101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB0873

 

Introduced , by Rep. LaToya Greenwood

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Metro East Development Act. States legislative findings for the need to create a Metro East Development Authority, including the need to develop and revitalize depressed areas of the Metro East. Defines "Metro East" as Madison, Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair counties. Provides for the creation of the Authority, including the appointment of 12 members by the chairperson of each Metro East county; by the directors of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, and the Illinois Development Finance Authority; and by the Governor. Allows the Authority to hire an executive director. Lists the rights, powers, and duties of the Authority, including the power to borrow money and to issue bonds. Provides that the Authority shall perform an initial study and survey to determine what areas will be considered a depressed areas that contain a commercially, industrially, residentially, recreationally, educationally, or other blighted area. Provides for requirements related to meetings, public hearings, and administrative and judicial review of Authority projects. Provides for limitations on the Authority's powers. Describes procedures for procurement of debt and bonds, execution of deeds, demolition and removal of buildings, purchase of property, contracts, and costs of projects. Gives the Authority the power to investigate the conditions of any project in which it has an interest. Effective immediately


LRB101 07052 AWJ 52088 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE DEBT IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0873LRB101 07052 AWJ 52088 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Metro
5East Development Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that
7blight, deterioration, and decay in the Metro East counties of
8Madison, Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair have resulted in (a)
9inefficient and wasteful use of land resources; (b) destruction
10of irreplaceable natural, industrial, recreational, housing,
11and commercial resources; (c) diminished opportunity for the
12private home building industry to operate at its highest
13potential capacity in providing good housing needed for those
14who now live in depressed areas and those expected to move to
15depressed areas in the future, and to replace substandard
16housing; (d) the need for costly and effective public
17facilities and services at all levels; (e) unduly limited
18options for many depressed areas residents as to where they may
19live, and the types of housing and environment in which they
20may live; (f) a failure to make the most economical use of the
21land available for development in depressed areas; (g)
22decreasing employment and business opportunities for the
23citizens of depressed areas, and the inability of depressed

 

 

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1areas to retain a tax base adequate to support vital services
2for all our citizens, particularly our poor and disadvantaged;
3and (h) the decreased effectiveness of public and private
4facilities for urban transportation.
5    The General Assembly finds that better patterns of
6development and revitalization in the Metro East depressed
7areas are essential to accommodate future population growth; to
8prevent further deterioration of the area and the people's
9physical and social environment; and to make a positive
10contribution to improving the overall quality of life in the
11depressed areas of the Metro East. The General Assembly finds
12that the health, welfare, morals, and safety of its citizens
13require the encouragement of well planned, diversified, and
14economically sound community development, including major
15additions to existing areas of depression. The General Assembly
16finds that desirable community development on a significantly
17large scale has been prevented by difficulties in (a) obtaining
18adequate financing at moderate cost for enterprises which
19involve large initial capital investment, extensive periods
20before investment can be returned, and regular patterns of
21return; (b) the timely assembly of sufficiently large sites in
22economically favorable locations at reasonable costs; and (c)
23making necessary arrangements among all private and public
24organizations involved, for providing site and related
25improvements (including streets, sewer and water facilities,
26and other public and community facilities) in a timely and

 

 

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1coordinated manner.
 
2    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the
3context requires otherwise:
4    "Authority" means the Metro East Development Authority
5created by this Act.
6    "Blighted area" means an area of not less, in the
7aggregate, than 2 acres located within the territorial limits
8of depressed areas in the Metro East where commercial,
9industrial, residential, recreational, educational, or any
10other buildings or improvements, because of age, dilapidation,
11obsolescence, overcrowding, lack of ventilation, light,
12sanitary facilities, adequate utilities, or excessive land
13coverage, deleterious land use or layout or any combination of
14these factors, are detrimental to the public safety, health,
15morals, or welfare.
16    "Depressed area" means an area in the Metro East that the
17Authority determines needs redevelopment under this Act.
18    "Land development" means the process of clearing and
19grading land; making, installing, or constructing water lines
20and water supply installations, sewer lines and sewage disposal
21installations; steam, gas, and electrical plants and
22installations; roads, streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks,
23storm drainage facilities, and other installations or work,
24whether on or off the site, which the Authority deems necessary
25or desirable to prepare land for residential, commercial,

 

 

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1industrial, or other uses; or in providing facilities for
2public or other facilities. "Land development" further means to
3construct, acquire by gift or purchase, reconstruct, improve,
4better or extend any project within or without the Metro East
5area or partially within the Metro East area, but in no event
6farther than 3 miles from the territorial boundaries of the
7Metro East area, and to acquire by gift or purchase lands or
8rights in land in connection within the Metro East area.
9    "Metro East" means Madison, Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair
10counties.
11    "Project" means any utility, structure, facility or other
12undertaking which will implement a defined, organized, planned
13and scheduled, diversified, economically and technologically
14sound, quality community environment, which the authority is
15authorized to construct, reconstruct, improve, equip or
16furnish under this Act. "Project" includes, but is not limited
17to, buildings and other facilities intended for use as
18classrooms, laboratories, student residence halls,
19instructional and administrative facilities for students,
20faculty, officers and employees, and motor vehicle parking
21facilities and fixed equipment, and industrial or
22manufacturing plants or facilities, any industrial park, any
23commercial facilities, the construction or improvement of
24streets, sidewalks, and sewer and water facilities, the
25construction of schools, parks, playgrounds, community and
26municipal buildings, and the implementation of new community

 

 

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1development programs. "Project" further includes, but is not
2limited to, apartments, housing facilities, health, hospital
3and medical facilities, stadiums, physical education
4installations, hotels, motels, dormitories, New Town Programs,
5aquariums, museums, convention centers, planetariums, civic
6buildings, nursing homes, harbors, and terminal facilities.
7"Project" does not include the financing for or the
8construction of plants, projects, or facilities for (1) the
9manufacture or generation of electric energy in competition
10with an electric supplier as defined in the Electric Supplier
11Act or (2) the transmission, distribution or manufacture of gas
12in competition with a public utility as defined in the Public
13Utilities Act.
14    "Redevelopment area" means the blighted area of not less in
15the aggregate than 2 acres, to be developed in accordance with
16the redevelopment plan.
17    "Redevelopment plan" means the comprehensive process for
18the clearing or rehabilitation and physical development of a
19commercial, industrial, residential, recreational, or
20educational blighted area, and necessary for the elimination or
21rehabilitation of a residential, commercial, or industrially
22blighted area and the protection of adjacent areas, and all
23administrative, funding, and financial details and proposals
24necessary to effectuate the plan, including, but not limited
25to, a new community development program.
 

 

 

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1    Section 15. There is created a Metro East Development
2Authority within the State of Illinois. The Authority shall:
3        (1) act as public developer in carrying out community
4    development programs in and for Metro East depressed areas
5    of the State of Illinois;
6        (2) make available adequate management, administrative
7    and technical, financial, and other assistance necessary
8    for encouraging the defined, organized, planned and
9    scheduled, diversified, economically and technologically
10    sound, quality community environment in depressed areas,
11    and to do so through the use of management task force
12    procedures which will rely to the maximum extent on private
13    enterprise;
14        (3) strengthen the capacity of the State and federal
15    governments to make their resources available to the people
16    of Metro East depressed areas;
17        (4) increase for all persons living in depressed areas
18    the available choices of locations for living and working
19    by providing a more just economic and social environment;
20        (5) encourage the fullest utilization of the economic
21    potential of supply of commercial, industrial,
22    residential, recreational, and educational building sites
23    at reasonable costs;
24        (6) utilize improved technology in producing the large
25    volume of well-designed housing needed to accommodate the
26    people of depressed areas;

 

 

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1        (7) help create neighborhoods designed for easier
2    access between the places where people live and the place
3    where they work and find recreation;
4        (8) encourage desirable innovations in meeting
5    domestic problems whether physical, economical, or social;
6    and
7        (9) assist, plan, develop, build, and construct any
8    facility or project to enhance the community environment
9    and technological management when requested to do so by any
10    State, county, or federal agency, school district,
11    community college, municipality, municipal corporation,
12    special district, authority, local or State public body,
13    commission, public corporation, or entity within Metro
14    East depressed areas.
 
15    Section 20. Members; compensation. The Authority shall
16consist of 12 members, including as members the Director of
17Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee, the
18Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority or his
19or her designee, the Executive Director of the Illinois
20Development Finance Authority or his or her designee, and 2
21members appointed by each chairperson of the Madison, Monroe,
22Randolph, and St. Clair County boards. The other member of the
23Authority shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the
24advice and consent of the Senate. One member of the Authority
25shall be designated as chairperson by the members of the

 

 

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1Authority.
2    If the Senate is not in session when the appointment is
3made, the Governor shall make a temporary appointment as in the
4case of a vacancy. The member appointed by the Governor shall
5serve for a 4-year term expiring on the third Monday in January
6or until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. Any
7vacancy occurring in the office held by the member appointed by
8the Governor, whether by death, resignation, or otherwise,
9shall be filled by the Governor in the same manner as the
10original appointment. A member appointed to fill a vacancy
11shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term or until
12his or her successor is appointed and qualified.
13    Members of the Authority shall serve without compensation
14but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses
15necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties and the
16exercise of their powers under this Act. Each member shall,
17before entering upon the duties of his or her office, take and
18subscribe to the constitutional oath of office. The oath shall
19be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.
 
20    Section 25. Meetings. The Authority shall meet at the times
21and places as determined by the Authority or on call of the
22chairman after at least 5 days' written notice to the members
23or the request of 2 or more members. Seven members shall
24constitute a quorum. No vacancy in the membership shall impair
25the right of a quorum of the members to exercise all of the

 

 

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1rights and powers, and to perform all of the duties, of the
2Authority.
 
3    Section 30. Executive director; other employees. The
4Authority may employ and fix the compensation of an executive
5director, to serve as the chief executive officer of the
6Authority, and other agents or employees as it considers
7necessary or desirable. Agents and employees, other than of
8technical or engineering personnel, are subject to the
9Personnel Code. If any employees are transferred to the
10Authority from any other State agency, the transfer does not
11affect the status of the employees under the Personnel Code,
12under any retirement system under the Illinois Pension Code, or
13under any civil service, merit service, or other law relating
14to State employment.
 
15    Section 35. Rights, powers, and duties. The Authority has
16the following rights, powers, and duties:
17        (1) To sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded,
18    complain and defend in all courts.
19        (2) To make regulations for the management and
20    regulation of its affairs.
21        (3) To acquire by purchase or gift, and hold or dispose
22    of real or personal property, or rights or interests in
23    these gifts or real or personal property.
24        (4) To accept loans or grants of money or materials or

 

 

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1    property of any kind from a federal or State agency or
2    department or others, upon terms and conditions as may be
3    imposed by the federal or State agency or department.
4        (5) To borrow money to implement any project or any
5    combination of projects.
6        (6) To recommend the issuance of revenue bonds to
7    implement any project or combination of projects.
8        (7) To make contracts and leases, exercise all
9    instruments, and perform all acts and do all things
10    necessary or convenient to carry out the powers granted in
11    this Act.
12        (8) To develop and recommend to the depressed areas of
13    the Metro East a long range comprehensive master
14    redevelopment plan for community growth and development of
15    depressed areas including assisting in the preparation of
16    new town applications to the Department of Housing and
17    Urban Development.
18        (9) To collect, analyze, and evaluate statistics,
19    data, and other information (including demographic,
20    economic, social, environmental and governmental
21    information) as will enable the Authority to transmit to
22    the corporate authorities within the Metro East depressed
23    areas, at the beginning of each year, a required report on
24    the growth of depressed areas for the year passed. Such
25    report shall include, but not be limited to:
26            (A) information and statistics describing

 

 

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1        characteristics of depressed areas growth and
2        stabilization and identifying significant trends and
3        developments;
4            (B) a summary of significant problems facing
5        depressed areas as to their growth trends and
6        development;
7            (C) an evaluation of the progress and
8        effectiveness of federal, State, and local programs
9        designed to meet problems facing depressed areas and to
10        carry out the depressed areas urban growth policies;
11            (D) an assessment of the policies and structures of
12        existing and proposed interstate and regional planning
13        and development affecting these policies; and
14            (E) a review of State, federal, local, and private
15        policies, plans, and programs relevant to the
16        Authority's policies.
17        (10) To lease or rent any of the housing or other
18    accommodations or any of the lands, buildings, structures,
19    or facilities in which the Authority holds fee simple or
20    lesser interest, and to otherwise sell, exchange,
21    transfer, or assign any property, real or personal, or any
22    interest in any property, and to own, hold, clear, and
23    improve property.
24        (11) To acquire by purchase, gift, or as otherwise
25    provided in this Act the fee simple or lesser title to all
26    or any part of the real property in any redevelopment area.

 

 

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1        (12) To renovate or rehabilitate any structure or
2    building acquired, or, if any structure or building or the
3    land supporting it has been acquired, to permit the owner
4    to renovate or rebuild the structure or building in
5    accordance with a redevelopment plan.
6        (13) To install, repair, construct, reconstruct, or
7    relocate streets, roads, alleys, sidewalks, utilities, and
8    site improvements essential to the preparation of the
9    redevelopment area for use in accordance with a
10    redevelopment plan.
11        (14) To mortgage or convey real or personal property
12    acquired for use in accordance with a redevelopment plan.
13        (15) To borrow money, apply for and accept advances,
14    loans, gifts, grants, contributions, services, or other
15    financial assistance from the federal government or any
16    agency or instrumentality of the federal government, the
17    State, county, municipality, or other public body or from
18    any source, public or private, for or in aid of any of the
19    purposes of the redevelopment plan, and to secure the
20    payment of any loans or advances by the issuance of revenue
21    bonds and by the pledge of any loan, grant, or
22    contribution, or any part of those, or the contracts, to be
23    received from the federal government or any agency or
24    instrumentality of the federal government, and to enter
25    into and carry out contracts in connection with these
26    activities.

 

 

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1        (16) To create parks, playgrounds, recreational
2    community education, or water, sewer, or drainage
3    facilities, or any other work which it is otherwise
4    empowered to undertake, adjacent to or in connection with
5    housing projects.
6        (17) To dedicate, sell, convey, or lease any of its
7    interests in any property, or grant easements, licenses, or
8    other rights or privileges therein to a public housing
9    development body or the federal or State governments.
10        (18) To exercise all powers available to land clearance
11    commissions under the Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of
12    1947, as now or hereafter amended, and to initiate and
13    implement slum and blighted areas redevelopment projects.
14    However, the Authority shall not exercise eminent domain
15    powers under the Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of 1947,
16    and with reference to the exercise of eminent domain
17    authority, this Act shall control.
18        (19) To develop a comprehensive redevelopment plan for
19    each neighborhood in depressed areas.
20        (20) To hold public hearings on redevelopment plans.
21        (21) To fix, alter, charge, and collect fees, rentals,
22    and other charges for the use of the facilities of or for
23    the services rendered by the Authority, or projects of the
24    Authority, at rates to be determined by agreement or
25    otherwise, for the purpose of providing for the expenses of
26    the Authority, the construction, improvement, repair,

 

 

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1    equipping, and furnishing of its facilities and
2    properties, the payment of the principal and interest on
3    its obligations and to fulfill the terms and provisions of
4    any agreements made with the purchasers or holders of any
5    obligations. The fees, rentals, and other charges include
6    charges for interest due bond holders on all outstanding
7    construction and improvement, and engineering and
8    administration costs not reimbursed to the Authority, and
9    include charges to reimburse completely the Authority
10    beginning in an appropriate year for the principal on the
11    bonds within a period of years specified by the Authority
12    to meet its bond payment schedules.
13        (22) To borrow money under a revenue bond ordinance or
14    resolution passed by the Authority within 4 years after the
15    effective date of this Act, for the acquisition,
16    construction, and improvement of projects in amounts as
17    necessary for defraying the cost of the projects and to
18    secure the payment of all or any of its revenues, rentals,
19    and receipts, and to make agreements with the purchasers or
20    holders of the bonds or with others in connection with any
21    bonds whether issued or to be issued, as the Authority
22    deems advisable and, in general, to provide for the
23    security of the bonds and the rights of the holders of the
24    bonds.
25        However, bonds may not be issued by the Authority
26    unless the Authority offers, in writing, to the State

 

 

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1    agencies or counties represented by members on the
2    Authority, excluding the member appointed by the Governor,
3    the first opportunity to issue revenue bonds for the
4    project or combination of projects. If the offer to issue
5    bonds is not accepted in writing within 6 weeks, by any of
6    the agencies or municipalities, the Authority may issue
7    revenue bonds for the purpose for which the bonding
8    opportunity was offered to the agencies or municipalities.
9        (23) To provide that any real property sold by the
10    Authority is used in accordance with the final
11    redevelopment plan, and the Authority shall inquire into
12    and satisfy themselves concerning the financial ability of
13    the purchaser to complete the redevelopment in accordance
14    with the redevelopment plan and shall require the purchaser
15    to execute in writing such undertakings as the Authority
16    deems necessary to obligate the purchaser to:
17            (A) use the land for the purposes designated in the
18        approved plan;
19            (B) commence and complete the building of the
20        improvements within the periods of time which the
21        Authority fixes as reasonable; and
22            (C) comply with other conditions as are necessary
23        to carry out the purposes of the final redevelopment
24        plan.
25        (24) To sell any property within a redevelopment area
26    that the Authority holds the fee simple title or any lesser

 

 

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1    interest, provided that all real property shall be sold for
2    at least its use value, which may be less than its
3    acquisition cost.
4        (25) To pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber all
5    or any of the revenues or receipts of the Authority as
6    security for all or any of the obligations of the
7    Authority.
8        (26) To pass all resolutions and make all rules and
9    regulations proper and necessary to give effect to the
10    power granted the Authority under this Act.
 
11    Section 45. Depressed areas.
12    (a) The Authority shall, by resolution, perform an initial
13study and survey to determine what areas will be considered a
14depressed area that contain commercially, industrially,
15residentially, recreationally, educationally, or other
16blighted areas.
17    In making the study and survey, the Authority shall:
18        (1) cooperate with and use evidence gathered by any
19    public or private organization relative to the existence or
20    extent of blight in the depressed area;
21        (2) hold public hearings, conduct investigations, hear
22    testimony, and gather evidence relating to blight and its
23    elimination;
24        (3) create an advisory committee of not less than 11
25    persons, to be appointed by the chairperson, with the

 

 

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1    approval of the Authority, and the committee shall consist
2    of representatives from among local merchants, property
3    owners, associations, human relations commissions, labor
4    organizations, and other civic groups; and
5        (4) formulate a proposed redevelopment plan for Metro
6    East blighted areas, provided that the plan has received
7    the approval and recommendations of a two-thirds majority
8    vote of the members.
9    (b) If, as a result of their initial study and survey, the
10Authority determines that the depressed areas have one or more
11commercially, industrially, residentially, recreationally,
12educationally, or other blighted areas, the Authority may, by
13resolution, set forth the boundaries of each blighted area and
14the factors that exist in the blighted area that are
15detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, and welfare.
16    In the same resolution, the Authority may provide for a
17public hearing on the designation of an area as a blighted area
18and may submit proposed redevelopment plans for the blighted
19area.
20    At least 20 days before the hearing, the Authority shall
21give notice of the hearing by publication at least once in a
22newspaper of general circulation within the depressed area.
23    (c) At the hearing on the designation of an area as a
24blighted area, the Authority shall introduce the testimony and
25evidence that entered into their decision to declare an area a
26blighted area, and shall enter into the record of the

 

 

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1proceedings all proposed redevelopment plans received at or
2prior to the hearing. All interested persons may appear and
3shall be given an opportunity to testify for or against any
4proposed redevelopment plan. The hearing may be continued from
5time to time at the discretion of the Authority to allow
6necessary changes in any proposed plan or to hear or receive
7additional testimony from interested persons.
8    (d) At the conclusion of the hearing on blight, the
9Authority shall formulate and publish a final redevelopment
10plan for the blighted area after approval of a two-thirds
11majority vote of the members of the advisory committee, which
12plan may incorporate any exhibit, plan, proposal, feature,
13model, or testimony resulting from the hearing. The final
14redevelopment plan shall be presented to the corporate
15authorities in the territory covered by the redevelopment plan.
16The final redevelopment plan shall be made available for
17inspection by all interested parties.
18    (e) Within 30 days after the publication of a final
19redevelopment plan, any person aggrieved by the action of the
20Authority may seek a review of the decision and the
21redevelopment plan under the Administrative Review Law. The
22provisions of that Law and the rules adopted pursuant to that
23Law shall apply to review of the final redevelopment plan. If
24no action is initiated under the Administrative Review Law, or
25if the court sustains the Authority and the redevelopment plan
26as presented, or as amended by the court, the Authority may

 

 

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1proceed to carry out the final redevelopment plan.
 
2    Section 50. Debt; bonds. The Authority is authorized and
3empowered to incur indebtedness and issue revenue bonds in
4compliance with paragraph (22) of Section 35 for the purpose of
5raising funds for carrying out the provisions of a final
6redevelopment plan providing for the eradication and
7elimination of blight and acquisition, development or
8redevelopment of blight areas and any other area which may
9constitute a redevelopment area within the depressed area. The
10resolution of the Authority authorizing the issuance of revenue
11bonds shall specify the total amount of the bonds to be issued,
12the form and denomination, the date or dates of maturity which
13shall not be later than 20 years after the date of issuance,
14and the rate of interest, which rate shall not exceed the rate
15permitted in the Bond Authorization Act. The bonds shall be
16executed by the officials under the bond ordinance. The bonds
17may be made registrable to principal and may be made callable
18on any interest payment date at par and accrued interest after
19notice has been given in the manner provided by the bond
20ordinance. The bonds shall remain valid even though one or more
21of the officials executing the bonds cease to hold office
22before the bonds are delivered.
23    The bonds shall contain a provision that the principal and
24interest on the principal are payable exclusively from the
25proceeds and revenues of any redevelopment plan which is

 

 

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1financed in whole or in part with the proceeds of the bonds,
2together with whatever funds of the Authority from whatever
3source derived as are necessary to constitute a local matching
4cash grant-in-aid or contribution for the redevelopment plan
5within the meaning of any applicable federal or State law.
6Bonds may be additionally secured by a pledge of any loan,
7grant or contribution, or any part of a loan, grant, or
8contribution, received from the United States, or any agency or
9instrumentality of the United States, or any loan, grant, or
10contribution from any other public or private body,
11instrumentality, corporation, or individual, or any duly
12executed contract for the pledge, loan, grant, or contribution.
13    The officials executing the revenue bonds are not
14personally liable on the bonds because of their issuance. The
15bonds are not a debt of any county or the State, or any
16subdivision of the county or State. The bonds are not payable
17out of any funds of the Authority except those indicated in
18this Act.
19    In connection with the issuance of the revenue bonds
20authorized by this Act and in order to secure the payment of
21the bonds, the Authority may recommend to the corporate
22authority in which the redevelopment plan is proposed subject
23to the powers and limitations contained in this Act, that the
24corporate authority convene and agree in the bonds, bond
25ordinance, or resolution, or any trust agreement executed
26pursuant thereto, to any necessary condition, power, duty,

 

 

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1liability, or procedure for the issuance, payment, redemption,
2security, marketing, replacement or refinancing of the bonds,
3and the use, disposition or control of all or any part of the
4revenues realized from a redevelopment or new community plan.
5    The revenue bonds issued pursuant to a resolution passed by
6the Authority shall be sold to the highest and best bidder at
7not less than their par value and accrued interest. The
8Authority shall, from time to time as bonds are to be sold,
9advertise for proposals to purchase the bonds. Each
10advertisement may be published in newspapers and journals as
11the Authority determines, but must be published at least once
12in a newspaper having a general circulation in the respective
13area at least 10 days prior to the date of the opening of the
14bids. The Authority may reserve the rights to reject any and
15all bids and readvertise for bids.
16    The bonds may be issued without submitting any proposition
17to the electorate by referendum or otherwise.
 
18    Section 55. Public hearing. Before any proposed new
19construction of a specific project or proposed rehabilitation
20project is commenced by the Authority, a public hearing must be
21held by the Authority affording interested persons residing in
22the area an opportunity to be heard. There shall be a notice of
23the time and place of the hearing published at least once, not
24more than 30 and not less than 15 days before the hearing, in
25one or more newspapers published in the county that the area of

 

 

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1the project is within. This notice shall contain the particular
2site and location to be affected as well as a brief statement
3of what is proposed in the project.
 
4    Section 60. Deeds. Any deed executed by the Authority under
5this Act may contain restrictions as may be required by the
6final redevelopment plan and necessary building and zoning
7ordinances. All deeds of conveyance shall be executed in the
8name of the Authority and the seal of the Authority shall be
9attached to the deeds.
 
10    Section 65. Demolition and removal of buildings. The
11Authority may enter into contracts for the demolition or
12removal of buildings and for the removal of any debris. The
13Authority shall advertise for sealed bids for doing this work.
14The advertisement shall describe by street number or other
15means of identification the location of buildings to be
16demolished or removed and the time and place when sealed bids
17for the work may be delivered to the Authority. The
18advertisement shall be published once in a newspaper having a
19general circulation in the respective area 20 days prior to the
20date for receiving bids.
21    The contract for doing the work shall be let to the lowest
22responsible bidder, but the Authority may reject any and all
23bids received and readvertise for bids. Any contract entered
24into by the Authority under this Section shall contain

 

 

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1provisions requiring the contractor to give bond in an amount
2to be determined by the Authority, and shall require the
3contractor to furnish insurance of a character and amount to be
4determined by the Authority protecting the Authority and the
5municipality, its officers, agents, and employees against any
6claims for personal injuries, including death and property
7damage which may be asserted because of the contract. The
8Authority may include in any advertisement and in the contract
9one or more buildings as they in their sole discretion may
10determine.
 
11    Section 70. Streets. In carrying out the provisions of a
12final redevelopment plan, the Authority may pave and improve
13streets in the redevelopment area, construct walks and install
14or relocate sewers, water pipes, and other similar facilities.
15The Authority shall advertise for sealed bids before paving and
16improving streets. The advertisement shall describe the nature
17of the work to be performed and the time when and place where
18sealed bids for the work may be delivered to the Authority. The
19advertisement shall be published once in a newspaper having a
20general circulation in the county at least 20 days prior to the
21date for receiving bids. A contract for doing the work shall be
22let to the lowest responsible bidder, but the Authority may
23reject any and all bids received and readvertise for bids. The
24contractor shall enter into bond as a condition for the
25faithful performance of the contract. The sureties on the bond

 

 

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1shall be approved by the Authority.
 
2    Section 75. Real property. When the Authority has acquired
3title to, and possession of any or all real property in the
4redevelopment area, they may convey any part of the
5redevelopment area to which the Authority holds the fee simple
6title or any lesser interest to any public body, or
7State-chartered corporation, having jurisdiction over schools,
8parks, low or moderate housing, or playgrounds in the area. The
9property conveyed shall be used for parks, playgrounds,
10schools, housing for low or moderate income families, and other
11public purposes as the Authority may determine. The Authority
12may charge for the conveyance whatever price they and the
13officials of the public bodies, or State-chartered
14corporations, receiving the land may agree upon. The Authority
15may also grant, with or without charge, easements for public
16utilities, sewerage, and other similar facilities.
 
17    Section 80. Cost of construction. The cost of construction
18of any project includes the following:
19        (1) Obligations incurred for labor, and to
20    contractors, builders, and material men, in connection
21    with the construction of any project or projects, for
22    machinery and equipment and for the restoration of property
23    damaged or destroyed in connection with construction.
24        (2) The cost of acquiring any property, real, personal

 

 

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1    or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest property,
2    necessary or desirable for the construction of any a
3    project or projects.
4        (3) The principal and interest requirements upon any
5    bonds for the period during which, and to the extent, the
6    rentals received by the Authority from a project or
7    projects shall be insufficient for the payment of the bond,
8    the fees and expenses of the fiscal agent of the Authority
9    in respect of the bonds during any period, and the
10    reasonable fees and expenses of any paying agents for the
11    bonds during this period.
12        (4) The taxes or other municipal or governmental
13    charges, if any, in connection with any project or projects
14    during construction.
15        (5) The cost and expenses of preliminary
16    investigations of the feasibility or practicality of
17    constructing any project or projects and fees and expenses
18    of engineers for making preliminary studies, surveys,
19    repairs, estimates, and for preparing plans and
20    specifications and supervising construction as well as for
21    the performance of all other duties of engineers in
22    relation to construction or the issuance of bonds for
23    construction.
24        (6) Expenses of administration properly chargeable to
25    any project or projects during construction, legal
26    expenses and fees, financing, relating charges, costs of

 

 

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1    audits and of preparing and issuing bonds, and all other
2    items of expense not elsewhere specified, relating to the
3    construction of any project, and the acquisition of lands,
4    property rights, rights of way, franchises, easements, and
5    interest inland, including abstracts of title, title
6    insurance, title opinions, costs of surveys, reports, and
7    other expenses in connection with the acquisition of these
8    items.
 
9    Section 85. Territory outside the Metro East. The Authority
10may not construct, acquire by gift or purchase, reconstruct,
11improve, better, or extend any project farther than 3 miles
12from the territorial boundaries of the Metro East.
 
13    Section 90. Obligations of the State and units of local
14government. The Authority shall not have any power to pledge
15the credit or taxing power of the State or any unit of local
16government. The Authority's obligations are not obligations of
17the State or any unit of local government.
 
18    Section 95. Financial report. Within 60 days after the end
19of each fiscal year, the Authority shall have prepared, by a
20certified public accountant, a complete and detailed financial
21report of the operation, assets, and liabilities of the
22Authority. A sufficient number of copies of the report shall be
23prepared for distribution to interested persons, upon request,

 

 

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1and a copy of the report shall be filed with the Governor and
2the General Assembly.
 
3    Section 100. Investigation of projects. The Authority may
4investigate conditions in any project in which it has an
5interest. While conducting investigations, the Authority may
6hold public hearings on its own motion, and shall do so on
7complaint or petition of any interested person. Each member of
8the Authority shall have power to administer oaths, and the
9secretary, by order of the Authority, shall issue subpoenas to
10secure the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the
11production of books and papers, before the Authority or before
12any member thereof or any officer or committee appointed by the
13Authority.
14    While conducting any investigation, the Authority shall,
15at its expense, provide a stenographer to take down all
16testimony and shall preserve a record of the proceedings. The
17notice of hearing, complaint, and all other documents in the
18nature of pleading and written motions and orders of decision
19of the Authority shall constitute the record of the
20proceedings.
21    The Authority is not required to testify and record or file
22any answer, or otherwise respond in any proceedings for
23judicial review of an administrative decision, unless the party
24asking for review deposits with the clerk of the court the sum
25of $1 per page of records of the proceedings, which is the cost

 

 

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1of the certification of the proceedings. Failure to make this
2deposit is ground for dismissal of any action.
 
3    Section 105. Judicial review. All final administrative
4decisions of the Authority shall be subject to judicial review
5under the provisions of the Administrative Review Law and the
6rules adopted pursuant to the Administrative Review Law. For
7purposes of this Section, "administrative decision" has the
8meaning given to that term in Section 3-101 of the Code of
9Civil Procedure.
 
10    Section 110. Limitation of authority. The powers contained
11in this Act shall not be exercised by the Authority:
12        (1) within the boundaries of any municipality, or
13    within the boundaries of any territory over which a
14    municipality has jurisdiction, unless the exercise of the
15    powers have been approved by the mayor or village president
16    of the municipality; or
17        (2) within the boundaries of any unincorporated area of
18    a township unless the exercise of the powers have been
19    approved by the supervisor of the township.
 
20    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.