CMAP meetings. The CMAP Board will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11. Click here for the agenda and materials. Prior to the Board meeting, the Programming Coordinating Committee will meet at 8:00 a.m. Click here for the Programming materials. At 11:00 a.m. or immediately after the Board meeting, the Executive Committee will meet. All three meetings are in the CMAP offices, Suite 800 of Sears Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive in Chicago.

2016 Olympics. As you ought to know by now, Chicago has been selected as one of four applicant cities to host the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. The other finalists are Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo. Three other cities were eliminated from consideration by the International Olympic Committee (IOC): Prague in the Czech Republic, Doha in Qatar, and Baku in Azerbaijan. This means that Chicago is designated as a Candidate City, an official acknowledgement by the IOC that our city has proven its capacity to host a successful Games. Click here to read more. The exciting news means that Chicago will move into the next round of competition, culiminating in October 2009 with election of the 2016 Host City. As Bob Ctvrtlik, the U.S. Olympic Committee vice-president for international relations, told the Chicago Tribune, "This is a key hurdle to have passed. Now the bid committee and the city and the USOC and the nation have to unite behind Chicago.''

Legislative update. As you may be aware, the Illinois General Assembly passed a budget prior to the May 31 deadline, including SB 1115, which contains the appropriation to IDOT for the Comprehensive Regional Planning Fund. Our appropriation was also included in the Governor’s proposed budget. However, the Governor has indicated he will not sign the budget until the reported $2 billion underfunding is addressed. There is talk of the Governor calling special session as early as next week to address his budget concerns. Stay tuned.

United Nation’s World Environment Day. Yesterday in Glencoe, CMAP participated in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s “Knowledge and Action Marketplace," part of World Environment Day festivities. The event featured hundreds of displays designed to help residents reduce carbon emissions via green homes, local carpools, volunteer and community conservation programs, classes on green gardening, the use of CFL light bulbs, and more. Thanks to the Center for Neighborhood Technology for letting us share their booth space, and to Erin, Ylda, and Gordon for putting it together. I attended the program's evening wrap-up and was impressed by the organizers' and attendees' passion for protecting the environment. That enthusiasm will be an important part of helping to implement the GO TO 2040 regional vision.

Chicago Matters on congestion. The new issue of Chicago Reporter magazine features extensive coverage of what congestion is costing our region, and what can be done about it. The coverage's author, Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, was also interviewed recently on WBEZ's "Eight Forty-Eight" radio program. This week, WBEZ also aired its feature on freight by reporter Chip Mitchell about the CREATE public-private partnership for reducing rail congestion in metropolitan Chicago. These stories were prepared as part of the Chicago Matters: Growing Forward multimedia public affairs series that is examining how the choices we make today impact our environment and the future of our region.

Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) youth program: The deadline for FLIP has been extended until June 27. CMAP is looking for high school freshmen and sophomores who want to make the region a better place to live, go to school, work and play. Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) is our new leadership development program for students from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry or Will counties. Selected participants will collaborate with and learn from elected officials and planners who are developing the new GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan. The program is free and runs from September 2008 to March 2009. See http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/flip.aspx or call 312-454-0400.

Infrastructure event. On Thursday, June 19, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) will host "Infrastructure 2008: A New Asset Class -- A Competitive Advantage." That is also the title of the Urban Land Institute's annual report on international infrastructure as it relates to economic competitiveness. Globally, the report looks at Western Europe, Asia, and North America, where ULI commissioned research on 23 metropolitan areas to determine whether their long-range plans are capable of accommodating the large population increases expected over the next 30 years. This year's report also continues to examine issues related to the funding of infrastructure in the U.S. The event moderator is Gregory W. Hummel, Partner, Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP. Panelists include Maureen McAvey, ULI Executive Vice President, Initiatives Group, and Rick Sinkuler, Global Director of Markets, Real Estate, Ernst & Young. There is a registration fee of $50 for members, $60 for non-members, and $10 for students. The fee includes a copy of the ULI report. See http://www.uli.org to register by June 17. For more information, call 773.549.4972. Continental breakfast will be available at 7:45 a.m., with the program beginning at 8:15 a.m., adjouring at 9:30 a.m. Location is the Union League Club's Main Lounge, 65 W. Jackson Blvd. in Chicago.

Public/Private Partnership event recap. On Tuesday, June 3, over 90 people attended CMAP's panel discussion on Public/Private Partnerships, facilitated by our Community and Technical Assistance unit. Titled "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally," the event featured panelists describing different ways to establish a public/private partnership, emphasizing what works and what doesn't. Attendees were provided with a checklist that can be used as a guide. The immediate feedback has been very positive. Attendees appreciated the panelists' expertise, and positive comments included: "Best session so far!", "The panelists presented tactics I hadn't thought of," and "High quality and very informative." Presentations and handouts can be found on the events page of the Economic & Community Development Committee section of CMAP's website.