​Cook County Board of Commissioners Committee and Board Meetings 
June 15, 16, 2022

Rules Committee June 15, 2022

• The Department of Human Rights & Ethics proposed changes  to the Cook County Board of Ethics Procedural Rules to align with the December 2021 amendments to Code of Ordinances (Item 22-3150)
• Sisavanh Baker explained the changes to the rules and regulations. Commissioners were concerned with two changes to the rules.  The first was to ensure that Commissioner were not subject to the  20-hour limitation of outside employment because they are part-time positions.   The other was the wording on how to handle reporting  campaign contributions that exceed the prescribed limit.   It was decided that the item would be deferred to next month and Ms. Baker would work with the Commissioners to clarify those two points. (Item 22-3155)

Technology Committee June 15, 2022

• Approval of the extension of the Tyler contract. This system is the comprehensive tax processing system that includes the Assessor, Board of Review, County Clerk, and County Treasurer functions. The implementation is several months behind and the August tax bills will be delayed. The extension was recommended for approval in the Technology Committee and approved by the full Board  with no discussion from the Commissioners. This renewal is the first of three optional 3-year renewal periods.
• The County will take advantage of several negotiated concessions including additional resources across various areas of the project, updated Deliverables Payment Schedule including Hold Backs. Three (3) years of Assessment Connect and Open Connect cloud-based services at no additional cost. Scope items that were originally contested by Tyler, have been included in the solution at no additional costs. Lastly, a 5-year freeze on Software Support and Maintenance payment increases.
• This contract is a collaboration between the Assessor, Clerk, Treasurer offices with the Bureau of Technology to leverage a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) centralized property tax solution.  (Item 22-2917)

Board Meeting of the Cook County Commissioners
June 16,2022

​American Rescue Plan Act Funds

• The Commissioners approved several grants from the funds in various categories. There were descriptions of the programs but no information on how the programs will be monitored and evaluated.  The only discussion was when Commissioner Sean Morrison  commented that each grant should also have a plan to measure the outcomes of the programs and to report on them.
• One example was Item 22-3550 that awarded several grants via the Justice Advisory Council.  The resolution did include this paragraph: “BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes that time is of the essence and authorizes Executive Director Avik Das and the Justice Advisory Council to negotiate and enter into the various agreements that outlines the specific metric and impact data, and compliance with all ARPA reporting and monitoring requirements with the Subrecipients listed above to implement the programs.”

County Officials Salary Increases

• The Resolution to have the Cook County Bureau of Human Resources  commission an independent Compensation and Market Survey every 4 years to determine if the current compensation of the  elected officials is in line with similarly situated positions nationwide or if increases are warranted was referred to the Finance Committee. (Item 22-4009)

Cook County Health

• Dr. LaMar Hasbrouch was approved as the Chief Operation Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health. (Item 22-3342)
• A hearing was requested on the problems with short-term and long-term nursing home availability in Cook County.  Referred to the Health and Hospital Committee. (Item 22-4009) 

Climate

• The resolution to create a special fund to ensure that 40% of any Federal assistance for climate issues and clean energy  goes to disadvantaged areas of Cook County was referred to the Finance Committee.  (Item 22-3910)

Criminal Justice

• The resolution to request a hearing in the Cook County Criminal Justice Committee to discuss the annual report of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Advisory Board on  youth  re-entry from detention in Cook County was referred the Criminal Justice Committee.  (Item22-3546)

New Flag  for Cook County
The Board of Commissioners  congratulated Drew Duffy and Martin Burciaga, the winning student and design mentor, on his design of the new flag. (Item 22-3341). Duffy's winning design features six red stars and a sideways “Y” in green and blue on a white background. The stars have seven points to represent the regions of the county, the city of Chicago and the forest preserves, and they are in red to signal social change. ​​


Observer - Kathi Graffam ​

Cook County Special Finance Committee and Special Board Meeting
May 24, 2022
 
By a vote of 13 to 4, the Finance Committee and then the Board approved Item 22-2825, which provides for a 10% increase as of the beginning of the new terms of all County Elected Officials, effective December 2022 (2024 for the Clerk of the Court).  Thereafter, the salaries will be further adjusted each year by the lower of 3% or the change in the Chicago Consumer Price Index.  Such yearly adjustments would continue until and unless there was a vote by the Board to halt or change such adjustments.  The 4 nay votes came from Commissioners Aguilar, Arroyo, Deer, and Sean Morrison.  
 
Prior to the vote, Commissioner Suffredin announced that he would be introducing an ordinance at the June Board meeting which would call for another study of salaries of comparative positions in other jurisdictions in late 2024, with any additional salary changes to be voted on by the end of March 2025.  As explained by Commissioner Suffredin, this would provide notice to any potential candidates for the elected positions of what the salaries would be effective with the new terms that would begin in 2026 and 2028.
 
The Civic Federation in verbal testimony and the League of Women Voters of Cook County in written testimony both expressed support for the salary increases for the next terms.  However, both opposed the continuation of yearly adjustments beyond the 4-year terms without further study and affirmative vote.  Expressing opposition to any salary increases was former Commissioner and current candidate for Cook County President Richard Boykin.  
 
Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting
May 12, 2022

Commissioners Anaya, Miller, and Gainer questioned Cook County Health’s Chief Executive Officer Israel Rocha concerning a proposed transfer of funds and the continuing problem of filling nursing positions.  Commissioner Gainer asked CEO Rocha to report back to this Board next month on the measures being taken to improve the hiring process.  Commissioner Sims said part of the problem is due to following all the steps required under the Shakman consent order.  CEO Rocha said his staff has been working with the Office of the Independent Inspector General to see what changes could be made.

The Board approved the following:

• Appointment of current County Comptroller Lawrence L. Wilson as Acting Chief Financial Office as of June 11 to replace Ammar Rizki who is stepping down as Chief Financial Officer on June 10.  Mr. Rizki will take that same position at the Obama Foundation. (Item 22-3267)
• An amendment to the intergovernmental agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for the County’s Office of the Independent Inspector General to continue to provide such services to the MWRD for an additional year, from May 17, 2022 to May 16, 2023. (Item 22-3020)

The Board referred to the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee:

• The proposed appointment of Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck as Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health. (Item 22-3342)  Separately, the Commissioners passes a resolution honoring Dr. Rachel Rubin and Dr. Kiran Joshi for their service as Interim Co-Leads of the Department.  (Item 22-3308)
• A proposed resolution announcing a new flag for Cook County.  However, there were blanks where the name of the flag and the designers should be.  (Item 22-341)

The Board referred to the Rules Committee:

• A resolution declaring racial or other discriminatory covenants in real estate recordings to be void pursuant to the County’s Human Rights Ordinance.  The Count Clerk has said her office stands ready to process applications to eliminate such covenants from deeds. (Item 22-3150)
• Proposed changes to the “public facing rules and regulations” of the Board of Ethics Procedural Rules as a result of the change in the County’s Ethics Ordinance.  (Item 22-3155)

The Board referred to the Technology and Innovation Committee:

• An extension of the contract with Tyler Technologies for the period of April 1, 2023 thru March 31, 2026 for an additional $8.4 million for the centralized property tax system for the Assessor, Clerk, and Treasurer.  (Item 22-2917)  This system has been a source of controversy, including in the issues regarding the delays to the 2nd installment property tax bill to be sent out this year.  
• Approval of $6.3 million for a new case management system for the State’s Attorney’s office to replace the current Juvenile Justice system that is on the main frame, as well as the Adult Criminal system (not on the main frame).  When this work is completed, the State’s Attorney will no longer have any processes on the main frame.  (Item 22-1112)

The Board referred to the Litigation Finance Subcommittee the 2022 1st Quarter Inspector General’s Report.

League Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board Finance Committee Meeting
May 11, 2022

The Commissioners agreed to consider a Substitute to replace the original version of a proposed ordinance to increase the salaries of all County elected officials.  However, the Commissioners further agreed to delay voting on the merits of the Substitute to a meeting of the Committee to be held later this month.  The League of Women Voters of Cook County, both in written and verbal testimony at this meeting had urged this delay in order to provide the public more time to review and provide input on this proposal.  (Item 22-2825)

Under the Substitute

• As set forth in a chart, the salaries of all County Elected Officials will be raised by 10% as of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 which begins in December 2022 when the new terms begin (December 2024 for the Clerk of the Court).  After the initial year, the salaries will be further adjusted by the lesser of 3% or the change in the Chicago Consumer Price Index for FY 2024, 2025 and 2026.  Such salaries have not been raised in 20 years.  The League supports these increases.
• The Substitute also provides that such yearly adjustments shall continue after FY 2026 until and unless there is a vote by the Board to eliminate or amend such increases.  The League urged the deletion of this provision stating that there should be a review and a vote for any further increases.

Also at this meeting

• Commissioner Anaya questioned the amount the County is to pay to the Court-Appointed Administrator for the Shakman case in the Assessor’s office.  Comm. Anaya noted that the amount is much higher than in the past, which surprised her as she understands that the oversight is nearing its end.  The representative from the State’s Attorney said that that office has questioned the Court-Appointed Administrator, who said that there was additional work involved to finish the case.  Comm. Silvestri suggested that the detailed bills could come before the Litigation Subcommittee for further discussion.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board Committee Meetings
May 9 and 11, 2022

May 9 Finance Committee meeting –Equity Fund

• The one agenda item was to consider specific proposals for spending $50 M from the Equity and Inclusion Special Purpose Fund.  (Item 22-2779)  The League of Women Voters of Cook County had sought confirmation that the County will identify expected outcomes, ways to measure whether the outcomes were achieved, and who and when will do the measuring, prior to approving money from the Equity Fund.  Lannetta Turner Hayes, the President’s Chief of Staff, made such commitment.  
• The proposal was recommended to be approved and was at the May 12 Board meeting.
• Much of the meeting involved presentations and speakers regarding the April 7 Equity Fund Report which contains recommendations on actions Cook County government should take to address structural barriers that prevent the meaningful advancement of equity across Cook County. Several of these were included in the proposal that was passed. 
  
• The April 7 Equity Fund Report can be found here.

May 11 Business & Economic Development Committee meeting – American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund

• A Substitute was accepted for the proposal for spending ARPA funds for specific programs under the Vital Communities category.  (Item 22-2807)  This Substitute increased the amounts for the 6 programs listed in the original, and added 2 new programs.  Xochiti Flores, the Bureau Chief of Economic Development, explained that the original version covered only this year, but the Substitute covers 3 years, and, because of the time between the April Board meeting and this meeting, two additional programs were ready for approval.  
• Funds are to be spent on implementing legal aid for housing and debt; an invest in families and youth program, primarily for the suburbs; a community conservation corps for the Forest Preserve District; capacity-building investments in food access sites program; hotel-based sheltering program for the homeless; a recovery initiative for suburban Cook County bureaus for travel, tourism, and hospitality industries; business advisory services geared toward the south suburbs; and assistance for small businesses. 
• The League sought confirmation that, as previously committed by the County, for each of these programs, the County had identified the expected outcomes, ways to measure the outcomes, and when and who will do the measuring.  Comm. Sean Morrison and Chair Bridget Gainer both expressed support, and Bureau Chief Flores agreed that the County was committed to this.  However, this observer did not hear confirmation that this information had been submitted to the Commissioners prior to their vote to recommend approval of this item (which the Board approved on May 12).

May 11 Human Relations Committee meeting – Transgender Issues

• This meeting was a hearing to discuss violence and systematic barriers against Cook County transgender residents. (Item 22-2788)
• Several public speakers detailed why such a hearing was necessary.  Then speakers from Cook County Health, the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Human Resources, the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Justice Advisory Council spoke about what programs they have in place to assist, recognize, and welcome those who identify as transgender. 

May 11 Health & Hospitals Committee meeting – COVID Update

• Cook County Health (CCH) CEO Israel Rocha announced that CCH had administered the 1 millionth dose of the COVID vaccine during the week of May 2.
• The County is now considered at the medium risk level as it has more than 200 cases per 100,000 people.  Thus, people are strongly recommended to wear masks indoors, avoid poorly ventilated indoor settings, and socialize outdoors if possible.
• 86% of suburban Cook County residents have received at least 1 vaccine dose and 65% are considered fully vaccinated.  However, less than 50% of those have received the 1st booster, with far fewer receiving the 2nd booster.  However, there is a problem with data.  People are going to receive their boosters from different providers than those who administered the initial vaccines.  If there is a variation in the patient’s name between the providers (for example, inclusion or elimination of a middle name or initial), the person will be counted as a different person.
• The number of people doing contract tracing for the County has been decreased considerably.  There are currently 45 employees who are expected to continue through the remainder of the year, mainly in connection with congregate settings, such as outbreaks at group care homes, at events, or in workplaces.  The Commissioners were assured that all prior contract tracers were offered other positions within CCH and not simply let go.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Commissioners Finance And Technology Committees
Joint Meeting on April 25, 2022

The special meeting was held at the urging of Commissioner Sean Morrison to bring the key stakeholders together to get their commitment to work together on getting the 2nd installment tax bills out no later than mid-November 2022.  Key were the chair of the Board of Review, the Chief of Staff of the Assessor’s Office, and the Chief Information Office, Bureau of Technology (BOT).  The County Clerk’s Chief of Staff and Treasurer also provided comments.

Board of Review (BOR):  Chair Larry Rogers stated he just received two days ago the remaining 70% of the required assessment information that his office needs to begin the appeal process for the 2021 assessments; that it will take his office 4-5 months at the earliest to process the appeals and get the information to the Clerk’s office to calculate the tax bill; which then goes to the Treasurer for printing, mailing, and collection.  Mr. Rogers stated that his office ran largely by paper until 2015 when it converted to a digital appeal processing system [not the Tyler Platform].  He emphasized that he ran a parallel paper system to work out problems before relying solely on the digital platform. The BOR is not on the new Tyler System. 

Assessor's Office (OA):  The Chief of Staff, Sarah Resnick, who stated that she takes full responsibility for steering the input of property assessment data to the new Tyler Platform, stopped the parallel input of underlying data such as square footage to the decades old Mainframe Platform in July of 2021 after finding that the transfer of detailed data was almost impossible between the systems causing many errors and re-inputs.  The Mainframe is the platform that the Board of Review has used for decades to obtain the needed information from the Assessor. The Chief of Staff contacted the BOR and the BOT to ask that they all work together to find a solution.  A successful interface was developed, but it is the reason for the delay; and it was done without the BOR. In the meantime, the underlying information was already on the Tyler system; and the interface was offered to the BOR in September of 2021.  However, it would require training of BOR technicians by the Assessor’s office; and the BOR declined, saying it has to be independent of the Assessor’s office. 

Bureau of Technology (BOT):  Tom Lynch was questioned as to his recommendation to run a parallel system between the new Tyler and the old Mainframe.  He said he did make the recommendation.  When asked if it was impossible to input the underlying data from Tyler to the Mainframe, he said it would be very difficult but not impossible.  He also stated that the BOR was not included in the transition to the Tyler Platform as were all the other Stakeholders because the BOR used a 2015 Platform that was modern.  He noted that not all systems can be replaced at the same time and that the best practice is to stagger rollouts.  He said the “legacy system” which is the mainframe has to be retired.  He also said that the interface is working.

Suggestions by Comm. Sean Morrison include: Increase Overtime; increase hearing staff; use retired staff on a contract basis; determine if an estimated tax bill for 2nd installment is possible. The Clerk’s Chief of Staff said that this is not a likely legal option but that he would investigate further.

Comm. Daley:  Asked Mr. Rogers if the vast majority of bills can go out and the remaining that have been appealed go out later.  Answer: No.  The BOR needs one finite set of data. He did state that it is a good idea to bring former employees back under contract.  However, with more help and more overtime, he does not believe that the five month delay in receiving the data can be made up. Daley also asked the Clerk’s chief of staff to contact the Finance Chief to see what can done to provide loans to small municipal taxing bodies if they are unable to get a bank loan.

Comm. Degnan:  Encouraged BOR to get off the legacy mainframe platform so that the current issue doesn’t perpetuate.

Comm. Lowry: Asked if all three Stakeholders agreed that the 2nd installment tax bills can be out in mid-November.  Answer:  Yes, it is possible; but no guarantee.  The Assessor’s office also stated that if it can get the information back from BOR in time, it can then meet the 2023 deadlines.

Comm. Britton: Asked if township assessors and assistant assessors could be trained to help the BOD process appeals.  Answer:  Would need the same system training as a new hire.

Several other Commissioners also commented or asked questions, all of which were duplicates of what is covered above.

​There were six Public Speakers Representing the Following Organizations: 
The Chicago Chamber of Commerce      Illinois Realtors local Government Affairs Office 
Western Spring’s Park District                Palos Fire Protection Force,
Scofield Fire Department                        Building Owners and Managers Association  
All were concerned about the delay in mailing the 2021 2nd Installment Tax Bills and its effect on their constituents and vulnerable Cook County homeowners. 

Observer:  Diane Edmundson