Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle presides over a special meeting of the board of county commissioners in December 2022. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County is anticipating a nearly $86 million budget gap for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024 budget, and while officials were not able to say how exactly the county plans to plug it, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said tax hikes were not being considered, reporters learned during a press briefing Wednesday. 

“There’s no tax hikes contemplated,” Preckwinkle said. “We’re going to be able to [close the gap].”

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards met at City Hall on Tuesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

The City Council’s relatively light agenda Wednesday includes four proposed settlements totaling more than $9 million and dozens of development proposals throughout the city.

The city announced applications will soon open for a program that will provide direct cash assistance to people who have experienced gender-based violence or human trafficking. Cook County was one of a dozen organizations selected for a federally backed grant program that aims to close racial workforce gaps in the growing solar power industry. 

Mayor Brandon Johnson takes the oath of office at UIC Credit Union 1 Arena in May 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The committee tasked with replacing Mayor Brandon Johnson on the Cook County Board of Commissioners will meet in Oak Park Tuesday evening to interview six finalists and could make a decision on the next District 1 representative. 

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Democratic Committeeperson for Oak Park Township, is leading the selection committee for the county Democratic Party. The committee will meet at 7 p.m. in the Foxboro Room of The Carleton of Oak Park Hotel to conduct interviews for the open seat, Harmon’s office announced in a news release Friday.

A development proposed for North Green Street in Fulton Market [Courtesy of Chicago Department of Planning and Development]

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards on Tuesday will meet for the first time under the new leadership of Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) to consider a long list of agenda items including a proposed West Town entertainment venue and Fulton Market developments recently approved by the Chicago Plan Commission. 

Alderpersons on Tuesday will consider allocating nearly $8.9 million in grant funds for various city departments including approximately $4 million each for the Department of Family and Support Services and the Department of Transportation. 

The City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations will meet at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers to consider the proposal (O2023-2079) and other agenda items. 

Concept art for a new commercial development on North Green Street in Fulton Market was shown during the Chicago Plan Commission meeting June 15, 2023. [Courtesy of Chicago Department of Planning and Development]

The Chicago Plan Commission met Thursday and approved measures to facilitate two new developments for the Fulton Market area and a new entertainment venue in West Town.

The City Council Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation on Thursday approved two ordinances related to community gardens. The license committee approved routine matters related to liquor licenses.

Members of the finance committee during Wednesday’s meeting. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Members of the City Council Committee on Finance on Wednesday approved more than $9 million in payments to settle four lawsuits, including a $7.25 million payment for an overturned conviction of a double murder. 

The finance committee also approved tax-increment finance (TIF) funding for developments across the city but delayed a vote on TIF funding for a mixed-use development in the 3rd Ward.

Members of the City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety met Wednesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

With 17 days until NASCAR drivers descend upon Chicago’s downtown streets, alderpersons finally had the opportunity to ask race officials and city leaders questions publicly about the safety precautions and closures surrounding the event. 

The NASCAR street race, the first of its kind for Chicago, was controversial from the get-go when former Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced plans for the race weekend without seeking approvals from the City Council. But alderpersons’ concerns seemed softened during Wednesday’s hearing. 

A rendering of a proposed mixed-use development at 1300 W. Lake St. in Fulton Market. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development presentation]

The Chicago Plan Commission will meet Thursday to consider rezoning requests to facilitate the construction of a large mixed-use development in Fulton Market, to accommodate holiday-themed festivities in the Goose Island area and to allow for the creation of a new entertainment venue in West Town. The commission will meet at 10 a.m. at City Hall.

A key City Council committee will consider two proposals for new community gardens in the 10th and 28th wards. The council’s license committee will consider routine proposals related to alcoholic liquor and packaged goods licenses on Thursday. 

Members of the finance committee will meet Wednesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

Members of the City Council Committee on Finance will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday to consider approving four settlements totaling more than $9 million and proposals for tax-increment finance funding for developments across the city. 

Wednesday will mark the first time the finance committee is meeting under the new leadership of chair Ald. Pat Dowell (3). Ald. Bill Conway (34) is the vice chair of the committee. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1), the new chair of the City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, is seen during a council meeting in March 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line] 

The City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety will hold a hearing Wednesday on downtown closures to accommodate the upcoming NASCAR street race event, with a focus on how planned street closures and event setup will impact the safety of motorists, pedestrians and active transportation users downtown.

The City Council Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development on Tuesday approved five appointments and reappointments to Special Service Areas across the city. Chicago Department of Public Health officials on Tuesday reported the city’s first mosquito batch to test positive for West Nile Virus.