@CHIdocumenters Today's in person meeting will also be livestreamed on the City Clerk website. The committee is set to hold 2 TEFRA financial hearings on site upgrades at United Yards and Midway Airport. The hearing notice can also be found online along with the meeting agenda.

@CHIdocumenters Currently waiting for the livestream to begin! Agenda items include ordinance proposals from the Department of Housing and Department of Planning and Development. Another potential measure addresses fees associated with the use of Board of Education facilities.

@CHIdocumenters The meeting is called to order at 10:22 AM. The meeting starts with the hearing. The only public comment comes from George Blakemore, who requests that Black folks are involved in Midway's potential upgrades and are provided with jobs that may result from designated funding.

@CHIdocumenters Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) is a federal law that provides the public with an opportunity to comment on how certain kinds of tax exempt bond proceeds are used, according to Brendan White, the department's assistant commissioner.

@CHIdocumenters To issue the tax exemptions, City Council can adopt an ordinance or the Mayor can sign a certificate doing so. If approved, the affordable housing development project in the 20th Ward (United Yards) will not exceed $22,500,000.

@CHIdocumenters The hearing ends, and the finance committee portion of the meeting begins. One person, George Blakemore, signed up for public comment. There are no other comments.

@CHIdocumenters There's a reason why some folks consider Chicago to be so corrupt, Blakemore says, and that's due City Council. Blakemore specifically criticizes the council's outreach efforts, calling for additional measures to increase transparency between the city and its residents.

@CHIdocumenters The committee moves to the agenda items. The first is an ordinance from the Department of Planning and Development to enter into an agreement with the Chicago Board of Education for the provision of tax increment financing funds (TIF).

@CHIdocumenters That funding would go towards constructing a bridge between school buildings and replacing heating and cooling units at Kenwood Academy High School (4th Ward).

@CHIdocumenters The motion passes and will be further discussed at the council's next meeting. The next item up for discussion includes the Department of Housing's ordinance concerning the affordable housing project at the United Yards site (mentioned in the hearing).

@CHIdocumenters "This is not what the community voted for," Alderman Taylor (20th Ward) said. There are supposed to be three sites, Taylor said. "Where is that portion of this? Because that's what's the most important part."

@CHIdocumenters Taylor previously voiced support for the measure in a letter and now requests further discussions to take place regarding site specifics. Taylor is unsatisfied until the proposal reflects what constituents initially agreed on.

@CHIdocumenters The council votes and will revisit the due pass recommendation out at the next city council meeting. Item number four under miscellaneous agenda items is a proposed order authorizing the payment of various small claims against Chicago.

@CHIdocumenters There are no objections and the committee votes to pass the order. Another proposed order denies the payment of various small claims against the city. Similarly, the committee will recommend passage in the omnibus.

@CHIdocumenters The omnibus is a catch-all procedure for any items not voted on separately or when items are referred to another vote. The omnibus is atypical among City Council meetings, according to the Better Government Association.

@CHIdocumenters Typically every item will either be voted on or will be passed under a roll call vote. The omnibus helps ensure the legality of business matters. Read more about omnibus roll call and what else to expect during Chicago City Council meetings. bettergov.org/2023/05/22/wat…

@CHIdocumenters The final miscellaneous item includes a proposed order that requests a permit for charitable solicitation at The Nature Conservancy throughout the month of December. No objections occur and the Committee also will recommend passage in the omnibus.

@CHIdocumenters Lastly, the Department of Law issued communication transmitting reports on case verdicts, judgments or settlements during October. These reports were sent electronically and will be placed on file with the City Clerk's office as there are no council objections.

@CHIdocumenters That concludes today's Chicago City Council Finance meeting for #CHIdocumenters, which adjourns at approximately 11:20 AM. Thanks for following along! Keep an eye out for notes by Jordan Anthony and follow @CHIdocumenters for more coverage. Respond to this thread with questions.