Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, March 12, 2024
- When: Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 11:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Recessed
- Committee: Committee on Budget and Government Operations
- Video: https://vimeo.com/917634624
- Transcript: full text (11,611 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 approved remote participation requests, heard four public commenters, and approved its February Rule 45 report. It recommended passage of a substitute amendment to the 2024 annual appropriation ordinance adding about $4.1 million in federal funds for Chicago Department of Public Health genomics, epidemiology and health IT programs, and recommended approval of Julie Hernandez Tomlin as Commissioner of Fleet and Facility Management after members praised her record and raised fleet repair times, vacancies and environmental review delays for city lots. The committee also recommended passage of an ordinance reinstating a reward program for information on illegal dumping, an ordinance requiring City Council advice and consent for the Commissioner of Public Health, and ward expense fund transfers for the 44th and 26th Wards. Agenda item 3 and item 6 were held, and the committee recessed until March 20.
Topics: appropriation amendment, Fleet and Facility Management appointment, police vehicle repairs, city workforce vacancies, environmental review of city lots, illegal dumping rewards, Public Health commissioner confirmation, ward expense transfers, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 13:24 Rule 59 remote participation requests: passed
- 14:33 Public comment period: discussed
- 27:36 Agenda item 3 (amendment a public commenter described as concerning hiring in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas): held
- 27:51 Approval of the February Rule 45 report: passed
- 28:09 Substitute amendment to the 2024 appropriation ordinance adding about $4.1 million in federal funds for CDPH programs: passed
- 32:48 Appointment of Julie Hernandez Tomlin as Commissioner of Fleet and Facility Management: passed
- 1:02:15 Amendment of Municipal Code chapter 7-28 establishing a reward program for information on illegal dumping: passed
- 1:04:54 Amendment requiring City Council advice and consent for appointment of the Commissioner of Public Health: passed
- 1:06:30 Agenda item 6 (sponsor not present): held
- 1:06:36 Transfer of funds within the 44th Ward expense and wage allowance accounts for 2024: passed
- 1:07:21 Substitute ordinance transferring funds between the 26th Ward expense and wage allowance accounts for 2024: passed
- 1:08:09 Motion to recess until March 20 at 9:30 a.m.: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked what the building epidemiology and health IT capacity funding covers. (29:51); Said he had hoped the funding included infectious disease tracing and would raise it later. (30:27); Called the $4.1 million allocation a worthy use of COVID funds but said he wished the mayor's office had come to the council when it allocated $95 million. (30:42)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked how many infectious disease laboratories serve Chicago and where they are located. (31:09); Welcomed Hernandez Tomlin back, citing her accessibility at Water Management, and asked about her priorities for the department. (38:45); Asked her to look into the cost of city leases for departmental operations, which she said can appear exorbitant. (40:18)
- Anthony V. Napolitano (alderperson): Said Hernandez Tomlin's attention to detail and responsiveness are second to none and voiced strong support for her appointment. (36:18)
- Felix Cardona Jr. (alderperson): Welcomed Hernandez Tomlin back and said he is confident she will manage the department's fleet work. (37:27)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Said Hernandez Tomlin had helped his office in her water department role and expressed full support for the appointment. (38:10)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Praised Hernandez Tomlin's record and called it a good appointment by the mayor. (41:03); Raised that environmental checks on city lots delay sales and said he had heard only one person handles that work. (42:03); Told the budget chair more staff are needed for environmental review of lots. (43:06)
- Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Supported the appointment and said he wants to see plans for the city's many old facilities. (46:07); Said residents across the city complain about garbage trucks leaking in alleys. (47:18)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Commended the appointment and said Hernandez Tomlin is responsive to elected officials. (47:57); Said the vacant lot environmental review issue affects many wards and asked about department vacancies. (48:45); Asked for a list through the chair of the department's 23 unions and vacancies in each trade. (50:54)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Described Hernandez Tomlin quickly addressing tree damage from water main work in his ward, which led to legislation, and voiced support. (55:57)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Asked what Hernandez Tomlin learned in the private sector that she will bring back to the city. (57:57); Asked for a commitment that public facilities used as temporary shelters, such as the Broadway Armory, will be restored to their prior condition or better. (58:49); Said she supports staffing up through apprenticeships and union partnerships across agencies. (59:39)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Explained his ordinance to restore City Council advice and consent for the Commissioner of Public Health, which he said was left out in a 2021 change. (1:05:09)
Exchanges between members
- 48:45 Moore said Burnett's point on vacant lot environmental review was also part of his own question.
- 58:57 Manaa-Hoppenworth referenced Vasquez's point about the department's efficiency.