Meeting of the committee on budgeting government operations
will come the order.
uh, we will
begin.
Uh, with the roll call to establish quorum.
Alderman. Ervin is here. Vice chair. Lee.
On the spot.
Chair Dao.
On Robinson.
Nancy Mitchell.
On the Harris.
Did I hear a faint here out of the uh, very well on the
Ramirez on the Quinn?
On the Lopez.
On the Moore.
On the Noah.
Mosley.
On the Rodriguez.
On the Scott.
Ormond cicho, Lopez.
Ottoman brunette.
Automatically pharaoh.
Cardona.
On Rodriguez, Sanchez.
Conway.
Ornament Ramirez, Rosa.
V.
Or Vasquez.
Riley.
Martin.
Of Manhattan.
And ottoman Silverstein.
uh the 19 members present, we do have a quorum uh I see we
have non-members
Coleman.
Wags bed, where is he?
Disappeared.
Okay, authors Vasquez, we will count you for forum.
20 and Alderman Rodriguez 21, okay, uh Now's the Time for
uh, public comment, we have 3. Uh people signed up for
public comment. We'll have Julie darling.
Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Julie darling, and I'm
here to speak for the voiceless at animal care and control.
Some of you have heard this once already today. So bear
with me. I, uh, I appreciate, uh, your attention. And thank
you to Alderman, Lopez and Alderman Conway, for hearing us
and recognizing the crisis. At hand, Gandhi said, the
greatness of a nation. And its moral progress, can be
judged by The Animals, by the way, its animals are treated
And he said, I hope that the more helpless a creature, the
more entitled it is to the protection by man from cruelty
of man and we are currently failing our citizens and our
fur babies.
I implore you to look at the alternative solutions to the
animal crisis in our city. It has been my very personal
experience with CAC that staff has either overwhelmed burnt
out doesn't care or simply feeling defeated. It smells of
death literally and figuratively. The Inspector General
Offices. Cites that 79% of the budget is allocated to staff
which leaves little to nothing for the actual care of our
animals. It leaves no room for programming, education or
supplies, the wish list at Animal Control doesn't consist
of fun things like toys or treats but rather a dog net
catcher a snake catcher.
Pocket flashlights, dust pans. Broom sets Control. Officers
are refusing to ride alone and are only going in pairs
which cut services in half, it's fiscally irresponsible.
The average salaries and dollars, there is not a permanent
qualified director, and no leadership in over 2 years,
volunteers are afraid to speak out and fear of being let go
or or being reprimanded a change.org petition demanding
changes now at 4,400 signatures.
If you will not allocate more funding as they do in other
major cities, which I understand, we are at a budget
crisis. Please consider Outsourcing the care to some of the
many legitimate invest vetted, rescue groups and leave
control to the city. I'm not interested in wrangling an
alligator or a snake, but I do know how to care for
animals. And at that, what I am creating a vac low-cost
vaccination clinic for the west side, coming up on March
22nd.
Rescue groups are resourceful can stretch funding pet,
abandonment is increasing and more Strays are wandering the
streets. People like me are out there trying to help and
catch and provide basic needs.
30 or more pets, or abandoned Strays, enter the pound every
day. Visit conversation requires care and effort, but it
does not require any more time. In my opinion, the solution
is simple. We can no longer wait, and I'd like to be part
of that solution. So if there's a committee, I'd like to be
a part of it.
Thank you, and thank you for those who have pets at home.
Give them an extra hug because hundreds are dying at the
hands of humans on a daily basis unnecessarily and they
need our help. Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am. Uh, next we'll have Jessica Jackson,
followed by Taiwan soon.
Well ma'am.
It's not a budget crisis.
It's a waste of money on illegals crisis.
and as much as you want to care for your animals, which is
a legitimate concern,
please understand that if your animals that you're talking
about, if they're not illegals,
They really could care less.
It's hard, but it's the truth. Like they say it's a bit
appeal, but you got to swallow.
Now.
Jason, Ervin, Alderman. Jason Ervin.
Yet another epic fail.
That you would send.
Mayor, Brandon Johnson to Washington DC?
Completely unprepared.
To Answer Financial questions and you're the person over
budget and your wife got something to do with the money of
the city. Yet he came there completely unprepared.
But what he did do was commit perjury.
And what we know in this city perjury and fraud are
natural. Acts that government officials commit in this
city.
now right now, see how disrespectful you been looking all
around instead of listening to your constituent, but it's
okay because 1 thing about being in that room on Wednesday
at that hearing and sitting in that hearing not in a
overflow room. Know, I was in that hearing
And the thing that was beautiful is because it gave me
hope.
Because now I know for sure unequivocally.
that is not the beginning, all, and in all in this room,
There's a federal government.
On Pennsylvania Avenue that's coming for Chicago and they
going to get people like you.
And everybody else in here.
That haven't done their jobs by protecting the citizens of
Chicago.
Me personally, I hope they get everybody's hand that's
dirty.
Everybody who was willing to watch my property, get taken
from me.
Including my Alderman. Greg Mitchell, I hope and pray to
God.
that the federal come and audit this place from top to
bottom and get everybody's hand that's dirty because that's
what's going to be necessary to straighten the city of
Chicago out because you all have very hard heads. You all
really believe you have drunk the Kool-Aid that this is the
Democratic machine and it's untouchable.
Y'all going to jail, you're going to jail.
Thank you for your comments. Mrs. Sims your next
What I want to hear.
Hey, uh, Irvin you already know you on The Hit List. They
come in.
They coming and that that commit at that oversight. Um,
committee that was a Andy, Biggs the lawyer representing.
He was a republican but he's a lawyer, he said that he said
this, he said it in such a way he said, he said, hey, I
looked at y'all. Um, what was it, the welcoming City and
y'all Sanctuary city ordinances, he says, that's good
stuff. This is good stuff. However, it's illegal.
He says in regards to a criminal warrant versus a civil
war. You all know being legislative being the legislative
branch that it's illegal, everything that you all doing in
regards to this welcoming city ordinance.
But the welcoming city ordinance is just the least of it.
The budget, the pension for the fact that the pension has
been underpaid.
for the fact that the retirement is underpaid,
For the fact that education, that so many different, slopes
that we slide down, I guess from kicking all those cans
around. This is the city government. This is our budget.
Which just like the Pennsylvania said y'all should regard
us. We voted y'all win, we elected, y'all. We actually
y'all take care of our circumstances, our situations As
Americans. We didn't ask that, we be faulted, 982 million
in regards to what a new arrival initiative.
A Ponzi scheme, right? But hey, it's just budget. It's just
taxpayers dollars y'all money, right?
this, the money that y'all put in every individual in this
room,
But who should be held accountable our city government.
Yeah, he went down there. He testified and purged himself.
That's why Mr. Biggs wanted to bring it up criminal
culpability. So they try to understand that for every
measure taken for every consideration for every scheme and
scan ran in this room, y'all will be held accountable
culpable. That's culpability
Yeah.
So Mr. Um, budget man. Remember November
Right. Remember my constitutional right being denied and I
just want to speak for the people, same way I'm doing now.
We in debt.
What 200 what, 29 billion and Counting.
For every consideration.
2022 to 2025 right now for y'all scheme, y'all illegal
scheme.
And y'all talk what he said to 77 unique communities, that
are being pushed back on a back burner for what? So that?
Y'all can line y'all Pockets, right?
For all of what 85% of what housing know, there's no
housing. There's nothing in consideration to the American
people here in the city of Chicago, aside from y'all
utilizing our dollars to line your pockets with
And this is a hard speech, I understand, however it's 1,
that's needed, but when the co look, y'all corporate y'all
law corporation. And when they come down here, the federal
government to audit do more than audit to put chains on
handcuffs, I want to be sitting in the room. I want to be
here when they get you Irving.
Thank you for your comments. Uh, we also will add the
automat Aero and, um, also need a motion to allow for
ottoman canoe and ottoman vehicles to participate.
Virtually
so move, uh, trim it down all in favor signify by saying I
P. The chairs. Any oppose chair's? Eyes have it. We will
add all the mentality of pharaoh, I'm sorry. I told them
pharaohs, you already added. Can are you with us, sir?
Okay, we'll add you when you show up. Okay. All right. Um,
The committee will now, vote on to approve, the monthly
rule, 45 report for the month of February February, which
was transmitted electronically to all members. Can I get a
motion to accept the rule 45 for February?
so moved by Vice chair, Lee all in favor signify by saying
I
Uh, and he knows.
Pin the chairs, I have it and uh, that uh, will be kept on
file. The community will now move to item number 1 on our
agenda.
Uh, on item number 1 is a substitute uh it's been proposed
and sent around all members of the committee. Do have a
motion to accept the substitute.
so moved by a vice mayor Bernett all in favor signify by
saying I
Any oppose any opinion of chairs of eyes, have it in the
substitute is now before us item number 1, is a
communication recommending, the adoption of annual
appropriation or this year, 2025 Amendment within fund, 925
and Chloe. Chloe beltik from the Department of budget is on
the do the presentation, uh, ottoman. L Sparta. We see you,
we'll add you to the role. Go ahead, Chloe.
Uh, good afternoon everyone. My name is Chloe belzak. I'm
with the office of budget and management.
Um we will be discussing the mayor's annual appropriation
Orient ordinance for year 2025 Amendment within fund, 925
for the Department of Public Health, the Department of
Family and support services, the Chicago Police Department,
the Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Department of
Transportation and the Chicago Public Library.
Uh, first will be for the Department of Public Health,
which has been awarded private Grant funds in the amount of
25,000 for the Chicago asthma, Consortium for the healthy
Chicago program or 2.0 program.
Uh, next is for the Department of Family and support
services where they have been awarded additional Federal
grant funds uh in the amount of 80,000 for the Illinois,
from the Illinois, Department on Aging for Medicare
improvements patients providers act program.
Uh, the Chicago Police Department CPD has been awarded
Federal pass through Grant funds in the amount of 5,000 by
the National Association of Voca assistance, administrators
for the community victims awareness project.
CPD has also been awarded State Grant funds in the amount
of 613,000 by the Illinois State Police for revocation
enforcement program.
CBD has also been awarded additional State Grant funds in
the amount of 1,252,000 uh, by the Illinois. Enforcement
alarm system for the less than lethal device grant program.
CBD has also been awarded a state Grant funds in the amount
of 308,000 by the Office of the Attorney General General,
from the state of Illinois, for the organized retail crime
program.
The Chicago fire department has been awarded additional
Federal grant funds in the amount of 725,000, by the
Department of Homeland Security for the securing the city
program.
The Department of Transportation C dot was previously.
Awarded uh unspent federal, carryover dollars um to be
reappropriate uh for 4,500,000 dollars from Cook County
Department of Transportation and highways for the
infrastructure Improvement. Grants uh coid program
C dot has also been awarded Federal pass through Grant
funds in the amount of $469,000 from the Illinois,
Emergency Management Agency, for the hazard mitigation
grant program. Um,
And last but not least the Chicago Public Library. Has been
awarded Federal grant funds in the amount of 2 million
dollars. From the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development for the Rudy lure. Uh,
Lorenzo Branch Library renovation program.
Okay, thank you very much, uh, quickly. Uh, could you talk
about? I know this is a issue that's been kind of
percolating as relates to Federal funding. Um especially
around around around the grant space public health and
other um, departments what you all are seeing or what you
all believe, will be happening along the lines of those
Grant and Grant dollars. Yeah, so for all of these uh,
amendments, we are talking about today, we do have the
legal agreements for all these grants. So we are relatively
confident in the reimbursement. Um, additionally, a lot of
the dollars we presented today are federal pass through
dollars. Meaning we, it is going to the state and then
through to the city of Chicago, um, and it is the position
of the state to follow our normal um, state of actions when
it comes to these pass through dollars.
Thank you. Thank you. Any questions?
On my Lopez.
Good afternoon, chairman and members of the committee. I
have a few couple questions with regards to the CPD grains.
Um, we can look on page 3 of the
summary that you gave us which was for the Illinois
Attorney General's retail crime Grant.
It says, this is for 3600 hours of overtime.
As well as for training and conferences to improve crime
investigations. So is there like specific
Plans for what, how much of this is going for training, how
much is going for conferences, and what is going to be left
for the overtime to investigate the retail theft?
Good afternoon.
My name is Thomas. Okay.
with the Office of Public Safety Administration, I believe
the budget on this 1 right now is
Um, approximately 6,000 for uh training and conferences,
and the rest will be for overtime.
Okay.
Thank you. And then with regards to the non-lethal device
program, can you explain what that is?
Yes Alderman. That is for the purchase of new.
um,
model 10.
Um, thesis.
uh, axon is apparently, um,
discontinuing, the manufacturer of the current, uh,
Models, that CPD users and we are rolling out newer models
to the Department.
So this says it's for 399 tasers only that is what aias can
provide at this time. Yes.
Are we supplementing that in our own? Because bless you,
obviously we have more than 399 officers with tasers. So
how are we?
Replacing everyone else's that may be a question for CPD at
this point from the grants perspective for which we are
responsible for. This is the only funding we have available
for teachers at this time.
Awesome. Thank you. Chairman
Thank you, autumn.
Before we do that uh, want to recognize automatic uh,
Ramirez Wilson for the purposes of going.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman
This is for the police department and I believe this will
probably have to be through the chair. I am interested in
knowing the number of f a, a FOID revocations that the CPD
is tracking down.
We will be able to provide that information.
Through the chair. All right, and then for C Dot,
The money that you are getting from Cook County.
Is that in addition to I'm looking I'm specifically asking
about the money for the Bronzeville Trail.
Order is that in addition to the 500 million dollars that
the city of Chicago is setting aside for the trail?
Or.
Is this in?
Is that included in the 5 million?
Good afternoon. My name is Grant Davis from the Chicago
Department of Transportation. I believe it is an addition,
but I can confirm that and provide that through the chair
okay, you like
thank you. I'd like to know that before we go on this.
You're gonna turn the money down.
I want to make sure I get all of the money are very well.
We recognize chairman mitts for the purposes of Quorum. Any
other questions on the 9255?
I'm sorry. Uh recognize our aldermen Hatton for purposes of
Quorum. You have a question. No question, just recognition
question. I got you.
You know, the questions on the 925.
Seeing none, is there a motion?
So moved by chairman, Mitch all in favor. Say I
Any opposed dependent chairs eyes having this matter will
be reported out at our next meeting on Wednesday. Uh, thank
you all for joining. Uh, item number 2.
Hey chair. This is Alderman. Can you send? I'm just making
sure you got me for Quorum as well.
I I did. I was waiting to hear from you but we have you
now. So you are all good. Thank you, sir. All right, uh,
item number 2 is a communication recommended to
Redevelopment agreement. With a couple Joe coffee LLC to
provide neighborhood opportunity funds to build a Coffee
Roastery, beer production, facility, retail Cafe, and Tap
Room on East 111 Street. Um,
We have Mr. Doyle from, uh, Mr. Doyle is here. Is he here?
From. Okay, we see you in the back here and uh we have our
folks from dpd. Uh, so please proceed
Uh, good morning, chairman Ervin and members of the
committee on budget and government operations for the
record. My name is Robert bumpers.
Uh financial planning analyst for the Department of
Planning and Development. I'm here today to request your
approval of a Redevelopment agreement between the city and
Veteran Roasters for the purpose of authorizing 3 million
in nof funding to be used for the creation of the new
veteran Roasters facility. The project was approved for an
NF Grant of 2 million dollars in May of 2023, however,
project site issues and increases in Project costs, slowed,
progress and created a need for additional funds.
Subject property is located at 754 East 111th, Street
within the Pullman community.
Area in the 9th. Ward far, south planning region. Alderman
Beal has expressed support for the project and has provided
a letter of support.
The project uh, site is on East, 111th, Street between
South Ellis and South Dodie Avenues.
Shown here is the subject property and current condition.
The property is vacant directly east of the site.
Are 3 restaurants in a neighborhood. Medical facility in
addition, the fifth district CPD station and the Circuit
Court of Cook County Branch 35 and 38 are directly across
the street.
The project team is led by Mark Doyle founder and managing
member of Veteran Roasters. The team also includes GC RAF
and construction and Lazlo simovic architects.
Veteran roers is a Chicago base coffee roaster, that
employs homeless in at risk, military veterans. The
proposed project on 111th, Street will construct a 16,500
square foot coffee and beer production facility, as well as
a retail Cafe and Tap Room.
Total project cost is approximately 12.5 million. The
project will be financed with Equity, debt, New Market tax
credits and a state of Illinois dceo Grant and the
requested nof Grant of $3 million.
These are elevations of the building north and south east
and west.
And this is looking, uh, Southeast at the um, facility.
If approved the Redevelopment agreement will reimburse, the
developer for up to $3 million in nof eligible,
construction costs. The construction reimbursement will be
provided as a 3 Progressive upon the issuance of the
certificate of completion.
The city's investment will be protected by Provisions in
the RDA that require the project to be occupied and
operating for no less than 5 years. If these conditions are
not met the city has the right to recapture previously
dispersed funds. Additionally, the developer must achieve,
the typical construction compliance requirements for
prevailing wage MBE, wbe and City residency.
Overall dpd, highly supportive of this proposed project the
grant will Aid the community and creation of jobs
activation of a vacant parcel increasing property taxes and
providing much-needed retail to the area. Again, Alderaan
be on the community support the project. Thank you for your
consideration.
Uh, and I am here with Mark Doyle from veteran Roasters to
answer any questions. You may have. Thank you. Uh thank
you. Uh as I understand it, this is uh this project was
previously approved but it's coming back for additional
funding and is that correct? That is correct. It was
originally approved in May of 2023 for a $9 Grant and this
would increase the grant size to $9 an increase of 1
million. Thank you very much, any questions.
Okay. Uh if not is there a motion? So moved by automatic
spot. All in favor signify by saying I
Any opposed any opinion shares? I have his matter will be
reported out at our next city council meeting on March, uh,
12th.
Okay also, uh welcome uh, ottoman Ramirez will be added to
our Quorum call as well as ottoman CEO Lopez.
Any others that we missed?
Okay, all right.
Thank you.
Uh, we're now consider items 3 through 12 of the agenda
which are all funds transfers. Uh, we have substitutes our
proposals for items 5 and 11 for transfers for the 23rd and
41st War, which have been distributed to all members. We
have a motion to accept those 2 substitutes,
So moved by chairman dial, all in favor. Signify by saying,
In your post. You pay the chair's eyes chapter substitutes
any Originals on items 3 through?
11 are before us.
Uh, any questions or is there a motion to accept item 3 to
11?
So move all them in Quinn all in favor. Signify by saying,
I
Any opposed the eyes have it and items 3 through 11 will be
reported out at our next city council meeting on March
12th. Item. Number 12 will be held in committee after quest
of its sponsor.
uh,
okay, I just want to make sure we got everyone. Everyone's
in all accounted for all the voters who wish
Okay, uh, with that will entertain the motion for
adjournment.
So moved by Vice chair. All in favor. Signify by saying I
Any oppose, any append? The chairs eyes have it? And we are
a jour.