Committee on Committees and Rules meeting, July 9, 2026

When: Thu, Jul 9, 2026, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
Status: Scheduled & Published
Committee: Committee on Committees and Rules
Transcript: full text (11,099 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 Committee on Committees and Rules considered 22 items, most of them proposed referendum questions for the November 2026 general election and February 2027 primary. Members debated whether three mayoral direct introductions of referendum questions met the rules' standard for direct introduction, with the Department of Law saying the matters were time-sensitive under state law; the committee voted not to accept the question on a 3% surcharge on incomes over $1 million and the question on a property tax relief fund, which was held in committee, while it accepted and recommended passage of the question on seeking compensation from the federal government for costs of immigration enforcement operations. The committee also recommended referendum questions on permanent festival spaces, restarting gunshot detection technology after a motion to table failed, early pension contributions, withholding funds from sister agencies with unpaid debts, music and arts monuments, independent legal counsel for City Council, and two ward-level questions. It approved Rule 45 reports, journal corrections, re-referrals to the Committee on Finance, a tribute resolution, and a rules amendment requiring downloadable meeting videos, and held two other direct introductions. Six public commenters spoke, most opposing gunshot detection technology and one supporting a ranked choice voting question.

Topics: referendum questions, direct introductions, council rules, gunshot detection, property tax relief, income surcharge, ranked choice voting, downloadable meeting videos, public comment

Agenda items discussed

19:41 Motion to allow remote participation under Rule 59: passed
20:27 Public comment: discussed
40:11 April 2025 and September 2025 monthly Rule 45 reports: passed
41:25 Items 1-3: Corrections of the City Council journal of proceedings submitted by the City Clerk: passed
42:24 Items 4-6: Re-referral to Committee on Finance of matters on city investment policy and the City Treasurer: passed
44:32 Item 8: Referendum question on a 3% surcharge on individuals earning over $1 million to fund schools and community safety (mayoral direct introduction): failed
58:48 Item 9: Referendum question on recovering compensation from the federal government for costs of immigration enforcement operations (mayoral direct introduction): passed
1:11:48 Item 10: Referendum question on a permanent property tax relief fund (mayoral direct introduction): held
1:21:49 Item 11: Referendum question on permanent festival and outdoor event spaces: passed
1:22:44 Item 12: Referendum question on restarting gunshot detection technology: passed
1:28:35 Item 13: Referendum question on making the city's pension contribution in the first quarter: passed
1:31:55 Item 14: February 2027 referendum question on withholding funding from sister agencies that do not enforce debt repayment plans: passed
1:41:05 Item 15: February 2027 referendum question on permanent monuments to Chicago's contributions to music and arts: passed
1:41:50 Item 16: February 2027 referendum question on independent legal counsel for City Council: passed
1:42:28 Item 17: Substitute referendum question on renaming the Douglas community area in honor of Frederick Douglass (3rd and 4th Ward precincts): passed
1:44:07 Item 18: Re-referral to Committee on Committees and Rules: passed
1:44:31 Item 19: Substitute referendum question on limiting new housing units in the 26th Ward: passed
1:45:36 Item 20: Tribute resolution to the late Sam Salinas: passed
1:46:07 Items 21-22: Direct introductions: held
1:46:49 Item 7: Amendment of Rule 55 of the City Council rules to require downloadable video recordings of council and committee meetings: passed

Alderpersons who spoke

Michelle A. Harris (chair): Explained that a yes vote supported Alderperson Marty Quinn motion not to accept the direct introduction and a no vote opposed it. (54:10); Said the first three referendum questions passed would be the ones placed on the ballot. (1:31:24)
Marty Quinn (alderperson): Moved not to accept the mayor's direct introduction of the income surcharge referendum, saying the administration was abusing the council's rules. (45:10); Responded to Alderperson Jason C. Ervin that rules should not be set aside because the administration was late, and renewed his motion. (47:51)
Anthony Beale (alderperson): Said direct introductions should be reserved for urgent matters and the referendum did not meet that standard. (45:40); Asked the Department of Law whether the referendum constituted an emergency under council rules; the attorney said yes. (53:00); Raised a point of clarification that an item not accepted should not be reported out to the council. (1:21:23)
Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Said ballot referendums have state deadlines and denying a time-sensitive direct introduction would misapply the rules, favoring an up-or-down vote instead. (46:47); Asked to defer the citywide February 2027 referendum items because there was no statutory deadline and members might want other questions later. (1:29:56); Moved to table item 14, saying the council should keep the option to place other questions before voters in February. (1:32:26)
Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Asked the chair what the Department of Law had advised about the direct introduction. (48:09)
Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Cited Rule 41 to argue that direct introductions are for emergencies and a non-binding ballot question is not one, disagreeing with the law department's interpretation. (48:58); Asked whether one motion could apply to all three direct introductions. (52:21); Asked whether the committee should wait to see which referendum questions advance before voting on item nine. (1:04:06)
Anthony J. Quezada (alderperson): Said it was inappropriate for the 15th Ward alderperson to refer to the 33rd Ward alderperson as an assailant. (1:25:14)
William E. Hall (alderperson): Asked the chair to confirm that the first three referendum questions voted out would be reported. (1:32:05)
Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Agreed with Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez that voting on questions in advance would avoid later direct introductions. (1:36:11)
Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked whether making videos downloadable increases costs or storage. (1:49:01); Asked whether any step could protect downloaded videos from splicing or AI manipulation. (1:49:51)
Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Confirmed there is no technical way to prevent editing of downloaded videos and expressed concern about potential spread of misinformation. (1:51:12)

Exchanges between members

45:35 Alderperson Anthony Beale supported Alderperson Marty Quinn motion not to accept the direct introduction.
46:47 Alderperson Jason C. Ervin said he agreed with colleagues' concerns but argued rejecting a time-sensitive direct introduction misapplied the rules.
47:51 Alderperson Marty Quinn responded to the 28th Ward alderperson that rules should not be abused due to the administration's timing.
1:23:59 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez objected that Alderperson Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez had not been recognized when she moved to table.
1:25:14 Alderperson Anthony J. Quezada objected to the 15th Ward alderperson's description of the 33rd Ward alderperson.
1:36:11 Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. said he agreed with Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez on voting on referendum questions in advance.

Documents

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