# Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, July 15, 2024

- When: Mon, Jul 15, 2024, 11:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: [Committee on Budget and Government Operations](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/budget-and-government-operations)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/982127816
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/982127816.txt) (8,348 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, chaired by Alderperson Jason C. Ervin, heard eight public commenters who raised concerns about representation, city procurement, spending on new arrivals, and conduct at City Hall. The committee approved the June 2024 Rule 45 report, a substitute appropriation amendment of about $918.8 million in new grant funds (including new arrival operations, Cultural Center repairs, the 2026 NAACP convention, HOPWA housing, and the State/Lake CTA station rebuild), a transfer of funds within the Committee on Health and Human Relations, and a substitute transfer between the 15th and 49th Wards. The director overseeing ARPA funds reported that 83% of the grant had been spent and 90% obligated, and said the city was on track to obligate all funds by the end of the year. An ordinance concerning the Chief Procurement Officer, which would align the office's tenure with other department heads and authorize a severance agreement with the current officer, was presented for discussion only ahead of planned direct consideration at City Council.

Topics: public comment, Rule 45 report, grant appropriations, new arrivals funding, State/Lake CTA station, fund transfers, ARPA spending, Chief Procurement Officer ordinance, procurement equity

### Agenda items discussed

- [47:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=2831) Public comment
- [1:14:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=4459) Monthly Rule 45 report for June 2024: passed
- [1:14:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=4482) Item 1: substitute appropriation amendment of new grant funds (total about $918.8 million): passed
- [1:20:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=4851) Item 3: transfer of funds within the Committee on Health and Human Relations: passed
- [1:21:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=4897) Item 4: substitute transfer of funds between the 15th and 49th Wards' salary and expense allotments: passed
- [1:22:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=4944) Monthly ARPA grant report: discussed
- [1:29:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=5379) Item 2: ordinance concerning the Chief Procurement Officer: discussed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Jason C. Ervin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/28) (chair): Responded to a committee chair's concern about not seeing the procurement ordinance by explaining that the original related ordinance had been introduced to the Budget committee and no disrespect was intended. ([1:30:43](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=5443)); Said the CPO ordinance was presented for discussion before Wednesday's council meeting so members understand it, and said the department needs stable leadership and a new CPO. ([1:39:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=5975))
- [Daniel La Spata](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/1) (alderperson): Asked for details on the plans for the CDOT federal funding and the work on the State/Lake station. ([1:18:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=4734))
- [Maria E. Hadden](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/49) (alderperson): Asked why the CPO ordinance was being discussed in committee but not voted on, and confirmed it would be a direct introduction at City Council. ([1:33:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=5586)); Asked when the council last set and revised the structure of the procurement office. ([1:34:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=5658)); Said she supports the change but asked why the CPO position was originally written differently from other department heads. ([1:35:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=5745))

### Exchanges between members

- [1:37:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4?t=5839) Alderperson Maria E. Hadden thanked the chair after finishing her questions on the CPO ordinance.

## Documents

- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/f770a9a8-d468-4c12-964d-8103142dfb1c.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/8327d268-ae73-4481-b4f4-2330949992f1.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/0cd978a0-ca54-4f57-a6d7-1197d2582ba3.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/25574f58-ccf8-4815-855f-fe790c0e6f17.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/f276235b-b37e-4842-8fa2-d0601af0e8c4.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BB1FE4A3-AF38-EF11-8409-001DD80545D4 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt