Regional Citizens Committee

RCC Membership

The forum that DVRPC provides for your involvement is DVRPC's Regional Citizens Committee (RCC), an advisory arm of the agency that has been established to provide citizen access to the regional planning and decision-making process.

Currently comprised of approximately 70 members, the RCC meets monthly to review issues and make recommendations to the DVRPC Board. Meetings are held at 12 Noon on the second or third Tuesday of each month in DVRPC's Conference Center in The ACP Building,190 N. Independence Mall West, 8th Floor Philadelphia.

We want you to get involved early in the planning process, so that we can assure that future changes will have the best possible impact on the citizens of this region. We, therefore, are pleased to provide the following information on the RCC.

Planning with the public in mind
At DVRPC, we believe that planning must be done with the public, as well as for the public. We know that our decisions affect the future of all those who live and work in our region, so we are committed to understanding your diverse needs and concerns, and to learning from your experiences.

We hear the voices of our citizens through public participation. Citizen comment comes from a variety of sources, including educators, parents, public officials, individuals with physical or economic disadvantages, mature citizens, and those who have traditionally been underserved.

What our committees do
DVRPC committees advise the Board on specific regional issues while ensuring that all interested parties, including member governments and concerned citizens, have an opportunity to participate in the planning process. Committee meetings are a great chance for you to get the pertinent facts surrounding an issue as well as contribute your thoughts and concerns. Meeting dates are published in the DVRPC newsletter, in the Annual Report, in general mailings, and on the DVRPC website at www.dvrpc.org. While most committee positions are by appointment only, meetings are open to the public.

The Regional Citizens Committee
The Regional Citizens Committee (RCC), however, is the forum that DVRPC provides for your involvement. It is an advisory arm of the agency that has been established to provide citizen access to the regional planning and decision-making process. Meetings are held at 12 Noon on the second or third Tuesday of each month in DVRPC's Conference Center in The ACP Building, 190 N. Independence Mall West, 8th Floor, Philadelphia. The purpose of the RCC is described in detail in the following mission statement.

DVRPC REGIONAL CITIZENS COMMITTEE
MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION
The mission of DVRPC's Regional Citizens Committee (RCC) is to provide citizen access to, and participation in, the regional planning and decision-making process.

The RCC shall:

1. Promote two-way communication in order to enhance public awareness and citizen involvement in DVRPC's regional planning activities;
2. Inform and educate the RCC's own membership and a representative cross-section of the general public concerning regional planning issues and intergovernmental relations;
3. Help DVRPC staff reach out to the general citizenry through public meetings and workshops to ensure involvement in DVRPC programs;
4. Monitor the ongoing activities and planning programs of DVRPC, including the maintenance of the year 2020 Plan;
5. Keep the DVRPC staff and Board apprised of current and emerging citizen concerns in areas related to the Commission's duties and responsibilities;
6. Investigate and propose new initiatives and programs;
7. Make recommendations to the DVRPC staff and Board on the planning process, on the coordination of governmental functions, and on public policy within the purview of the regional planning commission;
8. Have voting members serve on the DVRPC committees within the RCC's areas of concern, when appropriate; and
9. Work cooperatively with the DVRPC Board and Executive Director to implement the public participation requirements of the Intemodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991.

MEMBERSHIP
The RCC shall consist of representatives from a number of sectors, interests, and organizations in the Delaware Valley, including but not limited to:

VOTING PROCEDURES
The RCC shall have two levels of membership: CORRESPONDING MEMBERS are those who do not attend meetings regularly but wish to remain on the mailing list; VOTING MEMBERS are those who have attended three (3) previous consecutive RCC meetings or at least four (4) meetings in the past twelve (12) months. Committee membership is open to anyone wishing to join. To maintain balance, no more than one representative of any organization or company will be permitted to cast votes. However, those members serving on the RCC prior to 1990 will be grandfathered and may continue to vote, regardless of the organizational quota.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
The RCC shall use Robert's Rules of Order when the committee's by-laws do not address an issue. The Chair shall have the discretion to appoint a parliamentarian advisor.

ORGANIZATION AND REPRESENTATION AT THE DVRPC BOARD
The RCC shall annually select a chair, who shall appoint two vice-chairs. If desired by the RCC, ad hoc subcommittees may be established to pursue special tasks or topics. The RCC Chair shall appoint representatives to DVRPC's other committees (as deemed appropriate by the DVRPC committee) to ensure integration of information and recommendations.