Report of the Committee on Finance

 

Public Hearing

 

October 1, 2009

 

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

 

Attendance

 

Present:

Chairman Daley, Vice Chairman Sims, Commissioners Butler, Claypool, Collins, Gainer, Gorman, Goslin, Moreno, Peraica, Reyes, Silvestri and Steele (13)

 

Absent:

President Stroger and Commissioners Beavers, Murphy, Schneider and Suffredin (4)

 

Also Present:

David Orr, Cook County Clerk

 

Court Reporter:

Anthony W. Lisanti, C.S.R.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

            Your Committee on Finance of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice for a public hearing on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at the hour of 10:30 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 

            Your Committee has considered the following items and upon adoption of this report, the recommendations are as follows:

 

            With respect to Communication Numbers 302410 and 302411, Chairman Daley asked the Secretary to the Board to call upon the registered public speakers, in accordance with Cook County Code, Sec. 2-108(dd), as follows:

 

1.      Krista Grimm – Board Member, League of Women Voters of Cook County.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

2.      Paul Duda – representing Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation.  Written statement also distributed.  Opposes prohibition of video gaming.

3.      George Blakemore – Concerned Citizen.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

4.      Andy Shaw – Executive Director, Better Government Association.  No position on Communication Numbers 302410 and 302411.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

5.      Glenn Keiffer – Keiffer’s Restaurant.  No position on merits.

6.      James Wagner – Past President, Chicago Crime Commission.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

7.      Honorable James Meeks – State Senator.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

8.      Christopher Anderson – Director, Gambling Recovery Center.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

9.      Anita Bedell – Illinois Church Action.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

10.    John Pastuovic – Director of Public Affairs, Chicago Crime Commission.  Written statement also distributed.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

11.    Chris Hesch – A. H. Entertainers.  Opposes prohibition of video gaming.

12.    John Beinarauskas – Concerned Citizen.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

13.    Athanosios Tom Matsas – Concerned Citizen.  Opposes prohibition of video gaming.

14.    Les Bernal – Executive Director, Stop Predatory Gambling.  Written statement also distributed.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

15.    Darren Decatoire – People for Video Poker.  Opposes prohibition of video gaming.

16.    Michael Anton – Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

17.    Nancy Duel – United Methodist Church in Northern Illinois Conference.  Supports prohibition of video gaming.

18.    Mike Pappas – Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association.  Opposes prohibition of video gaming.

 

Chairman Daley inquired of Mr. Anton if the position he stated, which supports the Ordinance Amendment, is that of Sheriff Thomas Dart.  Mr. Anton responded yes; Sheriff Dart does support the prohibition of video gaming in unincorporated Cook County.

 

Your Committee then considered the first item relating to prohibiting video gaming in unincorporated Cook County, Communication Number 302410.

 

302410

ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROHIBITING VIDEO GAMING IN UNINCORPORATED COOK COUNTY (PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT).  Submitting a Proposed Ordinance Amendment sponsored by Gregg Goslin and Anthony J. Peraica, County Commissioners.

 

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

 

PROHIBITS VIDEO GAMING IN UNINCORPORATED COOK COUNTY

AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE ILLINOIS VIDEO GAMING ACT

 

WHEREAS, the State of Illinois’ Video Gaming Act (230 ILCS 40/1 et seq.; PA 10 96-0034) became law July 13, 2009 and allows licensed retail establishments to conduct video gambling; and

 

WHEREAS, recognizing that some Illinois local jurisdictions would desire to opt out of video gambling, Section 27 of the Video Gaming Act permits counties and municipalities to prohibit video gaming by ordinance within their respective corporate limits or unincorporated areas; and

 

WHEREAS, states such as Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina have abandoned experiments with the legalization of video poker because of regulatory difficulties, corruption, and the high social costs associated with this form of gambling; and

 

WHEREAS, electronic gaming is designed to entice people to play longer, faster, and at higher rates of wagering, according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the Cook County Board President agree that legalized video poker would present a variety of adverse impacts on residents of Cook County including the potential for corruption, increasing the costs of law enforcement, regulatory difficulties, and high social costs; and

 

WHEREAS, the legalization of video poker within Cook County is not consistent with our desire to maintain a family friendly environment for citizens and their children; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the Cook County Board President call on every municipality within Cook County to join the County in prohibiting video gaming.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 58 Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, Section 58-161 of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as follows:

 

Sec. 58-161.   Gaming devices.

 

            (a)        The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

 

            Gaming device means any device, mechanism or implement which, upon operation of the device, mechanism or implement, is used in playing games which includes, but which is not limited to pinball or any game which is a form of pinball, or any game which is a form of poker, keno, bingo or any variation of a slot machine, and shall include those devices, mechanisms or implements having a video display which are intended to be played.  Gaming device shall also include any device authorized by the Illinois Video Gaming Act, 230 ILCS 40/1 et seq.

 

            Place of public resort means any premises wherein any service or merchandise is offered for sale to the public or where gaming devices are used, kept, owned, played or operated, or any premises used as a clubhouse or clubrooms, or any premises which are licensed by Cook County to engage in business, including businesses licensed to serve and/or sell alcoholic beverages.  Place of public resort shall also include any place authorized by the Illinois Video Gaming Act, 230 ILCS 40/1 et seq., to conduct video gaming.

 

            (b)        Owning, operating, etc., in place of public resort.  It shall be unlawful for any person, to keep, own, play, use or operate, or cause to be kept, owned, played, used, or operated, in any place of public resort within the unincorporated area of the County, any gambling device, where the player, by playing the game, is entitled to accumulate points or replays for receipt of reward, money, or any other item of value.  Such gaming devices shall not be prohibited where the player is rewarded only with additional opportunities to play.  This section shall not be deemed to prohibit any games of chance or skill which were expressly authorized by State law on or before April 1, 1994.  However, this section does prohibit any video gaming authorized by 230 ILCS 40/1 et seq. and video gaming licenses authorized by 230 ILCS 40/1 et seq. shall not be valid within the unincorporated areas of Cook County.

 

            (c)        Seizure.  It is hereby made the duty of every law enforcement officer to seize any gaming device kept or used in violation of this section and, such gaming device so seized may, upon court order, be destroyed.  Any person obstructing or resisting any law enforcement officer in the performance of any act authorized by this subsection shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense.

 

            (d)        Penalty for violation.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense.  The playing or permitting play of each individual game in violation of this section shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.  Any violation of this section by a liquor licensee may be cause for the revocation or suspension of a liquor license.

 

Effective date:  This Ordinance Amendment shall be effective upon adoption.

 

* Referred to the Committee on Finance on 09/01/09.

 

Commissioner Goslin entered into the record an e-mail he received from Eugene R. Dawson, Supervisor of Barrington Township, which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

 

Commissioner Goslin, seconded by Commissioner Gorman, moved to defer consideration of the proposed Ordinance Amendment (Communication No. 302410) to the October 20, 2009 meeting of the Finance Committee.  Commissioner Peraica called for a Roll Call, the vote of yeas and nays being as follows:

 

ROLL CALL ON MOTION TO DEFER

COMMUNICATION NO. 302410 TO THE

OCTOBER 20, 2009 FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

 

Yeas:         Commissioners Claypool, Collins, Gainer, Gorman, Goslin, Moreno, Reyes, Silvestri, Steele and Chairman Daley (10)

 

Nays:         Commissioners Butler and Peraica (2)

 

Absent:      Commissioners Beavers, Murphy, Schneider, Vice Chairman Sims and Suffredin (5)

 

The motion to defer Communication No. 302410 to the October 20, 2009 Finance Committee meeting CARRIED.

 

Your Committee next considered the second item relating to prohibiting video gaming in unincorporated Cook County, Communication Number 302411.

 

302411

ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROHIBITING VIDEO GAMING WITHIN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF COOK COUNTY (PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT).  Submitting a Proposed Ordinance Amendment sponsored by Bridget Gainer, Earlean Collins, Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman, Joan Patricia Murphy, and Deborah Sims, Jerry Butler, Forrest Claypool, John P. Daley, Anthony J. Peraica and Robert B. Steele, County Commissioners.

 

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

 

ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROHIBITING VIDEO GAMING

WITHIN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF COOK COUNTY

 

WHEREAS, the Video Gaming Act (230 ILCS 40/1 et seq.; P.A. 96-0034) became law on July 13, 2009 and allows licensed retail, veterans, fraternal, or truck stop establishments to install video gaming terminals on their premises for the purpose of conducting video gambling; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 58-161 of the Cook County Code of Ordinances currently prohibits the operation of video gaming devices in places of public resort within the unincorporated areas of Cook County; and

 

WHEREAS, legalized video poker would present a variety of adverse impacts on residents of Cook County including the potential for corruption, impact on the costs of law enforcement, regulatory difficulties, and high social costs; and

 

WHEREAS, the Video Gaming Act was passed with no public input or analysis on the impact on municipalities or counties that will be charged with implementing and enforcing the Video Gaming Act; and

 

WHEREAS, states such as Iowa, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina have gone on to repeal legalized video gaming because of regulatory difficulties, corruption, and the high social costs associated with this form of gambling; and

 

WHEREAS, according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, electronic gaming is designed to entice people to play longer, faster, and at higher rates of wagering; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 27 of the Video Gaming Act permits counties and municipalities to prohibit video gaming within their respective corporate limits or unincorporated areas; and

 

WHEREAS, Cook County is a home rule unit of government under Article VII, Section 6 of the Illinois Constitution and as such, may prohibit video gambling within its corporate limits through exercising its home rule powers; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners calls upon every municipality within Cook County to join the County in prohibiting video gambling.

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Chapter 58 Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, Section 58-161 of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as follows:

 

Sec. 58-161.   Gaming devices.

 

            (a)        The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

 

            Gaming device means any device, mechanism or implement which, upon operation of the device, mechanism or implement, is used in playing games which includes, but which is not limited to pinball or any game which is a form of poker, keno, bingo or any variation of a slot machine, and shall include those devices, mechanisms or implements having a video display which are intended to be played.  The term “gaming device” specifically includes video gaming terminals, as that term is defined in Section 5 of the Illinois Video Gaming Act (230 ILCS 40/5).

 

            Place of public resort means any premises wherein any service or merchandise is offered for sale to the public or where gaming devices are used, kept, owned, played or operated, or any premises used as a clubhouse or clubrooms, or any premises which are licensed by Cook County to engage in business, including businesses licensed to serve and/or sell alcoholic beverages.  The term “place of public resort” specifically includes licensed establishments, licensed fraternal establishments, licensed veterans establishments and licensed truck stop establishments, as those terms are defined in Section 5 of the Illinois Video Gaming Act (230 ILCS 40/5).

 

            (b)        Owning, operating, etc., in place of public resort.  It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, own, play, use or operate, or cause to be kept, owned, played, used or operated, in any place of public resort within the unincorporated area of the County, any gambling device, including a video gaming terminal, where the player, by playing the game, is entitled to accumulate points or replays for receipt of reward, money, or any other item of value.  Such gaming devices shall not be prohibited where the player is rewarded only with additional opportunities to play.  This section shall not be deemed to prohibit any games of chance or skill which were expressly authorized by State law on or before April 1, 1994.

 

            (c)        Seizure.  It is hereby made the duty of every law enforcement officer to seize any gaming device kept or used in violation of this section and, such gaming device so seized may, upon court order, be destroyed.  Any person obstructing or resisting any law enforcement officer in the performance of any act authorized by this subsection shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense.

 

            (d)        Penalty for violation.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense.  The playing or permitting play of each individual game in violation of this section shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.  Any violation of this section by a liquor licensee may be cause for the revocation or suspension of a liquor license.

 

Effective date:  This Ordinance Amendment shall be effective upon adoption.

 

* Referred to the Committee on Finance on 09/01/09.

 

Commissioners Butler, Claypool, Daley, Peraica and Steele requested to be added as sponsors.  Commissioner Gorman asked to be removed as a sponsor.

 

Commissioner Gainer, seconded by Commissioner Peraica, moved that the Ordinance Amendment (Communication No. 302411) be approved and adopted.

 

Following discussion, Commissioner Gorman, seconded by Commissioner Moreno, moved to defer consideration of the proposed Ordinance Amendment (Communication No. 302411).  Commissioner Peraica called for a Roll Call, the vote of yeas and nays being as follows:

 

ROLL CALL ON MOTION TO DEFER

 

Yeas:         Commissioners Gorman, Goslin, Moreno, Reyes and Silvestri (5)

 

Nays:         Commissioners Butler, Claypool, Collins, Gainer, Peraica, Steele and Chairman Daley (7)

 

Absent:      Commissioners Beavers, Murphy, Schneider, Vice Chairman Sims and Suffredin (5)

 

The motion to defer FAILED.

 

Returning to the main motion to approve the Ordinance Amendment (Communication No. 302411), Commissioner Gainer called for a Roll Call, the vote of yeas and nays being as follows:

 

ROLL CALL ON MOTION TO APPROVE

THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

(COMMUNICATION NO. 302411)

 

Yeas:         Commissioners Butler, Claypool, Collins, Gainer, Gorman, Goslin, Peraica, Reyes, Silvestri, Steele and Chairman Daley (11)

 

Nays:         Commissioner Moreno (1)

 

Absent:      Commissioners Beavers, Murphy, Schneider, Vice Chairman Sims and Suffredin (5)

 

The motion carried and the Ordinance Amendment (Communication No. 302411) was APPROVED AND ADOPTED.

 

With respect to Communication Number 302613, Chairman Daley asked the Secretary to the Board to call upon the registered public speakers, in accordance with Cook County Code, Sec. 2-108(dd).  Secretary DeLeon responded that no one had registered to testify regarding Communication Number 302613.

 

302613

AMENDMENTS TO THE ETHICS AND LOBBYIST ORDINANCES (PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS).  Submitting Proposed Ordinance Amendments sponsored by Bridget Gainer, Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman and Joan Patricia Murphy, County Commissioners; Co-Sponsored by Todd H. Stroger, President, William M. Beavers, Jerry Butler, Forrest Claypool, Earlean Collins, John P. Daley, Gregg Goslin, Joseph Mario Moreno, Anthony J. Peraica, Edwin Reyes, Timothy O. Schneider, Peter N. Silvestri, Deborah Sims, Robert B. Steele and Larry Suffredin, County Commissioners.

 

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS

 

AMENDMENTS TO THE ETHICS AND LOBBYIST ORDINANCES

 

WHEREAS, accountability in government requires greater transparency as to who is lobbying officials and employees on Cook County contracts and decisions; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Ethics Ordinance establishes reporting requirements for individuals and entities lobbying the Cook County Board and Cook County Agencies; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Ethics Ordinance shall be amended to require additional reporting requirements including lobbyist expenditures and lobbyist activities, the creation of an online database as a repository for such reports and allowing for public search of said database; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Ethics Ordinance shall be amended to prohibit former Cook County officials and employees from lobbying the County for a period of one year from the time the official or employee leaves employment with the County; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Ethics Ordinance shall be amended to increase the penalties for late filing to fall in line with the current State of Illinois penalties for late filing; and

 

WHEREAS, all Request for Proposal (RFP) submissions related to Cook County contracts must include the name of any individual lobbyist as well as the lobbying firm used in developing the RFP; and

 

WHEREAS, all Cook County Board Meeting agendas and contract recommendations shall include the identity of any individual lobbyist and/or lobbying firm retained by the proposer of the contract.

 

 

 

BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 2 Administration, Sections 2-580, 2-622 and 2-633 through 2-634 of the Cook County Code are hereby amended as follows:

 

Sec. 2-580.     Post employment restrictions.

 

               (a)        No former official or employee shall assist or represent any person other than the County in any judicial or administrative proceeding involving the County if the official or employee was counsel of record or participated personally and substantially in the proceeding during his or her term of office or employment.

 

               (b)        No former official or employee shall assist or represent any person in any business transaction involving the County, if the official or employee participated personally and substantially in that transaction during his or her term of office or employment.

 

               (c)        No former official or employee may, for a period of one year after the termination of his or her term of office or employment, knowingly accept employment or receive compensation or fees for services from an employer if the employee or official, during the year immediately preceding termination of County employment and on behalf of the County, participated personally and substantially in the decision to award County contracts with a cumulative value of over $25,000.00 to the person or entity, or its parent or subsidiary.

 

               (d)        The requirements of this section may be waived by the Board of Ethics if the Board of Ethics finds in writing that the County's negotiations and decisions regarding the procurement of the contract or contracts were not materially affected by any potential for employment of that official or employee by the employer No former official or employee may, for a period of one year after the termination of his or her term of office or employment, knowingly and for compensation lobby any County official or employee on behalf of any other entity.

 

               (e)        This section applies only to persons who terminate an affected position on or after the effective date of this article The requirements of this section may be waived by the Board of Ethics if the Board of Ethics finds in writing that the County's negotiations and decisions regarding the procurement of the contract or contracts were not materially affected by any potential for employment of that official or employee by the employer.

 

               (f)         This section applies only to persons who terminate an affected position on or after the effective date of this article.

 

Sec. 2-622.     Definitions.

 

              Person means any individual, entity, corporation, partnership, firm, association, union, trust, estate, as well as any parent or subsidiary of any of the foregoing, and whether or not operated for profit.

 

 

Sec. 2-633.     Information required of registrants.

 

              (a)     Within 30 days of engaging in any activity, which requires such person to register, and subsequently between January 1 and January 20 of each year, every person required to register under Section 2-631 shall file in the office of the Clerk a written statement, subscribed under oath before a notary public, containing the following information:

 

               (1)        The registrant's name, permanent address and temporary address (if any) while lobbying.

 

               (2)        The registrant’s business affiliation and business address, or, if none, the statement that the registrant is a sole proprietor.

 

               (3)        With respect to each person on behalf of which the registrant acts as a lobbyist:

 

                          a.         The name, business address, permanent address and nature of the business of the person;

 

                          b.         Whether the relationship is expected to involve compensation or expenditures or both; and

 

                          c.         A brief description of the County matter in reference to which such service is to be rendered.

 

              (4)        The name, business address, and permanent address of each person employed by the registrant to perform such lobbying services or who appears on behalf of the registrant.

 

              (5)        A picture of the registrant.

 

               (6)        Registrants shall pay an annual, nonrefundable, nontransferable filing fee as set out in Section 32-1, per entity and a separate fee per exclusive lobbyist, payable to the Clerk upon filing.

 

              (b)     The separate fee, per exclusive lobbyist, as set forth in Subsection (a)(6) of this section, shall be waived for employees of nonprofit organizations that are exempt from income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, provided such organizations lobby only with their own employees and the employees who lobby work a minimum of 1,000 hours per year for the organization.

 

               (c)     In the event any substantial change or addition occurs with respect to the information required by this division to be contained in the registration statement, including the addition or subtraction of a client, an amendment to the statement shall be filed with the Clerk within 14 days.

 

 

               (d)     In addition to other penalties provided in this division, any person filing a late registration under this section shall be assessed a late filing fee as set out in Section 32-1 per day the registration is late, payable to the Clerk upon filing. Any person filing a late registration after January 31 shall also be subject to a penalty of $100.00 per day, to be levied as set forth in Section 2-637 All reports filed pursuant to this section and section 2-634 shall be filed electronically and under oath, according to rules and regulations to be established by the Clerk, as of the date such rules and regulations are promulgated.  Reports filed electronically shall be timely if filed by 11:59 p.m. on the established due date.  The Clerk shall, as soon as practicable, post the filed reports on the Clerk’s website.

 

              (e)     In addition to other penalties provided in this division, any person filing a late registration under this section shall be assessed a late filing fee as set out in Section 32-1 per day the registration is late, payable to the Clerk upon filing.  Any person filing a late registration after January 31 shall also be subject to a penalty of $150.00 per day, to be levied as set forth in Section 2-637.

 

               (f)      Within 48 hours of being retained, hired or employed by any person to lobby on that person’s behalf, a registrant shall amend the report filed pursuant to this section to include the information required under (a)(3) of this section, as to the person newly retaining the registrant.

 

Sec. 2-634.     Reports.

 

               (a)       Every person so registering shall, so long as the person's activity continues, file with the Clerk between January 1 and January 20 and between July 1 and July 20 a two reports under oath of all expenditures made by the person to or for the benefit of a County official or County employee, notwithstanding whether lobbying was occurring at the time of the expenditure, during the previous six calendar months.  The report shall show in detail the County official or County employee to whom or for whose benefit such expenditures were made. Expenditures made by the registrant shall include expenditures made by the registrant's employer and/or contractor for whom the registrant is performing lobbying services unless the employer or contractor independently registers and reports pursuant to Section 2-631(3). If the registrant lobbies for more than one person, they shall identify which expenditures were made on behalf of each such person.  Any expenditure over $100.00 shall disclose not only the amount of the expenditure and to whom or for whose benefit such expenditure was made, but also disclose the date of the expenditure, the use and purpose for which the expenditure was made, and the County matter in connection with which the expenditure was made.  If the registrant made no such expenditures during the reporting periods herein described, the registrant shall file and State herein that the registrant had no such expenditures a lobbying expenditure report and a lobbying activity report:

 

               (1)       The lobbying expenditure report shall state all expenses made by the person to or for the benefit of a County official or County employee, notwithstanding whether lobbying was occurring at the time of the expenditure, during the previous six months.  The report shall show in detail the County official or County employee to whom or for whose benefit such expenditures were made.  Expenditures made by the registrant shall include expenditures made by the registrant’s employer and/or contractor for whom the registrant is performing lobbying services unless the employer or contractor independently registers and reports pursuant to Section 2-631(3).  If the registrant lobbies for more than one person, they shall identify which expenditures were made on behalf of each such person.  Any expenditure over $100.00 shall disclose not only the amount of the expenditure and to whom or for whose benefit such expenditure was made, but also disclose the date of the expenditure, the use and purpose for which the expenditure was made, and the County matter in connection with which the expenditure was made.  If the registrant made no such expenditures during the reporting periods herein described, the registrant shall file and state herein that the registrant had no such expenditures.

 

               (2)       The Lobbying activity report shall include all lobbying contacts made with County officials or County employees.  For each such contact, the report shall list the date of the contact, the County official or County employee with whom the lobbying contact was made, the entity on whose behalf the lobbying contact was made, the subject matter of the of the lobbying contact, including any County contract, involved in the contact.  If the lobbyist has a relationship be birth or marriage with the County official or employee lobbied, such relationship shall be stated.  If the registrant made no such lobbying contacts during the reporting periods herein described, the registrant shall file and state herein that the registrant had no such contacts.

 

               (b)       Individual expenditures which aggregate $100.00 or less otherwise required to be reported hereunder under (a)(1) of this Section may be reported in aggregate amounts without detail, provided that any gift solicited by a County official or County employee must be reported in detail as set forth above, additionally listing the recipient of such gift.

 

               (c)       Such rReports required under (a)(1) of this Section shall include for each client the following aggregate expenses attributable to lobbying activities, to be identified as such:  advertising and publications; lodging and travel that are not reported by another registrant; educational or advocacy expenses; honoraria; meals, beverages, and entertainment expenses; political contributions; and gifts.

 

               (d)       With respect to each client of the registrant, the registrant shall report the following in the lobbying expenditure report:

 

               (1)       The name, business and permanent address and nature of business of the client and any other business entities on whose behalf lobbying was performed for the same compensation.

 

               (2)       A statement of the amount of compensation.

 

               (3)       The name of each person lobbied and a brief description of the County matter involved.

 

               (e)       A registrant who terminates employment or duties which required registration under this division shall give the Clerk, within 30 days after the date of such termination, written notice of such termination and shall include therewith a report of the lobbying expenditures described herein, covering the period of time since the filing of the registrant's last report to the date of termination of employment, and a report of the lobbying activity described herein, covering the period of time since the filing of the registrant’s last report to the date of termination of employment.  Such notices and reports shall be final and relieve such registrant of further reporting under this division unless and until the person later take employment or assumes duties that require to again register under this division.

 

               (f)        Failure without just cause to file any such report within the time designated herein or the knowing reporting of false or incomplete information shall constitute a violation of this division.  In addition to other penalties provided in this division, any person filing a late report under this section shall be assessed a late filing fee as set out in Section 32-1 per day the report is late, payable to the Clerk upon filing.  Any person filing a late report after January 31 (for reports due by January 20) or after July 31 (for reports due by July 20) shall also be subject to a penalty of $100.00 $150.00 per day, to be levied as set forth in Section 2-637.  Any registrant who is required to file a report hereunder may effect one 30-day extension of time for filing the report by filing with the Clerk, not less than ten days before the date on which the statement is due, a declaration of intention to defer the filing of the report.  The filing of such declaration shall suspend application of the penalty provisions contained herein for the duration of the extension.  Failure to file by the extended date shall constitute a violation of this division and shall subject the registrant to the penalty described herein.

 

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Chapter 32 Fees, Section 32-1 of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as follows:

 

Sec. 32-1.       Fee schedule.

 

The fees or charges provided for or required by the below listed sections shall be as shown below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                               Fees, Rates, Charges

Code Section    Description                                                      (in dollars)

 

CHAPTER 2, ADMINISTRATION

 

2-633 (c)             Lobbyist registration, late filing fee, per day            10.00 50.00

2-634 (f)              Late filing of report, per day                                     10.00 50.00

 

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Chapter 34 Finance, Section 34-152 of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as follows:

 

Sec. 34-152.   Contracts not adaptable to competitive bidding; requests for proposals or qualifications.

 

               (a)       Contracts which by their nature are not adapted to award by competitive bidding, such as contracts for the services of individuals possessing a high degree of professional skill where the ability or fitness of the individual plays an important part; contracts for printing of Finance Committee pamphlets, controllers estimates, and departmental reports; contracts for the printing or engraving of bonds, tax warrants and other evidence of indebtedness; contracts for ballot cards, printing of election ballots and poll sheets, and moving of election equipment and supplies; contracts for utility services such as water, light, heat, telephone, or telegraph; and contracts for the purchase of magazines, books, periodicals, and similar articles of an educational or instructional nature, and the binding of such magazines, books, periodicals, pamphlets, reports, and similar articles shall not be subject to the competitive bidding requirements of Section 34-151.

 

               (1)       Criteria for use of requests for proposals or requests for qualifications.  Proposals for contracts not adaptable to competitive bidding shall be solicited through the issuance of requests for proposals ("RFP") or requests for qualifications ("RFQ") unless otherwise authorized by the Board.  RFPs and RFQs are appropriate when competitive bidding is not practicable or advantageous to the County.  RFPs and/or RFQs may result in the negotiation of a contract with one or more proposers selected as the result of an evaluation process which includes the simultaneous consideration of multiple evaluation factors.

 

               (2)       Notification.  In order to issue an RFP or RFQ, the Using Department or Elected Official must notify the Purchasing Agent in writing that it intends to issue a RFP or RFQ.

 

               (3)       Prescribed content of RFPs and RFQs.  All RFPs and/or RFQs shall include such forms and provisions as shall be issued from time to time by the Office of the Purchasing Agent. These forms shall include, but not be limited to:  Instructions to Proposers; General Conditions; Cook County Certification and Execution Forms and a Proposer Registration Form which shall include the name and firm of any lobbyist retained for the RFP; and all additional documents as required by the Purchasing Agent. The Using Department or Elected Official shall be responsible for developing appropriate special conditions, a proposer questionnaire and a cost proposal form.

 

               (4)       Review prior to issuance.  RFPs and/or RFQs shall be submitted to the Office of the Purchasing Agent for review prior to their issuance.  In addition to the direct transmittal of the RFP or RFQ to potential firms or individuals, all RFPs and RFQs shall be posted on the County's website.  Such posting shall be performed by the Bureau of Information Technology and Automation upon the request of the Office of the Purchasing Agent.

 

               (5)       Opening of RFPs and RFQs.  The RFPs or RFQs shall be opened in the presence of one or more witnesses after the designated date for submission.  A list of firms or individuals offering proposals or responding to RFQs shall be submitted to the Purchasing Agent within 24 hours of RFP or RFQ opening.  The contents of the RFP or RFQ shall not be disclosed to competing offerors during the process of negotiation.  Any proposer that cancels, withdraws or modifies its proposal after the proposal due date without County approval may result in the proposer being deemed unqualified and may prohibit said proposer from receiving a County contract for a period of one year.  A record of proposals shall be prepared and shall be open for public inspection after contract award.

 

               (6)       Evaluation.  The Using Department or Elected Official shall identify the factors to be used in evaluating proposals, which information shall be set forth in the RFP.  These factors include, but are not limited to, price, experience and qualifications of the proposer, the quality and cost effectiveness of the proposal, and the demonstrated willingness and ability of the proposer to satisfy the requirements of the County as described in the request.  The Using Department or Elected Official shall evaluate proposals and shall conduct any negotiations of a possible contract with one or more proposers.

 

               (7)       Discussions.  As provided in the RFP or RFQ, discussions may be conducted with responsible proposers who submit proposals determined to have the greatest likelihood of being selected for a contract for the purpose of clarifying and assuring full understanding of and responsiveness to the County's requirements.  Those proposers shall be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion and revision of proposals.  Revisions to proposals may be permitted after submission for the purpose of obtaining best and final proposals before a recommendation is made to the Board of Commissioners.  In conducting discussions there shall be no disclosure of any confidential information derived from proposals submitted by competing proposers.  If information is disclosed to any proposer, it shall be provided to all competing proposers.  Once a proposer has been recommended to and approved by the Board of Commissioners, the Using Department or Elected Official shall finalize the contract terms for the Board's execution consideration.

 

               (8)       Recommendations.  The Using Department or Elected Official shall recommend to the Board of Commissioners that the County enter into a contract with the responsible proposer whose proposal or qualifications is determined in writing by such Using Department or Elected Official to be the most advantageous to the County, taking into consideration price, qualifications and the evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposals.  The Using Department or Elected Official shall document the results of its evaluation and the reasons for its recommendation to the Purchasing Agent.  The Using Department or Elected Official shall be responsible for requesting that the Board of Commissioners authorize a contract with the recommended proposer, provided that no Using Department or Elected Official shall make such a recommendation without stipulating the known services of a registered lobbyist, including but not limited to any lobbyist listed in the RFP.  The recommendation shall include the name of the individual lobbyist and the name of the lobbying firm.  The authorization of the Board of Commissioners to enter into a contract shall not result in a contract unless and until the Board has authorized the execution of the final contract documents upon the request of the Purchasing Agent.  The Purchasing Agent's request to the Board for contract execution shall be subject to the proposed contractor's compliance with all applicable laws and County procedures and to the Purchasing Agent's review of the subject contract.

 

               (b)       The Purchasing Agent is expressly authorized to procure from any Federal, State or local government unit or agency thereof such surplus materials, supplies, commodities, or equipment as may be made available through the operation of any legislation heretofore or hereinafter enacted and to enter into cooperative educational agreements with not-for-profit universities and hospitals without conforming to the competitive bidding requirements of this article.  Regular employment contracts in the County service, whether with respect to the classified services or otherwise, shall not be subject to the provisions of this article, nor shall this article be applicable to the granting or issuance pursuant to powers conferred by laws, ordinances, or resolutions or license, permits, or other authorization by the County Board, or by departments, offices, institutions, boards, commissions, agencies or other instrumentalities of the County, nor to contracts or transactions, other than the sale or lease of personal property pursuant to which the County is the recipient of money.

 

               (c)       This section shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and is specifically intended to supersede 55 ILCS 5/5-36001 (Cook County purchasing-contracts for supplies, materials and work), 55 ILCS 5/5-36004 (Cook County purchasing-definitions) and 55 ILCS 5/5-36006 (Cook County purchasing-competitive bids, government surplus materials).

 

Effective date:  These Amended Ordinances shall be in effect upon adoption.

 

* Referred to the Committee on Finance on 09/16/09.

 

Commissioner Gainer, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved that the Ordinance be approved and adopted.

 

Chairman Daley informed the members that three (3) Amendments have been distributed, and called on Commissioner Gainer to present the amendments.

 

 

AMENDMENT #1 TO COMMUNICATION #302613

 

Sponsored by John P. Daley, County Commissioner

 

Amends Section 2-633(d) and (f), to require specific timeframe on posting of Reports:

 

               (d)     In addition to other penalties provided in this division, any person filing a late registration under this section shall be assessed a late filing fee as set out in Section 32-1 per day the registration is late, payable to the Clerk upon filing. Any person filing a late registration after January 31 shall also be subject to a penalty of $100.00 per day, to be levied as set forth in Section 2-637 All reports filed pursuant to this section and section 2-634 shall be filed electronically and under oath, according to rules and regulations to be established by the Clerk, as of the date such rules and regulations are promulgated.  Reports filed electronically shall be timely if filed by 11:59 p.m. on the established due date.  The Clerk shall, as soon as practicable, post the filed reports on the Clerk’s website within three (3) business days from the established due date.

 

               (f)      Within 48 hours of being retained, hired or employed by any person to lobby on that person’s behalf, a registrant shall amend the report filed pursuant to this section to include the information required under (a)(3) of this section, as to the person newly retaining the registrant.  The Clerk shall post the filed amended reports on the Clerk’s website within three (3) business days from the established due date.

 

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Amends Section 2-634(e), to require posting on the Clerk’s website to conform with all other reports requested by the Clerk and posted to the Clerk’s website:

 

               (e)     A registrant who terminates employment or duties which required registration under this division shall give the Clerk, within 30 days after the date of such termination, written notice of such termination and shall include therewith a report of the lobbying expenditures described herein, covering the period of time since the filing of the registrant's last report to the date of termination of employment, and a report of the lobbying activity described herein, covering the period of time since the filing of the registrant’s last report to the date of termination of employment.  The Clerk shall post the filed reports on the Clerk’s website within three (3) business days from the established due date.  Such notices and reports shall be final and relieve such registrant of further reporting under this division unless and until the person later takes employment or assumes duties that require to again register under this division.

 

Commissioner Gainer, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved the approval of Amendment #1.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

AMENDMENT #2 TO COMMUNICATION #302613

 

Sponsored by John P. Daley, County Commissioner

 

Amends Section 2-634(a)(2), Reports, to correct typographical errors as presented by the County Clerk:

 

               (2)       The Lobbying activity report shall include all lobbying contacts made with County officials or County employees.  For each such contact, the report shall list the date of the contact, the County official or County employee with whom the lobbying contact was made, the entity on whose behalf the lobbying contact was made, the subject matter of the of the lobbying contact, including any County contract, involved in the contact.  If the lobbyist has a relationship be by birth or marriage with the County official or employee lobbied, such relationship shall be stated.  If the registrant made no such lobbying contacts during the reporting periods herein described, the registrant shall file and state herein that the registrant had no such contacts.

 

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Amends Section 34-152(a)(4), to correct the current name of the Bureau:

 

               (4)       Review prior to issuance.  RFPs and/or RFQs shall be submitted to the Office of the Purchasing Agent for review prior to their issuance.  In addition to the direct transmittal of the RFP or RFQ to potential firms or individuals, all RFPs and RFQs shall be posted on the County's website.  Such posting shall be performed by the Bureau of Information Technology and Automation upon the request of the Office of the Purchasing Agent.

 

Commissioner Gainer, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved the approval of Amendment #2.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 


AMENDMENT #3 TO COMMUNICATION #302613

 

Sponsored by John P. Daley, County Commissioner

 

Amends Section 2-580(e), by inserting “shall not” instead of “may” in sub-point (e):

 

               (e)        This section applies only to persons who terminate an affected position on or after the effective date of this article The requirements of this section may shall not be waived by the Board of Ethics if the Board of Ethics finds in writing that the County's negotiations and decisions regarding the procurement of the contract or contracts were not materially affected by any potential for employment of that official or employee by the employer.

 

Commissioner Gainer, seconded by Commissioner Moreno, moved the approval of Amendment #3.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Peraica asked the County Clerk, David Orr, if the Lobbyist Ordinance Amendments apply to attorneys who are not also lobbyists.  Clerk Orr responded in the negative.

 

Commissioner Peraica further inquired of the Clerk if his office will accept facsimile signatures, in light of the requirement to file the reports electronically.  Clerk Orr responded in the affirmative.

 

Clerk Orr notified the members of the Finance Committee that the automated registration and reporting system will not be ready until the summer of 2010.

 

Commissioner Collins posed a scenario whereby she was a lobbyist for the State, and the matter involved an issue for the Cook County Clerk Elections.  Within this ordinance, would Commissioner Collins be able to lobby County Clerk Orr, even though she is registered with the State?  Clerk Orr responded that in that circumstance, attempts to lobby his office would be inappropriate.  Clerk Orr clarified that in that scenario, lobbying directed at officials other than Cook County officials would be permitted.

 

A vote was taken on the motion to approve the Ordinance Amendments (Comm. No. 302613), as amended.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Gainer, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.

 


YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS

WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:

 

Communication Number 302410                   Deferred to October 20, 2009

Communication Number 302411                   Approved

Communication Number 302613                   Approved as amended

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Committee on Finance

 

 

 

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John P. Daley, Chairman

 

Attest:

 

 

 

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Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary

 

 

 

The transcript for this meeting is available in the Office of the Secretary to the Board, 118 North Clark Street, Room 567, Chicago, IL  60602.