City Council - Regular Meeting

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Acceptance of the Journal

1. Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on December 1, 2025.

Proclamation declaring February 2026 to be Black History Month in the City of Rockford, Illinois.

26-00182

Planning and Development Committee

1. Memorandum from Sarah Leys, Community and Economic Development Director, regarding the 2026 Funding Agreement with the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Referred to Planning and Development Committee. 26-00184

Code and Regulation Committee

1. Zoning Board of Appeals' Agenda for the meeting to be held on February 18, 2026 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on February 23, 2026. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. 26-00142 2. Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board’s Agenda for the meeting to be held on February 18, 2026 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on February 23, 2026. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. 26-00143 3. Memorandum from Martin Bloom, Project Manager-Permits and Special Events, regarding upcoming special events which include: St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Spruce Up Day 2026, Rockford Area Pride Parade, Lifescape 4th of July Classic, 4th of July Festivities, and One Table: An Open-Air Dining Experience. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. 26-00183

Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Memorandum from Anne Wilkerson, Central Services Manager, regarding the sale of two Ford Explorers to BMO Police. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee. 26-00144 2. Memorandum from Charlotte Hoss, City Attorney, regarding Trustee Property Lien Waivers. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee. 26-00179 3. Memorandum from Owen Carter, Deputy Director of Operations for Health and Human Services, regarding the approval and acceptance of the Homeless System Capacity Expansion Pilot Program. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee. 26-00181

Prophet Yusef

Denzil Wynter

Lisa Jackson

John Tac Brantley

Dennis Littlejohn

Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Preliminary Conditional Set-Aside Letter, which would lead to a Rental Development Agreement with the owner of RockRiver I Apartments. The funding source is the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). 26-00141

Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of Plat No. 2 of Puri West State Subdivision located at 41xx West State Street. 26-00139

Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of vouchers in the amount of $9,842,897.49 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on February 9, 2026. 26-00169 2. Committee recommends approval of Lien Waivers for Trustee Properties to facilitate transfer of the properties from the Winnebago County Trustee to bidders in the total amount of $4,634.25. The properties included are 517 Knowlton Street (PIN: 11-27-401-006), 3904 Preston Street (PIN: 11-20-452-004), and 3122 18th Street (PIN: 15-01-432-034). 26-00155 3. Committee recommends approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Rockford and Rockford Public School District 205 (RPS 205) for vacation of an existing Right-of-Way to RPS 205, construction of revised access to Lincoln Middle School from Charles Street as part of the City's 11th Street Phase 2 project, and reimbursement of improvement costs by RPS 205. 26-00156

Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Funding Agreement and Lease Agreement for 713 East State Street (Shumway Building) with Rockford Area Arts Council for 2026 through 2028 in the amount of $125,000 annually for a total amount of $375,000. The funding source is the City's Redevelopment Fund. 26-00086

Appointment of Zsa Zsa Johnson to the Community Relations Commission to fill the seat vacated by Nikki Lynch for a term expiring December 2026.

(Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment will be up for passage after March 4, 2026.) 26-00145

Appointment of Shimere Shanklin to the Community Relations Commission to fill the seat vacated by Jordan Lindvall for a term expiring August 2028.

(Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment will be up for passage after March 4, 2026.) 26-00146

Planning and Development Committee

Code and Regulation Committee

Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Sole Source Contract: Flock Safety, to Flock Group, Inc., of Atlanta Georgia in the amount of $443,998.16. The contract duration is one (1) year with three (3) additional one-year extension options. The funding sources are the Organized Retail Crime Grant (FY26 ORC) and Rockford Police Department Intel Unit Budget (FY27-FY29 Renewal Options). 26-00160 2. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Sole Source Contract: Loose Equipment and Supplies to Air One Equipment, of South Elgin, Illinois in the estimated amount of $300,000.00 (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is one (1) year. The funding source is the Fire Department Operating Budget. 26-00151 3. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Non-Competitive Contract: WPLS-190 Wheel Lifts to Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc., of Saint Joseph, Missouri in the amount of $60,673.00. This is a one-time purchase. The funding source is 2026 Gaming Tax Revenue. 26-00152 4. Committee recommends approval of the Award of RFP: Towing and Storage (RFP No. 1125-PD-132) to Greater Rockford Auto Auction of Rockford, Illinois. There is no direct cost to the City for towing and storage services. The contract duration is one (1) year with four (4) additional one-year extension options. 26-00161 5. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Joint Purchase Contract: Sidewalk Deicers/Ice Melt (Bagged Salt) to Warehouse Direct, of Des Plaines, Illinois in the estimated amount of $40,000.00 (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is one (1) year with three (3) additional one-year extension options. The funding source is the Property Fund Operating Budget. 26-00148 6. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Joint Purchase Contract: Ford OEM Automotive Parts and Supplies to Brad Manning Ford, of Dekalb, Illinois in the estimated amount of $75,000.00 (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is through December 31, 2026 with two (2) possible annual extension options. The funding source is the Central Garage Fund. 26-00149 7. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Joint Purchase Contract: 2026 Light Duty City-Wide Vehicles to Enterprise Fleet Management Inc., of Saint Louis, Missouri in the amount of $701,269.00. The contract duration is a 60-month term. The funding sources are Various Divisions Capital Lease Budgets. 26-00150 8. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Joint Purchase Contract: Communication Equipment to GenComm Inc., of Madison, Wisconsin in the amount of $75,975.60. This is a one-time purchase. The funding source is the Fire Department Capital Budget. 26-00153 9. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Joint Purchase Contract: Demers MPX170 Ford F550 4x4 Diesel Type I Ambulance to MacQueen Equipment, LLC., of Saint Paul, Minnesota in the amount of $423,555.00. This is a one-time purchase. The funding sources are Capital Lease Funds/Fire Department Capital Budget. 26-00154 10. Committee recommends approval of the Engineering Agreement Supplement #1 (Land Acquisition): 11th Street Corridor Improvements (IDOT Section) to Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc., of Rockford, Illinois in the supplemental amount of $369,267.00, for a new contract not-to-exceed amount of $1,198,370.00. The contract duration is through 2026. The funding source is the 1% Infrastructure Sales Tax. 26-00157 11. Committee recommends approval of the Engineering Agreement Supplement #2 (Land Acquisition): 11th Street Corridor Improvements (City Section) to Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc., of Rockford, Illinois in the supplemental amount of $242,789.00, for a new contract not-to-exceed amount of $2,366,043.00. The contract duration is through 2026. The funding source is the 1% Infrastructure Sales Tax. 26-00158 12. Committee recommends approval of the Engineering Agreement Supplement #1 (Land Acquisition): Auburn Street Improvements to Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc., of Rockford, Illinois in the supplemental amount of $121,286.00, for a new contract not-to-exceed amount of $1,006,661.00. The funding source is the General Fund: 2022 Surplus. 26-00159

Planning and Development Committee

1. An ordinance approving the Preliminary Conditional Set-Aside Letter, which would lead to a Rental Development Agreement with the owner of RockRiver I Apartments. The funding source is the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). 2. An ordinance approving the Funding Agreement and Lease Agreement for 713 East State Street (Shumway Building) with Rockford Area Arts Council for 2026 through 2028 in the amount of $125,000 annually for a total amount of $375,000. The funding source is the City's Redevelopment Fund. 26-00116

Code and Regulation Committee

Finance and Personnel Committee

1. An ordinance approving Lien Waivers for Trustee properties to facilitate transfer of the properties from the Winnebago County Trustee to bidders in the total amount of $4,634.25. The properties included are 517 Knowlton Street (PIN: 11-27-401-006), 3904 Preston Street (PIN: 11-20-452-004), and 3122 18th Street (PIN: 15-01-432-034). 26-00177 2. An ordinance approving the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Rockford and Rockford Public School District 205 (RPS 205) for vacation of an existing Right-of-Way to RPS 205, construction of revised access to Lincoln Middle School from Charles Street as part of the City's 11th Street Phase 2 project, and reimbursement of improvement costs by RPS 205. 26-00178