Committee on Finance meeting, September 11, 2023
- When: Mon, Sep 11, 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 Finance
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/862057932
- Transcript: full text (29,295 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 Finance approved its July and August Rule 45 reports and recommended confirmation of Chasse Rehwinkel as city comptroller after questioning on his background, priorities and personal political activity; Alderpersons Quinn, Lopez and Ervin were recorded as opposed. The committee recommended passage of tax-exempt bond authority for the Care Manor affordable housing project in the 28th Ward, three ordinances amending and expanding the Northwest Industrial Corridor TIF district, and TIF-funded intergovernmental agreements with CPS for Amundsen High School's building automation system, Uplift High School's entry plaza, a new turf field and track at the Greater Lawndale high school campus, and a roof replacement at Skinner West's branch building. Small claims and charitable solicitation orders were placed on the omnibus, and law department reports were placed on file. The committee recommended four settlements: $150,000 for injuries from a fallen parkway tree, $330,000 in a domestic violence police response case, $350,000 in a traffic stop and prosecution case, and $25 million in two wrongful conviction cases involving former detective Kenneth Boudreau, with some members voting no; one settlement was held.
Topics: comptroller appointment, affordable housing bonds, TIF district amendment, CPS capital projects, legal settlements, wrongful convictions, tree removal, fines and fees
Agenda items discussed
- 14:00 July and August 2023 Rule 45 reports: passed
- 15:03 Appointment of Chasse Rehwinkel as City Comptroller: passed
- 1:28:27 Tax-exempt bonds for the Care Manor project, 4531-4555 West Washington Boulevard (28th Ward): passed
- 1:35:26 Amendment No. 4 to the Northwest Industrial Corridor redevelopment plan: passed
- 1:56:10 Designation of the expanded Northwest Industrial Corridor redevelopment project area: passed
- 1:57:02 Adoption of tax increment allocation financing for the expanded Northwest Industrial Corridor: passed
- 1:57:38 Intergovernmental agreement with CPS for TIF funding of Amundsen High School building automation system (40th Ward): passed
- 2:03:03 Intergovernmental agreement with CPS for TIF funding of Uplift High School entry plaza (46th Ward): passed
- 2:05:35 Intergovernmental agreement with CPS for TIF funding of turf field and track at Greater Lawndale high school campus (22nd Ward): passed
- 2:11:51 Intergovernmental agreement with CPS for TIF funding of Skinner West branch roof replacement (34th Ward): passed
- 2:15:30 Small claims payment and denial orders and charitable solicitation permits placed on omnibus: passed
- 2:17:10 Law Department reports of verdicts, judgments and settlements for July and August 2023: discussed
- 2:17:56 Settlement: Behnke and Jacobs v. City of Chicago, $150,000: passed
- 2:32:22 Settlement: Carrizales v. Chicago police officers and City of Chicago, $330,000: passed
- 2:47:44 Settlement: Rucker v. Chicago police officers, $350,000: passed
- 2:53:20 Settlement item 14D: held
- 2:53:27 Settlement: Washington v. Boudreau and Hood v. City of Chicago, $25 million: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Pat Dowell (chair): Asked the comptroller nominee for his top three priorities for the department. (47:39); Told Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez that questions about enforcement policy should go to the police department, and later ended that line of questioning because the comptroller collects revenue rather than enforcing laws. (1:15:07); Said the nominee showed a clear focus on taxpayers and that his approach at the water billing hearing gave members insight into how he would serve. (1:26:54)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Asked the nominee what he did to increase equity and diversity in banking, and about bond forecasting and investing city cash. (20:57)
- William Conway (alderperson): Said the nominee was highly qualified and pledged to help him pursue ideas to improve the city's fiscal outlook. (29:17); Asked how the Care Manor financing sources add up and what terms the multifamily loan would carry. (1:33:45); Asked about the $350 million TIF budget cap and the projected growth in assessed value in the expanded district. (1:51:23)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Asked what financial certifications the nominee holds, noting the comptroller is responsible for financial reporting. (30:52); Said he was concerned that the nominee lacks a straight accounting or finance background for the chief fiscal and accounting officer role. (33:06); Said Care Manor is the first affordable development in West Garfield Park in over 20 years and praised the developer's community work. (1:41:53)
- Timothy R. Knudsen (alderperson): Supported the appointment, citing the nominee's state work and his leadership as an LGBTQ leader in banking. (36:20)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Praised the nominee's record and asked how he would work with the chief information officer on utility billing technology. (37:31); Moved to approve the domestic violence settlement and urged support for the plaintiff and her children and pairing social workers with police on such calls. (2:42:57); Asked the Law Department to confirm that going to trial on the wrongful conviction cases would increase the city's financial risk. (3:13:23)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked how the nominee views the combined IT and facilities department and the Finance department's enforcement and staffing capacity. (41:01); Supported the Amundsen High School project, noting overcrowding at the school. (2:01:45); Said the forestry grid system has increased tree trimming but more staff are needed and 311 should allow marking tree emergencies. (2:30:40)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Supported the nominee and asked about his work implementing the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act. (51:11); Said many Amundsen High School students live in the 47th Ward and the school is well over capacity. (2:00:40)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Shared some of Alderperson Jason C. Ervin concerns about the nominee's background and asked about plans for efficiencies and how he would measure success. (55:41); Recommended the comptroller focus on efficiencies in the Water Department, CDOT and Streets and Sanitation. (1:02:55)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Said he worked with the nominee at the state and asked how he would improve access to capital for marginalized communities. (1:03:44)
- Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Asked how quickly approved settlement payouts should be made. (1:06:45)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Raised concerns about the nominee's personal political activity with groups he associated with anti-police slogans and asked whether he believes in them. (1:09:14); Said a department head engaging in such politics matters to the council and could affect decision-making. (1:12:15); Argued that equitable rather than equal enforcement of fines and fees leads to reduced enforcement in some neighborhoods. (1:13:58)
- William E. Hall (alderperson): Asked how forecasting will be shared with the council and public and about plans to diversify department staff. (1:18:35)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Said the mayor has the right to choose his appointees and offered his support regardless of political differences. (1:23:20); Questioned details of the tree settlement while supporting it, and urged Streets and Sanitation to expedite removal of dangerous trees. (2:24:02); Asked about the conflicting accounts of where the gun was found in the Rucker case. (2:51:38)
- Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Supported the nominee but said Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez line of questioning was relevant because the Finance department handles enforcement collections. (1:24:01)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Supported the nominee and said personal political views off work time should not disqualify him. (1:25:44); Asked the Care Manor developer to explain the project and their organization. (1:37:15); Said the months between calls about the dead tree and its fall show a forestry policy problem. (2:28:22)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Supported Care Manor, saying rising property values in Garfield Park make permanent affordable housing necessary. (1:39:53); Said the police academy and rising home values could push growth in the TIF area beyond projections. (1:54:42)
- Emma Mitts (alderperson): Joined Alderperson Jason C. Ervin in supporting the Northwest Industrial Corridor TIF expansion. (1:49:49); Asked how many cases involving the former detective have been settled or are pending and whether he receives a pension. (3:14:14)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Asked whether design costs for repeated turf field projects could be reduced. (2:08:25); Asked whether the state's attorney challenged the certificate of innocence and whether the county would share settlement costs. (3:06:51)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Said the Greater Lawndale campus field is unusable and that communities like his rarely receive such investments. (2:09:41)
- Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Supported the turf field, saying North and South Lawndale schools serving Black and brown children are rarely afforded such facilities. (2:11:11)
- Marty Quinn (alderperson): Asked whether dead trees in high-pedestrian areas near schools should be treated as emergencies. (2:25:45)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Said the $25 million settlement is far above the average compensation per year of wrongful incarceration and could set a precedent the city cannot afford. (3:02:08); Argued that a certificate of innocence should lead to a standardized compensation figure and agreed with taking the case to trial. (3:04:59)
Exchanges between members
- 47:42 The chair followed up on Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. question by asking the nominee for his top priorities.
- 55:41 Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell said he shared some of Alderperson Jason C. Ervin concerns about the nominee's background.
- 1:15:07 The chair told Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez that his enforcement questions should go to the police department.
- 1:15:15 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez responded to the chair that the nominee had raised equitable revenue collection himself.
- 1:18:16 The chair ended Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez line of questioning and moved to the next member.
- 1:24:21 Alderperson Chris Taliaferro said Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez line of questioning was relevant and he should be allowed to continue.
- 1:25:15 The chair responded to Alderperson Chris Taliaferro, explaining why she cut off the questioning.
- 1:26:37 Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor noted she disagrees politically with Alderperson Nicholas Sposato but they respect each other and work together.
- 1:39:53 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett commended Alderperson Jason C. Ervin on the Care Manor project.
- 1:49:49 Alderperson Emma Mitts joined Alderperson Jason C. Ervin in supporting the TIF expansion.
- 1:55:05 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett responded to Alderperson William Conway question about projected growth in the TIF area.
- 2:01:54 Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. thanked Alderperson Matthew J. Martin for his comments on Amundsen High School.
- 2:11:11 Alderperson Monique L. Scott agreed with Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez that Lawndale schools rarely receive such investments.
- 3:06:27 Alderperson Brian Hopkins said he agreed with Alderperson Nicholas Sposato that the case should go to trial.
- 3:13:23 Alderperson Daniel La Spata said he was echoing Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. point on the settlement.