[remote or in person] Committee on Finance
Chicago City Council
Finance
Politics
Monday, March 18, 2024
10:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. CDT
121 N LaSalle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)
City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers
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Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team
Live reporting by
Hera Shakir
@CHIdocumenters @city_bureau public commenter Wallace Gator Bradley thanks the committee for being more on top of the situations going on in the city, and for being more aware of what is going on than the last committee was.
@CHIdocumenters @city_bureau Public commenter George Blackmore speaks on how it is not a good situation out there for Clack Chicagoans and questions the committee on their choices that affects black people in the city.
The committee has now moved onto the first item on the agenda regarding the department of housing's project for issuing financial assistance to Earle school located on 1711 W. 61st street.
Tamar Collins is presenting on this item agenda. The project asks for the adaptive use of the historic preservation of the Oreille school which will be redeveloped into affordable permanent supportive housing.
"it includes outdoor amenities such as a plau area and outdoor patio and grilling spaces...and no tenant will pay more than 30% of their income towards rent." - Tamar Collins
The Earle school LLC is made up of the Gorman & company and Phenix foundation. Gorman & company is a Wisconsin based company and Phenix foundation is local.
Ron Kliewer is speaking on behalf of Gorman & Company. "We have a support for a strong bipoc commitment to the project both that URL school and the regenerator and of that $32 million that is up there about 82.5 % of it will go to bipoc organizations...doing construction"
Ms. Reeves os speaking on behalf of the Phenix foundation. "We have an organization that is clearly about making a difference... people who experience homelessness, recovery, whatever it is, we are looking at providing services through that land..."
Alderman Riley is asking about why the cost of affordable housing costs more than other construction around the city including commercial buildings in expensive neighborhoods.
Many answers are being given including Alderman LaSpota explaining that the construction of affordable housing is held to a higher standard than other construction, and maybe there should be a deeper conversation on the issue.
Alderman Lopez is asking if there are other CPS buildings that are being repurposed like this, and the madam chairwoman explains that CPS is not in this discussion right now.
The committee moves onto the next item. Joseph Lewis is now speaking - "The request before you is a proposed authorize ownership reconstructing of the 79 unit mixed use affordable housing community for senior citizens known as the town hall apartments."
Alderman Lewis is speaking on the matter - " this is one of the most important buildings in my ward, and I have Wrigley Field. so this is the first of it's kind, LGBTQ friendly, senior housing in the Midwest that opened 10 years ago now. The residents love it."
J. Lewis explains that The ask for today is to get Full Circle Communities to take over the ownership of this community. Heartland was disempowered from most obligations and duties by court order. this will further allow Full Circle Communities to care for the property.
Chairman Dowell asks the committee to vote on the matter, and the majority of the committee votes for the item to pass.
The 3rd item on the agenda has come forward. J. Lewis speaks on this matter as well. it concerns the loan restructuring agreement with Hollywood House Limited Partnership for 5700 N Sheridan.
like the previous item on the agenda, the ask is the remove Heartland from the property and allow Full Circle Communities to come in and to take ownership of the property.
J. Lewis says "Full circle is an Illinois non for profit corporation that formed in 1999, headquartered in Chicago, led by CEO Josh Wilma. In total, it has an ownership interest in over 1400 units in 3 states including 7 properties in Chicago."
An Alderman says that she believes we need to look again at the way affordable housing is structured and not letting it be so private in terms of ownership. Heartland could have asked for help, but instead it didn't and the residents suffered.
Full Circle Communities CEO Josh Wilma speaks and says that he and and Chairman Dowell have met before, but Chairman Dowell snaps that she has never met him, but Wilma reminds her of the time they did. Dowell says that was many years ago.
After Wilma speaks, the vote is carried to pass the item. The item is passed.
The next agenda on the item is from the Chicago Park district to have funds for improving Bessemer Park on 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.
Beth O'Reilly speaks on the matter and explains the improvements that are planned to occur for this park. one of the issues is that there are many baseball diamonds in the park, and that makes it dangerous for people to play baseball in the park.
O'Reilly explains the Cubs are contributing 150 thousand through their diamond grant program and the Morgan Wallen Foundation picked the project as a community in need, the budget is 750,000
The spray area will be completely changed and will be updated into a modern water recreation area.
Alderman Mitchell speaks " This is one of the parks, growing up in the 70s and 80s, I played little league and...that's how it looked when we were growing up. And [in] the 90s...maintenance took a turn. so it is really exciting for me to be in a position to work with the park."
Alderman Taylor asks to have a presentation about the tif dollars that are being asked to be spent. She explains tin her ward there are 4 parks & in Washington park, they didn't ask for soccer fields, but there are soccer fields there & that wasn't what the community asked for.
Aldermen Scott explains that there are fesrtivals that are held in parks, but the money that gets earned during these events don't get back to the community. She explains in Riot fest, 790,000 was spent for a permit but it didn't include a lot of things like garbage etc.
Chairman Dowell asks for a vote, and the majority of the committee votes to pass the item.
the next item is concerning an amendment to payments for improvements to McGuane Park at 2901 S Poplar Avenue.
the Alderman who has the park in her ward explains that a lot happens in the park including early voting and special olympics and thanks the committee for the funds.
Chairman Dowell asks the Committee for a vote, and the majority of the Committee votes to pass the item.
The next item is to ask for funds for construction of Park 599 at 1623 W Edgewater Avenue.
the speaker on the matter explains that the park doesn't look good, it has broken fences among other things. the plan is to improve a walking path, drinking fountain, tables and benches. The design is still basic, but the cost of reconstruction has gone up.
Alderman Vasques explains that they just want to complete the park before costs go up more.
Time Jeffries from the department of planning and development talks about the next item. the item is to restructure the agreement of Wilson Yards Tif district to support the development of an 18,000 square foot grocery store cooperative.
the property was originally meant to be a station house for the train, and it was used until 2017, but it's been vacant since CTA opened a new Wilson line across the street. the property was designated as a city landmark in 2016.
the original staircase will remain in the design inside, and it will increase the resiliency of the community
Mathew Groupe explains that Uptown isn't necessarily a food desert but there isn't really good food in the neighborhood. There are 90 mo use farmers in illinois that will be supplying to the store, and this will allow these farmers to come into chicago for farmers markets
Mathew Groupe explains that currently, farmers don't have the space to have farmers markets in Chicago, and this project will create 75 jobs in the uptown neighborhood.
Chairman Dowell asks for the vote, and the majority of the votes are Aye, the motion is passed.
here is a link about a farmers market in uptown. chicagomarket.coop/uptownfarmersm…
chicagomarket.coop/uptownfarmersm…
Tim Jeffries speaks on the next item on the agenda. The item is restructure financial terms to reimburse the developer of the Belmont central Tif district. on 3657 N Central Ave.
Chairman Dowell asks for the Committee to vote, and the committee votes for the motion to pass.
Items 9 and 10 are verbally explained by Chairman Dowell, and if there are no objections, the items will pass. No objections were made.
Item 13 is now being discussed. it is the estate of Rashad Mcintosh is deceased and was shot by police officer Schlecter
Caroline Fran Zach explains what occurred during the incident. She explains both sides of the story. Here is an article explaining the incident the family is asking to be compensated $2,250,000 chicagotribune.com/2017/11/30/vid…
chicagotribune.com/2017/11/30/vid…
Alderman ___ asks if a gun was found on the scene, Caroline answers yes, and says that based on the evidence, he will like to be recorded as voting no
An alderman asks the chairman to do a vote by roll call on this issue. Based on the placement of the camera, it isn't possible to see which alderman's raised their hands to vote for the item to pass. Dowell explains at the end of the vote 21:4 5 against. The item is passed.
Jessica Filker now speaks on Rodriguez v. Guevara, Case No. 18 - CV - 7951. Rodriguez says he was falsely convicted for this murder that occurred in 1995. Here is a link that speaks on the case casetext.com/case/rodriguez…
casetext.com/case/rodriguez…
Rodriguez believes he was framed and Guevara is not testifying by asserting the 5th amendment. A settlement could be prudent. Filker talks about the cost of the attorney's fees during the settlement process.
Alderman Vasques asks where Guevara is. Felker explains that he is retired in Texas. Vasques asks if the city is paying Guevara pension.
After being answered, Vasques explains that this is why certain people shouldn't be on the police force to begin with. He says he will vote yes but he wants this to be an example of how they are not anti police but someone like Guevara shouldn't have a cop
An Aldermen asks how many cases are pending against Guevara, Felker says 33. after being questioned on it more, she explains that the pensions happen through another org and she cannot speak on it, but Guevara hasn't been convicted of any of the 33 cases.
Chairman Dowell asks for the vote, and the majority of the committee votes for the item to pass.
The last item on the agenda is Nathen Jones, a minor, by his guardian and mother, Erika Boyd v. City of Chicago, et al., Case No. 2022 L 001735 (Cir. Ct. Cook County). Amount: $45,000,000. ($20M paid by the City and $25M paid by the City’s insurance)
Deputy counsel Margarate Memdenhall explains what happened during this incident. Here is a link that explains what happened fox32chicago.com/news/city-of-c…
fox32chicago.com/news/city-of-c…
Memdenhall says " Nathan's physicians...Charlie Ryan..believe that his condition will not improve and that he has a normal life expectancy. Nathan's expert Dr. Shepart...his permanent physical and cognitive injuries require 24/7 nursing care for the remainder of his life. "
Memdenhall continues " Dr. Shepherd believes Nathan has a normal life expectancy...If the city is found even 1%responsible, it will likely be required to pay at least $44 million in addition to medical damages."
Alderman Waguespack asks what happened to the driver of the toyota. Memdenhall explains they didn't file any litigation on this matter and only had soft tissue injuries.
Waguespack and Memdenhall start talking about proximate cause. Here is more information about Proximate cause in Illinois . chicagolawyer.com/laws/causation…
chicagolawyer.com/laws/causation…
Waguespack asks if they can argue if the city had an insignificant proportion of what happened. Memdenhall says that even if it can be made that Mr. Rags is the most responsible, even if the city has 1% responsible, they have to pay the majority of the medical fees.
Memdenhall reads out what proximate cause is from the Illinois pattern jury instructions.
Waguespack expresses frustration that this means that police officers are now not able to even put their police lights on and pursue even in this case where the lights were off a block before this incident happened. Waguespack asks if this is where police policy is heading
it is asked when the change of law happened around proximate cause. Mendenhall says she will present that to the chair and not make a public comment.
Alderman Lopez asks if the officer was put on desk duty. Memdenhall says no, and Lopez asks if there is a protocol on what happens during an issue like this. Memdenhall says she has asked CPD this but hasn't had a reply.
Aldermen Taylor questions how this family is supposed to take care of this person for the rest of his life? Memdenhall says she appreciates the concern and says the caregivers are open to accepting these funds to care for his son.
Taylor says that it's funny that we are putting a dollar sign on this young person's life.
Alderman LaSpota explains that these streets used to be in ward 1 and it could have been anyone of them, and he expresses his sympathies to the family.
Alderman Ervin asks if the additional insurers are on board with this agreement they are about to vote. Memdenhall says that yes they are on board with this settlement. Ervin expresses his sympathy.
Alderman Vasquez asks what the officer did that was against the chase policy in a way that provides clarity.
Memdenhall says that the general order 30301 says officers are not supposed to pursue when the most serious offense is a traffic violation and the officer failed to tell his superior that he was pursuing and his superior wasn't able to tell him to continue or stop.
Memdenhall explains there was a gun found in the center council but if this is taken to court, than no evidence of the gun will be allowed to be presented in the case.
Vasquez says that he has had experience being a young person being in a car where someone had a weapon and many kids may have that similar experience, and that POCs have certain reactions to police officers for reasons of profiling.
Vasquez also urges young people to question situations they put themselves in.
Memdenhall says that if this is sent to trial, they will argue that Rags has full responsibility, but that they have to look at the law today and not what it could be in the future, and the settlement is what is is.
Vice Mayor Brunet speaks and thanks everyone for their time in answering everyone's questions
Attachments
7 attachments
Agency Information
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source
If you attend a meeting in person, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint and show photo ID.
Meetings are also livestreamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.
At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page. If you don’t see a link for the meeting, you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.
Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.
See also: “What to Expect at a Meeting of Chicago’s City Council” via the Better Government Association.
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