Shared Cost Sidewalk Program The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program offers an opportunity for owner/occupants to share the cost of replacing sidewalks with the City. This voluntary program allows residents to replace sidewalks at a much lower cost than if they were to hire a private contractor. The program covers the main walk, the courtesy walk, and existing catwalks/landing steps (the narrow strip of concrete adjacent to some curbs). Owner-occupants of corner houses will be charged for both the main (address) side and the sidewalk on the side of the house. CDOT will build ADA-compliant ramps where applicable, with the City paying the entire cost of the ramps. The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program is very popular and is handled on a first-come, first served basis when the program opens in January. The funds are limited and the program closes for the year once the funds are allocated. The Department of Transportation typically announces when the program will open in mid-December. Keep your eye on my weekly e-newsletter and this website for that announcement. Please note that if you applied for the program in previous years, you must apply again when it re-opens. Applications will only be accepted through the City’s 311 system or at the city’s Shared Cost Sidewalk website . Owner information and the property address must be provided at the time of the request. Further information on the program is available by clicking here .

Community Calendar

Street Sweeping The Department of Streets and Sanitation sweep the city’s streets April through mid-November, weather permitting. The city hangs bright orange temporary parking restrictions the day before sweeping service is scheduled to begin. Those who fail to move their vehicle between the restricted hours, between 9 am and 2 pm, will be eligible to receive a $60 ticket. The street sweeping schedule is available to view on the map below. You can also click the brackets located in the top right-hand corner to open the map in Google Maps or by clicking here . Sign Up for Street Sweeping Alerts We The Sweeple (formerly Sweep Around Us) is a third-party website that allows Chicagoans to sign up for email notifications whenever street sweeping is scheduled on their street. The website pulls information from the publicly available street sweeping schedule on the Department of Streets and Sanitation's website. Simply visit wethesweeple.com , enter your address, and then sign up for email alerts so you don't inadvertently miss a scheduled street sweeping on your block. Those who signed up for alerts in previous years will need to re-subscribe.

City Council Redistricting Updates May 14, 2022 After months at stalemate, your City Council has drafted a new city ward map with the necessary support to pass. We held a subject matter hearing on the map which was released earlier this week. We will vote on the map during a special City Council Meeting on Monday at 11:30am. You can watch the meeting live via ChiCityClerk.com. There is also room for limited in person attendance and you can find info about attending in person on the Clerk's site as well. The proposed 49th ward won't have many changes at all. We maintain the same borders with the 48th and 50th wards that we've had for the previous decade and take on a small portion of the 40th ward that squares off our southwest corner, extending us to Clark St. and Devon Ave and will fully enclose the Rogers Park neighborhood in the 49th Ward. The remapping process has been a daunting one to navigate and there is much to improve on the public engagement side of it. The Peoples' Map process and commissioner process has shown us what robust community engagement can look like and I believe that City Council should follow their example in redesigning our process. I was happy to encourage our residents' participation in the Peoples' Map process and to take input from it in working on our ward map. Not all alderpersons did this. Maybe we can change our or process to require it. Despite the flaws, I still stand by my statements that the redistricting process through the Rules Committee has been the most collaborative exercises that I've experienced in City Council so far. Thank you to everyone who met with me, attended meetings, sent in map drafts and shared feedback with my office. I look forward to continue pushing your City Council to be more accountable, transparent and ethical. You may view the updated Chicago United map on the Committee on Rules' My Districting Tool website by clicking here . December 17, 2021 The Committee on Committees and Rules will host a series of public hearings on the City Council's redistricting process in January. The hearings are scheduled for: Thursday, January 6, at 10 am Tuesday, January 11, at 1 pm Thursday, January 14, at 10 am Friday, January 21, at 10 am Residents may submit written feedback ahead of a public hearing. Written feedback should be submitted via email to committeeoncommitteesandrules@cityofchicago.org . Specific deadlines for public comment will be detailed on the notices for the meetings, which are available to view on the City's Legistar website. Additionally, residents can sign up to speak during the public comment period at a hearing. To sign up for the public comment period, individuals should call 312-744-6800 and leave a voice message with their name and telephone number. Requests for public comments are accepted from 12:01 am the Monday before the scheduled meeting until 8 am on the day before the scheduled meeting. Anyone who wants to participate in the public comment period must be available at 10 am on the day of the meeting and have access to a touch-tone telephone. More information on how to sign up for public comments for a committee meeting is available on the City Clerk's website. Finally, you can stream the public hearing on the City Clerk's website at chicityclerk.com . December 6, 2021 On Wednesday, December 1, Chairman Michele Harris of the Committee on Committee and Rules introduced a proposed ward map , just meeting the December 1 deadline to introduce an ordinance. The map(s) in question: The map introduced by Chairman Harris is the product of 36 members of the City Council who signed on to the Committee's remapping process, which is the same process that has been used in previous redistricting processes. The proposed map includes 16 Black wards (decreasing by 2), 14 Latinx wards (increasing by 1), 15 white wards, 4 plurality wards, and 1 Asian ward (for the first time ever). In October, the Latino Caucus unveiled their own proposed map , which includes 15 Latinx wards (increasing by 2), 16 Black wards (decreasing by 2), 15 white wards, 3 plurality wards, and 1 Asian ward (for the first time ever). Another map that has been in discussion is the Peoples Map . The Peoples Map is an effort that was spearheaded by Change Illinois to have Chicagoans draw maps in an effort to take some of the politics out of the process. The coalition formed a commission and held public meetings to gain input and feedback on how the new map should be drawn. So what now? While the map was introduced this week, no vote was taken. Chairman Harris has called for additional public hearings on the proposed map in the coming weeks and months to solicit further feedback from City Council and the public. Public hearings will begin next week in the Committee on Rules, recess through the holidays, then resume in January. City Council has up until 40 days before the primary election in June to ratify a new ward boundary map. If City Council fails to pass a map, any 10 members of the City Council may file a petition to have their proposed map included as a ballot referendum. That petition must also be filed at least 40 days before the primary in June. Between now and the primary in June, 10 aldermen could file a petition with the Office of the City Clerk calling for a referendum. On Thursday, the Latino Caucus filed a petition with City Clerk Anna Valencia to have the new boundaries determined by ballot referendum during the Primary Election in June. However, if 41 aldermen vote on a map before the primary, it would nullify the referendum, and the new map would be codified. If City Council votes on the map, it would need at least 41 votes to ensure that it doesn't go to a ballot referendum (the map only requires 26 votes to pass and 34 votes to avoid a veto by the mayor). Should less than 41 aldermen vote to approve the map, 10 aldermen could file a petition with the Office of the City Clerk to have the item go before voters as a ballot referendum. They would be required to file the petition within 15 days of the passage of a map in accordance with state statute , and they cannot also vote in favor of the map during the City Council meeting. How can I submit feedback? The map introduced by Chairman Harris is available to review by clicking here . The Committee on Committees and Rules has also created a website , where the map is available to review. Residents may use a redistricting tool housed on the website to create and submit their own ward maps for consideration. Residents may submit written feedback ahead of a public hearing. Written feedback should be submitted via email to: committeeoncommitteesandrules@cityofchicago.org . Specific deadlines for public comment will be detailed on the notices for the meetings, which are available to view on the City's Legistar website . Finally, residents can sign up to speak during the public comment period at a hearing. To sign up for the public comment period, individuals should call 312-744-6800 and leave a voice message with their name and telephone number. Requests for public comments are accepted from 12:01 am the Monday before the scheduled meeting until 8 am on the day before the scheduled meeting. Anyone who wants to participate in the public comment period must be available at 10 am on the day of the meeting and have access to a touch-tone telephone. More information on how to sign up for public comments for a committee meeting is available on the City Clerk's website . When are the next hearings? Per conversations with the Committee on Rules, there will be two hearings next week. Tuesday, December 7, at 3 pm; and Friday, December 10, at 1 pm. Written public comments can be submitted to Michelle.Evans@cityofchicago.org until 10 am the day before each hearing. Official notices of the public hearing containing information on how to submit written comments are available on the City's Legistar website . The future of remapping: One of the frequent comments heard throughout this process was that it lacked transparency. While the Peoples Map solved the most significant issue of Chicago's remapping process by bringing more participation and transparency to the process, the coalition failed to include the input of alderpeople in guiding the process. Alderpeople have a unique lens into their wards that go beyond politics. Alderpeople have historical context for communities and their different needs, they're aware of infrastructure and development projects in the pipeline, and they have connections to city services. The redistricting process has been the most collaborative process that City Council has undertaken this term, and a part of what guided that process was the unique lens that alderpeople have into their communities. The solution to creating better processes and more transparency around redistricting would be a marriage of the two. The redistricting process has been a learning experience; I will take the feedback and what I learned to work with the Committee on Committee and Rules to improve the process and make it more participatory and transparent for the public.

City Council Updates Launched in the summer of 2023, this monthly newsletter will bring you up-to-speed on what's happening each month at City Hall. By signing up online , you'll also receive the weekly e-newsletter, which shares important information on infrastructure and economic development projects, community events, volunteer opportunities, and more! While you're here, scroll through the archive to review past editions of the monthly City Council Updates newsletter! 2025 Archive 2024 Archive 2023 Archive

Past Development Decisions Click on one of the images below to learn more about the development proposal and decision-making process in the 49th Ward.

Building Permits The City of Chicago does require building permits for most construction projects to ensure that our buildings are safe and comply with the Chicago Construction Code . The Department of Buildings has a robust website that can help a variety of users navigate the process of when to apply for a permit, how to apply for a permit, and estimate the costs of a permit. The Department of Buildings also has a concise Guide to Permits , which provides an overview of the permit processes for small and mid-size projects. GUIDE TO PERMITS

City Council Committees The role of an alderperson is primarily legislative. That is, aldermen are elected to pass laws to improve the quality of life for the residents of Chicago. Committees are a critical step in the democratic process where members of the City Council can focus their attention on specific issues facing the city. They provide a space where important hearings can be held to hold city departments and sister agencies accountable or to gain better insight into how the City is responding to a specific issue. Committees are tasked with drafting, reviewing, and revising legislation that comes before them before taking a vote to advance the legislation to the full City Council. Before any piece of legislation goes before the full City Council, it must first pass its respective committee. Alderwoman Hadden's other committee appointments are as follows: Committee on the Budget and Government Operations Committee on Committees and Rules Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy (Chair) Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight (Vice Chair) Committee on Health and Human Relations Committee on Housing and Real Estate Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights Committee on Public Safety The Chicago City Council meets once a month, except in August, to pass legislation after it has been through committee. The calendar for City Council meetings is available on the City Clerk's website . Residents may also learn how to sign up for public comment, attend, and live stream City Council meetings on the City Clerk's website .

Public Way Use & Sidewalk Cafes PUBLIC WAY USE PERMITS Businesses that have a sign, canopy, awning, bench, or anything else that extends over, under, or is on the public way require a Public Way Use Permit . These permits are issued by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) – Public Way Use (PWU) Unit. The permit process does require City Council approval. Business identifiers including signs, awning, canopies, and banners are also required to obtain a Department of Buildings sign construction permit in addition to the public way use permit. Only a licensed sign contractor can apply for the sign construction permit. The city does provide a list of approved contractors from which business owners can choose for the sign construction permit. Learn More & Apply SIDEWALK CAFES Sidewalk cafes are another use of the public way that requires a public way use application. Dining in a sidewalk cafe is a great way to enjoy a delicious meal in warm weather. The sidewalk cafe season runs from March 1 to December 1. To take advantage of those occasional warm days in March, it would be beneficial to submit your application in January. A Sidewalk Cafe Permit has a 9-month term, and must be applied for, and issued, every year. Businesses with an approved Sidewalk Cafe Permit must conspicuously display the permit and the approved plan on the exterior window or wall of the main entrance of the licensed retail food establishment during all hours of operation., and approved plan, must be conspicuously displayed on the exterior wall or window of the main entrance of the licensed retail food establishment during all hours of operation. Learn More & Apply

Rogers Park Business Alliance Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA ) is a 501c3 non-profit organization established in 1993. RPBA works in the areas of business, community and economic development. We employ a professional staff and are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of local business owners, residents and other stakeholders. RPBA Program Offerings Their entrepreneurial training program, GROW provides visionary entrepreneurs with the resources and tools Sustainable Rogers Park provides local businesses information, tools and connections to implement sustainable business practices. Their Glenwood Sunday Market is an award-winning farmers market, located on Glenwood Avenue between Lunt Avenue and Morse Avenue. Live Love Shop Rogers Park is their annual holiday, shop local campaign. RPBA administers three Special Service Areas offering commercial corridor revitalization to Howard Street SSA #19 , Clark/Morse/Glenwood SSA #24 , Devon Avenue SSA #43 and Sheridan Road SSA #54 .

Participatory Budgeting Cycle 15 (2025) Cycle 14 (2023-2024) Cycle 12 (2021) Cycle 11 (2020-2021) Cycle 13 (2022) Cycle 10 (2019) Mission The mission of PB is to open up civic participation to people who have never before been involved. The goals of implementing PB in Chicago wards are equity, inclusion, community building, and to make government spending more effective . Participatory Budgeting in Chicago Every year, each alderman is allocated $1.3 million in aldermanic menu funds – yes, there is literally a menu to spend on infrastructure—that is, street and sidewalk repaving, curb replacement, bike lanes, street light replacement, and other capital projects. In most wards, this money is allocated by the alderman, with varying degrees of input from city departments, staff, and residents. Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. The process was first developed in Brazil in 1989, and there are now over 1,500 participatory budgets around the world, mostly at the municipal level. The first PB process in the US was launched here in Chicago in 2009 by former 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore. Often, residents are very familiar with their neighborhoods and might have unconventional ideas that can improve their daily commute, parks, schools, and more. Participatory budgeting is a tool that taps into that resident genius and allows it an incubator space. Since taking office in 2019, Alderwoman Hadden has continued the legacy of participatory budgeting in the 49th Ward by making available $1 million of the discretionary capital funds (“menu money”) to the community to decide how to spend through the participatory budgeting (PB) process. How it Works in the 49th Ward In the 49th Ward in Chicago, the process starts with idea-collection. We collect ideas by hosting neighborhood assemblies, sharing an online submission form, and posting flyers throughout the ward prompting people to share their ideas with the office. In the 11th cycle, Alderwoman Hadden asked a broad, open-ended question to encourage residents to re-think how we can approach government with a partcipatory mindset. This question was: "if you could change one thing about our community that would make life better for you, what would it be?" Once people have submitted their ideas during the idea collection phase, they are then sent to committees made up of volunteers. Those volunteers vet the projects and conduct research on feasibility and cost. They then develop the projects so they may be placed on the ballot. In the fall, the projects proposed for the ballot are presented to the community at project expos, explaining how those projects came about and answering questions from the community. During the 11th cycle of participatory budgeting in the 49th Ward, Alderwoman Hadden implemented a new component to the process. PB49 added a new committee for policies and programs. The ballot items from this committee are not eligible for the traditional $1 million in capital infrastructure funding, but will instead help Alderwoman Hadden develop an agenda to pursue in the 49th Ward and citywide. Residents will be able to vote on different policies and programs that were submitted during the idea-collection phase during the participatory budgeting voting phase. After projects are shared with the community, all ward residents 14 and older are invited to vote on projects. Residents can either vote online or in-person during a voting event. Once the votes are tabulated and the winning projects are announced, the 49th Ward office works closely with city departments to implement them. This exciting process puts transparency into how the city spends our tax dollars and gives residents a real voice – by offering ideas and voting for specific projects – into how that money is spent in our ward. Who knows better what is needed in our ward than us?

Meet the Team! Maria Hadden (she/her/hers) ALDERWOMAN OF THE 49TH WARD CHAIRWOMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION & ENERGY Leslie Perkins (she/her/hers) CHIEF OF STAFF & POLICY DIRECTOR CONTACT FOR: Scheduling requests, media inquiries, policy information Shenicka Hohenkirk (she/her/hers) WARD DIRECTOR email: shenicka@49thward.org CONTACT FOR: Scheduling requests, ward office inquiries Clarissa Steinbrecher (she/her/hers) DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES email: clarissa@49thward.org CONTACT FOR: Constituent inquiries, landlord/tenant disputes, disabled parking permits, internships Tony Sandifer (he/him/his) MANAGER OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT email: tony@49thwar d.org CONTACT FOR: Community partnerships, participatory budgeting, block parties, other community events Zach Joseph (he/him/his) INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR email: zach@49thwar d.org CONTACT FOR: Zoning & development inquiries, community partnerships, newsletter items Caleb DeBerry (he/him/his) COORDINATOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES email: caleb@49thwar d.org CONTACT FOR: Constituent inquiries Brenna Regan (she/her/hers) COORDINATOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES email: brenna@49thward.org CONTACT FOR: Constituent inquiries Madeline Walbridge (she/her/hers) COORDINATOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES email: madeline@49thward.org CONTACT FOR: Constituent inquiries Adam "Pepe" Woznicki (he/him/his) WARD SUPERINTENDENT CONTACT FOR: Streets & Sanitation matters