Committee on Aviation meeting, January 20, 2026
- When: Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Aviation
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928533?video=1156548262
- Transcript: full text (4,315 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 Aviation approved Rule 59 remote participation requests and the October 14, 2025 Rule 45 report; no members of the public signed up to comment. The main item was an ordinance amending the Municipal Code to update fines and penalties for rule violations at O'Hare and Midway airports, presented by the Department of Aviation. The ordinance expands who is subject to airport rules, clarifies badge suspensions and revocations, allows notices of violation by mail, prohibits badge holders from carrying firearms in secured areas, and sets a four-class fine schedule. Members asked about the definition of secured areas, whether federal personnel are covered, examples of each fine class, violation trends, referral to police, rules to be issued by the commissioner, and whether both employees and companies can be fined. The committee recommended passage of the ordinance for the January 21, 2026 City Council meeting.
Topics: Airport rule violation fines, Badge holder security, Secured areas, Federal personnel at airports, Firearms policy, Commissioner rulemaking, Rule 45 report
Agenda items discussed
- 8:23 Rule 59 remote participation requests: passed
- 10:10 October 14, 2025 Rule 45 report for the Committee on Aviation: passed
- 10:34 Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 10-36 adding provisions regarding fines for violations at Chicago's two international airports: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Asked what qualifies as a secured area at the airports. (14:41); Asked whether federal personnel, including Border Patrol or ICE employees, would be subject to the rules and fines. (15:49)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked for examples of class one through four violations. (16:59); Asked how many violations occurred in 2025, whether they can be broken down by the new classes, and what is driving the increase. (18:10); Asked what is required to obtain an airport badge. (20:06)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Congratulated the department on O'Hare regaining the top ranking among U.S. airports. (21:09); Asked how the department decides when a badge violation should be referred to Chicago police for criminal investigation and whether any had been. (21:29); Urged the department to ensure the high number of violations does not mask indications of more serious crimes. (22:50)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Said he previously worked at Midway with a badge and agreed enforcement and penalties need to be modernized. (23:57); Asked about federal authority at the airports and confirmed that armed federal officers and Chicago police can still carry weapons in the course of their duties. (24:35); Asked whether the commissioner's rules defining fine classes would come back to the committee for review, and whether the ordinance should require it. (25:55)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked for total badged employee counts so violations can be viewed as a percentage of employees, and how violations are currently coded. (33:40); Asked whether any employees have had more than four offenses. (36:28)
Exchanges between members
- 28:33 Alderman Raymond A. Lopez added to the request his colleague from the Third Ward made for a description of the fines.
- 33:40 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee followed up on Chair Pat Dowell earlier request for information through the chair.
- 33:40 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee followed up on Alderman Raymond A. Lopez request for additional violation data.