Ordinances, structure differ between Champaign, Urbana

Though Champaign and Urbana try to coordinate their policies when possible, they are two different cities with different ordinances.

Here are five areas where some of those differences come into play that it would be wise for any college student to be aware of:

Bar entry age

In Champaign, the bar entry age is 19. In Urbana, if a bar owner gives the city a letter requesting it, the bar entry age is 18. State law requires that a person must be 21 years of age to drink alcohol.

If you attempt underage drinking in a bar and get caught, Urbana is easier on your wallet. The pay-by-mail fine there is $135; it's $290 in Champaign, which has the vast majority of campus bars.

Champaign tends to have more frequent bar sweeps by police.

Government structure

Urbana has a mayor-aldermanic form of government. The mayor and city clerk are elected citywide, but the seven aldermen are elected from separate wards. Urbana officials are elected on a partisan basis, and everyone runs for election every four years (next election is 2009). Democrats hold every office in Urbana except in Ward 6, where Republican Heather Stevenson is the alderwoman.

In Urbana, Mayor Laurel Prussing is the chief executive officer. She sets administrative policy, appoints department heads annually and nominates members of city commissions and boards, though such appointments require council ratification. Urbana's mayor has veto power; it takes five of seven aldermen to override a veto.

Champaign has a city-manager form of government, with eight council members and mayor elected on a nonpartisan basis. Three council members and the mayor are elected citywide; five seats are elected from districts. Elections are staggered every two years, with district and at-large elections held separately.

The city council selects the city manager, who then, by law, reports to the entire council, not just the mayor, and acts as a sort of chief executive officer. Liquor issues are handled by the mayor.

The city manager appoints and fires department heads without a ratifying vote of the city council and has all administrative responsibilities.

Though technically nonpartisan, most Champaign City Council members are somewhat active in the local Republican or Democratic party organizations, and their party affiliation is often known by the politically aware. Party activists often provide campaign help for candidates of a like political philosophy.

Renter protections

Urbana has stronger tenant protections. The city council enacted a landlord-tenant ordinance several years ago, and Champaign doesn't have one.

In Urbana, landlords must give 24 hours notice before entering an apartment, with a few exceptions. Landlords can enter an apartment immediately to make a repair when the tenant has requested the repair within the past two weeks. When a tenant is not renewing a lease, the landlord can show the apartment for two hours a day that are arranged in advance with the tenant, and for three hours on weekends.

Urbana landlords also cannot charge more than 5 percent a month in late fees.

The city also features "repair and deduct," where if a landlord fails to correct building code violations cited by a city inspector within the required time, the tenant can hire a qualified tradesman to make the repairs and deduct the cost from the rent, with the cost not to exceed two months' rent.

Under state law, Champaign apartment residents can take advantage of repair and deduct, but the amount deducted cannot exceed $500 or half of one month's rent, whichever is less.

The Urbana City Council is considering a rental registration ordinance, which would make houses and duplexes subject to regular inspection by the city and also allow for more frequent city inspections of apartments. The city has had systematic inspections of apartments for many years.

In Champaign, apartments are inspected only on a complaint basis.

Both cities now inspect commons areas and hallways for fire hazards and code violations.

Smoking restrictions

Both cities have passed ordinances that restrict smoking in indoor public places.

In Urbana, smoking in workplaces and restaurants is not allowed, effective Aug. 1. The ban will extend to bars on Jan. 1.

Champaign's smoking ban for both bars and restaurants and many other public places begins Jan. 31. The Champaign ordinance does not include workplaces.

Both cities will continue to allow smoking at outdoor cafes and patios, though Urbana's ordinance requires that some outdoor tables be designated as nonsmoking.

The fines for violating the ordinance, both for individuals and bar owners, is between $135 and $750 in Urbana. In Champaign, the fine is $145 for individuals and $195 for employers and bar owners.

Recycling

In Champaign, garbage haulers are required by ordinance to provide recycling services to customers in single-family homes through four-unit apartments. Food and beverage cans, milk jugs, glass jars and bottles and newspapers must be picked up by the hauler. Residents should contact the hauler to find out when and where they should put out their recyclables for pickup.

Champaign also offers a 24-hour dropoff recycling site at 1702 Hagan St., north of the city's public works building and east of the Home Depot, off Bloomington Road.

In Urbana, city government oversees an extensive residential and multifamily recycling program, with a $2.50-a-month charge billed to the property owner.

Apartment dwellers should look for green 95-gallon toters, generally in the parking lot near garbage containers, where recyclables are accepted.

Residents in single-family homes through four-plex apartments must put their recyclables at the curb by 7:30 a.m. on the designated day. The city divides recycling pickup into five collection zones. The city provides a 64-gallon toter or a 15-gallon bin, free of charge, for residential recyclers.

Items accepted by Urbana's U-Cycle program include food and beverage cans, aerosol cans, glass bottles and jars, six-pack ring carriers, milk jugs and detergent bottles, soft-drink plastic bottles, five kinds of plastic narrow-necked bottles, newspapers and inserts, cardboard, fiberboard, paperboard, residential paper, junk mail, magazines, catalogs and ledger paper, file folders, computer paper and softcover books.