Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) speaks about the Chicago v.s. Hate Ordinance during a public safety committee meeting on Dec. 8, 2023. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Public Safety approved an overhaul of the city’s hate crimes ordinance Friday, a measure minority group advocates called a necessary response to recent trends.

The City Council is pictured during a meeting in September 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Finance will meet Monday and consider approving millions of dollars paid out to settle lawsuits. The ethics committee will also meet and consider a litany of code changes regarding the registration of lobbyists.

New rules governing public comment and attendance at City Council meetings were published online Friday. Also, the city’s budget committee approved a redevelopment agreement to construct artist space at an old school building in South Shore.

The city’s workforce committee, finally, approved several changes to the recently passed paid leave ordinance.

The Chicago Police emblem is pictured at the Public Safety Headquarters in this file photo.

A City Council panel swiftly advanced a new collective bargaining agreement with the union that represents the city’s rank-and-file police officers Thursday. 

But alderpeople on the panel recommended against passage of a separately considered component of the new agreement that would give officers facing serious discipline the option to have their fates decided by private arbitration.

Alderpeople on the city’s immigrant and refugee rights committee voted to support a resolution calling for legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants, and the county and city have announced a deadline by which residents can apply for relief from severe weather from this past fall.

Mayor Brandon Johnson presides over a November 2023 City Council meeting where alderpeople voted on his 2024 budget. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Three Chicago alderpeople are calling for numerous resignations for the city officials involved in handling the ongoing migrant crisis after a plan to build a migrant encampment in Brighton Park was put on hold. But the mayor’s office said it was not taking the request seriously and asked for good faith collaboration with any official serious about addressing the humanitarian crisis.

On Tuesday, the state halted construction of a migrant tent encampment at the site, located at 38th and California, after the release of a lengthy environmental report showing the presence of mercury and other contaminants in the soil. 

Related: State puts an end to Brighton Park migrants tent camp saga after reviewing environmental study

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) introduces a measure that updates the city's hate crimes ordinance during a news conference Sept. 14, 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Alderpeople on Friday will meet to consider legislation that overhauls the city’s hate crimes ordinance and a redevelopment and grant agreement to transform an old school into a collaborative workspace for artists.

Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20), top right, addresses Michelle Woods of the Chicago Department of Assets, Information and Services during a Tuesday committee meeting. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate approved a measure Tuesday to lease new space to help the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability and the reconstituted Department of Environment secure sufficient office space.

While alderpeople approved the lease amendment, they also implored city officials to consider ways to use existing properties owned by the city in the future that could also provide investment to underserved neighborhoods.

The Chicago Police emblem is pictured at the Public Safety Headquarters in this file photo.

Alderpeople on Thursday are set to vote on a new collective bargaining agreement between the city and Fraternal Order of Police, a controversial ordinance that would allow arbitration in certain police disciplinary cases and a resolution that calls for work authorization for undocumented immigrants.

Former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke speaks to reporters before filing her nominating petitions Monday. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The race for Cook County State’s Attorney gained additional candidates on Monday, the last day of filing for the 2024 primary election. Candidates will now have until Dec. 11 to file challenges to other candidates’ nominating petitions.

File photo of a lead pipe

A joint City Council committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday on the city’s programs to remove and replace lead service lines. 

A key City Council committee on Monday will consider a proposal to raise the maximum age for sworn members of the Chicago Police Department and uniformed members the Chicago Fire Department from 63 years old to 65.  

The proposal could help the city keep more money flowing into the pension system and less flowing out as sworn and uniformed employees have the option to stay on the job longer, the proposal’s sponsor Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29), a former police officer, told The Daily Line on Friday. 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) is pictured during a May 2023 City Council meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity will meet Tuesday to consider the re-referral of an ordinance concerning veteran hiring initiatives and requirements and to hold a subject matter hearing on Chicago casino compliance reporting.

Additionally, the Committee on Housing and Real Estate will meet to vote on a proposal to lease additional space in a building near City Hall for the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability and the Department of Environment. A vote on that proposal was delayed last week. 

Related: Committee delays vote on proposal to rent space for CCPSA, Department of Environment 

Finally, the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development will consider approving a property tax incentive in the 3rd Ward and a scope of services, budget, 2023 tax levy and management agreement for one of the city’s Special Service Areas.

Ald. Bennett Lawson (44) chaired Thursday’s meeting of the City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

Despite a full agenda, Thursday’s meeting of the City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards finished in under two hours as alderpeople approved dozens of developments including a proposal for a new six-story, 43-unit affordable housing development in South Shore.  

Ald. Bennett Lawson (44), the committee’s vice chair, helmed his first zoning committee meeting following Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa's (35) resignation earlier this month from his chair position. Ramirez-Rosa remains a member of the committee. 

MWRD President Kari Steele, top left, presides over a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners meeting in November 2023. [Livestream]

Four of the nine incumbent members of the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) will run for reelection next year, with two other candidates having filed with the Cook County Clerk to run for spots on the board so far.

MWRD commissioners are elected at-large, and the nine members serve staggered six-year terms. While three commissioners are typically up for election every two years, there is also a special election next year to serve out the remainder of former commissioner Kimberly du Buclet’s term.