09 June 2026
(A session of the Odesa City Council. PHOTOS: Odesa City Council)
With this material, Intent continues its series of publications on the work of local governments. Today we will focus on the decision-making process of the city council.
According to part 13 of Article 46 of the Law "On Local Self-Government in Ukraine" (hereinafter - the Law), proposals on issues for consideration by the council may be submitted by
The law also mentions the right of the head of the local state administration and the head of the district or oblast council to submit proposals for consideration by the council. These provisions are likely to apply primarily to rayon and oblast councils and are practically not applicable to the activities of the city council.
The procedure for preparing draft decisions of the Odesa City Council is determined by the Law of Ukraine "On Local Self-Government in Ukraine" and the Rules of Procedure of the Odesa City Council.
The initiator of the draft decision independently prepares its text and submits it to the council office. If the draft is submitted by the executive committee, it must be accompanied by the relevant decision of the executive committee. If the draft is submitted by a standing committee, it must be accompanied by the conclusions and recommendations of that committee.
The submitted project must comply with the established requirements for the execution and completeness of documents. Documents are submitted both in paper and electronic form.
Before being included in the agenda, the draft decision is approved and visibly signed. Mandatory visas are issued by the author of the project, the legal department, the chief of staff of the council, the relevant deputy mayor, and the secretary of the council. If the project implementation requires expenditures from the city budget, it is also approved by the Finance Department.
The legal department conducts a legal review of the project. Based on the results of the review, it can approve the document without comments, suggest corrections, or provide written comments and suggestions for its revision. After receiving the comments, the project initiator can agree with them, submit a revised version, leave the project unchanged, or withdraw it.
All draft decisions and amendments to them are subject to publication on the official website of the city council.
The preliminary agenda of the session is formed on the basis of the submitted drafts. Before its final approval, deputies may propose changes and additions.
The council secretary is responsible for organizing the preparation of the session, ensuring the publication of draft decisions and adopted acts, and monitoring their implementation.
Odesa city council carries out its work in the form of sessions. A session includes plenary meetings of the council and meetings of its standing committees.
City council resolutions are adopted at plenary sessions after discussion and voting by the deputies. A resolution requires the support of a majority of deputies from the total number of council members, unless the law provides for a different procedure.
The procedure for holding plenary sessions and the voting procedure are determined by the Rules of Procedure of Odesa City Council.
Resolutions of the city council come into force after their official publication, unless the council itself or a separate resolution establishes a different term of entry into force.
All adopted acts of the city council are subject to mandatory publication on the official website of the city council. Resolutions are published no later than five business days after their adoption, indicating the date of publication.
Сергій Бондаренко