Chicago City Council October 7, 2020
Referred To Committee On Economic, Capital And Technology Development
CALL FOR HEARING ON THE CHICAGO CASINO
WHEREAS, In June 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law Public Act 101-0031, which renamed the Riverboat Gambling Act the "Illinois Gambling Act" (the "Act"), and, among other things, expanded Illinois gaming law to permit a casino in the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The Act considers matters of diversity and inclusion as it requires an applicant seeking a gaming license to provide evidence of the applicant's best efforts to reach a goal of 25% ownership representation by minority persons and 5% ownership representation by women; and
WHEREAS, The Act requires a plan from the applicant concerning the utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses, and businesses owned by persons with a disability, keeping with the goals ofthe Business Enterprise Program; and
WHEREAS, The Act calls for a review of the extent to which the applicant's ownership reflects the diversity ofthe State by including minority persons, women, and persons with a disability, and requires an applicant to submit a good faith affirmative action plan to recruit, train, and upgrade minority persons, women, and persons with a disability in all employment classifications for the approximately 4,000 gaming jobs that will be created by the Chicago Casino; and
WHEREAS, The Act establishes the Chicago Casino Advisory Committee (the "Advisory Committee") to monitor, review, and report on matters of diversity and inclusion as directed by Section 230 ILCS 10/7.14, including the utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses by the casino owners licensee and the employment of minorities on casino development and construction projects; and
WHEREAS, The Act requires the Advisory Committee to consist of 9 members, five selected by the Governor and four selected by the Mayor of Chicago, and at least one of the members appointed by the Governor and the Mayor, respectively, must be a current member of the General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, The Act requires the Advisory Committee to meet periodically and to submit a report to the Mayor of Chicago and to the General Assembly by December 31 of every year; and
WHEREAS, The Members ofthe Chicago City Council should strive for an open and transparent government; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED That the Chair of the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development (the "Chair") shall convene a subject matter hearing to discuss the considerations and needs necessary to enable the successful implementation of the Illinois Gambling Act provisions implementing diversity and inclusion requirements in the endeavor to place a casino in the City of Chicago; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chicago Casino Advisory Committee annual reports should be submitted to the Committee by December 31 of every year; and
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chair shall convene a public hearing to discuss the findings ofthe report within 60 days of its receipt.