Committee on Budget and Government Operations

You can access the remote meeting at this link https://livestream.com/accounts/28669066.

You can view the agenda via this link. Items include proposed corrections to the 2022 Budget Recommendations, a resolution amending Employee Benefits for Classified Positions, an ordinance approving an intergovernmental agree with CTA and Cook County, and more.

At 1:03PM, Chairperson Pat Dowell calls the meeting to order.

Quorum is met with 22 members present.

The Public comment period begins. There are eight speakers.

John Friedman and his coalition recommends inoculating the Mature Ash Trees. He requests accurate numbers from forestry and to review the data sent from his coalition.

Nancy Wade, co-chair of Save Your Ash Coalition, says there is inaccurate information about Ash trees being distributed. 50,000 Ash trees will die in the next three years. Treating them gives them a phased approach allowing them to die at a slower rate.

Aisha Bryant, member of Live Chicago, an organization that assists single parents with job-coaching, financial literacy and assistance. Bryant provides testimony how Live Chicago has helped her throughout the pandemic and unemployment with the guaranteed income program.

She asks for Ald. Pat Dowell to keep that mindset when it comes to the budget for next year.

Madelynn Bear, member of CAASE, the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, says that they have never received city funds toward their effort. The proposed budget asks for four million dollars toward legal assistance against gender based violence.

Karen Daytor, psychotherapist, speaks for the preservation of Ash trees and their benefit toward wellness. Older trees provide multiple public benefits with air quality. Replacement of established trees is complicated. It’s also a social equity issue.

City with dense tree coverage seem to have better communities and higher property rates. Urban Ecological infrastructure should be considered for the budget.

Sharice Singleton Nobles, a citizen from the southside, was able to catch up on bills and everyday necessities with her cash transfer from Live Chicago. She asks for the committee to consider providing funding for the guaranteed income program.

Adrienne Alexander, director of intergovernmental affairs of AFSCME 31, speaks on the detriments of the closing of mental health clinics and how there are improvements to their recommendations to the budget.

There has been 13 written comments and over 20 phone calls on the issue of mental health clinics and it’s accessibility.

A motion to approve the Sept 2021 Month Rule 45 Report is approved.

The budget process was started earlier this year. Chairperson Pat Dowell mentions that Alderman have suggested funding for broadband, food equity, bureau of forestry crews and bureau of sanitation, all of which is reflected in the budget.

Item #1 is an ordinance to amend the Annual Appropriation Ordinance for year 2021. Speaking on this is Suzie Park, Budget Director.

Ald. Anthony Beale asks how much money is being used to pay back a line of credit. The entirety of the 450 was used for expenses, according to Park.

Ald. Raymond Lopez asks for the total value for the 4000 vacancies in the budget for 2022. Park does not have information on hand.

Ald. Daniel La Spata asks about the 450 million dollar line with JP Morgan Chase. It is a it is a short term note due December 29th of 2021. Park says they solicited a number of different banks, but needed the note to provide a tax rate that was low.

La Spata asks if there has been any thought to refinancing the loan. Park says that the note was issued without the guarantee of federal funding, and considering the impact of refinancing and that federal funds are secure it is best to pay off this year to avoid scoop and toss.

Ald. Gilbert Villegas asks specifics for the agencies that receive ARP funding. Ald. Cardenas says that constituents are curious why money is getting paid to the banks.

Park says that when we borrow a short term note its like taking money from the credit card, the city itself has a credit score to maintain. This is not an attempt to help wallstreet.

The ordinance is motioned and so moved. Item #2 is a communication for budget recommendations and item #3 is proposed corrections, both are being heard and motioned together to approve.

Suzie Park says that key things of note are new positions in the department of family resources, Expansions of evening hours in health clinics and new positions in tree trimming services.

Ald. Andre Vasquez commends the office of budget management as someone who advocated for more tree trimming. He asks for specifics for the addition of positions for health clinics.

There are 29 new positions, 10 clinical therapists, 3 community outreach coordinators, 4 public health administrators, 3 epidemiologist, 2 project managers and 5 behavioral therapists, to name a few.

Ald. Harry Osterman thanks Park for adding homeless outreach assistance. Ald. Michael Rodriguez is interested in positions being filled and whether they are bi-lingual. Dr. Arwady says that bi-lingual hiring is always a preference but there are no specifics to those hirings.

Ald. Marty Quinn calls for roll call vote. 27 ayes and five no’s, the item passes.

item #4 is a amendment for employee benefits which includes adding Juneteenth as a paid national holiday, the item is motioned and approved.

Item #5 and #6 are heard together. Allocation of 3 million dollars, an annual allocation, in order for CTA to receive RTA funds. Item 6 approves the expenditure of Motor Fuel Tax funds.

Ald. Gilbert Villegas asks if any money from the Uber/Lyft tax is given to the CTA, and Parks says that no money is allocated to the CTA from that line.

Item 5 and 6 are motioned and approved.

Item #7 are municipal code corrections. A motion is made to approve the corrections and passes.

Item #8 amends various provisions of the municipal code regarding organizations and functions of City Government adding an oversight position. This includes transferring operation and maintenance of Millennium Park from DCASE to the Department of Assets, Information and Services.

Ald. Jason C. Ervin asks about the new contracting officer allowing thrid party certifications, does this change City of Chicago standards. Aileen Velazquez of the procurement office says that certifications will stay with Chicago.

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa says the speed at which item 2 was passed reflects the hard work of the city-wide budget coalition. There is no one budget that will reflect the justice that the community needs, but this budget does reflect a 72% increase in staffing of public clinics.

He also speaks on the pushback on the contract with Shot Spotter and how he will advocate for it ending. https://news.wttw.com/2021/08/19/activists-call-chicago-officials-dump-shotspotter-contract

Ald. Michele Smith commends Dowel for her patience during the budget process. Ald. Patrick D. Thompson appreciates being added to committee on oversight.

Ald. Leslie Hairston says that this is the most expedited a budget has been in her career.

Ald. Sophia King on behalf of the progressive caucus says that this is a progressive budget and appreciates the collaboration that went into this process.

A Motion to approve item #8 is so ordered.

Ald. Tom Tunney speaks on the speed camera enforcement and its revenue and says that more work needs to be done on this ordinance. He asks if the impact is considered in the budget. Park says that there are estimates given.

A motion to adjourn is made and approved at 2:36PM

This concludes my reporting.