Committee on License and Consumer Protection meeting, April 10, 2024
- When: Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 9:45 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on License and Consumer Protection
- Video: https://vimeo.com/932621231
- Transcript: full text (13,442 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 License and Consumer Protection had no in-person public speakers and noted one written comment on the scooter ordinance. It approved its March 2024 Rule 45 report and recommended passage of an ordinance revising the scooter-sharing license, which replaces the per-day fee with a $250,000 upfront fee plus per-device and per-ride fees and allows overnight riding; members focused on sidewalk riding, rider penalties, injury data, helmets, scooter parking and local hiring, and officials said the ordinance does not add scooters downtown. The committee also recommended a substitute ordinance on pedicab license plate and decal display that raises fines, and four ordinances lifting liquor or package goods moratoria on portions of Clark Street, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Halsted Street and Wabash Avenue. An item sponsored by Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. was held.
Topics: scooter sharing license, sidewalk riding, scooter safety, license fees, pedicab regulation, liquor moratorium, package goods licenses
Agenda items discussed
- 9:18 Approval of the Rule 45 report for March 2024: passed
- 9:42 Amendment of Chapter 3-130 regulating scooter sharing business licenses (O2024-0008378): passed
- 1:01:18 Substitute ordinance amending Chapter 9 regarding pedicab license decal requirements: passed
- 1:04:51 Item 6 sponsored by Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr.: held
- 1:05:06 Lifting the liquor moratorium on a portion of Clark Street (48th Ward) (O2024-0008227): passed
- 1:06:18 Lifting the package goods moratorium on a portion of Bryn Mawr Avenue (48th Ward) (O2024-0008331): passed
- 1:07:15 Lifting the liquor moratorium on a portion of Halsted Street (21st Ward) (O2024-0008388): passed
- 1:08:36 Lifting the package goods moratorium on a portion of Wabash Avenue (O2024-0008329): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Debra L. Silverstein (chair): Asked whether there are statistics on accidents involving scooter riders. (26:27)
- William Conway (alderperson): Noted his ward's bike lanes and past complaints about scooters left in the Loop, and asked whether the ordinance adds scooters to the Loop. (16:33)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Asked whether the ordinance would increase scooters on the South and West sides and confirmed it does not add more scooters. (17:30); Said the total scooter emergency room visits of 171 and 192 in earlier years are alarming despite lower rates per trip. (56:30); Described nearly hitting a scooter rider who ran a red light at night and asked for technology to slow riders. (57:45)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Asked how much revenue the current and new fee structures are expected to generate. (19:42); Asked how sidewalk riding is detected and discouraged, and requested company data through the chair. (20:33)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said he remains skeptical of sidewalk detection technology and asked for data on banned riders, citations and where they occur. (21:51); Confirmed the ordinance does not affect the Divvy/Lyft contract, does not add competitors downtown, and extends hours to 24 hours. (22:41); Asked how the new fee was determined and how often it would be revisited. (23:03)
- Matthew J. O'Shea (alderperson): Said scooters could help residents reach CTA and Metra and asked for good communication with alderpersons on safety, and said he would vote in support. (27:45)
- Angela Clay (alderperson): Called the ordinance good but asked whether riders would need protective or reflective gear given overnight hours. (28:48); Asked whether scooters could be placed in designated locations, saying they are left everywhere. (30:39)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Supported the new fee structure and the program, noting the value of having two competing companies. (32:06); Said sidewalk riding endangers people with disabilities, children and seniors, and asked what specific penalties lead to removal from the platform. (32:51); Asked whether the city would take on removing riders and how many people take learn-to-ride classes. (35:48)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Welcomed the extended hours for late-night workers but said older adults in her ward feel unsafe on sidewalks and called for more protected lanes. (47:03); Asked which neighborhoods the sidewalk riding study covered and what she can tell constituents who complain. (49:12); Said progress is not fast enough and asked whether the companies work with the Park District along the lakefront. (52:09)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Supported the ordinance and offered partnership with the Major Taylor Trail to encourage scooter and bike use until the Red Line extension opens. (55:15); Said lifting the Halsted Street moratorium would let a family add an individual to its existing license for succession planning. (1:07:57)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked about MBE/WBE participation and whether scooter maintenance is done in-house and connected to youth repair programs, and said he supports the ordinance. (59:00)
Exchanges between members
- 17:12 Alderperson William Conway thanked the chair after his question.
- 21:51 Alderperson Brendan Reilly picked up where Alderperson Matthew J. Martin left off on sidewalk riding.
- 56:18 Alderperson David H. Moore thanked the chair for the opportunity to speak again.
- 57:45 Alderperson David H. Moore referred to Alderperson Scott Waguespack comments about near misses.