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PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 22-4663
(Rules and Administration Committee November 16, 2022)
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
FLAG ORDINANCE
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that CHAPTER 2 -
ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE I - IN GENERAL, SECTION NUMBER 2-2 of the Cook County
Code is hereby amended in its entirety as Follows:
Sec. 2-2. Flag.
(A) Creation, description and coloration. There shall be a County flag, described as follows:
(1) The central design, mounted on a white field, shall consist of a light blue (PANTONE® 291 C) municipal key: a chevron extending from the hoist edge of the flag and pointed towards the opposite side of the flag with a horizontal stripe line of the same width connected from the chevron point, extending to the far edge of the flag, forming a horizontally-oriented “Y” shape.
(a) The top arm of the chevron shall represent the waterways of the northern half of the county, including the North Shore Canal, the Skokie River/Lagoons, the Des Plaines River, and the North Branch of the Chicago River.
(b) The bottom arm of the chevron shall represent the waterways of the southern half of the county, including the Grand Calumet River, the Illinois River, Salt Creek, and the South Branch of the Chicago River.
(c) The horizontal stripe line shall represent the main west to east stem of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
(2) Around all sides of the light blue municipal key, shall appear a green (PANTONE® 7733 C) outline. The green shall symbolize the Forest Preserve District and nature found throughout the County. The placement of the green stripes shall symbolize a riverbank like seen at the Des Plaines River Trail and North Branch Trail.
(3) The white field shall represent Cook County’s innovation, commerce, and national economic leadership marked by major industries and significant advancements in technology, healthcare, architecture, and countless other pivotal fields.
(4) On the hoist end of the flag, within the white triangle created by the municipal key, there shall be a circle of six red (PANTONE® 7622 C) seven-pointed stars. The stars shall represent have both geographic and historical significance as follows:
(a) Geographic significance. Each star shall represent a geographic region of the county which consists of townships, municipalities and other local governments. The six geographic regions are: the City of Chicago (County Seat) and the following suburban areas North, Northwest, West, Southwest and South.
(b) Historical significance. Foundational moments of Cook County including:
(i) the founding of Cook County by the Illinois State Legislature on January 15, 1831.
(ii) the provision of health services to all as an essential County mission and the creation over time of institutions to fulfill that mission including John H. Stroger, Jr., Provident and Oak Forest Hospitals; the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, the Ambulatory Care Network and the Cook County Department of Public Health.
(iii) the protection of individual rights and voting rights through County ordinances and the conduct of free and fair elections for the entire jurisdiction of Cook County.
(iv) the protection and preservation of the environment including natural lands and open spaces primarily through the establishment of the Forest Preserves in 1914.
(v) the establishment of the world’s first juvenile court system, which separated children from adults with an emphasis on individualized treatment instead of rigid adherence to due process, and probation over incarceration.
(vi) the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation with all local governments as partners for progress through the work of county offices and agencies
(b) Display. The flag is to be displayed, when possible, in such manner that, when unfurled, the municipal key will appear horizontally, or at an angle of not more than 45 degrees.
Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
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