Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, July 18, 2023
- When: Tue, Jul 18, 2023, 2:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Budget and Government Operations
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8925576/video/846345411
- Transcript: full text (14,899 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 heard one public commenter, approved prior meeting reports, and recommended the appointment of Mary Richardson-Lowry as Corporation Counsel after members questioned her on the Law Department's relationship with the City Council, outside counsel spending, attorney vacancies, troubled buildings, and use of minority- and women-owned firms. The committee considered a 2023 grant appropriation amendment; after a member noted that a $5 million police training grant described in the narrative was not in the ordinance, the item was held, clarified after a recess, and passed. A salary resolution covering police lateral and rehire agreements, a new IT salary schedule, extending health coverage to the end of the month of separation, and adjustment approvals passed as a whole after a motion to divide the question to separate the health coverage provision failed. The committee also passed a funds transfer within the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy and an ordinance updating municipal code references from the Committee on Public Safety to the Committee on Police and Fire.
Topics: Corporation Counsel appointment, Law Department, outside counsel spending, grant appropriations, homeless shelters, police rehire agreement, city employee health benefits, salary schedules, committee jurisdiction, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 10:27 Approval of rule 45 reports and joint committee meeting minutes: passed
- 11:09 Appointment of Mary Richardson-Lowry as Corporation Counsel: passed
- 1:09:00 2023 annual appropriation amendment within Fund 925 (grants): passed
- 1:23:57 Salary resolution on police lateral and rehire agreement, IT salary schedule, health benefits through end of month, and salary adjustments: passed
- 1:37:30 Transfer of funds within the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy for 2023: passed
- 1:47:31 Ordinance updating municipal code references from Committee on Public Safety to Committee on Police and Fire: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Jason C. Ervin (chair): Asked the nominee for her view on the City Council having its own separate legal counsel. (18:29); Asked how the Law Department could help overcome legal obstacles to increasing African American participation in city contracting. (20:47); Asked the nominee what she hopes to achieve in the role. (22:56)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Said the Law Department had often been combative and raised concerns about settlements of police lawsuits being proposed because the work was too great. (26:18); Asked for better coordination on troubled buildings and vacant properties, including identifying ownership and processing tickets and liens. (27:55); Asked how the $500,000 Taste of Chicago grant would be used and whether it reflected declining sponsorships. (1:13:52)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Praised the nominee's candor from her time as Building Commissioner and asked her to review his resolution on using TIF dollars for security. (29:49)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Asked whether the Law Department would offer briefings so members can better understand how the department works. (33:53); Said she wanted to work with the Law Department on troubled buildings enforcement and on legislation to address limits of current law. (37:12); Asked a clarifying question about the source and amount of the police training grant. (1:18:24)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked about the nominee's role in the parking meter deal. (38:41); Said some members want a council counsel or parliamentarian and that disagreements may still occur. (39:44); As chair of the immigrant and refugee rights committee, asked for her thoughts on immigration law issues such as work authorizations. (40:08)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked how many attorneys the Law Department has and how she would approach using African American, women, and veteran-owned law firms. (51:21); Said some friction between branches can be useful and that separate counsel for the legislative branch is a best practice he wants to pursue later. (55:12)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Expressed support for the appointment and raised concerns about outside counsel spending, troubled buildings, and party venues out of line with zoning. (56:57); Asked how the additional emergency and transitional housing funds would be used and how many shelter beds exist. (1:19:13)
- Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Asked for a timeline to reduce outside counsel costs and fill Law Department vacancies. (59:26); Asked how she would approach the mayoral transition team recommendations and a more active Law Department in communities. (1:02:47); Raised concerns about insurance companies' response to West Side flooding and the role of the Law Department. (1:04:51)
- Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Welcomed the nominee back and renewed her motion to pass the appointment. (1:05:47)
- Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Said the resolution lets the Police Department address vacancies through rehires and lateral hires while keeping high standards, and that she supports it. (1:32:37)
Exchanges between members
- 37:12 Manaa-Hoppenworth echoed Lopez's comments on troubled buildings enforcement.
- 55:12 Villegas referenced Vasquez's earlier mention of separate counsel for the City Council.
- 1:35:21 The chair restated Lopez's motion to divide the question on the salary resolution.