diff --git a/city_scrapers/spiders/chi_citycouncil.py b/city_scrapers/spiders/chi_citycouncil.py
index 66bd8fd45..ab33c05a7 100644
--- a/city_scrapers/spiders/chi_citycouncil.py
+++ b/city_scrapers/spiders/chi_citycouncil.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+
 from city_scrapers_core.constants import NOT_CLASSIFIED
 from city_scrapers_core.items import Meeting
 from city_scrapers_core.spiders import CityScrapersSpider
+from dateutil import tz
 from dateutil.parser import parser
 
 
@@ -47,18 +50,30 @@ def _parse_classification(self, item):
 
     def _parse_start(self, item):
         """Parse start datetime as a naive datetime object."""
-        full_date = item["date"]
-
-        date = full_date.split("T")[0]
-        time = full_date.split("T")[1]
-        time = time.split("+")[0]
+        # as of 11/10/2023, the returned time is in UTC timezone
 
-        # as of 11/10/2023 the returned time is 5 hrs ahead of actual meeting time
-
-        adjusted_hour = int(time.split(":")[0]) - 5
-        adjusted_time = str(adjusted_hour) + ":" + time.split(":", 1)[1]
-        # print(adjusted_time)
-        return parser().parse(date + " " + adjusted_time)
+        # retieve meeting date and time
+        full_date = item["date"]
+        # print(full_date)
+
+        # convert datetime from UTC to CST time
+        # turn datetime object into datetime timzone aware object
+        from_zone = tz.gettz("UTC")
+        to_zone = tz.gettz("CST")
+
+        utc = datetime.strptime(full_date.split("+")[0] + "Z", "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
+        utc = utc.replace(tzinfo=from_zone)
+        cst = utc.astimezone(to_zone)
+        # print(utc)
+        # print(cst)
+
+        # extract the individual date and time as strings
+        # get date component
+        date = cst.strftime("%m/%d/%Y %H:%M:%S").split(" ")[0]
+        # get time component
+        time = cst.strftime("%m/%d/%Y %H:%M:%S").split(" ")[1]
+
+        return parser().parse(date + " " + time)
 
     def _parse_end(self, item):
         """Parse end datetime as a naive datetime object. Added by pipeline if None"""