Cook County Board and Committee Meetings
March 17 and 18, 2021

The Board approved:

• The appointment of Sharonne Mitchell, Jr. to a 6-year term (April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2027) as the Cook County Public Defender.  At the Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting on March 17, there were several public comments in support, including one from the president of the union representing the assistant public defenders, saying that the union believes Mr. Mitchell appreciates the role of collective bargaining and the key issues of the union, including having a workplace free of harassment, management support, workload issues (can’t take on other functions), fairness in promotion, and the morale of the office.  The Commissioners thanked outgoing Public Defender Amy Campanelli for her hard work and passion in representing her clients.  Agenda Item 21-2052
• An extension of the proclamation of disaster in Cook County through April 30, 2021.  This continues providing the President with additional authority to take action without prior Board approval.  Commissioners Bridget Degnen and Sean Morrison voted “no.”  Commissioner Degnen explained that she believes that the Board should have more say in directing the funds, though agrees with Commissioner John Daley’s statement that the Bureau of Finance has done an excellent job of keeping the Commissioners informed and answering questions. Agenda Item 21-2068.
• A resolution authorizing the publication of the plain language summary of the Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance that had been recommended by the Zoning & Building Committee. Agenda  Item 21-1848.

The Board referred to the Redistricting Committee:

• Contract with Peter A. Creticos, LTD for remapping and redistricting services (Agenda Item 21-1963) and contract with Election Data Services for redistricting software and support services (Agenda Item 21-1967).  Commissioner Deborah Sims, the chair of the Committee, said that now the Committee members (all Commissioners) can begin the conversation on redistricting.

Other:

• People wishing to make public comments now have the option to present verbally at the meeting, in addition to providing comments in writing, which the Secretary of the Board has been summarizing, and which are posted on the “meeting details” page for the meeting entry on the Legistar system.
• A number of Commissioners joined the meeting of the Business & Economic Development Committee to hear the presentation from the Bureau of Economic Development for its “Cook County COVID Community Recovery Initiative Impact Report” from March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.  Bureau Chief Xochitl Flores described the use of the $77M CARES Act fund to aide critical social services, small businesses, workforce development, and mortgage & rental assistance.  (Agenda Item 21-1367).  The County partnered with a number of agencies, private foundations, and associations to provide services, loans, and grants.  Commissioner Ana Anaya commented that the Bureau has created a new infrastructure for long-term change.  
• The Comptroller reported to the Finance Committee that for the first 2 months of the new fiscal year, the General Fund has a positive balance of $89M (with revenues above and expenses below budget) and the Health Fund has a negative balance of $127M (with revenues down, but which have since been collected, and expenses above budget). (Agenda Item 21-1991)

Priscilla Mims - Observer

Cook County Board of Commissioners 
Health & Hospitals System Committee Meeting
March 16, 2021

Following two public comments urging that additional vaccination sites be set up in the western and southern suburbs, coincidentally, the presentations by both the Department of Emergency Management & Regional Security and the Department of Public Health (“DPH”) focused on the criteria that has been used in establishing County-sponsored vaccination sites in the suburbs and how this is changing.  Both Departments acknowledged the need to provide more vaccination opportunities in the southern and western suburbs and said that they expect, with the promised increase in vaccination doses, to be able to do so.

• Executive Director of Emergency Management William Barnes explained that the County started by looking at large sites in order to be able to get as many shots in arms as possible.  Convention Centers were looked to, such as the one in Tinley Park.  Began rethinking as heard from communities wanting their own sites, as well as the Federal and State governments now also wanting to be involved.
• Currently looking at large commercial sites, such as big box stores, which are located all over the County and are very flexible (can use large or small areas as required), have lots of parking, generally are easy to locate, and often accessible by public transportation (all key factors).
• But also looking at other alternatives:  know that while about 40% of people happy to go to large sites, the rest prefer smaller sites.
• CEO of Cook County Health Israel Rocha, Jr. said that currently there are more people wanting the vaccine than those needing more education about it.  He touted the number of contacts from residents to the vaccine web site, www.vaccine.cookcountyil.gov, and the vaccine hotline, 1-833-308-1988.
• Dr. Kran Joshi reported that 18% of suburban residents have received at least 1 vaccine shot and 9% have received 2. 
• A Mobile Vaccination Strategy is in place to help reach more places, with a pilot successfully conducted in Maywood recently.  More are scheduled.
• Dr. Rachel Rubin reported that the DPH finally has a significant workforce in place to do contact tracing.
• DPH presented its 1st quarter report (Item 21-0798) which focused on its grants of $5 million to 42 community organizations to help educate and vaccinate people and of $1 million to 5 worker centers to help reach temporary workers over the 6-month period from Dec. thru May.  With more funds coming, DPH expects to continue the efforts through the end of 2021.

DPH also told the Commissioners that it had received reaccreditation in Feb. for the next 5 years.

Priscilla Mims, Observer

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting
February 25, 2021

Public Speakers & Consent Agenda:

• There were no verbal public speakers but the Board received 38 written comments mostly supporting renaming the Columbus Holiday to Indigenous Peoples’ Holiday. Commissioner Suffredin stated that the Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will hold a Public Hearing on this issue in May and vote on it in June.  He also said that the Ethics Ordinance will be on the Committee’s agenda in March with an April vote expected.
• Former US Senators’ Roland Burris and Carol Moseley Braun were recognized as part of black history month.  They participated virtually and were honored collectively and individually by the Commissioners.  Karen Lewis, former President of the Chicago Teachers Union, was also honored.

Board Action:

• Agenda Item 21-1048  Approved an ordinance amendment requiring Tax Increment Financing Districts to provide information to the Cook County (CC) Treasurer each year, within 60 days of audited financials, plus provide such information for the past 5 years within 60 days of this amendment becoming effective 60 days from February 25.  This change will allow the Treasurer to provide a report to the public.
• Agenda Item 21-1189  Approved a resolution to assess the needs and improve the quality and effectiveness of behavioral health care provided by County Government.  It requires a quarterly report and a public hearing from at least 9 government departments and agencies covering a list of 14 specific pieces of information.
• ​Agenda Item 21-1848 Approved changing the recently passed Tenant-Landlord Ordinance to only require a summary of the Ordinance to be given to each new lease and posted on the Department of Human Rights and Ethics website. 
• Agenda Item 21-1752 Passed a resolution to encourage CC residents to learn about the Summer project.  Summer offers free advisory services to chart the most affordable loan path and to simplify repayment plans.  This service is free because of a grant from the Joyce Foundation.
• Agenda Item 21-1664 Approved a resolution requesting an extension of a food contract with the Black Dog Company for meat deliveries to the Juvenile Detention Center. Commissioner Suffredin said that this is the last time he will vote for a Black Dog contract.  He referred to several critical articles in the Sun Times and Tribune.  A representative from the Chief Judge’s office said that an RFP has been issued and it will take the rest of this year to go through the process to hire a new contractor.  Commissioners asked Mr. Suffredin to send them the articles.
• Agenda Item 21-1609 Authorizes the Bureau of Economic Development to design and implement the CC Rental & Utility Assistance Program using the $72.6 million in Federal Funds awarded to Cook County.
• Agenda Item 21-0388 The Safer Foundation asked for a license agreement to park mobile trailers outside of 3 courthouses so it may provide information about their services which include housing and job placement.  The three sites are the Markham and Maywood courthouses and the Leighton Criminal Courts building. 
• Appointed Transportation and Highways Superintendent, John Yonan, to Chief of the Bureau of Asset Management and Jennifer [Sis] Killen as his replacement.
• Several Ordinance amendments were passed to help businesses in unincorporated CC during Covid.  Among them is video gaming application fees and then licensing fees per termination.  Both were cut in half.  Wheel taxes on various types of commercial vehicles were also cut.  Beer garden licenses were reduced to $200.
• Grants to Cook County Health and the Department of Public Health were approved as part of the new requirements for approval by the CC Commissioners.  These requests to receive grants do not need to be reviewed at the committee level before board authorization. $1.2 million was awarded by the US Department of Justice to fund a comprehensive opioid, stimulant, and substance abuse program.  
• A $600,000 grant to the Justice Advisory Council was also approved.  The Il. Criminal Justice Information Authority provided the grant.

Other: 

• Agenda Item 21-1273 Resolution to allow joint committee meetings and referred to the Rules and Administration Committee on January 28, 2021 is still in committee.
• Agenda Item 21-1306 Resolution calling for a public hearing to evaluate the economic impact of vacant and abandoned properties in CC and referred to the Business and Economic Development committee on January 28, 2021 has been held/deferred in committee.

Observed by:  Diane Edmundson                                            Meeting Length:   3 ½ hours