HB2613enr 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2613 Enrolled LRB094 10976 AJO 41576 b

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Township Code is amended by changing Sections 115-10, 115-20, 120-10, 125-10, and 125-15 and by adding Section 125-12 as follows:

(60 ILCS 1/115-10)

Sec. 115-10. Open space plan; petition.

(a) A board desiring to enter upon an open space program may do so only after adoption of an open space plan under Section 115-15. The board shall commence preparation of an open space plan under that Section only upon the filing with the township clerk of a petition signed by not less than 5% or 50, whichever is greater, of the registered voters of the township (according to the voting registration records at the time the petition is filed) recommending that the board commence preparation of an open space plan. Within 5 business days after the filing of the petition, the township clerk shall provide public notice of the existence of the filed petition in the same manner as notices of meetings of the township board are provided. A hearing shall be conducted no less than 30 days after the filing of the petition to determine the validity of the petition, which may be challenged in accordance with the general election law.

(b) A proposed open space plan shall (i) identify all open land within the township that the board deems necessary to acquire in order to accomplish the purposes of the open space program; (ii) state the ways in which the acquisition of open land will further open space purposes; (iii) state the estimated costs of implementing the proposed plan; (iv) state the approximate tax, per $100 of assessed value, that will be levied to provide the necessary funds for implementing the proposed plan; (v) state the estimated timetable for implementing the proposed plan; and (vi) establish standards and procedures for establishing priorities for the acquisition of parcels identified in the plan.

(Source: P.A. 85-1140; 88-62.)

(60 ILCS 1/115-20)

Sec. 115-20. Referendum on recommended plan; petition.

(a) If the board recommends adoption of the open space plan, or if a subsequent petition is filed by not less than 5% or 50, whichever is greater, of the registered voters of the township (according to the voting registration records at the time the petition is filed) recommending adoption of the open space plan, then the Board, within 30 days of making of the recommendation or the approval filing of the petition, shall file a petition with the township clerk, requesting the clerk to submit to the voters of the township the question of whether the township shall adopt the open space plan and enter upon an open space program, with the power to acquire open land by purchase, condemnation (except townships in counties having a population of more than 150,000 but not more than 250,000), or otherwise in the township and with the power to issue bonds for those purposes under this Article. Approval of a petition recommending adoption of the open space plan shall be given if the petition is determined to be valid following public notice and a hearing consistent with the requirements of Section 115-10 for the initial petition. The total amount of bonds to be issued under this Section may not exceed 5% of the valuation of all taxable property in the township and shall be set forth in the question as a dollar amount. The township clerk shall certify that proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the proposition to the township voters at the next regular election. The referendum shall be conducted and notice given in accordance with the general election law.

(b) The question submitted to the voters at the election shall be in substantially the following form:

Shall (name of township) adopt the open space plan considered at the public hearing on (date) and enter upon an open space program, and shall the Township Board have the power (i) to acquire open land by purchase (insert ", condemnation," if the township is in a county having a population of more than 250,000) or otherwise, (ii) to issue bonds for open space purposes in an amount not exceeding $(amount), and (iii) to levy a tax to pay the principal of and interest on those bonds, as provided in Article 115 of the Township Code?

The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No".

(c) If a majority of the voters voting at the election on the question vote in favor of the question, the township shall thereafter adopt the open space plan recommended by the board or by the petition of the registered voters of the township and shall enter upon an open space program under this Article. If the proposition does not receive the approval of a majority of the voters voting at the election on the question, no proposition may be submitted to the voters under this Section less than 23 months after the date of the election.

(d) If a majority of the legal voters voting at referendum in any township approved a proposition at the consolidated election in 2001 in reliance upon and consistent with this Section 115-20 as it existed prior to the effective date of Public Act 91-847, then that referendum and all actions taken in reliance thereon are hereby validated and are legally binding in all respects.

(Source: P.A. 91-641, eff. 8-20-99; 91-847, eff. 6-22-00; 92-6, eff. 6-7-01.)

(60 ILCS 1/120-10)

Sec. 120-10. Method of acquiring land. A township desiring to procure lands for park purposes under this Article may purchase the lands from the owner or owners or, in the discretion of the township board, may acquire the lands by the exercise of the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by the laws of this State for taking or damaging private property for public purposes. A township may not utilize eminent domain powers with respect to lands located within the boundaries of a municipality that is served by a municipal recreation department, or a park district.

(Source: Laws 1915, p. 724; P.A. 88-62.)

(60 ILCS 1/125-10)

Sec. 125-10. Petition and referendum.

(a) Legal One hundred legal voters of a township numbering no less than 5% or 50, whichever is greater, of the registered voters of the township, may file a petition in writing in the office of the circuit clerk in the county in which the township is located, with a copy of such petition required to be filed on the same day with the township clerk, asking that a referendum be held to authorize the issuance of bonds for the purpose of providing funds for the purchase and improvement of one or more public parks in the township. The petition shall designate the amount of bonds proposed to be issued for the acquirement and improvement of the parks. Within 5 business days after the filing of the petition, the township clerk shall provide public notice of the existence of the filed petition in the same manner as notices of meetings of the township board are provided. After a hearing conducted no less than 30 days after the filing of the petition, at which time the validity of the petition may be challenged in accordance with the general election law Upon the filing of the petition, the circuit court, if it determines that the petition conforms with the requirements of the law, shall certify the question to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question at an election to the legally qualified voters of the township. The court shall designate the election at which the question shall be submitted. The notice of the referendum shall state the amount of bonds proposed to be issued and identify any specific park acquisition or improvement projects intended to be supported by the bond proceeds, and the notice shall be given and the referendum conducted in accordance with the general election law.

(b) The proposition at the referendum shall be in substantially in one of the following forms form:

Form A

Shall (name of township) be authorized to issue park bonds to the amount of $(amount) for the purpose of procuring and improving one or more small parks?

Form B

Shall (name of township) be authorized to issue park bonds to the amount of $ (amount) for the purpose of (identify specific park acquisition or improvement projects)?

The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No".

(c) If a majority of the votes cast upon the proposition are in favor of the issuance of bonds, the township supervisor and township clerk shall issue the bonds of the township not exceeding the amount voted upon at the township election. The bonds shall become due not more than 20 years after their date, shall be in denominations of $100 or any multiple of $100, and shall bear interest, evidenced by coupons, at the rate of not exceeding 5% per annum, payable semiannually.

(Source: Laws 1915, p. 722; P.A. 81-1489; 88-62.)

(60 ILCS 1/125-12 new)

Sec. 125-12. Public hearing following referendum approval.

(a) Before the bonds shall be sold, the township board shall hold at least one public hearing on the subject of how the bond proceeds may be spent. In addition to providing no less than 15 days' advance public notice of such hearing in a manner consistent with meetings of the township board, notice of such public hearing shall be provided to all municipalities and park districts located within the township. All interested residents and local government officials within the township shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard during the public hearing.

(b) When Form A of the referendum question is used, the township shall consider all legitimate park acquisition and improvement projects that are submitted in connection with the public hearing. When Form B of the referendum question is used, the township shall consider only those park acquisition and improvement projects that were identified in the question.

(60 ILCS 1/125-15)

Sec. 125-15. Supervisor's and clerk's certificate; tax; board of park commissioners.

(a) The bonds shall be sold, and the proceeds shall be used, solely for the purpose of procuring and improving one or more parks in the township; specifically, the bond proceeds may be used in connection with one or more acquisition projects, one or more improvement projects, or a combination thereof. The bond proceeds may be used to support projects at parks operated by the township or, through grants or intergovernmental agreements, at parks operated by a municipality or park district. At or before the time of the delivery of the bonds for value, the township supervisor and township clerk shall file with the county clerk of the county in which the township is situated their certificate in writing, under their signatures, stating the amount of bonds to be issued, their denomination, and the rate of interest and where payable. The certificate shall include a form of the bond to be issued.

(b) The supervisor and clerk shall levy a direct annual tax upon all the taxable property in the township sufficient to pay the principal and interest of the bonds as and when they respectively mature. The certificate filed with the county clerk is full and complete authority to the county clerk to extend the tax named in the certificate upon all the taxable property in the township. The tax is in addition to all other taxes authorized by law.

(c) If there is a board of park commissioners invested by law with control over any park that lies wholly or in part in the township, the duties required of the supervisor and clerk by this Section and subsection (c) of Section 125-10 shall be performed by the board of park commissioners or under its authority.

(Source: P.A. 84-550; 88-62.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.