~  Working Guide Presented to Cairo City Council  ~

 

Cairo Steering Committee

Preface:

The Following "Guide" is Meant to Be Used as an Initial Structure and Foundation in the Formation of The Cairo "Steering Committee".

While the "Essence" of The More Abstract Elements of The Steering Committee's Organization and Purposeful Intent Should Remain Basically Intact... the Specifics Will Vary depending on The "Relationship" of The Steering Committee with The City of Cairo and The "Structure" of The Steering Committee Itself. The "Relationship & Structure" of The Cairo Steering Committee Should Be Determined and Formed by The Essential Needs and Progressive Goals of The Cairo City and Community... without Deference to Political Agenda or Power Groups.

Of Paramount Important is The Realization that "Essential Progressive Growth" of a City and Community Involves Honesty and Courage... and a Commitment to Ideals that Demand Integrity, Vision and Holistic Growth to The City and Community.

It is also Vitally Important that The Steering Committee also Embraces The Global Issues of Human & Animal Rights, Ecology & Environment, Government & Corporate Corruption... and The Regional Concerns of Tourism & Historical Preservation and Holistic Economic Growth.

For a Steering Committee to Be Relevant and Effective... It Must Have "Formal Power" and/or "Community Support"... to Power Its "Sails" and to  Empower Its Essential Philosophy and Mission Statement.  A City or Community that Cannot Meet This Fundamental Creative Challenge to Thrust Itself Forward into a New and More Responsible Future... by Creating a "Ship" of Realistic Hope and Necessary Change... Will Most Probably Remain Mediocre and Impotent... without Direction and Aspiration.

 

Components of The Cairo Steering Committee


Philosophy

Cairo at This Time in It's History Needs a Philosophy with "Vision" and Idealistic Integrity. It is Vital that Cairo has a "STAR" to Look To. Without an Overall "Guiding Light" to Keep It Focused... The City and Community of Cairo Will Splinter and The More Basic Aspects of Human Nature will Dominate.

Proposed:



~ Philosophy ~

It Is The Purpose & Intent of The Steering Committee of Cairo, Illinois to Guide Our Community in a Manner That is In Harmony with Nature in All It's Forms... and to Move Our Community and City Government Progressively Forward with Integrity and Positive Intent.

With The Interest and Concern of Our Community Paramount to All Aspects of City Government... Our Philosophy Will Emphasize Respect for The Individual Citizen, Service to Ideals Enshrined in Our Country's Constitution, and The Will to Strive for Excellence in City Government.

 



Mission Statement
:

The "Mission Statement" Should "Be In Harmony" with The "Philosophy"... but Be More Literal and Precise... and Not As General and Abstract. It Should Address The Specific "Objectives" and Goals of The Steering Committee and The Direction and Purpose of The City Government It Represents.

Proposed:


~ Mission Statement ~


To Enable The City and Community of Cairo to Progressively Grow and Realize Its Full Potential... and To Become a Secure and Financially Independent City.

A Place Where People Come to Visit... but Choose to Stay!



Name of Steering Committee

Proposed:

- The "Cairo Steering Committee" (CSC)


Members

Steering Committee Members Should Come from The Citizenry of The Town or Community. City Officials and City Workers Should Not Be on The Steering Committee.

Every Member Should Be a Valuable Asset to The Purpose and Intent of The Steering Committee... both Generally and Specifically. They Should Have "Something to Offer".

Most Importantly... Members Should Be in Full Agreement with The Steering Committee  Philosophy and Mission... and Supportive of Its Organizational Structure.

Membership with The Steering Committee is Initially VOLUNTARY and PROBATIONARY.

No Member shall Unreasonably PROFIT from Membership or Participation in The Steering Committee. Any and All "Salaries" Will Be Minimal. All "Grant Writing" Commissions will go into a City Fund for Public Infrastructure Improvements or Other Public Interest.

"Qualifications" for Membership to The Steering Committee Should Be Determined at Its Inception... with The Capacity to Adjust According to Future Needs and Demands. Changes Should Be Made by a Unanimous or Majority Agreement of Current Members.

Proposed:

General Directors

Executive Director:  ???
Sub-Committee Coordinator:  ???

Sub-Committee Directors

-  Vision & Ethics:  ???
-  Progressive Government:  ???
-  Tourism & Historic Preservation:  ???

-  Alternative Energy:  ???
-  Economic Procurement & Growth:  ???

-  Youth Activities:  ???
-  Community Activism:  ???
-  Community Enrichment:  ???
-  City/Community Web Site:  ???

To Be Eligible for Appointment to The Steering Committee... a Person Must Be:  1) A Full Time Resident of The City; and 2) Not Be a City Official or Employee of The City; and 3) Have the Capacity to Contribute to The Mission and Application of Steering Committee "Area of Concerns".


Salaries
:

Salaries Should Be Determined by Membership Status and Duration of Membership and Contributions by CHSC Member.

Initially, Membership Should Be on a "Volunteer" and "Probationary" Basis. Thereafter, Membership and Salary Should Be Determined on a Quarterly Basis. A "Bonus" May Be Considered for Exceptional Work and Contributions.

All Salaries Should Be Determined and Offered with a Majority Agreement of both Steering Committee Members and The City Council.

Proposed:

General Director:  $100 / Meeting Attended*
Sub-Committee Coordinator:  $75 / Meeting Attended*
Sub-Committee Heads:  $50 / Meeting Attended*
Sub-Committee Members:  $25 / Meeting Attended*

* After Probationary Period


Meetings

All Meetings Should Be Open to The General Public... with Dates and Times Posted in a Timely Manner.

Members of Government may Attend Meetings... and Offer Input and Dialogue. Members from Each "Department" of City Government Should be Encouraged to Attend All Meetings.


Proposed:

Regular Meetings:  Monthly
Summary Meetings:  Quarterly & Yearly
Special Meetings:  Determined by Need


Administration
:

Clearly Defined Administrative Powers Should Be Created on Inception of The Steering Committee. Primarily, It Should Be Determined whether The Steering Committee Will "Make Decisions" for City Government... or Only Act in an Advisory Capacity... Making "Recommendations" without Legal Power.

Proposed:

The Cairo Steering Committee Should Be both a "Decision Making" Body with Interactive City Government Power... and an "Advisory Group.


Independence:

The "Relationship" between The Steering Committee and City Government Should Be Clearly Stated... and Be a Foundation of The Organization. A Committee without "any" Power or Influence... whether It Be Legal or Functional ... is Impotent and Subject to Subversion by a Corrupt City Government. Individuals without The Power to "Affect Change"... will Soon Lose Interest and Motivation... and Will Drift Away or Not Join and/or Participate.

Proposed:

The Cairo Steering Committee Should Be Basically Independent of City Government... in that It's Philosophy and Mission Cannot Be Compromised by The Mayor and/or City Council. Nor Should Its "Funding" Be Subject to Pilfering or Distribution by City Government.

The Cairo Steering Committee and The City Government are Both "Servants of The Community" and The Spirit of Democratic Freedom and Individual Personal Growth. Neither Should Be Able to Infringe Upon that Spirit... by Law or Intent!


Organizational Structure:

Depending on The Mission and Purpose of The Steering Committee... The Structure of The Organization may vary. Typically, there Will Be Specialty Groups or "Sub-Committees" along with Clerical and Technical Positions.

Proposed:

Cairo Steering Committee Organizational Structure:

-  General Director
-  Sub-Committee Coordinator
-  Sub-Committee Directors
-  Sub-Committee Members
-  Clerical & Technical Staff


Sub-Committees
:

Specialty "Sub-Committees" Should Be Formed to Address More Specific Issues and Concerns.


Proposed:


~ Sub-Committees ~


1.  Vision & Ethics

2.  Progressive Government

       A.  Integrity in Government
       B.  Total Disclosure & Accountability

3.  Tourism & Historic Preservation

4.  Economic Procurement & Growth

       A.  Business Guidelines
       B.  Environmental Impact

5.  Alternative Energy

       A.  Awareness & Application
       B.  Leadership in The "Green" Movement

6.  Youth Activities

       A.  Academics
       B.  Sports
       C.  Music (Individual & Group)
       D.  Work Programs

7.  Community Activism

8.  Community Enrichment

9.  City/Community Web Site
 



Funding:

Access and Control of Funds Should Be Determined both Initially during Steering Committee Formation... and Introduced and/or Adjusted as Need and Circumstance Dictate. Regardless, City Government Should Never Have Complete Control Over Procurement or Disbursement of Funds Ear-Marked for The Steering Community.

Proposed:

-  1% of City Tax Base
-  10% of Funds Generated by Steering Committee
-  100% of Grant Commissions Obtained by Steering Committee


Advisory Board
:

A Community "Advisory Board" Should Be Optional for The City and/or Community Concerned. It May Take the Form of an Organized and Unified Group... or Be an Association of Individuals for The Sole Purpose of Information and Policy Advisement and Direction.

Proposed:

To Be Determined by Steering Committee after Formation.


Areas of Concern:

Sometimes "Areas of Concern" May Be both General and Specific... and Cross Over between Sub-Committees. They Are Stated as General Concerns of The Steering Committee... but Are Applied Specifically in Various Sub-Committees.

An Example Could Be "Youth Advocacy" (General) and Applied in the Sub-Committees of "Sports" and "Creative Expressions" (Specific).
 

Proposed:


~ Areas of Concern ~

●  Human Rights Issues
●  Animal Rights Issues
●  Integrity in Government
●  Environmental Issues
●  Tourism and Historic Preservation
●  Alternative Energy
●  Programs for City Youth
●  Guidelines for Business
●  Expert Council
●  Public Activism
●  Being an "Example" to The Nation
●  Create Work for Citizens
●  Bring Sustainable Business to City
●  City Web Site
●  Government Responsibility and Accountability
 

 

Duties:

There Will Inevitably Be Consequential and Specific "Duties" The Steering Committee Will Accrue with The Execution of The More Generally Defined "Areas of Concern". Duties May Be established by both The Sub-Committees and The Steering Committee as a Whole.  For Instance, a Monthly Report to The City Council would Become an Ongoing Duty.

Proposed: 


~ Partial Duties ~

 

  • Advise the city council and city manager on establishment of a participatory style of local government.
     
  • Obtain community-wide input generally and specifically on the community's vision.
     
  • Disseminate information to the community.
     
  • Develop a priority list of goals based on the vision.
     
  • Determine what facilities, programs and resources are necessary for desired processes and projects.
     
  • Report on the city budget Meets annually with all city commissions.