About the Alderman   >  Legislative Accomplishments

The following is a list of the legislative measures Alderman Banks has sponsored or co-sponsored during his term as Alderman of the 36 th Ward.

FLAG DISPOSAL ORDINANCE, establishing Chicago Public Libraries, Firehouses and Police Stations as locations where old flags can be dropped off.  This ordinance was passed on June 28, 2006 following a suggestion at the Flag Day Parade.

CHICAGO ZONING CODE,  Ald. Banks served as Chairman of the Mayor's Zoning Reform Commission that oversaw the rewrite of the Chicagp Zoning Code.  The newly revised rewritten code was approved in April 2004 and became law in November 2004.

ANTI-AMMUNITION ORDINANCE, restricting the sale of ammunition in the city of Chicago.

ANTI-CRUISING ORDINANCE, which helped control and eventually solve the problems of traffic control and abuse on North Harlem Avenue in the 36 th Ward.

ANTI-GANG LOITERING ORDINANCE, making it a crime for individuals “believed to be criminal gang members” to loiter in any public place.

ANTI-SOLICITATION ORDINANCE, requiring door to door peddlers to register with the Police Department. This ordinance is pending in City Council.

CHICAGO'S BUY AMERICAN POLICY.

CHICAGO LINKED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, setting forth the means to achieve balanced growth between the Central Area and the neighborhoods of Chicago. This ordinance is pending in City Council.

CODE ENFORCEMENT BUREAU ORDINANCE creating a Code Enforcement Bureau within the Department of Zoning to expedite the prosecution and correction of the Municipal Code.

CURFEW ORDINANCE, allowing police to arrest curfew violators and hold them until a parent or guardian arrives.

DEBTORS ORDINANCE, requiring any person doing business with the City of Chicago to pay in full any debts, bills, taxes or judgments due to the City of Chicago before doing business with the City of Chicago.

DRESS CODE ORDINANCE restricting the dress allowed in Chicago Public Schools to decrease the display of gang colors in schools. This ordinance is pending in City Council.

DRUG PARAPHERNALIA ORDINANCE causing revocation or suspension of business licenses issued by the City to those parties found delivering, furnishing or transferring drug paraphernalia.

FALSE BURGLAR ALARM ORDINANCE, placing penalties on businesses throughout the City for bogus calls. This will help reduce the estimated 300,000 false burglar alarm calls each year.

GARAGE SALE ORDINANCE requires a permit for a garage sale and limits such sales to three (3) year.

GOVERMENTAL ETHICS ORDINANCE. This code amendment cites as a misdemeanor the willful reporting of erroneous information or accusations. It also requires Aldermen and other elected officials to disclose specific information.

HOME EQUITY ORDINANCE, which created a special service area on the northwest side of Chicago guaranteeing home equity.

HOMEOWNER FLOOD CONTROL CODE AMENDMENTS mandating a five-year service charge exemption to homeowners investing in Flood Control Systems. This amendment is pending in City Council.

ILLEGAL CONVERSION ORDINANCE requiring any person found in violation of the Building Code to remove any alterations made to increase living units in a building.

36TH WARD LIQUOR MORATORIUM, restricting new licenses. Only packaged sales, banquet facilities and restaurants are allowed to apply for a liquor license. No new taverns are allowed in the Ward under this ordinance.

OVERWEIGHT TRUCK ORDINANCE, authorizing the Department of Consumer Service to set up portable scales to catch over-loaded trucks and fine them, increasing revenue and protecting the City's infrastructure.

PARAMEDIC RESOLUTION calling for an increase in the number of paramedic units in the City of Chicago. The 36 th Ward received the City's first new fire truck fully equipped with apparatus identical with an ambulance.

PERIODIC RANDOM TESTING ORDINANCE, calling for the random testing of City employees for drugs and alcohol, mandating suspension and possible termination in extreme cases.

RECYCLING ORDINANCE established new and innovative procedures for trash disposal in Chicago.

RESIDENTIAL ADVERTISING SIGN ORDINANCE. This ordinance reduced and regulated the size and construction of advertising signs in residential areas. This ordinance is pending in City Council.

VEHICLE STICKER ORDINANCE allowing enforcement and fines for vehicles not having a vehicle sticker, even if the vehicle is parked.

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE POINTS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT allowing those who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for a six-month period and who have not been dishonorably discharged to receive points in the hiring selection.

WATER BILL ORDINANCE, requiring payment of any and all outstanding water bills before the sale of any property is completed.

WATER BILL CODE AMENDMENTS setting exemptions for senior citizens living in condos, co-ops or townhomes, in addition to exemptions for senior citizens who are owner-occupants of specific multiple dwelling units and two-flats.

ZONING COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION ORDINANCE requiring all parties selling property in the City of Chicago to file a Zoning Compliance Certificate declaring the number of legal units a property has. This has been very effective in slowing the spread of illegal conversions.