City Council - Regular Meeting

Monday, May 18, 2026

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About this meeting

Government Body: City Council
Meeting Type: City Council
Location: Rockford, IL
Meeting Date: May 18, 2026

Video will appear here as soon as Rockford City Council posts it — usually within a day of the meeting

Monday, May 18, 2026

59 items on the agenda.

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CALL TO ORDER•Item A

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

CALL TO ORDER•Item B

Roll Call

CALL TO ORDER•Item 1

Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on March 16, 2026.

PROCLAMATIONS•Item 1

Proclamation declaring the week of May 17 - 23, 2026 to be “Emergency Medical Services Week” in the City of Rockford, Illinois. 26-00597

PROCLAMATIONS•Item 2

Proclamation declaring 2026 to be “Sister City Ferentino Italy 20th Anniversary Year”. 26-00598

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS•Item A

Planning and Development Committee

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS•Item 1

Zoning Board of Appeals' Agenda for the meeting to be held on May 19, 2026 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on May 26, 2026. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. 26-00547

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS•Item 2

Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's Agenda for the meeting to be held on May 19, 2026 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on May 26, 2026. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. 26-00548

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS•Item 3

Memorandum from Martin Bloom, Project Manager-Permits and Special Events, regarding upcoming special events for Rockford Fire 911 Run and Cycle on 2nd. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. 26-00599

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS•Item 4

Memorandum from Scott Capovilla, Planning and Zoning Manager, regarding the Final Plat No. 1 of South Avon Subdivision. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee. 26-00600

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS•Item C

Finance and Personnel Committee

PUBLIC SPEAKERS•Item 1

Prophet Yusef

PUBLIC SPEAKERS•Item 2

John Tac Brantley

PUBLIC SPEAKERS•Item 3

Steven McMaster

PUBLIC SPEAKERS•Item 4

Robert Pace

PUBLIC SPEAKERS•Item 5

Craig Campbell

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 1

Committee recommends approval of the transfer of surplus property located at 1338 Derby Lane and 4750 Pepper Drive to the Northern Illinois Land Bank for future residential development. 26-00543

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 2

Committee recommends approval of the Development Agreement with Hillwood (Industrial VI Enterprises, LLC) for the construction of Spec Industrial Building and public improvement in conjunction with Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) site readiness grant. 26-00544

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 1

Committee recommends approval of the Tentative Plat of Rockford Logistics Park 20 Subdivision for the property located at 3321 Integrity Drive. 26-00545

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 2

Committee recommends approval of the Final Plat of Rockford Logistics Park 20 Subdivision for the property located at 3321 Integrity Drive. 26-00562

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 3

Committee recommends approval of the Final Plat of Adrian Subdivision for the property located at 310 North 5th Street. 26-00546

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 1

Committee recommends approval of vouchers in the amount of $11,816,448.08 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on May 11, 2026. 26-00567

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 2

Committee recommends approval of the Bond Sale for the issuance of $103,000,000.00 in taxable General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), for Convention Center and Hotel - Public Private Partnership with Hard Rock Rockford (815 Entertainment LLC). 26-00568

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 3

Committee recommends approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Rockford and the Board of Education of the Rockford Public Schools, District No. 205 (RPS 205) for Summerdale Early Childhood Center services for the 2026-2027 school year. The agreement is from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The funding source is Head Start Grant Funds. 26-00569

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 4

Committee recommends approval of the Lease Agreement with Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc., of Rockford, Illinois for office space located at 917 South Main Street to support the operations of the Violence Prevention Coordinating Council (VPCC) Community Conveners initiative in the not-to-exceed amount of $6,600.00. The contract duration is from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. The funding source is the Illinois Department of Human Services Community Convener Grant Award. 26-00570

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 5

Committee recommends approval of the release of Liens in the total amount of $35,635.15 incurred when the properties were owned by the Winnebago County Trustee for properties located at 205 N. Hinkley Avenue (PIN: 11-22-129-016), 709 Lee Street (PIN: 11-22-229-008), 2143 South 4th Street (PIN: 11-35-401-016), 517 Island Avenue (PIN: 11-27-451-030), and 5XX Foster Avenue (PIN: 11-21-404-013). 26-00571

NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS•Item 6

Committee recommends approval of an Agreement between the City of Rockford and Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad (CCPR) for 6th Street and 9th Street Two-Way Conversion Preliminary Engineering services in the amount of $25,000.00. The funding source is the 1% Infrastructure Sales Tax. 26-00572

UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMITTEE REPORTS LAID OVER•Item 1

Committee recommends approval of the Special Use Permit for a Planned Unit Development consisting of four, 4-unit buildings and two, 8-unit buildings in an R-1, Single Family Residential Zoning District at 515 South Alpine Road (Zaher Qassem/Applicant), thus reversing the Zoning Board of Appeals' recommendation of denial. Subject to conditions. LAID OVER MAY 4, 2026 26-00458

OFFICERS REPORTS•Item VII

OFFICERS REPORTS

APPOINTMENTS•Item 1

Reappointment of Frank Buchmann to the Fire Pension Board for a term ending April 2029. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00499

APPOINTMENTS•Item 2

Reappointment of Brad Benedict to the Historic Preservation Commission for a term ending June 2029. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00500

APPOINTMENTS•Item 3

Appointment of Lafakeria Reuter to the Library Board, replacing Henrietta Dotson-Williams. The appointment will be for a term effective July 2026 through June 2029. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00522

APPOINTMENTS•Item 4

Appointment of Stephanie Nissen to the Library Board, replacing Colleen O'Brien. The appointment will be for a term effective July 2026 through June 2029. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00523

APPOINTMENTS•Item 5

Reappointment of Michael Laskonis to the Library Board for a term ending June 2029. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00524

APPOINTMENTS•Item 6

Reappointment of Greg Harle to the Mechanical Board for a term ending June 2031. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00525

APPOINTMENTS•Item 7

Reappointment of Roberta Holzwarth to the Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority (RAVE) Board for a term ending June 2031. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00526

APPOINTMENTS•Item 8

Appointment of Bryan Kruschke to the Traffic Commission to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Don Bissell. The appointment will be for a term ending October 2026. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00527

APPOINTMENTS•Item 9

Reappointment of Tom Okite to the Traffic Commission for a term ending May 2031. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00528

APPOINTMENTS•Item 10

Reappointment of Craig Sockwell to the Zoning Board of Appeals/Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board for a term ending June 2031. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment will be up for passage after May 20, 2026.) 26-00529

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item A

Planning and Development Committee

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item B

Code and Regulation Committee

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item 1

Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: City-Wide Street Repairs Group No. 4 - 2026 (Concrete) (Bid No. 426-PW-037) to Stenstrom Excavation, of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $2,492,072.02. The contract duration is through October 2, 2026. The funding source is the 1% Infrastructure Sales Tax. 26-00574

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item 2

Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Jamestown Ditch Drainage Improvements (Bid No. 426-PW-039) to N-Trak Group, of Loves Park, Illinois in the amount of $123,414.52. The contract duration is through November 28, 2026. The funding source is the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) General Fund. 26-00575

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item 3

Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Demolition Group 33 (Bid No. 1125-CD-129) to Northern Illinois Service, of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $30,858.00. The properties included are 1814 Kishwaukee Street (PIN: 11-35-251-015) and 1822 Reed Avenue (PIN: 15-01-178-023). The contract duration is through completion of the demolition project. The funding source is the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Strong Communities Grant. 26-00576

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item 4

Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Bituminous Patching Rebid - 2026 (Bid No. 426-W-038) to DPI Construction, of Pecatonica, Illinois in the estimated annual amount of $734,340.50 (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is one (1) year with three (3) possible annual extensions. The funding source is the Water Operating Budget. 26-00577

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item 5

Committee recommends approval of the Award of RFP: Third Party Administration of FMLA Leave Management (RFP No. 725-HR-093) to Sedgewick Claims Management Services, of Memphis, Tennessee in the amount/rate of $3.39 per employee per month, for a total annual estimated administrative amount of $44,015.00. The contract duration is three (3) years with two (2) possible annual extensions. The funding source is the Human Resources Operating Budget. 26-00578

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item 6

Committee recommends approval of the Award of Engineering Agreement: Rockford Complete Streets Revitalization Project (Construction Engineering) to H.R. Green, Inc., of McHenry, Illinois in the amount of $1,761,096.00. The contract duration is from September 2026 to December 2028. The funding sources are Motor Fuel Tax Funds, State Funds, and Federal Funds (Build Grant). 26-00573

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item 7

Committee recommends approval of the Award of Sole Source Contract: Police Communication Radios and Accessories to Motorola, of Schaumberg, Illinois in the amount of $169,464.24. This is a one-time purchase. The funding source is the Police Capital Budget. 26-00579

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS•Item 8

Committee recommends approval of a resolution authorizing the Central Services Manager to execute a contract for Natural Gas Supply. 26-00580

NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES•Item 1

An ordinance approving the transfer of surplus property located at 1338 Derby Lane and 4750 Pepper Drive to the Northern Illinois Land Bank for future residential development. 26-00581

NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES•Item 2

An ordinance approving the Development Agreement with Hillwood (Industrial VI Enterprises, LLC) for the construction of Spec Industrial Building and public improvement in conjunction with Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) site readiness grant. 26-00582

NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES•Item 1

An ordinance approving the Special Use Permit for a Planned Unit Development consisting of four, 4-unit buildings and two, 8-unit buildings in an R-1, Single Family Residential Zoning District at 515 South Alpine Road (Zaher Qassem/Applicant). (APPROVAL REQUIRES 10 VOTES) 26-00506

NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES•Item 2

An ordinance approving a Variation to decrease the minimum side yard setback for a covered entrance from six (6) feet to one (1) foot in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 3207 North Main Street (Jill Bosselman for DJK Haynes, LLC/Applicant). (APPROVAL REQUIRES 10 VOTES) 26-00556

NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES•Item 1

An ordinance approving the Bond Sale for the issuance of $103,000,000.00 in taxable General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), for Convention Center and Hotel - Public Private Partnership with Hard Rock Rockford (815 Entertainment LLC). 26-00583

NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES•Item 2

An ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Rockford and the Board of Education of the Rockford Public Schools, District No. 205 (RPS 205) for Summerdale Early Childhood Center services for the 2026-2027 school year. The agreement is from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The funding source is Head Start Grant Funds. 26-00584

NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES•Item 3

An ordinance approving the Lease Agreement with Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc., of Rockford, Illinois for office space located at 917 South Main Street to support the operations of the Violence Prevention Coordinating Council (VPCC) Community Conveners initiative in the not-to-exceed amount of $6,600.00. The contract duration is from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. The funding source is the Illinois Department of Human Services Community Convener Grant Award. 26-00585

NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES•Item 4

An ordinance approving the release of Liens in the total amount of $35,635.15 incurred when the properties were owned by the Winnebago County Trustee for properties located at 205 N. Hinkley Avenue (PIN: 11-22-129-016), 709 Lee Street (PIN: 11-22-229-008), 2143 South 4th Street (PIN: 11-35-401-016), 517 Island Avenue (PIN: 11-27-451-030), and 5XX Foster Avenue (PIN: 11-21-404-013). 26-00586

NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES•Item 5

An ordinance approving an Agreement between the City of Rockford and Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad (CCPR) for 6th Street and 9th Street Two-Way Conversion Preliminary Engineering services in the amount of $25,000.00. The funding source is the 1% Infrastructure Sales Tax. 26-00587

ADJOURNMENT•Item XI