City Council’s Vision, Guiding Principles, and Goals
The City Council sets the vision for the City and adopts guiding principles and goals to reflect that vision and guide decision-making at all levels of City government. The goal setting process builds Council consensus on policies and projects that impact City residents, businesses and the community as a whole. The City Manager uses the City Council’s vision, principles, and goals to set priorities, direct work activities, and allocate staffing and financial resources.
Vision Statement
Champaign provides a vibrant future for all – driven by innovation, united in purpose, and bold in opportunity.
Guiding Principles
These principles serve as the foundation for how we lead our City government and deliver services to our community:
- We strive to ensure that all residents have an excellent Quality of Life.
- We will always be Open and Transparent in our actions and communications.
- We safeguard public resources and are Fiscally Responsible.
- We use a Data-driven Approach to evaluate City services and improve our response to community needs.
- We protect the well-being of future generations by advancing Environmental Sustainability.
- We collaborate with Community Partners to address issues of mutual concern.
- We are a Forward-thinking City that anticipates opportunities and trends that will transform our community.
2025-2027 City Council Goals and Key Projects
Keep Our Community Safe
- Develop strategies to provide more police services to Downtown.
- Research and identify a youth program that encourages civic engagement.
- Implement the mental health emergency response program to address critical community health needs.
- Continue all goal areas of the Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint and specifically focus on street outreach and youth programming for hard-to-reach youth.
Invest in Economic Opportunity
- Create a City-led business expansion, attraction, and retention program to strengthen the local economy by directly engaging with current and potential businesses.
- Continue implementing the recommendations of the Development Services Audit to reduce barriers to developing within the City while also collaborating with external permitting partner agencies to improve overall customer experience.
- Strengthen partnerships with the local trades to increase the diversity of our community’s workforce by developing apprenticeships for youth and adults.
- Implement policy recommendations regarding incremental development to encourage affordable, sustainable, and neighborhood-scale reinvestment.
Build Safe and Sustainable Infrastructure
- Improve cyclist and pedestrian safety and connectivity through the installation of protected and physically separated bike lanes; sidewalk and bike lane gap construction; and ADA ramp improvements.
- Develop projects which address the backlog of City facility needs; provide increased capacity for City baseline services; and advance the City’s sustainability goals.
- Identify strategies that lead to innovative and sustainable public infrastructure utilizing new and emerging technologies.
- Continue to fund the increased investment of City road, sidewalk, alley, and public space improvements which focus on safety and long-term sustainability.
Support our Vibrant, Diverse Neighborhoods
- Develop a blueprint for addressing housing needs and homelessness throughout the City.
- Identify strategies and partnerships to increase access to nutritious food and to eliminate food deserts Citywide.
- Identify methods to implement recommendations from the Housing Study Analysis.
- Continue to actively monitor neighborhood conditions and utilize actions which protect the wellbeing, vitality, and unique identity of City neighborhoods.
