Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting  
June 24, 2021

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 am in a hybrid meeting with some commissioners present in the County Board Room and others connecting virtually.  Public speakers can now testify in person in the lobby area or virtually.

Testimony
Michael Stone of the Center for Disability & Elder Law voiced his support for the proposed ordinance amendment  to permanently reduce the Transfer on Death Instrument recording fee to $48.  This fee must be paid before the owner's death. Then the transfer of residential property from owner to beneficiary(s), upon the owner's death, is effective.  If the transfer is complete, probate can be avoided which aids low-income families and disabled people.  [The Commissioners approved the ordinance amendment [Substitute 21-3868] to reduce the Transfer on Death Instrument recording fee to $50].

American Rescue Plan:

• The March 11, 2021 American Rescue Plan Act's (ARPA)  purpose is recovery from the economic and health effects of the Covid pandemic.  The Federal government has allocated one a time-fund of $1,000,372,385 to Cook County.  May 19, 2021 Cook County (CC) received $500,186,192.50 and the next payment will be in 2022.  CC has until Dec 31, 2024 to spend funds, needing good management over the next three and one-half years. These funds are not limited to suburban CC and coordination is needed with the city of Chicago and the State.
• Agenda Item 21-3654: The CC Commissioners accepted the ARPA Federal Award and authorized the CC Budget Director and Comptroller to create a Special Purpose Fund for the award and the tracking of how the funds are spent.
• Agenda Item 21-3657: Implementation of the CC ARPA Framework was referred to the Finance Committee.  This gives the committee more time to discuss the details of the Framework.

American Rescue Plan Framework presentation

• The ARPA Framework is a comprehensive plan for CC's distribution of ARPA funds supporting eligible uses for Public Health, addressing negative economic impacts (business/housing/rental/food assistance), premium pay for essential workers, replacing public sector revenue loss, water/sewer, broadband infrastructure and transportation.  Plan calls for continued support and expanding those programs/initiatives created because of the Coronavirus Relief Funds received from the 3/27/20 Federal Cares Act.
• Decision making will be based on core values of equity, engagement and excellence.
• Community Engagement: Community input to be incorporated into decision-making and the focus is on historically disinvested communities and those hardest hit by Covid-19.
• CC will assist smaller communities with the technical assistance applying for and managing  funds, the proper accounting of funds and reporting to the Federal U.S.Treasury.
• Spending Plan Approach
• Identify near-term funding opportunities
• Launch of community engagement website with survey for community needs and  funding priorities
• Identify potential Transformative Initiatives for the long term such as workforce development.  These initiatives/programs, providing support services/assistance to vulnerable communities, need to be sustainable in the future without ARPA.  The sustainability of the initiatives is key to paying dividends in the future.
• An Executive Leadership Council is being developed that will finalize CC ARPA spending plans to be integrated into the FY2022 budget for CC Board approval

Other Board Action:

• 21-3809: The proposed appointment of Karen E Kim, MD. MS. as Director to the CCH Board of Directors was referred to the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.
• 21-3127: The appointment of Lyndon Taylor as a Director to the CCH Board of Directors was approved starting 7/1/21 to 7/1/25.  Mr. Taylor is head of the Chicago office of Heidrick & Struggles International, an executive search firm and served on the Board of Directors of Lurie Children's Hospital.
• 21-2804: A four year contract was approved with Deloitte & Touche LLP to manage critical security services to oversee cyber security 24/7.
• 21-2805:  The Enterprise Service Bus (EBS) was implemented in 2016 for secure data sharing, routing messages and monitor exchanges between criminal justice agencies.  A five year contract was approved to continue to build on the existing EBS platform's data sharing between courts, sheriff,  police, prosecutors, defense attorneys and IL Dept of Corrections.
• 21-3855: A proposed resolution to call on President Joseph Biden to send Federal Resources to fight and prosecute violence in CC was referred to the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations committee for further discussion.  In Chicago to date in 2021: 293 people murdered and 1,702 shot.  There were 632 carjackings in all of CC to date in 2021.  Treatment for shooting victims treated by CCH can cost taxpayers as much as $50,000 per victim.  The CC Medical Examiner notes increased workloads.  The President has indicated that it will send Federal resources when requested such as anti-violence program funding, Federal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, investigators, and economic investment in endangered communities. 

Commissioner Suffredin commented that CC's Legal Aid, Housing Counseling and Foreclosure Mediation Program along with the CC Emergency Rental Assistance Program (rent and utilities) is playing a big role in preventing evictions and mortgage foreclosures in parallel with the extended eviction moratorium.

Observed by Michele Niccolai                                                                 Meeting Length: 4 hours

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting
May 13, 2021
Attendance: all 17 commissioners were present. Meeting led by President Preckwinkle
Public Speakers

• Congressman Robin Kelly spoke to the board about President Biden’s efforts to fight gun violence. He is proposing $5 Billion to fund community-based violence prevention programs. It includes job training and job opportunities.  The Justice Department would report on gun trafficking and  would establish model red flag laws for the states to use.   She also discussed separate bills that she is working on to fund community programs. She and other Congressmen have written to the Appropriations Committee to increase funding for these community- based initiatives.  Several commissioners spoke in support of these efforts.   Commissioner Lowry wants to work on a high school program on teaching conflict resolution.  Commissioner Daley said that he was proud of Cook County’s investment in violence prevention projects in minority areas. The Judicial Advisory Council receives quarterly reports on the outcomes of the investments. 
• There were two resolutions connected to gun violence.
• Commissioner Deer spoke in support of his resolution 21-2664 declaring gun violence a public health crisis. This was later approved
• 21-3157  A resolution supporting the Biden Harris Administration Gun Violence Prevention Plan.   Approved.
• Jacky Glass of Hargrove Hospital spoke in support of resolution 21-3123 recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness month. This resolution was approved.

Board Action 

• 21-2034  Inspector General’s report for first quarter 2021. There was no discussion.  It was received and filed. 
• 21-2894   Changes the  County Board meeting date from Sept 16 to Sept. 23.  Changes  the Rules and Finance Committees meetings from Sept 15 to Sept 22.  Approved.
• 21-3092   Report from the CFO on expenditures related to Coronavirus Relief Funds, the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Grant, and Emergency Rental Assistance from March 1, 2020 through March 30, 2021.  There was no discussion.  It was received and filed.
• 21-3130  Ordinance amendment to add the Special State’s Attorneys’ reports to be submitted to the Litigation Subcommittee.   It provides that the State’s Attorney and Special State’s Attorney provide prior notice and justification to the Litigation Subcommittee prior to settling any matter in excess of $500,000.   They also must provide advance notice of any matter that they anticipate will be settling in excess of $500,000. Referred to the Finance Committee.
• 21-3131  Kevin Morrison  proposed the Cook County Information Technology Reporting Ordinance.  It requires that all separately elected officials funded by Cook County have to submit reports on IT projects. The purpose of the ordinance is to streamline IT reporting and to ensure regular updates on projects.   Referred to Technology and Innovation Committee
• 21=3145  Cook County’s Proclamation of Disaster was extended through June30.   There was no discussion, but Commissioners Degnen and Sean Morrison voted no.   
• 21-3149  Proposed resolution requesting a hearing into the policies and practices of the County and Forest Preserve to  protect the civil rights of immigrants,  BIPOC residents, and visitors within  Cook County.  This was referred to the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.
• 21-3166   Proposed resolution for a racially equitable and thriving recovery, by investing the County’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan funding in public services in Black, Brown, and poor communities not administered by law enforcement.   Referred to the Finance Committee.  
• 21-3168  Authorizes the Bureau of Economic Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Friends of the Forest Preserve to support the COVID-19 Youth Conservation Corps summer employment program.  Approved.
• 21-3171  Proposed ordinance for COVID-19 vaccination rights for employees and employer obligations.   Provides that employees have the right to be vaccinated during work hours and employers cannot retaliate against them.     Referred to Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

Other Items

• 21-2307  Approval of contract extension for the demolition of Division 1 at the jail.  Commissioner Miller questioned why there was an  extension.   Commissioner Anaya asked for the pause in the work because the residents of the Little Village neighborhood had concerns over the demolition.  The County held community meetings on how the process would work and installed air monitoring equipment. Commissioner Kevin Morrison asked  about preserving some of the historical pieces from the jail such as parts of the edifice and parts of Al Capone’s cell.  The County Archive managers is checking with the Chicago History Museum and others to see if they have any interest in such pieces.  Secretary De Leon said they were considering preserving a cell for historical context but they would need to find a place for it.
• 21-2555 Audit Grant Management Process Report Period March 2021. No discussion. Concurrence with report.  
  

Observed by: Kathi Graffam                      Meeting Length: 10am until 12:40 PM

Cook County Board - Health and Hospitals Committee Meeting
April 13, 2021

Cook County Health (CCH) has been working hard to get people vaccinated.  The following improvements to the system were cited

1. 5 mass vaccination centers opened including the new site in Matteson which is the largest and is in an abandoned Target store.
2. 13 PODS (point of distribution) sites opened to target school personnel.
3. Worked with 145 organizations for other sites
4. Changes made to improve the vaccination website including adding a waiting room. 1.4 million people have scheduled through the site.
5. Expanding hours for the telephone hotline for scheduling appointments for non computer users. Hours are M-F 7am-10p and Sunday 8am-10p. Average of  30,000 to 50,000 calls per day. When new shipments arrive calls can exceed 100,000 per day
6. CCH is committed to equity and has identified 32 communities needing attention and will be doing temporary priority PODS 
7. Current limiting factor is still supply but the sites are capable of a ⅓ surge if supplies increase.
8. Paramedics will be making visits to vaccinate homebound people 
9. Organizations can request pop up sites
10. There will be drive through sites opening now that the weather is improving.
11. Research indicates that the most hesitant to be vaccinated are 18-34 year olds. A My Shot campaign has trusted voices for this demographic recommending shots.

In addition to vaccinations, the CCH Contact Tracing initiative now has 187 tracers and 63 investigators. 90% of newly identified Covid patients are contacted and 71% responded. Funds are available to help quarantining patients with food, home supplies and lost income.

The number of new cases is rising but they can still keep up for now.
The BinaxNow rapid antigen test is in use.

The meeting had been delayed while CCH CEO Israel Rocha, and Drs Joshi and Rubin from the Cook County Department of Public Health, and Mr Barnes were handling the problems caused by the temporary hold on Johnson & Johnson vaccines.  All patients who were to receive the J&J vaccine will be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.  Anyone with a scheduled appointment can still be vaccinated. Only 27,000 J&J vaccines have been given in suburban Cook County and no issues with blood clots have been reported.

Several commissioners spoke - some had questions but most were just complimentary comments.

Observed by: Lisa Slankard                                           Length of Meeting - 1 hour