first time.
Yes, sir.
so suspect
So you let me know.
Thank you communication.
could you
yeah.
The public comments are already up here.
Question so the police okay. Yeah, sorry in their.
every day
Not too bad.
so
way too fast.
That's all you can do. That's all you do. Good to see you.
How are you? Excellent, I was gonna steal you for.
Go ahead.
Sorry, sorry.
Copy that J sergeant hungry now.
Huh?
I want to show him the route where he can sit on the steps.
now last year
to get an office space. I was all upset.
He went his job on him.
Have your feelings in motion follow this?
What I did.
Oh, they stand out there. They have an option. They can go
sit in the chamber and just start.
over there
legislation
session
It's all right. Yeah hot obviously but we had
what's good. Definitely a lot of
Got that 1 pager about procurement said it's you you got it.
it. Yeah, I thought just the last bullet was all I needed.
Yeah, and I like they're sharing that you and I to be
exactly I did ask.
I talked to about it.
On the email if you get it, and she said yes, yeah, thank
you. Yeah, I mean
I appreciate the point you shared about like
putting a plan together.
Yes.
Big budget we've got but still what it's saying.
Fuk with you.
every time
I know that's right.
I know that's what I
They could stand up.
and then
car.
We've been waiting and waiting.
Germany
Okay.
otherwise
Leave me alone.
Again, do it again this time to press don't come.
Do it again if you can get away with.
When this meeting start I'll be seeing.
Get the hell out of my face.
somebody
with
the next meeting
Now this is some big words.
So she could go on vacation.
She she told me she had fun over the weekend.
here a little bit time? Do we just introduced this and
then?
They got this.
There's some money for a budget of yeah, that's fine. It's
just like after I read all this and if there's no questions
we get like good afternoon.
Committee on budgeting government operations will come to
order call the role beginning with uh, Alderman Urban is
present Alderman Lee.
Alderman Lee did what ultimately go see it. It was just
also here. Okay automatic spotter.
the spotter
right
Alderman dial Alderman Robinson Mitchell almond Harris
almond Ramirez almond Quinn.
On the Lopez on me more say Mosley on the Rodriguez on the
sky.
on Lopez ottoman brunette Pharaoh present almond cordona
Alderman Rodriguez
Auto Conway
Alderman Ramirez Rosa almond viegas almond mitts
yuto their almond Nugent
Alderman Vasquez, Alano Riley
on the can President Martin
or Manhattan or Silverstein?
Quinn
Lee
You guys need a bigger room.
we also have
automate Ramirez and Alderman s Lopez will be added to the
corn.
For 20 and then we have the following.
Who are joining remotely?
Alderman Bernett
we have uh
entertain a motion to allow for Alderman. Brunette Mosley.
And Robinson to participate remotely.
Move baldman Lee second all in favor. Say I I say I
Any oppose and pairs of eyes have it in those 3 will be
added to the role. Uh, we'll begin, uh this point for
public comment starting with a Miss Lawrence Mrs. Lawrence.
Mrs. Loris
you have 3 minutes, please proceed.
I might not even need all 3 minutes.
I'm gonna make this real clear.
To begin with the reason why I'm down here is because I'm
fed up with the representation of that there that is lack
thereof.
For the constituents within mostly all these districts.
And you all the people know who you are the friendly ones
and the not so friendly ones that we are talking about.
The come down here today and talk about anything is a
disgrace for the reason that you see the same people down
here all the time coming down here for a righteous cause
but they're ignored just like now I'm new at being ignored
and I won't be ignored. My husband knows that and you all
are getting ready to learn about that because the 1 thing
that I do is I'll keep pushing and pushing and pushing even
when I was told by several white men that they don't expect
nothing like that from you. I said someone like who because
I'm black and they said yes, they're absolutely right
because I am going to speak out we should be able to come
to our older person and complain about the matters that are
going on. But instead we're coming down here and getting
before a forum putting this out on social media because all
of the media's that don't want to express this because
Because they're being cut off from being down here or
whatever. You all are calling this it's ludicrous and let's
talk about the transportation my car got toward the crap up
and who did anything about it, but did a cover up denied
the foyer request had to go through a suit in order to get
the foyer request and it's okay to let people off of
different nationalities and I'm gonna call it out. It's a
white person that did it come to the city get drugs has a
history of getting drugs and then they get just get let go
where the other 2 people who were victims of the car crash
were black and I don't even have statistics on this and how
black people are stopped all the time. So I wanted to make
a correction from the last time that I was down here when I
said over uh, half a million people were arrested know
they're stopped through driving and the predominant number
of that is black and then the next numbers are Latinos, so
You all need to hear us. If you all don't want us coming
down here. You all need to open your ears and step up and
do something about it because when you don't do anything
about it, we will step up. We are going to make our voices
heard. We will not be ignored and I'm going to give you all
back some seconds unless someone else come up. Thank you
very much. Because now you're going to see my face. You're
going to hear me and you're going to know who I am. I won't
be ignored when this unfairness is continuously going on in
this city corruption cover up and the next meeting you
gonna hear a hell of a lot of Deeds come out of my mouth.
And they gonna get some nice Deeds.
Thank you, Mrs. Lawrence. Uh, we also will add almond
cordona, uh for the purposes of Quorum, uh next we'll have
uh, Mr. George, Blakemore.
big man
I can't believe it you had 3 minutes 42 minutes late.
f*** you, and you go go for this clock with me for my
minute.
Something is wrong here. Something is evil here. Something
is corrupt here. Shut him up lock him up. I'm faming
bamming at the door. Let me in this meeting froze the start
at 11 Let Me In Here Come the police. We going to arrest
him.
Going to arrest him.
You all are a piece of whatever me but trying to come to a
public meeting.
Knocking at the door and you late, you know, you didn't
have a car. Yeah, you are unaffected.
You are a piece of
and you can feel it all of your black ones your white ones
your Hispanic 1 and I'm not talking about that 1 Asian know
because she's the 1
Star I'm talking about your other phony Stars. Y'all are
sickening and then gonna use the sergeant of them to lock
lock us up and lock us out. I'm just Bing at the door Bam
Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam.
Time, well you all on n**** time my wife programmer hockey
time. This meeting was for the start Mr. Blakemore Mr.
Blakemore. We will not use racial apit test in this
conversation, sir, please thank you.
You you you not know you are you not know judge. I can call
a name. I'm not using profane. What was profane was the way
that you all have conducted your behavior. Somebody should
check you because you all are wrecked. But when at the last
meeting when you was at you was over here talking about
don't go there with me. Don't go there with me. I'm not the
1 you see
and therefore
I'm unique. I am somebody but you are nobody You're Nobody
back patient in high places telling your people out with
these jobs and procurement 2% and we begging we only get 2%
the M. Get 30% So I get the only black people Bank the
system. Come by here. Come by here come this way. You are
the problem. Not me don't you know what you can get
whatever wherever I'm tired of. You. Don't lock me up.
Don't lose me.
Who do you make you are? Who are you?
Keep my whatever.
I hate you you finish.
All right. Thank you, Mr. Blakemore.
2% next we have Miss Jessica Jackson
I hate him go use the police to lock me up.
I'm bailing at the door. Say me. You need 42 minutes late.
Then you gonna tell me to shut up my 3
So I'mma continue what I was talking about over there about
the running.
and the rudeness
and the fact that you Jason Ervin
How could you be that rude? How can you be that
disrespectful?
That while we're sitting there talking about our issues.
You come in late. Oh.
Interrupt the people that's trying to listen.
leave out come back chewing
and go back over here and start bothering talifero.
Just like they used you.
To stop that Rosa, uh, uh to do that vote for Carlos Rosa.
They always going to depend on you to be king Coon.
Say what you want about it. That's what time it is. Now
outside of that. I know you don't care because it's always
been that tight.
The house negro and the field negro and the house negro
never cared, right? They sat there with that towel over
their arm when the when when mastering them was sitting
around that dinner table talking about how they was going
to treat their Negroes how they was going to get them wages
and see how them the house Negroes cuz you sit there with
that solid face.
And go poor Master his tea.
That you black.
We know what it is.
And we just let you be that way because that's how you are.
now on to the next 1
this running this rudeness that comes from your lack of
being able to deal with us.
So what White America does and I know OSHA and naps ain't
offended. They know what it is.
To be benevolent you go pick up issues from foreigners.
You go put your business go go go. Do your good deeds over
with a bunch of illegal immigrants?
A bunch of outside issues other countries because that's
how you feel. All right about how you do us.
You had this fake benevolent thing going and then what do
the immigrants do?
like hadn't like Rosa, uh, uh Rodriguez
They go to running when they see us and they play it off
with their little cup and walk fast like this out the
trainers what they doing is they running
so what we going to say to them cuz that's what they do.
They run from that country.
To deal with what they deal with they ain't got it like us
how we can send and fight our oppressor. They ain't got no
bravery like this here. We understand it. So what we gonna
say to y'all or your foreigners?
That when y'all see us coming run Forrest run this that's
right do what, you know to do run from your country to
America and get some resources and beg and put y'all women
with children on the corner. Yeah run Forrest run.
Thank you. Miss. Jackson next we'll have Doris Lewis.
Good morning, Miss Lucy. I have a 3 minutes.
I am here.
Because it's my civic responsibility.
I am here for the future of black children.
You have spent over million dollars for illegal immigrants.
As the expense of the black community. Yes to the detriment
of the black community.
This city is in trouble. I don't know if you really realize
it. I don't know if you even care but this city is in
trouble.
Illegal immigrants are all over the black community.
They're trying to run us off the land you're hiring them
and you're not hiring young black men and women.
You are setting it up for Crime to continue crime is
engineered based on your policies here based on the
ordinances that you pass in here. I have a contract here
that I put together. It's called a contract with black
Chicago 2023. I put it together during the mayoral and all
the medic, uh race.
Desmond yes, he was given a copy of this contract. It's
about all of the Departments CPS, uh, the Chicago Board of
Education housing. We make up 29% of the population in
Chicago Hispanic about 29% whites 29 and 30% So what we're
saying in this contract and I'm going to be asking all the
men to introduce it and I want every Alderman to support
it. We're saying in this contract to help our young people
get jobs because you're not hearing them. We want 29% of
these jobs across the board. It's only fair fair.
I don't have a problem with uh.
Anyone standing up for their people. That's what you're
supposed to do. And we're supposed to stand up for our
people black Alderman. You have a responsibility to speak
up and stand up for our people for our children.
They won't have a future you're giving all these resources
to people who are here. They they're not Asylum or Seekers.
They came here on their own.
And our children are suffering crime is engineered when you
take away from people. What do you expect? What do you
expect? Yeah.
I've been out here doing this for all of my life 14 years
old. I was under Mega Evers. I went through the Civil
Rights Movement. I faced the clue Klux Klan in Mississippi.
I've been there done there. You don't frighten me. I am
doing it for this is my country. This is my city. I love
that worked in the Chicago public school system for 37
years. I taught every race and ethnic group of children.
It's for the future of our children particularly in this
case black children and all of you who talk to immigrants
You came here you're here because we opened the doors in
1964 65 Civil Rights Act. You open the doors for those of
you who are homosexual.
Thank you. Miss. Lewis my comments. It's a missing.
next we'll have
next we have Taiwan Sims.
Dude, we ain't big.
Thank you.
Need to tag all the black people in um, 2024 budget
forecast.
It says um, so I have to reading just the article it says
2024 the budget forecast presents a significant challenging
projected. Um, the budget deficit will be 538 million.
Um, so
we can address the numbers. I got like all y'all numbers
right here.
But we address the numbers we could talk about the weekends
that we just had hellish weekends. The black Americans have
suffered.
Especially the holiday weekend of July.
We could talk about June May. We talk about Rogers Park
that go my
I guess all the woman.
But to what effect how much would that affect you all?
Will I get?
Irving to listen or just calm down from just saying F them
n*****.
That's what his face be. That's what his face be indicating
that woman. She said I've been a teacher for x amount of
years decades and it didn't even catch him over there in
the other chamber. He kept walking around talking like a
insulin insulin little child.
And that's horrible to seeing our representation, but these
numbers are horrible right here.
So to the so we've gotten up to 400 and something million
dollars for the new arrival initiative.
But every Oh, okay. That's 300. Let's say 300 and some
million but 600 and some we almost we we we near enough
what half billion we up there.
This just in response to people who've just gotten here.
But no response to what's going on in the city.
The genocide that's happening in our kids.
But we have Representatives that look just like them that
read the headlines on a day-to-day.
So we wondered like man. How do how?
How do we get around this? How can we get around this? How
can we be recognized if we not recognizing ourselves?
Irvin look up don't don't don't look down look up you gotta
be as an insulin as you was over there.
You gotta hide that type of energy that type of power.
If you gonna utilize or utilize it at all times, keep it
going. Let's keep that power. Let's keep that energy as
they say now go in.
But this this regard can continue on because within the
next 4 years we won't be in this city No More Mr. Urban.
You might have some nice. Um,
Fallout, but we don't because this is our city. This is
where we reside as residents.
your constituents
Englewood Austin
the east side
East Rogers Park all but we taking the hits at the hit at
the hit for what reason like we don't exist. Like we don't
even deserve no respect for what reason I'm still trying to
figure it out.
That's budgeted up. I suppose I don't know. Thank you.
Next we'll have uh, Teresa Hughes.
contact with respect
Oh back in.
Come down here to be disrespectful.
Okay.
Good afternoon. I think good afternoon, Mr. Chairman.
Good afternoon. Alderman.
uh, my name is Teresa TJ Hughes, and I'm here representing
the um,
mwbe
black and specific contractors and subcontractors and small
businesses. I am trying to get Miss Eileen Velasquez from C
the CPO for procurement out of office. I have asked you Mr.
Chairman. What you gonna do? They say she's gone, but she's
not gone. She's on a paid administrative leave being paid
by the taxpayers for her to sit on her, uh, sit at home and
still give out, you know little things for people to do.
She is supposed to be gone.
Gone Gone means out of here. She is not supposed to be at
home dictating stuff for the people that are still here in
Chicago where she's only giving black contracts and she's
not giving but she's only allowed black contracts is only
have 2% of over 800 million dollar.
Contracts that's ridiculous. The second thing is what is
going on, since you are the budget chair with the $500
million that the federal government gave for the uh line.
What is it Plumbing line streets?
Yeah, thank you. Thank you. What what was that with that?
Because the black contractors from what I understand. They
got 9 million out of 500 million dollars. That's
We need to have the IG to come in and investigate this
woman investigate these Alderman that are allowing stuff
like this to happen. We need to have you black.
Alderman support this young lady right here.
Alderman mitts who was over or is she still over the
committee for you? Don't know what God damn it. Somebody
need to let her know. I want to know where is she not
you all support to help our people get some of these
contracts that's just ridiculous and I'm a little fifty
something seconds, but I just want to be clear that I'm
with you Alderman Miss. I've been telling you that from day
1 and I will help you if you need me to drop kick somebody
out here. I don't have a problem. So, um, that's my guy
over there. Um, so the the main thing is where is the money
who is in compliance? We need to get a new compliance
person in that section of procurement and you know, you can
yeah I can bring me on as a contractor. I don't want those
job, but I need to make sure that I can let you know. I
will monitor the monitor to make sure that the monitor is
doing what they supposed to do monitoring that what
Which Eileen The Last Quest and she needs to be gone?
Is that gonna happen Mr. Chairman?
That was a question.
Thank you for your comment.
We will uh also recognize Alderman Rodriguez Sanchez for
the purposes of corn. Uh next we'll have zo Lee
All of y'all left out of here. Oh, thank God. I mean, it's
here 3
budget and government operations now
Uh Irving you all Rule and I don't even understand why
you're rude because your wife is accused of misconduct and
ethical violations. And you do the same thing like it's
disrespectful it. It really is disrespectful No, 1 has any
ethics No 1 doesn't care. I mean coming down here for a
year.
I talked to Maurice Robinson last last week. He said that 8
people are looking into my case. It don't need it. Don't
need to be 8 people. It need to be Mary Richardson Lowry.
My mother and myself with all the paperwork.
The violation of the fifth and the 14th amendment was
violated this the city of Chicago is corrupt. Y'all
continue to be corrupt. It's it's it's a cycle. So when is
it going to stop? Is it going to stop this year? Because I
got I said I go back to uh, DC next week to talk to the
Department of Justice because it's going to be operation
grey Lord 2.0 but it's going to be with the city this time
as well. Everybody is going down if they do not find my
mother's money. Y'all knock y'all it's a legal eminent
domain and that's what y'all do. Y'all still people's
properties and blighted areas. Like y'all still Tif money.
This is what y'all do. It's a it's a thing it's and it
doesn't matter who you come who comes in here y'all
continue to do it because y'all can't help it. Y'all can't
help y'all yourself. It's all this money. It's all this
money and so instead and you can't help anybody because if
you help somebody then you're will be caught. Well, you
will be called out so I need somebody to figure out.
When is the public corruption gonna stop it's probably not
gonna stop but y'all gonna find my mother's money. I'm
tired of No, 1 having any ethics No, 1 being that having
any public sir. Like y'all don't care about public service.
I don't care about anything like that. I know if I run I
will win. I got a whole story a whole story and a year of
evidence. I do a whole documentary on how y'all do not help
who a who's not going to win and when I do win if y'all do
not figure out where my mother's money is, I'll do my own
investigation and y'all are going to jail. I promise y'all
so figure out where my mother's money is and stop stealing
properties from the black area. I am 308 years old. My
friends are fed up. A lot of them are educated. They're
this this election is our election. We're not playing
We're not playing.
Just because we're out now. I'm not out here in groves. I I
have a I have a big following a big following and they're
watching.
We're not playing the Millennials are not playing.
So figure it out.
All right.
Lee
Our final uh speaker in public comment Michael Young bae.
I'm up everything they say it.
and that Irvin
child pay attention
because I ain't gonna let off for you because they ain't
let off for you.
Because it's disrespectful. It's so disrespectful.
And it makes things play back in a person mine is hard.
Uh, the disrespect the violations of a person writes.
You know, what you doing out there talking you know, why
these
Seniors are speaking and pouring out their heart and
sincerity of love and respect for our nation for our
people.
For the children Etc, and you have a nerves to be walking
around talking.
but see I was present when
their Israelis and the other group first came down to City
Hall and y'all passed up the chairs and things like that.
Oh you had your chest out you had a pride for the so-called
you you you you you got they got your undervalued attention
all the time.
And then when we come to speak or we gonna hold y'all to
speak to last.
And and forget what the rules say about us speaking first.
You see and then you continue on with your antics.
You continue on with your your folly?
And not caring about the people.
Because y'all ain't caring about the people they know about
everything y'all talking about.
They know about it, but they can take pride when you put
that ordinance or that resolution in front for the
European. Y'all can take pride in that y'all y'all y'all
holler through through the microphone at home.
Through the microphone at home. So so Master can hear how
you vote mastering here.
That's why that's why they use that term. That's why I
talked to her. I talked in that meeting. Hell. No, I don't
apologize because like I said, I know who I am, but it
seemed like that's what it take to get the attention. They
had your attention when they was calling you house n*****
Etc and things like that. But when that sister was up here
talking about the children your head was down where it is
to be ignorant. You have no understanding.
It's shameful have some damn race Pride have some pride as a
man. That's right.
That's what it's about.
Have some dignity to you. Yes, and a person won't even come
at you like that be down here. It's something that doing
nonsense, but they ain't showing their ass like you. Oh my
God, you showing it so you better straighten up but we we
are lash out on here freedom of speech and I asked the last
year pin because I feel nobody. I ain't got an answer to
nobody. I got no ties to nobody.
No. All right. Thank you for your comment.
Public comment is not completed. The committee will not
vote to approve the monthly rule 45 report for the month of
June 2024 which was transmitted electronically to all
members going to get a motion to accept.
move all them in the sparta all in favor signify by saying
I
in your Post Independent chairs of eyes have it and the
rule 45 report is approved.
The committee will now move to consider item number 1 of
our agenda item number 1. There's been a substitute
proposed and sent around all members of the committee. Do I
have a motion to accept the substitute?
so moved by all in favor signify by saying I
any opposed
any opinion that eyes independent chair eyes have it? The
substitute is now before us, uh, we will have who's from
the committee is going from the Department.
Director you're doing another 1 925 today. No. Oh, okay.
Thank you for joining us today very well.
Hello.
I'm Kevin Schuster with the office of budget management
here to introduce the 925 Amendment.
The total appropriation request is 918842000.
Um the first
Appropriation request is for the office of budget and
management, which is new Federal grant money from the
Department of Homeland Security for 9,633 thousand dollars
as part of the shelter and service program to support the
new arrival operations in the city of Chicago.
The second appropriation request is for the Department of
cultural Affairs and special events. This is also New State
Grant funds for 450,000 as part of the
So yes generally difficult to hear all the information well.
Speak up loud it man. We keep closer.
So the second appropriation request is the for cultural
Affairs and special events. This is a new state Grant fund,
um for 450,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity.
Um, this funding request is for enhancements and
improvements and repairs for the cultural center.
The third request is for the Department of cultural Affairs
and special events, uh new state Grant funds 2 million
dollars from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity.
These funds are um an effort to get the 2026 NAACP National
Convention in Chicago. Um, the 2 million dollars will
provide um different preparation for this uh convention to
arrive in Chicago.
The next request is for the Chicago Department of Public
Health.
It's additional Federal grant funds.
Um, it is an increase of 1,759 from the US Department of
Housing and Urban Development. Um, and the grant is the
housing opportunities for people with AIDS.
um this
uh program will fund, um, housing assistance and relatives
Supportive Services for low-income persons living with HIV
AIDS and their families.
The next request is the for Department of Family and sports
services. This is a new state passed through grant for 20
million dollars. Um from the Illinois Department of Human
Services shelter and service program the 20 million dollars
from idhs will be used to support the new arrival
operations in the city of Chicago.
And the final 1 is for the Chicago Department of
Transportation. This is additional Federal grant funds of
58 million dollars. Um, this will go towards the
construction of the State and Lake CTA elevated station.
thank you, uh any questions
ottoman of Sparta
That's that's there we go. Um, can I just ask a little bit
about the
the plans
if if you can elaborate on the plans for the the C dot
funding that's coming in and the work that's happening on
the station.
Sure. I'll let uh Grant Davis from C Dots elaborate on that
project.
Uh you good morning. My name's Grant Davis with the Chicago
Department of Transportation. So this funding will be used
for the station reconstruction. Uh, this stage 1 was
originally built in 1895. So it's nearly 130 years old.
It's the second busiest station on the loop L and the only
station serving all 5 Loop elevated lines, uh while
providing a free connection to the red line.
Um, the station is currently not Ada accessible and
therefore is not accessible for riders with wheelchairs or
with limited Mobility. So this project will provide wider
platforms that will double the current uh width to better
provide better accommodate passengers, uh will provide a
full coverage canopy to protect Riders from rain and snow.
We will install 4 elevators at Each corner of the elevated
station for 888 accessibility.
Uh, we will also construct a elevator connection to the red
line, uh, Lake Street Station at both the platform and the
station itself, uh, when completed this project will
provide full Ada accessibility to the elevated station and
to the red line.
That's fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing. Thank you,
sir. Thank you here. Thank you any other questions?
Seeing none. Is there a motion?
have moved to pass all the favor signal for saying I
any oppose any opinion shares eyes have it in this matter
will be reported out at our next city council meeting on
this coming Wednesday. Uh, I am going to go out of order
slightly for uh item number 3, which is a uh inter fund
which is a transfer, uh for the um,
33rd Ward ugh motion to accept that so so move bottom and
see all in favor signify by saying I
thank you for that correction. It is the committee on
health and human relations. Uh, thank you all Manhattan. So
the motion is for a transfer of funds within the committee
on health and human relations. Uh, you renew your motion,
uh, Almani all in favor signify by saying I
any oppose any opinion of the chair's eyes have it in this
matter will be reported out at our next city council
meeting item number 4 is a uh, we have a substitute for uh,
which has been given to everyone uh, which is a transfer
funds between in uh, the 15th Ward and the 49th Wards, uh,
salary and wage and uh expense allotment. Uh, is there a
motion to accept the substitute?
So move on Manhattan all in favor signify by saying I
Uh any oppose independent chairs eyes have it? No matter
the substitute is before us, uh any questions on the
substitute.
Uh with that being said, it was an entertaining motion to
pass the substitute.
So move all the mental Aero all in favor signify by saying
I
any oppose independent chairs eyes have it in this matter 2
will be reported out at our next city council meeting, uh
on Wednesday, uh going back to uh, our earlier reports. We
have uh directed with us today, uh, as we talked about
previously in our uh, in our in our previous meetings about
the road to recovery with arpa. She has a report has been
provided to everyone electronically and uh on your desk
today, uh director Guzman, please proceed good afternoon.
Um, so the monthly report for the arpa grant is before you
um, as we put forth. Um every month since June, uh, the Top
Line summary and happy to answer any questions that you
have is
Um, as of July 2nd, uh, 2024, uh, we have expended 83% of
the Grant and 90% of the grant is now obligated. Um since
the report in May that we provided to city council during
our briefings. Uh, that's about a 15 million dollar
increase in expenditures and about a million dollar
increase in obligations. Um since January just to give you
a perspective since January on the community initiatives,
uh, we had about 47% obligated and uh, we have 68% of that
obligated today, um in the community initiatives we had
about 29% expended in January. We now have about 43
expended
if you turn to page, um
12 of your report it gives you um updated tracking on each
of the uh, um pillars as it relates to how much has been
obligated and how much has left to be obligated. Um, we
have made significant progress, uh, since the beginning of
this year and the community initiatives, um with most of
the obligations happening within our youth and economy
which are some of our largest programs as well as our
community safety, which are also some of the largest uh
dollar amounts, um for the for the entire Grant and uh page
18, uh page 13 reflective but Broken Out by Department to
give you a sense of how each of our departments are
tracking against getting all of the dollars that have been
allocated.
ated allocated to them obligated as you know, our goal is to
have 100% of our funds obligated by the end of this year,
which is the deadline set by the treasury. So having 90% of
our dollars obligated already is a significant, um, uh
achievement with only 10% to go, uh over the next 6 months,
um having I believe it's 83% of our dollars expended. Thus
far is also a significant achievement with 2 and a half
years left to go to expend every uh, 1 of our dollars. We
have our annual treasury report being um, being submitted,
um by the end of this month as well as our quarterly, uh
treasury report also being submitted to the US Treasury
Department by the end of this month, uh, those reports will
be coming to you as well. Um, I will um have a disclaimer
in saying that those reports are not always the easiest to
read because they're in the format that the treasury
requires and so uh beginning uh with this quarterly report.
Will be providing an at a glance as well to not only city
council, but also the public to help really navigate that
report and what's changed, uh quarter over quarter. Um, and
so with that I will open it up to any questions that you
might have.
Thank you director any questions from members of the
committee.
Uh 1 item, uh, you said 83% of the items, uh, 80 83% of the
funds have been expended to date. Are we still on target to
meet the threshold of uh, not not having to send anything
back at the current trajectory that we're facing. Yeah. So
the um, the metric that you want to um, look at as it
relates to the deadlines set by the treasury for the end of
this year is the obligation percentage and we're at 90%
obligated, um, which is pretty uh significant given that we
we have 6 months left in the year, uh, um Pages 12 and 13
show you where the remaining um, funding, uh exists that
needs to be obligated both by policy pillar and then on
page 13 by um Department, um, and so we are on track we um
anticipate having all of the funding obligated by the end
of the year as we had, uh, spoken during our briefings with
you earlier this year we
Are using this budget cycle to refocus to all of our um
programs, um to make sure that they are on uh track to
spend according to their plans by the end of 2026. Um, but
this year's budget as well as next year's budget will be
able to refocus in any Salvage that we have accrued within
any programs will be able to shift to other obligated
programs to ensure that every single dollar gets
Spent down, but our first most pressing. Um
Uh kind of goal right now is the obligation deadline and we
are on track to meeting 100% by the end of this year. So as
I understand it, if you do the obligation, uh, we can still
move funds around in existing obligated programs. Exactly.
So no new programs. No new programs anything that we have
on tap already. They could we can move a funds around into
exactly and how how is a new program defined in in that
respect?
um a new program would be 1 that hasn't had any dollars
obligate dollars from this funding source obligated to it
either through Personnel, um through a contract through a
cyber recipient or delegate agency agreement, um, or a
beneficiary agreement, um, or most recently by the
treasury's definition by a memorandum of understanding, uh,
between my office and that department
Okay, so
we
even if you're already dealing with an organization, you
couldn't add responsibilities to their existing contract or
is it that
You only could just add funds to what is actually existing
or without any new responsibilities. Yeah, that's exactly
right. So we wouldn't be able to um create new obligations
for an existing vendor. We could we could add more dollars
onto what they're currently doing. So for instance if we
wanted to add more dollars into our uh, small business
grants, uh program or our youth um, Our Youth Employment
Program with the vendors, um that exists we could actually
get new vendors into those programs, but those programs are
set already. Um, but we could not like for instance create.
I don't know. I'm trying to think of like something that we
would create um a scholarship program that we don't
currently have today. Okay, so you can't bring new vendors
in to do the same work that has been done previously. Uh,
but we can't create. Theoretically you say a totally new
program after we offer 1 after December the 31st. Oh
December the 31st. Okay. All right, very well any questions
for director good.
Guess you've done a great job.
and please thank you mayor, uh our final item on the agenda
today is uh item number 2 which is uh, which is an
ordinance, uh concerning the chief procurement officer. Um,
this item is of discussion, uh discussion today. I'm going
to ask her react to from the from the Law Department to
give us a synopsis on on this what the ordinance is asking
for.
Mr.
Um, Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to go on record to say if
we got an ordinance up today. And if I'm the chairman of
the contracts oversight and Equity, I haven't seen the
ordinance. So before you even start I think as chairman I
should have been able to or someone should have shared that
information with me. Thank you.
Okay.
we have to
well, let me let me respond to that number 1 the ordinance
in some respects was uh an ordinance that was introduced
into the committee on budget and government operations. Uh,
no intent or mean to um, disrespect any committee
chairperson or or committee, uh makeup, um, but but the
original ordinance related to this and this functions was
actually introduced to to this committee, um, when it was
introduced, uh some while some while ago, so that's the
reasoning behind that so but I do um, ma'am, please uh,
so
we are.
To good morning chairman Arvin good morning members of the
committee on budget and government operations.
My name is rad tuapse I am chief assistant Corporation
Council in the city Law Department.
Um, this item is only before you only for discussion
purposes. I understand, uh chairman Ervin has posted a
notice this morning, uh, including that the ordinance
itself with the city clerk. So at this point, uh, the
ordinances available at the city clerk's website.
Um, and um, I think the intention is to bring this item
before City Council on Wednesday.
Um that would require suspension of the rules because the
item I believe will not be considered. Um,
at can be a level before consideration by the city council,
so
um as to the substance of the ordinance itself, uh, the
ordinance basically does 2 things number 1 it would align
the tenor of the CPO with other City department heads.
Uh and numbers to it would authorize The Corporation Council
Council to execute a severance agreement with the current
CPO.
And that would enable um the city to move forward with the
appointment of a new CPR.
very well any questions
Uh, thank you chair.
Um and kind of reading through here. I I guess maybe just a
process question. Um,
Is there a reason why we're talking about this in committee
today? But not voting on it. You said it wasn't noticed
soon enough. Is that the reason?
um, I think the notice has been um issued for 8 hours ahead
of um, the city council meeting, uh for purposes of the
open meetings act. So we are in compliance with open
meetings Act
um
so
this item will be uh considered uh directly, um at city
council, uh for purposes of Expediting, um the process
I I I guess that's what I mean. So it hasn't been
introduced. So it'll be a direct introduction on Wednesday.
Yeah, the item will be okay City Council on Wednesday. And
then the could you just point me to let's see. It's just
Section 3 that is the new section that will authorize the
execution of a severance agreement. That's correct. Okay.
And can you I guess could you tell me? Um, I know this is
bringing this position in line with all of our other kind
of Chief positions. Can you tell me? Um, I don't know if
you guys in in kind of researching this why it previously
wasn't so, um, what was the last time in the city council
actually set the structure for this office? And when was
the last time it was revised?
I don't have that timeline, uh with me, uh, probably I
would say
maybe 8 10 years ago, but I don't have the exact timeline
with me.
Um
yeah, there is a section in the
money supply code which is um section 2920015.
Which basically would say that um?
The term of the CPO is 4 years until uh, the success
successor is appointed and qualified but on top of that.
There is a provision which would um States.
that uh
CPO can only be removed for cause after a hearing and this
is unlike any other department head. So we are bringing
this, um department head, uh to be in alignment with other
City department heads. Gotcha, and my last question is
Putting this position in alignment with our other City
department heads. They're most of them some reason why we
had this just to be clear. I am supportive of this but
there must have been some reason why we had it written as
in section 292 015. So our other cities Chief procurement
officers similarly termed like can you speak to write the
early? We didn't just since we we didn't create something
out of line with every other office just for you know, just
for giggles. I'm sure we had a a reason or purpose. Can you
speak to um
that piece
Yeah, I can give you my best, uh assessment of the
provision because I have not studied. Uh, what is provided
you mean? You're not an expert on Chief procurement
officers across municipalities. Well, I try to be um, yeah,
probably this provision is inserted because of state law,
uh, the state procurement act, uh, which has a similar
provision my sense. Is that somehow
Uh that point when this ordinance was amended, uh, probably
there was a sense that we want to have a similar kind of
provision like state law.
But um, the city is a home rule entity. It has a home rule
authority to go to regulate its Affairs in government. So
we are not required to follow. Um, the state's purchasing
act. So this word be an action person to the city's home or
authority. Okay? Thank you. That's it for me. Thanks chair.
Thank you all man. Any other questions
on
thank you, sir. I
I I felt like I was hearing around the edges of this
question and your response to older woman hadn't but just
because it is a a relatively extraordinary thing to
Uh it like bring something like this on the floor of city
council prior to committee. Is there a reason for this
ordinance that we didn't?
Simply notice it earlier to pass it as a direct introduction
to budget before.
Bringing it to the full City Council.
Can you talk talk a little bit more about the the decision
to process it the way that we are.
Um, as I said, the decision is to expedite the process.
Otherwise, the delay will be uh at a minimum of manes for
this item to be um, considered that committee level and
then go to city council for voting.
And uh hoping that things go without any procedural rails.
I understand that may even take us to septembar.
I understand that I'm saying it would have only been 48
hours less expeditious to notice it for.
Budget and government operations rather than the full city
council like why?
Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. I I understand you
very well. Um, the there was an effort in the previous, um
meeting to introduce a similar item, which was procedurally
derailed.
Okay, I I may follow up directly offline with the chair.
Thank you so much. Yeah, thank you chair. Thank you, uh any
other questions, uh before I move forward. I want to
recognize Alderman Mitchell Alderman Harris Alderman Dow
Alderman Reilly and uh Alderman Conway for the purposes of
corn.
uh any other questions
um
Okay, uh seeing no other questions, uh, again, this item is
for discussion. Wanted to have some discussion before it is
brought up on
Wednesday, uh city council meeting so people can understand
what the substance of this ordinance is what it would do or
what it does not do and uh for us to uh, create a level of
closure with the uh Pharmacy CPO and so that we can move
forward with the appointment of a new CPO given the
challenges of everything that is faced, uh in that
department the lack of leadership. We do have a a acting
CPO to miss Hinton who is the first Deputy of the
department, but I think it is, uh coming up on all of us to
find a stabilized leadership in that department since it's
so important, uh to the livelihood of a number of
individuals and people uh for this city of Chicago. So with
that we entertain a motion to adjourn
some more bottom and yeah see all in favor signify by saying
I
Any opposed any any chairs eyes have it? We are adjourned.