Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development meeting, June 4, 2024
- When: Tue, Jun 4, 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/953315139
- Transcript: full text (7,816 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 approved remote participation, heard five public commenters, and approved its May 2024 monthly report. It recommended approval of a series of appointments and reappointments to special service area commissions. It also recommended passage of an ordinance designating the Calumet Area Industrial Development Commission as service provider for Special Service Area 5 on Commercial Avenue, after public commenters objected that the SSA commission had recommended the South Shore Chamber of Commerce and Alderperson Peter Chico said the change was needed to improve engagement and security on the corridor. The committee also recommended a Class 6B tax incentive for a light industrial building at 10770 South Doty Avenue in the 9th Ward and a Class C tax incentive for a recycling facility at 4121 South Packers Avenue in the 11th Ward.
Topics: special service areas, SSA 5 service provider, Commercial Avenue, SSA appointments, property tax incentives, Pullman industrial development, recycling facility, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 20:12 Rule 59 remote participation requests: passed
- 20:43 Public comment period: discussed
- 35:24 Approval of the May 2024 monthly report: passed
- 36:03 Appointments and reappointments to special service area commissions (items 1-17): passed
- 38:42 Service agreement with the Calumet Area Industrial Development Commission for Special Service Area 5, Commercial Avenue: passed
- 54:48 Class 6B tax incentive for property at 10770 South Doty Avenue: passed
- 1:02:46 Class C tax incentive for property at 4121 and 4155-4157 South Packers Avenue: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Gilbert Villegas (chair)
- Peter Chico (alderperson): Said Commercial Avenue is a priority for him and that he grew up near the corridor. (41:35); Said that when he walked the corridor no business owner or resident raised the issue, which he described as a lack of engagement by those paying into the SSA. (42:27); Said security is the main issue on Commercial Avenue and that the SSA did not address an open-air drug market, which police recently occupied. (43:46)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Asked whether any organization received a majority of the seven SSA commissioners' votes, noting the 3-2-2 split. (48:19)
- Anthony Beale (alderperson): Said the Calumet Area Industrial Development Commission has managed the SSA in his ward for over 15 years and once loaned it money to cover payroll before tax receipts arrived. (49:41); Said he supports Alderperson Peter Chico decision and encouraged residents to work with the new service provider. (51:17); Said the Doty Avenue project continues redevelopment in Pullman and Roseland, citing over 2,000 jobs and $2 billion in investment, and a similar Ryan Companies building now occupied by Amazon. (59:31)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked whether the seven SSA commissioners who voted would remain in their roles under the new service provider. (52:16); Said knowing commissioners would continue to provide accountability regardless of the service provider made him more comfortable with the vote. (53:55)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked for support of the Class C incentive, saying the fully company-funded recycling facility creates jobs and reduces truck travel by sorting recyclables for about half the city. (1:10:40)
Exchanges between members
- 41:29 The chair recognized Alderperson Peter Chico to speak on the SSA 5 ordinance.
- 41:33 Alderperson Peter Chico thanked the chair before speaking.
- 48:17 The chair recognized Vice Chair Ronnie L. Mosley.
- 49:39 The chair recognized Alderperson Anthony Beale.
- 51:17 Alderperson Anthony Beale said he supports Alderperson Peter Chico on moving forward with the Calumet Area Industrial Development Commission.
- 52:14 The chair recognized Alderperson Daniel La Spata.
- 54:18 Alderperson Daniel La Spata thanked the chair after his question.
- 59:27 The chair invited Alderperson Anthony Beale to comment on the Doty Avenue incentive.
- 1:10:36 The chair recognized Alderperson Nicole T. Lee to speak on the Packers Avenue incentive.
- 1:10:40 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee thanked the chair before asking for support.