Council/Manager Form of Government

The City of Marion was the first city in the Cedar Rapids metro area to adopt the Home Rule Charter form of government, making the change on Jan. 2, 1976. The Charter provides for the appointment of a city manager. In this form of government:

• City Council determines all municipal policies such as the Strategic Plan and City Budget, adopts ordinances and appoints the City Manager, the chief administrative officer for the City.
• The Council is the governing body of the City; the City Manager is its agent in carrying out the policies established by Council, and ensuring that all departments operate efficiently and economically.

City Council

The City Council consists of seven members. Three of the members, including the Mayor, are known as Council Members at large. They are nominated and elected by the qualified electors of the City at large. The other four Council members are nominated and elected by the qualified voters in their respective wards.

To be eligible to be elected to and to retain a Council position, a person must be a registered voter of Marion and if seeking or elected to represent a Council ward, then that person must be a legal resident of that ward at the time petition is filed and at the time of the election. The City Council members are elected for 4-year terms.

Wards

The City of Marion is divided into four Council wards of substantially equal population. These wards are designated as Council Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4. View the City Council Ward Map and find your council person for more information. 

Contact a Council Member

City Council members are always available and can be contacted in writing, via email or by phone. Contact information for City of Marion elected officials is provided.

Marion City Council holds regular office hours in the community most Saturdays throughout the year. During the winter months they are at the Marion Public Library from 9-11 a.m. During the summer months they greet attendees at the Marion Farmers Market between 8-11 a.m. They do take a break from in-person office hours during April and October, but remain available in other ways and can be reached by using this directory.

Meeting Information

City Council meets in work session the first and third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. Regular session meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the Thursday following each work session. The meeting schedule may change if the scheduled meeting falls on a holiday.

Meetings are held in the Council Chambers at Marion City Hall at 1225 6th Avenue in Marion. All Council meetings are open to the public.

Visit the meeting portal for the current meeting schedule, agendas, minutes and more. 

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