Committee on Finance meeting, June 14, 2023
- When: Wed, Jun 14, 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/manage/videos/835870320
- Transcript: full text (23,923 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 allowed Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. to attend remotely, deferred item 9 (TIF assistance for a hospitality development at 2222 South Michigan), and heard six public commenters from the Chicago Federation of Labor and Unite Here Local 1 urging a no vote on that item. The committee approved its April and May Rule 45 reports and recommended passage of a Renaissance Partners loan restructuring, housing revenue bond ordinances for Thrive Exchange and United Yards, an Imani Village interest-rate amendment, a First Nations Garden conveyance, added TIF funding for the Blackhawk Park field house, and TIF agreements for Steep Theatre and the Overton Center of Excellence, after a Department of Finance overview of bond financing. Members questioned the Park District's capital planning and the Blackhawk Park cost increase. Four lawsuit settlements were recommended for passage ($400,000, $550,000, $1,000,000 for the estate of Cheryl Brown, and $7,250,000 for Arthur Brown), with debate over what officer information can be discussed in public; Quinn, Taliaferro, Sposato, Conway and Silverstein were named as no votes on the Cheryl Brown settlement.
Topics: 2222 South Michigan TIF, affordable housing finance, housing revenue bonds, Park District capital needs, TIF redevelopment agreements, police misconduct settlements, wrongful conviction settlement, public comment, bond financing
Agenda items discussed
- 9:53 Item 9: TIF assistance for hotel, restaurant and event development at 2222 South Michigan: deferred
- 23:26 April and May 2023 Rule 45 reports: passed
- 24:13 Loan restructuring for Renaissance Partners, 3757-3763 South Wabash, 3rd Ward: passed
- 38:12 Multifamily housing revenue bonds for DL3 35 Exchange (Thrive Exchange), East 79th Street and South Exchange Avenue, 7th Ward: passed
- 1:03:09 Multifamily housing revenue bonds for New City Redevelopment LP, United Yards, 47th Street, 20th Ward: passed
- 1:11:40 Amendment to Imani Village senior housing redevelopment agreement adding interest rate cap, 8th Ward: passed
- 1:18:46 Conveyance of city property on North Pulaski Road and open space impact fee funds to NeighborSpace for First Nations Garden, 33rd Ward: passed
- 1:24:53 Amendment to Park District intergovernmental agreement increasing TIF funds for Blackhawk Park field house, 31st Ward: passed
- 1:47:53 TIF redevelopment agreement with Steep Theatre Company, North Kenmore, 48th Ward: passed
- 1:55:08 TIF redevelopment agreement for Overton Center of Excellence, 221 East 49th Street, 3rd Ward: passed
- 2:02:45 Payment of various small claims: passed
- 2:03:11 Denial of various small claims: passed
- 2:03:33 Department of Law reports of verdicts, judgments and settlements for April and May 2023
- 2:04:33 Settlement: Lana Triplett v. City of Chicago, $400,000: passed
- 2:15:21 Settlement: Joshua Hapstak-Benelli v. City of Chicago, $550,000: passed
- 2:23:58 Settlement: estate of Cheryl Brown v. City of Chicago, $1,000,000: passed
- 2:39:34 Settlement: Arthur Brown v. City of Chicago, $7,250,000: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Pat Dowell (chair): Said the committee received six written comments opposing and 39 supporting the 2222 South Michigan development. (23:02); Asked whether the United Yards construction cost per unit, which she said seemed high, would be value-engineered. (1:07:48); Agreed with Alderperson Monique L. Scott and said she hopes to have the Park District regularly discuss its capital budget with the committee to improve accountability. (1:30:57)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Commended Pat Abrams for affordable housing work and asked about how the area has changed since the building opened. (28:11); Said affordable housing tends to prime communities for further development and increase property values, citing examples on the Near North and Near West sides. (32:12); Commended the Thrive Exchange project and asked what 60% of area median income means in rent. (58:34)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Asked about interior renovations at the Renaissance building and whether the gym would be open to the community. (33:45); Said she initially opposed United Yards because the department and community chose different developers, but now supports it, and urged development based on what communities ask for. (1:08:34); Called for a forensic audit of the Park District, criticized programming and communication, and suggested seeking support from the Blackhawks. (1:40:16)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Praised the Renaissance project and asked whether tenants can stay during renovation and how the RAD conversion affects eligibility. (35:52); Asked how the revenue bonds relate to the project sources listed for Thrive Exchange. (53:59); Said the Park District needs state support to raise revenue for bonds, and asked about HVAC and how much of the cost increase stems from deteriorating conditions. (1:33:03)
- Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Commended Pat Abrams for her work on quality affordable housing. (37:23)
- Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Said Thrive Exchange followed four years of community meetings, will anchor the 79th Street corridor, and urged faster project timelines. (52:05); Asked support for the Imani Village interest rate amendment, saying senior housing is in high demand in her ward. (1:14:05)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Asked whether the missing interest rate cap was a scrivener's error. (1:15:51); Asked for holistic conversations on the Park District capital plan and a memo on state restrictions, and suggested considering extending expiring TIFs for capital needs. (1:37:40)
- William Conway (alderperson): Said that if the officer is convicted of official misconduct he will not collect his pension, citing his prior prosecutorial experience. (2:22:26); Asked what evidence shows Cheryl Brown fired at the officer. (2:36:21)
- Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Said she approves the Blackhawk Park item but the Park District must be proactive instead of reactive in maintaining aging buildings. (1:30:01)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Said agencies treat TIF as a piggy bank, called the request for nearly double the original amount disrespectful, and asked about federal capital funding. (1:43:50)
- Felix Cardona Jr. (alderperson): Thanked Villegas for starting the Blackhawk Park project and asked colleagues to support it. (1:46:17)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Supported the Steep Theatre project, noting the theater stayed in the neighborhood after being displaced. (1:53:52)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Questioned the $400,000 settlement for a rear-end collision, asking about vehicle damage, medical bills and why it took five years. (2:09:50); Asked whether the Cheryl Brown case had been presented before and about the officers' tenure. (2:29:05); Said he was baffled that members repeat questions covered in briefings and questioned the camera being turned off, asking to be recorded as no. (2:37:30)
- Marty Quinn (alderperson): Asked what amount the plaintiff sought and whether there was a record of the driver's speed. (2:14:10)
- Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Asked whether shots were fired at the officer, about shell casings and body camera footage in the Cheryl Brown case. (2:28:05); Said officers' complimentary and disciplinary histories had been discussed in committee before and asked why they are now treated as privileged. (2:34:24); Asked the chair to have the Law Department share non-public information and asked whether the committee could go into executive session on settlements. (2:46:43)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Asked whether there is evidence of physical coercion and about the original defense counsel, then said he would support the settlement. (2:45:36)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked whether the three deceased officers had prior complaints and said knowing about other wrongful conviction lawsuits is important. (2:48:11)
Exchanges between members
- 28:11 Burnett commended the chair for the diversity of her ward before asking questions.
- 33:14 The chair thanked Burnett for his remarks.
- 1:30:57 The chair said Scott's point about Park District maintenance was well said.
- 1:39:15 Martin referred to La Spata's point about longer-term conversations with the Park District and said they should begin now.
- 1:40:34 Taylor referenced Scott's point that Park District facilities are not maintained.
- 1:46:17 Cardona thanked Villegas for starting the Blackhawk Park project in 2020.
- 2:12:55 Taylor said she agreed with Sposato in asking why the case took so long.
- 2:22:26 Conway responded to Taylor's pension question with a point of information.
- 2:32:59 The chair told Taylor some requested information is shared in briefings.
- 2:34:24 Taliaferro raised a point of information to the chair about discussing officer histories in committee.
- 2:35:30 The chair pledged to Taliaferro to follow up with the Department of Law.
- 2:37:30 Sposato addressed Taylor, saying they often disagree but respect each other, and said he was baffled by repeated questions.
- 2:46:43 Taliaferro asked the chair about getting information from the Law Department and using executive session.
- 2:47:19 The chair said she would look into both of Taliaferro's questions.