Rockford Sun

City of Rockford City Council met Sept. 7.

Here is the agenda 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 City Council meeting on August 2, 2021.

2. Journal of Proceedings for the Special City Council meeting held on August 9, 2021.

3. Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on August 16, 2021.

4. Journal of Proceedings for the Special City Council meeting on August 23, 2021.

II. PROCLAMATIONS

III. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, City Administrator, regarding the Ratification of Membership into the Northern Illinois Council of Governments (NorthCOG), an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Memorandum from Megan McNeill, Assistant City Attorney, regarding the Second Quarter Report from April - June 2021 on Liquor License Establishments with Video Gaming, subject to the 50% requirement. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

2. Traffic Commission’s Agenda for the meeting to be held on September 8, 2021 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on September 27, 2021. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

3. Memorandum from Martin Bloom, Project Manager-Permits and Special Events, regarding an upcoming special event for the Edgebrook Health and Wellness Fair. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

4. Memorandum from Megan McNeill, Assistant City Attorney, regarding a resolution for authority to intervene on the 2020 Property Tax Appeal case for Hampton Mercury Investment Company, located at 6905 E. State Street and 6943 E. State Street (PIN: 12-22-477-010). Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Memorandum from Kyle Saunders, Director of Public Works, regarding an application to the State of Illinois for a DCEO Tourism Attractions Program grant for exterior façade improvements to the Coronado Performing Arts Center (CPAC). Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

2. Memorandum from Kyle Saunders, Public Works Director, regarding a City-ComEd Agreement for Buckbee Creek Bank Stabilization (ComEd Line Relocation). Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

3. Memorandum from Jamie Rott, Water Superintendent, regarding the repeal of Ordinance 2018-111-O for the Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Loan Program. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

4. Memorandum from Brooke Benoit, Assistant City Attorney, regarding fine reduction requests for 3012 School Street and 411 Willard Avenue. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

IV. PUBLIC SPEAKERS

1. John Tac Brantley

2. Brendalyn Langdon

3. Rev. Earl Dotson, Sr.

V. PUBLIC HEARING

1. Public Hearing for Right-of-Way Vacation request for a portion of Center Drive and a portion of North Alpine Road.

VI. NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the 2021 Funding Agreement with Rockford Area Arts Council. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval that all traffic to be required to stop prior to entering the intersection of Parkview Avenue and Rural Street, thus repealing the existing traffic control of Parkview Avenue stopping for Rural Street. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

2. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval to establish "No Parking Any Time" on the west side of Cumberland Street from Auburn Street to 55 feet south of Auburn Street. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval that traffic on 10th Street to be required to stop prior to entering the intersection with 21st Avenue. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

4. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's recommendation of “No Action” be taken on the request to establish an all-way stop at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and Westchester Drive, thus repealing the existing traffic control of Greenwood Avenue stopping for Westchester Drive.

5. Committee recommends denial of the Variation for a driveway addition in the front yards along Ryebrook Road and Ryebrook Court in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 7450 Ryebrook Road (Kelly Dowda/Applicant). Thus reversing the Zoning Board of Appeals' recommendation of approval.

6. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Special Use Permit for a 150-foot monopole radio tower in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District and I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 4651 Linden Road (Attorney Hal Morris for Nicor Gas Company/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

7. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Variation to increase the maximum allowed fence height in the front yard along Sherman Street from 4 feet to 6 feet in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 1534 National Avenue (John & Sara Leib/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

8. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Variation to increase the maximum allowed fence height in the front yard along Crosby Street from 4 feet to 6 feet in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 2308 Crosby Street (Tim & Kim Meyer/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

9. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Special Use Permit to increase the maximum allowable square footage for an electronic message display sign from 36 square feet to 704 square feet for an electronic message display wall sign in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District at 300 Elm Street (Rockford Area Venues Entertainment Authority/Metro Centre/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

10. Committee recommends approval of the Annexation of 3024 Searles Avenue. The request for annexation from the owner of the property is for City of Rockford water connection The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

11. Committee recommends approval of the Right-of-Way Vacation request by Randall Ballard, Highcrest Centre, LLC to vacate a portion of Center Drive, within Highcrest Centre and a portion of North Alpine Road at the entrance to the shopping center. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of vouchers in the amount of $6,674,449.89 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on August 23, 2021.

2. Committee recommends approval of the proposed sale of the city-owned property located at 316 Salter Avenue (PIN: 11-27-407-019) to Jesus Vincente Galvan Fernandez. The cost to the recipient to purchase the Mow to Own property is $0. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends approval of the proposed sale of the city-owned property located at 614 North Avon Street (PIN: 11-15-379-057) to Helen Lilly. The cost to the recipient to purchase the Mow to Own property is $0. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

4. Committee recommends approval of the sale of the city-owned property located at 1020 North Avenue (PIN: 11-14-332-014) for a mitigated offer of $1,100.00 from Nicholas Jackson (including the split of the property and cost with the other bidder). The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

VII. OFFICERS REPORTS

VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMITTEE REPORTS LAID OVER

A. Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Variation to increase the maximum allowed square footage of a freestanding sign for a nonresidential use in a Residential District from 48 square feet to 57.5 square feet along North Alpine Road in an R-1, Single family Residential Zoning District at 4405 Highcrest Road (Anthony Perna for Provena St. Anne Center/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance. (LAID OVER August 16, 2021)

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

IX. APPOINTMENTS LAID OVER

1. Appointment of Maureen Kirschmann to the Rockford Housing Authority (RHA) Board for a five-year term to replace Karen Hoffman whose term has expired. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment will be up for passage after September 29, 2021.)

X. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of The Answer 2021

This event is scheduled for Sunday, September 19th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and will be held at the corner of Walnut Street and North 2nd Street (old City Body lot).

2. Committee recommends approval of the authorization for the proposed sale of 82 city-owned surplus properties.

Pursuant to state law, 65 ILCS 5/11-76-4.1, the city will publish the properties for sale in the local newspaper and/or commercial exchange for a minimum bid to be determined upon appraisal receipt. City staff is recommending approval to place for sale the eighty-two (82) city-owned surplus properties attached to the agenda.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Traffic Signal Electrical Services to Engel Electric, of Sterling, Illinois and William Charles Electric, of Rockford, Illinois for an estimated annual value of $30,000.00 (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is through September 30, 2022 with four (4) possible one-year extensions. Annual price adjustments for CPI considered at contract renewal only. The funding source is Traffic Division Operating Budget.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Water System Contractual Services to N-TRAK Group, of Loves Park, Illinois for an estimated annual value of $500,000.00 (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is through December 31, 2022 with four (4) possible one-year extension options. Annual price adjustments for CPI considered at contract renewal only. The funding source is Water Fund Operating Budget.

3. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Auburn Street Clean Construction or Demolition Debris (CCDD) Site - Closure 2021 to Dales Plumbing, of Pecatonica, Illinois in the amount of $56,891.00. The project is estimated to be completed October 29, 2021. The funding source is Water Replacement Improvement Account (WRIA).

4. Acceptance of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in the amount of $1,032,291.00. The grant does not require a cost match. The grant term is from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

XI. NEW BUSINESS (ORDINANCES)

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. An ordinance approving the 2021 Funding Agreement with Rockford Area Arts Council.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. An ordinance approving that all traffic be required to stop prior to entering the intersection of Parkview Avenue and Rural Street, thus repealing the existing traffic control of Parkview Avenue stopping for Rural Street.

2. An ordinance establishing "No Parking Any Time" on the west side of Cumberland Street from Auburn Street to 55 feet south of Auburn Street.

3. An ordinance approving that traffic on 10th Street to be required to stop prior to entering the intersection with 21st Avenue.

4. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for a 150-foot monopole radio tower in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District and I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 4651 Linden Road (Attorney Hal Morris for Nicor Gas Company/Applicant).

5. An ordinance approving a Variation to increase the maximum allowed fence height in the front yard along Sherman Street from 4 feet to 6 feet in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 1534 National Avenue (John & Sara Leib/Applicants).

6. An ordinance approving a Variation to increase the maximum allowed fence height in the front yard along Crosby Street from 4 feet to 6 feet in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 2308 Crosby Street (Tim & Kim Meyer/Applicants).

7. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit to increase the maximum allowable square footage for an electronic message display sign from 36 square feet to 704 square feet for an electronic message display wall sign in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District at 300 Elm Street (Rockford Area Venues Entertainment Authority/Metro Centre/Applicants).

8. An ordinance approving the Annexation of 3024 Searles Avenue.

9. An ordinance approving the Right-of-Way Vacation request by Randall Ballard, Highcrest Centre, LLC to vacate a portion of Center Drive, within Highcrest Centre and a portion of North Alpine Road at the entrance to the shopping center. (APPROVAL REQUIRES 12 VOTES)

10. An ordinance approving a Variation to increase the maximum allowed square footage of a freestanding sign for a nonresidential use in a Residential District from 48 square feet to 57.5 square feet along North Alpine Road in an R-1, Single-family Residential Zoning District at 4405 Highcrest Road (Anthony Perna for Provena St. Anne Center/Applicant).

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. An ordinance approving the sale of the city-owned property located at 316 Salter Avenue (PIN: 11-27-407-019) to Jesus Vincente Galvan Fernandez. The cost to the recipient to purchase the Mow to Own property is $0.

2. An ordinance approving the sale of the city-owned property located at 614 North Avon Street (PIN: 11-15-379-057) to Helen Lilly. The cost to the recipient to purchase the Mow to Own property is $0.

3. An ordinance approving the sale of the city-owned property located at 1020 North Avenue (PIN: 11-14-332-014) for a mitigated offer of $1,100.00 from Nicholas Jackson including the split of the property and cost with the other bidder.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

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