(a) Whenever the city council appropriates sums of money for aldermanic expense allowance, those funds are to be used for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of an alderman's official duties and subject to the restrictions contained in this section.
(b) Expenditures may be made from aldermanic expense allowance funds for any of the following purposes:
(1) Lease or rental of office space in an alderman's ward. Payments for the rent or lease of such office space shall be reasonable when compared to similar office space available in the area in which the alderman's office is located;
(2) Lease or rental of a post office box;
(3) Lease, rental, purchase, maintenance and repair of telephones and telecommunications equipment and service;
(4) Liability, fire, casualty and theft insurance for the alderman's ward office space;
(5) Publications and printed materials, including standard reference books, newspaper and periodical subscriptions, research materials and informational publications and brochures that may be useful to an alderman in the performance of his or her official duties;
(6) Stationery and office supplies;
(7) Postage, shipping and messenger fees;
(8) Lease, purchase, maintenance or repair of office equipment, furnishings or decorations which are reasonably necessary for the performance of an alderman's official duties;
(9) Utility services, including gas, electricity and water, if such services are the responsibility of the tenant;
(10) Office maintenance expenses other than on a personal services basis, including janitorial services and minor repairs or alterations which are the responsibility of the tenant;
(11) Lease, rental, purchase, maintenance and repair of computer and data processing services, equipment and supplies;
(12) Lease, rental, purchase, maintenance and repair of printing, photocopying, photographic and audio or video recordkeeping services, equipment and supplies;
(13) Meeting costs, including rental of space, rental of a public address system, custodial services, food and beverage expenses, and advertisements; provided, that the meeting is open to the public and the primary purpose of the meeting is to discuss matters relating to the alderman's official duties;
(14) Lease or rental payments for a motor vehicle used by an alderman in connection with his or her official duties;
(15) Payments for parking fees, gasoline, insurance, repair and maintenance of a motor vehicle used by an alderman in connection with his or her official duties;
(16) Reimbursement for the cost of public transportation, taxi or livery service when incurred in connection with the performance of an alderman's official duties;
(17) Transportation and travel-related expenses for travel directly related to the conduct of official business;
(18) Consultants or professional services incurred in connection with the performance of an alderman's official duties;
(19) Educational expenses, including courses of study, seminars, information and training programs; provided, that the subject matter is directly related to the alderman's official duties;
(20) Publication of a newsletter or calendar that contains information about City services, events, recent developments, and other information pertinent to ward residents, provided such materials are made equally available to residents in the alderman’s ward upon request and have no political content. Such expense shall not be considered a gift or donation prohibited under subsection (c) of this section;
(21) Reasonable charges and fees imposed by a financial institution for the maintenance and administration of the alderman's expense allowance account;
(22) Unless prohibited or restricted by an applicable collective bargaining agreement:
(i) Expenses incurred to remove snow from the public sidewalk or courtesy walk for a resident with a demonstrated need for such services, except for expenses incurred in the removal of snow from private property; or
(ii) Expenses incurred to supplement services provided by the City of Chicago necessary to protect the health, safety, or welfare of residents, non- limiting examples of which include demolition of a dangerous structure with the prior approval of the Commissioner of Buildings, emergency tree trimming, graffiti removal, and reseeding a parkway damaged during City of Chicago maintenance activities, except that such services shall not be performed on private property to benefit that property’s owner;
(iii) Expenses incurred for the lease, rental, purchase, maintenance and repair of tools, supplies, and equipment necessary to perform services authorized in subparagraphs (23)(i) and (ii), except for the purchase of a motor vehicle as prohibited in subsection (c) of this section;
(23) Replacement residential garbage and recycling carts;
(24) Supplies provided directly to a local public school, park, or branch library. Such expenditures shall not be considered a gift or donation prohibited under subsection (c) of this section;
(25) Hosting a paper shredding or electronics recycling event, provided that such event is open to the public. Such expense shall not be considered a gift or donation prohibited under subsection (c) of this section;
(26) Rain Barrels. Such expense shall not be considered a gift or donation prohibited under subsection (c) of this section; and
(27) Payment of miscellaneous, ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of an alderman's official duties.
(c) In no event shall any aldermanic expense allowance funds be used for any of the following purposes:
(1) Purchase of real property;
(2) Capital improvements or other improvements to leased or rented property, which are permanently affixed or attached to the leased or rented property and considered to be a fixture to the property;
(3) Purchase of a motor vehicle. For purposes of this subsection, motor vehicle does not include an "all-terrain vehicle", as that term is defined in 625 ILCS 5/1-101.8, that is used to perform the services identified in subsection (b)(23) of this section;
(4) Personal, political or campaign-related expenses;
(5) Expenses related to any business, profession or occupation in which the alderman, any relative of the alderman or any member of the alderman's staff may be engaged;
(7) Advertising, other than advertising for public meetings or for employment of staff as specified in subsection (a)(20) of this section;
(8) For trophies, awards, gifts or donations, of any kind.
(Added Coun. J. 4-12-91, p. 32865; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 98805, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-18-19, p. 11694, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-18-19, p. 11697, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-20-22, p. 50561, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. IV, § 1)