Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight meeting, December 11, 2023
- When: Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928512/video/892685323
- Transcript: full text (6,033 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 Ethics and Government Oversight considered a substitute ordinance amending lobbyist registration rules for nonprofit organizations and an extension of the intergovernmental agreement giving the city's Inspector General oversight of the Public Building Commission. The chair and Board of Ethics Executive Director Steve Berlin described the substitute's registration thresholds, an exemption for nonprofits under $5 million, a $20,000 cap on fines, clarified definitions of lobbying, and a July 1, 2024 effective date. The Inspector General and the Public Building Commission's acting executive director described the oversight arrangement, and alderpersons asked about fines, outreach, Public Building Commission governance, litigation, and the do-not-hire process. The committee approved the Rule 45 report and recommended approval of both ordinances by voice vote. Two public commenters spoke, one from Forefront generally supporting the lobbying substitute and one opposing the intergovernmental agreement.
Topics: lobbying regulations, nonprofit lobbyists, Board of Ethics, Inspector General, Public Building Commission, do-not-hire list
Agenda items discussed
- 11:22 Approval of the Rule 45 report from October 2023: passed
- 11:47 Substitute ordinance amending Municipal Code chapter 2-156 regarding registration of lobbyists: passed
- 26:20 Second amendment to intergovernmental agreement with the Public Building Commission for the city's Inspector General to serve as the commission's Inspector General (O2023-0005983): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Matthew J. Martin (chair): Explained that a 2019 ethics package required nonprofit lobbyists to register and that implementation was delayed for negotiations with nonprofits and by COVID-19. (12:45); Described the substitute as setting monetary and hourly registration thresholds, clarifying what counts as lobbying, reducing burdens on small nonprofits, and taking effect July 1, 2024 to allow public education. (13:44); Recognized Board of Ethics Executive Director Steve Berlin for receiving the 2023 COGEL Award. (25:02)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Asked how many nonprofit lobbyists are registered and how much the city has collected in fines. (21:07); Asked whether the registration requirement is more helpful than harmful. (22:03); Asked how organizations will learn whether they need to register and whether training accompanies registration. (22:56)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Called the extension an obvious step and asked how the do-not-hire process works to prevent a Public Building Commission employee convicted of fraud from being rehired by other agencies. (38:38); Asked whether the Public Building Commission would send a memo notifying the city about individuals on its do-not-hire list. (39:56); Said there has been abuse of the do-not-hire list and called for legislation to stop rehiring across sister agencies. (41:08)