NEW ITEMS
Meeting of the
County Board Room,
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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
ITEM #1
Submitting
a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
JOHN H. STROGER, JR.,
President,
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has called
former Cook County Commissioner and Cook County Sheriff, Joseph Ignatius Woods
from our midst; and
WHEREAS, a deeply religious and a very brave man, Mr. Woods
attended seminary school; after the seminary, Mr. Woods moved out to
WHEREAS, Joseph Woods valiantly served his country in the
Marine Corps during World War II; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Woods also has the distinction of having worked
for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), serving under J. Edgar Hoover;
he also was a member of the Sheriff's Association and the FBI Agents
Association; and
WHEREAS, when he left the FBI, Mr. Woods went into business
for himself as a polygraph operator; and
WHEREAS, between 1966 and 1970, Mr. Woods served as Sheriff of
Cook County; and
WHEREAS, in December of 1970, Mr. Woods was elected to the
Board of Commissioners of Cook County where he served until 1988; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Woods was living with family members in Acworth,
Georgia when he passed away at the age of 87; survivors include his wife,
Lucille; six sons; four daughters; three sisters; 29 grandchildren; seven
great-grandchildren; in addition to nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, with the passing of Joseph Woods, we have lost a
consummate family man, public servant and a brave veteran who served his
country with distinction and 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 many friends
and loved ones of former Cook County Commissioner and Cook County Sheriff,
Joseph Ignatius Woods; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered
to the family of Mr. Joseph Ignatius Woods, so that his memory may be so
honored and ever cherished.
_________________________
Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner
Maldonado, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be
considered. The motion carried
unanimously.
Commissioner Goslin, seconded by Commissioner
Maldonado, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
ITEM #2
Submitting a Proposed Ordinance Amendment sponsored
by
ROBERTO MALDONADO, JERRY BUTLER, JOHN P. DALEY,
ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, JOSEPH MARIO
PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS and BOBBIE L.
STEELE,
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
LONGTIME HOMEOWNER EXEMPTION ORDINANCE
HOMEOWNER EXEMPTION FOR LONG-TERM PROPERTIES
WHEREAS, longtime homeowners are experiencing substantial and
unpredictable property tax increases due to upper-scale development or
redevelopment, known as gentrification, in their communities; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the severe economic circumstances
many of these longtime homeowners have faced, the Illinois Legislature passed
Public Act 88-451, the Longtime Owner-Occupant Property Tax Relief Act (35 ILCS
250, et. seq.), in August, 1993; and
WHEREAS, on July 24, 1998, the Illinois Legislature passed
Public Act 90-0648, amending the Longtime Owner-Occupant Property Tax Relief
Act to require the participation of the City of Chicago and the Board of
Education, which are the two largest taxing bodies in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Act is to provide property tax
relief to longtime homeowners, whose property taxes have risen sharply as a
result of new construction or renovation of existing residences in
long-established residential areas; and
WHEREAS, counties, having a population of 100,000 or more, are
authorized to enact an ordinance, in accordance with the provisions of the Act,
that provides for property tax relief; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Act, as a county with a population of
more than 100,000, Cook County is authorized to enact an ordinance to provide
tax relief to longtime homeowners within the County that may be eligible under
the provisions set forth in the Act; and
WHEREAS, as a matter of public policy, the Cook County Board of
Commissioners has the authority and the responsibility to enact property tax
relief provisions that will enable eligible longtime homeowners to remain in
financially secure possession of their homes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the President and the Board of Commissioners of
Cook County the following:
TITLE OF ORDINANCE: (New) Longtime Homeowner
Exemption Ordinance. Homeowner
Exemption for Long-Term Properties.
An Ordinance creating the Homeowner Exemption for
Long-term Properties (“H.E.L.P.”) Program to provide property tax relief to
certain longtime homeowners in established neighborhoods who are facing a
dramatic rise in property taxes directly or indirectly attributable to
gentrification. To be eligible, the
longtime homeowner must own and reside in a Cook County Class 2 property for a
minimum of ten years, or five years if the homeowner received assistance in the
acquisition of the property as part of a government or nonprofit housing
program. The homeowner will be
ineligible if the property has a market value for assessment purposes
exceeding $300,000 in the current reassessment year or there has been a
substantial improvement since the prior reassessment which resulted in
an increase in fair cash value in excess of the $45,000 in an amount
sufficient to qualify for the Home Improvement Exemption allowance as set
forth in the Illinois Property Tax Code.
The Assessor shall verify potential eligible homeowners on an annual
basis and provide to the Cook County Clerk the information necessary to
calculate the exemption in accordance with the provisions set forth in this
Ordinance. The Cook County Clerk shall
then remove the exempt value from the calculation of the property tax and the
Cook County Treasurer shall state on the tax bill the amount of tax saved by
the exemption.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
continued
ITEM #2 cont’d
SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE. This Ordinance shall be known and may be
cited as the "Longtime Homeowner Exemption Ordinance." "Homeowner Exemption for Long-Term
Properties".
SECTION 2.
PURPOSE. The intent of this Ordinance is to stabilize the
effects of soaring property taxes for longtime homeowners who otherwise may be
displaced from neighborhoods where gentrification is occurring.
SECTION 3.
DEFINITIONS. As used in this Ordinance:
“Assessment District.”
“AV.” Assessed
Value as defined in the Cook County
Real Property Assessment Classification Ordinance (Section 2, Class 2 and
Section 3, Class 2).
“Average Assessment Increase.” A percentage
calculated by taking the value of all potentially qualifying Class 2 properties
within the assessment district municipality in which the property is
located and determining the percent difference between the current
reassessment value and the prior year’s assessment value.
“EAV.”
Equalized Assessed Value. The assessed value multiplied by the
equalization factor calculated by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
“H.E.L.P.”
Homeowner Exemption for Long-term Properties initially calculated as follows: that portion of the current EAV for an
eligible property which exceeds the sum of:
(1) the EAV for the year prior to reassessment; plus (2) the prior year
EAV multiplied by a factor equal to 150% of the average assessment increase for
the most current reassessment of the assessment district municipality
in which the property is located.
“Class 2 Properties.” Residential
properties as defined in the Cook County Real Property Assessment
Classification Ordinance (Section 2, Class 2).
“Longtime Homeowners.”
Persons who have owned and
occupied a Cook County Class 2 property for ten years or more as their
principal residence, or five years or more if the owner received assistance in
the acquisition of the property as part of a government or nonprofit housing
program. “Longtime homeowners” also
means persons who inherited the property from a spouse who owned and occupied a
Class 2 property for ten years or more as their principal residence or five
years or more if the owner received assistance in purchasing the residence from
a governmental or non-profit housing program.
"Municipality." A city, village or incorporated town.
All unincorporated property located within a reassessment district shall
be considered one municipality for purposes of this ordinance.
“Triennial Reassessment.” Any
reassessment of an assessment district, which occurs every third year as set forth
in the Illinois Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/9-220(B)).
SECTION 4.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOMEOWNER EXEMPTION FOR LONG-TERM PROPERTIES
(“H.E.L.P.”) PROGRAM.
(A) The Cook County Assessor shall have the
authority to:
(1) Administer
the Homeowner Exemption for Long-term Properties (“H.E.L.P.”) program as
created by the enactment of this Ordinance and;
(2) Create applications for and determine
potential eligibility to the program based on the eligibility criteria set
forth in this Ordinance and;
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
continued
ITEM #2 cont’d
(B) The
Cook County Clerk shall have the authority to compute tax rates and calculate
tax bill amounts and to provide this information to the Cook County Treasurer
to implement the provisions of this Ordinance.
(C) The
Cook County Treasurer shall state on the tax bill the amount of the tax saved
by the exemption.
SECTION 5.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
The following nonexclusive criteria shall be used to
verify a longtime homeowner’s eligibility for the H.E.L.P. program on an annual
basis:
(1) Homeowner
is an owner-occupant of a Cook County Class 2 property, and that property has
been the homeowner's principal residence for at least ten consecutive years as
of January 1 of the reassessment year. A
homeowner may become eligible for an exemption in a year subsequent to the
reassessment if a ten year consecutive residency has been established by
January 1 of that year; or
(2) Homeowner
is an owner-occupant of a Cook County Class 2 property, and that property has
been the homeowner’s principal residence for at least five consecutive years if
the homeowner received assistance in the acquisition of the property as part of
a government or nonprofit housing program under the following guidelines:
(a) The program is restricted to qualified
homebuyers on the basis of the household income of the homebuyer; and
(b) The income restriction for the homebuyer did not exceed 120%
135% of the area median income as defined by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development; and
(c) The subsidy exceeds $5,000 or 5% of the development cost of the
property, whichever is greater; and
(d) The homebuyer is restricted from selling the house at full market
price for at least five years from the date of purchase.
The Cook County Board shall determine whether a purchase assistance
program is qualified under the provisions of this Ordinance; and
(3) Homeowner’s
property must have an AV increase that exceeds 150% 125% of the
current average AV increase for Class 2 properties in the assessment
district municipality where the property is located; and
(4) Homeowner’s
annual household income for the tax year of the homeowner's triennial
assessment does not exceed one hundred and fifteen thirty
percent (115%) (130%) of the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical
Area median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development; and
(5) For
any triennial assessment cycle, homeowner did not cause a
substantial improvement since the prior reassessment which resulted in
an increase in fair cash value in the property in excess of the $45,000
an amount sufficient to qualify for the Home Improvement Exemption allowance as
set forth in the Illinois Property Tax Code.
(35 ILCS 200/15-180).
(6) Once a property has qualified for the exemption, in future
reassessment years, eligibility and the amount of the exemption will be based
upon the lesser of the equalized assessed value or the HELP adjusted equalized
assessed value of the previous reassessment.
SECTION 6.
APPLYING THE EXEMPTION.
(A) The
Cook County Assessor shall:
(1) Annually
verify potential eligible homeowners; and
(2) Provide to the Cook County Clerk the information necessary to calculate the exemption in accordance with the Ordinance.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
continued
ITEM #2 cont’d
(B) The
Cook County Clerk shall remove the exempt value from the calculation of the
property tax.
(C) The
Cook County Treasurer shall state on the tax bill the amount of tax saved by
the exemption.
SECTION 7.
ELIGIBILITY NOTIFICATION.
The Assessor shall notify potentially eligible owners
of record of Class 2 properties in Longtime Homeowners
Exemption Program Homeowner Exemption for Long-Term Properties for
each triennial assessment cycle tax year within sufficient time
to apply.
SECTION 8.
APPLICATION.
This Ordinance shall first apply to the assessment
district of the 2000 tax year.
The amendment shall first apply to the assessment district of the 2003
tax year and to each assessment district thereafter.
SECTION 9.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DETERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION.
Any taxing agency exercising the provision(s) in the
Longtime Owner-Occupant Property Tax Relief Act (35 ILCS 250, et. seq.) shall:
(1) File a resolution or ordinance with the
Cook County Clerk no later than the last Tuesday in December of the year for
which the taxes are assessed; and
(2) In
the event that any taxing agency adopts eligibility standards or criteria which
differ from those provided herein at Section 5, the taxing agency shall certify
a list of parcels (Permanent Index Numbers) deemed eligible by the taxing
agency to the Cook County Assessor no later than the last Tuesday in December
of the year for which the taxes are assessed.
SECTION 10.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance takes effect upon becoming law.
_________________________
Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner
Maldonado, 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 Proposed Ordinance Amendment be referred to the Committee
on Finance. (Comm. No. 264018). The motion carried unanimously.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ITEM #3
The
Honorable,
The
Board of Commissioners of
ATTENDANCE
Present: Chairman
Collins, Vice Chairman Goslin, Commissioners Gorman and Hansen (4)
Absent: Commissioners
Maldonado, Murphy and Quigley (3)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Your Committee on Business and Economic Development of
the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT continued
ITEM #3 cont’d
Your Committee has considered the following item and
upon adoption of this report, the recommendations are as follows:
263777 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT,
by Gwendolyn D. Clemons, Director, transmitting a Communication, dated
Re: Midway,
Industries, Inc.
Resolution
Approving Class 6b Special Exception to Abandonment
respectfully submitting this Resolution regarding the
Company’s application for Class 6b property tax incentive for your
consideration.
Midway Industries, Inc. requests approval of the
special exception to the 24 month abandonment rule under the Class 6b
Ordinance. This Resolution is required
so that the company can complete its application to the Assessor of Cook County
within the 90 day period from purchase.
Submitting the company application for Class 6b, the
Resolution of the Village of Bedford Park, and a Department of Planning and
Development staff report for your information.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has adopted a
Real Property Assessment Classification 6b that provides an applicant a
reduction in the assessment level for an industrial facility; and
WHEREAS, the County Board of Commissioners has received and
reviewed an application from Midway Industries, Inc. and the Resolution from
the Village of Bedford Park for an abandoned industrial facility located at
6750 South Belt Circle, Bedford Park, Cook County, Illinois, Property Index
Numbers 19-19-301-006-0000, 19-19-301-007-0000, 19-19-116-057-0000 and
19-19-116-058-0000; and
WHEREAS, Class 6b requires the validation by the County Board
of the shortened period of qualifying abandonment in cases where the industrial
facility has been abandoned for less than 24 consecutive months upon purchase;
and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has determined
that the building was abandoned for 11 months at the time of purchase and that
special circumstances are present.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the
President and Board of Commissioners of the County of Cook, State of Illinois,
that the President and Board of Commissioners indicate their approval for the
filing of an application for a Cook County Real Estate Classification 6b
abatement incentive to the company for an abandoned industrial facility located
at 6750 South Belt Circle, Bedford Park, Cook County, Illinois, under the
provision for abandonment of less than 24 months; and
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the
*Referred to
the Business and Economic Development Committee on
Commissioner
Gorman, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved approval of Communication No.
263777. The motion carried.
04-R-75
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has adopted a
Real Property Assessment Classification 6b that provides an applicant a
reduction in the assessment level for an industrial facility; and
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT continued
ITEM #3 cont’d
WHEREAS, the County Board of Commissioners has received and
reviewed an application from Midway Industries, Inc. and the Resolution from
the Village of Bedford Park for an abandoned industrial facility located at
6750 South Belt Circle, Bedford Park, Cook County, Illinois, Property Index
Numbers 19-19-301-006-0000, 19-19-301-007-0000, 19-19-116-057-0000 and 19-19-116-058-0000;
and
WHEREAS, Class 6b requires the validation by the County Board
of the shortened period of qualifying abandonment in cases where the industrial
facility has been abandoned for less than 24 consecutive months upon purchase;
and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has determined
that the building was abandoned for 11 months at the time of purchase and that
special circumstances are present.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the President and Board of Commissioners of the
County of Cook, State of Illinois, that the President and Board of
Commissioners indicate their approval for the filing of an application for a
Cook County Real Estate Classification 6b abatement incentive to the company
for an abandoned industrial facility located at 6750 South Belt Circle, Bedford
Park, Cook County, Illinois, under the provision for abandonment of less than
24 months; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the
Approved and adopted this 19th day of February 2004.
JOHN
H. STROGER, JR., President
Cook
Attest: DAVID ORR,
Vice
Chairman Goslin moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner
Gorman. The motion carried and the
meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EARLEAN COLLINS, Chairman
ATTEST: MICHELLE
HARRIS, Secretary
_________________________
Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner
Maldonado, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be
considered. The motion carried
unanimously.
Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioner Steele,
moved that the Report of the Committee on Business and Economic Development be
approved and adopted. The motion
carried unanimously.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
ITEM #4
Submitting
a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
JOHN H. STROGER, JR.,
PRESIDENT, JERRY BUTLER, FORREST CLAYPOOL,
EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P.
DALEY, ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN,
CARL R. HANSEN, ROBERTO
MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO
ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE
QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS,
BOBBIE L. STEELE and LARRY
SUFFREDIN,
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS,
Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has called Sun-Times political columnist Steve Neal from our midst; and
WHEREAS, at a
very young age, Mr. Neal was interested in government and politics while
growing up in
PROPOSED RESOLUTION continued
ITEM #4 cont’d
WHEREAS, he
began his journalism career covering sports and after earning a graduate degree
from New York's Columbia University, Mr. Neal worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer; and
WHEREAS, he
would eventually move to
WHEREAS, Mr.
Neal would go on to serve as the
WHEREAS, he
would return to Chicago to start a political column for the Tribune and then move to the Chicago Sun-Times in 1987 where he
gained the respect of fellow journalists and public officials throughout the
State of Illinois for his insight and candor; and
WHEREAS, in the
world of political junkies, his column was the first read each morning and the
talk of coffee shops throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, his
love for history and politics led to the writing of several books; and
WHEREAS, Mr.
Neal's love for history was likely nurtured by his relationship with such
legends as Irv Kupcinet and Eli Schulman; and
WHEREAS, Mr.
Neal's vast knowledge of government and politics gained him recognition
throughout the Country and was second only to his knowledge of sports; and
WHEREAS, his
journalistic talent will be sorely missed by all his followers but forever
remembered as a part of
WHEREAS, Mr.
Neal's love for journalism was second to his passion for his family; and
WHEREAS, Mr.
Neal is survived by his wife Susan; two daughters Erin and Shannon; his parents
Ernest and Ellen Neal; two brothers Dan and Gary Neal; and his in-laws Bland
and Beverly Simmons.
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 many friends and loved
ones of Steve Neal; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to the
family of Steve Neal, so that his memory may be so honored and ever cherished.
_________________________
Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner
Maldonado, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be
considered. The motion carried
unanimously.
Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner
Gorman, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
ITEM #5
Pursuant
to Rule 4-30, Margetta Streis of Jesus Love Ones, addressed the President and
Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Ms. Streis spoke regarding her proposal for
the old
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ITEM #6
Pursuant
to Rule 4-30, Maurice Perkins, President, Inner City Youth Foundation,
addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board of
Commissioners. Mr. Perkins spoke
regarding jail overcrowding and the programs provided to detainees.
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ITEM #7
Pursuant
to Rule 4-30, George Blakemore, addressed the President and Members of the Cook
County Board of Commissioners. Mr.
Blakemore spoke concerning several issues regarding