Committee on License and Consumer Protection meeting, October 7, 2024
- When: Mon, Oct 7, 2024, 11:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on License and Consumer Protection
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1014917219
- Transcript: full text (5,730 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 License and Consumer Protection heard five public commenters, several of whom criticized the chair, and the meeting was briefly recessed after disruption during the chair's remarks marking one year since the October 7 attack on Israel, followed by a moment of silence. The committee approved the September Rule 45 report and recommended passage of an expanded pedicab restriction in the 3rd Ward, package goods moratoriums in the 10th, 16th and 42nd Wards, restricted residential and cannabis zones in precincts of the 23rd Ward, lifting a moratorium for a 39th Ward store, and an extension of the Wrigley Plaza ordinance to 2028. A 12th Ward moratorium lift tied to the Kroger-Albertsons merger was held after Alderperson William Conway noted the Federal Trade Commission was seeking to block the merger, and a related 42nd Ward item was held at Alderperson Brendan Reilly request. Two other items were held without discussion.
Topics: public comment conduct, pedicab restrictions, package goods moratoriums, Kroger-Albertsons merger, cannabis dispensary restrictions, vacation rental restrictions, Wrigley Plaza ordinance
Agenda items discussed
- 7:19 Public comment: discussed
- 33:43 Approval of September 2024 Rule 45 report: passed
- 34:08 Restrictions on pedicab operation in the 3rd Ward extended to 22nd Street (O2024-0011203): passed
- 36:42 Disallow additional package goods licenses on a portion of Ewing Avenue, 10th Ward (O2024-0012424): passed
- 37:41 Lift package goods moratorium on a portion of Archer Avenue, 12th Ward (O2024-0012203): held
- 42:17 Restricted residential zone prohibiting additional shared housing and vacation rentals, 10th precinct of the 23rd Ward (substitute): passed
- 43:33 Restricted cannabis zones in precincts of the 23rd Ward (two substitute ordinances): passed
- 44:59 Items eight and nine: held
- 45:15 Lift package goods moratorium on a portion of North Pulaski, 39th Ward: passed
- 46:25 Reinstate package goods moratorium on a portion of State Street, 42nd Ward (O2024-0012419): passed
- 47:55 Package goods moratorium on a portion of Ohio Street, 42nd Ward: held
- 48:55 Extend repeal date of Wrigley Plaza ordinance to February 1, 2028: passed
- 50:39 Disallow additional liquor and package goods licenses in a portion of the 16th Ward: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Debra L. Silverstein (chair): Reviewed the committee's rules of conduct for public comment, including staying on agenda topics. (7:54); Marked one year since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, noted hostages still held, and asked for a moment of silence. (32:26); Said the 12th Ward item would be held since a similar 34th Ward matter was being held. (40:35)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked to extend the pedicab restriction to 22nd Street because pedicabs are staging and driving through the residential area near the 18th Street pedestrian bridge. (34:37); Explained pedicabs could still use Roosevelt Road but not residential streets south of it. (36:05)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Noted a similar situation near Wrigley and asked whether pedicabs could still use Roosevelt Road to reach Soldier Field. (35:52); Explained the ordinance extends the Wrigley sports plaza ordinance's sunset without other changes. (49:22)
- Peter Chico (alderperson): Said the moratorium lifted a year ago for a 7-Eleven to sell package goods should be put back in place. (37:11)
- William Conway (alderperson): Said the Federal Trade Commission is trying to block the Kroger-Albertsons merger and that he had asked to hold a similar 34th Ward item. (39:50); Said he did not want to hold up another ward's item but the license change depends on a merger that may not go through, and moved to hold. (40:46)
- Silvana Tabares (alderperson): Said the ordinance would ban cannabis dispensaries on the Archer Avenue corridor after collecting signatures from 25% of registered voters in the precinct. (42:59); Said Precinct 4 would also bar future cannabis dispensaries, citing resident signatures and support. (44:17)
- Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Supported lifting the moratorium so a Pulaski food and liquor store can expand into an adjacent storefront, noting community group support. (45:42)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Clarified the item reinstates a State Street moratorium after the market it was lifted for closed. (46:53); Asked that the Ohio Street item be held until there is guidance from the FTC on the Kroger-Albertsons merger. (48:22)
- Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Asked for support of the moratorium in newly inherited parts of the 16th Ward to keep bad actors from entering without notice. (51:04)
Exchanges between members
- 35:52 Lawson asked Dowell whether pedicabs could still use Roosevelt Road to access Soldier Field.
- 36:05 Dowell answered that pedicabs can use Roosevelt Road but not residential streets to the south.
- 40:23 Silverstein asked Conway whether he was objecting to the 12th Ward item.
- 40:25 Conway said he was not objecting but thought the item should be held to learn more.
- 41:27 Silverstein asked Conway to make a motion to hold the item.
- 51:04 Coleman thanked the chair and colleagues before presenting her ordinance.
- 51:15 Coleman said, like Reilly, she wanted to keep bad actors from entering the community.