COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
January 13, 2022-10:00 a.m.

The one and a half hours of public comments at the meeting focused on two main areas: those advocating for continued/increased funding to social agencies and to those opposed to the Cook County Health Department mandate pressing for vaccination and for masking/social distancing.

• Social agencies’ remarks concentrated on the need for continued work against violence, particularly gender-based domestic violence. It has increased a great deal during the pandemic. Several speakers requested funds to be used for work with the abusers themselves, emphasizing the need to stop the violence at its source.
• All the people commenting on the health mandate spoke against the vaccine and against the enforcement of masks and social distancing in public areas.
• ​Commissioner Sean Morrison, after the speakers finished, emphasized that the Cook County Board of Commissioners did not create nor did they vote on this mandate. The policy came from the Cook County Department of Health.

President Preckwinkle then invited Dr. Rachel Rubin, senior medical officer of the Department of Health, to explain the rationale for the policy. She said the order was based on science and on how covid is transmitted. The current severe outbreak made this a necessity. Two things have been shown to mitigate the disease: 1) masks work. 2) vaccinations prevent the disease, or at least temper the severity of the illness. She invited citizens to visit the Cook County Health Department website for more detailed information on the subject.

The remainder of the agenda was passed without a great deal of discussion. 

• The monthly covid report was presented for CARES, FEMA, ERA, and ARPA. Staff reported that while administrative costs for such programs generally run about 10%, the costs here have been closer to 3%. (Agenda Item 22-1088)
• One of the more lengthy discussions involved the ongoing arbitration with the SEIU union related to pandemic pay. Staff is currently awaiting the arbitrator’s decision. This should be resolved in the first quarter of 2022. Staff reminded the Board that this agreement must be presented in its entirety. The Board cannot deal with it separately in sections.
• 2021 Annual Ethics Report was received and filed. (Agenda Item 22-0877)
• Amendment to the ordinance for Inspector General was referred to the Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. The proposed changes to the ordinance deal with the process of selecting an Independent Inspector General. (Agenda Item 22-1224)
• Commissioner Anaya presented an item that allows the public defender to represent noncitizens in court on immigration matters. Commissioner Suffredin spoke in support. (Agenda Item 22-1161)
• Appointment of Lynn Turner as the permanent secretary of the Board replacing Matt DeLeon was referred to the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. (Agenda Item 22-1238)

Meeting was adjourned at 3:59 p.m.

Observer - Georgia Gebhardt

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

Cook County Board of Commissioners Committee Meetings and Board Meeting - December 14, 2016

Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting

• An amendment to the Cook County Ethics Ordinance was approved that will include the office of the Independent Inspector General of Cook County as an office that can receive reports of ethics violations, supspected violations, or other misconduct. This is in addition to the Board of Ethics as a place where such can be reported with the rationale that this will make it easier for violations to be reported. The amendment was approved by all Commissioners present. (Comm. Steele was the only commissioner absent) (Agenda Item 16-5767)

Rules and Administration Committee Meeting

• An ordinance to the Rules of Organization and Procedure of the Cook County Board of Commissioners stating that a “substitute ordinance shall not be considered until the meeting of the Board of Commissioners following the meeting at which the substitute was introduced “was deferred to the January Board meeting. It was deferred because the Commissioners felt more discussion of this was needed and there was concern about substituted amendments during the budget process and how this might affect the budget. Commissioner Sufferdin thanked the LWV Cook County for their input on this matter. (Agenda Item 16-5778)

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

Significant Items Approved:

• The Board unanimously approved the Cook County Gun Violence Task Force Final Report. The Task Force was established to serve as an investigative and fact-finding body authorized to hear and gather testimony and data about economic, social, and cultural causes of gun violence in the City of Chicago and Cook County, with the specific objective of recommending a  set of written policies designed to reduce gun violence and its roots. The report can be found HERE. (Agenda Item 17-0524)

Other items of interest:

• The Board approved the Annual Calendar of Regular Meetings for 2017. There will be 13 meetings with one every month except for two in March and June, and no meeting in August. (Agenda Item 17-0615)
• The Cook County Justice Advisory Board awarded seven Violence Prevention, Intervention, and Reduction Demonstration Grants to provide various services and /or programs. (Agenda Item 17-0428)

New Items Added to the Agenda:

• Proposed Resolution amendment to establish the President Pro Tempore and Chairs and Vice-chairs of the standing committees and subcommittees. Commissioner Steele will remain as President Pro-Tempore and some of the Chair and Vice-Chair have been changed due to the death of Commissioner Murphy. (Agenda Item 17-0644)
• Proposed Resolution designating and appointing members of the standing committees and subcommittees. This was done to add Commissioner Moody who replaced Commissioner Murphy to the standing committees, (Agenda Item 17-0645)

New items referred to Committees:

• An ordinance establishing time limits for distribution of departmental documents to the Board was referred to the Rules Committee, (Agenda Item 17-0058)
• A Resolution for County Unity for fair and equal treatment of immigrants, refugees and their families etc. for all of Cook County was referred to the Human Relations Committee.

​Observer - Nancy Marcus