Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, June 20, 2023
- When: Tue, Jun 20, 2023, 2:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Budget and Government Operations
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8925576/video/836661928
- Transcript: full text (8,061 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 allowed Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. to participate remotely, received no public comment, and approved its May 2023 Rule 45 report. The committee recommended approval of Annette Guzman's appointment as budget director after she described her background as Cook County budget director and many members welcomed her and thanked her for reaching out. It also recommended passage of an amended Neighborhood Opportunity Fund agreement adding time and $200,000 for the Little Village business incubator on 26th Street, a substitute Fund 925 grant amendment of about $19.45 million across several departments, and a transfer of funds within the Committee on Committees and Rules. Director Guzman presented the 2024 budget calendar, including budget 101 sessions, July community roundtables, a September forecast and a final vote targeted for November 15.
Topics: budget director appointment, 2024 budget process, Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, Little Village business incubator, grant appropriations, transit signal priority, remote attendance
Agenda items discussed
- 15:33 Motion to allow remote participation by Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr.: passed
- 16:36 May 2023 Rule 45 report: passed
- 17:01 Appointment of Annette Guzman as budget director: passed
- 34:34 Amendment to Neighborhood Opportunity Fund agreement with Little Village Business Incubator, 3523-3525 West 26th Street: passed
- 46:40 Fund 925 grant amendment for 2023 (substitute), about $19.45 million: passed
- 58:00 Overview of the 2024 budget process: discussed
- 1:11:17 Transfer of funds within the Committee on Committees and Rules for 2023: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Jason C. Ervin (chair): Said his conversations with the budget director had been good and he looked forward to a collaborative process. (34:04); Said the committee will gather input from alderpersons by region, caucus or individually during community engagement, before the amendment phase. (1:05:08)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Thanked Guzman for taking the role and for reaching out to request a meeting, and offered to help. (18:39)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Congratulated Guzman, praised her outreach to members, and said he was happy to support her nomination. (24:06); Described 26th Street as a key business district and supported the incubator as an investment benefiting immigrant entrepreneurs and the Southwest Side. (40:03)
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (alderperson): Said he had heard many stakeholders speak highly of Guzman and offered his full support. (25:38)
- Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Welcomed Guzman and said a two-year budget cycle idea is gaining traction and she will follow up. (26:30)
- Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Said council members value communication on the budget and appreciated Guzman's early outreach. (27:47)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said he looked forward to working with Guzman to avoid tax increases and appreciated her plan to review sister agencies' budgets. (29:30)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Emphasized the need to focus on implementation of programs and IT modernization and commended the appointment. (31:15); Asked who is on the mayor's pension advisory group and what it is tasked with, and how county commissioners were involved in budget development. (1:07:19)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Congratulated Guzman and said he looks forward to her help with problems in his ward. (33:03)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked which corridors or bus routes the transit signal priority grant would cover. (53:01)
Exchanges between members
- 26:30 Hadden commended the chair on learning everyone's names and running the queue.