Cedar City (Utah)

Utah municipal governments perform numerous functions, including the maintaining of law and order, guarding public health and sanitation, managing public services and promoting community development. The first ordinances for Cedar City were recorded in 1853. Early community leaders were concerned with managing water use and with building and maintaining roads. Other early ordinances regulated fire building, the use of fire arms, smoking, and liquor sales. As the community grew the city council passed ordinances to accommodate growth. They published a book of codified city ordinances in 1903 then revised and updated this publication every ten to twenty years thereafter. Through ordinances the city council regulated new innovations such as electricity, telephones and sewers.

Over the years the Cedar City city council initiated and maintained many community improvements. In the 19th Century these included an irrigation system, a slaughter house, school buildings, and a city hall. In the early 20th century, Cedar City erected telegraph lines, established a public library and gymnasium, installed new street lights, paved streets, and built a reservoir. The city council was involved in sponsoring WPA projects in the 1930s and they established a fire department. They worked to get a four year college in Cedar City in the 1940s. From 1939 to 1970 the council put much effort into the development of a municipal airport. In the later 20th century the city council lent support to the Shakespearean Festival, the construction of I-15, and the creation of the Iron Mission Museum. In recent years community efforts have focused on revitalizing downtown Cedar City.

The mayor and four city councilmen provide leadership for Cedar City government. The mayor, who is elected by general municipal election, is the chief executive officer. He presides over the city council and supervises all other city officers. He signs all city ordinances and official contracts on behalf of the city. The city council functions as a legislative governing body for the community. Its members are elected for 2 or 4 year terms. The council is responsible for all aspects of city management, such as appointing city officials and setting their salaries, levying taxes, establishing a budget, maintaining public services and utilities, and regulating activity within the city.

The city council appoints a number of town officers and defines their responsibilities. Some of these city officers include: a city recorder to attend council meetings, record ordinances and all other official city documents; a city treasurer to receive and keep an accounting of moneys; a city marshal to enforce the rules of government and maintain city hall and the city prison; a city attorney to offer legal advice; a justice of the peace to enforce and hold original jurisdiction over Cedar City ordinances; a sexton to manage the city cemetery; a board of health to supervise all matters relating to sanitation within the city; and a street superintendent to oversee all streets, bridges, alleys and sidewalks, etc. The city council established several auxiliary agencies to fill special functions within the city. They created a zoning commission and a board of adjustment in 1941 and a planning commission in 1945. These commissions plan city development and establish and enforce zoning. The city council created a redevelopment agency in 1980 to carry out a program of downtown revitalization.