City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. We will call to order the City of Rockford's regularly scheduled City Council meeting for Monday, 05/04/2026. This evening we are fortunate that we have Pastor Sonji Collins of House of God Church with us to provide us with an invocation.

PRESIDENT GRACEOUS and eternal God, your word says where there is no vision the people perish but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. We gather with gratitude for the city of Rockford and its leaders. We recognize the responsibility of this moment and the opportunity to shape the future. We declare that this city is moving towards greater peace, greater stability, and greater opportunity where there are public safety challenges bring wisdom and safer streets, where housing and economic barriers exist, open pathways that serve with dignity and fairness. We speak clarity over every decision made in this room today.

Let insight rise, collaboration strengthen, and thoughtful leadership guide every discussion. May differences lead to better outcomes, and may every voice be considered with respect. May wisdom lead, and may the future of this city be shaped with care and peace in your son's great name. Amen.

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Thunberg. Here. Frost. Here. Here. Here. Wilkins. Here.

Hoffman. Here. Granath. Here. Beach. Here. Salgado. Here. Meeks. Here. Bell. Here. 11 present.

Excellent. We have a quorum this evening. Is there a motion to approve the Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on 03/02/2026? Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed?

Excellent. This evening we are fortunate to have three proclamations. Our first proclamation is for Cinco de Mayo. And I know that we have members of our Somos Employee Resource Group as well as Alderman Salgado and members of the community who would like to come forward. Thank you for being here.

See I was gonna say the one closest to me had to speak and I was gonna put Haley on the spot. Or, oh, alright. Well then I'm going to give that to you. Whereas May 5 or Cinco de Mayo in Spanish is celebrated each year as a date of importance by Mexican and Mexican Americans and whereas Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates a 05/05/1862 the date on which the battle of of Puebla was fought by Mexicans who were struggling for their independence and freedom and whereas the French army which had not experienced defeat against any Europe's finest troops in over a half century were defeated by the Mexican forces whom were outnumbered and ill equipped but their high spirited and courage led them to victory and whereas Cinco de Mayo holiday is not only the commemoration of the route of the French troops at the town of Puebla in Mexico, but it is also a celebration of the virtues of individual courage and patriotism of all Mexicans and Mexican Americans who have fought for freedom and independence against foreign aggressors and whereas Cinco de Mayo serves as a reminder that the foundation of The United States is built by people from many nations and diverse cultures who are willing to fight and die for freedom and whereas Cinco de Mayo also serves as a reminder of a close spiritual and economic ties between the people of Mexico and the people of The United States.

Now therefore I Thomas P. Maxime as the mayor of the city of Rockford do hereby proclaim 05/05/2026 to be Cinco de Mayo. Armando, would you like to share a few words with us?

A little bit. There's a prayer that says you're blessed among women. Right? But, no, thank you Tom and thank you Jaime for inviting us. All I I don't know that I'll give the ladies an opportunity but all I can say that if the French had won and stayed in Mexico, we wouldn't be saying viva Mexico. We would be saying viva la France. And we don't wanna do that. No. So that's good.

Thank

you so much for your time and for doing this proclamation. It means a lot to our group. Thank you.

You just had to pass that one more down. You, guys. Are we doing a photo? What do you want to

do? Yes,

we should. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, guys. It's a good prayer, Armando.

My mother always said if you want to talk about something you invite men. If you want to get something done you invite women. Next we are fortunate that it's National Salvation Army Week and I know we have a number of folks with us from Salvation Army, including Captain Alex Iannis. And you can come on in and take yeah. You can take it over here if you want.

Whereas established in Rockford in the year 1888, the Salvation Army is integral to the history of Rockford and Winnebago County, and whereas the mission to meet human needs in his name without discrimination allows the salvation army to uniquely serve where it is most needed and and whereas doing the most good means adapting and pivoting to provide where and when help is needed and to and to do whatever it takes and whereas the ability of the salvation army to enter people's lives through their programs and services provides an opportunity to transform and support our neighbors beyond the table and whereas the salvation army is now launching a new season of hope A season that puts hope into action positioning their members to crossover into the next level of effectiveness and delivering the Salvation Army's full mission. Now therefore I Thomas P. McNamara as the mayor of the city of Rockford do hereby proclaim May 11 through the seventeenth of twenty twenty six as National Salvation Army Week. Just want to also say sincerely thank you for the work and the support that you provide the city of Rockford. We genuinely appreciate it.

Would you like

to share a few words?

Well, the Salvation Army served in a 134 countries around the world and for more than one hundred years here in Rockford and we're happy and blessed with the support from the city and by the city and we're so excited to say that we're celebrating hope this year and hopefully this coming fall we're going to open a new community center that is going to serve our beautiful community and it's going to be called the Hope Center. So thank you very much for this opportunity and recognition. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next proclamation this evening is Mental Health Awareness Month and we have a lot of folks joining us this evening. We have Mary Trujillo from the City of Rockford. We have Winnebago County Health Board members, Community Crisis Response Team members, NAMI members, Tommy Corral Memorial members, and my list literally says etcetera. So please come forward.

Whereas the city of roford takes pride in recognizing mental health awareness month which offers the opportunity to increase understanding reduce misconceptions and stigmas and encourage those struggling to seek help and support and whereas mental health is fundamental aspect of overall health and well-being and whereas mental illness can affect people of all ages cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds and may be further influenced by systematic barriers and social inequities including racism poverty homelessness and discrimination and whereas the city of Roford has numerous mental health programs and initiatives many funded through voter approved half cent sales tax through the winnebago county mental health board offering education prevention early intervention intervention and crisis services. And whereas there is there is a strong body of research that supports specific tools that anyone can use to better handle challenges and protect their mental health and well-being. And whereas with early and effective treatment those individuals with mental health conditions can recover and lead full productive lives and whereas each business school government agency health care provider organization and citizen can share the burden and citizen share the burden of mental health problems and has a responsibility to promote mental wellness and supportive prevention programs.

Now therefore I Thomas P. Maxwell as mayor of the city of Rockford do hereby proclaim the month of May '20 '26 to be Mental Health Awareness Month. Would you like to share a few words with us?

Yes. Thank

you very much mayor and city council for allowing our mind matters employee resource group to shine a light on these amazing partners in our community. We value the investment that is made possible by the half cent sales tax through the Mental Health Board funds. Many of our programs are here tonight. I think Mayor already kind of gave a shout out to those so I won't go through the long list. But we have amazing individuals doing really, really important work with individuals who are suffering from serious mental illness, mental health challenges, homelessness, domestic violence, and all of those things.

And so I really just wanted our employee resource group really wants a shout out to all these important individuals who are day in, day out in the streets working with individuals who need help and really

want

to encourage everyone to wear green for mental Health Awareness Month. There's ribbons in the lobby downstairs. And please celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month with us. Thanks.

Thank you all for the work that you do. Genuinely appreciate it. Next we will move to petitions and communications. We will begin with Planning and Development Committee and Alderman Wilkins.

Item one is a memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, city administrator, regarding the transfer of surplus property located at 1338 Derby Lane and 4750 Pepper Drive in the Northern Illinois Land Bank for future residential development. Refer to Planning and Development Committee. Item two is a memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, city administrator, regarding a proposed development agreement with Hillwood Industrial or excuse me, Enterprises, LLC for the construction of Speck Industrial Building and Public Improvement in conjunction with Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Site Readiness Grant. Refer to Planning and Development Committee. Thank

you. Next we'll go to Code and Regulation Committee and Alderman Bell.

Thank you, mayor. Two items. Item number one, memorandum from Scott Capavilla, planning and zoning manager regarding the tentative and final plat of Rockford Logistic Park 20 subdivision, referred to Code and Regulation Committee. Item number two, memorandum from Scott Capavilla, planning and zoning manager regarding the final plat of Adrian Subdivision referred to Code and Regulations Committee.

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

Thank you, Your Honor. All seven of these matters will be referred to the Finance and Personnel Committee. Number one is a memorandum from Charlotte Hoss regarding a request for lien liabilities of properties formerly owned by the Winnebago family trustee. Number two is a memorandum from Fanequa Hughes regarding an IGA between the city and the Rockford Public School District two zero five regarding services provided at Summerdale Early Childhood Center. Number three is a memorandum from Timothy Hinkins regarding an agreement between the city and CN Railroad for the 6th And 9th Street two way conversions.

Number four is a memorandum from Tree Tara Flowers regarding the approval of a lease agreement with Comprehensive Community Solutions. Number five is a memorandum from Ann Wilkerson regarding the approval of the 2025 supplemental appropriation ordinance. Number six is a memorandum from Ann Wilkerson regarding the approval of a resolution authorizing the central services manager to execute a contract for natural gas supply. And number seven is a memorandum from Kerry Hagerty regarding the sale of bonds to fund construction of the convention center and hotel. Thank you.

CHAIRMAN Thank you. Next, we'll move to our public speakers. Remind our public speakers that there's a microphone on the back right as well as the back left of counsel chambers. You'll have three minutes to address our city council. Additional reminder to our public speakers that they must follow the council's public comment rules, which is 21, 22, and 23 in the Rockford Ordinance Section two-thirty one, including time limits and decorum. Failure to comply with public comment rules may result in removal from the meeting and may include exclusion from future meetings or penalties permitted by law. So we have five public speakers this evening. Our first public speaker Stephen McMaster.

Went off script there a little, didn't you, Mr. Mayer? There's that one little part you threw in there just for funsies, the exclusion from future meetings. That's not in the law anywhere. New laws posted on the side of the wall. I don't know why that happened. It seems like nobody wants to discuss it. Stuff keeps happening in the background, though. Like there are conversations that are occurring in the background after I get up here and speak. I'm just trying to be a part of those or not even necessarily be a part of them.

Just know that they're happening. Because I only get to see the fact that the signs get changed. I only get to see the fact that it's no longer required when you fill out the public comment forms to put your address in. Like, I'm pretty sure that was due to the fact that I included like, hey, PAC says you're not allowed to do this. So please understand that I am actually trying to get things changed.

I do want us to all understand what rule 21, 22, and 23 are. I mean, we still say that you can't have outer jackets. And I watched people come up here with outer jackets on. Actually, in fact, when we do proclamations, it seems like we invite members of the public out into this circle in direct violation of the rules that you just posted. The rules that you just commented about. I'm not asking for like those people to be punished. I'm not asking for anybody to be punished. I'm asking for us to understand the rules as they're written and for us to follow them. That that's all I've ever asked for for the last seven months. Like you have in your emails, we had a brief exchange over six months ago where I was like, hey, what are all the rules?

And then I had to follow-up with you to make sure that like I got a response. And your response was, it's harder to find all the rules than I thought. Sorry, can't get this to you. And I responded back saying, I understand. Sometimes it's a difficult process to follow the actual law. I understand that sometimes you don't have the energy for that. But like I've had the energy to come up here for the last seven months and say the same things. I have the energy to wait until the meeting's done for all of you to leave, for all of you to chitchat, for all of you to go out to the bars afterward. Like, I I I realize not everybody. Sorry.

That's that's a pointed remark that you are all aware of who it's pointed towards. I'm trying to actually affect positive change. That's why I came out here a couple weeks ago and I said, I'll clean up your wards. Do something. Help me out. And instead, I get like smiles in the hallway as you just stone face me and move around. I I don't know what there is that I can do. Like obviously what happened last week will be handled differently. We have a rule against talking about pending or threatened litigation. So I don't know if that's a rule we intend to enforce, but I'll avoid talking about that for now.

Like I just want to know what the rules are, and I want us to all be able to agree with them. If there's a rule that we think is dumb, like not wearing jackets, then we should change

that rule. Thank you.

Our next ALTOWELL: public speaker this evening is Rena Falowell. Give me one second. There you go.

Thank you. I'd like to speak on the issue of proposed data center. This council has an opportunity to more than make a routine zoning or TIF decision. Those organizations against this project are watch I'm sorry. Those organizing against this project are watching how cities across the country respond to similar proposals. This is your chance to set the standards on what others will follow. Stand with the people of Rockford and make it clear, not our air, not our water, not our city. Choose people over profit and demonstrate that community health, environmental integrity and long term well-being are not for sale. At this point, you have been provided with extensive information, research and public input. The path forward is clear.

If you choose otherwise, if personal profit is placed over people, know the residents across every word are watching, organizing and prepared to ensure their voices will be heard. I would also like to suggest that the council conduct a review under five ILCS120-two C16 as a self evaluation and internal practices of internal practices and procedures, as well as professional ethics expected when members represent themselves in public and on social media. As part of the process, I recommend inviting an association representative to share best practices practices on managing public comment, structured structuring agendas so closed session items are not overlooked, and establishing clear, consistent standards of accountability for all council members. When questions are met with eye rolls and backhanded remarks, remember those questions represent the voices of the people seated behind me, those watching from home, and residents across the underserved wards. If that is how their questions are received, it erodes public trust.

I would also like to address flock cameras. The public has not forgotten that the city of Rockford remains under constant surveillance by the company facing a growing list of grievances. These concerns are documented and ongoing. The council has both the authority and the responsibility to evaluate whether continuing these contracts aligns with the values of the community. Thank you.

Thank you. Next public speaker this evening is John Tack Brantley.

Greeting mayor. First thing I want to give honor to God. But I wanna bring up the fact that we go the antichrist wanna be dictated Donald Trump to deal with everything he can do to destroy our constitution, and he's ripping it apart. And one of the one amendments that he's ripping is the fourteenth amendment. A lot of my family members got died and killed fighting for our fourteenth amendment, the freedom of speech, the free freedom of vote.

I pledged my fraternity, and and my code of is free free black and proud. And I was the president of the Black Student Union, the president of my maternity. I also got a BA in social justice and physical education. I got a master in cost culture and reservation, but I got a p I got a a doctor and a PhD in these streets. If you don't have a PhD or a doctor in these streets, you just educated what what have you.

But I wanna give thanks. We are still going to the pyramid. I'm blown away how many people did not know where we have three pyramids here in Illinois, and one of them is as tall as the one in Cairo, Egypt. The pyramid was built in May. What hurt me is that the native American, their bows and arrows was for hunting. It wasn't for fighting. They they the necklace I got on my neck, the the Europeans came to gauge them necklace for their land. Geronimo said it best. The white man made us many promises, but he only kept but one. He promised to take our land, and he took it.

I wanna thank the Catholic diocese, the Lutheran diocese, second congregational church, Mount Zion church, Lutheran church, and mission Macedonian church, they all came through. But most of all, we are the only ones who got arguments that actually worked together. Alderman Chad, my brother from another mother, he a republican. He always blessed me. Frank always blessed me.

And he never even though whatever I say, he don't go against what I say. He listen to what I say. I'm very candid when I speak. And when you get upset about what I say and mayor, your father when you was an alternate running for alternate, your father came to me and asked me to bag you instead of Maurice West. And do you know Maurice West is still to this day upset with me for voting for voting for you? I don't go by the color of your skin. I go by the content of your character and whatever. Now we got people why if our own people are the ones that's hurting us? It was our own people that blocking me from taking this event. Doctor Reed promised back in January he was gonna give us a bus.

Now he said he ain't here. I come to find out that one of my sororities told me they was gonna give him a $2,000,000 grant, and he did not fill out the form in order for them to work with the community. You you cannot woah. I I got a brain freeze. I got so much I wanted to say on that topic. It's not the white man blocking us from doing anything. It's our own people that's blocking us from doing anything. And and and and it hurts me how some of our high yellow complexion African Americans I call bush y g decepticon, our biggest blocks and whatnot. If we was able to work together and carry on, we would be the most powerful ethnic group in the world. Thank you for allowing me to speak.

Free black and proud. And no matter how hard you tried, you can't stop me now.

Thank you. Our next public speaker this evening is Mark McGowan. Good

evening. My name is Mark McGowan. I have owned my home on Larson Avenue since May 2000, and I ask you tonight to please deny the requested permit for 515 South Alpine Road. What concerns me is the most is the traffic nightmare that 32 new residential units, and with them most likely a minimum of 32 additional vehicles, will bring to that very short section of Larson Avenue. If you've ever driven Larson, you know it's the main thoroughfare from Alpine to Fairview and the prime pathway to return to or to leave home for hundreds of people in our neighborhood.

The driveway that leads up to that property and its current one home is extremely close to Alpine and on a thickly wooded wooded curve. Drivers from these new townhouses and apartments who want to turn left toward Alpine and toward the access that road provides to the city's East side are likely to find themselves waiting and waiting for their chances to do so, especially during the morning rush. Why? Everyone who lives on Larson Avenue understands the reality of the traffic lights. They heavily favor Alpine, of course.

And we Larson drivers waiting to turn left to head northbound often spend several minutes waiting patiently or impatiently for that brief green while we also pray that speedy and sometimes aggressive alpine vehicles actually stop on red. And many of us instinctively delay entering the intersection on green for that reason. During peak hours, several vehicles already can clog the Larson Hill while the red light holds steady. And as someone who has spent more than twenty five years turning right onto Alpine for my morning commute to work, I know that it can only take one vehicle waiting to turn left to unintentionally block the space for southbound turners, meaning that we also need to wait for green. Now imagine what could or will happen with a minimum of 32 additional drivers who live as close as possible to Alpine and are merging into traffic from less densely populated parts of our neighborhood.

Considering that maybe 10 vehicles at most can fit between Alpine and the applicant's driveway, I'm guessing that many of the new residents of this development will find themselves stuck twice. First, waiting for the opportunity to turn left onto Larson because the eastbound lane is full, and second, waiting for a green light onto Alpine once they've become part of the clog. And as they cope with safety concerns thanks to the blind spot to their left, drivers also must factor in that most vehicles turning off Alpine will arrive in about four seconds tops as they accelerate. It's that close. And to me this seems like accidents waiting to happen.

How long will these new Larson Avenue residents wait for their precious chance to turn left onto a Larson snarled with vehicles? And once they're finally in line, how long will they wait for a quick green? And if the alpine friendly timing of the lights is adjusted, how will that impact alpine traffic? And what kind of backups might occur in the alpine turn lanes on to Larson during the evening rush as these people return home from work or school and then slow down to turn north up the hill? To me this is a situation with too many questions and too many concerns. And for those reasons I ask you to please vote no. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next public speaker this evening is Dave White. Is Dave White with us? Oh, there you are. Sorry.

Thanks, Mark. I want to follow-up on what you had to say. I'm glad to see you're here. Happy Star Wars Day to everyone. May the fourth be with you. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Again, my name is Dave White. I've lived in the neighborhood forever. I grew up in the neighborhood, 515 South Alpine, and got married, bought a house in the neighborhood, and raised my family. My son is here, Brandon.

Sorry. We have an emotional attachment to that property. It's just a beautiful property. And Frank would know. There was a woman who lived there for decades, an environmentalist type of woman, and she knew everything about that property. Alpine Hills, the property, the subject property tonight. And I just hate to see that developed. It's just a beautiful piece of property. And I know, you know, it's going to go

from r1 to

multifamily. The owner of the property, I'm sure from the beginning has had a financial strategy where he wanted to buy it at a lower price as residential and then come before this chamber and get it switched to multifamily immediately. That's like putting a check-in that person's pocket. We just can't let that happen. You know, the owner knows it's speculative, which means risk, which means he doesn't always win.

We can't set a precedent. I know there's been conversation that if we don't approve that if this doesn't get approved, that it could keep others from wanting to build in Rockford, build multifamily units, that type of thing, we'll let them buy a zoned multifamily property and go from there. You know, we just can't set a precedent here in Rockford that you can buy residential, ask to have it converted, rezoned to multifamily, and then go from there. I don't think and I've heard seen things on the news, I don't think the quality of the housing is going to be what we've been promised. I just don't think it's going be that nice, which tends to maybe cause problems for the neighborhood as far as some of the occupants of those properties.

Traffic problems, Mark, you covered it all. I backed into the driveway that comes out of that property. There's blind spots to the left, to the right, there's a turn lane off of Alpine, which people just come flying off of Alpine. I've gone come off of Alpine, gone up Larson. Cars are behind you before you know it, pushing you up that hill. You can't look to the left. It's a blind spot. You're close to Alpine, maybe 100, 150 feet from Alpine Road. You go right, you're going go through the neighborhoods. It's a steep hill. By the time you build up speed, you have a car behind you pushing you. It's just BERNANDEZ: not good. I think these proposed changes

will bring down Thank you.

Finish up quick. Think these proposed changes will bring down our property value.

Sir, can come back on that.

There really aren't great views unless you're in that.

Thank you.

Thank you. Next we're going to move to our new committee reports and move to Planning and Development Committee and go back to Alderman Wilkins.

Thank you, Your Honor. Item one, committee recommends approval of the amendment to the AP90 program specific requirements, all current and prior year annual action plans. Item two, committee recommends approval of the amendments to the fiscal year 2025, addition of projects and budget amendments.

Thank you, counsel. We have two items before us. Any discussion on those two items?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Drkey. Aye. Logeman. Aye. Toomer.

Aye.

Frost? Aye. Terina? Aye. Prunty? Aye. Wilkins? Aye. Hoffman?

Aye. Granath? Aye. Beach? Aye. Salgado? Meeks. Aye. Bell.

Aye. 13 ayes.

Thank you. Next we'll go to Code and Regulation Committee and Alderman Bell.

Got a lot of them. Item one, committee recommends sustaining the traffic commission's approval to establish a no parking any time except paratransit restriction on the West Side of North Court Street from 318 North Of Whitman Street to 30, sorry. Three eighteen feet North Of Whitman Street to three forty eight feet North Of Whitman Street. Item two, committee recommends approval of the final plat of Bell School Crossings subdivision located at 73XX, East Riverside Boulevard. Item three, committees recommend sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation of denial for a variation to decrease the minimum side yard setback for a covered entrance from six feet to one foot in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 3207 North Main Street.

Jill Bosselman for DJK Haynes LLC is the applicant. Item four, committee recommends sustaining the zoning board of appeals approval for a zoning map amendment from C3, General Commercial Zoning District, and I1, Light Industrial Zoning District, to I3, Airport Industrial Zoning District, at 3321 Integrity Drive Industrial VI Enterprises, LLC. Hillwood is the applicant subject to conditions. Item five, committee recommends approval of the special use permit for a planned unit development consisting of four four unit buildings and two eight unit buildings in an R1 single family residential zoning district at 515 South Alpine Road. Seher Qaseem is the applicant, thus reversing the Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation of denial, subject to conditions.

Item six, committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals approval for a variation to reduce the rear yard setback from 30 feet to nine feet in an R2, two family residential zoning district at 1320 21st Avenue. Manuel Pedroza is the applicant subject to conditions. Item number seven. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals approval for a special use permit for a planned unit development consisting of a working farm and education center with pole barns for a community meetings place and equipment storage, 02:30 by 90 passive solar greenhouses, a storage shed, a gazebo, and a gravel parking area and gravel driveway in an R1 single family residential zoning district at 730 And 7XX Lincoln Park Boulevard. Catherine Whitaker of Nettle Curbside Compost LLC is the applicant subject to conditions.

Number eight, committee recommends sustaining the zoning board of appeals approval for a zoning map amendment from I-one Light Industrial Zoning District to C-four Urban Mixed Use Zoning District at 215325, And 423 South Madison Street, City Of Rockford, is the applicant subject to conditions. Item nine, committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board of Appeals approval. A, for A, the sale of tobacco products and B, the sale of packaged liquor in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C3 general commercial zoning district at 818 6th Street, Allen S. Augustine, Mama's Food and Fuel as the applicant subject to conditions. Number 10, committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board of Appeals approval for the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 2975 North Perryville Road.

Abdul Hakim Saleh Alawi, H. And Mart, LLC, doing business as H. And Mart is the applicant subject to conditions. Item 11, committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board of Appeals approval for A, the sale of tobacco products B, the sale of packaged liquor, class PKG and C, the sale of liquor by the drink, class L-fifty, in conjunction with a liquor store, tavern, and video gaming terminals in a C3, general commercial zoning district at 3523 Auburn Street. It's going to say Central Park Tap is the applicant subject to conditions.

Item 12, committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the sale of beer and wine by the drink, class WB50, in conjunction with a restaurant and video gaming terminals in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at four thousand two twenty five Charles Street. Francisco Rivera Luna and Monica Amarillo Porras and La Esquinita de Oro, LLC doing business as La Esquinita de Oro. Are the applicants subject to conditions? Item 13, the committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for a modification of an existing liquor license for a 100% stock purchase in a C3 commercial zoning district, an R1 single family zoning district at 2842 And 28XX, 11th Street, and 2845 Kinsey Street. Chantalao Patel, Ajay Modi, and BJ's Place.

LTD doing business as BJ's Place. Are the applicants subject to conditions? Item number 14, committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the sale of liquor by the drink class NGL in conjunction with a restaurant in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 6,565, made Sansu Ariat Lazzarardi Lisa Prasetya Yugen, LLC doing business at Yugen authentic Japanese restaurant. Are the applicants subject to conditions? I feel like this is punishment here.

You're doing great.

Thank you. I'm just going to all right. Three more. Item 15, committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a convenience store in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 2645 20th Street, Mohamed Sagir Ahmad Smokes and More LLC doing business as Smokes and More is the applicant subject to conditions. Item 16, committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the sale of liquor by the drink class 50 in conjunction with a tavern and restaurant and video gaming terminals in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 908 West Riverside Boulevard.

On the rocks are the applicants subject to conditions. Item 17, committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the sale of liquor by the drink, class L50, in conjunction with a restaurant and outdoor seating area in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 6275 East State Street. Stephen Groove and Rockford Wing Company, LLC, doing business as Buffalo Wild Wings, is the applicant. Subject to conditions. I place these 17 items before you.

Thank you. Only bad news is the recorder stopped at five so you just got to go back and read it.

No, thank

you so much. Counsel, we have 17 items. Is there any discussion on those 17 items? Alderman Bell.

Thank you. I just need to turn this page really quick. Can you guide me to the housing development item Five. Five. Thank you. Speaking on item five, maybe this is for our public works director. There were concerns raised today with public comment surrounding traffic. Has there been a traffic study done yet on this area?

You move your mic just so they can hear you at home too?

I'm sorry. Excuse me. Alderman Bell, to my knowledge, no traffic study has been completed as part of this project.

Got you. So I've had one done in the 13th Ward after a few conversations and meetings. Would love to ask staff if there could be a traffic study done. I don't know what that timeframe of a traffic study and how long that takes. But as we lead up to taking a vote on this, there's been concerns from residents in that area. I wanted to know if that was something that we could pursue.

Doctor. Having worked both sides of the table on these studies, I would tell you they generally are a two to four week proposition, completing a traffic study.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Elder Woman Meeks.

I wanted to talk about a different item, but I do want to stay on that topic really quick with item number five. I just wanted to confirm, did the traffic director speak on this development and say that the number of units would not impact traffic? I believe that was the statement that was made at the zoning meeting.

Director Sanders.

Knowledge.

Okay. So I was there and I did hear it. You might not have knowledge but I do have knowledge.

I appreciate it.

Thank you. But I'm going to move back to item number three really quick, if that's okay. So I don't see the planning director here. So for item number three, this is a recommendation of denial for the variation. And I actually, when I first saw it, I totally understood it because of the lack of permitting prior to making the change at this location.

But after further review and going there and seeing what's actually taking place after checking in with the business directly adjacent to this property and they have had no issues, they actually think it looks nicer that way with the fence kind of blocking off the area. I really don't see an issue here with the change that was made. It's a large seating area right now. It allows people to go outside, get a breath of fresh air. I'm not saying that they would need to take this away, but the what area we're talking about changing is the entrance to this area from inside of the establishment.

And it it really has been an improvement. It's a structure that's been there for quite some time. I want to point that part out too. I understand there were changes made, but it is a structure that has been there for a while. There were permits that were given to update the structure over time.

And I just feel like if there was such an issue with that structure, that should have been addressed at that time. And we were more than happy to permit that. So I am asking that we overlook this and allow this variation instead of denying it and being able to move this business forward. This is a well established business. There are multiple repeated calls of service.

So there are calls of service that look significant. I've seen worse in other areas. But it is something that I think is addressed pretty quickly in the area. And I personally feel like they run a good business. So I would like to see this. I just wanted to make that claim on the floor so that everyone is aware and hopefully you can help me adjust this so that it is not a denial and actually an approval for the variation.

Thank you. Just so I understand older woman makes right now a no means yes on this item. So one, I want that to be clear. But also, we've had lots of discussion at this body about making that change. If you wanted to get some guidance on that, I'm sure a legal team would be happy to provide that. You didn't ask for it, but understanding where you're coming from, think you're moving in that direction.

I would.

Instead of everyone being confused, it may be easier.

Yeah, don't want to confuse everyone. Director Hammer, if you could help me understand how to make this change potentially.

So you would need to move to amend the recommendation to an approval. And then we would have to adopt findings of facts to support the approval. And then that would require a second and a majority vote at the committee report level. And then if that is approved, it would appear at the next meeting of counsel in two weeks as an ordinance. And the ordinance would require 10 votes to overturn the denial of the zoning board of appeals.

And and just to be clear, if everyone were to vote no, what would that mean?

To vote no as it's written? So a no would be so if everyone voted no and the denial was not sustained, then we would need to reverse that because we're required under the statute to have the findings of fact to support the recommendation. Thank you so much. You're welcome.

So I would like to move to make a motion to amend the recommendation from denial to approval.

We have a motion. We have a second on item number B3. Is there any discussion on that amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed? Okay. Then Alderman Meats, did you have anything else?

I don't really have anything. If anybody wants to see better pictures, I have them on my phone. So what you saw was not a good depiction of that property.

Alderman Thunberg. Alderman Thunberg.

Thank you, Mayor. Coincidentally, I was going to talk on three as well. I missed the opportunity to talk with Mr. Capa Villa last week during committee meetings. I looked at this and it looks like that the enclosure does assist the business with some additional storage along with some lawn mowing equipment.

And I was going to inquire if there was any complaints by the neighboring businesses because I was assuming there wasn't. And I think Alderman Meeks pointed that out tonight. So that's that's good to hear. So I would be in favor of of this proceeding forth in the manner that it is right now and hope others consider that as well. On item number five, do we have now we have this on our desks tonight, but is this the there was talk about a bringing this project down in scope.

Has it been presented to us in any way up to this point? Or is this the new

Thank you, Alderman Thunberg. Mr. Cagnoni, could you highlight what each council member has in front of them regarding item five which is the development of additional housing on Alpine.

Certainly. Thank you, Your Honor. So what before you is a site plan that was provided by the applicant. They have amended their application to reflect modifying the two eight unit buildings down to two four unit buildings. So in essence, they removed eight units out of the proposed development. So rather than four four unit buildings, it is now six four unit buildings and no eight unit buildings.

Okay.

All right. Thank you.

Alderman Durkee. Just a matter of clarification, your honor, but that's not what we're going to vote on. That's not what's before us. Is that correct? My understanding is that we would need to adopt those new renderings. Mr. Cagnoni?

So the renderings have been submitted as an amended application, but the Alderman would be correct. It would be appropriate for it to be six you know, they could if they were to approve it, it would reflect what has been submitted as an applicant. But for clarity purposes, it certainly could say six four unit buildings on the approval.

So I haven't called on anyone yet. So Alderman Beach, you had a comment.

Yeah. I I tell you, I'm really, really amazed at the amount of interest that staff has taken in this particular project. I'm thankful for the amendment that I see on my desk this evening. There's no apartments now going to be on this site. I wouldn't be at all interested in moving forward until we work that traffic situation out.

And, it's just really it's terrible the way it is. And if we go ahead with this, it's going be even worse. So if we're going to try to better the thing, we ought to take and make all the problems that we have go away, if we can. But I had wanted to have it laid over last week so we could discuss it, so it could be here tonight and perhaps vote on it. But that didn't happen. And so I'd like to have it laid over tonight, if at all possible.

Thank you. We have a motion to lay over. Second. And we have a second. So item five has been automatically laid over. Alderman Terina, then I believe Alderman Bell or Meets had their hand up. So Alderman Terina?

My question was actually about item number five, so should I just wait until next time? All right.

Okay, so item five has been laid over, item three has been amended. Is there any discussion on any of the 17 items, now 16 items before us?

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Logeman? Toomer?

Aye.

Frost? Aye. Terina?

No on nine and fifteen? Aye on the rest.

Prenti? Aye. Wilkins?

Hoffman? Granny? Beach? Selgado? Meeks?

Bell? Item one, two, three, thirteen ayes. Item four, twelve ayes. One no. Item six, thirteen ayes. Item seven, twelve ayes. One no. Eight, thirteen ayes. Nine, eleven ayes. Two noes. Item ten, thirteen ayes. Item eleven, twelve twelve ayes, one no. Items thirteen, fourteen, 13 ayes. Item fifteen, twelve ayes, one no. Sixteen, eleven ayes, two no's. And seventeen, twelve ayes, one no.

And you are impressive. Next we're going to go to Finance and Personnel Committee and Alderman Frost.

Thank you, Your Honor. There's one item. The committee recommends approval of vouchers in the amount of $9,022,558.28 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on 04/27/2026.

Thank you. Counsel, one item before you. Any discussion on that one item?

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Dierke?

Aye.

Logeman?

Aye.

Thunberg?

Aye.

Frost? Aye. Terina? Aye. Prunty? Aye. Wilkins?

Aye. Hoffman? Aye. Granath? Aye. Beach?

Aye.

Salgado? Aye. Meeks? Aye. Bell? Aye.

13 ayes.

Thank you. Next we're going to go to unfinished business. We have nothing under planning and development So we'll go to Code and Regulation Committee and Alderman Bell.

We have one item. Committee recommends sustaining the zoning board of appeals denial for a, A, special use permit for a planned use development consisting of a ground mount solar array within the existing parking lot and B, variation to increase the white vinyl fencing height from four feet to six feet within the front yard along Acorn Street in an R2 two family residential zoning district at 609 Kilburn Avenue, Greenlink Solar Solutions, and the Boys and Girls Club of Rockford are the applicants. This was laid over from 04/20/2026. I place this one item before you.

Thank you. Is there any discussion on the one item before us? Alderman Bell.

Thank you. I've advocated, obviously, for a few weeks now. I just want to say thank you to the few colleagues that did reach out to figure out a way forward, as we know that this will save the the Boys and Girls Club upwards of 40 more than $40,000 a year that they could put back into their programming to support our young people in our community. And so while we want to see the savings, should this fail, we will go back to the drawing board and figure it out. So, just want to say thank you for those who reached out through this process. Thank you.

Thank you.

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Dirke. Aye.

Thank you.

Lugaman.

Aye.

Toomer. No. Frost. Aye. Terina. Aye. Prunty. Aye. Wilkins. Aye. Hoffman. Aye.

Granath? Aye. Beach? No. Salgado? No. Meeks? No.

Bell? No. 8, 5 nos.

Okay. Thank you. Next we are going to officers' reports. Any council members who have reports? Alderman Terrena.

Thank you, your honor.

I'm not ready. I will be in about five seconds. I do want to let my residents know and anyone else that would like to attend that we do have an upcoming 5th Ward Meeting next week. It is Thursday, May 14 at 05:30. And that meeting will be held at the Rockford Park District headquarters at 401 South Main Street.

I understand people are like, what is the Park District headquarters? It's also known as the post office. So I'm looking forward to seeing the residents at that meeting next week. Also in partnership with the Rockford Park District, we are launching a walking group called the Fifth Ward Walkers. And it is an opportunity for us to utilize a gym in our community, which is the Clarence Hicks Sports Complex and an opportunity for us to get together and build community.

So there are five walking dates. The first one is actually this Thursday, May 7. The next one is May 12, May 21, May 28, and June 4. Again, dates are May 7, May 12, May 21, May 28, and June 4 at the Clarence Hicks Sports Complex at 2004 Ogilby Road. And the time for that is 04:30 to 06:30. So you don't got to come and walk for two hours. But maybe you can do thirty minutes, maybe do an hour, or maybe you can do all two hours. It's really up to you. But we will have all kind of fun things. We're going to have some giveaways, prizes.

We're going to

have some celebrity walkers. We'll be able to use the fullness of the facility. So we're going use the music. And each week, we'll have like really fun themes. So anyone that wants to come walk, you don't have to live in the 5th Ward to be a 5th Ward walker. So feel free to come. And we're going to have a good time. There's going to be different vendors, partnerships with Swedes, the Red Cross. There's going to be a lot of different people there with their services around health and wellness. So I'm very, very excited about that partnership and being able to offer that to the residents. So feel free to come. Again, look forward to seeing you guys. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Elder Woman Franti.

Thank you. I just would like to take a moment to recognize several important moments in our community. First, I want to congratulate St. Luke Baptist Church in the 6th Ward on the dedication of their youth center on March 29. This is a meaningful investment in our youth, in our young people, and their families.

I also wanna acknowledge their current pastor, pastor Louis Malone, and missus Malone. They are preparing for their retirement after forty five plus years of service in this community. They will be retiring in October. Their leadership has left a lasting legacy and this youth center will continue that impact for generations to come. I would also like to congratulate the Rockford Promise graduates and scholarship recipients.

Rockford's future is brighter because of you. Thank you to the Rockford Promise staff, board, and volunteers for a beautiful program yesterday. And congratulations to twenty years and 1,000 scholarships. As well as I want to congratulate the award recipients. Finally, in recognition of teacher appreciation week, I want to thank my fellow educators and coworkers for the role you play in helping all students, including the Rockford Promise students, to reach these milestones. Your work matters, and it does not go unnoticed. So thank you.

Thank you. Alderwoman Grant and Alderwoman Meats.

Two things. First off, I want to thank Officer Best and Sergeant Fleming. I was able to attend the ten week of Rockford Police Department class that was put on. And I would highly recommend any when they have the next one that if anybody is interested in learning all the many things that our officers do on a daily basis, I would suggest attending. It was eye opening to see all the different things that they do on a daily basis. And you get to see you get to go to the morgue. You get to go on a ride along. You get to talk about the bomb squad. And it's also a great recruiting tool. Chief, your officers did a really good job of recruiting from within there.

So good job. I think you might have gotten a few recruits out of there. So it was good. And also this weekend is a busy weekend and the ninth on the Northwest Side Of Rockford. We have flowers that are going to be planted at the Auburn Circle. The 200 is also being designated. But anybody who wants to come out and plant a few rows of flowers on Saturday morning at the circle, please stop on by. It's also an opportunity for along with elder woman Meeks and Thunberg and Wilkins to do the Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful. And I know Alderwoman Meeks will talk more about that. But please come out and participate.

Clean up your neighborhood. There's going to be plenty of food and other things going on in the Northwest Side. So please step on out and plant some flowers and come on over. Help us clean it up. Thank you.

I thought for a second you had like an announcement you were going to enter into the police department,

you were saying? No.

Alderman Meeks.

Well, thank you so much, Alderman Grannith, for kicking things off. I do want to just remind everyone about this weekend's spring cleanup where we have partnered myself, Alderman Wilkins, Alderman Granath, and Alderman Thunberg. We all partnered for a cleanup day at the North End City Market. So it would be at the North End City Market right next to the Veterans Memorial Circle. On that same day, we will have the North End City Market opening day.

We will have the annual Spruce Up Day, as Alderman Grant mentioned, for the Veterans Memorial Circle. So you have an opportunity to plant flowers. And you'll have an opportunity to clean up. And I'll be honest, I need more people registering. I've heard a lot of people saying they're going to come and clean and do all that. And I appreciate that. But we need to keep track of how many people are coming so we can get prepared for you and know how many tools and supplies to bring. Because we don't expect you to come with all of those things. We will supply them. Or I should say, keep Northern Illinois beautiful.

We'll be supplying them. I just want to really quickly thank some of the businesses that have partnered and made this successful on Saturday. Pennin,

thank

you so much for lunch. Taqueria La Katrina, thank you so much for lunch. Cherry Blossom Florist is offering a floral arrangement as a final prize, a beautiful floral arrangement. So not just your standard floral arrangement, top notch. And then you cannot have hot dogs without Mrs.

Fisher's potato chips. So they are also supporting this. So I am just really grateful for all the aldermen who said yes to being a part of it, all of the volunteers that will come out on Saturday. But to register, I need you to go to www.knib.org. And it's right on the front page, special events, spring cleanup day. And I just want to reiterate that this event is at the North End City Market, not the regular city market. Thank you so much.

I'm following what you're saying. Alderman Wilkins.

Thank you, your honor. I wanted to give a shout out to Barbers United who actually just finished up doing an event at Northwest Community Center. So thank you to Northwest for hosting this event. We had some barbers that united and came together to give free haircuts to our youth today. So I wanted to give a shout out to Jermaine, KT, Mon, Steve O, and one of the best brother in laws possible, mister Juanny Neal, for putting on this event, not just here on the the West Side Of Rockford, but throughout our our city.

I I love what they're doing, and I I appreciate that initiative that that they are leading. To piggyback off of alderwoman Meeks, there's gonna be some heavy cleanup, obviously, going on this weekend. We are also doing a cleanup over around the Andrews area over in Ward 7 as the Rockford Park District are doing a pop up football camp. And so we've got some volunteers coming over from the Alpha program that'll be helping out and also participating with that cleanup as well. So I just wanted to give a shout out to everyone involved with getting our community cleaned up this weekend. Thank you.

Alderman Thunberg.

Thank you, mayor. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped make another Churchill's Grove garage sale successful. A

lot

of fun had by all and hopefully some good bargains out there to be had. Thank you to Elderwoman Meeks for kind of taking the lead on all these logistical issues of getting the four wards together. We will there will be some serious cleanup done around the area on the Northwest Side. And that is, of course did anyone tell you it is the city market that's up at the North End?

Heard that.

But also that's right outside the park that's right near the parking lot where the Midland Bank is, of course, up there near the roundabout. Also, to anyone that's coming up and planting flowers, you will not be allowed to infiltrate on my spot that I do it every year because I think it's the most lush spot of all. But that's just my own personal opinion. But yes, it's a great time. And what the Redferns do and what they really the legwork that they put in, Ernie and Helen Redfern, to make that area as beautiful as it is.

It is nice to hear the comments, especially that come to the Redferns in particular from veterans of our military that just feel really moved by the effort that's put in there and the beauty of it. So thank you to all those that come up not only to help clean up the neighborhood, but to plant those flowers that make it as beautiful as it is. Thank you.

Elder Woman Wilkins.

Yes. Thank you, your honor. I'm sorry. I did forget, and I apologize, but I wanted to give a major, major shout out to Signal Hills president Jeannie Westholder, has been really holding down the fort over there in my absence. They also did a cleanup last Saturday on the twenty fourth and got a good chunk of the area that we'll be cleaning on Saturday. So we will we'll definitely pick up where they left off. I've already been given the coordinates and everything because Jeannie is amazing. But I wanted to thank Jeannie and all of the team, all of the residents that took place in this initiative and who have continued to come out. We will be having a Signal Hill meeting this Thursday at seven p. M.

At St. Peter's Cathedral where I will be present giving some updates and providing some really, really good announcements. So if you can, if you're in the 7th Ward, wherever, you've been close by, definitely feel free to stop in. 07:00 St. Peter's. Thank you.

Alderman Salgado.

Thank you, Your Honor, for giving me the time. I've got a couple things. It's going to be a busy May, busy June. The first, obviously, as we know, tomorrow, Cinco de Mayo. So I want to invite folks. There's two things that are happening, both in the 11th Ward somehow. Some will be there and then off-site fundraiser. But the first one is La Quinta Spider is having their grand opening. They're gonna have at 10:30 is the ribbon cutting, and then they're gonna have festivities throughout the day. That's the new banquet hall next to the Lydda Club there that was there.

So they're opening up tomorrow. Perfect Cinco de Mayo for that celebration. Also, the Midtown Business Association is hosting a fundraiser out at El Vallarta and Cherry Valley Mall. It starts at eleven goes to 7PM. They're going to have raffles from I believe Puerto Vallarta, you can win. There also TV, a 65 inches TV, and then a $100 gift card. So it's a fundraiser. They're going to have Bouncy House there. Hopefully the weather cooperates, the wind, and everything like that. So they're going to have a whole bunch of festivities.

So if you don't got anywhere to go get a margarita or tacos or anything like that, stop on over for that. But I know there's a lot of festivities going on throughout the city from that perspective. May 7, LCI meeting for the Midtown neighborhood is going to be held at Patriots Gateway. This is a second round where they're going to Regional One plan is going to be discussing what different projects came out of the discussions, what projects are feasible, and obviously kind of get some input from the citizens to see what they want to do with that. So 06:00 at Patriots Gateway, May 7 on that.

Also, the 11th Street phase two, there's going to be an update with public works. Tim Hankins will hopefully next week kind of give an update. We're hoping to plan something Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. I'm trying to follow-up with him just to give an understanding from essentially Broadway to Charles what that phase two is going to look like in the 11th Ward from that perspective. So also there's the you saw it, the 9th Street to 6th Street two way conversion is coming up.

There's still some feedback sessions that we're trying to schedule. Hopefully we'll schedule them in June. And then obviously the last piece of it would be town hall in June, right around fifteenth. We haven't set the date yet on that. But busy, busy stuff and good stuff, though.

Thank you.

Alderman Bell.

Alderman Thank you, Mayor. I had the opportunity to do a bunch of things, but two I'd like to touch on this evening along with I was in Springfield along with Alderman Jaime Salgado, Alderman Gabrielle Terina, and Alderman Gina Meeks this past week for the IML Lobby Day. And it was just great to talk about Rockford with many state senators, and we had an opportunity to speak with the Illinois State Comptroller, Suzanne Mendoza, and Secretary of State, Alexei Janoulias, and wow, are we doing great things here in the city of Rockford. So, we were able to share some of the things, and we were going through and meeting new folks and they knew about Rockford. Just wanted to highlight that.

Mayor, you were also down there. Thank you for advocating for Rockford among the IML board of directors as a vice vice chairman. So I also had an opportunity on Saturday, Saturday during the day out at Fire Station 6 in the 13th Ward and had an amazing time. I didn't put on the gear at all. But our fire recruiter, Bo Cheney, hosted along with his colleagues at the fire department the fifth or one out of the five different explorer cadet field training opportunities that the University of Illinois Extension puts on during the spring and I believe fall time throughout the state.

And Rockford was able to host one of those. I mean, there were so many different young people, ages 15 to 20 years old. And what stuck out to me was we had five awesome individuals in high school who were out there in fire gear representing the city of Rockford amongst their peers from across the state. And I think I'm a little biased here, not because Station six is in the 13th Ward, but we all we have an amazing fire department. And those five individuals are from Rockford.

They live in Rockford. One being and I got to meet director Hughes's son, Casey, who hopefully is going to be an aspiring fire firefighter. We won him here in the city of Rockford. But it was just an amazing opportunity to see and hear from those five cadets that desire to work for the city of Rockford in the near future. And so, I was able to take a picture with them so that I could put put that in my office and remember them for when they are the next chief. So, I'm super excited about them becoming firefighters in the future. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other reports? Just to add a couple of comments and also ask a clarifying question. One, certainly thank you for the work that Alderman Granath, Alderman Prunty, and Elderman Logeman do as teachers. We certainly appreciate you. So thank you. There was lots of discussion about cleanup. I think it's going to be near the market on the North West Side. But I wanted to clarify, I know the spruce up day starts at 08:30. Does yours start?

Yes. Okay. For everyone following along, I would go to the market on the Northwest Side Saturday, May 9, to participate in the annual Spruce Up Day and four wards coming together for a cleanup day, good food, and things of that nature. I want to say a special thank you to the friends of Veterans Memorial Circle for the year after year work that they do, specifically Helen and Ernie Redfern, just for their dedicated stewardship of it. I know Alderwoman Prunty touched on Rock for Promise event, really one of my favorite events every single year.

Just so you're aware, they celebrated 97 graduates this year, and they welcomed in 192 new scholars. One of the best parts of that event is they do a video that they have every single child say their name, and it goes like back to back to back to back. And now with 192, it just goes on and on and on. But it's beautiful. It looks like Rockford.

And I think it's such a way that we can live out our values as a community. To see that our kids are not just going but they're matriculating at a far greater pace through college than national standards, they're getting a higher GPA than their peers at their colleges, And they're doing that, and I would make two asks of the community, think about a way that you could be a mentor. It doesn't cost you anything except a little bit of your time to encourage. I think now with this new class I believe 56 or 58% of the students are first time college going students. So and their family first generation college going students.

So they need folks to be able to lean into and talk to. Also, I would just ask folks to continue to make people aware at your neighborhood meetings, whatever that may be, to continue to make people aware of the program because there still are folks who are not aware of it. But thank you for all those great reports. We have next up, we have appointments. So Items two through 11 are don't come up for several more weeks, but Item one does come up and it comes up this evening.

Is there any discussion or let me read it in. Reappointment of the following individuals as directors of their municipal department in the city of Rockford: Kerry Haggerty of Finance, Charice Hunter of Human Resources, Ankwana Parham of Health and Human Services Todd Hughes of Information Technology Angela Hammer of Legal Department Scott Sanders of Public Works Sarah Lies of Community and Economic Development. Is there any discussion on that one item? Alder Rowan Meeks.

Thank you so much. I just have a quick question. Can anyone tell me how many vacant positions we have with the city of Rockford just in general?

In general?

Yeah. I feel like there was a report I saw a while back, and I was just curious if that was an answer I could get.

You can definitely get the answer. I don't know if we have that right now. Director Hunter?

Yes, I can get that

too. Okay.

Thank you.

We will get you that answer.

That was the only question I had. Thank you.

Alderman Salgado. We'll email it out to everyone. Any discussion? Alderman Bell.

Thank you, Mayor. Just, I mean, while it's in front of us, I want to take the time publicly to thank, these directors. All of you do, quite a bit of work for this city and just I don't think that we give you your flowers enough. So, while it's in front of you, I just wanna say thank you for all of the work that you all do.

Thank you for that.

Any other discussion? Clerk, could

you please call the roll.

Dirke? Aye. Logeman? Aye. Toomer? Aye. Frost? Aye. Fronty? Aye. Wilkins? Aye. Hoffman? Aye.

Granath? Aye. Beach? Aye. Salgado? Aye. Meeks? Aye. Bell?

Aye. 12 ayes.

Excellent. Next we're going to move to motions and resolutions. We have nothing under planning and development or code and regulation, so we'll move to finance and personnel. Alderman Frost.

Thank you, Your Honor. Number one, the committee recommends approval of a ward of bid for demolition bid Group 36 to Northern Illinois Service in the amount of $39,700 It includes properties at 1151 North Main and 2818 Horton Street. The contract duration is through completion of the demolition project. The funding sources are the Community Development General Fund and the IDHA Strong Communities Grant. Number two, the committee recommends approval to award a bid for citywide Street Repairs Group.

Number three, to Rock Road Companies in the amount of $3,494,396.19 The contract duration is through 08/20/2026. The funding source is the 1% infrastructure sales tax. Number three, the committee recommends approval order bid for Madison Street Quarter Improvements Phase II to NTRAC in the amount of $9,750,755.36 The contract is from this June through 10/31/2027. The funding sources are the 1% infrastructure sales tax, the WRIA, and the DCEO funds, and the Four River Sanitation Authority funds. Number four, the committee recommends approval of award of bid for the Coronado Decorative Flaster Repairs of Evergreen Architectural Arts in the amount of $596,048 The contract is through 12/31/2027, and the funding source is the redevelopment fund.

Number five, the committee recommends approval of award of professional services agreement for architectural design of fire stations two, four, five, nine, And 10, the fire department headquarters and the fire academy to Larson Darby in the amount of $192,950 The contract duration is two years. The funding source is fire station ten reallocation of funds. Number six, the committee recommends approval of the Board of Engineering agreement for the Madison Street improvements to Barrett Graham in the amount of $719,000 The contract duration is 06/01/2026, through 10/31/2027. The funding sources are the 1% infrastructure sales tax and the WRIA. Number seven, the committee recommends approval of the award of engineering agreement for the Winnebago Street over Kent Creek and Railroads Bridge Rehabilitation Phase II of Engineering to HR Green in the amount of $333,693 The contract duration is from is from this April through June 2027.

The funding source is the motor fuel tax funds. Number eight, the committee recommends approval of the resolution of appropriation of MFT funds for improvement under the Illinois Highway Code for the Winnebago Street over Kent Creek and Railroads Bridge Rehabilitation in the amount of $500,000 Number nine, the committee recommends approval and acceptance of the IDHS emergency solutions grant in the amount of $25,000 The grant does require 100% cost match. The grant term is from 07/01/2026, through 06/30/2027. The grant award, if accepted, will be used to pay for street outreach, homeless management information system, data entry, and admin costs. It looks like we have two number nine.

So I'll move on to 9.1. Oh, I'm sorry. Number 10, the committee recommends approval and acceptance of the Illinois Department of Human Services rapid rehousing grant award in the amount of $374,169 The grant does not require a cost match. The grant term is from 07/01/2026 through 06/30/2027. Number 11, the committee recommends approval and acceptance of the Illinois Department of Human Services Shelter Diversion Grant award in the amount of $113,534 The grant does not require a cost match.

The grant permits from 07/01/2026, to 06/30/2027. Number 12, the committee recommends approval and acceptance of the Illinois Department of Human Services homeless prevention grant award in the amount of $1,110,414 The grant does not require a cost match. The grant comes from 07/01/2026, through 06/30/2027. And number 13, the opinion recommends approval and acceptance of the Illinois Department of Human Services Community Conventor grant award in the amount of $188,000 The grant does not require a cost match. The award will be issued in two separate agreements covering a twelve month period.

Program year one, Part A, provides $47,000 for the period from 04/01/2026, to 06/30/2026. And Part B provides $141,000 for a period from 07/01/2026, through 03/31/2027. I place these 13 matters before you.

Thank you. Counsel, is there any discussion on those 13 items? Elder one Meese.

Thank you so much, Your Honor. I want to start with item number four, the Coronado plaster project. Is this funding coming out I see that it's coming out of redevelopment funds, but is this ARPA funding? Or what's the original funding mechanism for this?

Doctor. Haggard? Or Director Sanders?

It is to my understanding of how this is happening is that the work is actually largely being will be funded through two different grants issued through DCEO grants issued to the United Way and passed through to Friends of the Coronado, that the money will be paid out of the redevelopment fund and reimbursed from Friends of the Coronado through those two grants?

So, Older Meeks, our state legislators are, over the last two to three years, several of them are moving instead of giving monies to a direct organization, now are going towards Community Foundation, and Community Foundation then grants those dollars out. So the dollars, my understanding, from that are going towards Coronado are from Senator Stottleman who provided that funding for the Coronado Theater to the Community Foundation. It makes it easier for the organizations getting the funding and certainly easier for legislators doing it that way.

Thank you. Then item number five, Chief Tayo is there more expected funding coming up? I understand this is the reallocated is this well, let me ask that first. Yes. Well, yes.

Reallocated I can answer that one, yes.

There will be more.

So these are okay. So yeah, this is just an initial bite out of the $10,000,000 that we actually Yes. Have to spend.

In the memo that was sent regarding the reallocation of funds, this is going to be helpful to us to get a real itemized list of where we can reallocate that and have some more specific numbers to be able to move forward.

And these are the only stations that will be impacted to, four, five, nine, and ten? With this design proposal, yes. Okay. Can I just get clarification? Is Station 8 the station off of Auburn Street?

Yes.

Yes. All right. Are there any future plans for that very old, tiny station?

Actually it's in really good condition. So it's been doing very well in that location for us. We have had discussion in the past about relocating that station but not at this time.

Are are the same amenities that exist in the other stations what exist in Station

8? Yes. We are constantly looking to make sure that the like the dorm area and the bathrooms are equal across all of our stations. And they just went through a recent renovation in the last two years. And so we're moving on to other stations to bring those also up to those conditions.

Awesome. Thank you so much. I'm done. You're good? Yeah, thank you.

Any other discussion on the items before you?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkee. Aye. Logeman.

Aye.

Tuber. Aye. Frost. Aye. Terina. Aye. Prenti. Aye. Wilkins.

No one I'm sorry. Abstain on '13, aye on the list.

Hoffman? Aye. Granite? Aye. Beach? Aye. Salgado? Aye. Meeks? Aye. Bell?

Aye. Items one through twelve thirteen ayes, item 13. 12 ayes, one abstain.

Thank you. Next we're going to go to new business. We'll go to Planning and Development Committee, Alderman Wilkins.

Thank you, Your Honor. Item one is an ordinance approving the amendment to the AP90 program specific requirements, all current and prior year annual action plans. Item two is an ordinance approving the amendments to the fiscal year 2025, addition of projects and budget

amendments. Thank you. Counsel, any discussion on those two items?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Dierke.

Aye.

Logeman.

Aye. Thunberg. Aye. Frost.

Aye. Terina.

Aye. Prunty. Aye. Wilkins.

Aye. Hoffman. Aye. Granath. Aye. Beach.

Aye.

Salgado. Hneaks. Aye. Bell.

Aye. 13 ayes.

Thank you. Next we're going

to go to Code

and Regulation Committee and Alderman Bell. Okay.

Luckily, one was laid over, so I'll spare you that one. Number one, an ordinance establishing a no parking at any time except paratransit restriction on the west side of North Court Street from three eighteen or three sorry, three eighteen feet north of Whitman Street to three forty eight feet north of Whitman Street. Item two, an ordinance approving a zoning map amendment from C3 General Commercial Zoning District to I and I1, Light Industrial Zoning District, to I3, Airport Industrial Zoning District, at 3321 Integrity Drive, Industrial Enterprises, LLC. Hillwood is the applicant. Item three, an ordinance approving the special use permit.

That was laid over.

Two were laid over.

Trying to save you. Thank you. A sentence or two.

Oh, I wrote it on the wrong one. Thank you, sir. Appreciate that. Five was not laid over. Correct? Correct. Okay. Wrote it out the

wrong one.

Okay. Item four, an ordinance approving a variation to reduce the rear yard setback from 30 feet to nine feet and an R2 two family residential zoning district at 1320 21st Avenue. Emmanuel Pedroza is the applicant. Item five, an ordinance approving a special use permit for planned unit development consisting of a working farm and education center with pole barns for a community meeting place and equipment storage, two thirty by 90 passive solar greenhouses, a storage shed, a gazebo, and a gravel parking area and gravel driveway, and an R1 single family residential zoning district at 730 And 7XX Lincoln Park Boulevard. Catherine Whitaker of Neto Curbside Compost, LLC is the applicant.

Item number six, an ordinance approving or an ordinance approval for a zoning map amendment from I1, Light Industrial Zoning District, to C4, Urban Mixed Use Zoning District, at 215325, And 423 South Madison Street, City Of Rockford, Z. Applicant item number seven, an ordinance approving the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C3 General commercial zoning district at 818 6th Street, Allen Augustine in Mama's Food and Fuel as the applicant number eight, an ordinance approving the sale of packaged liquor in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C3 General Commercial Zoning District at 818 6th Street. Allen Augustine Mama's Food And Fuel is the applicant. Item number nine, an ordinance proven to sell of tobacco products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in C2 Limited Commercial Zoning District at 2975 North Perryville Road. Abdul Hakim Saleh Alawi, H.

And Mart, LLC, doing business as H. And Mart as the applicant. Item number 10, an ordinance approving the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a liquor store, tavern, and video gaming terminals in a C3 General Commercial Zoning District at 3523 Auburn Street. Central Park Tap are the applicants. 11, an ordinance approving the sale of packaged liquor, class PG, and the sale of liquor by the drink, class L50, in conjunction with a liquor store, tavern, and video gaming terminals.

And a C3, general commercial zoning district at 3523 Auburn Street, Central Park, TAP is the applicants or the applicants. Item 12, an ordinance approving the sale of beer and wine by the drink, class w b 50 in conjunction with a restaurant and video gaming terminals in a c two limited commercial zoning district at 4225 Charles Street, Francisco Luna, Monaco Jaramillo Porras La Esquinita de Oro, LLC, doing business as La Esquinita de Oro are the applicants subject to conditions. That was a pretty good guy. Anyways, okay. Item 13, an ordinance approving a modification of an existing liquor license for a 100% stock purchase in a C3 general commercial zoning district, an R1 single family zoning district at two thousand eight hundred and forty two and twenty eight XX eleventh Street and 2845 Kinsey Street.

Shantalao Patel, Ajay Modi, and BJ's Place, doing business as BJ's Place are the applicants. 14, an ordinance approving the sale of liquor by the drink, class NGL, in conjunction with a restaurant in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 6565 Lexus Drive, Maid Geddes Sansu Ariete Lazuarti Lisa Prasitaya Yugen, LLC, doing business as Yugin Authentic Japanese Restaurant are the applicants. Item number 15, an ordinance approving the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a convenience store in its C2 Limited commercial zoning district at 2645 20th Street. Mohamed Sagar Ahmad, Smokes and More, LLC, doing business as Smokes and More are the applicants. Item number 16, an ordinance approving the sale of liquor by the drink Class L50 in conjunction with a tavern and restaurant and video gaming terminals in a C2 Limited Commercial Zoning District at 908 West Riverside Boulevard, Harwinder Carr, AB 2 Enterprises, Incorporated, doing business as on the rocks are the applicants.

And item 17, an ordinance approving the sale of liquor by the drink, class L50, in conjunction with a restaurant and outdoor seating area, and a C2 component in the commercial zoning district at 6275 East State Street, Stephen Groove, Rockford Wing Company, LLC, doing business as Buffalo Wow Wings are the applicants. I place these 16 items before you.

Thank you, Alderman Bell. Counsel, there's 16 items before you. Is there any discussion on those 16 items?

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Logeman Schubert Frost

Terina

Brunty Wilkins

Kaufman Granath Beach Delgado? Aye. Meeks?

No on two, aye on the rest.

Bell?

No on 16, aye on the rest.

Item number one, thirteen ayes. Item two, twelve ayes, one no. Item four, thirteen ayes. Item five, twelve eyes, one no. Six, thirteen eyes. Seven, twelve eyes, one no. Eight, eleven eyes, two no's. Nine, ten, 13 eyes. Eleven, twelve. 12 eyes, one no. Thirteen, thirteen eyes. Fourteen, fourteen, fifteen twelve ayes, one no sixteen, eleven ayes, two no's and item seventeen, thirteen ayes.

Thank you so much. Is there a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

We have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion. All those in favor say aye.

Those opposed? Have a wonderful night.