Aldermen are calling for a hearing on the city’s water bills. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Two aldermen are calling on the city’s Department of Finance and Department of Water Management to attend a City Council hearing on water bills that are costing thousands of Chicagoans “money and a lot of stress.” 

The city has announced a multimillion-dollar investment over the next five years to convert its vehicle fleet to all-electric, and the state labor relations board has ruled against a vaccine mandate for city employees.

The Chicago Plan Commission approved proposed renovations for Metra’s Van Buren station. [Metra]

The Chicago Plan Commission met for more than five hours Thursday for its final meeting under Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration. 

During their meeting, commissioners approved a proposal from Metra to renovate the Van Buren commuter rail station just off Michigan Avenue near Grant Park. If approved by the City Council, changes to the station would include work on station waiting areas, expanded ADA access, an overhaul of a pedestrian tunnel, new shelters and platforms and improved access to Grant Park and the lakefront.

Brandon Johnson beat fellow candidate Paul Vallas for Mayor of Chicago. Johnson, seen here during a rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders at the UIC Pavilion [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Survey results taken just before the mayoral runoff showed Cook County Comm. Brandon Johnson (D-1), now mayor-elect, with a lead over former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas as well as differences in the issues which united the supporters of each campaign.

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson on Thursday announced his picks for chief of staff and deputy chief of staff. Chicago Police Department Interim Supt. Eric Carter announced he will retire May 15.

The Cook County flag is pictured outside the county government building in downtown Chicago. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC), county Commission on Women’s Issues and Commission on Human Rights met in recent days and have all touched on a common theme. 

All three county meetings, the EDAC meeting on Wednesday and the other two Thursday, featured discussion of an impending return to in-person meetings as the declared emergencies related to COVID-19 come to a close.

The William E. Denver water crib housing one of Chicago's water intakes.

On Monday, the Chicago City Council Committee on Finance passed an ordinance (O2023-1333) recommending the approval of a key agreement with the city of Joliet that will see Chicago supply Lake Michigan water to Joliet for at least the next 100 years. The City Council then passed it as a part of the omnibus on Wednesday. 

Joliet has been up against a deadline, as city wells are expected to run dry by 2030. The nature of Joliet's geology means that surface water doesn’t refill the aquifers, leaving the city increasingly in need of water.

Wednesday marked Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s final City Council meeting as mayor. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line] 

Aldermen spent two hours Wednesday heaping praise on their retiring colleagues and outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who presided over her final City Council meeting before Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson is sworn in May 15. 

Concept art showing a new set of stairs and elevators at the Van Buren Metra station, part of myriad ADA accessibility improvements proposed under consideration by the Chicago Plan Commission Thursday. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development]

The Chicago Plan Commission will consider a proposal to rehabilitate a commuter rail station, improvements to a local magnet high school and several new residential building proposals during its meeting that begins at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The zoning committee met in the council chambers on Tuesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot will preside over her final City Council meeting Wednesday as the day also marks the final meeting for aldermen who are retiring or did not win their election earlier this year. 

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg speaks during a committee meeting Tuesday. [City of Chicago livestream]

Some aldermen want shift control over who decides which reports from the Office of the Inspector General are made public from the city’s law department to the inspector’s office. 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday announced a projected $85 million budget gap for 2024. And CPD is enforcing a teen curfew in Millennium Park.

The flag of Cook County is pictured outside the county government building in downtown Chicago. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Economic Development Advisory Committee will hold a public hearing on a substantial amendment to the 2020 Annual Action Plan during its Wednesday morning meeting, and on Thursday, the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues and County Commission on Human Rights will meet.

The finance committee met in council chambers Monday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

The City Council Committee on Finance on Monday approved $74 million in TIF assistance for various developments across the city.

A rendering of the proposal for 1200-1234 W. Randolph St. [City of Chicago presentation] 

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards will meet for its final regularly scheduled meeting under its current chair, Ald. Tom Tunney (44), Tuesday at 10 a.m. 

Aldermen will vote on a nearly 400-unit residential building on the Near West Side and a coffee roastery and brewery in Pullman that will employ veterans, among other proposals.