Rockford Sun

City of Rockford City Council met Oct. 5.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER

A. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

B. Roll Call

C. Acceptance of the Journal

1. Journal of Proceedings for the Special City Council meeting held on August 31, 2020.

2. Journal of Proceedings for the Strategic Planning Session held on August 31, 2020.

3. Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on September 8, 2020.

II. PROCLAMATIONS

III. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Memorandum from Jennifer Jaeger, Community Services Director, regarding the request for a resolution to accept the Second Allocation of Supplemental funding to the HUD Emergency Solutions Grant through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Traffic Commission Agenda for the meeting to be held on October 14, 2020 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on October 26, 2020. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Memorandum from Lafakeria Vaughn, Assistant City Attorney, regarding a request for a Fine Reduction for the property located at 4518 Cleveland Avenue reducing the fine from $22,500.00 to a maximum of $750.00. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

2. Memorandum from John Pozzi, Police Business Manager, regarding the acceptance of FY 2020, United States Department of Justice, Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Grant Award. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

IV. PUBLIC SPEAKERS

1. Ari Perez

2. John Tac Brantley

3. Brendan Rabbitt

V. NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Road Dedication Plat for Brookwood Subdivision.

2. Committee recommends approval of an Amendment to Section 2-31 of the City of Rockford Code of Ordinance Council Rules of Procedure and Order of Business. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval that traffic on Collins Street be required to yield prior to entering the intersection of Reed Avenue. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

4. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval to establish a 30 mph speed limit restriction on Christina Street from 15th Avenue to Blackhawk Park Avenue, thus repealing the existing 35 mph speed limit on Christina Street from 15th Avenue to Blackhawk Park Avenue. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

5. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval to establish a 30 mph speed limit on Blackhawk Park Avenue from Christina Street to Kishwaukee Street, thus repealing the existing 35 mph speed limit on Blackhawk Park Avenue from Christina Street to Kishwaukee Street. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

6. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval to prohibit commercial vehicles on Spring Brook Road from Spring Creek Road to Perryville Road. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

7. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval to establish stop control at the following intersections:

a. Gardiner Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

b. Highland Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

c. London Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

d. Rome Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

e. Rockford Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

f. Dawson Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

g. Dougherty Place stopping for Crosby Street

h. Regan Street stopping for Crosby Street (north)

i. Regan Street stopping for Crosby Street (south)

j. Smith Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

k. Crosby Street stopping for Longwood Street

l. Crosby Street stopping for Prospect Street

m. Crosby Street stopping for Calvin Park Boulevard

The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

8. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's recommendation that "No Action" be taken for the following traffic items:

a. Establishing 2-way stop control on Madison Street at Y Boulevard b. Establishing 4-way stop control at the intersection of Ellis Avenue and Douglas Street, thus repealing the 2-way stop control at the intersection of Ellis Avenue and Douglas Street

9. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval of a Special Use Permit for an auto dealership in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 1430 Kishwaukee Street (Nicholas Clark/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

10. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Variation to reduce the established front yard setback from forty (40) feet to thirty-three (33) feet for a front porch addition in an R-1, Single Family Residential Zoning District at 1211 Lundvall Avenue (Mark & Christina Castronovo/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

11. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the Sale of Packaged Beer and Wine in conjunction with a grocery store/retail store in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 3831 Auburn Street (Charles Youngstrom/Aldi Inc. dba Aldi/Applicant). Subject to amended conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

12. 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 C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 1312 7th Street (Safa A. Quraishi dba M & R Mini Market/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

13. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the Sale of Liquor by the Drink in conjunction with a restaurant, bar and grill in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 6330 East State Street (Brinker Restaurant Corporation dba Chili’s Grill & Bar/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

14. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the Modification to an existing Liquor License to allow full packaged liquor sales in conjunction with a convenience store in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 513 Toner Avenue (Said Elkhatib/Northwest Food Inc. dba Northwest Food Mart/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

15. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for:

a. The Sale of Packaged Liquor in conjunction with a liquor store; and

b. The Sale of Tobacco Products in conjunction with a liquor store; and 

c. Denial of video gaming in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 922 Kilburn Avenue (922 Kilburn Operations, LLC dba MaxMart/Applicant).

Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Vouchers in the amount of $7,355,166.78 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee held on September 28, 2020.

2. Committee recommends approval of the proposed sale of city-owned property located at 327 Foster Avenue under the Mow to Own Program.

The Mow to Own participant is Clayborn Sockwell Jr. The property has been maintained for two years. The cost to the recipient to purchase the Mow to Own property is $0. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

VI. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the request for permission to place for sale the city-owned property located at 1123 7th Street (PIN 11-26- 477-003) pursuant to state law, 65 ILCS 5/11-76-1 and 5/11-76-2.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Contract Amendment: Fire Alarm Monitoring to Norcomm Public Safety Communications Inc., of Elmhurst, Illinois in the amount of $120,100.00 for annual maintenance and equipment costs (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is one (1) year with four (4) optional one-year extensions. The funding source is Fire Department Operating Budget.

2. Committee recommends approval of an Award of Non-Competitive Contract: Generator and Switchgear Services to Altorfer Cat, of Elmhurst, Illinois for an estimated annual contract value of $35,000.00 based on unit pricing. The contract duration is one-year with four (4) possible annual extension options. The funding source is Water Fund Operating Budget.

3. Committee recommends approval of an Award of Bid: South 5th Street Water Main Replacement to Stenstrom Excavating, of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $737,008.00. The project is estimated to be completed by May 21, 2021. The funding source is Water Replacement Improvement Account (WRIA).

4. Committee recommends approval of an Award of Engineering Agreement: 1st Street and 2nd Street over Union Pacific Railroad Bridges to Hanson Professional Services Inc., of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $194,374.00. The contract duration is 2020 and 2021. The funding source is Motor Fuel Tax funds (To be fully reimbursed 80% GCPF/20% RR; No city match required).

5. Committee recommends approval of a Resolution for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code for use of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for preliminary engineering for the 1st and 2nd Street over Union Pacific Railroad Bridges in the amount of $600,000.00.

6. Committee recommends approval of an Application for Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Grant - Highcrest Road. The estimated project amount is $2,496,981.00, of which the City's responsibility is estimated to be $499,396.00. The application is due by November 2, 2020, with award notification expected in spring 2021.

7. Committee recommends approval of an Application for Illinois

Transportation Enhancement Program Grant - Riverwalk Preliminary Engineering. The Phase I engineering costs are estimated at $400,000.00, of which the City's responsibility would be $80,000.00. The application is due by November 2, 2020, with award notification expected in spring 2021.

VII. NEW BUSINESS (ORDINANCES)

A. Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. An ordinance approving an Amendment to Section 2-31 of the City of Rockford Code of Ordinance Council Rules of Procedure and Order of Business.

2. An ordinance approving traffic on Collins Street be required to yield prior to entering the intersection of Reed Avenue.

3. An ordinance establishing a 30 mph speed limit restriction on Christina Street from 15th Avenue to Blackhawk Park Avenue, thus repealing the existing 35 mph speed limit on Christina Street from 15th Avenue to Blackhawk Park Avenue.

4. An ordinance establishing a 30 mph speed limit on Blackhawk Park Avenue from Christina Street to Kishwaukee Street, thus repealing the existing 35 mph speed limit on Blackhawk Park Avenue from Christina Street to Kishwaukee Street.

5. An ordinance prohibiting commercial vehicles on Spring Brook Road from Spring Creek Road to Perryville Road.

6. An ordinance establishing stop control at the following intersections:

a. Gardiner Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

b. Highland Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

c. London Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

d. Rome Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

e. Rockford Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

f. Dawson Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

g. Dougherty Place stopping for Crosby Street

h. Regan Street stopping for Crosby Street (north)

i. Regan Street stopping for Crosby Street (south)

j. Smith Avenue stopping for Crosby Street

k. Crosby Street stopping for Longwood Street

l. Crosby Street stopping for Prospect Street

m. Crosby Street stopping for Calvin Park Boulevard

7. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for an auto dealership in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 1430 Kishwaukee Street (Nicholas Clark/Applicant).

8. An ordinance approving a Variation to reduce the established front yard setback from forty (40) feet to thirty-three (33) feet for a front porch addition in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 1211 Lundvall Avenue (Mark & Christina Castronovo/Applicants).

9. An ordinance approving the Sale of Packaged Beer and Wine in conjunction with a grocery store/retail store in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 3831 Auburn Street (Charles Youngstrom/Aldi Inc. dba Aldi/Applicant).

10. An ordinance approving the Sale of Tobacco Products in conjunction with a convenience store in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 1312 7th Street (Safa A. Quraishi dba M & R Mini Market/Applicant).

11. An ordinance approving the Sale of Liquor by the Drink in conjunction with a restaurant, bar and grill in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 6330 East State Street (Brinker Restaurant Corporation dba Chili’s Grill & Bar/Applicants).

12. An ordinance approving the Modification to an existing Liquor License to allow full packaged liquor sales in conjunction with a convenience store in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 513 Toner Avenue (Said Elkhatib/Northwest Food Inc. dba Northwest Food Mart/Applicant).

13. An ordinance approving the Sale of Packaged Liquor in conjunction with a liquor store in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 922 Kilburn Avenue (922 Kilburn Operations, LLC dba MaxMart/Applicant).

14. An ordinance approving the Sale of Tobacco Products in conjunction with a liquor store in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 922 Kilburn Avenue (922 Kilburn Operations, LLC dba MaxMart/Applicant).

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. An ordinance approving the sale of city-owned property located at 327 Foster Avenue under the Mow to Own Program. The Mow to Own participant is Clayborn Sockwell Jr. The property has been maintained for two years. The cost to the recipient to purchase the Mow to Own property is $0.

VIII. OFFICERS REPORTS

IX. CLOSED SESSION

A. Motion to Convene into Closed Session in order to discuss Pending Litigation and Labor Negotiation Matters

X. ADJOURNMENT

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