Public Meetings - Cook County, Illinois

The Cook County Board of Commissioners convened on March 12, 2026, at 3:15 PM UTC with a quorum present. Chair Daly presided. The meeting included public testimony, discussion, and votes on numerous agenda items, including resolutions on climate change, food insecurity, homelessness, property tax delays, and criminal justice reform. Public Comments & Testimony - Family Court System Criticism: Multiple speakers (Lisa, Elder Deborah White, Jackie Sample, Thomas Savalkas, Taiwan Sims, Jessica Saxon, Sosama George, Jennifer Barron, Daniela Anarati) alleged corruption, bias, and due process violations in Cook County family courts. They described judges ignoring abuse, financial devastation, and removal of children without proper evidence. Some requested creation of a task force on judicial corruption and federal investigation. - Support for Homeless Services and Food Access: Jennifer Hill (Alliance to End Homelessness) spoke in favor of items 260762 and 260763 for TIFF funds, noting the Finance Committee approved $4.1 million for homeless services, including a problem-solving fund with a 43% shelter diversion rate. Jill Rockman (Greater Chicago Food Depository) supported item 260761 for $10 million to expand food access, citing a November 2025 spike of 226,000 household visits and projected SNAP cuts of $200 billion. Bob Glaves (Chicago Bar Foundation) supported court-based rental assistance. Romisha Tucker (Housing Forward) highlighted how diversion funds safely relocated a domestic violence survivor. - Property Tax Delay Concerns: Aaron Murphy (Superintendent, West Northfield SD 31) and Vicky Rakowski (Forest Park Public Library) detailed severe impacts from delayed tax distributions, including decimated reserves and near-closure risks. They welcomed the President's plan for a public hearing, audit, and improved communication. - Support for Climate Resolutions: Laura Dirks (Oak Park Climate Action Network) strongly supported resolutions 260977 (Climate Superfund Act), 260978 (opposing legal immunity for fossil fuel companies), and 260979 (banning polystyrene foam). State Senator Graciela Guzman spoke in favor of the Climate Superfund Act. - Jail Conditions: Several speakers read testimony from incarcerated individuals alleging neglect, medical denial, and excessive pretrial detention (e.g., 15 years without trial). They called for improved medical care, access to law libraries and tablets, and better food. - Immigration and Welcoming County: Adon Miranda and Blair Janice (19th District Mutual Aid) urged passage of item 260798, praising Cook County's welcoming ordinance and health care for new arrivals. - Education and Youth: Dr. Jack Solomon and others appreciated county support for mental health resources in schools. Sarah Brown thanked Commissioner Miller for a doula resolution. - Other: Mayor George Booker (Maywood) and Mayor Shirley Drawinski (Harvey) thanked the board for grants and partnerships. Tom Shepherd requested inclusion of Prairie Boat in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, supported by Commissioner Miller. Discussion Items - Climate Resolutions (26-0977, 26-0978, 26-0979): Commissioner Degnan introduced three resolutions: urging passage of the Climate Superfund Act (SB 2981/HB 4773) to make fossil fuel companies pay for climate resilience; urging Congress to reject legal immunity for oil companies; and urging passage of the Disposable Food Service Container Act (SB 1531) banning polystyrene foam. He cited studies on microplastics and carcinogenicity. Commissioners Trevor and others were added as co-sponsors. All three were referred to committee. - Lexipol Contract (Item 26-0028): Discussion arose over a two-year contract with a renewal option for policy dissemination management. Commissioner Anaya, Degnan, and Sean Morrison raised concerns about the board approving renewal funds upfront, reducing oversight. Chief Procurement Officer Rafi Sarrafi explained the change stems from a November 2024 code revision. The motion passed with Commissioners Anaya, Degnan, Vasquez, and Stamps recorded as present. - Resolution Urging Congress to Defund ICE (Item 26-0798): Passed with one no vote from Commissioner Sean Morrison. - Youth Council Resolution (Item 26-1017): Commissioner Lowry introduced a resolution to create a 20-member youth council (ages 14-21) to advise on policy. Referred to legislation and intergovernmental relations committee. - Property Tax Delays: Commissioner Britton announced he will call a hearing to demand the Treasurer answer questions about the delayed tax distributions, calling the situation unacceptable. Key Outcomes - Approved Appointments: William Little and Zenobia Johnson Black to the Housing Authority of Cook County (items 260429, 260430). - Approved Contract Amendments and Grants: Numerous items, including $1.17 million grant for Cook County Health (260839), $1.2 million for 171st Street improvements (260706), $5.232 million for Sauk Trail Bridge replacement (260711), and $6.184 million for traffic signal upgrades (260820). - Approved Resolutions: Item 26-0798 (urging Congress to defund ICE/Border Patrol) passed with one dissenting vote. Items 26-0977, 26-0978, 26-0979 referred to committee. - Approved Reports and Journals: Quarterly fleet report (260788) received and filed; journals of proceedings approved. - Referred Items: Several contracts and resolutions referred to appropriate committees (e.g., 260504 to Transportation, 260744 to Finance). - Zoning Board Recommendations: Approved as substituted (item 260735). - Next Steps: The youth council resolution will be taken up in committee in April. A hearing on property tax delays will be held next month.

The Technology and Innovation Committee of Cook County convened on March 11, 2026, at 1:00 PM. The meeting was called to order by the Chair with a quorum present. Commissioners absent included Aguilar and Kevin Morrison (excused); Commissioner Degnan arrived later. The committee approved three contracts and deferred two reports after hearing four public speakers. Public Comments & Testimony - George Blakemore expressed concerns about technology spending, referencing past issues with tax collection (Kellogg) and alleged that county leaders, including the President, have failed to address problems. He stated that all officials—Black, white, Hispanic, Asian—are part of the problem. - Dennis White criticized technology for enabling destructive behavior among youth (e.g., teen takeovers) and alleged that Mark Zuckerberg used technology to censor President Trump in the 2020 election. He called for better cybersecurity and technology education in schools. - Jessica Jackson alleged that fraudulent court documents are being filed using technology, citing an example from the public administrator's office. She argued that technology is used to cheat seniors by imposing tight deadlines for property tax appeals. - Zoe Lee lamented the decline of South Side communities, asserting that despite IT budget spending, systems are slow and contribute to property loss. She urged the committee to use technology more effectively to serve underserved areas. Discussion Items - Item 26-034 (as amended in errata): Proposed contract with various law firms for technology-related legal services. Matt Hilteran, Senior Legal Counsel for the Bureau of Technology, explained that the contract results from an RFQ issued in 2025. Two law firms will provide services in four categories: data breach management, technology contract drafting/negotiation, tech-related regulatory compliance, and privacy/data protection. Total program spend authority is $97,731. The contract has a three-year initial term with two one-year renewal options. Approved. - Item 26-0602: Proposed contract with Microsoft Corporation for 24/7 technical support for Microsoft software (end-user, servers, cloud products) used by the President's office and separately elected officials. Heyman Sundaram (Bureau of Technology) presented a three-year contract from April 2026 to March 2029 for $4.76 million. Approved. - Item 26-0614: Proposed contract amendment with IBM Corporation (formerly AST). Derek Thomas, Deputy CIO, stated the amendment reflects a change in ownership and exercises two optional years for continued management of the enterprise service bus, which securely transmits data among criminal justice partners. Amendment amount: $2,131,044 over two years. The contract is expected to be competitively procured via RFP once this extension ends. Approved. - Deferred Items: Items 26-0644 (Chief Information Security Officer report for 2025) and 26-0645 (major information technologies report) were deferred on a motion by Commissioner Trevor, seconded by Commissioner Vasquez, without discussion. Key Outcomes - All three contracts (law firms, Microsoft, IBM) were approved unanimously on voice votes. - The two information reports were deferred to a future meeting. - The meeting adjourned after all business was concluded.

The Cook County Transportation Committee met on March 11, 2026, at 6:15 PM. The meeting was called to order with Chair presider, and a quorum was established with 11 members present initially (later adjusted to 14 ayes, three absent). The main agenda item was a presentation on the recently completed Cook County Safety Action Plan, followed by approval of several grants and contracts. Consent Calendar - Approval of the minutes from the February 4, 2026 meeting (Item 260940). Motion by Commissioner Daly, second by Commissioner Lowry. Passed by voice vote. Public Comments & Testimony - Patricia Poretes: Did not appear when called. - George Blakemore: Speaking generally, referenced a past payroll issue and alleged misconduct by the highway department. Made broad criticisms of government and called for an "uprising" or "revolution." - Dennis White: Criticized the CTA and public transit funding, stating "every time I get there, there's no money." Also expressed opposition to sanctuary policies, alleging they harm revenue and business. Urged removal of the sanctuary ordinance and called for more Republican committee chairs. - Jessica Jackson: Addressed Commissioner Stanley Moore directly, alleging that he was told by Timothy Evans to "stand down" on her property case. Claimed Cook County is stealing her property. Also referenced a lawsuit against Toni Preckwinkle and others, now in discovery stage. Alleged that a false fraudulent case number was placed on her door, and asked that the issue be taken to Sheriff Dart. Expressed frustration with Commissioner Donna Miller for not paying attention during her testimony. - Zoe Lee: Accused officials of stealing transportation money, specifically referencing Alexis Giannoulias and alleged CDL license sales to undocumented immigrants. Demanded that TIF surplus funds be directed to blighted areas. Criticized commissioners generally, calling them corrupt and not public servants. Her time was limited; she was eventually asked to stick to the agenda. - Taiwan Sims: Did not appear when called. Discussion Items - Report on Cook County Safety Action Plan (Item 260329): Presented by Jesse Elam, Director of Strategic Planning and Policy, and Ed Killin, Superintendent for Transportation and Highways. - Context: Traffic deaths in Cook County increased by 50% between 2018 and 2022. The plan was developed in partnership with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) using federal Safe Streets and Roads for All funding. The plan covers all public roads in Cook County, not just the 5% under county jurisdiction. - Key Findings: Black residents are more than twice as likely to be killed in a car crash than white residents. Pedestrians and bicyclists account for only 2% of crashes but 25% of fatalities. Speeding is more prevalent in suburbs than in Chicago. Just 4% of roadways account for a third of all fatalities and serious injuries. Distracted driving is the top emphasis area, followed by intersection-related crashes. - Recommendations: Expand complete streets concepts, consider automated speed enforcement outside Chicago (requires state law change), urge IDOT to provide greater design flexibility, standardize crash reporting, and improve post-crash care. The plan also identifies a high-injury network and uses systemic analysis to predict crash risk. - Next Steps: Implementation will involve working with municipalities on federal grant applications, pursuing IDOT highway safety funding, and using the Invest in Cook program. A safety plan advisory committee will meet semi-annually. Data available through 2022 shows a declining trend in fatalities. - Commissioner Questions: - Commissioner Trevor expressed concern about underreporting of pedestrian and cyclist crashes (based on his personal experience as a cyclist) and asked about data sources. He also asked whether the city vs. suburb crash comparisons were adjusted for population, and suggested including e-bike regulations in the plan. - Commissioner Lowry asked about driverless vehicles (e.g., Waymo) - not addressed in this plan. - Commissioner Degnan asked about funding for low-income communities with high crash rates and no resources for studies, noting coordination with the state. Also asked whether Cook County has speed cameras on its own roads (it does not; current state law limits them to Chicago). - Commissioner Anaya asked for verification of the data percentages and about total funding needed for implementation (not yet calculated). Noted that Chicago is not listed as a partner but clarified that they were a key partner. - Commissioner McCaskill urged consideration of flooding/ infrastructure issues when constructing roads. - Vote on Item 260329: Motion by Commissioner Daly to receive and file, second by Commissioner Lowry. Passed by roll call vote: 12 ayes, 6 absent (later revised to 14 ayes, 3 absent after late arrivals). - Approval of Multiple Grants & Contracts (Items 26036–260522): Ed Killin provided descriptions: - 26036: $500,000 grant for design engineering of Burnham Multimodal Connector Bridge. - 260337: $5 million grant from IDOT for Tui Avenue Corridor improvements. - 26038: $800,000 grant for environmental engineering on Central Des Plaines River Trail extension. - 260454: $6,441,650 CMAC grant for Tui Avenue Corridor construction. - 260407: IGA with Village of Bedford Park for sidewalk gaps on Archer Road. - 260493: $300,000 for Des Plaines River Trail extension (several municipalities and Forest Preserves). - 260501, 260502, 260503: Contracts with HR Green, Kimley Horn, and Peralt Clark for engineering services. - 260505: Contract with GFT Infrastructure for Berry Point Road Bridge replacement. - 260521: $1.9 million resolution for Berry Point Road Bridge. - 260522: $1.5 million for Lake Cook Road Bridge deck replacement. - Motion by Vice Chairman Anaya, second by Commissioner Daly. Passed by roll call vote: 14 ayes, 3 absent. Key Outcomes - Safety Action Plan received and filed (Item 260329). Next steps include implementation with partner municipalities and pursuit of federal/state funding. - 11 grants and contracts approved (Items 26036–260522), totaling over $15 million in new funding for bridge and trail projects. - Vote tallies: All motions passed with strong majority; no roll call recorded for adjournment. - Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:00 PM.

The Cook County Zoning and Building Committee met on March 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. with Chairman presiding. Roll call was taken, establishing a quorum with 14 members present, three absent (Commissioners Britton, Moore, and Kevin Morrison excused), and one participating remotely (Commissioner Marita). A motion to allow remote participation passed 14-3. Public Comments & Testimony - George Blake Moore, a public speaker, criticized zoning practices, alleging that zoning decisions negatively impact the black community and that any zoning can be obtained in Chicago and Cook County through a "pay to play" system. He expressed concerns about corruption and lack of checks and balances, urging the chair to enforce professional conduct among committee members. Discussion Items - Item 26-0971 – Approval of Minutes (February 4, 2026): A motion to approve the minutes was made by Vice Chair Sean Morrison and seconded by Commissioner Britton. The motion passed via voice vote with no objections. - Item 26-0734 – Special Use (SU 25002) for a Dunkin’ Donuts Drive-Through: Located at the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and Marion Avenue in unincorporated Franklin Park (Section 30). The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) recommended approval, and Township Supervisor Rocco Pascalio stated the business would be an asset to the area. A motion to approve was made by Vice Chair Sean Morrison and seconded by Commissioner Scott. The roll call vote resulted in 14 ayes and 3 absences (Commissioners Moore, Kevin Morrison excused, and Vasquez). Motion passed. - Item 26-0735 – Variance (V 250056) for a Single-Family Residence: At 690 Echo Drive / Echo Lane, Palatine, Illinois. The applicant sought to reduce the minimum required lot width from 150 feet to the existing 100 feet to construct a new single-family home on a well and septic system. The ZBA recommended the variance. A motion to approve was made by Vice Chair Sean Morrison and seconded by Commissioner McCaskill. The roll call vote was 14 ayes and 3 absent (Commissioners Moore, Kevin Morrison excused, and Vasquez). Motion passed. Key Outcomes - All three agenda items were approved: minutes from February 4, 2026, special use for a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-through, and a variance for a residential lot in Palatine. - The meeting adjourned without further discussion, upon a motion by Vice Chair Morrison, seconded by Commissioner Scott.