Cook County Board of Commissioners - Committee and Board Meetings
​July 27, 28, 2022

Finance Committee   July 27, 2022

• The Commissioners recommended for approval an  ordinance  that authorizes the County to give loans to local government entities that are impacted by the expected late property tax bill issuance and collection.   The plan would set aside up to $ 500 million, but initially $300 million will be distributed.    The loans would go to municipalities that have credit ratings less than the County’s and would have difficulty going to the public for credit.  It would be for 0% rate.  It will cost the County $5 million.   The Commissioners had met previously with members of the Finance group and so there was little discussion.  (Item 22-3521)   The ordinance was approved in the Board Meeting.
• Commissioner Suffredin moved to defer the proposed Elected Official Compensation Review Ordinance. This would require periodic review of the compensation of elected officials.  The Commissioners are waiting on a fiscal note from the Department of Finance.  The League of Women Voters of Cook County  (LWVCC) supported this ordinance, and their letter was entered into the record.  (Item 22-3931)  

Health and Hospitals Committee  July 27, 2022

• The monthly report on the status of COVID was deferred.  The Commissioners asked for an update on Monkeypox as well as COVID. Mr. Rocha, Cook County Health (CCH) CEO said that 70% of the current COVID cases are the new sub-variants BA4 and BA5.  The CCH is recommending that everyone gets the booster shots and wear masks when in close contact of others.  There are 5 community centers in suburban Cook County where residents can get vaccines or treatment.  Over 1 million vaccinations have been given.  Vaccination rates for children are low, for children under 5 less than 15%.   Parents are reluctant to have their child vaccinated.  ( Item 21-0541)  
• The Commissioners asked for an update on Monkeypox as some of them have gotten reports of residents not being able to get vaccinations.  Dr. Hasberg reported that it is now called MPV.   The CCH is following the CDC’s recommendations. The CCH has launched an education campaign to health providers and have updated their website with information.  They are doing testing and providing vaccinations.  They are also doing contact tracing. There have been 19 confirmed cases in Cook County.  People who have had close contact with a confirmed case can get vaccinated now.   150 have been given.  They have just started vaccinating people in high- risk groups, but who did not have  known contact.   They anticipate getting more vaccinations in the fall and then will ramp up the vaccinations to that demographic.  At the Board meeting a resolution was approved to have a meeting with CCH specifically on MPV. (Item 22-4699)
• The Commissioners approved the quarterly report from CCH.  Dr. Ruben reported on the contact tracing program for Covid.    In order to reach communities that had low vaccination rates and reluctance to participate in contact tracing, the CCH developed a network of community- based organizations to engage people.     They anticipate that they will use the same network in their efforts for equity, trying to encourage residents to use medical resources for chronic diseases. (Item 22-1354)
• The semi- annual report on healthcare disparities was received and filed.  Mr. Rocha outlined CCH’s plan to reduce healthcare disparities in minority areas.  He cited the primary issues of poverty and lack of health insurance in the South and Near West side communities.  They have awarded grants to community groups to work on such issues as worker protections, lead poison prevention, connecting people to resources, and improved public transportation.  The other major issue they want to investigate is why some people don’t utilize the medical system even when it is easily accessible. (Item 22-3674)
• Commissioner Miller asked that going forward, she would like to see specific data for outcomes for minorities in the 11 strategic communities cited in the 2025 Strategic Plan.  She also wanted to see data for minorities that do not live in underserved communities. 

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting July 28, 2022

• Several Commissioners spoke in support of the resolution for the Cook County Board to call on the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Congress to prohibit the sale of assault style weapons.  The resolution was approved.  (Item22-4305)
• The proposed County Commissioner vacancy in office ordinance amendments were referred to the Legislation Committee. This provides that a vacancy should be filled by appointment by a political committee unless the vacancy is for more than 28 months and then it should be filled at the next general election.   LWVCC is in support of this amendment.  (Items 22-4661, 22-4662)
• The resolution to hold a hearing on the risks of data sharing with ICE was approved.  The object is to determine if County government data regarding residents is available to private data brokers. The Committee will also discuss the best practices for protecting the rights of all Cook County residents. (Item 22-2815)
• Several collective bargaining agreements with Cook County employees were approved.  During the public speakers’ time, nurses from the CCH system spoke in favor of approval.  
• Several more ARPA grants were awarded including funds for the Forest Preserve.

Observed by Kathi Graffam

​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