City of West Lafayette, Indiana

City Council

Meeting Information
The City Council meets the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The pre-council meeting -- in which the members discuss the agenda (including unfinished and new business) -- occurs the Thursday before the council session and is held in the Lower Level Conference Room in City Hall. The public is welcome to attend all meetings of the council.

About the Council
West Lafayette city government is divided between the Mayor and the City Council. The City Council holds the city's legislative authority and makes the laws through ordinances, orders, resolutions and motions. The City Council has final authority over the city's property, finances and appropriation of monies. The mayor presides at council meetings and votes only in cases of a tie. Most of the council powers are outlined in the Indiana Codes IC 36-1-4, IC 36-1-3, IC 36-4-6, IC 36-4-4-4, IC 36-4-6-18, IC 36-4-7-2, IC 36-4-7-7, and IC 36-4-6-24.

The West Lafayette City Council is comprised of seven elected council members. The city is divided into five districts with one council member elected from each district and two council members elected "at large." Council members are part-time elected officials who serve 4-year terms and may run for re-election as often as they wish. Each year, the City Council elects a council president who preside in absence of the mayor.

The council has nine committees with three members on each. They are Street and Sanitation, Wastewater Treatment, Public Safety, Purdue Relations, Parks and Recreation, Department of Development, Personnel, Budget and Finance and Ordinance. These standing committees have only legislative functions, including recommending legislation for consideration of the City Council. The committees may hold hearings that pertain to possible future legislation and act as a liaison between the legislative and executive branch of city government. (See W.L. Code 1960 2-2; Ord No. 41-80, Ord No. 4-84, Ord No. 11-88). The council also has a representative to the Area Plan Commission, which serves as the county's metropolitan planning organization.

All council meetings are public meetings that must be announced at least 48 hours in advance unless an emergency exists. A special meeting may be called if the mayor or a majority of the elected members of the City Council see need. (IC 36-4-6-7, IC 5-14-1.5a & d)

Additional Information
2009 City Council Minutes

West Lafayette City Code (searchable)

Indiana Code

Board of Public Works and Safety Minutes

District Maps

News and Announcements

Beautification Award Winner 8-2010
Published: 08/03/2010
Beautification Winner City of West Lafayette August 2, 2010 Bethany Hansen Bethany Hansen has tran...
Strategic Plan - 2010
Published: 02/19/2010
Strategic Plan 2010
Beautification Award Winner 2-2010
Published: 02/18/2010
Beautification Award Winner 2-2010

2010 State of the City - Mayor John Dennis	Human Relations Brochure (Japanese)
Human Relations Commission Complaint Form (Japanese)	2009 State of the City - Mayor John Dennis