70 ILCS 210/5

(70 ILCS 210/5) (from Ch. 85, par. 1225)

Sec. 5. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority shall also have the following rights and powers:

(a) To accept from Chicago Park Fair, a corporation, an assignment of whatever sums of money it may have received from the Fair and Exposition Fund, allocated by the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois, and Chicago Park Fair is hereby authorized to assign, set over and transfer any of those funds to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. The Authority has the right and power hereafter to receive sums as may be distributed to it by the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois from the Fair and Exposition Fund pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5, 6i, and 28 of the State Finance Act. All sums received by the Authority shall be held in the sole custody of the secretary-treasurer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Board.

(b) To accept the assignment of, assume and execute any contracts heretofore entered into by Chicago Park Fair.

(c) To acquire, own, construct, equip, lease, operate and maintain grounds, buildings and facilities to carry out its corporate purposes and duties, and to carry out or otherwise provide for the recreational, cultural, commercial or residential development of Navy Pier, and to fix and collect just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory charges for the use thereof. The charges so collected shall be made available to defray the reasonable expenses of the Authority and to pay the principal of and the interest upon any revenue bonds issued by the Authority. The Authority shall be subject to and comply with the Lake Michigan and Chicago Lakefront Protection Ordinance, the Chicago Building Code, the Chicago Zoning Ordinance, and all ordinances and regulations of the City of Chicago contained in the following Titles of the Municipal Code of Chicago: Businesses, Occupations and Consumer Protection; Health and Safety; Fire Prevention; Public Peace, Morals and Welfare; Utilities and Environmental Protection; Streets, Public Ways, Parks, Airports and Harbors; Electrical Equipment and Installation; Housing and Economic Development (only Chapter 5-4 thereof); and Revenue and Finance (only so far as such Title pertains to the Authority's duty to collect taxes on behalf of the City of Chicago).

(d) To enter into contracts treating in any manner with the objects and purposes of this Act.

(e) To lease any buildings to the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois for the use of the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Naval Militia.

(f) To exercise the right of eminent domain by condemnation proceedings in the manner provided by the Eminent Domain Act, including, with respect to Site B only, the authority to exercise quick take condemnation by immediate vesting of title under Article 20 of the Eminent Domain Act, to acquire any privately owned real or personal property and, with respect to Site B only, public property used for rail transportation purposes (but no such taking of such public property shall, in the reasonable judgment of the owner, interfere with such rail transportation) for the lawful purposes of the Authority in Site A, at Navy Pier, and at Site B. Just compensation for property taken or acquired under this paragraph shall be paid in money or, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act and with the agreement of the owner of the property to be taken or acquired, the Authority may convey substitute property or interests in property or enter into agreements with the property owner, including leases, licenses, or concessions, with respect to any property owned by the Authority, or may provide for other lawful forms of just compensation to the owner. Any property acquired in condemnation proceedings shall be used only as provided in this Act. Except as otherwise provided by law, the City of Chicago shall have a right of first refusal prior to any sale of any such property by the Authority to a third party other than substitute property. The Authority shall develop and implement a relocation plan for businesses displaced as a result of the Authority's acquisition of property. The relocation plan shall be substantially similar to provisions of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act and regulations promulgated under that Act relating to assistance to displaced businesses. To implement the relocation plan the Authority may acquire property by purchase or gift or may exercise the powers authorized in this subsection (f), except the immediate vesting of title under Article 20 of the Eminent Domain Act, to acquire substitute private property within one mile of Site B for the benefit of displaced businesses located on property being acquired by the Authority. However, no such substitute property may be acquired by the Authority unless the mayor of the municipality in which the property is located certifies in writing that the acquisition is consistent with the municipality's land use and economic development policies and goals. The acquisition of substitute property is declared to be for public use. In exercising the powers authorized in this subsection (f), the Authority shall use its best efforts to relocate businesses within the area of McCormick Place or, failing that, within the City of Chicago.

(g) To enter into contracts relating to construction projects which provide for the delivery by the contractor of a completed project, structure, improvement, or specific portion thereof, for a fixed maximum price, which contract may provide that the delivery of the project, structure, improvement, or specific portion thereof, for the fixed maximum price is insured or guaranteed by a third party capable of completing the construction.

(h) To enter into agreements with any person with respect to the use and occupancy of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority, including concession, license, and lease agreements on terms and conditions as the Authority determines. Notwithstanding Section 24, agreements with respect to the use and occupancy of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority for a term of more than one year shall be entered into in accordance with the procurement process provided for in Section 25.1.

(i) To enter into agreements with any person with respect to the operation and management of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority or the provision of goods and services on terms and conditions as the Authority determines.

(j) After conducting the procurement process provided for in Section 25.1, to enter into one or more contracts to provide for the design and construction of all or part of the Authority's Expansion Project grounds, buildings, and facilities. Any contract for design and construction of the Expansion Project shall be in the form authorized by subsection (g), shall be for a fixed maximum price not in excess of the funds that are authorized to be made available for those purposes during the term of the contract, and shall be entered into before commencement of construction.

(k) To enter into agreements, including project agreements with labor unions, that the Authority deems necessary to complete the Expansion Project or any other construction or improvement project in the most timely and efficient manner and without strikes, picketing, or other actions that might cause disruption or delay and thereby add to the cost of the project.

(l) To provide incentives to organizations and entities that agree to make use of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority for conventions, meetings, or trade shows. The incentives may take the form of discounts from regular fees charged by the Authority, subsidies for or assumption of the costs incurred with respect to the convention, meeting, or trade show, or other inducements. The Authority shall award incentives to attract or retain conventions, meetings, and trade shows under the terms set forth in this subsection (l) from amounts appropriated to the Authority from the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund for this purpose.

No later than May 15 of each year, the Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority shall certify to the State Comptroller and the State Treasurer the amounts of incentive grant funds used, including incentive grant funds used for future events under the provisions of this Section, during the current fiscal year to provide incentives for conventions, meetings, or trade shows that:

(i) have been approved by the Authority, in consultation with an organization meeting the qualifications set out in Section 5.6 of this Act, provided the Authority has entered into a marketing agreement with such an organization,

(ii)(A) for fiscal years prior to 2022 and after 2024, demonstrate registered attendance (or projected attendance for future events) in excess of 5,000 individuals or in excess of 10,000 individuals, as appropriate;

(B) for fiscal years 2022 through 2024, demonstrate registered attendance (or projected attendance for future events) in excess of 3,000 individuals or in excess of 5,000 individuals, as appropriate; or

(C) for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, regardless of registered attendance, demonstrate incurrence of costs associated with mitigation of COVID-19, including, but not limited to, costs for testing and screening, contact tracing and notification, personal protective equipment, and other physical and organizational costs, and

(iii) in the case of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (ii), but for the incentive, would not have used (or, in the case of a future event, committed to use) the facilities of the Authority for the convention, meeting, or trade show. The State Comptroller may request that the Auditor General conduct an audit of the accuracy of the certification. If the State Comptroller determines by this process of certification that incentive funds, in whole or in part, were disbursed by the Authority by means other than in accordance with the standards of this subsection (l), then any amount transferred to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund shall be reduced during the next subsequent transfer in direct proportion to that amount determined to be in violation of the terms set forth in this subsection (l).

On July 15, 2012, the Comptroller shall order transferred, and the Treasurer shall transfer, into the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund from the General Revenue Fund the sum of $7,500,000 plus an amount equal to the incentive grant funds certified by the Chief Executive Officer as having been lawfully paid under the provisions of this Section in the previous 2 fiscal years that have not otherwise been transferred into the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund, provided that transfers in excess of $15,000,000 shall not be made in any fiscal year.

On July 15, 2013, the Comptroller shall order transferred, and the Treasurer shall transfer, into the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund from the General Revenue Fund the sum of $7,500,000 plus an amount equal to the incentive grant funds certified by the Chief Executive Officer as having been lawfully paid under the provisions of this Section in the previous fiscal year that have not otherwise been transferred into the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund, provided that transfers in excess of $15,000,000 shall not be made in any fiscal year.

On July 15, 2014, and every year thereafter, the Comptroller shall order transferred, and the Treasurer shall transfer, into the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund from the General Revenue Fund an amount equal to the incentive grant funds certified by the Chief Executive Officer as (i) having been lawfully paid under the provisions of this Section in the previous fiscal year or incurred by the Authority for a future event under the provisions of this Section and (ii) not otherwise having been transferred into the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund, provided that (1) no transfers with respect to any previous fiscal year shall be made after the transfer has been made with respect to the 2017 fiscal year until the transfer that is made for the 2022 fiscal year and thereafter, and no transfers with respect to any previous fiscal year shall be made after the transfer has been made with respect to the 2026 fiscal year, and (2) transfers in excess of $15,000,000 shall not be made in any fiscal year.

After a transfer has been made under this subsection (l), the Chief Executive Officer shall file a request for payment with the Comptroller evidencing that the incentive grants have been made and the Comptroller shall thereafter order paid, and the Treasurer shall pay, the requested amounts to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.

Excluding any amounts related to the payment of costs associated with the mitigation of COVID-19 in accordance with this subsection (l), in no case shall more than $5,000,000 be used in any one year by the Authority for incentives granted to conventions, meetings, or trade shows with a registered attendance (or projected attendance for future events) of (1) more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 prior to the 2022 fiscal year and after the 2024 fiscal year and (2) more than 3,000 and less than 5,000 for fiscal years 2022 through 2024. Amounts in the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund shall only be used by the Authority for incentives paid to attract or retain conventions, meetings, and trade shows as provided in this subsection (l).

"Future event" means a convention, meeting, or trade show that executed an agreement during the fiscal year to use the facilities of the Authority after fiscal year 2026; provided that the agreement is entered into with the Authority or with an organization that meets the qualifications set out in Section 5.6 of this Act and that has entered into a marketing agreement with the Authority.

(l-5) The Village of Rosemont shall provide incentives from amounts transferred into the Convention Center Support Fund to retain and attract conventions, meetings, or trade shows to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center under the terms set forth in this subsection (l-5).

No later than May 15 of each year, the Mayor of the Village of Rosemont or his or her designee shall certify to the State Comptroller and the State Treasurer the amounts of incentive grant funds used during the previous fiscal year to provide incentives for conventions, meetings, or trade shows that (1) have been approved by the Village, (2) demonstrate registered attendance in excess of 5,000 individuals, and (3) but for the incentive, would not have used the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center facilities for the convention, meeting, or trade show. The State Comptroller may request that the Auditor General conduct an audit of the accuracy of the certification.

If the State Comptroller determines by this process of certification that incentive funds, in whole or in part, were disbursed by the Village by means other than in accordance with the standards of this subsection (l-5), then the amount transferred to the Convention Center Support Fund shall be reduced during the next subsequent transfer in direct proportion to that amount determined to be in violation of the terms set forth in this subsection (l-5).

On July 15, 2012, and each year thereafter, the Comptroller shall order transferred, and the Treasurer shall transfer, into the Convention Center Support Fund from the General Revenue Fund the amount of $5,000,000 for (i) incentives to attract large conventions, meetings, and trade shows to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, and (ii) to be used by the Village of Rosemont for the repair, maintenance, and improvement of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and for debt service on debt instruments issued for those purposes by the village. No later than 30 days after the transfer, the Comptroller shall order paid, and the Treasurer shall pay, to the Village of Rosemont the amounts transferred.

(m) To enter into contracts with any person conveying the naming rights or other intellectual property rights with respect to the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority.

(n) To enter into grant agreements with the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau providing for the marketing of the convention facilities to large and small conventions, meetings, and trade shows and the promotion of the travel industry in the City of Chicago, provided such agreements meet the requirements of Section 5.6 of this Act. Receipts of the Authority from the increase in the airport departure tax authorized in subsection (f) of Section 13 of this Act by Public Act 96-898 and, subject to appropriation to the Authority, funds deposited in the Chicago Travel Industry Promotion Fund pursuant to Section 6 of the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act shall be granted to the Bureau for such purposes.

For Fiscal Year 2023 only, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall enter into the grant agreements described in this subsection in place of the Authority. The grant agreements entered into by the Department and the Bureau under this subsection are not subject to the matching funds requirements or the other terms and conditions of Section 605-705 of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Subject to appropriation, funds transferred into the Chicago Travel Industry Promotion Fund pursuant to subsection (f) of Section 6z-121 of the State Finance Act shall be granted to the Bureau for the purposes described in this subsection. The Department shall have authority to make expenditures from the Chicago Travel Industry Promotion Fund solely for the purpose of providing grants to the Bureau.

(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)