"Raising the floor," is a common refrain from Women Employed Executive Director Anne Ladky. Much of her summer has been spent co-chairing Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Working Families Task Force with Ald. Ameya Pawar (37). Modeled after the Minimum Wage Task Force, the group is responsible for recommending worker-friendly employment changes throughout the city after 82% of Chicagoans said they’d be in favor of mandating paid sick leave in a February referendum. A paid sick leave ordinance already has the support of more than half the City Council, but Ladky says the task force is also talking about scheduling and access to dependent care, but employers have to take the bait.

“Profitability and good care of employees can go hand in hand…we know it can be done,” Ladky told Aldertrack in an interview last week. To get businesses to buy in, the Task Force and in turn, city government “need to make job quality a business advantage.”

The 12 page agenda at this month’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting was a sign of things to come. The agendas for the August and September meetings are full, and most deferred items from yesterday’s meetings had to be rescheduled for October.

Start Time: 9:21 a.m.
Board members present: Chairman Jonathan Swain, Sam Toia, Sheila O’Grady
Aldermen present: Ariel Reboyras (30), Ald. Brian Hopkins (2)

Nearly 50 people gathered to testify against Michael Verdone’s application to renew licenses for three vacation rental units at 55 E. Cedar Street. The property got initial ZBA approval in 2011. Nick Ftikas, from the Law Office of Sam Banks, told the Chair his client would withdraw all three applications. And the most heated item of the day, a proposed three story addition to a house in the 32nd Ward, ended up being the last item discussed. It took over an hour of debate between applicants, the neighbors and their attorneys (Item 233-15-Z).

Highlights

Item 262-15-S - 3rd Ward - The applicant, Baderbrau, LLC, is applying for a special permit to open a tavern with a special tap room on 2515 S. Wabash Ave., near McCormick Place. In order to apply for a special use permit, the owners need to prove hardship. The applicants say the space can’t be used for anything else, and want to brew on site,

Item 270-15-S - 27th Ward - The Intercultural Montessori Foreign Language Immersion School at 114 S. Racine Avenue applied for a special use permit to expand the school to the second and third floors of their current building. The goal is to triple the student body from 200 to 600 kids, says attorney Carol Stubblefieldwith Neal & Leroy. Stubblefield said the school got its first permit to open the school from ZBA in 2009, but the permit only applies to the ground floor. Steve Kelly, the expert witness, said the school held a community meeting for the initial expansion, but they have yet to talk to residents about the pending application.

Items 272-, 273-, 274-, 275-15-Z- 48th Ward - These four applications are for two addresses and were grouped together because they were filed by the same applicant, 1300 W. Devon Partners, LLC. The applicants asked for two rear setback expansions and a reduced accessory parking requirement. They want to build a three-story, six unit building with a commercial component at the base and 5 surface parking spaces. Mariah Digrino, and attorney with DLA Piper, testified on behalf of Matt Ferrino, the property owner, who is affiliated with 3 Corners Development. The two properties in question–6355 North Wayne Ave. and 6354 North Lakewood Ave.–are corner lots and have been vacant for the past 30 years, says Patrick Thomson, the architect. Dan Luna, chief of staff to Ald. Harry Osterman, testified in support of the applicant.

283-15-S & 8-15-Z - 36th Ward - Jorge Marban applied for a special use permit to build an indoor soccer field on 6310 W. Grand Ave. His other application is a request to build accessory parking for the gym on a neighboring vacant lot (6260 West Grand Ave.) Attorney Mark Kupiec, with Mark J. Kupiec & Associates, testified on behalf of the applicant. He said a similar application had been filed by the building’s former owner and Marban wishes to see it though. The applicant’s son, Angel Marban, testified on his father’s behalf. He told the Board his dad bought the lease from the prior owner who had operated a soccer field at the location under the name Club Concord. The appraiser was late so Kupiec requested a recess. When it was brought up later, Read Carnihan, with La Salle Appraiser Group, said the accessory parking won't have an adverse impact on the neighborhood because it is a vacant lot that people are already parking their cars on.

243-15-Z - 27th Ward - After some confusion over ownership, attorney Sylvia Mikasof Chico and Nunes introduced an application asking for a variation reducing the rear setback at the former site of St. Dominick’s at 367 W. Locust St. The Chicago Roman Catholic Archdiocese and Josephine Lucas are the owners. The applicant, Locust Sedgwick, LLC is in the process of redeveloping the church to a 6-story residential building with 45 units and parking for 52 cars on site. David Ruttenberg, with residential developer Belgravia, testified that the alderman and community groups are in support.

15-15-S - 37th Ward - The applicant, S. Bar Sinister, LLC wants to expand an existing recycling facility on 1238-1300 N. Kostner Ave. The applicant’s attorney, Scott R. Borstein, with the law firm Neal & Leroy, said this would be the owner’s third expansion since ZBA granted the company its first special use permit in 2009. Owner Joel Fink said the expansion would add more jobs and wouldn’t impact property values because the area is already zoned for manufacturing. When asked if the expansion was necessary for the public convenience, Fink said facilities like this help the city because they get abandoned cars off the street by taking parts, selling them, and having the cars crushed off site, though he later interrupted Board proceedings to clarify that some cars are crushed on site.

Some Continued Items:
Items 263-, 264-, 265-, and 266-15-S - The applicant, HSC Realty, LLC is asking for special use to turn an RM 5.5 zoned, 4-story, 4-unit building into 4 vacation rental units at 1308 N. Lasalle St. Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) requested a continuance citing a need for additional community input. Chicago’s vacation rental substitute ordinancerequires a $500 license per unit, and any units zoned above an RT 4 need special use approval. The issue will be brought up again at the October 16 meeting.

Item 242-15-A - Alderman Leslie Hairston requested a continuance on an application to appeal a Zoning Administrator’s decision to refuse an addition to a three-story fraternity house. The applicant, House Corporation, Board of Directors, Chi Upsilon Alumni, wanted to add a rear enclosed porch and a two-story rear addition. It will also be re-examined at the October 16 ZBA meeting.

Item 271-15-S - A quorum issue delayed a hearing for the Cermak Group’s special use application to establish a one-story restaurant with a drive through lane at 1300-16 W. Cermak. Board member Sam Toia, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, regularly recuses himself from applications involving restaurants, and without Toia, the Board does not have a quorum. Since the reschedule is due to the Board, Chairman Swain said the issue will be squeezed into the August 21st ZBA meeting. Item 255-15-Z, from applicant V75 Unlimited, will be similarly rescheduled because of Toia’s recusal. Owner Charles Taylor wants to establish a “public place of amusement” at 125-127 W. 75th Street in the 6th ward. The base use will be a restaurant.

Item 269-15-S - 14th Ward - The application was for a special use permit to establish a day labor employment agency, but Chairman Swain continued the application to October 16th because the applicant didn't have an expert witness to testify on her behalf.

Item 239-15-Z - 2nd Ward - The Applicant’s lawyer began testifying, but Chairman Swain cut him off and asked where his client was. He said due to the unfortunate delay, he had to leave the chambers and head to New York. The application filed by 755 N. Wells, LLC c/o Jenel Management Corporation was the fourth item on the agenda, but it was called for a hearing around 2:30pm. Chairman Swain apologized and gave them an earlier continuance date, despite having continued pervious items to October.

370-14-S - 40th Ward -  Tom Livaditis, the owner of Pathways in Education Illinois, applied for a special use permit to build a new high school on 4816 North Western Ave. Nick Ftikas, with the Law Office of Sam Banks, told the Board that Ald. Pat O’Connor and the applicant have requested another continuance on the matter because they are still “working on community issues and the special use required for the off-site parking.” Ftikas asked for a “long continuance”. Chair Swain moved it to December 18th and warned Ftikas that if both parties are not ready by then, he will dismiss the case.

174-15-S -11th Ward - Nick Ftikas says the applicant, Paradise Nail Corporation, is requesting a continuance because they need additional meetings with the alderman. “We have been trying to schedule a meeting with the alderman and we’ve been having a little difficulty scheduling this so that we could have a neighborhood meeting,” another representative for the applicant said (he didn’t give his name). It was continued to October.

133- 134- 15-Z - 46th Ward - Nick Fitikas says Ald. James Cappleman (46) asked for a continuation of both applications filed by Troy Leight for a property he owns on 743 W. Bittersweet Place to reduce the rear setback and expand the existing floor area by no more than 15% to build a three-story, rear addition to an existing three-story building. Each floor of the proposed building would have its own rear porch. The applications were rescheduled to October.

When we sat down with Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 7 President Dean Angelo to ask what Chicago is doing right on crime, he paused. It was the only time in our interview when he didn't have an answer ready. "I think Chicago is looking for opportunities, and I think they're looking for answers, and that's a step in the right direction." And Chicagoans are watching their police force's every step.

Angelo has been the top union leader for just over a year, stepping up to the position mid-contract negotiation, pivoting to a pension agreement, and now helping his members manage a summer where the number of shootings in the city have already topped 1,000. In our "Chicago Influencers" interview with Angelo, he talks overtime ("Do we need more policemen? Yes. Will that lower overtime right away? I don't think so."), to Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy ("I can't fathom how it is down there on 35th every day.") to how the FOP's relationship with Mayor Rahm Emanuel has changed ("I think it could be worse,").

The Illinois House adjourned without passing a state budget last night, continuing a weeks-long stalemate that’s left state and city grant recipients' futures in limbo. Today, lawmakers are expected to vote on $2.2 billion in funding that will go towards “core services” like Medicaid, corrections, state police and child care. Governor Rauner is expected to veto the measure. At the moment, state funding for non-profit organizations like the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)is not budgeted for 2016. The group is planning a walkout and rally this morning at the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago to protest.

ICIRR says 70% of its network organizations will be forced to cut citizenship, translation, and human services for immigrants, many will lay off staff, reduce the number of people they serve, or shut down entirely. In the latest installment of our Chicago Influencer Series, we speak to Fred Tsao, policy director at ICIRR, about how the cuts affect immigrant communities in Chicago and across the state.

We continue our Chicago Influencer Series with Wendy Katten, Executive Director of Chicago Public School parent advocacy group, Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education. Katten's organization has been often straddled the gap between teachers and CPS management while consisently advocating for smaller class sizes and a stronger school system. Katten discusses with us possible outcomes of the CPS and city budget crisis for schools.

The owners of three proposed medical marijuana dispensaries in Chicago will have to continue waiting for their permits, after the city’s Zoning Board of Appealsrescheduled hearings for two applications into the winter, while delaying a final decision on the third.

More than a hundred people showed showed up to the zoning panel’s monthly meeting Friday to provide testimony on proposed dispensaries in their neighborhoods, but only one of the applications, 420 Capital Management, LLC’sproposed shop in West Rogers Park, actually got a hearing, which lasted for well over an hour.

The three member zoning panel grilled Bob Kingsley, the applicant seeking to open up a dispensary on the site of a former car dealership on 6502 N. Western Ave.

Local Alderman Debra Silverstein (50) has gone on record saying she isn’t a fan of the dispensary because of its close proximity to Warren Park. But when it came time for her to testify, she gave no opinion on the matter and deferred public comment to her constituents.

It was Kingsley’s second time before the panel. Citing a change in legal counsel at the the May meeting, Kingsley requested a continuance to August so that his new attorney, Thomas S. Moore, could have more time to prepare.

But after lengthy questioning from the board, the applicant failed to receive unanimous support. With Commissioner Sol Flores casting the lone no vote, Chairman Jonathan Swain said a final decision would be held until the 4th member could cast a vote.

Union Group of Illinois, LLC, the company behind a proposed dispensary in 41st Ward, wasn’t as lucky, as Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41) delayed their application for the second time until the end of December.

“We were kind of set to go today,” the freshman alderman explained to the board, “but then we started comparing our [survey] numbers with the Union Group, who has been awesome during this whole ordeal. We don’t feel that our numbers are adding up properly and we don’t feel that we’re really advocating for the ward properly.”

His office has said most residents oppose the dispensary, while the applicant’s numbers tell a different story.

The North Side alderman has made his opposition to the dispensary known, often saying he wouldn’t want his kids living near a marijuana shop. When he made his first deferral request at the May hearing, soon after being sworn in, he needed more time to review the proposal and gauge public opinion. The attorney for the applicant, Joseph P. Gattuso with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, reluctantly accepted the August date.

On Friday, Gattuso was clearly peeved.

“We believe that we have been as cooperative as we could possibly be,” Gattuso said, citing the three community meetings the company has had since Ald. Napolitano assumed office and the “numerous conversations back and forth and the sharing of volumes of reams of information”, as he put it. Union Group has applied for two extensions with the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, Gattuso added. His office is concerned they won’t get a third extension, which could derail the project all together.

And when Chairman Swain refused to budge on the December date, Gattuso sighed audibly and walked out of the Chambers. Shortly after, Gattuso, Ald. Napolitano, and his Chief of Staff Chris Vittorio were seen arguing in the cloak room behind Council Chambers.

But neither of those dispensary proposals were as heated as Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine, Inc.’s application to open a dispensary in Chatham. 8th ward residents packed the gallery and were outraged when James Vasselli of Del Galdo Law Group, the applicant’s attorney, requested a continuance to November, so his clients could conduct additional community outreach.

The heckling was so loud that Chairman Swain stopped the attorney, scolded the gallery for being disrespectful, and demanded a head count. Approximately 70 people were there to testify against the dispensary and around 45 people were there in support, according to Swain's estimate.

He then turned to the local alderman, Michelle Harris (8), a City Council heavyweight, and asked her to speak on the topic.

“Today, my community is here,” Ald. Harris declared, requesting permission to allow a couple of her constituents to speak on the matter. Opponents were worried about crime and accused the owner of having a rap sheet. Supporters touted economic development and the fact that Harborside is a minority-owned business.

This was the second time Harborside’s application has gone before the Zoning Board. They faced over an hour of questioning in May, but the consideration derailed over the accuracy of economic disclosure statements and the company’s registered name. There seemed to be a mixup between IGM LLC, which is related to the dispensary, and Illinois Grown Medicine LLC, which is related to a separate cultivation business. Swain refused to deliberate on the matter until the error was fixed.

On Friday, he accused the applicants of delaying the application because of the overwhelming number of people that showed up to testify against the shop. He reluctantly approved a continuance until November.

Divided Roll Call Votes:

In addition to the split vote on the medical marijuana dispensary in the 50th Ward, three of Laura Holtz’s applications to make extensive renovations to her house on 173 N. Walcott St. failed to receive unanimous support– ZBA member Sam Toia voted against all three–delaying a final decision until Sheila O'Grady, the 4th ZBA member who wasn’t at the meeting, casts her vote.

Toia did not ask any questions during homeowner Holtz’s testimony. She planned to renovate her Bucktown home to add a breezeway from a proposed garage to her home, as well as a roof deck on top of that garage. She told the committee she wanted to install the breezeway to keep her 75 year-old mother and 16 year-old son safe from “being jumped.” She had been a robbery victim in the area, as had a friend.

Attorney Mark Kupiec of Mark Kupiec & Associates said Holtz had won approval from her neighbors and that a breezeway would be in character with the rest of the neighborhood.

Approved Items:

306-15-S: A charter school moving to South Side’s New Beginnings Church won approval from ZBA after quick testimony from Dr. Nancy Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Prologue Inc. Prologue is a charter school service based in West Town, and was represented before ZBA by Mark Kupiec. Prologue operates four alternative charter high schools, mostly in the South Side.

Jackson says they want to relocate the Charles H. Houston School at 7847 S. Jeffery Blvd. to a space rented out of of New Beginnings Church at 6620-30 S. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Jackson said the school ran out of space, and it’s a more convenient location for more than half of the student body.

The pastor of the church and an active force in local and state politics, Corey Brooks, came to testify, but did not speak.

20th Ward Ald. Willie Cochran did, saying moving the school to New Beginnings would be a boon to the Greater Grand Crossing, Woodlawn, and Englewood communities. “I think that this model is a growing model across the country and it is ideally located in this institution where the pastor here has reached out to a population of the community that is in strong need of additional supports,” he said. “It’s located in an area where the population has a number of dropouts that find that this institution and the leadership of this institution welcomes them.”

Prologue provides alternative education programs that operate alongside wraparound services to low income students between 17 and 21, helping students get GEDs or high school diplomas. New Beginnings Church also operates Project H.O.O.D., a non-profit that seeks to end violence in Englewood and Woodlawn.

286-15-S: Despite some persistent questioning from the Board, a $5M “spa-like” physical fitness center will go forward at 770 N. Halsted. The applicant is Acqua Ancient Baths Chicago, LLC. Katriina S. McGuire of Thompson Coburn LLCdescribed Acqua Ancient Baths as a mix of a spa and gym.

The owner operates four similar bath facilities out of New York and Spain. This location would be a non-members club, open from 11am-9pm, 7 days a week.

312-15-S:  An eating disorder recovery center in Streeterville will move forward at 150 E. Huron Ave on the 12th and 13th Floors. Insight Behavioral Health Centers, partnered with Denver’s Eating Recovery Center, LLC, applied to open a 24-bed transitional residence near Northwestern Hospital, who provides about 25% of referrals. Insight operates treatment centers in Streeterville, Oak Park, Northbrook, Evanston, and a separate eating recovery center at Millennium Place.

Dr. Susan McClanahan is a licensed clinical psychologist and the President and Founder of Insight Behavioral Health Centers. She testified that a typical patient is a woman between 12 and 35 years old with bulimia, anorexia, or obesity problems. She says the average stay is 30 to 45 days.

Denied Applications:

298-15-Z: There was just one denied application to dramatically reduce setbacks for a new four-story, three-unit building with a rooftop deck and fourth floor, front open balcony and a rear attached three-car garage with a roof deck in the 44th Ward.

Meg George with the law firm of Neal and Leroy represented Seamus Mornan, the applicant. The team testified it was a short lot with a single family home in poor shape. They want to transform the site into a masonry three flat, and the building’s first and second stories would only jut out into the rear setback. Mornan said without the variance, he wouldn’t get a good return on the investment.

A group of neighbors next door to the site at 722 W. Melrose St. testified adding on to the rear lot would cause them to lose significant light and ventilation. They said other buildings in the neighborhood with similar lots rented apartments without a problem and the applicants should go back to the drawing board.

Ald. Tom Tunney (44), while recognizing the proposed site does have a short lot, said he had communication problems with the redevelopment team. “I don’t feel comfortable not supporting my neighbors on this particular case.”

Withdrawn:

20-15-S: Industrial Metal Enterprise, Inc’s application for a special use permit to establish a Class IV-A recycling facility on 901 N. Kilpatrick Ave. in the 37th Ward.

100-15-S: Health Elements Foot Spa, Inc.’s application for a special use permit to open a foot massage salon on 1125 W. 31st St. in the 11th Ward.

Continuances:

Continuances for ZBA are now stretching into January, aided in large part by objections from Ald. Michele Smith (44). Here’s the full list:

315-15-Z, 316-15-Z, 317-15-Z: A house renovation in 43rd Ward will be put off. Ald. Michele Smith’s office asked to defer for community review. It will be heard November 20th.

318-15-S: Lawyers for Cermak Recycling, Inc. say their client might be changing the site of a Class V recycling facility, currently slated for the 25th ward.

164-15-Z: A knockdown renovation in the 43rd ward that was filed in January and faced some pushback from Ald. Smith in the Spring be continued until November because of the need for an extra relief request.

187-14-S: An absent client postponed a hearing for a parking lot in the 4th ward until November.

301-15-S: Ald. Matt O’Shea’s office asked the board to defer so he could do research on a salon in the 19th ward. Chairman Swain moved up the continuance, because the applicant, Kaiisha Dear, is already paying rent on the place.

321-15-Z: Ald. Smith requested a continuance until November for a proposed garage and roof deck in the 43rd ward behind John and Anne Moroney’s home.

314-15-Z: Adjacent landowners in the 44th ward couldn’t get a lawyer in time to push back against a renovation at 3528 North Janssen Avenue. The attorney for Chicago Title Land Trust, No. 8002366263 was ready to go, but the two sides couldn’t work out a compromise Friday.

308, 309-15-Z: Ald. Smith’s office asked for continuance so she could talk to condo board association before Robert Matteson’s renovation could move forward.

The city and state budget crises are endangering smaller social service agencies and some might not make it through the year, says Craig Maki, who leads up the North Side's Asian Human Services. Today, we're kicking off our new interview serieswith leaders who work closely with city government as part of their business with a discussion of how the budget crisis impacts social service delivery in Chicago.

Ald. Pat O’Connor (40) says the city may be in bad shape, but Springfield needs to get it’s act together. Speaking at a City Club breakfast Tuesday, the senior alderman and Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s unofficial floor leader talked more about Springfield’s inaction than solutions for the city to fix budget problem on its own.

"It's a little bit tricky when you have a mayor who is so driven, with so many ideas on how to make Chicago work, and so much of what's going on around him is totally outside of his control or ability to make it happen,” O’Connor said, noting how the solution to the pension crisis starts in at the statehouse, not in Chicago. “Someone should kind of tell them the election is over, they’re in office now, they’ve won. And they should get on with the business of trying to help us solve some problems.”

He drew the state legislature's open partisan fights in contrast with the City Council's mostly closed door process, who he says spends months in discussions ensuring the budget is ready to pass when it hits the floor. “That budget essentially passes the exact way it was introduced after weeks of hearings, with the exception of one percent, one half a percent. That’s where we fight.” But he says there are tough times ahead for city government, and the recent bond downgrade has only made things tougher. Whether those hard times included a property tax hike, O’Connor wouldn’t say. “This is a quasi-press event. The last thing we want to do is make news.”

He did however offer up one possible solution: Mayor Emanuel’s plan to defer the city’s pension payments and tie future revenue from a proposed Chicago casino to help pay the bill. But that too needs approval from Springfield. It passed in both the House and Senate, but has yet to make it to the governor’s desk–Senate President John Cullerton used a parliamentary move to keep it from advancing to the Governor, who has said it is just another example of the city “kicking the can” down the road. But Ald. O’Connor said it was actually more like, “eating half the loaf today, and finishing the loaf in the next couple of years.” But loafs and cans aside, the Civic Federation’s analysis of current casino gambling revenue raises serious doubts over whether a Chicago casino is the answer to the city’s debt problems.

O’Connor was quick to criticize Springfield for their inaction on teacher pensions. He echoed Mayor Emanuel’s frequent claim that Chicagoans pay more than their fair share. “We pay our portion, we pay 7% of the 9% that the teachers are supposed to pay in the pension pickup, and then we get to pay for the rest of the state’s teachers in our income tax.” He says he wants to combine pensions “so we’re all in the same boat.”

It was around this time last month that Gov. Bruce Rauner made a personal visit to the City Council to scold the aldermen for years of poor budgeting and said the state couldn’t afford to bail the city out. But O’Connor says most of those mistakes were made years ago, and he immediately ticked off a list of cost-cutting measures the city has made since Mayor Emanuel took over the reins from Richard M. Daley. O’Connor says the the city needs to focus on the future, but it’s key that Springfield play along, too.

Yesterday's City Council meeting included a memorial for the late Cardinal, remarks from the new Archbishop, passage of long-awaited restitution to Jon Burge torture victims, a gallery full of Chicago labor leaders and much more. But everything was overshadowed by Gov. Bruce Rauner's speech to Council, a last-minute addition to the agenda announced yesterday afternoon. Rainier's appearance before Council, unprecedented in recent memory, served to notify Council that no easy bailouts will be coming from Springfield, and that labor unions are his number one target.

Latino Caucus Presser For CPS Intervention With UNO Schools

Before Council kicked off, members of the Latino Caucus, backed by about 50 UNO charter school parents and activists, announced the introduction of a Council resolution, calling for the Chicago Board of Education, “to step in and settle this squabble,” according to former UNO President, Ald. Danny Solis. Text of resolution.

The presser, which Caucus chair George Cardenas kicked off by warning "Chicago’s children’s future is at stake,” ultimately amounted to aldermen stating the importance of UNO schools in their overcrowded communities and their desire for the original United Neighborhood Organization and the UNO Charter School Network organizations to settle their differences. Their only option, to offer up a resolution, served to underline City Council’s lack of oversight and input on Chicago school’s operations. Since the 1995 School Reform, the Mayor has total control over Board of Education appointments and budgeting and Council is merely left to watch.

Attendees: Caucus Chair George Cardenas (12), Joe Moreno (1), Ald.-Elect Ray Lopez (15), Danny Solis (25), Ray Suarez (31).


Remembrance of Cardinal Francis George

The Council meeting began with a prayer and moment of silence in honor of Cardinal Francis George, who passed April 17th. A short prayer from Roman Catholic Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich was followed by a moment of silence, with live music from a pianist and violinist.

Ald. Ed Burke (14) spoke at length honoring Francis George as a “true Chicagoan,” who “did not fear Chicago politics.”

Ald. Bob Fioretti (2) says he worked with Francis George on 2nd ward issues, and praised him as a man of strong faith, quoting Einstein: “There are only two ways to live your life, one is though none is a miracle, the other as though everything is a miracle. Cardinal Francis George lived his life as though everything was a miracle.”

Ald. Cullerton, Ald. Suarez, and Mayor Emanuel also spoke in praise of Cardinal Francis George’s life.

 

Reports from the Committees

The full City Council passed all reports from the standing committees. When retiring Ald. James Balcer (11), Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, finished submitting his report to the record he waved and shouted, “That concludes my report, and goodbye!”

Highlights of passed ordinances:

• 
  

  Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed ordinance to create a $5.5M fund for Jon Burge torture victims and a resolution providing an official, citywide apology.

  
  


• 
  

  Two last-minute police-related settlements totaling $765,000 from Finance Committee.

  
  


• 
  

  Mayor Emanuel’s proposal to launch and maintain a so-called “People’s Plaza Program” through a joint public-private venture.

  
  


• 
  

  An ordinance co-sponsored by Mayor Emanuel and Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) empowering the Police Superintendent to close bars and nightclubs that are chronic public safety threats, spurred on by the Dolphin Club murders.

  
  


• 
  

  Mayor Emanuel’s ordinance to amend the city’s red-light camera program. CDOT would have to hold community meetings before it installs or removes any future cameras and a payment program was created for violators.

  
  


• 
  

  A concession agreement that would extend Goose Island's agreement for three years to cater all concerts and special events at the Jay Pritzker Pavillion in Millenium Park.

  
  


• 
  

  Ald. Marty Quinn’s (13) proposed ordinance to crack down on the unauthorized sale of stolen catalytic converters.

  
  


• 
  

  An ordinance that would extend a dental program currently offered at all Chicago Public School students to private or parochial schools that operate in the city. Medicaid pays for the program.

  
  


• 
  

  An ordinance expanding language access to city services. Ald. Ameya Pawar(47) introduced an ordinance standardizing city translation services for people whose first language isn’t English, with a single paragraph appointing a working group to develop a new municipal ID for Chicago residents.

  
  


• 
  

  Three appointees to the Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board.

  
  

The reports of the committees concluded with a report from Ald. Pat O’Connor (40), the Chairman of the Committee on Workforce and Development, regarding a resolution Mayor Emanuel introduced earlier this week in opposition to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s plan to designate “right-to-work” zones around the state. At the start of O’Connor’s speech, Mayor Emanuel could be heard from the podium, saying of the Governor, “Where is he? Where is he?”

O’Connor called jobs in right to work states are “half jobs,” and that Rauner’s plan would actually create a right for employers to hire low wage, low-benefit jobs that were stolen away from those who secured them through collective bargaining. Organized labor seated in the gallery balcony broke into wild applause. Creating half jobs is, “a great thing to do if you’re shopping in a supermarket, but when you’re playing with people’s lives… that’s a damn shame,” he said.

Following Ald. O’Connor’s speech, one by one, aldermen stood up and seconded the sentiment. Ald. Pat Dowell (3) called on organized labor to consider fairness for minorities in creating new labor opportunities. Aldermen Bob Fioretti (2), John Pope (10), James Cappleman (46), Danny Solis (25), Timothy Cullerton (38), and Joe Moore (49) also played to the gathered union crowd, many referring to childhoods in union homes.

Ald. Cullerton called the right to work zones “a leap backwards to the dark ages,” and said skilled labor helped build the city from the ground up. Ald. Moore said Chicago joins mayors and city councils across the nation in passing a similar resolution, but says Springfield and Chicago need each other and encouraged both parties to work together.

Finally, Mayor Emanuel chimed, saying he’s opposed right to work his entire life. “This city of Chicago just hosted the NFL Draft, the James Beard Awards, Microsoft Ignite, and the cable industry… today Chicago’s number one in the hospitality industry.” He says the city and union workers made tough compromises at McCormick Place without lowering wages.

Instead of moving on to scheduled business, Ald. Burke volunteered as the designated time-killer ahead of the governor’s appearance, comparing the governor’s unprecedented visit to City Council to the story of the Prince of Wales’ visit to Chicago in 1860, and Mayor “Long John” Wentworth’s famous introduction: “Boys, this is the Prince. Prince, this is the boys.” After a few minutes he explained, “You understand we’re just killing time here.” The Council burst into gales of laughter.

Rauner's Speech To Council

Gov. Rauner entered the chamber shortly after, to light applause. Some of the assembled organized labor members in the balcony booed. He asked for an “indulgence” before he started his speech and requested Republicans in the room raise their hands. Ald. Waguespack suggested to members around him that Rauner probably didn’t know Council was non-partisan. About four people in the gallery raised their hands.

Rauner made reference to his outsider status several times throughout the speech, saying he was like Daniel in the lion’s den, and that having won just 20% of the vote in Chicago, it might be a good move for the city to secede. Peppered with references to how much the rest of Illinois citizens dislike Chicago and how he works for everyone in Illinois, including Chicagoans, Rauner's 10 minute speech laid out Chicago’s importance to the state, its dire financial straits, and the need for partnership with Springfield.

His main message: “For Chicago to get what it wants, Illinois must get what it needs.” Then, after more talk about how the rest of Illinois was Chicago to secede, Rauner laid down his terms, "We don't have the money to bail out Chicago. That's not an option." He suggested few olive branches, except that Chicago might want to have more local powers over issues like gaming.

The Governor provided few specifics about how he would implement his Turnaround Agenda, but emphasized the difficulties of Illinois and Chicago's economies. “Over the last 15 years, Illinois has lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs. We can’t afford to let that continue. We must get more competitive. After years of overspending and overborrowing, Illinois and Chicago taxpayers are in a vice grip that is choking our ability to fund our schools, invest in our social services and recruit job creators.”

He closed the speech by asking Chicago to help with the heavy lifting to, “accomplish so much more than we can alone.” After Rauner’s left the Chamber, Ald. Joe Moreno (1) stood up and gestured to the aldermen seated near him, Rebroyas and Ervin, then said off-mic in an exasperated voice, “Work together! Sacrifice!”

 

Post-Rauner Speech Press Conferences

Gov. Rauner and organized labor held press conferences in sequence immediately after Rauner’s remarks as Council continued its business. Not surprisingly, the messages and tenor of the events were diametrically opposite.

Rauner’s availability, in a packed Room 201A filled with the Chicago and Springfield press corps, lasted slightly longer than his speech to Council. In it, he reiterated that he will not increase spending to bail out Chicago, and that much of his agenda is linked to reducing union influence at every level.

On his priorities:  “Well in terms of what Illinois needs, I have been clear for two and a half years. We need local control, voter empowerment, pro-growth regulations and an overhaul of the government, empowering local voters and taxpayers to get more control of government costs, and that’s laid out crystal clear within our turnaround agenda. That’s what we need, and I’ve said that consistently.”

To emphasize his statement, his office sent out a press release that evening, quoting the above and stating, “To be clear, the governor’s top priorities are listed below:

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  Term limits

  
  


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  Property tax freeze

  
  


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  Allow local control of ability to create employee empowerment zones

  
  


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  Allow local control of contracting and bargaining in schools and local governments

  
  


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  Allow local control of competitive bidding on taxpayer-funded construction projects

  
  


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  Pension reform

  
  


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  Worker’s compensation/tort/unemployment insurance reform

  
  


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  Ethics reform/end conflicts of interest in government”

  
  

Then, directly refuting a regular stump speech item from Mayor Emanuel’s reelection campaign, about how it is unfair that Chicagoans pay into teacher’s pensions for all of Illinois, in addition to Chicago pensions:

“There are some additional facts that need to be part of the conversation. There’s this statement, well Chicago’s different, it pays taxes to go into it’s own pension as well as pensions to go into other community’s teachers’ pensions. That’s true. It’s been true for a hundred years, I think….The City of Chicago, even adjusting for income level of students...Chicago receives a disproportionate amount of money, many hundreds of millions of dollars that no other community gets. That is true. we need to keep that in mind when we’re talking about how Chicago may be different when we’re talking about pension payments.”

Finally, on Chicago Public Schools' financial straits:

“Part of our recommendation, on our turnaround agenda on our schools, [they] belong to our families, not to the special interests, whether its the collective bargaining units or any influential group inside the schools or inside the government. Those groups should not dictate terms or decide what is done or not done. The schools don’t belong to them, they belong to the taxpayers. We don’t have a balance of power in Chicago or Illinois.The schools belong to the families and parents, not to the insiders. Right now the power is with the insiders. We’re recommending Chicago get to decide what should be collectively bargained and what shouldn’t. That’s a very big change and a very important one to decide what’s affordable over time.”

A counter-press conference, held by the Chicago Federation of Labor and other labor organizations in the 2nd Floor hallway, was low on substance, but included well over a hundred chanting, shouting workers with “Save the Middle Class” signs. Kicked off by CFL President Jorge Ramirez, he set the tone, “Attacking the most vulnerable in our society does not make you a better governor….Illinois won’t get better by attacking our most vulnerable citizens.”

Ramirez’ remarks, and then those from supporting speakers from labor-friendly organizations for the next ten minutes, were punctuated by loud cheers, leading up to a chant, “Turn back Rauner!”

 

Farewells to Exiting Aldermen

Following Rauner’s departure from the Chamber, and a few minutes of milling around, Ald. Ed Burke began this portion of the meeting by reading off the names of the retiring and outest aldermen of the City Council. He then turned to Ald. John Pope (10) and ask, “Do we know?” Pope shrugged it off and the farewells continued, with Clerk Susana Mendoza reading and entering into record resolutions highlighting the work many of those aldermen did during their time on the City Council. Reading the resolutions in order by ward, Mendoza also skipped over Ald. Pope.

At one point, Ald. Carrie Austin (34) asked to speak, “I have laughed, cried, hollered, screamed and used some choice words with all of them.”

Many of the retiring aldermen spoke at length as they reminisced about their time on the council, while others, had little to say. Ald. Ray Suarez (31) left the meeting early and was absent for this part of the meeting. Ald. Lona Lane (18), who is currently sick with a respiratory condition, missed the entire meeting. Ald. Deborah Graham(29), acknowledged her colleagues before walking out of the chamber. Ald. Bob Fioretti (2) choking up during his farewell, noted that the past eight years have been some of the best in his life, adding that he is especially grateful for his staff and their help while he was battling cancer.

Ald. Tim Cullerton (38), whose family has been on the council since the Chicago Fire, and Ald. Mary O’Connor (41), who only served one term, drew the biggest rounds of applause from fellow aldermen.

In his final remarks to the members who were leaving, Ald. Burke channeled the, “original mayor Daley,” who, Burke said he was fond of saying, “The good Lord never closes a door that he doesn’t open a window. And I’ve served with 253 people in this chamber over the last 46 years, and I’ve come to learn the wisdom of that observation [...] And I know that will be the case in each and every one of your instances.”

Ald. Burke then took a moment to personally praise Ald. Balcer. “There isn’t a more sincere person that I have served with in all those years.” Burke then recalled the first time he saw Balcer. It was back when Balcer was a private citizen testifying to the Council about the struggles he faces as a veteran in need of health support. Burke called it, “one of the most compelling pieces of testimony he ever heard in this chamber.”

Later in his remarks, before he adjourned the meeting, Ald. Burke looked around the room at his colleagues, laughed, and said, “Finally, Fioretti said something profound.”

 

New Business Highlights

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  Ald. Will Burns (4) introduced a resolution that would bar Spike Lee from using state tax credits to film his new project, Chiraq. Since the state manages the credit, the resolution would have little impact in preventing Lee from getting the $3 million credit.

  
  


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  Ald. Ed Burke (14), Ald. Danny Solis (25), Ald. Tom Tunney (44), and Ald. Margaret Laurino (39) introduced a resolution to hold hearings on the city’s fiber-optic infrastructure.

  
  


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  Ald. Joe Moreno’s (1) resolution regarding UNO Charter schools (story above)
  

  
  

Mayor’s Presser

In his typical post-Council meeting press conference, Mayor Emanuel stuck to his guns on Springfield’s need for Chicago, but says he saw some places where he and Gov. Rauner could work together, like workers compensation. “A strong Illinois is dependent on a strong Chicago.”

But the two split on teacher’s pensions, a familiar refrain from Emanuel, who raised his voice when talking about so-called “double taxation. “As a Chicago resident, [Gov. Rauner] pays twice. One by paying property taxes, he pays for the teachers pensions in Chicago. Second, when he pays income taxes he pays for teacher’s pensions in Naperville, Schaumburg, Rockford… if you’re going to make fundamental change, here’s a great place to start.”

He says one of the fixes for the teacher’s pensions crisis is a single educational pension system or getting rid of the “inequity on taxes.” He says he hopes to work together with the governor to increase education funding, a campaign promise Rauner made.

Yesterday's four hour Zoning Committee meeting included approvals to extend the planned development for the Chicago Spire site, the “Twin Towers” complex in Logan Square, a transit-oriented development in Ravenswood, Montrose Green and removal of certain restrictions on drag shows.

Get the complete agenda here.

Only seven committee members attended the final Zoning Committee of the current Council, several of whom trickled in and out of the Council chambers during the extended meeting. The required quorum for the committee meeting is 10 out of 18 members, but there were never more than five sitting alderman in attendance at one time. Other than the Chairman of the committee, Danny Solis, retiring Ald. Tim Cullerton was the only committee member to remain in chamber for the entire meeting. At the end of the meeting, the entire room gave Ald. Cullerton a round of applause.

Members Present: Chairman Danny Solis (25), Bob Fioretti (2), Tim Cullerton (38), Marge Laurino (39), Tom Tunney (44), James Cappleman (46) and Ameya Pawar (47).

Non-members Present: Joe Moreno (1) Willie Cochran (20), Walter Burnett (27), John Arena (45)

Following are highlights from the meeting. Unless otherwise noted, the following items all passed from committee by acclimation.

No. Ma-192 (Mayoral Application) Ordinance Referred (3-18-15)
400 N. Lake Shore Drive – The former Chicago Spire site.

While the future of the Chicago Spire site is unclear, plans for the accompanying DuSable Park remain intact. Yesterday, with an ordinance penned by the Emanuel Administration, the Zoning Committee extending the life of the site’s Planned Development agreement until January 21, 2018 to ensure the park plans remain intact while the future of the rest of the site is determined. The future developer of 400 N. Lake Shore Drive is responsible for funding DuSable Park, which will then be turned over to the Chicago Park District.

Originally set to expire this July, the ordinance would also extend the community review process from two years to three. A spokeswoman from the Department of Planning told the committee the new owner of the Spire site has been in talks with Ald. Brendan Reilly over the future project and the mayor’s office wants to ensure, “DuSable is in the mix."

No. 18166 (1st Ward) Ordinance Referred (9-10-14)
2255-93 N. Milwaukee Ave. /2208-26 N. Washtenaw Ave./2715-35 W. Belden – The “Twin Towers” project in Logan Square.

Rolando Acosta, the attorney representing the site’s developers, MaxMil LLC, requested that the five-year-old vacant lot be rezoned for an 11-15 story mixed-use building. This would include two residential buildings, a total of 220 units. The buildings would be connected at the base, creating 9,000 sq. ft. of retail space and 67 parking spaces. (On the agenda, the reported numbers were 6,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail and 253 residential units.) Acosta said that at the request of Ald. Moreno, there will be affordable housing on site and the developers would not buy out of their obligation. A city ordinance requires that residential projects must set aside a certain number of affordable housing units on site or in close proximity. Developers could opt out of this requirement by paying a fine.

“I am really concerned about this project,” testified neighbor Sally Hammann, one of the six people who testified against the project. “The height is totally inappropriate for the neighborhood.” Hammann added that there were already three other developments going up nearby on Milwaukee Ave. and all of the planned apartments were, “very expensive and very small.”

Margaret Herman, a 13-year-resident, also spoke in opposition because the rents in her neighborhood have going up “51%” over the past three years.“The cost of living in this particular development, even with the affordable units, only accentuate my neighbors and soon my own displacement in the neighborhood.” Herman also accused the developer of having poorly coordinated community meetings where it was “hard to hear” and “packed to the gills”.

Herman went on to further lament about the increased cost of living in Logan Square. “My landlord just raised our rent for the first time in 6 years, starting in June. So, it’s happening. It’s real.” Herman then accused Ald. Joe Moreno of not, “listening to residents when it came to planned development.”

Jaime Zopart, another Logan Square resident, called the building plans, “completely out of character,” and said the height of the building seems to get taller after every community meeting. “[The building] is not serving our community,” she said, adding that the proposed affordable housing units, required under a new city ordinance, “aren’t actually affordable”.

“If somebody could afford $2,700 for a two bedroom aparment, God bless them,” she quipped. “A majority of Logan Square [residents] cannot afford that.”

The others testifying against the project had similar concerns before Ald. Moreno got a chance to defend the development, calling it “unique and fantastic”. Moreno highlighted a number of affordable housing developers who are interested in building on the site and the extensive and thorough community vetting process the project went through.

“I’m so passionate about affordable housing that I am not going to let goldilocks ideas get in the way of providing true, affordable housing to Logan Square, which is what we need,” Moreno testified. “And we need density [...] low density and affordable housing actually work against each other,” Moreno used Lincoln Park as an example. “It’s losing population. Losing! Because the housing stock there is so expensive now.” Moreno added that this project will not use any TIF funds, part of the developer’s original request.

 

No. TAD-533 (44th Ward) Ordinance Referred (3-18-15)
Amendment of Municipal Code 16-16-030 concerning adult entertainment cabaret. – Ordinance text

This housekeeping measure cleans up rules for drag clubs originally introduced by by Ald. Tom Tunney and former Ald. Burt Natarus and approved by Council in 2006. The original measure changed zoning rules to remove female and male impersonator performances from the definition of "adult entertainment, " while the new measure changes license rules for the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.

 

No.18324 (47th Ward) Ordinance Referred (3-18-15)
1819 West Montrose Avenue – The Montrose Green project.

A transit oriented development  at 1819 W. Montrose, known as Montrose Green, encountered some community pushback at Thursday’s zoning meeting with five people testifying against the project. Montrose Green developers proposed developing a former CTA staging site next to the Montrose Brown Line stop with a 5,300 sq. ft. of ground floor retail space, 3,000 square feet of office space and 24 residential units with just 10 off-street parking spaces. Because the mixed-use space is adjacent to an L stop, believe it would discourage car use, requiring fewer parking spaces. The proposed zoning change would increase the height of the building to 55 feet.

Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) and Kathleen Abbott, a representative from the Northcenter Neighborhood Association, spoke in favor of the development. But while others spoke in favor of transit-oriented development in general and the need for the development at the site, a group of neighbors present testified about traffic concerns and access to the back and sides of the next-door apartment buildings. Read additional comments about the development from neighbors.

 

No. 18310 (44th Ward) Ordinance Referred (3-18-15)
1045-1047 West Cornelia Ave. – New construction of 4-story, 20 unit residential building.

Four people appeared to testify against the new 4-story building in the 44th Ward, calling the building a “monstrosity” that would “have all charm of 1960s dorm.” The contractor, Contemporary Concepts, plans to replace a two-flat townhouse with a 20-unit residential building with 16 parking spaces.

Ald. Tom Tunney called the development a “welcome addition” and said the developers made concessions on parking, reduced the number of units from 20 to 16, and set the top floor back from the street.

 

No.18236 (1st Ward) Ordinance Referred (12-10-14)
2412 W. Lyndale St. – Demolish existing building and build a new 3-story residential unit with parking.

Sally Hammann, a representative from a neighborhood zoning and planning committee, asked that the project be deferred because, “the project has only come up to [their] committee one time [..] last year 2014.”  Hammann asked that the developers speak with the residents one more time before moving forward with the project. “It’s a single family property right now,” Hammann testified, “We are concerned there is no room in the plans for this [new] building.”

Ald. Joe Moreno responded that this property would be on a “substandard lot”. “We’re talking about two units on each site, therefore the relief, I believe, is acceptable.” Ald. Moreno said while he does agree with a need for low density in the area and the design does need some work, he requested that the Zoning Committee pass the ordinance, so that he could work with the community and developers on the design at a later date.

 

No. 18130 (39th Ward) Ordinance Referred (7-30-14)
4514-20 N. Elston Ave. – Taxi repair and storage.

The applicant, Azurite LLC on behalf of Dispatch Taxi, requested a zoning change so that they could locate and establish a vehicle repair and storage facility for taxis. Ald. Tim Cullerton asked if the taxis would be stored on the property or on the surrounding streets. The attorney for the project reported they would be stored on site.

 

No. 17935 (35th Ward) Ordinance Referred (2-5-2014)
2736-50 N. Kedzie Ave. – Request to turn a vacant auto shop into an office building without parking.

The last item of the meeting. The ordinance had technically passed committee and the meeting adjourned as neighbor Emil Metterhausen called out to Chairman Solis just as the gavel struck the podium to signify the meeting was over. Metterhousen, who was not signed up to testify but owns a property across the street at 2735 N. Kedzie Ave, was invited by Solis to speak anyway.

“This building has been standing with scaffolding in front of it for over ten years. It has been through a world of shit,” Metterhausen said of owner and applicant 2736 Kedzie LLC. “Basically it has been standing there looking like crap [...] it’s a pigsty.”

Metterhausen went on to say that he didn’t even understand what the zoning change would even do for the property. He showed one letter from the property’s attorney that said they wanted retail offices and services, and another letter that said the applicant would use the zoning change to build, “a collaborative workspace centered on rock climbing and no parking”. “I got different stories, I don’t know what’s going on here,” Metterhausen said to Chairman Solis, who then asked the objector if he brought it up with Ald. Rey Colon (35). Colon, who lost his seat in February, wasn’t at the meeting but did submit a letter of support of the project.

“Ugh, I’ve talked to Colon a number of times, but I haven’t talk to him recently because talking to him just aggravated me,” Metterhausen responded.

Ald. Solis then suggested that the zoning change would “clean up the site”, but Metterhausen spoke over the Chairman to lament that the new zoning won’t change the ownership of the property.