Nicole T. Lee

Nicole T. Lee is the alderperson for Chicago's 11th Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward11@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 3659 South Halsted Street, Chicago 60609, (773) 254-6677
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 300, (312) 744-6663 / 6664
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 100% of 1164 key roll calls (0 absent)
Nay votes: 10
Voted with the majority on 93.4% of 91 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 70 (59 passed)
Most-filed topics: Signs/Signboards (29), Alley (16), Municipal Code Amendments (9), Committee/Public Hearings (4), Streets (4)

Committees

AI profile

AI-written synthesis from this member's votes, legislation, and words in 78 meetings. Each claim cites its source; estimates, not statements of intent.

Nicole T. Lee serves as Vice Chair of the Committee on Budget and Government Operations and sits on several other committees, voting on a wide range of ordinances including tax-increment financing agreements, code amendments, and public safety measures V1 V3 V6 V10. She has filed numerous permits, code amendment proposals, and honorary street designations, reflecting a focus on development, signage regulation, and community recognition L1 L7 L4. In committee meetings she frequently makes motions, asks clarifying questions, and helps manage agenda items, especially in budget and government operations work S9 S34.

Priorities

Tax Increment Financing: Supports redevelopment agreements that provide TIF assistance for projects such as Foundry Park and Roosevelt/Clark Partners facilities V1 V3
Residential Building Standards: Filed an amendment to establish regulatory frameworks for residential building safety and standards L7
Signage Permits: Regularly files permits for commercial signage, indicating a priority on managing outdoor advertising L2
Honorary Street Designations: Filed multiple honorary street designation proposals, such as "Honorary Louis Castillo Way" and "Honorary Woom Sing Tse Way" L4 L6
Alley Access Exemptions: Filed exemptions from physical barrier requirements for commercial driveway alley access in several locations L8 L11
Transportation Infrastructure Hearings: Requested public hearings on the Amtrak Midwest Maintenance Facility site selection and its community impacts L1

Positions

Sweepstakes Machines: Voted NO on an amendment prohibiting the installation or use of sweepstakes machines V6
Police Parade Participation: Voted NO on an amendment prohibiting Chicago Police Department members from participating in parades V10
Public Enforcement Pilot: Voted NO on establishing a pilot program for residents to submit recorded evidence for public enforcement V25
Tax Incentive for 501 N Sacramento Blvd: Voted YES to support a Class 6(b) tax incentive for the property at 501 N Sacramento Blvd V17
Honorary Street Designations Authority: Voted YES on an amendment allowing alderpersons to propose up to four honorary street designations per year V24
Gas Station Permit Requirements: Voted YES to remove permit requirements for gas stations in specific zoning districts V26
Places of Worship Terminology: Voted YES to replace the term "churches" with "places of worship" in municipal code sections V27
Cannabinoid Hemp Product Regulations: Voted YES on adding new sections regarding cannabinoid hemp product definitions and regulations V28

Approach: Lee is an active participant in meetings, frequently making motions such as adding members to virtual participation under Rule 59 and approving agenda items, and she often asks clarifying questions to shape legislation S9 S34 S32.

What to watch: Given her history of filing honorary street designations and supporting TIF redevelopment agreements, she is likely to continue pursuing similar community-recognition projects and development financing initiatives L4 V1

Nay votes on key legislation

Jun 17, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 4-156 by defining and prohibiting the installation or use of sweepstakes machines, Failed to Pass 15 yea, 33 nay, 1 absent
May 20, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Title 2 by amending Section 2-78-120 (e-5) and adding new Section 2-84-530 prohibiting members of Chicago Police Department from participating in any extremist activity, Passed 28 yea, 21 nay
Feb 18, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 9-108 by adding new Section 9-108-025 establishing public enforcement pilot program for residents to submit recorded evidence of covered parking offenses, Failed to Pass 16 yea, 31 nay, 1 absent
Mar 12, 2025: Amendment of Municipal Code Title 4 by adding new Chapter 4-401 entitled "Trade In Fur Products", Failed to Pass 19 yea, 26 nay
Feb 26, 2025: Issuance of general obligation bonds to finance improvements to public rights-of-way, infrastructure and transportation, loans and grants, acquisition of property, construction and maintenance of public buildings, economic programs, lead service line replacements, as amended, Passed 26 yea, 23 nay
Feb 19, 2025: Amendment of Municipal Code Section 9-12-070 establishing maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour on streets, 15 miles per hour in alleys, and absolute statutory nonurban limit of 55 miles per hour, Failed to Pass 21 yea, 28 nay
Dec 16, 2024: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 1, 2, 7, 10, 11 and 18 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various departments and agencies (2025 Municipal Code Management Ordinance), as amended, Passed 34 yea, 16 nay
Dec 16, 2024: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 3, 4, 9 and 10 (2025 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance) and Property Tax Levy for Year 2025, as amended, Passed 27 yea, 23 nay
Oct 30, 2024: Jarixon Medina as member of Regional Trnsportation Authority Board of Directors, Failed to Pass 18 yea, 25 nay
Oct 6, 2023: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 6-105 by modifying Section 6-105-030 regarding minimum hourly wage in occupations receiving gratuities, Passed 36 yea, 10 nay, 2 absent

Key legislation sponsored

Call for hearing(s) on status of City's progress implementing efficiencies and other programmatic reform options identified in Financial and Strategic Reform Options report (R2026-0024924), Adopted May 20, 2026
Department of Family and Support Services and Department of Public Health required to annually collect race and ethnicity data of city residents using subcategories for Asian or Pacific Islander (SO2025-0021028), Passed May 20, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 17-6-0403-F by requiring special use permits for sports and recreation participants in Planned Manufacturing District 8A (O2025-0018390), Passed Sep 25, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 17-6-0403 and 17-8-0510 to strike Planned Manufacturing District No. 11B from exemption of floor area limit for food and beverage retail sales (O2025-0018761), Passed Sep 25, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (11.92) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Halsted St, from 33rd St to 35th St (O2025-0016734), Passed May 21, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 4-60-022 (11.81) and 4-60-023 (11.81) to allow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Wallace St (O2024-0013865), Passed Jan 15, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 4-60-022 and 4-60-023 (11.102) to allow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Morgan St (O2024-0012873), Passed Oct 22, 2024
Support of Class 6(b) tax incentive for property at 4003-4057 S Normal Street/432-458 W 41st St (O2023-0002944), Passed Oct 4, 2023
Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 4-60-022 (11.93) and 4-60-023 (11.93) to allow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Halsted St (O2023-0001721), Passed Jun 21, 2023

In their own words

Moments from meeting recordings, summarized by AI from the transcript. Each links to the video at that point.

Sep 29, 2026, City Council: Supported the deal she helped negotiate, citing the profit share and 2% of future sales, and the leverage from concerns about Stonepeak's affiliate. (watch at 1:34:37)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Thanked Corporation Counsel Lowry and said she hoped colleagues would approve the parking meter deal. (watch at 3:08:08)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Thanked rapid response networks, including in Chinatown and Bridgeport, for documenting activity and supporting neighbors. (watch at 2:22:58)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: Supported Dr. Garth Walker's appointment and thanked him for leaving the private sector for public service. (watch at 3:44:07)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: Acknowledged ASEZ student volunteers for a cleanup of the South Halsted Riverwalk in the 11th Ward. (watch at 1:17:44)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Aviation: Echoed Alderman Marty Quinn comments, praising the lease investments and their impact on the community. (watch at 49:01)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Aviation: Recounted personal memories of Midway’s past condition and highlighted the importance of the new investments. (watch at 48:16)
Jul 13, 2026, Committee on Finance: Asked for a list of state grants related to library funding. (watch at 1:30:19)
Jul 9, 2026, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: Moved to hold the Taiwan partnership resolution. (watch at 1:13:59)
Jul 9, 2026, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: Expressed concerns about the Taiwan partnership resolution and requested it be held. (watch at 1:12:04)
Jul 9, 2026, Committee on Public Safety: Welcomed as a non-committee member attending the hearing. (watch at 16:29)
Jul 8, 2026, Committee on Budget and Government Operations: Moved to add Alderman Lamont J. Robinson to virtual participation under Rule 59. (watch at 48:00)