OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHfCACO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
December 15, 2021
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with City Clerk Valencia and Alderman Harris, a resolution amending the Rules of Order and Procedure ofthe City Council to implement electronic voting.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. The Rules of Order and Procedure of the City Council, City of Chicago, for the 2019 — 2023 term are hereby amended by deleting the language struck through, and by inserting the language underscored, as follows:
Presiding Officer Of The Council; Mayor; President Pro Tempore.
RULE 1. The Mayor shall be Presiding Officer of the Council.
The Council shall elect one of its members President Pro Tempore of the Council, who shall act as Presiding Officer of the Council during a temporary absence or disability ofthe Mayor or when requested so to do by the Mayor. In the temporary absence of the President Pro Tempore, the Vice-Mayor shall act as Presiding Officer of the Council when requested to do so by the Mayor. The President Pro Tempore or the Vice-Mayor of the Council, when acting as the Presiding Officer, shall vote on all questions on which the vote is taken by yeas and nays, his name being called last in the event of a verbal roll call vote.
The City Council Legislative Reference Bureau shall be under the control, supervision and direction ofthe President Pro Tempore.
Convening Of The Council; Temporary Chairman.
RULE 2. Each meeting of the Council shall convene at the time appointed for such meeting as provided by ordinance.
In the absence of the Mayor, the President Pro Tempore and the Vice-Mayor, a temporary chairman for the meeting shall be elected by a majority vote of the Aldermen present from among their members. The Clerk (or someone appointed to fill hts the Clerk's place) shall thereupon immediately call the roll of members electronically, unless any member of the City Council requests a verbal call ofthe roll. If no quorum be present, the Council shall not thereby stand adjourned, but the members present shall be competent to adjourn or recess the Council by a majority vote.
Voting.
RULE 14. Every member who shall be present when a question is stated from the Chair shall vote thereon electronically or, at the discretion of the Chair, verbally, unless excused by the Council.
A City Council member with a conflict of interest that requires recusal, including pursuant to Section 2-156-030 or Section 2-156-080(b)(1) or (b)(2) ofthe Municipal Code, may not, in a meeting of either the City Council or one of its committees, preside over any hearings or participate in any debate, discussion or vote, including conversation with other members of the City Council, regarding the matter associated with the recusal. The basis for any recusal must be publicly disclosed in detail at the time of a vote.
Taking And Entering Of Votes; Explanation Of Votes Not Permitted.
RULE 19. At the request of any member, the yeas and nays upon any question shall be taken electronically or, at the discretion ofthe Chair, verbally, and entered in the Journal; but the yeas and nays shall not be taken unless called for previously to any other vote on the question. Only members present shall be permitted to vote or have their votes recorded either by "yea" or "nay" on any matter before the City Council, any of its standing committees or subcommittees.
When the Clerk has commenced to call the roll of the Council for the taking of a vote of yeas and nays, whether electronically or verbally, all debate on the question before the Council shall be deemed concluded, and during the taking of the vote no member shall be permitted to explain his their vote, but shall respond^ electronically or verbally as the case may be, to the calling of his namo by the Clork by answering "yea" or "nay.", as tho case may be. After one minute has elapsed following the start of an electronic roll call vote, the Clerk will call the name of any Alderman who has not voted in order to prompt their vote, verbally if necessary-Following this step, the voting will be deemed closed and the Clerk will inform the Presiding Officer of the result.
Announcement And Changes Of Votes.
RULE 20. The result of all votes by roll call shall not be announced by the Clerk, but shall be transmitted or handed bv-hrm- from the Clerk to the Presiding Officer for announcement., and no No vote shall be entered or changed after tho tally list has passed from tho hands of the Clerk has conveyed the result ofthe vote to the Presiding Officer.