Joint Committee: Environmental Protection and Energy; Public Safety meeting, October 13, 2023
- When: Fri, Oct 13, 2023, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Video: https://vimeo.com/873813800
- Transcript: full text (23,579 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 joint Committees on Environmental Protection and Energy and on Public Safety held a subject-matter hearing on the extreme flooding of June 29 to July 2, 2023 and the city's response, after recommending approval of the resolution calling for the hearing. No one signed up for public comment. A Chatham resident described decades of basement flooding, and officials from the Office of Climate and Environmental Equity, the Department of Water Management, MWRD, CDOT and OEMC described climate-driven heavier rainfall, the scale of the July storm, sewer cleaning, rain blockers, downspout disconnection, green alleys, Space to Grow schoolyards, planned regional tunnels and reservoirs, and FEMA assistance, whose application deadline was extended to October 31. UIC researchers presented data showing flooding calls concentrated in Black neighborhoods and recommended household alerts, green infrastructure tied to community stewardship, and water reuse. Members asked about the McCook Reservoir, green alley funding, the pace of recovery assistance, aging local infrastructure, and outreach to residents.
Topics: July 2023 flooding, climate change, stormwater infrastructure, FEMA assistance, green infrastructure, environmental justice, MWRD reservoirs, green alleys, downspout disconnection
Agenda items discussed
- 21:01 Resolution calling for a subject matter hearing on the July 2, 2023 extreme flooding events and the city's response and mitigation efforts (R2023-0002926): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Maria E. Hadden (chair): Said Chicago has seen increasingly intense storms in 2022 and 2023, tied this to climate change, and said the hearing would examine response and preparedness. (23:52); Noted the FEMA application deadline was extended to October 31 and that FEMA declined to attend, citing a Homeland Security policy. (26:38); Said the hearing clarified solutions and their limits, and the committee would follow up on gaps, including for the proposed Department of Environment. (2:46:48)
- Brian Hopkins (chair): Thanked Chair Maria E. Hadden and her staff for assembling the expert panel. (2:01:29); Asked whether MWRD modeling shows how a completed McCook Reservoir would have changed the July 2 event and whether lowering waterways ahead of storms helps. (2:02:07); Said the city cannot dig its way out of flooding and must lean into source control such as rain barrels and gardens. (2:05:23)
- Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): As lead sponsor, said residents across the city were affected and many families remain displaced or living with mold, and urged more help including for homes that cannot get insurance. (21:54)
- Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Asked that the presentations be made available to share with constituents. (2:08:19); Said community gardens in her ward that received funding have not been maintained, which is why the city cuts them, and that her ward needs homes on vacant lots. (2:10:49); Said green alleys cost about $500,000 and asked what federal funding could expand them beyond ward menu funds. (2:12:44)
- Emma Mitts (alderperson): Said residents of the 37th Ward remain frustrated, with mold still in homes months later, and questioned whether resources have been distributed equitably. (2:15:43); Said FEMA aid is not enough for residents on fixed incomes and asked for a further deadline extension. (2:20:22); Asked how often city sewers are cleaned. (2:24:53)
- Peter Chico (alderperson): Said residents affected by the September 17 storm feel neglected after weeks without assessment and asked how to speed up the process. (2:37:28)
- Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Offered to help with door-to-door Spanish-language outreach and proposed a joint campaign with departments so information reaches residents. (2:42:56); Said aldermen often lack answers for residents and asked departments to find ways to speed up processes. (2:44:55)
Exchanges between members
- 21:54 Coleman thanked Chair Maria E. Hadden for convening the hearing.
- 21:54 Coleman thanked Chair Brian Hopkins for convening the hearing.
- 2:01:29 Hopkins thanked Hadden and her office for assembling the panel of expert witnesses.
- 2:44:55 Gutiérrez said she understood Mitts's concerns about helping constituents.
- 2:44:55 Gutiérrez said she understood Chico's concerns about helping constituents.