City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. We will call to order the city of Rockford's regularly scheduled city council meeting for Monday, August 17th, 2026. This evening, older woman, Trina, would you be willing to provide us with an invocation?

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this evening. We thank you for every individual in this room. And we thank you for the privilege it is to serve our city. We just ask that for your wisdom tonight in our decision making. We ask for your protection and your loving angels around our city and our first responders. And again, we just ask for your wisdom tonight as we make decisions that move our city in a positive direction. We ask all these things in your name, God. Amen.

Amen.

but it relates to the flag light 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?

Logeman. Here. Frost.

Here.

Tarina. Here. Hoffman.

Here.

Granite. Here. Beach. Here. Salgado. Bell? Present. Bonnie? Here. Nine present.

Excellent. We have a quorum this evening. We have no proclamations this evening, so we'll move right into public hearing. I'm going to hand this over to Alderman Logeman, who will chair the public hearing on the annexation of 14XX Export Road, 34XX Export Road, and 36XX Prairie Road. Alderman Logeman.

Public hearing is being held tonight pursuant to 65 Illinois compiled statutes 5-7-1-1, 7-1-8, and 5-11-15.1-3 for the agreement to annex the following property, 14XX Export Road, 34XX Export Road, 36XX Prairie Road. Notice of this hearing was given by publication in the Rockford Register Star on July 30th, 2026. That notice informs citizens of Rockford that the Rockford City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 17th, 2026 at 5.30 p.m. in council chambers on the second floor at Rockford City Hall located at 425 East 8th Street. for the consideration of a proposed annexation agreement for 14XX Export Road, 34XX Export Road, 36XX Prairie Road. Comments must be specific to the purpose of the hearing. Comments regarding a data center are not related to the purpose of the hearing. Comments should be specific to the intended use of the property which relates to a solar farm. Are there any comments or questions from council members on the annexation? Are there any other questions or comments from the public? Seeing none, Mr. Mayor, I close the public hearing.

Thank you. Next, we're going to move to petitions and communications. We'll go to Planning and Development Committee and Alderwoman Granite.

A memorandum from Andrea Heinrichs, Housing and Program Manager, regarding the authorization to designate Sarah Lays as Certifying Officer for Environmental Reviews submitted to HUD, referred to Planning and Development Committee.

Thank you. Next, we're going to go to Code and Regulation Committee and Alderman Logeman.

Thank you, Mayor. We have several items in front of us for petitions and communications. Item number one, Zoning Board of Appeals agenda for the meeting to be held on August 18, 2026. And minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee on August 24, 2026. Refer to Code and Regulation Committee. Item number two, Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's agenda for the meeting to be held on August 18th, 2026, and minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation meeting on August 24th, 2026. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. Item number three, memorandum from Scott Capovilla, Planning and Zoning Manager, regarding the Platte number two of Hopkins subdivision. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. Item number four, memorandum from Scott Capovilla, Planning and Zoning Manager, regarding the Platte number five, of Hickory Crest Subdivision, referred to Code and Regulation Committee. Item number five, memorandum from Scott Capavilla, Planning and Zoning Manager, regarding the final plat of Culver's 11th Street Subdivision, referred to Code and Regulation Committee. Item number six, memorandum from Martin Bloom, Project Manager, Permits and Special Events, regarding the upcoming special events, which include the Labor Day Parade and the Boylan Homecoming Parade, referred to Code and Regulation Committee. And finally, item number seven, memorandum from Anthony Cisneros, assistant city attorney regarding the annexation of 2010 New Milford School Road, referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

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

All these mayors will refer to the Finance and Personnel Committee. Number one is a memorandum from Timothy Hinkins regarding an MOU with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the Rockville Complete Street revitalization. Number two is a memorandum from Sarah Lays regarding a rebate to the Rockville Area Arts Council for property taxes paid for the armory located at 605 North Main Street. Number three is a memorandum from Owen Carter regarding the acceptance of two grant awards from the continuum of care fiscal year 2025. Number four is a memorandum from Joshua Versailles regarding the transfer of city-owned property located at 638 Whitman Street to the City Moda Owned Program. Number five is a memorandum from Owen Carter regarding the approval and acceptance of the Family Crisis Grant Award from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. And number six is a memorandum from Timothy Hinkins Regarding a city-state intergovernmental agreement for 15th Avenue over Rock River Bridge replacement.

Thank you Thank You alderman Next we're gonna move to our public speakers if you give me one second I Next, we're going to move to our public speakers. 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 close of your three minutes, I will ask that you close your comments. Our first public speaker this evening is Denzel Winter.

Good afternoon, city council. My name is Denzel Winter. I live on the west side over by Auburn High School, the middle school over there, and there's a grade school over there. On the same side that the school is on, once you get past School Street, there's no sidewalks over there. I think I brought this up before. And I'm trying to find out. what can be done to put sidewalks over there because the kids are walking out in the street. And what is it going to take for us to keep a child from getting ran over? That shouldn't have to be a big worry for anybody's child. And if you ever lost a child, you understand where I'm coming from. But we need to find out what is it going to take for us to get sidewalks put over there so the kids don't have to walk in the street. Because I wouldn't want anybody's child to get ran over or killed or paralyzed because they have to walk in the street. We need to find out what we need to do. And it might sound like I'm fussing, but I'm going to fuss until I find out what's going on. Because this is getting ridiculous. School has started. They started school early this year. And people are not paying attention. You got people flying up and down these roads like they don't know there's a school right there. There's three schools right there. And then if you go back a little farther away, there's another fourth school, Galapagos. But all of them, Galapagos has got sidewalks on both sides. We should have sidewalks on both sides where the kids are over there by Auburn High School and the little grade school and the middle school. Because like I said, We shouldn't have to worry about kids walking in the street, especially in the wintertime. Because in the wintertime, we all know people don't take precautions. They act like they're riding on a dry road, and they know it's slick out there. And then the first thing they say when they hit somebody, well, I didn't see him, or he was in the road. Don't the pedestrian have the right of way? I'll leave you with that question.

Thank you. Our next public speaker this evening is John Tack Brantley.

Good evening there, our audience, our citizens of Rockford, Illinois. I've been on the campaign ever since I've been coming to City Hall and I heard from the neighbors about they want to put a data center out there at Camp Grant. I've been on a mission. We are not going to allow them to put a data center at Camp Grant. I had been to the The Winnebago County Veteran Board meeting, they are 100% behind us building a monument at the roundabout at Camp Grant and the one at Edwards Park, with the Park District spearheading this, and also the Park District going to use their finance office to help raise the funds. As far as raising the funds, that's not no big concern for us, considering the fact that Camp Grant was the third largest military base in the United States. And also, a lot of factories came through Camp Grant. And if we look at Woodworth Governor, and look at, I still call it Sunstrand, both of them are military contractors, with the military government. And then we got the Catholic diocese, the Lutheran diocese. We also gonna utilize the library where middle school, high school, elementary school kids are gonna be the ones that's gonna do the drawing for Camp Grant. I'm also gonna get in touch with your sister at the art museum to get them to be a part of it, where we gonna have the best drawing. That's the drawing we gonna use to have a monument at the roundabout and a monument at Edwards Park. I got Project First Rate. They already on board with talking with Ron Kluwer. Ron Kluwer is the real estate, and he also was over at Gordland. He on board. Talked with the Mary and Genevieve. They on board. Talking with the Buffalo Riders. They on board. I just got you talking with... Alderman Jonathan, and whether he's a veteran and he's also at Auburn High School, the reason why Alexander the Great was so great, because he surrounded himself with great generals. And that's what Brother John is doing with coordinating this here for this here Camp Grant. We're looking at doing this here And February, the month of February, is when we're going to have the art contest. What better way to educate our youth than by them doing the drawing and learning about the Camp Grant? Orton Keyes, Blackhawk, Park Terrace was also housed before they was called that. That's where over 6,000 workers that worked at Camp Grant. They also was the workers that worked over We had a POW. We had 200,500 POWs out at Camp Grant. The POWs and the whites, they got treated better than our Buffalo soldiers at Camp Grant. Jim Crow law was alive and well back then.

Thank you, Mr. Brantley.

And Jim Crow law is still alive and well today. Thank you.

Our next public speaker this evening is Larry Washington.

All right. Um, we should have kept, we could have kept that prayer out of here. Okay. Cause, uh, Ms. Tarina has, I live in her ward and I'd say that's one of the worst looking wards in this city. Mayor was on television early last month, sometime says he's all about the community, all about the people making them happy. This is what he says. But those people on the bus are getting treated like dirt. I'm going to tell you a couple of stories. I told these years ago, but this is what happened to me on the bus. So one day, I'm waiting for the bus. The bus pulls past me. I go, get on the bus, past the bus stop. I says, well, you know, the other driver stopped back there, right? So I get on the bus, sit down, right? She had to get up the bus. They had called her about something to look for something. So she goes back. On her way back to the front, she says, you're always doing this and you're always doing this and you're always doing that. They have a person come down to Rockford Mass Transit every year and say, there is no reason whatsoever for you to not be professional.

Now guess what happens?

I'm just sitting there listening to this lady say this to me. I get suspended for three days off of that bus. This is the kind of stuff that's going on down there. Oh, they didn't stop at a warning, which there shouldn't have been a warning, because I'm just sitting there listening to her just yell at me away. But this is what Judson McGovern does, okay? Now, my understanding is You aldermen pick the executive board down there, and the executive board chooses who the executive director is down there. And I will repeat, as Alderman McNeely told me, nothing's going to change Larry until those top five people go, and the entire executive board needs to go. So here's another thing they accused me of. The security guards, I walk out of the bathroom, all right, and the security looks down, and says, you're exposing yourself. I just had my zipper down, okay? Not only that, I had sweats underneath my pants, okay?

I says, let's go look at the video.

Do you think they let me look at that video? Of course they didn't, because they knew he was lying. Just like they wouldn't let me look at that video when that driver said, you're doing this, and you're doing that, and you're doing this, because they know they lied and they suspended me for no reason. Now, when are you going to do your jobs, Alderman?

Thank you, Mr. Washington. Thank you. Our next public speaker this evening is Kirk Weitzel.

Hello, Mayor and City Council. Thank you for listening to me. My name is Kirk Whitesell. I'm the owner, partner, and agent of Rock Hospitality. We're the largest hotel group in Rockford. We're represented by Holiday Inn, State Bridge, Baymont, and Holiday Inn Express. I have over 120 employees in this area. My family has worked in Rockford for over 50 years. We have 484 total rooms in Winnebago County. I stand here, I can't believe I'm asking for this, but I'm asking you to approve the TED for Rockford. There's a real need, there's an absolute need for increased funding for supporting events, marketing, and bidding incentives. So I'm asking you please to approve this. Let's see. That's it. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Our next public speaker this evening is Bianca Sanders.

Good evening, mayor and city council members. Thank you for hearing me out today. I'm the general manager of Riverview Inn and Suites, and I am here to ask for your support in moving forward with the Rockford TID. I think I have a unique perspective on the situation, because I am not originally from Rockford. I am a transplant. But watching what Go Rockford and the city has done to invest in us has been incredible just in the short six years that I've been here. And this feels like the logical next step for us. I have the pleasure of working under a management company that initiated a TID in Chicago. and seeing the immediate impact that it has on the funding abilities and the control of the funding going directly to the hotels allows us to kind of continue to grow and continue to move forward. Thank you for all of the investment into Rockford so far, and please do vote yes for the TID. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, we are going to go to 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 three items. Item number one, the committee recommends approval of the request for the annexation of 14XX Export Road, 34XX Export Road, and 36XX Prairie Road. The owner of the subject property has requested annexation to the city of Rockford. If approved, the owner agrees to obtain a special use permit for a solar farm. Item number two. When he recommends approval of the annexation agreement for 14 xx export Road 34 xx export Road and 36 xx Prairie Road Item number three committee recommends approval of the proposed landmark designation for the property located at 1202 Eddie Avenue.

Thank you, Mary Thank you council. We have three items before us any discussion on those three items Clerk will you please call the roll?

No on three items one and two

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

If you're on number one, the committee recommends approval of vouchers in the amount of $12,305,598.22 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on August 10, 2026. Thank you.

Thank you. Council, any discussion or questions on the one item before you? Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. Aye. Logeman. Aye. Thunberg.

Aye.

Frost. Aye. Tarina. Aye. Hoffman? Aye. Granite? Aye. Beach? Aye. Salgado?

Aye.

Bell? Aye. Bonney? Aye. 11 ayes.

Thank you. Next, we will move to officers' reports. Couple of quick items. One is there is an open house at the mosque on Sunday from 12 to 3 PM. Also, we had two speakers, one touching on sidewalks over near McIntosh, Kennedy, and Auburn. And I am guessing Alderman Bell ran out and told him personally that those sidewalks are being done this construction season, just so you're aware. And then the second, we had a speaker last several times uh discussing camp grant stating that camp grant i believe if i'm understanding the speaker correctly that camp grant uh that the it's somehow either contiguous or inside uh the land that is under contract for mon or by monarch That is not accurate. It is a ways away from that property. But just if you're keeping score, that is not the case. Any council members have reports? Alderwoman Tarina. you your honor since you were talking on the public speaker does this body control the RMTD board can you verify that for me so we I have the opportunity to appoint individuals to that board this body approves those individuals that is the extent of our our role in that we have lots of discussions obviously with director stubby who is hired by their board Yes.

Okay, thanks.

Any other reports? Alderman Granath.

I would like to say thank you to Chief Tayo and you, Mayor, and Officer Diego and Officer Parker and Director Sanders for coming to the board meeting last week. It was informative. And the next one is set for December 3rd.

Thank you. Alderwoman Hoffman.

Thank you, Mayor. Many of you read in the newspaper lately that there is a problem at the Winnebago County Veterans Center, and there's a lot of questions about what's going on. I'm just going to tell folks that the VA Center on Featherstone, the medical center, has walk-in hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays for people that want to file for disability or increase disability or have other questions. You do not need to make an appointment. It is first come, first serve. a program out at the McChesney Park, Illinois National Armory, but there you do have to make an appointment and you can do so by just calling the armory and they'll give you the information. So we didn't leave our vets high and dry. We have places for them to go that can help them get the benefits they deserve. That said, I'm going to say again, and I've said many times, you are the best doggone mayor that the eighth ward has ever had. You are the only one who has ever given us any attention. Lindbergh, Glendale, they guessed that it was somewhere between 30 and 50 years before the streets were addressed there. You got them addressed. They didn't even have storm sewers or anything else. They flooded all the time. And thanks to you, there was a $400,000 project to fix that neighborhood and keep it from flooding. Broadway, after the murder of a young man, you saw to it that it was reconfigured and it stopped 46% of the accidents that were occurring on Broadway. Because the test showed that there were people doing 95 miles an hour during midday. And South Alpine. We're still working on that. Nobody thought it could get done. It was on the books for somewhere around 2040. And you got it started in 2021. And you increased it from, it was going to be Old Charles to the end of South Alpine, but you increased it to Larson all the way to South Alpine. so that the whole area, so we don't have two blocks that look terrible, and then the rest looks great. And I just want to say, again, thank you. And you are the, oh, and our flood plan. We were told to fix it ourselves, $16 million problem. And we were told to use our infrastructure money, which is only about $300,000 a year. And you gave us a flood plan. And so we thank you. And so the whole world now knows that you're the best mayor that the Eighth Ward ever had. We're going to miss you. Thank you.

RICK HUNTER- You're super kind. We have amazing staff who do all of the work. I'm just fortunate to be part of the team. Other reports? Not seeing any reports. I do want to say a number of members of Go Rockford team here. Davis Park, obviously under construction think it missed it almost the entire weekend but just amazing job for a free community event just want to say sincerely thank you to the go Rockford team to all the volunteers who participated really hope that that continues to be a fantastic event moving forward but just want to say I can't begin to think how much work goes into that but a lot of work goes into it it's appreciated thank you Next, we'll go to motions and resolutions. We'll go to planning and development. I believe Alderman Toonberg, or I'm sorry, Alderman Durkee is here.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Sorry, Chad.

Oh, I'm sorry. Under Roman numeral 8A, planning and development, the number 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 rental assistance for new or expanding businesses. The city will reimburse security deposits and 50% of rent for up to 12 months for a total funding level up to $20,000 per business. Program will have three hundred thousand dollars designated from the 2026 and 2027 Casino funds this was laid over from August 3rd number two committee recommends approval of the authorization for acceptance of the green infrastructure grant opportunities Program through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of six hundred thirteen thousand five hundred fifty one dollars to implement the Beverly flood I'm sorry, Beverly Park floodplain connection the city would match three hundred thirty three thousand three hundred and eighty four dollars of local CIP funds and Number three, committee recommends approval of the authorization for acceptance to utilize an allotment of region one planning council's surface transportation block grant funds received from the Federal Highway Administration in the amount of $4,349,410 for physical year, to implement the Harrison Avenue reconstruction project. The city will match $4 million and will continue to seek STGB and other federal grants to make up the gap by fiscal year 2028. This funding source is the motor fuel tax. Lastly, number four, committee recommends approval of the authorization for acceptance to utilize an allotment of regional one planning councils transportation alternative program funds received from the Federal Highway Administration in the amount of one million two hundred seventy one thousand sixty six dollars for federal fiscal year 2028 to implement the high crest multi-use path project this grant is in addition to the three million dollar grant received from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program for the same project, the city's match of $317,767 will come from the motor fuel tax funds.

These are up for passage, Your Honor. Thank you, Alderman Durkee. Counsel, we have four items before us. Is there any discussion on those four items? Alderman Frost.

With respect to number one, Your Honor, I'm going to be voting no on this project because for a couple reasons. One is based upon what we heard last time with respect to the balance in our casino fund. If we do this, it will be reduced to a paltry amount. We don't know how and if we'd have to use that in the future. And this says it covers 2026 and 2027 casino funds. Secondly, from a business perspective, paying the full security deposit of a business, I just don't know how viable that business is going to be going forward if they can't pay their security deposit, let alone pay half the rent. I also don't know of a list that the city has received of specific businesses that are beating down our door to fill in these blighted areas and saying that, frankly, that if there was a rent reduction, that I'm really going to come and open up my business. So for all those reasons. Oh, and one more. I believe it was talked about that there was going to be an amendment. after the discussions on August 3rd, to bring this amount down to $150,000, and I don't see any amendment. So for all those reasons, I'll be voting no on this. Thank you.

Thank you. Alderwoman Trina?

Thank you. I will also be voting no for number one. A lot of the same reasons. I wasn't... The evidence that I was looking for, that there was truly a need for this, I don't think it was really provided. The other thing is too, specifically looking at my ward, what I know is that I don't think this is going to be sufficient to bring some of these empty storefronts. operation because so many of them have been blighted for Quite some time and I think that there would be additional dollars needed just to update the spaces alone So I don't think that this would even necessarily work for the storefronts that I need filled So for those reasons, I will also be going to know for number one.

Thank you alderman Bell and then alderman Bonnie Thank You mayor I would say from First off, thank you to city staff for all of the work that you guys have done on this. In talking with several of the partners, I've been, I think, an advocate to not only support businesses, but also be intentional on the dollars that we do have and spending those wisely, as it was alluded to earlier, that we need to continue to Maybe not overspend. And I think 2026, 2027, I've had comments around supporting this for the 2026 allotment and cutting this in half. And it was suggested that if we did that, maybe going down to $160,000 to keep it consistent with the $20,000 per business. And so while there wasn't an amendment brought forth, I think, you know, with all of the transition going on, at least I'll speak for myself transparently in that I didn't have time to have these conversations with the administration to see if it was viable or not and to get the support to make that amendment prior to today. I'd also say If you look at wards across our community, I think from the rising costs in not only rent, but just in doing business, a program like this is needed. I think that we do need to support our small businesses, especially if we're trying to attract Tourism there's another item on here And not only to attract tourism and support the visitors but also the residents that we do have in providing an exceptional experience in our neighborhoods I Support this concept I have from the beginning. I wish that there was a little bit more time for me to make that amendment and so in my continuous efforts to support our small businesses i'll make a motion to lay this over so that we can bring forth an amendment that satisfies the desires of uh this council should i get a second and we move that layover forward with a majority vote there's a motion to lay over item a1 is there a second second okay we have a motion in a second is there any discussion on that layover

Alderman Thunberg.

Thank you, Mayor. I had a few comments on this program in one of the previous meetings. And I would encourage individuals to talk with Director Lise regarding this program and also inquire with the conversations that occurred with the sba and the rldc and some of their ideas with this program going forth i do appreciate the the motion or the $150,000 or 160 in your case alderman and I think this is something that yes takes a Takes another I would like to see this have have another look at by the alderman and As we go ahead and support our small businesses. Thank you

Thank you. We have a motion. We have a second. Alderman Bonney.

Thank you. So I guess I'd be opposed to the layover because I'm also opposed to the program. I don't understand this has already been laid over once so that the Proposed amendment could get made it didn't get made so I don't see a reason to lay it over us a second time as for the underlying program I agree with fourth and fifth Ward all their people and I in addition to the reasons they cited, and particularly the reason about how viable are businesses that need this kind of assistance, that they need rent assistance, security deposit assistance. That seems to me like a very shaky, shaky business proposition in the first place. Also, don't really love the idea that this is limited to businesses in Existing in areas of town that have existing business districts that sort of penalizes you if you're if you're if you're not if you happen to own a business who that is not one in one of those districts and And then it's also going back and looking at the information we were given. It's unclear to me. There was the idea that you, in addition to that, you have to work. with a small business resource center, and that that could open you up for additional funding. So it seems like you can apply for the same funding out of the same funding source more than once, but only if you're in one of these districts in the first place. But bigger than all that, to me, is the idea that we need We need to do this to address vacancies when, and this is just like, to me this is just like a fund to prop up landlords who are trying to collect too much money for these properties. If the market adjusted to meet these shaky business owners where they are, we wouldn't need assistance. But they don't want to adjust their rental rates to accommodate some of these businesses. I don't know why we should take casino funds to try to essentially help the landlords. So I'm opposed to the program and also to the motion to lay over.

Thank you. Any other discussion? Seeing no discussion, Alderman Bell.

Thanks, Mayor. I guess while I admitted to not being able to get to sending in a request for an amendment, I just want to ask staff, can we prepare that? Maybe your legal team or Mr. Cognoni, can we prepare that amendment for reducing the allocation from $300,000 to $160,000 and have that sent out to council ahead of time?

Are you saying then ahead of our next if it's if it if it passes?

Yes, we can.

Thank you Is there any other discussion? Clerk could you please call the roll on the layover for item a one turkey?

Logeman Tuber frost Terina Prenti?

Aye.

Hoffman?

Aye.

Granite?

Aye.

Beach?

No.

Salgado? Aye. Bell?

Aye.

Bonney?

No.

Seven ayes, five noes.

Thank you. Next, council, we have items two, three, and four before you. Is there any discussion on those items? Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Durkee. Aye. Logeman.

Aye.

Tunberg. Aye. Frost. Aye. Tarina. Aye. Prunty. Aye. Hoffman. Aye. Granite. Aye. Beach. Aye. Salgado. Aye. Bell? Aye. Bonney? Aye. 12 ayes.

Thank you. Next, we have nothing under code and regulation. We'll go to Finance and Personnel Committee, Alderman Frost.

Thank you. Number one, the committee recommends approval and award a bid for Rockford Fire Department Headquarters renovation to L&L Builders in the amount of $481,590. The contract duration is through February 2027. The funding source is the 2022 budget surplus funds. Number two the committee recommends approval and award of non-competitive contract for legal research services the West publishing in the annual amount of twenty nine thousand six hundred nine dollars and sixteen cents with a six percent increase of fees annually the Contract is three years the funding sources of legal department operating budget number three the committee recommends approval award of contract permit and code enforcement software to gov pilot in the amount of three hundred and five thousand three hundred and twenty dollars in year one and two hundred and twelve thousand dollars annually in years two and three it's a three-year contract with two possible one-year extension options and a five percent increase in fees during the extension years the funding source is the i.t and integration fund number four the committee recommends approval of award of engineering agreement for the state west parking deck 2027 maintenance repairs to walker consultants the amount of thirty seven thousand five hundred and ten dollars the contract is through december twenty twenty six the funding source is the parking fund operating budget Number five, the community recommends approval of the authorization of funding for concrete improvements at BMO Center in the amount of $1,152,116.20. The funding source is the redevelopment fund. Number six, the committee recommends approval of the resolution declaring intent to form the Rockford Regional Tourism and Improvement District, fixing the time and place of a public hearing and advancement. Number seven, the committee recommends approval and application award acceptance of the Illinois Department of Commerce Economic Opportunity State Designated Cultural District Grant award in the amount of $200,000. It does not require a cost match. The grant term is from May 1 of this year to April 30, 2028. Number eight, the committee recommends approval of a grant-funded subrecipient agreement with the Winnebago County Probation Department in an amount not to exceed $35,000. The agreement period is from August 1 of this year through December 31, 2026. Number nine, the committee recommends approval of a grant-funded subrecipient agreement with the Winnebago County State's Attorney's Office in an amount not to exceed $175,000. The agreement is from August 1 of this year through December 31, 2026. If approved, the grant boards will be utilized to hire a full-time victim service provider and allow the domestic violence assistance to oversee the needs of the grant program. I place these nine matters before you.

Thank you. Counsel, there's nine items before us. Is there any discussion on those nine items?

Alderman Durkee. Thank you, Your Honor. I said I wasn't, unfortunately, here last week. I can't goof enough. Well, parole is up, so I get to be here. In any event, I am in favor of the Rockford Regional Tourism Improvement District. I just had two particular questions to clarify. I know this is for the public hearing. However, the two questions are, what prohibits the hotels from doing this privately? Why does it have to be public? And secondly, we have Go Rockford. How is this different than what Go Rockford is doing? And if this is off agenda, I'm fine if we just, because I know this is for the public hearing. It is on our agenda.

We can answer those questions for you. Mr. Kagnoni.

thank you your honor so this is a private public partnership which is different than other relationships with go Rockford where we have a funding agreement directly with them as it relates to the tourism improvement district under the state statute it requires the private sector to come together petition the municipality to establish the tourism improvement district it requires them to work on a to adopt a work plan in regards to the spending of the funds that will be collected on the private side. On the public side, we have to agree as a local government, create the establishing ordinance, and collect the dollars to be distributed and spent under the work plan. They are required to report on an annual basis, if not more regularly, to the community so that we can see how the dollars are spent. very specific in regards to our private sector group working with their consultant. And we're fortunate to have Michael Jacobs from the Illinois Hotel Association here last week speaking on behalf of the Tourism Improvement District that this is an addition. The goal and requirement of this money is additional investment, not to take over expenses that are already being taken care of within the community, but to drive additional room nights to the benefit of all of us.

Did I get both your questions?

Did I get both your questions there?

No, what I ask, I have no problems with this, but what is precluding them from getting together as just a group of hotels and just doing this and contracting with another entity? Why? Is there something in law that says it has to come through the cities, the municipalities?

So in this sort of a double question there, so as it relates to the state statute, yes, it does have to go through a municipality, and it creates the accountability that can be reasonably enforced through a level of government. Could they create their own assessment independent of themselves and self-regulate? you know possibly so um but i think that the challenges and that that have been shared with us is just the accountability piece you know having the local government as a part of it it gives us the ability to step in and collect the dollars and enforce what's ultimately approved should it be approved and then just for clarity what is different what's remarkably different between this

tourism improvement district and their activities that's Vastly different than what go Rockford already does So this is for new business and this is going to be led by a board of hoteliers Who will decide how those dollars are being spent? So go Rockford now has a board that has some hoteliers on it but this will be specific to These dollars will be specifically steered or directed through this new board that is made up of all hoteliers. Thank you. Thank you. We have Alderwoman Tarina, then Alderman Bonnie.

Thank you. I plan to support moving forward this vote tonight for the public hearing. I do still am going to have some more questions at a later time. Just because a lot of the language that's being used, not only was it used here, but it was used in an email that I received. I can't remember who I received it from. I apologize. I don't remember the name. But the fact that the only person that would be incurring this compulsory levy, which is a.k.a. a tax, would just be people from out of town. And I started thinking about, I use hotels here myself, and Rockfordians do use hotels. We have individuals with nonprofits that use them all the time. We have people who use conferences and do hotel room blocks and have weddings and staycations. Even think about like Fred Van Vliet Weekend. These hotels are filled with entirely rock 40 and so I don't feel like that that's the language we should be using we talk about this particular. Compulsory levy that rock 40 and would not feel that because they 100% would so that's just my comment for this evening. This is plans to support it, but I have some reservations many of them. Thank you.

Thanks alderman Bonnie.

DAVID SANGER- Another question. First, I raised some of these issues that the first ward alderman just brought up, as well as the fifth ward alderman last week. But I'm not clear on the five-year sunset provision. That's something that would sunset only if the hotel owners wanted to sunset? Or would the council have no ability to sunset it? Or would our ability only be tied to the hotel owners asking us to sunset it?

Thank you. Mr. Cagnone?

So I can partially answer your question. I might lean on Mr. Groh to answer the second portion of it. But the initial period is set for five years. And it does allow the hotel operators to terminate after that, should they not want to continue with it. Does the city have the ability to you know? Discontinue that as well. I'm not quite certain. I'd have to double check on that Before I give you a solid answer. I don't know if you know John or not whether You know if the city could terminate that ordinance after the five-year initial term I So did you hear that, Alderman? Yes.

So just so I'll repeat that, it automatically sunsets. Good news for all of us is we'll get to do this one more time in five years.

So in that regard, it's not too different from gravel dry ice and chickens. I don't love this either for some of the same reasons. I mean, this is a tax. We can call it something different, but it's a tax. And it does affect people in Rockford. Fifth Ward Alderwoman is totally right there. In addition to some of the... Situation she cited you've also got a number of businesses particularly in the medical community traveling medical providers who are in hotels for extended periods of time so you know and those it would affect those people whether they're paying for the hotels or whether the Hospitals are paying for the hotels. I believe we have pilots for UPS who stay in our hotels and Would affect them I think the answer to the question that the first word all of them had raised was answered. Can it be done privately? Yes. And the reason that I don't think has been stated tonight, but I think was stated previously is that it would then inflate room rates. If they did it, they'd be inflating their room rates. And perhaps then we're not competitive. Well, that may be true, but it's not very transparent. It's a way for the cost to get buried somewhat to the people who are renting rooms. And I just don't really want to be part of that lack of transparency. At this point, I can't support this even though I realize we're not voting on the ordinance, we're only sending this to public hearing, but I haven't heard a compelling case to support it, so I won't be.

Alderman Frost.

Thank you. I think with respect to the issue of transparency, it's very transparent. This is an amount, a nominal amount, that would get added on to a bill of someone at a hotel. And the way it would be used would be used to support tourism in our area. And the hotels have agreed. or at least I think it's 85% of them have agreed that they think this is a good idea. Because in the end, let's face it, it does benefit them. If people think the rooms are too high, and I don't think this tax is going to cause any sleep over that, or make UPS or a hospital make their employees stay in Janesville or in Marengo, But the purpose of it is to put the money back to support the tourism. Let's just take an example that I probably beat to death. Let's say soccer. So soccer is an economic engine in this community, and it has been for a number of years. And through Reclaiming First and the additions to Sports Corps II, We really are considered a world-class venue for soccer. And guess what happens when all those families and kids come here to play soccer? They stay at a hotel. And guess what they do then after the game? They go out to eat, and they fill up their cars. They stop at Costco because the team needs watermelon or Gatorade or whatever that is. So all these things come back with soccer to benefit our community in the sense that They're staying here, and they're spending a lot of money here. And that's why it really is an economic engine. So in this particular case, with this TID, I could say it attacks that nominal incremental amount of funding that comes in for it. which isn't greatly significant, but it would allow the hotels and our area to promote that in a better fashion. And I'm not saying it's just for soccer. It could be used for a host of other activities. And I know people are giving examples of, well, someone from Rockford stays in a hotel room. And that's very well true. But if you look on a percentage basis, and I guess the hotelers could tell us more than I could. I think we're all speculating on that. We could really dial it down and see how many people are out of town. versus in town. And if I had to bet, I'd bet that the majority of people staying in hotel rooms are from out of town. And I'm not saying that makes it right, but I'm just saying this was created by our legislatures in Springfield. It's used in other markets. Chicago, I think Peoria is in the process of getting one, Champaign. So it is a mechanism used, not as a tax, but as a funnel to hopefully fund a specific market to make sure we remain on top. Because if we lose the soccer, we back to that example, we're losing millions and millions of dollars. And if it goes to Kansas City, if it goes to Carmel, Indiana, if it goes somewhere else, it's tough to get back. And we've gone through that before we had the great building of Reclaiming First. So we've already, as a community, invested scores of millions of dollars into some of our world-class facilities, whether it's soccer, whether it's basketball, whether it's volleyball, whether it's hockey right whether it's dance competition we have the venues and we did this with a purpose and intent we did it to attract these events to come to our city and i'd hate to see someone you know think that this is a bad idea when when we're competing with other communities who are doing the same thing thank you thank you uh alderman bonnie

Yeah, I'm sorry. I forgot to make one point. Some of the information that we received talked about the risk of 600 to 850 new hotel rooms coming online by 2029, and that that could drop occupancy 10 to 14 points from supply dilution. So I think what we're saying is that the hotel that we're building and we are going to own for the casino is going to create a surplus of rooms. In addition, I suppose, to the financial assistance that we provided to Embassy Suites because we wanted a hotel downtown. I support both of those. Those are very strategic things that we've done that I think are critical. But maybe the issue is that the market then needs to adjust. And maybe I don't know that do we need are we using this money to try to prop up some hotels that aren't going to be as competitive when these new hotels come online? And if so, you know, why are we doing that? And I kind of surprised that we have Republicans arguing in favor of tax increase. But I guess if it's a tax increase supported by big business, then they're for it. Thank you.

Well, we quickly went from no discussion to a lot more discussion. And I'm very excited about it. This should be fun. Alderman Durkee, then Alderman Thunberg.

Thank you, Your Honor. This is not a tax. I do medicine. I don't do hotels. A hotel group who does this for a living who got together, smarter businessmen than people than most of us here. This is what they do. Nobody imposes a fee on a customer unless they think they're going to redeem something in return. The other thing that easily could happen if that starts If their room occupancy drops, they drop their rates. The fee stays, they drop the rate. It's not a tax. Tax is imposed by a government. This is a business imposing a fee on itself. And I doubt that they're foolish enough to embark on this mission and put themselves out of business and chase customers away. The transparency and the trust is in business people to do business. And the government will let them do their business and get out of their way.

DAVID SANGER- Alderman Thunberg.

ALDERMAN THUNBERG JR.: Thank you, Mayor. I think with big business, I know there was some concern earlier about how this may affect big business like UPS by my colleague. So I'm wondering who's for big business here. You know, we did have questions regarding this at last week's meeting, and one of my questions was, we always talk about peer communities, what they're doing, how much they're paying their fire workers. their firemen, their police, and also taxes. And so even though this technically isn't considered a tax course, but I was very inquisitive as to the bottom line of when a individual gets a room in another community, how much the underlying fees, taxes, et cetera, are. And it looks like Rockford is very competitive in regards to other communities. If we were looking at Rockford being at 20% or 21% right now or 19%, Yeah, that could start getting real lofty when you add another 2% on But I think that the finding was Rockford is very competitive in room rates transparency I think this would be transparent. I assume correct me if I'm wrong Administrator Cagnoni Will this will this actually be spelled out when an individual is gets a room and their bill prints out, will that 2% be listed as a separate line item?

Yes. And this meeting would also be part of that transparency.

Thank you mayor. So yes, I mean anybody that buys an airline ticket will see that all those additional items on their airline ticket They see it on their hotel rooms when they book a hotel room so There it is. You will have transparency there in this with this TID the Support of the hotel owners and those who are in positions within these hotel companies that are represented have shown support for this. I would think that if this was going to be detrimental to their business, that they would speak up loud and clear on that. They don't see this as being detrimental to their business, and I think they know more about the business than many of us do. So thank you.

Thank you. Alderwoman Torino.

Thank you. Can we have a list of the hotels that did not enlist in this?

That did not?

Did not.

Yeah. We can do that.

Thank you.

Mr. Cagnoni, do you have that list handy?

I have the list of hotels, the 26 hotels that signed. I can't articulate which ones haven't signed, which doesn't mean they're not necessarily in support, but didn't sign the letter. So I'd have to follow up on that particular.

Would counsel have any objection if I have Mr. Groh read off the names of those that did not sign to fulfill the request of Alderwoman Trina?

I want a list, if possible.

I mean, we will email it to you, but you won't have that before this vote.

I believe there's just a couple.

There's two.

OK. Alderman Frost. It's been nice to have a little bit of a discussion on this matter tonight. But I just want to remind everyone that really what we're voting for is strictly on the public hearing. We're not really voting on the merits tonight. So it's just to allow the organization to have a public hearing, which I'm sure many of these points may or may not be brought up, hopefully. Thank you.

Thank you. Alderman Bell.

Thanks mayor with respect to item 6 can we separate that from the roll call under the planning and sure for the finance personnel short like any other of Alderman beach.

Thank you, your honor.

In the industry that I worked in. We traveled about 13 trade shows a year. And it's interesting that the conventions involved picked certain sites around the United States that had the amenities, not only for the workers, but for their families. Because sometimes during these trade shows, the people would take their family for their vacation. And they needed things for the families to do. So part of what happens here, and we want to make ourself a world-class city, And if anybody was around here 45 years ago and looked at Rockford and tried to compare it to what it is today, it's a different city. We've reinvented ourself, and we're still growing. And it takes money to do it. And we travel. In just a few weeks, we're going to the IMR convention in Chicago. We don't stay away from there because there's 14% hotel, motel tax on it. We pay it, whether we like it or not, and enjoy all the amenities that it brings there, whether it's in Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago, wherever it might be, where there's places to go for your family. And I guess I just don't understand this here. Maybe I just don't understand it, let alone this is just the intent for a public hearing. But for goodness sakes, what it brings to our community. starting with our park districts on down, they're rated as world class, not second rate. These people wouldn't be signing contracts with Rockford if we were a know-nothing city. And we need to start looking up at what we have and what we are and what we want to be and understand we are growing and things are happening and more people are moving in. It's just a matter of time when This thing will continue to explode. So I'll confess to you, I don't understand the problem here. I just don't understand it. And this gentleman tonight said, I can't even believe I'm saying this, but I'm supportive of adding a fee on for the greater good for the city of Rockford area. And man, I tell you, that says it all for me. Thank you for allowing me to speak your honor.

Thank you alderman Bell Thank you, and I agree and to the fourth Ward all the men's Statement of what we're voting on tonight.

I call the question for item six We go I had one more hand up do I just call the question and no more conversation, correct?

Okay

Council, we have items one through nine before you. We have a request to hold a separate vote for six. So we're going to take items one through five and then seven through nine first collectively. So items one through five and seven through nine is what you'll be asked to vote on right now. Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. Aye. Logeman. Aye. Toonberg.

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Tarina. Aye. Prenti. Aye. Hoffman.

Aye.

Granite.

Aye.

Beach. Aye. Salgado. Aye. Bell. Aye. Bonney. Aye. 12 ayes.

Thank you. Next, council, we have item six before you. Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. Aye. Logeman.

Aye.

Tunberg.

Aye.

Frost. Aye.

Tarina.

I'm sorry, what was going on?

You're voting on item six. Item six, aye.

Prunty. Aye. Hoffman Granite Beach Socado Bell Bonnie. 10 I'm sorry 11 eyes one.

Excellent next will move to new business. We have nothing under planning and development, so we'll go to code and Regulation Committee and Alderman Logman.

Thank you Mary. We have four items. Item number one, an ordinance approving a variation to increase the maximum allowed business identification wall signs from two to three in a C3 general commercial zoning district at 3218 11th Street. Item number two, an ordinance approving the annexation of 14XX Export Road, 34XX Export Road, and 36XX Prairie Road. Item number three, an ordinance approving the annexation agreement for 14XX Export Road, 34XX Export Road, and 36XX Prairie Road. And finally, item number four, an ordinance approving the landmark designation for the property located at 1202 Eddy Avenue. Thank you, Mayor.

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

Durkee. Aye. Bogeman.

No one for. Ironlander.

Toomberg.

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Terina. Aye. Frenzy. Aye. Hoffman. Aye. Granite. Aye. Beach.

Aye.

Salgado.

Aye.

Bell.

Aye.

Bunn.

Aye.

Items 1, 2, 3, 12 ayes. Item 4, 11 ayes, 1 no. Excellent.

Is there a motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. We have a motion. We have a second.