DuPage County Legislative & Governmental Affairs Committee Met March 23.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER
2:00 PM meeting was called to order by Chair Dawn DeSart at 2:00 PM.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Renehan (Remote), DeSart (Remote), LaPlante (Remote), Zay (Remote)
ABSENT: Selmon, Chaplin
Other County Board Members Present: Paula Deacon Garcia and Sheila Rutledge
County Staff Present: Nick Alfonso (State's Attorney's Office), Jason Blumenthal, Secretary Theresa Glatzhofer, Joe Hamlin, Sheryl Markay, and Joan Olson
Guests Present: Bill Viney, BGR Group (County's Federal Lobbyist)
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Legislative & Governmental Affairs Committee - Regular Meeting - Feb 23, 2021 2:00 PM
| RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Lynn LaPlante, District 4 SECONDER: Julie Renehan, District 3 AYES: Renehan, DeSart, LaPlante, Zay ABSENT: Selmon, Chaplin |
Public comment was submitted by: Edgar Pal, Amy Bartucci, and Kimberly Messina regarding support for vegetable garden protection legislation (SB 170 & HB 633). Public comment was read aloud by Nick Alfonso.
5. CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS - CHAIR DESART
Chair DeSart welcomed Mr. Bill Viney and thanked him for attending.
6. AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 UPDATE - BILL VINEY Mr. Viney gave a high level overview of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Mr. Viney also gave an overview of the infrastructure bill currently being discussed in the U.S. House and Senate and stated that he will communicate any opportunities it may provide for the County.
The Committee engaged in a question and answer session with Mr. Viney. Mr. Viney confirmed with Chair DeSart that the American Rescue Plan Act allows revenue replacements with the caveat that the money cannot be applied towards tax cuts. Chair DeSart noted that the County previously allocated CARES Act money for restaurants and bars; however, since the American Rescue Plan Act already includes a separate pot of funds specifically for restaurants, should the County still allocate part of its American Rescue Plan Act money to restaurants and bars. Mr. Viney replied that since many groups received direct allocations in the American Rescue Plan Act that were not previously received via the CARES Act, it would be important to research what other industries and communities are doing in comparison. Chair DeSart also asked about the idea of revitalizing the economy by potentially giving everyone who books a hotel room in DuPage County a $100 incentive, similar to what was done in California. Mr. Viney cautioned that the County could not give hotels a tax rebate or offset a tax, but he noted that the proposed idea is viable and consistent with the intent to provide direct subsidies but that we need to wait for the U.S. Treasury guidelines.
Chair DeSart thanked Mr. Viney for his time.
7. ACTION ITEMS
A. Action Item -- Draft Bill List 3-23-21
The Committee engaged in a discussion regarding the 3-23-21 Draft Bill List.
Member Rutledge noted, regarding SB 170 and HB 633, that she personally supports the right to garden act and for people to have the ability to produce their own food. Member Garcia echoed Member Rutledge's comments regarding the right to garden bill and added that DuPage is desperately in need of a behavioral health center (HB 1809).
Member Renehan asked a procedural question regarding voting on the bills listed on the Draft Bill List. Ms. Sheryl Markay responded that voting on this Draft Bill List would enable our lobbyist to converse with legislators regarding specific bills the County has taken a position on. Ms. Markay further noted that there will be a new draft bill list every two weeks, depending on which bills are still moving forward.
Vice Chair Zay asked for a fact sheet from staff regarding SB 170 and HB 633 to clarify the effect these bills would have on County and municipal zoning and regulations. Ms. Markay noted that ISACo, the Illinois Municipal League, and many local municipalities are against these bills, as the bills would limit some local government authority.
Chair DeSart inquired if HB 3372 was a state/County issue. Ms. Markay clarified that it is a state/County issue because the Governor can, by executive order, lower or raise the flag, and has lowered it by executive order for a year - ending on April 17, 2021, in remembrance of COVID-19 victims. Members of the General Assembly are reviewing the bill to determine how the authority to raise/lower the flag will be governed in the future.
In response to Vice Chair Zay's question regarding the right to garden bills, Member Garcia added that the bills will not override the authority of HOAs, or impair the enforceability of similar restricted covenants.
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Lynn LaPlante, District 4 SECONDER: James Zay, Vice-Chair AYES: Renehan, DeSart, LaPlante, Zay ABSENT: Selmon, Chaplin |
There was no Old Business.
9. NEW BUSINESS
There was no New Business.
10. ADJOURNMENT
A. Adjourn
Without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 2:38 PM.
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: James Zay, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Lynn LaPlante, District 4 AYES: Renehan, DeSart, LaPlante, Zay ABSENT: Selmon, Chaplin |
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