Oh!
Good afternoon.
The Committee on the Budget and Government Operations will come to order.
We'll do a roll call to establish a quorum.
Vice Chair Lee.
Alderman Lospada. Alderman Dowell. Alderman Robinson.
Alderman Yancy.
Alderman Mitchell. Alderman Harris. Alderman Beale. Alderman Ramirez.
Alderman Quinn. Alderman Lopez. Alderman Moore.
Alderman O'Shea. Alderman Mosley. Alderman Rodriguez.
Alderman Scott.
Alderman Sigcho-Lopez. Alderman Burnett.
Alderman Taliaferro.
Present.
Alderman Cardona. Alderman Rodriguez Sanchez.
Alderman Conway. Alderman Casada. Alderman Viegas.
Alderman Mitch. Alderman Spizzato.
Alderman Nugent.
Alderman Vasquez.
Alderman Napolitano. Alderman Riley.
Alderman Knudson. Alderman Martin. Alderman Hatton.
Alderman Silverstein.
And Chairman Ervin is present. We have 17 members present.
Alderman Moore makes us 18 members present.
We do have a quorum.
The time now is for public comment.
We have
three members who will be given three minutes each to
have public comment. We'll start with Michael Harris, followed
by George Blakemore.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of this body.
I'm Michael K. Harris, Jr., representing the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.
And while this matter was passed by the other committee, members of this committee
sit on that committee as well. So we would like to thank members of the council and
administration for revisiting the social media tax language and working
collaboratively to ensure greater specificity within this ordinance.
We appreciate the effort to clearly define the scope, and so that it is
specifically directed towards social media companies and doesn't inadvertently
affect retailers or other businesses.
This added specific language provides important
clarity and certainty for the business community.
Thank you all for the time.
Thank you. Mr. Blakemore, you're next, followed by Quinshonnita
Harris.
Citizens, I've been abused
by
the gentleman that's the chairman of budget and the
lady over in council room, Pat Dowell.
I'm being abused. "Well, Mr. Blakemore, how are they
abusing you?" They have two meetings at the same
time, and I had to run out of one meeting
over to another meeting. But I'm entitled
to go to both of these meetings without being abused.
"Well, what's going on here, Mr. Blakemore?" I'm trying
to educate you. The importance of
having each one of these meetings on its own time
and not two at the same time. I've been
going for years, hollering out, cursing, saying
"69" and all kind of nasty words. There's something
wrong here.
You're denying me the right
to speak. "No, you're not the right to speak."
Mr. Irvin, Alderman Irvin say you can speak.
It's two meetings going on at the same time. Damn.
Can you understand what I'm saying?
I got the right to be over in this other meeting, and they're going to have
speakers over in this other meeting. Well, maybe Mr.
Blakemore, you're such an outstanding citizen, maybe they should
clone you.
Maybe they should clone you. You're different.
You're different. Nobody else comes up here and challenge
these ineffective
pieces of SH-I.
"Oh, Mr. Blakemore, you're a b****r. You're loud.
Mr. Blakemore," something, "You're a terrible old man."
Maybe I'm sent here
by the Most High. Now, silence is betrayal.
If you see an injustice and you're silent, you're a part
of it.
Exactly what I see. But what motivates you from
being so silent?
You're corrupt, too. Some of you all up here are getting
some kind of 501 [c] grants, and some of you all work down
here. So you got to be silent for your pay.
Don't get on Mr. Irvin, George Blakemore.
Don't get on Pat Dowell. Don't get on these aldermen.
Get on these people here in this so-called racist
city. And Trump doesn't have a damn thing to do with this
that's happening down here today.
Trump didn't have nothing to do with this.
"Oh, Trump's a racist. Oh, they'll throw," probably going to--
Racism been here, and it's alive here.
Thank you, Mr. Blakemore, for your comments.
Our final speaker is Quishonna Harris.
Hello.
Hi, my name is Quishonna Harris, and I'm the
founder and the executive director of CSA,
Chicago Shower Association.
Hold on. Wait, I'm sorry.
Okay. All right.
There are individuals living under bridges and tents and conditions where they are
completely disconnected from society.
Many are not counted, some are missing.
Some are dealing with untreated health and mental conditions.
Providing hygiene facilities brings people back into visibility,
back into the care system, back into society.
Today, I am respectfully requesting support to
approve the use of city facilities for this purpose.
Recognize health as access to public health requirements.
The ability to allow Medicaid/Medicare usage in the
hygiene-related health services.
CSA is not just a
facility. It is a solution. A solution that restores
dignity, a solution that improves health, a solution that strengthens our
nation, a solution that allows individuals to reintegrate back into
the realm of being recognized in society.
A solution that incorporates all community outreach programs.
This is about giving individuals a chance to reconnect themselves, just
like I did,
and I'm asking for your support to make this a reality here in Chicago.
In need, I ask. It's safe to say that transitions are not only
okay, but necessary. Sometimes we must break down to rebuild, laying
a stronger foundation that our future generations don't repeat the same
struggles, but instead step into a future of opportunity and
prosperity. Thank you so much.
Thank you for your
comment. Also would like to recognize Alderman Burnett for the purposes of
quorum. Also, can I get a motion to allow for the virtual
participation via Rule 59 for Alders Harris, Mitz,
Robinson, Rodriguez, and Mitchell? So moved, Alderman Vasquez.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
Opposed.
Thank you, Nick.
In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and Alders Harris, Mitz, Robinson,
Rodriguez, and Mitchell will be admitted
virtually. Okay. Item number
one is our Rule 45 report,
which was sent out electronically for the May 2026 meeting.
Can I get a motion to accept the Rule 45 report?
So moved, Alderman Taliaferro. All in favor, signify by saying
aye. Any opposed? In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and
the Rule 45 report is approved. The committee will
now move to consider item number one on our agenda, which is a communication
recommending the adoption of the annual appropriation ordinance year 2026
amendment within Fund 925 via direct
introduction. We have Chloe Belchick from the
budget department,
who will walk us through the amendment.
Good afternoon.
For the mayor's annual appropriation ordinance year 2026
amendment within Fund 925 for the Department of Family Support
Services, the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, the Chicago Police
Department, the Department of the Environment, Department of Streets and
Sanitation, and the Department of Water Management.
The total appropriation request is for
$15,745,000.
The first item is for the Department of Family and Support Services, which has been
awarded federal grant funds in the amount of
$4,850,000 by the United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development, HUD, for the Consolidated Appropriations Act
community project funding program.
The city, through the Department of Police, has been awarded
state grant funds in the amount of
$245,000 by the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity for the Chicago Camera Program.
The Department of Environment has been awarded private grant funds in the amount of
$50,000 by the Bloomberg Philanthropies for the Bloomberg
Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund program.
The city, through the Department of Streets and Sanitation, has been awarded
federal grant funds in the amount of $5 million by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency for the Solid Waste Infrastructure for
Recycling grant program.
And lastly, the Department of Water Management is appropriating federal
carryover grant funds in the amount of
$5,600,000 for CDBG for the
Rehabilitation Lead Service Line replacement program.
Thank you, Chloe. Are there any questions for the budget director
in relation to the 925 amendment?
Going once. Move do pass. All right.
Alderman Riley moves do pass. All in favor, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed? Any opinion chairs, aye.
This matter will be reported out at our next city council meeting on Wednesday.
Item number two is a redevelopment agreement with Axion Flame
LLC to provide Neighborhood Opportunity Fund assistance for the development
of property at 2640 to 2646 West Madison
in the 27th Ward. Also, we'll recognize
Alder Maria Hadden for the purposes of quorum.
And we have Robert Bumpers from the Department of Planning and Development
who will lead us through this
conversation.
Thank you all for joining us.
Don't expect to be that quick next time.
You ready, Robert?
Yes.
All right, go ahead. You may proceed.
Okay, thank you.
Good afternoon, Chairman Ervin and members of the Committee on Budget and
Government Operations. For the record, my name is Robert Bumpers, Financial
Planning Analyst in the Department of Planning and Development.
I am here today to request your approval of a redevelopment agreement between the
city and Axiom Flame LLC for the purpose of authorizing $1.8
million in NOF funding. The NOF grant will be used for the
creation of Axiom Flame's new permanent offices and studios.
The project will also receive a 7B property tax incentive.
The subject property is located at 2640, 2646 West
Madison Street within the East Garfield Park community area in the 27th
Ward.
This is in the West Planning region, and Alderman Burnett has provided a letter of
support for the grant and the property tax incentive.
The
property is located on West Madison Street between North Washtenaw Avenue and
North Pollock Street, seen here.
This is the building in its current condition. The property is currently vacant.
Its exterior.
These are interior. The buckets and things that you see strewn about, that's
collecting water. They have water damage and are going to be replacing
their roof as well.
The project team is led by Randall Brown.
He's the founder and CEO of Axiom Flame.
The team also includes general contractor T.W.
Chicago and architect ASIG Design.
Axiom Flame is proposing to transform a vacant warehouse in East
Garfield Park into a state-of-the-art content production studio,
securing permanent home for their business.
The expansion will increase production capacity, reduce
outsourcing costs, and introduce new revenue streams through studio rentals.
It will also create jobs for local creatives, support small businesses, and provide
accessible production space for independent creators.
The total cost of the project is approximately $2.6 million, and the project will
be financed with a combination of equity, debt, and an NOF grant of
approximately $1.8 million.
Surrendering of the finished product.
If approved, the redevelopment agreement will reimburse the developer for up to
approximately $1.8 million in NOF-eligible construction costs.
The construction reimbursement will be provided in three progress payments during
construction, and a final payment upon issuance of their certificate of
completion. The city's investment will be protected by provisions in the RDA
that require the project to be occupied and operated for no less
than five years. If the conditions are not met, the city has the right to
recapture previously disbursed funds.
Additionally, the developer must achieve typical construction compliance
requirements of prevailing wage, MBE, WBE, and
city residency.
Overall, DPD is highly supportive of the project.
The incentive will aid the community in the creation of jobs, activation of a
vacant building, increasing property taxes, and supporting the new ventures
in the area. Thank you for consideration of this request.
I am joined virtually by Randall Brown of Axiom, and we would be happy
to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you, Mr. Bumpers. Alderman Burnett, do you have anything on this?
Yeah.
Okay.
The Axiom guys have been good partners for a while now.
The creator economy is growing significantly.
We don't have a ton of opportunity within the city, and then
also on this part of town. There's a little bit of
this minor studio space in Kinzie Corridor, a little bit of it,
and obviously to the south in North Lawndale, we have the center space that
is more geared towards larger players.
And so having dedicated opportunity for these younger creators to do things
positively and figure out how we attract new economics
from a growing
industry is really awesome. And to see it in East Garfield, where there
isn't a ton of economic opportunity to begin with, is really
encouraging. We want to support businesses that are growing
organically and figure out how we could continue to support areas that need more
diversity in jobs and industry. So I ask my colleagues to support,
and happy to answer any questions alongside DPD and the Axiom Flame team.
Thank you, Alderman. Any other questions?
Alderman Riley.
Thank you. And thank you, Chairman.
And I don't want to
extend this committee unnecessarily, but I'm just, personally, I'm not familiar
with Axiom Flame. Is it a nonprofit
organization that assists young creators?
Who are we giving the money to?
From my understanding, it's a business, correct?
Yes, sir.
Yes.
For-profit business.
Yes.
And
what is it exactly the business does?
Well, what they're going to do is they're going to create an office, and they're
also going to create production space.
And this production space they will lease out to
content creators, and that way they have an ability to
utilize
production space that is usually not within their grasp.
Because, as Alderman said, you have larger production
entities in the city, like Cinespace, and they
don't have the ability to
help younger and newer content
producers.
So for instance, if, say, you've been on a podcast recently or
seen podcasts online, a lot of these are no longer just in somebody's
home. It's a full production set where they have stage lighting and
equipment and
tables that are aesthetically appealing.
This presents some of these optionalities for these young creators to have
a space that is more dedicated to be more presentable online.
As we know, the algorithm is becoming more attuned to aesthetics.
So it kind of is like introductory training
into larger set
production work, but at an attainable scale for smaller creators.
Understood.
Is it fair to akin this to like WeWork?
For, yes, the creative content, yeah.
Okay. All right.
And
just so I'm clear,
the total amount here is 1.8 million?
Yes.
And
will this for-profit company
pay some of that back? Or, I mean, how?
We're giving them this money.
As far as the grant, it's a Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grant.
So it's not repaid, unless, of course, they default, but we're-
Okay
... not looking for that.
And do you guys apply a but-for test when you're evaluating
applicants for NOF, as we do for, say, TIF funds?
Yes.
And you applied that here?
Yes.
And what were the results of that, besides the fact you're here recommending it
today?
They would not have been able to
complete the project without the city's help with it.
They did not have enough financing, and we're the last money in to help them
reach the finish line with their project.
And what's the total project cost?
It's $2.6 million.
So the company itself is putting up 800,000?
Yes.
It's not-
And in debt-
Not other grants?
No, it's not other grants. The whole project is NOF,
their equity, and debt that they're taking on to do the project.
All right. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman.
Thank you, Alderman. Any other questions on this?
If not, the Alderman Burnett moves due pass.
All in favor signify by saying aye.
Any opposed?
Any opinion it shows the ayes having in this matter will be reported out in our
next city council meeting on this coming Wednesday.
The committee will now consider items three through eight of our
agenda, which are transfer fund ordinances.
A substitute is proposed for four of the six transfers for Wards 10,
11, 47, and the Committee on Health and Human Relations,
which was electronically distributed. Can I have a motion to accept the substitute?
So moved by Alderman Hatton. All in favor signify by saying aye.
Any opposed? Any opinion, it shows the ayes having it and the substitutes are now
before us. Again, items three through eight, which are transfer
of fund ordinances within wage, allowance, and
automatic expense accounts for years 2026 for the
10th, 11th, 21st, 33rd, 47th,
and the Committee on Health and Human Relations.
Those are the ordinances.
Is there a motion?
Move to pass by Vice Chair Lee. All in favor signify by
saying aye.
Any opposed? Any opinion, it shows the ayes having it in this matter will be
reported out at our next city council meeting on June 17th.
Also recognize Alderman Napolitano for the purposes of
quorum.
With there being no further business before the committee, is there a motion to
adjourn?
So moved by Vice Chair Lee. All in favor signify by saying aye.
Any opposed? Any opinion, it shows the ayes have it, and we are
adjourned.