Page:John Nolen--New ideals in the planning of cities.djvu/108

NEW IDEALS IN THE PLANNING OF If the new function takes root as a permanent institution, the commission becomes permanent, and sooner or later is merged with the general governmental organization.

The city planning movement is no exception to this rule. Commissions have already been appointed or organized in many cities, some official and some unofficial, and one of the most vital questions in connection with city planning at the present time is the character and power of the agency which should be used to do the city planning work. Some of the tentative conclusions in connection with city planning commissions are the following:

1. It is considered better, on the whole, to have a commission made up mainly if not entirely of lay members.

2. The types of men on the city plan commission should include representatives of the business, professional, and perhaps also of the laboring classes. It is likewise important to consider whether there should not be some women members.

3. The term of members should be long enough to give stability to the work, and should overlap, so as to provide reasonable continuity of policy.

4. The question of payment of members of the commission is a mooted one. Much would depend upon the size of the place, the state of development of the work, and the amount of time required. In the beginning it would probably be better to have unpaid commissioners.

5. One of the best methods of advancing the city planning work is to provide a city plan office, with an engineer, landscape architect, or city planner in charge; a secretary for clerical work, and other necessary assistants. The two principal functions of the city plan office would be the collection of local data, and the preparation under the direction of experts of a comprehensive city plan. Local data and the city plan should both be constantly revised