Rockford Sun

Winnebago County Board Legislative & Lobbying Committee met Sept. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present:

Jaime Salgado, Chairperson

Paul Arena

Valerie Hanserd

Tim Nabors (arrived at 4:43 pm)

John F. Sweeney

Others Present:

Joseph Chiarelli, County Board Chairman

Marlana Dokken, Director, Chairperson’s Office of Criminal Justice Initiatives

Karen Elyea, Chief Strategy Officer

Cheri Bustos, Partner and Co-Chair, Mercury LLC

Nick Bustos, Vice President, Mercury LLC

Christian Flores, Grant and Program Administrator, Mercury LLC

Absent:

Aaron Booker

John Penney

AGENDA:

A. Call to Order

B. Roll Call

C. Approval of Minutes – August 5, 2024 Minutes

D. Public Comment – This is the time we invite the public to address the Legislative and Lobbying Committee with issues and concerns. We ask you to limit your comments to three minutes. Personal attacks or inappropriate language of any sort will not be tolerated. We will allow a maximum of five speakers on a first come basis with sign up at the meeting. Speakers may not address zoning matters which are pending before the ZBA, the Zoning Committee or the County Board. Personnel matters or pending or threatened litigation may not be addressed in open session. An individual may speak a maximum of three times per calendar year on the same topic. This prohibition shall include the repetition of the same topic in a statement on what is purported to be a different topic. After acknowledgment by the chair, please stand and state your name. Thank you.

E. Update regarding Mercury Public Affairs – Federal Lobbyist/Consulting Services

F. Resolution Authorizing the Winnebago County Board Chairman to Execute Amendment No. 1 to a Consulting Services Agreement by and between Highstake 35 LLC d/b/a Mercury Public Affairs and the County of Winnebago, Illinois for Federal Lobbyist/Consulting Services

G. Strategic Funding Assessment: Priorities for 2025

H. Future Agenda Items

I. Adjournment

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 4:34 PM.

Roll Call – Chairperson Jaime Salgado yes, Paul Arena yes, Valerie Hanserd yes, Tim Nabors yes (arrived at 4:43 pm), John Sweeney yes.

A quorum is present.

Approval of Minutes – August 5, 2024 Minutes

Motion: Ms. Hanserd. Second: Mr. Arena.

Chairperson Salgado called for any discussion.

The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

Public Comment

Reading of the Public Comment Section of the Agenda was omitted due to no one present to speak.

Mr. Nabors arrived at 4:43 p.m.

Update regarding Mercury Public Affairs – Federal Lobbyist/Consulting Services Cheri Bustos, Partner of Mercury introduced herself and her associates. Christian Flores, Grant and Program Administrator, works with grants, secures other funding, and does background work related to the grants. Nick Bustos, Senior Vice President works with clients in federal and state government relations, strategic communication, coalition building, and external stakeholder engagement.

Mercury’s PowerPoint presentation was reviewed with the committee. Ms. Bustos called for questions.

• Discussion followed.

Ms. Bustos discussed accomplishments, prioritized projects, and outlined the next steps. Chairman Chiarelli thanked Mercury and his staff for their work to build Winnebago County’s reputation back to the federal government.

• Discussion followed.

Resolution Authorizing the Winnebago County Board Chairman to Execute Amendment No. 1 to a Consulting Services Agreement by and between Highstake 35 LLC d/b/a Mercury Public Affairs and the County of Winnebago, Illinois for Federal Lobbyist/Consulting Services Motion: Ms. Hanserd. Second: Mr. Arena.

Chairperson Salgado called for any discussion.

• Discussion followed.

The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

Strategic Funding Assessment: Priorities for 2025

The Strategic Funding Priorities for 2025 were reviewed.

• Discussion followed.

Future Agenda Items

• None reported.

Motion to Adjourn

Chairperson Salgado called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Motion: Ms. Hanserd. Second: Mr. Sweeney.

The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

https://wincoil.gov/images/government/meeting-agendas-minutes/Packets/2024_Packets/10_22_2024_Legislative__Lobbying_Agenda_Packet.pdf