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Government

Civic CenterThe City of Des Plaines is operated under the Council-Manager form of government as outlined in Article 5 of the Illinois Municipal Code. The people elect the Mayor, City Clerk, and Aldermen.

The Council is the City's legislative body, enacting the laws and establishing the policies which govern the main activities of the City.

The Mayor is the executive head of the City Government.  He/She presides at all Council meetings, signs all legal instruments and documents to which the City is a party.

Responsible for assisting the Mayor with planning, organizing and coordinating various municipal services, the City Manager is the Mayor and Council's advisor.  The City Manager handles day-to-day administrative matters and assists the Mayor in the implementation of City Council policy.  In addition, the City manager supervises the investigation of service complaints by citizens and initiates corrective action by the appropriate department.

Keeping the community informed is the initial step in intelligent government action and responsibility.  In addition to newspapers, radio and television, supplementary information on virtually any subject relating to local government is available at the Civic Center and the Public Library.

Ways In Which The Individual Citizen Can and Should Play A Part In Local Government Include:

Voting in municipal elections (The citizen who does not vote has no valid basis for complaint if the government is not run in accordance with his/her wishes.)

Expressing views and opinions to the City Council through both written and oral communication

Supporting law enforcement, thereby maintaining order in the community.

What the people of the community do, or fail to do, is a decisive factor in determining the quality and responsiveness of the City government.  In the democratic system of representative government, the ultimate power and authority rests with the people.

 

 

 

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City of Des Plaines
1420 Miner St.
Des Plaines, IL  60016
847-391-5300

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Events Calendar
5/15/08 Consumer Protection Commission
5/15/08 TIF # 4 Five Corner's Public Meeting
5/16/08 Des Plaines Community Garage Sale
5/16/08 American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Des Plaines/Park Ridge
News Headlines
4/29/08 Mayor Declares Elks Youth Week
4/24/08 June 30 Deadline for 2008/9 Vehicle and Pet Stickers
4/22/08 Police Department Promotions
4/18/08 City To Distribute Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs)
4/14/08 Islamic Community Center Presents Check To Non-Profit Agency
4/14/08 Federal Jury Trial Ends in Verdict For the City of Des Plaines
4/8/08 Groundbreaking Ceremony Held at Hotel Construction Sites
4/8/08 Starbucks Officially Opens
4/4/08 Maine West Poms Visit City Council
3/21/08 Fire Department Announces Fire Hydrant Flushing
3/20/08 2008 Branch Collection
>>>Click here to read the archived Press Releases...