Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development meeting, May 11, 2026
- When: Mon, May 11, 2026, 10:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: 201A, 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/1189863897
- Transcript: full text (26,084 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 Economic, Capital and Technology Development, chaired by Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis, heard public comment largely on the United Center 1901 Project and a proposed digital wayfinder pilot, then approved its April 2026 report and recommended six special service area appointments while holding the appointment of an appointee who did not attend. After extended questioning on minority and Latino contractor participation, local hiring, union commitments and tax impacts, the committee passed a Class 7B property tax incentive for phase one of the 1901 Project, with the chair asking the developer to answer members' questions before it is reported to City Council. The wayfinder pilot ordinance sponsored by Alderperson Walter R. Burnett had its substitute accepted and was then held in committee after concerns about the city's existing JCDecaux street furniture contract. The committee also passed an amended 2026 budget for SSA 34 Uptown and, on a roll call announced as eight to two, passed an order sponsored by Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez directing the Comptroller to apply the leak relief pilot to a constituent's disputed water bill despite Department of Law objections to its legality.
Topics: United Center 1901 Project, Class 7B tax incentive, Minority and Latino contractor participation, Special service area appointments, Digital wayfinder pilot, JCDecaux street furniture contract, SSA 34 Uptown budget, Water bill leak relief, Local hiring
Agenda items discussed
- 42:10 Approval of the April 2026 monthly committee report: passed
- 43:00 Special service area appointments to SSAs 17, 21, 24 and 82 (items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7): passed
- 50:47 Appointment of Andrew Rizza to SSA 17 Central Lakeview (item 2), held for non-attendance: held
- 52:58 Class 7B property tax incentive for United Center Joint Venture, 1901 Project phase one: passed
- 1:58:59 Substitute ordinance establishing an interactive digital wayfinder pilot program: held
- 2:36:38 Amended 2026 service provider agreement and budget for Special Service Area 34 Uptown: passed
- 2:40:47 Substitute order directing the Comptroller to activate leak relief pilot program provisions for a constituent's water bill: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Derrick G. Curtis (chair): Asked whether DPD analyzed additional tax revenue from the 1901 Project and whether parking would be sufficient without spilling into the community. (1:30:57); Said members raised concerns about union participation, outreach and diversity, and recommended passing the incentive out of committee while giving the developer nine days to answer questions before it goes to City Council. (1:55:16); Asked the sponsor to explain the difference between the original and substitute wayfinder ordinance. (2:28:14)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Asked who makes up the development team and the percentage split of the general contractor joint ventures. (1:04:32); Asked which joint venture members are signatory to the unions and requested the information before a final vote. (1:06:06); Asked how the roughly $54 million abatement translates to benefits for the local community and said 26 percent MBE should be a floor, not a ceiling. (1:07:26)
- Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Asked whether any of the general contractor joint venture firms are Latino-owned and why none was selected. (1:16:59); Said she was focused on Latino firms in lead contractor roles, not only as subcontractors. (1:18:10)
- Emma Mitts (alderperson): Asked how the project will affect surrounding West Side communities and what outreach was done with neighboring alderpersons. (1:19:09); Asked which city department tracks MBE/WBE contract compliance and noted that data held in two systems prevents a full citywide picture. (1:19:59); Asked whether any analysis was done on how property taxes for surrounding residents could change after the project. (1:22:31)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Asked how many phases the project has and whether DPD expects further incentive requests beyond this one. (1:24:50); Echoed concerns about the lack of direct Latino participation and said it is a recurring pattern. (1:25:48); Said building puts people to work but criticized DPD and the administration for advancing some projects while others in the pipeline stall. (1:26:45)
- Peter Chico (alderperson): Said the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park included Latino representation in its joint venture and asked why the 1901 Project's three joint ventures did not. (1:28:48); Said mega projects are an opportunity to build up smaller contractors and asked for a follow-up conversation on inclusion. (1:30:29)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Said Asian American contractors should also be included and urged the developer not to return for later phases without answers. (1:33:00); Said the 7B request came as a surprise but that she considers it an appropriate use of a 7B incentive. (1:33:48); Encouraged ongoing dialogue with surrounding alderpersons and attention to long-term tenants and vendors. (1:34:24)
- Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Asked which unions will work on construction and requested the list through the chair. (1:38:24); Said she would like to see Latinos in leadership roles on these projects, not only as workers. (1:38:48)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said he grew up across from the parking lots, that gentrification concerns are personal, and that the area west of Ashland has seen little investment. (1:47:34); Described the CIC and the United Center's community engagement and said the abatement mainly funds parking infrastructure needed before other development. (1:49:11); Described a citywide subcontracting fair and job fairs aimed at local and minority hiring. (1:50:48)
- Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Commended Alderperson Walter R. Burnett on outreach for the 1901 Project and offered, as Black Caucus chair, to organize engagement with colleagues before the City Council vote. (2:00:01)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked JCDecaux representatives to answer questions on how the pilot intersects or conflicts with the existing street furniture contract. (2:05:51); Asked what commitments the city makes to JCDecaux in exchange for its guaranteed payments. (2:10:01); Asked the sponsor what shortcomings in JCDecaux's offerings lead him to seek a different provider. (2:11:49)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Credited the sponsor for creativity but suggested he get up to speed on the recently renegotiated JCDecaux contract. (2:17:23); Asked the acting CFO whether added advertising supply could reduce the city's existing advertising revenue. (2:18:44); Asked how pilot revenues would be distributed, noting the existing program spreads downtown ad revenue across all wards. (2:20:05)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Asked JCDecaux the cost of an average kiosk and the permitted uses of the $2 million infrastructure fund. (2:33:51); Asked whether advertising bus benches fall under JCDecaux's street furniture contract and whether SSA wayfinding has faced litigation. (2:34:55)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Asked Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez the current total of the water bill and confirmed the property's water pipe had been disconnected. (2:42:45); Said the Law Department attorney was being left exposed by departments that do not appear before committees and urged them to expedite broader legislation. (3:09:03); Renewed his motion to pass the order so the constituent can receive relief in the meantime. (3:10:44)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Asked whether passing an order is how the council would provide relief to other residents in similar situations and said it seemed like a poor precedent. (3:03:01); Said it is the council's job to fix the ordinance and that the order is not the way it should be done. (3:05:10)
Exchanges between members
- 1:25:48 Lopez echoed Cruz's concern about the lack of direct Latino participation.
- 1:26:25 Lopez congratulated Burnett for moving the project through the process.
- 1:29:03 Chico echoed the sentiment of Cruz on Latino representation.
- 1:29:07 Chico echoed Lopez's concern on Latino representation.
- 1:34:01 Lee referred to the questions Lopez asked earlier about future phases.
- 1:43:49 Mitchell compared the project to the southeast side project Chico mentioned.
- 1:57:17 The chair told Burnett he wants the 1901 team to follow up with members as well.
- 2:00:01 Coleman commended Burnett on outreach for the 1901 Project and offered help.
- 2:01:28 The chair said he agreed with Coleman about the project.
- 2:11:49 La Spata asked Burnett why he seeks a provider other than JCDecaux.
- 2:14:40 Burnett answered La Spata that his concern is funding the kiosks without using the citywide infrastructure fund or ward dollars.
- 2:17:23 Reilly said he was following up on La Spata's questions.
- 2:17:28 Reilly credited Burnett's creativity but suggested he review the JCDecaux contract and asked that the ordinance be held.
- 2:28:14 The chair asked Burnett the difference between the original and substitute ordinance.
- 2:29:35 The chair asked Reilly whether he intended to make a motion.
- 2:31:43 Burnett said he was willing to hold the ordinance as Reilly requested.
- 2:42:45 Waguespack asked Lopez the current total of the constituent's water bill.
- 2:42:56 Lopez answered Waguespack that the bill exceeds a quarter of a million dollars.
- 2:49:40 La Spata said Lopez was right to fight for his constituent but questioned whether the leak relief ordinance allows the relief.
- 2:50:37 La Spata asked Lopez whether a leak had been discovered at the property.