The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11am. The agenda for the meeting can be found here: …storagev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachm…

The list of members of this committee can be found here: chicago.councilmatic.org/committee/comm…

The meeting hasn't yet officially started; people are still gathering and moving around the room.

The meeting has now been called to order.

No written comments have been received. Public comment period will begin now.

Public speaker #1 points out that he is the only speaker here. He highlights the agenda item involving a tax incentive in Ald. Burnett's ward (Ward 27). He questions who is monitoring such programs and ensures that businesses do what they say they do.

Public comment period ends. There is a motion for the approval of the December 2024 Rule 45 Monthly Report. This passes.

Mr. Aaron Fogle, Financial Planning Analyst from the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), presents on a Class 6(b) tax incentive for property at 455 N Ashland Ave for partial development as manufacturing facility.

The property has been vacant since the end of 2020, at the expiration of the previous tenant's lease.

As shown above, estimated tax savings are $2.7 million dollars and construction would be expected to start upon approval and completed in Q3 of 2025. The project is being financed 100% with equity.

Detailed tax analysis impact is shown here.

DPD is in support of this project because it supports a Chicago company, preserving and creating jobs.

Ald. Burnett has provided a letter of support for this project.

Ald. Mitchell asks to hear more information about the company, NanoGraf, including the demographics.

Connor Hund, COO of NanoGraf, responds explaining that NanoGraf works on lithium ion batteries. They work with the military. They hope to be involved in electric vehicles. They have 37 full-time employees and hope to hire 50 more. They're currently located two blocks away.

Hund notes that they are a relatively diverse company, with operators, technicians, engineers, hourly workers, non-exempt employees, leadership, with 8 female employees and multiple employees from diverse races, genders.

Ald. Mitchell inquires about the nature of the new jobs being created by the approval of this site. Hund responds that most of these jobs will be technical and "geared towards operational jobs."

Ald. Mitchell asks whether NanoGraf has any engagements with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) or similar types of educational outreach and pipeline work. Hund (NanoGraf COO) noted that they have hosted CPS students before and are interested in participating in the community.

Ald. Mitchell emphasizes the importance of getting involved with CPS schools, not just the well-known CPS schools, to introduce technologies to younger kids. Ald. Mitchell offers assistance on future endeavors of this nature.

Ald. Napolitano asks about waste abatement in the area, given residents nearby. Hund responds that they are in compliance, are not high emitters, and follow EPA guidelines.

There is a motion to pass the recommendation. The motion passes.

The next item on the agenda is a call for hearing(s) on the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Technology System.

The first departments involved will be procurement, HR, and finance.

Chair Villegas says that it has taken 19 months of negotiations between the contractor and the city.

Chair Villegas notes that he and Ald. Mitchell passed an ordinance a few years ago that require annual reporting from tax incentive recipients, addressing a concern mentioned previously by Public Speaker #1.

Chair Villegas calls for the adjournment of this meeting at 11:43am.

More information on NanoGraf can be found at their website. nanograf.com