(A) The Regional Councils of Government shall serve as liaisons between the Division of Regional Development and the political subdivisions of this State. The Regional Councils of Government, utilizing among other things the infrastructure development plans of the local political subdivisions, shall develop and submit regional comprehensive infrastructure development plans to the Division of Regional Development. The political subdivisions must be encouraged to develop local comprehensive infrastructure development plans. The Regional Councils of Government shall coordinate and assist the political subdivisions in the development of these plans. The Regional Councils of Government also shall undertake and carry out such activities as necessary to assist the Division of Regional Development in coordinating, developing, and implementing a coordinated and comprehensive infrastructure development plan for the State. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) The Regional Councils of Government shall assist the political subdivisions in creating and developing local comprehensive infrastructure development plans. The political subdivisions shall take into account future developmental needs regarding water and sewer, and communications when developing their plans.
(2) The Regional Councils of Government, utilizing the infrastructure development plans of the respective political subdivisions, among other things, shall assist the Division of Regional Development in coordinated and comprehensive planning on the state level and throughout the State including, but not limited to, assistance in the development of an infrastructure development plan for the State.
(3) The Regional Councils of Government, utilizing the infrastructure development plans of the respective political subdivisions shall assist the Division of Regional Development in defining the state's long-term goals, objectives, and priorities and implementing those goals, objectives, and priorities through a coordinated and comprehensive infrastructure development plan.
(B) The Regional Councils of Government shall establish recommended standards and procedures for preparation of local comprehensive infrastructure development plans, for implementation of infrastructure development plans, and for participation in the infrastructure development planning process. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) As part of such recommended standards and procedures, the Regional Councils of Government shall establish elements which must be addressed and included in the infrastructure development plans of political subdivisions which are prepared as part of the coordinated and comprehensive planning process. These plans shall include, but are not limited to, water and sewer services and communications.
(2) The Regional Councils of Government shall establish recommended standards and procedures which must be used by the political subdivisions in developing, preparing, and implementing their infrastructure development plans. In establishing such standards and procedures, the Regional Councils of Government are authorized to differentiate among the political subdivisions based upon factors which the councils determine merit differentiation, such as total population, density of population, geographic features, the size of tax base, projected growth, the type and character of services furnished by local governments, the size of the budget, need, and other factors.
(3) The Regional Councils of Government, in developing planning procedures with respect to regionally important resources, shall focus on elements of regional districts with respect to developments of regional impact, and encourage interjurisdictional cooperation among the political subdivisions. The councils shall determine, in their judgment for each region, what constitutes developments of regional impact. Such determinations by the councils must be made for each region only after requesting any necessary information from their respective political subdivisions.
(C) The political subdivisions are encouraged to coordinate with and assist the Regional Councils of Government in developing local and regional comprehensive infrastructure development plans. Political subdivisions are encouraged to coordinate with the Regional Councils of Government in the analysis and preparation of these plans. The political subdivisions shall utilize information relating to water and sewer services and communications. Further, data relating to current population and projected growth, tax base, local budget information, geographic factors, other demographics, and other data considered necessary must be utilized by the Regional Councils of Government.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 155, Part II, Section 74B.