Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development meeting, April 9, 2024
- When: Tue, Apr 9, 2024, 10:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928495/video/930468760
- Transcript: full text (11,874 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 Economic, Capital and Technology Development heard two public commenters, then approved its March 2024 monthly report. Nick Lucius, the mayor's appointee as Chief Information Officer and head of the new Department of Technology and Innovation, described his background and priorities, and members asked about modernization, procurement, small-business permitting, ward office technology, consolidated billing, cybersecurity and workforce and contractor diversity; the committee recommended his appointment. The committee also recommended approval of a series of special service area commission appointments and a Class 6B property tax incentive renewal for 4900-4940 West Grand Avenue in the 36th Ward.
Topics: CIO appointment, Department of Technology and Innovation, IT modernization, procurement and contracting, cybersecurity, workforce diversity, consolidated city billing, SSA commission appointments, Class 6B tax incentive, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 18:45 Public comment: discussed
- 25:57 Approval of the March 2024 monthly report: passed
- 26:16 Appointment of Nick Lucius as Chief Information Officer: passed
- 1:05:39 Appointments to Special Service Area commissions 5, 27, 29, 42, 60 and 61: passed
- 1:08:54 Class 6B tax incentive renewal for property at 4900-4940 West Grand Avenue (36th Ward): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Gilbert Villegas (chair): Thanked the committee for advocating during the budget for a standalone technology department separate from the previous combined department. (1:00:00); Said past CIOs had not been supported and urged the new CIO to find efficiencies and new revenue so the city does not rely on property taxes. (1:00:42); Described a technology task force of about 16 firms and four other cities working with the new department, and invited members to its April 19 meeting. (1:01:12)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked the CIO nominee about his biggest modernization priorities and challenges in the first year. (30:54); Asked what hurdles in other departments would need to be addressed to enable the technology department, including contracting. (32:48); Asked how existing vendor contracts with staggered terms would fit into the new approach. (34:27)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Said small business owners in her ward are frustrated waiting for permits and asked how the department's work would help small businesses. (36:00); Said it seems inequitable that new ward offices must build their systems from scratch every four years and asked how ward offices would feel the department's impact. (39:09)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said it would be valuable to give alderpersons a standard technology toolbox, noting his office built its own database separate from 311. (43:18); Advocated consolidating city billing for small businesses into one or two predictable annual bills. (44:27); Asked about the Department of Buildings lacking an online payment portal while other departments have one. (45:33)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Acknowledged the release of the video of Dexter Reed's death and expressed sympathy to his family and friends. (50:00); Asked for help connecting ward office tools such as Airtable and Salesforce or advice on a different CRM. (50:36); Asked how the city can avoid falling back into deferred maintenance of IT infrastructure after modernization. (50:54)
- William E. Hall (alderperson): Asked about the city's approach to cyberattacks affecting major institutions. (54:10); Asked whether cybersecurity requires more financial investment beyond training. (55:43); Asked about the department's workforce makeup and plans to diversify it. (56:03)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Said minority participation among technology contractors is not where he would like and asked for a commitment to increase Black contractors, including as primes. (57:42)
Exchanges between members
- 43:18 Alderperson Brendan Reilly followed up on his colleague's point that ward offices must start from scratch on technology.
- 50:36 Alderperson Daniel La Spata echoed Alderperson Brendan Reilly request for help connecting ward office systems.
- 57:45 Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell built on Alderperson William E. Hall question about diversity to ask about contractor diversity.
- 1:04:02 Chair Gilbert Villegas referred to Alderperson Daniel La Spata deferred maintenance point and proposed reinvesting savings into IT.
- 1:02:45 Chair Gilbert Villegas referred to Alderperson William E. Hall point on diversity in describing department vacancies.