City Council Update

Below is a summary of new ordinances proposed at the last City Council meeting that may be of interest to Chamber members. 

Special Use Requirements (Alderman Shiller)  Joint License & Consumer Protection and Zoning

This resolution calls on the License and Zoning Committees to review the business categories currently requiring a special use to operate in certain zoning districts to identify circumstances where a new license requirement might serve the same if not better purpose.  It further calls on these two Committees to propose amendments to the City's code to effect these changes.  The stated purpose of the resolution is to encourage development, preservation and affordability of operating a small business.  This matter was assigned to a Joint Committee of License and Zoning but no hearing has been scheduled yet.

Gasoline Prices (Alderman Mitts)            Energy, Environmental Protection & Public Utilities

This resolution calls for a hearing before the Energy Committee on the reason behind Chicago's exceedingly high gasoline prices.  It further requests that a copy of the resolution be presented to the bodies taxing gasoline in the City of Chicago.  The resolution refers to local television reports that identify 10 levels of taxation on gasoline in Chicago accounting for approximately 70 cents for each gallon sold.  This matter was assigned to the Energy Committee and is scheduled to be heard on June 7 at 11:00 AM.

Food Trucks (Alderman Laurino)                      Economic Capital & Technology Development

This resolution calls on representatives of the Health, Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and Law Departments to provide testimony regarding the feasibility of adapting the municipal code to allow for the operation of food trucks in the City.  The resolution points out that the cost of launching a culinary truck requires far less start-up capital than opening a physical restaurant.  This matter was assigned to the Economic Development Committee, but no hearings have been scheduled yet.

Chicago Climate Action Plan (Alderman Burke) Joint Economic, Capital & Technology Development and Energy, Environmental Protection & Public Utilities

This resolution calls on representatives of the Environment, Community Development and Zoning Departments to testify regarding the use of cellulosic biofuels and to the feasibility of implementing incentives attracting commercial-scale biorefinery projects to Chicago.  This matter was assigned to a Joint Committee of Economic Development and Zoning but no hearing has been scheduled yet.

Immigration Resolution (Alderman Cardenas)                Joint Human Relations and Finance

This resolution denounces the actions of the Arizona Legislature in adopting S.B. 1070.  It further requests that all City departments and sister agencies boycott all goods and services manufactured, produced or provided by Arizona based companies in protest of the passage of this bill.  This matter was assigned to a Joint Committee of Finance and Human Relations, but no hearing has been scheduled yet.

Liquor Licenses (Mayor Daley)                                                                    License

This ordinance would amend Chapter 4-60-042 of the Municipal Code to allow individuals to seek conditional approval for a package goods license or for a tavern license.  Currently conditional approval is only available for a consumption on premises-incidental activity license.  This ordinance was assigned to the License Committee but no hearing has been scheduled yet.

Debarment Procedures (Mayor Daley)                               Budget & Government Operations

This ordinance would add a new Chapter 1-23 to the Municipal Code.  Specifically it would prohibit any individual or business entity from doing business with the City if they were convicted of a felony of any kind or of any criminal offense that involved bribery, fraud, forgery, theft, dishonesty or deceit involving the City of Chicago or any sister agency (Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Transit Authority, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Housing Authority, or Public Building Commission).  This prohibition would also extend to any admission of guilt in any civil or criminal proceeding involving the offenses noted above.  The ordinance would also prohibit an individual or business entity from doing business with the City if they are charged or indicted for any felony or criminal offense involving the offenses noted above.  This prohibition would remain in effect until final adjudication.  Failure to maintain eligibility to do business with the City shall render any action taken by the City with the individual or business entity voidable or subject to termination or revocation at the option of the Chief Procurement Officer.  The ordinance further gives the Corporation Counsel authority to promulgate rules under this ordinance.  It further amends Chapter 2-92 of the Municipal Code relating to ineligibility for award of contracts to maintain the current ineligibility requirement for activity involving a public officer or employee of the State of Illinois, federal government or any state or local government in the United States.  The ordinance would further amend Chapter 2-154-020 to require individuals or business entities to maintain current information regarding ineligibility while they are doing business with the City.  The ordinance also amends Chapter 4-280-110 to require cable franchises to maintain eligibility to do business with the City or face revocation of the franchise license.  It would further require the recommendation of the Mayor or the Cable Commission to take action under the eligibility requirements for the City Council to take revocation action on such grounds.  It would also amend Chapter 4-284-030 of the code relating to Cable Ethics to include any person or business entity who is ineligible to do business with the City under Chapter 1-23 as a cause for ineligibility under the Cable Ethics code.  The ordinance would take effect upon passage and approval.  This ordinance was assigned to the Budget Committee, but no hearings have been scheduled yet.

Concession Licenses (Mayor Daley)                                                                                                        Aviation

This ordinance would impose a customer facility charge (CFC) on each customer who rents a motor vehicle at the airport from an on-airport rental car company.  Collection of this fee would commence on a date established by the Aviation Commissioner after 30-days written notice to the On-Airport Rental Car companies.  The ordinance would give the Aviation Commissioner the authority to establish the fee on a per contract day basis so that collections are sufficient to cover projected eligible costs.  Changes to the fee would require 30-day written notice to On-Airport Rental Car companies.  These companies would be responsible for collection of the CFC and the Aviation Commissioner would have the authority to mandate how the CFC is identified on contracts.  On-Airport Rental Car companies would be obligated to remit the CFC, regardless of whether or not it was paid by the customer.  The City would provide no compensation for collection and remittance of the CFC, but they may retain the interest earned on CFC's between the time of collection and remittance.  Companies would be required to remit on or about the 20th of each month on a form approved by the Aviation Commissioner.  Failure to remit within 5 days of the due date will result in a 10% per annum interest applied to the past due balance.  On-Airport Rental Car Companies would be required to maintain all books and records and the City would be authorized to inspect and audit such records.  If an audit reveals underpayment of CFC's of 5% or more, the company would be responsible for the cost of the audit.  The Commissioner would be authorized to prohibit all rental car companies from picking up and dropping off customers at the airport passenger terminals or the transportation center except by use of an airport transit system or common use shuttle buses.  If an airport transit system is not available, the Commissioner would be authorized to require On-Airport Rental Car companies to collectively acquire, operate and maintain a common use shuttle buses to transport customers from airport passenger terminals and the consolidated rental car facility.  The Commissioner would also be authorized to establish a reasonable fee, payable by Off-Airport Rental Car companies for use of the airport transit system or common use shuttle buses by their customers.  Finally the Commissioner would be authorized to renegotiate existing concession license agreements with On-Airport Rental Car companies.  This ordinance would take effect upon passage and approval.  This ordinance was assigned to the Aviation Committee, but no hearings have been scheduled yet.

TIF Data Omission(Alderman Mell)                                                                                          Finance

This resolution calls on the Cook County Clerk and the Cook County Treasurer to appear before the Finance Committee and testify regarding why tax increment financing district data is not included on the individual consolidated property tax bills and to determine what can be done to rectify this matter.  This matter was assigned to the Finance Committee, which is scheduled to meet on June 8.  It is not yet known if this matter will be on that agenda.

Immigration Resolution (Alderman Moreno)                           Finance and Human Relations

This resolution denounces the actions of the Arizona legislature in passing S.B. 1070.  It further calls for hearings to examine the steps that can be taken to urge the Arizona legislators to repeal this discriminatory law.  This matter was assigned to a Joint Committee of Finance and Human Relations but no hearing has been scheduled yet.

Prepared by Mary Kay Minaghan, MKM Services, for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

If you have any questions, or for ordinance copies, please contact the Government Relations Division. 

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS STAFF

Michael Mini, Director
312.494.6787
mmini@chicagolandchamber.org