With only two aldermen raising questions, the appointment of former 31st Ward Ald. Ray Suarez to the nine-member Illinois International Port District (IIPD) Boardpassed the Committee on Transportation and Public Way Tuesday, and will be reported out to the full Council today. His appointment was first introduced in September, but Chairman Anthony Beale (9) held the appointment in committee at the mayor’s request. Beale was absent Tuesday, so Vice Chair Matt O’Shea (19) presided. The position includes a $20,000 annual salary.

An ordinance aimed at making city privatization deals more difficult is the subject of a joint meeting of the Council's Finance and Budget Committees this afternoon.

The City Council’s Finance Committee approved $700,000 in legal settlements involving Chicago police officers, even as some aldermen questioned whether it would have been better to fight the lawsuits in court. An amendment to the recently passed e-cigarette tax and all other routine items on the agenda passed in committee and will be reported out to the full City Council at Wednesday’s meeting.  

The Council Committee on Cultural Affairs and Special Events approved an ordinance yesterday giving the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) the authority to produce public events and festivals for next year, an action the committee must take every year.

The Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation meets at noon today to take up an ordinance that sets the stage for next year’s public festivals, art shows, parades, and other attractions put on by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

A series of revenue measures narrowly passed the Cook County Board of Commissioners’ Finance Committee Friday, clearing the way for passage of Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s $4.5 billion budget proposal this week. Every revenue proposal, including new excise taxes on hotel and Airbnb stays, e-cigarettes, ticket resellers, and ammunition was approved, but largely by divided roll call votes.

The City Council Committee on Finance is scheduled to vote on $700,000 in legal settlements against Chicago police officers, amend the recently passed e-cigarette tax, and terminate the first of four downtown TIF districts.

The Finance Committee meets today for another round of public hearings on proposed changes to three Special Service Areas (SSAs). Local residents and businesses will have an opportunity to express support or opposition to expanding the 71st St./Stony Island SSA (#42) and the 103rd St./Beverly SSA (#44), in addition to terminating the existing agreement for the State Street SSA (#1) and replacing it with a new plan with new boundaries.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners’ Committee on Finance meets today to take a number of tight votes on revenue options and amendments to be included in the full budget vote next week: changes to the amusement tax, an amendment doubling the proposed e-cigarette tax, new taxes on ammunition and hotel stays, plus a deal (and an amendment to that deal) to allow extra contributions to the County pension fund.

The City Council’s Aviation Committee approved new regulations for drone operators in Chicago after more than two hours of public testimony and debate on the issue; a new fee for private shuttle services that take people to and from O’Hare and Midway Airports; and a new premium parking and reservation program.

One item on the Aviation agenda introduced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel over the summer would create a new premium parking service program at O’Hare Airport. The item made it on the July 28th Aviation Committee agenda but was held in committee.

Several freshman aldermen are circulating ballot petitions for Democratic Ward Committeeman ahead of the November 30th filing deadline. Aldertrack has confirmed Aldermen Brian Hopkins (2), Gregory Mitchell (7), Sue Sadlowski-Garza (10), David Moore (17), Chris Taliaferro (29), and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa(35) are vying for the political office.

The Committee on Finance is holding a public hearing this morning regarding the creation of a new Special Service Area for the Jefferson Park community and the renewal of the Lincoln Park SSA.

Timed for today’s celebration of Veterans Day, a joint committee on Finance and Public Safety approved an ordinance yesterday categorizing attacks against military personnel in Chicago as hate crimes.

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate met for more than three hours yesterday and approved Mayor Emanuel’s $12.4 million dollar parking lot sale, a land sale on the South Side that will pave the way for a new waste processing center that will produce renewable energy, and appointments to boards that oversee affordable housing. All lease agreements and land sales on the agenda were approved by voice vote. Ald. Joe Moreno’s (1) ordinance establishing height limits on exterior staircases to residential homes was re-referred to the Zoning Committee.