Rockford Sun

City of Rockford City Council Met March 8.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor McNamara called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Aldermen Hervey, Thompson-Kelly and Rose appeared via teleconference.

A. Roll Call

Attendee Name	Organization	Title	Status	Arrived
Tim Durkee	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Jonathan Logemann	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Chad Tuneberg	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Kevin Frost	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Venita Hervey	City of Rockford	Alderman	Remote
Natavias Ervins	City of Rockford	Alderman	Absent
Ann Thompson-Kelly	City of Rockford	Alderman	Remote
Karen Hoffman	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Bill Rose	City of Rockford	Alderman	Remote
Franklin C. Beach	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Tuffy Quinonez	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Ginger Hanley	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Linda McNeely	City of Rockford	Alderman	Absent

II. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. 2021-39-R - Award Acceptance and Grant Agreement for the 2020 Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Opportunity Zone Investment Program Grant in the amount of $1,905,000.00 for a public infrastructure project along Seminary Street and Gregory Street.

Alderman Frost, on behalf of the Finance and Personnel Committee, read in the resolution and placed it up for passage.

RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Durkee, Logemann, Tuneberg, Frost, Hervey, Thompson-Kelly, Hoffman, Rose, Beach, Quinonez, Hanley ABSENT: Natavias Ervins, Linda McNeely

III. OFFICERS REPORTS

A. Mayor McNamara

Mayor McNamara requested that Fire Chief Derek Bergsten provide an update on the COVID-19 vaccination process.

Chief Bergsten gave an overview of the vaccination process and he shared there are approximately 80 National Guardsmen assisting with the vaccine site and mobile units. He indicated the days and hours of operation for the site on Sandy Hollow Road are Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. He reported there are approximately 800 shots being administered each day between the fixed site on Sandy Hollow Road and the two mobile units. He stated they have the capability to increase the number of shots given to about 2,000 each day once more vaccines are available.

Chief Bergsten informed the council members the three types of vaccines being administered are Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. He stated the vaccines have different time periods so scheduling the appointments has been challenging. He mentioned approximately 20% to 25% of the people scheduled for appointments are not showing up so they are scheduling more daily appointments than they expect to ensure no vaccines are wasted. Chief Bergsten clarified that individuals do not have a choice in what type of vaccine they receive. He mentioned the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was being used mostly by the mobile units because it's a one shot vaccine and there are no follow up appointments.

Chief Bergsten reported they were currently working on a process to vaccinate homebound residents and they are also scouting sites on the west side of Rockford to be used as an additional vaccine location.

Chief Bergsten announced the Rockford Ministries Fellowship was assisting with an event that would be held on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at Ellis Elementary School where 1,000 vaccines would be administered.

Chief Bergsten thanked the Fire Department staff, Winnebago County Health Department staff and RMTD for their diligent work and collaboration to make the vaccine process as efficient as possible.

Alderman Thompson-Kelly reported she received several calls about vaccines being postponed last week that were supposed to be administered by SwedishAmerican Hospital at the Loves Park City Hall.

Mayor McNamara responded and indicated the State of Illinois failed to distribute an allotment of vaccines and roughly 6,700 citizens from this area had to have their second shot postponed. He stated those vaccines have now been received and all three hospitals were actively contacting those individuals to reschedule their second shot.

Alderman Thompson-Kelly asked if citizens should still contact the Winnebago County Health Department to register for the vaccine.

Chief Bergsten replied and confirmed that residents should register for the vaccine with the Winnebago County Health Department. He stated once individuals are registered they would be notified of their appointment by email.

He directed any residents that had questions about their appointment to contact the Winnebago County Health Department hotline number.

Mayor McNamara mentioned that residents who do not have internet access can register for the vaccine by calling the Winnebago County Health Department hotline number at 815-319-6705.

IV. ADJOURNMENT

1. Motion to Adjourn

Alderman Frost moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Alderman Durkee.

MOTION PREVAILED with a unanimous roll call vote (Aldermen Ervins and McNeely were absent). The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Durkee, Logemann, Tuneberg, Frost, Hervey, Thompson-Kelly, Hoffman, Rose, Beach, Quinonez, Hanley ABSENT: Natavias Ervins, Linda McNeely

http://rockfordcityil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=1962&Inline=True