Committee on License and Consumer Protection meeting, September 26, 2023
- When: Tue, Sep 26, 2023, 12:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Revised
- Committee: Committee on License and Consumer Protection
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/863710497
- Transcript: full text (3,863 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 License and Consumer Protection met on September 26, 2023, heard three public commenters, including the Illinois Restaurant Association urging restraint on liquor moratoriums and a private booting operator objecting to a proposed ban, and then passed a series of ward-specific ordinances by voice vote. Approved items included Alderperson Brian Hopkins late-hour liquor license and liquor moratoriums in the 2nd Ward, six of seven 23rd Ward ordinances restricting shared housing and vacation rentals (one was held), a ban on booting vehicles on private property in the 33rd and 49th wards, liquor moratorium changes in the 35th, 42nd and 26th wards, and, after a scrivener's error was corrected, pedicab restrictions near Soldier Field in the 3rd Ward. All approved items were to be reported to the City Council on October 4.
Topics: liquor moratoriums, late-hour liquor licenses, vacation rental restrictions, private property booting, package goods licenses, pedicabs, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 17:43 Ordinance amending Section 4-60-025 to disallow additional late-hour liquor licenses in the 2nd Ward: passed
- 19:47 Ordinance amending Section 4-60-022 to disallow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portions of Wells Street (2nd Ward): passed
- 20:59 Ordinance amending Sections 4-60-022 and 4-60-023 to disallow additional liquor and package goods licenses on the 2100 block of N. Clybourn (2nd Ward) (O2023-0004047): passed
- 22:28 23rd Ward precinct restricted residential zone ordinance prohibiting additional shared housing and vacation rentals: held
- 22:41 Six ordinances designating 23rd Ward precincts as restricted residential zones prohibiting additional shared housing and vacation rentals: passed
- 24:27 Item 6 initially called, held until later in the meeting: held
- 25:19 Ordinance prohibiting booting of motor vehicles on private property in the 33rd and 49th wards (O2023-0003483): passed
- 26:59 Ordinance lifting a liquor moratorium on a portion of Belmont Avenue (35th Ward) (O2023-0003086): passed
- 28:48 Ordinance amending Sections 4-60-022 and 4-60-023 to disallow additional liquor and package goods licenses in a portion of the 35th Ward, including Milwaukee Avenue (O2023-0004083): passed
- 30:37 Substitute ordinance lifting the package goods moratorium on a portion of State Street (42nd Ward) (O2023-0004227): passed
- 32:09 Ordinance restricting pedicab operation in the 3rd Ward, amended to correct 16th Street to 18th Street (O2023-0004067): passed
- 34:11 Ordinance lifting a liquor moratorium on a portion of Armitage Avenue (26th Ward): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Debra L. Silverstein (chair): Said all approved items would be reported out as recommendations to pass at the October 4 City Council meeting. (35:45)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Said the late-hour license moratorium for the Old Town area on Wells Street was prompted by community opposition and is supported by the 18th District commander due to late-night 911 calls. (18:07); Said the companion ordinance reinstates a Wells Street liquor moratorium that expired in 2001, at the community's request after the area moved into the 2nd Ward. (20:12); Said a mapping error left only the west side of the 2100 block of Clybourn under the moratorium and the ordinance would cover both sides at neighbors' request. (21:32)
- Silvana Tabares (alderperson): Asked for support of seven precinct ordinances restricting short-term rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO, one new and the rest renewals for four years. (23:34)
- Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Said she and Alderperson Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez began the private booting ban last term, that 49th Ward constituents strongly oppose private booting, and called it disruptive and predatory in many spaces. (25:46)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said lifting the package goods moratorium would allow a Dom's Market to replace a former Whole Foods, which surrounding residents welcome. (31:12)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said a former bar on Armitage seeks to reopen under new ownership and that a community process showed overwhelming support. (34:34)
Exchanges between members
- 24:05 The chair thanked Alderperson Silvana Tabares for her work on the rental restriction ordinances.