• LOBBYIST means any individual who, on behalf of any other person contacts or communicates directly with a City official or employee to influence any administrative action or legislative action.

Provided, however, that an individual shall not be deemed to be a lobbyist solely: (1) by submitting an application for, or corresponding solely as to the status of, a City registration, certificate, permit, or license; or (2) by responding to a City request for proposals or qualifications; or (3) by seeking municipal services generally available to residents of the City, including, but not limited to, seeking establishment or modification of water, sewer, or garbage service, seeking review of a water or sewer bill believed to be in error, seeking parkway tree trimming services, seeking to have a pothole filled, seeking graffiti removal services, or seeking a temporary street closure in connection with a neighborhood block party. It shall not constitute lobbying as defined here for an individual who is paid on a contingent or commission basis for the good faith sale of goods or services to contact a City official or employee regarding the purchase by the City of such goods or services, provided that such individual is contacting only those City official or employees who have responsibility for making purchasing decisions regarding such goods or services in the normal course of business.

The term "lobbyist" shall include, but is not limited to, any attorney, accountant, or consultant engaged in lobbying; provided, however, that an attorney shall not be considered a lobbyist while representing clients in a formal adversarial hearing. An individual who seeks to influence administrative action or legislative action on behalf of a not-for-profit entity shall be deemed a lobbyist only if: (1) such individual: (A) is paid or otherwise compensated for those efforts; or (B) undertakes those efforts as a matter of professional engagement, regardless of pay or other compensation; and (2) such not-for-profit entity has both an operating budget and net assets or fund balances of five million dollars or more.

The term “lobbyist” shall not include: (1) any employee or official of another government unit who engages in lobbying on behalf of that government unit; or (2) an individual who: (A) attends a meeting with an employee or official simply to provide technical information or address technical questions; (B) attends a meeting to provide clerical or administrative assistance (including audio-visual, translation, interpretation and or sign language assistance); (C) attends a meeting to observe for educational purposes; or (D) plays no role in the strategy, planning, messaging, or other substantive aspect of the overall lobbying effort.

• PERSON means any individual, entity, corporation, partnership, firm, association, union, trust, estate, as well as any parent or subsidiary of any of the foregoing, whether or not operated for profit.
• LEGISLATIVE ACTION means any engagement with the ability to influence an outcome by a member of the City Council or a City Council employee on any legislation.
• LEGISLATION means matter pending in, or proposed for introduction into, or otherwise eligible for consideration or enactment by in the City Council or a committee or other subdivision thereof, including but not limited to ordinances, resolutions, orders, appointments, and claims.
• ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION means any engagement with the ability to influence an outcome, other than through the legislative process, by any agency or City official or employee on: (1) a rule; (2) a rate or fee; (3) a bond inducement matter; (4) a zoning matter; (5) a concession or franchise agreement; (6) the creation of a tax increment financing district; (7) the expression of support for a favorable Cook County property tax classification; (8) the acquisition, lease, license, or disposition by the City of any interest in real, personal, or intellectual property; (9) the procurement of goods, services, or construction, including the preparation or modification of contract specifications, or the solicitation or award of a contract; (10) the solicitation or award of a grant, loan, or agreement involving the disbursement of public monies; (11) the expression of support for, or opposition to, the enactment of any local, State or federal legislation, rule, or regulation; or (12) the interpretation of any local, State, or federal law, rule, or regulation.
• AGENCY means the City Council, any committee or other subdivision thereof, any City department or other administrative unit, commission, board, or other division of the government of the City.
• COMPENSATION means money, thing of value or other pecuniary benefit received or to be received in return for, or as reimbursement for, services rendered or to be rendered.
• EXPENDITURE means a payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value.
• PROFESSIONAL SERVICES means services in any occupation requiring advanced or specialized education and training, including without limitation law, accounting, insurance, real estate, engineering, medicine, architecture, dentistry, banking, finance, public relations, education or consulting.
• GIFT means any thing of value given without fair-market consideration.
• GRASSROOTS LOBBYING COMMUNICATION means correspondence to members of the public that solicits or encourages communication to a City official, employee, or agency for the purpose of influencing an administrative or legislative action.
• GRASSROOTS LOBBYING EVENT means any organized activity sponsored by a not-for-profit entity that is intended to influence an administrative action or legislative action of a City employee, official, or agency by inviting participants to a location where City employees or officials are accessible.
• NET ASSETS OR FUND BALANCES means the total amount reported on United States Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service Form 990 for the line “Net assets or fund balances.”
• OPERATING BUDGET means the total amount reported on United States Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service Form 990 for the line “Total expenses.”
• SELF-DEFENSE COMMUNICATION means contact or communication by, or on behalf of, a not-for profit entity with a City official or employee regarding administrative action or legislative action that potentially harms, diminishes, or eliminates: (1) the existence of the entity; (2) the powers and duties of the entity; or (3) the tax-exempt status of the entity or tax deductibility of contributions made to the entity.
• TEMPORARY YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM means any summer or other temporary youth employment program through which persons aged 24 or younger are employed by, or engaged in employment coordinated by, a not-for-profit entity or governmental entity.
• TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM means any temporary employment program through which persons with unsuccessful employment histories or members of statistically hard-to-employ populations, such as formerly homeless persons, the long-term unemployed, and formerly incarcerated persons, are provided temporary paid employment and case-managed services under a program administered by a not-for-profit entity or governmental entity, with the goal of transitioning program participants into non-temporary employment.