Love you.
while we,
Good morning me to come back to order. We will start today
with public comment. We have three speakers who have I
signed up for virtual virtual testimony or are the other
colors ready?
Yesterday.
Yes, you can begin with a joy Bunton.
If?
It.
Miss Barton. Yes. Yes, please. Proceed to this day. Three
years later still. The least that made it the most
hospitalized and dying recent studies, show that black
children had twice as many deaths is white children. If we
are serious about closing, the racial disparities in
health, you need to follow first night home. It's not over,
just to federal and state emergency declarations. December
3rd is winding down and other surgeons likely this winter.
We must not repeat past mistakes. We need to start tracking
my phone which is Nest. The billeting and disabling only
focusing on hospitalizations and deaths caused us to ignore
long. We've been Toby's. Imma constraints have been calling
for my even though most Kong covid cases starting with my
symptoms.
Guess I'll
Guess Imma Try.
Guess I'm back on the booster rates remain to low across
the board, by the current rates are unknown at this time,
but we can't presume it. Will match the very first shot
still too loud, especially since over half of transmission,
is from those who are asymptomatic, not those with
symptoms, people have wrongly been advised
Has been.
Has been sick.
Has been six instead of testing to make sure we're not
unknowingly, infecting others, even when we feel fine. The
test or less accurate, people should be made aware. That is
recommended to test three times over several days for
better accuracy and only floating both through and knows
you are the most accurate results. Which most people don't
do private public schools. No longer publicizes is IHOP in
Tustin, right? And no longer uses PCR test, but the more
accurate bunco because our economy trillions, if I can only
10% of children are estimated to have lunch with 20%, 18
months, and more has kept millions of people out of work.
It's covid. Infection increases, the risk of long and
covered with multiple organ, increased rates of diabetes,
heart attacks and strokes. Hundreds of thousands of
children have already lost a parent. We must be proactive
with desperately need an increase in.
Under.
Responding.
Responding to implement biologist. And the case with cheese
model of pandemic defense, which relies on a multi-layered
approach the protection and doesn't really depend on
vaccine for covid is Airborne Zarah needs to be properly
ventilated and felt it as well as funding and protect those
most vulnerable like myself has free reign, Aston public
transportation school work places in all public buildings
actors. The PCR.
What's the?
has to be more available, convenient and
Has to be more available, convenient and freaked, it should
be done on a regular basis. We must invest in rebuilding
our local, public health, and politicized, funding, you
have to say mitigations to protect and says black. Thank
you.
Thank.
thank you, Miss by
Thank you, Miss bunch. And next, we'll have Natasha bun.
Annette.
Natasha.
Natasha bond is not here German.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you next, we'll have Wesley Zeppelin.
Good.
Good morning. Can you hear me?
Yes.
Yes, we can. Please proceed.
Oh, and Wesley.
oh, and Wesley a
Oh and Wesley up line on the policy director at help the
medicine policy, research group, a non-profit, build power,
momentum for Health Equity, and social justice. And I
messaged me or Johnson, and Chicago city council members in
the house of Chicago is the most massively increase the
city's corporate funding for the Chicago Department of
Public Health. We're glad to see an increased investment in
Mental Health Services. There's a great need for this. And
the 6.5 million degrees is a decent start. Still Chicagoans
need more funding for other critical Public Health
Services. Here's a quote for mayor Johnson's transmission
blueprint, the other Big City Health, Department's of
Chicago Department. Public Health is understaffed and
underfunded for the covid-19 pandemic. The dollars, the
city's corporate budget allocated to deviation rise under
20% of the agency's budget. Today City funds, constitute
less than 10% of total budget.
and,
And quote.
And that's true this budget proposal local bunnies propose
at 8.6% reduction in grant funding the books out of state
and local branches that the funds or categorical and can't
be flexible. Use for current emergent house arrest for the
issues. They focus on. But they leave many issues with
insufficient funding. Also, those aren't enough and they
can go away. Chicago has some of the most severe Health
inequities in the US with a 10-year. Life expectancy Health
inequity black and white Chicago structural racism costs.
What's?
What's the time?
What's the fine?
What's the fine Health, inequities Health inequities are
systematic differences in health status and outcomes across
different populations that are unfair or unjust. And
remediable. This means that not only can we do something,
we also have justice and human rights in Paradise to do.
So, the reality of Health inequities mean people are sick
unnecessarily and each year, thousands die younger and they
would have held in equities didn't exist. While some of us
are most connected. He's the truth is that all of our
health disarm, the worst Health inequities are the worst.
The chances are for each of us to have good help. That's
true for every stratum of the population. Funding public
health is for our own good. You in, we need you as elected
officials to serve as public health protectors, we need you
to provide sufficient funding for cdph, public agency,
responsible for leading on Public House in Chicago. Cdph
needs more funding for such policies, community health
workers, nursing home. Visiting Services health issues.
Support.
supporting the health of migrants to,
Supporting the health of migrants Community Health
assessment in planning and more of these are just examples
of critical. Pandemic lesson is that underfunding
government of Public Health is foolish and deadly is not
optional. We need sufficient flexible. Local funding, for
cdph, such that it has the staff and capacity to respond to
current and emerging public health problems, including
longstanding Health, inequities need a square be a public
protector. Increase corporate fund dollars from cdph. Thank
you.
Thank.
Thank you, mr. Thank you mr. Airplane. Next will have in
chamber, Lakeisha Latham.
Good.
Good morning. He said
Good morning, City Council, Members. My name is Lakisha,
leave them. I am the secretary-treasurer of the Conrad
World Community reparations Commission.
I have some.
I have spoken.
I have spoken to this body before to talk about reparations
for the descendants of enslaved. Africans, we met with
mayor Brandon Johnson in April, to which he said he could
support or commit to four items which were the office for
the descendants of enslaved Africans. He also said he could
commit to a reparation task force or commission. He also
said he would speak to or commit.
Do I?
2.
to the
To the rapper.
To the repaired of basic income which would take 2,000 youth
from a informal economy or a street economy to a more
formal economy. Providing them with a monthly stipend of
$800 a month.
All.
Also.
Also, the last thing that was discussed with the revamping
of the ordinance that Alderman Tillman made in 2002. So
that ordinance would actually revamp, the slavery, era
disclosure, and give it a component by, which it would be
enforceable. Since it really has not been enforced since it
was actually establish as an ordinance.
Do I?
During.
During your budget.
During your budget season. We stand here with our community
members. Black roots, Alliant, as well as eat in Cobra and
other organizations here, reparations United.
Tomb.
To make.
To make sure that reparations for the descendants of
enslaved, Africans. And black people do not go on her this
budget season. There's a lot of Injustice is going on.
There's a lot of trauma, a lot of hurt.
In.
and talking with some of,
And talking with some of the pain.
And talking with some of the Palestinians as well as some
of the Jews earlier this week. They ask, what was I here
for? I told them both sides with the open-heart understood
The Plea. And the reason for reparations for black people
you heard testimony from both sides last week, which Ashley
uplifted are black leaders. They spoke about Malcolm X.
They spoke about Angela Davis. Some of them, they spoke
about Martin Luther King, I believe on both sides, both
Fighters for black people.
He?
Pierce.
Here's a.
Here's a day. We still have Injustice stemming from traumas
of redlining racial division.
We do.
We don't want to see that continued. I ask that this body
put reparations. Under this commission, this commission's
budget line item as well as the public safety
administration in the 2024 budget. Thank you.
They?
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am. Next will have Linda Coronado.
Good.
Good morning.
Good morning, thank you please receipt. My name is Linda
Coronado and I am a member of the Rudy Lozano expansion,
Library expansion, committee would like to thank you very
much for giving me this opportunity to speak before you
today. The committee with
Advanced.
Hey, did you advance the light?
Hey, did you advance the legacy of Rudy Lozano was social
justice activist who lived and worked in the Pilsen
Community. But also to expand the library that bears, his
name because of its cultural linguistic and historical
importance of the Mexican, Chicano lucky no experience in
Chicago. The Rudy Lozano Branch library, located in the
heart of Pilsen was built in 1989 and 19 20 21. The public
building commission in the Chicago Public Library completed
a feasibility. Study to determine the kind of work that
needed to be done to renovate the current Branch Library.
The study concluded that approximately anywhere between 7
to 8, million dollars would be needed the expansion
committee. Also became aware that the that a complete
rebuild of the facility would cost upwards of 20 of
approximately 20 million dollars and that monies would be
needed to raise.
To raise.
To raise for a to bring either of these two proposals to
fruition in 2023, the Chicago Public Library and the
expansion committee advocated for funding. From the, from
the 4th congressional district Community funding partner
initiative and the state senators Community, your marks.
Fun as a result of the Chicago, Public Library was awarded
three million dollars for the the Lozano Branch Library.
Additionally and expansion. Member pilson home
Owner.
Owner submitted testimony.
Owner submitted testimony at the May 4th event meeting that
took place regarding the extending the boundaries of the
current Pilsen industrial Corridor. It tip Corridor are
rational with simple extending the boundaries you would
include the Rudy Lozano Library there for that money. That
was generated by the pills and residents could be used
within the area, specifically, to fund. The rebuilding of a
new library in this process and feel strongly that the
acquisition of more space and funding is needed to convert
the Rudy. Lozano Library, branch library into a Regional
Library, that would house a much-needed, Mexicano Latino
Chicago, historical archives, that should provide Scholars
and documentarian the resources to tell the full historical
footprint of the Spanish-speaking Chicagoland community,
and their social and political influence in every aspect of
Life. As We Know It, the committee
Used to preserve.
Used to preserve in.
used to preserve and expand the Spanish language, collect
collection of the Lozano Branch library in order to uplift
and positively promote the relevance and necessary impact
of spanish-language readers and future changemakers far and
wide. The Regional Library would also serve as a center of
excellence, not only for the residents of Chicago, but
Thank.
Thank you, ma'am. You your time has expired.
Male do.
Belle. Delphine
Fortunately management retirement has expired. We only
allow for three minutes of public.
If?
if you are,
If you if you would just I'll give you, I'll give you the
go-ahead your question.
Tim.
Jim, and
Jim. And perhaps, we could accept her written testimony and
include that in the record since you didn't have enough
time to deliver the entire message.
The.
Directions.
directions to
Actually I think that's an excellent suggestion. If you
could provide a copy of what you have, to one of the
sergeant-at-arms and we will include incorporate that into
the record for, for review for by everyone.
Okay.
Okay, in Auburn Rodriguez, could you get shredded? That
happens. I know that the rookies part. You got it? Ok.
Google. If you can include their force in a wreck would
appreciate it. Thank you, next. We'll have a Khalil cotton
You in.
You in the.
You, and you have.
You and you have your three minutes at the time. Is a head
over you. Good morning. How you doing? My name is Khalil.
My name is Khalil, I am a youth leader with the King. Will
overcome any organization.
I'll
Also known.
Also known as Coco Coco supports the passing of the Peace
book because not only do we need more youth employment. We
need jobs that give us the power to bring peace to our
communities and schools. Will you pass the Peace book? Will
you find it from the violence prevention budget. And from
the youth Workforce funds from vfss?
Thank.
Thank you.
Neck.
Next.
Next, we'll have a coffee.
I do.
Adamo.
Ademola.
Apology.
apologize for
Apologize, Barbara mispronounce your name.
Pollo.
Lullaby.
Followed by a James Robinson.
alright, I
all right, I'm not a
Alright, I'm not as tall as him but still want to address.
All right. Good morning. The steam Council. Good morning
everyone here. My name is cocci. I don't know why I'm going
to do Mentor, as well as co-founder with big kids. Mad City
are as you just heard the young gentleman from the King
will Oak Lawn Community organizations? Say we are here in
favor of the peace blue coordinates. We've been working
with in the 20th. Ward, the fourth ward, the 5th, Ward, in
the Third Ward, over the past five years working from you.
With young people, specifically from dyett high school
Kenwood, High School, Hyde Park Academy by King High School
in Amore in Burke Elementary within those times week. Since
we worked directly with young people are, we've been able
to gather information around the needs assessment that they
have, the things are really stick out for young. People is
being unemployed not having access to a steady income as
well as not having trauma-informed care. Therefore, within
the Peace book order.
There is a.
there is a component, where we
There is a component where we want to empower young people
through employment but not just that to give them Direct
Services to trauma-informed care. Make sure they learn
restorative justice practices in conflict resolution and
have the ability to work directly with their peers, within
the Chicago public school system as well as in the
communities in their neighborhoods, directly provides
services to reduce violence. So we're here today. Just to
make sure that we're in conversation with the department of
family support services to ensure that some of that money
from violence, prevention, as well, as youth employment,
goes towards the Peace book because it is imperative, the
young people are at the table and then in the conversation
around, violence, prevention, right now, unfortunately, the
city doesn't have a unified strategy to make sure that
young people are in teenagers. In particular, have a seat
at the table. As far as violence, prevention is concerned.
It's a good thing that we're doing more.
Support at.
Support apple.
Support a family.
Support a formerly incarcerated is a great thing that we
have violence Interrupters and community members, but we
need to make sure we have a piece specifically giving young
people, the tools and the ability to create safety in their
Community right. Now, we know young, people are
criminalized. We look at the numbers as far as you know,
what was being said, around carjacking, and even you know,
different forms of violence. Young people are at the
Forefront as far as the media's attention. So why not we
give them
Tattoos near me.
the tools in the ability to also,
Tattoos in the ability to also build safety within that
community. So we hope that you all move forward with this
2024 budget and make sure the young people are at the
Forefront and including that, thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
and our
And our last speaker today is James Robinson.
No more.
Good morning.
We were.
We want.
We want the department of family support services to fund
the Peace book to hire you like me to become peacekeepers
and make our schools and Community. Say, my name is James
Robinson on 19, and then you've organized it from Lucia's
master.
I feel.
I feel that the p.
I feel that the Pittsburgh should be passed because this is
a no system that provides jobs for the Youth. Mutual Aid,
mental health. I have this will give argue for a safe place
to learn and get restorative justice training to become
peacekeepers in their neighborhood. We are also big on
helping the families that were impacted by gun violence,
and whichever way needed Chicago, Chicago needs programs
like this, because this organization has helped me shaping
to the person I am today, and me, and even my little bro's
are probably be more strain of all. If we didn't have
positive outlet to be able to work and make our community
better, even though the streets as risky as quick money,
and it makes us feel powerful and forget our home. That's
why we need to
People and get them.
People and get the mental health care.
People and get the Mental Health Care Resource to take care
of themselves and their friend. I've been doing this work
since I was 16 and this has been a full of great
experience. So, please pass the peas. Like I said, we want
the Department of Family Services to fund the Pittsburgh to
hire, you flag me to become peacekeepers and make our
schools and Community. Say thank you.
Thank.
Thank you.
Lost.
We've also been Joy.
We've also been joined today by what I believe is a class
so far.
but,
Budget on.
Budget analyst or the government Finance Officers,
Association like to welcome you all to City Hall into the
chambers.
Aurora.
All right.
Aurora.
Ariana.
Ironic.
Ironically enough. I took the same class about probably 15
years ago when I was a director Finance for the village of
Maywood. So you are you probably should come later today.
We can have some real fun but this morning will be probably
be a little chamber session over 4 as we go through our
2024 budget in process. So today we have we have before so
they will have for one elected official in three
departments. First session, I'm going to ask it but if
there's no object in all that, we do a 5-minute round of
questions and then we can go in.
The way up.
Wait a second, if need be, if there's, if there's any
objection to that, please let me know. Okay. And in, as we
get deeper into the day, I think last night we finished up
at about 8:30, but we know we, we, we will get through this
in an answer, but I would like to help move us along a
little better in that respect. So we're going to open this
morning with all members from Kofa after which we'll go to
the clerk of will then give her opening statement and
introduce her staff code.
Turn.
German herb.
German Urban by Shirley members of this body. My name is
Daniel, first drum, I'm with the council office of
financial analysis in today, we will start things off by
looking at 025 Office of the city clerk.
Go.
Go to prep.
Go to propose, fy20 for budget. Is a 15.04 million, that's
a 2.72 million increase over the revised fy20 3 budget.
The full.
The phone.
Other folk.
Other full-time employees remain level at 91 and 7.83
million is for personnel. In 7.21 million is non personnel.
Do.
Do all this.
Do all this funding. Totally totaling 40.56% is derived
from the corporate fund. This represents a 35.11 per cent
increase compared to the revised fy20 3 budget.
in the
In that.
And that if you look at this next slide, we have a 32ft.
He's coming out of the corporate find with 59 coming out of
the vehicle tax fund.
The.
The personal a Personnel Services category is set to grow
by 800-3328. This is representing an 11.43% increase
compared to the revised. FYI. 23 budget of the Personnel
expenses are on the rise, or you can see travel has no
increase compared to the fy20 3 budget.
and now,
and that is a
And that is a Cova.
Thank.
Thank you, madam clerk. Welcome to make this quick and
painless Maybe
hourly.
I will leave if she chooses you do want you have words to
say very well.
Play.
Please.
Please mr.
Please proceed, good, morning city, council, and members of
our beautiful city with me. I have Kinder Thomas Chief
Administration and Finance in the Commissioners box, I have
Captain or cattle are cheapest app and Deputy city clerk
lavonda Creighton. Our chief technology officer Hollis
Williams cocki digital rylee Bolinger Chief, Operating
Officer, Michelle Lavar, Chief legal counsel, Luis Fuentes
director Siddiqui Diana Martinez, chief of communications
and external Affairs. Peter, Paul Chek managing editor city
council Journal, Jorge Ramirez. Deputy Chief Operating
Officer and Marion Lenten manager of data services. They
are the bomb team. Thank you so much for having me today.
This year, the office of the city clerk. Continue to find
ways to be part of the solution at Chicago, faces
unexpected challenges and grounded. In the principles of
equity accessibility openness and Innovation. We made
strides uplifting, some of our most vulnerable residents
increasing access and transparency in government while
being
More environmentally responsible.
More environmentally responsible and providing more options
for painting Services improving customer service. As many
of you are aware the city, he is a first step for many in
need of a turning point. Such as those fleeing from
domestic, violence, situation peopleready in Treynor
communities, after being released from the criminal legal
system. Those experiencing homelessness new arrivals. And
even our young people all benefit from access to a free
government issued ID. One of the ideas behind the creation
of sneaky program is the dignity and Humanity that comes
with having a government-issued ID. We want to ensure the
program with always accessible to every Chicago reason that
we continue until you're six the program. Making sure that
that basic idea serves as our norstar, just this year,
we've helped a person with visual impairment gain access to
housing when he lacked a paperwork to get a state ID in
lgbtq, plus you escape a homophobic household, a person
experiencing homelessness, sign up for help with the
substance abuse program and made it possible for future
football stars to sign up to play.
Competitive.
Competitive league.
Competitive leagues all while ensuring that the quality of
the car Remains by allowing participants to open a bank
account, received business business discounts and access
service including housing. So, starting in August of 2022,
we began to see new arrivals being sent here from States,
like, Florida and Texas. We answered the call to service
and well, angers and sickens me to see human beings being
used as political party does not the time to sit back and
do nothing. As more than 17,000, new arrivals are dropped
off in our city.
We won't stay.
we won't stop this problem alone, but we
we won't stop this problem alone, but where he
We won't stop this problem alone, but we're here to be part
of the solution, roll up, our sleeves and get to work. So
I'm serving this new population with limited and exhausted.
Resources are City team has gone above and beyond to do
what we can in the face of this humanitarian crisis. I want
to thank my whole team are delicate agencies in our sister
agencies for working tirelessly to get as many siddiqui's
out as possible, not just to our new arrivals. But every
Chicago in the office up, stop to the problems of today, we
continued building for the future for cago. Proconsul
modernization efforts were not only establishing a
footprint, for a more. Transparent said he got there are
also becoming more environmentally responsible by lessening
the Ryan. Some paper and providing our team members, a more
efficient way to do their jobs. Working, smarter not harder
last year, we made history by becoming the first major city
to vote electronically this year with the support of
internal and external Partners our Tech Team and city
council launched a robust legislative management system
with tools built.
Chicago wedding.
Chicago, that include.
Chicago, that included.
Chicago, that include a nice commission for all Council
matters. Streamline internal legislation management
management process and a new public facing side. Setting us
up for a cloud-based system, and eventually a paperless
system, their effort open the door for council members, to
legislate, with E and the public to gain unpleasant access
to the important work being done by this body. At the same
time. We continued our Mobile City Hall initiative,
bringing government services directly to communities across
Chicago. We wanted to share that our services are in every
community on Saturdays and evening hours, to let families
or have to take off to work, or spend money to come down
town, just to buy a City Sticker. Now, they can do an Ender
neighborhood. And at one of our three locations are on
line, we also know that access Tim's Beyond location, which
is why we lower the barrier to compliance with the
commitment to programs like our reduced term. City sticker,
no feed batarangs and Senior stickers, all programs that
are now permanent and available at all of our three offices
as well as our whole city hall event.
I want to.
I want to see.
I want to thank.
I want to thank my.
I want to thank my team for your hard work and dedication
to build in Chicago, Innovative tools for everyone to be
able to access this team works Night and Day with very
limited resources to build a future for cargo. And I want
to thank the city council for being partners and this work.
And at this time, I'm happy to answer any questions.
Thank you. My
Thank you, madam Clerk.
Thank you, madam clerk. Openers will start with ottoman
Harris.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, mr. Chairman
Or.
forever.
Or everybody that doesn't know that. Sheila is our official
timekeeper and she kind of watch is the process for us. And
how many people do is she responsible for taking care of?
So, what you're referring to his to lock and just an
administrative Services officer to a special title for the
budget book, and this person was responsible for over 300
employees. So onboarding off boarding time, keeping benefit
enrollment all of the payroll timekeeping excetera. And I'm
bringing this to our attention because I'd like to advocate
for her to have an assistant because she's one person and
she had a real tough year. She lost two loved ones this
year and was not like available I could tell you was
catastrophic so I think that we need to find the person and
get that extra body in and that is my request that she get
to have some kind of a system that works for her.
Second.
Secondly.
Secondly, the online City key process is necessary.
Are.
Aaron.
Currently we have the any events in our community. We are
bombarded with hundreds and hundreds of people coming to
the event. For the city key, which offer often overshadowed
the sticker process, which is why people in my community
are there to get their stickers. So we need to create that
online process is necessary as the next wave to move us
into the next Century of the next year and that's where we
going. It's that way to move us forward and I think we have
to take a real strong. Look on how to get you the money.
The front to find that online City. Key Program is super
necessary. The state of Illinois has it and just go online
and I just recently did it, I think that we should have it
you to keep us in line with the latest technology. So if
you can briefly just talk about that. Yeah, so thank you
for coming to our briefing. So we're creating a Sabiki
online portal or platform. I should say that's going to do
two things cranium.
system to
System to help us.
System to help us manage our lines. And secondly, will
allow you to apply for a city key online. Will see it.
Still keep our mobile services. So those will not go away.
So if people choose to come in person and they can we'll
just have an easier way to an appointment system and walk
on some walk-ins as well. This is approximately $322,000
all in to build to mail these to the Heat.
Words out.
I doubt, they're the process of building a portal because
you will use something like LexisNexis to authenticate it
and we're doing a pilot of 20,000 cards next year. Now, we
are trying to work with budget to figure out some funding.
This is not in our budget book this year, at the time of my
hearing, we haven't been able to find a funding mechanism,
but we really, really, are asking for some support on this
because they key is just unmanageable right now and it had
a high demands of events before the wave of new arrivals.
We could not keep up and now we are just like my team is
burnt out. Exhaust is not sustainable and that's why I
strongly support us going to this online process to help
eliminate some of that working. People tell their their
bones on trying to do the city key card and to make it more
accessible to more people. So that I don't have to drive. I
don't have to ride the bus.
And I can do a.
And I can do it.
And I can do it right.
And I can do it right from where.
I can do it right from where I'm at, but think it's really
important that we find the online program. Thank you, mr.
Chairman has volleyball. Tell your Pharaoh, any others.
Play.
Lake.
Good morning. Can you speak a little bit to the the increase
from 2023 to 2024? Looks like a 1.5 million dollar increase
each kind of increase or 149 that increase looks like the
bulk of it which is software, maintenance of Licensing. So
if you could speak to that a little bit too
Eva.
Evo X.
Evo, I bet. So first of all, that it's the first time
you'll see an in a line item for city, councilman rotation
project. So before the past year that we've been finding
it, it was through the technology government's bored, and I
don't know, still exist or not, but it was held in bonds.
So that is where the additional bunny came for city council
modernization. So this year, there is a line item for city
council modernization. It's the one point, one point three
million dollars and that's to stabilize the system. And
also finish the finish, the whole counter medication
project, which is going to come, Eddie's making sure that
we're sharing data with our department. So next year,
you'll see us going to committees for e-voting. I'm going
to committees to make sure that we're digitizing all those
documents in the way that we do anything on the back of the
front and I have my chief technology officer.
Honda, and
Wanda, and the present.
Wanda and the present BK.
Wanda and the present pki digital Hollis and wanted, if you
want to just add anything to that, that I missed.
Good.
Good morning, can you hear?
Good morning. Can you hear me crazy? Technology, officer
the clerk spoke. Well about that. We will be completing the
council motivation project pays the Final Phase. If you
recall, we had three phases, which we recently completed,
Evo is a mission. And then the onboarding of all of our
matters as well co-sponsorship as well as e-signature. The
Final Phase will focus on both the mission a committee
committee build-out. We're also doing bulk me, some of the
capabilities. We have free voting based on the feedback
from your offices. We are also incorporating a change
management element to this because our former system was
all just a document management system. This is a more
Hands-On. Human infrastructure component of this meeting,
I'm boarding your offices, getting your office has adapted
to the new solution. So we're making sure we are, dating.
The need. We need to be a little bit more of my full and
intimate with the training how we're building a cyst.
and,
unless his
unless it's
And lessons learned from the previous year.
And lessons learned from the previous year as well.
And lessons learned from the previous year as well as open
up our curriculum to, your office is so the 1.3 million
incorporates that now moving for it. That's just to finish
the project for the 2024 year. Going into 2025 richest man
in maintenance and support mode. So that the those dollars
would be a fraction of that, just to maintain and support
the application. I'll defer to Hollis from bki digital if
you don't want to add anything.
How?
How's William?
How's William c? E o e Ki digital know I think I want to
answer to the question pretty. Pretty completely the one
thing I will say that is just going to stress the
importance of of partnering with all stakeholders
especially in the wards and ensuring that these new
capabilities are adopted successfully. It was reported
about the staff up text I presume a lot of it has to do
with union members that are getting from the contract
negotiation
What?
1.
One local question, the regional office on the southwest
side Archer.
Is that?
Is that a lease?
Is that a lease or the?
Is that a lease or the Sea on the building? I raised the
question because we have parking issues there. So I think
you're outgrowing that space even though I think there was
a minor ization and we had more space outside. I think
because it's a shared with Department of Aging, it becomes
a little bit problematic. I guess I'll finish with
I go.
I guess.
I get.
I get rid.
I get really good feedback from your staff at that office
for my constituents in all of your staff. Frankly does a
really nice job of interfacing with the community and
interfacing with the council here. So I think that should
be said on the record and that's a reflection of the kind
of office, you run. So I offer, congratulations on that.
Your staff does a really nice job and they, they go out of
their way to work with my constituents in the neighborhood.
And then down here, I always feel like they're very
helpful. Also, thank you.
I've
I have no fur.
I have no further questions, your point. I'm also in that
least, I round up your member, the other location where,
and it was really small, we moved to the bigger location
but trip when I think we can talk to your office, maybe
have some suggestions where we can look. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you. All.
Thank you all to me Quinn. You have any other questions you
want? Followed by a German doll? Thank you. Thank you.
Chairman Madam clerk. I just want to just very briefly,
thank you for the upgrades and the modernization of your
office. I think it's been very, very helpful. Help us to
file easier even when it comes down to electronic voting,
all of these upgrades have just made my life a little bit
more simple. I would say that you're right. I like register
a little better for some reason, if it does not seem that
it's mobile friendly, your new system of Subway. Did it
did? It actually does not work well for me.
Emily.
Emmaline.
In line with what my colleague or the one in Harris was
saying. I had an opportunity to speak with that asked me
because that you're absolutely right. You guys are very
thin and you do a lot of work in your office and I had an
opportunity to speak with that, someone who represents a
lot of your lot of your office and they mentioned a few
more positions that they feel would be worthwhile in your
office.
Someone.
someone being
Someone being I'm in.
Someone being administrative Service Officer, officer one
data entry, Clerk and proofreaders. And I noticed that
y'all did it is pretty thin as you have said with regard to
those, vacancies, can you speak to those particular request
101? Employees were down to 91 and we have felt those cuts
deeply and especially coming back from the pandemic. We
were one of the first off this to come back and we had we
ended last year with 14, vacancy, still open. So my team is
very, very exhausted and the work one we we ask for for new
positions, we were denied for new positions. We were, we
understand that there's a huge budget hole and we want to
do our part department for getting extra Personnel this
year.
and if they,
And if that was a
And if that was the case, I totally respect that we want to
do our part, but I I think some departments are sounds like
getting to new positions. So the four that I did request
was a data services of person. Either all Union positions
we went from 16% on online sale to 25% online sales,
post-pandemic the 9% job, and right now it's a 10-day
response rate to answer emails. I blowing through my
overtime, budget and even if I do have over
time to offer, or
time to offer or over to
Time to offer our overtime opportunity to service his team
there too. Exhausted to take it any longer. So that is a
crucial, and that's a revenue-generating department data
services. Stuck in Twas the backup that we had talked
about. For the SO2, the HR person. So, if for some reason,
our HR person that does, all of your payroll is out, there
is no one to backup an exempt, person cannot backup. That
person had the union position that would be a violation of
the CBA. The other two positions are also Union where the
city council proofreaders. We only have 19 folks there
right now with the one vacancy. So 18 and we with all the
special City Council meetings were having their stay until
3 a.m. weekends again doing overtime. And it's just a lot
of work to put on a meeting and execute them in a timely
fashion to meet open public meetings act. So my team is
drowning and I want to be on record saying, I really cannot
go and look at their faces downstairs and tell him that I
didn't go.
So there.
So there's any way to even get two of those positions that
the data services and date are one city council. I mean,
we'll figure things out. My team always has its why I love
them so much, but again, you know we I know we have an
increase in the budget we want to do our part. We're just
also trying to provide the best customer service that we
can still my overtime right now.
do a
Do and fun. 100 we have $85,000 for this year were
anticipating spending 13,000 of that, but fun 300 we had
allocated fifty thousand and we'll come in at 85000 this
year.
I'm
and I,
And I, I would certainly support. I'm your being able to
add a few more positions because it is it, as I said
earlier, I know you're thin and you guys have done a
tremendous job and I know you're putting in a lot of hours,
updating your office and I'm making life easier for us. And
so I I would certainly have a cape for you on being able to
add those few positions. Thank you. Thank you. Madam clerk.
Thank you mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you all the men.
Next we have all them and dial followed by a older person,
Riley. I'm sorry, I didn't raise You in Spotify. Thank you,
mr. Chairman a good morning clerk. When the morning
Did.
Ditto.
Ditto Point made by alderman.
Are.
Errors regarding a assistant for Shayla and I know this was
a difficult year for her so I just want to underscore that
just a few things. I want to ask you a question about you
know I rarely watch the City Council meetings but I had an
opportunity to watch one and I kept getting kicked off the
system. So is there something that you've been hearing
about about not being able to look at the
Videoder.
Video during City Council meetings.
No more.
Good morning. I'm going to create a PTO. Just recently, we
realize, and I've been there, come Altec realize that the
venue solution that will utilize cut the hours down for
streaming. Meaning usually, we can stream of a full day, 12
hours, straight through somehow the configuration changed
and we just for recently notified about that, we're working
with the vendor, to get that fixed. So it we won't have any
interruptions during stream doing the actual means that
they have in mind so that the fix is in place. Now we have
to work around until he is able to correct the issue. Thank
you so much. I wanted to ask about the you know, when we
were forever when you guys were
The ordinances to watch.
the ordinances to us to the
The ordinances to us to the committee's, they don't come as
a unified.
Dr.
Talking.
Document they come with you know exhibits ABC and we have
to send them out to our members of the committee and
piecemeal what can be done to get the ordinances together.
So they come just as one complete package.
I'm going.
I'm going to go to.
I'm going to go to Michelle and Michelle and I wanted him
to speak on that for the council mod side and
Thank.
thank you.
thank you, Michelle Lavar, Chief legal counsel. I am
actually going to have Peter Pan
Hello.
hello, Peter procyk, managing editor of city council
Journal, all the person, the way we have, the system
designs that a is a
Beer.
Very stocky.
Various documents are separated out for the purposes of in
future. We are going to create a digital workflow in which
we can publish entire records and mend and modify documents
independently of having a whole large. Meet out there.
We've been looking into and we've heard your concerns
regarding how to get complete documents into the system. As
one can be document, we will be working on that in the
future and in the future. I mean, as soon as I get down
from here, we've been working at it currently. But the way
the system is designed is is to separate out into
individual documents so that we can better track. If any
particular document was amended as opposed to having a
complete document set with perhaps many exhibits, not
knowing which exhibit was either swapped out and then your
updated by, for transparency for everyone involved. But we
would we are working on possible solution and ordered it to
submit to all the committee's a completed document per se,
so that they can actually show that with the
Remember.
Members. Thank
Members, thanks Peter. I understand the need for
transparency, I'm looking for more like convenience so I
acted I get it. Thank you so much.
I want to.
I wanted to ask.
I wanted to ask if,
I wanted to ask about the credit cards and some kind of
credit cards and checks can be used for certain bills and
tickets. Are you going to be expanding that in the future?
So it doesn't matter what kind of credit cards you have.
Khat Khat O'Connell my chief of staff.
Hi. Good morning, sure. Woman, my name is Catherine
O'Connell chief of staff for the office of the city clerk
as of right now. So the Department of Finance has been
working on upgrading their peanut manager System point of
sale and are the equipment that we have right now to take
credit cards, is the very old school because that's what
the system responds to once. They are able to upgrade that
system. We have a line set aside or we will be able to
upgrade our equipment. So if you do have Apple pay on your
phone, you can tap to pay or you have a chip card you can
tap to pay. So once that project is completed by the
Department of Finance, we will be able to modernize our
technology to accept greater forms of payment. Okay, so
follow up with them. Thank you.
Oh my 5 minutes by.
Oh my 5 minutes but went by route.
Oh my 5 minutes but went by, and you can get one more set of
questions City key. What kind of ID do you need again, to
be able to get a city kid, so you could use anything from a
state ID or driver's license. You could use a student ID
along with a high school transcript. If you're used or a
birth certificate, you could use a library card, anything,
you just need something with a photo ID to verify, and then
another a residency requirement. So there's a verification
of who you are, and then a residency requirement. But
there's a whole list of guides on our website to, but I can
get you through the chair. Okay. So how many City ID cards
have been generated for the new arrivals?
We don't.
We don't keep.
We don't keep like a separate number. We just keep a whole
number of City key cards. We don't keep any data currently
for the only day that I keep his date issued, expiration
date and unique ID number Okay. The reason I asked that
because I've been asking questions about how the new
arrivals are being vetted before they come to Chicago and I
haven't got a real good answer from the federal people that
I've asked this question too. So I'm wondering how people
can access citicards
If?
if they don't.
If they don't have, if I'm not feeling comfortable that
they're being better, by the time they get to Chicago, I
don't want us to be giving out City cards when you're not
sure of you know, birth certificate is you said were some
of the IDS. I can tell you how we leave at 4. So we take
the homeland security paperwork. The federal document and
it has a usually photo ID on it with their information. A
lot of times to accept their birth certificate or consulate
card, a matricula card that has a photo ID on it from their
country or from if they get something here and then we have
a care of letter. So the nonprofit, the servants. Same
thing we do with our own house population or folks or even
a re-entry Community liquor safer Foundation. Can write a
letter care of letter for folks that are in
Brave.
temporary housing until
Temporary housing until they are fully. How
Temporary housing until they are fully house. Okay, and
when are you going to the police stations to do Citi, card
City, key events. So we're not doing police station. So
we've been working closely with department of family
support services. So we go to the shelters as are we
usually the shelters and we really tried at work with the
organizations. They wait until folks. Our house or shelter
because it's easy. Once you are not stablished resin, you
have to come back or if you're going to housing you have to
come back to get it replaced. But the folks can we can use
the care of letter the organization's until spokes our
house. But we've been doing mostly shelters, or is it
possible to tease out that number that we could get through
the chair know? I don't keep that type of data. We don't
have to type of questions. We just keep, you know, one
number of who's getting City keys, I can get used to the
Keys through zip code + 50.
Can we get that information and are you able to cross?
Check that with the shelter zip code, for example, and then
tell us what has come out of that? I don't know, I don't
have that information, we don't keep that data. That's just
have never kept data for the city Key Program. Moving
moving forward on our city online platform. You know, we
will, we will be storing data, which is why we will be
telling folks,
When?
Windows 10.
Windows to make sure the
Windows to make sure that they know that will be storing,
not data. But at this time that's on House of the key was
set up. Alright, thank you.
Thank.
Thank you. I'm in town, aldermen laspada. Follow
baldwin-lee.
Shih.
Shift.
Shift this.
Shift is Mike around, thank you so much. Are clerk very
great to be with you, given our time constraints. I will
briefly say, one hundred percent support you and your team.
Are those positions prickly as for positions that you named
particularly, particularly, if it, if it doesn't look and
feel like the new positions for increased turnover
bait-and-switch, which I feel like we've done in the past,
with these budget, which doesn't really look or feel like
actual new positions saying that I wanted to ask. And I
know we ask this through the the chair. But can you share
some sense of how much Bethany we've earned year-to-date or
in the past year from a residential permit parking?
Call sales.
Marketing.
Yeah.
yeah, so you just
Yeah. So you just want our people separated out, our total
revenue revenue specific to residential permit parking,
September 30th, we have sold out. That's not the sole
You know, let me know.
You know what, let me go to Riley or chief operating
officer that don't have it in my book, Barbie pees.
Riley.
Riley bowling.
Riley. Bowling chief of operations. Sorry. All the person
we are on course to, I believe.
Or.
Or to sell 1.7 million on rpps.
Appreciate.
Preciate it.
Appreciate it. If, if there's a way to look at that
through, previous years through the chair cuz the clock is
ticking on that be wonderful many years back to the last
four would be so wonderful last for years, they can do
that. I have one question related to counsel modernization,
I love the Evo Ting, I'm learning the filters. I'm still
trying to figure out and I only ask because it is a
substantial investment, the co-sponsor piece. What can we
expect for that to look? And feel like if we're moving
entirely away from getting people to sign pieces of paper
for that? It would be helpful to know because
Still 5.
Stuff. I've had truck.
Stuff. I've had trouble translating written co-sponsors into
elms, co-sponsors.
Apps.
Absolute.
Absolutely.
Thank.
Thank you. I
Thank you. All.
Thank you Alderman, laundry Creek, and chief technology
officer the coastline of the ship and sponsorship
functionality does exist in the system. We have been
offering trainings to assure, you know, how to utilize the
functionality. There are a couple of ways by which you can
add co-sponsors. We have the ability in the system for you
to invite all Wards to co-sponsor. And then you can add
them independently of each of those are only a couple of
stops within the system. Actually really will follow up
with you. Or piga will follow up with you to ensure we walk
you through how to do it within the system that
functionality is there an acceptable and just as a quick
follow-up, those that are so that I know whether or not to
do this anymore, does our system now preclude written
co-sponsors, who were who co-sponsored on the floor,
If I hurt.
if I hurt your
If I hurt your question correctly, we still have, you still
have the autonomy to do the your your your historical way
of signing on the floor. However, you do have the ability
in real time to do it within the system via your your evil
device or within the application. We are not.
Sure, thing from receiving.
Sure, thing from receiving any paper-based signature will
give you the autonomy to do within the system. I'll also
refer to Michelle all of our to expand on that. It's okay.
It's okay. A minute Mark and maybe he'll give me two more
minutes by will follow up. I am not quite an old dog, I can
learn some new tricks. I will, I will figure this out. I
just want to ask briefly related to city stickers from two
perspectives. So A1A and one be one, a little like these
questions is we're trying to move away from high amounts of
parking adjacent to Trey has it. But then, oftentimes the
developers receiving these benefits just turn around and
our
Still.
silver.
still red.
Still registering.
Still registering through city stickers, dozens of vehicles
for whom there is not parking at their development. Is
there a way that we can work with your team to really miss
incentivizes overabundance of city stickers at
transit-oriented developments question. Number one, when I
got to sign the number to one of the biggest predictors
beside speed of
Little.
The lights.
the likely he
The likelihood.
The likelihood that someone dies and a traffic crash is the
weight of that vehicle. We know that weight is also
determine it on impact on our city streets. When was the
last time that we realigned, our city sticker prices
towards the increasing weight and Heights of vehicles. And
is that a conversation that we can pursue on the policy
side? Do on your first question. I'm happy to talk further
with Riley and my team about the problem you're talking
about. The no carb. Yes, we can talk and discuss about
that. I haven't heard that one yet. So happy, just got that
further policy-wise second, the city sticker, all of that.
all the
All of that.
all of that, eat a
All that detail, the pricing all that except by city
ordinance. So this body has the power to do whatever you
want and I will administer it. I'm just be a minister of it
but I can give you the data and information to help you
inform you to make the decision. So and just so people know
that the city sticker make model and weight the money that
we that we bring in ghost. A lot of money goes to 4000
miles of paved road that we repair for the wear and tear of
the vehicle, should have a hand in crafting them as well.
So we will make sure to follow up with you and your team on
that. Thank you, thank you, thank you, sir.
Are you autumn?
Are you all doing?
Are you all to me? I guess it goes back to earlier point.
We we talked about vehicle weight. We did make adjustments,
probably wasn't by me about 10 years or so ago, to having
those two classes of stickers. And we have not looked at
that since then is my assumption since I've been in office.
So I think from Transportation perspective, you and maybe
I'll be in Mitchell, may want to take a look at the
potentially adjusting classes of vehicles and what gets
charged with the end of that particular space. So,
When?
when's last time we
When's last time, we looked at this O'Reilly boiling, chief
of operations. Yeah, it's been about 10 years that since
we've looked at the key information, we use the VIN decoder
to disturb our to establish the make model, and of the
vehicle, which basically gives you the curb weight of the
vehicle. And that's what we base. Our passenger, large
passenger and smoke shop. Topless will follow you all will
follow back up on that vice-chair Lee, followed by all the
mnuchin.
Thank.
Thank you to.
Thank you charm. A
Thank you, charm, and good morning, clerk on. I have only
three things and hopefully keep this under 5 minutes. I
wholeheartedly support along with my colleagues, additional
staff for you. Allah doesn't amazing job and I can't
believe she does all that on her own already. So I would
love to see her, get some support in your office, get some
additional support because that means that our constituents
and the residents of the city of Chicago are better
supported, so I will definitely look to do whatever we can
to make that happen. I wanted to say thank you, sincerely
for all of the mobile key events that you've done for me
since I've been in office. The last one that we had a ping
Tom Park, I thought was incredible your staff. They were
like machines with the with the city key in that the lines
are pretty well organized. And I hear what people are
saying about, just the chaos, if you had the sister of the
beginning of this, but I think your team is very adaptable,
they learned very quickly, and we didn't have any issues
with your residents were coming in for their stickers. We
were able to with a silly that we are at
have them come and
Have them coming through.
Have them coming through a different entrance and working
with your staff. I think that went really well and I may
have missed it earlier, but on the software maintenance in
licensing, I know this is part part of modernization. How
much of this is one time costs versus like ongoing license
has been wondering if we're going to see the the 2024
levels. Stay the same 2025, you will not. So the 1.2 to 594
is for the finalization of the city council meditation.
Moving for grilled.
moving forward or licking a
Moving forward. We're looking at anywhere from 200 to
$300,000 a year and maintenance and software. That's all
I've got. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you. I love
Thank you, I'll vice-chair Lee. We will have all the men
Nugent followed by a alderman Rodriguez into a point that
thing called him. And Billy Ray's, we adjusted the time is
round one for the clerk's office, trying to speed through a
little more, but we're going to allow for a people need
additional time. We will. We're just trying to use, 5
minutes is a marker. So I've been using for the Rodriguez
is perfect. Thank you mr. Chair. And thank you. Nice, if
you met him Clerk and your team, I first want to thank the
team in the Box for all the work that they have been doing.
I recognize all the time and effort that they've been
putting in particularly with us having frequent Council
meetings. So I'm very grateful to your team. I think
they're really kind and engaging with the public and I
think that's really critical. And
I think we all
I think we already.
I think we all recognize that sometimes the public can be
tough and so thank you to everybody in the Box. I know you
guys have really been putting in the work van and Clark. I
also just want to be on record being supportive of all the
additional Manpower in your team as I indicated to the
Comptroller. I think we're all pretty darn supportive of
Revenue generating stats. So I'm supportive of the four
positions but in particular, the revenue-generating being
mindful of time, I was wondering if you could quickly just
for everybody in here, talk through what happens when a
council meeting is scheduled. Can you just walk through the
checklist very quick quickly. Like just so people know what
this means. Every time we put a meeting up there. So I came
downstairs, prepares all the agendas and so they have to
work with the mayor's office Law Department in the
committee's quickly to get all of the agendas and summaries
from those meetings on making sure that with agendas,
At a hostel.
It has to be set by.
it has to be set by 48 hours before city council meeting.
And a lot of this is all paper-based system cuz we're not
fully on this account tomorrow station platform. So all of
that work and we have a public meetings act that we have to
keep as well. And so all the posting and then collecting
the documents organizing the meeting and then all of the
organs that they're coming in. So, all the ordinances that
come from 50 City, Council Members a resolution, which we
always have hundreds.
I'll make.
I'm making sure that that's how.
I'm making sure that that's taken.
I'm making sure that that's taken in, and it said, the
paper-based system, all this is scanned in or printed
proof, read edited and we saw a proofreaders downstairs
that are reading out loud to proofread. And I and then we
have to create the journal. Take all these PDF, put him
into a document for the public and published online when we
were doing the old way of Eve. Odar before. E-voting, it
would take 3 days to get the votes calculated and put up
into our online platform. Now, it seems to be done and then
I didn't even post host city council meeting. If you can
just do that quickly. So for example, can you walk through?
What would you Post Council? Cuz there are times when we
have to do it, sometimes we will adjourn from a meeting and
then come back in 48 hours later. Talk me through it
happens right after Council and you have to
contemporaneously do all the things. You just said to
prepare for the next one, right? Yeah. So we have to take
everything that we've come in and then redo what I just
said, I'd like to get ready cuz that journal has to be
done.
The two-day.
And the two days. So usually we have, if we have once a
month we have a few weeks to get that done. You have to get
that journal. Depending how much stuff since you heard that
that day? I will have to get that turned around and 48th.
And and so when it's back to back like that, that's when
and where and budget season, that's when my team is like
here until two or three, I am trying to get things done.
Thank you, I appreciate you going to that. I think
sometimes it's important that we all here.
All.
All of the actual were.
all of the actual works at
All of the actual work that goes into to keep in the wheels
on the bus. So thanks to you. Thanks to your team,
preciate, what you guys do. We'll have an Alderman
Who did? I?
What did I say? I'll think about. Regus. Paula Wagner
Riley.
Thank you.
think it was such a
Thank you, sister, and thank you clerk. Just didn't follow
up on some of these issues. The c key program is so
important to the city of Chicago, to my residence to my
office. I just wanted to be clear that you suggested
earlier testimony. That the open position for comedian that
you have significant overtime, issues and significant
burnout is that related to the operation to City Key
Program is referencing? I mean, we're at the point where
all of my team, my senior leadership will have to be at
event and that's still not enough. I think it's before
events in a rival started coming. We already had a demand,
we could not meet. And so, when the new arrival started
happening, we're beyond for the man we're being crushed.
We've exhausted a lot of our line items for printing
ribbon, and we've exhausted a lot of our line items for
we've had to pull over on the line items to pay for our
Printing. A
Printing and rubbed.
Printing and ribbon of the cards. And so, the city key
online platform is a way to help build capacity and access
to the city card and an appointment system that will help
us kind of manage it easier. And then, yes, and help. My,
my team have the tools to be set up for success. And you
have any open positions right now that you're trying to
fill know. We only have five positions for the whole city
Heap program in my office and then we have the delegate, we
have to delegate agencies, we work with I'll talk to me,
choke on and family, family, family services and they
provide anywhere from six to eight people per dog, agency
per event. I'll just give you an idea. What kind of where
we're at in New York City, their program, 15 million
dollars. Now, they're number one city in America, wear
number three in America. So few, when you said a third of
our budget would be around, that would be five million in
our budget right now is 1.2 to other topics, electronic
signatures, and the paper Bay signatures. My staff tells me
that they find that a lot of folks who signed on to her
Ordinances.
Ordinances on paper, don't transfer onto the electronic
system. And I heard someone mention of vaginal clear. If
someone signed on Cimarron in Houston city council
physically on papers that get transferred to the electronic
system,
Cheats.
She s.
Chief technology officer. I'm actually going to defer to
Michelle Lavar and Peter as they control the final
signature and how it's transferred. But again, from a
system perspective, you do have the autonomy to sign off.
But I'll let them speak to the alignment of that to make
sure it's accurate.
Miss.
Michelle Obama.
Michelle of our chief legal counsel answer sheet that we
get and they do you add them into the system for for the
legislation. So they came downstairs, will take care of it.
May take a little bit longer but they will take care of
that. If you are coming and we can let, you know. I will
grab your email address and the last the last question
around the website, I've noticed some issues with the
website as well.
You know.
You know, simple things. Like I might move to another
browser to check my Gmail and then city council meeting
goes. So I just want to register my issues that I've seen
with it as I think of them. And I'll mention earlier, I
think we should just figure that out. I don't think it's
that big of a fix, but it just seems like there's just a
lot of awkward.
Things happening with the web.
Things happening with the website.
Going away. As I said earlier, previously, 4 years, you had
a 12-hour window to stream for some reason the the solution
that were using has changed and take a note down to 6
hours. So we were working with the vendor to get that
correct that we do have a workaround to prevent that from
occurring for any future meetings that we're having. So we
apologize for the inconvenience and I know I'll come
outside and Jimmy vendor is hearing this so we expect to
have it resolved shortly.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you.
On the way.
On the money. Good time and ottoman, Riley, followed by
Vasquez.
Thank.
Thank you. Check.
Thank you, chairman. Good morning, Madam Clerks.
We?
Real.
Real easy question for you. And I'd like the 30 second
answer. What are the city clerk statutory duties under
state law times of the city council. So we have that
requirement refill and make sure every the public meeting
act. We have the city sticker sales vehicle funds sales. I
don't know if that state or city ordinance cuz there's a
state requirement in and there's a city or not. I could
probably if you want further detail, ask Michelle the way
in resource and your primary responsibility is to this
body. Not just as an archivist but to make sure that all of
our vow
You're properly tile.
You're properly tally.
You're properly. Tally the
You're properly tally. The co-sponsors are probably added in
a timely fashion etcetera. Etcetera, etcetera, and the
office of budget management. Denying you funding. For
additional staff is frustrating to me and I know that your
your your office is small and they work very hard and
you're lucky to have them and it and I certainly appreciate
the work that your staff does for us. But what we don't
want to see happen is that you get pulled in so many
different directions outside of your statutory Duty that
you can't take care of the most immediate task at hand,
which is serving this body and, and the city, have a couple
of technical questions is there is the deadline to submit
legislation the same for the mayor's office and Law
Department, as it is for alderman.
so, we
So we have for enough for a genda that's 48 hours, we we
take up legislation up to interfere with the paper, we take
it up until the whole council meeting for upcoming
legislation that we are talking about the same deadline
applies to this body as it does to the mayor's office. And
I'm pretty sure it doesn't. Yes, Peter. I don't know if you
do. You want to elaborate on that?
Peter, let me let me
Peter, let me, let me give you a, a little softball here to
help.
Sing.
It seems.
It seems like.
It seems like every meeting there are multiple mayoral,
introductions posted much later than aldermanic
introduction sometimes more than two weeks after a council
meeting, especially when there have been instances where
all them in time, we submit legislation in the annex and
then somehow submitted from the call of the wards. But
yeah, he explained all up in legislation is accepted and in
print digital form up to the time, the meeting starts. When
we read into the record, this the mayor's office, those
Smith wrote legislation prior to those meetings. However,
the difficulty runs that many of those documents are quite
large in size. They have edss, which require redaction and
other things that are necessary fired. Any kind of posting,
of what we do, receive them, it's just a processing time,
much of the automatic introductions are a page or two,
which is very simple. I can prepare some sort of a heading
or
for the scripture.
Or description. And
or description and the
for a description and then upload those quickly. The
difficulty with the mayor's documentation is that, there's
so much additional information is transmitted with that,
that's where the difficulty arises. We're trying to attempt
as we move forward, at modernization, is to include
stakeholders into this process whereby just like the
alderman introduced things, the mayor's office can
introduce
That.
That way we can.
that way we can actually
That way we can actually get those things into the process
a lot quicker, right now. If something is dropped off in
her office that require Staffing, that kind of pull,
Staples out, scan things in create documents, naming
conventions have been all sorts of things. So that's where
the difficulty lies but I can assure you that the mayor's
office does submit their documents on time and we do in
fact, read those into the record and nothing is that at any
given point after that young, for those deadlines equitably
in across-the-board weather is a city council member with
him are yes we do very good. I've noticed that the titles
of mayoral introductions 10 to change after they're
introduced not just to correct typos.
Who writes? The
Who writes the titles in?
Who writes the titles in the first instance and how and why
are they changed?
Medical.
Medford.
Matagorda Peter.
The.
The time.
The title is created are created in the EMS system by our
staff members, who have to read through, oftentimes lengthy
and complicated legislation. We try not to use any generic
titles. We are by somebody would not be able to identify
the particular type of legislation and sold at once again
Alderman. If there's something that involves a
Redevelopment agreement in principle code and some other
complicated issues, we have to capture all that inside the
headache. So those are done as quickly as we can. The
reason sometimes that changes is is what we were discussing
earlier is we're trying to balance the best of getting
something in.
Quickly or have.
quickly, or have a
quickly or having something that we need to kind of once
again revisit if there's something that we noticed in the
document that we didn't identify before,
have a
I've Edition.
I have additional questions chairman, I'll be brief. Thank
you. What Authority, does your office have to cut off?
Submissions of agreed calendar resolutions at 10 a.m. on
the Friday before a council meeting when there's a Monday
holiday.
Are.
I will say.
I will say 48 hours, not two business days.
Michelle Navarre.
Michelle of our chief legal counsel, what it is, is we do
not have that here on the weekend on holiday after hour. Or
so, while ago, State 48 Hours, we've taken it is 48
business hours to be of no one to process it. Unless I pay
them overtime in the hopes that someone's going to file
something after 5 on a Friday or me. Violet on a Monday is
okay. Well we're going to need to address that because the
rules are the rules. I know you have Staffing challenges
but the rules are written as they are correct.
Give.
Can you play?
Can you explain what happened with the one?
Can you explain what happened with the one Fair wage
ordinance. It was emitted from the October 4th city council
agenda.
What?
What is?
What is cause some chaos Seer? As you know what specific
steps is your office implementing to ensure that committee
reports are not omitted intentionally or otherwise moving
forward.
Turn.
Torso.
and,
and if Michelle,
And if Michelle can go to detail. So my office had a
conversation with the mayor's office in committee chairs
and Law Department. I'm beginning three to four days, prior
to posting deadline will make sure that we meet and double
check the working again. This paper-based system and its
own background. The person that normally does that was out
for a vacation or family time and we had to quickly train
someone to take that in. So it was a human are the correct
email address to send it to your summaries and your agenda?
And so that's not sent any other individuals so that we
messing over looked and then we're also working on
integrating this part of the process into our Council mod a
project. So it doesn't happen Elms I would say it's
improved greatly since it's
Launch.
Lunch. But still need some, some fixes, it's difficult to
use. What are your plans include? And what will it cost to
to get the system where we'd all like it to be an
admittedly? It's gotten better, and I think that's a credit
to your technology officer, but I think we'd all agree.
There's more work to be done, a hundred percent. So when we
were initially building the project, we have an internal or
external stakeholders that meet the last 2 years and
external facing likely Women, Voters, Civic Federation to
give us that feedback on how to use it when we roll it out.
I think there were some things that we all thought would
work at the time and then from the back and in front end
we're not exactly what we thought we wanted to build. And
so what we're trying to do right now is stabilizer system,
Hollis and Lawanda teams are doing constant digital Sprint,
to make sure that we're getting your feedback and real time
and changing that. So the whole goal
A year. If they
a year as stable as like Civilization that's the still
making sure it works from you. How do we do the human
capital are human capital infrastructure to for change
management more trainings more ways to tell you this done
better and then moving out we're still building it. So it's
not complete, we're taking all this feedback so that by
next year and is complete and the funding, you see here,
the 1.2 million is what's going to help us finished and
cross. The finish line one. Last question, chairman
and,
and if
and it's kind of
And it's kind of related to the previous questions. I've
asked involves generating legislative cover pages, which is
again, sure of her nerdy things, me to be asking about but
it matters unlike legistar. Some introductions are uploaded
to LMS and they include cover pages and others do not. This
is troubling given my earlier questions about late
introductions and timing of introductions because the only
location for a timestamp is on the cover page and so to
ensure that folks are meeting deadlines as we expect them
to you and I'm not talking about this body about the 5th
floor.
Will.
Will we see?
Will we see timestamps for all introductions on?
On.
on the
On The Intern.
On the internet because that is important. That is an
important pull Waypoint for legislation. And we all need to
know that our introductions are being held the same
standard mirrors introduction to being held to make sure
that that's happened. That is incredibly important to me
and it sounds silly, but worried about a timestamp. Sorry,
you missed the deadline. Well, that applies to the folks in
the executive branch as well. And we've told them and Peter
is very good at holding that way.
not a
Madden player.
Madam clerk you and your office. Do excellent work for the
city of Chicago. I appreciate it. Genuinely, thank you to
everyone in the Box. Your great wish you had a few more
folks, to help out while we should try talk to the mayor's
office about that. Cuz we actually decide who gets the
budget the mayor. Doesn't this body does. Thank you. Madam
clerk. Thank you Sharon. Thank you. Thank you. All and
Riley Alderman, just followed by a kind of follow up on the
last point, about the time stamps, that you can send an
algorithm on your software. So you won't even get it. Let
it be go up after the timestamp, right? So, it's not even
about tracking at some point, you just say, guess what? You
can have to submit it for next time setting as you're
looking through, doing it, making that change in the way
that just cause balls and Strikes without even having a
have the political piece of all of it will be a way to kind
of go forward. So you have to worry about it, just want to
recommend that with my techie dorks.
At 1 in.
I wanted to say,
I wanted to thank you all for all the work that you guys
are bringing the city council to the 19th century. It's
great. We want to keep moving. I mean think about we had
before was out boxes and files as opposed to what you guys
have actually been bringing us forward which if you're in
the private sector, you understand the difference between
where council is at and where everyone else is that but you
guys are doing the work till I can sometimes forcefully
pushes their as necessary. And so I want to commend you for
that work and
A lot of times.
a lot of times the folks,
a lot of times, the folks at the thing,
A lot of times, the folks, at the things that folks run on
it is never the stuff that gets government working, right?
It's, it's the tech if I T is HR and procurement. These are
the things that we're seeing throughout this budget.
Conversation are the things that are clogs to everything
else you want to get moving. And so I want to thank you for
that. Kind of pay you back a little bit as well on the
concept of like we're the ones that helped figure out the
budget as well as the Staffing it is frustrating. And
concerning to me that this budget does a really good job of
not adding on revenue-generating positions. Like if we're
trying to get more money coming into government and we're
asking Department of Finance about people who hold permit,
parking accountable, are those revenue-generating positions
and add them on the answer is. Yes. So let's do more cuz
you're not losing one of your gaming it when you do it. And
so I think the same thing here, if you got positions that
are generating our government more Revenue as you add them
on there, in net positive and so I'm trying to figure out
the lodge
so, can
So, can you?
So can you what reason did you receive from o b? M, when you
were making the case for ladies revenue-generating
positions and they're like, yeah, we can't do that.
We had to.
We had justification on our data service a piece as well
and also tell the body were to do a text alert.
Notification system did Bill Daley there in the works right
now to those walls to help with some Revenue. We weren't
really give an explanation is just, we were told. No new
department or departments this year were getting any
additional Personnel, to Grant some Grace, the new
Administration, I think. If you're looking at a whole
budget and saying, hey we don't want to take on too much
cost to all departments. You want to keep that level.
That's fair. I do think it would behoove the administration
as we have these budget conversations to revisit that and
say well if you're generating more Revenue, that's a
different conversation to have because I think you're
hearing it a lot for my colleague. So I just wanted to make
sure that was on the record on our end. Stupid care if you
could submit
3.
Three Rivers.
Three versions of what an improvement to this looks like,
you know, your your your Pinto, your sedan in your
Cadillac, then we can have the conversation on our end as a
council of like what an improvement looks like. That's
reasonable. So if you could submit that, I'd appreciate it
more than half of your budget comes from the vehicle tax
fund. Some of the Otters are looking for a solution for
pets here and safe and safety. Kind of mitigation getting
people off vehicles in the long run. Have y'all like look
What that fun?
What that fund yield and figured, I'd try to think.
What that fund yield and figured. I'd try to think through
like other sources of revenue each year through our vehicle
sticker funds program. I think, you know, and it's kind of
remain that way because we're seeing one a lot of
population to Racine seniors who typically up to vehicle
car. Not, you know. Lots of populations and also the
younger population even younger than not having any
vehicles in the city and or having one vehicle as a as a
family. So that's why that is still kind of stagnant. Now,
we can get creative with digital daily. He's looking at
that cuz I've convenience of getting my mind if we look at
like a convenience fee on that, you know, if you can, let
me have any stickers or actually getting more people, new
people into compliance, which is great, cuz they get on the
reduced term, city sticker, also, find some fees reform. I
think this meditation want to take that up, and I lost that
a 19.
I fix a.
I fix it, take
A Fix-It ticket program, where people who get the very
expensive Department of Finance, $200, ticket, but can come
in as and compliance, we can use that to pay for their new
city sticker. Get them into compliance and then through
email notifications, a letter in the mail and text alerts,
keep the punch of compliant and that would also generate
new Revenue effort. I didn't also trying to figure out a
graduated system so based on a person's self-reporting
income percentage of that being
Play.
Taipei, right? Cuz I think,
Taipei right? Cuz I think a lot of it is the fees are high
too high for some folks can't afford it. Last question I've
got is related to Siddiki. We know you always do amazing
work at City key but it has become a crucial service. Now
because of the migrant issue, where we wish we could have
City key events at the shelters CD key events or maybe
sooner Feliz station. You know, why? They're not being
decompressed. How much more do you need to meet that goal?
Because we're we're asking is the committee's some time to
ask a boy and answer me get back. As you know, we don't
have Staffing running out of Supply which are all very real
given the moment. What would be the ass there to help be
able to do the city key work at the level that you needed
in this moment. This year get it done what we did or
talking to him. We're still talking with budget to try to
get creative is 322000 to buy the build-out, the online
platform which an appointment base system and an online
Siddiqui.
Email to your.
Email to your home.
Email to your home as a, we did ask for $120,000 for a
printer and ribbon are line item. I think this year was
40,000, we're already at 80,000 spent for it and still
trying to figure out how to get more procure more. So,
those two, I think would be our biggest ticket items. I
would say we're looking at $259 towards my grace. We
haven't seen with the line. I don't spend any of that.
Looks like we just want the lights off.
Saying that.
thing that is ADD, we're having
Thing, that is adware having these negotiations. If
Thing, that is adware having these negotiations about 250
million. We should talk about what it's for because I think
rather than having money that you're not going to see a
return on that, we're just flying and throwing out the
window really, putting it tore some of these systems in
place that I should set you up for success is a better
investment. So just want it again. Put that on the record
as having conversations about this budget through the
crisis. Long-term City online platform is here. The route
that the city is operational. Isis it thank you for all
your work. Thank you, Janet.
I got a.
I got a minute.
I got them in ottoman Vasquez are all time. NBA gets all
about Autumn and Cardona.
I think.
I think it was such a
I think it was a German so I guess my question man in Clark
is who's introducing the budget amendment? U R Us I'll be
more than happy to work on my colleagues on a budget
amendment for that.
Did you?
Detect.
The technology, I appreciate you guys are continue to move
the technology and obviously, the city is moving in that
fashion as well. Do you see at some point? We're similar to
other bodies, will will have a list of proponents and
opponents on ordinances at some point. A great question. I
think that's something we should look at it into the
community portal facing cuz we've had like, we can Women
Voters and stomach fat and some other organizations, be the
user, and on the online, part on the platform from the user
and from the public. So that could be great. Have some
programs. Can you can you guys talk about where we're at
with go. Thanks to your boat last year we have now
expanded, no feed better and a sticker to all those at
a better day.
A better destination, a state ID or driver's license. And
that's not our permanent program went from a pilot
peppermint program. We also have the no fee, veterans, a
sticker, If you are a p, o w. If you have a table that
license, I'm excetera, let's continue helping that
population of now they definitely deserve it. Who's
actually doing the it worker mwbe firm. That's providing a
Count them out.
Account tomorrow.
The council members age.
The council modernization ization. We have eki digital
Hollis is here eki. Digital is a black-owned local firm,
perfect opportunity to have a minority women, unless I'm
glad to see that your office took that stuff. So you think
y'all going to be at your store on Manhattan?
Follow.
Followed by.
No, no.
No proper words.
Thank.
Thank you to.
Thank you chair. Good morning, Madam Clark. I'll just throw
my voice into the support and accolades and gratitude for
you and your team, especially over these last few weeks. I
thank you guys for supporting our our duties. I'd like to
Sharon be a guess. I'll co-sponsor that budget amendment
with you as well as we work to get, you the support that
you need, just a couple quick questions. Most of the things
have been covered as we talked about legislation,
Could.
Could you?
Could your office make some recommendations or work with us
and legislative reference bureau? If there are some things
in code, we can change to help you reduce the printing. You
have to do. Like, I, I think about like the legislative
records in the things like that the CDs that she provides
her know we've talked about this before, but like you're
required to do it. And so, I would just so, you know, you
know, after budget through the chair, would love to work
with somebody on your team says, legislatively for you guys
up on some of those things if that's possible that we would
like to do and we're looking for Grant, we weren't able to
Grant this year but we have a lot of a tape recording of
the Harold Washington days and a lot of documents and files
that we want a digitized. So that the whole public can hear
it and see this history that we have. So
We?
We are.
we are looking at a grant to bring that to life as well and
so and do this news accounts of modernization project we
want to digitize his records so that we only go back I
believe, 10 years and records I'm online or in the cloud
space. We want to go back further Bill to digitize that at
a store for perspective.
Does.
That sounds wonderful. I appreciate the archives that you
guys. Maintain and then just goes to again just some of the
funding that you need. I believe in a higher meeting as we
talked about City key and the additional funds, you would
mention something around 325,000. I think roughly that
would be necessary in order to just kind of continued
meeting the needs of City key. So just wondering is that
number pretty accurate as we think about your able to build
this platform for us, with a timeline of Grable to get some
of the funding this year. We can start. And I think my team
has been very Scrappy to find some extra funding to start.
The project are already building for it. I just need the
money for 320,000 to complete it. Even though it's full
total 3:20. So we are talking about it, about 3, Salvage.
How we can find the additional funding
Not. So. That's where you are and then on the printer and
Ruby ribbon, we want to get to 120 and thousand in that
line item. I think it's at
We have to.
We have forty.
we have forty thousand for the
We have forty thousand for this year, but we would like it
to be 65 for next year. We wanted to get the 120. So we're
not in the same place where we are next year of the next
year. The time running out of I drink and then lastly, I
guess. Lastly, budget question. You may have mentioned
this, your postage, your postage line went up a lot. Is
that related to the city key? The postage goes up, actually
all of our services and all of our vendors usually increase
Behavior by year and so that we also have to absorb some of
those fees with the sidhe online platform that were talking
about, what I'll mail, the three key to your home. Got
toasted is included in the $320,000. All In
Send the last.
Send the last week's I'll stay for the Elms system as you
mention that. It's still in progress. Wonder you're always
very accessible especially if we keep having like two City
Council meetings a week, we get to see you all the time,
but let us know when it's the appropriate time when you're
looking for more input and feedback, the trainings have
been helpful. I know there's still some Kinks here and
there I hear from my staff especially but it's good to know
that, you know, it's a work in progress and that will have
some time to refine and refine again. So just please keep
us posted when the time is appropriate for that. So we can
be helpful.
Thank you.
Thank you, Allah.
Thank you. I'll do. We actually just sent a couple of
things out. I mentioned earlier. We're going to be going
through a fool change management, organizational, change
management in adoption. For all the war, we completed
survey with your offices, to give feedback on the training
curriculum, as well as the the actual system, and how that
allies training with the actual system itself will be
sending out more surveys specifically to this to this body
is really sticky vote, right? Because he can wear the
system was last year. We want to make some improvements
based on Lessons Learned. So those things are coming in the
pipeline and we're also building a l m s Hub. If you will,
where we're going to keep all our centralized information
as well as having Avenue a channel for you guys to to throw
out any ideas that you have with us. So we'll be having
ongoing conversations in the
weeks and throughout the year and how
Weeks and throughout the year and have sex. Thank you.
Thanks. And Clerk. And thank you sir. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you. I'm in
Thank you. I'll Manhattan Alderman. In Manahawkin words
fall of automobile.
Thank you so much, Jerry.
Hi.
I've been on Clark and I think it's for the team for being
here. I also want to shout out to the rest of your staff,
including your front desk reception, all the way through
July, absolutely support additional assistant for July, she
does so much. And I also have talked to your staff about
what they do on a daily and this is all about Labor, human
labor. I appreciate all the time that you have spent with
me as a new person, in every single council meeting you
have been there for it for me and us as new people and
making us feel a part of your team and I look forward to
the modernization of the clerk site. I just had a couple
questions regarding the
The.
The long-term operational Vision that you have, I really
appreciate what you said in your opening statements, about
the benefits for the city key. Including I have one. I
think it's fantastic. I use it all the time for my butt,
instead of my Ventra card, and I appreciate that. Small
businesses can sign up to be a part of the city key. We
really need to lift up small businesses right now. I also
appreciate that it is gender neutral and so that you you
said that lgbtq plus can escape a homophobic household
because of an ID. It's so important to lift up those who
are also experiencing domestic violence and how important
the city key is for them.
What?
What is your?
What is your advertising line item or city key cards? How
are we reaching those who really could benefit from this
amenity?
Kern.
Current.
Currently.
Currently, it's $25,000. Next year it's $50,000. Thank you.
I appreciate it. What is the plan to connect this?
Municipal card to the state? So we would love for the city
key card to be observed. When you go to get your state ID
as a, he could be residents or some kind of point system to
recognize,
Sweet.
We do not park.
We do not. Partners.
We do not. Partnership but we would love to and also in
terms of just like what you had mentioned in the store is
in for advertising. I think it's incredibly important
people know that the city key is for all Chicago and so I
thank you for using it. The more of us using it. The more
folks can blend in that may be on a house or re-entry
Community, or I'm facing some type of maybe March life
community. So thank you for using it. And we all stopped 80
business partners. And if anything council members have
business partners, they would like to include in their Ward
or ask, we would love to add them. So that's another
incentive and then with the advertising money I'm glad you
asked about that. It's still not a lot of money but we'll
take it and we hope that we can share some of these
testimonials. What I put in my speech are real people and
really human stories about why I think he is needed but how
to use it a banking partner or working with on the Illinois
director of the banking Association to allow it to be used
as a primary way to open a bank account. Just take the use
the matriculation
and,
and said,
and set up.
And said it was.
And set up a secondary opening up, more baking
opportunities as well and locked. It also doesn't know that
is a prescription discount card so you can take it to
Walgreens or CVS and we've seen over $400,000 and discounts
been taken advantage of from folks using it. Thank you for
that. I think that it's essential that we tell people who
are considering moving to Chicago and also Chicagoans who
live here, the benefits that you have. When you live in The
Straits at 8, I wanted to ask about what album is Yaga.
was talking about just
Was talking about this point of clay.
Was talking about this point of clarification. What were you
talkin? And I don't seem, are you talkin about some things?
Similar to what the state has with witness lips? Oh, so he
was asking if we could put in a legislative system that
yellamma proponents and opponents of the ordinances coming
up. So that's something that we can look at the public
facing portal of Yama if both can sign on. Kind of like you
out. What is a witness of sinon is a proponent our opponent
of the legislation for the Oregon. Yeah I think that's a
terrific idea and I fully support I think it's another way
to increase the begin gauge man in our city. Thank you so
much for all you do and thank you for your team. Thank you.
Is that are in the box and also in your office. Thank you
very much.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you all do.
Thank you old woman when I hop in Worth next. Will have
Alderman Beales followed by older woman.
Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, good morning.
When this is a public process and, you know, we couldn't
I'm 25 minutes instead of 10 minutes. And, you know, I
think that's doing a disservice to the residents of the
city of Chicago. Who are you? Paying us to be here every
single day and they're paying for us to have our 10 minutes
to talk about what we need in route.
so,
So is consolidating.
So, is consolidating of times and consolidating of
committees during this process. I think we're doing a
disservice to the people of City, Chicago, by trying, to
consolidate this process. And it's not to be Consolidated,
okay? So that's just my two cents and that was a statement.
That wasn't my question for you to start my time. Over 5
minutes, just real quick, you know, I've never been a fan
of the city Key Program. That's no. Shocker to you with the
migrants that are coming over.
Do.
Do they come up?
do they come over when
Do they come over when i d?
So,
So sorry.
So some of the new arrivals were seeing may have a
matricula card or consulate card. They are coming with
while the federal paperwork that they get here or birth
certificates that they brought with them from their home.
Country are some coming with nothing.
If?
if those are,
If those are coming with nothing and they don't have it
ready to start, usually, they have to go to a
community-based organization to help, guess I kind of our
own house, folks, if they don't have enough documentation,
we can't, you know, support that stuff when we get in the
city key. Do you ask if a person is a citizen and
non-citizen which city? He said, he should have a residence
that needs the requirements of. There's a point system,
should have enough points documentation to verify, who you
are and verify a being resident of Chicago. But how do we
know the person that is coming over?
From.
from, let's
From lesbian.
From Les from Venezuela. How do we know the incomparable out
who they are when before we get the key or saying their
birth certificates for their particular, like a counselor
card? How do we bear find it? That birth certificate
belongs to that person when they come over, trying to get a
set of key under name, on the federal paperwork, with the
photo that's on the federal paperwork with the homeland
security. Paperwork is the responsibility of the Secretary
of State and when, you know, your budget is tight, and
we're trying to do different things, you know, within your
department. I just think that if we turn this over to the
secretary,
Who does a?
Who does it occur?
Who does it across the state? They're better equipped to
handle that versus coming up with this program.
How?
How much money do you?
How much money do you spend on freaky every year? Right
now, some more people within your department in order to
handle the payroll that everybody's been complaining about
your
Stranger.
stranger, I had a huge problem with
the purse.
the person.
A person in your office doing payroll that cost to of my
employees, two paychecks, basically, two paychecks. And
now, we're told that they can't go back and fix it. They
can't go back to the budget Department in order to
compensate them on an error that your department made. I
think you need to try to fix that. And I think you need to
go back and have the budget Department employees hole
because it was not right that they've missed two paychecks
because the person in your office misinterpreted or misread
the email that I sent to them in order to put that in place
in. So hopefully you can redress that and go back to budget
and budget can fight find a way to make those. People hold.
That would be greatly appreciated and you're welcome to
call me anytime to, I know,
Talk about.
Talk about that.
Talk about that in 10.
Talk about that and try to make that whole. I appreciate it.
Oh, firm believer that you need to bring back a sticker
program in the world offices. That's a great program. I
know you. You short on staff but again 1.2 million turn it
over the city. Key to the state and let them handle that.
You can bring the stickers back to the ward offices with
the residents, appreciate it. And you can get some help and
in other departments in it within your department. But you
know, I think the world of you, I think the world of you
stay out of your pants. You guys doing a wonderful job but
I'm sorry, but I had to bring these couple of issues up
because it wasn't right and I'm fighting for my staff. So
just so, you know, the city Chi was created because there
were barriers to getting the state ID because they have
different Federal requirements to have to fall and state
requirements. But I'm happy to have a discussion with them.
If it's something that they are interested in looking at
and guards of, I don't know if they have a state statute
changing what they would have to do.
Thank you. All.
Thank you all the movie.
Think you ought to reveal all of them? Crews is not here
Alderman, Lawson. Are there any other non members in the
chamber's? Thank you ordering Cruise ready?
Great.
Great night.
Great Maddie.
Thank.
Thank you. My sweet.
Thank you vice-chair. I just want to say some quick, a
quick message for the city clerk in hairstyles on his head
because of you and your status, I had an easy transition
coming into this role. So I want to say express my
gratitude towards you to your team is always welcome and
always answering any questions we have even if it's the
same question over and over there always willing to help us
and make sure that you know, we're learning the system. I
want to say thank you for that. Also I was not part of the
other process but he voting thing is an excellent way so
what way to incorporate Innovation into the council but
overall just want to say thank you. But something I do want
to recognize also your the apartment is that I've been
asking this question to rob the committee and so far. I
want to see so far. Your team has been your department
released, a very good numbers were there and w.
Pretty.
Pretty much.
Pretty much every other department that have address this
with compared to last year, their numbers are down, but
your numbers are actually High compared to 70% of our spend
is mbw be very good. Okay? So, that's why I was going to
ask if 90 is very high volume. So, just wanted to make sure
they were
How to recognize it as.
how to recognize it, ask the
How to recognize a task that, you know what, why is this,
but you already answer it. So thank you so much, but just
wanted to give you
You.
In.
You know, thanks again. So thank you. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you. All.
Thank you Alderman. Cruzar Alderman, Lawson.
Spell.
Bella.
Lullaby album.
Bella by Alderman Gutierrez.
Thank you.
Turn up.
Turn up the
Thank you. Good.
Ask.
After.
Afternoon. Madam clerk, good to see you. I have just a
couple things done quickly and then I have a couple
questions. I want to add my voice to those, that we need to
figure out the RP, PS4 Tod with all them Espada. It's an
issue that we didn't have when they needed exception
letters cuz they're all on Commercial Street. But now that
we're not doing exception letters in that same way, it was
some that we have to probably find a legislative solution
for. I'm I also just came up with the ACP, but I think we
need to revisit the weight of vehicle there increase in
public. Passenger vehicles are livery service has the
largest cars that are roadway right and I we charge them
very little, it seems like and I think it's time that we
look at this. So I want to add my voice. There my staff
will have my head. If I don't say we would love the ability
to add new records to the RPP system for daily passes with
a lot of people that their first apartment is in the 44th
Ward.
Big.
They going to take it, they come in and we have to send
them.
downtown to get a sticker that day or tell them to wait and
we can get them set up and then they can come down in the
next week and take care of things. They want to come into
compliance with, you want to make it easier for them. The
more electronic that we do with dailies obviously that will
help the new person. I know. So I know I have to add my
voice there and if we can make that change, I think it's
something that we always did. Certainly judiciously. I
don't know if there was ever really an issue with other
neighborhoods or sellers remote sellers, but that's
something that's important has been a little quirky lately.
Specifically, we've been down a lot and I know I don't
think there's any upgrades for remote sellers in the
budget. So right now. Well first with we are trying to get
some funding through a is right now to do an assessment of
ROTC program. I think it's $100,000 tomorrow.
Over-the-counter.
Over-the-counter salut.
Over-the-counter solution to.
Over-the-counter solution that does the city stickers is a
10 year old technology and it's going to need to be
upgraded. So next year, we'll probably come with some ideas
for solutions to do that. So that's kind of why the
system's been cork you're going down. Is an issue in terms
of automatic sellers. We are on a pause for that right now
and tell Department of Finance can get their point of stale
integrated into the system. You would been by all this new
equipment, that would be outdated soon. So right now until
Department of Finance has done with their point of sale,
which I don't know if there are p is even Riley, do you
know, a timeline?
Riley bowling chief operations currently right now. We're
kind of in a holding pattern until the Department of
Finance can procure? Contracts were both be a manager and
Hardware side of the plant manager system. So until we can
get that situated, we're not going to be able to onboard
any additional folks or just upgrade any. I like to see
technology that we have. Currently right now. Okay. How
many remote sellers do happen? But the contract isn't ours.
Remote fell.
remote sellers, we have
77.
$7. So I know that at first place, it's a lot of stuff done
and to find a way to disguise. All of, that is something. I
know we want to work for one of the thing on the LMS I
think I appreciate Lawanda teaching me something. Every
time she's over my shoulder to co-sponsor at and that the
work that's happening. There, the one thing on on dates
though but I want to add my voice to is the committee
meeting notices. Don't have them either, one of my staff.
And if there's a way when we have just like we get notice
of someone co-sponsoring, if there's a rescheduling or
canceling of a committee meeting, which is happened in
higher-volume recently, they have that be an automatic
notification as well, will be very, very helpful. We're
pretty good about checking, but when there's a lot of
movement, it can be hard to stay on top of stove.
just,
just a
just some
just a
Just something. I
Just something else. I dad.
I can.
I think that's all I have.
I think that's all. I have a lease in Flight. Ready to be.
Thank you Alderman Lawson. Next, we have older women
Gutierrez
Come.
Kimora.
Good morning, good morning. Just some of the questions over
all that. My colleagues have asked. It's clear for me that
you and your team are working hard delivering for our
Chicago. I just want to thank you and your whole team cuz I
know it's not easy. I know it's Monday through Sunday,
right morning, evening and night. And I just want to come
into all for the work that you guys are doing. I
understand. And no, no systems are perfect.
And there.
and there's always,
And there's always room for improvement and growth.
and I'm
And I know. And I'm confident that next year going to
continue to be a good year with the clerk's office. Thank
you, for your job. Thank you for all what you do and I'm
keep learning and also thank you and your staff because
also for us to establish our offices and onboarding or
staffers. It was also a new process, which you will learn
that we keep learning. And I just want to thank you for all
the hard work. Thank you, thank you for your partnership.
And you are there any further?
And you are there any further question?
And you are there. Any further questions?
All.
Alderman, Burke.
Alderman Burnett just to come in. I like to also thank you
and your staff everything that you do to help us stay
up-to-date on everything. And then I wanted to ask a
question, you have a person working for you name.
Olive.
Alice, Alice Williams of modernization.
All.
All right, off of the CEO of the company that we procured
for city council monetization. So there are local
black-owned firm here in Chicago bender and what I like
about their companies are willing to hit fit in the hot
seat with all these cancel, my reservation questions.
They've been a great partner and when things on the rollout
did not go as smoothly. As, you know, this type a
perfectionist would have like they jumped in and quickly
are handling it and stabilizing and getting your feedback
and incorporating the feedback. So all the calls that we
have with you about the and the briefing. It there. Also it
heavily involved. I actually went down to get a sticker the
other day.
and,
and every
and,
And everybody in your office was trying to help me. So I
really appreciate it. I like that car serviced. And I'm
really talking about. That was a senior special thing.
Thank you for helping them to do what they doing over here
with the technology, appreciate it and comment on the young
lady there. She always help me with my computer, but I
didn't know if she was like a ball since you'd be down here
and working on a floor. That's so very, very humbling. So
thank you all very much. Appreciate all your help. Thank
you, keep up the good work and I support you getting more
money to thank you and we can talk about those staff.
I'm just,
Thank you so much. He's choking.
Thank you again for being here and providing answers to all
of our questions. Quick blunt Sia and all of the clerks
team here. We appreciate everybody there. Being no further
questions were going to be in a short recess here while we
get the next group in Saint. Thank you so much for the
Chicago Public Library.
I'm going.
I'm going to check that I can.
Take.
Big one.
Big 12.
Ring around.
Yes, Library. Yes.
It's too.
It's 12:50.
Its 12:15. We're going to go ahead and get started with our
next Department. Chicago Public Library. We're first going
to allow Cova to give their presentation.
good after
Good afternoon. My name is Jana soda gray. And I'm the
acting director of Coco.
They?
Dave, and
Babe, I'm going to talk about the Chicago Public Library,
just a quick overview for the departmental expenditures
basically and fun.
Play The Fan.
Play the fact. She
Play the fact sheet. First of all,
The proposed.
the proposed budget.
the proposed budget for fiscal year 2004 is 117 million
dollars is 3.65 million dollars. Less than fiscal year,
2003, budget at FT is at 1152 and it's flat year-over-year.
No change.
find a
Bonded.
Bonded with Library funds. Is expected. 76.85 is out of the
library. Fine.
Add.
Out of this.
Out of the fiscal year. 24 funding 89.73 million is for
personnel 27.28 million is for non Personnel expenses.
I'm sorry, kiddo.
I'm sorry. It all came up a little bit. Okay.
Oh, real.
oh, really
Oh, really. I have a big mouth when he's closer to your
mouth? Yeah, yeah. Is that better? Is that better?
Any.
Can you hear?
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me now? Okay, well I know I don't need to
repeat all that because it's all up there. But again, 76.85
funded with the library funds.
Percy.
Personal expense.
Personal expenses are on the rise. Permanent improvements
are budgeted to decrease $600,000.
again, in the
Again, in the fiscal year 2040 budget, their allocations
for 1150 to f t e.
and the
and if I,
And the funding comes from the library fine, for the most
part. 76.85 percent.
They're going to look.
They're going to look at a program.
They're going to look at appropriation categories.
We?
We have her.
We have Personnel Services. Being the largest one which is
expected.
and,
Energy.
And as you can see kind of in the middle of the graph, you
can see that - 600000 from the permanent Improvement that
was mentioned earlier.
What?
What's the?
Let's look at the
Let's look at some of the programs and what they do.
The probe.
The program.
The programs for the public library, the Central Library
Services is the largest one at 68.7 million followed by
Capital Improvement of 18.3 and then administration of
11.7.
They?
That's my report.
That's my report for today.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you Janice. We will all begin Library. Will have
opening statement by commissioner Brown and you also
introduces staff. I will know if there's no objection, I
will do as we did in the first, go to the 55 minute, and
then it's time as necessary, I'll go beyond just initially.
So,
Commission.
Commissioner please, I'll go ahead and give you open a
statement that uses that afternoon and thank you and
honorable council with me here. I have our Deputy Terry
Campbell / finance and HR and our first Debbie, Mariela
Messner. In the box we have Maggie Clemens, Deputy
Commissioner, Patrick Malloy, director of government
Affairs, Irma Jackson, director-finance Sabrina Willard
Raptor for Sherman me to email Clay director of marketing,
Julie Kozlowski director of Team Services, Desiree, build a
senior Equity officer Grandma Penske District. Chief, Greg
Diaz District Chief as many cost. A Wii on a narrow
McKinney Central Library director,
in my humble opinion, it's
In my humble opinion, it's the people.
In my humble opinion, it's the people not only books that
truly Propel are Chicago, Public Library forward. Always
cherish and Cherry a bass collection of books and digital
resources is the people will unite our mission of access
and learning and a heartfelt. Thank you, goes out to a
remarkable team of 1000 City, Library workers represented
here today, by members of our dedicated leadership team.
AltaOne.
Allison wanted.
I also want to express our appreciation for our extensive
partners and the communities in your words. Of course we
want to express our gratitude to a branch and Johnson in
our esteemed Council for your unwavering support of our
mission.
We are.
We, all right.
We all recognize the transformative power of learning at
every age and stage of life.
Abhishek.
Are the Chicago.
Are the Chicago Public Library. We leave the charge and out
of school, time and lifetime learning.
We?
We meet.
We meet your connection fostering learning for educational
support Broadband access social services, and cultural
engagement. And if you'll allow me to share some remarkable
successes are our city library, Workforce,
This.
this year, we can't
This year, we continue to deepen our partnership with
Chicago Public Schools, your 81 club, which removes the
barriers to students and teachers and make sure that all
can easily access their City Library.
Over.
Over the Sun.
Over the summer.
Over the summer our team witness phenomenal phenomenal.
Success with double-digit increases in student engagement
and reading and literacy activities. Culminating in 21
million minutes of reading during our summer at CPL
program, keeping our students developing their literacy
skills. Our neighborhood library has hosted twice as many
programs this summer with participation and tripling
compared to the previous year.
Are.
Artesia.
Our teacher in the library program, provided a 69% increase
in in person and virtual homework, help to Chicago students
with / 24,000 homework. Help are you meeting spaces
dedicated to our Chicago? Use saw nearly 20,000
out-of-school-time engagements.
Are.
Arc lamp.
Park Library.
Our collaboration with after school matters and support of
one summer, Chicago provided summer employment along with
our volunteer opportunities, to hundreds of Youth
supporting me or Johnson and our City's commitment to our
young Chicagoans.
Until?
In Celebration.
In celebration of our 150th anniversary, we wants the
library for the people. A podcast, featuring acclaimed
creatives who reflect on our City's City. Libraries Rich
history with over 20,000 listens.
We also see.
We also serve as.
We also serve as a neighborhood connector with social and
wellness support in collaboration with Chicago Department
of Public Health. We probably the mental health clinicians
and over. Half a dozen names for libraries who distributed
over 10,000 units of Narcan. Removing the stigma around
addiction or piloting. Mobile crisis fans, mental health
awareness, training and public health, any machines, for
the angel?
Ouija.
We take a memo.
We take immense pride in our leadership staff. Diversity
this year through community-based hiring, we've hired over
dozens of future by Paka l.
Are.
Argumentative.
Our commitment to diversity, extends to our library
collection or prouder received a two million-dollar Mellon,
Foundation, Grant to digitize African-American history
archives of materials, and we continue to build our
non-english-language collection and invest with a 20%
increase in spending that was also weird last year.
We?
we announced our
We announced our first Native American 1 book 1. Chicago
author Pulitzer Prize winner, Tommy Pulitzer Prize
finalist, Tommy, orange with the selection of their there
and we hope you will mark your calendars for November 15th
only who will be hosting the author Harold Washington
Library Center.
Inch.
In challenging time.
In challenging times with a freedom to read is under attack.
Our book Sanctuary movement leads, the effort to protect
band and challenged books setting. An example for other
cities and counties across our country, especially in
states with these challenges are most prevalent,
Risa.
Recent.
Recently missed.
Recently respond to challenges faced by workers Nationwide.
We strengthen our commitment to safety. Our library used
skylines have been updated and revised. We've added
incident tracking software and have dedicated a safety task
force to collaborate with our dedicated Union Workforce
leadership.
We are me.
We remain.
We remain steadfast in our efforts to strengthen that work
for us. We've successfully reduced are vacancies. Fine.
Impressive 26% we promoted over 100 Chicago, Public Library
staff and welcome. Nearly 100 entry-level staff directly
into our neighborhood. Libraries looking ahead, our mission
and values. Our Friendly Center, Don equity, and
opportunity. In the coming year, we will conduct an equity
assessment Guided by Community engagement, to establish a
strategy and action plan. That will further our mission of
providing access to information and knowledge.
Rosa Park.
We're all so proud women.
We're also proud to announce funding for 3 Nuka, located,
libraries in West, Humboldt Park Woodlawn and Back of the
Yards to continue our journey of innovation. We've secured
funding for a capital strategy. Master plan, as we
mentioned before. Research has shown that Library Capital
Investments result and double-digit increases and use for
an entire decade.
This plan with charts.
Is playing with Chardon aspirational future incorporating
International Library. Best practices while reinvesting in
Chicago, to our neighborhood locations.
Confusion art.
Confusion art, Chicago Public Library, connects our city to
transport transformational learning opportunities, this
year alone, or projected, to exceed last year's touchpoints
of 57 million over 57 million visits materials borrowed,
computer and Wi-Fi access and programs attended by the
residents of your Awards. And with me are Johnson and our
Council continued support will persist in serving Chicago
1s, with innovative ideas and tactful programs and
lightning resources and Equitable practices. I want to
thank you for helping to shape the incredible potential of
what do I bring to eat?
Thank.
Thank you, commissioner.
Thank you, commissioner, if you could also introduce your
staff here in the well with us and in the Box as well.
Yes, sir.
Yes. So next time I have Cheri Campbell our Deputy of
finance and HR Mario Messner, our first, deputy, and then
the box we have Maggie Clemens Deputy Commissioner, Patrick
Malloy director of government Affairs, Jackson Director of
Finance Sabrina Lillard, draft for a procurement to email
Clay director of marketing, Julie Kozlowski director of
Team Services, Desiree Abuelo de our senior Equity, Oscar
brand, Lipinski our district Chief, Greg Diaz District,
Chief, as May cost a Wii on District Chief and Aaron
McKinney Central Library, director,
Alright, thank you.
Alright, thank you very much questions. You need any
questions? Okay, I'm going to open with. I see that you
have a $10 Grant from the state for construction of
buildings and other structures. What is your plan for where
that
We?
We have a couple of remaining storefront libraries, but
there is one site that hasn't developed a funding package
for that, that plan going forward. So that's the, the Gage
Park Library. It's our last remaining storefront library
and so willing to invest equitably in our our neighborhood
libraries were committing to making sure that that's the
the next next priority, the remaining storefronts be have
funding packages of plans.
Okay. The only other quick one elected Regional Library
located on the west side and is currently closed due to the
flooding. What is the time frame to getting it back up
online? Cuz this song only reason why I agree on the West
Side that's open seven days.
Thanks.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you. Sure we are.
Thank you. Sure we are working closely with the Department
of a is we're projected to reopen in February, we have to
relocate, our computer room, repair our boiler and the
elevator, but we're also looking to see if we can parallel
process. Some of that work. But right now, the projection
is in February. Thank you very much. All de men, Riley,
followed by Alderman, Nugent, any others again.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, chairman, good afternoon. Commissioner, I don't
have a lot of questions. I did want to confirm. You're
carrying / 154 funded vacancies into the next fiscal year.
Is that correct. So, a bit over 10% of your entire
Workforce is vacant.
Granted it.
Granted? It's it's closer to 20%. We've made a lot of
Headway in terms of hiring. So are our dedicated HR
Workforce have really committed to reducing that vacancy
rate.
We?
we reduce that, because
We reduce that bacon.
We reduce that bacon 3 by 26% this year. And I've seen a
71% increase in the number of external hires. We've also
had a substantial opportunities for the promotion of our
internal staff. As I mentioned over 100 staff or promoted,
and we moved over 47. Part-time staff to full-time, which
equates two additional 22ft. But, but you're correct, it's
a significant vacancy number. It's not a criticism really
out of genuine concern. And I'm looking at some of the
salary levels that are associated with these positions and
they're actually pretty low. And given how important the
library system is two communities throughout the city.
These are important Investments we make and do we need to
relook at the salary levels have been established for some
of these jobs at a lot of these are good union-represented
job yet the South
Levels.
levels are
Levels are in some cases, $40,000 a year. Can you speak to
that?
RC.
Are celery.
Our salary wage for Chicago, Public Library are fairly
competitive in in the the greater region. And in some of
those those ranges that you're speaking to our, our entry
level position, we do have a lot of investment. We make in
developing our Workforce and we have a tuition
reimbursement fund. That's one of our budget line area that
we've seen an increase in that in that fund. So that we can
continue to invest in our works, Workforce and move those
positions into more long-term, professional careers. And
again, I wish you luck in getting these vacancies filled,
I'm very important jobs. You mentioned in your budget or
marks the distribution of 10000 units of Narcan
and,
and obviously,
and obviously not can is a life stage saving agent for for
folks who are struggling with addiction. But that number
popped out at me and I think speak to a part of the
narrative that wasn't told today. Could you explain how the
library system is handling? A tremendous volume of addicts
or spending time in our facilities that are really meant to
serve communities? And especially children, my concern is
that there is rampant drug. Use, certainly not in
A.
Simple.
Tampa Bay.
Temple Run is set for Ark.
Temple Run is set for our kids, but could you speak to
that, please? That, that was a troubling number for me. I'm
glad you're Distributing Narcan. It saves lives but it says
something else too. In your narrative
Yeah.
Yeah, I didn't.
Yeah, and I see.
Yeah, and I think that's why we're working. So closely with
our cdph partners, we've added a half a dozen, mental
health clinicians to support to support them.
We are.
We also really make an effort to look at the types of
incidents that we see those kind of behavioural.
Disturbances. I mentioned that we'd updated or behavior.
Used skylines at our incident tracking software, and we do
work closely with mobile crisis fans, with cdph to bring
him, that's all questions. Another supports looking at that
data of disturbance or addiction use. That's, that's how we
sort of work with the Chicago Police Department to make
sure that we're being responsive to any pattern of
disturbance. Our staff are trained to address anything that
they see to work with their managers and with our
administrative team, to make sure that we're as responsive
as possible to those disturbances. But I would like to hear
though, is a zero-tolerance policy for drug use in public
libraries, these are for sale.
used primarily by
Used primarily by children.
Used primarily by children, and we cannot tolerate that in
public facilities. How many calls for service? Do you make
to the Chicago Police Department 911 system each year? We,
we could get you that information to the chair at
appreciate that. I'd like to also a dollar man, that that
10,000 use as many people, taking Narcan and leading the
library, so you can reach it routinely. See people going to
put it in their backpack so when they're on the train or in
their communities so it does not equate with the number of
overdoses. It's really an access point that's available in
all 81 locations. I appreciate that and I thank you for it.
But it's also known anecdotally that because libraries are
safe spaces and communities some folks take advantage of
that. And I just want to make sure that our children are
protected and that they're not learning.
Behavior.
Behaviors.
Behaviors at a young age when they should be reading books.
Zero tolerance. So we have a metric. So that if there's a
certain behavior in the library or staff can work to
suspend someone for a certain amount of time, I'm more a
public space so people can always come back. They can
appeal that suspension if they feel that they were wrongly
suspended. But of course, if if someone is in our library
use using narcotics, they would
Has been.
suspended for a
Suspended for a specific.
Suspended for a specific amount of time.
Suspended for a specific amount of time, maybe through the
chair. If you could the number of suspensions that that
you've had a system-wide in the past, 12 months would be
helpful, of course, thank you very much. Commissioner. You
and your staff to very important work. I'm very
appreciative for all you do and thanks everyone in the box.
Thank you, Shannon.
Thank.
Thank you. I
Thank you all on the Riley. If you could provide that
listing by facility for suspensions and am by Bob Ward. I
think that would bring some light to where this guy is most
probably know. I've got some suspicions all, but none the
less, I think the yard out of work will help us in that
endeavor, ultimate downfall about all them. Men, Nugent.
Thank.
Thank you. I can be
Thank you, High Commissioner, I'm not tech tech oriented
but one of my constituents was telling me about something
called canopy are we a member of that service? We have a
number of other streaming services, not canopy. But would
you offer offer a number of other streaming service has so
that children can watch movies at home? What would those be
just? So I can go back and give them some names.
I'm way.
I'm with you.
I'm where we offer hoopla. So so that people can. I think
it's a combination of music and other other digital media,
okay, and are they on your website, correct? Okay, I can do
that. And then secondly, we in the Bronzeville Community.
Are anticipating an application or a Cultural District in
Bronzeville. Would like to talk about ways we can partner
with the libraries, and if you could assign someone on your
staff to work with some, my office and your commute in our
community,
Around that.
Around that f.
Around that effort. Should we be successful? I will very
much appreciate that. Of course. And thank you for thinking
of us.
Thank.
Thank you, mr. G
Thank you mister chair, that's it for me and followed by a
person.
Bad.
Bass.
Basket.
Baskets not here, we'll see if he comes back. Go ahead and
order, and Riley started went where I was looking to go. I
I am curious. What the plan is to fill the vacancies. We've
been hearing that the vacancies are quite troubling and I
know we've been creased hours were looking.
Do we even open on?
Do we even open on Sunday?
Do we even open on Sundays? But is there a plan to fill
these vacancies?
Apps.
Absolutely.
Absolutely and we've we've recruited within every
classification that we where we have mentioned. We reduce
that bathing suit by 26%. We recently had a number of
hiring efforts. We do a program called page Colusa where we
will recruit directly from our war neighborhoods into our
neighborhood. Libraries, and we miss all over four hundred
applicants for entry-level paid position. We're also in the
midst of a librarian, entry-level speed hiring process. And
so, we have a number of efforts to reduce that vacancy
rate.
We?
We are we are most excited that we've been able to really
increase the number of external hires this year. That's
really been our Focus to add bodies to our department.
Okay. I think anything we can do to provide incentives to
get folks working in our library is it's it's really
critically important. They are not just places. Pick up
books, its community center on its places will congregate
for Community engagement. We have caps meetings there, my
seniors organize, their, we have new ankle-biters, the
Little Learners, so I try to make sure that we're really
focused on that. I know in your testimony that you had
brought up 1 book, 1, Chicago,
It's really a.
It's really important. That's really be.
It's really important. That's really big D.
It's really important. That's really big deal that we
continue. This is our 22nd year I said this before but I
think it's really important that we as a body reflect on
the fact that we are in a war on words right now. In each
day, we hear about a new book being banned and it's
incredibly important that cago public libraries continue to
offer the books that others are trying to take away from
us. And I noticed there was a new exhibit. I believe at the
Harold Washington Library which highlights books that are
banned in a, in an Art Exhibit. I think it's really
important. I'm proud to be from the first date that took a
public stand against book bands and I just read book bands,
they've doubled in 2022 and they're particularly from books
written about and by people of color and lgbtqia people. So
I just we need to really make sure we are focused and we
continue to be inclusive and inviting and
allow for book.
allow for books.
allow for books to be read. So, thank you. Thank you, mr.
Chairman, thanks for your support.
Thank.
Thank you. Are
Thank you for all the.
Thank you. Our alderman Nugent. Edwin Vasquez is out by
Straley.
Thank.
Thank you, German.
Thank you, chairman, and thank you all for being here. A few
questions here, just find them.
We will.
We love her.
We love our libraries in the 11th or I think I've said that
many times, I'm not going to repeat it because I think it
might make some of my colleagues jealous. We have the
fabulous Chinatown library in the daily Library, highly
utilized, and we appreciate all the staff that are there
for all that. They do definitely want to acknowledge those.
That works through Cove it as well, and right now our
libraries are getting used and a high-volume because of
migrants in our words as well. So in addition to the normal
day-to-day needs, they're all so you don't have to deal
with that too and being very gracious about it. And we know
we've been working with Jeremy at the Daley library in
particular to try to carve out space in time for as a
warming Center and to provide some that sometime for young
kids to come in and you don't see kids indoors to
appreciate all that they're doing. Can you talk to me a
little bit about this position called a cyber Navigator?
Did you do?
Digital or cyber?
Digital or cyber navigate.
Digital or cyber Navigator. Program is funded through our
library foundation. So essentially to support our staff, as
they're helping residents with their basic literacy skills,
are libraries have to really help our Chicagoans on her
computer, is what people who need Willie more, extensive
time, more like coaching on computers, or extensive job
applications, or applying for social services. These cyber
Navigators are digital Navigators are able to provide
longer one-on-one assistance, through our foundation, for
this budget, but we could do to get more cyber Navigators.
Especially bilingual ones. I think that they're invaluable.
I know most of these are part-time positions and, you know,
would love to love to see more in any other. All of our
branches, if that's possible.
and we did, we did get a
And we did, we did get a commitment from Comcast to support
that program. You really support 26 locations with ongoing
sniper. Navigator support, that's perfect. Thank you.
Little bit on security and your opening remarks. I know
that there were a series of bomb threats that were made on
facilities, including in the, in my ward. What's being done
to improve Safety and Security at the branch level working
group. This is in partnership with our Union Leader. Our
Union, Workforce leadership, we really want to make sure
that all of our communication and our emergency process is
really reflect the needs of our work for his door or
excited to have launched. That, that working group they're
really looking at
All the D.
All the details.
All the details around. Like, how do we communicate around
the threat? How do we engage with our emergency responders
and how it what kind of training do our staff need? So one
of the first pieces of training, we've put out your
employees is working with the Chicago Police Department,
bomb squad, help our staff understand how do these threats
really get us best. How do we work with the subject experts
to make sure were no responding in the appropriate degree?
I'm sorry at all, that you
I'm sorry at all that you have to to do that. I just wanted
to add were working in tandem with the mayor's office and
so they've been supporting our efforts in revising
guidelines, helping us with training. And I'd also like to
recognize Greg Diaz who is in the Box. He is leaving these
efforts for CPL and has really stepped up. I'm to be in
this group. Develop guidance training. So I feel like we
have a very focused, a focus protocol and training that
we're moving forward on. I think it's giving the staff and
patrons more more comfort in terms that we're we're on it
and we know our own protocols, absolutely. Thank you. Have
one last question, several of the department that have come
before us have talked about all. We've seen increases in
their salary. Personnel Services, and everything was your
was the Chicago Public Library in part of this HR study?
And did you get some
Westminster.
Simon Says a.
Simon says, there was a
Commence, as a result.
Men's, as a result, we were, we did get on 10 in the senior
leadership managers who have been, who had been on a
special rate and were assigned to a salary schedule, so
willing to help with celery compression and retain. Our,
our department leadership, and I do not believe that I'm
sorry, Altima Lopez all the middle spot, Alderman, Lopez
any other members.
It was.
It was too long.
It was too long on the Knutson, okay. I have the deal with
the members. Number to the non members. Does Spotify says,
Keisha Brown, very good to see you really grateful for all
that you do. I will be so quick, I'll use two minutes of my
time. I didn't know, among your many positions. Turnover
number honestly, was what concerned me, I saw a turnover
number and now don't have it. In front of April's around,
6.9 million dollars. Do I know that accurately when the
turnover for Department of protein,
New l.
Nearly ten percent.
Nearly 10% of your overall budget that Target concerned
about, not only the HR capacity to hire the position if you
need. But whether we even expecting you, or supporting you
in through the Budget, Inn hiring, the positions that you
need to do, you feel like you can speak to that and whether
whether we need to see in an adjustment, and that turnover
figure among other person. Thank you for your concern. It
is consistent with the turnover rate that we we've seen
over the past couple of years. So I think we need to get,
you are hiring, but it's a rate that we, we've kind of
operator with them but it's significantly higher than last
year's budget that that's where my concern comes, right.
I'll just add that so much of our department.
Promotion.
Promotion is from with.
Promotion is from within. And so each time we fill a
position, it's typically from an internal promotion and
then we turn around and fill that position again. And so we
have significant savings just through that process. We have
worked overtime. This year to condense the amount of time,
it takes to backfill position but it still does take time.
And the vast majority of our promotions are people moving
from page to clerk to library associate to librarian. And
then branch manager in District Chief and so that turnover
sort of reflective of the fact that we are always hiring.
And so we haven't even finished for this year. So, just
last week, we interviewed more than 150 Librarians over
three days next week, we will be interviewing more than 125
applicants for clerk in one day. And then we are going
through all the processes of fingerprint.
Back.
Background clearing.
Background clearance.
Background clearance is.
Background clearance has its.
Background clearance, has it set.
Background clearances at cetera to bring those folks on
board that, that had taken more time in the past. But we
are working doubling our efforts to make sure that we are
getting people in quicker. So that you will see less
Salvage. And I appreciate that all, I always want to make
sure is that our turnover numbers are not unnecessarily,
constraining a Department's ability to hire the folks that
they need. That's where it comes from, but I appreciate the
response. Thank you, and thank you, sir.
Thank.
Thank You, album.
Thank you. I'm in the spot Alma Lopez before I could
question your. Your positions you're generally hiring for.
Are you need specialized skills for? For the most part you
get like an average person. Even four-year grad doesn't
answer the qualifier for some repetitions. Well is that
some of them or both of them? What are you far? Is it from
our recruiting standpoint. Sure. How does it, how does that
work for you all? When we have a number of entry level
positions that are our cages are Clerk or Library
Associates. Those could be without a specialized agree, our
librarian positions require a master's program and that's
why or tuition reimbursement is so important. Thank you all
metal base.
Thank.
Thank you, Cheri.
Thank you, chairman. Good morning to our friends, in the
library system and good morning. Members of the budget
committee gives me. I just wanted to say thank you to you
and your team who have spent probably
More.
More time.
More time than they ever imagined, in the back of the
Yards, New City Community, working very diligently to bring
the new library to the area as part of the larger project
on 46th and Ashland. I know, it has been quite an arduous
lift unnecessarily
Play.
but,
But you all have stuck through it. Your team was at every
community meeting weather was in the 15th or 20th Ward's
answered. Every question. Five times over in 10 different
languages and are able to bring home a second library to
The Back of the Yards Community within a 10-year time
frame. So I appreciate that immensely. I know that we
talked about how it's a generational process to get
libraries, but you have really done through your team, a
great service to the community that serves both
African-Americans. And Latinos, that's going to actually be
better used by both and was a model in my opinion. For how
you get towards, who intersect
Dice.
dice.
dissected communities to come together. And that is a
process that I think that you all can. Replicate not just
within your system, but for the entire city, as we've seen,
how these wars are drawn, like, spaghetti noodles, thrown
against the wall. That being said, I really have no
questions on your team has been phenomenal. I do have just
one recommendation and that is something that I've
recommended numerous times. So just to know what your
Capital Improvement plan is and how can we
Add.
Adjust.
Adjust adjust those Revenue sources so that we can do what
we need to do and all of the library's, even though it's
not mine anymore, like the brake Park Library at the Gate,
Park Library at the Forgotten expansion of the West
Englewood library, in so many other libraries where I know
you have.
Can.
Caps. I'm not.
Caps. If I'm not mistaken as to what you can commit, we
need to figure out a way and make that a priority so that
we can address your infrastructure and developed Capital
development needs. Any more robust and quicker fashion till
no questions. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are you
looking for the Lopez Library?
I do now.
I do not need the ring.
I do not need the Raymond Lopez Library are very well.
Animal shelter. Alder, Rosanna Rodriguez. Sanchez.
you're not a,
You're not in your C.
You're not in your seat. Are you? You want? You want me to
pass you when I can pass if you? Like, if you want to go,
if you got everything. Okay, good. Okay. Go ahead. Hello,
commissioner and theme. Thank you so much for being here.
Thank you.
Thank you for.
Thank you for all the work that you do. We're living in a
very disturbing time where libraries are under attack.
Something that I didn't think that I would ever see
and to that,
And to that I would really like to ask. And I know that
this is a bigger question than budget line items, but it is
to me, that's deeply related to the work that we're doing,
how in Chicago, which
up to
Up to what?
We?
we have a
We have been trying to imagine it's a progressive City.
How?
Do we may?
Do we make sure that our library is Tremaine inclusive
spaces. How do we protect
The in.
but, until a
The intellectual.
Are.
Eric.
Ferret.
from the
from Big Lots from
The star.
conservator.
Conservative.
My.
Mine.
Mine said,
Mine said that want to exclude.
Valero.
Vulnerable. And
Vulnerable and oppressed people.
and,
And I can.
and I seen that the
And I think that this is deeply related to the budget. What
do we need? In order to ensure that we have a robust
system? That is strengthening the critical thinking of our
city that is deeply needed right now. In my opinion, do you
have thoughts about what do we need? In order to ensure
that we are doing that?
Yeah.
yes, and I'm
Yes, and I thank you. Other person, for all the support and
calling out, just how important it is in Chicago, and such
a diverse City, that our collection, reflects the diversity
of, of our residents, all of our neighborhood. Library is
each of those teams have a dedicated funding so that they
can really autonomously respond to the needs of our local
Ward residents. So, that's one of the. First thing we do is
make sure that our local are our local neighborhood.
Library is can really purchase based on the demographic and
the communities that they're serving. And of course, as
Department, we launched our book Sanctuary campaign to just
very clearly send a message to our city, and our residents,
that we are committed to including all voices and all their
tubes. And it's, it's a, a banner going to continue to
Champion
If?
It is.
it is the books by Sherry campaign, something that we feel
like it's on the
To.
to the point, I
To the point that it can survive and and expand and the we
need any more resources for that.
Really want?
really, when
Really win books book Banning was on the rise, especially a
couple of years ago were very fortunate that we eat. We
have a lot of pro bono and philanthropic support. So we
were able to get some, some support to develop a campaign
and really great that messaging and how we're going to
Champion the voices. In our library. Through programs, do
bringing authors in through book displays in the books that
we purchase. Our team is now working on our ongoing
planning a lot over the last couple of years, this Council
and our cities supported a 30%, increase to our collection
budget. And a lot of that additional collection resource.
Lets us be responsive to those those purchasing needs for a
collection. Do we feel like the library staff feels safe in
all of our locations?
I, I think it's
I I think it isn't it.
I think it is it is it is a very difficult time to work in
libraries. And so as we discussed earlier, we are, we are
really trying to make sure that we have the training, the
guidelines, the protocols, that we're working very closely
with our emergency response efforts and especially with our
Workforce Union leadership, so that our plans and our
processes are going to resonate with our 1000 Chicago
employees. So I don't think everyone feels safe.
We've.
we we, having
We haven't got steps.
We haven't got steps a very individual kind of you, but we
are doing everything possible in partnership with the
mayor's office and our, our emergency responders they show
safety. I think I'm more referring to protection. Those
people to protect it. I don't, I feeling say it is a very
subject.
subjective kind of concept. I wanted to ask you about the
passes for particular for seniors and Families.
For me.
4 Misty.
For museums, probably some of my colleagues already brought
this up. I have a lot of particularly seniors that don't
have. The means to be able to enter museums but the Stars,
some of the few things that they do for recreation and it
is I think that it is a public health issue. I think that
people need to be engaged with discourse with art, I can
promote mental health, mental health, and it also promotes
community building, and safety. So,
in light of the fact that
In light of the fact that our constituents can access that
anymore through the library, they have thoughts about what
are alternatives that we can have in order to provide those
kinds of experiences to our community. I maybe there is
something to be said about using our own expense account or
not, but I would like a little bit more information to
understand how it work. I think you're referring to our
beloved museum pass program. So we leave for almost two
decades, had physical museum pass that people would be able
to check out from our location. One of the challenges that
we had was around just Equity of access. So families or
Chicagoans that could come in and pick up that card, they
might be traveling around the city, it would get used my
family is that could get get to the library earliest in the
day. And so really, they came and
Free access to.
be accessed issue.
Be accessed issue. So we move that program online so that
residents can simply go on to our website access those same
passes but now they're able to access them they don't have
to travel around the city. If there are, you know working
during the day they can still access those. Those Museum
passes, we have the Pastime people with you and get it and
bring it back. Does that mean that more people can use the
Or.
Impasse, or do.
Impasse, or do you separate a just like you do with books in
the library book? The Past numbers are really based on the
relationship with the museums or some museums may be there
a larger institution and they can provide more passes and
that might be the case. Maybe a smaller institution has a
smaller pool. I'm so it's really based on the institution
themselves and how many passes they can accommodate. But
it's all on our website and we can always connect with your
office and make sure you have collateral to pass out. Thank
you for that. I appreciate your work so much and I know
it's been. It's been thinking about the what you were
bringing up about
The law.
The lack of.
tell her, I'm
Tolerance. And
The thought.
The thoughts that we are.
The thoughts that we are having now all the time and sense
of safety and protection.
You know, I'm very high.
You know, I'm very hard.
You know, I'm very hard week come to work and to continue
doing the work of the people with all that is happening in
the world.
Then.
Dennis.
Genocide.
Genocide in Gaza are called it was attacked today.
because I
Because of the ants.
Because I'm dancing by Meghan.
Because of the anti-immigrant sentiment that continues to
rise, and I think that our libraries are a Beacon of Hope.
in a
In order for all.
In order for us to be able to buy something formation, that
we need to be informed about this world.
and,
An act with.
An act with humanity and critical thinking so I really
appreciate your work and please reach out to us if you need
us to advocate for anything work for the appreciate hearing
that. In this time when it's just difficult, more difficult
job to do and I believe that will end the members. I don't
have non members who wish to speak to Altima Cam Newton
will follow all the baskets and then we'll go to the now
members. Thank you all. As we all should for all the work
that you do. I love when like departments and agencies have
like a high propensity of 40 as warders and Leadership cuz
I'm at the 40th Ward, I think those other part of the team,
I'll keep it a little bit brief. I kind of have two quick
questions. I know.
Choose the Chicago.
Choose the Chicago Public Library. Do y'all do ever do
little libraries? Cuz now that we have a colleague who's
looking to ban them and permit him to make it hard to do?
Is it something may be that the city could partner up in to
do more of them and Parkways?
The little lamp.
The little every move in.
The little every move and it's really a kind of a, a
resident, LED installation, why people have them pop up on
their lawns and then they're, they're kind of like a honor
System. You take you take the books you want. So we haven't
done them specifically ourselves, you know, where we want
people to be reading. And that's always a good thing for
our city. But we haven't, we haven't developed them
ourselves. And looking at ways to promote our local public
library is right. It may be providing any of the stock, for
example, but even if it was some level of funding to like,
establish formal little libraries and they have QR codes of
like yours or your local library, is it because of the
concern about the permitting process, and how challenging
it is having all these neighbors were there? Little Library
campaign? Maybe there's something. We can formalize in a
way that allows us to have them no more equitably spread,
but also connect them to like people's local library.
just just a
Justice. And
Justice and ID.
Just an idea. I mean Alderman, sponsor the library with her
other person is where their Ward offices are. But I think
establishing those kind of different points of information
are really helpful for folks who aren't like, you do not
like not like the majority of folks were tuned in, for this
Lively conversation, your average neighbor doesn't have a
clue. That may be having information out there is helpful
for this good government. So just something we're always
doing the will of Chicago.
If it.
if it's something that,
if it's something that people,
If it's something that people want to explore, we're here
here for the conversation. Thank you for that. All that.
You Media stuff. I think I'm really trying to find ways to
expand that provide any level of support that y'all need,
because I have somebody who grew up in the city like would
not always the best Direction. Having like a studio to be
able to record music. And, and other opportunities to like
voice, I can express myself, any creating podcast and give
him. Those opportunities, might keep some of the kids from
being out there in the middle of night downtown, right
there. I think folks when they have that kind of anxiety or
angst, want to express themselves in one way the other and
creating those opportunities as a public safety benefit. So
if you could talk to you like any vision4you meteor
expansion that be helpful in space and Budlong Woods our
staff have gone out to that site to take a look at it. And
so we can follow up with you with you offline. We have 29,
you media locations.
Ace.
a c, a
A c, a b.
AC about 20,000 engagements per year. We I think we were
moving towards more. Now is really looking at the equipment
that activates those, you media spaces and really thinking
about flexibility. How can we get those you media equipment
pieces to libraries to their Community rooms? That may not
have the physical space in the capacity for it? I know we
weren't able to kind of work this into this budget but I
think
also, Joe
also, down the
Also down the road, look.
Also down the road looking at a, a bookmobile for the city
of Chicago, something that we could take out, that would be
more mobile and that can have that you media capability
that we could take the any neighborhood will be exciting,
but I know we, we have budgetary constraints and it's
something that we can look at in the coming years. I mean I
didn't feel like talk through maybe with some of us to
partner up with their menu, budget that provide, I even
know what the cost of something like that would look like
would be helpful and glassy I really want to appreciate our
colleague when we're ready to go Sanchez and talking about
like
really, how
Really hard to beat.
Really are lgbtq siblings. It's the fact that this is a
fight, right? I mean it's horrible that allow these fights
are on surprising, but it is also very sad for where we're
at. And so you're going to have a fortify and build up the
kind of education P spaces. Do your partner with like other
folks like in for you have the Gerber Hart library, right?
With the lgbtq library, like other Partnerships with groups
like that. To kind of see how to get more Awareness Month,
more for something that comes absolutely. We were really
proud of our, our radical fit program. So it's where we
bring in lgbtqia fashion designers to work with, are you in
so that they can try their hand at developing their own
fashion designs? We have a partnership with Chicago Park
District, we had a fashion show at Kingdom park and those
are definitely Partnerships that we live to
Rap.
Replicate.
Replicating Grill. I know I need to get my gear up so I
Replicating Grill. Do I need to get my gear up? So sign me
up. Thank you all so much and thank you, Michelle.
Thank.
Thank you. That's why you didn't get your gear up, okay? We
will help you out. So we're going to go to any of the
members of Public Library, Public Newson. I will add you
out and see what I have to say. We actually, you know,
covered in a meeting, a few weeks ago that I'm really
appreciative for your office has been very accessible as we
work a lot with our local library and I just want to know
the few things that I have noted as well, but even the work
on a book bands, I think is so important in making sure
people feel safe in Chicago. That they're able to access
books that can help them learn no matter who they are. I, I
I come from a suburb that's probably 40 minutes away but
ran a school board slate that ran on book bands. So it is
local whether or not we realize it in Chicago and it's
something to be sensitive to even like older men.
as we saying, you don't,
As we saying, you know, I remember being a gay kid in a
conservative Hometown, where my outlet was really the
library and finding those books and I love reading, which
is why. Every time I see you, I apologize for my 30 bucks,
but I know we handled it and I want to thank, I know this
was a couple years ago, but really the whole team on the
push for getting rid of fines at. No question. We seen the
success of that, I know that the library continues to see
more books being returned and indirectly makes people not
intimidated about going into the library, if they feel like
they're on the bad list or otherwise I think it was at its
time and still is super revolutionary in Old City should be
doing it. I also I want to know a couple other things we
talked about you know we talked about Staffing and just be
using our local branch, really picking it up the very busy
branch which we love. And on that, we talked about the
potential for a future site. That's not least. It's a
better investment for
and the
And the City.
And the city and you know, we're looking into a potential
space connected to one of our larger c h, a senior
buildings because in a lot of ways, it makes sense that I
talked a lot with our senior community about the benefit of
free. Chicago History Museum, free art institute with the
library card, and we got this piece of land next. To, we
have our 6th, a senior buildings. This is the biggest it's
around 12:50 seniors in it.
and could just be a
And could just be a really.
And could just be a really incredible sight. So we'll keep
talking about that. Also want to know what I was at the
sustainability Center recently, the newsstand Ability
Center in Peggy notebaert and I love at the Chicago, Public
Library is on display there with the book, selection for
kids, trying to learn from leaders like right after and
Berg on sustainability, kids were really excited to be
grabbing those books in overall. You know, I am just going
to ask her the Saints or the library is really really
important to me. I want to know that the reason I have one
so late right now or booked out is because we've been
pretty busy here. So I have yet to finish demon Copperhead
or getting there and thanks for your work. We're always
ready to partner to build out and make sure that everyone
across the city has access to incredible Library. Thank
you.
Thank.
Thank you all to me.
Thank you all to make connection.
All the
Alder.
Alderman Gutierrez ready. All right call me, Gutierrez.
Followed by Alderman of Manahawkin work, for all the great
work, the US are doing. I know, and a test that, it's not
easy, but you guys are making possible. And with that said,
I'm just
I want.
I want to.
I want to tell you all.
I want to tell you how I feel today.
and I,
and I feel,
and I feel blessed cuz I know you guys are working hard in
order for us to have the last
Dorf.
storefront.
storefront Library.
Be.
Ben Ben.
Being built as a great space for a community Nature Park. I
know will be continued to work together. I am confident
that we are going to make it happen.
cuz,
cuz all I
cuz all of you are in charge and I trust you all,
and I,
And I'm real.
And I'm really excited. And I said, I feel so glass cuz
We are.
We are going to.
We are going to have what are Community Center.
Weenie.
We need.
We need to.
We need to have a safe space where kids youth seniors,
everybody who come and learn who have a community center.
So we can have programming Arts crafts music. And if we
want to tackle violence in our communities, we need to have
those kinds of spaces.
I just want to thank.
I just want to thank you and your team.
Alaskan t.
Let's continue.
Let's continue to make that happen. Thank you.
Thank you, I'll do me.
Thank you Autumn Gutierrez. Aldrin, Manahawkin were spotted
by Auburn Chico.
and,
Thank.
Thank you, Chad.
Thank you, chair. Thank you. Commissioner and thank you for
your team for your accessibility. And for helping us to
orient. You are new positions from the 48th word. We're
really proud of our libraries including Edgewater and
Pizzazz Ian and they truly are the community centers in the
ward. Although, we're very small, we don't have very many
public spaces. In fact, our field house is being used as a
temporary shelter right now, but the position library is
Our Family, Library closest to where I am in Andersonville,
and we are able to walk there and we're really grateful for
that. We are in Edgewater at the highest population of
lgbtq plus people in Chicago. So very grateful for your
work and we want you to all feel safe in the work that you
do. So thank you for your work to keep your your staff
safe. As you try to keep us safe. The library is used by Ed
Then go.
Single facet.
Single facet of our community, no matter how much money
they have were their immigration status, and so we wanted
to keep it that way. I think my question was regarding the
what happens to people when they're suspended from the
library. I made you your the reasons for doing that are
varied and we did speak to the librarian, it busy at the
end and that these are real incidences that happen. Can you
speak on? What, what is the journey for somebody who gets
expelled
Thank you.
thank you all the
Thank you all the person in our staff. As I mentioned, we've
updated our library used guidelines. Just to make sure it's
very clear in terms of what's expected and what the
repercussions are men. So there's a set parameter and, you
know, kind of impact to maybe a more extreme disturbance.
But as I, as I mentioned, we also always make sure that
there's a door open to an appeal process. So if someone
feel as, if they've been, you're wrongly removed from the
library or that there was a misunderstanding that appeal
can be filed, it goes directly to Maggie Clements our
Deputy over Library operation. And so what we really can I
keep that door open so that people never feel like they're
excluded from the library and as the public place, those
suspensions are never permanent when people are going to be
able to come back in.
Thank you. I appreciate
Thank you, I appreciate that. Because as I said, we have
community members of all ages also attending from old to
Young and and also I just wanted to make sure that we are
entering the health care that we need right now including
mental health support. So I appreciate your partnership.
I'm not only with CPT but also would not prophesy speak
just briefly on that.
yeah, we have
Yeah, we have a paw.
Yeah, we have a partnership with cdph, to Pilot mental
health, clinicians inside of our libraries. We do have one
at the Edgewater location. These are being used, not to
just provide direct clinical support, but also to offer
mental health groups. I'm so we have a men's Mental Health
Group, a youth Mental Health Group. In our staff are also
working with mobile crisis bands at a number of locations
as well as getting mental. Health Mental, Health Training.
For all of our, our Workforce.
I do.
I'd like to.
I'd like to just add that we hosted a meeting with all our
branch managers. And also Mental Health Providers such as
Heartland and thresholds in the many other issues that
exist to really make that local connection, right? Because
they're also looking to support clients in the community.
And so I think that's also been a successful Avenue of just
making those connections and collaboration on a very local
level. I appreciate that, you know, at our libraries, we
have very low turnover in the workers there, they love
their jobs, but it seems like more and more people are
needing mental health support. And so, we need to empower
our front-line workers and also know how they can tap into
resources as we're all trying to struggle. After the
pandemic in. I think that
I'm going to move on by.
I'm going to move on because I'm very grateful for your work
is as we're trying to figure out ways to fund. Mental
Health Services in Chicago, your filling the gaps and I
really appreciate you to do that. I r library bezazian
library is one of the oldest in Chicago. It's over a
hundred years old and we took a tour of it and thank you so
much for visiting our facility. Again, I workers love it
there. But also they're working with what they have which
is a very small space. You know. And I just I we talked
about colocation to and Edgewater is one of the most dense
towards. So can you speak on what colocation might look
like in the 48th Ward? And maybe other awards that are
developing Equitable, transit-oriented development, in
their words,
we, we
Weed weeder.
We we definitely love to work with our other persons, with
the Department of Planning and Development, or these larger
development opportunities. The goal is to not just have a
channel library but to think about how can that Library
bring more resources to neighboring neighborhoods and to
Chicago 1s with higher levels of need. So bringing early
literacy supports bringing Broadband in the closer
proximity to those in. Need what we've done in the past
through our partnership. With the Chicago, Housing
Authority is developed location with affordable housing,
for senior housing, Orono. Most
recent example, in a
recent example in Alton
Recent example, in altgeld gardens, we have a library
coupled with a Childcare Center and so what it could look
like, I'm really depends on the developments happening in
the ward. On the. We all we want to definitely be at the
table. Have those conversations with our other persons in
our other City departments. Thank you. I just want to close
my staying on again, I appreciate your department and what
you do to everyone, no matter where they live, have access
to information. I do think about the many young Chicago,
public school students that we have about outside the
library to get their homework done because they don't have
access to the web. So I would like to talk more about how
we can build even more expansive Universe for all of us,
including our young people in Chicago. Thank you. We have a
new schedule up.
Thank.
Thank you. All.
Thank you. Alder. Manahawkin worlds are going to go to
Alder, Chico, followed by a cruise.
Nike.
Thank you.
Thank you sir for someone. Thank you for the work and you
guys are doing. Thank you for coming to my ward. We met, we
talked about every Community being culturally diverse and I
represent three different libraries altgeld Gardens, as you
just mentioned, Eastside, hogwash. And I had the
opportunity to go to each one of them are in 150 year,
birthday celebration. And I was featured on the library
Instagram page. But what I like there was a diverse and
unique each event was. And, and Evan lot to me, I think it
meant lots of my constituents house. It wasn't sure what
this here, and then figure it out. It was, it was sending
around the needs of the community which, which I thank you
for, with that being said,
I've had.
I think.
I thought different of a.
I've had different events at libraries, been part of my
vents table, set up at different vendor fairs different
opportunities or anything in mind to go outside the four
walls and to kind of bring Library. As you mention the
bookmobile, outside into the community, where we could go
to get a more engaged and then get them in those four
walls.
Add.
Absolutely. We, we have groups called our culture
committees, they really work to make sure that all of our
programming is cultural responsive to our diverse City,
Library location. They do quite a bit of Outreach, but
we're also looking at are Chicago, Public Library work for
us and benchmarking ourselves against others to start to
think about in low in areas, where maybe we're not seeing
as much use, how do we get outside of our walls and
activate and educate our city about the services at their
Library offers? But short answer is, were always looking to
be at our our Ward events and work with their altars. Any
advice, you have to your library, branch managers will work
with our programs teams. Kent seems to come out and be with
you if you went and I appreciate that means Smiles, on the
kids faces at at those events go a long way that they
really make me happy. So thank you. Thank you for all the
work.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you all. She going to have all the men Cruz followed
by. Alder would have Matt go by all the rules say.
Thank.
Thank you charm. A thank-you. Commissioner, I want to say
first, thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet with
you a couple times. But I want to make sure that, you know,
we discussed this again. This is something very important
to me but also to my community, as you know, we do not have
any libraries in the 30th Ward and something that we are
looking for us to have, hopefully have one in the upcoming
years. We talked about me being the Avondale Branch. We
have two wonderful places that this will be beneficial. One
of them, is it up? What are used to be a previous school
which is called what state was law? That you know, we would
love for that to be turned stay at a at a place where they
still at the K tional, rather than something else coming
into the community and using that space to be able to keep
a library in that and a community, which there are a lot of
schools around the area. But also we have the Belmont try
and go. There we talked about
One of my.
one of my call.
one of my colleagues and we have seen in the other Wards
were the first, you know, is a mixed-use. And the first,
you know, floor is a library. But also, when it comes to
affordable, housing, senior housing, whatever it may be,
something that I want to make sure that, you know, I have
to keep advocating and you'll hear it many more times for
me. What we talked about Capital Improvements and earlier
it was mentioned, that was a like a 10 million dollar. Also
some
invest my
Investment.
Investment, you talked about, you know, uses some of the
money for remodeling. Some of the libraries are already
there or reopening some of them that our continued close.
Is there any way with, you know, either buy Jade or anybody
to be utilized to open a new Branch? Can that money be used
to help facilitate an opening up a branch? Or is it just
for repairs and reopening of libraries for the question?
I,
I think.
I think as it and I was discussing earlier that Capital
strategy that will be launching in 2024 that will be an
opportunity to really look at the coverage within our city
where we where do we have Library coverage? Where do we
need to rethink that coverage? The current site that we
have that storefront is around 5,000 square feet. It's
about a third of our, our our space. That's really needed
for a library branch. And so those are some really
immediate needs. What's your bring, nothing about the lack
of a physical library. With, in that neighborhood, though,
is definitely something that we need to consider. I think
we're going to need to work with our state representatives
with our department of Planning and Development with you
and your office to seek and look for a funding package.
and I,
And I know what world?
And I know what we're looking forward to that conversation,
Patrick Malloy, our director of government Affairs will be
a part of that and we're looking forward to exploring where
that money will come from. I don't think there's any
disputing that it's needed. We just got to find how we, how
we get there. I look forward to those conversations. Thank
you. Thank you. All the, all the, all the other person was
safe, Alabama, politano.
You are.
You're welcome.
You're welcome back to you on that. Take a German. Good
afternoon. Commissioner, I have three libraries in my
community. The Beverly branch.
The mouse.
The Mount Greenwood.
The Mount Greenwood branch.
Yeah.
and the
walk.
Walker branch.
All three. We've seen a significant increase in
Reza.
resume.
Residence. Tickly kids getting back in the library. We all
saw what the last
Riu.
three years did the
3 years did do us our summer programs or
Play.
Significant.
Significantly higher participation this year and exact
credit should go to your your staff's out there.
and,
Any.
Any Apple.
Any opportunities moving forward that we can try to get o
g, libraries at any community events, and then we can do to
try to drive people to our libraries. He knows I have
schools that
Delete.
The only time some of these children are actually any good
guidance or help would be if they can.
Hit.
Hector love.
At their local library on the way home and some of my
school's take advantage of that particular at Walker in the
Beverly Branch. It's really been beneficial any Investments
there to to give more opportunities, more assistance to
these kids. I'd like to see us look at but
Lights.
Meister.
My staff has a lot of communication with our three
branches. We've got dedicated staff there, and then we can
do to try to fill some of those vacancies in this world
that were in that.
Don wants to go to work. Just appreciate your efforts.
Mixture.
Big.
I got.
I got, I want to say all Alder Napolitano for the bottom of
Vegas.
Thank.
They catch a.
That your mind is very brief. Thank you so much. For all you
do. Appreciate your staff. I think this is my night budget.
I brought this up. Every time I wrote in library built in
1968, I think you had a slight overhaul and 80 something.
It just eventually has to make some sort of capital
beautification.
let's,
List at some point, it is it's a great library in tylee's.
Heavily-used. It's just it's way outdated and need some
overhaul. And anyway, in the next couple of years, I could
find itself on the list for beautification overhauled, it
would be very much appreciated especially by the people
that use it. And, I know we're in budgeting everyone's
fighting over dollars & sense. I get it. So, I don't, I
don't blame it on. Point the finger, I get out of work, I
just appreciate all you guys do and I appreciate what you
give our community, and all of our libraries and how would
you two lies on the northwest side as well? So that's all I
got. Thank you very much German. Thank you for the
opportunity to speak.
Thank.
Thank y'all.
Thank you all. The pilots on all the vehicles. Commissioner
have you provided a list of like deferred maintenance? You
have a list of deferred maintenance for all these
libraries, look at total Mama's. Yes, that we work with our
AIS partner. We can provide us with a chair.
Books. About a
Books about a Capital One.
Books about a capital initiative in 2024. What what is
that? What is that look like? Is that going to be a summer
type of referendum? Or what are you guys thinking?
I think I'm
I think I mentioned.
I think I mentioned the capital strategies so I think we're
going to be looking at the planning globally within the
city and in which libraries are going to need an update
within the next 10 years. And two, what, what degree is
setting a strategy for that and I know. But what's the
funding portion of it? That's a planning side. What's the
funding source?
The.
The Chicago Public Library does not have a capital budget
Beyond deferred maintenance and a lot of the developments
that we done the three Libras. We've announced this past
year have all been done in partnership with either the
mayor's office or the department of planning and
development and we really depend on our partners, our state
representative or Tif dollars to put together funding
packages. It's something that we have to explore together.
The current tax bill provides certain percentage to fund
the library. Is that correct? Correct. So, have you Public
Library thought about going to Springfield, take a look at
increasing your luggage, it in order to focus on Capitol?
And because I would suspect given the age of some of these
libraries that you're talkin probably in the building as
relates to deferred maintenance,
Parker.
Our crew.
Our current Library fund roughly, 85 + percent of that goes
to our operations and then the remainder to primarily our
collection budget. So correct, we would need to work with
the mayor's office and our government Affairs team to plan
for how we could address that ongoing larger, capital
budget Beyond these allegations by the mayor's office, or
Tif a location. Where I bring that up. Because public
school's library CTA Park District continues to come to his
body, tapping into tips and so you guys are taxing,
Authority and have funding. And so I think that at some
point you need to take a look at how you going to fund your
capital projects and that just plan for them, but actually
fun them. So
thank you.
Thank You, Oughta. Move.
thank you automobile used to think we've gotten everyone
here. So again, thank you, commissioner for your work with
the library after you finish, I want you to talk to Autumn
and Vasquez about some fashion techniques, she's asking for
so that it's different, but none, the less that we
appreciate the work that you do, the work that you do
around our seniors and our young people to keep people
safe, and keep people engaged. And
will I need to think I
well, I need anything else, you are you
Will I need anything else? You are? You all are excused?
Are we going to break? Will be back at 2:15 to 15? Thank
you. All right.
Film.
Build this one work.
Okay.
That's it.
That's a no.
Good afternoon, welcome back to Toledo bus in Governor
operation. Will start this afternoon session with the
Chicago Department of Public Health.
Oh joy.
A joint.
adjoining the
A joining us is acting commissioner for security will guile
after colorful does a brief introduction ask for you to
introduce your staff waive? The reading of the of the
opening statement everyone does have that willing to waive
the reading and then we're going to go straight to
questions or after your staff introductions of preceded by
a coastal comfort.
I'm Daniel.
I'm Daniel first room with a council office of financial
analysis. And next up, today will be looking at the
Department of Public Health.
Go there.
go there at
Go there, FYI. 24 proposed budget is 887.96 million. This
is a decrease of 78.23 million less than the revised FY.
2003. Budget of the fy20 for proposal is for 1175 ftes.
That is 70 fewer than the f y 23. I mean that's an increase
of 70 ft easy, compared to f y 23,
Update.
Of this.
Of this funding a 8.65% is derived from the corporate funds
for FY, twenty four.
I just
this.
This represents a 9.3% increase compared to the f. Y 23
budget of the primary factors contributing to the fy2014.
Budget expansion is Personnel Services category which is
set to grow by 24.9 million compared to the revised fy20 3
budget.
And if
and is
And as far as person and Personnel expenses are on the
rise. While contractual services are budgeted to decrease
by 104.4 million.
now, they're
Now, there is quite a number of different grants with a
within Department of Public Health. So I know this is
probably very hard to read on the board. So I will just
highlight the biggest of which are the building
epidemiology and health it capacity which is approximately
224.5 million which makes up roughly about 25% of the
budget. The next being the coronavirus local fiscal
recovery phone with 130 3.8 million making up roughly 15%
as you can see there,
as you can see, there is
As you can see, there is just pages of different grants
here.
and,
and so they
And so this is just a, the snapslide is just a bit of a
depiction showing of the funding so that you can see the
first couple of corporate fun, followed by the epidemiology
and health it in the coronavirus, local physical Recovery
Fund of you do makeup of substantial portion of the public
health budget overall.
Until?
and tell if,
and tell if we look at the grants by Ste of some of the
largest of which would be the building epidemiology and
health it with 211 ft, he's in the immunization for
vaccines for children has 57 ft, he's
Kuro.
Corona.
Coronavirus local physical Recovery Fund has 108. Ste while
the strengthening Health infrastructure has 44 STDs.
I'll
I will.
I'll turn it back over to the chairman.
Thank.
Thank you.
Commit.
Commission.
commissioner, we got
Commissionable guy, if you can introduce yourself and the
staff with you here and also in the box after which will
open with questions are starting with all the Masters Auto
will do. Thank you chairperson at my name is for kurti. Me,
lagala, I'm the acting commissioner at the Chicago
Department of Public Health. And the first Deputy
Commissioner next to me is Mary a manual or Deputy
Commissioner for finance, contracts, and grants. And I will
start at the front and go that way with the Box you have
Matt Richards, Deputy Commissioner for Behavioral Health
Kate, McMahon our policy director,
read my
Red martini.
Greg Martinez, senior recovery project manager for the
community safety coordinating Center. Dave, Kern our Deputy
Commissioner for syndemic, infectious diseases Maribel
Chavez Torres. Our Deputy Commissioner for health
protection, dr. Stephanie black, are senior medical
director, marlita white, our director of violence,
prevention and reduction. And then at Brittany Williams,
our Deputy Commissioner for our Bureau of inclusion,
diversity equity and access, and also serves as our chief
racial Equity officer, our chief program officer and deputy
Nerf from
Center for maternal in.
Center for maternal infant to
Center for maternal, infant Child and Adolescent health.
And Antonio King Public Health administrator and arson.
Demick infectious disease Bureau and are lgbtq community
outreach coordinator.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you all. This is auto. Thank you gentleman. But
afternoon, commissioner, I have really no questions for
you. I just have a two statements. I just wish you and your
staff. The best of a really, really tough job, all of you.
So I appreciate all you do. I know there's a lot of things
are just no easy black and white answers before, they just
want to wish you and your staff the best. But I do want to
give kudos to my friend that little Energizer Bunny back
there Alfonso. So if you do become the new commissioner I
and the rest of my colleagues, I'm sure we hope to keep
Alfonso. So thank you. Best of luck. Thank you. Sharon was
Otto any other Alters with questions?
All.
Auburn.
Alderman. Martin followed by Alderman O'Shea, appreciate
your time and the more importantly your work, a few
questions, one to start with the two mental health clinics,
that it will be opening up. Just curious. What types of
nursing staff will be hired. Once those two additional
clinics are up and running fully
Thank you.
Thank you for the cross.
Thank you for the question. So the nursing staff don't be
too. We have psychiatric nurse practitioner positions and
then public health nurse, public, health nurse choose. Who
are intended to provide broader than mental health care.
But in our Mental Health Care setting, so think about a
nurse who could provide covid in flu vaccine. For example,
for mental health patients with the nursing to Baby our
ends, or do they have at a different sort of professional
classification?
I don't.
I don't want him.
I don't want to miss speak a message, invite us, if she can
confirm the requirements to be a public health nurse to
okay.
Okay, thank you. Jen Vitus Chief program officer, our
public health nurse choose our our ends. How many overall
nursing positions are are budgeted in the current proposal.
In.
And then tired.
In the entire department, I would have to get that number to
you. And then if itself, why I think I'm particularly
interested in for across our various clinics, how many
nursing positions? I think that with that that would
definitely be my focus in through the chair is fine, as
well as maybe a breakdown of how many of those positions
are currently vacant as well as ones that are filled last
Clinic related question. I know this is the case across a
lot of sectors but no exception here. Take a months-long,
many months, to process of hiring applications for our
Ensign and other similar positions that sometimes will
result in people looking for other types of employment when
the city comes back offers a position. Unfortunately that
person has taken an employment offer elsewhere. How have
you been working with HR and others within and outside of
the department?
It's a better.
Better dress.
It's a better dress that particularly may be narrowing the
timeline within which that application is being reviewed
before an offer is made.
At.
you're right that
You're right. That there are many challenges with
recruiting and retaining a public health. Nurses were
competing in a very tight labor market. We've done a lot of
work with both the Department of Human Resources, in office
of budget management to streamline the hiring process
across all of our titles, including Public Health nurses.
I'm glad to say that this year, we're on track to hire more
people than ever before. I believe, as of early October,
we've done 120 about 120, hiring sequences and I expect
will be significantly higher than that. By the end of this
year, specific two, nurses, and end the application process
and the recruitment process. We've tried new things this
year, we did a social media campaign where we had our
current nurses provide video. Talk about the work that they
do why they do it. What it means to them as part of our
recruitment tool, we posted 16 positions this summer and I
believe we filled four.
Have them with one.
have them with one posting, which is
Have them with one posting which is really unprecedented for
us. So I think that was about the department coming
together internally and coordinating on a posting instead
of competing against each other. For these very, very
limited resources at working with Department of Human
Resources and budget management, to think, through our
priority positions opportunities for efficiencies, across
all, three departments that are required for hiring
internally. We've done a little bit of moving things from
paper and email into SharePoint systems, for better
tracking of all of our vacancies and certainly the nurse
vacancies benefit from that as well. In addition, to just
seeing more up, taking feeling the positions and might have
been the case. Previously are you seeing through those
efforts by narrowing of the overall application window?
Yeah, I would say it.
yeah, I would say it really
Yeah, I would say it really varies by, by the hiring
sequence, but yes, we will one. We have data over the past
year, for the first time to track it and two. Yes, we are
seeing some narrowing but it's not. There's much more work
to do. My last question is Shifting Gears to violence.
Prevention, fund 8, I'll be asleep. That's something that
we've ramped up in recent years due in part to our bond
funds and curious what processes have either been put in
place over the last year or being contemplated to get those
funds out more quickly.
yeah, I will start and then
Yeah, I will start and then I will turn it over to Matt
Richards. Our Deputy Commissioner for Behavioral Health, be
put out our funds, through competitive RFP process and we
have been working and end for very long time. Not specific
to the violence prevention funds, but inclusive of to get
those are peas out as quickly as possible and to get them
evaluated and award decisions made as quickly as possible.
The time range varies and depending on the source, we need
to rely on other departments, to get the budget setup. For
example, before we can even issue the request for proposal
Matt, do you want to speak to Pacific?
I like a.
Oh my God.
I like a Maverick shoots up to commissioner for Behavioral
Health, so I thank you for the question Alderman. So, one
of the things we were thinking about what the RP funding
for violence. Prevention was, how do we create
possibilities for multi-year? Grants for a Community
Partners, we've gotten feedback consistently from them. And
from all other persons that one year of funding is really
challenging from a staffing record, my perspective. So we
really wanted to tell people up front, you're going to have
stable funding for three years, and that's what we did with
violence prevention. So, if you look at Street Outreach, if
you look at victim Services, people have 3 years of stable
funding based on our current ARP projections. Those funds
will be exhausted in 2025, and we have until 2026 to expend
a fun. So we actually
Pursue.
Pursued, that multi-year funding.
Pursued that multi-year funding strategy Bay.
Pursued that multi-year funding strategy based on that
feedback. Terrific. Thank you. That's all I have right now.
Call.
Albany.
Almanac, say for the bottom in Conway.
Thank.
Pikachu.
Make a German.
Could.
good after
Good afternoon.
I was.
I want.
I wanted to start out by talking about just a few weeks
ago.
I've
I were.
I work.
I worked with your staff on a vaccine event, flu shots, and
covid boosters.
When?
When do we say?
When do we think the next potential vaccination, booster
would be coming out. What what's the prognosis on on where
we're at with them? What we could expect and how are we
responding to getting our residents to in fact get their
latest round?
There.
there's,
There's a lot of
There's a lot in that question. I'll start with the end and
work backwards. So we are doing a public education campaign
call the combo. You don't want as part of getting folks
aware of the available flu and covid vaccines and and where
they can get them. We are hosting over 100 vaccine clinics
across the city and partnership with many people in this
room. At we have word events across the city. We were at
City Hall, this Monday and vaccinated over 330 people, just
on that day alone. So those are so
the things we
The things we're doing to get the word.
The things we're doing to get the word out.
The things we're doing to get the word out covid vaccine. I
don't expect. We'll have boosters going forward in the very
effective and safe vaccine that's available. Now is not a
booster to the series that we got last year. It's just a
new vaccine, just like the flu vaccine is a new foot. The
new vaccine every year and I expect it will be like, flu,
an annual recommendation to get the covid vaccine is here.
The old.
Ethiopia.
The opiate.
The opioid crisis we have in our country and certainly in
our city and I've experienced at my own Community, but I
know you've been working hard to get Narcan is various
places. What more can we do to partner with you and try to
get that life-saving?
Naruto.
Narcan.
More apps.
More opportunities in communities and I believe we have it
now and all our libraries. What are the plans moving
forward? As we continue to see more and more cases of
Over do.
Overdose opioid poisoning.
Thank you.
Thank you for the clothes.
Thank you for the question and I deeply. Appreciate your
concern for the growing up, yard prices.
As.
As you can.
as you've noted, we've
As you've noted, we've done a lot to get Narcan, another
harm reduction materials out to the community and any
additional things that we would love to do in partnership
with you and have done when partnership with with some of
the colleagues in this room is to come to your ward office,
trained staff on Narcan used and also the use of Fentanyl
and xylazine test strips and to leave supplies behind. And
then in the word offices you can make that intern available
to your constituents. We also offer to anybody in Chicago
to mail it to them. If they have a mailing address they can
reach out to us and we will mail the harm reduction
supplies directly to them. In addition to the Partnerships
with word offices and community-based. We've worked with
many community-based organizations where we will also go on
site train their staff and leave behind supplies and
continue to make supplies available. And in very near
future, we're going to launch Public Health spending the
Building 50.
W5 Loco.
Building 5 locations across the city with the highest rates
of opioid, fatal opiate overdoses. The first one being at
the 95th Street, Red Line Station, these materials will be
free. I'm in addition to things like wound care, hygiene
products, and menstrual products.
and,
Ending.
Editing involves.
Anything involving that.
Play.
Please, I'd be very interested. This topic is very personal
to me. I love to work with your staff and enclosing
Are you?
I just want to say,
I just want to say to yourself your staff here in the Box.
and,
and the
And the people out there each and every day. I know this
has been an extremely difficult 42 months for the Chicago
Department of Public Health
I'm a.
I myself.
I myself and my staff spent a significant amount of time.
Reaching out for guidance and help during the worst of the
pandemic and you guys were there,
and,
and I,
and I know,
The path.
The past several.
the past several months has been very difficult within the
department and
We were.
We will.
We really appreciate all that you guys are doing.
In.
and,
and now,
Come.
Come out to better.
Come out to better day. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
All the minnows Shay all to me Conway fall about all the
Manhattan.
Oyster.
Always don't.
Always don't start. Almond had to go ahead.
They?
Thank.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you, sir, and hello. Thank you guys for being here. I
don't have a ton of questions for you. Actually, why? Now,
I'll note in my new role as chair of the committee and
Environmental Protection and energy. I get to work with you
guys all the time. Now, it's been, it's been excellent. So,
we've got a great team. Appreciate you guys just continuing
all your good work and a very broad range of topics and
issues that you are addressing.
let,
let's,
let's see, what
Let's see, let's see.
What?
Won the
One. This is a bit of a note to request view dffs. You guys
work with so many grants, and delegate agencies. I
mentioned this before, I know you have issues with it, but
hoping that maybe you guys can commit to working with
Department of Finance, you've talked to them, as well, as
we do here, from delicate agencies, some complaints and
concerns around, just that slow turnaround of funds, being
submitted to them. And you guys know you work with
organizations, big and small and my word. We have a lot of
small nonprofit so just hoping that, you know, we're
definitely have talked to the Department of Finance and are
hoping to maybe sign
A couple.
a couple of like,
A couple of like a specific examples. We can work through.
A couple of like specific examples we can work through, but
just a request as you guys move forward that you hopefully
can work with the Department of finance's. While to figure
out how to streamline this process, these I'm so we can
keep the money flowing. I do have a question for the
reproductive Health Initiative piece. 148 folks are
looking. So the kind of 2.8 million for Reproductive Health
Initiative, is it is it a part of the justice for all
funding?
Yeah.
Yes.
Yes, I'm a large part of that 2.8 is delegate agency,
funding for the justice for all initiative. Do you all have
information? And if you don't have it with you through the
chair, I'd be curious to know how many patients were served
by the fund in 2023 or to date and how many patients are
expected to receive Services? Right travel? Lodging or
medical procedure assistance with this Fund in 2024, we can
get that to you to the question is
The.
The community safety coordination Center. Could you speak a
bit about your Department's role with the community? Safety
ordination Center? Sure, the community safety coordination
Center is part of our violence prevention and reduction
portfolio. There is a nice division of work among that
portfolio and they focus a lot on the place based work and
in some of the special projects, like the home and Business
protection program that offered cameras.
I don't.
I don't know what.
I don't know what specifically if you're looking to
understand just the body of work that they do all that and
actually on the so on that home and Business Protection
Program. So, this came up the police department and
circling this area meetings with other people on commanders
and actually had a great one last night for Area 3. And we
talked about the benefit that that home and Business
protection rebate program had
How?
How much is?
How much is a?
How much is allotted to that program for 2024 or 2024? It
was a one-time program, it launched in 2022 and then we had
funds that carried over to 23. Greg, correct me if you want
to add
American.
American Home & business. Protection Program was widely
popular. Definitely surprised us here at cdph. So we had
allocated about 1.8 million dollars and reimbursement, word
for that. Part portion of the program, you launched it in
August of 2022. And then in the first quarter of 2023, all
of that one when it was already expended. So again it was
due to the widely popular, super popular program. So there
was one point eight million. That was kind of a lot of in
2022 for the complete program. Do you have information on
how many and this could be through the chair, I'd like to
know how many people applied
Ford.
For the real.
For the rebate. How many rebates were granted? And if you
could break that down by businesses or individuals, and I
know some of it if it could break down for the cameras
versus the lights and I'll say one, point eight million
dollars is not a lot of money and it served a lot of
people. I'm assuming it's pretty popular and an ID least
from our conversations last night as we are having this
project discussion, there's an interest in continuing to
fund that program, just to let you all know. So I'd love to
see the numbers to get a better idea of the impact. Yeah.
Absolutely. We can get you. The detailed breakdown of
Lights. You can buy Ward and Community areas and all that
we can we can submit that picture. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you. All.
Thank you, Auto on Manhattan. Are you ready to cheer?
no, prob
No problem. I was, I thought I was you. You were going to
start, but you weren't here. When we get rolling, any other
questions for a cph?
All right.
O'Reilly Auto.
O'Reilly Auto Chico, good afternoon. I don't have a lot of
questions. I didn't want to focus on one issue and I have
the same question for the next agency, that's up and it's
related to delegate agency relationships. And use how much
money are we spending currently annually on our delegate
agency partners? And
If?
If you.
If you could ask about how many full-time employee
equivalents are are doing that work for us. So delegate
Partners employees, not city employees,
I'd
I don't.
I don't know.
I don't know that number off the top of my head, I can, I
think we can get that together and get it to you. I know my
colleagues or interested in this issue. The reason I
mention it is, I I think that wild are delicate partners
are very important and we need them very much for the
mission. I'd like to see more city employees being used.
To perform.
To perform the service.
To perform the services.
To perform the services rather than us sending the money
out, the door to a third party. And I know that their
budget implications to come with that. But perhaps a review
of that hundred seventy million dollars to determine
whether or not, there are opportunities for us to bring
some of that work. Back in the house, might be a good
exercise to go through. Obviously, you're not going to
solve that for the 2024 fiscal year, but I'd like for you
to take a look at that for next year's budget submission. I
feel strongly that we should have as many city employees
working in public health as we possibly can, rather than
leaning heavily on third-party vendors, and delegate
agencies that said, I don't have any other questions for
you but I will look for that information to the chair and
thank you for the work that you and your team do
commissioner. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you, sir.
God bless you. Commissioner, I want Circle to health
inspections and when Spectrum was conducted in the
restaurant, do you have numbers of how many closures are
has? Been in the, in the 10th? Ward Torres who has our food
Protection Program is part of the answer.
I'm older me will.
I'm older me will have to get that. We had 120 closures, due
date, I will have to get it surgically for for your ward.
and,
And where does the?
And where does that rank terms of the entire city?
They were.
Were we will have to do the analysis and order it. I think
was for the you probably the last year, Ha-Ha, a lot of
closures in my work and I'm trying to understand how we
educate the business owners to work. We prevent that I mean
we are hosting businesses which we're taking food out of
people's mouths and it's hard for me when they come to me I
have to give an explanation and I don't have because of
this. I'd like to see kind of
Sometime.
some type of way.
Some type of education inspectors are going in there and
closing down mom and pop restaurant for a couple weeks. Let
me that that's a big deal, so much so where I had to take
it up a notch and I'm conducting a town hall with my small
business owners, because the complaints I've got on certain
inspector, I've been through the roof every time the
suspect or interacts with one of my businesses I get a
complaint.
But how?
But how she's treating?
but how she's treating them, and the type of language is
using some very disappointed and what I'm hearing for my
small business community in terms of,
Any.
Anna speaker.
Spanish speakers are our foreign language for that matter.
When a inspector goes into a business
Are.
Are the bed.
are the business of
Are the business owners or, or give an opportunity to get a
translator in there because some of my Spanish-speaking
owners feel intimidated. I don't feel comfortable in that
space. So I was just curious how that process goes
there.
There's let me see.
There's let me start by saying when you have your community
hearing. If it's helpful, we're glad to be a part of it and
can offer some information and then some of that equation
you're talking about there. We do want to, we have some and
we are trying to hire more bilingual sanitarians who do the
inspections. I don't care about, can you answer about the
ability? To get an interpreter, we have the ability to use
language line. So the business owner should feel
comfortable and say I would like to have a translator and
we have that option, you know, as well. We are goal is not
to close the establishment's. We want to work with the
businesses, sometimes the closures are due to violations
that have to be corrected. Our goal is to reopen, the
business is with that. One or two, we know what two days
and we are interested in working with you all their men to
Edge.
The community.
The community on what you have.
The community on what to expect when.
Keep the community on what to expect when we come in to
correct the violations and what type of information we
would need when we do the re-inspection.
Joshua.
Suck so bad.
Suck so bad at options provided to him because after
inspection has gone down day, they come to me and they say
it would never offer that they didn't feel comfortable.
What can we do in the next inspection to get a
Spanish-speaking? Authorized want to make it a point to
kind of make sure we're having the option available in
India. A note that because I think it's extremely important
in this interaction.
Oh yeah, we were
Oh yeah. We we
Oh yeah. We actually do have a date set up for my town hall
and I worked long and hard to kind of organize it. I wasn't
happy with the response. I was getting so definitely I will
expect representatives there to kind of dress my small
business Community, Education exist. When your when your
department is closing a business. I don't recall first,
only receiving a email or anything from the Department with
the business closed. Now under the department of buildings,
may send a memo out but again that's not to me quick enough
to know that you got a business. Closing what, what's the
notification process from you all?
I blew.
I believe we notified.
I believe, we notify the
I believe we notify the Elder person of the ward. When we
do close them, we close them pretty quickly. So there
wouldn't be a lot of time for notification but the older
adult the appropriate older person gets notification from
food Protection Team. How does a notification via email
email to write that we notified we sometimes will close and
when the next, you know, 24 hours the business will be able
to reopen cuz if they can rock the violation, I were able
to come back and reopen that, that business.
When?
when a business call,
When a business closes I mean it is is public knowledge is
in the State of Florida. If we closed the business, using
electronic notification to the police department, to any
other department of the city. To let them know that you all
have taken an action and enforcement action, and close the
business.
I will.
I will have to.
I will have to check.
I will have to check with.
I will have to check with my my snap but I but do not
believe. So we do put signs up regarding you know, the
closing and it is part of the the report that is public.
What?
Okay.
What does?
But there's no notification to anybody else. Or I mean,
I've
I will have to.
I will have to check with my YouTube notifications
electronically to, to the affected alderperson, the police
department, and others, that have either a summer for
s'mores, some other interest from the city to know that you
guys are taking that action to actually close a business.
It's the same question, but that means the same thing.
Going to ask Department of buildings because they going to
do closures. And then there's a eight people that get
notified. And then I get a, I get a manila envelope in my
office downtown saying that we close three businesses 3
weeks ago. I mean that, that just doesn't seem to, you
know, go go go. Well for being, you know, in the
notification chain of what's going on. I think it's
important that we do know what businesses are closed. So we
can eat at 8, help them get back opener or be keeping close
if if need be. So that's all just saying is that we just
need to be in the notification process. It is so we can do
you know, advocate.
Or whatever is in there.
or whatever it is in the interests of the
Or whatever it is in the interests of the community. That
is that is no point in that respect. So,
You're all.
Your other question that that I had here was at the
ottoman. Rolly touchdown the delegate agencies know, we're
seeing an increase by Two and a Half Men in. This is and
corporate funds for the delegation. What it what is that a
distant, 1/2 million dollars are going toward sexual an
adolescent, sexual health program, that's been a
long-standing program is being moved to corporate and then
about 2.1 million dollars in new funds on corporate to
continue the work of community, health workers for a covid.
Grant that is ending in May of next year. So we don't get
them to the end of 2024. Okay. And then the other one is on
the epidemiology Health, it capacity or Grant
There.
there was a
There was a a decreased are almost 40 million dollars. What
then are we doing as relates to our capacity there? Or was
that programmed into that particular funding stream started
with the chairman and it has multiple components and
The component.
The components.
are the components of the
The components of that Grant are ending and so that is a
reflect that is reflected in the reduction.
And what do?
And what did?
And what did that? What did I do? Exactly as a tremendous
amount of work across the department, despite its name,
being so narrow about epidemiology laboratory 90. It
funded. An array of things from Workforce Development and
supporting HR staff to creating a data Hub to collect and
store recover data that we use for our dashboard. It really
almost anything besides vaccines and clinical care. We
could use these dollars for to support covid and emerging
disease response in a public health, emergency preparedness
Grant as down $8000000. What?
Again.
Again are we are we not we no longer preparing or what what
what can we say about that administer fairly large,
decrease are in something that we know we need to be, which
is prepared for any type of health emergency preparedness
after the attacks of 9/11. So we've had it for a long time
and I expect will continue to have it for a long time but
during covid it did it also get one-time funding funneled
through it and we seen the end of some of those funds but
we expect it, we will
prepared, as a city and
Prepared as a city and we expect to have that Grant going
forward positions and preparedness. I don't know if this is
meant to mitigate this loss but I mean I mean eight million
dollars versus the six position, but I think we're about
maybe 5 or $600,000. I just want to understand what our
opposition and how we intend to be ready, should we engage
in another large-scale emergency as we had during covid-19
to the ending of that Grandpa that I referenced it was
one-time covid money. We had those positions filled and
they were important and we were able to add them to call
Ved. We continue to work with, especially with our federal
Partners who provide almost all of the funding in this area
to talk about the importance of the public health,
preparedness and prevention fund. A fun delegated just for
Activity.
Activities like this.
activities like this, that he
Activities like this. That has is currently potentially
facing a national reduction of which obviously would have
terrible impact on Chicago. So we're working to address it
on that front. We are also working with odms and mayor's
office to ensure that we have the resources that we need to
maintain. For example, our emergency preparedness store
hours are minimum, required Staffing all in service of what
you described, which is being ready for the next public
health. Emergency are you ready?
All right.
Alright, chair. Rosendo Rodriguez followed by. I've got
one, two, three, four, five, thank you. I'm going to start
by asking for the 29 positions that we were able to
allocate a couple of years ago. I wanted to know how many
of these positions have been hired on their cdph, for the
mental health centers.
and we,
And where are we at with?
And where are we at with the hiring process?
Mac.
Matt, can you
Matt canoe.
I'll have that much.
I'll have Matt Richard.
I'll have Matt Richards. Our Deputy Commissioner for
Behavioral Health.
Thank.
Thank you, Jerry.
Thank you to your woman that Richards. Deputy Commissioner
for Babe Ruth. I'll need to get you the exact numbers
through the chair from those 29.
Do.
Do we do?
Do we know how it?
Do we know how do we have? No, how many have been hired so
far? Or no? So we are expecting that we are going to have
different buckets of money that I going to go to Mental
Health Care. Some of this is going to be on the surface. As
some of this is going to be through all AMC, is it possible
through the chair to get a clearer picture of how much
money in total? We are going to be investing in mental
health from each one of those departments because they're
going to be working collaboratively in a lot of different
ways.
Can you?
Can you talk?
Can you talk about?
Can you talk about good positions of that we had 300 EMC?
The clinician positions for OMC I wasn't able to find those
again and we were trying to make sure that we had
conditions in the call centers. Can can you talk about
that?
You.
Europe.
You're referring.
You're referring to cdph clinicians embedded in the 911 call
center that. Matt, do you want to speak to that?
Merry.
Matt Richard.
Matt Richards, Deputy Commissioner for Gabriel house, I
think there's two things. Germans, the one, our crisis
clinicians who staff the alternate response teams also
provide support on the call center floor. In the 911, call
center to assist call takers and dispatchers and
identifying calls that are appropriate for an alternate
response so that support continues. It's not a separate set
of app to use to just part of the scope of work for the
Mental Health crisis clinic. Since about the apartment,
there are in my understanding mental health conditions that
are specifically earmarked in the OMC budget. But that is
separate from The CARE program, I believe it's to provide
the AP support, but we would need to confirm with only MC.
But they were.
but there were
but the word,
Alex.
Alligator.
Allocated positions from cdph for OMC in the last budget.
I'd
I do.
I don't.
I don't recall a specific allocation for that purpose. I
can tell you, we, we provide two types of supported, only
MC related to mental health. So, one has data, we have an
epidemiologist to just is, is detailed to him see and
provide support related to all of their care data. So
that's one thing. And then the second thing is that we
have, we provide Mental Health crisis, clinic patient,
support on the floor at OMC during the hours of operation
of The CARE program.
Tell me, what is the Torah?
Tell me, what is the total?
Tell me what is the total of?
Tell me, what is the total allocated money for the mental
health centers.
For the fourth.
For the, for the currents and then for what we are going to
be doing in reopening some of the mental health centers. Do
we have that?
We can go.
we can get the
We can get that to you to the chair.
Do.
Do we have?
Do we have any and I asked this, every everybody tonight
and I understand that we have a lot of challenges when it
comes to hiring, I am worried that the score of the last
term that I have been here. And now, the started another
term of, it always takes us so long to be able to hire
stuff.
You tell.
You tell me.
You told me?
You tell me what kind of steps were taken to be able to
make this process a little faster and I and II, I know that
you will understand the urgency, but we are facing and I
and I know that it is, it is not your fault. I I do feel a
huge responsibility when we are able to allocate money to
be able to get the fishes but then that doesn't
materialize. I
I have seen.
I have seen that there are some challenges in people getting
access to knowing that these positions are available. So I
want to know what steps we are taking to be able to make
the hiring process more efficient. And then how are we
promoting the positions that we do have available? And can
you tell me, also, how many positions do we have bacon and
soda pH?
but you are a
But your IP.
But your eyeball.
Sure, I believe we have 439 vacancies, which really is the
root of the problem about 42% of our positions are vacant.
And I will note before covid in the influx of all those
dollars, we had 150 to 200, vacancies the year. So it's a
long-standing problem and we're in a deeper hole, I
mentioned earlier and in the context of a similar question
chairwoman that we are on track to hire the largest number
of people. I think that we've ever hired in a year as to
early October we've finished 126 hiring hires will
certainly be higher than that. By you repeat that number.
I'm sorry, 126 this calendar year through early October. Do
you have an idea of what those positions are? Not off the
top of my head? But can we get that? Yes. And so in terms
of what we're doing to both streamline and promote the
question, I think we're two other parts of your process.
I'm sorry to other parts of
Your questions and comments.
Your questions and comments promoting, we've really been
trying to lean into our teams, personal networks and
getting things out through that as we always have. And
really ramping up our work on social media, having our
clinicians, for example, create their own videos. And we've
done this round, other job titles to and talking about the
work and what they like about it and what it means to them
as part of our recruitment tool. We're all so you know, for
the positions that are particularly hard to fill having
them open for a longer. Of time so there's more opportunity
to apply for them. Certainly were glad to work with you and
any member of this body to help promote the positions. And,
you know, if there are additional ideas, we welcome them
and certainly, the partnership would be helpful to us
internally. We are have worked, very hard to try and
streamline are hiring work internally cuz there's a body
within cdph and then across other departments moving
from email.
from email on.
From email and pay.
Show me mail and paper and to share price list that we can
track understand manage much more easily. You've also work
closely with O B M & D H. R en process improvements across
our three organizations in service of moving more
positions. We've seen some of that comes to fruition this
year with the larger number of hires and we know there's
more work to do and we want to be able to do more. Can you
talk a little bit about
6 mil.
6 Milly.
6 million about six million dollars, that is going to go to
the Community Health worker initiative. I know that this is
done through with delegate agencies, I want to have a
better idea of what agencies are, and what is encompassed
in the work that they do. I really want to be able to see a
moment in which that is a public public model with a really
good jobs. So I wanted to know a little bit more about the
program and if there's around 2 I would like to be put
down. So at the community health worker component has, I
just wanted to double-check 5ft he's at cdph. And then the
rest of it is for delegate agency. These are existing
people on grants that are going to expire. Next year who
are currently supporting Community Health work, that was
stood up during covid and and we have since expanded Beyond
call Ben.
call bed.
K. I'm to do things like resource navigation for any Public
Health Resource needs CPR, training of community members
etcetera, so our community health response are currently
exist as does our healthy Chicago Equity Zone and we're
looking to work with both entities around, getting
community-based community health workers and will work with
the treatment. Try my work group and in mayor's office and
you know what? The future of Community Health.
Why?
Work, as it relates.
Work as it relates to men.
Work, as it relates to mental health. Me look like
Okay.
Okay, thank you all. Our chairperson Rodriguez. Sanchez
will follow up a vice chair.
Lee.
Leave.
Leave followed by Auto Spa.
I know.
Hi there. Thank you for being here. I'm sorry. I came in a
little bit late so I'm going to apologize ahead of time. If
someone's already covered this currently how many vacancies
there are I believe it's 139
400.
490.
493. I'm sorry. Honey numbers. And we've hired 126 through
October correct. It's okay. And can you give me just like a
high-level overview can wear. These positions are across
the 493 like which areas.
that's,
at the,
At the consulate.
That's a complicated question. Certainly our Mental Health
Services nursing some of that is about the very tight,
labor workforce there an environment permitting and
inspections but really there are deep needs across the
department.
Under.
Understood and I know that we've got some new positions, 19
Mental, Health crisis, clinic, Shenzhen, 12, clinical
therapist. And I know you talked about some of the efforts
to the higher. Are we looking beyond that to the city?
Considering anything like getting to getting two people
students, when they were younger and free urging them to go
into these fields, I, I know someone who has tried is just
as a consumer rights to try to get an appointment anywhere.
It's a very long time. I was out, while I appreciate that,
we've got really ambitious hiring goals, were still 493
vacancies and only hired 126. I'm not putting that on you.
I think it's. It is a problem that a challenge that I think
every municipality is facing at this point.
How?
How, how would you say that impacted the Department's
ability to just deliver on services?
Yeah, I see.
Yeah, I think.
Yeah, I think so but I know for sure is all of our core
Services continue. But could we do more? Yes, there's our
Workforce tired. Yes.
You.
You know.
you know, and I
You know, and I could be in packs that I'm not aware of
and, you know, some of the interest in like speeding up
hiring and it's beating up processing to delegate agencies
with more staff. I think we could make those improvements
faster. So I will thank you for those answers. I've got
just a couple more than I've got a short amount of time
here.
I have a question.
I have a question of
I have a question about what cdph his role is currently
with the migrant response, can you talk about that a little
bit? You know, all I am seeing gfss are really the lead
departments, and we are providing public health support and
that is through having staff, dedicated to the Emergency
Operations Center, to help us coordinate amongst ourselves
as need to come up and with other departments, we are
coordinating with and among the healthcare providers in
Chicago hospitals and federally, qualified Health Centers
to attend to Health Care needs. We are coordinating with
our trauma-informed. Centers of Care. Mental Health
Providers to help support the behavioral health needs and
is always our Disease Control team is available. They will
assess congregate settings and make recommendations around
a safer environment from an infection control standpoint,
providing guidelines and Tool.
12 kids.
12 kids to those settings and any communicable diseases
that are required. To be reported, also come into this team
and we do our investigation and mitigation work. Is there
any dedicated team World in the regular rotation? Are we
sending professionals out to the police districts? Very
acute area of concern. For many of us, the 9th district is
right down the street, from my office. We've got 200
people, many of whom are sleeping outside in tents. Right
now, we provide a shower program where we use one of our
Park District.
Billings, when there's no,
Billings, when there's not,
Billings when there's non-programming times going on, and I
I've gotten reports of people cleaning open wounds with
hand sanitizer, kids coughing with the weather in right
now. I think all we're getting is a volunteer medical
student group got some very serious needs would make a
request to the Department of Public Health, we can get some
resources or the semis on this. I'm so that there's a place
for us to even report that we have and it's not something
that someone needs to go to an emergency room for that. It
would, I think, you know, people staying at the police
stations and the police themselves would benefit from
having some more regular medical support.
We do.
we do, we
We do we do do lasting a place that strikes in in the
shelter's. I think Izzy reloading to but we do coordinate,
the Medical Reserve Corps volunteers. That's who are
emergency preparedness program is not enough of them but
they do rotate through the police districts to do some of
the work that you are referring to. And as you noted, there
are a volunteer Mutual Aid organizations who are also doing
the same through the chair. Can you just provide contact
information for who we should get to in order to get that
information and tried to have one other question? If you
would indulge me Switching gears away from the way from the
migrant situation, I just, if anybody hasn't asked about
this already, just the transition from the cdph functions
that are doing environmental work today and what that
transition is going to look like in the next year, as the
matter stands up the department.
Yeah.
yeah, I think I
yeah, I think that
Yeah, I think that but I know for sure in 2024 is our
permitting, an inspection team, which is the environment
work that we currently hold will remain with us and I will
work with the chief sustainability officer Department of
environment and mayor's office and what might come after
2024, I don't know. Okay, thank you. I'll vice-chair
Altima, Spotify, lullaby all the McDonald. Thank you so
much. It would be to repeat how important your department
diseases and too little time for five minutes. So I'll try
to go quick.
so, just taking a
So, just taking into it going by the city's comprehensive
annual Financial reports in 2020. Cdph only spend 53% of
its corporate, fun, personal possessions in 2021, that
number was 30%, in 2022 that number was 74%. So if it was a
one-time thing, it would it would be one thing to me. But
it seems like we're consistently not only hitting our
turnover, but exceeding, a tremendously and I wondered what
what is happening? Systematically that we can correct to
help. Cdph get closer to where it's at. Its budgeted
positions.
Yeah. So
Yes, it does. I don't know those numbers myself Alderman,
but those are reflection of our large vacancy rate, right?
And so, we're trying to do a number of things to fill the
tremendous number of vacancies that we have. So, we are
trying new ways to conduct Outreach, primarily utilizing,
social media, and using our existing staff as a recruitment
tool. All we are streamlining and have streamlined, our
processes for hiring internally, and in our work with odm
and Department of Human Resources, they've been great
Partners on at. We are on track to hire the largest number
of people that we have in a year. It's not going to fill
the hole that we have but I'm confident that we're moving
in the right direction and trying to fill those vacancies.
I'm
I mean.
I mean I really want to believe you're you're right on that
and I just want to dig into a few categories specifically
in the book here. So if we look at this is under title
code, 3533 clinical therapist 12 vacancies 3534 10,
vacancies. That's that's pretty much all of our clinical
therapist. I know that number of those positions are new,
but it's it's troubling. And then if I go one page, further
to Mental Health crisis, clinicians 3530, B16 vacancies, we
have 24 vacancies for nurse
Practitioners.
Practitioners that is like.
Practitioners that is line. 37 63. And I'm not trying too
hard. I'm just talking about it as we stress the importance
of mental health crisis, response. Expanding our mental
health work. If feels like we're having a very specific,
and a cute challenge with hiring mental health clinicians.
And I'm wondering if you can explain more, what day it is
or they are they not being posted our salaries not
competitive. What, what are we dealing with that in there?
Many, many answers as they are done to that question, a lot
of what you read out, our brand new titles that we can't
even touch until January of 2024 nurse titles that you
mentioned. So that's one thing or the other thing is
Archie.
If?
If it's the
If it's this budget passes, a budget with a budget will
pass. And on my Samsung is that these positions would be in
that budget, even though the funding may not chicken until
January one. What would prevent you all from start that
process up to recruit and get people in line? Because you
wait till January me, she's not going to get anybody on the
February. March, April, May, why are we trying to actively
go? After that? You know, once
Passing.
Passes first.
Passes versus waiting. And if I may add to the admittedly
10/12 of these positions will be new but none of them are.
That's 22, plantations in 22, vacancies. That's worth.
It's where?
That's where it gets, you.
That's where it gets challenging. I just wanted to just
like
Maybe.
maybe try.
Maybe chair. I will try to answer your questions as part of
this so we can recruit. But there is nothing a person can
apply to until we can post the position, right? So that's
the budget, passing part that I was trying to refer to
That.
That makes.
That makes that answer your question from your perspective
or point. I think that's probably more question for for HR,
but none the less I think we've got to you guys are bad. Is
it is, is Autumn spotted stated a tremendous number of
vacancies. For since I've been here at cdph, is to me is
always lead in percentage of vacancies. And while I
understand there's some highly technical things that may
prevent you all from doing something with this is just been
a long-standing issue and we need to understand what the
root causes of you all continue to carry so many vacancies
because at the end of the day, there was a services that
are our citizens are not are not receiving. Those are Grant
dollars in potential. You're being returned because we're
not able to fill the position. So we got to, you know, dig
a Little Deeper here to understand. What's, what's the
hang-up? What's the
Hold up.
No. But
No. Because he needs the services that
No. Because he needs a service. Is that where our folks are
missing out on a date that and then try new things with
recruiting Soffer, clinical therapist positions as an
example, we were only hiring for clinical therapist 3,
which requires a terminal degree. So we re evaluated that
because we knew that it meant that a lot of people couldn't
qualify for that position who could bring real value to our
mental health clinic. So we are working towards creating
some clinical therapist to position that lets people come
in earlier and career that can grow into the therapist
three position. But that is one of the strategies that were
using to work through
some of the issues that you've outlined my phone have time
556, be ported over from elsewhere cuz it's only a 2024
item, the construction and demolition debris management
fund which apparently generate 414000. Through cdph, we end
up spending most of this funding on license stickers,
plates and vehicles are wondering if you can talk about,
what, what that fund is, how it's generated and why this is
how we allocate those funds. So this is a new fun for the
health department. It currently has a total of 1.7 million.
Where is ended?
And it is.
And it is those funds come from construction and debris.
Fine, it was just set up this summer Department of Finance
and I'll be I'm work to set it up and buy ordinance. That
is what is meant to happen and it is meant to be used for
environmental construction and debris, work. So that is the
origin of the funds. Since the ordinance passed to create
it which I think was a couple years ago Department of
Finance moved all the money that had been collected since
then into the fun for the Health Department's, use the line
that you're talking about is actually software purchase to
help better track Waste Management. It's just in the wrong
line and I didn't see it until yesterday. So it's meant to
be in a software line, not in a license and stick a line,
follow a church collected 1.7 million, but we are
allocating an appropriate appropriate in 414000 divided.
I do.
I don't.
I don't I'm not sure exactly what you're looking at
alderman.
I don't have.
I don't have a.
I don't have exactly what you have, but so there is one
position on the fund, the software and the fun doesn't
expire. So, that's what's budgeted for now. I believe that
the bulk of the funds and fines will continue to come in
and we'll continue to budget against then.
okay, do for the
Okay. No further questions at this time. Thank you, German.
Thank.
Thank you. I think what he's referring to is fun OB 92,
which is on page, 55 55
Yeah.
yeah, that's
Yeah, that's how I'm looking at it. So I guess this is
Your real.
I really don't.
It really only.
it really only two major expenses. There's one person off
of personnel, $176,000 for vehicles and then $170,000 the
license sticker tags and played so that if you only have a
hundred and Seventy-Six thousand vehicles and almost as
much as for license is something, just intuitively is, not
that. That's what I was saying, Alderman was spotted that
is it should be in a software line.
Is there?
Is an Sheck Wes.
Is answering questions on the time.
Thank.
Thank you, Miss.
Thank you, mr. Chairman, High, Commissioner, you know, you
will spoil me last year because there was like, one pagers
about various programs that you all have. And this year we
didn't get it. So I'm going to be following up on some
things that I received last year. So the family can I
program which, which is something I care about, you were
supposed to fully Implement that by June of this year. So I
think you were going to grow up to 15 hospital. So have you
grown it to fixing hospitals. One of those hospital, I'll
get three more hospitals. Join us this year and we are at
7. I believe we said by June of 20, for our goal is to get
to all 15 or 23. Was it 23? Okay.
so, we are at
So, we are half.
So we are halfway there, then we're at 7 of the 15 birthing
hospitals.
so,
so yes, that
But yes, that is one of those hospitals.
John.
John virus. Alaska are Deputy Commissioner over that to
tell you the hospitals.
I'd
Hi Jen.
hi, Jen, virus, cheap cargo Master, Deputy Commissioner for
maternal infant child, out of the hospital currently
participating in Chicago University of Chicago medicine
Sign.
Sinai.
Ross.
Rodger.
Roch Saint, Anthony.
We?
Sweetie.
Swedish.
Humble.
Humboldt.
Humboldt Park Health. What am I?
Stroger.
Stroger is.
Stroger is joining us soon.
Expect.
Expecting.
expecting a
expect in October and
Except.
At 7.
Rose.
Rosen.
Roseland Roseland all day and we continue to work with the
remaining birthing hospitals, on memorandum of
understanding or contracts, depending on which Staffing
models are selecting. So, we're in process with 14 of the
15 hospitals, with the aim of bringing, everybody into the
program, I'm by the middle of the next calendar year using
r, a r p funds, which are available to us through 26. Have
you been thinking about what you going to do? When the when
those funds run out on? This is an important program.
yes, we have actually there's
Yes, we have actually there.
Yes. We have actually there's a considerable amount of
policy work happening at the state level and I'm happy to
say that the state has approved the expansion of Medicaid
reimbursement for home visiting. And that we are working
with the with HFS, the Illinois Department of Health and
Family Services to do rate setting right now with the hope
of having the ability to reimburse. For at least the
clinical component, the home visit component sometime in
the next calendar year was very promising.
Do you?
Do you have, you do?
Do you have, you don't have these numbers? I'm just curious
to know the number of mothers that have been impacted
number of newborns, and I'll get that through the chair. If
you don't have that number on you right now, I can't
provide you more specific information through the chair,
but we just passed certain 7000 families since we launched
the pilot. And obviously, as we had new hospitals are each
well, bro. Thank you very much. Thank you. Notice that the
environmental and permitting and inspections part of your
budget Remains the Same, in terms of Staffing, gone up a
little bit. In terms of the budget, I do mostly I see two
Personnel increases but the
Actually.
Actual, a complete.
Actually complain.
Actual complaints for noise. Odor just has gone up.
Tremendously, how do you account for the increase in? I
mean, just the huge increase in the complaints in this area
and I guess my question is, if you're going to keep the
division, the same is going to be difficult responding to a
lot of these complaints. I mean it's already taking a long
time, our environmental permitting and inspection, she made
the same observation that you did all the Roman and end.
There's a couple of things. One is we are finding that a
number of the 311 complaints that come in our being
misdirected to us. So, using noise, as an example, which is
a Lie by far, our number one person,
like a duck.
Like a dust.
Unlike industrial noise assessment and medication. But
things like your neighbors, having a party or motorcycles
are racing in front of your house, which is a lot of the
calls that we get. I really meant to say for CPT I fell a
lot of what's coming in isn't for us and we are working
with oemc to think about how we can better educate, the
public may be putting some language on the website on the
app around the types of noise complaints that should be
opened with us other.
Is that are not men.
Is that are not meant for us to.
Is that are not meant for us. We do redirect to the
appropriate department but using those noise examples that
I gave those are real time, complaints, right? And and so
having a lap time and nobody getting to it. Two or three
days, later isn't helpful for the residence either. But
really we are finding a need to do some quality assurance
and Improvement on the front end with 311 to make sure we
are getting the right ticket for our actions, okay, well I
appreciate that explanation. So I won't jump up and down
about that, you know, people say that the city doesn't have
her violence, prevention plan. We've heard a lot about
The.
the lack of money being spent in this area. Now, last year,
we got a one pager which gave us information about
how the money was broken down performance standards.
Are we?
I want.
I want to get a similar organizational chart, that outlines
our investment in Street Outreach.
I was.
I want to.
I want to understand what the new approach is going to be
given that this is a new Administration.
and,
And that I want to know where the black LED violence.
Prevention organizations are
now, you
Now, you can tell.
Now, you can take notes over there in the blue suit, but I
would like to get a response to that because I feel that a
lot of organizations are being overlooked or bad or
organizations that should be active in African American
communities are not.
You.
You understand?
You want to respond that?
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you a chair woman, Matt Richards, Deputy Commissioner
for Behavioral Health, so to answer the first part of your
question. So we currently find 19 organizations in 25
Community areas. One of the things that this body and, and
others have given us feedback about was a concern about all
of our street, Outreach funding going through Network.
Because we know that many neighborhoods in any City Council
Members, have organizations in your words that you
incredible work, but it might not be a part of the network.
And so one of the things that we did in 2021 was we've
released multiple funding opportunities for organizations
that are just doing good work. In your words that may not
be a part of a network. And so we have seven organizations
that we currently fund that way. I'm we are working with
the mayor's off.
Community. Safety is there?
Community safety as they're finalizing their comprehensive
violence reduction strategy. And I think one of the things
that we know is a priority is going to be creating a
funding opportunity. I think it would be fair to say early
in the new year that is going to be focused on continuing
to expand that network of organizations doing the work in
your words and in communities. And I'm so that's certainly.
Something is very important as we know that for me what the
features are of a network in your mind organizations that
are not a part of an umbrella organization.
I'm so fancy.
I'm so friend, since we, we have won our feed that, we find
a network where they provide training dates, they do SUB
delegate Awards, currently the organization that holds that
contract is Metropolitan Family Services, which is the cp4
p network. But we also find now seven organizations outside
of that, and there's a desire to continue to expand that
income of those seven organizations. I can, I can tell you
if you don't I can just pull this up really quickly and
listen for you while you pulling it up.
It.
it's
I want.
I won't call it.
I won't call it insulting, but I will call it like,
Real.
Really do.
really, this is
How are?
Our organizations that aren't even in the business of
violence. Prevention, managing or running violence,
prevention stuff. I mean, last I checked this was a social
services adoption agency. And why are they in the business
of violence, prevention on the southwest side of Chicago?
And that intuitively people ask questions in and it needs a
good question. And again, I think there are organizations
that can manage money that can manage people that could
also help build capacity or other groups in. And I think
this is something that you guys have to think about when
you're making these Awards. I mean, just because somebody
writes the best
May.
May not.
may not destroy.
May not necessarily have the connection to working in the
in the community. And what we continue to see is that all
the organization's folks making two three four hundred
thousand dollars a year. But then you go back and asked the
guy to did 20 years in the joint to come out here and talk
to talk to somebody. You want to pay him $34,000. That that
just doesn't add up. We got it. We were serious about
trying to deal with people in and do things in the proper.
We need to compensate. What they doing work with the
organizations that are out here in the trenches and also
provide the necessary capacity organization to grow their
points. I mean, is this is, this is something that you will
have to think. Do I know maybe easy to do it that way, but
that's what's easy isn't always what's best? And that's
what we continue to hear from the folks that are on the
ground. At icy out here at the texts. We getting that one
at 2 in the morning about who who's been shot in the in the
in these guys. Are you responding cuz I see the text from
organization.
Can hear the streets.
Can hear the streets and make a better decision on how we
work with organization actually out here, delivering
services, not the ones down to put in the paper without
here. Delivering Services, you can answer those seven
organizations for thank you for jumping on my shoulders on
that. When I appreciate that, we going to hold each other
up on that cuz we agree cuz it's not in the best interest
of our community. What we're currently sing. And I for one
am not willing to vote on the budget is there. But I've
been hearing this Story, 2 years, 3 years and I'm tired. I
want to see
Hey.
A.
A plan that really impacts our community that comes from
the bottom up. Not from the top down from some organization
that's on the North side, or the on the suburbs somewhere.
So who the other six organizations Center for New Horizon
Envision together, Chicago, also and then we have a group
of folks that do youth focused work which is youth.
Guidance youth Advocate Program Gary Comer Youth Center.
Do.
Those seven.
Those seven I was going to say one more thing regarding,
the reason why we do have a network investment is one of
the things that we consistently hear from smaller.
Community-based organizations is a concern about getting
paid quickly Enough by the city and so one of the benefits
of us funding our network is that they pay their sub
delegates very very quickly. So they are past that passing
on the cash to their Workforce very very quickly and and
some smaller organizations have expressed a concern about
being able to do that with the city. But we certainly hear
the feedback loud and clear that folks want more people are
benefiting from the city's funding. We will we have always
and we will continue to circulate the rfps to everyone in
this body. Please encourage the organizations that you
think that are doing good work, in the words to apply. If
if if it would be helpful for people on our team to get on
the phone with them and talk about,
finding a
Funding opportunity in.
Funding opportunity in advance, we would be happy to do so.
Some.
Some people have been discouraged by the way, these are a
piece of written so that their written out of the RFP.
In.
and if we're going to have a real conversation about this,
we need to have a real conversation about this because it
is not changing, and so,
I will.
I would like,
I would like to wear one. I think we need the information,
so I want to get and, you know, an organizational chart
outlining the Investments than Street Outreach. We're going
to start there. I want to know who is involved. I want to
know that we're their addresses are the, the nationality of
those organizations and we can start from Level ground of
information, and then there's got to be a willingness to
work with us to right-size. What is apparently, and really
an injustice to our community. In terms of Outreach funding
in the city of Chicago. Thank you, mr. Chairman, those are
my questions.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thanks. Jim. Also, can we add to add to that the
overall violence prevention budget for 2023 or Target? And
expenditure for 2023 is what and what is our projected
spending 24?
Ask you.
Excuse Me. Miss
Excuse me. Mister chairman I want to add performance
measures cuz we did have the 2020 to 2022, information,
2023 information but I haven't seen 2022 information but I
haven't seen 2023. And then finally looking at your mbwb,
spend it looks like 184 million dollars have been purchased
through the department of which only a little over almost 9
million dollars of that has gone to women and minority
firms.
and,
Can you?
Can you speak to that?
The first.
The percentage spent on m b e w. B e is lower than we would
like their multi-year contracts. If you look
year-over-year, it doesn't look different from the year
before many of these before, and we had very little
spending this area. I'm so these were contracts that were
stood up quickly during the pandemic response. Be there
time-limited bodies of work. But since covid, those numbers
has held that he had said around 6 to look a little deeper.
I sold.
so, they
So that Minority companies and businesses can participate in
the life of the department. Thank you, mr. Jim. Thank you.
Did you get the balance of what we were looking for? As
relates ebonics? Prevention? No. Deputy
Yes, Jam.
Yes, jamming. I think we got, it will get it to you through
the chair. Okay, thank you so much already. I wanted to
just follow up on some of the questions at Alderman. Lee
was leaning towards surrounding public health, and with our
new arrivals, and particularly in the police district are
we, are we offering vaccines in the police districts?
We?
We are getting.
We are getting ready to offer either ourselves or in
partnership with HealthCare Partners. Some vaccine into
place District. Yes, I don't understand it. All completely
and I look to you guys for guidance cuz we're hearing from
some folks are there vaccine when we do intake of new
arrivals do we determine if folks have received vaccines at
all yet or how, how do we do this? What you mean? So what I
was referring to, I just want to be clear, is covered in
flu vaccine for this respiratory season in terms of vaccine
history. I don't, I don't know the answer to like, all the
Seems that somebody may have had in there.
Seems that somebody may have had in their life.
Axiom's that somebody may have had in their life. I don't
believe that we are screening for that. Meaning, cdph or
the city of ours.
okay, cuz we're
Okay, cuz we're definitely hearing concerns of whether or
not you. If they're vaccinated for measles mumps, rubella
things that are just pretty standard is cdph working with
other government Partners on this at all to provide medical
home and to provide medical care to some of the new
arrivals, a doctor black, do you want to add anything else
in terms of medical history and vaccine history?
I mean, thank you for the question and it is Cook County
Health who is working to assess my grandson and we'll
review the medical history, provide vaccination, you know,
a lot of a lot of folks, it's been, they haven't had access
to care, you know, when years. So this is the first medical
follow-up. They're getting
Hey.
hey, is
it will that guidance beef?
it will that guidance before coming soon? Is there a
timeline on? I guess we're hearing concerns of of from
families from First Responders that are working with a new
constituency that that's that's often they're, they're
trying to figure out how to a help this new constituency
but also ensure that that they're protecting themselves.
And if, for example, if you are a police officer or
somebody working in mutual Aid and you have an infant at
home, okay, maybe perhaps who hasn't received all their
vaccines yet and you're exposed perhaps to something? We're
just trying to figure out our guidance for Mutual Aid
Partners First Responders.
Yeah.
Thanks. Well, first of all, I guess I would encourage, you
know, the people re-engage with pediatricians and going
because during covid a lot of individuals, miss their
routine. You know, pediatric vaccinations and the dad needs
to be, you know, emphasize in terms of care for individuals
working at police districts, you know, we do have a team
that responds to a reportable disease conditions and then
we do investigations around that and would reach out about,
you know, if there was a concern that we would reach out to
those potentially exposed officers unit to talk about that.
So I think, what would she's getting? That is someone comes
to Chicago. We we don't know their medical history. Are
they triage in some way with cdph or through? I sounds like
you're saying through Cook County, chair and are they like
the lack of a better term brought up to speed on various
are vaccinations or services that may be needed from a
health perspective.
Yeah.
Yes, that is.
Yes, that is being done through Cook County Health. It is a
challenge that, I mean, there are so many people to see.
So, you know, will say that it is a challenge, but that is,
that is that is the partner who were working with two to
get individuals, seen and caught up before they are put in
a
Relax.
or lack of it, but
Or lack of a better.
Or lack of a better term.
For lack of a better term of congress said, he'd be at a
police station being at O'Hare being wherever they're at
their, their medical, screening is not taking place on site
clinical providers at the GFS s run shelters on wedu, ccph
funds. Those groups to do screening in the police districts
and I do hair. There are Medical Reserve Corps, who are
going to assess individual to, to screen them, to see if
there are any individuals who have some sort of active
illness and then we work to get them evaluated and
diagnosed for acute situations. Are we doing as they come
to the city? Because to all the nutrients point we are
Put.
putting in Dubai.
Putting individuals, especially some of our First
Responders in situations with individuals who may not have
had any medical care and may be carrying some communicable
disease. While we meeting these people when it comes to the
city and doing that tree house, work there cuz some of
these folks are going to sit at a intake or one Quality
Inn, take place with a butt at a police station or
somewhere, potentially spreading something that we should
be trying to get on that as soon as they hit, you know,
touchdown.
Yammy.
yeah, I mean, I said
Yeah, I mean, I think it's an issue of volume. There might
be no buses coming over night and let me know. It's it's a
challenge. I will say, but we are getting there, you know?
And if we if your report, we will go and respond know that
there are. If there is a cluster of individuals who are
reporting the illness, it will be you know, investigator
right way. That's a little bit different than screening
what you're asking about. I think I mean to just dropped us
dropped people.
That are police.
Ender, please stay.
At a police station with was nothing in there potentially,
you know, causing harm in saying that they are but could be
causing hard because we had you just have enough some basic
stuff that we would do, two weeks from now.
Depth.
that's,
That should.
That should be moved up in the process. Sooner to ensure
everybody else's health and safety. They not only their own
it.
It's Jeremy.
It's German. I couldn't agree more. It's not a good
situation, not where we want people to be staying.
and I reckon,
and I recognized,
And I recognize this is delicate and uncomfortable, I'm
wondering. Is there any
is the
Is there perhaps a somewhere that they've done something?
Similarly, where they've taken in? Thousands of people who
need to be evaluated potentially vaccinated quickly. Is
there a is there a model? We should be following right now?
I'm just concerned cuz you we have mutual Aid. We have
County. We have cdph, we have, you know, some of our more
local help type providers and I don't feel like a
left-hander talking to, right hands. And if you is, for
example, if, if one group does an intake of folks coming in
and vaccinate some babies, how, how does that parent get
that vaccine card? So that the baby doesn't get the vaccine
from somebody else and potentially hurt a child. Like,
Who's John?
Who's talking to her?
Who's talking to who? Like, where is the centrally? How is
it? How
I wouldn't say.
I wouldn't say I'd sent.
Evan said, centrally housed alderwoman, we are helping
staff, the Emergency Operating Center with oemc who's
really the central coordinating entity for the city. We
provide the public health guidance and we are coordinating
amongst the various Health Care Providers. We are not
Primary Health Care Providers ourselves. We don't have the
staff, we don't have the expertise, but I would also add I
think to doctor blacks, client that with the limited
resources. We do have we don't, we haven't received any
additional dollars were predominantly grant-funded. We've
asked the federal government. If we could use some funds to
support migrant response, and today, we've gotten to know
the will continue asking. I bet it does the type of work
that you're doing that you and in the chairmen are talking
about require real resources financial and human and then
we don't have that now.
This.
Display.
This point.
Disappointing.
disappointing, at your
Disappointing, determine if I make. And I believe this is
probably going to my question, I'll be directed to the
doctor I'm guessing. But in addition to what, we're dealing
with with the new arrivals, I always look for to Public
Health to advise us in these budget hearings about what
should be. We be worried about here in Chicago right now.
Is it influenza? Is it RSV? Is it covid? Do we have the
ability to vaccinate our own here in the city and
contemporaneously? Are we going to be able to handle?
What's what's coming? This fall coupled with potentially a
lot of new.
Drive.
Rivals. Who
Rivals, who might
Rivals who might be nude. All the things that they're going
to be facing in the city.
Yes.
Yeah, thank you.
Yeah, thank you, I appreciate that question. We are
entering respiratory season and we're doing fairly well,
actually from a covid. Stay on point on, we anticipate that
we will see increases no venturelli with influenza and also
respiratory, syncytial, virus, or RC. So we are watching
that closely, and I can turn it over to Maribel. Chavez
Taqueria. Deputy Commissioner regarding vaccination. So we
kicked off our annual influenza and covid vaccination. So
we're providing vaccines for Chicago residents throughout
the city over 100 clinics, and we're starting to work on a
plan and hopefully, we'll kick it off at the beginning of
November to address the needs for of the new arrivals, and
migraine still, to answer your question regarding
immunization records. If there are multiple providers, that
are vaccinated in our new arrivals, you know, how do they
get access to the records if they move around?
O r.
Alarm.
Orr mobile providers. In our partners are entering
information into the state immunization registry. I care,
which is our state immunization registry that. If they go
to another provider, they will be able to get a copy of the
record. So they're seen by CPS, bye-bye, Us by our Caravan,
all that gets into the state registry, I appreciate that.
And I recognize
Set.
that were
That we're dealing with some really.
That we're dealing with some really did.
That we're dealing with some really difficult and sensitive
things. I'm just, I'm worried, I'm really worried, you're
significantly understaffed, I'm concerned that there's not
communication again with all the parties and we got people
sleeping on on police floors. We as Alderman, get calls
from different police districts about different viruses
popping up, and people are concerned and nervous. And I'm
also, I'm worried about making sure that people are getting
treated the way they need to be treated and not being
duplicative or doing more harm than good. I would
respectfully request and perhaps we do it through our. I
actually don't know the appropriate committee but I I would
think we would need perhaps County Mister chairman to maybe
be in a hearing to discuss with cdph and others sort of our
look.
Did.
To do this no more.
Did you listen, what's the most effective way to the to
move forward?
I think that.
I think that the chairperson of Rodriguez Sanchez, I think
would be the appropriate vehicle for that type of
conversation. Want to bring Cook County in it along with
cdpa, to discuss exactly what it is that you're speaking of
being here without much change, I do fear that there's,
there's a potential for it for something negative to happen
if we're not dealing with this appropriately. Saw that your
point is well taken and I think of we need to or work with
the chair. I Rodriguez Sanchez on that.
Thank.
Thank you in.
Thank you. Mister. I i d a load to be added to that same,
listen, concerned, cuz we've also in our experience and
looking, as far as what's happening in the police stations,
have that stories about the like kids that are currently
sick and that's not being addressed as quickly as I could,
we understand. I received books overwhelmed, I just want to
make sure that that was added but I've got a number
questions. I kind of want to jump into in the interest of
time. The last time we passed a Human Service Workforce
advancement ordinance on if this is ask I apologize that
deals with delegate agencies in protecting workers who
attempted unionized right to try to make sure that we
contract with his able to hire folks were, you know, any
facts about pla agreement? Can you tell me where we are in
the implementation of the ordinance?
I can.
I cannot.
I cannot tell you where we are in the implementation of the
ordinance. I believe law department is leading on the
implementation. Similarly, do the chair. We know there's a
lot of work that's being done, that's funny by the arba
funds and we know that those funds are finite. So if you
could have a breakdown of everything CD, please does Sr
fund is currently and what the gold, what we what stays,
what doesn't what changes post arpa, that would be really
helpful because I think we're all very concerned knowing
the funds are going to be gone and that fundamentally
changes some of the work that is being done in it. I'm sure
there's a lot of necessary and vital work but the reality
of what that looks like, when it comes to our budget to
something, we need to be discussing. So I'm not going to
lie, not inform, what's are funded? What the plan is going
forward. That be helpful.
More.
More than two-thirds.
More than two-thirds of the Department's budget. Go to
third parties rights, you got 518.6 million in professional
and Technical service, Appropriations another 141.3 million
a delegate agency spending. How do we make? How do we make
sure that money is well, spent like what are the, what are
the things in place for accountability for the folks, over
Contracting with into the agencies will work?
Other.
Are there?
there's a
There's a lot of details in that but I will let me start
with the professional Technical Services, and then I'll
talk about delegate agencies. So, for all of our
professional and Technical Services, we have a contract,
I'm a legal contract that talks about the services that
must be delivered and end the metrics by which people get
paid. And we review invoices against that. So that is an
accountability metric, as well as the deliverables
themselves. Sometimes their visual deliverables, right?
Like the placement of an ad on the delegate agency side,
similarly program in each contract has a set of Scopes. We
fairies a little bit, the frequency of reporting but all of
them must report information to us a lot of it because most
of our money is comes from the federal, government is
dictated by the thunder on the details, of what's collected
for accountability and in for assessing the effectiveness
and we also use that
to review a
To review in.
to review, and
To review and approve invoices for payment or vouchers for
delegate agencies, for payment on the delegate agency side.
We also conduct site visits to lay eyes on program, and I'm
documents additional supporting documents. So, broadly
speaking, those are the accountability measures 6 years,
right? Going to be getting the last term, for those
agreements. How many of those folks have you?
Been.
Been discontinued or not renewed. Meaning if there's
accountability metrics right. For a Doug agencies, are we
are Contracting with one. Would imagine that. It's not 100%
their all knocking it out. The park. There will be
somewhere you go. We're just continuing this thing or not.
Renewing it. What is that number? Look like what percentage
of that is the case and if you don't have that through the
charity, also helpful, but we have a kind of bility and
everyone gets a hundred percent score. It's not really a
kind of bility so just want to hear about that. But there
have been contracts that we've had to terminate early cuz
there might be more lovers of accountability there. Then if
the your point really trying to make it work with books and
maybe on executing to Louisville, we want to see you just
just want to ask on that.
yeah, this
Yeah, this is a great distance to set you up, Matt. So it
so I'd like to hear updates on the bridge housing pilot.
So, we're doing one at the Diplomat Motel on Lincoln, which
is like, non congregate, shelter for folks who need it with
the wraparound services at some at, some of us are working
on like shelter for all legislation to try to make sure we
have a system rather than a separate one for new arrivals
and everyone else and has just want to hear all that pilot
is looking and also what what the potential looking like
Citywide 44, more of them.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, I'll do.
Thank you Alderman. As you know, the stabilization housing
project is one that we're very excited about. It is very
much a pilot. We haven't done this in Chicago before. So to
the second part of your question about what the future
looks like. We'll see depending on the resources available
and what we learn from this initial effort, the hotel that
will serve in. This capacity has been acquired our role
that's really been led by Department of Housing, who is now
engaging an architect to do the necessary. We have work,
our component is putting out an RFP, for mental health,
behavioral health and support services as well as shelter
operations on site. We have released that are P&R near to
making a recommendation on who that then that agency should
be a band. We're hoping to have the shortest time possible
between the end of The Rehabilitation and being able to
start operations and start housing, folks. And these are
people who are
How?
How's Dan?
How's Denver?
How's Denver, serious? Medical sorry, serious, mental
illness and or substance use disorder, more permanent
solution. It also save the taxpayers because rather than
going to the ER and CPD, we have a solution that like
doesn't isn't. So physically doesn't put a restraining over
trying to do. So thank you so much for all of the work you
all do. Well, thank you. That's all I got you.
I got a.
Academy Vasquez.
Academy Vasquez, I believe we have covered. All of them all
committee members that, okay? With a move to non-members,
and we're going to start with Alder Clay. Did I miss
something?
What'd I miss?
A final.
I finally,
I finally made it to the top. Okay, good afternoon, thank
you so much for being here. I wanted to first start off by
saying thank you for our family connect program. As a mom,
a new mom during covid. It is extremely important that we
offer our families to support. When they bring this new
bundle of joy home on a multitude of level, I would love to
know how that program is going. And if you see in the
future, us expanding it,
She?
Store. So, we touched on this. A little bit of the program
is growing. We're at seven of the 15, almost 8. We think
Stroger will join the program this year of the 15 birthing
hospitals in Chicago. So, that is how the expansion of the
program is going. We are to the previous Alderman's
question about sustainability and what was also shared it
briefly earlier is, we're working with the state on getting
Medicaid, reimbursement for the home nurse visit part. So,
there is sustainability after these one-time ARP funds. And
that is propping up a lot of family connects, not all of
it, but a lot of it and is really enabling us to invest in
the
Expansion. Keep up the good work. I'm next, the lead
poisoning prevention and healthy homes programme. I'm
really interested in learning about how we can get that
expand it right now. It seems like we're touching a
relatively low number of families in the city of Chicago.
And knowing that lead is a huge issue, especially in equity
and communities of color. I would love to hear your
thoughts about how we can expand that and grow that over
time. Lead-based paint is on the South and West sides of
the city. We are investing a tremendous amount of bond
money to the Chicago Recovery Fund to increase the number
of homes that we can debate for lead. We think we'll be
able to serve an additional 1700 families with those
available funds. It will be over multiple years, but really
will allow us to
How much deeper?
How much deeper I?
How much deeper and be?
How much deeper and broader?
How much deeper and broader impact than you were able to?
Before?
Movie.
Moving.
Moving on, I'm getting into the nitty-gritty of this
beautiful budget proposal. So under contractual Services, I
would love and again, apologies. If this has already been
asked for it, but I would love to the chair. If we could
get a list of our delicate agencies that we work with,
under the line-item 0135, I would also love to know what
Our professional in.
Our professional intake.
Our professional and Technical Services and other
third-party benefit agreements. Who do we have those
through? If you could get that through the chair, you don't
have to ride on the morrow. I also wanted to ask about
something very Petty furniture and Furnishings. It looks
like you have a very nice, happy budget from year to year
for furniture and furnishings. And I just wanted to know.
Are we breaking that many chairs?
We?
we do have a lot of
We do have a lot of broken chairs but it is predominantly
due to the growth of our staff size and our expansion into
new spaces. That is what's driving that much. You and then,
last but not least, I would definitely want to talk a
little bit more just about how we can connect with the
county. I think just to Andres Point earlier is that, that
is a missed opportunity that we can Loop them into some of
the, some of the things that we are facing with new
neighbors coming into our city. So I definitely want to
make sure that we have a conversation with chair. Rodriguez
is well, so thank you.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you for all the Maclay I guess one.
I'd
I don't.
Item of Interest outside of the opioid settlement fund.
What other dollars have we committed to dealing with start
that population.
With people with substance use disorder.
Yes.
Yes, we have corporate funds. We have a CDC Grant. So those
are the other funding sources. Think we have about two and
a half million on corporate in about three and a half
million on the federal CDC Grande
And it.
and in that,
And Annette, the point I want to make you his dad. If my
memory serves me correctly we lost more people to opioid
deaths then we did the homicide.
And the city's commitment is 2, 1/2 million dollars, we got
CDC money, we got opioid settlement money, we need to be
doing more, are in the space. We are losing people that are
again, as I said, at a greater rate than folks that are
being killed, we have a plan to a violence, and we're
putting a lot of
Resources.
resources toward it, but
Resources toward it, but I do.
Resources toward it. But I don't see us putting the same
level of resources toward
The.
The open.
the opioid epidemic in and I say this selfishly because
West Garfield Park is probably Ground Zero for
me.
Mini.
Many of the.
many of these of opioid-related deaths and we continue to
talk about the need for help and assistance in this area.
But the dollars aren't the same as is the conversation, so
thick, we, we definitely need to evaluate that in order to
stem the tide. Cuz it again, it just looks like we're on a,
on a fast fast moving upward trajectory on on opioids, and
we definitely need to work toward addressing that.
Is Sherry.
You share your son.
You share your sense of urgency around this issue. And
you're right, it is one of the drivers of the black, white
life expectancy Gap in Chicago. How long does this last
number one? And is it still going to stay flat at the 16
million dollars? Annually? He said the settlement money. I
understand it, so, this is what we've received so far. We
can use it for up to 18 years and we expect significant
more money to come through the settlement, as, as different
Agreements are reached. Really, our Law Department is, is
Reading that work.
Reading that work on our.
Heading that work on our behalf.
Oh, cuz it's
Okay, this is the first year. This is our share of this
money. I think I think it's the first full year yet. Might
have coming towards the very, very Manahawkin hours.
Thank.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you share. Thank you for being here. Thank you for
your team and all your work. You know. I'm a small business
and I have relied on your information. I'm to get through
the pandemic working with our Chambers of Commerce, I
really appreciate it. Thank you for your work on replacing
our lead pipes. There's a correlation between no lead and
also violence. And so we want to address that in all the
ways that we can and I appreciate your work with the
libraries as well to bring Mental Health Resources to the
communities in public spaces. I just had a couple of notes
regarding ultimate. Chico's, note about small businesses
would definitely appreciate more communication about
closures of businesses. That would be really helpful for my
team in the office so that they understand they don't have
to learn it on social media or what
Morton.
No more communication.
More communication, be much better. I wanted to. I also
have a temporary shelter at the Broadway, Armory in the
48th Ward. And I also am concerned about all the things
that Alder Nugent's talked about. So please keep us
updated. And I would like to be involved in this
conversation is moving forward. I don't know what the
long-term plan is. I know that the decision to open up a
shelter in the ward came very suddenly and without a lot of
communication and fell and were talking about ways to keep
us safe. If you know for not censoring help. I don't know
what we're doing. So I would like to be involved in those
conversations with Cook County and also
make sure the
Make sure that.
Make sure that I have a word that has the highest number of
lgbtq plus people. So I appreciate all your work on HIV,
prevention and awareness. So please keep that up. I would
also like to extend that I work that you're doing with our
new arrivals just to make sure that they are all receiving,
gender-affirming care and I know that you're not providing
that, but I would like you to meet on that. And then
towards that end, just making sure that we are.
Tell.
Talking.
talking about my,
Talking about Mental Health Care at Public Safety. You know
thank you for your work with elder Rodriguez in that way
and that you talked about so many vacancies and that is
that is also really alarming when I'm looking at the the
Personnel statistics and how your department is funded,
mostly, it seems like through grant funding
and,
and I,
I'm with them all to Dowell to and Irving when were talking
about how seriously are we taking the work? That would be
doing around violence prevention and how we're building up
our systems. I mean we're in this moment that we can
reconstruct a lot. I thought covid was going to transform
the system that we had but apparently that wasn't enough to
shake it up. Now we have a new arrival Health Care crisis
and at the same time we're still trying to take care of our
own and I don't understand. I don't understand this funding
to the Department.
I don't understand.
I don't understand how this.
I don't understand how this reflects.
I don't understand how this reflects our commitment to
health care and making us safe. And so I I also don't
Think that?
Think that I can.
think that I can support this budget. Unless I understand
truly understand what we're doing.
We?
We have.
We had a mass shooting on in our guy on Argyle to Asia on
Argyle where four people were shot and I know that those
delicate agencies are doing the best that they can with
what they have.
But you.
But to Alder, Vasquez point.
What are?
What are we doing? Collectively and who like under one
umbrella who is leading on this because it certainly isn't,
it doesn't? It doesn't make sense to me. I don't get it.
Who is leading on that?
and,
And how?
And how are we funding the things that we need to fund and
make it make sense to me? Cuz I am I'm really new and I
want understand and I want to be able to bring that back to
my community and say that we have we have a plan. So can
you please commit to working with us to make sure that we
that I understand what's happening in terms of how we are
funding the Earth Systems long-term? Not just for the
moment that were in
I'll respond.
I'll respond to that. But I also just want to offer just a
little bit of clarification. Our department, doesn't do
work on mud and water pipes. That Department of Water
Management. We do work on LED based paint and home. I
appreciate that clarification. Yes, I totally get that
thang out and I think the questions that you are raising
about how we are funded, really are a reflection of Public
Health is funded in the country. It's a much deeper
conversation that I'm glad and we're glad to have with you
and others, but we get something, like, $0.03 on every
Healthcare dollar. International Studies have shown that
there's a Workforce shortage of 80000 + and really most
public health departments at the local and state-level are
predominantly funded through grants, which is not a good
model and is exactly what you're pointing out. I don't know
the answer for word, I don't think anybody does but we are
certainly committed to working with this body and the
mayor's office and other partners. And trying to think
about how to
this is how we spawn.
This Is How We Do.
This is how we fund Public Health Services. Yeah I think
that thank you for pointing that out and also just because
everybody else doesn't doesn't mean that we do it to like
we can lead in so many ways. We are Innovative. We have I
don't know if you're here earlier but we we listen to a
good kid Maad City and they would love love to work in
mental health at with the city. Not through a grant with
the city. So how can we make things like that happen? We
have to listen to
People, who are actually.
People who are actually living these.
People who are actually living these experiences and want
to make their communities better. And I just don't think
that we're doing that.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
On.
on the
All of the.
All of the Manahawkin work, I will have all the crews
follow out in the lawsuit.
Thank.
Thank you, Jerry. I will move a little to this corner. So
you can see me, you know, acting commissioner, I want to
say is you're hearing throughout my colleagues were very
concerned with a lot information that has been provided to
us from, you know, having 400. I know it's not your fault,
but you're representing the department 493, vacancies. It's
a lot of it and you said majority of them or the Box were
from mental health professionals, that is that they are all
across the department. The majority majority, who are you
name to 2/3 majority and then you said other. So you said,
mental health professionals something with nursing, can
you? I was reflecting I'm done where we had the largest
number of new positions added for 2024
okay, thank
Okay, thank you.
Okay, thank you for that.
Okay, thank you for that Glenn.
Okay, thank you for that clarification. But also, you know,
other things that we have mentioned in my Kali Linux got
upset about, you know, some of you in some of these
expenses or, you know, budget there being a, look at it for
you, no vehicle of $176,000. That's extremely high. If he
compared to the salary is about $65,000. But yeah, you're
allocating $176,000 for a vehicle that alarming and let you
know somebody else mentioned about the furniture as well. I
know you said it's because of the new people they're coming
in. But again, there was just a lot of other things that we
would like to get more clarification. I know they already
asked, but let me ask you, let me go on with my questions
when it talk about professional Latinos communities. We
talked about
We?
What time?
we talked about,
We talked about like you know, how do we make this?
Infer.
Inform.
Information.
Information accessible, to many different cultures. How
many multi-language staff are employed at each Mental
Health Centers. Do you have that information? We do not
gather the language capacity of our staff has for mental
health centers. No, we did it. A number of years ago
through a survey and and we've been talking about doing it
again but I don't have that information. Now, we know where
service in those who might have a language barrier. But one
of the things we do when we're hiring or posting to hire is
when
It isn't.
it isn't a location where we know,
It isn't a location where we know a significant number of
people, speak another language, we will put a language
preference in the posting so that is one way that we do it.
Okay. So you're distracted by you the application but not
data collection.
We?
We have.
We haven't done.
We haven't done it in the number years. Collecting the
language capacity of our stuff. Will you consider the one
that moving forward? And we have talked about doing that.
I'll
Also.
Also, looking at some of the report in this data, hear of
the 311 request. Fulfillment time is very interesting to
see like the comparison between, how would I consider some
other cases, being extremely serious? And how long does it
take for fill them? So let me a highlight. Two of them,
daycare centers. It was 14 request and it took about an
average of a 308 days then we look at the senior or Nesbitt
just Health complain to complain, but it took 63-64 days an
average talking about you know, it's hard for me to
believe, they're only words to complain side but I know
that's how it's been tracked but it's still even if it
wishes to take a bus 64 days. We're talking about two
months to get in to service our seniors. Or even are they
care centers with 308?
but he,
What are you?
But yeah.
But are you at somebody call for a tanning and Buddy are
complain, was fixing complaints, done, in 5 days.
Ori.
Oribe.
Or even if you go to the pushcart food, vendor complaint,
271 took 17 days, help me understand something, maybe I'm
new, I don't understand. This is it because it's easier to
get to those much faster, is it? What is the guidelines
like, what are the expectations? So I can you walk me
through that. I can older woman and and we have done dug
deeply in some of these. So, using your daycare example of
Bradley, I will say. I think there's a couple of things
tickets to come to our department that are not meant for
our department. They come to us an error and then someone
that it's more time when we have to take, send it to the
right department, but we also don't always know the outcome
and therefore be able to close out the ticket on the
daycare center. One is an example for us, that was a red
flag to and when we look into the 311 system on our side,
we don't see any Open tickets. So we are committed to
working with only MC 311 to try and
understand what the
Understand what this data.
Understand what this data is weed.
Understand what this data is. We don't think it reflects
our work but we can only see what we can see in our system.
And so we do have to engage just real quick. I don't we
talked about that a bit confused and I forgot to mention
this to have critical of vacancies in your orchard that
also vacant, which I believe is three. I look at your box
and I know a couple people in your box that I think they're
extremely talented, so maybe promoted within will be a
great idea as well. But I know my time is up and I want to
respect my colleagues but just want to leave that $90,000
for the purchase of three vehicles for environmental
inspectors who have to be in the field. So as we've
increased that stuff, we need to increase those vehicles to
crack but we have a whole bunch of folks who don't have
cars. They've been making do so it is to help build our
capacity in the inspection area.
and that, you know,
And that includes three people rather than won't cuz the
breakdown is for one staffer, but then I don't understand
what you're saying.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you for all the cruise Alder lost and followed by all
the Taylor.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, Miss tramell.
Thank you, mr. Chairman, I have just a couple quick things.
I think I have a police district in my ward, but not a
traditional shelter and I often have more well over a
hundred people. We were there last night actually looked a
little lean, but it, but I just want to make sure we're
talking about medical Outreach. Fortunately, I have
Illinois Masonic Hospital less than a mile away, and
they've been a great partner for us, but I think there's a
great need and I know the county is supposed to be taking
care of this, but people forget the police station and
other. You know where housing thousands of people there.
It's the situation is very difficult. I just want to put
that on the record. I appreciate what we're doing and they
got I'm lucky to have Masonic nearby thorek is right there
too but it's it's it's going to be very difficult for a
while.
What?
What are?
What are the thing?
What are the things that we were with a number of contracted
agencies? And the payment cycle is something, we talked to
the controller about and I have to race here as well
because I know your your vacancies are deep across all
boards that specifically when it comes to those positions
that work a delegate agency, contract in or voucher and how
it is. It basically 41% bacon bear, a little higher little
lower.
Let me.
Let me stay.
Let me see. What and what is that Universe? How many
employees do we have their positions in our finance unit?
And 7 of, those are vacant and we have all positions in our
contract unit.
Instead.
and three of the
And 3 of those are vacant, but I would also say, just in
case, this helps answer your question that the people who
touch invoicing include all of our programs that engage in
doubt, it Services. They're the ones who affirmed that the
reports are in in the services are, as we expected the
contract and finance team, really do execution and
processing. Sure. I like, I know there's issues with
budgets on the department moves budget, so that the
controller can pay. And in the meantime, the dog, at agency
still has to pay the people were working, right? So if we
can look at this as a system and a lot of the stuff comes
through public house and there's a few other departments as
well, but what the weather that's the 25% upfront with
Wario agencies. With a lot of these contracts are they have
been renewed for decades in some cases
and so you
and so, you know, we
And so, it'll be.
And sew in a weave.
And so it'll be nice. And I know there's not a federal
requirement so that we can work with these folks on
payments on the budgeting and time and that would never do
a lot a lot.
I want.
at one point, I
At one point, I believe we had an office of LGBT health and
I I don't believe I know we have Antonio does an amazing
job and as the liaison but I I learned your official title
is public health coordinator for bring good afternoon,
County Administrator three, lgbtq health and Outreach
liaison and so Antonia does amazing work and obviously last
summer with with mmpv, we had a real Spike and it was a
real coming together of of agencies that work in LGBT
Health, MSM, help specifically. But I think there's a lot
of great things happening. A bit touched, a lot of
different bureaus in. Cdph that if there were not that long
ago, there was an LGBT Health Report if there was an LGBT
Health guide, you know, I know a lot of work obviously and
I see I hid is there a mental?
As we?
As well. And then with young people and and older people,
right? Do it is if I could just put that plug in. We've had
some people contact us as the LGBT caucus to ask for that
to come back. He seemed like at some point. There were four
positions. I don't ever remember that or four positions
filled. I don't remember, at least Antonio at one point at
one point, there was an entire unit of God, over four to
five different positions held by director. So yes. Okay, so
I would like to see something like that. Put together. I
think those those resources are already there, but it's
something that could be a specific resource for the LGBT
community that the covers a lot of those. Those bases would
be great. I appreciate our commitment to a HIV AIDS. That's
a passion of mine. I know that funding is fairly stable,
but it is. Those agencies in addition to the amazing works.
There are employees, do those agencies on the ground that
we've got to make sure I get paid. I'm getting 20, I don't
know that anyone's asked about that. As as I ever talked
much about it before you do today, or recently what we say,
Success.
Successful.
success, there were
Success. There, what would
Success there. What what are HIV numbers looking like a
plan to eliminate HIV in the United States has touched
every demographic population, gender race and ethnicity.
Everybody has seen a tremendous decline in new HIV cases.
However, not everybody is seeing the same Decline and so we
are investing a deeply in
Black. And
Black and white.
Black and white next community.
Black in Latin excommunicate communities in Chicago to help
Advance the reduction in new HIV cases there, Dave, do you
want to add anything to that? Deputy Commissioner Force
endemic infectious disease the lowest number of new HIV
diagnosis since the late 1980s. So we are seeing a
continued Decline and as the commissioner sat across age
groups across racial and ethnic groups and across
transmission groups we continue the good work but that's
that's amazing actually and I would love that to be
publicize maybe a December 1st or are good time nearby
because I think we could use some good news in that space.
And that's that is really really great news. Thank you.
Just chairman
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, Aunt, Amanda Lawson, I speak into HIV, where we
working with the black and Latin x h. I v organizations as
that is the population. It seems to not be trending in the
right direction or what are we doing in that space? And
what type of dollars are we allocating to these
organizations?
Sure. It
Sure, ya did the clients that we're seeing are not as fast
or as much as we are singing other populations. That's
right. Share and we're doing a few things within the
constraints that we have with our federal funding, the
majority of our federal funds, you may know, are required
to go to HIV Medical Care and a long-term, support of
Housing. And there aren't many black and brown LED agencies
who provide that service. Those certainly, the people who
use that service are reflective of the need. We are
thinking about with our corporate dollars. We have
flexibility new ways to engage the agencies that are of and
located in the most impacted communities. I don't know if
we've talked about it yet today, I can't remember, but we
have smaller grant funding opportunity. It's low threshold
to get the monies and it is intended to help build
connections to help build experience.
within an
Within an organ.
Within an organization but also among organizations and
really trying to help ready our black and brown LED
organizations to be competitive for our large. Our next
round of large HIV funding opportunities which we expect
will be mid of next year.
Install corporately, what it what is our corporate
spending? I know, you talked about the federal money and I
mean this is just sounds like an excellent are poor or
opportunity for something that we look at it as a
short-term, a bridge to help build capacity or
organizations that are operating in, in the community, have
you all put any consideration to using some of that type of
funding to facilitate? What you're trying to do and be at
your point is well taken about could our funds help
support, maybe HIV work, more broadly. And then some of
this Community Development work that we're talking about.
Yes, you can take that back. Thank you.
all the
All the time.
All the Taylor.
All the Taylor followed by a close with the chair
Rodriguez. Sanchez.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, mr. Check
Thank you, mr. Chairman
I'll be very respectful, but disrespectful, please don't be
like your predecessor.
You go.
You got low?
You got long answers for everything and we see nothing that
gets done. I want to see you take this in a different
direction. This is one of the biggest cities in the country
and there is no way that we don't use our platform. The
we're not using the space to where in to actually do some
good work. When it comes to Public Health, you got the
University of
Toggle.
How do you got Northwest?
How do you got Northwestern? You got your Loyola. We have a
district. We have teaching hospitals. There is no way. You
should have any vacancies and what you have not done as
usual star players, which is the fifty of us to say we're
looking, we need your help with trying to do this. And so I
want you to be totally different and I am the person who
will complain all day but I will also help you to organize
how we get out of it. Can you tell me what you feel like
the biggest issues when it comes to help that are in the
city of Chicago? So, if you had to pick Anythink Ovid STIs,
can you tell me what you feel like is the biggest health
issue that we have in the city?
that's,
That's a.
That's a very,
That's a very complicated question. Older women in a
related.
I had.
I had to pick one.
I had to pick one, I would say Mental Health.
so, you
So you said mental health. I I don't disagree with you on
that one time with you, but also covid numbers are going
back up and saw this. The last Administration spent every
other day on TV, talk about covid, India, all of a sudden
cuz we say it's over, it's over. Not when I'm looking at
young people who are not going into the hospital, not when
people who are getting hurt and I've had covid twice in the
hospital last one. And so I take it very seriously on how
to take care of myself. But I also look for my city to help
me that I might had a whole conversation with the previous
administration about how about we start having using our
television station and our TV time to talk about how we
take care of you,
Is a?
Is that drinking my?
Is it drinkable water? Is that Dracula Spa?
Is that drinking water? Is that drink? Unless pops is that
eating fruits and vegetables? Is that doing Ginger? And I
was totally ignored and why I was ignored black and brown
people died of Coleman because they were not interested in
doing vaccinations. Maybe they weren't ready and we know
black people been tricked when it comes to that connection.
So I want to see you all do something. Totally different
when it comes to health care and that's even talkin about
what the statistics is like, what does do I HIV? And STD
numbers s, t, I'm sorry for STD or STI numbers. Look like,
why is it that we're talkin about prep? It is pushed in the
lgbtq community at all times, but never to have had her
sexual Community. There are not even conversations about
condoms and sex and things like that. So I want you to
think about and asked us how, how we talkin about those in
the city of Chicago. You talkin about Margaret's coming
with their home health issues with health issues.
BRP.
there are people who'll
There are people who live in Markham.
There are people who live in my community, who cannot
afford to go to the University of Chicago, but they also
are not a lot of free clinics anymore either. I've never
gotten a list of what the free clinics are. I've never
gotten a list of where you can get vaccinated for those are
things that you all can do that. A very simple for us to do
and I want to see us do that. And so let us help you.
If?
if we put the
if we put those Vega,
If we put those, vacancies, that would be in real trouble.
If we said you ain't use them in this many of years, we
going to take them, then you will be over working the
people that you actually have it. So let us do for you to
fill those vacancies. We got all of these relationships
University of Chicago Howard Brown, Saint Bernard and I'm
forgetting somebody else. I can't think they would trucks,
vans, whatever you been. I asked him to set up to, and I
won't say the city didn't do it, but I had a better
relationship with Howard Brown at doing the. Did anybody?
And those of the the health experts that my Community Trust
because that's what I see. We don't see the city, we don't
we don't see numbers, we don't see some tistic it. So I
want you all to use the tools that you got
She?
She was.
She was on TV.
She was on TV every day and so she stopped being on TV.
Kobe went away know, the numbers are still going or we're
not teaching people how to be healthy and take care of
themselves. So that's why I want you to take this. I ain't
going to speak about your furniture cuz I'm sure you you
probably need it. But those positions, I don't want to be
the person to say, I'm not giving up my vote to y'all take
away those positions cuz that's not fair to the you, or the
people in the box. But I want you to use this opportunity
to say, how do we make Chicago really healthy. We love our
fancy. Slogans, get healthy. Be great. Feel better that
we're not doing it.
The.
Democracy.
The migrants who are coming to.
The migrants who are coming to these police station, even
the ones that are the shelters. They won't even go to the
doctor. They're scared. And so how we protecting the people
who we pay to serve and protect us. We're not, there's not
supposed to call. I need you to be more involved in those
conversations. What do they want you there or not? Cuz I
don't know how we even having a conversation about
immigrants and you're not at the table. While I haven't
sent you on the call and that's not on you. That's that's
on us. And so I want us to see. I want you two to lean on
us. You you got road sign that she's there to help. You got
people who will say this is how we can change the scope and
help the city of Chicago. Let us help you. Thank you, Miss
Preston.
UPS.
YouTube.
Yeah, there's there's a lot there. I mean,
I,
I am.
I,
I appreciate and share your concern about the need to do
better and add more for public health in Chicago. And I
think I also appreciate your offer of partnership and
feeling the positions. And getting the word out, we spend a
tremendous amount of time collecting and trying to push
data out and if it's not getting to the right people, but
like yes, please, we would like to use you and your
networks as a resource. I'm in terms of free vaccine. I
don't know the last time we've spent so much time getting
the word out. So if it's not getting out, you know, please
let us know. I can say we just had our first vaccine clinic
at City Hall. Just
Monday and had tremendous.
Monday and had tremendous turned.
Monday and had tremendous turned out. I think 353 or so
people are vaccinated to drop in the bucket and move and
we're doing it across the city.
but,
But reward office. They should not be award in the city of
Chicago that does not have cuz I'm having a clinic so I'm
not talking about nothing. I'm not doing that. There should
be an opportunity for all 50 to have those pleased to have
you. If if that's the case, have you and your team comes to
our office and this is help day in the 20th more. So we can
show you all the things that she has to offer including
this will help including Dentistry whatever we're offering.
But that has to be something that goes for all of us cuz
public health is we are going to be sick when it's all said
and done it, should I tell people all the time? As soon as
you want to hear you on that in between, you should be
living a better life and I want the city to be able to help
us live. You all have our attention, you all. I was and
every day until I was on the news thinking I was going to
find out something new. So I didn't have to take that
vaccinations and it never happened it. So I just want you
to to to, to take and not to say that you're not, but
you're in this position. I want you to take it in a
different direction because public health is very serious
in our community.
Thank you. Thank you all don't say,
Thank you. Thank you all. Don't Taylor before I go to
Alderman Mosley, maybe a few years ago, we were talking
about health disparities and we were looking at certain
communities or that consistently ranked very high in a
negative way. And we were putting together health plans for
those communities. What happened to that work? Or what's
going on with that work?
I want to make.
I want to make sure I'm responding to where you talk about
the healthy Chicago Equity zones.
To be perfectly honest. I don't know what the what we
called it, but what I what I know is that we've got some
communities. That consistently ranked High negatively, in
various categories of health and I and I think it is
dealing with life is life expectancy. While we talk about
opioid, we talked about hypertension, diabetes STIs, talk
about a myriad of issues, cancer of that. In many cases are
preventable, but we are losing people who are earlier ages
from these preventable diseases and that was a conversation
and a plan to be put together to help reduce the life
expectancy Gap again.
I live in.
I live in East Golf.
I live in East Garfield Park, the average life expectancy a
61-60 to remove over 23 Mi to the east that life expectancy
jumps to a G+. So we're we're talking, you know, you know,
almost two cities here and we're 3 miles away from each
other. So there was some plan to be put in place to help
reduce debt life expectancy got my question is where are we
with that outlines the strategies for working to reduce the
life expectancy Gap by race and that data that you're
talking about the community area differences. Really was
the route of much of what came to that plan. Worked to
operationalize that in many ways and have metrics that are
publicly available on our
have a house.
Have a house Outlet.
Have a house. Atlas? I can get that link certainly to this
body, but one of the primary ways but we are working on,
this is investing in community through our healthy. Chicago
equities, are there. Six zones in the region? Each of the
lead organizations. Their works with the community-based
organization who identified both the hyper local public
health priority, but also to help identify and determine
identify Solutions and determine how to allocate funds.
Where's the?
Barstow solution.
Barstow Solutions. I know that's not very specific response
Alderman but those are two of the status on that
organizations the six zones and the organizations that
working with within the zones. I think that would be
helpful for all of us.
Famous.
A mr.
A Mr. Chair. I'm going to actually just pick up right on
that. I have a phenomenal phenomenal provider of the
Chicago, help equities own failings Family Services. Can
you tell me what's going to happen with that program, just
to show that I know about the great work if it is going to
continue in the far, south region Washington, Heights, West
Portland working parking so far
so, I
So the Phalanx is the lead organization, right? And then
they work with the other delegates that are in your area
and they've done a number of things. I know, they've done a
tremendous work. I believe around diabetes. Are they
determined that? That was one of their priority areas.
They've done, Outreach and Education Connection to
healthcare. So, that's an example of what they've done. I
don't, is that what you were looking for? I want to know
what's going to happen with that rope is the Premier
organization in this pilot program.
Ultimate, I'll be on.
ultimate, I'll be honest, that's the
Alderman. I'll be honest, that's the 60 million dollar
question it is it was stood up during the time of covered
with one-time covid funds. We are able to support some of
the work of to a little bit of the corporate investment.
This year will continue to look for additional funding
opportunities and to look within our existing funding
opportunities, recognizing the importance of this network,
but I don't have an answer for you today. About what the
future is when the covid funding goes away.
which,
which in for,
which in from,
Which information about the funding is going to like what
different zones. The allocations for each is own before we
vote on the budget.
I do.
I don't think the
I don't think before. I don't even know what that looks
like and then
Can you?
Yamikaze.
Thank.
Thank you. You have some quick. Go ahead. So this is just
quick cuz I know you're going to have to get into the
chair. But I wanted to know going back to those vacancies
again, how many are new to the budget versus how many are
in the process of currently being hired.
So step.
The 7D.
So 70 Arnett new to the budget for 2024, we have many, many
tell you. The number, we have many positions that are at
some point in the hiring process right now and are those
bacon are those current vacancies move to to stab new
clinics.
There is no.
there isn't an
There isn't a new investment for 2024, not today for the
expansion of to Mental Health Centers. And so can you also
get back to the chair which ones are new versus
long-standing? So like, I know, I know you stayed at like
435. Am I saying it was that many vacancies we have? And is
it possible that you can tell us which, which ones are new
versus which? How many are doing? And how many are
long-standing? Yes, I'm sorry. I do just
Why?
Want to.
Wanted the number.
Wanted the numbers.
Wanted the numbers just a number so 70 are new and then 423
are long-standing and I know they've asked us again, but
we're holding on to those. I mean.
What's?
What's the media?
What's the media pushed into to hire? Cuz I mean, if if
we're not going to hire and you you all are working out,
your operation is efficient. Then why don't we put that
money back into the budget and put it someplace? That's
what we fall short.
yeah, they
yeah, there's
Yeah, there's a lot there so just a couple of things. One
is the majority of our funding 89% is from federal grants
with Grant deliverables that are tied to them. So we have
to budget for the staff that we think we need to do the
work certainly if we were able to fill more of our
vacancies, even if not all we could do more or could do it
faster, or could do it better or, you know, some
combination of those things. We believe that we need all of
the vacancies that we have our funders, believe that we
need the vacancies, they've approved at that we have. So, I
don't know if that directly answers your question but that
is kind of the state that we're working. Okay, have you all
consider partnering with CPS? We've got crane over on the
west side, we have a bunch of schools with Healthcare.
We're.
Rear.
Greer's CTE.
Greer's, CTE city colleges to
Look.
look at
Look at some of these vacancies and how they can be
directly pipeline from some of our high school in City
College graduates.
Right.
Why do?
right into
Right into these jobs. Now, I don't know what the
Take me.
technical work.
Technical requirements are for all of them. But there's got
to be some portion of this work force, that can be derived
from CPS and city colleges that we looked at looking at a
partnership were looking at doing something along those
lines, help filling these vacancies. CPS with city
colleges, we've done a number of things. For example, at
Malcolm, I'm sorry. At kennedy-king, we fund of sanitary
Food Service, sanitarian certification program. We pay for
it and we consider that one of our pipelines for our
sanitarian positions. That's been a long-standing
partnership. Malcolm X's the city colleges Healthcare
partner, and we've partnered with them as well as hosting
students in engagements there we did. Look at all of our
positions, actually this Administration when they early
when they came in, asked us to look for
Nations that don't require.
Nations. That don't require a
Nations that don't require a college degree and we did pull
those out. We have very few at the health department. So
that is other than those few, which is not nothing that
limits, some of the direct pipeline through CPS and of
course, we participate in the one summer internship program
Shake it.
Chicken shawarma.
German.
Any.
Any anybody else's?
And if anybody else wants to ask questions, if you have
something
just,
Just real.
Just real quick. That's what I want to Echo the concerns
and without I'm not going to repeat it all for the sake of
time. So you know how important is because her is that all
them and dialects breast and so know that, you know, please
address those issues and let's do better on that again.
Okay. Is
The health.
The health plan.
The health clinic on Halsted that brown, health clinic on
63rd and 53rd and Union. So the Emanuel Administration
health clinic closed and we went to using, you know, the
clinics like Howard Brown and others and capacity is my
quest.
so, we
so, when I go in,
so when I go in there and I go in there now at least unless
I'm missing something I'm not seeing the capacity to
Say.
Apple.
Capri.
Appreciate another one because then I'm not sure if we, if
we're looking at that. So we'll talk about opening more
clinics. Are we looking at the capacity or the lack of
capacity in the NF NFL, as a need? Then why is there a lack
of capacity? I mean, not like a prize, why isn't that
Bustin Out at the same? I guess that's my question. Cuz if
I'm saying, if I if I'm I want to be able to say
Yeah.
Yes, we know.
Yes, we need more help. When is cuz Howard Brown health is
busting out at the same. There are people going there, they
can't, they can't get in. I'm not putting my eyes on that
and I have been for some time because I got to make my
argument for more health clinics, so help me there. Are you
saying the same things with the other health clinics
throughout the city? What justifies more health clinics?
Other than I think we got people, that's more mentally ill.
And why aren't they using those centers?
Sorry.
so you are you so
So you are you speaking about like primary medical care or
behavioral health, or mental health or by Mile Square
Health Center in Howard, Brown are to federally qualified
Health Centers. I believe they both provide integrated
mental and behavioral. I'm so, I think what we do now in
terms of mental health, is that there are some parts of the
city are better resource than others and that is part of
what we will work with the treatment, not trying to work
through peeing on terms of. Where is that most needed?
Maybe this is related to your point. I can't speak to the
volume of patients at Howard Brown has we? I think we found
a very small part of their operations there and then so we
don't know the full picture of all the services that
they're providing and how many people are coming in for
those services or where would we know that if we were
depending on them to service from a
I'll stay up.
I'll stay on point.
I'll stay appointment.
Health standpoint, because they
I'll stay up when I pick up.
I'll stay on point because that's what we were told under
the previous medalists, starting with the Emanuel
Administration than even the priests, or I guess I'm lost.
If we're telling, if we close them and told people to go to
Howard Brown. So then there for those ones, that was what I
was expecting to see, was people busted out the door,
saying we're coming here, but I can't get an appointment. I
can't get in because it's not enough health clinics.
I'm not seeing.
I'm not seeing the.
I'm not saying that, it
I'm not seeing that at least not with the naked eye and
unless there's something that I'm missing, that's all I'm
asking. OK, Google. Where is Howard Brown at a health
clinic for mental health, for the city of that. I am sorry,
Alderman. I don't know the answer of top of my head.
Lowe's near me.
Earring backing, Matt Richards, such a commission, for
Behavioral Health. So, yes, to answer your question, we
find you a sea Mile Square and Howard Brown for mental
health and aldermen. If your question is, how many patients
have gotten services at that location from those
organizations? Yes, I have that information. I can get you
through it so I appreciate that. I'm just trying to see.
Are we at capacity? Is there a problem and them seeing
patients us to justify opening up. Another thing I'm not
saying I'm not against open up for all I'm saying, if
there's got to be something there that says I got to open
up another clinic. Because Howard Brown is pushing Patients
Out, six months because we got so many people who are
there, but can I go there? I'm not, just, I'm not seeing it
being packed like that sir, I
Your questions, right? I think there's a few way.
Your questions, right? I think there's a few ways.
I think there's a few ways. Few things ways. We enter that
someone as we look at waitlist across the city, so there
are certain mental health centers. That we fun that I've no
way that list that have plenty of capacity. There are other
centers that have substantial wait list. So, that's one
thing. The second thing is that our data team for every
neighborhood is able to tell us based on our annual healthy
Chicago survey, what percentage of residents in that
neighborhood had a high mental health. Need that went
untreated. So we use that type of data to also guide our
investments have received. There's a lower number of people
that are accessing Services. They said they really needed,
that would be a neighborhood. We would prioritise for
additional investment. Okay. And so is that somewhere, do
you have that information that you can provide through the
chair yesterday? Do we can see? So like if I'm looking at
Anglewood. If I'm looking at Pullman art,
A rose.
a rose and
A rose and Ernie.
Al Rosen or anything else and they are you showing hey
there's a heavyweight list then it justifies it there or
that, you know what you just said? Yes. Or so some of the
data is on the waitlist and is not on the healthy Chicago
on the data portal. But the unmet mental health need is but
through the chair will give you a good response. That shows
you a few of the things that answer your question related
to how we would provide guidance on where mental health
investment is needed in that sky.
Be part of the.
Be part of that treatment. Try.
Be part of that treatment. Trying to working grow.
Be part of that treatment. Trying to working group and if
you have additional questions I can always meet with you to
talk about your word more specifically.
You got one more.
You got one more Department, you did you know that we're
going to finish? Do you? Like he does somebody, but you
just got here so question, go ahead. So at the police
station at the police station for 70s and I want to ask it
and turns it officers and what's going on in there and
getting the help with returns of the migrants because we
getting a lot of officers that I getting sick and we
already short and it. And I promised them that if that's
been asked and answered just out of her old man loses did
ask a question and we follow, what kind of beat that were
pretty good. Okay. Thank you champion. No problem. Before
we go to Aultman Rodriguez Sanchez, anything else. War
Department of Public Health.
All right.
All right and chair Rodriguez Sanchez. The clothes have an
extensive conversation with you. If you would like about
the mental health needs across neighborhoods and all of the
research that has been done about waitlist and inaccessible
service and why we are fighting for public care in the
city. So let's schedule some time to talk. I wanted to
Thank.
thank you.
Thank you, Center in for him because I know that you didn't
decided to bargain for this and you have been doing an
excellent job at holding it down.
I know the
I know this.
I know this is a very hard moment and and I really
appreciate your work. I also appreciate the work of
everybody in the Department of Health that have been open
to embrace of a different vision.
Add a
Adam.
Add a real.
As a rebuild Public Services. I appreciate the the time in
the labor that you have put into reimagining, certain
things that we disagreed on before or sure if we disagreed.
But there was a different kind of policy that we were
focusing on and I appreciate the possibility of working
with you to ensure that that we can deliver.
Ibanez bass.
Evidence-based models that work and that are public for the
city. So I I really want to show my appreciation to all of
you for all the work that you have been doing. I have a
couple of more things and of course there's there will be a
lot of offline conversations but I wanted to talk a little
bit about the intake process at the mental health clinics.
And I know that there has been some work done. It's
remagine anyhow, we do intake process but is there
something that we can speak to in relation to the budget in
terms of how we are doing inside of the medical centers?
Really.
Relation.
In relation to the budget. You haven't met.
Thank.
Thank you for.
Thank you for the question chairwoman. So I don't think
there would be a specific budget allocation, but we did
Implement a centralized intake system. So, we are changing
how we're doing intake where all the intakes are are, are
being centralized assessed by a single clinician on the
shift and then treat assigned out to available clinician. I
have a protocol for that so I'd be happy to share with you
the centralized intake protocol but there isn't a specific
budget allocation associated with it. Dwayne like something
Community Based research around the effectiveness of the
intake process. And I will also have maybe an open
conversation about how do we make that process more
efficient?
so, that beat
so that people,
So that people can have better access to to care. Can you
speak a little bit about the prospective grants that we
might be able to get
in, or
In order.
In order to be able to add to what is already. Budgeted, I
know that when we pass the 2021 budget and the care pilot
was created, there was only 1 million dollars allocated to
it, but then it was grab money on top of that, that was
applied to, in order to have. I think that we ended up at
like maybe 3 or over three million dollars to be able to
work on the care pilot. And I wanted to know if there are
any prospective grants that, that we can point to, to make
sure that that we are having enough resources to cover the
expansion, I believe the grand that you're referring to was
also a coven time-limited, Granton and was much smaller.
And then of course, we have a r p funds. Again,
time-limited, just has a longer time frame. I am not aware
currently of any prospective grants that we're always
looking. Matt. Are there?
Yeah.
Yes. So I'm at the federal level chairwoman I think samsa is
the the one that has a lot of games that were eligible for
and a lot of their funding now is looking at the I'm a
kick. You and I discussed this before the ccbhc model and
there are new ways to get more reimbursement. Grants to
move towards that model. I think there's a lot of
interesting similarities between the treatment, not trauma
white paper, and some of the things that are imagined in
this echecs ccbhc model. So I'm hoping during the working
group, we can talk about it. So I think the answer is yes.
There are opportunities to go after those grants. Can you
speak a little bit about the work of the STI clinics are
doing, and if there is any way to expand, some of that work
to make sure that before having access,
Yeah.
Yeah, I pray.
yeah, I appreciate the
Yeah, I appreciate that question. We are in the middle of
tremendous, rise and syphilis and in Chicago and across the
country and due to the federal clawback that happened this
summer, we lost a significant. STI grant. That was going to
stop 24 of our disease investigation. Specialist, I
essentially ended in your 3 instead of ending in year five
and we are really devastated by that cut and then that
stuff works closely with our Clinic staff right to help
with things like partner star.
So that was a big blow with our burgeoning reproductive
Health office, we are working with are sexually transmitted
infections Disease Clinic to do some Family Planning and
reproductive Health Access there instead of just trading.
I'm so access to birth control counseling Etc. So that is
one new exciting area that they were starting to work in
and we'll work on over the next year or so, very happy to
hear that. I will save the rest for our offline
conversations. Thank you, sir.
Thank.
Thank you. Cheryl Rodriguez, Sanchez again. We know that
you all have been doing a lot of very hard work over these
last 34 years. I know the citizens of the city, appreciate
the work that you all have done because I think without the
work that you did or we would have solved a lot more people
lose their lives during the co visit covid-19. So again are
we appreciate it? We know that we're all resources as a
Altima Taylor stated to help, or we definitely need to work
and do what we can to help you all. Fill this space is. Cuz
again those the services that are constituents, you're not
receiving on a timely basis. So again, thank you all and
please, I get back to us with your through the chair,
gentle proprietary time. Has been allotted a certain. We
can get that information back to
Members of council. Are you all?
Members of council. Are you all to be exclusive?
Members of council, are you all to be excused? And I guess
you all everybody subject to recall, but the, you excuse.
At this point we will, I guess this is for our technical
people. Come all. Do we need to do? You need to take a
break or reboot or anything like we did yesterday?
August.
The street.
The string has been good chairman 23 minute break. Would
you do some maintenance? Okay, we will put up for 5:15 as
we transition from cdph to Family Support Services.
Alright, welcome to the committee on budget and government
operations, the Evening Edition.
We will.
We will commence with a brief information from Colfer,
followed by commissioner kanazi introduction of her staff.
We were.
We will.
We will have an abbreviated version of her opening
statement and then go into questions.
Good evening. My name is
Good evening, my name is Jana soda. Gray of Copa about the
Department of Family and support services. Just a quick
overview.
Just so you.
Fiscal year.
So, you're 24.
They had.
They had a proposed by.
They had a proposed budget of 851 million. 38 of that, and
that's less than 280.72 million dollars, less than a year,
23 budget.
It has a budget.
It has a budget of
I have budgeted FTE F450, 116, More Than Physical year, 23.
40.
14 /.
14.1% responded with corporate funds for personnel. They
had 100 and 1 million point 36-9 Personnel. 750 million
.02.
the person I was
The personnel.
The Personnel Services category set to grow by 17.7 million
representing a 20-point 65 increase compared to the revised
fiscal year 2003. Budget Personnel expenses are on the rise
while Commodities and materials are budgeted to decrease by
4.2 million.
in the
Interpret.
In the proposed. Fiscal year, 2004 budget, there 451 ftes
or 111 positions, which represents an increase of 16 ft.
He's compared to the fiscal year 2003 budget.
What?
What's?
What's a good?
What's over there programs by program, they have the
largest program as a senior service program. They also have
Administration Child Services, Youth Services, homeless
Services domestic violence, Workforce Services in human and
Human Services twice. I only have it once and Human
Services on the in the next rain is going to be a f t e by
program.
Now.
Not, if you look.
Not. If you look at the exit, you buy program, you would
think that there is a correlation between the number of f t
e. And this the screen right here that you're looking at
now, are the dollars.
So, the highest.
So, the highest dollar.
So the highest dollars was child care services. But when
you go back to the FTE screen, childcare is only 77 ft e.
The senior service programs has 133.
I'm so,
I'm sorry.
oh,
Oh yeah. What time equivalent? I'm sorry. Ft E-40.
and,
And the neck.
And the next sheet looks at the Department of Family
Services fund sources.
Hi.
How do you spell?
Highest plant source of courses are there. Grants funds,
they have
it's
Is to turn.
It's a tremendous amount of Grants but they also have a
small amount in the corporate find, 120 million, and the
other funds represented here on this graph.
Now, I know.
Now I miss next slide. I looked at the top family and
support services Appropriations by fiscal year 2004 budget
I looked at the top of 11:00 because there's so many of
them that I wanted to include the violence Reduction
Program. So as you can see, the very first one, the highest
one is delegate delegate agencies or the 24 budget is 489.5
million and you can see as you go down the numbers go down
a little bit. The next one is professional Technical
Services 435.3 million.
let's,
Let my quick.
Let my quick overview for.
Let my quick overview for DSS.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you Janice Michigan, Odyssey, welcome to the Evening
Edition or if you can introduce yourself members of the
team that here in the well with us, as well as those that
are in the box. And after what you going to give your
opening statement. Thank you. Jonathan Ernst first. Deputy
Commissioner next to him is more McCauley managing Deputy
Commissioner for programs in the Box. Starting on the far
left, is Frankie shipment removal managing. Deputy
Commissioner of programs, Daniel Castaneda, director of
homeless, prevention policy and planning Andrea Chapman.
Deputy Commissioner of homeless services and gender-based
violence chadra Lane, Deputy Commissioner of Youth
Services, Sarah, Burgess Burnet, Deputy Commissioner of
children services and left on the first row is Mark
Sanders. The second Deputy Commissioner of Human Services
and Workforce Development
Second.
second row, we had
Second row, we have Mardi.
Second row, we have Margaret.
Second row, we have Margaret Laura, be a Deputy
Commissioner of Senior Services. Yolanda Curry, Deputy
Commissioner of Senior Services. Raymond Barrett, Deputy
Commissioner of Finance, Christina Medina, Deputy
Commissioner of human resources and facilities and Kevin
Givens, Deputy Commissioner of contract it and programmatic
month.
Play.
Read.
Good evening.
Good evening, German Irving by Shirley and honourable
members of the city council. Thank you for the opportunity
to present the Department of Family and support services.
2024 budget. Our departments work is dedicated to serving
the most vulnerable among our city. And I would like to
start by thanking Mary Johnson for his leadership and
support of our mission. Mary Johnson has made strategic
investments in DSS that will help connect to Cargo to the
services. They need to dry. It is important that our office
continue to protect individuals who are most vulnerable and
threatened by the gaps in the social services safety-net.
While we have turned the corner on the covid-19, pandemic
for health risk, many Chicagoans are still facing the
financial impacts of the pandemic. Vfss is effectively
delivering Barstow program. That helps family stabilize
their households and get back on their feet. At the FSS, we
are building stronger and safer communities, to help
families flourish and accomplish their goals. We are also
creating Pathways that allow residents to easily access
Services Welbilt.
On that practice.
Best practices using data and incorporating Community
feedback to innovate across all seven programmatic
division. One of the program that was administered in 2023
that I'm most proud of was the Chicago resilient
communities pilot. It was one of the largest cash
assistance program in the country. This pilot began in 22
and concluded with final payments in July. It provided $500
in monthly cash payments to over 5,000. Chicago household
for year the Chicago resilient
Community.
Communities Kyle.
Communities pilot show that.
Communities pilot show that large-scale cash. Assistance
can be carried out responsibly and effectively the
preliminary results are showing that cash assistance can
have long-lasting impact on the recipient in ways that
can't be achieved with other sources of Public Aid.
Recipients indicated that they spend their money on paying
bills hanging down. Medical debt purchasing groceries and
that's cash. Had a positive impact on their Mental Health
Week.
We can tell.
We continue to double down our efforts for returning
residence, vfss launch the Springport program. This year,
investing 9.6 million to serve returning residents with
wraparound services around employment and housing support
services, including a 12-month rental. Subsidy that
insurance individual can a stable place to land Post
Release in 2023. We also recognise the need for a 5th
Century Center on the westside of Chicago, and we haven't
invested an additional three million to return to serve
attorney, residence, on the South and West sides of
Chicago. We have also continue to address homelessness
there. A Continuum of services from prevention, to Street
Outreach and placement into housing supporting individuals
to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief and
non-recurring, DSs housing families, through the rapid
re-housing program, which supports household experiencing
homelessness and finding a rental unit along with receiving
rental assistance, in case management, for up to 24 months,
to date through Rapid rehousing
Over 2,000.
2004.
Two thousand four hundred.
2400 households have been how and since October 2020 and we
have prevented homelessness for over 2750 household with
rental assistance. This Continuum of support will continue
in 2020 for this summer. The One Summer Chicago program,
increase enrollment by approximately 20% and employed over
20. 4700u in 2024, we are expanding One Summer. Through an
11.6 million dollar investment and will serve an additional
3650, use during the summer and 300 year-round, the Youth
of our city deserve a safe and bright future and we have
focused significant investments in this Budget on their
development. We know that career exploration creates
opportunities for lifelong Road and we are grateful for the
support that these programs have received from the mayor
and members of this body. As we continue to build strategic
programming, the department remains responses to the
emergent needs of our city, the fights facing unprecedented
challenge.
New arrival.
New arrivals.
New arrivals, vfss continues to work alongside City
agencies and partner organizations to meet the needs of
those arriving in Chicago, from the southern border today,
we are strengthening our response and strategy to provide
better access to shelter, expanded case, management, legal
services, and resettlement support, that will enable new
arrivals to obtain the independence. And self-sufficiency,
they need to rebuild their lives. With your support. Vfss
will continue to lead with equity and compassion, bringing
services to the
People.
people who need them, the most, in our
People who need them, the most in Arkham.
People who need them. The most in our communities, thank
you for your continued partnership and collaboration. We're
going to open with brunette anyone else. Should I just put
everybody down or I'll just do that to make life easy for
myself? Will all start with a brunette?
Thank.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much mr. Chairman
and,
And none.
And how you doing? Commissioner. We just had our
conversation in the back one.
ICD.
I see that.
I see that you got 30 new positions for returning
residents, I was that 1.2 million dollars.
Approximate.
Approximately.
Approximately 1.2 million dollars, not for return. The
residents for new arrivals, I should say, how many do we
have for returning, resident in the division for Workforce.
We have seven position that are within DSS of those seven
positions. We have six staff that work on work at the Port
returning resident. We also have a detailed position that
sits in the mayor's office for a policy advisor. Three
positions are funded through our breath, back to Indy FSS
and the one that's detailed to the mayor's office.
Send it to our.
So, how many of them work on other things, besides returning
residents?
The majority.
The majority of our work.
The majority of our work is around homework and returning
residence. That is the specialized population around 2011.
The department had split, where we over dollars were given
to the Chicago work for Spartan the ship. And so we Remain
the portion of the funds that supported those that are
hardest disturb or returning residents on the westside.
Finally. So, thank you very much. But from what I
understand those centers are partially funded through ART
money, so,
Are.
Are the new?
Are the new arrivals things funded through our money so I
like to see the returnee residence funding, be permanent
corporate bonds Natok money. So we need positions for
returning residents with a corporate funds, and we also
need the program funded because it's supposed to run out in
2026. We need permanent funding, for those sites, One-Stop
shopping sites for returning residents in the neighborhood.
Do.
Don't we all?
don't, we are so
Don't, we are sitting down with the budget director, she's
asking all of the Commissioners once the budget hearings
commits or end, we will be sitting down to have
conversations about sustainability reviews. One of the
things that we're doing with Indy FSS. We recently this
year hired a senior director for strategy policy in equity
and part of that work, is making sure that we're seeing
good outcome. So that when it comes time for us to
advocate, for availability of those programs that we will
see good success. So who's got like what? They got, a
director and all these guys. But you got this returning
residents that you telling me about, they all in all in
everything else, you know what I'm saying, they don't have
like they own section or owned apartment, I would like for
them to have their own department. So it can be laser
focused and focus on that and I know
This is 5 MI.
this is 5 minute.
This is 5 minutes, so I'm concerned about the corporate
money and dealing with those things. I'm also concerned
about with, with the Department of Aging, I saw you had a
big-budget up there. A lot of people working in the
Department of Aging for some reason and seniors some of the
singers approached me at an event that I went to the speak.
For the mirror about they need to Department of Aging back.
So why do they feel like there's no focus on the
Beijing.
Maybe I'll start backwards, the workforce division, again,
the primary focus of the populations that we serve our
returning, Residence, Inn homeless individuals, right?
That's with our jobs training program. It when you look at
the work that are supposed to program that are specifically
for returning resident, right? Where that is the single
Target population. There 1234567 program models including
three that are new and that's about 14 million dollars that
were spending right now annually. So happy to have that
conversation and especially the conversation about
sustainability and we can have that conversation with the
budget office. When we flip over to Senior Services, I
think we're doing more for seniors. Now, then we have, we
received over 12 million dollars in Arbor funding, we have
Margaret Robbie and Yolanda in the box. And we just threw a
program for senior Wellness at South Shore for over six
hundred seniors, we've expanded the food box to provide
like monthly food boxes to seniors
Doing food.
Doing food pantry.
Doing food pantries in. So
Doing food pantries. And so I think there's a ton of me the
scale of having the department. Leverage the financing back
office functions for the apartment but we can definitely
talk about if their program seniors. Want to see that
they're not saying we can get, we have that conversation,
or it will appreciate everything that your department
doing. I know everybody's working very hard and potentially
with the with this new arrivals or migrants coming to the
city. You know, one of the things I think that you all need
to work on me.
Is keep.
is keeping them from lord of the
Is keeping them from lord of rings on the street and has a
bad reflection on the whole thing, right? And all of the
neighborhood. So you need to work on that and work on
encouraging them to get more recreational. Things also, I
know you trying to work with the city colleges that teach
them English as a second language, right? And my know that
they getting bounces to get housing and in at the 6 months
or whatever. And I also know that you are trying to help
down to get job. We want all of those things to go to
everybody else in our community. Also as far as housing go,
especially for return, the residents they come in with
nothing but anyting and in an indefinitely we want to
position them to get jobs. Also, definitely will let me
look at that spot as a policy person for returning
residents in the mayor's office or Siri
Any residue.
Any Resident.
any Resident, we
Any Resident. We definitely want to know the return your
resident in that spot. I think it would be good to talk to
all of the folks whose only task force and dealing with
that. And any other new spot is dealing with return. The
residents should be returning resident to be able to deal
with that. Husband is a returnee resident, can deal with a
return, the resident better than anybody else. In the
mayor's office, should be returning resident. We will
definitely work to make sure when we post the position for
the price.
Grenadier, that we definitely.
Grenadier that we definitely get that out with you and work
with someone that has a castle background, that is all
doable. The point that I'm his bring up earlier, with
regards to the new positions you have in the office of new
arrivals. Can you talk a little bit about how those project
managers will break out in like what that specifically will
be managing? So when you think about all the women leave
laugh, or if I shared last ball, this body, approves 3
position. So Danny's position is still as director for the
migrant Mission and to project managers at that time, we
had 1500 new arrival. Today we have over 11500 North Rivals
across 25, shelters less thirty-five, hundred or so waiting
in police stations. And so really the role of the project
managers is to ensure consistency, so they're 8 p.m. that
will be there and there will be the date of a manager's,
right? We are managing approximately 900 staff right now
across the shelter. So standard
Ethan is real.
Ethan is really.
Ethan is really important to.
Ethan is really important to make sure there synchronized
swimming. We got to be able to deal with actively with
grievances to address issues and so it's really big. Are
the day-to-day folks that are there. There's also a second
director and that's really to have that leadership and
oversight. We like to break up the shelter so that one
person isn't overwhelmed, right? When you have a large side
of more than 2,000 people, it makes it really hard to make
sure you're dealing with issues effectively. So we plan to
live the shelters, each one would have a director and then
they
Happy. And
Fpm's underneath them. Practically ate and ate and we will
Fpm's underneath them, practically ate and ate and we will
split the shelter senior leadership. All of our teams have
a deputy, this has become so massive. We need someone who
this is what their focus on while we're in this crisis.
Today, we back for two positions were homeless Outreach.
Specifically for new arrivals, we're seeing more 10 pop-up
around police stations were at the end people, when we need
to have Spanish competency. And so we have asked
specifically for two Outreach church that speak Spanish,
that can go out so that I don't have to pull from my
homeless, Outreach, team to go out and do that Outreach and
engagement, right? We really want to make sure I continue
to keep a homeless in focus on the work they're doing cuz
we're making strides but also have that same team that have
that special. She posted. So those two staff will be
detailed to the hockey game and then life is just that you
have to think about. We're collecting a lot of information,
we're being asked to produce a lot of report. I want to
make sure that the team is able to have those competencies
and so this is really responding to where we are right now.
Witches must.
Alicia's mushroom.
Alicia's mushrooms, and come.
Wishes mushrooms and comparison to last ball. I think once
this stabilizes, we can definitely, I can always use that
within vfss and so if we come to a point where we are
drastically, lower back will be redistributed across the
other seven, programmatic division, thank you for that and
I appreciate that. There's going to be some attention to
the Outreach folks that will be tasked to the police
station all due respect. It's not enough. I would love to
fight for more for that.
cuz I don't believe that the
Cuz I don't believe that there.
Cuz I don't believe that there's any real attention being
paid to. Police stations right now and that's not a knock
against you guys. It's more of a symptom of what's going on
in the out. We've got ten 7 because there's no, there's no
place to put people inside. So I would love to see my sheet
that's to outreach people for 22. Police districts are 21,
Police tour, schedules are but what I want to make sure is
that the 13th that I have on my hop team right now. Can't
continue to work with him. Look. Absolutely, absolutely.
I'm going on there. I think you need more because I think
there's there's not a time that I can foresee right now
we're not going to have people staged at a police station
after cheer Rodriguez Sanchez. Would you like to go next?
Alfred.
fourth of
First of all, commissioner nasty, thank you so much for the
work that you have been doing. I know that
you're on.
you're on the brink everyday. I have been with you in the
front lines, I have been collaborating. Our relationship
has gone through a lot of phases, this and that and I am
very proud of how far we have come. In terms of
collaboration. I always like to keep in mind the fact that
we live in a city where are structures of care?
I've been completely the phone.
I've been completely funded.
I've been completely funded and that we have very little
resources to do with in general. And with the addition of
the influx of new arrivals in the city, every structure of
care that we have in the city is overstretch, to save at
least. So I, I understand that the department has been
working at a deficit and doing everything that you all can,
to make sure that you can tend to people in the best way
that you can. So, I appreciate the work. I appreciate the
cooperation with the Miculek Network in our communities.
And I know that we can improve that. I am grateful to this
Administration for the kind of bridges that are being built
in and I am committed to continuing to build on that.
so, they
so that
So thank you. Thank you to you and answer everybody else in
the department in the boss. Thank you. Your work matter, a
great deal. I have a couple of questions and a lot of
questions that I will probably have to just ask you if
line. But I wanted to ask you about the
Except you.
Executive.
Executive Administrative Assistant positions. There's one
that was eliminated and
I know they.
I know that were overstretched right now so I wanted to
know which one was eliminated, or what does that mean? Or
for the work that you particularly are doing right now?
All In.
I'll answer that job.
I'll answer that Jonathan Ernst first. Deputy Commissioner
of the alderman. Actually, was not eliminated that
position. If it's just a change in the title, can you
explain what the title is going to be now? And what, what
it's going to be dedicated to?
It was.
It wasn't that.
It was a staff assistant and is being reclassified as a
Ministry Service Officer 1.
I didn't.
An impact.
And any practice it would be doing basically the same work
that it was doing before 4. This is a case where we're just
trying to get consistency within the department around the
titles that we have so that people doing the same work have
the same titles just started. Clean up talked a lot over
the years about the the grade me that we have for work in
the domestic violence area and the Dubai.
It has more.
it has mostly they
It has mostly been on.
It has mostly been unchanged, but I wanted to know what we
can expect in terms of the Outreach. And in terms of the
work that the office is going to be doing to make sure that
we're protecting people when it comes to the Mystic
Islands. So in the 2024 budget, there is a 1.8 increase in
funding that were using from our homes are funds. We saw
that a 211,000 increase in so that's going to support
expanded rapid rehousing for DV survivors about 7575
householder next year, and then expanded services for Legal
Services, one of the other programs that's coming on line
is the TV program for the hospital. So when a Survivor, I'm
goes to the hospital, there will be an actual BB Advocate
that will be there. So that our fee is under consideration.
We're also, I'm doing RGV training but will be rolling that
out. We get a lot of requests from Department of Community
or
I'm will be doing.
I'm will be doing that. What else am I missing?
Are you coming or?
Are you coming or just?
Are you coming or just or just some new programs coming on
my next year? We are also continuing but emergency
financial assistance program with a million dollars and
corporate before my time Runs Out 5th. There's any
increased their wanted to know what what that means or
what's going to look like. Repeat the question Siskel and
programmatic monitoring which is something that I am very
interested in. If you can tell me what is going to be done
with the funding or permit monitoring?
And it's
and it's fine if you,
That is fine if you need to send it through the shower, I
just want to make sure that I understand what that looks
like, a journey alone in the book. I took notes out of the
book so I have not following the book I am so we're not
making but we're not making cuts to the this going
programmatic monitoring before I do. So I'm trying to
figure out is what that looks like. Because I have been
thinking a lot about like auditing. And, and the way in
which we understand what exactly is the one that is being
done particular about our delegate agencies in, and I
wanted to know
yeah, I just wanted to understand how that
Yeah, I just wanted to understand how that is done.
Yeah, I just wanted to understand how that is done, but we
can do that through the chairs by if you'd like. We have a
physical monitoring team that goes out to look at the
physical health of our agencies. Both teams are working out
with delegates are delicate Partners those who we issued
go, get contracts out to for the physical monitoring team
goes out looks at the physical health of the organization,
how they're spending the money that we issued them to make
sure everything is as weak as we'd like. I'm of course,
there's there's a extensive review when the vouchers come
through our department and Department of Finance, but this
is going a bit deeper. And he even looking at their books.
I'm done.
then we have the
Then we have the programmatic monitoring team that goes out
to look at the programs that are being delivered out you
know out in the field they're there looking at the
deliverables they're looking at a compliance around
paperwork that's been collected to make sure that when the
the the funder of the ultimate fun to stay at the federal
level is coming to audit us his department. But when they
go out to our partners everything's going to be be in line
and they will have all the documentation that's necessary
so that ultimately the city doesn't get to finding so we're
really monitoring our partners to make sure they're doing
everything that's necessary.
Names of.
Names of all of this.
Names of of this reports and monitoring.
Thank.
take a
Thank you.
Take a shower.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank You by Shirley. If you ask questions about the new
positions, I just reiterate that the call for more
resources for the police districts. One of the things that
this is going to leave me into my second question. Here is
about bilingual shelters. I recently Came Upon a 74 year.
Old only mandarin-speaking woman who ended up at the 9th
District, because she may still be there. There's not
really because of the shortest shelter, beds in general, in
there, not being any room.
Priscilla.
Facility.
Facilities.
Facilities, that can help her. I'm in particular just got
me to thinking like we're what do we do for people who
don't room with English is not their first language.
Spanish is not their first language. I feel like there's
got to be a big gap. There Maura Macaulay. Managing Deputy
Commissioner, he is a is a thing, but especially that we
are looking at many of our shelters have Spanish and Polish
the incapacity. What we ask ourselves to do is if we don't
have staff.
Who.
Who said?
Who speak?
Who seek a particular.
Who seek a particular language to use tools like the
language line, and then Works to find organizations that
can support as well while the wealthy individuals and
shelter. And perhaps through the chair, if you have any
data on the number of requests that you got for non-native,
English speaking, and you can back out the new arrivals
from that. I'm really interested in like, you know, of the
existing residents of the city of Chicago. How many
non-native English speakers are making requests for shelter
beds in one step further? What languages they speak? I'm
going to be asking oemc about the language line because I
don't believe that that's an effective tool for us right
now. So I'd love to hear how effective that spin for people
seeking shelter.
What's a?
What's what's a relationship? I don't know if this is not
managed by tfss commissioner, but what's our role with case
management?
Are there still love?
There's two levels.
There's two levels of case management in the shelter within
their we have our staff that are providing case management
through a contractor. Favorites. Do they have folks that
help with the day-to-day the intake that someone comes in
helping them understand they want to go into unity in the
community. What does that look like right? If they were
late for curfew they do that counseling so they're that
that that everyday case management. We also have icer which
is provided by the state. So the Illinois Coalition for
immigrant and Refugee, right?
They?
there's a
They're there to prove.
They're there to provide.
They're there to provide that specific cultural competency
within the shelter, they're really important to have them
before individual start some work with new books, Catholic
Charities and the Illinois Housing Development Authority
before they go into housing. So they're helping them
prepare to think about what's your plan and helping them.
Get that life plan together. I think it's important to note
that are, you know, staff that do case management for
favorite there. There a little bit more than 12 hours for
the day versus I serve. They're still building capacity. So
there in 15 of our 25 shelters, they work with a partner
network of other organizations that they subcontract with,
but that's provided through state fund. And so it doesn't,
we're just receiving the services management begins once
they're in a shelter, correct. So what happening when when
people just arrived from a bus to get off the bus, so they
get off the bus. Landing Zone. Greets them. Call me and see
if we look to see, are they are available bed within the
system if they're available bed, we
Get them into a.
Get them into a bed. If you're not available bad, then
they're going to the police station. And so, our work with
the new arrivals, really begins when people arrive in the
shelters, and what information are we providing a new
arrivals when they when they land like, do they get
something that's hey, you're in Chicago? Where with the
city? Blah, blah, blah, hears, tears are the steps that
says, this is where you are. These are numbers that you can
call. We also work with mutual Aid sand.
destroy the
sure, that individuals if they have to
Sure, that individuals if they have Pacific questions or
needs Cook County, Health is our partner. So Cook County
Health does screenings if cph does the support. So if
there's someone who has an emergency medical need will make
sure that they get to that. We also make sure so it's
medical will do a lot of like isolation that people are ill
will kind of like pull them out and prioritize them. And
then we work with organizations like gcfd for make sure
that the meals are provided with in there. But really the
goal here is not that people go to police station.
Absolutely, I totally get that. We haven't even talked
about the, you know, assignments and more permanent
housing. And I know that, you know, if we can we can't move
people through the system, there's no place for people to
go, you know, it for me is if you don't have a shelter in
my word but I do have a police district. At, is, we have
200 people on the regular right now, we had up to 300. And,
you know, I've got a big concern around just how we're
tracking people.
Because we do.
because we don't really have a
Because we don't really have a handle on them until they
get into the shelters and then again, not a criticism. But
I'm I'm really identifying something that I see as a place
or an opportunity for us to make some improvements and
maybe even help the case management Journey began earlier
so that when they get into the shelter that might actually
need a might take three or four steps out of it. So if
people have family that they want to move, like if they're
like, I actually have family in Washington state, we can
help them do that so that we can reduce the people that are
actually
Going into the shelter.
Going into the shelter so slow, really take the people who
are most in need of shelter, to make sure that they can get
through. But if people have relatives friends or family, we
would try to out my great-great. I'm interested, I'll
Circle back to what. I'll remember not said earlier, just
about, you know, the, the issues that we're seeing it
within the wards, you know, people are migrants are getting
more, I think desperate as they're staying at police
stations longer. They're asking residents for food, for
money, for assistance, for all kinds of things. And then
there's also that the safety hazards of people riding bikes
on the opposite in the opposite direction of traffic or
sitting on curves. Are you do not necessarily watching your
children? I think there's an opportunity to, you know, from
insolvency just communication. You're going to be at the
police station potentially for a few weeks. Here's what to
expect here. Some Community standards of your the things I
will help you get along. I'd love to work with you on
something.
That's it.
back to that, we
That so that we can.
That's so that we can, I think better manage the
expectations and safety of those staying at the police
station, right now, I've got 10 33 fix from the police
district building to the public way and it's blocking the
public when I can't ask them to take down the tents right
now cuz it's cold. It's cold and people are very worried. I
mean, on all sides, even migrated mission, right? It is
expanding social bed capacity. That's what base camp and
brick-and-mortar shelter.
And bring.
And brick-and-mortar shops.
And brick-and-mortar shelters, right? We have to expand the
number of beds, we have to get folks, especially pregnant
women and children off the floors and out of the tent. The
second pieces, the standardization. Write, the additional
staff will really help us to shore up the process. Right?
When you think about this Mission, we were a lot different
last year. There are a lot more nuances and it's become
more critical. And so we have to address it differently,
which is why we need to staff. They have that consistency.
Third piece is the work we're doing around our, if he's
trying to make sure that we're seeing cost savings and
bringing in more Partners cuz we recognize our capacity. So
the meals are, if he is released it opens on November 9th,
I've already sent it out. If you don't think you write it
down on the state resettlement, we have to push the states
to help us resettle more people and then it's the advocacy
that comes late. We just need more resources for the
federal government because Chicago can't do this by
yourself. No, we can't. And I appreciate all that you and
your teams have been doing throughout this crisis.
Dolores my time.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you for sure.
I'll just go.
Alamance County.
Autumn is going to rain.
Hello. Hello. I just want to say I know that
I do.
The work that you do is very cumbersome as a lot of
decisions that difficult decisions that you have to make
and you know, all of us, appreciate that.
and I'd
And I do want.
And I do want to hang out and I do empathize with
everything that all of us are going through cuz it's not
one collected person that's going to this. I think it will
all affected. I just have a few questions. What role does
DFS play? In selecting the locations for new arrivals? So
as in Merced on September 8th, if a shelter location to put
forth as an option that needs to be considered a member
from the mirror, senior leadership team will call the Alder
from their team will go out to assess the location. So it
includes GFS smca is sometimes fire department will go out
Department of buildings. Will go out with us or CPD, right?
That team will make a recommendation to the mayor's
leadership team on. Is it viable or not? But the final
decision will be made by the mayor and his team that
decision is made. For older will be called by the mayor
senior leadership team and then we will
go forward with if there's
Go forward with. If there's a lease
Go forward with if there's a lease on that needs to be done
AIS, will help with that if there's any no looking at what
we need to bring in. In terms of 250, MC will do that, and
then we'll start working on the Staffing place. So, we're
so the, I guess, is that Catholic Charities that will fit
in with Catholic Charities because I'm seeing a lot of
Let homo.
Let homeowner.
Let homeowners are coming into my office with complaints
about migrant issues.
Ask.
Asked about his my staff, that is that are those all its
staff and its contracted through the state, the Illinois
Department of Human Services and so they are supporting the
resettlement and they're paying them directly. So they are
so that service is their delegate of ID a Jessica Rabe. So
case managers will say right now about 1,000 households
have been house and so when people are ready to go into the
resettlement, the ice or case managers will say, okay,
these are the people that we think are ready and working
information, they will be referred to the state but that
relationship is managed with the state. I know there's been
complaints and so the first Deputy Chief of Staff and i t h
s party going are having conversations with Catholic
Charities, about that very thing. And so, just to go on
record, can we be more mindful when we collecting location,
far as like Park district mean, those have to be out
because park districts are safe haven for the children in
our own communities, some of those kids. And I
fat in the,
Fat in it.
fat in it, and
fat in it in it and
Fat in it in the cage before they go home. So some of the
Park District employees, feed those children. It's a place
for them for warms and it's it, we have to be mindful of
how there's a lot of angry people out here because
everybody feels like they've been wrong, whether it's black
white asian.
His.
Hispanics. Every every culture feels like they've been done
wrong you know, during this migraine process and so
The.
The real.
The real truth is that, you know, financially we're not
getting help from the federal government, right? So we
bought in over,
Are you cry?
are you crazy?
The ukrainians and that was kind of like Hush Hush how many
ukrainians are here. So I'll tell you something. The that
is, exact point is well-taken. We need to Advocate on a to
the federal government that the rights that the Afghans at
those from Afghanistan received, they came under the office
of resettlement from the state department and they came
with resources, right? So we didn't feel that because they
came with resources. So the state department resettled
them, they had organizations that help them with job. New
arrivals are coming without any resources, which is putting
a strain on the city, the state. And so we can't shoulder
that burden to date the money received from the state and
federal government has been more. And that's where the
majority of our money has come from.
Still not enough to Europe.
Still not enough to your place.
Still not enough to your point. I'll do.
Still not enough to your point, I'll do women start getting
out. How do we if that's possible? Because how do we
declare Federal advocacy? That is our advocacy policy, we
have to put more pressure. We have to expedite the work.
Authorization people are waiting five months. There's a
backlog of filling out of Silence speaker paperwork. We
have to have the fee waiver for people to get their
temporary protected, status and their work permit. Like we
have to make it easy for these individuals to move out of
shelter to shelter. Cannot be there long, time ago,
correct, so I don't I'm I want to go back to my statement
with removing
that's,
Taxpayer.
Back pain.
Taxpaying residents and their children from Park facilities
or that has to stop.
cuz,
Is it? You can?
Is it you can't get my taxes back, right? And so you were
moving us from a programming and a building that we pay
taxes for, and I can't get that back, right? So I don't
think that brings a lot of distrust and it brings a lot of
hatred. That doesn't necessarily have to be. Because one
group, feel like you're taking away to give to someone
else, that doesn't have that same Sweat Equity that we have
in our community. And so we have to learn how to be where
we're trying to care for another group. But we have to
learn how to be intentional about how we care for
ourselves, because I can't fix your roof and mine is
leaking, right? And so, we have to do a better job at city
as elected official.
and also, a
And also a city employees. I
And also a city employees up. How we go about it, can't be,
you know, that right now I understand is Desperate
Measures, but it put us all in a bad bad light and is that
those are just things that I just don't agree with.
Do.
Do you?
Do you believe that your programming are sustainable for
long run? And if so, what are some of the plans for
Who's?
Sustained.
sustaining like that. So I got one that's one and then and
then choose a nobility been true. You know what, we get
this number that is 65,000 homeless people. I know we got a
number. Another number that is four thousand, homeless
people, what's the accurate number of how many homeless
people that we are actually caring for? Cuz I don't
personally see, sixty-five thousand people out on the
streets throughout the city of Chicago. I can everybody all
of us have homeless homelessness and in our neighborhood
and it is a true fact that you can walk up to those
homeless people and say, hey, do you want some help? And
they say, no. So we're we're taking out all this money for
homelessness and then they refused to help. So then what do
we do with the money? Okay, so a couple things going on
this year. After a budget, I hired a senior director for
strategy policy and equity. And her role is to make sure
that we stayed to see. If it says we can be in a fire and a
crisis every day, right? The goal is to make sure we're
coming up.
Thousand.
thousand feet and looking at the law,
thousand feet and looking at the long-term in the long game
and are Northstar. So that's really making sure we're
having a meeting with our Deputy Commissioners and their
staff, as well as our delicate agencies to look at
performance and out. Real looking every quarter, every
person in that box. They said it was one of the members of
the executive team and we're looking at what are the trends
and if the trends are looking negative or they're going
down, we're having a conversation of why not to penalize
people. But to say, we have to get better for the passage
of the residents of Chicago. So that part of what we do and
we set goals as a team. We said gold as a division and then
within our contract, and we talked about it and we are,
we're opening. So, that's the sustainability piece for
sitting down with the budget director. Once we get through
the budget hearings talk about long-term plans, right?
Because we want to be able to fight and say these things
work. But we also know that there is a fiscal cliff so hard
of what a grants team does. Is how we look for alternate
funding. Cuz I really have to say if no one's going to save
us, we have to save ourselves. So that's part of what we're
doing to make sure we're going to be strong and well
positioned to act.
That the probe.
at the programs we
at the programs, we've
At the programs we put forward at GFS over the last three
years are working and need to remain homelessness. Let's go
over the numbers first and then we'll talk strategy. So
you're right and all numbers. There's a, there's no
inaccurate number. They're just different ways to look at
the problem that you see. So horrid vfss. Our funding comes
from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
And what Hub says is a very narrow definition of
homelessness, you have to literally be home within its
meaning, you are living in a place that's not suitable for
Senior Living in.
Senior Living in in Cantonment.
Senior Living in in Cantonment, you're on?
Senior Living in in Cantonment. You're on the train, you're
in a bus or in a car, right? So there's that for your
living in shelters. So we can count homelessness the last
week of the year that is required by Hut every city across
the city. Does it? The last week we do with the last
Thursday in January, our numbers were the 2023 pitch
counts. There were 6139 individuals that were homeless
5149, where in shelter 990 were on the street. Now that
number includes new arrivals at the time, because when we
did the pitch count in January, we had about fifteen
hundred, new arrivals do our numbers. We had been trending
down with the interventions that we were doing in the blue
folder that you have on the left side, there's a homeless
strategy document that talks about what's our plan. What we
do all of our program models, we have three goals right or
her strategy is prevention. The best way to keep the
numbers and keep people out of homeless is prevent them. So
that's the work we do with rental assistance.
14. L.
14 million dollars.
14 million dollars over the last three years and we've been
able to keep 2700 household house. Second thing is crisis
response. When people actually are like calling for help.
You need to be able to help them quickly and get them in
the shelter in the last thing of housing, right? That is
what is truly needed. When we look at the work, we're doing
with the Chicago, with the Chicago, Continuum of Care. We
estimate. What's needed, is 6488 B, that is what's needed
for permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid rehousing to
sustain those people that
Are currently how.
I'm currently homeless and that are coming in.
I'm currently homeless and that are coming into the system.
8440, those are people that have been homeless or have
touched doubled up so unstable. We have. So they're not
just literally homeless but maybe they're living with a
cousin or the living with her grandma and they're
Couchsurfing unstable. We have that number is much larger
than the other number that we use is from the Chicago,
Continuum of Care of a tomb. Is that how many people are
touching the home assistant asking for services today, that
number is 13893
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, Autumn sky.
Thank you. Alan Scott, the alderman.
Thank you.
Thank you to.
Thank you for leaving us in suspense.
Thank.
Thank you, mr.
Thank you Commission, on your team started with the the
praise, all my questions are going to be around with
homelessness services but I do want to say, I appreciate
all the work. The entire gfss team does, it's pretty
robust. I feel like you guys in, cdph touched, so many
programs and services that especially as older people is
the 49th Ward. Our constituents are our kind of always in
need of. And so I appreciate all the expertise and
professionalism by particularly, you know, as we work to
help people either, you know, stay in their homes or find
housing again after becoming or experiencing homelessness.
It's been growing need over the last couple years and
something that in the 49th Ward, we deal with on a weekly
basis.
I'm in trying.
I'm in trying to serve Arkansas.
I'm in trying to serve our constituent.
I'm in trying to serve our constituents. So you know, this
was before the new arrivals and it continues. So I really
appreciate you guys taking on what is double the work in,
so many of your services. And that being said, I want to
make sure that you can do it and continue to do it until
2024
Just so.
just some, some
Just some, some rapid fire questions. Commissioner, you've
answered a couple of these, but I want to focus on the
rapid re-housing program. So and for my colleagues, many of
you may have seen the inspector General's report, you know,
reviewing this rapid re-housing program, specifically, The
Accelerated moving events and if you haven't seen the
report, take a look cuz I don't think it's very frequently.
We get Inspector General report. That's like, hey, this
program was fantastic and effective and efficient and
successful. And so I, you know, really hope you all are
here in Council can support these events. Some of you have
been working with the department and have these events in
your community, and I know that sometimes it's frustrating
because we need more of these housing units. And we have
more consistent, we need to serve. So wondering, you know,
commissioner and
20.
323.
323, how may?
323, how many I guess units of housing or were you able to
secure through these rapid rehousing events investment and
that has allowed us to to date. We've has a little over
five hundred and twenty-six household. This year. By the
end of the year, we plan to bring on another five hundred
households and like I said, bills will go for 18 to 24
months for the rapid rehousing and since October 2020 we
have house 2400 household and so will do the remainder. And
by the end of the year,
and we,
and what's
And what's the, I guess? What's the demand you, you've kind
of senior over a year? And in a way that do you have a
number that maybe you anticipate of, you know, residents
that will need the service in 2024 is what we can tell you.
So the report said that 98 + 96% of the people we engaged
or actually connected to housing and five months after 79
per cent were still house. So there's a good track record.
I think, when you think about engaging with those who run
shelter, that is the number one thing. When we go and we
send the homeless Outreach team, they don't want shelter,
they don't want to go to the low-barrier. Maybe some
majority of people will say we want housing. So that's been
the primary way we've been able to clear enchantment. I
think we've house. Is it over 500 450, people who have been
living in the street on Shelton, we have been able to place
Do.
To housing, that's pretty good. So thinking about what
you're projecting for the budget for for 2024, will you be
able to keep up with the demands of Genesis? You know,
based on the you do files and plus people that you
anticipate having served by the end of this year, the 18 to
24 months of housing support and services that you're
providing and the demands that we seen, how many households
write like with the existing people that you're serving,
how many new people are? You going to be able to house if
he's okay or 233 households next year, with our with our
funding that we have only two hundred and thirty-three and
until we're going to help a thousand plus this year
overall, since 2020 2400, so 233 will likely leave with
pretty short.
If?
If we will continue to have conversations to demonstrate
the need, I know that, that was what we were able to do 4
to, we park to clear it. So I think we just have to
continue to show. Good work. If we were, if we were to try
and at least provide you with the resources to be able to
do as much as you did this, you get, right? So what's the
goal with 1,000 1,000 households to help for 2024? What
would that difference in the movie digital funds look like
for you?
so, we spend about three
so, we spent about 30
So, we spend about thirty.
So we spend about thirty thousand a year per household so I
would just distract the late from there in a few. If you
want to possibly through the chair if you want to provide
us I'd like to know what the difference is, right? And what
we've got in, kind of the current proposal versus what kind
of amendment we would need to see in 2024 in order to
continue service at this level. And I'll just say, I know
you have other programs in. This is actually very helpful
breakdown but it has been my experience as well,
especially, you know, was calling to talk about engaging
folks or unsheltered and, and living Outdoors a folks who I
think we hear a lot of people say oh, they say they don't
want help a lot of times. We've noticed, it's just, we are
not offering the thing that they need. So to your point the
the permanent Supportive Housing Programs, and what you've
been able to with the accelerated moving events.
Feel like his.
Feel like it's been.
feel like it's been a
Feel like it's been very popular and that long-term
stability in people having their own space, as well as
those services and connection. It's life-changing. So I
don't understand why we're such a successful program. We
would not have the administration wanting to continue to
invest in it. I know we're coming up on the fiscal cliff. I
know we're going to work on bring Chicago home so we can
create that dedicated source of funds to help support
programs.
Best Buy.
despite,
Best Buy in.
Satisfied, you know, through the chair, if you can provide
us with those numbers, I would appreciate it.
Laugh.
Last question.
This.
this is,
this is maybe through the
This is maybe through the chair off switch on early
childhood education, my second. Favorite topic will do this
through the chair. I'm just curious. If you can provide us
with some numbers of kind of, it may not have changed
before 2024, how many, how many seats like from the funding
that's being provided to delegate agencies? What is the
picture for service? Look like in the city? And whether
it's I think you guys do it like, community area, right?
Yeah, I would love to see that.
and I,
and that's a
And that's it. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, ottoman.
Thank you all to Manhattan. Autumn is Winters.
Thank.
Thank you, Jerry.
Thank you, Jared. First of all commission, I want to thank
you for all your work. Now you have a department that has
several portfolios and takes on very meaningful, everything
from mentoring to violence, intervention to work around on
homelessness and out to the migrant Mission. I can't
imagine how difficult that is and how often you have to
take the difficult questions and have the difficult
conversations, SRP.
but you being here, and
But you being here and I appreciate everyone in the bar.
But you being here and I appreciate everyone in the box and
all the phenomenal work that you all do.
Now.
now, so,
Now, some critical questions like a sandwich here, positive
with some critical stuff. We've been in conversations over
the last several years, around the Peace book coordinates
and we've had, you know, a lot of folks, particularly young
people across the city of Chicago tell us, just how
important this initiative will be to address violence in
the city particularly in communities, that have been
historically just invested in. We are extremely excited to
see that there are four thousand additional use physicians
in this budget. Are you willing and the administration
willing to commit? Some of those use Physicians to a
component of the peace before which is to hire youth
peacekeepers to do that very violence, prevention work in
their neighborhoods and then we can definitely talk about
how we can incorporate the peacekeeping positions. Like
some of those lots in 21 summer Chicago for 2024.
That's great.
that's great news, I appreciate that, cuz
That's great news. I appreciate that,
That's great news. I appreciate that commitment. Will you
also commit to that meeting with the Ordnance sponsors
which is older woman cross on her to get Sanchez
alderwoman, Jeanette, Taylor and I are along with good kids
Mad City within this month to really think about how we can
Implement strategize and utilize some of those positions
for the component. Let's do that. Oh that's fantastic.
Commissioner. You're making my day. I appreciate you.
Biggby.
Big, big one.
Big big wins the little moments are I'm going to Pivot a
tad bit from the kids Mad City and some of the work that we
will get done around violence prevention. Particularly
around the piece of Ordnance to some of the homeless and
housing response. Work. Tell us how many 311 calls actually
result in a shelter placement.
Will get that through the chair. Thank you so much. And
with the chair along with, with that data, can you also
then tell us how you track where they were placed in and
for how long?
Android.
Do you want to take that one for me?
Hi.
Hi, Andre.
Hi, Andrea Chapman. Deputy Commissioner for homelessness
and gender-based violence?
Play.
play some
Basement is tracked through our sex life shelter intake and
transportation crisis response team that's contracted by
DSS to our delegations be Salvation Army and really it
depends on the bed availability at any given time but there
is a tracking to wear placement is going on any given night
with the available beds that they better. They were they
believe that document daily. So we know where we have the
availability, so we know where we're placing and how long
people are staying in to the shelter beds really, that
depends on how quickly we can get them house how quickly we
can get him stabilized and actually get them connected to
the support services and then get them house. But some of
those key areas that determine that really is around the
employment, education life skills and health support that
comes with the case management with it shelters.
but we definitely
But we definitely do have to track that based off of Ben
availability from the delegate agency. Awesome, thank you.
I appreciate that thoughtful response. There have been
concerns that the agencies who do work to provide services
to our townhouse neighbors around really understanding how
many bed.
available, where,
Available where they are.
Available where they are in the process of doing that case
management, work to help help them get that. The folks
shelter, is there a plan to make 311 data and bed
availability more accessible? The case managers and folks
that are doing the work through our delegates agencies. So
it is centralized. We are having conversations but we are
bringing it on because we have over fifty different types
of partners that we work with stow. And that is part of
what we're looking at a paddle. I can make that data more
accessible and how to synthesize it and understand it more
readily. So, part of the technology work we're doing, we
did stand up with one of the positions, we hired and
supports the front door line of action. So we're part of
the Chicago, Continuum of Care, City of Chicago dfs's
believe for the front door. So that's like people coming in
the shelter response. And so now that we have a person in
every part of manager, and he's amazing. That's part of
work that we're doing to make sure that we're being better
stewards of those dollars and also want to, I don't forget
to put this on record, we are be
online for
Online for the win.
Online for the winter season. 300, emergency shelter bid to
increase our shelter. B capacity. This winter. Starting in
November. That's great news. Thank you. Why doesn't the
population served by the department Family Support
Services? Have we no diverse and multifaceted needs is
there a system of collaboration and information-sharing
across divisions are to better inform the services provided
to individuals.
Who sings the stomach virus.
Commencing systemic violence. So they may be on house, but
they also may be a victim of domestic violence need
employment, right? So, is there a way in which your
centralizing those services? So, good news is we have a lot
that we do and the deputy commissioner's coordinating,
collaborate a lot. So, or example, Aundrea is the Deputy
Commissioner for homeless and gender-based violence? So,
there is that Synergy. But they also work closely with Mark
Sanders who's over Human Services that are six community
service centers in our Workforce division. So we
collaborate because a homeless person still needs a job, so
they're making sure they're making referrals. I'm a lot of
work that we're doing right now around enrollment. So,
Serato had was the children services division. We've been
rolled over 200 0, 2, 5, a g for early Learners. I think
that's just, that's part of what we do when we come
together. Think about how can we collaborate and leverage
resources?
Perfect.
Perfect, I'll write to you. Also explain to us how does the
department actively involve the community to gather input
and inside or our peace. There's a couple different ways we
do community engagement so Senior Services we actually do a
full community plan. Right? There's an input. Where before
we put forward, our programs to the Illinois Department of
Aging, for what we would like to do with our funding, where
they have Community meetings, is online. And in-person in
early learning, there's the community needs assessment. So
they're sitting down with parents, who are current
He has.
He has early.
He has early Learners on.
He has early Learners or form.
He has early Learners or former parents to make sure we're
getting that input and feeding that back to not. Only our
programs of how we do services but also how we feed that
back to inform the to the the funding that we want in our
youth services, I think we really tried to be expansive. So
right now, some of the work that we're doing our around, my
shine my future, so the anchor, or the anchor, or
organizations, they have been past and fund it to actually
write community plan bright. And so they're sitting down
with me today, members to say, you know what, you need
better than we, the city do. So they are leading at work
and they will have their draft early next year. They're
also having community meeting. We've also done the kickback
serious by my side, my future. So, 225 used year-round,
they do programming, and they planned events for them by
that, right? And I love it because they were like, you
adults, you don't know what we want. And so we give them
money and then the kids are young. People get to plan their
own events and then what will be launching
This year.
this, you're probably
This you're probably first quarter are micro-grants. Where
will be given small Grant amounts to community, to
actually, do you use programming operate differently and
make sure we're being responses? Is there also going to be
a plan to include Alders in that Community process as we
move forward, definitely for the ankle or is that we have
asked those organizations to reach out to others and
include them in that process. So we can check in on that.
Epic.
Abby Gray.
I be great. Thank you. Alright, considering that the
migrant populations specifically, women who are traveling
across the border and into the United States. We find it
often. Many of them are also either victims of domestic,
violence, or systemic violence. Does the department have an
effective mechanism in place to identify individuals who
have experienced or are experiencing while they are coming?
Here are domestic violence situations in which they can
also be receiving services from the other divisions of the
department?
Maura Macaulay, managing Deputy Commissioner. Thank you for
that question. That is a serious issue that we've been
thinking about from the start, you know, when we launched
the when they started arriving, are gender-based violence
division? Reached out to organizations, like mujeres
Latinas to make sure we have providers, we could provide
quick referrals to we are also, we have established
standard operating procedures around responding and
connecting survivors of violence to gender-based violence
Services. We make sure we have been domestic violence,
hotline, and human trafficking information. Posted
everywhere in our shelters and at police stations. And then
finally, we are working for two more things. We are working
with the gender-based violence, task force to create a
working group made up of survivors, hopefully, even some
residents from our from our shelters and service provider.
I really think through.
I really think through how we can an,
I really think through how we can enhance my
I really think through how we can enhance that strategy and
then we are doing training with the network or it is going
to be training, all of our shelter staff also. All right at
20 seconds left and was saying thank you for all of the
support that you all have never provided me in my warm with
the Fenton cabinet and the rapid housing events and really
working on restoring and rebuilding trust with our own
house. Neighbor's is receiving to provide some Services.
Folks, have a lot of narratives around our own house folks
that they're there cuz they want to be, we know that that's
not the case. There's a lot of deeply embedded, rooted
trauma that we have to get through, so they can trust us to
provide them to care. That's needed. And I appreciate your
partnership in that effort. And can I get you?
Thank you. So
Thank you, sir. Thank you. Commissioner and thank you for
your team here, and in the box. And also not here. We
appreciate all of your help your puppy last couple months
getting us oriented in the 48th, Ward, including at the
temporary shelter, the Broadway Armory, it has not been
easy. So we appreciate all of your support and we want to
be available and be partners. As we try to find housing and
real real housing for folks, not only in our shelters, but
in the temporary shelter for the new arrivals but those
that are living along the lakefront,
I have.
I have a.
I have a question about what you have learned so far. And
as we are asking for more help from the state, and federal
agencies, what is it that we are going to provide them with
what are the best practices and what have you learned from
other cities?
so, they
so, thank
so, I think we
So I think one is around structure, right in the
consistency, which is why we really building out our
shelter, operation procedures. You know. I think the
population we've received over the last 13 months is really
evidence low. Right? When we started the mission, was a lot
of families that kind of slow down. Now we're seeing a lot
of singles, right? And so you have to be able to be
flexible and have procedures that allow you to flip
shelters. I think what we've learned is that, you know,
Rap.
Rabbit House.
Rapid housing is a best practice, right? So when we look at
what New York and we had a visit with the Department of
Homeland Security, they came out and really met with us to
kind of look at our operations, you know, they recommended
Basecamp, we're looking at our data system, we are
collecting a lot of data. There's a lot of data that we're
not collecting that, we needed to collect him look at
friends. And so, we're thinking about right now, how we can
do that. We're sitting down with our state and federal
Partners to think about our strategic plan because at some
point, we're rebuilding the plane ever, flying it, right?
Emission.
Emissions.
Mission Grove.
Emission grows in Amorous every day, but we're also can't
stop and dealing with the emergency. We have to look at the
long-term and sustainability planning, the helping, folks,
that practice is the temporary protected status and helping
people get extradited work permits, right? The quicker we
can help people work, the less, you know, they'll do
desperate things. And we'll see some of the things that are
They?
that I
That are a real.
that are a result of people just not having enough
resources and being able to support their basic needs more.
Is there anything that I missed in terms of best practices?
I think so.
I think focusing.
I think focusing on quick engagement and connections to
community is the thing managing Deputy Commissioner. I
agree the quick and gauge meant getting people inside
quickly and quickly, connecting to the resources, is where
we're all trying to go. I think on that point I'll do
women, you know, getting to the it we don't we have to get
people into shelter quickly because if they would be seen
as when they get used to being outside in a tent or in a
police station, but engagement to get them to come into
shelter is a lot harder. So doubling down on those efforts
to move people in the shelter and onto sustainability and
live on their own is really important.
and,
Thank you for that abs.
thank you for that absolute
Thank you for that. Absolutely. I I wonder about what you
think about the hundred and fifty million that we've set
aside for the new arrivals and do you have a part to play
in where that money will go? I hear that. We are
understaffed. I hear that we need buildings for people to
be a nice guy here that we need help just to get people
filling out the paperwork or for their temporary protected
status. So where it where do you think those funds should
though? So, I'll start from the reverse. I think Chicago
cannot shoulder this on our own, right? This cannot come
with the dress Chicago dollars, supporting the mission. I
think we have to continue to Advocate and really push our
state and federal government Partners to help with the bees
cost. This cannot just be Chicago alone, I think when we
look at the hundred and fifty million, the goal is that
this money will fill in the Gap, where the state and
federal funding has not picked where his
Field in.
fuel Den.
filled in when
filled in, when you
It will. Then when you look at the money, we spent to date
the money has gone to food shelter, rent and Staffing,
right? And so I think those are the things that the money
for the 150 million will go towards next year, but I think
we still have to make sure that everyone that state and
federal governments continue to support us with this
Mission. They've provided the good portion of the money
this year, but I think they need to continue to do the same
in 2024.
How?
How do you?
How do you think you're?
How do you think you were doing in terms of language access
and iPhone just generally? When I'm there near the shelters
it's very hard for me to communicate because I don't speak
Spanish but I would love to know if they're doing, okay. Do
you think that they're they're getting the language access?
They need more on McAuley managing. Deputy Commissioner the
majority of the staff working in the shelters are bilingual
Spanish-speaking especially the South are having direct
contact in working with the staff and likewise with the
case management staff that is coming in to do the work. We
are also seeing an increase in Haitian.
I knew.
I knew, right?
A new arrivals and we do have approximately 40 40 or so
staff that are you know speak French and creole. And so we
are working to navigate how to connect people to the to the
shelters that have that language capacity. Yes. We've been
seeing a lot more Haitian speaking immigrants to Central
America has been a great partner and also working with the
Haitian Museum. So I would like to make sure that they're
getting the resources that they need. We've had a lot of
mutual Aid group step up to fill in gaps and you just
begun. I would like, you know, a world word be
automatically have, you know?
Under.
Undead.
Understand.
Onions and Holmes.
Onions and homes and food for everybody. But in the
meantime, people are are stepping up and I'm filling in
those gaps. Speak on how we are continuing to? Make sure
that they have what they need. And also just generally
engage the public about what we are doing. Because we have
to do both. We have to commit to taking care of Chicago and
you have been waiting for a very long time for services and
also the new arrivals how we engaging with the public and
in that way. So we're in regards to donations, we have a
donation page for new arrivals through Instituto Del
Progreso, they are managing the Amazon wish list, so that
is a way for residents across Chicago, to donate necessary
items. Like right now, even though we're going into winter
coats and, you know, warm boots are really necessary. So
that's one way that we engage with the public.
We were.
We write.
We right now don't have a way for folks to come in and
volunteer where the mayor's office is working with the
Department of Law on a volunteer policy. So that should be
coming out soon. So, I think those are, there are ways that
we can do it and then I also know that our Deputy Mayor
Beatriz Ponce de Leon is working with philanthropy. The ask
is that, you know, they'll be able to raise 20 million
dollars to support Mutual Aid that have been working in the
police station. Thank you for that. I'm really interested
into skin.
Conversation about.
Conversation about what?
Conversation about what we are doing, is a city, not in the
40th. Ward, I'm interested in speaking to the person on
your team who might be tasked with examining what other
cities are you doing in this moment? Is there someone task
to do that right now? I'll tell you we have a small team
for new arrivals. We had the director beginning who's in
the box, is the second one from the left and then we have
to the PM's and then really the folks that support the
day-to-day work and that team or myself Jonathan and more
us. So we talked about best practices that usually more,
Jonathan and I are who are helping the team, do the legwork
so that they can be on the ground during operation.
Yeah.
yeah, I think that's
Yeah, I think that's why.
Yeah, I think that's really my concern. Is that there are
there so many buyers feels like that needs to be stamped
out and I'm just not sure that I have an understanding of
what we're doing long-term effects of down and have a
conversation. But also in this budget, there's 13 new
positions or the new arrival Mission, so that will
definitely help give us some bandwidth so that we can
actually do the day-to-day on the ground. Help with
strategy planning and then mitigate risk. My real concern
is, this is a growing operation and we have to make sure we
have the right, internal controls and keep people safe.
Thank you. We seeing as we're driving down Lake Shore
Drive, I'm going to pick it up before I do, I just want to
thank you again for all the help with the shelter and also
do, you know, and also DJ has been a great help at the
Okay.
Okay, so we will.
Okay, so we're driving down.
Okay, so we're driving down Lake Shore Drive and we see
more and more tense. And so, I'm looking forward to working
with your team on rapid rehousing. Can you just speak just
briefly on what what that is? So really rapid? Rehousing
came out of in 2020, we received coronavirus pandemic
dollars and so we use that 35 million to really wrap it
right. But we bring people together through an accelerated
moving event. Instead of having individuals, you go here to
get your ID, you go here to pick out an apartment. You go
here to pick out your furniture and here to fill out an
application. People do everything in a One-Stop shop that
allows us to speed up the process. From the time, someone
is connected to housing at an AME. They can be held within
about 70 days, I have so it's really fast. So why did he
came out with a report this Summer that show that 90% 96%
of the people who connect are actually held and 5 months
later, 76% of the people are still held or 79%. I think it
A defect.
an effective.
an effective strategy especially for folks like you who
have individuals that are outside and since that has been
the primary driver, how we have gotten people to come
inside. I think that's why we need a steady bunny,
Streamlight bring home Chicago because that will allow us
to continue to host accelerated moving events and house
individuals.
Thank.
Thank you. I just want to thank you again for for all your
work and anything that we can do to support you and also
your team. Also want to shout out to pick your seat senior
program manager Market Livonia or you know an Edgewater.
It's a very important program for us as we have a lot of
seniors and we appreciate that we were able to preserve
that part as we welcome new arrivals into Edgewater. So
thank you so much.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you all.
Thank you. Thank you, ottoman. Before I go to all the
Taylor, we talked about this rapid rehousing in and I
inherited beer. We map the area right there. Near Maxwell
old is Maxwell market, and our engagement has been like,
Bass.
Basic.
Basically, no. And I'm trying to figure out how
What do you owe?
What do you offer? I mean, they're probably 15 or 20 tents
there along the along, the Dan Ryan that has it right at
Roosevelt. What is the strategy to help those individuals
leave from that location to go to something? That's, that's
a little more tenable as we get ready to go in the winter
Outreach. Workers that go out across the city and engage
with individual. So it's not only, we have dfssf, but then
we also work with delegate agencies that go out during the
day and at night where we have large encampments like that
one. Chairman
We can do any.
We can do any can't.
We can do any can't miss red.
We can do an encampment strategy where we take like a full
force of government on Deck. So we bring our medical
provider so they'll do Healthcare screenings will do it
when our Workforce providers will bring our team. They'll
be so you know, our substance abuse and our mental health
worker, so everyone Will consent will descend upon that
encampment for 3 to 5 days offering Services. The goal is
that you'll build trust and people will go into shelter
right now. We have one little barrier shelter in Pilsen, we
have an RFP for a second low-barrier shelter. Hopefully on
the North side because we know northsiders don't like the
Southside people like living in their Community, but it's
not illegal to be homeless, so we can't force someone to
take up shelter. So what we've been able to pay are those
and can't miss strategies with is the accelerated moving
event people like I don't want shelter but I want housing
and so the accelerated moving events are how we're able to
do that today. I'm over the last few years, we've been able
to move 450 on show.
Resume.
Residence.
Should residence from outside into the apartments of Their
Own.
I agree.
When I get there.
I get that I guess the other concern is when we start we
starting to get complaints from schools in the life. When
these locations are
Roll.
Relic.
Relatively.
Relatively close to our Elementary and high schools nearby.
We're starting to deal with issues of of just lewd activity
by those individuals. And then we're met with was there
isn't anything that we can do? I got to, we got to be able
to balance the needs of the community and its entirety
versus the, their needs, as well. And just just want to
hear what your strategies are too Daddy into to help. You
know, how do you spell? I'll call them fairly delicate
situations, we work closely with the school. So we'll work
with Jaden Chow. We had an encampment in all them in
future, Lopez's word, that was supposed to a school so one
of the things we did it have Community agreements, right?
We cleared we ask the homeless in
instead of taking,
instead of taking up both, I
instead of taking up both eyes of,
Instead of taking up both eyes of the viaduct move to one
side so that we would have a clear passage. We also work
with CPS to make sure that where there's enchantments if we
need to bring and safe passage workers on that such a
thing. I think, though the thing that we've been the most
successful of us clearing and can't miss. If you think
about the one that was on 22nd Street in Chinatown that was
born on both sides right? The encampment is gone because we
were able to house both individuals rights or housing. It
is the thing. I think when it comes to CTA we've worked
with CEO durable Carter. He's made it to million dollar
investment in specific Outreach on the blue and the red
line. He is that he sees a difference right? And so is
incremental change, it's making sure you have people at the
right time and then somewhere for them to go that s o b r e
or shelter that we're working on. I think is critical
because the one we have now for your dad is Right.
Increasing
Pastor.
Cassidy.
Cassidy again, we're bringing on 300 beds, this winter for
winter beds, and I think that's important. Also, the work
we're doing with the shelter, acquisition, with d o, h to
bring on 5 new shelters, bring new facilities and the
shelter. Renovations, I think it's not one particular in as
an intervention. It's multiple strategies. We got to hit
the blind.
Play Demon.
Thank you, mr.
Thank you, mister president.
Why?
Why does Deez?
Why does DCF vfss have a t? F t e and administration and
what do they do? And if you want to do that through the
chair, cuz it might take some time. That's fine. That's
just, that's just the General off of work. We can see how
their categorized what are your goals for senior services,
for the next two to three years. So I don't think that it
was smart for us, not to have the Department of Aging in
the 20th, Ward their 20s in your bills just 20. And so
every year I do something with those seniors but that does
not include my seniors who live in their homes. And so you
think about them getting tricked with the gas in the
lights, them being getting their homes taken away from
them. I am literally have 5 position was who a right now.
We're going through probate court cuz they're trying to
take their property. Why why is it not this?
Can.
Can it be you?
Can it be your recommendation was their conversations about
bringing the office of senior services or aging or
whatever? We call it back?
Maybe.
Maybe less like this.
Maybe less like the flip part of vanalden one in in terms
of legal services. So I think, when you look at the breadth
of what Senior Services do, I've been supporting the team
now or closed, 29 years. And I think in the last 2 years,
under Margaret larovias leadership. We stain grade
expansion. So you mentioned the legal services. We have a
legal services provider that will see.
Phone number.
Vulnerable.
Vulnerable seniors. Just like that, right? It will support
them with their legal needs and they will represent them,
they will give them advice. I think the thing that I saw
personally during the pandemic was food and security, so
we've always done home-delivered meals delivered, 4.5
million meals annually, to over 13,000 seniors, but there's
other kinds of people that needs to pour it right,
especially from just individuals were going to, but we
think about caregiver. So, for our caregiver and our older
adults, raising Children's Program, we do gap-filling, we
do counseling services individual. And in group, I think
one of the things that they've really expanded. Is there a
navigator navigator program where we make sure that seniors
get their flu shots? They get their vaccinations and so
they're being more outward-facing. And I think that's
something that we haven't done in the past. I think across
gfss not just Senior Services.
We have one p. I
We have one Pio and we've had that position vacant. And I
think that limits the work that we can do to Market our
programs and I think we have them, we have to do a better
job like I will send out an email at the beginning of the
month. I will stay here the senior services brochure but I
think we need that in your face and it's in your packet on
the most beautiful, but it's in their right. And I think
that's the other thing that we did during the pandemic is
that everybody can't come to us and we want to meet you
where you are at. So you can do programming on the
telephone, you can get all wet bass. Like I think we're
trying to think differently to approach how we support
seniors. I want you all think
Very differently about the food contract. I got some
Very differently about the food contract. I got seniors who
signed up doing covert to get those boxes to her those
boxes. Now come spoil, the food is rotting or the meals are
non-existent. It has been horrible. And I've been having
those constituents call 311 cuz I want them to being
accused of the people see him, but it's to no avail to 74
440, 16 or call Margo directly. Like that's why I'm
Margaret in your laundry here and love to work with you.
All about how we have more senior satellite service. So
like I have one in Englewood, nobody really knows it exists
and imma be honest, that I never heard from you. I've heard
from the lady wants so that she called me to ask me for my
last, I heard from him. I just before you talk about food,
Margaret, can you talk about some of the work we're doing
to bring more culturally competent meals to the senior
centers?
And do the chair.
And do the chicken.
And do the chair. Can we get the list of lawyers? That was
that we can get that to you?
Okay. So with respect to we have a a delicate that we work
with for legal aid and so we'll make sure that you get that
information is also contained in the book. And so Margaret,
Laura be a Deputy, Commissioner senior services. So, as the
commissioner share this year, we have provide
Did four point.
4.5 million meals through home-delivered meals and through
our congregate program. So with respect to our congregate
program is service about 17,000, seniors across the city.
And one of the new things that were doing with ARP funds is
that we've expanded the congregate dining program to
reflect, I'm going to say upscale culturally-relevant
meals. So we're looking at providing meals that have a
Caribbean, influenza Mediterranean Central American and
that program actually started today. And we have received
great feedback from some of our senior centers with respect
to the new meals that we're putting forward. And so we will
definitely work with you and turn.
Love me.
Love make.
Love making sure.
Just making sure you're aware of all of our services and
making sure that seniors are connected to the resources and
the supports that they need. So I'm sorry. I'm looking at
you through the screen cuz I can be short people problems.
So please don't think I'm not looking at you until I do
want to work with you to talk about cuz I want us to have
an exact office. The needs of seniors our way, even to the
point and my coworker talked about it yesterday about
seniors, who have homes who now wants to.
Department.
Apartments. They don't know how they don't even know where
to begin to you to sell their home but they don't have
relatives or whatever. But I want us I want that you just
being office. I feel like your hands are full with a bunch
of other stuff and our seniors. Let's let's just be honest,
we use them when it's election time. We need to take care
of them all the time. And so that's, that's my thing, and
I'm willing to work on you. I could sing that
Can.
Can you give us?
Can you give us a list? Is there some type of resource
book? Where talks about all the delegate agency that we
work with and what they actually do? And I'm asking because
in my office, we spend time to build something, but it's
just for people in our Wards I feel like we need something
for everybody that goes out to everybody. That talks about
even if it's and definitely the Peace book is something
that has to happen. It's not an if an ER or but if we look
at where those peacekeepers have done their work in that
organization has work, you will see violence, this went
down. So I want us to use things and people who actually do
work cuz we know we got some delicate agencies who got the
same 15 kids they had for the last 20 years. They've done
nothing different but that's not all of them are. So I want
us to be intentional about that and I'm hoping that a lot
of that work that you are all able to do comes out of the
office of violence prevention. If they're putting that
back.
Can I just?
can I just say,
Can I just say one when I think about that, if you've got
people that need resources of 211 is always a resource and
that's what they're supposed to do. They they look at over
16,000 resources of death more than just the FSS. So you
said, two one, one who won one. So we stood up to 11 in
January, with United Way in Cook County government Sosa
health, and human eye. See, that's why I need that. I hope
you got some more money in the same money that y'all got in
for subscriptions. And then I need y'all to have that
advertisement but nobody knows about for it. So that
211.
go to 11 and I can actually do an introduction to see what
we re sources can be pulled from your ward that's real
helpful. When there was a fire on 48th and Lake Park I had
them do that just residents know where to go in your book
on the right side or left side there's three strategy.
Document one for homeless. One for gender-based violence,
one for you. We don't have one comprehensive book with two
more going to come out Workforce and
Beanie.
Senior.
Seniors. They are the yellow from the gallery. Those should
be out within the next two to three weeks. So I think that
kind of gives you the strategy who we work with and we can
go do these for every office or are we? So we ran copies
from the Alders, the links are on our website or those
three. So they can be downloaded and we will share the
Marlin.
so,
So how are we working with philanthropy Hood around the
housing crisis that we had before the migrants? I'm going
to Meijer in a minute, but right now, your work with the
one lady that was homeless on 63rd and K. She'd been there
for a couple of years and it was just a matter of phone
calls, her family have been looking for her. And so that's
as he went out and look for her family and I appreciate it
because she is the last person that I have to worry about
not having somewhere to sleep. And so are you? Because
there's been this thing of folks complaining about the
current shelters. What is DFS? S work along with the
Department of Building to look at those shelters. Cuz even
before this crisis came, the man who used to live on 59th
in the place, I would say, I would never go on these
shelves. They nasty. They dirty.
Big Apple.
Big, a bull.
They got bugs, all type of stuff is, so, what are we doing
to actively? Make sure those shelters are in compliance,
but they are treating people with some dignity and respect.
I'm going to take your first question first, and then let
more do the shelter infrastructure. So we have the Chicago,
Continuum of Care, which is broader than just the city of
Chicago. We have four departments have a board members on
there, so I'm the board chair for 2023 and so I bring the
city lands in the homeless men from the FSS. Then you also
have a seat with the mayor's office. So the mayor's office
is getting a new home with cheese, so that person will fill
that seat do. You always has a seat Department of Housing
and see, AJ has a seat on the board and our job is to make
sure that as we work with the full, Continuum of
organizations that do homelessness, that may not be found
it for the city that we have a unified strategy. So, right
now you have voh and there are P budget. They're donating
or not donating, but they're dedicating 225 units of
permanent supportive.
Thanks for those are.
Thanks for those are doubled up returning resident. What
we're doing is worth finding the services that go with
those permanent Supportive Housing Unit, C H. A also make
Works to make sure that they're bringing units to the table
is. So that's how we have that continuous strategy. We also
have the homeless interagency task force, where City
departments, no matter who you are, if you touch
homelessness Park, CT, a boa. We all come together once a
quarter to talk about our strategies. I think that's how we
said cohesively. To make sure we're moving forward and
talk about the
Talk about the shelter in 3.
talk about the shelter infrastructure and by
Talk about the shelter infrastructure. Investments McCauley,
managing Deputy Commissioner. So as as was stated earlier,
most of our homeless, funding actually comes through grant
funding, which is really started to services and
operations. We don't have a lot of resources. We haven't
over, you know, the last 10 to 15 years or Capital
Investments or just basic maintenance Improvement. And so,
with the Chicago recovery plan, we were able to invest
funding for infrastructure, which is incredible. And so we
have done an RF you earlier this year and we have 10
finalists, who are kind of moving through a feasibility
study. And so the priorities for that is actually to help
our shelters. We have many in. This is a reason too many
people don't want to go into shelter, very large spaces
with a lot of people sleeping together. And so the, the
first priority of this initiative is to
Chris.
Create.
create my
Create more non congregate spaces. So more single units or
somebody can sleep and rest in peace and not worry about
their belongings. Then we're focusing on accessibility and
the last priority is really just around like General
repairs and maintenance that are needed to keep the shelter
it improve and enhance the shelters. And Taylor we have a
shelter that I visited about 2 months ago or single men and
their stomach, small group, of women and they eat standing
up in the
Right? They have 10 minutes to eat.
Right? They have 10 minutes to eat standing.
Right? They have 10 minutes to eat standing up, they don't
have a dedicated kitchen. And so these dollars will help
organizations reconfigure and give people a little bit more
dignity while they're looking for their next time I see the
child cut the time down, 5 minutes old, could I ask you
more questions or can I get around 2?
That is.
Babies. That look.
Babies. That look real quick at 10 minutes. I have a
singing. I feel like a bad one. I was going to say nothing
but it seemed like that was like 15 minutes. Go ahead. I
should go ahead and thank you.
Will.
Google.
Wolves are still got to stay to the end.
so,
So we're looking at this, the Myra situation, the face of
this has not been what we actually have. Let me tell you
what I mean.
I'm looking.
I'm looking at you.
I'm looking at your staff. I'm looking at a lot of the
numbers there are not conversations or even support for
migrants who are African descent.
That.
That is probably.
That is problematic. This is been made of the face. That is
just all that next brothers and sisters and that's not it.
And so I don't see a conscious effort to make sure that
we're helping an old families. And so I got to build into
my ward. They trickled up in apartments. In this face,
there is not anybody from the city who speaks their
language. It ain't even know nobody that I can call to say,
can you go with me will? I know some people with somebody
that I said, can you go to this building with me so that I
talked to them and Yoruba and their language. We got to
figure that out. And I'm looking at your Staffing, I see.
It's a ethnic and I like your number. So I'm not going to.
I want you to set up those diversity agenda than these
small me in there. So you do just so it's about. But there
is nothing about boats from the African diaspora diaspora
and that's a problem because they are in the folks who are
left out of a lot of these conversations and they are
struggling. They are reaching out to us.
Play the song.
I'm glad that they are, but I will.
I'm glad that they are but I want you to talk about how we
helping that population of hope. So under eye, sir the
Illinois Coalition for immigrant and Refugee Rights. They
subcontract with the number of different organizations do
Ethiopian Association is 1. I have a meeting scheduled next
week with and the afrikan United organization to have that
conversation as more stated earlier, we have about 200. I'm
Haitian new arrivals that are in the shelter in about 40 of
the staff that we have hired in the shell.
Speak Creole &.
Speak Creole and French in.
Speak Creole and French. And so that's what I think. That's
where we're going. I think when you asked me to long-term
plans, right? Not there today. But as we start to see more
individuals, we also like to have shelters where, we know
if you are up a black new arrival that we have shelters,
that are there so people can have more community.
let,
Last course.
Last question in.
it's
It's too.
Is to phone, OK? Google made the decision about the shelter
space. So the young lady from a, is that it was you all,
and what I was trying to figure out is who are the people,
who are making sure that favorites and those security folks
are doing what they're supposed to do. And you're right so
far this house, shelter spaces are selected. So this is the
process. The mayor has said it and this is what we follow.
If?
If it.
If it's a
If a shelter.
If a shelter space comes up, maybe you send us an email or
we get Word of Mouth. Someone from The Manor senior
leadership. Team is supposed to call the Alderman and say,
there's a shelter that we're going to take a look at we go
out. And who goes out for those visit c. F s s b o. A m c a
is sometimes it may be a few more departments and maybe the
fire department, maybe police, maybe building, he will go
out. They will make an assessment everybody looking for a
different thing. Right. We're looking for space. And how is
configured day is is looking for showers.
Do we have the right hook up?
do we have the right hookups other
Do we have the right hook up? Some other folks are looking
for. Is it the right egress like we're looking, is it as
possible, Right? Look at that. Make a recommendation to the
mayor's team from that recommendation. Mara senior
leadership team in Merrillville have a conversation. A
decision will be made if the shelter, if it is being
viable, then one of them are senior leadership team members
will call the aldermen and say this is the fight that we
are going to. That is how the decision is made, and has
been always been the way the decision was made in the past.
It was similar to out a decision would be made. It would be
recommended to the mayor and her team and then that would
be the decision. So it was never ever won Department.
Saying it, it would be folks will go out and be like, oh
okay, do we think we have enough congregate dining space?
Do we think we have a shower? So we don't have showers a
day. I guess. It's like I can build you a shower. Okay.
from the
From there.
from there, we
From there. We make.
From there, we make a recommendation and then the decision
would give those to the mayor in their team, all in the
mayor had multiple sessions, right? He said this is how the
process will work. I think we've done a great job and we're
still getting better. Let me be clear. Like we are still
learning and growing but I think we've become more
thoughtful about the planning process. I think the
community engagement that we have with the elders has
improved and the communication in those plans and so
True.
We're trying and I know you but think about this we had a
co-worker get her today over this exact same thing and it's
because we haven't take care of it and we have not done
this as collectively as the eyes of, I would like this to.
And so I'm still going to push for us to cook for all hands
on deck before us to stop and be very thoughtful. And so
from me putting Latino folks in the middle of the black
community has started some trouble and it ain't a lesson
that I figured that we haven't we ain't learned from it. We
learned a lesson from it. And we've had a couple of
incidents that, you know you and I have set up a meeting
and I had to pray for you at the meetings cuz you were
taking the bulk of the the heat for a decision that you
automatically didn't make it. So I still want you to push
that to this Administration is well and not to say, you
wasn't at the last one cuz I wouldn't have, but I will say
this, we said he had last year. The same time,
and we,
and we were,
and we were asked,
And we were asking questions about this and that was an
opportunity for us to really be collaborative and come
together and say what this could have look like it. So I
don't want us to make that mistake. Again, you're in a
position where you get to make the decisions and you were
saying what's best for us and will support that especially
if you're right it. So I want you to think about that cuz
this has been a mess and you taking the heat for a lot of
things that you also really didn't get to decide you were
part of that, but I was really, you didn't make the
decision and so I just I want to see you do better. I feel
like you are way better than the last commissioner.
Say what I said. And so I want you to continue to collapse.
collaborate with the
collaborate with us so that we help you make better
decisions. The violence that happened today, right? No
civil servant worker should be, you know, injured doing
their job. Right? That, you know, peaceful demonstration is
one thing, but violence is just not acceptable. I think
this new arrival prices is just challenging, right? I think
our job at DSS is to serve people, right? We want to get
pregnant women off the floor. We want to get children out
of tents and so we are trying to do everything. We got
brick-and-mortar Basecamp, everything and so you're right.
We have to just keep collaborating and talking and working
through hard conversation.
Yeah.
You have.
You have anymore questions.
You have any more questions?
Say yes, you will.
Oh yes, you will be mad at me. So no.
Okay.
Okay, I'll take that as a, no, I have all the men mostly
followed by autumn in Conway.
No, I've got a list of people who just let me know.
He was his.
He was raised in.
He was raised in Shannon. Let me know that he wanted to
speak even though I already had him down. If he sits in the
chair, you probably get to the Mike worker. But, you know,
you can get that one on the way home. Alright. Altima
Mosley. Thank you so much for this book, like I wish I sat
down with you when I first.
Damian is a,
Damian is a breast.
A man as a freshman Alder, this is a welcome information.
My fingers are going to be immensely pleased with the
resources that we're going to be able to deliver. So, Count
Me In Press, thank you again for your commitment to the
piece buck and in working through the channels that you are
responsible for, and a very excited to hear about the 300
bed. Can you tell me a little bit more about that? Is that
going to be an expansion of turn sides? Are there going to
be new sites that come online? Is it a hybrid approach
approach? Maybe let me go back first, we will make sure
that we do a briefing with you. I've been trying to get to
all of the new all day or so. Julie is behind and she will
make sure we get that schedule with your team. So in terms
of the new beds, we have 300 new arrival, not no rival,
emergency shelter, beds for the homeless, and we did that
through working with our existing Partners. We did a survey
to see who could expand services and capacity. We have also
people that we work with like the Salvation Army and we
have a
Release.
Relationship.
relationship with the
Relationship with them in.
Relationship with them and they'll allow us to utilize
their gym in the winter for winter beds. And so it's a
hybrid approach. But I think it's really necessary to bring
back. So right now we have about 3,000 shelter, beds in the
system, this will be another three hundred. And then we're
working with Doh to bring on more. With this new shelter,
acquisition of my 31 ones. In my top is always a request
for shelter. That seems to be an in
Those top numbers. But then I
those top numbers, but then all
those top numbers, but then also
Those top numbers but then also course, when I look at data,
sorry to report that 53% of house was individuals
identified as black as the ottoman of the largest Bloc
Ward. I have to be able to deliver that resource. And then
also, can you tell me more about these? Amec's accelerated
moving events that seem to be just a really great idea.
When you do the Outreach going to the encampment spawning
folks who are interested and then can move them from Ralph
Wilson this to some type of support of war or a housing. So
this is a program that we started during the pandemic
pre-pandemic BFF didn't really support housing, right? We
are first line of defense for crisis. We had a few $100,000
and we probably take 200 days to the house, probably 50 to
70 people. So it wasn't broken for the broken process in
2020, we received coronavirus pandemic, funding
and,
and we,
and we've
And we pilot it something it we like to try. We like the
pilot of thing and try it and so instead of making an
individual go from our you know, you have to get your ID
over here, then you have to go apply for the application
here. Then you go here to select your unit then you go here
to pick out your furniture. We brought everyone together.
So we first, we'll do an enchantment strategies for
individuals where we make sure that we get people ready
right now. If you're missing your ID will make sure you get
that if there's documentation you need to get will help,
get you prepped and ready to go right now we're doing about
run until
One on Shelter.
Unsheltered accelerated moving a bit.
Unsheltered accelerated moving a bit per month for people
living outside and then we do a few more during the months
for those who are sheltered. So we kind of balance between
North Side, South Side, West Side, we balance between youth
homelessness, we balance between singles and families, just
to make sure we're getting a good number. So to date we
done about 2,400 households have been hell since. October
2020, we plan to do about another five or six hundred more
by the end of the year. I think it's a program that really
shines the light on why you need housing, right? When we
look at the projections, we have with the Chicago,
Continuum of Care. We know we need at least 60, 300 units
between permanent Supportive Housing rapid rehousing. So I
support bring Chicago home because I think we need a steady
stream of funding and we can't rely on funding that expires
in trouble hearing trickle there to be honest. I think that
is the one thing when and all the calls and says there's an
enchantment in my ward and I
Something.
something, we
It's something we've been able to go in and use those
direct interventions cuz we can have shelters, but you hurt
all during the tailor people really more housing, people
deserve, we have a housing first approached, I think when
you take care of a person's housing me, then we can rap
then we can deal with your mental health. We can deal with
your job and security. We can deal with all of the things
and get you a job. But first, we got to get you inside.
People are tired and need to rest and then we can help
them. Go to do those other things. We talked about them.
man, I loved
Man, I'd love to hear.
man, I'd love to hear that, I'll
Man, I love to hear that all your work with asking United.
That's a group that myself in a couple of my colleagues met
with herbs, other need for support their scheduling at
meeting for next week. So getting out on the books, I love
to attend.
I'll
Also want to.
Also want to talk about returning citizens, Injustice of
all citizens are. So as we have increased services for
migrants, I think my colleagues and I have been just
wondering, is there a way to make it to serve dual
purposes? Can I know that we're at your department has been
tasked with a lot and you carry it. Well, so maybe that's
why we're asking. Can you just go here as well? Or the
workforce division is led by Mark Sanders and and so let me
just tell you about some of the new things. We've done
that. We haven't announced that we plan to really do open
houses for once we get past the budget last month, we open
the fifth re-entry support center on the west side. We
looked at our portfolio. We have for, he had three on South
side, we had one on the North side. We didn't have one on
the west side. So we used our air few dollars to make an
investment on that. In that new sensor with a profound
ation, will support 300 returning residents. We also
increased funding for the exist.
4.
For to make them more than just a call. So,
For to make them more than just a call center but to really
wrap them in services. So they got about another $249,000
queen this year and they'll get that same amount next year.
And then the way I think I'm a let Mark talk about his
housing navigation and employment spring forward because
that was really his Branch out. So I'm going to let him
upset you about that.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you, commissioner. Deputy Commissioner, Mark Sanders,
Workforce and Human Services. So we are really excited
about the spring forward program. That's an acronym
selective pre-release for intensive, navigation support
going forward. It's all the idea behind that is to connect
with individuals returning to Chicago from incarceration
prior to being released especially those that I anticipate
experiencing homelessness or housing in security. So we
want to do with this program is connect them to both the
employment resources as well as a 12-month rental subsidy.
So just like individuals that we're seeing in other areas
of our about work, they need to be stabilized with housing
as well as the other wraparound Supportive Services that
individuals needed just to be all human beings. So we're
excited to be able to provide that we have to delegate
agencies, providing that work with a lot of experience,
providing both Workforce Services as well.
Housing.
Alexandria.
Housing resources in. So so far, since we lost the program
in August, we've had 27 people enrolled into the program.
We had seven referred for housing and we're happy to say
that we have one person that has secured housing. So I'll
really excited about the progress that we're making a. We
know that returning residents have experienced significant
barriers to housing resources, just what they struck a
significant structural barriers and so we are proud to be
able to use these resources in ways to help them. Navigate
those barriers secure, the housing that they need as well
as the other supports.
Give me.
Commissioner. I mean that again, just really is improvised
the housing first model that you just spoke about earlier,
the 21st Ward stands ready to assist your under your
leadership. This department is evolving. I'm excited about
it. Got me impressed me as a partner or then I go the rest
of my car.
Thank.
Thank you all the
Thank you Alderman Mosley.
You said?
You still here?
You still, he's sitting. So we will go to will go to
Alderman, Conway, apologize, and I will stay in my, in my
years, in the military, they really hurt my back a lot. So
I got to stand up off and do you know I'm trying to lean on
your sympathies. But anyway, thank you commissioner for for
coming here at this late hour, but I would like to, to Echo
alderwoman Taylor, there are is clear that there is a lot
of work that is happening in the background regarding new
shelters before were even told
An.
and,
And and I know that's not your decision but to the extent
that you can push for bringing the the Alders in earlier.
We can we can help. We all have staffs. We want to help at
end at minimum, we can
Really.
Reassure the community, you know, that it's that it can be
done in a in a safe and secure manner. You know, you don't
have having Avenue shelters as we as we having in My
Rewards at Parthenon, guest house in a few that are across
the street across the street from, from my ward as well.
Add.
Addition.
additionally, speaking of help, I want to thank you for your
help, but we did a seminar to provide to help
All right.
already.
Already sheets that was like, 2 minutes.
I won't.
I won't go near.
I won't go near the 10 minutes so it's really okay, no
worries, we're good. I want that. I wanted to. We did a
seminar to help a legal aid clinic to help people the
Parthenon Guesthouse apply for temporary protected status
as well as work authorization and wanted to, to thank you.
And Deputy Commissioner McAuley and I don't know. Sadie
Farren, is one of the people in the box, but she was a
great help in helping us coordinate with the shelter to
help to help get the folks there. I will also mention since
I see him in the Box.
Does you can?
You can shut it off now it. No worries. Just cut off.
maybe if
Maybe it's called.
Maybe it's Conway.
They?
There.
There are.
There anyway, wanted it wanted to say that that I appreciate
the way that your department has hosted a few of these.
These migrant meetings and wanted to thank the way your
department has participated in those nice evening star
casteneda in the Box, I can tell you that we've had to sit
next to each other in a few of these. And he doesn't
fantastic job at reassuring. The community that we can do
this in a safe and secure manner. As we've at least shown
to a largely, do it in the 34th Ward cell with that I yield
my remaining time. Whatever whatever whatever. Please help
us, help you help us cuz we're here to help. Thank you.
Okay.
and,
R&B.
Arden Mall.
Ardmore.
Thank.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you. Shama first of all listening to you and your
team. Thank you so much for the work that you do but
especially to you is very few Commissioners and the others
but is very few that take calls and respond to calls in the
middle of the night, midnight, whatever. But I also get
back to you with some pertinent information and so I want
to thank you for everything that you are doing, and
working. Your soul, open in the communication and tires.
What's going?
What's going on?
What's going on in?
What's going on? And I appreciate that. I heard some things
in terms of the process, which I can appreciate you
explaining the process. But you also publicly we have to
know what we were communicated in our briefing and that was
decisions, were going to be made by the administration
without consulting us or the residence. And that won't win
all their coming to ask is or come to do when they meet is
to tell them about the process. And so that's why when it
comes to this process, you get that question because that's
what was communicated to us. Okay. And then it makes it
hard for Alderman Alderman. What's up, what occurred today?
Cuz many her residence. She knew and as she stated that, I
found out when you found out and in some cases that has
been true. So I just wanted to make sure I stated that for
the record.
Display.
This book is.
This book yet.
On this book here. Thank you so much as everybody talking
about. Do we have beads in bulk printed out like a lot of
them or you just gave these for us.
Sing.
The senior.
The saying you're sorry.
We?
We can get you the seniors.
We can get you, the seniors document.
We can get you the seniors document. We printed about a
hundred copies of each because they is is printing a lot
but we can get some more. But we do do the seniors book
online because, you know, our budget for printing but we
can get you copies cuz this is this is good and less. You
got some more. I got a community meeting this Saturday so
if I can somebody can give me some. That'll be very helpful
and we'll go from there house. We get more if needed, not
stick it on the singers, you talked about a mission at
South Shore. Program up a program. You all had a Time South
Shore events and and and just in comparison to I think, I
don't know. I think they got cut out. Only forgot cut out
under this last Administration or how I miss something. I
probably miss something so you can correct me by no wonder
the Emanuel Administration, you know, this thing that they
used to have downtown
at the end of
At the end of you.
Add and I used to tell us.
Add. And I used to tell us a
Add and I used to tell us about the buses and then we will
get singers and their meat weathers at our office or
location. And so I guess the issue becomes in this is sort
of piggyback off of what I was saying as Autumn a wee. It's
easy for us to do stuff at senior buildings, but
incorporate everybody, those type of things were good. So
when we know about stuff and especially with what seems got
to get transportation to, we have to be
Able to coordinate that.
able to coordinate that are
Able to coordinate that. Okay, if I place is a bus site,
then it's a bus side and then that's when we get more than
your participation. Because trust me as I go to my meeting,
I'm keep getting that for my senior saying y'all not doing
enough for seniors and I'm like, I can't send you stuff.
I'm put. So I'm putting the stuff you give me out there,
but they don't want that they want. We had in September
with our dry run. I think coming back, bringing everything
together, we're finally at a place and Senior Services,
where if you call or information and assistance hotline,
you're not waiting a long time. So now the wait time is
like 5 to 6 minutes at most we are call abandonment. Rate
has dropped really low so where's a good place in terms of
Staffing for Senior Services? I've been really working
closely with the team to make sure we're looking at our
number than our data and I think you're seeing Improvement
so that's good news, right? When it comes to seniors fast
we've just been bringing back on so many
G r.
The Rams are dry rub.
The Rams are dry, run was the healthy bonus event, that we
did in September, where we brought in about five to six
hundred senior from across the city. With buses, the team
is committed to bringing back senior fast next year. I
think they even have a date that they're looking. We
haven't shared that publicly yet. So I'll share that with
you later, but we are bringing it back, but we just needed
to get their coming out of the pandemic closing things
making sure the seniors are healthy. We feel comfortable
now that we can carry it off,
Thank.
And you hit.
And you head out South. So
And you head out South Shore. And maybe I don't see
everything and it may be in my office missed it. But
usually, I don't miss those big things. So even that when I
don't think I was a fast, right? Well, it was a healthy
wellness Fair, senior centers, munication and let's go back
to that. So we can reach out to our senior. Could you when
you saying that the senior centers and like my satellite
office in Auburn? Gresham, I go there quite a bit. I know
who comes and who don't come, and there's a side of our
aggression that don't come there. There's a side of Auburn
Gresham that dude. So, if I know about this event, that's
at about the Gresham, that is not coming there that you're
reaching out to all done, freaking out to all of them. And
if I said, have a bus to hear, there's an event that, you
know that's going on at South Shore. This is the time
that's all that's that. I just want to try to make that.
Play whatever.
Whatever we do. If there's a financial thing to this, we
have that's why we're hearing bus it, okay? So say David,
yeah, that's a little costly but then let's say that. So we
can get some more money in the budget, because I'm fighting
for the singers that screaming in my ear saying that
there's enough stuff for us, this every month and they're
event calendar. We will make sure that your offices are
invited to those events
Senior Center.
Senior center is right. We
Our senior center is, right? We will work on building and
improving those relationships to make sure that you know
about those event. We do send those books out will look to
see how many we can put print in bulk. I can't say that on
the record right now, but we will definitely look into see,
I'm coming over the one, reducing our Electronics. Oh, and
I was going to go into my next point, which is there, some
there, so, I'm what they call.
Big.
Biggie van.
Big events are critical events versus dinos. Get your see.
Type thing and so when those things happened, yes, you will
get those on it in an email. But those big things just
don't send out an email to pick. We got whoever our, if
there's an automatic liaison, whoever they got to
communicate with. In my case, I got in events person in my
office, that handles that, so making sure that that
partnership is there. So they can say, hey Brittany, this
is a big one. Do you make sure your seniors know about it
instead of, you know, maybe sending it in that catch your
all and he made on his way, we sent it to the ornament.
That's okay for that. See the type stuff and things we get
that, we just put in our newsletter and we'll put those
think those bigger items in our newsletter as well. But I
think that that I touch have to be made about those big
ones, whether it is quarterly monthly whatever it is. So
that we all know so that we can get that information out to
the singers collectively.
let's go to the
Let's go to the summer jobs, peace, and I forget to wish
Department. I asked about this and this has to do with
corporations and who week the corporations that I got the
job we're providing. But again, I remember, I need the
Emanuel Administration. They reached out to Corporation
without money from us, but it was their money that they
hired, they say, what, you know, what, maybe I can do three
people. Somebody else said to me, or I can do 10 people do
it. Is that? Anyways, that are outside the number of people
that will put it in a pan for do we have a number of those
and a list of those corporations that are participating?
So, that's a really great question this summer. So let me
go back, probably pre-pandemic. We had, we tried to stand
up a corporate partnership program and I think we may have
had two or three young people.
Corpus.
Corporation.
Corporations.
Corporations who paid for the internship. So it was not
robust at all this year, through the staff that we have. We
have 14 corporations that include United Airlines, Chicago,
Harbors Allied, Universal Security, and the Chicago Bulls
in. So that resulted in 14 placement and those
corporations. We have part of the new budget, an additional
five, new staff for the Youth Services Division. So it
includes a
Manage.
brand manager, and
Brand manager. And for you service coordinator has one of
those positions will be dedicated to helping improve the
work that we do with corporate Partnerships to help build
out that support. I think your point is spot-on, we can do
and grow. We've done, you know, we're working to expand
once I'm at Chicago we're going to 28,000 slots next summer
but we need to do more and we need corporate Partnerships.
I think if you can, can you spend a little bit about the
work you're doing with real business? Chicago in the
mayor's office to talk through like how we're looking to
increase both corporate Partnerships and entered into the
what was the hours for Tennessee? Want you to feel bad that
you're just so I can have it was funny but also if weathers
you are harassing that then how many corporations did we
reach out to absolutely good evening everyone. Shadow Lane
that the commissioner for Youth Services. As a commissioner
mention outside of one from Chicago or subsidized Youth,
Employment Program, the corporate partnership program those
employees,
direct way to
Direct us to the.
Direct us to the u.s. So that's more of a customizable
program to make sure that we're meeting at a business and
Workforce need with the goal of hopefully converting those
using two full-time hires. As a commissioner mention for
this year, by end of year, we anticipate will have about 19
corporate Partners, yelling about 38 close to forty. Young
people placed with a goal of expansion next year of maybe
if I'm sorry close to 8th and Girard close to a hundred
young people employed by the end of the year. Bring it on
15 Partners at Target.
The Things Are.
the thing to remember, when our car,
The thing to remember when are corporate partnership
program, is that the vetting process looks different
because we're not going to delegate agencies do first. When
the corporate Community reaches out to us, we want to make
sure that we do anytime screenie. So everyone who's going
to come in contact with the young person has to go through
a background check. We also want to make sure this a
quality experience and at the work site is, is a quality
experience, a fly young people. So we have our team, once
the employer reaches out and expresses an interest and want
to make sure we have opportunities across different
sectors. So are you young? People are put on kind that work
for its pathway weather in miles between the angles out is
the commissioner mansion and Yvette. The company, then
there is this negotiation because you want to make sure
that we have a solid agreement in place and they design a
way. So through the corporate partnership, they determine
what our team. What's the best fit for hours? What's the
hourly rate of pay? And what's the length of time that the
young people will be employed again with a goal of
converting them at the end of
The process of.
the process. So we're looking for
the process. So we're looking to continue to scale up and
Outreach. I believe it was a second part of your question.
How do we do Outreach? So working in close collaboration
with the mayor's office and their business development
team? We collaborate with in the Youth Services Division, I
have a team that's dedicated to the corporate partnership
expansion. So we doing Outreach to the communities. We work
closely with real business, Chicago, the Chamber of
Commerce? I'm in a few others stood. Say, you know,
everyone wants to invest in Youngtown.
Send.
Cinema.
send them our way and then, let's
Send them our way and then let's talk about what are the
pathways for it by young people who can't, appreciate that.
But that's all. So somebody's got to know where this world
been in Chicago, a hookah and you can get it through to
check in at the house right now. How many corporate
sponsors did we actually reach out to? And that's kind of
that kind of you. That's going to be very important to know
because I know you want to camp on the campaign Trail. One
of the candidates talked about people who even do business
with the city and stuff like that. Saying, you know, can
you take on one or two people and saw the number of people
that do business with the city and things like that. So we
have to make sure we're looking at all of that, to make
sure we getting, especially when it gets to identifying all
year round employment, which brings me to my third
question.
if you had to,
In a few hundred.
If you hide your organization to express interest, and as I
mentioned the vetting process also the capacity of the team
to do that screaming. So with the additional investment as
the commissioner mention, we're going to grow our team to
be able to look at not only you got corporate Outreach side
of it but also working this summer and you can see you. But
also working directly with our you because we know there's
a spring in preparation to have to go into, developing our
young people to fill the seat. So it's not just about to
placement, but it's about the retention and completion of
the actual
And what's that number of all?
and what's that number of all your
And what's that number of all year round position right
now. We're going to 2000 next year.
and,
And my three.
Battering.
Veterans.
Veterans veterans.
Home.
Homeless veteran.
Homeless veterans. What's that number?
Yeah, are better and numbers has reduced significantly
because of Maura Macaulay managing. Deputy Commissioner are
homeless letter and number says, reduced significantly,
because of really targeted Investments by the federal
government. And some from the city, I will have to get you
the actual number through the chair. But I can say that
we've helped over 1,000 veterans into housing or the last
year. Oh, that's good to hear so. So, that veterans number
is being reduced dramatically. All right, so was through
initiatives, similar to the rapid rehousing and I am e
model that we have was built on the work that we did for
veteran so we targeted that group. And so right now what
the term is functional zero because the number has dropped
significantly. I think the other thing that I have not
mention to this body is that we are working with the White
House on the all inside initiative with the white house. So
The.
the biting a
The biting administration's to.
The biting Administration selected a handful of cities to
get specific ta. So we have an individual from the White
House that sits at DSS and helps us address are homeless
problem. I'm in really be strategic because the goal is
that we will reduce unsheltered homelessness by 25% in 2025
and then the migrants who are going from weather supposed
to stay show the shelter and into the communities. It is
what the process of any
What was?
What, what's?
What was the reason?
What was the resources of any wraparound services or people
case management or anything like that? I know I had an
issue in my ward come up and then I had somebody reach out
to the individuals but without the person complaining who
is it is their process or once they move out and into the
neighborhood and they're pretty much on their own.
so,
So for case management, when or hit, when individuals
coming to shelter, you provide them with food, we provide
them with sleeping quarters, right? And then we have case
management that's helping individuals adjusted and
acclimated to their new life. So we work with city colleges
on ES.
Classes. We
classes, we love
Classes. We've leveraged are you and youth services
delegate agencies to provide an after-school activities and
especially on the weekends at the shelter who did that the
summer. Right now we have a partnership with DK's.
Commissioner hockey has been very gracious and has agreed
to take on helping to support. I'm bringing it to the keys
to the shelter. So like Yoga and Fitness activities because
she knows last as the Mission Grove, our team's capacity.
So I'm, she's agreed to do that. After school matters has
been a partner in our shelters and then, we also work with
Metropolitan Family Services, their Legal Aid Society for a
legal right after they get out the shelter, and they're in
the community and in somebody's running out to him or
whatever Development Authority in idhs because we do the
funding for that comes from the state and not from the
city. So they have case managers that they work with. I
don't know if you have any other thing to add about that.
So, what?
So what are we?
So what are we try?
So what are we trying?
So what are we checking that? So if they go from police
station to somebody's house that I DHS is paying for it,
how we attract gnats and hell, can this person is no longer
here. Now, they're at 77th and Peoria, so we have in our
system that they left, but I don't necessarily believe that
we're tracking. What house that where they're living in
that bed. They are out of our shelter system that you are
done with them. They're flying another, you know, issue and
the problem.
Now coming.
now, coming to us as ottoman that we have to deal with and
all I'm saying I'm saying something has to be some
coordination on with the state in terms of
K.
Case.
Case management, something has happen because even as a
relates to a Section 8 tenant or anything like that, if
something goes down, we have somebody to reach out to,
compliance and point or somebody can be in fear of losing
their voucher. In this situation, I would dealing with the
same situation they're just not Section 8 but then who was
West accountability at
Are you going?
Are you going to?
Are you going to jump in the state? And Catholic Charities
is, are really coming together with the city to really talk
about how the resettlement works. There also connecting
people to the Illinois welcoming centres, which are
resources for any new arrival or immigrants community. So
we are trying to bring all the resources together to better
support people in the negative is if it's not there yet.
Working progress. Thank you. Alright. Thank you much. I go
to yours. You and all your staff for all the hard work will
know the situation. There were
Leaving.
Is changing ever.
Is changing every minute.
Every.
everyday, we
every day, we continue to get more and more buses, and it's
just continue to Advocate and in,
Give.
Give the resource.
Give the resources that these people.
Need.
Need mr.
I'm bored.
I'm really heartbroken would happen this morning with my
colleague.
but if
But it's something. The
But it's something that we need to continue to work
together and talk to the community and just also have them
understand difficult situation, we're living in and how
blessed we are all having a roof under her head.
Mini bottle.
mini able to feed our families and provide for them and how
we need to step up to help the ones that do not have the
same place in the way to
just one.
just wanted.
I just want to commend you all for the hard work, you're
putting into these efforts. I know has not been easy. And
every, every time you guys are improving in in changing and
in adding more resources and more people to the work into
the issues. But also wanted to ask you about seniors in our
communities, in the 14th. Ward, we do have one of the
senior centers at 61st and Kedzie.
An.
and,
and I'll
And I wanted to ask you, if there's any allotment in the
budget, I got a call a couple days ago, were apparently,
the place where they put the food to provide every day or
the same Trace isn't working. Is there any way we can
replace it? Is there any way we can? Also, I know we need
some updates in the facility. We need more programming. I
wanted to ask if there's any any consideration for that
site.
words, that
Stores that buy.
Towards that budget this year old woman, I'm going to have
you along to speak to the steam table update, Yolanda
supports, our senior centers services. So with respect to
the actual steam table at the Southwest Regional Center, I
actually believe that same table has been fixed and we
receive temporary steam tables from a vendor open kitchens.
And so I'm happy to report. We got ready to rave reviews
today for the passport, to the World Neil. And so there was
like a jambalaya mural that we did today and so we had a
record participation. Thank you for giving me those
actually. I'm so happy cuz I know how
I got a.
I got, I got seven.
I got, I got several calls even from volunteers to stop
Alderman. The theaters, like you need to help it. I'm like,
yeah, that's why I'm here. So I'm so glad to hear that it
was taken care of. And also to Echo what my colleague said
about any programs or anything. Do you have as, you know,
my communities, 90% my piano. So we will appreciate if we
also get the information for the so hopefully it's in
Spanish in any other language is cuz I also have a Polish
Community in my word which I would love to share all those
programs and opportunities for them as well and
Can I just met?
Can I just make one?
Can I just make one point of clarification on one of the
things that we struggled with at the department, not just
Senior Services. Is just bringing agencies back online and
Staffing and so our instructor program, I think one of the
reasons why there's not seeing is some of our respected
instructor didn't return after covid and so Margaret and
Yolanda are working to bring more as record back on so that
you will see the program that you saw Rico bit. But then
also wanted to touch a homeless in the world as well right
now, connected with your staff. Cuz I have a couple of
areas where we need to continue servicing or homeless
community in the ward. I'm afraid that now with the winner,
right? Of course, they won't be able to stay
To build.
The buildings are saying right now.
the buildings are saying right now, we need to
The buildings are saying right now. We need to make sure
that we move them into a safe space and we provide the
services are the locations with Maura and Andre are you so
that we can and we can even meet with you. We have meetings
with all this and talk about enchantment specifically and
make sure that we're working together on a plan to just
make sure we're all on the same page, okay? And thank you
again, for all of the work that you guys are done.
Thank.
Thank you.
Thank you Autumn Gutierrez. I just had a couple of
questions that I wanted to talk through. Number one. I know
how to make Burnett probably touched on this with a
relation to returning citizens and the need for additional
resources there. I think there were one or two positions in
the budget dealing with dealing with that.
So, within
So within the FSS, we have seven positions in the workforce
division of those seven, we have one vacancy and of the six
staff, we have five of them work on Workforce programs that
are for rent, tree resident. There's also a position. We
have that detail to the mayor's office will, let's former
position. That is also a position that's there. And I think
what we've said is that, that position will make sure that
we hire someone who is a returning resident, but that's all
of your work for initiatives are being dumb.
Aldo's Barber.
All those five or six people.
All those five or six people specifically for those who are
homeless and returning very well, the The Landing Zone the
The Landing Zone that you all have on Burnham Park.
Definitely need some monitoring. The cleanliness of the
inner, one of the business owners there, they tell us they
can use their location because close our street. People
can't get in, people can't get out. How did you land on
that location for being the place? Where everybody comes?
Initially coming to Union Station. I think based on there
was some activity going on. And so only MC work to move the
landing Zone to the new
Okay.
location. So she is at the spot greeting in welcoming
buses. I think director Toronto and I we can have a
conversation with commissioner staller about just the
cleanliness of it. We can have that conversation with you.
One thing that I was a little disappointed about was that
no one ever informed me that the landing Zone was there.
And then I found out about the land is on, basically from
the the court in, from the, from the business owner right
there in that immediate area.
Are.
and,
and I,
And you guys have to do a better job of communicating or
what you doing in relation relationship that. So we
definitely need to have further conversation is one that I
doubt definitely support the efforts of of the, our young
people working toward this working toward the Peace book
and there was something that the, Taylor had long
championed. And I think that what they're advocating for, I
think it's something. I think would be helpful for young
people, especially those that are just involve those that
have the potential to become that. So I think I'm going to
try to help you before they reach that particular point. So
whatever we can do to support them in and their and their
and their Endeavors. Their final set of questions are
around homelessness. I'd be shocked to know that I'd
probably have some of them probably the highest count.
Oklahoma.
I'm homeless been.
I'm homeless beds are in the city and the conditions at a
couple of these places are not are not ideal. The earlier
conversation from the Department of Housing did not include
any Westside locations for capital or enhancements or even
part of the 330 or 350 emergency units.
if you all were
If you all were, will bring it.
You all work will bring it online. What is the game plan?
For the westside of Chicago is released to the the shelter
system?
Mario.
Maria Maco.
Maura Macaulay. Managing. Deputy Commissioner, Alderman. I
am happy to say that we have.
In.
You know.
you notes for
You notes, free, three or four organizations that are on
the west side. One of them is Franciscan Outreach in your
ward who are work to our finalists for the shelter. In the
structure project to make Capital Improvements that I
talked about moving from non congregate, increasing
accessibility and just overall making them more dignified.
They're also a finalist for the DHL track was isshin a
project and they are currently looking for a site and all
of our shelter acquisition finalists are seeking to stay
somewhere in the neighborhood. So they they want they hope
to stay on the west side and keep us here so you know
that's why that's why I wanted you to ask a question.
and,
And again.
And again, all these are enchantments. Are we definitely
have to find better Solutions than people are sleeping in
the parks of sleeping on the side of highways are sleeping
in our schools. I will definitely need to find better
solutions for those individuals. I know you talked about
the if you get the term that use but the intense 325 day of
it, strategy. How how successful have those been and hot?
What is your capacity to do more of those?
So we do those, we try to do one a month or every other
month. It really depends on the schedule on that. We're
doing for the accelerated moving events. I think they have
been successful in getting people to take shelter but a lot
of people don't want a shelter. So that's why the
low-barrier shelters are important but I think we can do a
and Contra strategy tie it to a cell rated moving event and
Rapid rehousing, then people are like, oh okay, you're
going to outreach and engagement me and you're going to put
me in the housing. I think that is been more successful and
that's how we've been able to move more unsheltered people
from living on the street and thousand.
and,
and like you say, you do need your
And like you say, you do need every month.
And like you say, you do need every month or every other
month, again knows unsheltered and then one or two for
those in shelters. So I think it's two things, it's big and
can't my strategy where we bring in services and resources
the Axl rated moving event where we actually connect people
to house. But we, we definitely mean, I am concerned as we
get into these cold months, that I think we have to be
concerned about. Those are like in tents and Out outdoors,
those are in shelter. They, they are in some shelter and I
do understand that people nobody wants to stay in shelter
for extended. Of time, but if we got, some folks are just
out in the cold. I mean, this is Chicago. They're just a
myriad of additional issues that occur from, you know,
people doing propane stuff and stuff blowing.
Open all.
All of that. We've had a couple of those incidents at that
location off of Roosevelt so I'm definitely definitely want
us to work with with those residents so that we can we can
relocate them appropriately to something, that's a little
little little better for them. The other component, we
talked about how much and are we were moving more people
into a housing you stayed.
the number of,
The number of unit.
The number of units.
The number of units you needed was a likes, was it 6637
units? And Rapid rehousing is 3851, right? If we were to
say everyone who was homeless and who may become homeless,
that would be the need. And I think that really supports
why bring Chicago home? I'm is important to develop that
Revenue stream. Now, what how many units do we have today?
2400 households through Rapid rehousing and we plan to do
about another 500 by the end of the month or the end of the
year. And that would basically only account for half of the
real need of what we're already doing. When the Chicago
continual character calculated the number, they are looking
at, not just what we have to do a bun on top of what we
have.
Okay. So what is the cost of those permanent supportive
units that you're speaking of the total cost for mentmore
McCauley managing? Deputy Commissioner for the projections
with the commissioner just outlined including the rapid
rehousing and permanent Supportive Housing, the initial
estimates suggest that we need about a hundred and
fifty-six million annually for operating costs and
Supportive Services.
And 410.
And 422 ml.
And 422 million dollars for the development. So it's like
building new housing units.
I think it.
But I think it's also to
But I think it's also just important to highlight that the
city is a significant founder of homelessness services and
we need a dedicated Revenue stream to really keep them and
be able to scale that. But also the Chicago, Continuum of
Care provides about 86 million dollars in homelessness
services that go towards housing. That doesn't go through
City contracts, they had contracts directly with delegate
agencies, across Chicago and with that Continuum of Care.
We also received 60 million dollars from HUD for a non
sheltered Housing Initiative, which again is going to be
direct contracts with nonprofits in Chicago. But do you
have us will be coordinated and coordinating that work
alongside our current Outreach coordination? That is
bringing on some additional units about 700 permanent
Supportive Housing units,
Okay.
okay, with
so, they
so that
So that still only approximately half of what they need is.
And then there's turnover in in that pond as well in the
end of corporate fun. It looks like we're for our
programming. We're up about from 2020 to almost 20 million
dollars.
4 /.
Corporate.
Corporately or summer, and after-school programs at want to
focus on our after-school programs, what, what are we doing
for our young people in after school? And in, please just
don't tell me about after school matters. What you know,
what are we doing? To help our young people in it. You know
2:30 to 7 hours is 23351000 dollars. I think when you
compare that to 2011 we were spending about 11 million
dollars. So the investment in that is increased. We have a
portfolio of out-of-school-time agencies and strawberries
and far too bad, but we also have the community anchor org
and the safe spaces. So it's a combination of enrichment
activities that are
Be there at.
Be there after school or on the Wii.
Be there after school or on the weekends shatter. Do you
know how many delegates we have for after-school time? Yes.
Again, for you to services or so, through R&R portfolio,
again as the commissioner mention, providing that a school
time programming, we have approximately 100 delegates
delivering services. So I can see where in Richmond, we do
after school reading school year during the summer, in your
long, to make sure that we have quality program. How many
spots do we have? We are, however, we do serve
approximately 10,000, you threw out of Richmond, programs,
could you provide us? The, the, the contractors that you're
working with a bob, Ward, and the number of slots that are
available at each one of these locations for out of school,
out of school programming,
Yes. And then I think the final T want to talk about is is
finally going to talk about is our our babies are our young
people, which are the Headstart and our preschool. For all
what I'm seeming to notice is that
Are we?
Every.
Everybody is from a governmental perspective. Is seeming to
get into the under five child business and what I'm
beginning to hear and see from childcare providers is the
somebody in government is trying to gobble up kids, be it a
Head Start program, be at CPS, what's happening in that
space of our Pre-K, two to three year olds. What's, what's
going on in that space? Is there a shift in funding? Is
your shift and resources? What's happening in that space?
Right.
Rainbow can.
Rainbow. Can you take that please? I can't thank you.
Commissioner, the rifle bird is Burnet. Deputy
Commissioner. Children services division to your question.
There was a couple of pieces of that and so when you think
of children under the age of 3, those children are cared
for in community-based organizations are Chicago. Public
Schools doesn't serve children with in that age group, but
the Early Childhood block grant funding that comes into the
state, doesn't that come through CPS? And then we've done
is the FSS are funded for was considered prevention
initiatives, which is 0 to 3 when it comes to three and
four-year-olds, there's multi facets to who's serving
children across the city of Chicago. There is the Head
Start federal funds.
and on top of that, you do have
And on top of that, you do have to call.
And on top of that, you do have Chicago public schools that
are serving predominantly four-year-old but they do have
some three-year-old classrooms. I agree with you. There's a
lot of people getting into the business of early learning,
you're absolutely correct. But one note I do want to make
and this was from 2021 when there was a change in the DF
assessor City of Chicago Head, Start Grant there are five
additional what's considered recipients were called
grantees years ago that are funded directly from the office
of Head, Start, they are providing Services 4025 within
their organizations. And then through their capacity, they
are partnering with other agencies, across the city of
Chicago, as are we with our funding weed? Directly, we
don't directly operate any centers City of Chicago, refund
agencies around the city of Chicago, to provide those
Services there, other entities, that are getting into it. I
will say that there's a lot of Private Industry. This also
now picking up,
I'm into.
I'm in doing a lot.
I'm in doing a lot of early learning program within the
city of Chicago, that's one that we don't have a lens into,
not know what, you know, those who have maybe a portion of
our prevention initiative dollars, but on the other side of
that, a lot of them are doing private. Meaning that agent
individuals who are coming to their services are paying
fee-for-service. And that's not something that we have a
lens into. But I will say that to your point there is an
expansion of early learning across the city of Chicago.
This expanse.
This expansion.
This expansion though.
so,
So, I understand that we had to change in 21 where we were
no longer, the only game in town for a head start. So now
we have others that are that are doing Headstart. We did
retain some head, start funding and slice, was that a
geographic was at by geography? Was it just by just your
number of slots? Would where do we fit as a city in the, in
the 03 game?
Stop.
I thought start in the
I'll start and then I'll pass it to you. So we went from
being a super Grant, she to one of six so we still have the
larger share of about 54% but then there are five other
agencies that are part of the head start funding. I think
when they did the organization HHS told us, what
communities we conserve, we did not choose our communities.
We asked to serve Citywide and they selected the specific
ones for free on Head, Start and Early Head Start. And then
I think straight.
What?
What community?
What communities do?
What communities? The city of Chicago was serving and then
which communities these other five grand Caesar serving
which,
But you.
But you please continue with the gear S2 again, to what
commissioner has just stated, we did not have an
opportunity to select the communities that we wanted to
serve. We did work with office of Head, Start. And I will
say, one of the conversations that we did have when we were
going through negotiation is where City of Chicago, and we
should be able to be looking across the city of Chicago. I
did look at the communities that they were saying we could
serve. And I said, I've got to find another way to add more
Community areas. One of the ways we were able to do that as
the agency's, the larger agencies that we fun, we're
Partners under them had Partners in other communities. And
that was allowing us to instead of serving the few
communities. We were able to browse broaden our expansion
into some additional Community areas in order to still be
able to serve to Head to Head Start and Early Head Start.
Carol Roberts.
Carol Robertson Robertson is 20 million 6:48 680, Chicago,
Commons, 23050000, 758 City of Chicago 51778 thousand $46
easterseals 13000300.
Two.
Two thousand.
$2,770 Henry Booth House at 16300. I'm sorry. 16301 thousand
to 98th and start early. 19,000 970-8258. So of the slots
Chicago, for Head Start Early Head Start we retain 2756 box
And the other.
And the other, the what is it? What's the balance of the
slots about 5,000 in between the other day? The other
grantees the city and then the other agencies have the
balance of those slots. So if you could just let us know,
bike community area who's doing what I think that we still
would be helpful. Now we moved to the four year olds which
are preschool for all chicks in at what point are all
serves children, three years and four year olds 3 and 4.
Okay. And then that's a state program. For Real Estate,
fund it yesterday Early Childhood black rent, okay? And
then you are, we due east provide services under the other
was that strictly managed by the state in their respective
delegates. We do is I stayed at we are funded directly from
Chicago, Public Schools, the other receipt,
Chicago. Be
Chicago being the law.
Chicago being the longest largest urban area is funded
directly from the state for Early Childhood block grant,
they've been are providing services in school-based
programs. They are been passing off a portion of those
funds to us where we also serve the Region 4 year old and
those three. And four year old size that we have are in
community-based organizations and a couple of schools.
Orchard.
are charter schools.
are charter schools that would does that mean that there's
been a reduction in
LA.
like,
Like Mary's daycare center seeing.
To.
Kid.
Kids under preschool for all because now CPS is China Lite,
gobbling up all the three year olds and 4 year olds to put
them in a CPS programs. What I will say is that there's
plenty of children in Chicago Age 3 and 4 what we say to
our community-based organizations. And we began to look a
little bit differently, as this expansion was happening for
four year olds at CPS asked me how organizations to really
focus on three year olds because many of those that are
there and they transition, for example, in many cases
they've been with them when they enrolled as infants and
toddlers And if they're focusing on three, they get the den
sustained. Programming for children for the first three
years of their life, which is really, really important.
Will I say that there is some places where
There's some struggle.
There's some struggle with.
There's some struggle with a.
There's some struggle with in Rome.
There's some struggle with enrollment. I think that's
across-the-board. And part of that is to fold one is, you
know, a number of classrooms to be able to serve all the
children but their staffing issues across the city of
Chicago also for teaching staff and some of our smaller
organizations are actually struggling to sustain certified
teachers which are required off early. Childhood block
grant, those teachers are required to have a bachelor's
degree with a credential minimum or a professional educator
license. Simply put, there's not enough of those across the
city of Chicago for every classroom, this operational.
okay, I
Okay. I understand that. But it seems like that policy
shift, I think has had great impact, especially on a
smaller daycare centers. Because those children, now are
being sent elsewhere, where in the past, those kids were
able to come to some of our local centers. And that's, I
think that's part of the pain. That a lot of local
providers are feeling, because now they've got, you know, a
big player in in the game. And, and it seems like a policy
shift that, that really was not much discussion on at least
by this body because of the impact that think that it's
happening on a lot of the local,
Take.
Daycare provider.
Daycare providers. Now, I understand that everyone is
having struggles with Staffing and we just I mean in this
is across the board, but I think you, if we're going to be
part of that Challenger, create an obstacle or local
businesses. I think that the vets that warrants a wedding a
conversation, you know, with us because those local
providers are people that live in our communities in that
that work in our communities. And what we're against seeing
is that shift today it's four year olds. Is it going to
keep going all the way down to three year olds and two year
olds and then they'll be no options for parents? We would
hope that that would not be the case, and I will say one
difference between what a community-based organization is
able to do. That is Chicago, Public School is.
Is there?
Is real.
Is really. So,
Is really served.
Is really serve the needs of the working family because
they are able to open up their doors. At 6. In the morning,
they're able to be there till 6 at night, community-based
organizations can provide that what is this body? And what
I say to agencies all the time is, we need to lift who we
are and what we're able to do on behalf of families because
we have an itch. And as long as people understand that
Niche, and when were able to work with parents and we do,
they begin to understand the different. It's, it's when you
are able to have a place where you
Your child is going to be cared for.
your child is going to be cared for the
Your child is going to be cared for that, your entire day,
you're able to go and work and work in peace knowing that
you don't have to worry about. Do I have to be there at
3:30 in the afternoon it makes a difference and that's one
of the things that we're trying to communicate bra and wide
to make sure that everybody understands the difference of
the kinds of services that were able to provide in our
Center centers. It's you know if a mother has two children
and she said she has a school-age child and then she has a
preschool child. I will tell you that their mother is
probably going to choose a school-based program because
that's one place to go and drop those children. We
understand that but what we wanted to do was make sure the
message is very clear on what it is. It were able to do
through the settings in our quality Early Learning Program
and giving parents that true option cuz this really is
about parent choice and how can we do that and ensure the
parents understand the difference? It's you know we're
doing everything we can to make sure it happens and I think
we can assist in giving you more information on that so
that we can
The Voice be.
The Voice be quite.
the voice be white and
The Voice be white and broaden your communities as well.
Okay.
Okay, well, I mean, I understand that but I guess we are at
we have a job to do as it relates to what you just spoke on
it or making those options. I guess a little more play for
for working parents. So again, thank you all for your your
time today. I apologize for keeping you all this late into
the evening. However, we've had some
Free Robux.
Very robust conversations.
very robust conversations are
Very robust conversations are through the day but
nonetheless, always appreciate the work that you all do. Is
probably some of the toughest work that we have in the city
dealing with some of our most challenging populations, as
well as some of our, our, our younger people, and some of
our older. So you all the touching everything. And pretty
much everybody and seeing people at the best in life, and
sometimes at the worst pointed alive. So, appreciate the
work that you all are doing, and I'm sure that there may be
some additional items. If you could get those back until I
send you agreed upon time, frame committee would greatly
appreciate that. Are you all are excused and we will video
stand at ease until 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Your number.
Your numbers.