Board of Commissioners

@CHIdocumenters I’ll be live tweeting remotely. Meeting video can be viewed here: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/watch-live-board-proceedings

Agenda and other details are at: https://cook-county.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=20924&GUID=B78A790A-5913-4FBF-8FBF-ECEE445B7796

We’re still waiting for the meeting to start. There’s occasional background talk. Now someone is loudly talking over two people having a background conversation, telling them to mute their mic until the meeting starts.

Board President Toni Preckwinkle brings the meeting to order at 10:18. Some members are at the county board chambers in person and others are joining on video.

The Cook County Board starts with public comments.

The first speaker is against merging two voting precincts that consist of different suburban communities because it causes complications on election day.

The Clerk of Cicero has objections to the precinct map redraw. With one week to review the proposed map it “makes it impossible to conduct public engagement.”

Another speaker says senior citizens of Cicero “don’t like change.” Changing precincts will discourage voting.

The mayor of LaGrange is concerned about “lack of transparency and community engagement” in drawing new precincts. Encourages board to “vote no” on proposed map.

A member of the public speaks in favor a proposed land acknowledgment statement that recognizes the history of indigenous people in the region.

A representative of the Service Employees Union asks the board to suspend the rules and provide a proposed bonus to employees. It’s difficult to read speaker names on the video so I won’t always include them.

An attorney criticizes the land bank authority with some technical comments that went over my head.

The League of Women Voters submitted a written statement in favor of new precinct boundaries. It’s not read.

The County Director of labor addresses the collective bargaining issue regarding a bonus raised by a public speaker. An agreement isn’t voted on until it’s final. There’s still active litigation.

Donnie Anderson from the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors speaks about a proposed contract and ordinance. Says if contract goes to another company through underhanded dealing “there will be a lot more public embarrassment than there is now.” https://www.facebook.com/Illinois-Committee-of-Blind-Vendors-10150160927295385/

Chief-of-staff Lanetta Haynes Turner starts a presentation about the county spending plan for American Rescue Plan Act funding.

It’s a little tough to read the slide presentation online because the video view can’t be expanded. https://t.co/esnoZtaLhk

Truner speaks about the process of prioritizing spending. The county conducted public engagement on how to spend, or not spend, ARPA funds. Public feedback and more info is on the county website: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/ARPA

Amar says the count received “about a billion dollars” in ARPA funds. The bulk will be allocated in 2022 and going into ‘23 and ‘24. About $280 million will go toward “community based initiatives.”

Staff are seeking board approval for some spending today and will have more proposals to present in February. https://t.co/xrEfi5nWL3

Funds will expend mental health services in a way that’s expected to be transformational.

Funding to address food insecurity.

Some proposed community programs described by staff.
One creates a “small business one stop shop” providing concierge style services.

Free legal aid for residents facing eviction, foreclosure, and consumer debt issues.

Low income housing water assistance for suburban county.

More county programs. Funding to promote tourism economy. Paid workforce training for people with specific needs, like lack of housing.

$60 million for safe and thriving communities. Includes violence prevention programs. Competitive grants to domestic violence providers.

Will further study what public safety “looks like from a non-police response perspective.”

$25 million to sustainable communities.
Brownfields management. Some will go toward lead-pipe removal in suburban cook, including county housing.

$40 million for “smart communities.”

Short time, will help local communities manage spending of ARPA funds. Long term, will provide funding for some local communities.

Staff at these meetings usually talk much faster than elected officials. I’m trying to keep up.

Commissioner Daley moves to have the proposal sent to the finance committee for consideration. https://t.co/XMmgsyKpZx

The finance committee will have a special separate meeting to discuss the ARPA spending proposal.
https://www.cookcountyil.gov/ARPA

A group of motions are passed at once. They include appointments to a mosquito abatement district.

More agenda items are voted on unanimously as a group without debate.

Next, staff give overview of agenda items. One is the Burnham Connector. https://burnham-il.gov/burnhamconnector-2/

After passing the previous set, another group of agenda items are described and passed without debate.

The county board discusses the precinct consolidation proposal. Clerk’s staff says the measure is to conduct elections efficiently and fairly. Will allow precincts to vote at the same place they did in the last election.

Consolidation needs to happen soon so candidates have accurate information before the next election.
“Keep in mind, people are going to walking precincts in January.” Candidates need accurate lists.

Commissioner Suffredin points out everyone will vote at the same location. Says the mayors who objected argued the process happened to fast, but didn’t object to specific precincts. It needs to be done quickly before the next election.

Commissioner Aguilar: “The issues here are process, transparency, and community engagement.”
They were only given a week to review a proposed map. Was told it was already done, could not be changed.

Commissioner Aguilar wants more time on the process before passing precinct consolidation. There’s a motion to defer. County board members are explaining their vote during roll call. Most members are pointing out this needs to be done quickly and changes can be made later.

The motion to defer fails: 3 yes - 13 no. Next, the motion to approve the precinct consolidation map passes along with other agenda items.

Commissioner present resolutions honoring county employees and community members.

The board honors several retiring employees. The consent calendar resolutions pass.

Another set of resolutions from committees are passed without discussion.

Legislation & Governmental Relations committee agenda items are up for a vote, including updated ethics rules. All items pass unanimously without discussion.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-cook-county-ethics-ordinance-amendments-20211215-i7y3vpqgnjaazhcvzk7amziuw4-story.html

More agenda items from committees pass without debate. They defer consideration of an ordinance regarding employee pensions.

After passing more items without debate, there’s a presentation on public safety and crime.

Commissioner Bill Lowry urges a yes vote for a resolution that will bring county agencies and elected officials together to work on crime. “It’s no longer only impacting often-ignored communities.”
Three commissioners asked to be added as co-sponsors.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners adjourns at 2:10. That concludes my live-tweeting for #CHIdocumenters