Urbana council adopts new sign code, approves $2.1 million in supplemental adjustments and ODOT resurfacing

Urbana City Council on Tuesday night adopted a replacement sign ordinance, approved supplemental appropriations that adjusted the city’s 2025 budget by roughly $2.1 million, and gave final approval to an Ohio Department of Transportation resurfacing agreement for State Route 55.

President Pro Tempore Bean called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the council moved quickly through consent items before the three major actions.

The council passed Ordinance 4632-25, which implements the Planning Commission’s recommendation to repeal and replace Chapter 1137 of the Urbana Codified Ordinances to reorganize the city’s sign regulations. Director of Administration Spencer Mitchell said the measure updates and consolidates sign rules; Mrs. Bean told colleagues she believed the package “brings everything together and makes sense” and noted the ordinance clarifies penalties. The ordinance passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.

On budget adjustments, Director of Finance Matt Wellbaum presented Resolution 2623-25 to amend Resolution 2433-24 and make supplemental appropriations for the 2025 fiscal year. Wellbaum said the city’s updated accounting showed about $2.1 million in differences between planned and actual spending, driven primarily by funding tied to curb, gutter and sidewalk projects and the perpetual investment fund, salary contract increases ratified after the 2025 budget was adopted, and sick-leave payouts for four senior employee retirements. He also said routine spending diverged from the plan by roughly $250,000. Council suspended the rules to consider the resolution and then approved it by roll call, 7-0.

Council also approved Resolution 2725-25, authorizing final approval of an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation (PID no. 111949) for pavement planing, partial-depth repair, asphalt resurfacing and pavement markings on State Route 55 from the western corporation limit to S. Main Street (U.S. 68). Mitchell explained preliminary approval was granted in October 2024 and noted the project includes installing a relocated loop monitor for the turn lane; Ms. Jumper said she was “excited” about moving the loop monitor to reduce vehicle stacking. The resolution passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.

The council held a first reading of Ordinance 4388-26, an intergovernmental Indigent Defense Agreement with the Champaign County Commissioners to allow the city and county to receive partial reimbursement from the Ohio Public Defender Commission for indigent defense expenses in Champaign County Municipal Court. Director of Law Mark Feinstein described the ordinance as routine housekeeping and explained the local practice of appointing attorneys from a list of local counsel when a defendant is indigent; the measure had its first reading but was not voted on.

Votes at a glance: minutes approval (voice vote, all ayes); Ordinance 4632-25 (roll call, 7-0); Resolution 2623-25 (suspension roll call and passage, 7-0); Resolution 2725-25 (roll call, 7-0). The council adjourned at 6:20 p.m.; its next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2026.