SUBSTITUTE
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago has worked tirelessly for over a year to help businesses and workers survive the most devastating pandemic in a century; and
WHEREAS, Chicago's businesses and workers persevered through the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis to provide critical services to City residents and to keep Chicagoans safe; and
WHEREAS, The City executed an array of robust emergency relief measures to provide businesses with much-needed financial support and regulatory relief during this uniquely challenging time in its history; and
WHEREAS, The City's emergency relief measures include providing Chicago businesses with more small business grant and loan relief than any other municipality in the Nation, totaling over $100 million; rolling out an Expanded Outdoor Dining program to enable restaurants to serve diners safely outside; issuing 241 outdoor dining permits to more than 400 establishments encompassing over 30 closed streets and 150 parking lots available for outdoor dining; reforming the sidewalk cafe permit-issuance process by expediting the permitting of approximately 1,000 sidewalk cafes, discounting the sidewalk cafe permit fee by 75%, and allowing permittees to expand their cafes in front of neighboring storefronts; establishing eight Chicago Business Centers across the City to provide additional licensing and business support in neighborhoods; and operationalizing an innovative pandemic public safety strategy to ensure adherence to health guidelines through education, including nearly 40,000 educational outreach calls to individual businesses; and
WHEREAS, With a robust COVID-19 vaccination program now underway, the City's focus must shift from economic survival to economic recovery; and
WHEREAS, The Chi Biz Strong Initiative ("Initiative") is a bold plan to jumpstart business growth, protect workers, and set the marketplace on a path towards a strong, rapid, equitable and long-lasting economic recovery; and
WHEREAS, This Initiative will disburse lifeline grants to struggling businesses and help small businesses stay afloat; overhaul business licensing by streamlining public vehicle regulations and expediting license and permit issuance to save businesses time and money on the road to recovery; and align business regulations with public safety goals to protect residents from unsafe business practices; and
WHEREAS, The Chi Biz Strong Initiative is only the beginning. Addressing the lack of access to capital for investment purposes in distressed communities is critical in building community wealth into the future; and
WHEREAS, Uplifting the entrepreneurial spirit by supporting emerging worker cooperatives will raise awareness and champion the cause of equitable business models; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
This ordinance is organized into ten Articles, as follows:
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Article I. Immediate Financial Relief
Article II. Temporary Food Delivery Fee Relief
Article III. Expedited Restaurant Licensing
Article IV. Hospitality Industry Support
Article V. Fair Marketplace Innovation and Compliance
Article VI. Public Vehicle Industry Support
Article VII. Expedite Signs and Permits
Article VIII. Allow Sidewalk Signs
Article IX. Improve Neighborhood Safety and Quality of Life
Article X. Effective Dates
ARTICLE I through ARTICLE VI were divided from Article VII by City Council vote on
June 25, 2021.
ARTICLE VII. EXPEDITE SIGNS AND PERMITS
SECTION 1.
RECITALS
The issuance process for City of Chicago business licenses is expeditious and can be as quick as a single day.
Once licensed, businesses rely on City Public Way Use permits to put up signs, awnings, and other critical business infrastructure.
City Public Way Use permits can take up to 90-120 days to be issued, delaying business operations by months and creating undue cost and burden on struggling operators.
The City issues 5,000 Public Way Use permits each year, with 20,000 such permits in circulation at any given time.
Getting businesses the permits they need to make their storefronts functional, attractive and inviting in an expeditious manner makes Chicago a more business-friendly city and promotes a more robust small business environment.
This expedited permitting process is necessary now more than ever, following an unprecedented pandemic that has left many businesses struggling with an urgent need to quickly re-establish themselves.
The foregoing recitals are incorporated into and made a part of this Article.
SECTION 2. Sections 10-28-010, 10-28-015, and 10-28-820 ofthe Municipal Code of Chicago are hereby amended by deleting the language stricken through and by inserting the language underscored, as follows:
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10-28-010 Permission required.
For purposes of Sections 10-28-010 through 10-28-020, and as used in Sections 10-28-046, 10 28 065, and 10-29-020, the following definitions apply:
"City digital sign" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in Section 17-17-0234.5.
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection or the Commissioner's designee.
"Department" means the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
(Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance) "Public Way Use Permit" or "Permit" means a permit issued for use ofthe public way. "Sign(s)" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in Section 13-20-510. "Subsidewalk Space" means the space underneath the surface of any public way.
(Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance)
Unless otherwise authorized by this Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, install, or maintain any ofthe following on, under, or above the public way without a public way use permit authorized by ordinance passed by the City Council:
(Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance)
(11) any other structure or device, including a sign, except for a City digital sign, that is on, over, or under the public way.
(Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance)
(f) Provided, however, no permit reguired by subsection (b) ordinance authorizing such public way use shall be required to construct or maintain (i) parking meters and signs by a person, or the person's designee, acting pursuant to a concession agreement approved by the City Council governing the operation, maintenance, improvement, installation and removal of, and the collection of fees from, certain designated parking meters, or (ii) City digital signs by a person, or the person's designee, acting pursuant to a coordinated City digital sign program agreement approved by the City Council governing the operation, maintenance, improvement, installation and removal of such City digital signs.
(Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance)
(j) The issuance of a public way use permit does not authorize or permit the installation, erection, maintenance or enlargement of a sign, canopy, marquee, awning, or bay window without a valid si§f4 permit issued by the Department of Buildings.
10-28-015 Public way use permits - Application and issuance.
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(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Chapter, an An application for a public way use permit shall be made to the department Department and shall include the following:
the applicant's name and address, and the name and address of the property owner;
a detailed drawing indicating the location of all public way uses on, over or under the public way for which a permit is required;
proof of the required insurance;
proof of the building's age if the building was constructed in or prior to
1922;
the application fee, if applicable; and
any other information reasonably required by the commissioner Commissioner.
The commissioner Commissioner shall forward a copy of an application for subsidewalk space use to the commissioner Commissioner of transportation Transportation within three days after receipt ofthe application. No public way use permit for subsidewalk space use shall be issued unless the commissioner Commissioner of transportation Transportation, after reviewing the application, has approved the design ofthe subsidewalk space use.
(1) If the commissioner Commissioner finds that the applicant meets the applicable requirements permit application is complete, the commissioner Commissioner shall provide the application to the alderman of the affected ward. The alderman shall provide a recommendation to the Commissioner regarding the application within 30 days of receiving it, unless the Commissioner determines that good cause exists for a reasonable extension, not to exceed 30 days. The recommendation regarding the application shall be based upon the alderman's analysis ofthe factors laid out in the following paragraph of this subsection (c)(1). Such recommendation shall not be unreasonably withheld. Upon passage of an ordinance approving the application, the commissioner The Commissioner shall issue the public way use permit to the applicant if the Commissioner finds that the applicant meets the applicable requirements and the alderman's recommendation is that the permit application should be approved. If approval by ordinance is withheld the Commissioner finds that the applicant does not meet the applicable reguirements, the commissioner Commissioner shall deny the application and shall notify the unsuccessful applicant in writing ofthe denial within ten business days after the denial. If the Commissioner finds that the applicant meets the applicable reguirements, but the alderman recommends that the permit application should be denied, the applicant, with the assistance ofthe Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, may submit for Citv Council consideration an applicant-sponsored ordinance granting approval of a public way permit.
A public way use permit shall be denied or revoked if: (i) the granting of the public way use is not in the best interest of the public, would have a deleterious impact on the neighborhood, or would create a nuisance either on the public way or in the surrounding area; (ii) the design of, or materials used in, the public way use does not comport with the quality or character of the existing streetscape; (iii) the use interferes with or impedes the flow of
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pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or ingress or egress from any surrounding building, the use of any pole, traffic signs or signals, hydrants, mailboxes or other objects located near the location of the proposed use; or (iv) the applicant makes any false statements, submits any false information or misrepresents any information required under this section.
(2) Administrative appeal process. Upon denial by the Commissioner of an
application made under this section, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant, in writing, of such fact and ofthe basis for the denial. Such notice shall include a statement informing the applicant that the applicant may, within 10 calendar days ofthe date on which the notice was sent, reguest, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner in rules, a hearing before the Commissioner to contest the denial. The notice shall also advise the applicant that the applicant is entitled to present to the Commissioner anv document, including affidavits, related to the Commissioner's determination of denial. If reguested, a hearing before the Commissioner shall be commenced within 10 business days of receipt of such reguest. Within 60 calendar days of completion of the hearing the Commissioner shall either affirm or reverse such determination based upon the evidence presented. The Commissioner's decision shall be final and may be appealed in the manner provided by law. If an applicant fails to reguest a hearing within the prescribed time, or reguests a hearing but fails to appear at such hearing, the application shall be deemed denied. Upon entry of a final order of denial, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant in writing of such fact. Public way use permit revocations and rescissions shall follow the same process set forth in this subparagraph.
(Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance) (e) All public way use permits shall be subject to the following:
Each public way use and the structures and appliances authorized by the permit shall be maintained and used in accordance with all applicable laws, including the ordinances ofthe city and the directions of the commissioner Commissioner, the commissioner Commissioner of streets and sanitation Streets and Sanitation, the building commissioner Building Commissioner, and the commissioner Commissioner of transportation Transportation. The permittee shall keep that portion ofthe public way in, over, under or adjacent to the public way use in good condition and repair, safe for public travel, and free from snow, ice and debris to the satisfaction of the commissioner Commissioner of transportation Transportation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if circumstances warrant, the public way use granted by the permit is subject to amendment, modification or repeal and a public way use permit may be revoked revocation at the discretion of the mayor or the commissioner Commissioner at any time, without cause and without the consent of the permittee. Upon termination of the permit, the permittee, at his or her the permitee's own expense and without cost or expense to the eity Citv, shall remove, within 30 days of such termination and without the notice required in Section 10-28-010, the public way use and any structures and appliances authorized by the public way use permit and restore the public way where disturbed by the public way use or by the removal thereof, to a proper condition under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the commissioner Commissioner of transportation Transportation.
In the event of failure, neglect or refusal of the permittee to perform any of his or her the permitee's obligations, the eity Citv may, at its option, either (i) perform such work and charge the cost to said permittee, or (ii) determine what the cost ofthe work shall be and bill the permittee for the cost, or combine the two methods. Immediately upon receipt of notice of such cost, the permittee shall pay the eity Citv such amount.
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The permittee shall be responsible for and shall pay for the removal, relocation, alteration, repair, maintenance, and restoration of, eityCjty-owned structures or appliances located in or adjacent to the public way, including pavement, bridges, subways, tunnels, vaults, sewers, water mains, conduits, pipes, poles and other facilities and utilities, which are necessary or appropriate on account ofthe permittee's use ofthe public way. The commissioner Commissioner of transportation Transportation is authorized, in his or her the Commissioner's discretion and from time to time during the permittee's use and occupancy of the public way until the restoration of the public way, to determine the work which is or will be necessary or appropriate and the cost involved to perform such work and is authorized to collect a deposit prior to commencing any work and to charge the permittee all actual costs for causing all such work to be performed. The decision of the commissioner Commissioner of transportation Transportation shall be final and binding. The permittee, upon receiving written notification from the commissioner Commissioner of transportation Transportation of the required deposit or the cost of such work, shall immediately pay or deposit such amount as directed by the commissioner Commissioner.
The permittee shall furnish to the department Department, prior to issuance ofthe public way use permit, proof of insurance evidencing commercial general liability coverage in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence, covering bodily injury, personal injury and property damage, that may result from issuance ofthe permit or use ofthe public way. The insurance shall name the eity Citv and its agents and employees as additional insured on a primary, noncontributory basis for any liability arising directly or indirectly from the permittee's operations and shall also clearly indicate that the public way use being permitted is covered by the insurance policy. Every policy required shall require 30 days' advance notice to the commissioner Commissioner prior to cancellation or lapse of the policy. Proof of renewal of such insurance coverage shall be furnished to the department Department no later than 30 days prior to the expiration of the policy. The insurance coverage shall be maintained at all times by the permittee until: (i) the public way use authorized by the permit is removed; (ii) the public way is restored to the satisfaction of the commissioner Commissioner of transportation Transportation; and (iii) all fees due the eity Citv have been paid.
Apart from and separate from any insurance requirement under this section, the permittee shall indemnify, defend, keep and save harmless the eity Citv, its agents and employees against all claims, liabilities, judgments, costs, damages and other expenses which may in any way arise or accrue against, be charged to or recovered from the eity Citv, its agents or employees in consequence of the permission given by the public way use permit, or any act or thing done or omitted or neglected to be done by the permittee, its agents or employees in and about the construction, reconstruction, maintenance, operation, use or removal of the authorized public way uses and structures or appliances thereof, operation or restoration ofthe public way as required, including those arising from any personal injuries or deaths or damage or destruction of property.
The permit shall be valid only to the person to whom it was issued and it shall not be subject to sale, assignment, or transfer, voluntary or involuntary, except upon the approval of the commissioner Commissioner.
As a condition of the permit, the permittee shall keep all information current. Any change in required information shall be reported to the department Department within 30 days after the change.
(Omitted text is unaffected by this ordinance)
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10-28-820 Review of application.
The department Department shall review a submitted application for compliance with this article and regulations rules.
Except with regard to renewal applications governed by subsection (B), if the commissioner Commissioner finds that the permit application is complete applicant meets the requirements of this article and the regulations promulgated hereunder, the commissioner Commissioner shall provide the application to the alderman ofthe affected ward, together with a recommendation for introduction of an ordinance approving the application. The alderman shall provide a recommendation to the Commissioner regarding the application within 30 days of receiving it, unless the Commissioner determines that good cause exists for a reasonable extension, not to exceed 30 days. The recommendation regarding the application shall be based upon the alderman's analysis ofthe reguirements of this article and the rules promulgated in furtherance ofthe article. Such approval recommendation shall not be unreasonably withheld. Once an ordinance approving the application is effective, the commissioner The Commissioner shall issue the sidewalk cafe permit to the applicant if the Commissioner finds that the applicant meets the applicable reguirements and the alderman's recommendation is that the permit application should be approved. If the Commissioner finds that the applicant meets the applicable requirements, but the alderman recommends that the permit application should be denied, the applicant, with the assistance ofthe Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, may submit for Citv Council consideration an applicant-sponsored ordinance granting approval of a sidewalk cafe permit.
For purposes of this section, "renewal application" means an application for the operation of a sidewalk cafe at the same location and by the same person that was approved by the city council within the previous 12 months.
If the commissioner Commissioner finds that a renewal application meets the requirements of this article and the regulations rules promulgated hereunder, the commissioner Commissioner shall prepare an ordinance, which ordinance may include a group of renewal applications, for approval by the city council. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Once an ordinance approving the renewal application is effective, the commissioner Commissioner shall issue the sidewalk cafe permit to the applicant.
Denial.
If the commissioner Commissioner finds that the applicant fails to meet the requirements of this article or the regulations rules promulgated hereunder, or if approval by ordinance is withheld, the commissioner Commissioner shall deny the application or renewal application. The commissioner Commissioner shall notify the unsuccessful applicant in writing of the denial and the reasons therefor within ten business days after the denial. An applicant for renewal that was subjected to, or eligible for, temporary closure as a result of violations pursuant to Section 10-28-870(D) during the prior permit period, if those violations have been finally adjudicated and sustained, shall be subject to: (i) denial ofthe renewal or (ii) having the renewal conditioned upon a written plan of operation or other set of conditions that the commissioner Commissioner determines is necessary to ensure compliance with this Chapter. An applicant for a permit that was issued two or more notices of violation pursuant to Section 10-28-870(C) during the prior permit period, if those violations have been finally adjudicated and sustained, shall be subject to denial of the permit for the permit period applied for.
Administrative appeal process. Upon denial by the Commissioner of an
application made under this section, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant, in writing, of such fact and of the basis for the denial. Such notice shall include a statement informing the
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applicant that the applicant may, within 10 calendar days ofthe date on which the notice was sent, request, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner in rules, a hearing before the Commissioner to contest the denial. The notice shall also advise the applicant that the applicant is entitled to present to the Commissioner anv document, including affidavits, related to the Commissioner's determination of denial. If reguested, a hearing before the Commissioner shall be commenced within 10 business days of receipt of such reguest. Within 60 calendar days of completion of the hearing the Commissioner shall either affirm or reverse such determination based upon the evidence presented. The Commissioner's decision shall be final and may be appealed in the manner provided by law. If an applicant fails to reguest a hearing within the prescribed time, or reguests a hearing but fails to appear at such hearing, the application shall be deemed denied. Upon entry of a final order of denial, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant in writing of such fact. Sidewalk cafe permit revocations and rescissions shall follow the same process set forth in this subparagraph.
ARTICLE VIII to ARTICLE IX were divided from Article VII by City Council vote on June
25, 2021.
ARTICLE X. EFFECTIVE DATES
SECTION 1 through SECTION 4. [Divided from the ordinance as applying to the other Articles.]
SECTION 5. Article VII (Expedite Signs and Permits) of this ordinance shall take full force and effect on January 1, 2022.
SECTION 6. [Divided from the ordinance as applying to Article VIII.]
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