Cook County Board Presented with American Rescue Plan Framework

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