The Urbana City Firefighters kicked off the city council meeting Monday with a slideshow and presented fire helmets to Mayor Laurel Pressing and several aldermen.

However, the mood turned more serious when council discussion turned to the budget for the next fiscal year.

The budget was passed, though some aldermen expressed concerns. Prussing voted in favor of the budget, which will take effect July 1. She suggested the budget be passed and then individual issues can be addressed at a later time.

Council members said the new budget seeks to maintain the level of public safety. Police and Fire Safety expenditures will increase, although no new positions will be hired and vacant positions will be filled slowly.

One hesitation regarding the budget from Smyth and Marlin involved a proposed bike path project on the eastern side of Urbana. Approximately $30,000 has been put into the project on estimates, but Smyth proposed pulling the project to save $417,000. The project was put off for future discussion.

Aside from the budget passage, a new law that will make it illegal to keep flammable furniture on front porches was passed. This ordinance was strongly supported by Alderman Diane Marlin, who cited the recent Urbana fire which ended in the hospitalization of Ashley Ames, 23.

The ordinance was challenged as being a violation of property rights, but Marlin said it would not prevent residents from placing furniture intended for outdoor use on their porch.

The council also addressed an ordinance which prohibits non-recreational backyard fires. The passage of the ordinace makes it illegal to burn leaves in backyards, although residents can still enjoy marshmallows and bonfires.

Chief Dilley said he believes it is an important law.

“People will take one of the recreational fire pits and they’ll burn garbage, leaves, everything — it’s very hard on the forest,” Dilley said at the meeting.

“They’ll be burning leaves and maybe the people next to them will have asthma.”