Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, June 3, 2024
- When: Mon, Jun 3, 2024, 9:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Budget and Government Operations
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/952076389
- Transcript: full text (50,369 words, official 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 Budget and Government Operations held a subject matter hearing on the city's use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. After public comment and testimony from program participants and community organizations, the Chief Operating Officer and Budget Director said the city received $1.9 billion, must obligate all funds by the end of 2024 and spend them by December 31, 2026, and reported 89% obligated and 82% expended, along with new monthly council reports and a planned public dashboard. The departments of Public Health, Family and Support Services, Planning and Development, Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities then presented their ARPA-funded programs. Members asked about payments to subcontractors, revenue replacement, sustainability after the funding ends, tracking impact by ward, staffing for the CARE crisis response program, opioid response, vacant land acquisition, and small business grants. No legislation was voted on; the committee approved remote participation and adjourned.
Topics: ARPA funding, budget transparency, program sustainability, public health, homelessness and rapid rehousing, corridor ambassadors, small business grants, arts and culture grants, opioid response, vacant land
Agenda items discussed
- 4:45 Public comment: discussed
- 24:42 Testimony from ARPA program participants and community partners: discussed
- 30:05 Motion to allow members to participate remotely: passed
- 51:50 ARPA overview from the Chief Operating Officer and Office of Budget and Management: discussed
- 2:12:30 Chicago Department of Public Health ARPA programs: discussed
- 3:20:24 Department of Family and Support Services ARPA programs: discussed
- 4:45:12 Department of Planning and Development ARPA programs: discussed
- 5:40:09 Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities diverse learners recovery program: discussed
- 5:46:43 Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events ARPA programs: discussed
- 5:54:49 Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection ARPA programs: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Jason C. Ervin (chair): Asked whether grant primes report payments to subcontractors as construction primes do and said the city may need a way to confirm subcontractors are paid. (1:26:34); Asked what happens in month 13 of the Chicago Empowerment Fund and said spending on training or skills would be an investment while recurring cash payments are more like an expense. (1:59:50); Described violence intervention workers saying people need income support while transitioning and said helping them through that period is an investment. (2:03:37)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked for definitions of obligation, encumbrance, expenditure and appropriation so members and staff use the same terms. (1:19:31); Asked whether high-risk programs means programs at risk of not obligating or spending funds by the deadlines. (1:21:39); Said he welcomed the focus on funding deployment because it determines whether programs work. (1:23:02)
- Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Asked how the city monitors whether prime grant recipients pay their subcontractors on time. (1:23:33); Said smaller subcontractors are calling about late payments and suggested adding a payment timeline requirement for primes. (1:24:55)
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked whether the remaining $206 million unobligated could still be converted to revenue replacement. (1:28:57); Said the city could have been more aspirational with ARPA, such as cleaning the CTA, offsetting migrant spending, or indirectly supporting pensions, and urged attention to the city's fiscal standing. (1:32:17); Asked how much of the DCASE grant to World Business Chicago remains and how much of BACP's roughly $52 million is unspent or unobligated. (5:58:11)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Asked whether changes to the ARPA spending plan would appear in the fall budget proposal given council approval is not required. (1:35:18); Asked how the coming ARPA funding cliff factors into the administration's plan when some organizations will seek continued funding. (1:37:57); Asked the administration to continue exploring medical debt relief with any flexible funds. (1:40:32)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Said she supports the Chicago Empowerment Fund and asked how ARPA will help small businesses recover. (1:41:55); Said corridor ambassadors make a difference on Argyle Street during construction and asked how ambassadors can cover manageable areas within large special service areas like Uptown. (5:01:36); Asked how arts, healing and mental health programs will be sustained and whether families not selected in the diverse learners lottery have other options. (6:12:07)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Asked for a breakdown of how ARPA spending affects each ward, not only where organizations are located. (1:46:59); Asked for the number of prime delegate agencies and the ethnicity of those who run them, and the share of funds going to administration. (1:49:57); Urged funding lasting projects such as home repairs over programs like ambassadors that end when funding ends. (1:52:58)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked how the city will track and share where ARPA dollars go so communities can see they are supported. (1:54:30); Asked how goals and measurable results are set for grantees and requested documentation of them. (1:55:45); Asked about outreach for the low-barrier shelter program and whether the city could provide it internally. (1:57:12)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked how CDPH will spend the remaining Family Connects allocation and what obstacles, such as hiring, might slow spending. (2:31:27); Asked why the CARE program allocation was reduced from $15 million to about $7.9 million. (2:35:02); Asked whether reduced funds could have paid for scholarships to train EMTs, nurses and clinicians, and said she supports the CARE program. (2:37:20)
- Emma Mitts (alderperson): Asked what ARPA-funded services are planned for seniors, including those in nursing homes and those without family support. (2:51:34); Asked whether funds are being used for fentanyl awareness and how the opioid response team works. (2:53:30)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked why Grand Boulevard and other communities such as Fuller Park, Washington Park and North Lawndale are not listed in community safety strategy areas. (3:29:34); Asked how youth are identified for the justice diversion program and its capacity. (3:31:06); Asked whether people can receive rapid rehousing rental assistance more than once. (3:32:36)
- Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Raised concerns about the placement of a pop-up court at 63rd and Racine and asked the cost of the grants. (5:14:20); Asked how many vacant lots the city aims to reduce in West Englewood, Englewood and Garfield Park. (5:15:48); Said she does not want more gardens on vacant lots in her ward. (5:17:57)
Exchanges between members
- 1:19:26 The chair recognized Alderperson Daniel La Spata for questions.
- 1:23:27 The chair recognized Alderperson Samantha Nugent for questions.
- 1:28:02 The chair followed up on Alderperson Samantha Nugent point about subcontractor payments, saying the city needs a way to know subcontractors are paid.
- 1:28:50 The chair recognized Alderperson William Conway for questions.
- 1:35:12 The chair recognized Alderperson Matthew J. Martin for questions.
- 1:44:57 The chair recognized Alderperson David H. Moore for questions.
- 1:46:07 Alderperson David H. Moore asked the chair what date the monthly ARPA report was sent.
- 1:52:45 The chair told Alderperson David H. Moore he was over time but allowed a final quick question.
- 1:54:21 The chair said he agreed with Alderperson David H. Moore point about funding lasting projects.
- 1:54:30 Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. said his questions continued Alderperson David H. Moore line of questioning on tracking impact.
- 1:59:48 Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. thanked the chair at the end of his questions.
- 2:41:12 The chair thanked Vice Chair Nicole T. Lee after her questions to CDPH.
- 2:41:17 Alderperson David H. Moore referred to the chair's point about workforce support while making his own.
- 2:51:26 The chair recognized Alderperson Emma Mitts for questions.
- 2:59:50 Alderperson Emma Mitts thanked the chair at the end of her questions.
- 3:43:25 Alderperson David H. Moore echoed Alderperson Pat Dowell concern that some neighborhoods are left out of programming.
- 4:55:45 The chair recognized Vice Chair Nicole T. Lee for questions to DPD.
- 5:01:28 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked the chair after being recognized.
- 5:01:36 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth seconded Alderperson Nicole T. Lee comments about corridor ambassadors.
- 5:05:03 The chair recognized Alderperson David H. Moore for questions to DPD.