City Council - Regular Meeting

Is there a reason?

Ever. Ever. If I had this... Ever.

Good evening. Good evening. We will call to order the City of Rockford's regularly scheduled City Council meeting for Monday, August 3rd, 2026. This evening, we are fortunate that we have Pastor Norma Barrero of Glory to Glory International Ministries with us to provide us with an invocation. I think we are lucky to have Norma Barrero. Not seeing Norma with us, Alderwoman Torino, would you be willing to provide us with an invocation? I will. And give me one second. There you go.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this evening. We thank you for the privilege it is to serve this community. We just ask that you preside in these chambers tonight. Give us wisdom and insight to make the best decisions possible for our city. And God, we always submit our first responders to you to keep them safe as they protect our city. And we just ask for your blessing and safety in our chamber this evening. In your name we pray, amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Alderman Durkee.

Here.

Logeman. Here. Tuber. Here. Frost. Here. Tarina. Here.

Excellent. We have a quorum this evening. Next, is there a motion to approve the Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on April 20th, 2026? We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed? Next, is there a motion to approve the Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on May 18, 2026? So moved. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed? Excellent. Next, is there a motion to approve the Journal of Proceedings for the special City Council meeting held on July 13, 2026? We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor, say aye. Aye. JOHN MANNING JR.: Those opposed? Excellent. Next, we have one proclamation this evening. Our proclamation this evening is for National Night Out, and we have the chief and a number of the members of the Rockford Police Department with us. Yes, now that you're next to me, you got to speak now. Whereas the National Association of Town Watch is sponsoring a unique nationwide crime drug violence prevention program on August 4th, 2026 entitled National Night Out. And whereas the 43rd annual National Night Out provides a unique opportunity for Rockford to join forces with thousands of other communities across the country in promoting cooperative police community crime prevention efforts. and whereas the rockford city council plays a vital role in assisting the rockford the city of rockford police department through joint crime drug and violence prevention efforts in the city of rockford and is supporting the national night out 2026 locally and whereas it is essential that all citizens of rockford be aware of the importance of crime prevention programs and impact that their participation can have in reducing crime drugs and violence in rockford And whereas it is essential that all neighbors of Rockford come together with police and work together to build a safer, more caring community. Now, therefore, I, Thomas P. McNamara, as the mayor of the city of Rockford, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 to be National Night Out. I was joking with you a little bit that you have to speak, but I am serious, you do. And I just want to say on behalf of City Council in the community Thank you for the incredible amount of work that you have been doing but that also you put into National now, so I'd love you to share a few words about it Thank you for approving our budget

And I definitely utilized it this year. I won't tell you what all is going to be there because we have an interview in the morning. That's when I'll let you know. But we have a lot of stuff for the kids, a lot of raffles, bikes, scooters, great food. It's always free. So come on out, 5 to 8, downtown at City Market Pavilion.

All right.

Thank you.

Appreciate it. Thank you. It is a great event. It's tomorrow night, 5 to 8 PM at the City Market Pavilion. Lots of different activities for the entire family. It's a completely free event. Just urge everyone to come on out and enjoy the event with all of Rockford. Now, we have a packed house this evening because we have an actual aerial presentation. Director Haggerty and Jennifer, thank you both for being here. And thank you for the work that you do. And look forward to hearing the presentation.

JENNIFER HAGERTY- Absolutely. So Jen Turk is a representative from Nihart, which is the city's hired actuarial consultant. Jen has been working with the city for quite some time now. And I'm sure you all remember her from the last few presentations that have been provided. I'm going to hand it over to Jen to walk through this. I'll drive the presentation if you want. But certainly, please feel free to hop in with questions. And either Jen or I will answer those. Is this working? That sounds good.

So we just want to give a quick overview of where the pension for the police and fire pension has been at 2026. So we do an annual valuation as of January 1 of each year. And so just a couple of highlights that we wanted to share. Assets, as everyone knows, has been performing Wonderful so we had about a 17% return on the trust for both plans We for the purpose of making the contribution we come up with a smooth value of assets. That's an actuarial value And both of those came in above the seven point one percent that we kind of expect But it's kind of muted because you only recognize a portion of that big investment return each year So we'll get you know each year we'll have that kind of gain that's sitting out there from that 17% that got burned. For the counts, kind of the census, the people in the plan, counts went up a little bit both for police and for fire. People are living longer than expected. So you have some new hires come in, some people retire and they're living longer. So the counts lately have been kind of increasing because of that. On the kind of salary increases, this is another big driver of a lot of these numbers. So on the fire side, they were a little lower than expected. I think there was still some contract negotiations maybe going on. And then the police actually came in a little higher than expected. So then the police pension, it was kind of muted, the gains that you make on the funded percentage. And the police side also had a few earlier than expected retirements. So anytime you have someone retire between 50 and 55, it tends to increase the liability a little more because they're getting the full year of COLAs. So then you can see on the current year section, it shows that the funding percentage, they did come up for the fire. Fire is up to just under 43% now. And again, the increase in the police plan was a little muted because of those salary increases. So that's up to about fifty point six percent funded on the police side The contributions did go up from last year and mainly that was due to the We are lowering the payroll growth assumption and that's kind of used to set the contribution for how fast we want it to grow. And so we try and have it grow as a percentage of payroll and keep it kind of steady related to that. But we've been, each year, trying to step that back to be a little bit more reasonable, closer to what the consolidated funds are using, which is more like 3%. So we step that down again, that kinda increases the contributions in the near term, but in the long term we'll see that they kinda, it'll keep it from increasing as much through 2040. So we keep reviewing that payroll growth assumption and then just a few notes on the new experience studies that are coming out for the consolidated funds. So we'll look at that. This first has a lot of numbers. It's just kind of a snapshot of what the counts for everyone. So at the top, those term vested counts, almost all of those are people who are still due a refund, who have left the city but are due their employee contributions. And then there's a handful of people who have a pension that they can start later. The active count, you can see, went up a few bodies on both sides, about 10 each. So that kind of drives some of the contributions increases as well, just having more bodies in the system that are getting paid for. Everything else at the bottom stayed pretty consistent. We always expect kind of the blue, those in-pay averages. Everyone gets COLAs each year, so we kind of expect you know, that monthly pension to go up. And then you can see the actives have been staying fairly steady as older retirees go out and then new young cadets come in. So everything stayed fairly as expected on the census, the demographics. So this is kind of, I don't know, fun for me to look at. Maybe not other people. So this is showing kind of what this impact of that smoothing those assets. So you can see the red line, this is the market value. So that's what the bank actually earned each year. And you can see it's very volatile, up and down. But we don't want the contributions to kind of be bouncing up and down at the whim of the market. So we gradually recognize any gains or losses. And so that's that black line kind of shows. It's still kind of got peaks and valleys, but it really smooths it out. So in the long run, we expect those two values to be equal. If you go out 10, 20 years, we expect they would be the same. But yeah, to smooth out kind of the ups and downs each year, we use that smooth value. And then the next is just instead of looking at rates of return for the two, it's just looking at the dollar values. So right now, the money in the bank is a lot higher because they had that huge 17% gain. And we've actually run a couple of years here with great returns. So right now, since we haven't recognized all those great returns yet, the smoothed value right now is coming in a little below what's actually in the bank. right so a lot of numbers on this page um kind of the i'll give you like the kind of the key um so that first column of numbers that's from the prior year evaluation and that actually determines what the city is putting in for 2026 here this calendar year So you can see kind of the funding percentage. This is for FIRE. Last year it was at 42.5%, kind of right in the middle of the page. So that's come up a little bit to that just under 44. The contribution last year, which is being made this fiscal year, was $21.6 million about. And then you can see that second column, that's if we wouldn't have adjusted that payroll growth assumption. And everything stays the same. The liabilities, the normal costs, that's what people are earning each year. So that all stays the same. It's just that amortization piece. And it's basically, instead of like a mortgage where you have just a flat dollar amount, this amortization is going to be gradually increasing each year. And so we kind of expect that the contribution will go up around 4% each year is kind of our ballpark. And now we'll be at that 3.75 instead. So it won't be as steep of an increase. It increases a little bit in the short term. But in the long run, we'll see how it kind of dampens it.

So I think the next.

Yeah, so similar story with the police. You can see that funded percentage didn't go up as much, and that was because of those kind of liability hits that they took. And then down at the bottom, you can see we went from about 18.2 million for the 2026 fiscal year up to about 19.7 we're projecting for the 2027 contribution. And then this is just kind of a projection of where the plan is expected to head in the future. So this blue line is where we're at right now. So that's using that 3.75% payroll growth. So that is a little steeper it ends up You know over forty four point four million dollars at the end of the when we get close to that 2040 Kind of target and if you as you lower that payroll growth it just kind of flattens it out a little bit so in the long run you don't get quite as Quite a steep increase at the end so but it's always kind of a pay now pay later eventually the benefits have to get paid for and So that's the fire. And then similar projections for the police plan. You can see it kind of levels out at 40.7 if we don't change that payroll growth. And then it doesn't get quite as high, so about 39 million at the end of the projection there. And then once you get to 90% funded, then you're just kind of paying for what people are earning each year. That's the goal, hopefully, someday. And then a lot of words will leave it for you guys to read the details. Basically, the big statewide consolidated fund puts out an experience study periodically. And so they plan to do it, I think, every four or five years right now. So the new ones are just kind of coming out. So the fire, that one had been approved, I think, and finalized. The police, I think they were going to talk about it at the meeting last week, but I haven't heard the outcome. So they're reviewing their experience study currently. So we're kind of waiting until the police one gets approved and finalized before we start implementing changes for those. So we'll probably start talking about those for the next valuation. And in general, both plans, we see a little bit of an increase for the employees, both on their liability and their normal cost, which is the cost of them earning benefits each year. So we're seeing a little bit of an increase on both. So yeah, so we'll start looking at those in more detail probably next year. That's just legalese. That's what the contributions are right now. and more legalese I think is less. So I know that was quick and dirty. Any questions?

Thank you. Alderman Durkee.

Thank you, Your Honor. Just a quick question. You know, in demographics, we're basically almost a one-to-one ratio of active and retirees. We're stressed. And from this last page, With the retirement rates, did you project it out when we'd be basically under one to one?

So we're hoping it stays pretty stable since you guys are kind of a mature plan. But yeah, it's something that we monitor each year. And yeah, once you get... especially when I have plans that are 70% inactives and retirees, and that makes it really hard to kind of catch up. If you're only contributing on active employees, it makes it harder to keep up. So I'm not too worried yet about the 50%, but we monitor it.

So is there, do you then, let's say next year, if you start seeing this, would you advise an accelerator

I think well, I think the city has been making an additional contribution at least last year They made an extra million to each plan, I believe So that helps but I'm hoping that the new assumptions kind of help, too We're seeing people retire earlier than expected under the what they're using right now. So I'm hoping that'll fix a little bit To kind of smooth out the liabilities because it seems like every year the last few years we've had more retirements than would have been expected so Hopefully that'll help make it more realistic each year.

We've been at about a 50-50 ratio for quite some time. So, yeah.

Other questions?

Alderman Frost. Thank you. With respect to the police and fire evaluation income statements, Under expenses, it looks like it's about $170,000 per plan. What make up the expenses?

Yeah, sure. So that's a variety of things. It's administrative fees paid to the consolidated funds, the cost to manage the funds. It's also costs associated with conducting disability hearings. There's a prescribed process in state statute That involves multiple medical opinions that can be very costly to the plans. But that is the process that the boards are required to follow under state statute. And then just administrative cost of running payroll. Me. Yes. Auditor. You know, audit expenses, things of that nature. The bulk of it is investment.

It's the investment fee. Yes. It's in the plan now run by the state, correct?

Correct. And the fees are less than they were when we were managing it locally.

So it's the state statute governs that, and that's what we pay based on what they tell us.

Yes.

Alderman Beach.

Thank you, Your Honor. Most of the council members here have heard what I'm about to say again, but I'm going to say it again every chance I get. First of all, thank you for these numbers, these numbers. And your investments are good. We appreciate that. The other side of the ledger is how we pay for them. And we need to understand, again, that perhaps within three years, within three years, every dollar that this city collects in personal property tax, that's about the 18% of your bill. will go to pay this pension, police and fire, which essentially leaves nothing left to operate the rest of the city. Correct. And so I think that while this may or may not be the place to say it, I feel in my heart we have to say it over and over and over until it sinks in. is that it's going to run out. And we have tried our best to absorb these losses that we've got, because we have to pay them from something. And our rainy day fund has dropped from six months reserve to three months reserve to a little less than three months reserve. And so it's just in front of us. And what an ideal time to talk about it. We're talking about great investments. But we have a problem here that we need to deal with. And I just wanted to make those comments, not to upset anyone, but reality is reality. And while the extra million dollars that we're paying each year as like a pay down is wonderful. But financial director, what is our total unfunded liability between police and fire? Is that $300?

No, it's more than that. If you look at pages 6 and 7 in the presentation, the unfunded liability is listed in the sort of second set of numbers there. On the police side, it's $236 million.

Oh, yeah, I see that one.

And on the fire side, it's $254 million. So we're just under $500 million in unfunded liability.

What does that number mean to us? As taxpayers going forward in order to get wealth.

Yeah. So when Jen talks about amortization, that is the number that we're amortizing between now and 2040. So we have to reach 90% funded. So we have to cover 90% of that unfunded liability between now and 2040, which is why you can see in the projection, the graph, you can see those contributions rising pretty dramatically to $40 million per plan because we have a statutory obligation to pay effectively 90% of that number by 2040. Now, looking at things like assumptions, at what age do people retire? At what age do retirees pass away? Are they married? What are our disability numbers look like? All of those can change that unfunded liability over time as well. So if we have earlier retirements and people drawing benefits sooner, that increases the liability long term because we're paying that person more over time. So that number is something that changes every year, ultimately, as we look at what actually transpired in the fund, and we look at the assumptions that are being provided by things like experience studies that guide us in those assumptions moving forward. This is a snapshot based on the assumptions that we have that we applied to the actual plan experience. But that number can change and grow over time. So effectively, when we go through this process every year, Jen tells us, based on what happened last year, this is the plan to get to 90% funded by 2040. We revise that plan every year based on what happens, but that does mean that we have almost a half a million dollars It needs to be paid by property taxes as the primary funding source But when property taxes aren't enough then we pull from other revenue sources that the city has available to make that pension payment on an annual basis and And when you look at revenue growth in the 2% to 3% range, which is what we've seen historically, and pension expense growth in the 7% to 8% annual growth range, the pensions continue to absorb Money that would other wire revenue that would otherwise be able to be used to provide direct services today And that problem is going to just grow as we get closer and closer to 2040.

Thank you Thank you, sir.

Thank you other questions Alderman Prunty Thank you You mentioned statutorily And I guess I would I think we heard something around this body before as it relates to our efforts to change that. Excuse me. What would you recommend that we be asking for from our legislators?

That is an excellent question. I think that the problem for a city like Rockford, who does not have home rule revenue raising authority, is particularly challenging. I know there are home rule communities who imposed new taxes to supplement property taxes to be able to meet these obligations. To me, this is a revenue problem. In no operating environment would you have an expense of $80 million that then drops in the net. We're trying to match revenue and expense. And really, our efforts are incremental. We want incremental growth in revenue and incremental growth in expense so that taxpayers don't carry an undue burden in any one year. But you can see 2040 is going to be a significant burden in the years leading up to it. which then drops dramatically in the year following. And how do we fund that obligation in a way that makes sense for our taxpayers and what they can afford while still meeting our obligation to the pensioners who have earned a benefit that is guaranteed, that they've earned it, they deserve to receive the benefits that they were hired under. But how do we structure a plan that not only allows us to meet those obligations in the long term, but also is structured in a way that taxpayers can afford? That is the question. That's the struggle, right? The last iteration or the last revision to this was in 2013. The funding goal was 90% by 2030, and the state legislature pushed that out to 2040. There has been some discussion about pushing it out to 2050 and increasing the funded target to 100%. All that does is delay, be inevitable, ultimately. So while that would provide some short-term relief, we will still see that spike and drop. And to me, a funding mechanism that provides a level, predictably growing contribution amount that 2040, there's not some magic Something that's going to happen that will require us to have all that cash on hand on that date It's a it's a number that was pulled out of the air, right? So to me More time I think would be helpful But more revenue other revenue sources as options to help make this obligation would also be helpful And it needs to be a balance of both You said I think you heard you use the words reduction in services.

Yes, I And I'm sorry, I was signing paperwork. No, you're fine. You said this. I apologize. Yeah. But where do you see those? reductions potentially, where have they been in the past and where do you see them potentially?

Well, I'll say that historically, I mean, we have reduced staff, we've reduced services provided to the community in budget reduction time period. I mean, these are decisions that are made every year to balance a budget. And I know we've had a couple of years of surpluses. But for 20 years prior, we had deficits going into every budget process that I've been a part of. So we're saying no to opportunities to expand or implement new programs. But we have also, in years, said we're not going to fill those positions or we're going to forego that capital project. I mean, for over a decade, we didn't replace vehicles or improve our buildings because we were making that pension obligation on an annual basis. That is not sustainable long term. And we have found new revenue sources to help reinstitute vehicle replacements and investment in our facilities. But those options are few and far between.

Thank you. Any other questions? Alderman Salgado.

Thank you, Mayor. Just real quick, Carrie, is there chart that you guys have for the the liability how it's trended throughout the years historical yeah we can yes we can provide that information and you know you're talking about the unfunded liability how that's grown yes yep to what level based on I know we said that We've been given about a million or so and paying down some of that. So just wanted to see, based on the percentage of our rate of return versus essentially the cost of it keep going up essentially.

Yeah, so Jen provides us with a projection tool that we can show if we don't make that million. So just to remind everyone, when council approved the casino, the gaming revenue policy, that included a million dollars to each fund contributed on top of the minimum required contribution. with the express intent of paying down that unfunded liability, that million dollars earned 17% last year. So certainly investing more today is going to help reduce the unfunded liability over the long run. But I can put together a model that shows if we continue to make that million dollar contribution, how does that change the trajectory versus if we don't? We can show that.

Thank you. Alderman Prunty.

You said that one of the services that, not that we had to cut because of this, but one of the services that kind of went without was the replacement of vehicles. Were those the replacement, was that across the board? Was that specifically police and fire? That was across the board.

Probably it was probably close to 10 years we did not. I mean, unless we bought some used fire trucks, because we had fire trucks that weren't able to be repaired any longer. Some of you in the room might remember the Rainbow Fleet days, because we had a hodgepodge of vehicles that we bought from other fire departments just to keep fire department operating. And we would occasionally, you know, we might get a grant and replace a vehicle or something along those lines. But it was across the organization, a policy of not replacing capital unless it was an emergency. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you both. Thank you.

Really appreciate it. See you later.

Next, we're going to go to petitions and communications. And we will begin with Planning and Development Committee and Alderwoman Neal.

Thank you, Your Honor. Item 1 is a memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, city administrator, regarding a proposed funding of $300,000 to support the establishment of a senior center in partnership with Livingville Center of Northern Illinois, located at 1111 South Alpine Road. Referred to Planning and Development Committee. Item two is a memorandum from Timothy Hinkins, City Engineer, regarding a grant award acceptance of the IEPA EGO, Beverly Floodplain Reconnection, referred to Planning and Development Committee. Item three is a memorandum from Tim Hinkins, City Engineer, regarding a grant award acceptance of the R1PC STBG, Harrison Avenue Reconstruction, referred to Planning and Development Committee. Item four is a memorandum from Timothy Hinkins, City Engineer, regarding a grant award acceptance for the R1PC TAP, High Crest MUP, excuse me, MUP, referred to Planning and Development Committee. Item five is a memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, City Administrator, regarding amendments to the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Doing business to ask for Rockford. Contract for a service agreement and lease referred to any and development committee.

Thank you next we're going to go to code and regulation committee and alderman Logan

thank you mayor we have three items uh item number one memorandum from rudy moreno historic preservation commission secretary regarding a proposed landmark designation for 1202 eddie avenue referred to code and regulation committee item number two memorandum from joshua verslaes assistant city attorney regarding the annexation of 14xx export road 34xx export road and 36xx prairie road Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. Item number three, memorandum from Joshua Verslaes, Assistant City Attorney, regarding the annexation agreement of 14XX Export Road, 34XX Export Road, and 36XX Prairie Road. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, we'll go to Finance and Personnel Committee and Alderman Frost.

Thank you, Your Honor. Number one is a memorandum from Anna Carlson regarding an application approval and award acceptance of the Illinois Department of Commerce Economic Opportunity State Designated Cultural District Grant Award. And all these matters, by the way, will be referred to the Finance and Personnel Committee. Number two is a memorandum from Jennifer Cacciapaglia regarding the approval of a grant-funded subrecipient agreement with Winnebago County State's Attorney's Office. Number three is a memorandum from Jennifer Cacciapaglia regarding approval of a grant-funded subrecipient agreement with Winnebago County Adult Probation. Number four is a memorandum from Todd Cagnoni regarding authorization of funding for concrete improvements at BMO Center in the amount of $1,152,116.20. And five is a memorandum from Todd Cagnotti regarding the approval of a resolution declaring intent to form the Rockford Regional Tourism Improvement District, fixing the time and place of a public hearing. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, we're going to move to our public speakers. I want to remind our public speakers that there's a microphone on the back right as well as the back left of council chambers. You'll have three minutes to address the city council. At the time that the three minutes have expired, I'll ask you to close up your comments. Our first public speaker this evening is John Tack Brantley.

First of all, I want to congratulate you on your new position that you were leading. I want to spit a little history. I started speaking in 2009. And then during the election, we only had 15% of the people that voted. We had 38.51% Democrats, 20.7% Republicans, We have 41.32 independent, and we have over 80,000 registered voters. We had 3,445 African Americans that voted. We had a little over 14,000 African Americans that did not vote. Coming November is very important that we get out and vote. I'm working on building a voter slot, and I'm generally going after the 14,000 African Americans that did not register to vote. We have over 77.7% African Americans in Illinois registered to vote. We have 77.5%. We make up over 2% of the most elected people that registered to vote. I had a meeting last week with the TARG district. We were working on getting a monument out at Camp Grant. I also met with the librarian. I tweeted the record for the librarians here. I'm talking with the youth at the library. What we want to do is in middle school, high school, and elementary school, we're going to have them draw a picture. Whichever picture that wins, that's the picture we're going to use to build a monument at Camp Grant. A lot of people are not aware that Camp Grant was founded by the Buffalo Soldiers. The Buffalo Soldiers, four movies came after the Buffalo Soldiers. One of the movies of the Buffalo Soldiers was when they went and captured Geronimo. Geronimo said it best. He said, why should we trust the white man? The white man made as many promises, but we only kept one. We promised to take our land, and we took it. They also made another movie about the Buffalo Soldiers and the women that were at Camp Grant. It came out three years ago. The women that were working at the nail room and Germany and other places they made a movie from. They also made a movie of Teddy Roosevelt, The Thrust Riders. Charles Young was one of the main leaders that rescued Roosevelt and Teddy Roosevelt. One of the three things that stick out the most is Camp Grant. It was owned by the military all the way up to 1949. Back in 1917, 4,000 African American Buffalo Soldiers had the Spanish flu. 1,000 guys had the Spanish flu. We had over 2,500 German and Italian POWs at Camp Grant. They got treated better than the Buffalo Soldiers. They got steak and potatoes. I bought those sodas. They got peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Right now, as we speak, Donald Trump is going out of his way to eliminate our history. It's up to us to teach our history. And Cam Brantley was the third by- Thank you, Mr. Brantley. Thank you.

Thank you.

I'll do that.

Our next public speaker this evening is Julia Seidlinger. Look at that, Julia.

Greetings and salutations. I could use my time today to stress the water waste, the light pollution, the energy consumption, the long-term human health concerns, or the... matter where you live in the city. All of these very critical issues affect every person, rich or poor. However, I will let others argue them. Today, I will discuss the abysmal job opportunities data centers create. I have researched nonpartisan news sources and peer-reviewed research papers regarding the economic job opportunities of data centers. employment uncertainty and labor in data centers, Orchid Icon. At Data Center Trade Show, the authors of this research paper held both public and private declarations of uncertainty around data center labor. Data centers are looking for specific roles such as lead engineer. This means six plus years of experience plus a bachelor's and a master's degree. What will the city do to ensure that the people living here would fit these specific criteria and the diversity of the education for this? Will there be scholarships? Or will the center bring in outside workers? This will defeat one of the main reasons the center is being built. Regardless, the data centers are also trying to minimize the number of people working by a person who needs to be able to do it all, from IT work to replacing memory to fixing a diesel engine to fixing a toilet. This does not sound like the job growth the city needs if the center wants one person to do four people's jobs. Ehab Terezi, Chief Technology Officer at Dell Computing, is pushing for more automated run data centers where humans may occasionally remote in Patch something. This does not seem like the long-term job sustainability as more data centers are pushing to be automated, which in 2021 was 40%. That percentage has increased over the years with many of the large corporations pushing for 100. These remote workers do not have to be Winnebago residents or even a US resident. These same companies have been working quietly and secretly on new technologies to replace skilled humans altogether. Delfonti and Frey, 2021. Data center leaders crow that the automated infrastructure with remote monitoring and alerts will permit even fewer people to remote operate the entire industry. Bannerman 2020. This is all considering that AI will become profitable. At current, Google is pouring all their money into it without seeing any capital return. $277 billion lost and only $25 billion gained. Amazon lost roughly $331 billion, recuperating only 0.07% back. present, even if the data centers were built, there is little prospect that it will operate in the future. It is strange to me that the city is willing to make its citizens pay more in utility to cover the data center than the city will be making from it itself, especially when that increase in the utility bill could be the difference in some being able to afford their groceries or rent.

Thank you. Our next public speaker this evening is Eve Kirk.

Thank you, Mayor and people of the city council. I realize that in our city, almost all the time, the mayor, the aldermen, and the employees of the city know about customer service because the residents who rent or own a home, pay for these services through taxes. And we had a door hanger on our neighborhood, which is the 700 block of North Rockford Avenue about the capital improvement program. I wish it had had some details, but it didn't have details. It was, I would say more like a victory lap that the city was doing this for us. and very sketchy information about specifics, specific things they would do in our neighborhood. And I came home on July 10th to some tank-like machine running up our street and taking these huge slabs off and throwing them into dump trucks. We were not prepared for this. They took... flowers, perennial flowers for 20 years from my garden. They put cracks in the frontage sidewalks of property owners. They, when they use this claw thing and tore trees to take down branches and dig at the roots of the tore trees. They... littered with water bottles and cans and crime tape, whatever, which of course that's not fatal, but it was an indication that they do really respect our neighborhood or the people in it. So I have some suggestions. If the city would next time clearly state what project is going to happen on your street, that would be very helpful. and some tips to tell us what we could do to prepare for that. Not just, well, you might have to park somewhere else, particularly since most of the cars in the block were from the workers that were working there that day. If they would say that, well, no, you really don't own the 15 inches to the inside of the sidewalk that you think is yours, it's not. It's for the city to be able to drink Thank you, thank you Thank you

Thank you, Ms. Kirk. Appreciate it. Our next public speaker this evening is Denzel Winter. Is Denzel Winter with us? We can come back to him. Next is Prophet Yousuf.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. In the book of Romans, the 12th chapter, the second verse, it says, do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. What I want to speak about tonight, how to reduce the choice you make, the dropout rate in Robert's schools. The Navy discovered March the 29th, 1954, Why young men drop out of school and join the Navy? There came over 12 reasons why. And if you eliminate these 12 reasons, you could reduce the dropout rate, increase the graduation rate, and reduce the crime rate at the same time because education and crime is correlated. The first reason was poverty. The second reason was homelessness. The first reason was alcohol abuse in homes. The fourth reason was children who had to work and go to school. The fifth reason, single parent homes. The sixth reason, high mobility rates. The seventh reason, parents who hold multiple jobs. The eighth reason, a lack of affordable transportation and children who had to walk long distance to school. The ninth reason, children who had parents who didn't value education. The 10th reason, domestic violence in the home. The 11th reason, children drop out to take care of parents who have physical and mental illness. The 12th reason, school climate issues such as school size and attitudes of teachers. Other students who were bullied and feared pressure. If you eliminate these 12 things, I guarantee you You can reduce the currency rate, the dropout rate, the hunger rate, the poverty rate, the homeless rate, the delinquency rate, and increase the high school and college graduation rate, and students will be productive citizens in Washington. I'm glad you are here, Ms. VanVleet. I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time, and I'm going to get it off my chest tonight. I don't like you. I love you. And you're changing nothing about it. And happy birthday, my good friend. And I wish you many more. And God bless you and your family. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to my good friend. Happy birthday to you. Thank you for allowing me to speak.

Thank you. Is Denzel Winter with us? Yes. Denzel Winter. OK. Next, we'll move on to our new committee reports. We have nothing under planning and development. So we'll go to Code and Regulation Committee and Alderman Logeman.

Thank you, Mayor. We have 12 items in front of us. Item number one, committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval to establish a restriction requiring that traffic on Calderwood Drive be required to stop prior to entering the intersection with Palo Verde Drive, thus repealing the existing traffic control of Calderwood Drive yielding for Palo Verde Drive. Item number two committee recommends sustaining the traffic Commission's recommendation of no action be taken on the request for additional streetlights at 1640 Albany Lane item number three committee recommends sustaining the zoning Board of Appeals approval for a special use permit for six residential units on the ground floor on a c4 urban mixed-use zoning district at 134 North Main Street Subject to conditions. Item number four, committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals approval for a special use permit for residential units on the ground floor in a C4 urban mixed use zoning district at 325 South Madison Street. Subject to conditions. Item number five, committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals denial for a variation to reduce the side yard setback for a covered patio from six feet to zero feet in an R1 single family residential zoning district at 1232 Soper Avenue. Item number six committee recommends sustaining the zoning Board of Appeals approval for a special use permit for body art services and a c2 limited commercial zoning district at 210 North Longwood Street subject to conditions item number seven committee recommends sustaining the zoning Board of Appeals approval for a special use permit for For a planned mixed-use development consisting of 10 apartments, a restaurant, and a banquet hall in R2 two-family residential zoning district at 219 South 2nd Street, subject to conditions. Item number eight, committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals approval for a special use permit for body art services in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 1010 East State Street, subject to conditions. Item number nine, committee recommends sustaining a zoning board of appeals approval for a zoning map amendment from R1 single family zoning residential zoning district to C3 general commercial zoning district at 3218 11th Street subject to conditions. Item number 10, committee recommends denial of a variation to increase the maximum allowed Business identification wall signs from 2 to 3 in a c3 general commercial zoning district at 32 18 11th Street Thus reversing the zoning board of appeals approval item number 11 committee recommends sustaining the zoning board of appeals approval of the following text amendments to the city of Rockford zoning ordinances 11a table 20-1 use of classification table 11b article 20-005 lot area per dwelling unit 11c article 20-005-z rear setbacks 11d table 21-1 use classification table 11e article 30 mandatory planned unit developments article 11f article 35 infill overlay district Item 11G, Article 50-003, Off-Street Parking Ratios. Item 11H, Article 50-016, Access Location. And Article 80-003, Nonconforming Uses. And Item 11I, Continuance of Nonconforming Uses. And finally, item number 12, committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for a modification of an existing liquor license to add packaged liquor sales in conjunction with a restaurant in a C3 general commercial zoning district at 1603 North Alpine Road, subject to conditions. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Alderman. Council, we have 12 items before us. Is there any discussion on those 12 items? Alderman Frost?

Thank you. With respect to number 10, Your Honor, I move to reverse the committee report to approve the variation to increase the maximum allowed business identification wall signs from 2 to 3 in a C3 general commercial zoning district at 3218 11th Street. Second.

We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion on the motion? All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed? Excellent. The amendment has been approved. Now, council, we have 12 items before us with item 10 being amended. Is there any discussion? Alderman Meeks.

Thank you so much. I just have a question on item number 11E, Article 30, the mandatory planned unit developments. And I think I'll direct it to Administrator Cagnoni. I'm just curious if... under 30-004. Is this an area where a data center information could be included and a mandatory PUD would be required?

Director Lies or Mr. Tegnone?

I'm going to pull the...

I have what it's intended to do, and then you could answer. So the amendment that we're submitting, or the text revision that we're submitting to you, is intended to encourage more development by allowing a developer in the different classifications to do more units before they're required to get a PUD. So it's really focused on residential. So it's looking at the different types, the single family, the townhome, and the multifamily.

Yeah, I should have clarified that I do understand what we are voting for. I was just asking just a general question, if this could be an area where it could be included. I've been previously looking into the industrial Article 23. But I'm just asking just a general question. Could the direction be? more directed to Article 30. and adding directly and identifying the hyperscale data center?

So Article 30 in general includes a number of uses that are non-residential. So in theory, that could be one area in which a data center could be regulated in the future by requiring it to be a mandatory planned unit development. It's not the portion that we advertised, but Yes.

Okay. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

Thank you. Is there any discussion on the 12 items with item 10 being amended? Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Durkee. Aye. Logeman. Aye. Tunberg. Aye. Frost. Aye. Tarina. Aye. Frunty.

Aye.

Neal.

Aye.

Hoffman. Aye. Granite. Aye. Beach? Aye. Salgado?

Aye.

Meeks? Aye. Bell?

Aye.

Bonney?

No on 10 and 11A. Aye.

And it was 1 through 9, 14 ayes, item 10, 13 ayes, 1 no, item 11A, 13 ayes, 1 no, and item 12, 14 ayes.

Thank you. Next, we're going to go to Finance and Personnel Committee and Alderman Frost.

Thank you, Your Honor. Number one, the committee recommends approval of vouchers in the amount of $9,205,558.55 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on July 27, 2026. Number two, the committee recommends approval of the State Line Area Narcotics Team Intra-Agency Agreement. Number three, the committee recommends approval of an ordinance authorizing the city to utilize funds from the public water supply loan program at the IEPA and application of loan for lead service line replacements. I place these three matters before you.

Thank you. Counsel, there's three items before you. Is there any discussion on those three items? Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. Aye. Logeman. Aye. Toomer.

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Next we'll go to unfinished business and go to Planning and Development Committee and Alderwoman Neal.

Thank you, Your Honor. Item 1, committee recommends approval of the proposed funding agreement with Goodwill in partnership with IBEW Local 364 for Electrical Workers' Trades Program to better prepare individuals for IBEW application process in the amount of $85,172. The funding source is casino funds.

Thank you. Counsel, is there any discussion on the one item before you? Alderman Prunty.

I did receive a request from a viewer that they're struggling to hear us again.

OK. I would just suggest folks speak into the microphones. I notice it's a little bit better when department heads are speaking. We're still calibrating all of the volumes, but I appreciate that. Thank you.

Alderman Durkee. Thank you, Your Honor. I just wanted to, since this was laid over, again reiterate my opposition to this. This program is short-lived. It's limited in scope. It's not as comprehensive with what currently exists at Rock Valley College. In addition, Rock Valley College has a theater program for those students leaving high school who may not qualify for the trades program. So I see this as redundant. I think a better use of the money actually would be to give it to Rock Valley College and increase the robustness of that program. That program is about 14 weeks. It's 450 hours. It's free. Anybody could attend. They have a great success rate. I've talked with the trades. They're not popping champagne over passage of this one. they're a little bit indifferent. And so I would think a better use of this money is to contribute it to an existing, far more robust program, rather than getting scattered all over the place with these different trades programs. So that is why I'm opposed to this.

Thank you. Any other discussion? Alderman Prunty.

Are you planning to ask for an amendment? I am not. Is the First Ward Alder person planning, saying that he is intending to ask for an amendment or just voting no?

No, I would just, you would have to be cribbed and I didn't do that. And I just was going to just an up or down vote.

Okay. And then Could the first word, Alderman, tell us where that Rock Valley program is offered? Is it offered in Rockford?

Alderman Durkee, where's that program offered?

It's offered in Rockford. There's two start times. It's spring, I believe, and winter. So they have two classes a year that are progressing through the program.

Thank you. Other discussion? Alderwoman Meeks.

I'm not positive, but I believe that the location is the Samuelson RVC location, unless I'm wrong about that. That's where I remember it being in the past.

Thank you. Any other discussion? Alderwoman Prunty.

Is the Samuelson location now the quad?

I believe it is. I'm not the one offering those suggestions. So, I mean, I would Yeah. Any other discussion? Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. No. Logeman.

Aye.

Thunberg.

No.

Frost.

No.

Tarina. Aye. Prenti.

No.

Neal.

Aye.

Hoffman. Aye. Granite.

Aye.

Beach. Salgado?

Aye.

Meeks? No. Bell?

Aye.

Bonney?

Aye.

Eight ayes, six noes.

Thank you. Next, we have officers' reports. Any council member have a report? Alderwoman Granath?

I'm having a board meeting on August 12th at Good Shepherd Lutheran at 530 Chief tile will be there Director Sanders will be there officer. We have a new community officer Diego will be there and a new Rock House officer officer Mitchell Parker And so we will have them speak. So it'll be a lot of information given. So please come on out and join us on the 12th of August.

What time was that at? 5.30. 5.30, August 12. Thank you. There was Hans Alderman Mogman.

Real quick, I was told about a nonprofit scholarship group. I'm just going to read something from Auburn High School. It's a former Auburn secretary. We're a nonprofit group that raises funds to create and support a scholarship in honor of Carol McFagan, a beloved school secretary at Auburn High School who was lost to domestic violence in 2009. We want Carol's compassion and service to students and staff to be remembered always. Therefore, we're establishing a scholarship that will be awarded annually to an Auburn student who demonstrates the kindness and service that Carol showed throughout her life. I'm sure maybe April or dawn knew Carol very well I did not know her at Auburn, but I always I still hear stories about Carol at Auburn I'm sure she was just a tremendous lady But if there's anybody in the public who want to donate to this scholarship fund you can just it's a Google site But if you just google Carol's kind kindness Auburn High School, you'll be able to find it I know it's always a big drive at Auburn to to support kindness and service Something I think all of us can kind of agree. That's pretty important in society today And I'll email this information to all the aldermen to thank you mayor.

Thank you other reports of council members alderwoman Trina Thank You Your Honor.

I just have a couple community announcements as well first all of my council mates should have one of these on your desk it is For Made for Rockford, there will be a new community member event happening at the Rockyard Music Fest, which occurs Friday, August 14. from 4 PM to 10 PM. You can come when you want and stay as long as you'd like. So it's like a new resident mixer. So if you're new to Rockford, have been in Rockford the past three years, we would love to see you there and meet you so that you could be a part of building community for yourself. And the other thing is I do have a fifth ward meeting coming up. It is Saturday, September 4 at 9 AM. Some of my residents aren't happy about that. I was like, you got to get up. So again, Saturday, September 4th, 9 AM, and it's going to be at Tinker Swiss Cottage. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Other reports? Alderman Prunty. OK.

Thank you. The next sixth ward meeting will be Thursday, August 6th at 6 PM at House of God Church. which is located at 840 Brook Road. And our featured topic will be lead service line replacement program. So I'm really looking forward to that because Public Works is always wonderful.

Thank you. Other reports? Alderwoman Neal.

Thank you, Your Honor. I just wanted to remind everyone that although we did need to cancel the Southside fifth annual back-to-school bash this past weekend due to weather, we will be announcing a rescheduled date for that here soon. So be on the lookout for that if you follow us on social media. Also in the ward this weekend, this coming Saturday, we have one of my favorite events that happens on an annual basis. It's the Right Way Teen Kickball for a Cause tournament that's happening this coming Saturday, August 8. It starts at 12 PM. I will be doing the opening kick, so hopefully I don't miss the ball during that. But come out and see and have some fun if you are free. Don't look at me like that.

Thank you. I think you should play the whole game, just saying. Alderman Thunberg and then Alderman Prunty.

Thanks, Mayor. Vic Wilder and Jessica Anderson from Neighborhood Standards, thank you. Fantastic jobs that you've been helping me out with. I've had them on speed dial again. pretty much for the last couple weeks. So thank you for all the work they do. Another great Rockford boxing classic. So I think it's one of the great events in Rockford, and I did see a few people out there, and thank you for all those who helped put that together. Missed the police and fighter match, though, at the end.

Alderwong Prunty.

Oh, thank you. Thank you to Alderman Logerman. Carol was a wonderful person. And to Alderman Tunberg, thank you for reminding me. I, too, have them on speed dial, so I appreciate Jessica and Vic and the code enforcement staff for taking care of things right away, including things that may not necessarily be in my ward. So I appreciate those of you who, if I reported something, don't get mad at me. I just saw it, and it needed to be done. So next, I also wanted to thank the community for coming out and supporting Booker Fest this past weekend. I had a great time. I gave away. lots of seeds so hopefully we will have a numerous urban gardeners next season i want to thank that committee including reverend leon smith for and the staff at booker for putting that together it's always a nice time for food family and fun thank you thank you other reports from council members

Thank you. Next, we will go to election, the election of Alderperson to serve as acting mayor pursuant to 65 ILCS 5-3.1-10-50F. and asking and i sent all council members an email around 215 245 somewhere in that pocket asking if council would be willing to lay that item over we have had a number of questions sent to us today from council members we want to make sure that every council member understands the process, understands what we're voting on, and want to make sure that we get back to each one of you before that item comes before us. And so I would ask if... you all are agreeable to that, that someone would make a motion for a one-week layover. That then would allow, if you all and staff are ready, could have a special council meeting, if needed, on next Monday. Because typically, our layovers are two weeks and want to make sure that you have as much time as possible. I'll make a motion. We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Alderman Prenti.

ALDERON PRENTI. Was this, could we know some of the concerns? Was this concern identified by cities legal? Was this a legal concern? Are we in violation of the law or? RONALD PRENTI. Director Hammer.

Thank you, Mayor. I'm requesting additional time to research the city's statutory authority in this matter.

Alderman Prunty.

Could you explain what you mean by that? Because I thought you were following the state statute.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor. There is an issue that I'm requesting additional time to look into regarding the statutory authority for the city based on the timing of the resignation.

Can you also tell us where you will be looking so we can look there too?

Sure. In the Illinois compiled statutes. And I'm happy to have further discussion with you offline as well.

So, okay. I'm sure I will have other questions. Thank you very much.

Any other discussion? All those in favor? I'm sorry, Alderman Frost, did you give a time period for your layover? I don't want to misstate that.

Well, I just wanted to report it and leave it as it is.

Thank you. So we have a motion and a second to lay the item over for one week. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those opposed?

No.

OK. So that item will be laid over. Next, we'll go to motions and resolutions. We'll go to Planning and Development Committee and Alderman Neal.

Item one, committee recommends approval of the Spaces to Places program, which is intended to reduce commercial vacancies and support small business growth by providing temporary rent assistance for new and expanding businesses. The city will reimburse security deposits and 50% of rent for up to 12 months for a total funding level of up to $20,000 per business. The program will have $300,000 designated from 2026 and 2027 casino funds.

Thank you. Council, one item before you. Is there any discussion on that one item?

Alderwoman Tarina.

Alderwoman Tarina.

Thank you, Alderman Bill. Thank you, Your Honor. I do have a question regarding how did we arrive to the $300,000?

Director Live.

Sorry, the question, how did we arrive at $300,000?

How did we arrive at $300,000?

So we have five business districts, and we're aiming this first year to be in those five. So if we did three projects per five, that's $300,000. OK. Thank you.

Is there any other discussion on the item before you? Clerk, could you? Alderman Bell.

Thank you. Do you happen to have the list of those five business associations that you're referring to?

Director Elias?

Yes. The River District, Miracle Mile, North End, Swift, and Midtown.

I do know there's a coalition of business owners in the 13th Ward that are organizing a 13th Ward Business Association. And so I would love for that business association to be considered once established, I believe. In the next 30 to 60 days, they should be up and running. I too had a concern on the $300,000 amount using 2026 and 2027. Or I shouldn't say I, too. I had a concern using 2026 and 2027 casino funds. I understand how you all broke down that $300,000. I see this as more of a pilot program to see what works, what doesn't work, and then maybe staff can go back to the drawing board for next year. Yeah, again, I personally, in the last week or two weeks ago when we were at city council, I think made the same statement. I'd like to see this cut in half at $150,000. I did not have time to talk to you all, but just wanted to put that out there to see if there was any interest from any of my colleagues to maybe cut this in half to try this as a pilot program.

Is there any further discussion? Alderman Thunberg.

Thank you, Mayor. I want to say thank you to Administrator Cagnoni and Director Lise on this. We did have a conference call, a Zoom call, with two individuals, John Feltz from RLDC and Nate Jordan from SBA. I think those two provided valuable input. I think that on the city side, it is well-intentioned. I will be supporting this. But I think going forward, I would like to see, and I think we all agreed on that as well, to include these other entities in the conversations going forth. As the alderman of the 13th ward stated, it's possibly a pilot program. I think we'll find out there's kinks to be worked out. some revisions to be made to this program as it stands now. So I would, again, like to encourage the conversation to continue with these two entities who do have quite a bit of experience working with our businesses locally. So thank you.

Thank you. Other discussion? Alderman Meeks.

Thank you so much. I have a question for Director Lise. So I just want to get specific with a business that is currently in my ward. And so the business owners own it now. They have someone that's working inside the business. And they are looking to retire. and so they would like to see the current employee become the next business owner. And so they're looking at swapping out a different location and then moving forward that way. And I know there were some restrictions on current businesses and moving locations. And I just kind of want to get a clear understanding if a business like this would be able to do something like that if they had a totally new owner that was taking control of the business moving that forward director lies

the intention of the program was definitely to be a year one as mentioned by other like to to try another solution we've tried multiple in the small business space but to continue to build that portfolio and we really were thinking of spaces that are empty and how can we like move something into those spaces right so i'd have to we'd have to like sit with this business and see what We weren't trying to steal from other places necessarily. We weren't trying to go down one. one place and have a different vacancy become, let something else become vacant with this program. Like we weren't trying to move, we were trying to add. So there might be a different way we could support that business and probably would ask that we like sit down with them and work with and see if there's a different way we can help them with that transition and try and keep this program to be adding and filling in vacancy spaces rather than creating one. That's if I heard you right. Yeah. Okay.

No, I understand. And I did hear North End in the, yeah, okay. That's all I wanted. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Alderman Bell?

Do you want to ask? Thank you. I guess two things, and once I ask the second, that's fine. Director Haggerty, do you know how much we have in the corridor signage fund left over?

Director Haggerty?

I don't, but I can look that up and get an answer for you.

And then I believe, unless you want to come. I believe last two weeks ago Alderman Bonney asked for a list of the activity from our current programming. I didn't receive that correspondence, but I didn't know if maybe it was sent to him. Director Lies?

I do have it, so I can send it right now.

I'll just give you a summation.

So we did the commercial corridor property revitalization program. There were seven different corridors identified in that. We processed 46 pre-applications out of those. There were then 35 moved into full applications. only 14 moved into projects. Two of those projects are complete. 12 are still in progress. So that's 14. And then in the TIF 5050s, which again, that's where we have eight TIF zones that were included in that program, we processed 36 pre-applications, which moved into 19 applications. And of that 19, 10 moved into the project stage. Four of those 10 are complete. Six are still in process.

Thank you. And then any update on the business advancement grant and the activity with that or where we currently are?

Sure. agreement to do it. There was some streamlining that the legal department wanted to do, because we had a change in staffing there. And they realized they could probably make some parts of that a little better, a little easier to understand. So I believe they've completed that template. And we were just having it reviewed, because that is funded by CDBG. So we just had to have the regulatory requirements just anytime we redo it, we just want to make sure we've covered it enough with the regulatory side. And I believe they met on that last week. So the businesses that are going to be awarded should be getting that agreement soon.

thank you thank you director Haggerty yeah they know I will it will take a little bit we have funds committed but not spent so it's not a I can't just pull the number out of our financial system quickly so okay I just asked so I I can't recall honestly I believe the project that here's what I think and I could be totally wrong

When the senior center was proposed months ago, maybe in January or February, I believe that we were going to take from the corridor signage program $250,000, $300,000. I forget what it was. So I didn't know if those funds were already committed. I'd like to see us pull from a different line item here instead of the 2026, 2027 casino funds. That's why I brought that up. Thanks.

Mr. Cagnoni.

So Alderman Bell would be correct. When we had the senior center proposed months ago, it did utilize the funds that was designated for commercial corridor signage, but I believe that was identified source of a different funding agreement that has taken place since then. But we can certainly work with Director Haggerty to see if there's other opportunities for funds That are unspent but I I think most of those have been committed at this point in time and then other than casino funds Thank you.

Then last one mayor After should this be approved 2026 and 2027. Do you know how much? We would have remaining in those two two years for casino funds if this goes through Director Haggerty Sorry. Feel free to move. I think someone else had their hand up. You can come back to me.

Between the 2026 and 2027 funds committed for economic development, with what has been approved so far and what's up for consideration, we would have $800,000 remaining between the two years.

Thank you.

Any other discussion? Alderman Frost.

mean no disrespect to staff but I mean this desperation to fill up storefronts throughout different parts of the city that that maybe need help it is somewhat good but I mean I just feel like we're really bending over backward we're waving a security deposit for a business I mean maybe we should just buy their products and give them out to free to our residents because I If you can't afford your security deposit, you really ought to reevaluate your business plan. And I mean, I don't even know if there's a list of folks that are lining up at City Hall trying to ask for a retail front. But I'm just concerned with paying the entire security deposit and half rent for up to a year. I mean, this money is going to get blown through. And then I don't need a pilot program on how to lose money. I mean, we're not a bank. We're not venture capital. We're not a private equity. We're the city. And if anyone around here I'm sure has been paying attention, we've been told about our substantial deficit that we're going to be facing in a short order. Three of us have been asked to join a financial task force where we're looking around the room at different department heads, and the question's going to become is, where do we cut? So I know that these are casino funds, and based on what I just heard, that the two of them only have $800,000, they can be used for other things. And I'm going to vote no, because I just truly feel this is not an appropriate and prudent use of $300,000. Thank you. Thank you.

Other discussion? Alderman Beach. Thank you.

I was going to follow along with similar questions. When you say casino funds, my assumption is the $7 million that's to be given to us each year. So with the question of 800,000 have we used up all but 800,000?

No, they're talking about the economic development portion.

That's what might get cleared Can we get a list of all the projects that right now have been committed to be funded from the casino? You have a million dollar funds that's ongoing or what the limit is and A year, two years, five years, or perpetual. I'd like to know what that is.

We can easily do that for you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Alderman Bonney, then Alderman Bell.

Thank you, Mayor. I agree with the fourth ward alderman on this, but also from the perspective of another item that's on the agenda tonight regarding the public library's proposal. I don't like our, in addition to do these businesses, are they too weak to even be opening? And the threshold for providing them support is so low. I have to wonder if part of the problem we have with vacant property isn't the owners. The rents are too high, and the sales prices are too high. And in the case of the item that's coming up on the agenda after this, Again, it's an out-of-state owner. I know there's been a lot of people talking about the library, putting the mobile library in the property on East State Street while it fills a vacant building. And it's been on the market for 300 days. Well, maybe it's been on the market for 300 days because it's overpriced, and the owner is not a local business person. But I think that, in light of budget issues that we know are just around the corner, we need to, I think, take a closer look at programs that might have sounded good six months ago or a year ago or two years ago. I also, just to clarify, I know Director Lai has just emailed the information I asked for two weeks ago. But I don't think I've received it. I think Alderman Bell is correct. I would have liked to have had that before tonight. And I just think that we should maybe We can vote that we can always bring this back another time if we think it makes more sense later. But I think for now we should not approve this. Thanks. Other discussion?

Alderman Bell.

Thank you, Mayor. I'm going to just recommit my commitment to this. I think that if we could go down to $150,000 and launch it as a pilot, we can gather information to see if it works or not. I think It's important to continue investing into our small businesses. This council has approved funding over the years to support our small businesses, specifically women and minority-owned businesses through Think Big and with support from the SBDC and RLDC. So I think the partners are are great and I've had conversations. Certainly much needed, have had conversations with Director Lise, so appreciate you for that. I just think, you know, looking at taking from another pot of money would be more, I mean, ideal for me. But I see this program as a bridge to success for our small businesses. And so that's why I'll be supporting this today. I hope that this program is successful, and I look forward to continuing to build the coalition up in the 13th Ward so we can fill our vacant storefronts. Thank you.

Thank you. Alderman Thunberg.

Thank you, Mayor. Appreciate everyone's comments here on council. Some of the same concerns were of mine as well. And we addressed those quite transparently through our meeting. I too can fully understand the concerns on this as well. I wouldn't be opposed to, well, let me ask this. Director Lies, would there be a significant burden to this program if we went from $300,000 down to $150,000? Director Lies?

Well, first of all, 160 would be great just to keep the 20. Not end up with extra money. I mean, money left, but that would be great. So I mean, we've been open about the fact that we want to do a year one, and we want to assess what's happening on these properties. You know, we'll work with the 160. We work with the 300,000. To Alderman Tarina's question, we gave you sort of a philosophy of how we came up with the number is to try and aim for around three in each of the active districts. I can tell you we sent our intern to look at all of the districts and what sort of empty spaces they could see and start take pictures and catalog which ones might be more ready, which ones... what districts have. She found in River District, there were 12 things that she could catalog. Miracle Mile, 22. North End, 11. Swift, 13. Midtown, 33. So it's a lot of vacancies. And to do three in each didn't seem like a huge lift or a huge ask when you think of it that way. Now I get that you're looking at it financially. But those numbers and that amount of vacancies, we thought we would just start having the conversation, start figuring out what's going on with all those spaces. And this would be a great tool that gets some businesses some help and gets us in those doors, and we start figuring out what's going on. I understand the other concerns that have been brought up about investment and that We were aiming this in, I guess the way I would say it, sort of the way that we want to make the businesses successful, we also need to show the spaces. And so when we're trying to move the needle and tip things towards productivity, we sometimes have to demonstrate to the current businesses that are looking at our area, and then future ones, that activity is happening, and progress is possible, and that these spaces work. So this program is meant to, as we talked to Alderman Tuberg, really get people to look at the spaces. and think about them more productively, and try and get that conversation going. We have a lot of vacancies. And so this is, again, our start. We'll start with 168. Would love to start with 300,000. But we'll start either way.

Thank you.

Is there a, where this stands right now, if I made a motion for layover on this, I just need a second on this as of right now.

It's been laid over, so you would need a majority of council. You need eight votes.

Okay. Yes, again, I would emphasize I think it's very important in bringing those other individuals into the conversation. I think it was able to answer quite a few questions, but also give some direction on where this could go in the future going forth. We do private and public partnerships quite a bit. And yes, I think the points here have been made very clear and justified in what may look like a giving away money to businesses That have the potential to fail once that money is pulled back I don't want to see that none of us want to see that so I think after if we can take a layover so Individuals can can ask more about this program. I think would make sense.

Thank you Is that a motion?

Yes, please. I would like to make a motion. We have a motion.

We have a second to lay over this item. Is there any discussion on the layover? Clerk, please call the roll.

Jerky. No. Logeman.

No.

Toonberg.

Aye.

Frost. Aye. Tarina. Aye. Frunty. Aye. Neal. Aye. Hoffman. Aye. Granite. Aye. Beach. Aye. Salgado. Aye. Meeks? Aye. Bell?

Aye.

Bonnie?

No.

Ten ayes, four noes.

Excellent. Next we're going to, that item's been laid over. Next we'll go to Code and Regulation Committee and Alderman Logeman.

Mayor, we have four items in front of us. Item number one, committee recommends approval of a request from the Traffic Commission for the City of Rockford to approve the installation of a streetlight near 2415 Quincy Circle. Item number two, committee recommends approval of the 815 Day Block Party. The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 15th. The location of the event is 100 Block North 1st Street, and the event time is 8 AM to 4 PM. Item number three, committee recommends approval of Polish Fest. This event is scheduled for Sunday, August 16th. The event will be held on the grounds of the St. Solancus Casca Church, located at 201 Buckby Street, and the event time is 10 AM to 9 PM. Item number four, committee recommends approval of the PCI employee picnic. This event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15th. The location of the event is 4545 Assembly Drive and will take place during open business hours. Assembly Drive will be closed from Research Parkway to Airport Drive during the picnic.

Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Council, four items. Please don't lay over Polish Fest. I want pierogies. Any discussion? Four items. Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. Aye. Logeman. Aye. Toomberg.

Aye.

Frost. Aye. Tarina.

Aye.

Prunty. Aye. Neal.

Aye.

Hoffman. Aye. Granite. Aye. Beach. Aye. Salgado. Aye. Meeks. Aye. Bell. Aye. Bonney. Aye. 14 ayes.

Next, thank you. Next, we're going to go to Finance and Personnel Committee, Alderman Frost. Thank you, Your Honor.

Number one, the committee recommends approval of a plan of acquisition of 4100 East 8th Street by the Rockford Board of Library Trustees. Number two, the committee recommends approval of an award of bid for demolition water material dump site to NTRK. in a combined estimated amount of $100,000. It's a one-year contract with four possible annual extension options. Annual price adjustments will be reviewed and considered at contract renewal only. The funding source is the Water Operating Fund. Number three, the committee recommends approval and award a bid for citywide drainage repair package to DPI Construction in the amount of $113,879.46. The contract is through October 2nd, 2026, and the funding source is the CIP General Fund. Number four, the committee recommends approval of the award of bid for citywide sidewalk and ADA repair package number two to TCI Concrete in the amount of $440,806.15. The contract duration is through September 18, 2026, and the funding source is the 1% infrastructure sales tax. Number five, the committee recommends approval of award of bid for Head Start and Early Head Start child care meals to Delicious Unlimited in an amount not to exceed $100,000. It's a one-year contract with four possible one-year extension options. Annual price adjustment will be considered for CPI will be considered a contract renewal only. The funding source is the Head Start grant funds. Number six, the committee recommends approval of an award of joint purchase contract for squad car cameras to Accent Enterprises in the amount of $71,318.41. This is a one-time purchase, and the funding source is the police department operating budget. Number seven, the committee recommends approval of the fifth supplemental indenture resolution regarding the industrial project revenue bonds for Wesley Willow's project series 2011. 8. The committee recommends approval of the grant-funded subrecipient agreement with Comprehensive Community Solutions in an amount not to exceed $30,359.45. The agreement periods from July 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, if approved. Number nine, the committee recommends approval and acceptance of the Office of the Attorney General, State of Illinois Fiscal Year 2027 Organized Retail Crime Grant Award in the amount of $100,000. It does not require a cost match. The grant term is from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. I place these nine matters before you.

Thank you. Council, we have nine items before us. Any discussion on those nine items? Alderman Meeks.

Thank you so much. Director Haggerty, I was just curious if item number seven, if there were similarities to item number seven to the casino bonds, are these similar bonds in any way? I know this is the amendment to it.

Director Haggerty.

So no, industrial revenue bonds are very different from a bond that is issued by the city for city purposes. These are sort of federal development tools that are allocated based on geographic regions. So every certain communities have an allotment that they're allowed to approve. So the end user of the bonds needs the city to approve them. But ultimately, we have no long-term debt obligation. The business is fully on the hook for those.

That's where I was trying to make the connection to with the casino. We don't really, but we do. We will own. So that would be the biggest difference. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Any discussion on those nine items? Alderman Donovan.

Thank you. Regarding item one that we laid over last week, Alderman Beach, myself, and Alderman Prenti met last week with the director and president of the library board, as well as the past president. And while I appreciate that the library leaders think that they are doing what's in the best interest for the library system, and they may be with this purchase. I don't think it's in... our best interests as aldermen for the city. And again, it goes back to the same argument that we had over the U-Haul property just up the street, which is that if we want to preserve State Street as a retail corridor, we can't keep approving non-retail uses. Similar to the case with u-haul where it would have been Had we approved that it would have been not generating Sales tax because most of this most of their business would have been rental in this case where we'd be taking property tax and out of the equation as well. Now, granted, wherever the library stores its mobile vehicles, the library wouldn't be paying a property tax regardless. But the leaders that we met with walked us through how other that they consider, that they determine to be unsuitable. But I just find it very difficult to believe that there aren't a number of possibilities in areas that are commercially zoned or even industrially zoned that are not in important retail areas. I also don't like to try to gauge public opinion based on social media, but I did share this Sunday night. And you find that humorous, Alderman Bell? I do. Thank you. It did seem to generate a significant amount agreement that this wasn't a great idea versus the few who thought it was and I thought it was notable that among those people who disagreed with the library's plan were the Former county administrator and former city administrator who referred to it as a horrible idea and I just think We need to you know, it's You know people want to quickly say well, it's it's vacant. It's been on the mark as I said earlier It's been on the market for 300 days Well, you know we are hopefully close to having a much better proposal or much better project go into the Former Kmart property at State and Mulford Because we We did the hard thing. We played hardball. We said no. And now we're hopefully going to see a global market that adds a lot more to the quality of life in the area than U-Haul would have. And in this case, again, the mobile library services are great. Vehicles could be stored in any number of places that aren't in a important retail district in the city of Rockford, and I just think we have to Take that chance again that that you know the property sits vacant a lot maybe a little longer and maybe the out-of-state owner lowers the asking price and maybe a business that would actually help draw shoppers or, you know, if it were, say, even an auto repair place, people who need service to the area versus this, which won't do that. Thank you.

Are you? OK, sorry. Other discussion on Alderman Bell, Alderman Frost?

Thanks, Mayor. Have we tried offering space within maybe city yards or any other garage properties that we have?

We have reviewed two different locations that I'm aware of. One was Frank Crawl site. We also reviewed locations out at City Yards. None of them would meet the need that they have.

Thank you.

Alderman Frost.

Thank you. So I don't know if anyone's been by this building, but it used to be a mobility business that modified cars and vans for handicapped folks. And I'm looking at the listing for the building. It has five doors on it that are commercial-sized doors and then an office spot that's probably maybe 100 square feet. So when someone talks about this being some, and comparing it to Kmart, which I think it's completely not in comparison on, way different deal. This property is not asking for a special use property. It's a property that's been listed for sale by the owner of the building, and the buyer just happened to be the library. So like I said last time, I have a hard time with it. I know statutorily we have to approve this based on Illinois statute, which requires the city to approve the capital purchase for the library. I mean, it's been for sale for a year. The only viable use of this building literally would be like an auto repair shop, because that's probably what I, it may have been a Midas shop before mobility. But it has five doors on it. It's not like this building is like someone's going to come, and especially in light of what we've heard now, the Miracle Mile has all these vacant buildings on it already. that may properly work for a retail spot. This just isn't a building for some retail operation at all. And frankly, it's really not even on East State Street. The address may be that, but it's on the side road. I think it's called Linmark. I'm not sure. But it's the east-west road that runs from Murray Drive up to State Street, Morrissey Drive up to State Street. So I mean, it's not as if a dental office is going to go in here and renovate it. I mean, it would cost triple what they're asking for the square footage for the building. So I mean, I am in favor of it, because it meets the needs of the library. it falls within their with their budget of buying it and they do have a they have a library out east they have a library on montague they have the main library and those none of those buildings support their vehicles and this is kind of a little bit in the middle and it allows them to to you know quickly um have a barn somewhere that's accessible for for all their stops and what they use it for And I disagree that this is going to be developed. I mean, again, we just heard tonight, what was it, 33, the Miracle Mile led. the list provided by Director Lays with respect to vacant properties. And here you have someone that's, I mean, we're really querying a deal in a private market. It's not like, it doesn't require a special use permit. It doesn't require a change in zoning. So you have a seller and a buyer, and they've agreed on the price. And I think we're really overstepping our bounds to queer this deal. Thank you.

Other woman, Hoffman. Alderman Beach.

I'm thinking when Barnes and Noble left East State Street.

a number of years ago, and sales tax about a half a million dollars a year times years, that we could use that money now. And representing the Miracle Mile and the effort that I've seen them put in to try to close the gaps of all places, the bank, the old bank that runs across the street from this place has been sitting empty for several years. and probably will sit there a while more. But there will be a bank or some other business come in there and fill it up and make it useful. And so I've seen systematically over the years the Miracle Mile Associations fill these places up. And I have to tell you, I was at that meeting along with Alderman Ponte and one with Bonnie. But one of the things that just really Really, this bothered me. I shouldn't even probably say it, but when a comment was made, well, the tax is only $9,200 a year. That really upset me. Because the $48 million that we get in property taxes is made up of the $3,200s and the $9,000s and the $50,000s, et cetera. Every single piece of property taxes is meaningful to us as a city. So that kind of did bother me a little bit. And I get what Alderman Frost is saying about this. I can appreciate that. Just because there's not something today, after 300 days, doesn't mean that something won't be found. Because our people go out looking for places to put businesses. So as you know, you need to vote however you need to vote on it. But I certainly can't support it at this time. Thanks. Thank you, sir.

Alderwoman Meeks.

Thank you so much. I just wanted to say that it was maybe two years now it's been a while when I went on a tour with some rocker public library board members to view some locations in my ward to start finding a location for this for these mobile units so I'm actually really happy they finally found a place that they're settled down in and the only question that I have is will there be The Rockford Public Library and logo that will go on the building.

Yes.

I just wanted to make that comment. They've been looking for a really long time. So I just want to say that I'm happy they found the spot.

Yeah, I can just attest to the length. I also spoke, I think I spoke with you at that time. I also spoke with previous director Stainbrook numerous times about it as well. Alderman Bonney.

Thank you. So I think Alderwoman Hoffman makes a good point about The five doors is not necessarily an impediment to a creative, adaptive reuse of this space. And that the total projected cost of this purchase and renovation is $1.25 million, $900,000 going to renovate it. with its five doors for the proposed use by the library. So the building's not in great shape, and it needs a lot of work no matter who's going in there and how it's being used. I have not been told this directly, but I believe Alderman Beach stated at the meeting we had with the library that the Miracle Mile Association is officially opposed to this. The Alderman for the Ward, Alderman Beach, is opposed to it. And it's before us. It may not need zoning, but it's before us for a reason. And if we don't have the ability to deny this, then why is it here? And I have to say, I object to the second time the use of the term queering the deal. Thank you.

PAUL MADISON- Other woman, Tarina.

Thank you, Your Honor. I appreciate the discussion around this item, but I guess for me, we've established that city yards is not an option. We've established, I know Director Cagnoni explained to us that multiple sites were explored, but it has to go somewhere. So it doesn't matter where it goes in the city, it's going to be off the tax rule. So unless they go to Belvedere, It doesn't matter. You know what I'm saying? So I feel like we're just talking, keep talking about something that's going to have to go somewhere at some point. And I think they found a suitable place because it wouldn't matter if it's in the fifth ward. It doesn't matter if it's in the tenth ward. It's still going to be a property off the tax roll. Thank you.

Alderman Tunberg.

Thank you, Mayor. The Fifth Ward alderwoman stole my show there. And just saying that, that there has been other sites looked at. And if there is a entity or a structure like this within the city of Rockford, it's going to come off the tax rolls anyways. It is off of East State. And it is in an area that has had some issues in the recent past. And I think it's been up for a year. And it's been vacant for a year. And I know for a fact, and Mayor, you know, both you and I frequented a business there that has moved out. Now you got me concerned. Which business? Nice haircut.

Oh, thank you.

So, but yes, and there is a dental office right down the street there that has had some issues. So, I mean, for a building like this, it is... You know, I appreciate Alderman Hoffman. I thought that was coming up on the 8th Ward pub. I don't know how the 10th Ward alderman would feel about a pub going in there. You know, I thought of the same exact thing, too. So I've seen where that has been converted. But looking at this, it is just set up for that reason. I think it would be hard to repurpose that, considering what the 14th Ward Alderman said about the costs involved in doing that. Put that into the into the private sector and and have someone come up with that kind of money for a building that just again it is just designated for what it is and So, thank you very much.

Thank you. Are the other comments on the nine items before us? Clerk please are alderman Prunty. Is that a hand up? Yeah, okay alderman front Thank you

We had director lines identify over 20 sites. Is that information available to the library? Because I know that I heard, too, at our meeting that they had driven around the city and identified one. Alderman Bonnie identified too.

So maybe they need some more Options director wise so the numbers I was quoting earlier were specifically about retail spaces for You know business to move in I you know, not necessarily like something for vehicle storage but you know They have to several people have made the point they have been looking for quite a while They have made inquiries on different properties. They've gotten different answers on either price what it would work all those different things So they have made a lot of effort if for some reason This property doesn't we will continue to work with them because this is they need to store those vehicles they're essential resource in our community and we'll continue to find that location and But the numbers that I said to you earlier were specifically in those five business districts, vacant spaces they had for retail or different businesses to move in, not necessarily vehicle storage.

Not necessarily. Because I know that one of the things that they were hoping for was office space as well. So... And I... Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And then... I had a question about number nine. It says that this $100,000 would be used towards the annual subscription. What is that? I mean, it's only partial. What's the annual subscription?

Chief Fred? Did I miss that? We've already approved that contract. This is stating that we've received a grant in telling you where a portion of those dollars would go.

Oh, okay.

You've approved that maybe four months ago-ish? Yes.

Okay, and so, yes, so how, can I still know what the full payment is?

yeah we can get you the number i i don't know if i don't have it off the top of my head but um yeah all right but we can absolutely we'll send you back the staff memo from that evening that i'll outline all of the costs okay all right thank you thank you

Alderman Bonney. Thank you. Sorry to go back to number one again, but I believe Alderman Prenti, in the meeting that we had, also you had cited a possible location in your ward, in the sixth ward, and there seemed to be some lack of clarity by the library leaders about whether there had been... Definitive conversations with the school district about the transportation their transportation facility and Christina Street, which you know is quite large and we're only talking about three three lot housing three library vehicles and to me again it comes down to Miracle mile are the invested? business owners in this stretch of State Street and And they are opposed to it. The alderman for the ward is opposed to it. I think that we're not listening to the people who are directly impacted, and that it just seems unfathomable that the library, that there are not other suitable locations across Rockford when we just got finished talking about all the vacancies. So I think we need to really look at who we're listening to here.

I can add that I can't speak, and I will not speak for Mr. Cortez and his administration staff. I can speak to previous director, Lynn Stainbrook. I actually connected them to Rockford Public Schools prior to her departure. And I know that they reached out. Because truthfully I had many of the same concerns that all of you did I didn't want to take a property off We looked at really long vacant properties and alderwoman Meeks area as that was after we looked at the city I believe the county the school district many of the public bodies I can't speak to if they've looked at and had discussions very recently But to answer I know they have had discussions with the school district in the past alderman frost

Thank you. And I appreciate, Your Honor, you mentioning all those different governmental entities that already don't pay tax. But the crux of this argument is really that if we're going to lose tax on this building, as all of Katrina pointed out, it doesn't matter what ward or where this particular garage barn is going to go, it's going to be off the tax rolls. It was mentioned about the bank building next door that's been vacant for a number of years. And I believe it was this council or some on the council that voted to approve putting a senior center in that building. Right next door. And if you all recall, there was some sort of glitch with the contract with that senior center. And it seems it's reared its head back on the agenda tonight, which I will definitely be voting no on. There are many people here that voted yes and had no strong opposition on putting that senior center in that vacant building. Just one last thing. The fact that Alderman of the 14th Ward brought up how dilapidated this building is, that's why it's not selling. Who's going to put 900 grand into a building listed for 300 grand? So you have $1.2 million for a five garage building with 100 square foot of space in it. So that's why it's sitting empty, and that's why there's no offers on it, because nobody wants the building, because no one's going to put the money into it. At least we have someone, I know it's not to get back on the tax rolls, but it's going to vastly improve this building and this site, because it's going to be fixed up. So I mean again that that's those are my complete reasons for voting. Yes. Thank you Thank you.

The only thing I would correct alderman frost Date you were correct. They did ultimately end up the senior center looked at that building and others the one that this council approved Was a large space on State Street just a several box up other Questions and concerns on the nine items before us alderman Bell I

Never mind.

OK. Other discussion on the nine items? Alderman Salgado.

Yeah, just real quick, Mr. Cagnoni. Can you help us understand how the Rockford Public Library operates? They're coming before us as a Approval for this purchase of this property are they in an independent body to make they have their own board that makes decisions look at financially whether they have the means to Finance this and so forth. I just want to get an understanding of that because I think Alderman frost I think hit it in the nail. I think we're overreaching here from my perspective I do understand that there's frustration or that you know it's a not-for-profit governmental site that is not going to pay taxes on it from that perspective so I just wanted to see if you could maybe give us a quick summary of how that operates and why it's before us and you know from that perspective.

Mr. Cagnone.

Should I just directly defer to the legal director? There's a state statute that would be better discussed or explained by our legal director. I'm familiar with it, but I'll defer to her.

Thank You mayor the Illinois local library act requires that the library board bring approval of this land acquisition before the corporate authorities for approval and the board the library board has already approved the financing and purchase price and so forth and it's attached in the packet

Thank you.

Alderman Bell. Thank you. And it was, I think, referenced that we're maybe not listening to the people. Can you clarify, maybe, Mr. Cagnoni, of that board? That board consists of who? The library board. Mr. Cagnoni.

So the library board is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by city council and residents of the city of Rockford.

Thank you.

Thank you. Other discussion? Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. Aye. Logeman.

Aye.

Thunberg. Aye. Frost. Aye. Tarina.

Aye.

Frunty.

No on one. And aye on the rest.

Neal.

No on one. Aye on the rest.

Hoffman.

No on one.

Aye on the rest.

Granith. Beach?

No 1, 1. I am the Roach.

Salgado? Aye. Meeks?

No 1. No 1, 9. I am the Roach.

There was no 1, 9? Yes, Meeks. Thank you. Bell?

Aye.

Bonnie? Number 1, 9 ayes, 5 noes. Items 2 through 8, 14 ayes. Item number 9, 13 ayes, 1 noe.

Thank you. Next, we have an item under city council. And I'll direct that to Alderman Durkee.

ALDERMAN DURKEY, Thank you, Your Honor. Under Roman numeral IX, I'm sorry, 11D, I move that the Code and Regulations Committee be discharged from further consideration of the committee report, I think the report number is 2600958, approving a moratorium on data centers and directing city staff to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of best practices for regulating the development, expansion, and operation of data centers within the city of Rockford. Please set up.

Thank you. We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Clerk, Alderman Bell.

Thank you. Can you clarify what the motion second? We're voting on his amendment, correct? Yes. OK, thank you.

Yes. Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Durkee.

Aye.

Logman. Aye. Tunberg.

Aye.

Tarina. Aye. Prunty.

Aye.

Neal.

Aye.

Hoffman. Aye. Granite. Aye. Beach. No Eleven eyes one. No.

Thank you. Next we'll go to new committee reports. I'll go back to alderman Durkee Thank Your Honor.

Then I move the motion to discharge the committee from further consideration of committee report number 20 26 0 9 0 2 Although in our crib sheet, it's 00958. So it's probably an old, right? So.

Director Hammer.

Thank you, Your Honor. The item up for motion now is the actual committee report. Okay. So it is the 902 item. Thank you.

26-0 0 9 0 2 be adopted Thank you, we have a One item before us.

Is there any discussion on that one item?

alderman belt Thank You mayor I'd love to hear from the second award all the men as to Maybe his reasoning for bringing this forward two to four weeks ago Thank you

Alderman Lokman.

Yeah. I'm a believer in incrementalism. I don't know that that's too popular of a position these days. But I think all these discussions that we've had among us and with city staff, between the mayor and myself and the administrator and myself, Also alderman with city staff You know, we're I think we're trying to build kind of a comprehensive policy to address data centers, and I know we hear it all the time from constituents, so That was kind of the genesis of the proposal going forward and I think having directing city staff to move forward with best practices and a temporary moratorium and It's a good incrementalist policy as we try to develop policies as far as a city, because I know that, you know, I'm sure all of us keep hearing from our residents about this very important issue that's confronting our city. So that was a little bit of the genesis of that. Mayor, thank you.

Thank you. Alderman Bell?

Thank you to the second ward alderman for sharing with us. I voted no on the discharge, the motion to discharge the Code and Regulation Committee. Second ward alderman chairs that committee. When this was first brought up, unfortunately, it was absent. So we didn't have a second. I'm assuming as he proposed this, He probably would have been the second. We could have had discussion and moved it forward procedurally how we normally do. This is at least my first time seeing that there was a motion to discharge a committee from their actions or normal procedures. I know that this is still ethical or legal. But just wanted it to make clear that I voted no because I believe that this should be a committee level discussion But I'll leave you right there. Thank you.

Thank you other reports alderman Logan.

Yeah, I think thank you mayor I think you know, it's important to if we pass this, you know, any one of us can To it or take from it, but I think this is just like a good base level policy as this certain discussion is going to continue and Yeah, I just I see this as a team effort among city staff Mayor's office all the aldermen to kind of drive this policy discussion as well. Thank you mayor. I

Alderman Durkee. Thank you, Your Honor. The reason why I made this motion is quite simply a lot of what you're hearing before the council from public, Facebook, is actually old information. It's like trying to assess a 1962 exhaust system in a 2026 car. The technology over data centers and how they're working is evolving. Currently, there's chip level cooling, rack level cooling. They are using closed loop cooling with dielectric fluids that have low boiling point and thus lower condensation points to cool them. The noise levels that you're hearing, they don't exist. Elk Grove Village, where I grew up, is working on 20 of them. You can drive in front of any of them, roll down your window, and try hearing them. So the cooling technology, the noise technology, the energy use won't go away. But all these technologies that have been in question, they're moving parts. Microsoft, two weeks ago in Wall Street Journal, indicated that they were coming up with a pure air-cooled chip. So they don't want to spend a lot of money on water. They don't want to spend a lot of money on power. They're in business to make money, not to lose it on expenses that they can control. So the reason I supported Alderman Logerman's motion is that, so that city staff and others can look through the evolving technology and develop policies that are best practices. To come up with something now, an ordinance now, to restrict certain parameters makes no sense, because the technology that will be here in a year may be vastly different. It is already evolving. So I think it's important that we take a look and see what the industry is doing, get some ideas, and then craft how we'll approach it. There's no hurry. to come up with an ordinance for restricting the use. Thank you, Your Honor.

CHRIS MARTINEZ- Further discussion? Alderman Bell. ALDERMAN BELL.

Thank you. There's going to be two things, and we may need to take a vote. I didn't see a time frame, so I'll make a motion to amend to include the moratorium for 180 days from tonight's vote. to include the moratorium to last 180 days. There's a motion. And really quick, and if this is out of procedure, I understand.

If you give me, I'm sorry, you ask your second motion.

Yep, I just want to say, when I was doing some research, Aurora also had a 180-day moratorium. So that's why I brought that number forward. Thank you.

Mr. Cagnoni? Or Director? No, not you, Mr. Cagnoni. Director Hammer.

Thank you, Your Honor. The draft before City Council for consideration does include a moratorium effective for 180 days.

Perfect. Thank you. And then my other thing, sorry. I'd also like to make a motion to amend to include, if possible, a standing agenda item on the Community Relations Commission to allow the public to share feedback once this is brought forward. So once the moratorium is done, the information, instead of going to city council immediately, it would go to Community Relations Commission to have a public hearing or to allow for the public to have feedback.

So we have a motion. I'm repeating it so I can make sure I'm getting what you're saying. I think Director Hammer's probably writing it down as I say it. 180 days it's in there would like when the 180 days is complete and Best practices things of that nature From this item are completed You would like that to go to Community Relations Commission for a period of 30 days so that The Community Relations Commission can invite the publican to have comment on Findings of Item 1 correct and then it would be released to City Council.

Correct.

Is that accurate? Correct We have a motion we have a second we got a lot of hands up so we have a motion we have a second I'm gonna go just around the horn Alderman Durkee This has to be cribbed or no Director Hammer, would that amendment need to be correct?

Yes, it would need to be in writing.

Okay, so just understand, thank you for that. Understand if Alderman Bell wanted to bring forward that item, could he do it at Monday's committee meeting, or would it go directly to council? How would that work?

I'm not following your question. I'm sorry.

So he would like to amend it. Can't do it. If he would like to do that, could he bring it forward to a committee on this Monday if he provides staff the information by Wednesday or Thursday so that you would have enough time to crib up an item for committee?

Yes, we could treat that as a petition and a referral for next Monday's committee meeting, if that is acceptable to Alderman Bell.

Alderman Bell?

Yeah. Thank you. We could do that, or we could move this item to the end of the meeting and move forward and allow for our legal director to maybe print that up for everybody. Is that possible? Sure.

So we have one item before us. I need to ask you all permission to move that item to the end. We would literally be taking that vote twice at the end if you look. Do I have anyone who would object to us moving it to the end so that you can have that end rate? Are you objecting or are you asking a question?

Okay, let me ask alderman Toomberg's clarification then I'll go to alderman Bonnie Reading the second word Alderman's proposal I and I don't have it in front of me. Could you confirm or clarify if it was for 180 days or up to 180 days One moment, let me pull it up here.

I Sorry, if you can just bear with me so I make sure I get the right.

Mr. Cagnoni may have it.

The timeline reads, staff shall present its findings and recommendations to the city council within 180 days of adoption of this ordinance. Or as such, additional time as may be authorized by the city council.

OK. So we have the administration shall produce that within 180 days.

or council asking for allowing additional time.

OK. And from what I understand, the 13th ward alderman is recommending a 180-day moratorium just for himself?

The moratorium's in the document. And I don't want to be speaking for you, so please. Alderman Bell.

Thanks. I'm in agreement with the Second Ward Alderman's proposal for the 180 days. The only amendment that I'd like to include is for the findings to go directly to the Community Relations Commission and not directly to City Council, allowing for the community to have a community feedback session. Instead of another public hearing here at council, we can send it to the body that we've appointed to give more time for our community to have conversations.

OK. Alderman Bonney, you also had a clarifying question. Correct.

So whatever recommendations might come from staff to the council. Would the request be for the council to approve referring it as a text amendment back to ZBA, as we often do? And if so, then public comment could occur at ZBA.

Mr. Cagnoni? So let me take a step back a little bit just so there's not confusion. There's two specific provisions within the ordinance that are relative to the time frame and the moratorium. one is the timeline that i previously read related to the 180 days of adoption of this ordinance we should bring our findings and recommendations to city council in addition there's second section eight which is the temporary moratorium which is established for six months from the effective date of this or ordinance so those are the two timeline provisions directly stated within the ordinance just for for clarity purposes I would anticipate that the recommendations coming forward from staff could be a host of different items, which could include amendments to the Code of Ordinances, the zoning ordinances, as well as the building codes, which all have different public processes required by state statute or other state rules. And many of those are going to have to be approved would include public hearings related to amendments but not all of them if it was the intent of City Council to have additional public meetings of some sort prior to us bringing our recommendations forward I think that would be identified in scope of evaluation, where you would have some sort of amendment that reflects going to the Community Relations Committee if that was the intent of what is being stated.

So the public hearings that may be required for certain parts of staff recommendations based on state law would be the types of public hearings that we have here at council?

No, so let's let's say that we staff brings forward a number of recommendations and we present those to you. I would anticipate then the next step is that City Council would say I generally concur or I generally don't concur with your recommendations. If you concur, then you would direct staff to go through the appropriate processes to change the ordinance. So I would see this being a multi-step process to getting to the end. And when we reviewed other communities, that is similar to what they have done. Certainly, they all haven't done that. I mean, there's probably no less than six counties and 10 municipalities that have moratoriums of some sort or process.

I guess, I'm sorry. You're good. But the likelihood that much of this will end up being referred to ZVA as a text amendment change then to come back to council is high?

I would say it's... I think understanding the intent of evaluating best practices, you're going to specifically identify data centers and the regulations for them, which would include the zoning ordinance. So I would anticipate there will be amendments to the zoning ordinance related to data centers directly.

So I mean, then this would get to debate of Alderman Bell's proposed amendment. But I think the more appropriate place for the public debate to occur and for, Any recommendation to counsel would be from the ZBA and not the Community Relations Commission since they deal with I mean, they're here to advise us on Zoning items and they are appointed to that commission because they have some sort of expertise as opposed to the Community Relations Commission, which doesn't Thank you So

I, Alderman, and before I get to Alderman Frunty, right now I have been asking if there's anyone who objects to me holding this item. until we get through items A and B and C under Roman numeral 12. That will allow time for staff that's going right now to the printer to bring up this amendment. Then we can debate this amendment all over again. Is there anyone who would object to that? Are you objecting to it? First, is there anyone who objects to that? Thank you. Alderman Bell.

Thank you. I think it's been a common theme, at least since I've been on council, to, I think, underutilize the Community Relations Commission, and maybe that's for the next administration or mayor to decide whether or not we're going to keep it, or maybe this council... But at this point, I think Alderman Bonney has a point that there will be additional public comment opportunities. Should I see a fit that we need to maybe bring forth a petition? Sorry, Director Hammer, I may have made you do some extra work there. I'm going to withdraw my amendment and we can bring this back at a later date Should I see fit the Community Relations Commission needing to be a part of this process?

You're withdrawing and I believe all the woman Trina. Will you withdraw yours? Thank you. Okay.

Whoo.

All right somewhere We have one item before us. Is there any further discussion on the one? Please call the roll

Next we're going to go to new business. We'll go to Planning and Development Committee Alderwoman Neal.

Thank you, Your Honor. Item 1 is an ordinance approving the funding agreement with Goodwill in partnership with IBEW Local 364 with the Electrical Workers' Trades Program to better prepare individuals for IBEW application process in the amount of $85,172. The funding source is casino funds.

Thank you. Counsel, we have one item before us. Is there any discussion on that one item? Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. No. Logerman. Aye. Toomberg?

No.

Frost? No. Tarina? Aye. Prunty? No. Neal? Aye. Hoffman? Aye. Granite? Aye. Beach?

No.

Salgado?

Aye.

Meeks? No.

bell hi bonnie hi eight eyes six notes next we're going to go to code in regulation committee alderman logan mayor we have nine items in front of us item number one in the ordinance establishing a restriction requirement of traffic on calderwood drive be required to stop prior to entering the intersection of palo verde drive thus repealing the existing traffic control public drive dealer for palo verde drive item number two an ordinance approving a special use permit for six residential units on the ground floor in a C4 urban mixed use zoning district at 134 North Main Street. Item number three, an ordinance approving a special use permit for residential units on the ground floor in a C4 urban mixed use zoning district on 325 South Madison Street. Item number four, an ordinance approving a special use permit for body art services in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 210 North Longwood Street. Item number five, an ordinance approving a special use permit for a planned mixed-use development consisting of 10 apartments, a restaurant, and a banquet hall in an R2 two-family residential zoning district at 219 South 2nd Street. Item number six, an ordinance approving a special use permit for body art services in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 1010 East State Street. Item number seven, an ordinance approving a zoning map amendment from R1 single family residential zoning district to C3 general commercial zoning district at 3218 11th Street. Item number eight, an ordinance approving the following text amendments to the city of Rockford zoning ordinances. A. Table 20-1. B. Article 20-005. C. Article 20-005-D. D. Table 21-1. E. Article 30. F. Article 35. G. Article 50-003. H. Article 50-016 and 80-003. I, continuance of a non-conforming usage. And finally, item nine, an ordinance approving a modification of an existing liquor license to add packaged liquor sales in conjunction with a restaurant at a C3 general commercial zoning district at 1603 North Alpine Road. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you. Alderman Lockeman, sorry for that big pause I gave you. So we have nine items before you. Understanding, in a previous section of council, Alderman Frost made an amendment from a denial to an approval. That item is not on here. I'd like to move forward with the items that we have on here, and at the very next meeting, or we may have to have a special meeting, I'd like to get that other item approved. I just want you to be aware of it.

That's why you don't see it in this list, okay?

So we have night items before us. Is there any discussion on those nine items? We have one alderman in the audience. Anything? So any discussion on the nine items before us from any council members inside the chamber? None? Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. Aye. Moggeman. Aye. Toonberg.

Aye.

Frost. Aye. Tarina? Aye. Frunty? Aye. Neal?

Aye.

Hoffman? Aye. Granite? Aye. Beach?

No, 9-9.

Salgado?

Aye.

Meeks? Aye. Bell?

Aye.

Bonney?

Aye.

Items 1 through 5, 14 ayes. Item 6, 13 ayes. 7 and 8, 14 ayes. Item 9, 13 ayes. 1 no.

Thank you. We're going to go to Finance and Personnel Committee and Alderman Frost.

Thank you. Number one is an ordinance approving the slant interagency agreement. And number two is an ordinance authorizing the city to utilize funds from the public water supply loan program at the Illinois EPA in application of loan for lead service line replacements. I place these two matters before you.

Thank you. Council, two items before us. Any discussion on those two items? Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee.

Aye.

Logeman. Aye. Thunberg.

Aye.

Frost. Aye. Tarina. Aye. Prunty. Aye. Neal.

Aye. Hoffman. Aye.

Granite. Aye. Beach. Aye. Salgado. Aye. Meeks. Aye. Bell. Aye. Bonney. Aye. 14 ayes.

Thank you. Alderman Durkee.

Under Roman numeral D1, the board is approving a moratorium on data centers and directing the city administrator and designees to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of best practices for regulating the development, expansion, and operation of data centers within the city of Rockford. Place that for passage.

Thank you. Council, one item before us. Is there any discussion? Clerk, please call the roll.

Third piece. Aye. Logan. Aye. Thunberg. Aye. Ross. Aye. Tarina. Aye. Prenti. Aye. Neal.

Aye.

Hoffman. Aye. Granite. Aye. Beach. Aye. Salgado. Aye. Meeks.

Aye.

Bell. Aye. Bonney. Aye. 14-9.

Excellent. And I wanted to stay and just talk. We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion. All those in favor of adjourning, say aye. Aye. Those opposed, have a great night.