defeated ballot proposals, logging thousands of miles from Alpena to Kalamazoo. The Mackinac Center’s overall strategy was to educate voters with ballot proposal studies, commentaries, Overall, Mackinac Op-Eds, videos, Web Center analysts gave Right-to-woRk chats, TV appearances some 150 interviews, and a popular Web page drew national media It’s not a war on workers. It’s a fight for more and better jobs MIballot2012.org. attention from coast — Helping Make Michigan Home again. Story on page 10 to coast, and The New A large-scale advertising York Times followed campaign generated up on Proposal 2 4,000 ads from October after the election, FOIA: Protecting the to early November callings its defeat “an Right to Report in Detroit, Lansing, Page 13 embarrassment” for Saginaw, Grand Rapids organized labor in the and northern Lower cradle of unionism. tax v. PRofit Peninsula markets. The Morality of Exchange Page 15 Celebrating in 2013! see other side KEEP TRACK OF THESE AND OTHER MACKINAC CENTER ACTIVITIES ON OUR WEBSITE! Ballot Proposal Roundup: The Analysts’ Perspectives Page 7 Experience the Mackinac Center ANYTIME, ANYWHERE iPhone, Android and More Getting analysis and stories from the Center has never been simpler or more elegant. Download our apps today (or simply surf to mackinac.org on your mobile device).
    [Show full text]
  • ILLINOIS Report 2012
    The ILLINOIS Report 2012 Foreword At the University of Illinois, we share the same dream as every citizen across our great state: a future of prosperity and progress, security and success, health and happiness. For nearly 150 years, the university has partnered with the state to build a better tomorrow for the people of Illinois, through world-class academic and research programs that produce both new generations of leaders and new waves of innovation. And for nearly half of our storied history, our Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) has helped lead the way. IGPA is a jewel of our university and our state, created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1947 as a place where decision-makers can turn for real solutions to the state’s most critical problems. Its offices in our campus cities of Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield are home to top public- policy researchers, known nationally for their groundbreaking scholarship in fields ranging from public finance and ethics to health and social policy. Each year, our IGPA experts take a fresh look at the state’s biggest challenges in The Illinois Report . This sixth edition examines a host of issues that are crucial to our future, including the state’s budget deficit, its changing demographics, and its educational needs. The report has a singular goal—providing nonpartisan, evidence-based analysis to help guide decision-makers and steer Illinois toward a new era of economic and social growth that will make it a model for the nation. The University of Illinois deeply values the key role that our academic and research programs play in shaping the state’s future, and the crucial support that we receive from Illinois and its citizens.
    [Show full text]
  • Sending the Wrong Message: Technology, Sunshine Law, and the Public Record in Florida
    File: Cooper.392.GALLEY(e).doc Created on: 6/14/2010 10:38:00 AM Last Printed: 6/14/2010 1:11:00 PM SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE: TECHNOLOGY, SUNSHINE LAW, AND THE PUBLIC RECORD IN FLORIDA Cheryl Cooper∗ Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations.1 I. INTRODUCTION There is nothing like a sex scandal to grab people’s attention. In January 2008, the Detroit Free Press published sexually graphic text messages exchanged by Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his then chief of staff Christine Beatty, both of whom had vehemently denied that they were having an extra- marital affair.2 The published messages revealed that Kilpatrick and Beatty lied under oath in a whistleblowers’ lawsuit3 and that Kilpatrick agreed to settle the suit for $8.4 million to keep the affair quiet.4 These revelations led to criminal charges that forced ∗ © 2010, Cheryl Cooper. All rights reserved. Marketing Editor, Stetson Law Review. B.S., University of South Florida, cum laude, 2007; J.D. candidate, Stetson University College of Law, 2010. 1. James Madison, Speech, Virginia Convention on the Ratification of the Constitu- tion (Richmond, Va., June 6, 1788) (available at http://www.constitution.org/rc/rat_va_05 .htm). 2. Jim Schaefer & M. L. Erick, Freep.com, Kilpatrick, Chief of Staff Lied under Oath, Text Messages Show, http://www.freep.com/article/20080124/NEWS05/801240414/ Kilpatrick++chief+of+staff+lied+under+oath++text+messages+show (Jan.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Government Disclosure Requirements.Indd
    Local Government Disclosure Requirements: Weighing Redundancy/ Emphasizing Effi ciency By Natalie Davila, Mike Klemens and Kara Moretto KDM Consulting, Inc. March 15, 2016 About the Authors Michael D. Klemens Manufacturing Center as well as the Director KDM Consulting President of Economic Research for the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. She Mike worked in the Director’s Offi ce at the is currently an adjunct faculty member at DePaul Illinois Department of Revenue for 20 years in an University. Natalie holds a Bachelor’s degree from assortment of tax policy related roles, re ring in Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, a 2012 as Manager of Policy and Communica ons Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the where he oversaw the development of the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy department’s web presence. Analysis from the University of Illinois in Chicago. In 2012 Mike established KDM Consul ng, which Kara Moretto works extensively with the Taxpayers’ Federa on of KDM Consulting Associate Illinois. His areas of tax exper se include property tax, property and sales tax exemp ons and taxes Kara has over 23 years of progressive tax that the state administers for local governments, administra on experience including a s nt as head together with a broad general knowledge of the of the Offi ce of Local Government Services. She 75+ taxes and programs administered by the has exper se in Illinois specifi c legisla ve research department. Mike holds a Bachelor’s degree from and extensive knowledge of the Illinois property Dartmouth College and a Master’s degree from tax system.
    [Show full text]
  • The Transparency Effect
    The Transparency Effect Citizens can keep an eye on government with easy-to-use websites, but are there downsides to transparency? BY PAM GREENBERG tion. By 2000, every state legislature also was online. mericans want to know what government State websites added more kinds of infor- is up to, and they want it to be easy to mation over the years, many evolving from find. a “Web 1.0” model of website development, Ninety percent of respondents to a characterized by static documents and one-way 2008A poll by Harris Interactive believed they communication, to “Web 2.0,” or “Gov 2.0,” were entitled to know how the government gen- which focuses on more interactive exchanges erates and spends its money. But few Americans between citizens and government and collabora- believe government is meeting those expecta- tion through user-friendly sites and social media tions, another survey conducted that same year tools. found. Another landmark bill, passed in 2006, trig- A new movement that uses technology to gered a new push for budget transparency. The combine information and make it available in federal Funding Accountability and Transpar- innovative ways may promote the accountability ency Act requires federal financial assistance this group of engaged citizens is seeking. Some and expenditures to be available through a sin- are concerned, however, that creating unprec- gle, searchable website. The federal legislation, edented access to government data could have along with an active advocacy campaign pro- unforeseen consequences. moting transparency, set off a domino effect that Advocacy groups now pushing for greater resulted in many states creating one centralized access to information from all levels of gov- website with detailed information about govern- ernment expect data to be easily accessible and ment spending.
    [Show full text]
  • Leon County Wins Sunny Award for Website Transparency Only 214 Awarded out of 6,000 Government Websites Nationwide
    Leon County Board of County Commissioners 301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (850) 606-5302 www.leoncountyfl.gov NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2012 CONTACT: Jon D. Brown, Director Community and Media Relations (850) 606-5300 Leon County Wins Sunny Award for Website Transparency Only 214 awarded out of 6,000 government websites nationwide Leon County Government has received a national honor for maintaining open government. The County’s website was awarded the Sunny Award, presented by editors of the Sunshine Review to honor the most transparent government websites. Leon County’s website was one of only 214 throughout the nation to receive the award out of more than 6,000 government websites analyzed by Sunshine Review – a national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency. Leon County’s newest accomplishment was recently announced by Sunshine Review to launch “Sunshine Week” – a period from March 11 to 17 that is nationally recognized by the media and civic organizations to celebrate the efforts of activists and the strides taken towards open government. “Leon County knows the importance of promoting transparency in everything we do,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Akin Akinyemi. “We are honored to receive a Sunny Award and will continue to empower citizens by providing the necessary information to keep them informed on the actions their government is taking on their behalf.” For the 2012 awards, editors at Sunshine Review analyzed more than 6,000 government websites and graded each on a 10-point transparency checklist. Editors looked at content available on the websites against what should be provided.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Costa Mesa P.O
    CITY OF COSTA MESA P.O. BOX 1200, COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA 92628-1200 FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA RELEASE March 8, 2012 CONTACT Bill Lobdell, (949) 887-2541 [email protected] www.costamesaca.gov www.facebook.com/CostaMesaCityHall Twitter @CityofCostaMesa City of Costa Mesa wins national transparency award COSTA MESA, CALIF.—Sunshine Review, a national nonprofit dedicated to government transparency, released the winners of its third annual Sunny Awards and among those honored was the City of Costa Mesa. After analyzing 6,000 government websites, Sunshine Review gave the awards to only 214 entities. No other Orange County government entity received a Sunny Award. “The Sunny Awards recognizes governments that are doing an exemplary job at proactively disclosing information to taxpayers,” said Michael Barnhart, president of Sunshine Review. “We would like to congratulate City of Costa Mesa for being a champion for transparency and serving as a leader to every state and local government around the nation.” For the 2012 awards, editors at Sunshine Review graded each government website on a 10- point transparency checklist. Editors looked at content available on government websites against what should be provided. They sought information on items such as budgets, meetings, lobbying, financial audits, contracts, public records and taxes. The winners of the Sunny Award all received an “A” grade during the extensive grading process. “The City Council and staff have made a commitment to provide Costa Mesa citizens with as much public information on our website as possible,” Mayor Gary Monahan said. “This award underscores the importance of what we are doing and that we are doing it right.” Six states earned nearly half of the 214 Sunny Awards given.
    [Show full text]