City Council

Contacts/
Announcements

The City Council is the main governing body of the City which meets the first and third Tuesday of each month to perform formal business. The fourth Monday of the Month the City Council holds the Committee of Whole meeting where they discuss but do not conduct official business.

Eight council members, two selected from each of the four wards, serve for staggered four-year terms. The Mayor is elected by a city wide election held every four years and serves as the chairperson of the Council.

The council has a diverse number of powers. In general terms, it sets policy for the city. It devises a budget for the year and approves it, appoints all of the members of the committees serving the city, approves all new hires with the city and sets the tax levy for the city for the year. Additionally it determines speed limits within town, decides where stop signs should be placed, and attends to the Electric, Water, Sewer and Garbage utilities. They also oversee the Police and Fire departments as well as ensure public safety through the (ESDA) and the building department.

Please feel free to contact any of the City Council through the main offices at City Hall by phone (815) 622-1100 or fax (815) 622-1113.

Committees & Boards/Commissions

City Council Committees

• ADA Review Committee
• Brownfield Redevelopment Committee (BRC)
• Electric Committee
• Finance/Insurance Committee
• Investment Committee
• License/Ordinance Committee
• Personnel & Safety Committee
• Police and Fire Committee
• Public Property Committee
• Public Works/Utilities Committee
• Tourism Committee

Commissions

• Board of Fire and Police Commissioners
• Ezone
• Industrial Development Commission
• Planning Commission

City Council Committees
Each Council member is a member of one of the many committees that assist the full council accomplish things throughout the city. These committees make recommendations directly to the City Council. The Council then in turn acts on those recommendations.

Listed below is the name and the assignment of each member. Please feel free to contact any of the City Council through the main offices at City Hall by phone (815) 622-1100 or fax (815) 622-1113.

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Planning Commission/ Zoning Board of Appeals

This board has a dual function in City Government, the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. The planning commission is appointed by the City Council to deal with the subdivisions, zoning changes and expansion of the city. The planning commission normally nominates one member to be the chairperson of the commission and one to be the secretary. All of the members vote on issues. The other side function is that of the Board of Appeals. The Zoning Board of Appeals has a limited role in the City's government but an important one. If a citizen wishes to build something within the city and the building inspector does not grant them a permit because they are not in the correct zone for the building they wish to construct they may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Zoning Board of Appeals may issue a variance permit to allow the building of such a site if they find that it will not be injurious to the neighborhood or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare and will be in harmony with the general purpose of the zoning ordinances.

Normally the Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals meets in the City Council chambers on the 2nd Thursday of every month.

Listed below are each of the Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals members. If you wish to contact any of the Planning Commission please do so  through the main offices at City Hall by phone (815)622-1110 or fax (815)622-1109.

Planning Commission Forms

The building department also receives any correspondence for the Planning Commission.  Below are a couple of the forms that are required for the issues that would come before the Planning Commission.

Rezoning Form- This form is used when someone wishes to change the current zone of their property.  Please download the form, fill it out and submit it back to the Building department, at 603 W. 10th Street, Rock Falls, IL 61071.

Variance/Interpretation of Zoning Map/Special Exception- This form is used when someone wants to apply for a variance from the Standard Zoning code requirements, when someone wants to have the Planning Commission examine the zoning map and interpret the map when there is a question and when someone wants to get Special Usage status for a project, such as when they want to create a cemetery in a residential zone, a child care facility in a residential zone or many other items, which are spelled out in sections 16-101, 16-121, 16-141, 16-145, 16-161, 16-181, 16-241and 16-270 of the Current Rock Falls Zoning Code. Please download the form, fill it out and submit it back to the Building department, at 603 W. 10th Street, Rock Falls, IL 61071.

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Industrial Development Commission
The Industrial Development Commission (IDC) provides guidance, direction and control for the further industrial development of the city and territory beyond the corporate limits not included in any other municipality. The IDC is also charged by the City Council to enhance and facilitate industrial development and buy and sell suitable land for industrial development and recommend such acquisition to the City Council.

To contact the IDC or any of its members which are listed below please call the Mayor's Office at (815) 622-1108.

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Board of Fire and Police Commissioners
The board of fire and police commissioners shall have charge of all appointments to fire and police service, as provided by law, excepting that of the chief of each service, shall conduct and hold all entrance and promotional examinations in the manner required by law and shall perform other duties as provided by state statutes.

To contact any of the members listed below, of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners please contact them via the City Clerk's office at (815) 622-1100 or fax (815) 622-1113.

Police and Fire Commission
Carol Fitzgerald (exp 6/30/08)
Bob Smeltzer (exp 6/30/09)
Tom Myers (exp 6/30/07)
Secretary – Kim Thome

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Other Boards

E-Zone
Sandy Henrekin, RFCDC
Richard Downey, City Administrator

603 W. 10th Street • Rock Falls, Illinois 61071 • 815.622.1100