# Committee on Police and Fire meeting, September 17, 2024

- When: Tue, Sep 17, 2024, 10:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: [Committee on Police and Fire](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/police-and-fire)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/9823060/video/1010006915
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1010006915.txt) (11,708 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 Police and Fire met to consider the mayoral appointment of Anel Ruby Navarro, a 40th Ward staff member, to a youth seat on the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA). Eleven public commenters spoke; nominating committee members and a former interim commissioner urged approval, noting the commission's vacancies, while other speakers raised ShotSpotter, the city budget and immigration. The appointee described his background and a work agreement meant to address concerns about holding both roles. Chairman Chris Taliaferro and several members said they supported him, while Alderpersons Nugent, Lee and Sposato said they would vote no because of potential conflict of interest from his aldermanic staff job. The committee approved the Rule 45 report and passed the appointment on a voice vote for report to the City Council on September 18, 2024.

Topics: CCPSA appointment, Conflict of interest, Aldermanic staff secondary employment, Youth commissioner seat, ShotSpotter, Public comment

### Agenda items discussed

- [20:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=1245) Public comment: discussed
- [55:47](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3347) Approval of the Rule 45 report for the July 15, 2024 meeting: passed
- [56:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3384) Appointment of Anel Ruby Navarro to the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability: passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Chris Taliaferro](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/29) (chair): Said the appointment took time because the ordinance had not contemplated a full-time aldermanic staff member serving on the commission and receiving a stipend. ([59:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3595)); Said his concerns had been answered, stated his support for the appointee, and asked him to guard against and disclose any conflicts. ([1:01:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3708))
- [Samantha Nugent](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/39) (alderperson): Said the appointee is highly qualified but that the commission requires true independence and aldermanic staff are routinely asked about public safety, so she would vote no. ([1:04:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3841))
- [Nicole T. Lee](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/11) (alderperson): Said her concerns were not about the appointee personally but about potential conflict of interest and secondary employment, and that without an ordinance amendment she would vote no. ([1:05:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3901))
- [Angela Clay](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/46) (alderperson): Thanked the chair for reviewing the matter, said the work agreement and reviews by the Law Department and Board of Ethics were thorough, and gave her full support. ([1:06:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4004))
- [Michael D. Rodriguez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/22) (alderperson): As a non-member, praised the nominating committee's process and the appointee's selection from more than 100 applicants. ([1:08:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4093)); Cited the Board of Ethics and Law Department finding no inherent conflict and that the ordinance does not bar the stipend, and said the work agreement sets a solid precedent. ([1:10:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4204))
- [Maria E. Hadden](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/49) (alderperson): Spoke in support, noting her ward neighbors the 20th District, and said the ordinance does not prohibit the appointment. ([1:13:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4408)); Raised concern about members dictating how another alderperson staffs their office and said rejecting a legally eligible candidate could be seen as discriminatory; suggested any concerns be addressed by amending the ordinance. ([1:14:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4475))
- [Nicholas Sposato](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/38) (alderperson): Said he had supported the appointee before as a constituent but after further review sees a conflict. ([1:18:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4695)); Asked a nominating committee member how the district councils voted on the nomination. ([1:18:50](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4730)); Asked what happens when the appointee ages out of the youth range. ([1:20:47](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4847))
- [Derrick G. Curtis](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/18) (alderperson): Drawing on 13 years in law enforcement, said he trusts his district council's confidence in the appointee and gave his support. ([1:21:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4905))
- [Andre Vasquez Jr.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/40) (alderperson): Said he helped draft the CCPSA ordinance and that drafters discussed city employees serving and chose not to bar them. ([1:22:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4979)); Argued that an employee disagreeing with an employer is not a conflict and that he hires staff to execute their jobs, not to agree with him. ([1:25:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=5135)); Said concerns about hours worked are a matter of tracking time, noted alderpersons with second jobs are not tracked, and suggested paying commissioners more. ([1:27:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=5250))
- [Debra L. Silverstein](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/50) (alderperson): Asked whether the appointee could remain in the youth seat after turning 25. ([1:29:58](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=5398))

### Exchanges between members

- [1:04:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=3895) The chair thanked Nugent and recognized Lee.
- [1:06:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4000) The chair thanked Lee and recognized Clay.
- [1:06:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4019) Clay thanked the chair for taking time over six months to work through the issues.
- [1:08:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4093) Rodriguez thanked the chair for his diligence and leadership on the matter.
- [1:13:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4403) The chair thanked Rodriguez and recognized Hadden.
- [1:14:22](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4462) Hadden thanked Taliaferro for making time to hear people's concerns.
- [1:19:22](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4762) Sposato asked the chair whether he could question a nominating committee member about the district council vote.
- [1:19:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4776) The chair told Sposato he could not say how members voted but allowed him to ask the speaker.
- [1:22:53](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB?t=4973) Curtis thanked the chair after stating his support.

## Documents

- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/8de5d2bc-6409-4cd3-9b33-b3ede8d13358.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/d3838c0c-ab42-4452-b835-a6062ebace4e.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/7e451ea3-0073-487b-94cf-04f18bf3d226.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/0518A8E9-3D70-EF11-A671-001DD804C7AB · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt