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TO: The Mayor and City Council
FROM: Richard J. Veenstra
Corporation Counsel
DATE: April 14, 2020
SUBJECT:
Public hearings conducted by the City Council in lieu of an advisory body or committee.
PURPOSE:
To clarify the authority of the City Council to conduct public hearings.
BACKGROUND:
Illinois law occasionally requires a public hearing as a prerequisite to final action by the City Council. The Council, through its ordinances, has delegated the duty to conduct some public hearings to various bodies which then offer their recommendations to the Council. In many instances, this delegation is not required by Illinois law, but instead arose for practical reasons.
DISCUSSION:
There are rare instances where it may be necessary or convenient for the City Council to conduct a public hearing in lieu of one of the City's advisory bodies or committees. This proposed ordinance clarifies the authority of the City Council to conduct these hearings from time-to-time even though the City Code provides that other bodies will ordinarily here these matters. It also provides that hearings by the advisory body will be the "default" process and that hearings before the Council will not be the normal course of business.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Adoption of this ordinance will clarify that the Council retains the authority to conduct public hearings and may do so when appropriate.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Council approve the ordinance.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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An Ordinance creating Section 2-82 of the City Code of the City of Aurora pertaining to the authority of the City Council to conduct public hearings.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any ...
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