Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) and Mayor Lori Lightfoot are locked in a legislative battle over how to expand water access to low-income Chicagoans. [Jonathan Ballew/Block Club Chicago]

A City Council committee is scheduled on Tuesday to debate and potentially vote on a long-delayed proposal that would expand subsidies and protections for people who struggle to pay their water bills. But with the committee set to convene over the objection of its chair, the result of the meeting remains murky — especially as a competing ordinance from Mayor Lori Lightfoot lies in wait.