Member Resources 

CLIMATE

CMAP's Climate Action Plan for Greater Chicago
Greater Chicago is at a turning point: climate change is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality, with stronger storms, flooding, dangerous heat, and worsening air quality across the region. These impacts strain infrastructure, raise costs for families and businesses, and threaten public health and economic stability. At the same time, the global economy is rapidly shifting toward clean energy. Regions that act decisively now will be best positioned to attract investment, create jobs, and remain competitive. 

GRANT APPLICATION SUPPORT

What is IDCEO?
Learn more about how the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity can support your municipality. This presentation was given at a Metro West Lunch & Learn, July 2024.

HOUSING

Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Missing Middle Housing Toolkit
This toolkit is the culmination of a year-long collaboration of municipalities in our region and can help municipalities attract opportunities for 'missing middle housing". This document was presented June 2025.

LEAD SERVICE LINES

Lead Service Line Replacement Water Filter Requirements
Engineering Enterprises, Inc. has shared an infographic with more information about these requirements and additional best practices. 

Lead Service Line Scenarios
This two-page infographic, originally released in April 2022, summarizes the steps required for each possible LSLR scenario: emergency repair, planned replacement, and customer-initiated replacement.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

How To File A Witness Slip
A witness slip, in the context of Illinois state government, is a mechanism for individuals and organizations to express their position on a particular bill to legislators. Learn more about how to use this public record to share your support or opposition of a bill being considered in committee. Make your voice heard!

PENSION 

2025 Pension Fact Sheet
Pension legislation is a key issue closely monitored by Metro West. Invest in Communities has developed a helpful one-page resource that clearly explains the current pension challenges in Illinois. Municipalities are encouraged to download and share this document to help inform and educate their residents.

2025 Safe Harbor Fact Sheet
The "Safe Harbor" provision is a critical concern for Illinois' police and fire pensions because it requires that these plans provide benefits equivalent to Social Security for employees not covered by Social Security. The design of the Tier 2 benefits, particularly the pensionable salary cap, has raised concerns about potential violations of this provision, leading to ongoing discussions and legislative efforts to ensure compliance and financial stability. Learn more about the Safe Harbor issue by reading this informative fact sheet.  

SOLAR AND WIND FARMS

Local Regulations for Wind and Solar Development
Find information regarding Public Act 102-1123 and its affect on municipal zoning authority. 

WATER 

Lead Service Line Water Filter Requirements
Research suggests partial lead service line replacements (LSLR), and in some cases, full LSLR, can result in elevated levels of lead in drinking water. Therefore, Community Water Supplies (CWS) are required to provide point-of-use filters to residents served by a LSL when repairs or replacement are made along the service line. 

Prolonging the Life of Infrastructure with a Coating Maintenance Plan
This program was presented by Robinson Engineering in February 2026. It brings awareness to the destruction of infrastructure, explains corrosion and how it affects infrastructure, as well as sharing ways to prevent destruction.  

ILPCB Initiated Water Regulations
The Illinois Pollution Control Board (ILPCB) has initiated amendments to Illinois drinking water regulations to align with recent U.S. EPA updates under the Safe Drinking Water Act. These changes impact water utilities statewide, notably in the areas of PFAS and Lead and Copper compliance, and require your attention.

Spring/Summer 2025 PFAS Update
The IEPA and USEPA recently announced updates to State and National drinking water regulations for PFAS. Our consulting engineers, Engineering Enterprises, have created this helpful infographic to keep you in the loop.

NWPA Water Sustainability Plan
This plan serves as a road map for communities to take voluntary steps toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of drinking water sources across the five-county region in northeastern Illinois.