Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development meeting, May 7, 2024
- When: Tue, May 7, 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 Economic, Capital and Technology Development
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928495/video/943414996
- Transcript: full text (10,778 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 Economic, Capital and Technology Development heard public comment and approved its April 2024 monthly report. It recommended passage of an appointment to the Community Development Commission, appointments and a reappointment to special service area commissions, class 6B tax incentives for 272 North California Avenue and 10330 South Woodlawn Avenue, a class 7C renewal for 5214-5232 South Archer Avenue, and a class L incentive for the landmark former bank at 801 West Madison Street. Chairman Gilbert Villegas held his ordinance requiring city data to be processed and stored within the United States, citing concerns raised by the administration and technology vendors, and said he would form a working group on data centers. Members discussed the revenue, energy-cost and security implications of the data ordinance.
Topics: Community Development Commission appointment, special service area appointments, class 6B tax incentives, class 7C tax incentive, class L landmark incentive, data centers, city data storage, technology modernization, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 22:46 Public comment
- 31:55 Approval of the April 2024 monthly report: passed
- 32:25 Appointment of John Zas to the Community Development Commission: passed
- 40:48 Appointments and reappointment to special service area commissions, including SSA 5 Commercial Avenue: passed
- 42:25 Class 6B tax incentive for 272 North California Avenue (27th Ward): passed
- 48:39 Class 6B tax incentive for 10330 South Woodlawn Avenue (9th Ward): passed
- 54:21 Class 7C tax incentive renewal for 5214-5232 South Archer Avenue (23rd Ward): passed
- 1:02:42 Class L tax incentive for 801 West Madison Street (34th Ward): passed
- 1:13:16 Ordinance requiring city data to be processed, transmitted and disposed of within the United States: held
Alderpersons who spoke
- Gilbert Villegas (chair): Introduced the data processing ordinance, recalling the January subject matter hearing on data centers and Loudoun County's revenue growth. (1:13:16); Said the committee had previously recommended a time-and-attendance system projected to save $40 million a year, which the current administration canceled in favor of an SAP ERP program. (1:14:18); Said the ordinance could generate property tax revenue, jobs and opportunities for local women- and minority-owned technology vendors. (1:15:55)
- Emma Mitts (alderperson): Spoke in support of the Community Development Commission appointee, describing his church, food pantry and community work on the West Side. (33:49)
- William Conway (alderperson): Described 801 West Madison as a landmark bank building vacant for 20 years, noted the developer's work with Unite Here, and asked colleagues to support the incentive. (1:08:08); Said a tour of the building showed its long vacancy and thanked the developer for bringing it back online. (1:10:30)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Praised the 801 West Madison project and asked who the hotel operator would be. (1:10:55)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Asked whether the chair intended to continue discussing the data ordinance given late memos from the administration and the chamber, or hold it entirely. (1:19:58); Commended the chair for raising the data issue, recalled past concerns about city data moving overseas in a water billing privatization, and urged including sister agencies. (1:24:49); Said the City Colleges response in the administration's memo was inadequate and encouraged calling sister agencies to the table. (1:26:24)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Asked whether the chair could share the administration's concerns and a synopsis of the major vendors' positions. (1:21:34); Asked what security problems the ordinance addresses by keeping Chicago's data in Illinois and whether local storage could cost more due to higher energy costs. (1:22:09)
Exchanges between members
- 35:56 The chair thanked Alderperson Emma Mitts after her remarks on the appointment.
- 1:10:00 The chair told Alderperson William Conway he was glad to see the long-vacant property reactivated.
- 1:10:30 Alderperson William Conway responded to the chair that the building's long vacancy was apparent inside.
- 1:10:55 Alderperson Daniel La Spata called Alderperson William Conway ward project beautiful before asking about the hotel operator.
- 1:12:52 The chair thanked Alderperson Daniel La Spata.
- 1:19:58 Alderperson Scott Waguespack asked the chair whether he would continue the data ordinance discussion or hold it.
- 1:20:18 The chair answered that he would convene a working group with the major vendors.
- 1:21:34 Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell asked the chair to share the administration's concerns and the vendors' positions.
- 1:21:51 The chair said he would share the administration's memo and the committee's response.
- 1:22:09 Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell asked the chair what security problems the ordinance addresses.
- 1:22:44 The chair answered that the aim is to build a local data center market.
- 1:24:49 Alderperson Scott Waguespack commended the chair for bringing the data issue forward.
- 1:28:12 The chair thanked Alderperson Scott Waguespack.