Cook County Board Approves Homeland Security Department Name Change

Cook County Board of Commissioners Committee Meetings - Oct. 23, 2019
Board Meeting - October 24, 2019

The Cook County Board quickly passed an ordinance creating a name change for CC’s Homeland Security Department.  The new name is: Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security.  The renaming occurred after a CC Homeland Security vehicle created alarm among attendees at an Evanston street fair because they did not differentiate between the Cook County and the US Immigration Homeland Security vehicle signage and therefore were concerned that US ICE Agents were there to round up people with potential immigration issues.  

Other Agenda items Passed:

• 19-5620, Ordinance requiring ballots to be printed in additional languages in time for the 2020 elections.  Requires the County Clerk to determine by March 1, 2020, and at least every 3 years thereafter, limited-English-proficient populations of 13,000 or more Cook County residents and then produce special language ballots.
  
• 19-5845, The creation of the “Assessor GIS Fund” with language stating that the revenue collected for the Assessor by other County offices from providing GIS data shall go into this new fund.  The County Board retains appropriation authority.
  
• 19-6117, The renewal of a Springfield lobbying contract.  Commissioner Lowery asked for the lobbyist to come to a board meeting or hearing.  Commissioner Suffredin responded that a meeting will be scheduled after the IL General Assembly veto session is over.
  
• 19-6389, The Human Relations Committee requested a hearing to discuss the final report from the CC Committee on addressing bias, equity, and cultural competency.
  
• 19-5830,  A review of County policies as well as holding and incarceration practices in light of the recommendations from the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Global Study on children who are confined, jailed, and/or jailed in adult facilities.  

Items Referred to Committee:

To Business & Economic Development Committee:

• 19-6176, Requesting approval to enter into an Interagency Agreement to provide funding to launch and operationalize the Southland Development Authority for large scale and long term economic development in the South Suburbs.  Initial amount of $300,000 used to hire an Executive Director for the SDA and based on the SDA’s ability to secure additional material funding.
  
• 19-5333, Resolution to establish an enterprise zone in a 15 contiguous square miles of a depressed area including the City of Chicago Heights and several more.  Intergovernmental agreements will be required.
  
• 19-5632, The Bureau of Economic Development recommends the investment of $4 million in Community Development Block Grant Section 108 funds for low interest financing to support the long term redevelopment of two Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) high rise properties with 226 units of affordable senior housing in the Village of Wheeling and the City of Niles.

To Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee:

• 19-6194, Amendment to the Ethics Ordinance that adds calendars, vehicles, and equipment to the list of items that may not have a name or image of an elected official paid for with public funds during an election year if that official is running for re-election.
  
• 19-5979, the proposed ordinance to dissolve the Injury Compensation Committee and Advisory Board as it is no longer needed.  Appears to be an effort to clean up the Code to eliminate provisions that are no longer relevant.
  
• 19-6158, the 3rd quarter report from the Recorders office on its consolidation with the Clerk’s office.  Commissioner Suffredin stated that a hearing will be scheduled.  
  

To Rules Committee:

• 19-4770, Another Just Housing Amendment to a  previously passed ordinance defining “demonstrable risk” and  requiring landlords to rent to individuals with criminal records after a 5 year period of time with a clean record [sex offenders are not eligible].  Because landlords are very unhappy with the original ordinance, Commissioners continue to work on compromises.

Other Items of Interest: 

• Although approved without discussion, four public speakers attended the board meeting and asked the commissioners not to appoint Alderman, George Cardenas, to the Environment Committee.  Mr. Cardenas was selected by Mayor Lightfoot to represent the City. 
  
• The States Attorney’s office received multiple grants from the US Department of Justice to add staff for specific purposes including investigating cold cases older than 3 years; hiring an intellectual property crime attorney and clerk; and increased trauma support for sexual assault victims.
  
• The Justice Advisory Council received a 4 year $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to create a regional coordinated system for returning citizens to receive the appropriate pre and post release (from prison) services.  Goal:  to reduce recidivism.   #19-6162
  

Observed by:    Diane Edmundson