Dear Neighbors,
The Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy partnered with Studio Gang and the Chicago Architecture Center to host an aldermanic tour of the Flyway City exhibit this month. The exhibit showcases architectural models, mock-ups, and information on bird-friendly building design. It offers simple and scalable solutions that any Chicagoan can implement to make their building bird-friendly.
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In March, Chairwoman Hadden introduced an ordinance that would mandate bird-friendly design features for all new construction and major renovations. At the time of introduction, the ordinance was sent to the Committee on Committees and Rules, where it is said that "legislation goes to die." However, during July's City Council meeting, Alderwoman Hadden was able to invoke a procedural vote to re-refer the item to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards for further dialogue and consideration. The aldermanic tour of the Flyway City exhibit offered an opportunity for alderpeople to see the variety of affordable methods developers can implement into their building design to protect birds migrating through Chicago from building collisions.
The Flyway City exhibit will be open through January 3, 2027. For more information on the exhibit, click here.
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- Thursday, July 23, 4-7 p.m., 49th Ward Office:
Mid-Summer Block Party Town Hall (Rescheduled)
- Tuesday, August 4, 5 p.m., 24th District Station:
National Night Out
- Saturday, August 8, 11:00 a.m., Pottawattomie Park:
Community Kickball Game
- Wednesday, August 12, Willye White Park:
Community Softball Game
- Friday, August 14-16, Morse & Glenwood:
Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival
- Saturday, August 22, 11 a.m, Howard & Ashland:
Chalk Howard Street
- Saturday, August 22, 1 pm, Willye White Park:
Community Kickball Game
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Chairwoman Hadden Introduces Ordinance to Include
Data Centers in Benchmarking Reporting Requirements Following Committee Hearing
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In July, Alderwoman Hadden introduced an ordinance to City Council that would require data centers to report their energy and water use under Chicago's benchmarking ordinance. They are not required to do so as the municipal code is written today.
The introduction came following the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy's July hearing, chaired by Alderwoman Hadden, which held a subject-matter hearing on the Sustainable Data Centers report published by the Department of Environment. The report was required under Alderman Villegas's data storage ordinance, which required the Department of Environment to convene a working group to evaluate the environmental and energy impacts of data centers. After 18 months of research, the Department of Environment published its findings on July 10.
During the hearing, representatives from the Department of Environment, Department of Planning and Development, Citizens Utility Board, Prairie Rivers Network, Vote Solar, and Metro Edge presented on the report and shared their expertise on various items City Council should consider to better regulate the industry. The report recommends:
- Developing a permitting program to address the environmental health impacts of data centers;
- Update the City's zoning ordinance to address the impacts of data centers; and
- Require transparent reporting of the energy and water use of data centers.
There has been an acceleration of data center construction across the United States in recent years, primarily driven by the explosive use of artificial intelligence. Chicago is currently home to 39 data centers and is slated to house the country's first quantum computing campus on the southeast side, which will include a one-plus gigawatt data center on the north end of the campus. The Chicago region is seen as a particularly attractive market for new data centers due to its skilled workforce, fiber-optic network, energy infrastructure, proximity to Lake Michigan, and its central location. As expansion has continued across the region, municipalities have addressed data centers with mixed approaches. Some have embraced data centers, touting their economic development opportunities. Others have issued moratoriums or passed other legislation to regulate data centers in their communities.
Data centers pose significant environmental and quality-of-life consequences. Hyperscale data centers, which are more common outside of Chicago, use as much electricity and water as some medium-sized cities. The proliferation of data centers across the nation and the massive amount of energy they use have driven up energy prices nationwide. To meet the energy consumption needs of data centers, PJM Interconnection—the business responsible for managing and delivering electricity across multiple states—has delayed phasing out energy generators that have some of the largest carbon footprints, such as coal power plants. This, combined with delays in getting renewable generators online, has set back progress on transitioning to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources and contributed to higher energy prices for ratepayers.
Data centers also generate massive amounts of heat, exacerbating urban heat island impacts where they are housed. Different facilities use different techniques to cool data centers, which can create loud noises that resemble jet engines. Finally, data centers use backup diesel generators to keep running in the event of blackouts or brownouts. When there is heavy demand on the electric grid, such as during heatwaves, ComEd and other electricity suppliers might ask data centers to switch to their backup diesel generators to ease demand on the grid. Additionally, data centers are required to be tested once a month, contributing to air pollution.
In Chicago, data centers currently have very few regulations. Our zoning code currently classifies data centers as "Electronic Data Storage Centers," which is considered an office use. In some cases, a data center might trigger the Planned Development (PD) process due to the lot size, building size, or proximity to the river. However, most data centers are permitted by-right in all manufacturing, commercial, and non-residential districts in the City's zoning code.
Chairwoman Hadden's introduction of an ordinance requiring data centers to report their water and energy usage is the first critical step to better position Chicago to regulate them. The committee is working to pass the legislation following August's recess and will continue to work with the Department of Environment and other members of City Council to implement the other recommendations outlined in the report. The report is available to read on the Department of Environment's website here.
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City Publishes Mid-Year Budget Report
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The Office of Budget and Management published its mid-year budget report in July; on July 16, the Committee on Budget and Government Operations held a hearing to review the report. The mid-year budget report and hearings were mandated by ordinance during the 2025 budget negotiation process.
The 2026 mid-year budget report and hearing provide an opportunity for alderpeople to evaluate the performance of revenue streams to better prepare City Council ahead of the annual fall budget hearings.
In the fall of 2025, after a prolonged and contentious budget negotiation process, City Council passed an alternative revenue ordinance after rejecting the proposal put forward by Mayor Johnson for fiscal year 2026. The alternative budget included a series of untested new revenue streams to balance the budget. The process was abbreviated and opaque, with a 75-page substitute revenue proposal being shared with the public just hours before the Committee on Finance convened to vote on it, concealing it from the public and City departments until it was slated for a vote. Because of the process and the speculative nature of new and untested revenue streams, Alderwoman Hadden voted in opposition to the alternative budget.
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During the mid-year budget hearing, Budget Director Guzman, Acting CFO Mahr, and Comptroller Belsky discussed the performance of adjusted existing revenue streams and the new revenue streams included in the passed 2026 budget. Some revenue streams, including the new social media tax, the Personal Property Lease Tax, and the online sports wagering tax, are on track to outperform 2026 projections. The social media tax proposed by Mayor Johnson's team is the first of its kind, charging social media companies (e.g., Meta, TikTok, and X) a per-user fee for every user over 100,000 users. It has generated $16M year to date and is on track to bring in more than $40 million in revenue by the end of the year. Expecting litigation, these funds were not included in the expenditure ordinance and are being set aside should the City not prevail in the lawsuit. During the hearing, Director Guzman shared that, as expected, a lawsuit has been filed by social media companies, but the City's Department of Law feels confident that the City will win. If the City is successful in defending its social media tax, it will provide a reliable revenue stream for decades to come.
Some existing revenue streams, including the plastic bag tax and the liquor tax, are underperforming. The plastic bag tax increased from 10¢/bag to 15¢/bag in the 2026 budget. This tax is considered an elastic tax, meaning that the amount of revenue it brings in can change as consumers modify their behavior to avoid the tax. Because consumers have changed their behavior, the plastic bag tax is underperforming by 10%. The alternative budget also restructured the liquor tax, resulting in it underperforming by $3.6 million.
The slate of new revenue streams introduced and passed by the City Council, however, are underperforming and are expected to be the main drivers of any budget deficit for 2026. To date, the City has brought in $0 for the controversial debt sale, video game licensing, augmented reality, and advertising revenue. During the hearing, City department representatives and alderpeople took turns placing blame. Alderpeople accused the Office of Budget and Management and the Department of Finance of sabotaging the budget by choosing not to implement the components in the alternative budget proposal they do not like.
City department representatives defended their processes, sharing updates on procurement processes to date. Director Guzman and Acting CFO Mahr shared that the City issued its first Request for Information (RFI) for augmented reality (AR) on February 10, shortly after the budget passed on December 29. There were no responses to the first RFI, so it was re-issued in April. Since Chicago is the first City to attempt to stand up such a program, departments are seeking more information from experts in the field before issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP). Representatives shared that they had two responses to the latest RFI, and anticipate issuing an RFP in September. In the fall, Alderwoman Hadden shared concerns that any AR initiatives could result in litigation, as happened when Milwaukee tried to implement this idea. In Milwaukee, a federal judge sided with an AR developer, ruling that requiring permits for apps like Pokémon Go on public property violated the First Amendment. The ruling resulted in the City of Milwaukee having to pay an $83,000 settlement to the plaintiff for attorney fees.
The City has also issued an RFI for the advertising on lightpoles, City vehicles, boathouses, and other City assets. Alderpeople were critical of the delay in launching an advertising initiative, stating that the City could streamline the process by working with our sister agencies, such as the Park District or the CTA, who already have contracts in place. City representatives said that due to the scope of the advertising proposal, it added layers of complexity that must be further analyzed before they could begin rollout. While the projected $29 million in revenue passed in the alternative budget was likely inflated, the City had past pursuits of advertising revenue to build off of to begin to generate some revenue for 2026. During the 2026 budget hearing in the fall of 2025, the Office of Budget and Management shared that the City was able to generate $200,000 in revenue in 2014 by wrapping two City garbage trucks with ads.
One of the more debated items in the alternative budget proposal was the inclusion of $6.8 million in revenue from video game terminals (VGTs). The figure was based on an assumption that 80% of all eligible businesses would apply for a VGT license with the state and that they would begin bringing in revenue starting in January 2026. As of June 2026, less than 300 businesses had applied for a VGT license, well below the projected 3,000-plus that the alternative budget assumed would apply. Of those that have applied, the State has issued only 7 licenses as of the mid-year budget hearing. This means that 7 businesses will be able to begin to generate VGT revenue starting mid-year. Additionally, the issuance of VGT licenses puts the City in a precarious situation with its contract with Bally's to operate a casino. Any allowance of a VGT license is considered a breach of the contract, which will result in a loss of $4 million annually. Additionally, the City could lose 390 jobs that Bally's committed to as part of its casino negotiations. Finally, since the alternative budget passed, Bally's has stated that the original contract is now null and void, and said that the City must come back to the negotiating table to discuss its future operations in the City.
Finally, the most controversial revenue proposed in the alternative budget proposal, the sale of debt, fell through. City representatives shared that Bank of America pulled out of the debt sale because they couldn't come to an agreement on the terms of the contract. Bank of America cited concerns around reputational risks and the debt in question being unsecured, meaning that there is no collateral backing to issue liens should the debtee not be willing to pay.
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Because of underperforming revenue streams, the City anticipates a budget shortfall heading into 2027 budget negotiations. The preliminary shortfall as of the July hearing came in at $89.3 million. As the Department of Finance and the Office of Budget and Management get more data from revenue performance and anticipated property tax dollars (which have been delayed again this year), they will be able to share a more concrete shortfall in September. City representatives also shared that delays in the allocation of property tax dollars have also impacted the City's advance pension payment. This could have negative consequences on the City's credit rating in the long term.
During the hearing, Alderwoman Hadden stated that we all share responsibility for the state of the City's finances, and called on her colleagues and City representatives to work more collaboratively as we close out 2026 and begin to negotiate the 2027 budget. As budget season approaches, Alderwoman Hadden will continue to bring multiple people to the table to develop a viable, implementable 2027 budget and avoid the mistakes of the past. Chicagoans deserve nothing less.
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Group of Alders Introduce FAIR Ordinance, Rivaling Mayor Johnson's PRO Ordinance
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During July's City Council meeting, Alders Villegas, Lawson, Waguespack, and Cardona introduced the Fair and Accountable Illinois Rental (FAIR) ordinance in response to Mayor Johnson's Protecting Tenants Ordinance (PRO), which was introduced in June.
The rivaling FAIR ordinance incorporates some of the changes included in Mayor Johnson's PRO proposal, but scales back many of the tenant protections included in the original proposal. Namely, the FAIR ordinance eliminates the just cause provisions outlined in PRO, which would require a landlord to have just cause for eviction or lease non-renewal. The just cause provisions also included relocation assistance to be paid to tenants when a lease is broken without a just cause allowance. Instead, the FAIR ordinance would codify that lease renewals are at-will, allowing a landlord to not renew a lease for any reason. It also keeps in place the Fair Notice Ordinance protections that passed in 2020 under the Lightfoot administration.
During a subject-matter hearing on PRO in June, many expressed concerns that the allowable reasons in PRO's just cause section are overly restrictive, requiring them to renew leases for tenants indefinitely. Many also expressed concerns that the relocation assistance was excessive, which would result in landlords significantly raising rents to leave enough padding to pay it should they violate the just cause provision. Proponents of the PRO ordinance have said that just cause provisions help protect renters from exorbitant moving fees when a lease is terminated through no fault of the tenant. Supporters also state that the just cause provisions act as a tool to combat gentrification by curtailing displacement.
The FAIR ordinance also retains some components of the rental registry proposed in Mayor Johnson's proposed PRO ordinance, but significantly scales back how landlords and owners are required to disclose ownership information. Under the PRO ordinance, owners with four units or less would pay $20 per unit per year to help fund the rental registry. Owners with 5-49 units would pay $40/unit each year, and owners with more than 50 units would pay $60/unit each year. Under PRO, it was anticipated that the rental registry would generate approximately $622,000/year in revenue, which would go towards maintaining the rental registry, increasing the number of building inspectors, funding additional 311 operators, and establishing a new Bureau of Rental Housing Services. The proposed FAIR ordinance eliminates the financing structure that PRO established, leaving the funding source for establishing a rental registry uncertain.
The FAIR ordinance retained many of the overhauls to security deposits proposed in Mayor Johnson's PRO ordinance, which would eliminate many of the confusing obstacles that disincentivize landlords from charging tenants traditional security deposit fees. FAIR also caps many fees included in the PRO proposal, including capping application fees at $50 (higher than the $20 proposed in PRO). Finally, PRO would ban many junk fees that have increasingly become more prevalent, driving up moving costs for renters. FAIR would allow many of these fees as long as they are disclosed in writing, itemized, and can reasonably be attributed to an actual cost incurred by a landlord.
Finally, the proposed PRO ordinance would establish a Bureau of Rental Housing Services housed under the Department of Housing. The Bureau would serve as an administrative investigatory arm tasked with intake of complaints, conducting investigations, maintaining records, coordinating with the Department of Buildings on building violations, and providing technical assistance and compliance support to landlords and tenants. Under the FAIR proposal, all enforcement of Chicago's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) would be shifted from the Department of Housing to the Department of Buildings.
After evaluating the language and gaining insight into the process behind drafting the FAIR Ordinance proposal, Alderwoman Hadden cannot support it. The ordinance was written without input from any tenant or tenant advocacy organizations. Furthermore, she has concerns that rather than working collaboratively with Mayor Johnson to negotiate changes to PRO, this ordinance was written in direct opposition to his proposal. With Rogers Park being 75% renters, Alderwoman Hadden welcomes conversations on how to balance tenant rights with concerns from landlords about the pressures they face in the housing market. She believes that updates to the RLTO are necessary to more accurately reflect the realities everyone faces in this market.
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City Council Passes Ballot Referenda for November 2026
and February 2027 Elections
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City Council called a special city council meeting on July 22nd to vote on referenda to appear on the November 2026 and February 2027 ballots. The special City Council meeting was called after several referenda questions were deferred and published, or blocked from a vote, during the regular July City Council meeting.
Ballot referenda proposed by Mayor Johnson, including a question on whether we should tax millionaires a 3% surcharge to fund schools and whether the City of Chicago should establish a permanent Property Tax Relief Fund, were blocked from a vote during the July Committee on Committees and Rules meetings, with opposition saying Mayor Johnson circumvented proper procedures to introduce the items.
The following questions will appear on the November 2026 ballot:
- Whether Chicago should restart use of gunshot detection technology that informs first responders when gunshots are detected
- Whether Chicago should develop permanent festival and outdoor event space for large-scale events (Ald. Hadden was a nay vote)
- Whether the City of Chicago shall pursue all lawful means to recover financial compensation from the federal government for the costs and economic harm caused by the Donald Trump administration's violent, militarized ICE operations, including the Midway Blitz operation led by Greg Bovino, to recover lost tax revenue, public safety response costs, and services provided to residents and families affected by those operations (Ald. Hadden was a yae vote)
The following questions will appear on the February 2027 ballot:
- Whether Chicago should create a permanent monument celebrating Chicago's global contributions to music and arts (Ald. Hadden was a nay vote)
- Whether Chicago City Council should establish and fully fund its own independent legal counsel separate from the City's Law Department (Ald. Hadden wasn't present for this vote)
- Whether Chicago should withhold funding from its sister agencies that do not enforce debt repayment plans for outstanding debt owed to the City (Ald. Hadden was a nay vote)
Many of my colleagues and advocates expressed concerns about rushing to include ballot referenda for February's election. Some expressed concerns that other issues might arise between now and the February election, and we are foregoing an opportunity to address those items via a ballot referendum by passing these measures in July. Advocates also expressed concerns about the process of the February ballot referenda, stating that no meaningful input or consideration was pursued as a part of the process. It remains unclear whether the February ballot items can be rescinded after having passed the July 22nd City Council.
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Parking Meter Sale Deadline Pushed to September 30th
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The deadline for City Council to approve or reject the sale of Chicago's parking meters has been pushed back to September 30th, giving alderpeople more time to seek legal guidance and evaluate the impacts of any such sale.
On June 25th, the Committee on Finance held a subject matter hearing on a proposed sale of Chicago's parking meters to Stonepeak Partners, an investment firm based in New York. The current parking meter operator, Chicago Parking Meters LLC, a consortium backed by Morgan Stanley and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, purchased leasing rights to Chicago's parking meters in 2008 for a one-time payment of $1.2 billion dollars—a transaction that has been infamously dubbed the worst financial deal in any major US city. Since the sale, Chicago Parking Meters LLC has reported approximately $2.2 billion in revenues.
Components of the transaction and the City's involvement have appeared to be shrouded in secrecy, with the Mayor's office pointing to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) they signed in 2025. According to Stonepeak, that NDA has been waived, with Stonepeak's Senior Managing Director, James Wyper, offering to sign a blanket waiver during Thursday's hearing. During Thursday's hearing, members of City Council learned that the City submitted a $3.3 billion bid to re-purchase the parking meters, $800 million more than Stonepeak's bid. The City ultimately withdrew its bid, deeming it financially infeasible.
June's hearing also provided alderpeople the opportunity to raise questions and concerns about other businesses within Stonepeak's portfolio. Particularly concerning is Omni Air International, which serves as a contractor for the Department of Homeland Security. Stonepeak acquired Omni in 2025, and since then, Omni has provided flights for deportations. Mother Jones has reported cruel and inhumane conditions on these flights, including 25-50-hour flights with migrants shackled to their seats. There have been reports of people soiling themselves in their seats during these flights after being refused bathroom breaks. Additionally, Stonepeak acquired Seapeak in 2022, which helps export Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), thereby helping to fund Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. While Stonepeak leadership expressed moral outrage at aggressive ICE enforcement, it made no commitment to dissolve its investment in companies that profit from human oppression and suffering.
Any sale of the parking meters will ultimately need City Council approval. While the contract approved in 2008 is ironclad, there are some conditions that allow the City Council to disapprove a transaction, including the new operator's financial strength, reputation, and experience in operating parking meters. Chicago Parking Meters LLC has threatened City Council, saying that if they don't approve the transaction, they will bring financial ruin to the City through litigation. Alderwoman Hadden continues to scrutinize the proposed sale closely and is seeking guidance from our Department of Law as the September 30th deadline approaches.
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Financial Future Task Force Published Final Report
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In June, the Chicago Financial Future Task Force published its final findings and recommendations to save the City money and generate new revenue. Mayor Johnson issued an Executive Order in May 2025, establishing the task force and charging it with providing City Council a menu of options to ameliorate the future of Chicago's financial health. The task force included 24 members selected by Mayor Johnson, representing diverse sectors, including business, labor, community organizations, and public policy institutes. The final report is the product of more than a year of work by the task force examining Chicago's long-term fiscal future.
In its final report, the task force puts forward over 50 options, including operational efficiencies, long-term liabilities management, revenue enhancements, and more. The recommendations are designed as a "menu" of options for consideration as discussions around the 2027 budget and the City's long-term financial stability continue. The recommendations range from streamlining the City's hiring system for auditors and revenue-generating positions to pursuing new tax streams, such as implementing a congestion pricing model for downtown. The recommendations also suggest adjusting taxes to align with the Consumer Price Index on certain items, including property taxes and sales tax.
Alderwoman Hadden will closely review the recommendations proposed by the task force as we enter yet another challenging budget season.
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Spotlight on Environmental Justice Community Work
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Neighbors for Environmental Jusitce (N4EJ)
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According to their website, "The mission of Neighbors for Environmental Justice is to foster awareness, organize, and promote community action on environmental justice to achieve environmental health and just transition by preventing and reducing pollution and building a green, healthy, and sustainable community and environment". In response to MAT Asphalt opening abruptly in McKinley Park, neighbors banded together to create N4EJ. What started as a movement to shut down MAT Asphalt has since spread into a 501(c)3 dedicated to various EJ efforts confronting systemic environmental racism, governmental corruption, and the political assumption that industry is more important than the health of marginalized people.
You can get involved with N4EJ by filling out their volunteer survey and engaging with them on social media via the platforms listed below
Bluesky: @n4ej.org
Facebook: fb.com/N4EJchicago
Instagram: @n4ejchicago
Sign up for our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ig57i1
Email: [email protected]
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Share Your Favorite Environmental Organization
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This year, the Committee on Environment is looking for more opportunities to engage with Environmental Justice organizations and spotlight their great work throughout the city. Each month, we'll share information on different organizations, their mission, goals, and how to get involved.
Do you have an organization you think should be highlighted? Share it with us at this link!
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In Other Environmental News
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This Month's Happenings With EPE
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July 1: Northside Green Infrastructure Strategy (GIS) Listening Session! Hosted by the 46th Ward at Harry S. Truman College, Deputy Commissioner Jared Policcichio presented the first draft of the Department of Environment's GIS. Residents from the 40th, 46th, 47th, 48th, and 49th wards gathered to give feedback and learn more about Chicago's current and future engagement with green infrastructure.
July 13: Subject Matter Hearing on DOE's Report on Data Centers. We hosted panelists from the Department of Environment, the Department of Planning and Development, Citizens Utility Board, Vote Solar, Prairie Rivers Network, and MetroEdge.
July 15: City Council meeting.
Two items were introduced and referred to our committee:
- O2026-0027165 will expand the definitions of “Covered Buildings” to ensure that, under the benchmarking ordinance, data centers must report their water and energy usage to the Department of Environment. This is the first step in our commitment to ensuring accountability and enforcement measures for data center water and energy usage.
- O2026-0027233 will establish the Urban Flooding and Climate Resiliency Task Force. This task force will coordinate among departments and community experts to mitigate urban flooding and develop recommendations.
Also, good news for bird-friendly design during the July City Council meeting:
- Our ordinance, O2026-0024083, was referred out of the Committee on Rules and re-referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards. Read more about the re-referral here.
July 21: The Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy partnered with Studio Gang and the Chicago Architecture Center to host an aldermanic tour of Flyway City.
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City Council Passes Curbside EV Charging Pilot Program
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In July, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance authorizing Chicago’s first-ever Curbside Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Pilot, a key step in implementing the Chicago Moves Electric Framework and advancing the City’s Climate Action Plan goals. The ordinance enables the installation and operation of publicly owned EV charging stations in the public right-of-way. This pilot program will expand access for residents who rely on street parking, and ensure these spaces remain available through enforceable regulations. By addressing gaps in charging infrastructure, particularly in historically underserved communities, the pilot will increase the accessibility of EVs.
The pilot program builds on other efforts City Council has passed to expand requirements for EV charging, including an ordinance in 2023 to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations and bring them into alignment with statewide requirements for EVs. The ordinance builds on a 2020 ordinance that required only multifamily buildings with 5 units and parking areas with 30 or more spaces serving nonresidential buildings to be ready for EVs. The 2023 ordinance requires new construction to provide the equipment and technology for charging. It also requires all new residential buildings with on-site parking, including single-family homes, to include infrastructure for EV charging equipment.
More information on the pilot program and the Chicago Moves Electric initiative is available on the City's website here.
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Chairwoman Hadden Publishes Toolkit to Help Property Owners Make Their Buildings Bird-Friendly
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Chicago sits on the Mississippi Flyway, one of the busiest migration routes in North America. Over 250 bird species migrate through Chicago, using the lakefront, ponds, parks, street trees, and other vegetation as resting and feeding stops. On Tuesday, June 9, the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy launched the Make Your Building Bird-Friendly Chicago Toolkit. Created in collaboration between Chairwoman Hadden’s Chicago Bird-Friendly Working Group and Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy staff, the toolkit is filled with research and guidance provided by community leaders and experts in the bird-friendly building movement. This toolkit provides residents with an easy-to-use guide to help prevent bird collisions, injuries, and deaths and is an important next step in environmental conservation for the City of Chicago.
In July 2025, the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy held a subject-matter hearing on bird-friendly building design. During this hearing, a panel of experts discussed a variety of simple changes residents could implement to support birds on their migration path through Chicago. Following the hearing, Chair Hadden formed the Bird-Friendly Working Group— comprised of representatives from Studio Gang, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, Bird Friendly Chicago, The Nature Conservancy, Skyline Glass, Field Museum, American Bird Conservancy, the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, BOMA/Chicago, 1st Ward Alderman Daniel La Spata, 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins, and 30th Ward Alderwoman Ruth Cruz — to help craft policy and make bird-friendly design accessible to residents across Chicago. Starting in November 2025, the committee and working group began shaping what has now become the Make Your Building Bird Friendly Chicago Toolkit.
Neighboring cities, including Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, have already implemented bird-friendly design policies. Chicagoans now have the opportunity to join a growing movement to create safer, healthier cities for birds and people alike. We invite you to be part of that movement! Visit bit.ly/chibfd to learn more.
Make Your Building Bird Friendly Chicago Toolkit was published in tandem with the introduction of the bird-friendly design ordinance, which would require bird-friendly design features to be incorporated into new construction in the City of Chicago. The ordinance was referred to the Committee on Committees and Rules, where it remains, and Chairwoman Hadden and the coalition are engaging with stakeholders to gather additional feedback as they strategize on a pathway towards passage.
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Park District Publishes Chicago Lakefront Shoreline Conditions Assessment
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The record-high lake levels and severe storm damage in 2020 resulted in widespread damage to Chicago’s iconic shoreline. As lake levels continue to fluctuate and with the continued risk of severe storms, the shoreline and Chicago Park District are presented with a unique set of risks.
The Park District developed a long-term plan to help guide investment in lakefront repair, maintenance and increased resiliency, which can be leveraged for future partnerships with Federal, State and Local funding partners. This report details an inventory and physical condition of shoreline protection features across the lakefront, such as revetments and beaches. The inventory and condition were documented through extensive drone footage and on-site visits by engineering experts. This information, paired with local stakeholder and District staff interviews and contextual data, was used to develop sets of needs and opportunities for both the Chicago shoreline and individual segments of the lakefront.
To view the report and learn more, visit chicagoparkdistrict.com/lakefront.
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Help Your Tree Grow with these Tips from the Urban Forestry Advisory Board
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The subcommittee on outreach and education for the Urban Forestry Advisory Board is sharing tips to help our urban canopy thrive. Trees play a vital role in stormwater management and urban heat island mitigation. By following these simple tips, we can help grow our trees to be resilient and healthy.
 Show Your Trees Some Love: Mulch Like a Donut, Not a Volcano
Proper mulching is one of the simplest ways to care for a tree. Follow the 3-3-3 Rule: apply mulch 3 inches deep, in a 3-foot-wide circle, while keeping it 3 inches away from the trunk. This creates a donut-shaped mulch ring that helps trees thrive.
A properly mulched tree benefits from improved moisture retention, moderated soil temperatures, reduced weed competition, and protection against damage from lawn mowers and string trimmers.
Avoid creating "mulch volcanoes" by piling mulch against the trunk. Excess mulch around the base of a tree can trap moisture against the bark, encourage decay, promote circling roots, and create conditions favorable to pests and diseases.
Spending a few minutes flattening a mulch volcano into a donut-shaped ring can help prevent common tree health issues and support long-term growth.
Watering Reminder for Newly Planted Trees
Newly planted trees need regular watering to establish strong, healthy root systems and give them the best chance of long-term survival—especially during dry periods and drought conditions.
To support healthy growth and establishment, provide 10–15 gallons of water each week at the base of the tree—about 2–3 five-gallon buckets. Water slowly and deeply so the moisture penetrates the soil and reaches the developing roots rather than running off the surface. During drought periods, watering can also help established trees stay healthy.
Consistent watering during the first few years after planting is one of the most important steps you can take to help your tree thrive.
More information can be found here.
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Register Your Native Pollinator Garden
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The Department of Streets and Sanitation launched its native and pollinator garden registry. Native and pollinator gardens help to support local wildlife and ecosystems. They also help act as a natural defense against erosion and help manage stormwater.
To review the native and pollinator garden guidelines and register yours, click here.
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Greencorps Chicago is Now Recruiting!
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Greencorps Chicago is the City of Chicago’s green industry job training program for individuals with barriers to employment. Greencorps Chicago is currently recruiting potential candidates for this year’s Employment & Training Program. More information and how to apply can be found on the attached flyer and at https://greencorpschicago.org/how-to-apply/.
During the nine-month program, Greencorps Chicago trainees earn a starting wage of $18.50. Greencorps Chicago trainees receive practical experience, professional development, and classroom & field training in a variety of environmentally-related jobs with skills that are easily transferable to other industries. Trainees are offered several professional certifications, including Defensive Driving, First Aid/CPR, HAZWOPER, OSHA 10-Hour Safety, Chicago Wilderness Prescription Burn Class, and the Illinois Pesticide license. Throughout the program, trainees are supported with wrap-around social services, a stable income, and assistance in finding full-time employment upon completion of the program.
For more info, please see: https://greencorpschicago.org/how-to-apply/.
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Reduce Your Carbon Footprint By Signing Up for the Citywide Composting Program
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In the fall of 2023, the Department of Street and Sanitation (DSS) announced its first-ever citywide composting initiative, a Food Scrap Drop-Off program, which allows all Chicago residents to bring their household food scraps to a drop-off location located throughout the city.
Since rolling out the program, over 6,000 households have signed up to participate, and over 300 tons of food have been diverted from landfills! That is the equivalent of approximately 24,000 gallons of gasoline!
Due to the success of the program, Streets and Sanitation expanded its drop-off locations to include three more sites, for a total of 20 sites across the city, including one at 6447 N. Ravenswood Avenue in Rogers Park! Participation is easy! Simply sign up for a nearby drop-off location, collect food in sealed containers, and bring the collected materials to the green carts at the drop-off sites. Upon collection, these materials are transferred to a composting facility, where food scraps are processed into compost, a valuable product that looks and smells like rich soil and can be used to improve soil health.
The 20 food scrap drop-off sites are:
- Avondale – 3143 N. Rockwell St
- Belmont Cragin – 5605 W. Grand Ave
- Bowmanville – 5333 N. Western Ave
- Brighton Park – 3359 S. Maplewood Ave
- Edgewater – 5853 N. Broadway
- Englewood – 611 W. 69th St
- Garfield Ridge – 5600 S. Central Ave
- Grand Boulevard – 4352 S. Cottage Grove Ave
- Irving Park – 4605 W. Lawrence Ave
- Logan Square –2460 W. Cortland
- Lower West Side – 1944 W. Cullerton St
- Morgan Park – 11059 S. Homewood Ave
- Near South Side – 1758 S. Clark St
- North Lawndale - 1817 S. Pulaski Rd
- Norwood Park – 6453 W. Higgins Ave
- Pullman - 1012 E. 103rd St
- Rogers Park - 6447 N. Ravenswood
- West Edelson – 3720 W. 55th St
- West Englewood – 1756 W. 74th St
- West Town – 2505 W. Grand Ave
All kinds of food scraps are accepted with the program, including meat, bones, and dairy, as well as fruit and vegetable scraps and old leftovers. A full list of accepted and unaccepted items is available here.
Food in our landfills contributes more to methane emissions than any other landfill materials. Composting is one simple way that Chicago can reduce its emissions while enriching our soil for future produce.
For more information on recycling and the Food Scrap Drop-Off program, including drop-off sites and where to sign up, please visit www.chicagorecycles.org and view the educational video.
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Follow the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy on Social Media!
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Chairwoman Hadden launched social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook for the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy!
Make sure to follow these accounts to stay updated on:
- Updates on EPE happenings
- Legislative progress
- Committee Hearings
- Urban Forestry Board updates
- Shoreline Advisory Board Updates
- City Council Recaps
- And more!
- Environmental Justice News
- Local, State, Federal and Global updates!
- City Council Happenings
- Recap videos
- Updates on important legislative happenings
You can find us on Instagram @chicagoepe and on Facebook at Chicago Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy.
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