NEW ITEMS

 

Meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

County Board Room, County Building

Tuesday, December 2, 2003, 10:00 A.M.

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RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP

ITEM #1

 

Transmitting a Communication, dated November 10, 2003 from

 

MICHELLE HARRIS, Secretary to the Board of Commissioners

 

requesting authorization for payment of $41,370.00 to the National Association of Counties (NACo) for Cook County membership dues for January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.

 

Estimated Fiscal Impact:  $41,370.00.  (018-880 Account).

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Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Moreno, moved that the payment to the National Association of Counties (NACo) be made.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS

ITEM #2

 

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

 

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners

 

Co-Sponsored by

 

JERRY BUTLER, FORREST CLAYPOOL, EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY,

ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN,

ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY,

ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS,

BOBBIE L. STEELE and LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom has called one of Cook County Government's most talented and dedicated employees, Eric Dwayne Miller from our midst; and

 

WHEREAS, Eric Miller served Cook County Government with distinction as a special assistant to Cook County Board President John H. Stroger, Jr.; and

 

WHEREAS, Eric brought a wide range of experience from both the private and public sectors to the position.  Before coming to County Government in 1999, Mr. Miller worked on the issues staff for the Illinois House of Representatives.  Prior to that, Eric worked for more than 12 years as Director of Operations for the law firm of Feingould & Levy; and

 

WHEREAS, Eric brought warmth, professionalism and sensitivity to the Office of the President; he was always concerned about the welfare of his colleagues and the people he served; and

 

WHEREAS, Eric Miller attended Quigley North High School and was involved in a diverse array of extracurricular activities, including basketball; and

 

WHEREAS, in addition to athletics, Eric excelled academically and went on to graduate as valedictorian of Quigley North's Class of 1979; and

 

WHEREAS, genuine and understated by nature, Eric never boasted about his stellar accomplishments.  Even though he was offered a basketball scholarship to Georgetown University, he opted to stay in Chicago and attended DePaul University, graduating in 1985 with a degree in accounting; and

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued

ITEM #2 cont’d

 

WHEREAS, widely admired for being on the "cutting edge", Eric thought "outside the box" years before the term became a popular expression; and

 

WHEREAS, Eric brought his keen intellect and detail orientation to every endeavor he undertook.  His presence in County Government was a blessing because he always stressed preparation and made a point to make sure that events flowed as smoothly as humanly possible; and

 

WHEREAS, with the passing of Eric Miller, we have lost a brilliant, forward thinking individual with seemingly unending compassion.  He was truly a man who set a fine example for all to follow.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than five million residents of Cook County, does hereby express its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family as well as the many friends and loved ones of Eric Dwayne Miller; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to the family of Eric Dwayne Miller so that his rich legacy may be so honored and ever cherished.

_________________________

 

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted.  President Stroger called for a rising vote.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

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ITEM #3

 

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

 

EARLEAN COLLINS, County Commissioner

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

EX-OFFENDER COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION, JOB TRAINING

AND HOUSING REHABILITATION

 

WHEREAS, Cook County is a home rule unit of local government pursuant to Article VII, Section 6(a) of the 1970 Illinois Constitution, and as such may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and

 

WHEREAS, there will be thousands of ex-offenders released from state and federal prisons returning to the various communities of Cook County as a result of mandatory sentencing laws enacted by the Illinois General Assembly during the past two decades; and

 

WHEREAS, an overwhelming majority of these ex-offenders lack employment skills and other means for self sufficiency which poses a threat to Cook County's health care cost and public safety; and

 

WHEREAS, there is a need to provide affordable housing for low income families, and to create job opportunities for the ex-offenders; the merging of these two interests would be a positive response to both needs; and

 

WHEREAS, there are hundreds of existing units of tax delinquent and abandoned housing that if rehabilitated will afford qualified ex-offenders an opportunity to develop vocational skills, increase the number of low income housing, and return these properties to the tax roles.

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued

ITEM #3 cont’d

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County establish an Ex-Offender Community Reintegration Program to reduce the recidivism rate of this population in Cook County Jail; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County direct the Department of Planning and Development to develop an RFP which will allow qualified housing development corporations and community based organizations to develop a program that will train qualified ex-offenders in the vocational trades for housing development, and that the funding shall be set aside from anticipated funds from the Illinois Supreme Court in accordance with (725 ILCS/5/110-6.1 and 725 ILCS 5/110-18).

 

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Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioner Quigley, moved that the Proposed Resolution be referred to the Committee on Finance (Comm. No. 262781) and to the Committee on Law Enforcement and Corrections Department of Corrections Subcommittee (Comm. No. 262782).  The motion carried unanimously.

 

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ITEM #4

 

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

 

EARLEAN COLLINS, County Commissioner

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

MENTALLY ILL JAIL DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAM

 

WHEREAS, Cook County is a home rule unit of local government pursuant to Article VII, Section 6(a) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970 with powers to regulate those matters which pertain to its government and affairs; and

 

WHEREAS, Cook County has the ongoing responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of its residents, and remains committed to public service that is efficient, equitable and accountable to the resident of Cook County; and

 

WHEREAS, a significant number of Cook County residents that enter the penal system are individuals who have diagnoses of mental illness, and whose crimes may in part be attributable to their mental illness; and

 

WHEREAS, the recidivism rate of such individuals could be reduced with proper diversionary measures that would address factors related to their illness and that contribute to behaviors leading to incarceration; and

 

WHEREAS, the diversionary measures needed could be employed through a program that provides an alternative to incarceration, and targets those precipitating factors that lead to crimes.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that a Post Release Pilot Program for mentally ill detainees in a partnership with local community based mental health centers be established; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the money be set aside from the proceeds captured from the Supreme Court of Illinois according to 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1 and 725 ILCS 5/110-18.

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued

ITEM #4 cont’d

 

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Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioner Quigley, moved that the Proposed Resolution be referred to the Committee on Finance (Comm. No. 262783) and to the Committee on Law Enforcement and Corrections Department of Corrections Subcommittee (Comm. No. 262784).  The motion carried unanimously.

 

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

ITEM #5

 

Submitting a Proposed Ordinance Amendment sponsored by

 

ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, County Commissioner

 

Co-sponsored by

 

MIKE QUIGLEY, County Commissioner

 

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RETAIL SALE OF CIGARETTES TAX ORDINANCE

 

WHEREAS, the County of Cook is a home rule unit of local government pursuant to Article VII, Section 6(a) of the 1970 Illinois Constitution; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule powers, the Cook County Board of Commissioners adopted an Ordinance to provide for a tax on the retail sale of cigarettes (“Retail Sale of Cigarettes Tax Ordinance”) on June 1, 1980 and has adopted subsequent amendments; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County retail cigarettes tax has been at the same rate since 1997; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners wishes to raise the tax imposed upon the retail sale of cigarettes within Cook County in order to discourage the use of tobacco by residents of Cook County and to decrease the illegal consumption of tobacco by juveniles; and

 

WHEREAS, Cook County expends significant resources in the treatment of tobacco related illnesses; and

 

WHEREAS, for the protection of the public health, safety, comfort and welfare pursuant to its home rule authority, The Cook County Board of Commissioners chooses to amend the Retail Sale of Cigarettes Tax Ordinance.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF COOK, ILLINOIS, AS FOLLOWS:

 

The Ordinances and Resolutions of Cook County, Chapter 13, entitled Fiscal Matters and Taxes, is hereby amended as follows:

 

Section 2.  Tax Imposed – Stamps – Tax Collection

 

                  (a)  A tax at the rate of nine (9.0) mils two cents ($.02) per cigarette is hereby imposed upon all cigarettes possessed for sale and upon the use of all cigarettes within the County of Cook, the ultimate incidence of and liability for payment of said tax to be borne by the consumer of said cigarettes.  The tax imposed hereby at the rate of nine (9.0) mils two cents ($.02) per cigarette shall become in force and effect on January 1, 1997 April 1, 2004.  The tax herein levied shall be in addition to any and all other taxes.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT continued

ITEM #5 cont’d

 

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Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Gorman, seconded by Commissioner Peraica, moved that the Proposed Ordinance Amendment be referred to the Committee on Finance.  (Comm. No. 262785).  The motion carried unanimously.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

ITEM #6

 

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

 

DEBORAH SIMS and PRESIDENT JOHN H. STROGER, JR., County Commissioners

 

Co-Sponsored by

 

FORREST CLAYPOOL, EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY,

ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN,

ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY,

ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI,

BOBBIE L. STEELE and LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

ANNEXATION OF UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY

(CITY OF MARKHAM)

 

WHEREAS, the President and the Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners have been advised by Commissioner Deborah Sims that the City of Markham is contemplating the annexation of a portion of the unincorporated territory lying generally between Dixie Highway, 159th Street, Rockwell Avenue and 160th Street; and

 

WHEREAS, it is the stated position of the Cook County Board of Commissioners to favor such annexations in order to better serve the interest of the citizens residing within those areas, to alleviate the burden of providing basic city services to those residents which now fall upon the County of Cook and to expand the tax base of the City and of the County and to provide a base for future industrial expansion; and

 

WHEREAS, based upon the foregoing consideration it is the determination of the Cook County Board of Commissioners that such annexation activity by the City of Markham should be supported and encouraged.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby indicate to the City of Markham its full support and encouragement in the effort to annex that portion of the unincorporated territory lying generally between Dixie Highway, 159th Street, Rockwell Avenue and 160th Street and pledge to assist in what ever manner possible; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is hereby directed to immediately forward a certified copy of this Resolution to the corporate authorities of the City of Markham.

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Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Sims, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted.  The motion carried unanimously.

RECONSIDERATION OF A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ATTORNEY FEES

AND REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED

COMMUNICATION NO. 262367

ITEM #7

 

Transmitting a Communication, dated December 1, 2003 from

 

DAVID ORR, County Clerk

by

JOY CAROL WYKOWSKI, Deputy Clerk of the Board

 

I respectfully request that the Cook County Board of Commissioners reconsider and approve as amended the following item, which was previously approved on the Finance Agenda (Page 4) at the November 18, 2003 Board Meeting.  The original amount reflected fees paid by the client; the corrected amount reflects fees to be paid to the attorney.

 

The amendment is indicated by the underscored language.

 

COURT ORDER

DOMESTIC RELATIONS CIVIL CASE

 

262367     DAVID ECKBERG, Attorney, submitting an Order of Court for payment of attorney fees totaling $8,800.00 $315.00 for the defense of an indigent defendant, Christopher Rouse.  Domestic Relations Civil Contempt Case No. 03-D-0008506.

 

DOMESTIC RELATIONS CIVIL CONTEMPT CASES                                                                      

APPROVED FISCAL YEAR 2003 TO PRESENT:                                                             $390,502.18

 

DOMESTIC RELATIONS CIVIL CONTEMPT CASES

TO BE APPROVED:                                                                                             $27,913.67 19,428.67

 

DOMESTIC RELATIONS CIVIL CONTEMPT CASES

APPROVED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003:                                                            $418,415.85 409,930.85

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Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved to reconsider the question, Communication No. 262367 – payment of attorney fees for David Eckberg, which was previously approved on November 18, 2003.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Peraica, moved that Communication No. 262367 be approved, as amended.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

ITEM #8

 

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

 

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, in the world, there are 42 million people living with AIDS; and

 

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in the United States, through 2002, approximately 886,575 people have been diagnosed with AIDS; and

 

WHEREAS, the CDC also report that, as of 2002, there were approximately 28,426 cumulative AIDS cases; and

 

WHEREAS, over the last three years, 3,100 people were diagnosed with AIDS in the State of Illinois; and

 

WHEREAS, 2,296 people are living with HIV disease in suburban Cook County, in addition to the 15,884 cases in the City of Chicago; and

PROPOSED RESOLUTION continued

ITEM #8 cont’d

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County HIV epidemic impacts all genders, ages, races, ethnicities and communities; and

 

WHEREAS, the HIV epidemic is fueled by denial of personal risk, failure to reduce risky behavior and lack of knowledge of HIV status; and

 

WHEREAS, HIV stigma and discrimination are enemies of the public health, threatening the effectiveness of HIV prevention and care programs by discouraging individuals from coming forward for testing, risk-reduction support and HIV medical care; and

 

WHEREAS, working to protect the residents of suburban Cook County from disease and prevent the spread of HIV, the Cook County Department of Public Health offers free, anonymous, HIV testing and risk-reduction counseling to all suburban Cook County residents; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Bureau of Health Services offers free HIV care to those living with HIV through the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than five million residents of Cook County, in recognition of World AIDS Day 2003, does hereby strongly encourage:

 

• Community leaders to initiate dialogue about HIV within their communities to work to end discrimination against people living with HIV.
• Families to talk with youth about HIV, insuring that youth have the knowledge, values, means and self-confidence to protect themselves in the midst of an epidemic.
• Residents to take the risk of HIV seriously and to use the free, anonymous HIV testing and risk-reduction services offered by the Cook County Department of Public Health to learn their HIV status and how to protect themselves.

_________________________

 

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Steele, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

ITEM #9

 

Pursuant to Rule 4-30, Georgia Clayton, CEO, United Black Contractors, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.  Ms. Clayton spoke regarding ex-offender community reintegration, job training and housing rehabilitation.

 

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ITEM #10

 

Pursuant to Rule 4-30, Henry McGee, Executive Director, Henry’s Sober Living House, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.  Mr. McGee spoke regarding ex-offender community reintegration, job training and housing rehabilitation.

 

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ITEM #11

 

Pursuant to Rule 4-30, Robert Moore, President, United for Better Communities, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.  Mr. Moore spoke regarding ex-offender community reintegration, job training and housing rehabilitation.