Good afternoon. Just 1 second. I think that we're gonna let
some members of the public in and then we start.
They're coming.
Blake
or you can start and then let's just wait because last time
we get
welcome, uh, everyone the meeting on the committee on
housing and real estate of the city of Chicago is called to
order today. We have 8 items on the agenda. We'll start
with a roll call to establish quorum.
uh Vice chair Mitchell
Vice chair Mitchell is present alderman.
Alderman Dowell present Alderman Robinson
Robinson present Alderman Harris Alderman Harris present
Alderman Quinn Allman Quinn present Alderman Moore
Alderman Moore present alderwoman Taylor
Alderman Taylor present Alder
Alder is not present all the women Scott.
Alderman Scott is present all the person Fuentes.
All them present all the member Bernette.
Alderman Bernette is present Alderman Rodriguez Sanchez.
all the woman Rosa
Alderman row was an oppressor alderman bagasse.
present all the women clay
all the women clay a minute ago.
Yeah, well she stepped back. I'll I'll come back to her all
the women may not happen with.
all the happen with no president all the women hadn't
all the women had no present.
Uh, how come we
there are 14 members present including myself. So we have
established Quorum. Uh, we have a rule 59 requests from
Alderman all the women myths to participate remotely. Can I
get a motion to allow her to be added to the quorum?
The mobile Alderman is better.
So moves all those in favor say I all those opposed say nay
in the eyes of the chair the eyes have it. Uh, all the
women meet now is on the is online. Can you hear us just to
check? Yes I can. Thank you.
All right. Thank you Al mitz. Um, we also want to recognize
Alderman Conway for the for purposes of the Quorum as a no
member and now we also adding Alder woman clay to the roll
call as well. We have 3 speakers here today each speaker.
We have 3 minutes to speak on all items of the agenda. The
first speaker is Miss Jessica Jackson.
Yeah, she's here. She's coming.
Next will be just so that you're ready. Thank you. Miss
Jackson.
so
in honor of pride month even though I'm very heterosexual.
Make that clear.
but because
That what the Democratic party they big claim to fame is
that you could be whatever you identify as right.
so right now
For sake of my issue. I want to identify as a white woman.
I want people to see me as a white woman right now.
Because that's a white woman if I come in here and talk
about how my property is being illegally taken. Everybody's
going to cater to that.
Everybody's going to want to see what it is that the
problem is and everybody is going to jump on it to try to
help see if I was a white woman talking right now. All
these different conversations wouldn't be going on because
they would know that they better get that white woman her
respect or they would be in trouble with their job. But
because I'm a black woman talking everybody can keep on
talking.
Just like because I'm a black person talking about black
people's property getting taken.
Everybody's going to keep on talking.
And it's so sad because this black woman Clay is standing
up bumping her gums instead of sitting down trying to help.
But that's the way it is when it comes to black people.
So for these few minutes few seconds, just see me as a white
woman.
And try to have some concern for my property being
illegally taken then you got another Doris Lewis who's
black 60 what 80 years old. She just got a letter yesterday
about her condo and have park that's been paid for over 20
years.
And they sent her a bogus letter talking about her taxes
wasn't pay and that they was going to take and that her
property had been taken by taxes.
And her condo been paid for and here's the receipt that her
taxes were actually paid.
but again
when you black
you can't get no justice because it's always more to it
than that, right?
It's 2 sides to every story right even though you could be
sitting here with a whole wheel.
So for another couple of seconds, let my mother be a white
woman.
With a full wheel and see if they take her property from
her children that she worked for and paid for and made sure
that when she died she didn't have a bit of debt so that
her family could get their stuff.
Just identify me as a white woman for a few seconds. And
then let's see if I can get some help. All right and some
attention, too.
Thank you. Miss. Jackson. Next we have Zoe Lee.
Yes, run run run run.
Yes. Anyway, this is the uh, second part of the uh
voicemail.
from this Law Department
Yo.
Her direct line is 3127445650. She will send out the
paperwork for you you to apply to the claims division,
which is like an insurance division that was in the city.
Um, which will consider the matter.
But my mother did that as well. So the reason why he runs
is because as the alderman of the 17th Ward, uh, he was
supposed to reach out to my family to offer us some type of
compasses compensation and then take it to the committee on
chairman. And at that time it was Ed Burke and he did not
do that. So instead of being a man and hold himself
accountable. He runs out like a bitc. Um, as far as his
happy pride month Gabe and Gabe for a very long time. Um,
so I would like to see if I can get my extra um, help and
little stuff that we get when it's pride month. Um, and
also, it's June 10th, too. So hopefully I get some type of
help.
um when it comes to that my mother put in um the paperwork
to claim, uh for that as well and there's a man that works
in that's a claim of Justice been here for 30 years. His
name is Dennis Rafael, Dennis, Rafael still works here and
he committed bad faith insurance fraud by telling my mother
that the statue of limitations was up and it was not up. So
that's a whole another lawsuit. Okay, so I'm just my it's
about to be a whole year. I do not want to spend my second
summertime. Shy here. I really would like help you see that
this man runs off. This is the the fourth meeting and he
runs off he is guilty and that is pathetic and he is an
alderman. He is a public servant and he's supposed to serve
the community the black community and this is terrible. But
this is this is this is the this is the type this and this
is the person that people voted in.
like this is sad, so
I need help.
You need to be a man and you need to reach out to my family
and make it right because the city of Chicago mistakenly
knocked down the wrong building and he is the 1 who told my
godfather that he did. So if it was a mistake the city of
Chicago needs to hold themselves accountable and make this
right I should not have to keep coming down here. I should
not be waiting 7 months from the federal court to give us
decision when I have all the evidence that proves that the
city was wrong.
If people make people mess up.
even even even the government and we all know that
I want my justice so I can continue to live my life and go
back to what I was doing before I had to stop and do this.
Thank you Zoe next we have Taiwan Sims.
Good afternoon committee. Um
And september 2 24th of 2015. I graduated from the man's
bible program. That's at Pacific Garden Mission. I went
there for housing.
and August 6th of tuning 21, I graduated from the
program there at at Safe Haven. I went there for housing
for me and my newly born child yasuke Roosevelt Sims who is
now 3 years old. I haven't seen him in almost a year and a
half.
My hmis number is 355061. And also I have a cha number.
Which is G 0154234.
These numbers are meaningless, though.
Because I've been here.
for the last
half year now 6
so yes been a half a year. It's only more 6 more months in
a year.
And to no avail Miss Dow you said that was housing but the
housing that I was supposedly sent to was not housing but
but the lap Church Miss clay and Miss Clay's Ward.
a dilapidated church with 1 Stoll
1 1 sink
3 shower stalls with black mold
For about what 17 to 13 men?
I've been dealing with this issue since 2015 be so that's
but they said that housing is a human right? So this is a
human rights violation a civil rights violation. Also I
suppose but we have a civil rights man on the um committee.
Martin what's his name?
Matt Martin
Graduated Harvard Law such a prestigious Law School.
Wow, but to no avail.
I'm a constituent 1 individual, but I can imagine all those
shadowed individuals that have been pushed to the
Background by this committee house chairman sio Lopez who I
spoke to personally.
You know about this situation because I've been coming
here.
You know about it because I took spoke to the man to your
side right there gave him the information then I was sent
to a dilapidated Church. No housing.
But this committee is a housing and I've been coming here
for housing. I've been going through different.
Firings for housing in this city of Chicago. So now I'm
asking is how do I sue you all?
How do I hold you all accountable for this blatant
treatment?
But this black American man in this country because I know
in this city. There's more than just me. So how do how does
this work? And I would like some suggestions. I would like
resources given from you all so I could take action against
you all.
All of the representatives here in this room Miss Harris
all of you all see Joe Lopez. What's your name? Right
there? You always looking really like in tune to it, but I
definitely
Because I'm suffering y'all.
Thank you. This concludes our public comment today has not
been any written comments submitted prior to the 5 PM
deadline yesterday. Um, this concludes public comment and
thank you everybody for participating for first order of
business is the rule 45 report from May 15 2024, which was
emailed and handed out to committee members. Can I get a
motion to recommend approval of this report?
So moved by all the women remedies Rosa Sanchez all those
in favor. Say I
All those opposed say nay in the eyes of the chair the eyes
eyes have it now. We will move on to the items before the
committee item number 1 is ordinance 202240000000 96601
First Amendment to lease agreement with the Chicago
Department of Public Health for use of office space at 1111
West Washington Street in the 34th. Word Michelle Woods
from 2 FM and fury, uh, sorry, um,
What Warren and the first Deputy Commissioner at cdph are
present to testify on behalf of these ordinance?
Thank you, Michelle.
Good afternoon, honorable, uh chairman and members of the
committee.
Um for the record, my name is Michelle Woods. I'm the
Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of asset management for
on uh, the department of Fleet and facility management. I'm
here today to request your favorable consideration of a new
lease for the Chicago Department of Public Health who had
previously been located at the deepal center.
At 333 South State Street 2fm learned of vacant space at
111 West Washington from the building owners and Managers
Association and began negotiations for furnished space on
the fourth floor of the building.
It is approximately 35633 square feet of contingent
continuous office space on uh secure floor.
The rent is twenty 5 dollars per square foot, which is
below the market rate. The base rent per month is 74235.
Uh, and annually, it will be a 1 890 825.4 cents. It is a
1-year lease term with a possibility of 2 1-year
extensions.
As background the lease agreement with the city of Chicago
and the deepal center at 333 South State Street expired at
the end of 2023, uh, the Chicago Department of Public
Health maintained administrative offices, uh, and the
deepal center.
The department of technology and Innovation the Department
of Finance. Uh, we're also relocated to 2 North lale in
November and December of 2023 and 2 North lale is where the
Departments of law Transportation housing environment
business Affairs and consumer protection and the community
Commission of Public Safety and accountability as well as
2fm are located.
Do you have fun began working with cdph to identify
locations for their move? Uh, the goal was to locate cdph
and existing City facilities.
Uh as we've discussed at this committee previously, uh new
Personnel hires scheduled for 2024. We're also considered
uh much of the staff was accommodated in existing cdph
leased facilities located in pilson and the Illinois
medical District.
Administrative staff requested a downtown location because
of their need to be adjacent to City Hall.
And as a reminder downtown facilities include City Hall 2
North lale and the cultural center, which are fully
programmed.
This is a shorter lease than we typically present.
um
Because we're doing an assessment of City facilities for
City staff.
During this lease 2fm will work with cdph on an overall
plan for permanent location considering locations and
neighborhoods as well as downtown.
On allowing an extension of this lease will maintain
stability for the staff. We will continue to work with cdph
on assessing a long-term plan for their permanent location
and do our due diligence on the most cost-efficient option
that also provides effective operations for the Department
of Public Health.
This location location has adequate square footage for the
administrative Personnel who need to be adjacent to City
Hall his accessible to multiple modes of public
transportation and has a security presence in the lobby
34th. Wall Ward Alderman Conway does not object and the
landlord is TFO Reva a Goldblum Burnham LLC.
Therefore I ask your uh favorable consideration for this
lease. I am also joined by first Deputy Commissioner of the
Chicago Department of Public Health for Courtney. Wagyu who
can uh, elaborate on other cdph locations across the city
and we are able to answer your questions.
Great. Thank you, Michelle.
I'm glad to be here and appreciate your attention, uh for
Courtney wagal first Deputy Commissioner at the Chicago
Department of Public Health. And as Michelle said just
really wanted to provide some commentary, um in context for
what our footprint looks like in the city.
Uh, the map is up. Um, the Red Dot represents the facility
that we're talking about today downtown which houses about
180 of our 770 employees.
Um, that means 77% of our employees work at the other
locations that are across uh this map.
When we were at the deepal center, we had about 350
employees downtown as Michelle mentioned, um, many of them
about half when to other locations where we are already had
staff and about half came to the location across the street
on Washington.
Uh the pink dots or peach peach pink, um represent offices
where people who work mostly in the field. So think our
food inspectors some of our home visiting nurses our uh
building inspectors that go to homes where a child has had
elevated blood lead levels. They operate out of their
our environmental permitting and inspection folks but
really do their work almost every day out in the field
across the city and then the remaining 16 facilities are
our public facing mostly Clinical Services. So our Wick
clinics our Immunization Clinics our mental health clinics.
um
So that is an overview of our footprint. You can see that
we are 22 locations across the city it it flexes a little
bit sometimes um, and so the facility that we're talking
about today really is only 1 of our 22 locations.
And that is what I wanted to share.
Thank you. There are any questions from committee members
all the women Taylor?
Thank you chair. Um.
Can you go back to the other the map?
I don't know who y'all think is either.
Uh
Nobody can see that that's so can we get a a paper map?
Yes, please. Nobody can see that. Can you go back to the
can you tell me what's the price difference and what do
Paul was and what this new?
amount is
I will get that to you through the chair.
You it says a 1 year lease with the possibility of 2 year
extension. Why would you why would you all want an
extension?
It's not.
It's not what we want. But if we need it, we want to be
able to have that option.
That doesn't make any sense.
Why would we if you saying you only want to do a year with
the possibility of 2 1 year extensions? Why are we not
looking for our own building?
This is a an important department. It needs its own space.
It needs to be somewhere where they could actively do work
and not be shuffled around.
We are actively looking for a new space for the the
department. When is the lease up for the current space that
they're in?
It would be August of this year.
Say it again the August of this year if the this isn't
approved.
What is the condition of this building that they're moving
in? How much work is going to be needs to be done on it?
They they have moved in. Uh, Alder Taylor we moved them in
using the right of Entry, um method and that expires in
August of this year.
And it was a furnished location. So it was uh about as
moving ready as as could be there was some work that needed
to be done to provide the um,
swipe machines that they need and there was some uh,
Minor construction that was also needed for doors, uh that
needed to be replaced there any other City departments in
the building? Yeah.
They're the only city Department in this building.
Thank you.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can you tell me who the
principals are for TFO Reva a Gala Burnham LLC.
I don't have that off the top of my head, but I know the
economic disclosure statements were submitted so we could
get that to you through the chair. Okay, can I get that
through the chair?
Thank you.
Thank you chairman. Um, I just wanted to say that I support
um, this this item passing through committee. Um, I know
how
ambitious cdph agenda is in this term. Um, I think that
cdph is 1 of the most underfunded.
And this invested in departments in our city.
the Chicago Department of Public Health only gets um
7% of its budget from corporate they have to be doing grants
all the time to be able to serve our communities and there
are certainly the serve a place to work that is close to
City Hall that allows us to interact and interface with
cdph, uh a centralized location from where from where they
can move uh to the rest of the city and I for once I'm glad
that you all are getting a decent space to be able to do
that very urgent work that we all need you to be doing. Um,
so I I just wanted to speak in support of this item. Um,
and I hope that my colleagues support it.
Thank you Elder woman Rodriguez Sanchez any other questions
from committee members?
Um otherwise, um, can I get a motion to recommend approval
of this item to move all the person Fuentes? Um all in
favor say I
All those oppose a name and the eyes of the chair and the
eyes of the chairs. The eyes have it. They do pass
recommendation of these orders will be reported out at the
next city council meeting on June 12th 2024. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
The second item is ordinance 2024 D 0000095 85 sale of
city-owned property at 6801 South Dante Avenue and 888926
to 8940 South Machina Avenue to neighbor space for urban
agriculture projects at Dante Avenue farm and fresher
together in the n in the 5th and the 10th words Nelson
Chong from the Department of planning and development is
present to testify on behalf of this ordinance. Thank you
Nelson.
Thank you. Um for the record Nelson Chong to Prime plan
development and I'm here representing the uh ordinance in
front of you today, which is a sale of city-owned property
located at 6801 South Dante and 89.26 to 89.40 South
Americano 2 neighbors space for urban egg projects, um for
launch right there. I do want to kind of uh, talk about
these uh proposed ordinances. They were part of the uh,
they were initially advertised in the November.
2023 shy black Builder lanciault application round
properties were identified with the Almond areas where
there is need for a fresh food. So in partnership with bacp
dpd manages the land sale process and bacp administers the
Chicago Community Growers grant program, which provided a
funding support for these Urban a projects.
Applicants through the program are required to commit for
long-term stewardship and maintenance of life for a minimum
of 10 years.
Proof of support is required from Neighbors Community
organizations to other Growers. The properties are going to
be sold to them for 1 dollar per lot and bacp will monitor
the progress of these annually with uh stipulation at a
farm be fully functional and operational 5 years selling or
donating food to communities a lack access to healthy
foods.
The first urban egg site is the Dante Avenue Farm site at
6801.
South Dante and Southshore Community area
Projects located in the Fifth Ward and support of aldermen.
Uh, yansyi
This above zoning map shows the location that Dante Avenue
farm and the aerial map.
Shows you that the uh, Dante Farm is located between Stony
Island and Oakwood Cemetery. Just south of Jackson Park.
The farm is across the street from an existing, uh,
tranquil Garden community garden, which is also we should
helping this Garden Project by providing water access.
the above site plan shows the proposed Garden which will
include raised garden beds hoop houses herb garden native
plant garden and growing beds. There's a plan demonstration
now Garden in the middle of the site. The farm is led by
alwin Walker who is a military veteran and received
Horticultural training and certification from the center
for Green Technology. He's a resident of CHA Southshore and
his project Partners include wizard Park Evangelical
Church. The city lot will be sold to neighbor space which
is a community open space Land Trust which will manage the
real estate property allowing the gardens to focus on the
buildout of the garden their plans to distribute the
produce and local food pantries at the church and at the
Parkside Elementary School.
The first phase of the project is fully funded by them.
And here you can see the project budget here, which is uh,
they estimated about $1,000.
the second Urban egg Garden Project part of the same
ordinance is the fresher together farm at 8926 South Mano
Avenue in the South Chicago community area.
Project is located in the 10th Ward and support of aldermen
Chico. The site is approximately half acre in size and is
comprised of 7 pins and property 10 is to be sold to
neighbor space again. Just simply like the 1 before will
hold a property for the fresher Farm together site project.
the above zone map shows the location of the uh property
and this aerial map shows that the is located on Mikado and
90th Street just across the street from the uh, Chicago
Park District Shafer Park The Man shows that area is coming
a uh, a hub in Nexus for urban aging and South Chicago
neighborhood.
plans for the garden include a large raised vegetable
garden beds hoop houses extended growing season a Farm
Stand Community patio and nature play area and these
following images which were prepared by Garden shows. You
kind of a rendering conceptually what they are proposing to
do to receive their Farm Stand seating areas. And here you
see some of the uh, uh, the more demonstration Gardens that
they have planning do again. The size of the slide is a
possibly half acre
the cost for first phase is
150,000 dollars and a garden group is led by fresh Roberson
who created fresh Earth together as a collaborative.
Food and farming project for the healing neighborhood
reinvestment and culinary training. They are dedicated to
creating Equity across food and agricultural systems and
support black and lgbq communities to make
nutritious food available for all will grant some place.
They are prepared to build off first phase of their Urban
egg project and neighbor space again will provide real
estate expertise holding the land allowing fresh together
to uh, put all the efforts toward and build out of this
Farm.
So in summary, the department planning has reviewed the
proposed sale of both the Dante Avenue farm and the fresher
together farm and recommend to the committee for the
approval for the sale of these properties. Thank you for
your consideration.
Thank you Nelson. Are there any questions from committee
members?
Otherwise, it's going to make a have a motion to move some
move by Alderman KS and I want to take advantage to
recognize almond Ramirez Rosa and man that happened with to
the roll call. Um all those in and thank you for the
motion. Almond Rosa any all those in favor. Say I
All those opposed same name in the opinion of the chair. The
eyes have it the do pass recommendation of these items will
be reported out at the next city council meeting on June 12
2024 the next item item number 3 is ordinance 202400009591
sale of City owned property at 3320 and 3322 East 90th
Street to Steward market lac for construction of community
garden in the 10th Ward Nelson from also again from the
parental planning will be here to present this item. Thank
you Nelson. Thank you guys and um sharing again for the
record Nelson Chong Department Plan development, and we're
and we're here representing the sales City on property at
3320 at 33322 East 90th Street to the stalwart Garden for
open space.
This next ordinance is for the uh proposed sale discard for
open space. The property was advertised similarly 1 before
and shy black Builder, but as an application for open space
not the urban egg individuals nonprofits or business can
apply for open space and are required to provide neighbor
letter support.
Sharing a community meetings and consistently with whenever
plans program requirements stipulate to improvements are
complete within 1 year and are required to hold a property
for 5 years.
To the proposed Open Space Project and is the Salvo Garden
at 3320 East 90th Street in the Southshore Community area
project is located in 10th Ward and has a support of
aldermen Chico. The size a lot is 4,640 square feet and
comprised of 2 pins to purchase price for this 1 is 1,392,
which is 10% of the uh, market value of these 2 pins
together.
The above zoning map here shows the location of stalwart
garden and the area map here.
Here shows the uh in the similar to the same area. Actually
I don't have here but he has same area as yet as the prior
Garden which I showed in terms of the fresher together. So
it's actually about 1 block away from that same Garden.
Just west of the Chicago Parts district Shaffer Park, uh
stalwart Market Gardens led by Felicia Kimber who's a
longtime resident of the neighborhood. She's a graduate of
city colleges of olive Harvey College and received training
in agricultural services. So I answered graduating. She
continues to provide instruction at all of Harvey the
greenhouse as well as provide technical assistance to
gardeners and her neighborhood and South Chicago as a
recipient of the uh, Chicago Community Growers program.
She's intending to utilize her funds to start a new Garden
her own garden at 3320 East 90th Street.
Her project goals include promoting Community engagement,
encouraging healthy living and providing logo.
Environmental improvements here you actually this is a uh
location map. You can see the stalwart Garden right in the
middle just to the south of the fresher together Garden
site.
Above is the proposed site plan for the uh, stalwart Garden
which includes raised garden beds for vegetables and
Outdoor Classroom.
Demonstration Gardens and a Farm Stand in Front. They have
an estimated project budget 128,000 of which 80,000 is
already been supported by the the community Growers grant
program. So in summary Department planning has reviewed the
proposed project and recommend to the committee to approve
for the sale of this property and thank you again for your
consideration.
Thank you Nelson any questions on committee members?
Otherwise, can I get a motion to approve to move by
Alderman? All those in favor? Say I I all those opposed the
chair the eyes have it. They do pass recommendation on this
item will be reported out at the next city council meeting
on June June 12th, 2024.
um, the next item on the number 4 is um is uh old 202
2400000000 9593 a sale of city-owned property at 2:15 East
45th Street to Candy cops in the third world. We have a
substitute ordinance for this item. The updated ordinance
corrects the purchase the purchase price from 25500 to 2000
2022.
50 all committee members have received a copy of this
ordinance via email. Can I get a motion to accept and
consider the substitute ordinance to move a alderman Dow?
Um, all those in favor say I all those opposed and name in
the eyes of the chair the eyes have it now we have the item
in front of the committee. Again Nelson Chong from the
Department of planning will be presenting. All right. Thank
you again, uh for the record Nelson trunk Department
planning. Um, this proposed sales this sale property at
2:15 East 45th Street to Candy cops.
and this property located in the Third Ward ugh, and it has
support of alurn Patel the overview slide shows a summary
of the land sale candy cops is the owner of property at 457
South Indiana and proposes to acquire a portion of the rear
City lot to connect her property to the alley and the
dimensions of the proposed city city city lot. She's
proposing to buy is 50 feet wide by 49 ft. So it's really
small about 2400 square feet.
market value your property is 22500 and she's proposing an
Inquirer at 10% which is the
2250 which is the substitute ordinance, um and
consideration for the uh, uh, the the lot is not buildable
in the rear and she's been maintained a lot since she
acquired a bill initially for 2005. She thought the city
lot was her property and it's been more than 25,000 her
money maintaining a lot. So again the zooming in this is a
A location map at a property shown a property just south of
45th Street in West King Drive.
The aerial map shows the location City lot and is in the
rear of her building. So her building fronts, Indiana,
which is on the left side.
This property said well map shows the absolutely planning
of the block and here you can tell that the um, it's not
just her property but the 3 adjacent properties to the
north and on the corner all do not have access to the
alley.
And this is a Google street view of the front long,
Indiana.
And Google street view from the rear and what the city
Department planning do is we're proposing to take the city
1 City lot and actually subdivide it here into 4 individual
laws, which we will sell to each of the properties on the
front which will essentially create more, uh, return these
last 2 more standard city laws having standardized Lots
extending all the way to the Ally that way they can allow
space for their uh, either a carport garage or actually
have built a legally walk across to the alley
Uh, Miss Cobbs is a property that's on the left side.
Again, this is her property in front.
And this is the view at the back here. You can see the
situation right now where because of the city a lot
basically obstructing any access for any of the properties
on the front which is the intent of this program. So the
uh, um, I do want to summarize that the project here is the
uh department has reviewed the proposed intent of the
project and supports the sale of the city lot to miss
Cobbs. Um, we are uh, uh,
um, and again, um all in Dallas here in support of projects
that I'm here to answer any questions. Is there any thank
you Nelson, um any questions or comments we start with
Alder and then we closed while the woman is now thank you
so much cheer Nelson. I'm just so curious because it is a
very irregular lot.
How if you can even ballpark this how long is the city been
in position of this lot? And how did we come to be in
position of it? Um good question. Um,
Uh, many of the city lots that we acquired we acquired
through tax sales and a lot of bulk of them. We acquired
them probably in the late 90s. Um, I don't have the detail
in terms of the actual date when the city had quite a lot
but City acquired these Lots, uh, live them through, uh,
essentially when people start paying for taxes goes to taxi
on City acquirers and um, um, I hate I
Don't want to say this is a outlier but um in some parts,
especially I think in Alvin Dow's word and third or fourth
word. Uh, the the planning is unusual and and a lot of
effort what we do is we're looking to try to find ways as
straight in and out and make it easier because it is really
well. You know, now let's buyers are really paying careful
attention to their transaction when they buy the property
looking at surveys checking their title, then you really
know but unfortunately, uh, it's not necessarily the case
and and we're finding that, you know, if we can find a way
to help clean things up and make it easier. It's going to
just make things a whole lot better for everybody and safe.
So this is in a way
an opportunity not just to clean up 1 Lab, but and it will
work with all men Dow on on the listing at the other lot so
we can essentially
help for property owners. It's fantastic. It's such an
interesting piece of business. I appreciate your
explanation. Thank you, sir. Thank you chair.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. You just made it prompted prompted
this question. You said that we purchased this property
from a tax sale? Yes, so the city of Chicago. We also are
pursuing tax delinquent. We were back back in the uh 1990s
before there was a Cook County Land Bank city was uh, uh
acquiring many of these tax sales essentially to kind of uh
Land Bank them for future Redevelopment. So these were a
lot that the that uh were
Taxes went through annual tax sales scavenger sales and city
was uh picking them up. No. No, I I know so so we no longer
participate in that or not anymore. We're not really we're
um, globally the city has 9 10 thousand City vacant Lots.
So we're not in a position to uh, um, increase our
inventory. We're looking to decrease our inventory. Okay?
Well, thank you. Thank you Alderman Alderman Dal know
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a cleanup and Nelson and I
appreciate your work on this and ask for the committee to
support this.
Thank you. Thank you. Can I make a motion to approve them?
For mobile other person fentes all those in favor say I all
those opposed in the opinion of the chair the eyes have it
the do pass recommendation of these orders will be reported
reported out at the next city council meeting on June 12th.
2024. Thank you Nelson for your presentation. Uh item
number 5 is ordinance 202400009590 sale of city-owned
property at 4204 42084210 4218 to 48 4230 and 4232 West.
Lake Street to Lake killer LLC for construction of
industrial building in the 28th word earnest Bellamy from
the Department of planning and development is present to
testify on behalf of this ordinance.
Thank you Ernest.
Thank you chairman and good afternoon to you and all the
committee persons, uh for the record. My name is Ernest
Bellamy with the Department of Planning and Development, uh
as mentioned today. I bring forward a proposal for a land
disposition at 4204 through 32 West Lake Street.
the address range consists of 11 Parcels for disposition
Uh to be concise. The individual parcel numbers are noted
on the above screen.
Uh, the sum total square footage for these Parcels are
49452 square feet.
They are located within the 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin,
uh in the West Garfield Park Community area.
The parcels are also located within the Northwest
industrial quarter Tiff.
The developers are Lake and Keeler LLC. Um
Of which um, James riverette is in the the audience as well
as the attorney for this this proposal bridgid O'Keefe.
Uh, they start to engage the department in september 2020
with their interest in creating a spec industrial building.
Total development costs, uh is roughly around 5.9 million.
For this disposition Alderman Ervin has issued. Um a letter
of support.
Uh, the parcels are again are located within the northern
portion of the West Garfield Park Community area.
Uh, the parcels are within the city block North of West
Lake Street in between North Keeler Avenue Westward,
approximately 357 square feet.
or pardon fee
Um running West Lake Street, the vacant Parcels are within
a predominantly vacant lot conditioned. Um, um stretch. Um,
of West Lake uh, which is also characterized by um,
industrial, uh buildings, um within the West Garfield Park
Community area
And you can see a little bit more of that context here in
the 3D Site Area.
The proposed layout for the the spec industrial building is
shown above Lake Keeler LLC will combine the 7 City Parcels
a pardon the 11th City Parcels, uh with uh, private Parcels
which uh, they currently own to create a 1-story 44,000
square foot industrial building.
um
They've also mentioned that um, you know at time of closing
they'll they'll have leased out half of uh, the building to
a proposed uh, um tenant. Um,
Can advertise right now until they they know for sure they
have the land so they they want to uh, do things uh in
proper due diligence.
uh
designed in accordance, uh with applicable zoning and
Landscape requirements the capacity for the parking lot
will be 30 vehicles.
The following are elevations for the proposed, uh
industrial building the facade material will be of pre-cast
concrete.
I'll pause here for uh any questions from the committee.
Thank you Ernest any questions from committee members?
Otherwise, can I get a motion to approve?
So mobile all those in favor say I I those opposed and a in
the opinion of the chair the eyes have it. They do pass
recommendation on this item will be reported out at the
next city council meeting on June 12th. 2024. Thank you
Ernest. Um item number 6 is ordinance 202400000095 95
issuance of multi family housing, um loan to 1237, North
California 9 PCT. Hhdc LP for affordable housing
development at 12:37, North California Avenue in the 26th
word.
Crystal Allen from the Department of Housing is present to
testify on behalf of this ordinance. Thank you Crystal.
Good afternoon, chairman and members of the committee. My
name is Crystal Allen with the Department of Housing and
I'm presenting to you today, uh request to support the
ordinance for the benefit of 1237, North, California.
The proposed project 1237 North Carolina is in the 26 War.
Humble Park Community area and Alderman Jesse Fuentes who
also has provided a letter of support for the project.
The project 1237 North Carolina was selected through the
2021 qap funding round.
The developers are Hispanic Housing Development
Corporation, which is familiar with the city and their
experience includes its most recently constructed.
development located at 1201, North Carolina
which had its ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday 2 weeks ago
May 17 2024
the 1237 North Carolina project
Is a 6-story new construction which will produce 40
affordable units.
The project will contain on-site management.
community room laundry male and packaged reception area
and will provide 21 parking spaces.
The 1237 North Carolina project is less than 1 block from
CTA bus service.
The project is also located directly across from the Humble
Park parking Group Humble Park grounds, which offers
residents walking paths playroom playgrounds and various
recreational facilities.
The uni profile will contain 40 affordable units reserved
for families at or below 65% Ami
the unit mix will consist of 1-bedroom 2-bedroom and
3-bedroom.
units
additionally 18 units have been assigned cha project-based
vouchers.
Which also?
comprise 45% of the total unit profile
today's requested action is approval of the issuance of up
to 8.7 million in multifamily loan funds for the
development of 1237, North Carolina.
The total development cost are 30.2 million.
the city financing consists of up to 8.7 million in
multifamily loan funds
and also 1.6 million in 9% litac which will generate Equity
of 14.2 million.
This concludes my presentation.
However, Steve pores and Paul wrote Dan of the Hispanic
Housing Development Corporation are here to testify on
behalf of the request and available to answer any
questions.
Thank you. Does Mr. Roam would like to add to the
presentation or just for questions?
We only need that. Uh, this 1 development is part of a
larger comprehensive, uh concept development Concept in uh,
the community to uh, mitigate the effects of rampant
gentrification. Uh, I got to tell you right now that we
purchased the
Property from Bankruptcy Court 3 years ago for 1.1 million.
It was appraised uh last week for 3.2 million. This is a
prime example of the kind of increase in in values that are
uh, uh, just destroying people who have been in these
communities 30 sometimes 40 years. Uh, so so hopefully this
development will be 1 of number of projects that we we and
others are doing to keep people who have been in the
community there in place going forward. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roll down. Uh any questions from Alderman?
Um, um,
I don't know all the person to say something or okay, but
mayor Bernette.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, first of all, I want to say
congratulations to you, uh Alderman, uh, and
congratulations to Paul Rodan. Uh, we've been working with
Hispanic housing for many years. I just wanted to ask, um,
Um, so what used to be there? Was there a community center?
I thought that was a community center. I remember going
over there.
Hello the person Fuentes.
Oh, there it is. All right. So before they're used to be an
organization there called Kasa Puerto Rico served, uh, many
of our seniors in our community residents. Unfortunately,
the leadership of that organization, uh did not have their
finances in order furthermore. Uh, they were still dealing
from their own organization straight up, um that put the
property uh in bankruptcy and so uh with without Hispanic
housing purchasing the property, you know, what we see in
many gentrifying communities and multi-million dollar
developer would have come in and bought condos the way we
see on California all throughout across the street from the
park. Uh, so we're in fact grateful for Hispanic housings
and intervention in uh, spending months in bankruptcy court
to acquire this property.
well, well congratulations to you all I know that the uh
gentrification is something that's very challenging and and
and a lot of folks don't know that it's it's moving West
like wildfires, uh, you know, as far as on in my water on
Central Park,
Uh 1100 block properties going for over 750,000 dollars.
And the drug infested area. Unfortunately that is like that
but people are spending the money and they don't care they
spending for the future they betting on a car.
And uh, if we don't if we don't balance it out.
If we don't make sure that uh people who can't afford a
million-dollar home are able to stay there. They won't be
able to stay there. So I commend you all the men I commend,
uh Hispanic housing who owns properties in my ward and
and manages properties in my ward for always standing up
regular people to be able to have a place to stay. So
congratulations to you. I support this 100% Thank you. Any
other questions. I want to talk about what all the person
is going to close.
Awesome. Thank you chair. I I just have 2 questions and
then I'll I'll close with my supportive remarks. Uh, when
can we expect that Hispanic housing closest on this
property? Um, and then ultimately begin construction. I
know the city is only funding a portion of it. Uh, but when
are we anticipating closing? Um, I will definitely get that
answer to the chair. Perfect. I appreciate that. Uh, look I
have lived in Humble Park my entire life, I grew up the
street from Humble Park on kedzi in between Beach and here
which is just the other side of this development. Uh, there
was just single family home that was sold for 2.5 million.
Million dollars on Kenzie. There's a 2-bedroom condo
currently 3 buildings away from this development 2 bedrooms
that's being sold for half a million dollars.
The average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment anywhere near
the park is above 2,000. I I I just seen a 3-bedroom
listing listed for thousand dollars a month for rents.
We have had black Latino Mexican, uh families living in our
world for a very long time and I'll tell you the number 1
concern that I get.
Is all the person cannot afford to live here past this
year. We had homeowners just received their tax Assessments
in West Chicago Township, and they seen anywhere from a 30
to 50% increase.
These are increases are our community residents can afford
affordable housing developments.
Are a priority particularly for Wars like the 26 world
where we're seeing rapid gentrification displaced families
every single day.
I also want to say when we talk about affordable housing.
It doesn't have to mean less quality. It doesn't have to
mean that our families live in conditions that are
deplorable just a few weeks ago or a week and a half ago.
We cut the ribbon for an affordable housing project that
Hispanic housing is the developer on called Pedro. Alisu
Campo 64 affordable units just around the corner.
And I invite you all to take a look at these units. They're
absolutely beautiful with the view of the entire city a
view of downtown and the park. This is exactly what
affordable housing should look like. Uh, when you look at a
building like this, this is inviting people want to move
in. This is what affordable housing and density should look
like um, this is going to be what I hope to be 1 of many,
uh developments, um and ribbon cutting in the 26 War
because quite frankly our residents just deserve that much
and I'm grateful to eat and his leadership and his team, uh
for viewing the 26 W, uh, and his mission to make sure that
people stay housed and Humble Park. Thank you chair. Thank
you all the person Fuentes. Um,
Before I take uh, the motion to move forward, I would like
to also thank the um the partnership with the city. He's
finding housing and commend the other person Fuentes for
um, the leadership to make this happen indeed to address
this placement in our community. Uh, there's no doubt that
we need to supply affordable housing. Uh, the market is not
going to address the huge deficits of housing, especially
for seniors and families. So we welcome the the projects
that are bringing forward to the community and I I
encourage every council member, um to look for
opportunities like this so that we can really address the
huge issue of displacement. Um, that is taking tolls on
entire communities like humble park and other communities
across
The city. Um, so thank you again for for the partnership and
I'm going to entertain a motion to move forward. So mobile
the person Fuentes all those in favor. Say I
all those opposing a and the opinion of the chairs that I
have it congratulations to the 2026 word and
Um, thank you again for the presentation Crystal. Yeah,
they do pass recommendation will be reported out of the
next city council meeting on June 12 2024. Um,
the next item is um, um, an aldermanic introduction, uh
ordinance 2024 Dash 0000096 38 modification of fee
reductions and waivers regarding to the Redevelopment of
agreement for reclaiming Rosalind project in the ninth
word. Uh Alderman bill as a non-member has requested to um
present in front of the committee, uh remotely, uh, do we
have Alderman bill on the
Yes, can you hear us Alderman bill?
Yeah, I'm here Mr. Jim. Go ahead. Alderman bill go. Uh,
we're ready for your presentation. All right. Thanks, Mr.
Chairman, Mr. Chairman. This is just clean up work from an
ordinance that we passed last month, uh out of this
Committee in order to have these lots to be eligible for
City subsidies as well as fee waiver. So this is just
cleanup work that I worked with the law Department in order
to move forward.
Thank you Alderman bill. Um.
Are there any questions from committee members? Otherwise,
can I get a motion to move to move?
So move by Alder person Rodriguez Sanchez all those in
favor. Say I all those opposing a in the opinion of the
chairs the chair the eyes have it. They do pass
recommendation of this ordinance will be reported out at
the next city council meeting on June 12 2024. Thank you
Alderman bill.
Thank you.
Item, uh, this is the final item item number 8 is ordinance
2024 that's 00000 7327 the 5th intergral inter
intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Housing
Authority extending the option to continue hearing 10 and
grievances for new 3-year term plus, uh, the option for 1
additional 2-year term thereafter, uh the item. I just want
to just give a quick background, uh, before the
presentation. The item was held a few times in committee
and is returning today after request from the committee to
hold until after the cha subject matter hearing that took
place in May in our mid May meeting. There were still
pending questions on the cha grievances grievance processes
to respond to these and clarify the scope of the fifth
intergovernmental agreement. We held a series of briefings
this week. All committee members should have received the
presentation as well as the supporting documents via email
and printed versions are in your packets today.
depending uh through the chair request from the maid cha by
annual meeting are being finalized this week. And we expect
to relay all those documents through the committee shortly
this week we have now in front of you. Um,
Anthony Rizzo from the Department of administrative
hearings and Elizabeth Silas the deputy general counsel for
the cha 2% and give the presentation and answer any
questions from committee members.
Good afternoon. Thank you for consideration.
Again, Anthony Rizzo Department administrative hearings.
We're asking for consideration this 5th row of the
intergovernmental agreement between the cha and the City
Department of administrative hearings.
The cha has an existing internal grievance process that
allows residents to address such uh lease related issues as
drug calculation and relocation requests.
The cha makes every effort to resolve these internally and
uh, Deputy General Council silence can explain further. Uh,
however, if a resident is not happy with the outcome of
that internal process. They have the right under the
grievance policy to appeal in a formal hearing.
the sole purpose of this IGA is to allow those formal
hearings to be brought to Administrative Hearings or
independent administrative law judges outside of the cha
can review the grievance.
Uh again, this is a uh, 3 year term with an up for a 2 year
extension.
um
The at the beginning of this when we started this in 2004.
This has been going for 20 years, uh, the cha approach doah
and asked for uh resumes for qualified trained
administrative law judges. Those were presented to the
central advisory Council comprised of CHA residents.
The cha resident advisory Council along with the chah chose
the hearing officer that they wanted to hear these cases
and while there were some retirements those those chosen
ljs are still the LJ's to hear these cases today.
So I will let uh, Miss silus explain a little further about
the internal process and how they come to us.
Good afternoon. My name is Elizabeth silus. I'm Deputy
general counsel for the Chicago Housing Authority. I'd like
to thank the chairman the vice chair and all the older
persons for taking the time to uh, listen to us today. Um,
I want to present to you to a little explanation of how our
process works the cha has an internal process and that is
governed by our grievance procedure.
That grievance procedure is based on the federal
regulations that are passed by Hud housing Urban and
development that regulation is 24 CFR 966.500. That is the
guidance that creates our grievance procedure. Our
grievance procedure process is for our public housing
residents in the program the
Residents are allowed to have grievances based on rent
determinations or rent matters, uh and Lease compliance
issues and on relocation type issues. And as a city is
aware of we had a relocation process that was going on
where we moved the residents from 1 location to another and
they had to write to grieve if there were any issues that
happened while they were getting replacement housing and so
our grievance procedure internally starts with an informal
hearing that Resident tries to meet with our property
management team our property and asset management division
within the cha and with the chah itself to try to resolve
any of those issues before they need to go to a next step
if there is a need that there has to be a formal grievance.
The resident can request that that formal grievance process
is the portion that becomes to the Department of
administrative hearings.
That is for we created this process because we wanted to
have and the central advisory Council which is made up of
our public housing residents every traditional site of CHA.
They have an election every 3 years and every 3 years the
residents of the site elect a president for their site that
president that local advisory council president makes up
the central advisory Council that represents our public
housing residents.
that organization requested from us to have a third-party
neutral person to be able to hear those grievance hearings
because before we worked out with the Department of
administrative hearing to have this process those type of
matters were heard by an employee that was with the chah or
within the office of the general counsel, and we agreed
that we wanted to have a neutral party involved with this
matter.
So some of the things that just understand the scope of
what this GA IGA will cover the issue of the IGA is to
cover just the formal grievances when a resident requests
that their their needs have been met with that informal
hearing decision. That's come forth. What is also not
covered in the scope are issues that involve like
unresolved work orders issues that are other outside of
rent related disputes or rent compliance issues. For
example, if residents are disputing among themselves the
property management firm the cha parties try to get
involved to resolve those issues, but that's not something
that can be grieved because it is between 2 parties both of
them being residents of the housing authority and you want
to try to work those out so that there's not an issue that
gets any further that unfortunately could end up having
someone ending up in court and we don't want that our goal
is to keep people housed. So we try to resolve as many
issues as possible at the informal level so that they don't
have to get to a formal stage, but we must have a formal
discussion.
Process in place because we want to make sure that the
resident gets their day.
And this is also a process that takes place before it
unfortunately may get in front of a judge a courtroom. We
want to try to resolve those matters before it gets there.
It also doesn't come in front of this is H hcv which is our
housing Choice voucher program. They have a different
document. It's called their housing Choice voucher and
administrative.
Plan that plan governs how they have their grievances how
tenant families have are are interact with the program and
with their own private landlords. So those type of cases do
not come through this process as well.
Just so to give a little bit more information and I will
try to be brief so that I can leave questions.
Our informal hearing process is spelled out in several
ways. We spell it out in our a cop that's called our
admissions and continued occupancy policy that document
governs the public housing side of the program. So in
several portions of that document we spell out when
residents are eligible to have a grievance procedure that
document goes out for public comment every couple of years.
We try at least every year to release that document for
public comment anyone in the city can comment on that
document.
Once those comments come in we review them. We respond to
those comments the central advisory Council reviews those
responses to those comments as well. And then this document
goes to our Board of Commissioners for approval.
We also have in place.
a free grievance procedure that procedure spells out the
process of how to ask for an informal hearing and how to
have a formal grievance hearing and again, as I said, we
tried to handle informal grievances at a point to try to
resolve them. So they do not get to the final stage of
needing a formal and try to work everything as we can out
with our residents.
The grievance procedure as you can see is laid out in
several documents. We've Incorporated that language as well
into our lease. So in portions of our lease, it is also
spelled out when a resident is eligible to risk request a
grievance. We've also have provided a full grievance
procedure that document is given to Residents when they
sign their lease.
It just so the record that you will note. I am working with
the central advisory Council because they we have met and
they have asked that we work on streamlining that document
to make it a little bit more user friendly. So I will be
working with them this Summer to work that document. So
it's a little more user friendly that document will also be
posted for 30 days. So all residents in the authority and
anyone who wants to see it will have a right to review that
document and make comments on it before it finalizes.
Our grievance procedure as I've stated is also included in
our admissions and continuous policy. And also that
document is given whenever someone has an informal hearing
and a decision is made on that informal hearing they are
given the documents to be able to request a formal
grievance.
Now as and uh, Anthony Rizzo has stated earlier. This is an
independent process. We wanted them to have an independent
process essential advisory Council helped us to choose to
hearing officers those hearing officers still hear those
cases today. This is a 3-year option with a 2-year
extension. We have been doing this since 2020 since 2004.
We'd like to have continued that so that the residents have
that act opportunity to have that form of grievance when
requested
I think with that I would ask for your favorable
consideration.
Any questions, I'm happy to answer.
Are there any any any questions other other woman tailor
alderman?
The property managers don't play a role in this grievance
process. The property managers will play a role in this
grievance. So the in the Resident could ask for an informal
hearing they asked for it with their property management,
or if it was another department that made the decision that
the resident is grieving about then that part that
department within cha would be involved with that grievance
hearing with the resident. Usually if a resident
Is having an informal hearing with their property manager
someone from our property and asset management division
within cha, we call that our Pam division someone in their
office, which is a called a portfolio officer would also be
involved with that, uh that grievance hearing to try to
assist in resolving the matter that the resident is
Raising.
So when that process there is no third party.
And then you reaching in the beginning portion of the
process and the informal hearing there is no third party.
It is the cha the property manager in the Resident trying
to work that out now if the resident and I has wants to
bring anyone to a system they do have that right to bring
somebody in fact if they want to bring an attorney. They do
have that right to bring an attorney. We as I said we try
to resolve these matters as best we can any way we can so
for example, if a resident doesn't want to go to their
property manager and an attorney contacts us in their
behalf, then my office will work with them to try to
resolve the issue because we want to try to resolve the
issue so it doesn't have to go through this process.
Well the chair can we get a list of all property managers
for cha.
I'm see what is it? You like a list of all the property
managers or the the property managers?
Thank you chair. Thank you.
Attorney is that paid for by the resident or do you provide
the free? Oh for the for the attorney the resident usually
would go to the legal assistance Foundation or they'll
obtain their own attorney, uh for the hearings themselves
for a formal grievance that is paid by the Chicago Housing
Authority. We pay the flat fee, which is an eighty dollar
flat fee. And then we pay hourly for the the administrative
hearing judge that hears that matter. So we pay that
directly to the Department of administrative hearings. They
bill us on a quarterly basis.
Thank you chair. Thank you for the presentation. I had a
couple questions. Uh 1 question. If you would go back to
the slide that talks about the central advisory Council you
mentioned that the central advisory council is made up of
the presidents of the local advisory councils for their cha
sites.
For cha sites who have gone through the plan for
transformation who have become which have become mixed
income sites might understanding from experiences that
those locations no longer have local advisory councils in
those cases who represents those communities, like leth of
homes, for example who represents leather homes on the
central advisory Council. Okay. So in the based on the HUD
requirements that states that a local an advisory Council
cannot represent in a mixed income site. We have created
because an unbudgeted cha, there are 2 unbs there is
Crystal Palmer and Sharon Wheeler and they meet with the
residents that live at the mixed income sites that does not
prohibit any Resident that lives in a mixed income site
from going back to any res any Central advisory council
member or talking to any other resident to get assistance,
but we do meet with them meet with our resident.
that live in the mixed income sight on a quarterly basis in
regards to to obtain any issues that they have and that
assist them and our residents are also notified that live
in the mixed income site that if they need assistance, they
can contact to Crystal Palmer and Sharon Wheeler directly
for assistance and the residents that live in the mixed
income site that are a public out that our public housing
units. They're also eligible to be uh have the same
grievance hearing process.
Okay.
I appreciate that.
It's not a topic for this meeting, but I I would like to
see the committee at some point talk about the the I would
I would say the dwindling representation for cha residents
in mixed income sites particularly as more and more sites
go through this mixed income.
Process it I don't think they should be disempowered from
representation on the CAC because of this conversion to
mixed income. So maybe chairman. I will follow up with you.
Uh, our offices are are next to each other. I know where
you're to find you, um to find it. My my other question was
If you can it's a 2-part question into my final question,
if you can possibly ballpark for us the percentage of
complaints that go to the formal hearing process. So if it
was 40 over I think we were told last time the past 10
years or so, um what percentage of overall complaints do
that those represent and how can orders and our offices be
more proactively informed of complaints being raised I say
this because it was disturbing and not admit I met with
skepticism.
the idea that
complaints are being so successfully resolved that such a
slim percentage. It feels like would have risen to this
level. How can we be more proactively informed of
complaints that are coming forward to management? Okay. So
in in response to the first part of your question, uh
within the period that um, Mr. Rizzo was able to pull their
approximately 40 cases, but since this had since this
original Inception of this matter the formal grievance
process when someone's requesting a formal grievance those
document requests come to my department within the office
of the general counsel I have in my records 600
approximately 625 cases that have happened over a 20-year
period in regards to Residents most of those cases either
or resolved before I got them to Mr. Rizo's office with the
Department of administrative hearings or those hearings
were either held or not or or and resolved.
By an a an AGA listening to that decision.
most of the cases that we had in the beginning were
involving our relocation process and whether or not people
were eligible to return back to certain sites. So we had a
larger amount of cases in the beginning. We have a less
amount of cases now because those cases now involve more of
rent issues and rent determination matters.
the other thing with that is for a period of time during
coid there was a shutdown. So there was a a a larger push
for us to make sure our property managers worked with our
residents to make sure that they wouldn't get into issues
involving rent and having rent determination matters. So we
worked with them we pushed with them during that Co period
to try to continue to make sure that they made they were
making their rent payments and other issues weren't coming
up. Once that moratorium. So to speak was lifted and HUD
was saying it's time to make sure that everyone starts
paying the rent the next steps that we did take in order to
deal with a lot of the issues that would come up when a lot
of them are involving rent. The issues were handled by
first cha applied to receive any rent subsidies. We could
to try to assist the families if I may I don't care if a
lot of those I don't believe I asked my question
effectively so I may rephrase it.
The the 40 approximately 40 cases that were looking at up
here. This goes back to 2014. Do I ever call that
correctly, correct?
What was the overall Universe of complaints?
From 2014 to this day. I'm trying to understand what
percentage of cases were saying.
Were resolved through the initial process.
Do you know what I mean? Is that more clear?
Yeah, I think it's a little bit more clear to me and and
you're but I need to before I would be able to answer that.
I would need to know I would need to look at my timeline of
what I have that was during during that time that ten year
period because again I have cases that came for a formal
grievance but never made it to the department because they
resolved if before it got there and I would need to look at
my records for that.
okay, if I could be be provided through the chair, I'm see
if I can I'm going to vote Yes on this today, but I would
like to understand that and I would like to understand the
process for the future by which Alters can be informed
whether it's on a quarterly or annually basis of I would
say the
the full number of the phone number of complaints brought
for cha residents in our award the number that were
resolved.
Through the initial process and the outcomes and then the
number that goes to the level of the formal administrative
hearing process.
That that is a transparency that I think would be extremely
beneficial for us in serving and supporting our residents
and also helps me feel more comfortable voting. Yes on this
intergovernmental agreement.
So I will check with our departments because they don't they
have uh, the tracking would be with what is done in our
software program. I track only if they get to me, so I
would need to check with our departments on how they would
track that or if there's a tracking mechanism in place for
informal hearings because residents can ask for informal
hearing and we may have a resident that may ask for 1 every
time they get a research and that gets resolved and that
could be every 2 years. It could be once a year. It depends
on when their reification is that's an example of how
people can ask for Grievances. And so I would need to check
with them on whether or not they have a tracking mechanism
for that. It sounds like something that we should be
tracking. Yes. I wouldn't want to commit that we could give
give you that without knowing for sure. Okay, that is
definitely outside of my belly Wick. I appreciate that. I
will follow up in writing to the chair and to miss moguel.
Thank you very much. Thank you cheer. Thank you.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I appreciate your um
presentation. You know, I don't get a lot of complaints
from my cha constituents regarding rent. We determinations
and relocation. Most of the concerns I get are related to
um work orders issues that people have with property
management and those uh, not the focus of this particular
IGA.
So, can you explain to me the cha policy around how you
deal with grievances around?
work orders
um
Property Management concerns what what is that process? So
when we have issues involving Property Management concerns
or work order issues those issues run through our
department of our property and asset management Division
and they get involved with trying to make sure that any
work orders that were submitted are properly being
processed there. If there's a problem with that they try to
take care of that matter. They try to meet directly with
the resident as it's also have previously stated and I just
want to again for the record if I get if our office gets
contacted about it because my department my particular
division does sometimes get contacted about from residents
on the same type of matters and we do work with our office
to make sure that someone takes care of those matters with
them when it comes to disputes between the property manager
and the resident our portfolio officer and our property and
asset management division. Try to get involved. We try to
resolve that matter first. They also try to see if there's
a way to figure out what is the situation. Is it a person?
Personality matter or is it something more difficult that
needs to be handled and then they try to deal with it from
their end.
And how what if um, a work order is not addressed in a
timely fashion. Do you all have like timelines that you
expect that a work order is to be completed. We do have
timelines that we expected the property manager to complete
work orders. If there's an outliners that may be involved
with stopping that work order from getting work completed.
Then the property manager has to notify us for example, if
a person has contacted because they have a leaky issue in
their apartment and it's inspect and it's inspected if that
issue is a larger issue. For example, it may be a small
leak coming from someone else's apartment. We would need to
repair that first before we do the work in that person's
apartment and how how how transparent is the cha in?
That information being available to an alderman because we
have people coming in complaining about a particular work
order at a particular building and its month after month
after month how
so I don't work directly with them in that particular
but I did can say that I met with them yesterday in regards
regards to how we can find ways to streamline to make sure
residents are getting more knowledge of what's going on
with their work orders as well as being able to and I will
actually take back to ask them regarding whether how that
information can get to.
The aldermen and who's the head of that division? Uh right
now, uh, Eric Garrett is our involved with that and Leonard
Langston.
And they are the 2 parties that I met with yesterday in
regards to do, you know if they generate reports on work
orders normally and beg your pardon ma'am. Do you know if
they generate reports on outstanding work orders?
I do believe that that can be generated on what a
outstanding work orders are and then they can check the
timeline to that way. That is 1 of the ways that they track
if the property manager is doing what they need to do.
Okay. Well through the chair. I'm requesting uh, the report
of outstanding work orders for the cha, uh
Uh, I would say family buildings are more concerned with at
this point Dearborn homes.
and Wentworth Gardens
Thank you. Thank you Elder. Wow, any any other questions
for committee members?
otherwise
um
I think these um
This concludes our our presentation. Can I um, can I get
then a motion to recommend approval of this item?
So mobile ESP all those in favor say I
all those oppose a name and the opinion of the chair the
eyes have it the do pass recommendation of these ordinance
will be reported out at the next city council meeting on
June 12 2024. Thank you to the cha team for being here
there being no further business before the committee. Can I
get a motion to recommend approval to adjourn?
so move by Alder women Harris
All those in favor say I those opposed nay the as the eyes
of the chairs? I have it. Thank you, and this concludes our
meeting. Have a great evening.