Cook County Board of Commissioners
Committee and Consent Agenda Meetings
January 15, 2020

During the Consent Agenda Meeting the Board honored the League of Women Voters in recognition of its 100th anniversary on February 14, 2020.  President Preckwinkle and Commissioners noted the many suggestions from the League over the years to improve the operations and transparency of the government, as well as the presence of League observers at most Cook County Board and Committee meetings.

The following actions by the Committees are subject to Board approval at the January 16 Board meeting:

• With the advent of legal sales and possession of cannabis in Illinois as of January 1, 
  • The Finance Committee passed a 3% retailer’s sales tax on gross receipts of sales of recreational cannabis.  Sales of cannabis for medicinal purposes are excluded.  Tax (which is on top of the normal sales tax) to be effective July 1, 2020.  Commissioner Suffredin noted that, based on the experience in other states that have legalized cannabis, the County can expect an increase in emergency room visits and in having to deal with more driving while under the influence cases, adding costs to the County’s health and public safety functions.  Thus, the 3% tax is more than justified.  Because the State collects the tax and then remits to the County, the County does not expect to receive any revenues until September or October.  Item 20-0658.
  • The Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee passed a proposal to create a Cook County Cannabis Commission to analyze the impact of recreational and medicinal cannabis industries within unincorporated Cook County.  Commissioner Lowry will be the chair.  Item 20-0763.
• The Health & Hospitals Committee passed a resolution for: 
  • (1) the Chair of the Independent Cook County Health (CCH) Board to meet with the Cook County President and Board to solicit input regarding the responsibilities, background, and attributes to consider with respect to recruiting and appointing a new CCH Chief Executive Officer, which will be done at a public meeting in the Board room within 30 days; 
  • (2) the Cook County Board to have “listening sessions” at several locations around the County so that the public can provide input; 
  • (3) the Cook County Auditor, with the assistance from professional auditing firms experienced in health care, to conduct a management audit of CCH; and
  • (4) such audit to be completed by July 1, 2020, so that its recommendations can be considered for the 2021 budget.  Item 20-0789.
• The Business and Economic Development Committee passed a Substitute Amendment to the Real Estate Tax Incentive Program to waive the relatively new requirement that business receiving the incentive file annual affidavits of compliance.  Previously, the requirement was that such affidavits be filed every 3 years.  With the change, there had been a marked decrease in new businesses seeking the incentive.  The waiver is in place until 2022.  Several people spoke in support during public comments.  Item 20-0768.
• This Committee also passed a resolution supporting a review of the small business and entrepreneur ecosystem in Cook County by an independent expert.  Item 20-0678

Observer - Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting
December 19, 2019

The Board devoted the first 2 hours of their meeting to the honoring of retiring employee Martha Martinez, former Commissioner Jerry Butler, and the late Reverend Clay Evans. Testimonials lauded Martinez for thirty-four years of exemplary service.  Former Commissioner Jerry Butler received a touching tribute from the Board. HIs career as a popular vocal artist and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was noted. Commissioner Butler sang one of his hits, “Let It Be Me” to the delight of all present. The late Reverend Clay Evans was honored as an icon of the black community and for his work on civil rights with Dr. Martin Luther King.

Action Items:

• Agenda Item 20-0016- The proposed amendment to the Inspector General ordinance regarding reports and public statements was referred to the legislative committee. It requires that the IG share a statement with the head of the affected department and not issue a public statement for ten days. If the department has a response, this must be attached to the public statement. The Civic Federation supported  this amendment during the public comment period.
• Agenda Item 20-0735- The Board unanimously passed a resolution supporting federal universal background checks for firearms. It is hoped that this will add pressure for passage of gun control legislation in Washington.
• Agenda Item 20-0721- The Board unanimously passed a resolution to support refugee resettlement efforts in Cook County. Several agencies testified to the challenge of working under current punitive federal policy.
• Agenda Item 20-0437- Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the pension fund and Cook County. In 2016 the pension was 54% funded. $306.2 million will be contributed for 2020. This infusion of funds has now raised the percentage funded to 68%, one of the highest in the state.
• Agenda Item 20-0732 - Changes in committee chairmanships were approved. These new assignments will give greater responsibility to the newer members of the Board.
• Agenda Item 20-0658 - Proposed tax on cannabis was referred to the finance committee.
• Agenda Item 20-1831- Board approved a commission chaired by Britton to create a new design for the county flag. The deadline is 2021 when the county celebrates its 190th anniversary. High school students will be asked to submit designs in a competition.
• Agenda Item 20-0726 - Board approved a resolution to support Cook County Health’s construction of a new Provident Hospital. It also provides for the Cook County Board Health & Hospital Committee to hold a hearing to receive an update on the project.
• Agenda Item 20-0712 - Board approved a resolution to discuss the Cook County Health Formulary Program. The resolution describes how insurance companies use “step therapy” in an effort to control drug costs. Step therapy is when patients first try the less costly drugs to see if they work. This can delay patients getting the treatment they need.
• Agenda Item 20-0011 - Proposed ordinance regarding zoning for recreational cannabis was referred to committee.
• Agenda Item 20-0579- Board approved authority for Public Defender to accept $500,000 grant to aid data analytics.

Commissioners Daley, Deer, Suffredin, Arroyo, Sylvestri, Gainer and Moore thanked Dr. Shannon (CCH) for his service to Cook County Health. Dr. Shannon was present and acknowledged their kind words. 

Observer - Georgia Gebhardt               Meeting Length: 3 hours, 20 minutes (includes 40 minute lunch break)

Cook County Board of Commissioners Committee Meetings 
Nov 20, 2019

Highlights from the meetings:

Finance Committee
Commissioner Silvestri stated that at the Litigation Subcommittee meeting on Nov 19, the compliance administrators gave a positive report that the Assessor's office is moving quickly, the Clerk of the Court's pace has picked up and the Recorder of Deeds is at a good point in achieving compliance with the Shakman decrees.  The next status update to the Litigation Subcommittee will be Feb 2020.  It was hoped compliance would be achieved for the Recorder of Deeds before its merger with the Clerk's office, Dec 1, 2020.

Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
Representatives from the Recorder of Deeds and Clerk's office presented a status update on their merger (agenda item 19-6178).  Agreements have been made between the two regarding open dialog/communications and information sharing.  Work groups have been established.  Areas of early consolidation discussed were procurement and financial (merging bank accounts). Commissioner Suffredin suggested that the Recorder of Deeds and Clerk meet with the League of Women Voters as he said this outside group has continued to send questions regarding the merger process and were involved in the Nov 2016 referendum.

Rules and Administration Committee
The Just Housing Amendment, that Cook County's housing providers do not discriminate against individuals with a criminal history/convictions when they apply for housing, was passed spring 2019 by the Cook County Board of Commissioners.  Interpretive rules for this Just Housing Amendment have been worked out over the past months.  The Proposed Second Substitute to agenda item # 19-4770 on file (regarding the Just Housing Amendment Interpretive Rules) was adopted.  The motion to receive and file the adopted Proposed Second Substitute 19-4770 was passed which sends the rules to the full Cook County board of Commissioners for final approval.  There were many groups at the committee meeting presenting views on affordable and fair housing, criminal justice, disabilities and racial discrimination since historically individuals with a criminal history/convictions have a history of not obtaining safe and stable housing.

Observed by Michele Niccolai

Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee
Last Day of Departmental Budget Hearings
Public Hearing, Review of The Capital Budget and the Chief Judge’s Budget
November 4, 2019

Public Hearing on 2020 Executive Budget:  There were about 20 speakers over a 2-hour period.  The main subjects were

• Concerns about the plan for transitioning patients receiving mental health services from outside entities to those services being provided by Cook County Health (“CCH”) directly.  Commissioner Deere pledged to set up a meeting between these speakers and CCH personnel so the transition plans could be discussed.
• Concerns about the elimination of funding for Access to Care, which provides health services at discounted rates to patients primarily in suburban Cook County.  The representative for Access to Care stated that about half of the patients seen are not eligible for CCH’s County Care program for those on Medicaid.  As a result, if these patients went to CCH, rather than Access to Care, this would add to the already large and growing amount of charity care provided by CCH.  Commissioner Sean Morrison said he has long supported helping to fund Access to Care because that funding is much less than the costs CCH would incur to provide the services.  Commissioners Sims and Suffredin appeared supportive of again funding Access to Care, but warned that this would likely be the last time.
• Support by several entities and individuals for CCH and the services it provides and the partnerships it has.

The Civic Federation has done an analysis of the proposed budget and overall supports it as a reasonable one-year plan.  https://www.civicfed.org/CookCountyFY2020.  However, there are concerns for the future; specifically:

• The growth in uncompensated care at CCH, even as the Civic Federation supports the independent board and says it has had a transformative effect on CCH.
• The plan to build a new Provident Hospital with inpatient care.  The Civic Federation says there has been little public discussion of this major decision.
• The need for more transparency by making the capital plans available, such as for the jail, and Phase I of the court utilization study.
• The need for statutory authorization for the supplemental pension payments the County has been making, which the Civic Federation fully supports.

Review of Capital Budget: 

• Several Commissioners, possibly prompted by the Civic Federation’s comments, asked questions about the justification for $50 million for building the new Provident Hospital.  The CCH Chief Financial Officer stated that the costs of operating the current facility are very high and the analysis showed that it was more efficient to build a new facility that could provide needed specialized and outpatient care than to try to rehab the current building.  
• There is some funding to start the process of redesigning the Board and Commissioner spaces, including making them much more accessible.  Commissioner Anaya pointed out that a prior study on accessibility had been done and suggested that be looked at as a starting point.  
• Commissioner Suffredin asked what happens to the County’s share of the State Motor Fuel Tax fund should DuPage reach 1 million residents.  In that case, the two counties would split the fund, thereby significantly decreasing the amount the County currently receives.  The Commissioner suggested that there may be a need to seek new legislation in Springfield to revise the formula for disbursing money from the fund.
• During the discussion of the Capital Equipment portion, Tom Lynch, the County’s Chief Information Officer, stated that currently there are good relationships between the Bureau of Technology and  the IT functions under the other elected officials, a much needed improvement as compared to the past.  

Review of the Budget for the Chief Judge: 
Chief Judge Timothy Evans answered questions for the different areas under his supervision, including the Adult Probation Department (which encompasses pre-trial services such as electronic monitoring, as well as supervising some sentenced offenders), the Judiciary, the Public Guardian, Forensic Services, Social Services, Juvenile Probation, and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (for those awaiting trial).  The Chief Judge pointed to his web site, www.cookcountycourt.org where performance metrics and other data may be found.

• The Chief Judge cited the large drop in the Cook County jail population as a result of the bail reform measures he has instituted.  He also pointed out that the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts is now providing an additional $24 million to reimburse Cook County for the costs of the court system.  This money is going into the County’s General Fund and is not earmarked for the Chief Judge’s budget.  He is seeking more money than is currently proposed in the budget so that another 100 law clerks could be hired.  There are currently 92 clerks for over 400 judges.
• In a letter dated Oct. 3, the Sheriff proposed that the Chief Judge’s Probation Department take over the electronic monitoring that the Sheriff is now doing and merge it into the electronic monitoring the Adult Probation Department is doing.  The Sheriff has offered to transfer positions and money from his budget to accomplish this.  The Chief Judge says that there are a number of issues that must be dealt with first, including obtaining approval from the Illinois Supreme Court.  When pressed by Commissioners, he said that it likely would take longer than 6 months to determine whether merging the electronic monitoring programs was feasible and then to effectuate such a merger.
• Leonard Dixon, the head of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, said that the N.E. Casey Foundation has recently assessed the Center for the 3rd time and says that it is in the best shape the Foundation has ever seen.  The average population is down to about 200, but these are the young people that need the most services.  There are over 200 community programs that come into the Center.

​Observed by Priscilla Mims