City Council meeting, May 24, 2023

• When: Wed, May 24, 2023, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
• Where: City Hall -- Council Chamber -- Chicago, Illinois
• Status: Reconvened
• Body: full City Council
• Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/6277394/video/825911217
• Transcript: full text (26,658 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.

At its first meeting of the 2023-2027 term, the City Council heard public comment, adopted its Rules of Order for the new term (read as 47 yeas, 0 nays), and adopted the resolution setting committee assignments (read as 41 yeas, 9 nays) after a motion by Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez to table it failed. Several members, including Moore, Lopez and Gardiner, objected to how committee chairs were selected, while others spoke in support or about the need to move forward. The council elected Walter Burnett as vice mayor, Samantha Nugent as President Pro Tem, Stephanie Coleman as Assistant President Pro Tem, and the sergeant-at-arms, and adopted resolutions honoring the Kenwood Academy baseball team, Jewish American Heritage Month, and Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Budget committee items including two redevelopment agreements and a Fund 925 appropriation passed, while an appropriation of opioid and vaping settlement funds and funds for recently arrived migrants was deferred and published. The meeting also included license, traffic, special events and zoning reports, new introductions, and a civility pledge resolution introduced by Alderperson Brian Hopkins.

Topics: council rules, committee assignments, council leadership elections, migrant funding, Kenwood Academy baseball, Jewish American Heritage Month, AANHPI Heritage Month, budget appropriations, civility pledge, public comment

Agenda items discussed

• 18:07 Public comment
• 48:09 Resolution adopting the Rules of Order and Procedure of the City Council for the 2023-2027 term: passed
• 52:19 Resolution setting committee assignments for the standing committees of the City Council: passed
• 1:06:41 Motion to lay the committee assignments resolution on the table: failed
• 1:23:49 Resolution electing Alderman Walter R. Burnett. as vice mayor: passed
• 1:25:22 Resolution electing Alderwoman Samantha Nugent as President Pro Tempore: passed
• 1:26:53 Resolution electing Alderwoman Stephanie D. Coleman as Assistant President Pro Tempore: passed
• 1:28:13 Resolution electing the City Council sergeant-at-arms and assistants: passed
• 1:30:14 Resolution congratulating the Kenwood Academy varsity baseball team on its Public League championship: passed
• 1:56:55 Resolution celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month: passed
• 2:29:11 Resolution celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: passed
• 2:44:44 Communications from the mayor and other city officers
• 2:52:19 Redevelopment agreement with Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grant for Rome's Joy Catering, 4455 South King Drive: passed
• 2:55:40 Redevelopment agreement with Cup of Joe Coffee LLC, 756 East 111th Street: passed
• 2:56:14 Amendment to 2023 annual appropriation ordinance, Fund 925, for the Department of Public Health and Department of Water Management: passed
• 2:59:32 Amendment to 2023 appropriation ordinance appropriating opioid and vaping settlement funds and funds to support recently arrived immigrants: deferred
• 3:01:27 License and Consumer Protection committee report on liquor moratorium ordinances: passed
• 3:03:29 Pedestrian and Traffic Safety committee report on routine traffic items: passed
• 3:04:21 City of Chicago special events ordinance 2023: passed
• 3:05:03 Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards committee report, including landmark designation and map amendments: passed
• 3:06:40 Agreed calendar: passed
• 3:17:23 Resolution encouraging members to sign the Illinois Municipal League civility pledge
• 3:22:44 Ordinance setting the date of the next regular meeting for May 31, 2023: passed

Alderpersons who spoke

• Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Moved to suspend the rules to take up procedural matters on the organization of the council for the 2023-2027 term. (47:39); Presented the resolution adopting the council's Rules of Order and Procedure for the new term. (48:09); Presented the resolution setting committee assignments for the standing committees. (52:15)
• David H. Moore (alderperson): Asked for clarification on which resolution was being voted on before the rules vote. (48:50); Opposed the committee assignments resolution, saying much of the body was left out of decision-making and his ward was not called to a meeting. (56:33); Asked that the committee selection process be restarted with input from all members and said he would vote no. (59:57)
• Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Reflected on his four years as Finance Committee chair, citing credit rating upgrades and reforms, and said he would continue to advocate for council independence. (52:55); Congratulated Alderperson Pat Dowell on taking over as chair of the Committee on Finance. (54:08)
• Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Joined Alderperson David H. Moore in opposing the committee assignments resolution, saying it did not reflect transparency, inclusion and collaboration. (1:00:35); Said the mayor should be part of forming the leadership team but objected that his ward was not included in discussions. (1:04:44); Objected to the resolution being introduced directly without prior notice, citing previous calls for 48 hours notice. (1:05:25)
• James M. Gardiner (alderperson): Echoed Alderpersons Lopez and Moore, saying the 45th Ward also felt its voice was not heard in the committee process. (1:10:49); Criticized the March 30 vote expanding committees from 19 to 28, citing added cost and a lack of transparency. (1:11:49); Congratulated the Kenwood team and called for investing in CPS sports and vocational programs. (1:43:01)
• Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Thanked the mayor for including him in leadership and said the mayor should have substantial say in committee selection, noting the role of seniority. (1:14:53); Supported the Kenwood baseball resolution and congratulated the coach and players. (1:38:59)
• Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Said colleagues' critiques were fair but that the council needed a structure to get work done and the public would judge the results. (1:16:59)
• Anthony Beale (alderperson): Announced he was resigning from the zoning committee after the committee assignments were adopted. (1:22:55); Supported the Kenwood baseball resolution and highlighted the Pullman Community Center as a year-round training facility. (1:31:31)
• Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Spoke as a Kenwood alumnus in support of the baseball resolution and congratulated the team. (1:36:51)
• Desmon C. Yancy (alderperson): Spoke as a Kenwood alumnus and congratulated the team on its first city championship. (1:40:25)
• Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Said the city should stop spending money on outside law firms and invest it in schools, after-school programs, arts and marching bands. (1:41:27)
• Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Congratulated the Kenwood team and praised the Pullman Community Center that Alderperson Anthony Beale had described. (1:42:07); Supported the Jewish American Heritage Month resolution, noting the Jewish community in the 39th Ward. (2:12:10); Supported the AANHPI Heritage Month resolution and acknowledged colleagues Lee and Manaa-Hoppenworth. (2:32:04)
• Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Congratulated the Kenwood students and coaches on teamwork and leadership. (1:47:08)
• Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Supported honoring the Kenwood team and called for investment in young people. (1:48:27)
• Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Supported the Kenwood resolution, citing his years running a mentoring program at Kenwood. (1:50:58)
• Debra L. Silverstein (alderperson): Introduced the Jewish American Heritage Month resolution, describing Jewish contributions and anti-Semitic incidents in the 50th Ward. (1:58:12); Said she is the only Jewish member of the council and called on colleagues to join in opposing anti-Semitism. (2:02:21); Reported the License and Consumer Protection committee's ordinances on liquor moratoriums in several wards. (3:01:27)
• Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Supported the Jewish American Heritage Month resolution, describing the Jewish community in Lakeview East. (2:03:14)
• Timothy R. Knudsen (alderperson): Supported the resolution and said the council must continue speaking out against rising hate speech. (2:04:23)
• Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Supported the Jewish American Heritage Month resolution, noting the Jewish community in Rogers Park and West Ridge and a rise in hate crimes. (2:05:38); Supported the AANHPI resolution and offered solidarity in light of rising hate crimes against Asian Americans. (2:35:22)
• Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Supported the resolution, citing the Jewish community's solidarity with marginalized people including efforts on homelessness. (2:07:20)
• William Conway (alderperson): Supported the resolution, describing attacks he observed against Israeli allies during military service and an increase in attacks in the U.S. (2:08:42)
• Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Supported the resolution, describing a trip to Israel and the Jewish community's charitable and civic contributions. (2:09:53)
• Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Supported the Jewish American Heritage Month resolution and noted shared experiences of rising hate against Jewish and Asian American communities. (2:17:37); Closed debate on the AANHPI resolution, acknowledging earlier Asian American officials and the growth of Asian American political representation in Illinois. (2:37:10)
• Pat Dowell (alderperson): Supported the Jewish American Heritage Month resolution, describing anti-Semitic incidents in the South Loop. (2:22:25); Said the amount requested by Alderperson David H. Moore would be provided to all members and that the item was a carryover. (2:58:33)
• Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Supported the Jewish American Heritage Month resolution and expressed solidarity against hate. (2:24:10); Supported the AANHPI resolution, describing Asia on Argyle in the 48th Ward and noting she is the first Filipino elected to the council. (2:29:50)
• Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Supported the AANHPI resolution, describing past coalition work to create an Asian American influence district in the state house. (2:33:38)
• Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Presented the budget committee report, including a redevelopment agreement for Rome's Joy Catering. (2:52:00); Explained that the Fund 925 item covered public health and water management and was separate from the opioid, vaping and migrant appropriation. (2:56:53); Reported that the joint budget and immigrant and refugee rights committees held a subject matter hearing on the new arrivals operation with no votes taken. (3:00:54)
• Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Noted the diversity of the new council and called for a commitment to inclusiveness and mutual respect after disagreements during the meeting. (3:17:29); Asked to have the Illinois Municipal League civility pledge resolution read into the record and invited members to sign the pledge. (3:19:52)

Exchanges between members

• 54:08 Waguespack congratulated Dowell on becoming chair of the Committee on Finance.
• 1:00:35 Lopez joined Moore in opposing the committee assignments resolution.
• 1:10:49 Gardiner echoed Lopez's concerns about the committee selection process.
• 1:10:49 Gardiner echoed Moore's concerns about the committee selection process.
• 1:38:09 Mitchell said he shared Moore's sentiments in congratulating the Kenwood team.
• 1:42:24 Nugent highlighted the Pullman Community Center that Beale had raised.
• 1:44:47 Gardiner echoed Curtis's call to invest money in CPS schools.
• 1:57:57 Lawson deferred to Silverstein to lead off on the Jewish American Heritage Month resolution.
• 2:03:18 Lawson thanked Silverstein for bringing the resolution.
• 2:04:23 Knudsen thanked Silverstein for bringing forward the resolution.
• 2:05:41 Hadden thanked her neighbor Silverstein for bringing the resolution.
• 2:09:30 Conway thanked Silverstein for bringing the resolution.
• 2:12:17 Nugent thanked Silverstein for introducing the resolution.
• 2:16:29 Lopez thanked Silverstein for allowing him to join her on the resolution.
• 2:23:08 Dowell thanked Silverstein for putting forward the resolution.
• 2:24:14 Manaa-Hoppenworth echoed remarks by Lee.
• 2:24:14 Manaa-Hoppenworth echoed remarks by Vasquez.
• 2:32:14 Nugent acknowledged Lee for the AANHPI resolution.
• 2:32:14 Nugent acknowledged Manaa-Hoppenworth for the AANHPI resolution.
• 2:38:05 Lee thanked Rodriguez for his work and partnership.

Documents

• Agenda
• Notice