Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy meeting, February 3, 2026
- When: Tue, Feb 3, 2026, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928545?video=1158916571
- Transcript: full text (13,779 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 Environmental Protection and Energy approved its September 2025 Rule 45 report and considered two resolutions. It accepted substitute language and recommended approval of SR2025-0018658, sponsored by Alderperson Brian Hopkins, expressing support for a study of contaminated sediment in the Chicago Area Waterway System, after testimony from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Cam Davis on federal funding and cost-sharing. It also accepted substitute language and recommended approval of SR2025-0018763, sponsored by Vice Chair Timothy R. Knudsen, recognizing Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago Bird Alliance for a rat contraceptive pilot program in the 43rd Ward, with members asking about costs, scalability, enforcement, safety for pets and wildlife, and how success will be measured. Both resolutions are to be reported to the City Council on February 18, 2026. Two public commenters spoke.
Topics: Chicago Area Waterway System, contaminated sediment cleanup, federal funding, rat contraceptive pilot, rodenticide, flooding, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 14:47 Public comment
- 19:45 Approval of the September 2025 Rule 45 report: passed
- 20:06 Resolution expressing continued support for the Chicago Area Waterway System reclamation study (SR2025-0018658): passed
- 52:07 Resolution recognizing Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago Bird Alliance for launching the rat contraceptive pilot program (SR2025-0018763): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Maria E. Hadden (chair): Said environmental, economic and ecological interests are not at odds and that locally led efforts like the MWRD's matter because the city is directly affected. (50:13); Said most rat complaints in her ward are not tied to commercial areas and asked whether the current rodenticide is losing effectiveness. (1:22:19); Said rat problems appear to be worsening despite city efforts, citing milder winters, and supported hearing the pilot's results in six months. (1:24:44)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Described progress in cleaning regional waterways, including fish species rising from 10 to 77, and said contaminated sediment from industrial waste remains a major challenge. (21:06); Said the resolution aims to show regional unity to help secure federal resources, and that removing the mayor's office reference in the substitute was a formatting change. (23:37)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Asked whether Army Corps of Engineers and EPA funding for the study is at risk under the federal administration. (30:34)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Recalled interning at the MWRD Stickney plant and praised the district's operations and the river's improvement. (32:29); Asked what investment would be needed to fully clean the river and whether the MWRD has bonding authority to start before federal funding arrives. (34:30); Asked for more coordination with the MWRD on flooding, citing two flood events on the Southwest Side and uneven reservoir use. (48:29)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked how to balance recreational, ecological and economic interests in the city's waterways. (38:07); Asked whether most of the pilot's costs are upfront capital costs and praised the effort to avoid confounding variables. (1:11:24); Asked Lincoln Park Zoo to describe its broader urban rat research and requested research on non-rodenticide interventions. (1:13:30)
- William Conway (alderperson): Thanked the commissioner, noting his ward includes much of the north and south branches of the river. (40:42); Asked whether the contraceptive approach could help with rat problems near ghost kitchens downtown and when it could expand beyond the pilot area. (1:06:40)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked who funds the waterway study annually and which non-federal partners share the cost. (42:26); Asked whether the pilot area uses city or private garbage pickup and whether that factored into its selection. (1:15:41); Asked whether the contraceptive product is safe for dogs. (1:17:12)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Asked how the MWRD works with local groups, youth and schools so its work is equitable, and what one action Chicago should lead on. (44:27); Asked what baseline the pilot uses and how success will be measured. (1:30:30); Asked what small businesses with patios can do to prepare for rats in spring and summer. (1:31:30)
- Timothy R. Knudsen (alderperson): Said rats are a top constituent concern and the city relies too heavily on rodenticide, which harms birds, pets and wildlife. (53:15); Described the privately funded pilot launched in August 2025 with four treatment and four control blocks monitored by scientists. (55:15); Said at scale the contraceptive materials are cheaper than rodenticide and would not reduce Streets and Sanitation jobs. (1:05:08)
- Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Asked why the pilot was not run in two or three different wards for comparison. (1:27:57)
Exchanges between members
- 25:16 Alderperson Maria E. Hadden thanked Alderperson Brian Hopkins for his opening remarks.
- 33:56 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez echoed Alderperson Brian Hopkins point that the waterways have gone through a remarkable transformation.
- 44:05 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked Alderperson Brian Hopkins for bringing the resolution forward.
- 50:54 Alderperson Maria E. Hadden referred back to Alderperson Daniel La Spata question on balancing interests and agreed they are not at odds.
- 1:04:45 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez commended his colleague Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen for trying an innovative approach.
- 1:06:46 Alderperson William Conway said his expansion question built on Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez questions.
- 1:08:46 Alderperson William Conway thanked Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen for an outside-the-box idea and for the Oz Park rat cleanup.
- 1:15:13 Alderperson Daniel La Spata thanked the vice chair for the presentation.
- 1:15:24 Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson asked Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen about garbage pickup in the pilot area.
- 1:22:20 Alderperson Maria E. Hadden thanked the vice chair for bringing the resolution forward.
- 1:27:39 Alderperson Maria E. Hadden agreed with Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez suggestion to invite the department back.
- 1:27:59 Alderperson Ruth Cruz asked Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen why the pilot was limited to one ward.
- 1:28:54 Alderperson Ruth Cruz agreed with Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez suggestion to bring Streets and Sanitation back.
- 1:29:43 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked the vice chair for bringing the resolution forward.
- 1:32:33 Alderperson Maria E. Hadden thanked the vice chair before calling the vote.