Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, November 8, 2024

When: Fri, Nov 8, 2024, 10:00 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/showcase/8925576/video/1028065217
Transcript: full text (100,214 words, automatic captions)

Video chapters

1:01 Public comment
23:00 2025 budget hearing: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
30:57 Brendan Reilly: Asked DCASE to explain about $3.5 million in increases while staffing stays at 81 positions.
33:27 Brendan Reilly: Asked how DCASE will prioritize staff time as ARPA grant funding winds down.
36:40 Brendan Reilly: Said some major special events are not charged for police, fire and traffic resources,…
42:01 Jason C. Ervin: Asked what charges, beyond the permit fee, large-scale events pay the city and whether other…
43:17 Pat Dowell: Said the city needs to recover more money from large events for police and OEMC support and…
46:07 Pat Dowell: Asked whether the city can get more revenue from the film industry and whether its local…
49:43 Pat Dowell: Asked why a public art contract for the Washington statue at 51st and King Drive has taken years…
53:00 Matthew J. O'Shea: Said profitable ticketed events that strip parking and require police overtime should be…
54:40 Matthew J. O'Shea: Raised concerns about multiple large events scheduled on the same day straining police…
59:38 Raymond A. Lopez: Said the online special event permitting process and $100 fee are burdensome for small…
1:03:59 Raymond A. Lopez: Urged more neighborhoods be included in the community Taste of Chicago.
1:06:01 Raymond A. Lopez: Asked that aldermen be included in mural decisions, citing a mural approved with CTA at…
1:08:00 Samantha Nugent: Encouraged the DCASE commissioner to lead efforts to increase event reimbursement revenue…
1:09:22 Samantha Nugent: Described filming in the 39th Ward as a positive experience for residents and businesses.
1:09:50 Samantha Nugent: Asked about the benefits of Expo Chicago and how the city can attract more art events like…
1:14:38 Andre Vasquez Jr.: Asked the DCASE commissioner for her vision and measurable goals for the next year.
1:18:23 Andre Vasquez Jr.: Asked for a DCASE point person to track unpaid event reimbursements and deny future…
1:22:38 Andre Vasquez Jr.: Asked about loss of institutional knowledge at DCASE during leadership transitions.
1:25:01 Nicole T. Lee: Asked how DCASE tracks permit applications awaiting other departments' approvals and raised…
1:28:48 Maria E. Hadden: Requested lists of DCASE-permitted events requiring police resources and parking meter…
1:30:12 Maria E. Hadden: Requested a list of arts organizations under $1 million funded by DCASE in 2023 and 2024.
1:33:27 Maria E. Hadden: Asked DCASE for help reopening the closed New 400 Theater in Rogers Park.
1:36:02 William Conway: Asked what is driving the roughly 11% increase in DCASE's budget and how $10.8 million in…
1:39:32 William Conway: Asked whether Taste of Chicago vendors pay a commission and whether the city controls…
1:41:39 Ronnie L. Mosley: Asked how neighborhood storytelling and destinations fit into DCASE's revenue efforts.
1:43:46 Ronnie L. Mosley: Asked how DCASE farmers markets could help fill a food desert as an Aldi in his ward closes.
1:47:06 Daniel La Spata: Suggested a future discussion of whether the corporate fund should also support cultural…
1:47:27 Daniel La Spata: Asked about DCASE's reorganization and its hiring status for leadership vacancies.
1:50:19 Daniel La Spata: Asked about follow-up on the monuments reassessment and how aldermen can engage.
1:53:30 Byron Sigcho-López: Said DCASE must be accountable for fair festival and filming processes and called for…
1:54:43 Byron Sigcho-López: Requested youth program slots by ward and how DCASE works with CPS.
1:57:31 Byron Sigcho-López: Said film company reimbursement to the city and residents is inconsistent and asked…
2:02:27 Nicole T. Lee: Said film inconvenience payments to residents are inconsistent and called for uniform…
2:03:11 Nicole T. Lee: Asked that filming notices be provided in multiple languages including Spanish and…
2:04:04 Monique L. Scott: Compared Georgia's film industry figures with Chicago's roughly $500,000 in film permit…
2:08:30 Monique L. Scott: Requested comparable film permit fees from other cities and Chicago's share of film tax…
2:11:01 Scott Waguespack: Said last-minute filming requests burden ward and city staff.
2:12:37 Scott Waguespack: Asked for specific DCASE proposals on permit fees and said the budget as proposed is not…
2:15:34 Scott Waguespack: Requested parking meter true-up costs and economic impact statements for all 2024 events,…
2:20:10 Jeanette B. Taylor: Criticized Park District events that hire private security and then rely on CPD, and…
2:22:15 Jeanette B. Taylor: Said film productions in her ward do not give timely notice or benefit local residents,…
2:27:28 Jeanette B. Taylor: Objected to hiring outside artists for murals and painting over local murals without…
2:31:20 Chris Taliaferro: Asked whether the city charges festivals a flat rate or percentage for police services and…
2:34:13 Nicholas Sposato: Said multiple major events at the same time strain police resources.
2:35:05 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Said arts are often first to be cut and described Argyle night markets as a public…
2:37:17 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Asked when Chicago Presents grant awardees will hear back.
2:38:48 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Asked DCASE for its threshold of success and revenue formula for large citywide…
2:40:47 Bennett R. Lawson: Asked whether DCASE has considered capacity limits for street festivals after a crowd…
2:41:58 Bennett R. Lawson: Asked what share of DCASE grants are government versus private and proposed a citywide…
2:45:14 Bennett R. Lawson: Suggested examining liquor and sales tax revenue from festivals.
2:54:00 Ruth Cruz: Asked how DCASE's budget increase will bring public art and support local artists in the 30th Ward.
2:57:27 Jason C. Ervin: Asked whether DCASE tracks the cumulative impact of film productions on neighborhoods that…
3:00:08 Jason C. Ervin: Suggested that other affected neighbors on a block, not only the property owner, share in…
3:52:53 2025 budget hearing: Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
4:31:11 Matthew J. O'Shea: Asked the acting BACP commissioner whether he wants the job permanently and praised his…
4:37:16 Walter R. Burnett: Asked whether the city could limit the number of Airbnb-type rentals per block, citing…
4:44:10 Walter R. Burnett: Said he may introduce an ordinance limiting shared housing units per block.
4:46:31 Nicholas Sposato: Said the liquor tax increase and tip credit changes hurt businesses in border wards.
4:47:16 Nicholas Sposato: Suggested limiting the number of shared housing units per block.
4:54:27 Ronnie L. Mosley: Asked BACP for help with peddling, excessive store advertising and pop-up auto repair shops.
5:50:39 Ruth Cruz: Asked whether problem history is considered when liquor licenses are renewed.
5:55:11 Ruth Cruz: Raised concerns about concentrations of shared housing units on blocks and asked about…
6:36:58 Michael D. Rodriguez: Said multilingual Office of Labor Standards positions added last year have improved…
6:39:48 Michael D. Rodriguez: Asked about new OLS data analyst positions and said a rideshare driver ordinance would…
6:42:43 Michael D. Rodriguez: Encouraged colleagues to support proactive labor inspections in future budgets.
7:01:50 2025 budget hearing: Department of Housing
7:07:29 William Conway: Asked for an update on the LaSalle Street office-to-residential conversions and about shifts…
7:22:09 Anthony Beale: Asked how the Department of Housing could report spending bond money when the CFO said bond…
7:55:14 Monique L. Scott: Thanked the Department of Housing for work in Lawndale including missing middle housing.
8:24:01 Anthony Beale: Questioned why a 150-unit affordable project in his ward was denied while a downtown LaSalle…
8:44:54 Lamont J. Robinson: Asked how state and federal partners can provide more affordable housing funding.
8:46:53 Lamont J. Robinson: Asked what resources exist to publicize first-time homebuyer programs.
9:03:45 2025 budget hearing: Department of Planning and Development
9:06:05 Walter R. Burnett: Asked DPD whether claims of little development activity are accurate.
9:32:51 Gregory I. Mitchell: Asked about DPD's plans for the western corridors of his ward and abandoned properties…
9:35:38 Gregory I. Mitchell: Asked how DPD can help attract additional developers around the former USX site.
10:17:24 Anthony Beale: Asked how DPD met its 3% budget cut target.
10:39:02 Peter Chico: Asked how to attract development to a ward bordering Indiana where residents shop across the…
10:42:03 Peter Chico: Asked about extending tools like the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund to the south end of the ward.
10:49:09 Jeylú B. Gutiérrez: Commended DPD's planning outreach in Brighton Park and Gage Park.
11:03:02 2025 budget hearing: Chicago Public Library
11:37:29 Jeylú B. Gutiérrez: Said Gage Park needs a larger library and the Brighton Park branch needs investment.

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 full day of 2025 budget hearings, opening with public comment and then questioning the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), the Department of Housing, the Department of Planning and Development, and the Chicago Public Library. Members focused heavily on how the city recovers police, traffic and parking-meter costs from large special events and film productions, and on whether permit and license fees should be raised to generate revenue. BACP questioning covered planned cuts to vacant investigator positions, problem liquor licensees, street peddling and vending, shared housing limits, and app-based services; housing and planning questions covered per-unit costs of affordable housing, use of the Housing and Economic Development Bond, green social housing, the LaSalle Street conversions, and the TIF surplus sweep. Library questions addressed vacancies, staffing hours and the lack of dedicated capital funding for branches. No votes on the budget were taken; the committee stood at ease until 9 a.m. the next day.

Topics: Special event permits and cost reimbursement, Film industry impacts and revenue, Street peddling and vending, Liquor licenses and problem businesses, BACP investigator vacancies, Shared housing / Airbnb, Affordable housing costs, Housing and Economic Development Bond, TIF sweep and TIF eligibility, Library staffing and capital needs

Agenda items discussed

1:01 Public comment: discussed
23:00 2025 budget hearing: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events: discussed
3:52:53 2025 budget hearing: Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection: discussed
7:01:50 2025 budget hearing: Department of Housing: discussed
9:03:45 2025 budget hearing: Department of Planning and Development: discussed
11:03:02 2025 budget hearing: Chicago Public Library: discussed

Alderpersons who spoke

Jason C. Ervin (chair): Asked what charges, beyond the permit fee, large-scale events pay the city and whether other departments bill organizers for services. (42:01); Asked whether DCASE tracks the cumulative impact of film productions on neighborhoods that repeatedly host filming. (2:57:27); Suggested that other affected neighbors on a block, not only the property owner, share in location fees paid by productions, while noting film is a major employer in his ward. (3:00:08)
Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Asked DCASE to explain about $3.5 million in increases while staffing stays at 81 positions. (30:57); Asked how DCASE will prioritize staff time as ARPA grant funding winds down. (33:27); Said some major special events are not charged for police, fire and traffic resources, argued DCASE is the final arbiter on events, and called for more equitable reimbursement. (36:40)
Pat Dowell (alderperson): Said the city needs to recover more money from large events for police and OEMC support and requested a list of 2025 events with 2024 reimbursements. (43:17); Asked whether the city can get more revenue from the film industry and whether its local neighborhood impact is tracked. (46:07); Asked why a public art contract for the Washington statue at 51st and King Drive has taken years to resolve. (49:43)
Matthew J. O'Shea (alderperson): Said profitable ticketed events that strip parking and require police overtime should be charged more. (53:00); Raised concerns about multiple large events scheduled on the same day straining police and called for better coordination. (54:40); Asked the acting BACP commissioner whether he wants the job permanently and praised his responsiveness. (4:31:11)
Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Said the online special event permitting process and $100 fee are burdensome for small community events like play streets. (59:38); Urged more neighborhoods be included in the community Taste of Chicago. (1:03:59); Asked that aldermen be included in mural decisions, citing a mural approved with CTA at 49th and Western. (1:06:01)
Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Encouraged the DCASE commissioner to lead efforts to increase event reimbursement revenue with public safety partners. (1:08:00); Described filming in the 39th Ward as a positive experience for residents and businesses. (1:09:22); Asked about the benefits of Expo Chicago and how the city can attract more art events like it. (1:09:50)
Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked the DCASE commissioner for her vision and measurable goals for the next year. (1:14:38); Asked for a DCASE point person to track unpaid event reimbursements and deny future permits to organizers who do not pay. (1:18:23); Asked about loss of institutional knowledge at DCASE during leadership transitions. (1:22:38)
Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked how DCASE tracks permit applications awaiting other departments' approvals and raised conflicts between filming, street work and street cleaning. (1:25:01); Said film inconvenience payments to residents are inconsistent and called for uniform practices. (2:02:27); Asked that filming notices be provided in multiple languages including Spanish and traditional Chinese. (2:03:11)
Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Requested lists of DCASE-permitted events requiring police resources and parking meter payouts, with cost information. (1:28:48); Requested a list of arts organizations under $1 million funded by DCASE in 2023 and 2024. (1:30:12); Asked DCASE for help reopening the closed New 400 Theater in Rogers Park. (1:33:27)
William Conway (alderperson): Asked what is driving the roughly 11% increase in DCASE's budget and how $10.8 million in ARPA funds will be used. (1:36:02); Asked whether Taste of Chicago vendors pay a commission and whether the city controls point-of-sale systems. (1:39:32); Asked for an update on the LaSalle Street office-to-residential conversions and about shifts in the housing department's corporate fund. (7:07:29)
Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Asked how neighborhood storytelling and destinations fit into DCASE's revenue efforts. (1:41:39); Asked how DCASE farmers markets could help fill a food desert as an Aldi in his ward closes. (1:43:46); Asked BACP for help with peddling, excessive store advertising and pop-up auto repair shops. (4:54:27)
Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Suggested a future discussion of whether the corporate fund should also support cultural affairs. (1:47:06); Asked about DCASE's reorganization and its hiring status for leadership vacancies. (1:47:27); Asked about follow-up on the monuments reassessment and how aldermen can engage. (1:50:19)
Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Said DCASE must be accountable for fair festival and filming processes and called for code changes. (1:53:30); Requested youth program slots by ward and how DCASE works with CPS. (1:54:43); Said film company reimbursement to the city and residents is inconsistent and asked about opportunities to increase it. (1:57:31)
Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Compared Georgia's film industry figures with Chicago's roughly $500,000 in film permit revenue and asked how to bring in more city revenue. (2:04:04); Requested comparable film permit fees from other cities and Chicago's share of film tax revenue. (2:08:30); Thanked the Department of Housing for work in Lawndale including missing middle housing. (7:55:14)
Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Said last-minute filming requests burden ward and city staff. (2:11:01); Asked for specific DCASE proposals on permit fees and said the budget as proposed is not moving forward. (2:12:37); Requested parking meter true-up costs and economic impact statements for all 2024 events, citing $600,000 for NASCAR. (2:15:34)
Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Criticized Park District events that hire private security and then rely on CPD, and called for coordination among departments. (2:20:10); Said film productions in her ward do not give timely notice or benefit local residents, vendors or schools. (2:22:15); Objected to hiring outside artists for murals and painting over local murals without community input. (2:27:28)
Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Asked whether the city charges festivals a flat rate or percentage for police services and whether organizers pay. (2:31:20)
Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Said multiple major events at the same time strain police resources. (2:34:13); Said the liquor tax increase and tip credit changes hurt businesses in border wards. (4:46:31); Suggested limiting the number of shared housing units per block. (4:47:16)
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Said arts are often first to be cut and described Argyle night markets as a public safety initiative. (2:35:05); Asked when Chicago Presents grant awardees will hear back. (2:37:17); Asked DCASE for its threshold of success and revenue formula for large citywide events. (2:38:48)
Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked whether DCASE has considered capacity limits for street festivals after a crowd safety issue. (2:40:47); Asked what share of DCASE grants are government versus private and proposed a citywide arts initiative. (2:41:58); Suggested examining liquor and sales tax revenue from festivals. (2:45:14)
Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Asked how DCASE's budget increase will bring public art and support local artists in the 30th Ward. (2:54:00); Asked whether problem history is considered when liquor licenses are renewed. (5:50:39); Raised concerns about concentrations of shared housing units on blocks and asked about restriction options. (5:55:11)
Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Asked whether the city could limit the number of Airbnb-type rentals per block, citing parking impacts. (4:37:16); Said he may introduce an ordinance limiting shared housing units per block. (4:44:10); Asked DPD whether claims of little development activity are accurate. (9:06:05)
Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Said multilingual Office of Labor Standards positions added last year have improved language access. (6:36:58); Asked about new OLS data analyst positions and said a rideshare driver ordinance would be called after the budget. (6:39:48); Encouraged colleagues to support proactive labor inspections in future budgets. (6:42:43)
Anthony Beale (alderperson): Asked how the Department of Housing could report spending bond money when the CFO said bond proceeds had not yet been used. (7:22:09); Questioned why a 150-unit affordable project in his ward was denied while a downtown LaSalle project received about $90 million in TIF. (8:24:01); Asked how DPD met its 3% budget cut target. (10:17:24)
Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Asked how state and federal partners can provide more affordable housing funding. (8:44:54); Asked what resources exist to publicize first-time homebuyer programs. (8:46:53)
Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Asked about DPD's plans for the western corridors of his ward and abandoned properties holding up development. (9:32:51); Asked how DPD can help attract additional developers around the former USX site. (9:35:38)
Peter Chico (alderperson): Asked how to attract development to a ward bordering Indiana where residents shop across the state line. (10:39:02); Asked about extending tools like the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund to the south end of the ward. (10:42:03)
Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Commended DPD's planning outreach in Brighton Park and Gage Park. (10:49:09); Said Gage Park needs a larger library and the Brighton Park branch needs investment. (11:37:29)

Exchanges between members

33:07 The chair told Alderman Brendan Reilly that the department had answered his memo by email to his ward account.
42:01 The chair followed up on Alderman Brendan Reilly question about what large events pay the city.
43:33 Alderman Pat Dowell said Alderman Brendan Reilly concern about event reimbursements is shared by other downtown-area members.
53:00 Alderman Matthew J. O'Shea echoed his colleague from the 42nd Ward on permits for ticketed events.
1:35:35 Alderman William Conway piggybacked on Alderman Brendan Reilly comments about DCASE staff.
1:46:23 Alderman Daniel La Spata thanked Alderman Ronnie L. Mosley for his question about farmers markets.
2:02:27 Alderman Nicole T. Lee echoed Alderman Byron Sigcho-López concerns about inconsistent filming compensation.
2:08:08 Alderman Andre Vasquez Jr. suggested Alderman Monique L. Scott request comparable film permit fees from other cities.
2:23:47 Alderman Jeanette B. Taylor asked Alderman Nicholas Sposato to bring the Park District before his committee.
2:30:31 Alderman Jeanette B. Taylor referenced Alderman Pat Dowell point about the African festival not taking place.
2:33:56 Alderman Nicholas Sposato told Alderman Jeanette B. Taylor he plans to bring the Park District in by the end of winter or early spring.
2:37:02 Alderman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked Alderman Jeanette B. Taylor for raising process issues.
2:44:19 Alderman Bennett R. Lawson agreed with Alderman Scott Waguespack that new event revenue must be found quickly.
4:52:50 Alderman Maria E. Hadden followed up on Alderman Jeanette B. Taylor concerns about hemp-derived products.
5:04:02 Alderman Nicole T. Lee built on Alderman Ronnie L. Mosley point about marketplaces for vendors.
5:07:18 Alderman Bennett R. Lawson echoed Alderman Brendan Reilly concern about cutting BACP investigators.
5:13:42 Alderman Bennett R. Lawson referred to Vice Mayor Walter R. Burnett point on shared housing and described his ordinance.
5:40:35 Alderman Scott Waguespack reiterated Alderman Brendan Reilly call to rein in problem businesses.
5:55:24 Alderman Ruth Cruz echoed Vice Mayor Walter R. Burnett concerns about concentrations of shared housing.
6:12:39 Alderman Byron Sigcho-López commended Alderman Monique L. Scott leadership on a commercial kitchen.

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