On March 16, 2020, the Urbana City Council met to discuss and vote on a “Temporary Emergency Ordinance to Address the COVID-19 Virus Pandemic”. The City of Champaign, which immediately abuts Urbana to the West, passed such an ordinance three days prior, and was met with national scrutiny for their 30 point list (“Exhibit A”) of “extraordinary powers” granted to Champaign Mayor Deborah Feinen.
Champaign’s list of powers includes banning the sale of guns and ammunition, confiscating real and personal property, closing businesses, and restricting access in and out of the city. The over-reach by Champaign City Council and Mayor Feinen was so extreme, that even the normally quiet and reserved City Attorney for Urbana scoffed at it. His comment, made during Urbana’s March 16th meeting, appeared to be a direct ‘shot across the bow’ at Champaign’s heavy-handed emergency ordinance:
“The Mayor does not have the power to in any way control guns. One, we don’t license guns, the state license with FOID cards, and concealed carry cards, that sort of thing.”
Neither Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen, nor the Champaign City Attorney, Frederick Stavins, have tried to argue that their self-granted powers have legal legitimacy. Citizens want to know how such a measure was ever passed into law.
Complete coverage of the March 16th Urbana City Council Meeting can be found here: Urbana Council Keen to Avoid Champaign’s Blunder on COVID-19 Emergency Ordinance