Ald. Bill Conway (34) is pictured during a council meeting in October 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council passed two ordinances last week aimed at addressing persistent retail and office vacancies downtown. The measures, which loosened regulations on cannabis establishments downtown and high-rise signs, were approved earlier in the week by the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards.

Flanked by Comms. Bill Lowry and Tara Stamps, Willie J.R. Fleming speaks about the cannabis business development grant program on May 23, 2024. [Livestream]

Cook County leaders announced the launch of a multimillion-dollar grant program Thursday to assist cannabis-based business owners that hold state social equity licenses. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced the grant program and opening of the application window at a news conference downtown alongside county commissioners and economic development leaders.

The City Council debates ShotSpotter on May 22, 2024. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The debate of the future of the canceled ShotSpotter contract reached a climax Wednesday as alderpeople approved a measure from a Far South Side alderperson to give the City Council control over keeping the gunshot detection technology, setting up a conflict with the mayor who has insisted the measure isn’t legally viable.

Ald. Andre Vasquez is pictured [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

An ideologically disparate coalition of City Council members introduced a symbolic resolution Wednesday calling for new management at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The City Council also gave final approval to a new chief information officer, a new director of the council’s financial analysis office and six members of the civilian police oversight commission. 

The council approved the creation of a pilot program to provide financial relief from skyrocketing water bills stemming from underground leaks but a measure to restrict noise around a West Loop abortion clinic was deferred. Additionally, the appointment of a new member of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board was held.

The City Council meets on March 20, 2024. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The City Council on Wednesday will consider giving final confirmation votes to a new member of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board and six members of the civilian police oversight commission. The council will also vote on a measure to restrict noise around a West Loop abortion clinic and create a pilot program to provide financial relief from skyrocketing water bills stemming from underground leaks.

Alderpeople are also expected to introduce a measure calling for the removal of CTA President Dorval Carter and call votes on some previously deferred items, including an order that would allow individual alderpeople to retain ShotSpotter technology on a ward-by-ward basis and the appointment of a new chief information officer. The council meets at 10 a.m.

Ald. Jason Ervin (28), the budget committee chair, is pictured at a City Council meeting in April. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations on Monday approved a measure that appoints a new director of the City Council Office of Financial Analysis (COFA) and establishes new rules for the appointment and tenure of financial analysis office directors. 

The budget committee also heard a preview of important dates for the upcoming budget season, including that a preview for the upcoming budget could be unveiled at a revenue subcommittee meeting next month.

Alderpeople will reconsider the appointment of the remaining nominated member of the city’s civilian police oversight body on Tuesday, the zoning committee will consider new regulations for vacant storefronts and the education committee will hold a hearing on a network of schools that target at-risk youth.

The Cook County flag is pictured in this file photo.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved resolutions to authorize two affordable housing pilot programs worth a cumulative $15 million during its regular meeting Thursday.

“These two programs will help provide quality, single family homes to Cook County residents who need help the most,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a news release Thursday.

The City Council budget committee will consider changing its term limits for directors of the council’s financial analysis office, and the Cook County Board will honor the recently deceased county clerk during a special meeting.

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25), who chairs the Committee on Housing and Real Estate, is pictured in November 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate approved a measure Wednesday to tweak language in the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) to specify the ways developers must comply with the requirements of the affordable housing law.

But the housing committee postponed a vote on an ordinance that would have continued an agreement between the city and Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) to allow the CHA to utilize city hearing officers to adjudicate matters raised through its tenant grievance process.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved two measures Thursday, one to call on the state to eliminate the tipped wage and the other to mandate more comprehensive data collection practices for the county’s Asian American population.

Comm. Anthony Quezada is pictured during a county board meeting in October 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee approved a resolution Wednesday that calls on the state legislature to eliminate the tipped wage statewide. The resolution will receive final consideration at Thursday’s County Board of Commissioners meeting, which kicks off at 10 a.m.

Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17), the sole Republican on the county board, was the only committee member to vote no.

Ald. Sam Nugent (39) listens as Angel Rubi Navarijo speaks during a police and fire committee meeting Tuesday. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Police and Fire approved six of the mayor’s seven nominees to the city’s civilian police oversight commission on Tuesday but postponed a vote on one nominee over concerns the appointment could lead to a conflict of interest.

Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29), the committee chair, said he hopes to hold a meeting before next week’s City Council meeting to vote on the remaining nomination. The council could give final confirmation to the nominees approved by the committee next Wednesday.

On Wednesday, a Cook County Board of Commissioners committee will consider a measure to call on state lawmakers to eliminate the tipped minimum wage, and the City Council’s housing committee will tweak language in the Affordable Requirements Ordinance.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3), chair of the finance committee, is pictured. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Alderpeople on the finance committee approved the creation of a relief program for residents who have received sky-high water bills after underground leaks, but some implored the city to look at ways to expand program eligibility following a pilot period.

On Monday, the committee approved an ordinance (O2024-0008889) creating a two-year pilot program that will provide financial assistance to property owners whose water and sewer bills jumped as a result of a leak in their metered water service line.