City Council meeting, February 15, 2024
- When: Thu, Feb 15, 2024, 11:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Fl, City Hall, 121 N LaSalle St - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled
- Body: full City Council
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/913409968
- Transcript: full text (15,260 words, automatic 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 City Council met immediately after a special meeting that had moved this regular meeting to February 15, 2024. Ten public commenters spoke, most urging rejection of the police disciplinary arbitration award, while one speaker identified with the police union argued for it, and others raised a downtown encampment and an anonymous crime-tip proposal. The main item was unfinished business on substitute ordinance SO2024-0007332, which would adopt an arbitration option for certain CPD disciplinary cases; after debate, the ordinance failed (read as 18 yeas, 32 nays), meaning the council rejected the arbitration award by more than the required three-fifths. The council also passed the agreed calendar and the omnibus, and set the next meeting for February 21, 2024.
Topics: police arbitration, police accountability, labor rights, ShotSpotter, homeless encampment, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 11:39 Public comment
- 38:37 Agreed calendar: passed
- 45:15 Substitute ordinance adopting an arbitration option for certain police disciplinary cases (SO2024-0007332): failed
- 1:44:44 Ordinance setting next meeting for February 21, 2024: passed
- 1:45:26 Omnibus for this meeting and the January 31, 2024 meeting: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Said police, unlike plumbers or electricians, face dangerous confrontations and that arbitration is a fair way to determine facts, supporting it. (1:38:05)
- Desmon C. Yancy (alderperson): Described witnessing an officer mock Black youths in 2011 as an example of why accountability matters. (1:01:19); Said moving hearings to arbitration is a step backward from reform efforts and that he would vote no. (1:03:33)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Said several trade unions oppose separating contracts and that other unions' discipline could be next. (1:26:31); Criticized how the new public safety commission and district councils have operated. (1:27:50); Said the council has not sought public accountability for sexual abuse claims involving CPS employees. (1:30:01)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Said despite disagreement with the mayor on ShotSpotter, he would still vote no on arbitration because it is right for the community. (48:48)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Explained that the arbitration option fails if rejected by three-fifths of the council and urged a no vote. (45:56); Cited the city's chief labor negotiator and back pay implications as reasons to reject the award. (46:32); Objected to the arbitrator's supplemental award accusing council members of violating their oath. (47:37)
- Silvana Tabares (alderperson): Said the right to arbitration is guaranteed by state law and the state constitution's workers' rights amendment. (50:01); Said Police Board proceedings are no more transparent than arbitration. (50:33); Said rejecting arbitration would lead to costly litigation and violate members' oaths. (52:26)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said police discipline should be public because officers are public servants. (1:10:48); Described students watching the Laquan McDonald verdict and credited public processes for accountability. (1:12:21); Described a campaign mailer from the FOP about her and said she would vote no. (1:14:40)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Said supporting changes to policing is not anti-police and that constituents want more accountability. (1:16:08); Said he respects the FOP president but disagrees, and would vote not to support the arbitrator's decision. (1:18:23)
- William Conway (alderperson): Said as a former prosecutor that transparency in serious misconduct cases maintains trust and that he would vote no. (1:36:32); Encouraged working with Springfield legislators and the FOP to align law and public policy. (1:37:24)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Said both the city and FOP selected the arbitrator and that the Police Board deliberates in closed session. (1:20:23); Said rejecting the award could be costly and questioned pro-labor members opposing arbitration for police. (1:21:56); Said the city should keep ShotSpotter and school resource officers. (1:23:48)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Said seeking accountability is not anti-police and concerns a small number of officers facing long suspensions or dismissal. (1:04:38); Said those citing costs do not raise the same concern about police misconduct settlements. (1:07:07); Said police roles differ from other unions and warrant more accountability, and that he would vote no. (1:08:27)
- Anthony V. Napolitano (alderperson): Described what he called an anti-police movement, citing efforts to end ShotSpotter. (53:46); Said rejecting the award will lead to a court loss that costs the city. (54:35); Said officers should be held accountable in rare cases but the department should not be condemned, and urged members to follow the arbitrator. (59:23)
Exchanges between members
- 45:40 Yancy deferred to Chairman Michael D. Rodriguez on the arbitration item.
- 45:45 Rodriguez thanked Yancy before presenting the item.
- 48:29 Moore thanked Rodriguez for his remarks.
- 1:17:12 Ervin referenced Yancy's point that laws have changed over time.
- 1:18:08 Ervin acknowledged Napolitano's point that residents will still call 911, saying opposing arbitration is not anti-police.
- 1:24:44 Lopez said he would answer the question raised by his colleague from the 38th Ward.
- 1:38:05 Hopkins responded to the comparison of police with plumbers and electricians by describing differences in their work.
- 1:40:20 Rodriguez thanked Yancy for his leadership and remarks.