Title
Resolution providing for the appointment of members to the Lake County Commission on Government Reform and Accountability.
Staff Summary
• The Lake County Board approved the creation of a Lake County Commission on government reform and accountability at its March 10, 2017 meeting.
• the ad hoc committee is specifically charged with the following responsibilities: 1) Analyze state and county governments that have transitioned to an independent redistricting system by evaluating their governance structure, methodology, implementation and outcomes. Utilize information from proposals, such as the Illinois Independent Map Amendment; 2) Study similar counties that transitioned to a countywide elected chairman by identifying key issues, including board rules, challenges, opportunities and decisions that were made to enhance the stated goals of this resolution. Identify best practices and policies used to balance authority between the County Board, Chairman and County Administrator. Prioritize models that ensure strong accountability by elected leaders to the public, maintains strong professional standards and sets high ethical standards and safeguards in line with the spirit and intent of Lake County’s Ethics Ordinance and Standards of Conduct; 3) Examine similar counties’ efforts to reduce the size of the board, assess and report on similar counties’ efforts to reduce the size of their boards. Identify positive and negative impacts on efficiency, constituent services, policy decisions and compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act; 4) Provide opportunities for stakeholders and the public to share ideas on additional reforms that could be studied in the future; and
• The makeup of the Commission shall reflect the diversity of Lake County, including political, race, gender, age, and socioeconomic diversity, and be representative of a bipartisan group of leaders with diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board approved, via resolution, the creation of a Lake County Commission on Government Reform and Accountability at its March 10, 2017 meeting; and
WHEREAS, the ad hoc committee is specifically charged with the following responsibilities: 1) Analyze state and county governments that have transitioned to an independent redistricting system by evaluating their governance structure, methodology, implementation and outcomes. Utilize information from proposals, such as the Illinois Independent Map Amendment; 2) Study similar counties that transitioned to a countywide elected chairman by identifying key issues, including board rules, challenges, opportunities and decisions that were made to enhance the stated goals of this resolution. Identify best practices and policies used to balance authority between the County Board, Chairman and County Administrator. Prioritize models that ensure strong accountability by elected leaders to the public, maintains strong professional standards and sets high ethical standards and safeguards in line with the spirit and intent of Lake County’s Ethics Ordinance and Standards of Conduct; 3) Examine similar counties’ efforts to reduce the size of the board, assess and report on similar counties’ efforts to reduce the size of their boards. Identify positive and negative impacts on efficiency, constituent services, policy decisions and compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act; 4) provide opportunities for stakeholders and the public to share ideas on additional reforms that could be studied in the future; and
WHEREAS, the makeup of the Commission shall reflect the diversity of Lake County, including political, race, gender, age, and socioeconomic diversity, and that it shall be representative of a bipartisan group of leaders with diverse perspectives and backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, your Chairman is requesting that this County Board confirm the appointments of the list of individuals identified in Exhibit A to the Lake County Commission on Government Reform and Accountability.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the individuals identified in Exhibit A be approved and their appointment hereby confirmed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the terms for the commission members will begin immediately upon an affirmative vote of the County Board and will terminate by board resolution or, if no action is taken, on the first Monday of December 2018.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on the April 11, 2017.