Police Pension Fund Board - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call to order the planning and development committee meeting for Monday, 01/26/2026. I'd ask everyone to stand as we have pastor Violet Jonicker of table of grace who will give tonight's invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance.

Let us pray. Almighty god, thank you for the city of Rockford and the good people who love their neighbors. Even as we have come to this room with deep concern for the future of this country, there is so much important work to do here. So we ask that you would give these leaders your strength and compassion to be part of building a better world and a safer community. Lord, we especially give you thanks for the life of Rockford NAACP president George h Scott junior, who will be memorialized this week, and pray that his example might inspire us to connect with one another and advocate for policies of equity and restorative justice.

We pray for teachers and the school board of our city that a fair and just contract would be reached that honors the work of those educating the next generation of Rockfordians. And, God, we give you thanks for our immigrant neighbors who make our city strong and more vibrant. May we all do our part to fight against xenophobia and racism and fascism across the country. We ask your blessing upon the city of Minneapolis as the people work for peace with justice, and we pray for those grieving families torn apart by ice. Bless us with moral courage to stand up for those most in need here and everywhere. Amen.

We'll move right into our public speakers for tonight. I just want to remind everyone that you will have three minutes to make your comments, at which time you'll hear an alarm sound. And at that time, we ask that you bring your comments to close. There are two microphones located at the back of this horseshoe that you can utilize on the right or left side. That being said, we'll start tonight's public speaking with miss Erica Reed.

I'm providing an update on legislation that would require three graduate level semester hours and two continuing education units on domestic violence for licensed counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. Only 15 out of eight eighty five public programs require a class even though the research calls for mandatory classes to help reduce their high rates of malpractice. Because they've ignored their own research and will not make voluntary changes, laws are necessary. In 2024, senator Jeff Taylor sponsored s b two one zero seven in Iowa. In 2025, senator Mike Gabbard sponsored s b sixteen thirty five in Hawaii.

This year, senator Gabbard has sponsored SB two one eleven. Representative Renee Royer Reuter has sponsored HB three zero zero seven in Missouri. Representative Fabian Nelson has sponsored HB fourteen nineteen in Mississippi. Finally, representative Diane Torres Velasquez has submitted a bill for drafting in New Mexico. The legislators include Democrats and Republicans, two professors, a lawyer, and former city council members.

Illinois Senator Eustademan, Severson, Hilton, and representatives Vella West and Cabello have not sponsored bills. They've said that there would be too much opposition, and paid advocates dislike the proposal. Paid advocates have not provided valid objections. For example, when I talked to the policy director in Iowa, she had no knowledge of relevant federal hearings and research, believes that the government should stay out of education and licensing and trust the lobbyists for the psychologist. Last week, a legislator from New Hampshire contacted me.

She has introduced legislation to investigate the coalition because she's fed up with her perplexing and unethical positions. Like me, is concerned that coalitions are advocating for the decriminalization of domestic violence. Not only is this a misuse of funding, but also it's dangerous and immoral. When coalitions promote decriminalization, that's the equivalent of the NAACP promoting slavery. I urge coalitions to familiarize themselves with the

work of Chuck Derry, d e r r y, and Lundy Bancroft, who

are some of our oldest and most respective experts on bad errors. Counseling minus jail time does not work. I appeal to city council members to contact Illinois lawmakers and let them know that you would willing to provide a letter or statement of support. Your input should be of value since you represent thousands of constituents and of knowledge about our city's high rates. If the filing deadline has passed, what other measures can you take? How about an ordinance or a letter to universities and the associations for the four licenses? Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you. Our next public speaker is Denzel Winter.

Good evening, city council meeting, personnel. I'm talking about black soldiers of the of World War two. More than 1,200,000 African American served in in the US army forces during World War two in segregated units fighting for the double v campaign, victory against fascism and and abroad, and racism at home. Despite facing system systematic discriminations and violence, black soldiers excelled well in combat. Roles like the Tuskegee Airmen seven sixty one, the the tank battalion, and the ninety second infantry division, while others provided essential support.

Service and and segregation, while 1,200,000 plus served the military served the military remained strictly segregated with most of the blacks personnel relegated to service and supply units. Combat units, despite initial restrictions, units like the seven sixty one tank battalion led by colonel Holders Hunt, including Jackie Robinson, served in Europe, and the ninety second infantry division served in Italy. The the Tuskegee airmen, the nine ninety, ninety two fighter squadron, and other all black air units proved their capability in North Africa and Italy winning over a 150 distinguished flying medals. So I just wanted to say that the the stuff that they say about our our the black troops is is is a bunch of crap because they did do what they had to do. They did do what they had to do.

They fought with honor and integrity even though at home, they had to be face other things. So that lets you know that we were not just sitting around twiddling our thumbs, cowering behind everything. We went out and did what we had to do. We did the job and got the job done, and they know it. A lot of times, you can go in the the the archives and they will not tell you that what what all we did for this country. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next public speaker is prophet Youssef.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. In the book of Proverbs, the twenty fourth chapter, the fifth verse, it says a wise man helps great power and a man of knowledge increase his strength. What I wanna speak about tonight, what is your New Year promise for 2026? It is my hope you have made your resolution for 2026 that you really plan to keep. It is my experience that we make resolution, but forget them a few weeks later.

Times requires to be serious about keeping many of what I hope would be in your resolution. For example, number one, did you pray for this government to stop mistreating and killing the people in Minnesota to stop now? Two, did you pray for this government to stop mistreating people who live in democratic cities and states to stop now? Three, did you pray for all the broken hearts from 2025 to be healed? Four, did you pray for all the mass shootings to stop now?

Five, will you do all you can do to prevent prevent the sense of killing of our people, including our children? Six, did you pray for America to end homeless? Seven, did you pray to end food desert and a way to feed healthy food for all to eliminate hunger? Eight, did you pray to end pharmacy desert so people can get their medicine? Nine, did you pray this government opened back all the mental hospital they closed so the mentally ill people can get the help they need.

10, did you pray this government open more hospitals and pay these nurses and doctors a good wage so we won't have a nursing doctor shortage so they can heal the people of their sickness. Love it. Did you pray that our people in America have a job that pay a good wage so they can take care of themselves and if I 12, did you pray to end book bans and support educators who are taking a stand against banning books? 13, did you pray to end racism in every form and for all of our brothers and sisters no matter where they came from? 14, did you pray meanness and hate against immigrants has got to stop now?

15, would you do all in your power to make this a kind of gentle compassion United States for all people to live in? This is time for followers of Jesus Christ to stand up and speak up and say we are tired of the way this government is mistreating god's children, and we are not gonna put up with this garbage anymore. Thank you for allowing me to speak. Thank

you. Our next public speaker is Steven McMaster.

Hello. Hello. My name is Steven McMaster. I think everybody in front of me knows who I am at this point. I'm starting to get really annoyed at the fact that you guys don't seem to know your own rules and the ordinances that created you, the Open Meetings Act, the Freedom of Information Act. Like, you guys just don't seem to know what your rules are. It's really frustrating. Please read section two dash 31. That that covers your rules in in the Rockford code no ordinances. Please read or please redo your open meetings act training, your freedom of information act training.

All of you in front of me had to do that at least once. All of you in front of me should know what those trainings are. You don't seem to know what the rules are, so I'm gonna I'm gonna read you a section from the Freedom of Information Act training. This is page 22. It's not very far in.

You shouldn't have fallen asleep at this point. Although the Freedom of Information Act primarily addresses requests for inspections of copies of public records, blah blah blah, A public body should prominently display on its website a brief description of itself which should include but is not limited to a short summary of its purpose, a block diagram giving its functional subdivisions, the total amount of its operating budget, the number and location of its separate offices, its approximate number of full time and part time employees, and the identification of memberships of any board, commission, committee, or council which operates in advisory capacity or which exercises control over the public body's policies or procedures. Like, that's not hard. Why is the city website such crap? Why does the city website not contain this information for every board, committee, and council that that is our government.

Like, I've talked to the mayor about this. I've talked to legal about this. I've mentioned this in this room before. I'm I'm tired of it, guys. Like, what you what do you want me to do? It like, we're in lawsuit territory? Are we in PAC territory? Like, what do I do to convince you guys to pay attention? You have to. You're required to.

Please know the information that you're required to follow. With the remainder of my time, I'll read you section rule 13 because it seemed like nobody understood that last week. When a motion has been carried in the affirmative or negative, it shall be an order for any member who voted on the side which prevailed to move a reconsideration thereof at the same meeting or at the next regular meeting of the council, but it not at any time thereafter. But no question that has once been decided and reconsidered shall be decided a second time. The the that's what should have been invoked last week while everybody sat around being confused about what to do since we had a vote that we didn't wanna do anymore.

Rule 13, not hard. I I knew the rule. Why did nobody else here make a point of order or a point of information to ask if there's a rule that's relevant?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Ken Dickens.

Thank you. I'm not laughing at you, obviously. I'm laughing because I find immense joy in seeing an angry white man who's validated by being angry. Because when you see angry black women in America, you they're written off as just an angry black woman, or you see an angry black man written off as just an angry black man. But it's something something about seeing an angry, justified white man. It's refreshing. It really is. I wanna say to the the lady that spoke first, if you

think

this is something, wait till they get into deep into the pages of agenda 2026 and how they redefine a woman's role in America. Because they've already said in agenda twenty twenty five that it's a white man's world, and a white woman is a second class citizen who literally shouldn't be able to vote but should be a baby maker. So if you haven't read agenda twenty twenty six, oh, there's more. I just wanna say tonight, I find it very ironic, very ironic that we protested here, one of the largest protests in America. I don't know if I I think that was lost on Rockford.

We protested in one of the largest, longest peaceful protests during the George Floyd protest, not George Floyd's riots, during the George Floyd protest in America. We went past a 100 past a hundred and seventy three days. We were outside for almost a year on the sidewalk. But we were an inconvenience to the city at the time. And I find it very ironic that as I stood there with a bulletproof vest on for over a year, I stood there with a bulletproof vest on for over a year.

I stood there with a bulletproof vest on because people were perturbed that I had the audacity to stand up for 60 to 80% white people around me that were protesting injustice of police brutality, excessive force, and racial profiling. But but but George Floyd, there's no perfect victim. I stood up against racial profiling, excessive force, and police brutality. Now you fast forward to where we are now. What is ICE doing? Excessive force, police brutality, and racial profiling. Wow. Wow. How did we get here? You don't know how we got here?

Please don't tell me you're asking that because a white woman was shot. Please don't tell me you're asking that because a white man got shot protecting a woman that was pushed to the ground. Please don't tell me, what what are you gonna do, black America? What are we gonna do? When did we stop? It's your turn now. And what I mean by that is it's gonna take white bloodshed to stand up against other white people that are saying, Heil Hitler, Sieg Heil. We don't stand for democracy. We stand for a fascist dictatorship. And if you don't stop us, we're gonna steamroll you. That's where we are.

We'll move into tonight's agenda. But before we do, we do have a presentation that will be given. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Here. Here. Thank

you.

Would you have the 2026 current and future land use update presentation? And I'll kick it off to you, gentlemen. I just do wanna remind you to remember to speak into your mic so that the audience can hear at home. Can start whenever you're Thank

you, Madam Chair. So if everyone recalls, back in October 2023, adopted the 2040 comprehensive plan. So we revamped our twenty year outlook on the city. And one of the first major addendums to that plan is going to be the future land use plan. So Colin has been diligently working on our current land use.

He's mapped out the entire current land use of the, the entire city, the islands around us, and also all of the, ultimate boundaries of the city. So everything, from the current land use standpoint is all documented. And then we took that and then we went to the future land use and then we came up with a, you know, basically following somewhat of what was adopted previously in 2020. But we created some new districts and we kind of simplified things. With that, I'll actually turn it over to Colin and he can explain a little bit more in detail of what we're looking at.

Thank you for your

time this evening. So as previously, the future land use map was originally adopted back in 2005 as part of the 2020 comprehensive plan update at that time. It had been amended periodically and the last major update to our amendment to that plan was actually in 2011. The 2026 Future Land Use Update refines the city's long term development visions and aligns with land use policy that is adopted in the 2040 comprehensive plan. It was prepared by city staff internally.

We did not use a consultant. The GIS was used heavily this go around. Back in the early 2000s, GIS was just kind of a new thing. Aerial photography, the resolution was not nearly what we have today and the amount of digital information that we have today much more substantial. So that allowed us to make sure that the future land use decisions support sustainable growth, economic opportunity and the continued improvements to quality of life in the region.

Again, the revised maps provide an update and more accurate foundation for guiding development review, helping us with our zoning decisions and considerations as well as infrastructure investment. It helps with efficient growth within our existing development boundaries and infrastructure investments, helps with diverse housing supply, balanced neighborhood development, business expansion, long term economic resilience and also most really important to us preservation of the community character and our natural resources. The last land use plan did not really touch on the environmental and natural resources of our area. The hydrology or the water of the area was not looked at very intently. And a lot of the transition areas and areas that we want to protect were not included on there as well.

So this update establishes a clear, data driven framework to help guide coordinated land use decisions, infrastructure planning and future growth. And moving forward, the city intends to update the future land use map on a more regular basis to ensure that it remains responsive to the evolving conditions of our area. How often we update it is something that we can discuss later.

I know this is a

little bit hard to read, apologize for that, but ultimately what this is showing is on the left the large amount of land use categories that there used to be. In fact, when you get down to the bottom of that list, many of the categories are combinations of the ones above it, which can be confusing when you've got that many colors or that many different types hatch marks, etcetera, on the map to designate those. It becomes very hard to designate what is what. So using the American Planning Association's land based classification standards that they established around 2000 and have refined since then a couple of times. We based our future land use categories and current land use categories off of what everybody else is using today.

We did add a couple of other categories in there that we thought were useful. And the definitions, again, they're hard to read there. But we've got a handout for everybody to read a little bit more in detail. But ultimately what this is showing is that the map has been simplified, but at the same time there's more information, more detail on that map. So the last 2020 plan map, a future land use map, was all done in PDF format.

There are 42 maps that make up the whole region. So in order to find the area you're looking at, you've got to go to the key, find what map you're looking at, pull that map up and then transitioning from there to other areas becomes difficult. There is no the digital version of this is very low resolution because again it was done in about the year 2000 and it's very hard to read some of those designations. So on the next page, I can show you a brief screenshot of what the new mapping system will look like. It will be all online.

It's an interactive interface that we control the data and the updates internally on there. They become live almost instantaneously when we make those updates. You're able to zoom in, click on information, see what's there, see what the size or the acreage and square footage of those areas are. And there's other information you can turn on and off just as similar to WINGIS. We'll be adding more layers to help with our planning endeavors moving forward. And then the next map I'm just going to show

you is just a little

bit more zoomed in. This is the Broadway Corridor. And again, because it's interactive, it's kind of hard to show all the detail, but we can zoom in and out on these maps and get right down to the street level on them. So at that time, I think we're going to be taking questions or comments.

There's no way you went that fast. No, I'm just joking. Any questions or comments? All right. Thank you for your time, gentlemen.

We've got one now.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you. Alderman Celcado.

Hey, chairwoman. Real quick. Can you explain to me the process? Does this go through the zoning board of appeals? And they make those adjustments based on the 2020 plan and now the 2040. How do we get from that to this and the analysis piece of it process on that?

So the future land use plan does not have to go before the zoning board of appeals. It's not actually changing any zoning. It's just changing the designation, future designations, or what we foresee some of these vacant parcels that are in the city or just outside the city, what they should develop as. And so that, you know, the the adoption will

be made

by our internal team, which is just buttoning up what you're looking at tonight, along with our outside agency partners, the Park District, the Forest Preserve, Fort River Sanitation. And we're working heavily, know, working hard with those folks on making sure that we have the best, you know, information available for everyone here.

So So follow-up, if I may. How often do we do this? It's every five years, ten years, twenty years census. When when do we typically make these, updates?

So the comprehensive plan should be looked at every five years for updates. I think, as Colin stated earlier, we probably want to try to look at it more frequently as we change zoning on areas, things like that, so that we keep the future land use update compatible with the current actual current land use. So that would be one of the big things, yes.

All right. Thank you very much.

Are there any other questions or comments?

Madam Chair, have one last comment if no one else has anything. Colin's gonna be sending out an email with some more information that'll detail all the processes that we went through this evening. And if anyone wants to look at any areas, we're going to set aside some time and you can reserve thirty minutes with Colin and I so we can go over any area of town or the entire Rockford region that would be in our ultimate boundaries as well. We'll we'll take the time to to answer any questions and and, you know, help you fill you in on what we're doing. So

Alderman Hoffman? Thank you. So we're going to get this in an email or no? Yes. We'll have to look at and then if we have questions. Yes. Okay.

He'll provide a link and you'll log in and then you'll be able to zoom in and you'll be able to go all around the city and look at all the different areas. And then lastly, probably by the end of this week we'll also go to our thirty day public comment period where we'll post this online on the city's website and we'll give the public the opportunity to view this as well and provide comments.

Any other questions or comments? Thank you. We'll move into tonight's agenda. We have two items here to vote on tonight. Item one is an approval of the proposed funding agreement with Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, an Illinois not for profit corporation, NIAAA, for the establishment of a senior center at 5505 East State Street.

The funding source is a reallocation of unspent ARPA planmajor corridor signage funds not to exceed 300,000. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Are there any questions or comments? Clerk, will you please call the roll? Aye. Thank you. The item passes. Item two is an approval of the proposed funding agreement and lease agreement for 713 East State Street with Rockford Area Arts Council for 2026 through 2028 in the amount of $125,000 annually for a total amount of $375,000 The funding source is the City Redevelopment Fund.

Do I have a motion to approve? Second. Are there any questions or comments? Alderman Torino?

Can you can you tell me how much we were giving? I only saw what they're requesting for the next three years, but what how much were we giving the Arts Council?

The for the past four years, they've gotten $75,000 per year.

And the reason for the increase?

The increase, it it helps. We're running some of the same programs that we were doing before, like the I'm sorry, just remember the summer programs and that. But they have put in those have all gotten a little more expensive, so that's part of the increase. And then there's some admin support and then what we call cultural plan support, where they're following up on the advocacy. But particularly when it comes to the armory and the work that they're putting in there, they built in a little bit more they'll need some administrative costs covered while they're working through that project.

Thank you.

Alderman Salgado? Yeah.

I just wanna thank the Arts Council for giving the breakdown, everything that's transpired with their administrative cost, what where the funding's going. You know, there's been a lot of talk about, you know, some of the money that goes out the door. I think this would be a good template from this perspective to see more of the reporting out when it comes to the impact that it has based on the funding. So hopefully, down the road, we can, you know, create a policy internally to show that what kind of reporting we're looking at since there's been some questions about, you know, where the money's going and do we have the the the impact, the numbers, and so forth based on the programming. So so I do appreciate having that information.

It does give some, you know, visibility of where the money is going and how it's being used as a whole as part of it. So, I'm gonna be in support of this, but I just I I appreciate having that detailed information of where that and I think that we should do that for some other programming that we do that we do spend out that money. So, I'd like to see that more. Thank you.

I have a motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. Are there any questions or comments? All those in favor, state by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, same sign. This meeting is adjourned.

And personnel committee meeting held this evening. Sir, clerk, if you could please take roll. Here.

Here.

Our first item under committee reports is approval of vouchers in amount of $10,700,003.27 dollars and 60¢. Is there a motion to approve vouchers? Second. Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by I. I. I. Opposed? Secondly is an approval of a new accounting policy. Is there a motion to approve the new policy? So moved. Second. Any questions or comments for staff? All right. Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item three is approval of the new capital asset policy. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Any questions for staff? Alright. Seeing none, all those in favor, need to keep aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item four is approval of the new police and fire pension funding policy. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Any questions for staff? Alderman Logan.

Two quick questions. Thank you, Chair. Director Hagerty, first one's probably really easy. I noticed the like our city fiscal year is January to December. The state is like July through June. The federal one is, of course, like September October through September. Does that I'm curious. What kind does that cause any complications for, like, our city finance department, just these three different cycles that we're moving through?

Sure. Yes. Certainly it would be great if all of those were aligned. It would make things easier. But oftentimes our state and federal grants operate on timelines that are even different from the federal budget cycle. So we may have a grant that starts June 1, July 1, October 1. It's really kind of all over the place. So there's not a standard that we could move towards. And I think from our perspective, the calendar year fiscal year serves us well. We like that fiscal year period.

It doesn't necessarily complicate revenue collections or anything like that. Even the Municipal League provides us with revenue projections both on what they call a municipal fiscal year and a calendar fiscal year. So there are several other municipalities that operate on a calendar year cycle as well.

And then one other question more related to this. This is more speculative. But with the discussion at the state level of like Tier one, Tier two merging with some of these pensions, would we how drastically would we have to revisit this policy if

Yeah. So this policy really kind of centers around how we how we determine our actuarial contribution and how that is funded. So if the legislature decides to change the benefit structure, while that will certainly impact how those required contributions are calculated, it wouldn't necessarily change the methodology we go through to determine what that contribution is or how we pay for it.

Okay. Thank you.

Unless they add some new funding opportunity, then we would obviously revisit the policy.

Thank you. Mhmm.

I got a question. Alton Beach.

Thank you, mister chairman. Question is the administrative costs that are taken out, for the state to manage this?

For this to manage the pension funds? Yes. There are administrative costs associated with the operation of the consolidated pension funds of which this the our individual funds pay a proportionate share of. Is it a percentage? It it they they it's a fixed cost. You know, whatever their actual costs are get allocated based on our share of the total fund, if that makes sense. It's not they don't just establish a flat percentage. They actually report on actual costs, and then those actual costs are allocated out to the participating funds based on their percent of the total.

So, may I ask one more question? Absolutely. So what was our payment last year?

I don't recall off the top of my head. Those are they're they're different between the two funds. I will say that the the overhead costs are less than they were when we were operating the funds individually.

Less?

Yes.

So one one last question. Online here, we have the new report as it's outlined. Can you come summarize perhaps the difference between what we had and what's being proposed now?

This are you referring specifically to this pension funding policy? Yes. We do not currently have a pension funding funding policy. So this is an attempt to to sort of codify what we're doing. You know, we come to council every year with an actuarial report.

And so this is really just an attempt to take what we're already doing and document it. If you recall, the the city hired new auditors. We completed our first cycle with the new auditors, in 2024. They identified for the 2024 audit, they identified some policy gaps as part of their work. Pension funding policies are very common in municipalities, particularly in Illinois, because municipalities don't have solid control over everything around the pensions.

So outlining how we will address what the state has really dictated is our obligation is important. So we don't have a before and after. I will say this reflects our current practice, though this is not a deviation from what we're already doing.

So so then, again, I'm sure you've told us, before, Carrie, but have we now, as a city, lost control of the funds? In other words, they're just gone. We give money into them each year, but we've lost control of how they actually deal with it.

So the I mean, city council never made decisions over how those funds are invested. Those decisions were made by the individual police and fire pension boards themselves. Those boards are no longer making investment decisions. That that investment authority now rests with the consolidated police and fire investment boards. So yes, we certainly have have no say over how they choose to invest other than our participation in the appointment of members to that board and our comment on their own investment policies and procedures that they undergo as a public body in Illinois.

But we have no direct say in how that fund chooses to invest.

Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Alderman Thunberg.

Yeah. I think I I'd just like to add thanks, chairman, that I think the fees have, in fact, have come down since that consolidation.

Yes.

I think you had stated the fees before, 15 basis points or

It varied. You know, depending on the individual boards and their individual investment decisions, We had more some more actively managed funds, which obviously had higher fees associated with those. With the consolidated funds, we're able to get more of that active management at sort of volume discount, if you will.

Absolutely. Yes. So I think that was a good thing, because I think it did save us in those underlying expenses and administrative fees. Although I think this council or some on council know where I stand on the ESG issue Mhmm. When it comes to the state mandate on that, which I think is extremely hypocritical. Thank you.

Mhmm. Thank you. Alderman Slagano.

Thank you, chairman, for allowing me to speak. So, Carrie, just, I think you answered my question. My question was and it relates to all the policies that we currently have. Didn't know the timing, which one would be best, but this is basically based off the audit recommendations that to establish these policies?

In part, yes. So I think we when we look at internal operating policies for the department, we look at not only auditor recommendations, we also look at best practices. We, as a department, are members of the Government Finance Officers Association. They make policy recommendations as well to their member agencies just to try to establish best operating practices across municipal government finance operations. So the pension funding policy was one that was identified to some extent.

The accounting policy was another recommendation of the of our audit group. The changes to the capital asset policy really kind of took two existing policies we had and combined them for sort of a more holistic life cycle management of an asset, if you will, so that we can establish stronger practices and procedures around acquisition and disposition of those assets over time.

Yeah. So thank you very much for saying that. I just want everybody to understand that piece of it. And, you know, that's essentially how they find findings or whatever recommendations based on our policies. I wouldn't say like your capital assets that we don't have one

Sure.

Yes. Because they fluctuate based on, you know, what type of asset it is. So, appreciate that commentary. Those were my questions for that. Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you. Any other questions? Alright. All those in favor, indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? Better passes. Moving on to item five is an approval of the unclaimed property policies. I motion to approve. I move. Second. Any questions or comments? Right. Now that we've gone through all of memorializing the new policies, want to thank you and your and your staff for or actually and and obviously, Baker Tilly too for helping

Yes.

I put this together. But it it's it's it's fantastic to learn that we didn't have to deviate or change Yes. Any of the ways that we were working with respect to our accounting and financial Yes. Thank you. You. That's great to hear.

Thank Thank you.

Alright. Moving on to item six is approval and agreement between the city and Four Rivers Sanitation. Sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. We didn't vote. Alright. On on item number five, all those in favor, indicate aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Matter of fact, sorry about that. Item six is an approval agreement between the city and Fort Rivers Sanitation for engineering and construction of sanitary utility work related to the city's Davis Park project in the amount of $40,300 The cost is to be reimbursed back to the city by Fort Rivers at 100%. Is there a motion to approve? Any questions or comments for staff? Alright. Seeing none all of I'm sorry?

Just help me understand why if we're gonna get a 100% of the money back, we're not just getting the money from them to start with.

Because it's gonna be based on actual costs out there. They're gonna use our contractor and what it actually costs. This is an estimated value of 40,300. And so what it actually costs, they'll reimburse us.

Well, okay. I what what I'm saying is that regardless of what that cost is, if we're getting it all back a 100%, why aren't we using their money, not ours?

It's our contract that they're using. It's our contractor. So

well,

It's a good question. I mean, we've this is a typical type of intergovernmental agreement where we'll pay up front and then ask for reimbursement on actual costs with our contractor. But, I mean, I'm we're open to hear other ideas.

I don't mean to be critical about it. I'm just ask the question, if we're getting it all back, why are we using their money upfront rather than take our money out and using it? That's that's all that all I'm asking.

I don't know if I have an answer

for you.

The only thing can think of is is that is that we are the owner, of the project, and there's the general on the project. And probably the general doesn't want to take payment from a third party person who isn't a vendor maybe. I don't know what I can think of. Go ahead, Carrie.

Alderman Beach, we can also invoice at at the time we approve the pay estimate, which is when it begins moving through our invoice payment period, which is takes a bit of time, as you're aware, to get council approval of vouchers. We can invoice that partner agency at that time. So by the time we're actually have cash out the door to pay the invoice, we have received the payment from them.

Thank you.

Questions? All right. Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Moving on to resolutions. Item one is award a bid for the Auburn Street Improvement Phase 1 to NTRAC in the amount of $11,697,753.33 The contract duration is due October 2026, and the funding source is the General Fund 2022 surplus. Is there a motion to approve?

I move. Second.

Any questions or comments for staff on the Auburn Street project? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item two is awarded bid for the downtown streetscape improvements on Main Street from Jefferson to Park to Copenhagen construction in the amount of $721,475. The contract duration is through 07/31/2026, and the funding source is the 1% infrastructure sales tax. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Alden Logman.

You. Chairman, one quick question. I know with, Rocktown Adventures, there was, some friction with the the owner, on Madison Street, talking about the streetscape lighting. He was unaware that a light was gonna be put, like, right kind of in the middle of his parking lot. What is the I just of course, we wanna, like, try to prevent this again. I would imagine we send maybe missed a piece of mail or something. I would imagine the notification process includes mail. Or what is this notification process to some of these businesses like?

We've had a variety of public meetings, and typically we go door to door

to

notify them. In this particular case, we've actually walked the block with some stakeholders and made some of those adjustments in the design process.

Yes, Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Unfortunate with Rocktown Adventures, but, yeah, door to door is even better than in the mail, too. Thank

you. Thank

you. Any other questions? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? Madam practice. Item three is awarded bid for Lower Jefferson Street storm sewer improvements to NTRAC in the amount of $518,090.20. The contract is through 07/10/2026, and the funding source is the CIP general fund. Is there a motion to award the bid? So moved. Second. Are there any any questions or comments for staff for mister Matson? Alright. Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye.

Opposed? Matter passes. Item four is a warrant bid for Mason Avenue reconstruction to Northern Illinois Service in the amount of $457,295.44 The contract duration is through 06/30/2026. The funding sources are DCEO and the 1% infrastructure sales tax. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item five is a word of construction engineering agreement for the same downtown streetscape from on Main Street, to HR Green and McHenry in amount of $104,734 The contract duration is through 07/31/2026, and the funding source is the 1% infrastructure sales tax. Is there a motion to approve the engineering agreement?

Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all in favor indicate aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item six is an award of a sole source contract, Teledyne ISCO stormwater samplers and rain gauges to GasBoda and Associates in an amount of $40,710 It's a one time purchase, and the funding source is the stormwater operating budget. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Any questions or comments from staff?

Seeing none, all is the paper indicated by aye? Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item seven is an award of an RFP for a hotel market and new hotel feasibility study dump to Hundee and Strategic Partners in the amount of $40,000 The contract duration is actually seven weeks, not months. The funding source is the planning division operating budget. Is there a motion to approve the RFP?

Second.

Any questions or comments for staff? Seeing none, all those in favor, indicate aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Item eight is proposed resolution authorizing the application acceptance of a DCO regional site readiness grant in an amount up to $3,679,000 if awarded the city would be would provide matching funds in the amount of $919,887.89. The funding source for the matching funds would be the global trade park number two TIF fund. Is there a motion?

Second.

Any questions for staff on the Global Trade Park? Alright. Seeing none. All those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Opposed? The matter passes. Is there a motion to adjourn?

Second. Alright.

All those in favor indicate by aye. Aye. Thank you. This meeting is adjourned.

Good evening. I'd like to call to order the code and regulation committee meeting for Monday, January 26. Clerk, would you please call the roll? Here. Thank you. We have 12 items on the agenda tonight. The first item is the final plat of Dulger Subdivision. Is there a motion to approve? Second. Are there any questions or comments on item one?

Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item two is the final plat of District 815 Subdivision. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Are there any questions or comments on item two? Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying oh, Alderman Bell. Hold on. Alderman Bell.

This may be for Mr. Cignoloni. Do we have an update on this project? Where it's at? Mister Cignoni.

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought that you were asking mister Cignoni.

Yeah. Sorry about that.

I I believe, I mean, this this was what approved maybe early last or June or something like that. Just on the development as a whole.

Do we have

an update on the District 815 subdivision project?

Sorry. Sorry, Alderman Bell. I believe mister Cavavilla would probably have a greater update than than than I would have. This is going through the planning process and previously received zoning. We understand that they have the funds to provide the letter of credit, which is needed for the recordation of a plat. So subject to council's approval of the subdivision plat, they would provide a letter of credit in the amount of the public improvements, which the city of Rockford would hold as a security to make sure that the public improvements are completed. Other than that, I have not received any additional updates from the the developer on the project.

That helps. Thank you.

Before we move to Alderman Torina, did you want to add to that, Mr.

Capavela? I mean, I can just say that in my discussions with the engineering company who updated what we needed to do during the revision review process, made the revisions and I brought it forward, he had stated to me that they were realigning some of the partnerships that they had formed and they were they were going to be moving forward with the project as mister Cagnoni stated.

Thank

you. Okay. Alderman Torina.

Thank you. I have a question for, attorney Rubin. Can you you email me how I voted on this development initially?

Yes. I'll look into that

and email it to Appreciate it.

Any other questions or comments on on this item? Mr. Capodeau, I I just had one. It was and I don't have it in front of me, but I think the there was some language in in the staff report that said that there would be no direct access to Malford from either lot. And I I was wondering if you could clarify what that meant. I thought that the only access from Malford was the extension of Laurel Cherry, and that and I don't and this is all one lot, So where's the what's the other lot?

Well, if you look at the plat, it's actually two lots, one on the North Side of Laurel and another one on the South Side. So it's Lots 1 And 2, and there's no direct access to those from those lots to Mulford, but their access is from Laurel Cherry Drive.

So it is that is only Laurel Cherry Drive? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Are there any other questions or comments on item two? Seeing none, do a roll call vote on this one, please.

Aye. Aye.

You. Motion carries. Item three, 3929 Broadway Suite 7. Zoning Board of Appeals recommends approval for a special use permit for body art services in conjunction with an aesthetic shop in a c two limited commercial zoning district at 3929 Broadway Suite 7. Destiny Owens is the applicant. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Are there any questions or comments on item three? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 41100 North Lyford Road. Zoning Board of Appeals recommends approval for a special use permit for a funeral home in a c one limited office zoning district at 1100 North Lyford Road, BAO LLC is the applicant. Is there a motion to approve? I'll second. Are there any questions or comments on Item four?

Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 5716 Indiana Avenue Zoning Board of Appeals recommends approval for a special use permit for a planned unit development for an event space for receptions, cultural events, and celebrations of life, and an R4 multifamily residential zoning district at 716 Indiana Avenue. Allen and Sean Cox are the applicants. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Second. Are there any questions or comments on item five? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?

Motion carries. Item 61601 Sandy Hollow Road And 3402 11th. Zoning Board of Appeals recommends approval for a variation to modify a 4.16 foot by 5.92 foot reader board to allow for a four by six foot electronic graphic display sign on an existing legal nonconforming freestanding sign in the C 3 General Commercial Zoning District at 1601 Sandy Hollow Road and 3402 11th Street. Bobby Patel for Ram Dev Neal LLC is the applicant. Is there a motion to approve item six?

Moved.

I'll second. Is there any discussion on item six? Sure. Alderman Bell.

Thank you. Oh, my question was just answered. It's a Dairy Queen. Actually, existing use proposals, yes. All good. My the WiFi was running slow. Thank you.

Okay. Are there any other questions or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 71211 West State Street. Zoning Board of Appeals recommends approval for a zoning map amendment from R1 single family zoning district to R2 two family residential zoning district at 1211 West State Street. Carmel Smith is the applicant. Is there a motion to approve? Are there any questions or comments? Alderman Bell.

Just for clarity, Chairman, I made this mistake in doing research on item seven earlier but it is 1211 West Street. I thought it was West State Street as well but just for the record, it's 1211 West Street.

Thank you. Yeah. Are there any questions or comments on this item? I just have one. I was a little confused reading the staff report. The request to build a single one duplex on this property?

So the applicant may build two duplexes on this property and subdivide it into two lots. So she has expressed that she may have found a model that will fit if she can and we'd be more than happy to see that happen. Any

other questions or comments on item seven? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 83905 Broadway Liquor And Tobacco Advisory Board is is the

open.

Elizabeth Fuller, Eighth Ward Pub Ltd. Doing business as Eighth Ward Pub is the applicant. Is there a motion to approve? Are there any questions or comments on item eight? I believe this is just a change of ownership. Yes. Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Item 93005 And 3007 North Rockton Avenue. Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board recommends approval for the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with the gas station and convenience store in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 3005 And 3007 North Rockton Avenue. Culver Cowher, Raj Liquor and Gas Incorporated, doing business as Raj Liquor and Gas, is the applicant. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

I'll second. Are there any questions or comments on item nine? Alderman Bell.

Mr. Cappeville, is this a change in ownership as well?

Yes, it is. Thank you.

Any other questions or comments on item nine? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Item 10, same addresses, 3005 And 3007 North Rockton Avenue, Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board recommends approval for the sale of packaged liquor, Class PKG, in conjunction with the gas station and convenience store in a C2 limited commercial zoning district. Same address, same owners of the applicants. Is there a motion to approve? Any questions or comments on item 10? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 11, was twenty nineteen second quarter with a pub and grill, outdoor beer garden with seating and video gaming terminals in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 2212 North Main Street, Christine Stewart, Mulligans of Rockford Incorporated, doing business as Mulligans Pub and Grill, is the applicant. Is there a motion to approve?

Any questions or comments on item 11? This is also simply a change of ownership.

That's correct. Seeing

none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 12 are proposed revisions to the Rockford Code of Ordinances section sixteen-one

127,

sixteen-one 128, and sixteen-one 136. Is there a motion to approve? Second. Any questions or comments on item 12? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Actually, before we adjourn, I have a a request from an alderman to allow officers' reports. Is are there any aldermen who would like to give an officer's report? Alderman Frost.

Thank you.

I I don't often comment really frankly on on public speakers, but tonight we had a public speaker who, in no uncertain terms, stereotyped all city council members as kinda being asleep or misinformed. And I just I just wanted to clear the record a little bit. With respect to FOIA, Freedom Information Act, the city of Rockford has a FOIA officer that would address any make any rulings initially on on FOIA requests, and that that's not anything that, that I think any of us as council members have any ever been asked to to weigh in on, and there's probably good reason for that. That's the state statute and other legislative rulings that exist, that created the FOIA Act. So I just don't make it you know, we don't we don't rule on those matters.

With respect to our web page, Alderman Trina and I were on a committee to to work on the creation of the new web page. It's been I think it's been a while. But we've we've worked with our our own information resources department and an outside vendor to create a new web page. And and, you know, I I mean, they're all of the departments are listed on our web page. If someone wanted to find our budget like I just did, you can type in the word budget in the search bar and pull up the 2026 budget, the 2025 budget, the 2024 budget.

There's a plethora of information on there. And and if you wanted if anyone wanted to see the we we just, you know, we just switched over to this new system. But if you wanted to go and research anything that happened at a at a city council meeting, you just have to, you know, you just have to kinda click through the links, and you can get to either archived city council agenda and minutes, as well as see future, city council agendas once they're posted. So, I I don't really think there's any, issues or or lack of compliance with our web page. With respect to last week, and I'm I'm glad he cited rule 13 because maybe someone was asleep at the wheel outside it.

But we had an unusual situation last week where a yes vote meant no and no vote. Yes. And I just it it probably happens once a year, and there was some confusion on it. But before we adjourned, we actually followed rule 13, and I made a motion to reconsider. And so that's exactly what rule 13, obliges us to have the ability to do either at the current meeting or at the next meeting. We chose to address at the current meeting, and we did reconsider it and before the matter actually, I think, was laid over. But, it was complied with. There's one more rule, however, that maybe some people don't know about. It's called rule 21. And rule 21 discusses, people speaking at city council.

And, unless you are signed up to be a public speaker, no person of the members no person not a member of the city council except city officials, elective or appointed, shall have the privilege of of addressing this body without the consent of two thirds of all members present. So that that really is the rule is designed so to have people refrain from public discourse or speaking or calling out or trying to rebut or get their get a word in a city council meeting. And and obviously, it's for it's for a number of reasons, but the council has a rule on that and, it should always be enforced. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there as long as we are having officers reports, do any other aldermen have an officer's report? Alderman Wilkins.

Thank you, your honor. And I apologize. Last week, I did mean to, thank city staff and city council for helping to approve, the Illinois Housing Development Authority grant for the homeowners assistance fund home repair. I've been advocating since I've gotten an office for our working middle class, and this definitely is something that helps our working middle class to qualify for these home repair programs that, you know, ordinarily would take their gross income, and now we can look at something to where we're going up to a 120 or a 150%, AMI, which is a huge difference, for our community. So I just want us to thank everyone involved for their hard work on that and city council for, supporting that initiative as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Alderman Wilkins. Are there any other officers' reports? Seeing none. Now may I have a motion to adjourn? Oh, I'm I'm Alderman Prente.

Oh, thank you. Just wanted to take in this opportunity to thank chief Tayo Atiyo and, your staff at, Station 7 for allowing us to have our ward meeting there. Had a nice turnout as cold as it was. We also had, representative West. Just wanna thank you for your hospitality as well. We had plenty of chairs, and we had food. I appreciate Alderman Salgado coming as well as some county board members or a county board member. And so thank you. It's wonderful.

Thank you. Any other officers' reports? Seeing none, can we have a motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion or meeting is adjourned.