Effective July 1, 2012, municipalities in the State of Kansas are allowed to publish summaries of ordinances in their official newspapers instead of publishing ordinances in their entirety, provided that certain requirements are met.

Per HB 2166, a certified summary of an ordinance is to be published in the official newspaper following its adoption by the Governing Body, but prior to its effective date. The summary must be certified by the City Attorney that it is legally accurate and sufficient. The summary must also contain the website where the public will be able to access a copy of the original ordinance for a minimum of one week following publication of the summary. The summary must also state whether the ordinance is subject to a protest petition. Charter ordinances may not be published in summary form.

The City of Abilene will post all new ordinances and resolutions on this section of the City's website for public viewing. Copies of original ordinances published in summary form will be provided to the public at no charge; resolutions and ordinances not published in summary form are subject to charges per the City's Comprehensive Fee Schedule. Copies of original ordinances or resolutions are available during business hours at City Hall located at 419 N. Broadway Street in Abilene, Kansas.

The City of Abilene must annually designate its official newspaper for publication purposes; the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle is designated the official newspaper of the City of Abilene.

Ordinances are the most formal acts taken by the City Commission and have the full force and effect of law. Appropriation ordinances are ordinances used by some cities to authorize the payment of claims. Special ordinances are passed for a single special purpose and lose their force when the purpose for which they were passed is accomplished (i.e., an ordinance calling a special election spends its force when the election is held). General ordinances comprise the body of local law that governs the management of local affairs, the conduct of persons, the use of property, and other matters on which the City exercises its powers. Charter ordinances allow a city to exempt itself from state law in certain circumstances.

The City Commission has recently approved the following ordinances:

• Ordinance No. 3199 - Standard Traffic Ordinance
• Ordinance No. 3200 - Uniform Public Offense Code
• Ordinance No. 3201 - Attesting to Increase in Tax Revenues for Budget Year 2013
• Ordinance No. 3202 - Authorizing Referendum Vote on 0.25% Retailers' Sales Tax
• Ordinance No. 3203 - Water Emergencies
• Ordinance No. 3204 - Home Occupations Zoning Code
• Ordinance No. 3205 - Sign Regulations Zoning Code
• Charter Ordinance No. 22 - Number of CVB Board Members
• Ordinance No. 3206 - Consumption of Alcohol on City-owned Property
• Ordinance No. 3207 - Adding New section 18-507 and 18-508 to the Zoning Regulations
• Ordinance No. 3208 - Designating City Hall as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Municipal Building
• Ordinance No. 3209 - Amending section 8-801 of the Zoning Regulations
• Ordinance No. 3210 - Adding New section 21 "subsection "G" to the zoning regulations
• Ordinance 3211 - Levying a City retailers sales tax in the amount of 0.25% within the City of Abilene, KS
• Ordinance 3222 - Authorizing Water System Improvements and to acquire Equipment for a Fire Station and to issue its G.O. Bonds in the amount necessary for improvements
• Ordinance 3223 - Authorizing Water System Improvements and Wastewater Treatment Improvements and to prepay Certain outstanding loans and issue G.O. Bods to pay such improvements
• Ordinance 3224 - Establishing Section 1-109 of the City Code Concerning Compensation of the Governing Body.
• Ordinance 3225 - Rezoning of land from "R-3" to "B-3"
• Ordinance 3226 - Concerning the Economic Development Council
• Ordinance 3227 - Issuance of Bonds
• Ordinance 3228 - Hotel Incentive Policy
• Charter Ordinance 23- Relating to the number of members on the CVB Board
• Ordinance 3229 - an Ordinance Establishing Chapter 1, Article 11 of the City Code of the City of Abilene, Kansas, concerning Emergency Operations
• Ordinance 3232 - Amending Section 7-1003 of the City Code pertaining to Water Emergencies
• Ordinance 3233 - Amending appendix "B" of the zoning setback regulations
• Ordinance 3234 - Amending the future land use map as described in the comprehensive plan
• Ordinance 3235 - Approving the rezoning of land from "R-1" single family residential district to "R-3" mufti-family residential district
  

Resolutions are less formal acts taken by the City Commission. Generally, a resolution is used instead of an ordinance when so required by state law, when the formality of permanency of an ordinance is not required, when a separately written record is advisable, or when there is a doubt that a simple motion that is recorded in the minutes is sufficient. Most resolutions, unlike ordinances, do not have to be published in the official newspaper to become effective. 

The City Commission has recently approved the following resolutions:

• Resolution No. 070912-1 - Declaring a Water Warning
• Resolution No. 081312-1 - Terminating an Interlocal Agreement with Dickinson County
• Resolution No. 091012-1 - Approving 2011 Financial Audit
• Resolution No. 092412-1 - Memorandum of Understanding with Central Kansas Free Fair Association concerning temporary sale of alcohol on City-owned property
• Resolution No. 092412-2 - Amendments to Employee Welfare Benefit Plan Plan Document
• Resolution No. 100912-1 - Approving Amendments to the Personnel Policy
• Resolution No. 100912-2 - Approving the NE 14th Street/N. Buckeye Avenue Neighborhood Revitalization District
• Resolution No. 102212-1 - GAAP Waiver for Preparation of 2012 Financial Statements
• Resolution No. 111312-1 - Providing for a cost of living adjustment to the pay plan of the City of Abilene, KS
• Resolution No. 112612-1 - Authorizing Fund Transfers for FY 2012 Budget
• Resolution No. 121012-2 - Authorizing Public Sale of City Bonds in an approximate amount of $2,590,000.00
• Resolution No. 011413-1 - Establishing the 2013 State Legislative Platform
• Resolution No. 011413-2 - Endorsing the concept of a bike and pedestrian trail
• Resolution No. 011413-3 - Establishing the Abilene Business Park
• Resolution No. 011413-4 - Approving Project Agreement No. 296-12 with KDOT for a Roadway Rehabilitation Project on Interstate 70
• Resolution No. 012813-1 - Endorsing the Federal Tax Exempt Status of Municipal Bonds.
• Resolution No. 021113-1 - Relating to the Issuance of Bonds
• Resolution No. 021113-3 - Authorizing a Transfer from General Fund to Convention and Tourism Fund
• Resolution No. 022513-1 - Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce
• Resolution No. 031113-1 - Establishing an Airport Development Plan for the Abilene Municipal Airport
• Resolution No. 031113-2 - Establishing a Post-Issuance Compliance Policy for the City of Abilene, Kansas
• Resolution No.  040813-1 -   Designating Official Depositories and Newspaper
• Resolution No. 040813-2 - Approving Supplemental Agreement No. 1 concerning Federal Funds Exchange
• Resolution 042213-1- Approving a Final Plat for Dawson's Cottage Addition in the City of Abilene, KS
• Resolution 042213-4 - Authorizing the issuance of a conditional use permit to Great Plains Christian Radio, Inc for a radio antenna at 805 S. Buckeye Ave.
• Resolution No. 042213-5 - Declaring a Water Emergency for the City of Abilene, KS
• Resolution No. 051313-1 - Approving the annual Appointments to Boards and Commissions
• Resolution No. 051313-2 - Approving a lease agreement with Charles and Doran Clemence
• Resolution No. 051313-3 - Approving a memorandum of understanding between Abilene Animal Hospital and City of Abilene on the implementation of a trap-neuter-release program
• Resolution No. 051313-4 - Adopting an Economic Development Plan for the City of Abilene, Kansas