Chicago City Council Committee on Budget & Government Operations
September 14, 2021
RESOLUTION CALLING ON REINSTATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE 2022 ANNUAL APPROPRIATION
WHEREAS, In 2020, the City of Chicago (City) replaced the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) with a significantly decreased operation within the Department of Assets, Information, and Services known as "Bureau of Information Technology"; and
WHEREAS, The former DoIT was responsible for coordinating Citywide development and analysis of business processes and technology solutions, in addition to ensuring the City's technology infrastructure was robust and functioning with City Departments to design and implement technology improvements; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, the loss of the free standing technology department was immediately felt as the City experienced many technology disadvantages from the impacts of Covid-19; and
WHEREAS, Such loss of the City's DoIT only continued to grow at an alarming rate with the recent cybersecurity breaches throughout the Nation; and
WHEREAS, In June of 2021, the City presented the "2021 IT Strategic Plan" (also known as the "Gartner Report") resulting in findings that reflected its dire need to reinstate the City's DoIT and prioritization on technology throughout all areas of its government functions; and
WHEREAS, The 2021 IT Strategic Plan illustrated that the City has a significant need to improve its aging IT applications, operations, workforce, and initiatives; and
WHEREAS, Several cities throughout the Nation maintain a separate and well funded Technology Department such as: New York City, NY (appx. $344 million), San Diego, CA (appx. $61.3 million), and Philadelphia, PA (appx. $31 million); and
WHEREAS, The City is amongst one of the largest cities in the Nation, yet its technology is reflective efforts that will continue to produce irreparable harm to the City without urgent and restorative action; and, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, call on the 2022 Annual Appropriation Ordinance to reflect the City's concern and commitment to technology with the reinstatement of the Department of Innovation and Technology.
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36th Ward Principal Sponsor
Chicago City Council Committee on Budget & Government Operations
September 14, 2021
RESOLUTION CALLING ON REINSTATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE 2022 ANNUAL APPROPRIATION
WHEREAS, In 2020, the City of Chicago (City) replaced the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) with a significantly decreased operation within the Department of Assets, Information, and Services known as "Bureau of Information Technology"; and
WHEREAS, The former DoIT was responsible for coordinating Citywide development and analysis of business processes and technology solutions, in addition to ensuring the City's technology infrastructure was robust and functioning with City Departments to design and implement technology improvements; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, the loss of the free standing technology department was immediately felt as the City experienced many technology disadvantages from the impacts of Covid-19; and
WHEREAS, Such loss of the City's DoIT only continued to grow at an alarming rate with the recent cybersecurity breaches throughout the Nation; and
WHEREAS, In June of 2021, the City presented the "2021 IT Strategic Plan" (also known as the "Gartner Report") resulting in findings that reflected its dire need to reinstate the City's DoIT and prioritization on technology throughout all areas of its government functions; and
WHEREAS, The 2021 IT Strategic Plan illustrated that the City has a significant need to improve its aging IT applications, operations, workforce, and initiatives; and
WHEREAS, Several cities throughout the Nation maintain a separate and well funded Technology Department such as: New York City, NY (appx. $344 million), San Diego, CA (appx. $61.3 million), and Philadelphia, PA (appx. $31 million); and
WHEREAS, The City is amongst one ofthe largest cities in the Nation, yet its technology is reflective efforts that will continue to produce irreparable harm to the City without urgent and restorative action; and, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, call on the 2022 Annual Appropriation Ordinance to reflect the City's concern and commitment to technology with the reinstatement of the Department of Innovation and Technology.
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36th Ward Principal Sponsor