Recognition of collaboration initiative regarding Rat Contraceptive Pilot Program by 43rd Ward Alderman Timmy Knudsen, Chicago Bird Alliance, Lincoln Park Zoo's Urban Wildlife Institute, Department of Streets and Sanitation, and their partners

Votes › Environmental Protection and Energy › 43rd Ward: Timothy R. Knudsen

• Record number: SR2025-0018763
• Type: Resolution; category: Committee/Public Hearings
• Status: Final
• Sponsor: Timothy R. Knudsen (43rd Ward)
• Committee: Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy
• Introduction Date: Jul 16, 2025
• Final Action Date: Feb 18, 2026
• Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Adopted Feb 18, 2026

49 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent. On motion of Alderperson Hadden, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Harris, the resolution was Adopted. Voted at the City Council meeting of Feb 18, 2026.

Yea (49): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33), William Conway (34), Anthony J. Quezada (35), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)

Absent (1): Monique L. Scott (24)

Plain-language summary

Written by AI (claude-opus-5-5) from the ordinance text only: SR2025-0018763 v2 Contributor Recognition of Rat Abatement initiative.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This resolution from the Mayor and City Council praises a group of partners for starting a year-long pilot program in Lincoln Park that uses a non-toxic birth control food pellet to reduce the number of rats. The city promises to watch the results and intends to support expanding the program if it controls rats well and causes less harm to other animals.

• Commends the Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Bird Alliance, 43rd Ward Alderman Timmy Knudsen, and partners for launching the Rat Contraceptive Pilot Program.
• The year-long pilot uses WISDOM Good Bites, a non-toxic contraceptive food pellet made by the non-profit WISDOM Good Works.
• The resolution states that rat poisons have not reduced rat numbers well enough and have harmed urban wildlife and pets.
• Wildlife scientists and city officials will monitor the pilot to see if it works and could be used in other wards.
• The city pledges to monitor results with the intent to support expansion if the pilot proves effective and reduces harm to non-target species.

Who: The resolution recognizes Alderman Timmy Knudsen, the Chicago Bird Alliance, Lincoln Park Zoo's Urban Wildlife Institute, the Department of Streets and Sanitation, and their partners, and it concerns residents, wildlife, and pets affected by rat control.

Where: Lincoln Park, 43rd Ward

Timeline

• Jul 16, 2025: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
• Feb 3, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
• Feb 3, 2026: Substituted, Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy. The matter was substituted in Commitee.
• Feb 18, 2026: Adopted, City Council (49 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Hadden, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Harris, the resolution was Adopted.

Documents

• w43 - r18763.pdf (Legislation)
• SR2025-0018763 CL.pdf (Committee Letter)
• SR2025-0018763 v2 Contributor Recognition of Rat Abatement initiative.pdf (Legislation)

Related legislation

More from Timothy R. Knudsen

• Designation of segments of W Diversey Pkwy right-of-way on Map No. 7-G as pedestrian street and amendment of Municipal Code Section… (O2026-0029431, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
• Approval of Blues Legacy Resubdivision (O2026-0029053, introduced Sep 29, 2026, Passed)
• Amendment of Annual Appropriation Ordinance to transfer funds from 43rd Ward Aldermanic Expense Account to Wage Allowance Account for Year… (O2026-0027655, 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 (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… (R2026-0028725, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Adopted)
• Call for hearing(s) on implementation of advanced law enforcement training technology (R2026-0028822, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Referred)

Sources and methods: how we get and count this data · report an error