Vocabulary
Administrator: Someone who manages and carries out functions and lawsAgenda: A list of items to be discussed at a meeting
Amendment: An addition that changes the meaning of an original document
Annexation: The process that allows a municipality to expand its limits (increase size)
Appeal: A request for a higher court to hear a case
Appropriation: Money set aside for specific purposes
Aquifer: An underground water source
Archives: A place where public or historic records are preserved
Assessed value: The value placed upon real estate by an assessor
Authority: The power to command, decide, rule, or judge
Balanced budget: A budget where the money coming in equals the money that goes out
Bid: An official offer for an amount of money to be paid for goods or services
Boundaries: A natural or man-made separation between properties
Budget: A financial plan used to run a municipality for a year
Buffer: A strip of land, vegetation, or wall. A buffer is often used to improve the view of unattractive features such as a parking lot
Building setback line: The allowable distance between a building and the street
Call for the question: The term used to end a discussion and vote on a motion
Candidate: A person running for political office
Cash flow: Enough funds to pay bills
Catch basin: An area where surface water is collected
Caucus: A meeting where political delegates are chosen. The delegates then nominate a candidate for office
Census: A periodic count of the population
Certification: A written declaration claiming that certain facts are true
Charter: A written document that explains the rights and privileges for an organization
Cite: To notify someone of legal proceedings against him/her
City council: Citizens elected to serve and govern the community
Civil service: The process for selecting government employees
Civil suit/action: All types of legal actions that are not criminal
Closing date: The last day to file required documents
Code: A statement of laws
Collective bargaining: Negotiations between groups and their employers asking for wages, benefits, and working conditions
Condemn: Taking private property for public use
Conflict of interest: The term used when a public official cannot participate in a discussion because of a personal interest in the matter
Consensus: All groups agree
Constituents: The people served by an elected official
Contiguous: Sharing a common boundary
Contingency: Money saved for unexpected emergencies or events
Contract: A document that describes what two parties have agreed to do
Cottage industry: A home business
Culvert: A ditch or pipe that carries drainage water under a driveway, road, railroad, or walkway
Dedication: A private owner allows his/her land to be used by the public
Deed: A legal document proving ownership of land
Defendant: The person accused of a crime
Deficit: More money spent than is available
Density: The number of people in a certain area of land
Depreciation: The loss of an item’s value over time
Developer: A person who has the legal right to propose a plan to change or “develop” an area
Development plan: Guidelines for planned growth
EEO: Equal Employment Opportunity. A law that makes sure employers do not discriminate when hiring for a job
Election petitions: A document with enough signatures to allow a name to be placed on a ballot
Elector: A person qualified to vote
Eminent domain: The power to take private property for public use
Enact: To establish a law
Encroach: To trespass on the rights or possessions of someone else
Expenditures: The money spent by a municipality for programs included in the budget
Financial planning: A forecast of expenses and money sources and rates
Flood plain: An area next to a natural watercourse that can occasionally flood
Foreclose: To sell property because the owner has not paid all the property’s bills
Freeways: Transportation structures that allow traffic to travel around community centers. Freeways allow traffic to travel farther without frequent stop lights and signs
Improvements: Changes that make raw land ready for building.
Improvements include: paving, curbs, and gutters
Incorporation: Rules and laws that allow citizens to create a new city or town
Incumbent: A person who currently holds an office
Infrastructure: Systems used by all citizens, such as transportation, water supply, and waste removal
Legislative: The branch of government that makes laws
License: Formal permission to carry out an activity
Lien: A claim placed on a property when payments have not been made
Litigation: A lawsuit
Lot: A legally defined parcel of land
Majority: A number greater than half
Mass Transit: Public transportation that allows citizens to travel together: examples: bus, train, light rail, etc.
Master Plan: A long-range plan intended to guide the growth and development of a community
Mayor: The person elected to the executive branch of local government
Media: Mass communication that includes radio, television, and newspapers
Mediator: A person who listens to the views of different groups and helps them come to agreement
Mill: The term used to describe property tax (one mill is one-tenth of a cent)
Minutes: The summary of a meeting that describes actions and votes
Mixed use: Zoning that allows more that one use in an area, such as mixing businesses and residences
Motion: A formal way to make a suggestion during a meeting
Municipality: A legally organized city or town that can govern itself
Non-partisan: A person or group representing no political party
Notary public: A person who is given permission to use an official seal that makes a document valid
Oath of Office: A declaration where a new official promises to uphold the laws
Open space: Any parcel of land or water that has not been improved (built upon) and is set aside for public or private use
Ordinance: A municipal law that applies to all citizens
Pedestrian: Someone who is traveling by foot
Permit: A document that gives a person the right to do something
Plaintiff: The person who brings a lawsuit before the court
Planning Commission: A group of people who are assigned to make plans and recommendations for the development of a municipality
Plat: A map, which represents a tract of land. The plat shows the boundaries and locations of properties and streets
Political Action Committee- PAC: A group of people formed to support or oppose an issue
Polls: The place where people vote
Procurement: Services and supplies needed for a project
Public hearing: A meeting that allows citizens the chance to express their views on an issue
Public relations: A business that works to create positive feelings
Quorum: The legal number of people needed to conduct business in a meeting
Recall: To remove an elected official from office
Repeal: To annul (cancel) an existing law
Request for Proposal–RFP: The notice that a city is asking for proposals to perform services
Resolution: A formally written policy that expresses an opinion about an issue
Restoration: Reconstruction of a building using original architectural features. Usually to preserve historic buildings
Revenues: Money received by a local government from tax or non-tax sources
Revisions: Changes to documents or plans
Rezone: To change the zoning classification of a particular piece of land
Right-of-way: A strip of land where someone other than the owner has right of passage
Roll call: A list of members in attendance at a meeting
Sanitary landfill: A site for solid waste disposal
Specifications: Written instructions that go with drawings
Statute: A law enacted by the legislative branch of government
Storm sewer: A conduit (pipe) that carries storm or surface water
Street: Land designated for vehicle traffic
Strip development: Commercial development (businesses) designed in a row and usually facing a major street
Suburbs: The outgrowth of a city as a city expands; people build homes outside the central city area
Subdivision: The division of land into two or more lots
Summons: A call by authorities stating that a person must appear in court
Survey: The process where land is measured and its boundaries defined
Tax: The amount of money that a person must pay to fund government services
Title: A document that gives a person legal possession
Topography: Surface area showing land elevations
Town manager: An official who is hired to manage city affairs and work with the mayor and city council
Unincorporated: The term used to describe an area outside a specific city or town that usually obtains services from county government
Urban homesteading: A program that sells vacant houses to people who repair and live in them
Urban renewal: A program where areas of a city are improved or redeveloped
Violation: Injury or infringement of a right or law
Waive: To give up possession or rights
Walk-able community: A community planning concept which provides citizens with housing within walking distance to stores, businesses, recreation centers, etc.
Zone: A specific area or district where there are regulations for the use, placement, spacing, and size of land and buildings