Wednesday committee meetings [remote]

Public speaker here to address the finance committee about outstanding FOIA filings, of which he has several. He also does not approve of property evaluation cuts. Note: all commissioners are present.

Lawrence Wilson Cook County Comptroller reports his analysis of revenue and expenses for the period through Dec 2022. All items are approved.

Status report on the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income pilot program!!! from the Bureau of Economic Development, GiveDirectly, and UChicago Inclusive Economy Lab. 3,250 households get $500/mo for 24 months, these households make less than 250% federal poverty level.

Check it out here https://tinyurl.com/yckpcm2b —enrollment for these 3,250 households has been recently completed. Reports on geographic and demographic distribution of these households. The greatest concentration of households in this pilot program are on far south side.

As of Feb 15th, all enrolled families will have received their first payments. Update is concluded, but I am excited to see how this pilot goes!

Still discussing details of the pilot program — commissioners wanting clarification on participant, funding, and cash distribution details

Veteran’s Committee begins - starting with a report on veteran assistance committee of their disbursements and other updates (new hires) of the last year

@Brandon4Chicago
chaired that committee .. he did great, not at all showing any wear from last night’s mayoral forum!

Zoning and Building committee, chaired by Commissioner Aguilar for the first time. All motions were passed, and everyone cheers for Aguilar - he said he felt like I just did my first communion. Very sweet.

Business and Economic Development Committee, chaired by Commissioner Anaya. All motions are passed without discussion, meeting is adjourned.

Asset management committee is called. Presentation on Job Order Contracting program, which is for pre-approved and pre-qualified contractors to perform a wide variety of renovation, repair, and minor construction projects. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/yw6w76z2

wanted to note that @SeanMMorrison was being critical of the guaranteed income pilot choice of identification methods for family qualification. Mentioning recent mass fraud and that pilot managers should be more careful in checking whether families qualify for assistance or not.

Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations, Environment and Sustainability, and Technology and Innovation Committee notes will be added later ! I need to logoff for now🤓 Update y’all soon

Audit Committee, starting back up! Two audits, both of Inmate commissary services, for two separate periods. They are required by Illinois prison standards act. Both are compliant. These were passed and filed.

Audit of Inmate Welfare Fund - 4 areas of improvements that the sheriff implemented while the audit was still going on. Fund is now compliant. @AnthonyJQuezada asks more - what the wage is, how much expenditure prices have inflated, and if there are other funds like this.

The county auditor NOR the sheriff’s office rep knows that the wage for inmates is for the work that they do.

Legislation and Intergovernmental Committee - public speaker bringing up Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB), Indigenous People’s Day, Cook County Board of Ethics.

Then a presentation on 2022 Annual Ethics Report about inquiries during that time. This board oversees the Ethics Ordinance, which requires all CC officials and employees to abide by a Code of Conduct which sets forth general directives to ensure fair and honest government.

Next, hearing from Katherine Calkin, board appointing her as a North Shore Mosquito Abatement District official, and she accepts. Committee votes her in

Next up to bat: Environment and Sustainability committee! Commissioner Morita presents her resolution on Environmental Justice, which outlines the county to let these principals guide their actions. Commissioner Miller asks to be added as a co-sponsor. Quezada voices his support.

Finally, the Technology and Innovation Committee. Property Tax tech system cost comparison report in process.

Discussing a resolution for a contract extension on IT system for board of review. This can threaten the tax reduction period, and representatives bringing up the objective of resolution is already part of the current contract. Some are against the extension of this contract.

Some tensions during this committee meeting came up due to some lack of communication board of technology and board of review about the resolution. The motion does end up being passed despite multiple present and no votes.

Meeting is adjourned at 2:30 pm. This concludes my live tweeting of Feb 8th, 2023 Cook County Board of Commissioners Wednesday meeting! Thanks all for tuning in.