Committee on Geirtmtnig Uveiaghl and tquiLy Chicago City/Council Meeting February 19, 2020
ORDER
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6(a); and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City of Chicago may exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government and affairs including promotion the quality of life and the welfare of its citizens; and,
WHEREAS, the Chicago Department of Procurement is the contracting authority for the City ofChicago and charged with the duty to ensure contracting opportunities are diverse and transparent; and,
WHEREAS, the Chicago Department of Water Management delivers exceptional quality water to the residents ofChicago; and,
WHEREAS, the Chicago Department of Transportation is responsible for the planning, design, construction, maintenance and management of public way infrastructure; and,
WHEREAS, in September 2019, federal agents raided the home and legislative offices of State Senator Martin Sandoval looking for information related to concrete and construction businesses and items related to any official action taken in exchange for a benefit; and,
WHEREAS, the warrant for the search of Sen. Sandoval's office evidenced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation also sought items related to Michael Vondra, owner of Reliable Asphalt Construction, Bluff City Materials, Southwind RAS, and other construction companies; and,
WHEREAS, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents also visited Michael Vondra's business offices in September 2019; and,
WHEREAS, reports indicate that Sen. Sandoval assisted Vondra and his numerous companies in getting use of Vondra's recycled asphalt shingles approved and mandated for use in Illinois Department of Transportation Projects; and,
WHEREAS, Michael Vondra has been a major political contributor to Sen. Sandoval; and,
WHEREAS, Michael Vondra and associated businesses donated more than $50,000 in political contributions to Sen. Sandoval since 2010; and,
Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity Chicago City Council Meeting February 19,2020
WHEREAS, according to released court documents, Sen. Sandoval ran a long-running effort to shift contracts to certain vendors and businesses; and,
WHEREAS, Sen. Sandoval pushed legislation to help Vondra's many businesses, including pressuring state departments and employees to loosen regulations intended to help Vondra's companies; and,
WHEREAS, Sen. Sandoval pleaded guilty on January 31, 2020 to accepting $250,000 from five individuals or entities in bribes and used his position to benefit private businesses and their interests; and,
WHEREAS, during the State ofthe State speech, Governor J.B. Pritzker declared to the Illinois General Assembly that it is time to root out the purveyors of corruption, insisting that urgent action must be taken to restore the public's trust in our government, and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Water Management and the Department of Transportation awarded Reliable Asphalt Corporation contracts valued at over $100,000,000; and,
WHEREAS, in light of recent revelations of Mr. Vondra's involvement with potentially illegal and unethical activity, the City Council must ensure that it does not engage in business with a company under federal investigation; now therefore,
BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, that the Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Water Management, Department of Transportation and/or any department currently contracting with any business owned or managed by Michael Vondra to cease conducting business indefinitely with those companies; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, that to terminate any contract or contract negotiations with any company owned or managed by Michael Vondra including, Reliable Asphalt Corporation; and, to place Michael Vondra and any business owned or managed by Michael Vondra on all appropriate permanent prohibitive lists for future contract opportunities.