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 is an inclusive community that welcomes all. City residents enjoy a great quality of life, first class educational opportunities, and easy mobility. Champaign is a vibrant community with an active city center and healthy neighborhoods. The City is designed for quality and sustainability and has a growing economy.

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.

2021-2023 City Council Goals and Key Projects

Our City Keeps Our Community Safe

Implement a continuous recruiting program for Police and develop innovative and customized marketing strategies for recruiting new and lateral officers.
Work with community members and organizations to support efforts to deter gun violence, including support of youth and families and youth programming.
Research, develop, and implement additional policing reform measures, in accordance with analysis of calls for service, changes to state law, public feedback, and Council direction. This includes the development and implementation of a new community safety and wellness program to prevent and address neighborhood public safety concerns that do not require law enforcement.
Research, develop, and implement a Mental Health Response Team to improve responsiveness to the behavioral health needs of the community.
Research, develop, and implement technological solutions to improve public safety in the Downtown area, including in City-owned parking lots and rights-of-way.
Proactively address community violence through the research, development, and implementation of critical components of the focused deterrence model, including an organized hospital-based intervention, street outreach workers and violence interrupters, and ongoing program evaluations, as well as adding sufficient staff to oversee and coordinate of these initiatives.

Our City Expands Economic Opportunity

Support incremental development by evaluating and updating City codes and policies to eliminate barriers to affordable, sustainable, and neighborhood-scale reinvestment.
Update the City’s Economic Development Incentive Policy.
Create partnerships to build neighborhood-based businesses, reinvest in underutilized commercial space, and encourage job creation in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods.
Develop and support partnerships to enhance workforce development, including training and promotion of job opportunities that match the skill sets of the talent pool.
Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing campaign to promote Champaign’s positive attributes and strengthen community pride.
Work with public and private partners to plan and facilitate construction of the MTD Terminal Expansion and “The Yards” project and implement public infrastructure improvements needed to support the project.

Our City Builds Safe and Sustainable Infrastructure

Improve pedestrian and bicycle safety through sidewalk gap construction, intersection and sidewalk ramp improvements, and bike lanes.
Explore funding options for implementation of the Neil Street Plaza Plan including construction of the plaza stage and related utility and infrastructure improvements.
Complete engineering evaluations of traffic pattern changes proposed within the Neil Street Corridor Plan.
Implement projects which address the backlog of City facility improvements and promote the City’s sustainability goals.

Our City Invests to Support its Vibrant, Diverse Neighborhoods

Develop and implement a plan to monitor neighborhood conditions, enhance information sharing with the public, and engage residents in strategies to promote neighborhood vitality.
Work to create and sustain year-round emergency shelters in the City that address the needs of all unhoused populations.
Improve resident access to healthy foods, essential services, quality amenities, and wellness resources.
Collaborate with residents to complete the Garden Hill Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan (GH-SNAP) as a complement to the funded infrastructure investments, to achieve additional improvements to the quality of life of the neighborhood.
Administer American Rescue Plan Act funds consistent with Council direction to address community needs related to COVID-19 with a focus on housing security.
Research and propose a City-wide Equity Plan for City Council consideration.

Continue Other High Priority Projects

Administer American Rescue Plan Act funds to address community needs related to COVID-19.
Continue to mitigate and manage the impact of COVID-19 on the City’s workforce by implementing safety protocols and procedures in accordance with public health guidelines and collaborating with CUPHD to disseminate COVID-19 health and safety information to the public.
Complete a comprehensive revenue audit to ensure the appropriate application and collection of City taxes and fees (i.e. sales tax, franchise fees, utility taxes) to ensure funding is available to advance economic opportunities and support City operations.
Conduct a comprehensive review of City fee structures and policies and implement adjustments as needed to maintain a schedule of fees that are in line with actual costs.
Continue to support the University of Illinois Chancellor’s “Campus-Community Compact to Accelerate Social Justice” initiative.
Research, develop, and implement a new records management process for official City documents and records, including review of FOIA response model to identify more efficient ways to enhance transparency and accessibility.

City Council