Urbana City Government
The municipal government provided by the Urbana Charter is best described as the "mayor-administrator-council" form of government.
Under the Urbana Charter form of government, nine persons are elected to office for four-year terms: the Mayor, seven members of City Council and the President of City Council. All other members of the governing and advisory structure are appointed.
The Mayor appoints the Directors of Administration, Finance, and Law, as well as members of most City boards, commissions and committees. The Mayor is responsible for all aspects of City government and is the ceremonial representative of the City. The Mayor does not vote but may veto actions of the City Council.
The form of home rule was recommended by the Urbana Charter Commission in 1977, and subsequently approved by City voters. It provides a great measure of administrative and legislative control and efficiencies while maintaining direct participation by the residents of the community.
The City Charter continues to have widespread support among the city electorate. Reviews are mandated every ten years. At the beginning of 2010, Council appointed a Charter Review Committee to conduct a scheduled and charter-mandated review of the governing document. Later that year, the committee submitted four amendments which were placed on the November ballot. Two amendments failed: (1) to change from the current mayor-council form of government to a council-manager form and (2) to abolish the election of the council president. Two amendments passed: (1) to limit council members to three consecutiver terms and (2) to limit appointees for unexpired terms to serve less than a year by holding an election for the remainder.
The Mayor appoints the Directors of Administration, Finance, and Law, as well as members of most City boards, commissions and committees. The Mayor is responsible for all aspects of City government and is the ceremonial representative of the City. The Mayor does not vote but may veto actions of the City Council.
The form of home rule was recommended by the Urbana Charter Commission in 1977, and subsequently approved by City voters. It provides a great measure of administrative and legislative control and efficiencies while maintaining direct participation by the residents of the community.
The City Charter continues to have widespread support among the city electorate. Reviews are mandated every ten years. At the beginning of 2010, Council appointed a Charter Review Committee to conduct a scheduled and charter-mandated review of the governing document. Later that year, the committee submitted four amendments which were placed on the November ballot. Two amendments failed: (1) to change from the current mayor-council form of government to a council-manager form and (2) to abolish the election of the council president. Two amendments passed: (1) to limit council members to three consecutiver terms and (2) to limit appointees for unexpired terms to serve less than a year by holding an election for the remainder.
Urbana is conveniently nestled in Champaign County in the heart of west central Ohio.
- Incorporated in 1868
- Approximately 6.8 square miles
- Population 11,793 as of 2010 census
- Home to Urbana University, a liberal arts college with an enrollment of 1500 and a 128-acre campus
- Two national residential historic districts and multiple single sites on the registry
- According to the Ohio Historical Society, in 1840 during the VanBuren-Harrison contest, downtown Urbana was the site for a national Whig convention dinner. Hanging nearby was a banner with the words "The People is Oll Korrect." This helped to perpetuate the national trend of using "OK," not only as a show of political support, but as a common phrase used today. (more)