Section 8-25-8 - Powers and duties of regional councils generallyEach regional council may:
(a) Continuously engage in comprehensive planning and development processes and prepare, and from time to time revise, amend, extend or add to, a plan or plans for the development of the region consistent with any state comprehensive planning and development objectives and reflecting plans and programs of the participating governmental units. Any such plan or plans shall be based on studies of governmental, social, economic, environmental and physical conditions and trends, and shall aim at the coordinated development of the region in order to promote the general health, welfare, convenience and prosperity of its people. Such plan or plans, or parts thereof, shall be prepared by persons appropriately qualified under state statutes dealing with the applicable profession or occupation. Such plan or plans shall be submitted for review to the appropriate agencies in accordance with the provisions of this article. The plan or plans shall embody the policy recommendations of the regional council, and may include, but shall not be limited to: (1) A statement of goals, objectives, standards and principles sought to be expressed in the plan or plans to guide economic, social, environmental and human resource development; (2) recommendations for transportation networks in the region, including land, water and air transportation, and for communication facilities; (3) recommendations concerning the need for and proposed general location of public and private works and facilities, which by reason of their function, size, extent or for any other cause are of a regional, as distinguished from a purely local concern; and (4) recommendations for the long-range programming and financing of capital projects and facilities.(b) Prepare and from time to time revise, amend, extend or add to a regional development program to implement the policies contained in the comprehensive development plan for the region. The program shall contain a listing of development projects and programs, priorities for the financing of these projects and programs and recommended methods for project and program financing.(c) Prepare and recommend ordinances, rules and regulations which would implement regional and local plans.(d) Prepare and publish studies of the region's resources, both natural and human, with respect to existing and emerging problems of industry, commerce, transportation, population, housing, agriculture, environment, health, education, welfare, public service, local governments and any other matters which are relevant to regional planning.(e) Collect, process and analyze the social and economic statistics for the region which are necessary to planning studies and make the results of such collection, processing and analysis available to the general public.(f) Participate with other governmental agencies, educational institutions and private organizations in the coordination of the regional research and educational activities described in subdivisions (d), (e) and (h) of this section.(g) Cooperate with, and provide, upon request, planning and technical assistance to municipalities, counties and planning and development agencies within the region, and coordinate regional planning with the planning activities and plans of the state and of the municipalities and counties within the region, as well as neighboring areas, including those in adjoining states, and the programs of federal departments and agencies.(h) Provide information to officials, departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the federal, state and local governments and to the public at large, in order to foster public awareness and understanding of the objectives of the regional plans and the functions of the regional and local planning and development councils, and to stimulate public interest and participation in the orderly, integrated development of the region.(i) Apply for, accept and expend funds and grants provided for the purposes hereof by the government of the United States or its departments or agencies; by departments and agencies of the state or any other state; by one or more municipalities, counties or other political subdivisions of this state or of any other state; or by any other agency, public or private; or from any individual whose interests are in harmony with the purposes hereof, including planning councils and commissions, all in accordance with any federal requirements and subject to any conditions or limitations of the constitution or laws of this state.(j) Perform development on a regional basis as necessary to undertake, complete or accomplish the goals and purposes of comprehensive planning in the region by intergovernmental contract or joint enterprises, or both, with local governmental units or combinations of such units pursuant to article twenty-three of this chapter.(k) Exercise powers jointly or in cooperation with agencies or political subdivisions of the state of West Virginia or any other state, or with agencies of the United States, subject to constitutional and statutory provisions applicable to interjurisdictional agreements.(l) Adopt bylaws and such other rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article.(m) Exercise all other powers and authority necessary and proper for the discharge of its duties.