# Committee on Police and Fire meeting, February 18, 2025 - When: Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 10:30 AM (Chicago time) - Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602 - Status: Scheduled & Published - Committee: [Committee on Police and Fire](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/police-and-fire) - Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/9823060 - Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1055645926.txt) (7,846 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 Police and Fire heard public comment, approved the Rule 45 report for its January 14, 2025 meeting, and considered six items. The committee approved the appointments of Mark Quinn McDonald to the 2nd District Council and Kyo Jean Joseph to the 24th District Council; item 2 was tabled and item 4 was held. The committee passed an ordinance authorizing the Fire Commissioner to accept grants of equipment, supplies and other property for training, after Chicago Fire Department staff explained it was prompted by a rail tanker car donation requiring an indemnification agreement. The committee also passed a direct introduction, presented by Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez, donating the retired fire academy ladder truck to the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago. Topics: District council appointments, CCPSA, Fire department donations, Gift acceptance ordinance, Indemnification, Fire Museum of Greater Chicago, Police drones, Public comment ### Agenda items discussed - [44:58](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=2698) Rule 45 report for the January 14, 2025 meeting: passed - [45:43](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=2743) Appointment of Mark Quinn McDonald as member of the District Council for the 2nd District: passed - [45:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=2759) Item 2: held - [46:02](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=2762) Appointment of Kyo Jean Joseph as member of the District Council for the 24th District: passed - [46:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=2771) Item 4: held - [55:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3303) Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 2-36 to authorize the Fire Commissioner to accept grants of equipment, supplies, material and other personal property: passed - [1:06:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3967) Donation of various items by the Chicago Fire Department to the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago (direct introduction): passed ### Alderpersons who spoke - [Jason C. Ervin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/28) (alderperson): Asked to confirm the process by which district council nominees are recommended, selected by the mayor, and sent to the council for approval. ([51:58](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3118)); Said the appointees were the type of individuals wanted in these positions and stated his support. ([52:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3165)) - [Nicholas Sposato](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/38) (alderperson): Asked the appointee who their alderperson was and whether they had that alderperson's support, and said he would side with his colleagues in supporting the appointments. ([53:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3201)); Described how the Fire Museum was founded by two former fire department members, said he had donated items to it, and asked colleagues to support the truck donation. ([1:08:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=4080)) - [Chris Taliaferro](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/29) (chair): Asked about transparency regarding the items the fire department would receive under the gift acceptance ordinance. ([59:05](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3545)) - [Raymond A. Lopez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/15) (alderperson): Asked which departments currently have authority to agree to indemnification when accepting gifts. ([1:00:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3620)); Suggested the city consider a universal gift acceptance standard for all departments rather than separate ordinances for each department. ([1:01:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3702)); Presented the direct introduction to donate the retired 110-foot fire academy tower truck to the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago instead of auctioning it, and asked for a favorable vote. ([1:06:22](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3982)) ### Exchanges between members - [53:21](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D?t=3201) Alderperson Nicholas Sposato said he would side with his colleague from the 28th Ward in supporting the appointments. ## Documents - [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/7907b521-9670-46c9-a204-c83a312b698c.pdf) - [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/9edc465f-475c-47ec-8c47-990a158f23fc.pdf) - [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/760ddad1-3397-4c39-8e3f-e02a4c4a6f8e.pdf) --- Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CA436C32-ACE4-EF11-8EEA-001DD809A88D ยท Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt