Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - March 23, 2016
Significant Decisions Made: As announced by Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS) CEO Jay Shannon, CCHHS, the Justice Advisory Council and the Chicago Police Department have worked together to develop a Community Triage Center on the south side of Chicago. This 24-hour a day center, opening soon, will enable police to bring anyone in mental health crisis or substance abuse crisis to the triage center for assessment and stabilizing before referral to other resources. This is intended to reduce incarceration and reduce regular emergency room use for these issues as has been done in the past. It will be more helpful to those people taken to the triage center and “reduce the human misery” of those in crisis. (Agenda Item #16-2039) Cook County Sheriff’s officers will provide Extra Duty Police services (6:00pm-2:00am) to 3 Cook County Housing facilities in Ford Heights, Chicago Heights, and Robbins through an inter-governmental agreement. (16-0876) A First Time Offender Drug diversion program has been given a contract through TASC, Inc. (Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities). This program is run through the State’s Attorney’s Office and provides consistency between this intervention program and the various court-mandated programs throughout the court system. (16-2079) Another diversion program contract, to Heartland Human Care Services, Inc., working in the Juvenile Probation & Court Services Dept. has been extended and increased. This is run through Chief Judge Evans’ Office. (16-1155) Topics Discussed and/or referred to Committee:
Items to watch for in the future:
Observation: Due to the lengthy Consent Calendar comments (1 1/2 hours), the regular 11:00 Board meeting was delayed until 1:50. Adjourned at about 3:00. This observer appreciates the short explanation by commissioners and the President of ordinances and resolutions brought up for vote—very helpful to the listening audience. Observer: Karin Hribar
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Cook County Board Meeting - March 2, 2016
Significant Decisions Made: Walmart was granted a Class 8 Property Tax Incentive to open a super center in a former K Mart building in Homewood. They are closing a store in an “obsolete” building in Glenwood and want to move to the larger space in Homewood. It appears that the designation will reduce their annual taxes from $8.5m to $4m but when Comm. Gainer pressed the Bureau of Economic Development for numbers they were hard to come by. The representative for Walmart stated that they needed the incentive to open the store, otherwise they might not do the project.(16-0456) The Department of Planning and Development presented 4 projects that would be investments by the county in affordable housing. The proposals were for loans that come from federal grant money (CDBG Disaster Recovery and HOME funds) to assist each of the projects in development of their affordable housing project. The total amount approved for all 4 loans was $9m and the projects are located in LaGrange, Hines, Ford Heights, and Park Forest. (16-1053, 16-1056, 16-1058, 16-1059) Topics Discussed: During the Finance Committee meeting the Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS) monthly report was received. The representative from CCHHS stated that there is a “lot of red ink for the first 2 months” but the issues are fixable and they have a plan for dealing with the concerns with County Care and overtime. They are also owed $138m by the state of which he stated that about $56m can be accounted for by the usual lag time. The rest is overdue. Comm. Daley asked if CCHHS was talking with Rush and U of I about future plans. Comm. Gainer stated that the Health Care Advisory Task Force had met and she was glad that CCHHS was represented at the meeting. Comm. Gainer also pressed for more discussion of utilization of the CCHHS facilities and reimbursement concerns as they contemplate a $100m investment in new buildings for the system. Comm. Fritchey had concern about a contract extension (16-1772) for an additional $173,500 for a Disparity Study. The contract being extended began in 2013 but he was referencing a contract for the same vendor dating back to 2006 and he wanted clarification on whether that was a previous contract or related to the present extension. He wanted to see the report from a previous study if this is indeed a new and second contract with the same vendor. He was told that he would get the report. The meeting ended with a brief announcement that the Medical Examiner’s Office had received National Accreditation.. Observation: The Board Meeting was preceded by 8 committee meetings (from 9:15-11am) that included 3 reconvened from the previous day for lack of a quorum. The Board Meeting was started on time (11am) but Finance was included with Zoning and Building, and Roads and Bridges which all met after the Consent Calendar was completed which lasted an hour as usual. All meetings adjourned at 1:30pm. Observer - Cynthia Schilsky Cook County Board Meeting, 12/16/15
Observed by: Nancy Marcus Significant Decisions Made: Item 16-0557 Cook County Board meeting schedule for 2016. The calendar was approved, there will be 15 meetings, 1 meeting per month including July and August and 2 meetings in the following months: March, June, and October. Two items proposed by the Justice Advisory Council were approved:
Item 16-0574 an approved as amended resolution sponsored by Commissioner John Fritchey and Jesus Garcia. This is a request to the Cook County State’s Attorney to appear before a hearing of the Criminal Justice Committee to discuss the investigation and indictment in the LaQuan McDonald case. Commissioner Fritchey introduced an amendment to this resolution, waiving the 24-hour rule, to delete all reference to the LaQuan McDonald case and add that the State's Attorney appear to discuss the investigation and handling of alleged police misconduct matters. There was discussion as to whether this is an appropriate request. Gavin Ambose, Chief of Staff of the State's Attorney Office, stated an objection to this request.. Item 16-0420, is a report from David Orr, County Clerk and approved by the Commissioners regarding the proposed confirmation and appointment of Election Judges. Item 15-5906 ordinance, Liquid Hazardous waste ordinance and fee. The Commissioners concurred with the Environmental Control Committee to approve this ordinance. _ Significant Topics Discussed and/or Referred to Committee: Item 16-0475 is a proposed ordinance sponsored by Commissioner Richard Boykin, This is to amend section 2-331 of the Cook County Guidelines for Special State’s Attorney pertaining to the prosecution of alleged offenses by members of the Police Department. Since there could be a presumption that the CC State’s Attorney has an interest in the case; therefore, the appointment of a Special State's Attorney should occur. This was referred to the Criminal Justice Committee. Item 16-0577 proposed resolution sponsored by Commissioner Richard Boykin, calling on the Circuit Court of Cook County to appoint a Special State’s Attorney to handle the prosecution of Officer Jason Van Dyke. In light of the Tribune Editorial (Wednesday, December 16,2017) written by Chief Judge Timothy Evans, stating why he could not appoint a special prosecutor, this was referred to the Criminal Justice Committee. Unexpected Votes, Events, Testimony or Items to Watch for in the Future: Emily Harris, Executive Director of ADA 25 Chicago, testified in support of the renovations of the Cook County Board Room. Adam Baler of Access Living also testified in favor of the renovations. Any Other Comments or Observations: The meeting was 2 1/2 hours; 1 hour of the meeting was the Consent Calendar. |
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