Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development meeting, July 10, 2023
- When: Mon, Jul 10, 2023, 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/840562340
- Transcript: full text (12,805 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 one public commenter, approved its June 2023 monthly report, and deferred several agenda items. Members recommended approval of a slate of special service area commission appointments and reappointments. The committee recommended passage of three Class 6(b) property tax incentive items: a renewal for 4550 South Packers Avenue in the 15th Ward, a cold storage warehouse at 3815 South Ashland Avenue in the 11th Ward, and a warehouse at 4510 West Ann Lurie Place in the 14th Ward. After a lengthy debate, a resolution sponsored by Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. asking the Illinois General Assembly to amend the Open Meetings Act to allow hybrid committee meetings failed on a roll call vote.
Topics: Special service area appointments, Class 6(b) tax incentives, Hybrid committee meetings, Open Meetings Act, Public participation, Industrial development, Job creation
Agenda items discussed
- 12:01 Approval of the June 2023 monthly report: passed
- 13:09 Deferral of item 1 and items 13 through 19: deferred
- 14:43 Appointments and reappointments to special service area commissions: passed
- 20:15 Resolution approving a Class 6(b) tax incentive for 4550 South Packers Avenue (15th Ward): passed
- 30:26 Ordinance approving a Class 6(b) tax incentive for 3815 South Ashland Avenue (11th Ward): passed
- 38:17 Ordinance approving a Class 6(b) tax incentive for 4510 West Ann Lurie Place (14th Ward): passed
- 44:03 Item 15 special service area reappointment: deferred
- 44:57 Resolution calling on the Illinois General Assembly to amend the Open Meetings Act to allow hybrid committee meetings: failed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Gilbert Villegas (chair): Said he or his staff had spoken with the special service area candidates by phone and supported their appointments. (18:08); Reminded the committee that an earlier ordinance requires Class 6(b) recipients to report annually on construction, MWBE participation, local hiring and jobs, with first reports expected in August. (36:02); Asked that if the hybrid meetings resolution passes, the sponsor bring any General Assembly bill draft back to the committee for review. (58:39)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Presented a resolution asking the General Assembly to amend the Open Meetings Act to allow hybrid committee hearings, citing accessibility, efficiency and higher attendance rates during the hybrid period. (45:44); Described the resolution as a first step to show the city's position before engaging with the General Assembly, and mentioned police district councils as also affected. (50:02); Responded that in-person attendance alone has not produced broad participation and said hybrid options could allow evening hearings and keep aldermen available in their wards. (1:03:35)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Clarified that the county had already granted the Class 6(b) renewal and that the council's role is to concur. (23:44); Said the 4550 South Packers item was not being deferred and had administration support. (28:02); Supported the 3815 South Ashland incentive and the push for upfront accountability on incentive commitments. (37:01)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked which Cook County Class 6(b) eligibility criterion the 4550 South Packers property met. (20:58); Asked why some incentives were ordinances and one was a resolution, and about the difference in binding effect. (24:29); Spoke in support of the hybrid meetings resolution as data-informed and asked whether a state bill had already been introduced. (49:02)
- Felix Cardona Jr. (alderperson): Said the 4550 South Packers item is a renewal and that the assessor's office handled the eligibility questions. (22:08); Said the 4510 West Ann Lurie Place incentive is about bringing jobs to the community and asked whether the developer had a tenant. (42:03)
- Anthony V. Napolitano (alderperson): Asked the sponsor to confirm the 4550 South Packers incentive was not new and had been vetted, and expressed full support. (27:13)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked for support of the 3815 South Ashland cold storage project, citing community meetings, local artist murals and the developer's cooperation. (34:04); Said hybrid options should balance accountability with members' need to represent constituents when they cannot be in two places, and agreed coordination of schedules would help. (1:11:45)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Moved support of the 3815 South Ashland ordinance, citing the inclusion of local artists. (37:50); Asked what would happen next with the resolution and how much would change before a state bill emerges, noting online options can both build community and be abused. (1:09:40); Noted that a statewide bill could matter for rural areas where in-person meetings are difficult. (1:11:21)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Said there is value in meeting in person and suggested committee chairs coordinate set meeting days as an immediate focus. (55:52); Said upcoming policy legislation should be debated in person rather than in hybrid format. (58:05)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Asked whether the sponsor would also champion scheduling and accessibility changes within the council's own power. (1:25:41); Said he is willing to partner with the sponsor to reshape the resolution. (1:33:24)
Exchanges between members
- 22:08 Cardona responded to La Spata's eligibility question by noting the item is a renewal.
- 27:13 Napolitano asked Lopez to confirm the incentive was not new and had been vetted.
- 28:02 Lopez answered that the item was not being deferred and had administration support.
- 37:01 Lopez said he was happy to support his colleague in the 11th Ward on the tax incentive.
- 49:02 La Spata asked Vasquez whether a state bill had already been introduced.
- 1:02:20 Lopez pointed to Mitchell's scheduling suggestion as a way to improve access.
- 1:03:35 Vasquez responded to Lopez that in-person meetings alone have not produced broad participation.
- 1:07:01 La Spata asked Vasquez to confirm the resolution does not ban in-person meetings.
- 1:09:40 Manaa-Hoppenworth asked Vasquez what would happen next with the resolution.
- 1:10:39 Vasquez explained the expected process at the General Assembly.
- 1:12:51 Lee said she agreed with Mitchell about coordinating schedules.
- 1:18:32 Lopez asked Vasquez to confirm the resolution only calls on the General Assembly to amend the Open Meetings Act.
- 1:20:32 Vasquez disagreed with Lopez's view of what the resolution text must specify.
- 1:21:22 Lopez disagreed, arguing resolutions are specific and members agree only to the text.
- 1:24:55 Lopez said a prior body discussion of an assault weapons resolution had occurred in 2017.
- 1:25:41 Mosley asked Vasquez whether he would champion scheduling changes within the council's purview.
- 1:25:59 Vasquez said yes and that he is open to that work.
- 1:28:14 Manaa-Hoppenworth asked the chair the difference between tabling and voting down the resolution.
- 1:28:28 Villegas explained the order of the pending motions.
- 1:30:29 Lopez noted La Spata could withdraw his motion to pass so a tabling motion could proceed.