Committee on Finance meeting, June 15, 2026
- When: Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 11:00 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/showcase/8928482?video=1200527375
- Transcript: full text (19,075 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 Finance approved its Rule 45 report, placed the Department of Law's monthly litigation report on file, and recommended passage of three lawsuit settlements: Jones v. City of Chicago ($250,000, a wrongful conviction claim), Hunt v. City of Chicago ($425,000, a fall on a city staircase) and Navarro Escobedo ($650,000, a crash involving a fleeing vehicle followed by police), the last on a roll call announced as 17 yes and 11 no. Members also recommended passage of a substitute ordinance clarifying definitions in the social media amusement tax, with Alderpersons Quinn and Waguespack recorded as voting no, after questions about the industry's lawsuit against the city and revenue collected. The committee also advanced a successor servicer for the Lake Shore East special assessment bonds, financing for the 71-unit Abrams Intergenerational Village affordable housing project, and TIF agreements for a turf field at Madigan Park serving Azuela Elementary and for improvements at Clark, Skinner North and Smith elementary schools. A planned subject matter hearing on the parking meter system was postponed to June 25.
Topics: lawsuit settlements, police pursuits, sidewalk and staircase repairs, social media amusement tax, affordable housing, TIF funding for schools, Azuela turf field, special assessment bonds, parking meters
Agenda items discussed
- 16:13 Public comment
- 47:38 Monthly Rule 45 report: passed
- 48:08 Department of Law report of verdicts, judgments and settlements for May
- 48:41 Settlement: Jones v. City of Chicago, $250,000: passed
- 56:07 Settlement: Nina Hunt v. City of Chicago, $425,000: passed
- 1:05:03 Settlement: Navarro Escobedo v. Juarez et al. and City of Chicago, $650,000: passed
- 1:24:03 Substitute ordinance amending chapter 4-156 regarding the social media amusement tax: passed
- 1:38:21 Successor servicer and assignment agreement for Lake Shore East special assessment improvement bonds: passed
- 1:42:20 Multifamily bonds and TIF assistance for Abrams Intergenerational Village, 5300-5318 S. Calumet Ave.: passed
- 1:59:04 Intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District for TIF-funded improvements at Madigan Park: passed
- 2:08:11 Intergovernmental agreement with the Board of Education for TIF funds at George Rogers Clark Elementary School: passed
- 2:13:13 Intergovernmental agreement with the Board of Education for TIF funds at Skinner North Elementary School: passed
- 2:16:37 Intergovernmental agreement with the Board of Education for TIF funds at John M. Smith Elementary School (substitute): passed
- 2:19:57 Subject matter hearing on Chicago parking meters: deferred
Alderpersons who spoke
- Pat Dowell (chair): Said the city's private contractor inspects sidewalks and bridges only every two years and inspections may need to be more frequent. (1:04:26); Responded to Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez by noting the officers followed the vehicle without lights, siren or notifying OEMC as required by general orders. (1:19:47); Announced that the parking meter subject matter hearing was postponed to June 25 because members requested more time to review the information. (2:19:57)
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked what the officers told OEMC about whether they were pursuing, about the asset check and the officers' top speed. (1:12:25); Asked what research the city did on federal preemption, such as the Internet Tax Freedom Act, regarding the social media tax. (1:31:10); As acting chair, asked whether the site is in the TIF district and about the pricing of the housing tax credits. (1:55:01)
- Anthony Beale (alderperson): Asked whether the staircase was fixed only after a third lawsuit and whether it had been reported after the first incident. (1:00:35); Said departments should be required to fix reported hazards immediately or within about 30 days. (1:01:48); Noted the housing project's cost per unit of about $574,000 is lower than the $800,000-$900,000 typically seen and said this shows development costs can be reduced. (1:56:39)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said trip-and-falls in the Central Business District often recur at the same damaged locations, sometimes previously reported by his office, and asked Law and CDOT to formalize a prompt repair program. (1:02:19)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Asked whether information requested by colleagues on the pursuit settlement would be provided before the City Council meeting. (1:21:59); Asked where funds would come from if the city must refund social media tax revenue and pay litigation fees. (1:36:08); Praised the CPS and Park District collaboration and said turf at a school in his ward reduced injuries. (2:06:41)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Asked what the Law Department is doing to seek relief from Springfield after a court ruling on apportioning fault with fleeing offenders. (1:13:18); Asked about the other occupants of the fleeing vehicle and the weapons recovered. (1:15:17); Said taxpayers should not pay for a crash caused by masked, armed occupants fleeing police, said he could not support the settlement and asked colleagues to vote no. (1:15:58)
- Marty Quinn (alderperson): Asked for clarification on the officers' speeds, distance behind the vehicle and time to reach the crash. (1:20:18); Said officers were being penalized for their instincts and that he would vote no. (1:21:26); Congratulated Alderperson Silvana Tabares and the Azuela community on their advocacy for the turf field. (2:05:25)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Asked how the city's social media tax reconciles with the recently passed state law and whether it hinders the city's tax. (1:29:04); Said Smith Elementary serves the Roosevelt Square area and badly needs renovation, and asked for support. (2:19:24)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Asked whether social media companies have sued the city and whether other jurisdictions are following Chicago's lead. (1:30:16); Asked about parking and the existing buildings on the block of the proposed housing development. (1:53:14)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked why the social media tax amendments were being advanced now while the city is being sued over the tax. (1:32:21); Asked how much has been collected and how projected revenue compares with the budget forecast. (1:33:24)
- Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Asked the grounds of the lawsuit against the social media tax and for a high-level explanation regarding the Commerce Clause claim. (1:34:11)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Asked why the housing project's cost per unit is lower than other recent tax credit proposals. (1:57:21)
- Silvana Tabares (alderperson): Spoke in support of the Azuela turf field, citing injuries from exposed mesh on the worn field and nearly 800 community petition signatures. (2:02:31); Supported allocating $1.6 million in TIF funds for the field and thanked families, the principal, sister agencies and others. (2:03:58)
- Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Asked for favorable consideration of the Clark Elementary project to improve school infrastructure and provide a safe play area. (2:11:06)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said he played on the Skinner North playground and the historic Cabrini Green community needs more investment, asking colleagues to support. (2:15:42)
Exchanges between members
- 1:02:13 The chair thanked Alderperson Anthony Beale for his questions on the staircase settlement.
- 1:02:19 Alderperson Brendan Reilly followed up on Alderperson Anthony Beale point and said he shared his concern about prompt repairs.
- 1:04:10 The chair thanked Alderperson Brendan Reilly.
- 1:04:14 Alderperson Scott Waguespack said he agreed with what Alderperson Brendan Reilly said.
- 1:19:47 The chair responded to Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez by noting the officers did not use lights, siren or notify OEMC.
- 1:21:34 The chair thanked Alderperson Marty Quinn.
- 1:21:59 Alderperson Scott Waguespack asked the chair whether requested information would be provided before City Council.
- 1:31:03 The chair thanked Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor.
- 1:32:15 The chair thanked Vice Chair William Conway.
- 1:34:06 The chair thanked Alderperson Nicole T. Lee.
- 1:36:03 The chair thanked Alderperson Samantha Nugent.
- 1:37:43 The chair thanked Alderperson Scott Waguespack.
- 1:56:39 Alderperson Anthony Beale commended Alderperson Pat Dowell on the lower per-unit cost of the housing project in her ward.
- 1:57:15 Acting chair Conway seconded Alderperson Anthony Beale comment.
- 1:57:21 Alderperson Matthew J. Martin said he appreciated Alderperson Anthony Beale comment and asked why the cost per unit was lower.
- 1:59:25 The chair asked Alderperson Silvana Tabares whether she wanted to speak first or last on the Madigan Park item.
- 2:04:33 Alderperson Silvana Tabares thanked 13th Ward Alderperson Marty Quinn among others who supported the turf field.
- 2:05:08 The chair thanked and congratulated Alderperson Silvana Tabares for organizing her community.
- 2:05:21 Alderperson Silvana Tabares thanked the chair.
- 2:05:25 Alderperson Marty Quinn congratulated Alderperson Silvana Tabares on navigating the project through sister agencies.