Police Pension Fund Board - Regular Meeting

All right, welcome to the finance and personnel committee meeting held tonight Monday, June 8th sir clerk. Please take roll Here All right, thank you First item is information only item. It's for a change order for the multi-use path To everlast blacktop, I believe it's to the work the one on a Roth Roth Road there was a change order of Thirty seven thousand seven hundred ninety six dollars and ninety three cents and this was to achieve ad a compliance at roadway crossings along the path Including wider and longer curb ramps additional concrete and detectable warning panels funding sources from the 1% infrastructure sales tax Any questions for staff on the change order? Thank you Moving on to committee reports item one is approval of vouchers in the amount of nine million two hundred and seven thousand one hundred and twenty nine dollars and fifty six cents Is there a motion to approve vouchers? Any questions or comments for staff on vouchers? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item two is being held out at the staff's request. Item three is an IGA between the Board of Education 205 for police services. The term is from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Any questions for staff? Alderman Beach.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just once again, so I can hear those words.

Certainly during the when school is not in session for those employees that are only employed during the school year Then those officers come back on this are paid out of city funds but they provide additional coverage during heavy vacation season and During the time that they are working at RPS their costs the costs of those officers are covered

It's ten in total, so one sergeant and nine officers. One sergeant and nine officers.

So, I don't want to blabber this, but can we afford the manpower, the trained, sworn manpower, to be diverted over to the school district? How we can do that when we need the officers?

Well, we want to address the affordability of it. Go ahead, Mr. Cagnoy.

We don't have these microphones. So I'm happy to provide some response in the chief's absence. This is an item that Director Hammer, Chief Redd, and myself had communicated on. We typically have a biweekly meeting where we talk about ongoing strategies and efforts of the police department as well as current staffing levels. Yes, sir

We take away our administrative responsibilities from our police department and take away places like the school district and all that. And we have, the number that's left is very few Thank you any further questions or comments All right, seeing none all is a favor Nikki by aye opposed matter passes

Number four is a revision of the city of Rockford rules and regulations for the addition of a definition of illness, revised residency section, addition to cellular phone usage, addition to police for usage of computers, internet and email, additions to Victim Economic Safety and Security Act leave. as follows, including policy procedures, disclosures, employees concerned about domestic violence resources, in addition to item 5 to general employment policies. Is there a motion to approve the revisions?

So moved. Second.

Any questions or comments? All in the makes?

I'm going to read up on this. So I guess my question is, is this what is going in our ordinance book, our rules and regulations? Is this an ordinance that we're talking about here?

Go ahead, Mr. Kegelman. All right seeing no further questions all those in favor indicate by aye opposed matter passes moving on to resolutions number one Is an extension of contract for the building code consulting services the fire safety consultants in the amount of fifty seven thousand dollars for consulting services and ninety six hundred to ten thousand eight per month for backup code official services. The contract is for six months. The funding source is the construction services and development budget. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? Matter passes. Item two is a water bid for citywide street repairs. Group number five, the Stenstrom excavation, the amount of $392,950.99. The contract duration is through September 18, 2026. The funding sources are property funds and casino funds. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing that laws of a renegade by aye aye opposed matter passes item three is a ward a bid for excavation hauling package to veterans of act services the amount of fifty eight thousand six hundred twenty five dollars the contract is through August 20 2026 and then funding sources the CIP general funds or motion to approve Any questions comments your staff Seeing none all of them are fronting

This is a veteran-owned business? Yes. Yes, it does indicate that they are.

Does that fall under our minority-owned or our, what's that category that we have? We don't have specifically set aside a category for veteran-owned. We do have minority and women-owned businesses right now. Okay.

All right. So this person didn't get any priority because they are a veteran. Correct. Okay.

Any other questions? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item four is a bid for rental of traffic control devices to FCS, an estimated annual amount of $400,000 based on unit pricing. It's a one-year contract with four possible one-year extension options. Annual price adjustments for CPI will be considered a contract renewal only, and the funding source are various departmental operating budgets. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? Matter passes. Item 5 is a rejection of a bid and to solicit new bids for the Coronado Performing Arts interior lighting repair phase. Only one bid response was received. Is there a motion to reject?

So moved. Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor of rejecting indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? Thank you. Item 6 is a rejection of bid solicit new bids for the head start and early head start Child care meals bids received did not meet the required nutrition specifications. Is there a motion to reject a bit? Any questions or comments for staff all of them fronting

going. Where do they come from if we don't find them?

So we currently have a vendor who did not respond to this bid. We reached out to them, found out why they didn't, they never received the notification. They had a new email address we didn't have on file. So we are going to send out bids again, clean up some of the specifications to make sure it's clear what the meal requirements are, to make sure that the first vendor who did bid again, or bid on this one, could And the current vendor will continue to provide services until we make an award.

All right. Any other questions? Seeing none, all is in favor, Nicky, by aye? Aye. All right, the matter will be rejected. Item seven is award of RFP for Housing and Urban Development Emergency Solutions Grant. Health and Human Services received the grant in the amount of $195,054. The contract duration is one year, and the funding source is the HUD ESG. Is there a motion to approve it? Second. Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? Matter passes. Item 8 is approval acceptance of the DCO Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, in the amount of $4,030,301. The grant does not require a cost match, and the grant term is from June 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027. Motion to approve. So moved. Second. Any questions for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item 9 is an approval acceptance of the Illinois Department of Human Services Family and Community Services Homeless System Capacity Expansion Pilot Program Grant Award in the amount of $85,522. It also does not require a cost match, and the grant term is from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Is there a motion to approve? So moved.

Second.

Any questions for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item 10 is an acceptance and approval of the DCO Weatherization State Supplemental Grant Award in the amount of $482,759. It does not require a cost match. The grant term is from June 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? Matter passes. Item 11 is acceptance and approval of the DCO Weatherization Health and Human Services Grant Award in the amount of $772,748. This grant does not require a cost match, and the grant term is also from June 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Second. Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? Matter passes. Item 12 is an authorization for the reallocation of $200,000 in partnership with Rave to reduce user costs for community events at Davis Park. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Alderman Meeks. Can I get just like a run now?

Did we do, maybe I'm forgetting, did we do like a portable sound system at BMO or Coronado?

I'll leave it up.

Thank you, Chair. I just want to ask a quick question from the managing side of the operation at Davis Park. Can you explain to us if we have a managing partner this far? I heard a few maybe conversations about potentially go Rockford, but it will be Legends Global or is it Rave?

So Rave is the, so Senior Rockford has an intergovernmental agreement Thank you so much for allowing me to speak on your committee. Is there a pricing structure that they presented for the cost? So when you say a cost, you're not talking about the purchasing cost, but you're talking about what community members would?

Right, for the actual equipment.

I don't have an exact breakdown, but in our conversations, we've talked about significantly reduced, if not reduced,

So can you, if you don't have the number, can you give me an idea of what significantly reduced looks like? I mean, I think I've seen in the past between like $2,500 and $7,500 to utilize certain things.

Tumor I Did receive late a more itemized cost Breakdown so I can from Gretchen Gilmore so that can be provided for anyone asking for further breakdown at cost So but I did not receive that until a few minutes before council But you know, I have had conversations further conversations in a nutshell the After further evaluation, the cost to rent equipment, move equipment for venues and entertainment at Davis Park were seen as really cutting into the bottom line, I think, for the to have events at Davis Park to the extent we would like to have. Yes, it will be. I think this allocation will make that much more possible. So, thank you.

All right, thank you. All the way back.

Thank you. Mr. Grignone, did we know that we'd be anticipating these costs about a year ago when we took a vote on the project?

We knew that there was some additional furnitures

Do you guys have an estimated breakdown of the cost that we may see as we open up Davis Park?

So I'm not certain I understand that question.

Do you guys have any estimated costs or a breakdown of the estimated costs that we'll see coming for us in the next few months?

Are you talking about operational costs or additional? No, additional fixtures. I believe this is.

Let's hope and pray it's nothing all right seeing no further questions all those in favor indicate by aye aye opposed Passes item 13 is an allocation of funding amount of three hundred and fifty three doubt three hundred and fifty three thousand five hundred and two Dollars and seventy six cents for the Community Healing Center to provide trauma-informed services to youth impacted by violence in Rockford The funding would support operations from October 1 2026 through September 30 2027 the funding sources reallocated ARPA dollars from Excel Center and the quarters signage so motion to approve I Any questions or comments for staff? Alderman Granath.

Good evening. So did the school district pay for any of this program last year? No. So who was the main funding source for this?

We received this grant initially in the fall of 2022 for three years. Because we got a slow start and a turnover of our original project manager, we did not spend it down. So we were able to get an extension through September of this year. In the interim, last October, In terms of timing, just to give you an understanding, we applied for another grant in June of 2025 and found out last week we were not awarded it. So there's a significant lagging turnaround.

It's unprecedented. Is there another opportunity for another grant for this year or next year going forward?

Well, we're hoping so. But as the Department of Justice is realigning and really taking three separate departments and merging them into one, it is a process in development, and we're all really finding out in real time what the plan is.

I know as somebody who has worked with students and talked with teachers that have been involved in this program, it has benefited our students. And as somebody who knows that our kids come Any other questions Alderman Beach

does not appreciate the work the senator has done. And yet I'm wondering right now that we're the only ones that seem as a body that cares. No money coming in from the county. No money coming in from anyone else. No money coming in from the school district. Back to the Rockford again. And who believes in what's going on here. But I guess I like to look at the real part about it is that it looks like this is going to be added to our budget going forward because we have no guarantee that these grants will come in in the future. I think they send a signal by saying not this year. That's kind of like what's saying to me you've got a year to figure it out because they're not coming back again. So I guess when I look at the vote tonight, I'm looking at adding more staff to the city of Rockford and to our bottom line going forward if we want to keep this problem going. Or if we want to fund it the way we're doing it. Or if we not want to go out and make other people put their money on the table to help with these services. And it's just not. Like, Rockford's got deep pockets all the time. Other people their money out.

Some money.

Something. Not nothing. And that's not against you, Jennifer. I love you. You're the tops, in my opinion. But the fact is, they're back to Rockford again and are shut up. And it's time we get a little tough. I mean, tough love? I don't think that's wrong. Thank you, sir, for letting me speak.

Thank you. Alderman Meeks.

Thank you so much. I just have a quick question. Do you all have the data that describes the demographics of the youth that you're servicing?

Yes, we do.

Okay, just off the top of your head, can you give me an idea of what that looks like?

We predominantly serve low-income families, predominantly in the west and south side of Rockford. The majority of them are

No, I appreciate that. So I guess my question is because we, you know, I heard the conversation about the youth working with an adult. And we've seen in other situations where when you are paired with someone that looks like you, You are probably more, not really probably, because the data really directs that you are more prone to do better. Are you all looking at that when you are making these placements of adults to be in the schools?

Yes, and I can, like Deanna, further elaborate if needed, but we work very directly with the Conference of Community Solutions and their alpha program. works in an ecosystem very, very closely with Congress, community solutions, city, and why any change is necessary. And so there is a triaging of our youth. There is no one size fits all. And then each youth is assigned to the person that's most appropriate to them.

I don't know. Yeah, and I'll just add that we understand that we cannot do this work alone. And so we really lean onto our

Now, are these dollars going towards a salary?

Yes. The budget that's been asked for, I believe it was broken down in your packet. If not, we can get that to you. But that would cover the three positions that are currently funded under the grant.

I'm sorry. Can you say that one more time?

It would cover the three positions currently funded under the grant. and contracting. So we contract under this plan ultimately with Citi and by any means necessary to provide the leadership and therapeutic interventions that our kids need that are identified through screening and other tools that our healing center can provide.

So there are some contract services in it as well.

We also contract Dr. Gordel for a movement-based program that teaches social emotional learning

And so those individuals that you partner with, those aren't the staff members that you're speaking to, correct? Right. Okay. All right. Thank you.

Alderman Toomer.

Thank you, Chairman. Jennifer, I appreciate the conversation we had the other day on this. By the way, there is a break. We had spoken and many of you on council floor heard me beat the drum on I think a lot of the root of societal problems are fatherless households. So I would ask if you would elaborate on any programs within this that there will be male mentors available and present in this program.

program, that is one of the things that keeps reoccurring, and we are always in search of male mentors, and that is one of the main reasons why we partner with Comprehensive Community Solutions, because they have an amazing team that has already provided some of the services in the community, and together we're partnering and creating programs together, and that's

I have statistics that actually show that there is a large increase in youth crime and how it's tied to fatherless households. So statistics have proven that. And I myself have worked with kids throughout the years and minority youth and And it is very powerful, a male mentorship. Number two is, along the lines of Alderman Beach, we're working with these youth in the schools, and the schools are benefiting on this as well. Just you know looking through this I still just yes I have an issue and on the beach touched on many of those that We are funding this through the city of Rockford when we have not only RPS benefiting and they're contributing I believe zero dollars to this we also had the voters of our County and on a mental health tax. I did see that there was some money coming from the mental health tax into this, and I appreciate that. But for the amount of money that taxpayers are putting into the mental health tax, the amount of money going towards this is minuscule at best. So I would like to see any effort, and whether there has been already, I would appreciate hearing any feedback on that.

Yes. was a man and now retired acting chief, Randy Burke, developed data that indicated so many of our kids before they were arrested for violent crime had documented previous exposure to trauma. And the police department asked us to please expand our office to include community violence in kids. And so we went very specifically to Comprehensive Community Solutions to do listening sessions with If the adults were doing better and had it together, what are the things that need gap filling so that you would find a different pathway in your life instead of the pathway that we are finding so many of us on, dropping out of school and reaching the criminal justice system? And at that time, once we had that vision from our youth, we went to Rockford Public Schools and submitted an exceptionally robust application that asked them to pick 10 schools where teams of three people in each of the 10 schools they chose, not us, would be there to be really teams of trauma medication busters. That if a child was escalating and was starting to display behaviors that indicated they were having a hard time, the teachers could activate this team and it would be a mentor, per council's really clear recommendations to me, a trauma therapist, and somebody with a behavioral health intervention license. that they had that vote and denied our application. And so when they told us no, we went to the Department of Justice and applied for this grant. I will note that we were successful in lobbying Winnebago County Board just last month in receiving funding for the new Family Peace Center. And so for the first time, we are receiving just over $600,000 in a one-time cost from them, and they are considering ongoing funding for operations for the Cary Lynch Center and that building. So we are making headway with the Winnebago County Board. I have every intention of meeting with the superintendent just the second I came, and starting to talk with him about what we can do as school districts to start investing in our kids like this, because you're right, this is directly benefiting our schools, and it's benefiting us as a community as part of our crime reduction strategy, and that 5 for K we've been taking now since this office opened. At RPFs, I think if you asked anybody there, they would describe them as relentless, and that's not going to change. And so we are in this really unfortunate, poor-timed position with the restructuring of DOJ grants, where we just landed in this window. This is a program that is, this grant is a very elite grant. Only seven are given in the country, where usually with rounds of funding, there's 25 to 30 given.

Well, I'd just like to add that I think leveraging our agreements, partnerships with RPS going forth, we can keep these or this item specifically in mind going forth as we do that. Thank you.

All in front of you.

Thank you. I think I'm going to deal with the third one about leveraging. So I guess I've got to see, okay, we want this, we need this. Use some of those languages, that language, so that we can help them see how much is coming from this section, this portion. Then I just, can you clarify for me You just received an answer from the grant people. What did they say? Why didn't we get there?

We received a no on a separate grant. OK.

There was no explanation given. You have to, once you get from the Department of Justice the notice of a no, we will get those from them. That could take two weeks, that could take two months. So the second week I noticed, we sent an email asking for comments and we're awaiting those. And I'm happy to share those as soon as we get those.

Okay, all right. And then another question. Thank you for reminding us that the breakdown is in here and I will look at that much more closely. As I'm looking, I heard you say that there,

Thank you very much for bringing that to my attention and reminding me. But you said that there were three staff. And 300, how much is that? 353,000 is the number of staff. Around 200,000. Yes. This is the trauma-informed services. Do you, is any of this going to, and you're asking for mental health dollars, are there any mental health professionals on board?

Yes, City Foundation has been providing the rental health support for our...

Okay, and what portion of this goes, what portion of, yeah. Well, there... What do they provide, maybe a...

There's a past contract we've had with them, and they actually had a proposal in front of you on P&D at the next meeting.

and the youth that attended Auburn Community Middle School. And the group consisted of having clinical oversights on different topics that the youth brought forth. A lot of it was generational trauma, exposure to violence at home, and they led them through activities and different discussions that touched on those topics.

What do you mean by that? There are other things in there. Do we need more? Our children all need one-on-one therapy.

And so, no, this won't cover that. But we also have found that our kids are often resistant to one-on-one therapy. And so these circles that we're really building and these alternatives to traditional therapy have proven really impactful. to fund the city. This will free up some additional contracted funds to work with additional mental health supports. And so I think we are still building towards

Right. Right. Right. Thank you. You're welcome. All right. Seeing no further questions, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Moving on to item 14 is an approval of the reallocation of 250,000 previously approved cannabis recreation tax funds and allocation of an additional $100,000 in 2026 cannabis recreation tax funds for poverty reduction and adult and childhood education through the Health and Human Services Department. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Second yes any question comments for staff Seeing none all is a favor to keep aye aye Opposed thank you. Is there motion to adjourn?

Yes, sir A question If it pertains to the specific item under resolution for

On item number?

That's number 200.

On resolutions. And your question is?

I voted for it. Sure So we have allocated through the council's approved casino plan funding annually for

Sure all right on the motion to adjourn all those in favor to keep aye aye opposed. Thank you. This means adjourn