# Call for hearing(s) on process for awarding vendor contracts on Chicago Riverwalk

[Legislation tracker](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/tracker) › [Contracting Oversight and Equity](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/contracting-oversight-and-equity) › [36th Ward: Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36)

- Record number: **R2025-0017917**
- Type: Resolution; category: Committee/Public Hearings
- Status: In Committee (Referred)
- Sponsor: [Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36) (36th Ward)
- Committee: [Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/contracting-oversight-and-equity)
- Submitted Date: Jun 12, 2025
- Introduction Date: Jun 18, 2025
- Official record: [Office of the City Clerk](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=CCC2B772-D247-F011-8779-001DD83083EB)

## Impact report

> Written by AI from [the official document](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/0c4b2bf7-4afa-4039-9cb0-559e156b68f4.pdf). AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This resolution asks a City Council committee to hold a public hearing on how the City picks vendors to run concessions on the Chicago Riverwalk.

**Who it affects**

- **Businesses seeking Riverwalk concession contracts**: The hearing would look at how their proposals are reviewed and how contracts are awarded.
- **Current Riverwalk vendors and tenants**: The process that decides whether their contracts are awarded or renewed would be examined in public.
- **Riverwalk visitors and residents**: The hearing concerns the food, drink, entertainment, and retail businesses they use along the Riverwalk.
- **City officials in Fleet and Facility Management, the Budget Office, and the Law Department**: The Commissioner of Fleet and Facility Management, the Budget Director, and the Corporation Counsel, or people they choose, would be invited to testify.
- **Chicago taxpayers**: The resolution says an unexplained 2023 nonrenewal cost the City about $800,000 in taxes and fees, and the hearing would look at the contract process tied to that kind of revenue.

**What changes**

- The Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity would be asked to hold a hearing on how Riverwalk vendor contracts are awarded.
- City officials would be invited to explain the Riverwalk contract process in public testimony.
- The resolution itself does not change how contracts are awarded; it only calls for a hearing.

**Money**

- About $800,000 in taxes and fees the resolution says the City lost when a Riverwalk tenant was not renewed in 2023 and the space sat empty.

**Where**: Chicago Riverwalk; South bank of the Main Branch of the Chicago River; 36th Ward

## Timeline

- Jun 18, 2025: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.

## Documents

- [Riverwalk Resolution.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/0c4b2bf7-4afa-4039-9cb0-559e156b68f4.pdf) (Legislation)

## Related legislation

**More from Gilbert Villegas**

- [Tribute to late Michael Keller Ditka](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0029456-tribute-late-michael-keller-ditka) (R2026-0029456, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Amendment of Municipal Code Section 2-44-055 establishing scoring criteria for 9% tax credits](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029453-scoring-criteria-9-tax-credits) (O2026-0029453, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Exemption from physical barrier requirement for commercial driveway alley access for Best West Auto Repair, Inc.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0027919-exemption-physical-barrier-requirement-commercial-driveway) (O2026-0027919, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Passed)

**More on Committee/Public Hearings**

- [Call for hearing(s) on implementation of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Law in Chicago high schools](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028841-call-hearing-implementation-rev-jesse-jackson) (R2026-0028841, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Referred)
- [Call on City of Chicago departments to prioritize heat mitigation, maintain and expand cooling centers, and install heat-resilient…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028725-call-city-chicago-departments-prioritize-heat) (R2026-0028725, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Adopted)
- [Call for hearing(s) on implementation of advanced law enforcement training technology](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028822-call-hearing-implementation-advanced-law-enforcement) (R2026-0028822, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Referred)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2025-0017917-call-hearing-process-awarding-vendor-contracts · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt