Committee on Finance meeting, April 10, 2025

• When: Thu, Apr 10, 2025, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
• Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
• Status: Cancelled
• Committee: Committee on Finance
• Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928482/video/1074384722
• Transcript: full text (21,098 words, automatic captions)

Meeting notes

AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The Committee on Finance, chaired by Alderperson Pat Dowell, heard seven public commenters, several of whom spoke in support of the proposed Dexter Reed settlement, and approved the March 2025 Rule 45 report. The proposed $1.25 million settlement in the Dexter Reed case drew extended debate over litigation costs, the traffic stop and the shooting of an officer; a motion by Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez to table it pending an answer on cost recovery failed on a vote read as 13 yeas and 16 nays, and the settlement itself failed in committee on a vote read as 12 yeas and 15 nays. The committee recommended a $750,000 sidewalk trip-and-fall settlement and a $32 million settlement ($20 million from the city, $12 million from insurers) for a pedestrian injured by a fleeing driver, with Alderperson Brendan Reilly recorded as opposed to the latter. It also recommended reauthorizing and renaming the SRO Preservation Fund with the Community Investment Corporation, TIF agreements with the Park District for Douglas Park ($4.7 million) and Piotrowski Park ($8 million), and a substitute ordinance letting the Department of Planning and Development issue non-invasive rights of entry, and placed small claims and a charitable solicitation permit on the omnibus or on file.

Topics: Dexter Reed settlement, Police misconduct litigation, Legal settlements, Sidewalk liability, SRO Preservation Fund, Park District TIF projects, Right of entry for city land, Public comment

Agenda items discussed

• 39:19 March 2025 monthly Rule 45 report: passed
• 39:57 Report of cases in which verdicts, judgments or settlements were entered for March 2025
• 40:34 Settlement: Nicole Banks, administrator of the estate of Dexter Reed v. City of Chicago ($1.25 million): failed
• 1:26:53 Settlement: Marion Perper v. City of Chicago, sidewalk trip and fall ($750,000): passed
• 1:38:46 Settlement: Bryce Summery and Amy Summery v. City of Chicago ($32 million, $20 million city and $12 million insurance): passed
• 2:06:52 Substitute ordinance continuing the SRO loan program as the SRO Preservation Fund with the Community Investment Corporation: passed
• 2:29:04 Intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District for TIF funds for Douglas Park fieldhouse improvements (24th Ward): passed
• 2:37:24 Intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District for TIF funds for a pool enclosure at Piotrowski Park (22nd Ward): passed
• 2:47:20 Substitute ordinance amending Chapter 2-45 to authorize non-invasive right of entry agreements: passed
• 2:52:09 Orders authorizing and denying payment of various small claims against the city
• 2:52:37 Charitable solicitation on the public way permit for World Wildlife Foundation: passed

Alderpersons who spoke

• Pat Dowell (chair): Said the CDOT managing deputy discussed sidewalk liability at the briefing and the issue could be pursued during budget season. (1:31:06); Said CDOT committed to share data on tripping hazards so aldermen could target menu money to them. (1:34:35); Asked whether insurers review the specifics of cases they help pay. (1:53:29)
• Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Asked about the complaint history of the officers, the judge's instructions on settlement, and the potential cost if the Reed case went to trial. (43:40)
• Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Said he does not support the Reed settlement and asked about the race of the officers involved and whether a trial win would cost the city nothing. (45:17); Questioned the argument about the stop given that a Black officer approached the vehicle and argued police staffing per square mile drives the number of stops. (1:14:01); Asked whether the vehicle owner in the Summery case could be required to say who was driving. (2:04:54)
• Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked the estimated attorney's fees for taking the Reed case to trial and said members should weigh fiduciary responsibility, then asked about the officers' history. (46:45); Said infrastructure bonds approved by the council include repair of all currently identified hazardous sidewalks, reducing this kind of risk. (1:31:37); Asked the Law Department to explain proximate cause and how it implicates the city in the Summery case. (1:53:57)
• Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Described the area of the Reed shooting, said Reed should not have had a gun, and noted the federal judge encouraged settlement, concluding that settling is cost efficient. (48:37); Clarified that he was not saying it is right to shoot a police officer. (1:00:51); Asked whether the Piotrowski project encloses an existing pool and noted a similar effort in Union Park. (2:46:39)
• Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Strongly objected to remarks he heard as excusing the shooting of an officer and urged a no vote on the Reed settlement. (53:04); Asked why the Law Department was not pursuing cost recovery from the Reed estate for officers' rehabilitation costs and moved to table the settlement until it answered. (58:06); Raised concern that settlements for unrepaired city infrastructure are growing and asked how many similar cases are pending. (1:29:47)
• Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Asked the Law Department to confirm that Inspector General and other reports found racially discriminatory traffic stops and use of force by CPD, and said he supports the settlement on fiduciary grounds. (1:07:05)
• Emma Mitts (alderperson): Asked about the purpose of the stop, tinted windows, plain clothes, and the legal basis for the lawsuit against the city. (1:08:48); Supported the SRO Preservation Fund and asked the department to work with her on an SRO in her ward under a new owner. (2:23:34)
• Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked whether COPA had opined on traffic stop patterns and whether the justification of the stop is part of the city's risk. (1:16:13); Asked the Law Department to track and publicly share settlement and trial outcome data to show cost savings. (1:19:10)
• Marty Quinn (alderperson): Asked whether Reed shot first and said, as the grandson of an officer shot in the line of duty, he did not want to be associated with any justification of shooting an officer. (1:22:36)
• Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said repairing hazardous right-of-way costs a fraction of trip-and-fall settlements and that CDOT should pay for such repairs from its own budget. (1:32:31); Criticized that the vehicle owner paid only $50,000 while taxpayers pay the Summery settlement and said he would vote no. (1:47:52)
• Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Said an upcoming capital hearing should let the council line-item infrastructure investments such as sidewalks and coordinate utility sidewalk repairs. (1:36:18); Asked about the city's excess insurance threshold and asked the chair for the amount budgeted for settlements. (1:51:54); Asked whether the SRO fund was ever a loan program and whether the city holds any equity stake. (2:26:44)
• Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Asked about the judge's ruling releasing the vehicle owner from liability and whether criminal liability remains, then said he would vote in favor of the Summery settlement. (1:55:50)
• Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked whether the driver had been identified and whether the vehicle was reported stolen. (2:04:04)
• Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Said the Douglas Park fieldhouse funding was long overdue and thanked the Park District. (2:36:15)
• Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Congratulated Alderperson Monique L. Scott on the Douglas Park project. (2:35:46); Described Piotrowski Park's heavy use and the community's need for a year-round pool and moved for approval. (2:42:38)

Exchanges between members

• 46:45 Alderperson Daniel La Spata followed up on a point raised in response to Alderperson Nicholas Sposato question about trial costs.
• 53:08 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez objected to Alderperson Walter R. Burnett remarks that he did not know how he would have reacted in the young man's situation.
• 1:00:42 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett rose on a point of information to clarify that he was not saying it is right to shoot a police officer.
• 1:08:08 Alderperson Byron Sigcho-López referenced what Vice Mayor Walter R. Burnett had mentioned in supporting the settlement on fiduciary grounds.
• 1:13:52 Alderperson Nicholas Sposato addressed Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez by first name, expressing personal regard.
• 1:13:52 Alderperson Nicholas Sposato addressed Alderperson Walter R. Burnett by first name, expressing personal regard while disagreeing on the stop.
• 1:32:31 Alderperson Brendan Reilly picked up on Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez point about infrastructure settlements and requested the same information.
• 1:34:35 The chair told Alderperson Brendan Reilly that CDOT committed to share tripping hazard data for menu spending.
• 1:35:09 Alderperson Brendan Reilly said CDOT, not aldermanic menu money, should pay for such repairs.
• 1:35:59 The chair said she agreed with Alderperson Brendan Reilly while noting menu money is an option members control.
• 1:53:15 Alderperson Gilbert Villegas asked the chair to provide the amount budgeted for settlements this year.
• 2:35:49 Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez congratulated Alderperson Monique L. Scott on the Douglas Park project.
• 2:42:12 Alderperson Jason C. Ervin jokingly asked Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez why the Piotrowski project lacked a concession stand for a local pizzeria.
• 2:43:20 Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez referred to Chair Jason C. Ervin remark about the pizzeria across from the park.
• 2:46:10 The chair congratulated Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez on the Piotrowski Park pool project.
• 2:46:50 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett noted a similar pool enclosure effort in Union Park, and the chair responded.
• 2:51:34 The chair thanked Vice Mayor Walter R. Burnett after his comments on the right of entry ordinance.

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