City Council meeting, October 22, 2024

When: Tue, Oct 22, 2024, 2:00 PM (Chicago time)
Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
Status: Scheduled & Published
Body: full City Council
Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1021825649
Transcript: full text (13,572 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 City Council heard public comment from ten speakers on topics including the public comment lottery, the mayor's administration, a proposed fur sales ban, a police overtime lawsuit and the Northwest Side housing preservation ordinance. The council passed budget committee fund transfers and a Fund 925 appropriation amendment (read as 46 yeas, 0 nays), approved the rules committee's re-referral of held items to their committees, passed liquor moratoriums, routine traffic items, a resolution declaring October 28 First Responders Day and a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 743. Proposed ordinances to lower the citywide speed limit and to create a resident parking enforcement pilot, along with a related resolution, were deferred and published. Under unfinished business, the council took up the previously deferred refunding of Sales Tax Securitization Corporation bonds; after Alderman William Conway and Chairwoman Pat Dowell spoke in favor and Alderman Raymond A. Lopez spoke against, it passed (read as 35 yeas, 12 nays).

Topics: public comment, bond refinancing, First Responders Day, committee re-referrals, speed limit ordinance, liquor moratoriums, Teamsters labor agreement, budget fund transfers

Agenda items discussed

19:39 Public comment
54:14 Budget and Government Operations Committee report: ward and committee fund transfers and Fund 925 appropriation amendment: passed
59:38 Committee on Committees and Rules report re-referring held items to their designated committees: passed
1:07:01 License Committee report: liquor moratoriums in the 3rd, 11th, 12th, 16th, 33rd, 35th and 42nd wards: passed
1:08:11 Ordinance establishing a small business protection rebate program (re-referred to Budget committee) (O2024-0010006): held
1:08:49 Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee report: 201 routine traffic items: passed
1:09:07 Ordinances on a 25 mph citywide speed limit and a resident parking enforcement pilot, and resolution on a speed enforcement working group: deferred
1:10:34 Resolution declaring October 28, 2024 First Responders Day in Chicago: passed
1:15:10 Collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local Union No. 743 (O2024-0013176): passed
1:15:46 Agreed calendar resolutions: passed
1:19:11 New business introductions by ward
1:25:13 Refunding of general obligation Sales Tax Securitization Corporation bonds, series 2024 (SO2024-0012442): passed
1:43:54 Motion to adjourn: passed

Alderpersons who spoke

Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Reported the rules committee's recommendations to re-refer held items, including TIF agreements, SSA matters and appointments, to their designated committees. (59:49)
Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Reported the speed limit, parking enforcement pilot and working group items and, with Alderman Ruth Cruz, moved to defer and publish them. (1:09:07)
Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Reported that the Teamsters Local 743 collective bargaining agreement passed unanimously out of committee. (1:15:10)
Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Said the fire department has been without a contract for four years and asked the mayor to restore the practice of recognizing police and fire personnel at every council meeting. (1:12:41); Opposed the bond refunding, saying the city should seek to claw back fees from banks, that savings were already written into the budget, and that rising rates reduce the projected savings. (1:29:18); Said the refunding risks pushing debt onto future councils and urged colleagues to vote no until there is a broader plan to rein in spending. (1:34:32)
David H. Moore (alderperson): Spoke about working with the late Dana Starks on reducing crime when Moore was a block club president and thanked Alderman Jason C. Ervin for the resolution. (1:17:36)
Pat Dowell (alderperson): Called under Rule 41 for a vote on the sales tax securitization bond refunding that had been deferred and published on October 9. (1:25:13); Said refinancing high-interest debt with lower-interest debt is fiscally responsible, does not extend bond terms, and would save about $90 million in 2024 and $35 million in 2025. (1:36:20)
William Conway (alderperson): Said that despite concerns about other administration actions, his review as a former bond banker found the amended refunding limits funds to cost-saving refinancing and urged a yes vote. (1:25:55); Acknowledged the city's bond fees are higher than the state's but said they are small relative to the offering and worth it for lower yields. (1:28:07)

Exchanges between members

1:18:35 Moore thanked Ervin for bringing the resolution honoring Dana Starks.
1:27:08 Conway thanked Dowell for leadership in amending the bond ordinance's language on use of funds.

Roll-call votes at this meeting

Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 4-60-022 and 4-60-023 (11.102) to allow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Morgan St (O2024-0012873): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Liquor Moratorium Lift on Packaged Goods on Kedzie (O2024-0012808): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Declaration of October 28, 2024 as "First Responders Day" in Chicago (R2024-0013128): Adopted 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (16.93) to disallow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of W 63rd St (O2024-0012609): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023(16.140) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Racine Ave (O2024-0012612): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (42.234) to disallow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of E Illinois St and E McClurg Ct (O2024-0013137): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
CBA International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters Local Union No. 743 - Nurses (O2024-0013176): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 4-60-022 (35.109) and 4-60-023 (35.108) to disallow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portion(s) of W Belden Ave (O2024-0012893): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (16.102) and (16.147) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Ashland Ave (O2024-0012611): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Transfer of funds within 1st Ward Wage Allowance/Aldermanic Expense Account for Year 2024 (SO2024-0012985): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 4-60-022 (3.60) and 4-60-023 (3.64) to disallow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portion(s) of E 43rd St (O2024-0013127): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (12.285) to disallow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Archer Ave (O2024-0007334): Passed 48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
Refunding of General Obligation/Sales Tax Securitization Corporation Bond, Series 2024 (SO2024-0012442): Passed 35 yea, 12 nay, 2 absent