Emotions Run High as Resolution to Appoint Circuit Court Clerk Is Withdrawn

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - May 11, 2016

Major Items Discussed:
Withdrawal of Resolution to Petition the State Legislature and Governor to Change the Office of Cook County Circuit Clerk from Elected to Appointed.  The Board Room was crowded with people who had come to protest this motion.  However, prior to the public comment period, Commissioner Peter Silvestri, who was the named sponsor of this resolution, announced he was withdrawing the item.  He explained that this resolution was one of the outcomes of an initiative undertaken by his office to look at the roles of a number of currently elected Cook County positions.  He said that the resolution was not directed at Clerk Dorothy Brown, and, in fact, specifically called upon any action by the State not to take effect until December 2020, following the end of the term that will begin after the November election.  While a number of people who had signed up to speak had left by the time public comments began, those who did remain expressed support for the withdrawal, as well as support for Clerk Brown.  Some in the room clearly took this resolution as an attack on the African American community.  Several urged that the Clerk’s salary be increased, as she herself had requested in a recent letter to the Board.  Commissioner Steele explained that the salaries for Cook County elected officials are set by State statute, so the Board cannot increase any salaries without State action.

Board approves Construction Agreement for New Central Health Center and Redevelopment Agreement for Old Cook County Hospital and Nearby Land.  
Under the agreement approved with Clayco, a new 9-story ambulatory health and administrative facility will be built with a connection to Stroger Hospital for $112 million, plus additional “soft costs” for a total of $118 million.  This building will replace the 1959 Fantus Clinic, the 1931 Polk Administrative Building (originally built as a nurses’ dormitory), and the 1964 Hektoen Administration Builidng.  Design of the new facility will continue through the remainder of 2016, with construction proposed to begin in January of 2017 and expected completion by the third quarter of 2018. (Agenda Item #16-2503)  

• Under the second agreement approved, the County will lease the Old Cook County Hospital and other nearby lands to the Civic Health Development Group (“CHDG”) for 99 years, with 2 twenty-five year extension options for redevelopment and use at market rates.  CHDG will invest approximately $600 million for the redevelopment, which includes the restoration of the exterior of the old Beaux Arts hospital building, and will pay the County at least $2 million annually in rent.  It is expected that some environmental clean-up of the site may be necessary, but the County’s share is capped at $5 million, with CHDG responsible for the first $700,000 for each of the three phases, as well as anything above the County’s share. (#16-2198)
• Commissioner Boykin was the lone “no” vote for these two items, explaining that the agreements did not assure that sufficient jobs would go to members of nearby communities with high unemployment rates.  

Resolution by Commissioner Boykin to Reduce the President’s and Commissioners’ Salaries by $10,000 for the purpose of funding public works projects and creating meaningful jobs for residents of Cook County failed for lack of a second.  

Other Actions/Discussion:

• As a result of an issue raised by Commissioner Moore and a suggestion by commissioner Silvestri, in the future, when a vendor has received a waiver of the Minority and Woman Owned Business Entity participation requirement, that will be noted for an item, along with the reason for the waiver.
• Commissioner Suffredin expressed his displeasure at the number of times requests for Board approval of contract extensions are presented when the current contract is set to expire within days, leaving the Commissioners with no time to do anything but approve the extension.  He and Commissioners Schneider, Fritchy, and Boykin thus voted “no” in one of those situations, with Commissioner Moore voting “present.”  (#16-2507) 
• Items from Workforce, Housing and Community Development Committee:  The Board approved an ordinance that gives a winning bidder an incentive to provide jobs for youths.  That entity’s future bid will be deemed .25% or .5% lower, depending on how many of the jobs went to youths for the work performed under the original winning bid.  However, the “reduction” of the bid is only for purposes of evaluation.  Should that entity be the low bidder under that evaluation, the actual contract will be awarded at the actual bid amount. (#16-2692)
• The Board approved a block grant to provide loans at no interest for a developer to construct 29 townhomes and single family homes in Cicero as replacement for housing for those who were displaced as a result of the 2013 flood. (#16-2483)

Items from 9 am Finance Committee Meeting of May 11:  Commissioner Boykin deferred several items regarding a proposed special use gasoline and fuel tax and proposals on how to utilize the resulting funds. (#16-2566, 16-2567, 16-2569, 16-2570, 16-2571)  His motion to approve a local business preference ordinance failed for lack of a second. (#16-2614)

Observer - Priscilla Mims                  Length of Board Meeting:  2 hours, 45 minutes     
                                                                                          (Consent Agenda: 20 minutes)