# Call for hearing(s) on status and causes of delay in implementing emergency responder Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) System

[Legislation tracker](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/tracker) › [Public Safety](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/public-safety) › [36th Ward: Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36)

- Record number: **R2025-0020996**
- Type: Resolution; category: Committee/Public Hearings
- Status: In Committee (Referred)
- Sponsor: [Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36) (36th Ward)
- Committee: [Committee on Public Safety](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/public-safety)
- Submitted Date: Nov 13, 2025
- Introduction Date: Nov 14, 2025
- Official record: [Office of the City Clerk](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=640708A2-B5C0-F011-BBD2-001DD80AA671)

## Impact report

> Written by AI from [the official document](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/13fdf3a5-e770-4f4a-873e-3cff44cd4176.pdf). AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This resolution asks two City Council committees to hold a joint hearing on why Chicago's new 9-1-1 emergency dispatch computer system is years behind schedule.

**Who it affects**

- **People who call 9-1-1**: The hearing would look at delays in a new system meant to let callers send texts, photos, and videos and to automatically locate cell phone callers.
- **Police and Fire Department first responders**: The hearing would review a delayed system designed to identify the nearest responders and prioritize incidents by urgency.
- **Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC)**: Its representatives would be asked to appear and give a full update on the project's progress, challenges, spending, and expected finish date.
- **Office of Public Safety Administration**: Its representatives would also be asked to appear at the joint hearing to give an update on the project.
- **City taxpayers**: The hearing would review how money from a $79.9 million contract and past budget allocations has been spent on the delayed project.

**What changes**

- The Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology and the Committee on Public Safety would hold a joint hearing on the dispatch system delay.
- City emergency management and public safety officials would be asked to publicly explain the project's status, problems, spending, and timeline.
- The resolution itself does not change how 9-1-1 calls are handled; the current system, in use since 1995, stays in place.

**Money**

- $79.9 million contract signed by the City through OEMC in 2020 with TriTech Software Systems, a CentralSquare company, to buy and set up a new dispatch system.
- City budgets for fiscal years 2021 through 2024 set aside funding for the dispatch system replacement; the 2026 budget documents show no clear funding for it.

**Where**: 36th Ward

## Timeline

- Nov 14, 2025: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.

## Documents

- [CAD Hearing Resolution.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/13fdf3a5-e770-4f4a-873e-3cff44cd4176.pdf) (Legislation)

## Related legislation

**More from Gilbert Villegas**

- [Tribute to late Michael Keller Ditka](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0029456-tribute-late-michael-keller-ditka) (R2026-0029456, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Amendment of Municipal Code Section 2-44-055 establishing scoring criteria for 9% tax credits](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029453-scoring-criteria-9-tax-credits) (O2026-0029453, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Exemption from physical barrier requirement for commercial driveway alley access for Best West Auto Repair, Inc.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0027919-exemption-physical-barrier-requirement-commercial-driveway) (O2026-0027919, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Passed)

**More on Committee/Public Hearings**

- [Call for hearing(s) on implementation of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Law in Chicago high schools](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028841-call-hearing-implementation-rev-jesse-jackson) (R2026-0028841, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Referred)
- [Call on City of Chicago departments to prioritize heat mitigation, maintain and expand cooling centers, and install heat-resilient…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028725-call-city-chicago-departments-prioritize-heat) (R2026-0028725, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Adopted)
- [Call for hearing(s) on implementation of advanced law enforcement training technology](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028822-call-hearing-implementation-advanced-law-enforcement) (R2026-0028822, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Referred)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2025-0020996-call-hearing-status-causes-delay-implementing · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt