Committee on Finance meeting, October 31, 2023
- When: Tue, Oct 31, 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/showcase/8928482/video/879516451
- Transcript: full text (15,503 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, chaired by Alderperson Pat Dowell, approved its monthly Rule 45 report and recommended passage of all items on its agenda by voice vote. These included an amendment to the Imani Village senior housing loan terms in the 8th Ward, an ownership transfer for the Deroulement senior apartments in the 33rd Ward, financial assistance for the Austin United Alliance residential project in the 37th Ward, and a reduced-scope redevelopment agreement for the Goldblatt's building in the 20th Ward. The committee also approved TIF funding agreements with Chicago Public Schools for work at Clemente High School, Von Steuben High School and Mollison Elementary, and 12-year extensions of five TIF districts (24th and Michigan, 111th and Kedzie, Clark-Montrose, Galewood-Armitage and Woodlawn). Members questioned the scope of minor loan changes, a written public comment about the Deroulement transfer, high per-unit affordable housing costs, and a $200,000 settlement of a police pursuit crash lawsuit, which passed with Alderperson Marty Quinn recorded as voting no. One member of the public spoke.
Topics: affordable housing, tax increment financing, TIF extensions, Chicago Public Schools, Goldblatt's building, police pursuit settlement, small claims
Agenda items discussed
- 13:03 Public comment
- 16:50 September 2023 monthly Rule 45 report: passed
- 17:29 Amendment to Imani Village Senior Residence loan terms, 9621 S. Cottage Grove (8th Ward): passed
- 25:36 Ownership transfer agreement for Deroulement Senior Apartments, 4814-4820 N. Kedzie (33rd Ward): passed
- 39:07 Financial assistance for Austin United Alliance residential project, 5206-5224 W. Chicago Ave. (37th Ward): passed
- 54:41 Revised redevelopment agreement for the Goldblatt's building, 4700 S. Ashland Ave. (20th Ward): passed
- 1:08:58 Intergovernmental agreement with the Board of Education for TIF funding of chiller replacement at Clemente High School: passed
- 1:13:25 Intergovernmental agreement with the Board of Education for TIF funding of fire alarm replacement at Von Steuben High School: passed
- 1:16:34 Intergovernmental agreement with the Board of Education for TIF funding of roof and play lot work at Mollison Elementary: passed
- 1:20:38 Amendments extending five TIF districts by 12 years (24th/Michigan, 111th/Kedzie, Clark/Montrose, Galewood/Armitage, Woodlawn): passed
- 1:35:41 Payment and denial of small claims against the city: passed
- 1:36:27 Charitable solicitation (tag day) permits for Ronald McDonald House Charities and Planned Parenthood: passed
- 1:37:18 Department of Law report of September 2023 verdicts, judgments and settlements
- 1:37:47 Settlement of Hampton Jr. and Bowker v. City of Chicago (police pursuit crash), $200,000: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Pat Dowell (chair): Suggested that Vice Chair William Conway take up the high cost of building affordable housing as a special subject for the committee. (49:59); Said the Mollison Elementary repairs are necessary and that the children deserve a new playground. (1:19:53); Said CHA has completed the first phase of the Ickes redevelopment and the second phase is being vetted, with a full redevelopment plan in place. (1:29:25)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Asked how minor changes are defined and said letting the commissioner change loan terms without council approval seemed subjective and a slippery slope. (20:58)
- Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Said this was the third return to council for minor changes and asked colleagues to support the flexibility so the project can close, while any substantial change would still come back. (22:19)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Asked whether the Deroulement building was designed with ground-floor commercial space. (33:59)
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked the developers to respond to a written public comment alleging forgery in the Deroulement transfer. (34:55); Said a cost of about $737,000 per unit for affordable housing indicates a problem the city should examine, including government red tape. (46:15)
- Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Said the current management of the Deroulement building has been responsive to the seniors and her office and she looks forward to working with the new partner. (37:40)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Asked when groundbreaking and completion of the Goldblatt's project are expected. (1:04:37); Invoked Rule 14 on the Clark-Montrose TIF extension because his wife's company once did fundraising consulting for a supporting organization. (1:32:05)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Said the Clemente High School heating and cooling work is badly needed and asked colleagues to support it. (1:12:24); Asked how long the TIF districts would be extended and whether CHA will follow through on the Ickes redevelopment. (1:28:17); Asked about redevelopment goals for the Clark Street stretch between Montrose and Foster. (1:30:45)
Exchanges between members
- 21:58 Ervin said he would defer to Harris on the Imani Village loan changes.
- 22:19 Harris responded to Ervin's concern by explaining why the minor-change language was requested.
- 35:12 Conway invited Rodríguez Sánchez to help clear up the record on the public comment.
- 49:59 Dowell suggested Conway take on affordable housing costs as a special subject area.
- 1:29:25 Dowell answered La Spata's question about CHA's Ickes redevelopment plan.
- 1:30:39 La Spata thanked Dowell for her answer about the Ickes redevelopment.