Billions of bonds, new police oversight, a mourning alderman and Chicago aldermen going wacky.

Everyone in Springfield takes shots at CPS, while the school system lays off administrative staff. Plan Commissioners get upset about lack of city support for affordable housing. Police Board Chair Lori Lightfoot bigfoots policing policy.

The 2014 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald and its horrific circumstances are adding fuel to a steadily growing fire of anger and discontent with the city’s criminal justice system among Chicago’s Black community, according to African American activists, pastors and aldermen Aldertrack spoke with yesterday.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel directly introduced to Council the official levy and revenue ordinances detailing how he plans to pay for his proposed $7.8 billion dollar budget at yesterday’s abbreviated City Council meeting (we provide a breakdown of those plans below). The public hearing that followed was much lengthier, approximately 40 people signed up to testify, but for most of the hearing, less than 10 aldermen were present. The Mayor left immediately after his press conference.  

With budget hearings taking up the bulk of the Council’s time over the past two weeks, and more closed door meetings to come before the City Council officially votes on the Mayor’s spending plan on October 28, there was only a handful of old business items to be approved, and most of it was routine.

The Council approved dozens of appointments to and budget requests from various Special Service Areas, ordinances transferring TIF funds for capital improvement projects at CPS schools, and Ald. Will Burns’ (4) resolution supporting the rights of adjunct faculty to unionize.

New Business

Save for the Mayor’s budget ordinances, there wasn’t much new business. Chairman Ed Burke (14), introduced an ordinance regulating so-called “party buses” in the City after a recent shooting in the University Village neighborhood that left three people injured. According Ald. Burke’s press release, “the driver did not keep a passenger roster or make sure passengers on the bus were legally old enough to drink alcohol.” The ordinance would require party bus operators make sure entities chartering the bus are licensed to sell alcohol, and there is a designated person to check IDs of all passengers on the bus. Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41), Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29), Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30), and Ald. Willie Cochran (20) are co-sponsors.

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) introduced a resolution calling for a voluntary $1 service charge on the “nearly 100 million passengers flying into or out of Chicago.” Money from that service charge would go toward increasing police presence at and around the airports. Citing the City’s “unprecedented gang and gun violence crisis” and the “alarming rate of illegal guns on the street” in the preamble to the ordinance, Ald. O’Shea suggested the City tap into the $1.8 billion in revenue O’Hare and Midway airports generate.

And the Chicago Public Health Department, in conjunction with Ald. Burke, introduced a resolution calling on the Food and Drug Administration to reverse its decision to allow the use of opioid prescription drugs for pediatric patients. The ordinance cites a recent surge of prescription drug abuse in Chicago; between 2009 and 2011, Chicago saw an 11% increase in the number of opioid-related emergency room visits.  

Mayor’s Press Q&A

At his usual post-Council meeting press conference, Mayor Rahm Emanuel defended his unpopular revenue plans, a historic property tax increase and a new monthly garbage fee, in addition to fielding questions about the recent federal indictment of former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett.

“I’m proud we are submitting this [budget] today,” Mayor Emanuel told the room before taking questions. Asked if he made any changes to his budget as a result of aldermanic objections, Emanuel responded, “The short answer...no.”

He said the budget is based on conversations already had with the unions, the Civic Federation, and aldermen. Those meetings go back “months,” the Mayor said, “and we included items discussed in those meetings.”

And even though he wasn’t asked about his plan to privatize the city’s 311 call system, a plan that garnered a significant amount of criticism from aldermen, Emanuel made a point to defend it, “I stand by what we’re proposing as it relates to 311 reforms, mainly because for the first time ever we have a lot of effectiveness in our neighborhood services.”

It would cost the city $40 million dollars to upgrade the system, the Mayor added. “We don’t have that.”  

As for the Byrd-Bennett indictment, Emanuel denied any connection with Gary Solomon, co-owner of SUPES Academy, who was at that moment entering a not guilty plea in federal court for his alleged involvement in the $23 million dollar kickback scheme with the no-bid contract CPS awarded his firm.

When asked to detail how he knew Solomon, where they met, if he knew Byrd-Bennett worked for his company, and why he wasn’t more involved in the contract selection process, Emanuel responded “there is no relationship between me and Solomon. Ever.”

“There is a long history of mayors getting involved in contracts,” Emanuel added. “I don’t get involved in contracts.”

Public Hearings

Approximately 40 witnesses submitted pink slips to testify on the Mayor’s budget. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall kicked off the public portion of the meeting by voicing his support for and urging the Council to approve the Mayor’s spending plan.

“We applaud the Mayor and his administration for the long overdue plan to address the city’s grossly underfunded public pension system,” Msall said in a short speech highlighting the findings of his lengthy 111 page budget analysis. He spent nearly two hours fielding questions from aldermen.

Calling the Mayor’s $1.2 billion dollar FY2016 property tax levy “painful but very necessary”, Msall advised the Council to support the mayor’s spending plan and “stabilize the city’s two worst funded pension plans.”

But he also warned that the Mayor’s budget relies on a lot of variables that could lead to bigger cuts in the future, “We are concerned that even with this extraordinary property tax increase, the city has some expenses that may not be covered.”

If Chicago Public Schools’ liquidity crisis and the city’s ongoing structural deficit aren’t addressed, additional tax increases and service cuts will be needed, Msall said. If Springfield rejects Mayor Emanuel’s plan to extend the city’s pension payments, the city will have to pay an additional $220 million towards the Police and Fire pensions, Msall added. The courts also have yet to rule on the legality of the city’s decision to phase out its subsidy of retiree healthcare costs for its non-public safety unions. “If that should be struck down, the city faces additional hundreds of millions of costs for its health care retirement system,” Msall warned.

Aldermen used the time with Msall to ask for alternative proposals to the property tax hike. When Ald. Joe Moore (49) asked Msall to highlight potential cost savings and quick fixes for this year’s budget, Msall said the Council needs to take a hard look at the budget and find the “optimal number” and cost of city services.

“Those obviously are good recommendations, and they will take some time to fully implement, but is there anything you can identify that we can implement in the next two weeks?” Ald. Moore followed up.

Msall said cutting borrowing would be a good start, as the city’s outstanding debt is the biggest cost after its unfunded pension liability.  Msall also defended Mayor Emanuel’s plan to privatize 311, echoing the mayor’s argument that the cost of the updating the system would be a bigger burden than privatization.

Samples From Public Testimony

On the proposed privatization of the city’s two HIV clinics:

“The city’s HIV clinics are not sustainable in the post-Affordable Care Act landscape, and the transition of these clinics is the best long-term plan for HIV patients in Chicago. These funds will be used more effectively and efficiently by community based clinics… That support, however, is not without concerns. Our greatest concern is that if the city decides to transition medical services to other organizations, people with HIV could drop out of care… The service transition plan should include steps that ensure all current patients are successfully linked to a primary care medical home.” – Maximillian Boykin, AIDS Foundation of Chicago

On the proposed tax on e-cigarettes:

“The mayor’s plan to use $500,000 per year in e-cigarette tax revenue to open five new [school based] health centers is a smart investment in our city’s young people. We estimate that this plan will ensure over 3,000 more Chicago people have access to support they need to be healthy, safe, and ready to learn… Because the tax is intended to serve as a capital investment, we wouldn’t be concerned about the long-term viability [of revenue from the e-cigarette tax].” - Heidi Ortolaza-Alvear, EverThrive Illinois

On the proposed property tax hike and homeowners exemption:

“We don't even know yet the full impact of the tax increase, because all of the properties in the city have yet to be assessed. What we know so far is that assessments in southern Cook County have increased at an average rate of 30%... This policy is flawed and short-sighted. It's disingenuous to shine a light on what more the central business district can do without recognizing that same light illuminates the neighborhood businesses that will also be picking up the tab.”  – Tanya Triche, Illinois Retail Merchants Association  

“Estimates indicate that rents will increase more than $380 annually, or $32 a month over the next four years, because renters pay property taxes too. As you search for ways to alleviate the burden of property taxes on homeowners, we strongly urge you not to do so at the expense of Chicago’s renters… Instead, a rebate program targeting only the most severely impacted taxpayers would alleviate the harmful effects of a property tax shift. We support that kind of program.” – Michael J. Mini, Chicagoland Apartment Association

“Real estate property taxes in Chicago account for nearly 76% of large office buildings’ total operating expense… We’ve been told that if distributed evenly, there would be about a 12% increase in tax bills... The increase grows to nearly 17% and other non-partisan estimates are even higher: as much as 22%... For the tenant of a modest 20,000 square foot space in an average building, that’s an increase of over $25,000. It brings that tenant’s property tax bill to more than $177,000.” – Ron Tabaczynski, Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago

“In addition to the large property tax in the 2016 budget, the hotel industry continues to be hurt badly by the lack of enforcement of the city’s vacation rental ordinance… The license fee in Chicago is $500. It’s good for two years. New York City’s license is $5,000... If you take all the units [Airbnb and other vacation rental companies] rent, $500 times 5,000 [units], that’s $2.5 million. Right off the bat.” – Marc Gordon, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association

On the proposed privatization exploration of 311:

“It makes no sense to privatize what connects their residents to their government. It makes no sense to privatize 311 and put the nerve center of the city in the hands of a corporation whose number one goal and/or priority is to make a profit. It makes no sense to privatize and get rid of 311’s biggest asset, which would be experienced, knowledgeable workers who are committed to the City of Chicago.” – Louis Shuttlesworth, 311 operator

On Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy:

“I support and thank especially Alderman [Raymond] Lopez and the other City Council members who have called for the firing of Garry McCarthy… His military policing and racial profiling in some parts of the city is a threat to all parts of the city. This superintendent is part of the problem instead of the solution and it’s time for him to go.” – Evangel Yhwhnewbn, Chicago resident, 15th Ward

On proposed changes to rideshare pickup rules:

“I want to first of all, thank Mayor Emanuel for supporting the rideshare agenda… I’ve been driving for over two years. I’m 74 years old so I guess I’m a senior, and it’s a great job for seniors... I drive to the airport but it’s unfair to me that I have to come back without a ride… When you drive in from the airport, you see the big sign, ‘Welcome to Chicago.’ When a tourist arrives in Chicago, the first person he gets an opportunity to talk to is his transportation driver... I want to be the Wal-Mart greeter for Chicago.” – Jim Evans, UberX driver, 45th Ward

The final day of the City Council budget hearings started with a quick 15 minute briefing with the Department of Administrative Hearings, a nearly two hour hearing with the Department of Water Management, an approximately 40 minute hearing with the Department of Procurement Services, and it wrapped with the City’s Law Department and a tearful thank you to Budget Chair Carrie Austin (34).

Since it was the last day after a long slog, Vice Chair Jason Ervin (28) was in no mood to stay longer than needed. When Ald. David Moore (17), who already irked aldermen throughout the past two weeks for his persistent questioning, said he would wait for round two to ask follow up questions during the Department of Water Management hearing, Ervin grumbled, "It's Friday, man." The day’s session wrapped before 3:00 p.m.

Budget Chair Carrie Austin Delivers Tearful Thanks;
Reveals She Was In Coma During Hospitalization

Ald. Carrie Austin broke down in tears at the end of Friday's hearing while thanking a small group of aldermen for prayers during her illness, telling them she was near death and in a coma for two weeks.  

Austin was absent from Council several weeks throughout September, but aldermen and staffers kept her heart surgery under wraps. The Sun-Times broke a story just before budget season began, saying Austin had endured a couple lengthy hospital stays and one surgery, and cast doubt on whether she’d be able to chair what promised to be a contentious few weeks of hearings: “It’s highly unlikely Austin will have the stamina to chair marathon hearings that can drag on into the evening. Nor can she be counted on to be the iron-fisted chairman she has been.”

But Austin’s iron fist took center stage at several budget hearings, including with Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, and when keeping her fellow aldermen in line. Austin stayed late into the evening on several hearing days, sometimes sitting away from the podium or in the cloakroom while Budget Vice Chair Jason Ervintook over. She also became more active than usual on social media.

Ald. David Moore (17), who Austin had reprimanded a few times for asking too many questions and extending his time to second round questioning, brought her a big bouquet of flowers and thanked her on behalf of the full Council on the last day of budget hearings. “Chicago’s good and faithful servant, I appreciate you so much, and your colleagues as well. We appreciate you.”

“Still gonna be last,” she teased Moore, who ended up closing many hearing days with his extended questioning.

“Gosh, you had me crying when the Mayor did the Budget address, I’m gonna try not to do it this time.” She still cried.

Austin told aldermen she has a good bill of health, and two more doctor’s visits left. “I tore my aorta. I almost wasn’t here. But I’m grateful that God allowed me to be here. I was in the hospital 29 days. And in those 29 days that I was there, for the first two weeks I was unconscious, I was in a coma. Blood pressure went up over 300. The bottom number was 205, they couldn’t bring it down.”

Austin said after her hospital stay, she was home a week, but other aortic tears started near the bottom of her spine, requiring doctors at at Northwestern Memorial Hospital to put in three stents. “I’m doing pretty well unless it decides to go the other way, then it’ll be instant death. But if it happens, I’m ready to see the Lord, ‘cause I have served him all of my life.”

She told her colleagues, crying, that their prayers are what brought her back. “If I’ve offended anybody, I’m sorry. Charge it to my head and never to my heart, cause I love each and every one of y’all even though you make me sick and get on my nerves… But I do need to have a meeting with the newbies.” She sighed. Aldermen in the Chamber laughed.

“Flowers for a person while they yet live, while they can smell them, thank you. We made it through, and this meeting stands adjourned.” She got a standing ovation from those present.

ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

With few aldermen on hand for the early Friday morning hearing with the Department’s Director Patricia Jackowiak, the quick 15 minute hearing was short on questions and heavy on accolades. Vice Chair Jason Ervin lead the meeting, with Budget Chairman Carrie Austin arriving later in the day.

Attendance: Vice Chair Jason Ervin (28), Pat Dowell (3), Patrick Daley Thompson (11), Raymond Lopez (15), David Moore (17), Mike Zalewski (23), Ariel Reboyras (30), Gilbert Villegas (36), Marge Laurino (39)

Submitted written testimony.

The Department of Administrative Hearings is asking for a $8.18 million appropriation for next year, a 2.7% increase from last year’s $7.96M appropriation. The largest chunk of the budget, $3.03 million, will go toward vehicle hearings for parking, red light, automated speed camera, and booted vehicle violations.

Before concluding the meeting, Vice Chair Ervin said one thing that does concern him is the lack of salary increases for the judges the City hires to oversee hearings. “Being able to retain quality, qualified attorneys that act as administrative law judges is important,” Ervin said.

The Department hires and trains outside attorneys to decide cases and serve as Administrative Law Judges. The 2016 budget appropriation calls for a $2,760 salary increase for over last year for judges, totaling $94,740.

“Hopefully we can find resources to increase that, because the one concern I do have is retention. Most of the individuals that are there are knowledgeable. They’ve been there for awhile. They understand the process. They understand the communities. And that’s something we don’t want to lose.”

Highlights from written testimony:

• In 2014, Administrative Law Judges presided over 627,923 hearings.

• 1,555 low-income respondents received legal representation from independent attorneys when going before a judge at the Central Hearing Facility between 7/1/14- 6/30/15. It’s part of the non-profit legal aid service Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS).

• The Department’s Telephone  Language Line Interpretation Service, commonly known as “Language Line”, saw a 90% increase in usage over 2009, with 33,512 minutes of interpretation service in 2014.

• By the end of 2015, DOAH anticipates it’ll conduct 10,000 more hearings than in 2014

WATER MANAGEMENT

Department of Water Management Commissioner Tom Powers faced another nuts and bolts heavy hearing, with aldermen focusing on local infrastructure projects and complaining about poorly done sidewalk restorations, the sluggish timeline of sewer repairs, and questions about water meters. Despite criticism, Powers says the department is on track to complete its 10-year Capital Plan the Mayor first unveiled in 2012.

Attendance: Vice Chair Jason Ervin (28), Pat Dowell (3), Roderick Sawyer (6), Greg Mitchell (7), Michelle Harris (8), Susan Sadlowski-Garza (9), Patrick Daley Thompson (11), Marty Quinn (13), Raymond Lopez (15), David Moore (17), Derrick Curtis (18), Matt O’Shea (19), Howard Brookins, Jr. (21), Mike Zalewski (23), Michael Scott, Jr. (24), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ariel Reboyras (30), Milly Santiago (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Deb Mell (33), Gilbert Villegas (36), Nick Sposato (38), Marge Laurino (39), Brendan Reilly (42), Tom Tunney (44), Michelle Smith (43) John Arena (45), James Cappleman (46), Deb Silverstein (50)

Submitted written testimony.

Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11), a former Water Reclamation District Commissioner, came out of left field with an odd question about selling cat food. “At the water filtration plants, where we have the intake, there is a lot of fish, I guess, that come in there. What do we do with that? Do we sell that for cat food, or do we try to monetize that at all? Anything?”

Powers said it’s not just fish that get caught in the screens, there’s also trash and floating debris that gets grounded out and sent out for treatment.  “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure...and we could try to utilize some of that,” Ald. Thompson, said reluctantly.

Then there was Ald. Raymond Lopez (15), who wanted to know if it was possible for aldermen to get access to the keys to shut off fire hydrants that get opened illegally. But he was immediately shut down by Powers, who said “even the guy to my right won’t give a magnetic key to his mother.” Powers assured Ald. Lopez that the Department is using data to track open hydrants to find trouble spots.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) asked Powers to “hurry up” and finish the water main repairs in his ward because “the traffic really stinks”, while Ald. Tom Tunney (44) complained about poorly done sidewalk restorations following underground water improvements.

“You know how I am about sidewalks,” Ald. Tunney lamented. “I do not believe they are done with the same quality that I see when our City department is in there...Water’s [restorations] are crap.”

But the most critical line of questioning came from South Side Ald. David Moore(17), as he pressed Powers to explain water rate increases and overtime amounts.

“I understand we are investing an extraordinary amount into our water delivery infrastructure, and I commend you on implementing all of this work,” Ald. Moore said, reading from his notes. “But financially, this investment has placed a rather large burden on people.”

In 2012, as part of his plan to update the city's water infrastructure, Mayor Emanuel proposed a four-year increase in rates for the City's water and sewer funds. In 2011, households paid a rate of $2.01/1000 gallons. The rate jumped to $3.82 this year, the final year of the phase-in. After this year, water rate increases will be  tied to the consumer price index.

“Water rates have increased by 60% over four years. Is that correct?” Ald. Moore asked Powers.

“It is about 60%, just over 60%,” Powers responded.

“If so, how do we explain that to people when their paychecks have certainly not gone up. And now we’re asking them for even more money,” Ald. Moore said, pointing to the Mayor’s proposed property tax hike and garbage fee in this year’s budget. “What is your plan for the future? Is it to continue to raise rates?”

“Alderman, Alderman,” Vice Chairman Ervin interjected before Powers could respond. “The rates in place were set four years ago [...] So the rate [increase] is not really a topic at this point…that’s something that’s kind of past us. But knock yourself out.”

After Powers assured Ald. Moore they could speak more about water rates offline, Ald. Moore pivoted to another hot topic: overtime.

“Under what circumstances do you authorize overtime?” Ald. Moore asked.

Powers said the Department has different types of overtime: contractual obligations with collective bargaining agreements, emergencies, and infrastructure malfunctions.

“And then there are instances where we use overtime to actually save money. And that doesn’t sound like an accurate statement,” Powers said explaining that in the water treatment plants, “in house forces” can compete against contractors to keep work in house if they are cheaper.

Powers gave the example of a recent project the Department undertook to replace 40 transformers. The original contractor for the project quoted $5,000 per transformer. But by opting to use city employees and paying them overtime hours instead, the Department got the job done for $2,900.

“So we actually saved money in this overall project by working with our in house crews and having them bid on work as if they were a contractor,” Powers said.

In the 2016 budget, the Department is asking for $4 million in overtime for its Bureau of Water Supply, despite spending $9.5 million in overtime in 2014. When asked about the difference, Powers said “shift coverage” was the main driver in those overtime hours and his department is working with the Budget Office to “hire strategically” to alleviate the costs.

The Department’s Bureau of Operations and Distribution spent $8.5 million in overtime in 2014 and is requesting $3 million next year, Ald. Moore pointed out. Those overtime hours are directly related to weather, emergencies, water main breaks, and sewer repairs, Powers replied. Major snow storms also lead to overtime hours in that sub-department because DWM helps Streets and Sanitation with snow removal.

And on the issue of delinquent water payments suburban towns owe the City, the Department has worked out payment plans to recoup $30 million dollars from the Cities of Dolton, Robins, and Harvey.

Highlights from written testimony:

• DWM purifies an average of 800 million gallons of water a day at the Department’s Jardine and South Water Purification Plants.

• 2.7 million customers are served in Chicago and 2.76 million customers in 125 surrounding suburbs, representing 42% of the state’s population.

PROCUREMENT SERVICES

After waiving the reading of the opening statement, and a surprisingly smaller than expected number of minority hiring questions, Commissioner Jamie Rhee spent a little over an hour testifying before the Budget Committee, where she revealed an unusual statistic: the City has made nearly $14 million dollars selling “junk” online over the past four years.

Attendance: Chair Carrie Austin (34), Vice Chair Jason Ervin (28), Joe Moreno (1), Pat Dowell (3), Michelle Harris (8), Susan Sadlowski-Garza (9), Patrick Daley Thompson (11), Marty Quinn (13), Raymond Lopez (15), David Moore (17), Derrick Curtis (18), Matt O’Shea (19), Howard Brookins, Jr. (21), Rick Munoz (22), Mike Zalewski (23), Michael Scott, Jr. (24), Chris Taliaferro (29), Milly Santiago (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Deb Mell (33), Gilbert Villegas (36), Nick Sposato (38), Marge Laurino (39), Brendan Reilly (42), Tom Tunney (44), Michelle Smith (43) John Arena (45), James Cappleman (46), Ameya Pawar (47), Deb Silverstein (50)

Submitted written testimony.

Since 2011, DPS has worked with other City departments to identify surplus or decommissioned items that can be auctioned online. Items range from smaller equipment like old typewriters, calculators, phones, obsolete copier toner, and dog cages, to bigger pieces like solar panels, and construction equipment.

“It is surprising, but there is a huge market for this,” Rhee explained. The Department has been hosting daily auctions online with buyers from all over the world bidding on the obsolete equipment. “The market is actually recycling them, and there is a very active market.”

In 2015 alone, DPS is on target to sell over $2 million dollars worth of obsolete items.

Most of the questions aldermen had for Commissioner Rhee focused on the bidding requirements and the average timeline for DPS’ business certification process.

Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11) asked about city residency requirements for local contracts. Commissioner Rhee said on all non-federally funded projects over $100,000, 50% of the hours worked must be done by city residents. But as soon as a single federal dollar touches a project, the City is barred from demanding local residency requirements.

Asked if there is an option to buy out of that, Rhee said no, because the requirements were set through city ordinance passed in May 2013. This year, DPS recouped $141,000 in penalties from businesses that failed to meet the requirements. Since projects tend to span several years, DPS regularly monitors hiring practices through the life of the project.

“If we only have a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of penalties–I don’t know what the penalties are--but it doesn’t seem like a lot,” Ald. Thompson said, suggesting the requirements be increased. Rhee said she was open to the idea.

On the business certification front, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) asked if the certification timeline is too long, noting he has only three certified businesses in his ward, and was told by local contractors that they prefer to get certified by the County because the process is “half as long”.

“That is their feeling… I’m just relaying the message,” Lopez added.

But before Rhee answered his question, Chairman Austin interjected. “Not it doesn’t. Most of the time [businesses] are using that as an excuse to get pushed a little faster.”

“But then the question comes along with participation,” Ald. Lopez said. “When a number of businesses hear rumors and stories that the payment for contracts takes longer. And sometimes for businesses that are minority or disadvantaged or women owned, they don’t have the capital, resources, or cashflow to sustain themselves three-to-six months before their first payment. Is that something your department is looking to address so we don’t exclude [this] group?”

“Absolutely,” Rhee said the City has a “whole committee” looking at how DPS is processing payments to alleviate this issue.

The Department is asking for $7.859 million, a modest reduction from their 2015 allocation of $7.97 million.

LAW DEPARTMENT

The City’s Law Department had a relatively short hearing, but released a huge brag sheet at Friday’s hearing, the very last of budget testimony for this season. “I kind of apologize for that,” Corporation Counsel Steve Patton said before testifying for about 75 minutes. He released a six-part, 26 page written testimony that scratched the surface of all the different areas of City government the DOL touches.

Attendance: Joe Moreno (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Leslie Hairston (5), Patrick Daley Thompson (11), Raymond Lopez (15), David Moore (17), Derrick Curtis (18), Matt O’Shea (19), Ricardo Munoz (22), Michael Scott Jr. (24), Jason Ervin (29), Milly Santiago (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Carrie Austin (34, Nicholas Sposato (38), Brendan Reilly (42)

The department has 436 budgeted full time positions for 2016, one less than last year. The largest group of employees, 83, work in Building and License enforcement. DOL’s budget of $36.9 million has barely budged since Patton started, a consistency he says is purposeful. Among Patton’s long written testimony were the department’s impact on real estate and building code enforcement, the Barack Obama Foundation’s decision to choose Chicago for its location, changes to workers compensation and union agreements, the City minimum wage, parking ticket enforcement, sale of vacant lots, and renegotiated credit agreements.

The first question out of the gate came from Vice Chair Jason Ervin (28), who asked about police settlement cases. Patton estimated police settlements cost taxpayers $16.5 million this year (one settlement alone, the shooting death of teenager LaQuan McDonald, cost the City $5 million). But he said that number could have been much higher, and DOL only settles when it has to. “The only time I will settle the case is where my lawyers convince me the outcome for taxpayers is likely to be far worse if we don’t settle… we can’t wish these lawsuits away.” The Law Department won 40 of the 49 police cases it tried. In those cases, plaintiffs sought more than $60 million in damages, but recovered only $6 million.

The City’s expecting to pay $30 million dollars for settlements alone this year. That’s a 48% reduction from 2014, and 62% from 2013. When you add judgements, the City will pay $55 million. That number is still down by 42% from 2014, and 47% from 2013.

But there’s still cutting to do, Patton says. “We’re not doing a victory lap on this.” DOL has been working to cut through a backlog of costly cases from the Daley Administration. Patton said City lawyers in the previous administration would wait until just before a court date to decide whether to settle, compounding costs. Patton’s ended that practice, but that doesn’t mean the city isn’t still being sued for things like police shootings.

Patton also fielded questions about money and enforcement around vacation rental sites like Airbnb. He said he can’t disclose numbers about taxes collected from those sites, but the collection is “substantial,” now that sites have created an infrastructure to collect payment from users.

Throughout budget proceedings, aldermen have expressed worry that more than a thousand vacation rentals are making money without paying for a vacation rental license from the city. Ald. Reilly (42) said only 200 of the 3000 listed Airbnb units are registered, and there’s a rumor the DOL is working secretly to negotiate a separate set of rules and regulations just for Airbnb. Patton said he had no knowledge of any dealings, but would look into it.  

Aldermen also asked for an update on the $5.5 million the city agreed to pay in reparations for victims of torture by Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge. Patton said the process has so far gone “surprisingly smoothly.” The time for victims to make claims has expired, and the Law Department is working through deciding whether claims are meritorious. Advocacy groups who litigated on behalf of victims have referred 44 claimants, which have all been reviewed. More than 50 new claimants have also come in from off the radar, Patton said, and are in the process of being reviewed. Daniel T. Coyne, a law professor at Kent College, is independently reviewing claims with law students, and sending them on to DOL.

Other facts revealed in testimony:

• When discussing staffing, Patton revealed some of DOL’s tax enforcement priorities: “We are putting a renewed focus on trying to extract all the value we can in enforcing property taxes, and in opposing commercial requests for property tax reductions.”

• DoL collected a record-breaking $171.3 million in overdue monies owed to the City in 2014. The Department expects to set more records, including a $10 million increase in overdue parking tickets.

• The City won 85% of police cases it tried in 2015. It won or obtained dismissal in 102 out of 207 cases resolved through August 2015.

• The City’s cut down on legal costs by at least $90 million since 2011 by deciding whether cases should go to trial or be settled earlier. DOL estimates the timely settlement of one case, Hunter (McDonald) v. City of Chicago, saved the City $4.5 million alone.

• DOL’s employment is one of few with majority female employees, roughly 60%, and an equal gender split amongst Department managers.

• The City’s conveyed more than 425 vacant parcels for a $1 to neighbors in Englewood, West Englewood, Woodlawn, Washington Park, Greater Grand Crossing, New City, Fuller Park, East Garfield Park and Greater Englewood since December 2014. The Law Department expects to close 90 more in Austin before the end of this year, and open up 300 lots in Pullman and Roseland soon.

• After the Moody’s downgrade, DoL attorneys worked “literally around the clock” to prevent 11 banks from demanding immediate repayment of more than $1.8 billion in outstanding credit agreements, and negotiated forbearance agreements instead. Patton said one lawyer was up 36 hours on the case. That allowed the city to convert $806 million in variable rate general obligation bonds and $112 million in sales tax revenue bonds within a month of Moody’s downgrade.

• In 2015, DoL has prosecuted more than 350 drug and gang house cases and more than 350 license cases, including 178 license revocations for businesses.

• DoL expects to file a total of 900 to 1,000 building demolition cases by the end of the year.

The Committee on Housing and Real Estate will take up a slew of mayoral appointments to City boards that oversee low-income and affordable housing, including the appointment of John T. Hooker as the new head of the Chicago Housing Authority Board.

Hooker worked at ComEd for 44 years, finishing his career as executive vice president of legislative and external affairs. He faces a big challenge at CHA as advocates have called on the agency to spend some of its $350 million surplus on housing initiatives. A CHA reform ordinance championed by Ald. Joe Moreno (1) is currently sitting in committee. CHA is the landlord for most of the city’s public housing stock and manager of some Section 8 programs.

Earlier this summer, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced he was appointing Eugene “Gene” Jones as the acting CEO of the city’s housing authority, after Michael Merchant stepped down from the position. Jones will be the Authority’s 8th CEO since the public housing agency started its billion dollar Plan For Transformation, which then Mayor Richard M. Daley touted as the largest, most ambitious public housing redevelopment plan in the country. The plan is behind schedule, and CHA has been accused of sitting on undeveloped land and not spending the money allocated for the plan.

Tribune: Emanuel pick for CHA board leader benefited from scholarship program
Sun-Times: Emanuel appoints ex-ComEd VP John T. Hooker as CHA chairman
Crain’s: Emanuel names ComEd veteran to lead CHA board

The Chicago Low-lncome Housing Trust Fund (new appointments)

• La Toya M. Dixon - an attorney advisor for the Social Security Administration who has managed labor relations for Cook County and Sinai Health Systems.

• Elise Doody Jones - a community organizer, volunteer manager and small business owner. She is the former treasurer of First Ward First, the independent Democratic political organization Ald. Joe Moreno (1) founded in 2011. She also made an attempt to unseat Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) in the most recent municipal election.

• Bishop Horace Smith, M.D. - a pastor at the Apostolic Faith Church on Chicago’s South Side, which serves 4,000 parishioners. He is also a physician at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. He spent much of his medical career researching sickle cell anemia and as a hematologist and oncologist.

• Jennifer Welch – the first deputy commissioner for the Department of Family and Support Services and a former Policy Director in the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Much of her career has focused on addressing issues of domestic violence.

Chicago Low-lncome Housing Trust Fund (reappointments)

• Sol A. Flores - Executive Director of La Casa Norte, a nonprofit in Humboldt Park that serves homeless youth and families. Flores also serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

• Levoi K. Brown - Managing Director at BMO Harris Bank who specializes in underwriting and analytics on affordable housing transactions. Levoi graduated with a masters from the Booth School of Business, worked at GE, then for five years the community development Urban Partnership Bank.

• Malcolm Bush - Affiliated Scholar at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, whose research focuses on community reinvestment and economic development. He is also senior advisor to the International Center for Research and Policy on Childhood at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, was President of the Woodstock Institute, and served as senior vice president of Voices for Illinois Children.

• Wayne L. Gordon - founding Pastor of Lawndale Community Church and founding President of the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, which facilitates economic development, education and housing. He is one of the founders of the Lawndale Christian Health Center, a healthcare ministry that sees over 150,000 patients per year.

• Thomas J. McNulty - President and partner at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP. He has served as president of the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund since its inception in 1989. He teaches and writes about real estate taxes. Before joining the firm, he served as supervisor of the Tax Unit in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

• Kristin K. Nance - Director of the Lewis University Stahl Center for Entrepreneurship who also worked at Roosevelt University in the College of Business. Nance has held City positions before in the South Loop & Near South Community Area and as Director of Economic Development with the Southeast Chicago Development Commission.

Chicago Community Land Trust Board (new appointments)

• Eva M. Brown - Vice President of Government and Community Relations at U.S. Bank, where she worked with community groups, non-profits, elected officials and government agencies to focus on lending, giving, investments and volunteer efforts. Brown was previously the director of the Access to Capital Program at the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC). She also worked in small business lending at Fifth Third and BMO Harris.

• Michelle Morales - associate director for the Alternative Schools Network (ASN), a nonprofit that oversees a network of community schools for high school dropouts.

Chicago Community Land Trust Board (reappointments):

• Patricia Abrams - Executive Director of The Renaissance Collaborative, Inc., which offers housing, supportive services and workforce development to over 300 low income children, youth, adults and seniors in Bronzeville. Abrams is also on the board of the Chicago Rehab Network, a network of nonprofit affordable housing developers.  

• Joel Bookman -  President of Bookman Associates Inc., a consulting firm that caters to public, private, and nonprofit organizations and businesses in community and economic development, management, planning, and real estate development.

• Timothy Hughes - Real Estate and Facilities Director for ComEd who oversaw the installation of the communication link between ComEd's critical substations and the City of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management Center.

• Edward H. Jacob - former Executive Director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, a nonprofit neighborhood revitalization organization. Jacob’s career has focused on neighborhood lending and community development.

• Guacolda E. Reyes - Vice President, The Resurrection Project, a 25 year old project founded by churches and concerned neighbors in Pilsen to address blight and crime.

• William W. Towns - Assistant Vice President of Neighborhood Initiatives at the University of Chicago, charged with leveraging U of C resources to help revitalize nearby communities. He was previously Regional Vice President of Mercy Portfolio Services, under the Mercy Housing Inc. umbrella.

• Marva E. Williams - Economic Development Director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Senior Program Officer at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) of Chicago. She was also Senior VP at the Woodstock Institute from 1996-2007.

• Jeffrey Wright - Business Banker at the Urban Partnership Bank, whose mission is to create jobs, opportunities and leaders in the black community.

In addition to the Mayoral appointments, the committee is scheduled to approve numerous applications for the sale of city owned land and an intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District regarding the Hadiya Pendleton Park expansion plan.

Hadiya Pendleton Park Expansion Plan - 3rd Ward
(#O2015-5383)

The former South Side quarter acre Buckthorn Park playlot was recently renamed after Pendleton, a King College Prep High School student who was fatally shot by local gang members in 2013. Pendleton performed as a drum majorette in President Barack Obama’s second inauguration and Michelle Obama spoke at the high school’s commencement last May.  

The ordinance before the Housing Committee today transfers the adjacent City-owned vacant land at 4323-4329 S. Calumet Ave to the Park District, so they can turn the playlot to a two acre park. Ald. Pat Dowell says Pendleton Park will be outfitted with a new playground, walking path and fitness stations. The Park District is in the process of applying to close a portion of South Calumet Avenue between 43rd and 44th Street to connect parts of the park on the east and west sides of the street. 47th/King Drive Redevelopment Area TIF money is going toward the project.

Read Dunning Park Expansion Plan - 38th Ward
(#O2015-6170)

Another park expansion plan on the agenda is related to the Read Dunning Park, located in the similarly-named TIF district. The ordinance before the Housing Committee transfers 7.5 acres of adjacent city owned land to the Park District to help with the $3 million expansion funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Park will have a turf field for sports, 93 parking spots and a walking path that encircles the park. Construction is scheduled to be completed by next summer.

Lease Agreement for J. Michael Fitzgerald Apartments -  39th Ward
#O2015-6213

The Committee will take up an ordinance authorizing a 75 year ground lease agreement between the City and Fort Lauderdale-based Elderly Housing Development & Operations Corporation (EHDOC) to help with the development of the J. Michael Fitzgerald Apartments, an affordable housing development for seniors located within the North Park Village Nature Center.  EHDOC broke ground on the project in August 2012, but due to a lack of federal funds, construction has stalled. It’s the last apartment building to go up in the Planned Development, which includes 527 residential units spread across 3 other four-story buildings.

When completed, the $17.7 million Fitzgerald apartments will include one-bedroom apartments for elderly residents earning up to 60% of the area median income. It’s financed through $10.6 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Section 202 Supportive Housing Development program and $5.3 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

Sale of Closed CPS Marconi Elementary School - 28th Ward
(#O2015-5857)

United for Better Living Inc. is interested in buying the site of now-closed 6,200 square foot, 55 year-old Marconi Elementary School in West Garfield Park. United for Better Living is affiliated with Allison United Foundation for Better Living, a non-profit founded by the late Corinthians Temple Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Bishop Bennie Allison. Rev. David Whittley, Allison’s grandson, is listed as the contact on United for Better Living's bid. The school is valued at approximately $500,000-$620,000, but United for Better Living submitted the highest bid:  $100,000. The buyer can’t used the property for anything other than an alternative or options school for grades K-12 without first receiving approval from the Board of Education.

Expansion of the Pilsen Industrial Corridor TIF - 11th & 25th Ward
(#O2015-5354)

The Department of Planning and Development needs approval from the Committee to acquire eight vacant pieces of land and one privately owned industrial site along South Sangamon Street from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. This 61,000-square-foot acquisition will help with the development of the Sangamon Paseo walking trail, a north-south pedestrian link similar to the recently opened 606 trail. Once the City Council approves the acquisition, the parcels will be appraised, purchased and converted into public open space.

ANLAP Bids

One buyer who stands out among the several ANLAP bids before the Committee is John J. Pikarski, the so-called “dean of zoning lawyers” in Chicago. He also spent some time serving on the Chicago Plan Commission. Pikarski wants to buy a city-owned vacant parcel in Bridgeport at 2918 S. Archer Ave., parallel to the Stevenson Expressway. Real estate development company Bertco is also interested in a vacant lot valued at $112,000 in the 11th ward.

After railing against “a special one-off deal for Chicago” the day before, Governor Bruce Rauner changed his tune on a CPS bailout from Springfield at an impromptu press conference in the Thompson Center Thursday afternoon. Offering a package that would address every level of Chicago Public Schools’ financial woes, Gov. Rauner required that one of the biggest parts of his “Turnaround Agenda”, limiting local unions’ collective bargaining rights, be part of the deal.

Rauner described closed-door conversations with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Senate President John Cullerton as “productive”, while chastising House Speaker Michael Madigan for his unwillingness to budge on his reform package, repeatedly calling for a “two-way street”.

Underlined by a packet his press team handed out before the press conference, Rauner offered to delay CPS’ $600 million dollar pension payment, give the district a $450 million cash advance, and chip in pension costs for FY16 and FY17. Pressure is building for CPS’s finances, as it is expected to release its district-wide budget early next week and schools are to open on September 8.

In exchange, Rauner wants to “allow local governments and local school districts to decide what issues get collectively bargained, just like Chicago has already asked to be done. And the state has already done as a special arrangement to Chicago,” the Governor said, recalling the city’s request in 2011 for the state to amend collective bargaining rights for Chicago Teachers Union members so the City could force teachers to pay their portion of pension costs. CPS has been picking up the tab for that bill for decades but officials say they can no longer afford to make the required annual payment because of its $1 billion pension shortfall

Earlier this week, the State Senate passed a measure that does half of what Rauner called for, SB318, that would freeze property taxes, overhaul the state’s funding formula for public schools, and provide additional aid to the Chicago Public Schools’ pension fund–but lacks any mention of collective bargaining. The bill, passed by a 37-1 vote, establishes a two-year local property tax freeze starting in 2016. Governments in Cook County would get a delayed rollout under the measure, with a property tax freeze taking effect in 2017.

As for the aid to the Chicago Public School Teachers’ Pension & Retirement Fund, the state would be required to contribute $200 million this fiscal year. The state mandated deadline requiring the teacher’s pension plan reach 90% funding would be extended four years to 2063.

The bill has advanced to the Illinois House, where it is likely to stall under Speaker Michael Madigan.

Speaking at a morning press conference yesterday, Speaker Madigan said he needed more time to review the legislation, which he described as “multi-faceted”. He also reaffirmed his support for amending the state’s funding formula, noting that Chicago should be treated differently because it has the highest number of students in the state that are low-income. But he refused to budge on the Governor’s proposed restrictions on unions, saying it hurts working families and “bumps up against core beliefs” held by both parties.

In a written statement released about an hour after Rauner’s presser, CPS’s newly appointed CEO Forrest Claypool emphasized the clock is ticking for CPS, “We look forward to working towards a quick resolution that treats all of the state’s children equally,” Claypool's statement said. “After recently making $200 million in cuts, Chicago Public Schools cannot afford to wait any longer to address this inequity.”

Complicating matters even more, hours later, CPS told the Chicago Tribune they are dropping the offer of a one-year contract agreement with the Chicago Teacher’s Union, and are now requesting a multi-year deal.

No Meetings In August
Following tradition, Council will not meet in August and there are no scheduled committee meetings next month, according to our sources. Some sort of emergency could change that, but vacation plans have been made so we do not expect it to change.

Finance to Vote on Infrastructure Trust Changes
The Committee on Finance scheduled an extra meeting at 9:15 a.m. this morning before the 10:00 a.m. full Council meeting to vote on Mayor Rahm Emanuel’sproposed amendments to the Chicago Infrastructure Trust Board. On Monday Finance Committee Chairman Ed Burke allowed discussion on the two ordinances appointing new leadership to the Trust and expanding the board by two members, but deferred consideration for today because he wanted more time to review the Mayor’s proposed changes. (Agenda)

Ald. Moreno Holds Stop And Frisk Press Conference
Ald. Joe Moreno (1) plans to hold a press conference ahead of the full City Council meeting to address issues he has with the police department’s “stop and frisk” policy. Moreno will introduce an ordinance based on an American Civil Liberties Union report, asking that Chicago police officers record all stops–not just those that result in an arrest. The ordinance would also mandate a training program to teach officers how stops should be conducted.

OLIG Rejects Ethics Amendment Up for Vote
Legislative Inspector General Faisal Khan blasted amendments to the ethics code the Committee on Committees, Rules, and Ethics approved Monday, saying the changes “will destroy the ability for citizens to make complaints without fear of retaliation and will have a chilling effect on potential witnesses.” He is especially concerned with the provision requiring his office submit all evidence gathered in the course of an investigation to the Board of Ethics, who he says in turn will provide that information to the subject of the investigation. “The evidence turned over would include complainants’ names, addresses, testimony, and other investigative materials. This is flat out wrong and dangerous,” Khan says in a press release.

Steve Berlin, Executive Director of the Board of Ethics, described those changes as a “snag list” that will make the ethics rules run smoother. We wrote about his testimony in Monday’s newsletter, or you can read the full ordinance.

Four council committees meet this morning:

Aviation: There are two ordinances on the Aviation agenda related to car use at O’Hare Airport. The first ordinance introduced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel would create a new premium parking service program that lets travelers reserve a parking spot for an additional $10 a day fee added to the normal parking price. Users would also get amenities like a car wash or detail. All parking providers within airport boundaries would have to enter into concession agreements with the Commissioner of Aviation. Parking companies would have to pay a fee that is 10% of revenue. Companies that fail to file a concession agreement will be fined up to $2,000 a day.

Budget: There are three items on the agenda, including an ordinance requiring owners of buildings with four or more residential units to pay for trash collection. The ordinance is a response to a March report from Inspector General Joe Ferguson that says the city is spending millions providing free trash collection to hundreds of these buildings. The ordinance has 29 co-sponsors.

An amendment to the Metersave Program also spawned from an IG’s investigation that found buildings were benefiting from free water because meters had not yet been installed. The ordinance mimics the IG guidelines, requiring all new buildings to install meters as soon as the building is connected to the city’s sewer system. A clarification in the ordinance says the Commissioner of Water Management would oversee the program.

The committee is also slated to vote on an approval of an additional $77,000 grant from the federal government to the Department of Public Health for the Morbidity and Risk Behavior Surveillance Program.

License & Consumer Protection: Among several routine items, the Committee will discuss an ordinance amending the cutoff date of the crane operator’s license examination from September 1, 2015 to March 1, 2016. The ordinance was posted online Monday and will be directly introduced into committee today.

Workforce Development: The only item on the agenda is an ordinance updating the Municipal Code that requires all officers and employees of the city be Chicago residents. Anyone currently employed who fails to comply will be terminated, but the ordinance adds an exception for new employees, who would be given 90 days to establish residency, and employees who cannot move in that time frame due to “extraordinary circumstances.” In order to be exempt from the requirement, the employee would have to file for a waiver with the Commissioner of Human Resources.

The Committee on Zoning meets in the City Council Chambers at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the appointment of Judy Frydland as the new commissioner for the the Department of Buildings and the creation of the Pullman National Monument Advisory Commission, among other routine zoning requests. We also preview major projects like a new Streeterville high-rise and a senior center in the Moody Bible Institute’s planned development.

Mayoral Appointment of Judy Frydland to Department of Buildings
(Doc # A2015-46)

Judy Frydland currently serves as the Deputy Corporation Counsel for the Chicago Department of Law’s Building & License Enforcement Division. If approved by the City Council, Frydland would replace Commissioner Felicia Davis, who was appointed by the Mayor as the Executive Director of the Public Building Commission (PBC), which oversees new construction and renovation projects for the city and sister agencies including the Park District and Chicago Public Schools. Frydland will be responsible for enforcing the building code and modernizing the department, according the to press release the mayor’s office disseminated when the appointment was first announced in May.

Pullman National Monument Advisory Commission
(Doc #O2015-4653)

The ordinance would create a seven member body to oversee and promote tourism to the Pullman National Monument, which received official designation by President Obama in February. Mayor Emanuel introduced the ordinance at the last City Council meeting on behalf of the Department of Planning and Development and in conjunction with Ald. Anthony Beale (9), whose ward encompasses the historic Pullman neighborhood.

The seven member body would include a chairman and six members appointed by the Mayor, “with input from Pullman community leaders, business owners, and residents”, according to the ordinance. The board would be responsible for coordinating projects to promote tourism and raise community awareness, maintaining the national monument, and reporting new developments with the City Council and Mayor’s Office. The board could also solicit and accept public and private contributions, but would have to coordinate how they spend that money with the National Park Service.

The terms for the initial six Board members would be equally divided in three groups: two members will serve a one year term; two members will serve a two year term; and two members will serve a three year term. The chair serves for two years. After the initial terms expire, all board members will serve three year terms.

New residential building near site of Carmichael’s Steakhouse
(Doc #O2015-4618)

Applicant GLPE LLC, represented by attorney Thomas S. Moore, is asking for the committee to re-zone a chunk of West Loop to build a four story, 70-unit residential building. The property is next to the site of the former Carmichael’s Steakhouse, which announced it was closing its doors earlier this spring. The building’s owners, Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group, had originally planned to build 131 residential units at the site. But last fall, DNA Info reported Chairman Danny Solis(25) effectively blocked those, or any new apartments from popping up on the 1000 block of West Monroe unless developers had approval from neighbors.

Proposed senior living building in Moody Bible Institute PD
(Doc #O2015-4635)

The Moody Bible Institute is asking for an amendment to its Institutional Planned Development (No. 477) to allow for construction of a senior residence building. The Institute’s PD has been in place since 1989, and currently allows for public ministry, publication, broadcasting, worship, assembly, academic, office, residential and recreational and special uses primarily to support physical education and recreation. The proposed subarea of the PD along the train tracks parallel to Orleans between Walton and Oak would be designated for no more than 100 senior living units for people 55 years and older. Renderings provided in the proposed ordinance say the 7-story building would be called Wisdom Village Oak Street Senior Living. The Plan Commission approved the application at its March meeting.

Half Acre plans new brewery on Balmoral in Bowmanville
(Doc #O2015-4625)

Bastion of Balmoral LLC is asking for a zoning change from a manufacturing zoned district (M1-2) to a commercial district (C3-3) to establish a brewery with a tasting room and beer garden at 2050 W. Balmoral Ave in the Bowmanville neighborhood just south of Rosehill Cemetery. Gabriel Magliaro, owner of Chicago’s Half Acre Brewery, is managing member of GMB Partners LLC, which manages Bastion of Balmoral. In a blog post from March 2014 on Half Acre’s website, the company said it bought the property to serve as an extension to their Lincoln Avenue tap room 5 minutes away. “The additional space will allow us to expand our distribution footprint to the entire Chicagoland area, add more onsite enjoyment at both locations and explore our interests as brewers and beyond.” The space would include a 35,000 sq. ft. brewery, a 16,000 sq. ft. tasting room and full service kitchen and an outdoor terrace.

New Streeterville high rise proposed near Loews Hotel and North Water Apartments
(Doc #O2015-4630)

465 N Park Dr. LLC c/o Jupiter Reality Company LLC is looking for a zoning change in Planned Development No. 368 downtown to build a 45 story, 513 foot tall residential building with 444 residential units near the new Loews Hotel and North Water Apartments. Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) and the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR) got a look at development plans in mid-June (slideshow here). Developers took down an initial proposal by four floors and 139 parking spaces, while adding 171 units. They also committed to renovating and upgrading nearby Ogden Park. According to Curbed Chicago, “The lot itself was previously approved by the zoning board as a Planned Development for a 57-story residential tower to be developed by a different developer, who backed out of the project years ago. Jupiter was able to develop this new tower with a whole new design under the existing PD, except for the change from condos to apartments necessitating an increase in the number of units as rentals tend to be smaller.”