Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy meeting, September 6, 2023
- When: Wed, Sep 6, 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 Environmental Protection and Energy
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928545/video/861382788
- Transcript: full text (11,153 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 Environmental Protection and Energy approved its Rule 45 report and considered the reappointment of Angela Tovar as the city's Chief Sustainability Officer for another four years. Five public commenters spoke, including community and Sierra Club leaders supporting Tovar, a commenter questioning whether a national search was done, and two commenters raising concerns about a proposed livestock ordinance. Tovar described her office's climate action plan, cumulative impacts work and plans to use federal Inflation Reduction Act funding, and most members who spoke supported her, raised priorities such as a department of environment, enforcement, decarbonization, air quality, illegal dumping and noise. Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez questioned her collaboration with local alderpersons and handling of past industrial permitting matters. The committee recommended approval of the reappointment by voice vote.
Topics: Chief Sustainability Officer appointment, environmental justice, climate action plan, department of environment, cumulative impacts, decarbonization, air quality, livestock ordinance
Agenda items discussed
- 17:54 Rule 45 report from July 12, 2023: passed
- 18:20 Reappointment of Angela Tovar as Chief Sustainability Officer: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Maria E. Hadden (chair): Introduced the reappointment, citing Tovar's climate action plan, cumulative impact analysis and work toward re-establishing a department of environment. (18:20); Thanked members, said she wanted to explore coexistence of industry and residents raised by the vice mayor, and responded to Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez comments on leadership by saying she believes Tovar holds values of integrity. (1:08:58)
- William Conway (alderperson): Said Chicago can become a leader in renewable energy and create jobs where needed, citing the Inflation Reduction Act and the city's skilled workforce. (24:57)
- Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Said Tovar's role had not been set up for success, that the council should provide resources, and commended her engagement with communities affected by environmental racism. (26:43)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Cited challenges including tree canopy loss, flooding, wildfire smoke, diesel exhaust and landfill space, and supported Tovar based on the tree planting goal and climate action plan. (28:30); Said the office needs resources to take advantage of federal funds and that the city should plan for future climate-driven arrivals. (30:42)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Said there is strong council support for sustainability, called for more visible initiatives and coordination across departments, and raised rules on solar panels. (31:48)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Said this summer's wildfire smoke showed Chicago is not insulated from climate change and credited Tovar with the city's first actionable climate action plan in over a decade. (33:06)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Said Tovar had only contacted him two weeks earlier and asked her to agree that leadership requires integrity, facts and collaboration. (36:28); Said that on the asphalt plant, air quality ordinance and General Iron matters, alderpersons' conversations with the administration were shared with groups opposing them. (38:39); Said the cumulative impact study lacked representatives of affected industries and raised concerns about decarbonization costs for homeowners and small businesses. (41:32)
- Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Congratulated Tovar, thanked her for meeting, and said she would help secure resources for the climate action plan. (45:02)
- Julia M. Ramirez (alderperson): Said she was glad someone from the South Side who has lived through environmental problems holds the position and thanked Tovar as a 12th Ward resident. (48:06)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Thanked Tovar's team and partners, said she relies on the climate action plan, and supported Tovar's equity-centered approach. (49:09)
- Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Said the city must restore a department of the environment and asked what lessons Tovar would apply to end sacrifice zones in industrial corridors. (50:53); Said strong legislation is needed because some corporations prioritize profit and have not met with affected communities. (57:16)
- Timothy R. Knudsen (alderperson): Said enforcement is weak without a designated department, urged maximizing federal funds, and called for decarbonizing buildings and pressing corporate delivery fleets to cut emissions. (58:48)
- Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Raised air quality and illegal dumping in the 24th Ward and asked how departments can work together on stricter enforcement. (1:01:21)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Congratulated Tovar and urged collaboration with the Park District and CPS on issues such as tree canopy and water conservation. (1:03:11)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Supported the appointment and asked the office to address noise complaints and expand the Greencorps job program. (1:04:42); Asked to discuss how concrete and asphalt companies in his ward coexist with nearby residents as development grows near the casino. (1:06:48)
Exchanges between members
- 30:43 Alderperson Matthew J. Martin referred to Alderperson William Conway point about federal funding opportunities.
- 41:32 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez asked the chair to correct him if he was wrong about questions raised on the cumulative impact study at the prior meeting.
- 1:01:46 Alderperson Monique L. Scott echoed Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen call for stronger enforcement.
- 1:10:20 The chair said she wanted to explore the vice mayor's examples of industry and residents coexisting.
- 1:10:37 The chair responded to Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez remarks on leadership qualities.