Finance Committee Approves $70 MillionTo Reimburse Chicago for Food Service for New Arrivals4/18/2024 Cook County Board Committee Meetings
April 16 and 17, 2024 The following are key items from the Committee Meetings: Finance Committee: Resolution to redirect $70 M (out of $100 M in the Disaster Response & Recovery Fund) from new arrival health care to reimbursing Chicago for food service for new arrivals (Item 24-2103)
Legislation & Intergovernment Relations Committee Approved amendment of Ethics Ordinance (Item 24-2057)
Health & Hospitals Committee Heard a report from Dr. Lamar Hasbrouck, Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Public Health (Item 23-3815)
Technology Committee All County Officials provided reports on their major technology projects from Sept. 2023 thru March 2024. However, written reports/presentations were not posted for the Board of Review or the State’s Attorney, though they did report at the meeting. A few items of note:
Observer: Priscilla Mims
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Cook County Board of Commissioners
Committee Meetings March 12, 2024 Health and Hospitals Committee. 1 pm Vaccine Preventable Disease was the focus of the report from CCH. Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, COO, made the presentation. Boost Up Cook County has been the program title for the past year. This year’s title is The Gift of Booster. Since currently school age children have the lowest vaccine rate in decades, immunizations awareness campaign is reaching out in a variety of ways and in multiple languages. 30 priority zip codes have been identified; outreach does extend beyond them. The goal for measles vaccines is 94%; there are concerns when it is under 90%. Shelters now have needs. Some support is provided for efforts in Chicago and the CDC is also involved. Comm. Stamps moved and Comm. Lowry seconded approval of Item 24-1372. It was approved by the Committee. Report can be viewed on the Legistar site for this meeting. Meeting adjourned at 1:45. Environment and Sustainability Committee. 1:30 pm A change in language to the Coal Tar Ban Ordinance was explained by Com Trevor to be a change from “asphalt based surfaces “ to “asphalt paved surfaces.” Committee Chair Degnan explained the item has been under discussion over months, that Com Trevor had spoken with business owners, lobbyists, and others. Details were explained in response to comments and questions from commissioners. A motion was made by Commissioner Trevor, seconded by Vice Chairwoman Morita, to accept as substituted and amended in the errata 23-5769. It passed in committee. Meeting began at 1:47pm and adjourned at 2:17pm. Observer: Carolyn Cosentino Cook County Board of Commissioners
Committee Meetings March 13, 2024 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LITIGATION During the public comment period, the League of Women Voters of Cook County expressed its concern that the position of the Cook County Independent Inspector General (“IIG”) has not been filled on a permanent basis for 17 months.
AUDIT COMMITTEE: County Auditor Mary Modelski presented her report on Grant Administration and general Management at the Justice Advisory Council (JAC) in fiscal year 2022. No audit had been done in at least 10 years. The report (item 24-1025) included only grants administered through the operating fund budget (about $14 million in 2022) and excluded any ARPA grants, which will be looked at later. Issues brought up in the report or by Commissioners included the following:
The Audit report of ARPA on the Small Business Grant Program showed adequate controls on the $50 million distributed to 3,000 small businesses in Cook County. $18 million more will be granted out by 2026. Building Healthy Communities ARPA grants of about $5 million were also audited. Because of a change in designation of recipients (from sub-recipients to beneficiaries), these grants were not required to be monitored. Commissioners were concerned that no metrics, risk assessments, or financial monitoring was done. The Public Health (PH) department wanted to get the funds out upfront and quickly as COVID was prevalent at that time. The grants were intended to increase access to healthy foods, youth development, mental and behavioral health. PH department was told by Commissioners they should establish base-line monitoring so the county knows where the funds went and what the outcomes of the programs were. RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE: There was a lot of discussion among commissioners and the staff of the Dept. of Human Rights & Ethics (HR & E) regarding the rules for the public to follow on the recently passed Paid Leave ordinance—effective for private businesses since January, 2024. Concerns by some Commissioners were
ASSET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Item 24-1056 regarding a lease in Sauk Village for a new restorative justice court was passed in committee. Both the Public Defender and a representative from the States Attorney office seem to have smoothed over any concerns by commissioners from 2 weeks ago when those offices sent a letter stating they could not staff a new court this year. All involved will “continue conversations,” so it seems to this observer that behind the scenes agreements were made that the lease go forward and any problems would be dealt with later. What to watch for:
Observer :Karin Hribar Cook County Board of Commissioners Committee Meetings
February 28, 2024 Technology Committee:
Rules and Administration Committee and Legislation and intergovernmental Relations Committee:
Asset Management Committee:
Environment and Sustainability Committee:
What to watch for in the next meetings:
Observers: Karin Hribar and Victoria Cerenich (Environment and Sustainability Committee) Cook County Board of Commissioners Health and Hospitals Committee
Public Hearing February 27, 2024 Meeting Length: 1 hr. 25 min. Dr. R. Garza CCH Board of Directors Chair introduced Brian Barton and Dr. Greg Vaughn. They were representing the firm Spencer Stuart, which is conducting the search process and were present to hear priorities and address questions. Many of the points of concern, they stated, had also been expressed to them by the Cook County Health (CCH) Board. Commissioners agreed on these and many others. The discussion included the following points of concern:
Observer : Carolyn Cosentiino Cook County Board of Commissioners Committee Meetings
Cook County Health & Hospitals and Labor January 23, 2024 Health & Hospitals Committee Public comments:
Quarterly update on status of infectious diseases (Item 23-3815):
Semi-annual Reports on Behavioral Health Services Provided by Cook County Offices from June 2023 through November 2023 (Item 24-0639, State’s Attorney; 24-0595, Public Defender; 24-0578, Cook County Health; 24-0523, Chief Judge; and 24-0020, Sheriff) Presentations included the following information:
Labor Committee
Observer: Priscilla Mims |
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