MAYOR

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 2, ch. 2-4

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-010 Appointment powers and duties.

2-4-010 Appointment powers and duties. The mayor shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the city council, all officers of the city whose appointment is not otherwise provided by the laws of this state or the provisions of this code. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any office which by law he is empowered to fill, the mayor shall, within 30 days after the occurrence of such vacancy, communicate to the city council the name of his appointee to such office. (Prior code § 3-1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-020 Supervisory authority - Administrative officer appointment, powers and duties.

2-4-020 Supervisory authority - Administrative officer appointment, powers and duties. The mayor shall supervise the conduct of all the officers of the city, and, as to all who are exempt from the provisions of the civil service act, he shall examine the grounds of all reasonable complaints made against any of them and cause their violation of duty and other offenses, if any, to be promptly punished. The mayor shall appoint, with the consent of the city council, an officer to be known as the mayor's administrative officer who shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor. Such officer shall have had at least five years' experience in responsible government or private administrative positions as shall qualify him for the duties of the office. The mayor's administrative officer, subject to the direction and control of the mayor, shall supervise the administrative management of all city departments, boards, commissions and other city agencies established by this code and the laws of this state. In addition to such supervisory power, the mayor's administrative officer may, in respect to any or all agencies under his supervision, establish reporting procedures, require the submission of progress reports, provide for the coordination of the activities of such agencies, and shall perform such other administrative and executive functions as may be delegated by the mayor. He shall make periodic reports with such recommendations as he deems appropriate to the mayor concerning the administrative management of all departments, boards, commissions and agencies of the city. If the mayor's administrative officer is dismissed, he may, within 30 days thereafter, report his objections to the dismissal in writing to the city council, which report shall be printed in the journal of proceedings of the city council for the meeting at which such report is submitted to the city council. (Prior code § 3-2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-030 Ordinance enforcement authority.

2-4-030 Ordinance enforcement authority. The mayor, in addition to the duties, powers and functions vested in him by statute as the chief executive officer of the city and those specifically vested in him by the provisions of this code, shall have authority to act, or to designate the officer who shall act, in the enforcement of any ordinance of the city in all cases where an ordinance fails to specify the officer who shall be charged with the duty of enforcement. (Prior code § 3-3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-040 Signature of documents.

2-4-040 Signature of documents. The mayor's signature shall appear on all licenses and permits granted by the authority of the city council except as otherwise provided by law or provision of this code. In all cases where this code requires that the signature of the mayor shall be attached to any license, permit, contract, local improvement bond, or other written instrument, and in all cases where said provisions require the mayor's approval in writing or endorsement in writing, the mayor may, in his discretion, affix his signature or cause his signature to be affixed in such manner as may be authorized by law. (Prior code § 3-4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-050 Mayor's secretary - Appointment, powers and duties.

2-4-050 Mayor's secretary - Appointment, powers and duties. The mayor may appoint a secretary, whose duty it shall be to preserve and keep in the mayor's office books and papers which are customarily filed, or are required by law to be filed, therein; to deliver to the city council and to the respective departments of the city all messages from the mayor in writing; to attend the mayor's office during the usual office hours; and to perform such other duties as may be required of him by the mayor. (Prior code § 3-5)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-055 Report on departmental budgets and operations.

2-4-055 Report on departmental budgets and operations. (a) Mid-year report. On or before July 30 of each year, the Budget Director shall submit to the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations, or its successor committee, a written report detailing the following (the “Mid-Year Report”): (1) a comparison of revenue collected year-to-date against the applicable amounts appropriated in the annual appropriation ordinance for that fiscal year and a description of any key drivers that may materially impact the most recent three-year forecast, including any major economic indicators, changes in legislation, or other material impacts to a financial forecast; (2) a comparison of funds spent year-to-date against the applicable amounts appropriated in the annual appropriation ordinance for that fiscal year’s expenses for each department and local fund; (3) a list of all grant awards received since the adoption of the annual appropriation ordinance for that fiscal year, a comparison of funds spent year-to-date and since award allocation for all appropriated grants, a report of all grant-funded positions identified by grant and each position’s hiring status, a detail of any requirement for the City to provide local matching funds, and a list of any grants that expired or were revoked in the preceding 12 months and any grants that will expire in the next fiscal year, including a detail of proposed replacement funding or proposed changes to personnel and non-personnel costs funded by such grants; (4) a workforce analysis for each department, including a rolling, three-year trend analysis of vacancies, current-year vacancies, hiring and attrition analysis, and personnel salary and wage salvage against overtime spend year-to-date; (5) a detail of all transfers between line items within each object and purpose, as classified by 65 ILCS 5/8-2-4, organized by fund; (6) a list of all third-party contracts the City was a party to in the previous fiscal year, including the name of the contracting parties, the total estimated costs under the term of the contract, the total costs spent to date under the contract, and the applicable contract code or number and budget line item; (7) an analysis of the City’s use of bond proceeds during the previous fiscal year, including a description of the purposes allowed under the applicable ordinance authorizing the bond issues and the purposes for which such proceeds were used; (8) a cost-benefit analysis of all outdoor special events, parades, or athletic events, each as defined in Chapter 10-8, with 10,000 or more attendees per day; (9) the anticipated amount of an advanced pension contribution as necessary to keep the City’s net pension liability stable, as calculated in accordance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statements 67 and 68; and (10) such other budget-related and operational data as the Chair of the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations may request from time to time. (b) Quarterly report. On or before the 15th day of each fiscal quarter, the Budget Director shall issue a report for the preceding fiscal quarter to the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations, or its successor committee, of all funds transferred between or amongst any line items within a particular object and purpose, as classified by 65 ILCS 5/8-2-4, in the annual appropriation ordinance for the fiscal year; provided that the fourth quarter report shall be issued by February 15 each year. Such report shall be organized by department, and by fund or other funding source, and shall include a brief statement from the department regarding the purpose of such transfer. (c) Appearance before committee. Within 45 days of the release of the Mid-Year Report, but in no event later than September 15 of each year, the Chair of the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations, or its successor committee, may call departmental hearings. The Budget Director, and the head of each City department, shall be subject to appear before the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations upon the request of the Chair of that committee to discuss the information provided in the Mid-Year Report. (Added Coun. J. 12-16-24, p. 22879, Art. VI, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-20-25, p. 39283, Art. V, § 13) Editor's note – Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54948, Art. I, § 2, repealed former § 2-4-055, which pertained to the Chief Sustainability Officer.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-057 Budget Director - Annual estimates of expenses.

2-4-057 Budget Director - Annual estimates of expenses. (a) The Budget Director shall, on or before the thirtieth day of October of each year preceding the year for which the estimates are made, submit to the City Council a report of the estimates of the funds necessary to defray the expenses of the City government during the fiscal year about to begin. The Budget Director shall in such report classify the different objects and branches of the City expenditures, giving, as nearly as may be, the amount required for each. For this purpose, the Budget Director is authorized to require of all City officers and heads of departments, their statements of the condition and expense of their respective departments and offices, with any proposed improvement and the probable expense thereof, of contracts already made and unfinished, and the amount of any unexpended appropriation of the preceding year. (b) The Budget Director shall, in such report, show the aggregate income of the preceding fiscal year from all sources, including grants received by the City, the amount of liabilities outstanding upon which interest is to be paid, and of bonds and City debts payable during the coming year, when due and where payable, together with all such information as may be necessary to enable the City Council to prepare and pass the annual appropriation ordinance in the manner prescribed by statute, and so that the City Council may fully understand the money exigencies and demands of the City for the year for which appropriations are to be made. Such report shall include all projected income, from all sources, for the subsequent fiscal year, as well as a list of all new or expanded City programs or initiatives in the preceding twelve months, including a brief description of each program or initiative, a detail of the total annual cost and full-time equivalent positions attributable to each program or initiative, and any applicable metrics used to evaluate each program or initiative. (c) Within 15 days of the submission of the annual estimates of expenses and income pursuant to subsection (a), the Chair of the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations, or its successor committee, shall convene hearings on the proposed annual budget. (Added Coun. J. 12-16-24, p. 22879, Art. VI, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-059 Annual budget and mid-year report - Form and contents.

2-4-059 Annual budget and mid-year report - Form and contents. All descriptions, analyses, summaries, and other narrative elements of the Mid-Year Report, as defined in Section 2-4-055, and the annual estimates of expenses and income, as described in Section 2-4-057, shall be written in plain language. All data contained in the annual estimates of expenses and income, including any audited financials, shall be provided in a searchable spreadsheet format, and shall be formatted and organized as follows: (a) data concerning City expenditures, expenses, or other liabilities shall be organized by fund, fund type, fund code, fund description, department, department code, appropriation authority, appropriation account, appropriation year, revised appropriations, and recommendation year; (b) data concerning positions and wages shall be organized by fund, fund type, fund code, department, department code, organization, organization code, division, division code, section, section code, subsection, subsection code, schedule or grade, bargaining unit, title, title code, budgeted unit, total budgeted unit, position control, budgeted pay rate, and total budgeted amount; (c) data concerning revenue received by the City, other than grant revenue, shall be organized by fund, fund code, revenue category, revenue group type, source, and estimated revenue; and (d) data concerning grant revenue received by the City shall be organized by fund, fund code, department, department code, current year funding amount, succeeding fiscal year funding amount, prior year carryover amount, and total award amount. (Added Coun. J. 12-16-24, p. 22879, Art. VI, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-060 Chief Risk Officer.

2-4-060 Chief Risk Officer. (a) The Mayor may appoint an officer to be known as the Chief Risk Officer, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. (b) If appointed, the Chief Risk Officer shall have the following powers and duties: (1) To develop and maintain a comprehensive risk management strategy for the City of Chicago to protect the assets, operations, and employees of the City, and to review such risk management strategy and make adjustments as necessary; (2) To identify and evaluate potential areas of risk exposure for City departments, employees, contractors, and agents, and conduct risk management reviews which may include, but are not limited to, investigations, regular physical inspections of facilities, analyses of losses incurred, personal contact with governmental officers and employees, and review of data and records upon request; (3) To assist all City departments and Sister Agencies in developing a management plan for identifying, achieving, and maintaining acceptable loss levels and for treating and financing exposure to such loss. Such plan may include recommendations for insurance coverage; (4) To identify and recommend modifications to any City operation or facility that represents an actual or potential hazard to City employees or to the public, and to advise City departments in implementing such modifications; (5) To engage with public and private agencies and organizations and conduct joint investigation into and research on methods for identifying areas of risk exposure, methods of risk avoidance and reduction, and methods for addressing exposure that cannot be avoided or reduced; (6) To enter into grant agreements, cooperation agreements, and other agreements with governmental entities, civic and community groups, and other persons to effectuate the powers and duties of this section, and to enter into and execute all such other instruments and to perform any and all acts, including the allocation and expenditure of funds subject to appropriation therefor, as shall be necessary or advisable in connection with the implementation of such agreements, including any renewals thereto; and (7) To perform such other duties related to risk management as may be required by the Mayor and to undertake any and all acts the Chief Risk Officer deems necessary to mitigate risk and advance the risk management goals of the City. (c) The Commissioner of Fleet and Facility Management shall consult and work in coordination with the Chief Risk Officer to advance the goals of the City set forth in Section 2-51-050(a)(41). (d) The Risk Manager and the Office of Risk Management shall consult and work in coordination with the Chief Risk Officer to advance the risk management goals of the City. (e) All City departments and, to the extent permitted by law, Sister Agencies shall cooperate with the requests, recommendations, and directions of the Chief Risk Officer to advance their respective risk management goals. (Added Coun. J. 11-26-19, p. 11390, Art. IV, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. I, § 2) Editor’s note – Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 2, repealed former § 2-4-060, which pertained to contracts for release of claims.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-070 Prisoner release authority.

2-4-070 Prisoner release authority. The mayor shall have the power and authority to release and discharge, at his discretion, any person imprisoned for the violation of any provision of this code. In each and every case in which such release shall be so made by the mayor he shall cause a proper record thereof to be made and a notice thereof, together with a statement setting out his reasons for such release, to be sent to the city council. (Prior code § 3-7)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-080 Decorations on public buildings.

2-4-080 Decorations on public buildings. The mayor shall have the power and authority to display flags or other decorations on, in, or about the city hall or other public buildings belonging to the city, on such occasions as he may deem proper. (Prior code § 3-8)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-090 Observance of Flag Day.

2-4-090 Observance of Flag Day. On or before the tenth day of June, annually, the mayor shall issue a proclamation requesting the observance of the anniversary of the adoption of the flag of the United States by a general display of the national emblem on the fourteenth day of June, and requesting the observance of such anniversary in such other manner as he may deem appropriate. (Prior code § 3-9)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-100 Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice.

2-4-100 Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: "Equity" means outcomes and processes that result in fair and just access to opportunity and resources that provide everyone the ability to thrive. "Racial Equity Action Plan" means a multi-year strategic plan aiming to achieve equity and racial justice. "Racial justice" means the elimination of racial inequality and advancement of collective prosperity for communities that have been most negatively impacted because of their race or ethnicity. "Sister agencies" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1-23-010. (b) There is hereby established the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice, which shall have the mission to: (1) provide oversight and guidance for systematic reform of processes, practices, and functions for the City aimed at advancing equity in service delivery, resource distribution, policy creation, community engagements, and other government business on behalf of residents; (2) build capacity of City employees to advance equity in their core work by developing, utilizing, and promoting best and promising practices and strategies; and (3) strengthen, repair, and empower relationships between community members, private sector stakeholders, and government officials by developing, implementing, and leading engagements and initiatives aimed at advancing equity. (c) The Office of Equity and Racial Justice shall be led by a Chief Equity Officer, who shall direct the Office in carrying out the following duties and responsibilities: (1) to develop and coordinate the implementation and maintenance of: (A) a coordinated and comprehensive equity and racial justice strategy for the City aimed at combating systemic racism and addressing the root causes of racial and social inequity throughout the City's government and across the City; (B) racial equity action plans created by each City department to articulate and guide strategy aimed at advancing equity and making it a permanent pillar in all departmental workstreams; (i) All departments, unless directly exempted by the Chief Equity Officer, shall complete a racial equity action plan and report progress annually to the Chief Equity Officer; (C) trainings, professional development, and technical assistance on equity and racial justice for City staff; (2) to enter into grant agreements, cooperation agreements, and other agreements or contracts with governmental entities, private business, and civic and community groups to implement social and racial equity programs; (3) to research and plan processes, resources, and practices that will advance equity in how the City provides services and resources to residents; (4) to educate and communicate to City departments, other governmental bodies, advisory councils, community and civic organizations, and the public regarding the status and progress of the City's equity efforts, as well as opportunities available to advance progress and innovation; (5) to monitor and provide written annual status and progress reporting of City departments' racial equity action plans to the Mayor, City Council, and residents as part of the City's budget process each fiscal year; (6) to collaborate and partner with sister agencies, advisory councils, community and civic organizations, and the public in developing policies, initiatives, and planning efforts aimed at advancing equity and racial justice; (7) to collaborate with relevant departments and entities as needed. Non-limiting examples of such collaboration include: (A) the Office of Budget and Management to obtain relevant departmental data and information, and produce and publish reports to the Mayor, City Council, and members of the public; (B) the Department of Public Health to secure relevant research and data, collaborate and develop research and analysis, jointly seek federal and philanthropic resources, and develop and implement of tools and best practices, such as health and racial equity impact assessments; (C) the Department of Human Resources to access and analyze workforce data for equity dashboards and reporting, and develop workforce diversity and inclusion strategies; (D) the Department of Procurement Services to access and analyze contracting data as it relates to diversity of contractors and vendors, particularly M.B.E. and W.B.E., as these terms are defined in Section 2-92-420 or Section 2-92-670, as appropriate, data and information, and in partnership with the Contracting Equity officer support the development and execution of procurement diversity and inclusion strategies; (8) to hire additional officers and employees according to applicable City hiring laws. (d) The Mayor shall ensure sufficient funding for the Office of Equity and Racial Justice to faithfully and fully execute these requirements. (Added Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54948, Art. I, § 1) Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-3-01, p. 68130, § 1, repealed former § 2-4-100, which pertained to city newspapers furnished to mayor.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-110 Coordinator of emergency activities.

2-4-110 Coordinator of emergency activities. The mayor shall be ex officio coordinator of activities in cases of emergency resulting from any explosion, fire, flood, riot, storm or other cause requiring concerted measures for the maintenance of public peace and order, the preservation of life and property and the relief of suffering, or for any of these purposes. He shall formulate, and, as occasion therefor arises, he shall execute plans for the prevention of such emergencies so far as possible and for meeting them effectively when they arise. Obedience to his orders in executing such plans and meeting such emergencies is obligatory upon all departments and heads of departments and upon all other officers and employees of the City of Chicago. (Prior code § 3-11; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 8.3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-120 Gender-based violence task force.

2-4-120 Gender-based violence task force. (a) The Mayor shall create a gender-based violence task force. The purpose of the task force is to build a whole-of-government approach to address the pervasiveness of gender-based violence and human trafficking. The task force shall advise the Mayor on how to: (1) increase capacity and expertise within City departments to address gender-based violence and human trafficking; and (2) enhance coordination of prevention and intervention efforts among City departments and with key outside organizations focused on preventing gender-based violence and human trafficking; and (3) improve law enforcement response to gender-based violence; and (4) shift cultural norms on what constitutes gender-based violence and human trafficking and its acceptability; and (5) collect, analyze, and use data and research to enhance gender-based violence and human trafficking intervention efforts; and (6) create alternate responses to gender-based violence and human trafficking outside of the criminal justice system; and (7) reform policies that perpetuate or create opportunities for gender-based violence and human trafficking. (b) The task force shall be made up of a minimum of 10 members and a maximum of 21 members. The Commissioner of Family Support Services and the Commissioner of Public Health shall serve ex officio as members but shall not be counted toward the maximum number of members. One member shall be a member of the Advisory Council on Women and one member shall be a member of the Advisory Council on LGBTQ+ issues as those councils are established under Section 2-120-500. The Mayor shall appoint the membership and shall prioritize representatives from community-based organizations that focus on one or more of the following areas to be members on the task force: (1) Sexual assault; and (2) Domestic violence; and (3) Human trafficking; and (4) Sexual harassment and workplace violence; and (5) Indigenous populations; and (6) Immigrants; and (7) People with disabilities; and (8) LGBQTIA+ communities; and (9) Philanthropy. The Mayor shall designate a chairperson and vice-chairperson for the task force. Members shall not be compensated by the City for their service on the task force. Except for the ex officio members, appointees shall be appointed and hold office for two years. Vacancies on the task force shall be filled within 90 days. The task force shall meet at least quarterly. Additional meetings may be called by the chairperson of the task force or by a majority of the members of the task force. A majority of members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. (c) When appropriate, the task force may invite others, such as representatives of other governmental units and subject matter experts, to assist the task force in carrying out the duties of subsection (a). (Added Coun. J. 4-19-23, p. 62493, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-4-23, p. 3653, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-4-130 Annual report on homelessness and affordable housing.

2-4-130 Annual report on homelessness and affordable housing. (a) On August 31, 2026, and then August 31 of each year thereafter, the Mayor’s Office shall submit an annual report to the appropriate City Council committee on the progress made to address homelessness and affordable housing within the City. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the progress on implementing the 2026 Five-Year Blueprint on Homelessness. (b) The annual report shall be made publicly available on the Mayor’s Office’s of Homelessness website within five business days of its submission to the appropriate City Council committee. (Added Coun. J. 5-20-26, p. 43275, § 1)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2596029Fetched: 10/24/2026