INTERNET ADVERTISING ORDINANCE

BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 2, Article IV, Division 7, Section 2-320 of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as follows:

Sec. 2-320.  Internet Advertising Ordinance.

      (a)  Definitions.  The following terms used in this Ordinance shall have the meanings as set forth below:

Advertising means internet advertising, which may include, but is not limited to, banners and icons that may include links to commercial and/or non-commercial Internet sites.  Internet advertising shall not include “spy-ware”, “mal-ware” and/or any “viruses” and/or programs considered to be malicious.

Website means the Cook County Assessor’s Office site, website, Internet page, and/or web page, with the Internet address www.cookcountyassessor.com; this website is meant to provide the public with information pertaining to the assessment process and property assessments.  Website also means the Cook County Treasurer’s Office site, website, Internet page, and/or web page, with the Internet address www.cookcountytreasurer.com; this website is meant to provide the public with information pertaining to the property tax billing and payment process.

      (b)  The Cook County Assessor is herein authorized to place commercial and non-commercial advertising on the Cook County Assessor’s website, at the Assessor’s discretion and the Cook County Treasurer is herein authorized to place commercial and non-commercial advertising on the Cook County Treasurer’s website, at the Treasurer’s discretion. 

The Assessor’s Office and the Treasurer’s Office may make separate or joint requests for proposals for the purpose of identifying potential advertisers.

(c)    The Assessor’s Office and the Treasurer’s Office will identify qualified advertisers and qualified advertising material by reviewing the submissions pursuant to the policy considerations as stated in Exhibit A (the Internet Advertising Guidelines).  The guidelines are for the purpose of establishing standards for the acceptance of advertisements for the website and may be amended by the Assessor’s Office and the Treasurer’s Office if necessary.

      (d)  The Assessor's Office and the Treasurer’s Office is are authorized to enter into agreements, either separately or together, with qualified advertisers for the purpose of providing advertising space on the website and charge a fee for that service.  The fee charged shall be based on the contract for services between either the Assessor's office or the Treasurer’s Office and the advertiser. 

      (e)  The respective websites shall be used exclusively to provide information from the Cook County Assessor or the Cook County Treasurer to the public and shall not be used as a public forums.