Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, October 20, 2023

• When: Fri, Oct 20, 2023, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
• Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
• Status: Scheduled & Published
• Committee: Committee on Budget and Government Operations
• Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8925576/video/876206094
• Transcript: full text (82,515 words, official captions)

Meeting notes

AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The Committee on Budget and Government Operations held 2024 budget hearings for the Department of Streets and Sanitation, the Department of Procurement Services, and the Department of Aviation, after a public comment period. Members questioned Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard about the area tree-trimming grid, rodent control crews, laborer hiring, garbage carts, the composting drop-off pilot, street sweeping, snow operations, vacant-lot weed cutting and the fleet. The Procurement Services hearing focused on slow vendor payments, retainage, the planned procurement system upgrade, and participation of minority- and women-owned firms, with several members questioning a reported drop in African American construction contracting from 10% to 4%. Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee discussed O'Hare's capital program under the 2018 airline lease agreement, concessions participation, workforce diversity and the airport's migrant transfer site. Earlier in the day the committee approved a motion allowing two members to participate remotely; the departmental hearings were discussion only, and the committee recessed until Monday morning.

Topics: 2024 budget, Streets and Sanitation, tree trimming, rodent control, laborer hiring, composting, procurement and MWBE participation, vendor payments, O'Hare capital program, migrant response

Agenda items discussed

• 3:00 Public comment: discussed
• 22:37 Motion to allow Alderpersons Nugent and Mitts to participate remotely: passed
• 23:36 2024 budget hearing: Department of Streets and Sanitation: discussed
• 5:41:36 Request to allow late public testimony from the Federation of Women Contractors: discussed
• 5:47:05 2024 budget hearing: Department of Procurement Services: discussed
• 8:37:20 2024 budget hearing: Department of Aviation: discussed

Alderpersons who spoke

• Jason C. Ervin (chair): Closed the Streets and Sanitation hearing by describing the department as one of the most public-facing and thanking staff for high-lift, weed cutting, graffiti and rodent work. (5:31:52); Asked why African American participation in construction contracting fell from 10% the prior year to 4%, and what specifically had changed. (6:31:15); Said the chief procurement officer holds a term appointment so she can push through changes, and urged her to use it to increase diversity in contracting. (6:38:20)
• Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Asked how much the department has spent on cleanup crews around migrant shelters. (34:58); Asked whether the rat abatement program will stay in Streets and Sanitation. (35:41); Raised inconsistent garbage pickup on Park District properties and asked how responsibility is divided. (36:23)
• Marty Quinn (alderperson): Asked the commissioner what the department's pressure points are and what it needs from the Council. (38:12); Asked about the condition of the snow removal fleet and how many drivers are ready for snow. (39:54); Welcomed added rodent control funding and suggested more forestry crews, possibly one per ward. (41:57)
• Matthew J. O'Shea (alderperson): Asked about the tree-trimming grid system, noting resident complaints, and the volume and savings it has produced. (48:14); Asked about outreach to encourage residents to accept parkway tree plantings. (50:43); Urged more aggressive replacement of the aging fleet, citing snow equipment failures in 1979. (53:18)
• Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked whether new department vehicles are electric. (59:12); Asked what happened with the dry ice rodent control initiative. (1:00:34); Raised rogue towing that costs residents thousands of dollars and asked what solutions the department recommends, requesting a meeting with CPD. (1:01:07)
• Anthony V. Napolitano (alderperson): Asked whether a feral cat program or other innovative rodent approach is possible and offered his ward as a pilot. (1:03:16); Said he would like to pilot any new rodent initiative and praised the department's communication. (1:06:33)
• Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Discussed laborer starting pay and the difficulty of retaining laborers. (1:07:23); Said complaints are often about leaky garbage trucks and welcomed efforts to address them. (1:08:36); Noted that garbage cart delivery has improved compared with past multi-month waits. (1:09:20)
• Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Asked whether the department has enough resources for tree trimming and about the timeline. (1:10:22); Said language and technology barriers affect communication in his community and offered to work with the department. (1:13:22); Seconded the point about coordination with the Park District on garbage. (1:14:19)
• Felix Cardona Jr. (alderperson): Asked whether the city could pilot an electric garbage truck. (1:19:18); Asked whether the department coordinates with Transportation on sweeping protected bike lanes. (1:21:10)
• Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Commended the move to the area tree-trimming model and asked for a liaison to help ward offices communicate about it. (1:24:11); Asked whether funding for the ash tree inoculation RFP is in the department's budget. (1:25:24); Asked what would help extend the street sweeping season as leaves fall later. (1:25:52)
• Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Commended the department's hiring and offered support filling positions. (1:31:18); Asked whether the ash tree treatment contract is funded in the budget. (1:33:59); Said she has ideas on rat abatement to bring to the department in 2024. (1:35:52)
• Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked whether the budget management ordinance repeals authority to cite owners for rodent harborage on private property. (1:36:54); Said he wished that authority returned to the department and praised the 172% increase in tree trimming. (1:38:39); Asked about the shift between motor truck driver and pool motor truck driver positions. (1:39:26)
• Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Praised the tree grid system and suggested a public tracker similar to the plow tracker. (1:49:02); Thanked staff for translating notices into traditional Chinese. (1:50:10); Thanked the department for rapidly removing racist graffiti from a business in her ward. (1:51:06)
• Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Commended the department's culture of responsiveness. (1:58:41); Asked why the rodent contraceptive trial was not successful, citing an investigative report. (1:59:12); Supported the regional composting sites and asked about curbside composting and federal EPA funding. (2:02:27)
• David H. Moore (alderperson): Mentioned his proposed Keep Chicago Clean ordinance and said it could save the department time and money. (2:09:56); Asked how the department handles trees hanging over residents' roofs. (2:10:34); Asked why workers stopped riding on the back of garbage trucks. (2:11:00)
• Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Thanked staff and asked how the budget could increase funding for Safer Foundation crews. (2:20:02)
• Desmon C. Yancy (alderperson): Requested a list of department vehicles and their ages. (2:20:45); Asked about coordination between tree care and street lighting for safety. (2:21:04); Asked about the student trainee program and programs for returning residents. (2:21:38)
• William Conway (alderperson): Asked how the growing number of migrants affects the department and what the Council should consider. (2:28:23)
• Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Praised several department workers by name and the department's compassionate approach to unhoused residents. (2:31:29); Asked whether street sweeping will continue as long as weather allows each year. (2:34:09); Asked whether there are enough four-by-four vehicles to plow small streets. (2:35:31)
• Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Asked what is being done with the state to keep expressways clean. (2:40:23); Said vacant-lot grass cutting has slowed and asked about the contract and additional funding. (2:42:37); Asked whether wards with many vacant lots could receive more resources. (2:45:59)
• Timothy R. Knudsen (alderperson): Asked what metrics will measure success of the composting pilot. (2:51:20); Noted gaps in compost drop-off access on the north lakefront and far south side. (2:53:12); Asked how to crack down on residential pigeon feeding that worsens rat problems, suggesting a stronger ordinance. (2:55:08)
• Debra L. Silverstein (alderperson): Supported extending street sweeping as long as possible. (3:01:29); Asked whether the department is stocked with garbage carts. (3:01:53); Asked whether hateful graffiti is reported to police for tracking before removal. (3:02:22)
• Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Asked which department jobs are vacant and requested the list to share in his newsletter. (3:05:20); Suggested the procurement officer meet with the mayor on minority participation and asked how the Council can help. (7:06:27); Asked whether Procurement has resources for community outreach with alderpersons. (7:09:26)
• Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Asked whether the 14th Ward is included in the composting pilot and where the nearest site is. (3:54:51); Raised conditions for workers at a department yard and asked for improvements. (3:58:02); Asked that department information be provided in Spanish. (4:00:03)
• Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Asked whether vacant-lot weed cutting could move to a grid approach. (4:03:59); Supported additional funding for Safer Foundation crews. (4:05:27); Asked how the composting program works and its benefits. (4:05:50)
• Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Asked whether the department works with CPS on recycling education. (4:08:20); Asked whether a citywide tree canopy assessment is being done. (4:10:42); Asked what risk management steps follow a recent tree-related settlement. (4:11:30)
• Anthony Beale (alderperson): Warned that plowing snow into protected bike lanes could cause drainage problems and that equipment is insufficient. (4:27:49); Proposed a cost analysis so the city could offer to clean and cut grass along expressways for the state. (4:29:41)
• Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Thanked staff for helping her transition as a new alderperson and suggested attention to pigeon waste. (4:32:52); Asked about progress toward the year's tree planting goal. (4:35:32)
• Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Said colleagues' praise of the department was sincere and recognized his long-serving ward superintendent. (4:36:31); Asked what new rodent control technologies the department is open to trying. (4:38:37); Asked how the city can tow disabled vehicles faster to reduce illegal towing operations. (4:41:11)
• William E. Hall (alderperson): Thanked the department for help with safety efforts and asked how Sixth Ward residents can make its job easier. (4:44:24); Asked about free mulch availability and whether to communicate it better. (4:47:22); Asked where Black, small and women-owned businesses can find an entry point into airport contracting. (9:31:21)
• Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Asked for an update on leaky garbage trucks. (4:48:56); Said he spent years as a ward superintendent and thanked department staff. (4:51:28)
• Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Thanked the department for coordination on large events in his ward. (4:53:28); Suggested a north lakefront composting drop-off location. (4:53:50); Asked what happens to damaged carts found during inspections. (4:54:44)
• Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Asked about enforcement against businesses on the 87th Street corridor that do not keep up with trash. (4:59:21); Thanked the department for services in parts of his ward that had been neglected. (5:01:37)
• Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Described litter near the United Center contributing to rats and asked about street operations coverage near his home. (5:04:39); Raised dumpsters and carts being used to block alleys and suggested higher fines. (5:05:53); Suggested offering migrants a stipend to help clean up near shelters. (5:10:36)
• Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Asked where the first and second quarter participation numbers were published. (7:41:29); Asked about the outreach budget and how much has been spent. (7:43:05); Recommended in-person outreach in communities such as Englewood and Chicago Lawn. (7:45:48)

Exchanges between members

• 47:23 Quinn responded by name to Reilly's remark about having the best ward superintendent.
• 53:18 O'Shea referred to Quinn raising equipment and added his own concerns about the aging fleet.
• 1:14:19 Lopez seconded Reilly's point about coordinating with the Park District on garbage.
• 1:47:54 The chair joked with La Spata about his three final questions.
• 4:29:41 Beale cited Taylor's earlier point on expressway cleaning and proposed the city offer to maintain them.
• 4:41:18 Hopkins credited Villegas's advocacy against illegal towing and said they had both reached out to state officials.
• 6:14:10 Moore followed up on the question Lee asked about whether payments included subcontractors.
• 6:31:15 The chair thanked Moore and continued his line of questioning on African American construction participation.
• 6:40:09 Vasquez thanked the chair for explaining the procurement officer's term appointment.
• 7:04:18 Robinson yielded time to Manaa-Hoppenworth before asking his own questions.

Documents

• Notice
• Agenda