Disaster Proclamation Extended to Sept. 30, 2020 by Cook County Board

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting (Virtual Meeting via Zoom)
May 21, 2020 

Board Action:

• Agenda Item 20-2472: Resolution extending Cook County” proclamation of disaster for Cook County through Sept. 30,2020. Pres. Preckwinkle has called virtual meetings on Sundays to respond to the new COVID-19 Crisis and through these virtual meetings, commissioners have met with many departments over the past 2 months in order to ask questions, receive clarifications. Commissioner Daley and others stated that Pres. Preckwinkle’s staff has been made available to address concerns and provide transparency and openness on issues of concern. Passed. 
• Agenda Item 20-2465: Extending Authorization for Budget Director to Execute Budget Transfers for Amounts over $50,000. CCBC receives monthly updates on purchases, procurements relating to COVID- 19 matters. Budget Director Guzman stated decisions on procuring supplies have to be made quickly to reserve access to them. Her office is in constant contact with Cook County departments regarding their needs. Several commissioners stated this is the most responsible action to take as it enhances the county’s ability to address ongoing changes during the COVID-19 Crisis. Passed. 
• Agenda Item 20-2546: Approve amendments to Res. 19-0443 regarding chairs, vice chairs, and committee members. The only change to what was previously in effect is the substitution of new Commissioner Frank Aguilar in place of the Commissioner he replaced, Jeffery Tobolski, on committees of Labor, Law Enforcement, Technology & Innovation, and Veterans. Passed. 
• Agenda Item 20-2479: Proposed Property Tax Ordinance, 2020 adding Sec 74-48, waiving interest and penalties through Oct. 1, 2020 on late payments of second installment of property tax for 60 days. Aug. 3, 2020 remains the due date for payment. A loss of $8-9 million dollars to Cook County is expected. Escrow agents must still pay property tax by Aug. 3, before delinquency. Legislation is pending in the Illinois General Assembly to address the flow of funds regarding escrow agents. Commissions Suffredin explained that extensive legal research and consultation was conducted to develop this proposal, that it was a difficult legal process. He stated it was done to enhance the ability to address ongoing changes in people’s circumstances and prevent or reduce damage and protect people. Passed. 
• Agenda Item 20-2229: Receive and File Changes to Rules promulgated by the Cook County Assessor’s office for appealing property assessment within that office. The revised rules on assessment are intended to improve clarity of the rules previously approved, replacing 20-1797. The Assessor’s Office explained that overall compliance is the goal of appeal process, These changes are intended to provide flexibility in regulating specific property. Approved. 

Ordinance Proposing Sharing of Addresses with First Responders
Agenda Item 20-2378. Proposal to share address information of confirmed COVID-19 positive patients with municipal first responders. Proposal is for a 60 day period within Cook County. Information would be purged after 60 days. Identification of address would be done through the Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP) Dispatch. The intent is to protect first responders. Dr. Rachel Rubin, Incident Commander of Cook County Dept. of Public Health, stated that this resolution does not follow good public health practice and would not increase safety of patients or first responders. Dr. Rubin stated that highest contagion period is within days 1-2 of contact and that responders need to do all of the right things all of the time to protect themselves. Many concerns were expressed by commissioners. Following are some of the ideas expressed during extensive discussion among Commissioners: 

• Finding balance between protecting first responders and people’s right to privacy must be considered.
• There was concern over the impact of this policy in areas already experiencing negative encounters with law enforcement, including questions about protecting privacy. 
• With no oversight, black and brown communities especially may have strong concerns about privacy and assumptions.
• That this policy would only provide a “false illusion of safety.”
• Best intentions do not always work and unintended consequences are always possible. 
• At a time when health professionals are ignored by some government officials, it is important to respect their recommendations.
• While demand for PPE by First Responders continues to outstrip supply in many areas, this would not answer that issue. 
• Federal Government has an obligation to provide needed supplies. Several Commissioners live with first responders and see many sides to the issue.
• Several Commissioners made the point that voting against this proposal should in no way be taken as not supporting First Responders. 

The proposal passed. (Subsequently this item was vetoed by President Preckwinkle)

New Items 

• Agenda Item 20-2550: Emergency Waiver of Non-Required Fees for recording Transfer on Death Instruments, effective May 21-Sept. 30, 2020. This would change the fee, inducing for electronic recording, to $39 plus the surcharge ($9, or as it might be reduced) for Rental Housing Support Program. Passed. 
• Agenda Item 20-2567 Establishing Cook county K-12 Solar Schools Initiative using $120,000 for the Dept. of Environment and Sustainability. This would include providing solar paneled roofs for up to 2 schools and developing related curriculum and building STEM programs. Passed. 

Note: There were over 150 individual public comments registered for this meeting. Public comments were read or summarized by Board Secretary DeLeon at the start of the meeting, with the names of senders, read into the minutes. 

Observer: Carolyn Cosentino, LWVCC                      Meeting Length: 5 Hr 15 min.(via zoom)