Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, November 6, 2023
- When: Mon, Nov 6, 2023, 1:00 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/manage/videos/881759038
- Transcript: full text (12,247 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 public comment, several speakers addressing Alderperson Carlos Ramírez-Rosa conduct at a recent council meeting and others opposing spending on new migrant arrivals and the use of a park as a shelter. The committee recommended passage of transfers of funds for the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight and the Committee on Committees and Rules, a $38.6 million amendment to the 2023 grant fund ordinance including state funding for the migrant mission, the 2024 salary resolution, the motor fuel tax allocation ordinance, the CTA and Cook County motor fuel tax intergovernmental agreement, the annual code corrections ordinance and a substitute 2024 management ordinance. The committee then recommended passage of the technical amendments and text of the 2024 budget recommendations and the 2024 annual appropriation ordinance; Alderperson Marty Quinn asked to be recorded as a no on the technical amendments. Discussion covered aldermanic staff pay and expense accounts, lead service line damage liability, intercity bus fines and shelter funding.
Topics: 2024 budget, annual appropriation ordinance, management ordinance, aldermanic staff funding, migrant shelter funding, lead service lines, motor fuel tax, salary resolution, intercity buses, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 30:10 Transfer of funds within the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight for 2023: passed
- 30:57 Transfer of funds within the Committee on Committees and Rules for 2023: passed
- 31:27 Substitute amendment to the 2023 grant fund (925) appropriating an additional $38.6 million in state and federal grants: passed
- 40:04 Amendment of regulations governing administration and classification plan of employee benefits (2024 salary resolution): passed
- 48:08 Allocation of motor fuel tax funds to the City of Chicago for 2024: passed
- 58:21 Intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Transit Authority and Cook County for allocation of motor fuel tax funds for the 2024 matching grant: passed
- 59:25 2024 Municipal Code corrections ordinance: passed
- 1:03:44 Substitute 2024 management ordinance amending multiple Municipal Code titles: passed
- 1:31:28 Technical amendments and text of the 2024 budget recommendations: passed
- 1:41:43 2024 annual appropriation ordinance: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked whether the grant amendment reflected the expected state funding for the migrant mission and where the dollars would go. (35:17); Said he was grateful for state funding that relieves some of the burden on communities. (36:42); Asked whether the salary changes relate to an executive order from the end of the previous term. (46:10)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked how many shelters the state funding would cover and how long the money would last. (36:54); Noted the funds cover August and September costs, said the city is still catching up and that spending makes many members nervous. (37:41); Asked how many traffic studies $1.5 million in motor fuel tax funds would support. (54:11)
- Marty Quinn (alderperson): Asked whether aldermanic staff are included in the salary changes and how many employees are covered. (42:41); Said it is a problem that aldermanic staff are not part of the compression study because they have been underfunded for years. (45:47); Asked how the expense account change affects independent contractors and whether it should be codified. (1:27:28)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked whether making contractors responsible for damaged lead service lines will raise bid prices. (1:18:12); Said shifting the cost to contractors is the wrong approach and urged the Water Department and contractors to work collaboratively on the multi-decade replacement program. (1:19:55)
- Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Asked the budget director to explain removing the ability to pay staff from aldermanic expense accounts. (1:21:47); Confirmed members can move money from the expense line to the salary line and thanked the budget team for working with members. (1:24:27)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked for guidelines on independent contractors and whether funds can move from personnel back to the expense account. (1:29:58)
Exchanges between members
- 1:27:52 Alderperson Marty Quinn returned to Alderperson Samantha Nugent question in asking whether the expense account change should be codified.