Mayor & Council

City Council Meetings

  • 6:30pm
  • 1st and 3rd Monday of each month
  • The Coliseum / City Hall
    212 3rd Avenue
    Council Chambers
    Sterling, IL 61081

Virtual Council Meetings

Due to the pandemic the Council Meetings will be conducted virtually. You can participate via the zoom app on your phone, tablet or personal computer using the free Zoom app. You will need to download it before the meeting to join in time; once it is downloaded, please access the following to take part.  The meeting ID will be displayed on the agenda:

  • Join Sterling Council Meetings on Zoom

If you need to speak on an item on the agenda you can click the "Raise Hand" button to be recognized by the host.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

IMG_2603Members

Overview

The City of Sterling is led by the Mayor and 6 Aldermen, 4 of which are elected by ward, and 2 which are elected at-large. The Mayor and Aldermen serve 4 year terms.

The council is the community’s legislative and policy-making body. Power is centralized in the elected Council, which, for example, approves the budget and determines the tax rate. The Council also focuses on the community’s goals, major projects, and such long-term considerations as community growth, land use development, capital improvement and financing, and strategic planning. The Council hires a professional manager to implement the administrative responsibilities related to these goals and supervises the manager’s performance.

The Mayor in the council-manager form of government is the key political and policy leader. The Mayor serves as the Liquor Commissioner per State Statute. The Mayor presides at Council meetings, serves as a spokesperson for the community, facilitates communication and understanding between elected and appointed officials, assists the Council in setting goals and advocating policy decisions, and serves as a promoter and defender of the community. In addition, the Mayor serves as a key representative in intergovernmental relations.

Check out our List of Previous Sterling Mayors (PDF) dating back to 1857 to learn more about the individuals who have previously held this office.

Proclamation Request 

City of Sterling proclamations are issued by the Mayor in recognition of or to create awareness of an event, milestone, or achievement. Proclamations may be issued for a day, week, or month.  Proclamations are not legally binding nor do they constitute an endorsement by the Mayor.  All proclamations must recognize individuals, groups, or events within the City of Sterling.   If you would like to request a proclamation please fill out the request form and return it to the City.