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PROPOSED ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHING THE COOK COUNTY COMMISSION ON SOCIAL INNOVATION FOR JOB CREATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION, AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
WHEREAS, the municipalities throughout Cook County, including inner-city Chicago and those comprising the Chicago Southland, are facing high unemployment and other economic challenges; and
WHEREAS, high levels of economic distress in the aforementioned areas have been reported in the Distressed Community Index from Washington D.C. based, Economic Innovation Group, that shows high levels of inequality; and
WHEREAS, people throughout Cook County are urgently seeking knowledge-based, innovation-driven solutions to social problems relating to education, health care, unemployment, and poverty.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Chapter 14 Community Development, Article IX, sections 14-89 through 14-97 of the Cook County Code, is hereby enacted as follows:
Sec. 14-89. Short title
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Ordinance Establishing the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation.”
Sec. 14-90. Declaration
The County Board hereby establishes the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation.
Sec. 14-91. Definitions
The following words and terms shall have the meanings set forth in this section, except where otherwise specifically indicated:
Board of Commissioners or County Board means the Board of Commissioners for Cook County, Illinois
Commission means the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation created by this ordinance.
Chairperson means the chairperson of the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation.
County means Cook County, Illinois.
Cook County Code means the Code of Ordinances of Cook County, Illinois.
Inner City means any area within a municipality’s boundaries that is facing economic challenges economically distressed, especially an area of high unemployment.
Members means members of the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation.
Ordinance means this ordinance creating the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation.
Social Innovation means (a) novel solutions to social problems which are more effective, efficient, sustainable, or just compared to current solutions, for which the value created accrues primarily to society rather than to private individuals, and (b) ideas that promote public, private, and philanthropic collaboration in order to create positive effects on areas with economic challenges.
Southland includes, but is not limited to the south-side of Chicago, the South incorporated municipalities of Suburban Cook County, and the unincorporated areas of South Suburban Cook County.
Sec. 14-92. Purpose
The purpose of this ordinance is to create the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation, which shall engage in the following activities:
(a) The commission shall make actionable policy recommendations to help achieve the following purposes:
(1) To strengthen the capacity of the inner city and the Southland and, generally, of the County to work cooperatively with relevant stakeholders to create, scale, and sustain innovative social programs;
(2) To build the capacity of nonprofit organizations and government to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in the inner city and the Southland and in the County; and
(3) To attract investment and philanthropic funding to the inner city and the Southland and to the County to support these ventures.
(b) The commission shall advise the County Board and the heads of the County’s agencies and departments.
(c) The commission shall gather empirical information on social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise.
(d) The commission shall receive and consider reports and testimony from individuals, government departments, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and other public and private organizations (whether or not based in the County) about how social innovation and entrepreneurship can accelerate progress on social issues, work cross-sector, and advance social and economic development goals.
(e) The commission shall identify promising strategies that have been used in other communities, counties, states and countries to encourage cross-sector collaboration on social issues.
(f) The commission shall identify useful strategies to educate and train citizens, nonprofit organizations, governments, students, and businesses on entrepreneurial concepts specifically as applied in the social sector.
(g) The commission shall serve as (1) a resource for the County’s agencies and departments in common cause to promote the Southland’s and the County’s data-driven social innovation ecosystem in collaboration with other relevant actors; and (2) the County’s social innovation laboratory, convening a broad and diverse array of interests and expertise within and across sectors to facilitate cooperation and the co-creation of innovative solutions to social problems.
Sec. 14-93. Compliance with law
As a body empowered by the Cook County Board, the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and orders.
Sec. 14-94. Chairperson and committee membership
The Cook County Commission on Social Innovation shall consist of the following persons who shall serve as commissioners each of whom shall reside within the corporate boundaries of Cook County and shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed by the County for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of commission duties:
(a) The Chair of the County Board’s Business and Economic Development Committee, who shall serve as the commission’s Chairperson.
(b) A Vice Chairperson designated by the Chairperson who shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the commission.
(c) The Executive Director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association or his or her designee.
(d) The Bureau Chief of the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development or his or her designee.
(e) The Chair of the Cook County Economic Development Advisory Committee or his or her designee.
(f) The Superintendent of the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways or his or her designee.
(g) A mayor or manager of a municipality in the Southland, to be designated by the Chairperson as a member of the commission.
(h) Up to twenty (20) other persons appointed by the Chairperson who shall represent the diversity of the County and reflect the various disciplines necessary or desirable to ensure the commission’s success.
Sec. 14-95. Term of office; vacancies
(a) The term of each commissioner designated under subsections 14-94(a) through (h) shall coincide with his or her term of public office if such commissioner is the officeholder, or with the term of public office of the designating officeholder if such commissioner is the designee.
(b) Vacancies on the commission shall be filled in the same manner that original appointments are made and shall be filled for the unexpired term of the commissioner whose place has become vacant.
Sec. 14-96. Quorum requirement
A quorum, being a majority of the commissioners then in office, shall be necessary in order to conduct all hearings of the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation.
Sec. 14-97. Operations
(a) The commission shall meet at least once per month.
(b) The commissioners, under the direction of the Chairperson, shall organize themselves into committees and subcommittees, which may be permanent or ad hoc. Committees and subcommittees may include, as non-voting members, members of the public and relevant subject matter experts who are not commissioners.
(c) The Chairperson of the commission shall appoint the chairperson of each committee.
(d) The chairperson of each committee shall appoint the chairperson of each subcommittee within the jurisdiction of that committee.
(e) Meetings of each committee or subcommittee shall be held at intervals determined by the chairperson of the respective committee or subcommittee.
(f) The commission may receive donations of money, labor, services, or other things of value from any public or private agency or person.
(g) The commission shall respond to assignments from County agencies and County departments in a timely fashion and shall submit reports to the County Board at least annually. Such reports shall address the plans, actions, and resources needed to achieve the commission’s purposes.
(h) The commission shall serve as a research organization for the County Board regarding social issues, incubating proposed solutions to social problems, and advancing them for further consideration and, upon approval, for implementation. The goals of such collaboration shall include cooperation in prototyping or modeling innovative social solutions, field-testing such solutions, and evaluating their results to ensure that such solutions are practicable and to reduce the risks associated with their implementation.
(i) All aspects of the commission’s work shall be governed by the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/1 to 120/7.5, and by the Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1 to 140/11.5. Members of the public shall be encouraged to attend and constructively participate in the commission’s meetings.
Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
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