# Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation meeting, February 14, 2024

- When: Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 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 Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/special-events-cultural-affairs-and-recreation)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/913021047
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/913021047.txt) (2,415 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 Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation had no public commenters and approved a monthly Rule 45 report. It recommended passage of the City of Chicago Special Events Ordinance 2024 after the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events said it sought no changes from the prior year and described returning signature festivals. Members asked about the 2024 schedule, how events will be handled around the Democratic National Convention, and police staffing for neighborhood races. A resolution congratulating Chicago's hip hop community on the 50th anniversary of hip hop was held to the next meeting at Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. request.

Topics: special events ordinance, Democratic National Convention, festivals, police staffing for events, hip hop anniversary

### Agenda items discussed

- [6:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=372) Public comment
- [6:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=381) Monthly Rule 45 report: passed
- [6:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=417) City of Chicago Special Events Ordinance 2024 (O2024-0007317): passed
- [12:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=771) Resolution congratulating Chicago's hip hop community on the 50th anniversary of hip hop (R2023-0002814): held

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (alderperson): Asked what is new or notable in the 2024 special events schedule, noting his ward is especially busy in summer. ([7:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=465))
- [Debra L. Silverstein](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/50) (alderperson): Asked whether special events will be scheduled during the Democratic National Convention. ([9:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=555))
- [Scott Waguespack](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/32) (alderperson): Asked whether neighborhood races and smaller events also get scrutiny around the convention. ([9:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=588)); Said races require dozens of officers and that police availability drops around major events, and asked whether the weeks after the convention are being considered. ([10:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=657))

### Exchanges between members

- [7:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=465) Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson thanked the chair when recognized.
- [9:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542?t=586) Alderperson Scott Waguespack thanked the chair when recognized.

## Documents

- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/817e806f-ed4e-4a2b-9b0c-36fe94d0821a.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/124cb250-e95b-4be2-b2fe-1ca2de62707a.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/d185cef9-8ccd-4272-b48e-047e2d6e8294.pdf)

---
Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/BBA41C68-51C4-EE11-9078-001DD806E542 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt