United City of Yorkville Government

The United City of Yorkville is a mayor-council form of government and utilizes an appointed city administrator to manage the daily integral workings of city government. The mayor's role in this form of government is to preside at all City Council meetings and cast a vote in the event that a tie occurs. In addition to many responsibilities, the mayor is the primary liaison with local, state and federal governmental bodies and also provides executive leadership to the council.

The Yorkville City Council comprises eight aldermen from four wards within the city. Yorkville is a non-home rule community. The City Council is responsible for policy-making and leadership that directs the city government to meet the needs and wants of its residents. In addition to policy making, the council is responsible for approving the budget, determining the tax rate, setting goals, and formulating long-term policies that shape the city's public function.

There is also an elected city treasurer and city clerk that preside at all city council meetings.

Elected officials attend several meetings each month - two City Council meetings and two assigned committee meetings. City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of the month.

Elected officials also attend other committee meetings as assigned. Each alderman is assigned to be on two of four different standing committees that includes the Public Works Committee, the Administration Committee, the Economic Development Committee and the Public Safety Committee. The United City of Yorkville has additional committees that elected officials serve as a liaisons.

Duties and Rights of Elected Officials: Alderman
The following information is per the city's Govering Ordinance.

• Shall, through their council votes, create the public policy that governs the United City of Yorkville, and provide oversight for the executive branch.
• Shall have the right to expect that the mayor and city's staff will provide them with clear and unbiased information to help them in their decision-making process.
• May, at their discretion, hold ward meetings in their ward, or devise other ways to better understand the wishes of their constituents. This is not meant to preclude alderman from taking a city-wide view of the impact of an item under discussion, but to underline that aldermen are empowered to act on behalf of their constituents, and should be apprised of all items that are brought to the City that in any way pertain to their Ward. It is recommended that as a courtesy the Alderman holding the meeting should contact the other alderman in the ward, in advance, about the meeting.
• Shall refrain from giving direction to any city employee. Policy is created by the entire City Council. If any alderman wishes to address any problems he or she sees occurring in the city, this problem may be brought to the attention of the mayor, the city administrator, department directors, or taken to the council as a whole for action. Requests for information are not to be considered as "giving direction."

Duties and Rights of Elected Officials: Mayor

• Shall perform all duties which are prescribed by law, including ordinances, and shall take care that the laws and ordinances are faithfully executed. Shall from time to time and annually, give the corporate authorities information concerning the affairs of the municipality and may recommend for their consideration measures that the mayor believes expedient. (65ILCE 5/3.1-35-10)
• Shall represent the City at official functions, and act as spokesman for the City. The mayor may designate any person, including alderman, city staff or others, to fill in as spokesman.
• Shall be a non-voting member of all standing committees.
• Shall make appointments to fill vacancies, with the advice and consent of the Council.