URBANA — The Urbana City Council, which normally meets on Mondays, will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday because of the Labor Day holiday.

Council members will begin their evening with a closed session to discuss collective bargaining issues.

The council will consider an amendment to the city's zoning ordinance that would restrict the use of portable storage containers on private property and in public rights of way.

Residents have complained periodically that the storage units are being placed in front yards for extended periods, according to a memo from community development services director Libby Tyler. City officials also believe that the units can be used to circumvent building codes and could damage city streets.

The proposed ordinance, already approved unanimously by Urbana's plan commission, would limit the use of the storage containers to no more than 30 consecutive days in a 12-month period, or just 72 hours on adjoining public right of way. The city's zoning administrator would be able to grant up to 30 additional days and/or one additional storage container on private property "when good cause is shown by the applicant," the proposal says.

No storage unit bigger than 20 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall would be permitted, except with the approval of the zoning administrator.

Among other items on the council agenda are proposed votes on a two-year leaf and waste collection contract, and for the purchase of a fire-damaged house in north Urbana and a replacement street sweeper.

The city would extend for two years its current contract with ABC Sanitary Hauling to conduct curbside leaf collection, Christmas tree collection and waste collection at city facilities at a saving of about $4,000 a year compared to the current cost of about $66,000 annually, according to a memo.

The vacant house at 1007 N. Berkley Ave. is proposed to be purchased at a sheriff's auction this week and then donated to an affordable housing development program.

The new, $170,000 street sweeper is needed to replace a sweeper, one of two the city owns, that needs $20,000 of repairs.

The council also will consider two appointments by Mayor Laurel Prussing — Virginia Waaler to the city's public arts commission and Mary Tompkins to the plan commission.