# Committee on License and Consumer Protection meeting, June 5, 2024

- When: Wed, Jun 5, 2024, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: [Committee on License and Consumer Protection](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/license-and-consumer-protection)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/953620655
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/953620655.txt) (7,784 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 License and Consumer Protection approved remote participation, heard five public commenters, and approved its May 2024 Rule 45 report. It recommended passage of a substitute ordinance sponsored by the chair requiring lithium-ion batteries and electrical systems for e-bikes and other micromobility devices to meet UL safety standards, after testimony from UL Solutions, the Chicago firefighters union, and Radio Flyer, and member questions about enforcement against online and suburban sales. The committee also recommended passage of ordinances lifting liquor moratoria on portions of Erie Street, Montrose Avenue, and Belmont Avenue, and reinstating moratoria in portions of the 10th and 25th Wards. A final item concerning Sunday alcohol sales was held in committee at the sponsor's request.

Topics: lithium-ion battery safety, e-bikes and micromobility, UL certification, liquor moratoria, package goods licenses, public comment

### Agenda items discussed

- [18:58](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=1138) Rule 59 remote participation requests: passed
- [19:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=1158) Public comment period: discussed
- [35:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=2115) Lift liquor moratorium on a portion of Erie Street (42nd Ward) (O2024-0009632): passed
- [37:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=2226) Approval of the May 2024 Rule 45 reports: passed
- [37:29](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=2249) Substitute ordinance on lithium-ion battery safety standards for micromobility devices: passed
- [1:00:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3600) Disallow additional liquor and package goods licenses in portions of the 10th Ward: passed
- [1:01:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3666) Substitute ordinance to disallow additional liquor licenses on a portion of the 25th Ward: passed
- [1:02:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3759) Lift tavern moratorium on a portion of Montrose Avenue (47th Ward): passed
- [1:04:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3877) Lift package goods moratorium on a portion of Belmont Avenue (35th Ward) (O2024-0009344): passed
- [1:06:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3991) Ordinance regarding Sunday alcohol sales: held

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Debra L. Silverstein](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/50) (chair): Introduced her ordinance requiring e-bike batteries and electrical systems to meet UL standards, citing 268 lithium-ion battery fires in New York City in 2023. ([38:10](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=2290)); Asked the firefighters union president about the difficulty of extinguishing e-bike battery fires. ([49:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=2970)); Said New York worked with Amazon to stop unsafe products from entering the city, that she would ask BACP to do the same, and that she would like a statewide approach. ([55:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3303))
- [Brendan Reilly](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/42) (alderperson): Said the Erie Street moratorium lift would allow a fine dining and entertainment venue at the former Lawry's site, supported by the local residents association. ([36:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=2163))
- [Scott Waguespack](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/32) (alderperson): Asked whether local retailers sell uncertified batteries and whether federal agencies regulate imported e-bike batteries. ([51:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3090)); Asked whether there is an effort to set a national standard so residents do not buy uncertified products in neighboring states. ([53:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3206))
- [Nicholas Sposato](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/38) (alderperson): Said members support the ordinance but asked how the city can enforce it against online sales and products brought in from the suburbs, suggesting work with the state. ([54:08](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3248))
- [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (alderperson): Said battery use will grow and called for more public education on battery storage and fire risk. ([57:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3435)); Thanked those who worked with him on the Sunday alcohol sales item, said there would be more to discuss later, and moved to defer it. ([1:06:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=4001))
- [Matthew J. O'Shea](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/19) (alderperson): Offered to help contact Amazon, federal and state partners, and the Bureau of Fire Prevention for public service announcements, and to engage BACP on outreach. ([58:10](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3490))
- [Peter Chico](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/10) (alderperson): Said his office is reinstating liquor moratoria lifted before he took office to better control licenses in the ward. ([1:00:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3631))
- [Byron Sigcho-López](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/25) (alderperson): Said the substitute was a technical change and the ordinance restores a long-standing moratorium that had been temporarily lifted in a sensitive area. ([1:01:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3711))

### Exchanges between members

- [36:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=2161) The chair recognized Alderperson Brendan Reilly on the Erie Street ordinance.
- [36:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=2163) Alderperson Brendan Reilly thanked Chairwoman Debra L. Silverstein.
- [51:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3086) The chair recognized Alderperson Scott Waguespack for questions.
- [54:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3244) Alderperson Nicholas Sposato thanked the chair before asking about enforcement.
- [55:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3303) The chair responded to Alderperson Nicholas Sposato enforcement question, describing outreach to online retailers and a possible statewide approach.
- [57:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3433) The chair recognized Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson.
- [58:09](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3489) The chair recognized Alderperson Matthew J. O'Shea.
- [1:00:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3626) The chair recognized Alderperson Peter Chico on his moratorium ordinance.
- [1:01:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3700) The chair recognized Alderperson Byron Sigcho-López on his substitute ordinance.
- [1:06:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=3995) The chair invited Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson to comment on the held item.
- [1:07:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036?t=4033) The chair said Vice Chair Peter Chico would report the committee's items to the City Council in her absence.

## Documents

- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/f2e3a6e6-fc8c-4100-a9c3-eac27dc8a3fb.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/dd7cefa5-9049-4747-885e-95ebdc78e4b8.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/3a97a390-3e74-4603-9753-7e3510cca8fa.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/ee818d7b-9fa6-4422-b709-01aa5f7e14a4.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4D8A5138-011D-EF11-9F89-001DD8050036 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt