City of Chicago City Council Rules of Conduct for Public Meetings 2023-2027
Pursuant to Rule 58 of the Chicago City Council Rules of Order and Procedure,
the Sergeant-at-Arms sets forth the following rules of conduct for members of the public.
These rules shall be in effect at all times that a viewing gallery or room is open for a meeting of the City Council or any of its committees.
all individuals and their belongings are subject to search at entry or upon request individuals
must remain seated at all times except one when entering or exiting the gallery two when providing
public comment during the portion of a meeting set aside for that purpose or three when asked
to rise and be acknowledged by a member of the City Council. Profane, threatening, harassing,
abusive, or defamatory behavior or speech, which in the judgment of the meeting's chair
or the sergeant at arms may lead to a breach of the peace or disrupt the orderly conduct of the
meeting, is not permitted. Disruptive or distracting actions, such as the stomping of feet,
waving of arms, throwing any item, whistling, booing, shouting, or other loud utterances,
are not permitted when in the judgment of the meeting's chair, or the sergeant-at-arms,
such actions are disrupting or impeding the orderly conduct of the meeting.
Any item that poses a potential safety hazards, as determined by the sergeant-at-arms,
is prohibited in the gallery. Such items include, but are not limited to,
1. Any pointed objects, including knives of any kind. 2. Banners, flyers or other forms of signage.
3. Food and beverages, including in glass or metal canisters. 4. Backpacks, large bags and
sealed packages. Clear bags, not tinted in color, that do not exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12,
are permitted and subject to search, and 5. Firearms, ammunition, fireworks, laser pointers,
stun guns, tasers, mace pepper spray, and toy weapons. Cell phones and other small handheld
recording devices must be placed in silent mode, can only be used while seated, and can only be
used in a manner that does not interfere with the ability other individuals to view or hear the
proceedings. Individuals or groups failing to adhere to these rules will be subject to removal
from the remainder of the meeting by the Sergeant-at-Arms. Good morning, members of the City
Council. The meeting will begin shortly. Please remember to log in your devices. City of Chicago
City Council Rules of Conduct for Public Meetings 2023-2027. Pursuant to Rule 58 of the Chicago
City Council rules of order and procedure. The sergeant-at-arms sets forth the following rules
of conduct for members of the public. These rules shall be in effect at all times that a viewing
gallery or room is open for a meeting of the City Council or any of its committees. All individuals
and their belongings are subject to search at entry or upon request. Individuals must remain
seated at all times except, one, when entering or exiting the gallery, two, when providing public
comment during the portion of a meeting set aside for that purpose, or three, when asked to rise and
be acknowledged by a member of the City Council. Profane, threatening, harassing, abusive, or
defamatory behavior or speech, which in the judgment of the meeting's chair or the sergeant
at arms, may lead to a breach of the peace, or disrupt the orderly conduct of the meeting,
is not permitted. Disruptive or distracting actions, such as the stomping of feet,
waving of arms, throwing any item, whistling, booing, shouting, or other loud utterances,
are not permitted when in the judgment of the meeting's chair, or the sergeant at arms,
such actions are disrupting or impeding the orderly conduct of the meeting.
Any item that poses a potential safety hazards, as determined by the sergeant-at-arms, is prohibited in the gallery.
Such items include, but are not limited to,
One, any pointed objects, including knives of any kind.
Two, banners, flyers, or other forms of signage.
Three, food and beverages, including in glass or metal canisters.
Four, backpacks, large bags, and sealed packages.
Good morning. The council will come to order.
Madam Clerk, please take a quorum roll call.
Quorum is now open. Please use your devices to mark yourself present.
If you are having difficulty, please raise your hand, and we'll be happy to help.
Okay, we'll now call on those who have not yet marked themselves.
Alderman Laspata, not present in chambers.
Alderman Hopkins.
Alderman Hopkins is present.
Alderwoman Dahl.
Alderman Dahl is present.
Alderperson Robinson.
Alderperson Robinson, not present in chambers.
Alderman Hall, not present in chambers.
Alderman Mitchell.
Alderman Mitchell is present.
Alderman Beal.
Alderman Beal is present. Alderwoman Gutierrez. Alderwoman Gutierrez is present. Alderwoman Coleman, not present in chambers. Alderman Moore. Alderman Moore is present. Alderman Curtis. Alderman Curtis is present. Alderwoman Taylor, not present in chambers.
Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Rodriguez is present.
Alderwoman Tavares, not present in chambers.
Alderman Sigcho Lopez, not present in chambers.
Alderperson Fuentes, Alderperson Fuentes is present.
Alderman Burnett, Alderman Burnett is present.
Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez, Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez is present.
Alderman Villegas.
Alderman Villegas is present.
Alderman Vasquez.
Alderman Vasquez is present.
Alderman Riley.
Alderman Riley is present.
Alderwoman Clay.
Not present in Chambers.
Alderwoman Silverstein, not present in Chambers.
Alderman Robinson.
Alderman Robinson is here.
Everyone in Chambers has been acknowledged.
Okay, quorum is now closed.
There are 41 members that are present.
We do have a quorum.
There are 42 members present.
We do have a quorum.
The following alders have requested to participate in today's meeting remotely for reasons stated in Rule 59.
The following alders, Adam Clerk, could you confirm their presence?
Tabaris, Silverstein, LaSpada, Taylor, Coleman, and Hall.
Alderwoman Silverstein.
I am present.
Alderwoman Silverstein is present.
Alderwoman Tabaris.
Present.
Alderwoman Tabaris is present.
Alderman LaSpada.
Present.
Alderman LaSpada is present.
Alderwoman Coleman.
Present.
Alderwoman Coleman is present.
Alderwoman Taylor.
Here.
Alderwoman Taylor is present.
Alderman Hall.
Good morning.
Alderman Hall is present.
Very well.
All members have confirmed their presence online.
Can I get a motion to approve their remote participation?
Very well.
All those in favor of the remote participation of the following Alders that were listed signify by saying aye.
Any opposed say nay.
In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
Chair recognizes Alderman Sigcho Lopez.
I just want to be added to the roll call.
Thank you.
Madam Clerk, could you add Alderman Sigcho Lopez to the quorum roll call?
Chair recognizes Alder Clay.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I too would like to be added to the roll call.
Thank you.
Can you add Alderman Clay to the quorum roll call?
Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Please remain standing for the invocation, which will be delivered today by Pastor Billy Evans.
Gracious and almighty God, we come before you today with humble hearts and grateful spirits.
Thank you for the gift of life for the city of Chicago and for the opportunity to serve and represent its people.
As we begin this meeting of the City Council, we ask for your wisdom, your guidance, and discernment.
Grant our elected officials the courage to listen, the patience to understand, and the integrity to make decisions with fairness and compassion.
Help us to remember that behind every ordinance, policy, and decision are real people, families, children, seniors, workers, business owners, and communities who call Chicago home.
Give us hearts that are attentive to their needs and committed to the common good.
Bless our mayor, the members of the city council, city employees, and everyone who contributes to the work of this great city.
May our discussions be productive, our disagreements be respectful, and our actions be guided by justice, accountability, and a genuine desire to serve.
We pray for peace and safety throughout our every neighborhood.
May this city continue to be a place where people can live, work, worship, raise their families, and pursue their dreams.
Lord, order our steps, guard our words, and guide our decisions.
May everything be accomplished today to contribute to the betterment of this city and to the people we have been entrusted to serve.
We ask all these blessings in the name that has given me comfort, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
amen thank you you may be seated will the clerk please read the call of today's special meeting
the following call for a special meeting of the city council of the city of chicago was filed in
the office of the city clerk on wednesday september 23rd 2026 at 9 33 a.m dear clerk valencia we the
undersigned members of the city council of the city of chicago do hereby call a special meeting
of the city council of the city of chicago to be convened on friday september 25th 2026 at 10 o'clock
a.m. in the City Council Chamber and City Hall for the following purpose and for no other purpose
whatsoever. For the immediate consideration of SO 2026-0025407, a substitute ordinance
authorizing the approval of ownership transfer pursuant to the Chicago Meteor Parking System
concession agreement. Sincerely signed, Pat Dowell, Alderperson of the 3rd Ward, Nicole Lee,
alder person of the 11th ward scott wagons back alder person of the 32nd ward thank you public
comments the council will now begin the public comment period which is limited to a maximum of
30 minutes each speaker is limited to three minutes speakers cannot yield or transfer their
time to another speaker any written comments that have been submitted will be posted and
available for automatic review first speaker today is george blakemore i cannot believe it
The only speaker is Mr. Blakemore. Several years ago, Mr. Blakemore was here with that talking saga. And he's here today. Fake news, put that out. Put it out. Fake news, the press, that they only had one speaker. The power of one.
One star can light up the darkness.
God sent me here for this doo-doo.
All Democrats, Trump don't have a thing to do with this.
But Wobbiswack say he was here when they sold out the street.
And now they're getting ready to try to buy the streets back.
Where are the people?
the streets
all empty of men
what then
where all the housing
unions and protesters
where are they
fake news make it go
viral make it go all over
the world they had a
meeting today
and they had one public
speaker last week
that man denied me from speaking
lottery and all and all of you
all were silent
The committee comes up when you say each committee chairman can make his own rules.
No, they can't.
These rules have to be unified.
I'm set by the most high.
You see me and you see damn empty seats.
So maybe Mr. Blakemore is crazy or maybe the system is broken.
voting one democrat out and another democrat in the system is a culture of corruption here
and i'm enjoying every minute of this running telling all the mountains and the hills that
Chicago didn't ... Where's Fripp Ray? Where's Go Ray? Where's all these union people?
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I'm the only one. I got this mic.
Shut up! Nothing going to change here. Nothing going to change here.
Mr. Blakemore, continue to direct your comments this way. Mr. Blakemore, direct your comments this way.
30 seconds.
Yes.
20 seconds.
28 seconds.
All right, now, there's a culture of corruption here.
The black ones, the white ones, the Hispanic, the Asian,
there's a one-party system here.
And Trump has nothing to do with this.
It's not D.C.
It's right here.
Right here.
Now Chicago is the laughing stock.
Laughing stock?
What are you saying?
People are looking at Chicago.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Your Honor, there are no further speakers.
This concludes our public speaking period.
As set forth in the letter calling for the special meeting, the only item up today for consideration is SO-2026-0025-407.
This is a substitute ordinance authorizing approval of ownership transfer pursuant to Chicago metered parking system concession agreement.
because this item is with the Committee of Finance. The chair recognizes chair of the committee,
Chairwoman Dow. Thank you, Mr. President and members of the City Council.
The City Council's Committee on Finance at a meeting held on September 22,
2026 and reconvened on September 24, 2026, considered a substitute ordinance authorizing
the approval of the ownership transfer pursuant to the Chicago Meted Parking System concession
agreement. This item received a due pass recommendation in committee. Mr. President,
Alderman Wagesbach joins me in moving to defer and publish this item.
Mr. Farewell. This item has been
moved for defer and publish. Alderman Wagesbach, do you confirm? Your second.
All right. Then this item will be deferred and published. Just a second. Given there's no other business before this body, Alderman Mitchell, a motion to adjourn.
It's time for the next meeting.
That's right. Mr. President, if there's no further business for this body, I move that we adjourn.
Hearing no objections, so order this meeting is adjourned.