Rockford Sun

City of Rockford City Council met March 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 Strategic Planning Session held on November 29, 2021. 

2. Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on January 24, 2022. 

II. PROCLAMATIONS

III. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 

A. Planning and Development Committee 

1. Memorandum from Andrea Hinrichs, Acting Housing and Program Manager, regarding the approval of the HOME Rental Rehabilitation Program Agreement between the City of Rockford and Longwood Zion Apartments LLC for Longwood Gardens Apartments, multi-family residential housing, located at 1055 E. State Street. Referred to Planning and Development Committee

2. Memorandum from Karl Franzen, Community and Economic Development Director, regarding a Tax Increment Financing Development Agreement with Andrews Holdings of Rockford, LLC for 4435 East State Street. Referred to Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee 

1. Memorandum from Megan McNeill, Assistant City Attorney, regarding the 4th Quarter Report from October - December 2021 on liquor license establishments with video gaming, subject to the 50% requirement. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

2. Memorandum from Martin Bloom, Project Manager-Permits and Special Events, regarding upcoming special events which include: Miracle Mile Flag Retirement Ceremony, M.A.S.A. Cinco de Rockford, Miracle Mile Cruise and Car Show, Memorial Day Parade, Rockford Fire Department 911 3K Run/Walk, July Classic, Alpine Kiwanis Brat Days, Chowdown Food Truck Festival and Polishfest. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

3. Zoning Board of Appeals Agenda for the meeting to be held on March 15, 2022 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on March 28, 2022. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

4. Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board Agenda for the meeting to be held on March 15, 2022 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on March 28, 2022. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

5. Memorandum from Megan McNeill, Assistant City Attorney, regarding the Annexation Agreement for 4650, 4680, 47xx, 48xx, 4848 and 49xx South Main Street. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

6. Traffic Commission Agenda for the meeting to be held on March 9, 2022 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on March 28, 2022. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

7. Memorandum from Mike Hakanson, Land Transaction Officer, regarding the authorization to execute an Easement for Roger Stambaugh. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee 

1. Memorandum from Karl Franzen, Community and Economic Development Director, regarding an amendment to the Purchase Contract with J. Jeffers & Co., LLC. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

2. Memorandum from Jamie Rott, Water Superintendent, regarding an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Rockford and Fours Rivers Sanitation Authority for the replacement of sanitary sewer services, sanitary manholes, water main, and water services along 15th Avenue from Nelson Boulevard to Kishwaukee Street. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

IV. PUBLIC SPEAKERS 

1. Rev. Earl Dotson, Sr.

2. John Tac Brantley

3. Hasson Muhammad

V. NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS 

A. Planning and Development Committee 

1. Committee recommends approval of the Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Agreement between the City of Rockford and GG Cedar St, LLC for the redevelopment of 502 Cedar Street, 5XX S. Winnebago Street, 5XX Cedar Street, 600 Cedar Street, 608 Cedar Street, 624 Cedar Street, 628 Cedar Street and 642 Cedar Street. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

B. Code and Regulation Committee 

1. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission recommendation of “No Action” on the following items:

1. Establishing a stop control at the intersection of Mayfair Place and Brendenwood Road; and

2. Establishing a stop control at the intersection of Verble Place and Brendenwood Road.

2. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals approval for a Zoning Map Amendment from C-1, Limited Office Zoning District to R-2, Two-Family Residential Zoning District at 5924, 5926, 5942, 5944, and 5972 Apawamis Way and 910 North Mulford Road (Attorney Mario Tarara for Joseph Fanara/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals approval for a:

a. Variation to allow two (2) dumpsters in the front yard along North Court Street;

b. Variation to allow a dumpster enclosure six (6) feet in height in the front yard along North Court Street; and

c. Variation to allow a shed in the front yard along North Court Street in a C-1, Limited Office Zoning District at 412 North Church Street (Jennifer Smith for Emmanuel Episcopal Church/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

4. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals approval for a:

a. Special Use Permit for residential self-storage buildings;

b. Variation to reduce the required side yard setback from six (6) feet to zero (0) feet;

c. Variation to eliminate the four (4) foot open green space along the north and south sides of the property; and

d. Variation to allow two freestanding monument signs on one lot in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 3303 North Main Street (Attorney Sherry Harlan for Stephen Beers/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

5. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals approval for a Special Use Permit for an indoor residential self-storage facility in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 1321 Sandy Hollow Road (Attorney Marvin Keys for 2018DT Sandy Hollow, LLC/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

6. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board approval for:

a. The Sale of Liquor by the drink in conjunction with a bar and grill and video gaming terminals; and

b. The Sale of Packaged Liquor in a C-3, General Commercial District and R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 2842 and 28xx 11th Street and 2845 Kinsey Street (Jay Gesner & Luke Meyer/BJ’s Place, Ltd., dba BJ’s Place/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

7. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board approval for the Sale of Liquor by the Drink in conjunction with a social club and video gaming terminals in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 1201 Sandy Hollow Road (Ellida Lodge Home Association dba Ellida Lodge Home Association/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

8. Committee recommends approval of the amendments to Chapter 113 (Historic Preservation) of the City of Rockford Code of Ordinances to strike Section 113-35(c)(4) requiring a two-thirds majority vote to approve landmark designation of any building, place, or area when the owner of said building, place, or area is opposed to designation. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee 

1. Committee recommends approval of the vouchers in the amount of $6,149,569.41 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on February 28, 2022.

2. Committee recommends denial of the Fine Reduction request for 2307 Mulberry Street from Uriel Rios. The property is not in compliance and staff recommends denial.

3. Committee recommends approval of an Agreement for ALS Ambulance Services with Northwest Rescue, LLC, of Woodstock, Illinois to provide backup ALS ambulance services to the City of Rockford. This agreement will only be exercised when the City does not have the internal resources available to respond to calls for service. There is no cost associated with this agreement. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

4. Committee recommends approval of the purchase of property located at 605 Whitman Street in the amount of $63,000, which was accepted by the owner, Melvin Kruse. The property is part of the CIP project that is reconstructing the intersection at Whitman Street and Ridge Avenue. The funding source is CIP General Fund. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

VI. 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 recommendation of denial for a Special Use Permit for a used car lot in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District at 601 East Jefferson Street (Attorney Andrew Vella for Jose F. Serrano/Applicant). (LAID OVER FEBRUARY 22, 2022)

2. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board recommendation of denial for a Modification of an existing Liquor License to allow video gaming terminals in a C-4, Urban Mixed-Use Zoning District at 505-507 East State Street (Julie Kylesa Rankin/J & K’s Lounge, LLC dba J & K’s Lounge/Applicant). (LAID OVER FEBRUARY 22, 2022)

C. Finance and Personnel Committee 

VII. OFFICERS REPORTS 

VIII. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS 

A. Planning and Development Committee 

B. Code and Regulation Committee 

C. Finance and Personnel Committee 

1. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Police Vehicle Equipment and Installation for 36 vehicles to Ultra Strobe Communications, of Crystal Lake, Illinois in the amount of $354,029.59. The funding source is Capital Lease Funds.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Joint Purchasing Contract: Two (2) John Deere 410L Backhoe Loaders to West Side Tractor Sales, of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $246,863.60 ($123,431.80 each). The funding source is 2022 Water Division Capital Budget.

3. Committee recommends approval of the request to take proposals for website design.

4. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Engineering Agreement: Well 9 Temporary Treatment Design to Fehr Graham, of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $51,100.00. The funding source is Water Replacement Improvement Account (WRIA).

5. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Engineering Agreement: 11th Street Improvements (State Portion) to Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc., of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $829,103.00. The contract duration is spring 2022 to spring 2026. The funding source is One Percent (1%) Infrastructure Sales Tax.

6. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Engineering Agreement: 11th Street Improvements (City Portion) to Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc., of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $1,957,634.00. The contract duration is spring 2022 to spring 2026. The funding source is One Percent (1%) Infrastructure Sales Tax.

7. Committee recommends approval of the acceptance of the application and award for United States Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grant Supplemental Funding in the amount of $5,000,000. The grant does not require a cost match and the term is 60 months from the date of entering into a formal Cooperative Agreement with USEPA. Grant funds will be used to capitalize the City's existing RLF program and will be loaned out to private or public entities to perform environmental cleanup at Brownfield properties.

8. Committee recommends approval of the acceptance of Memorandum of Understanding between City and J. Jeffers Group for USEPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grant Supplemental Funding in the amount of $5,000,000.

IX. NEW BUSINESS (ORDINANCES) 

A. Planning and Development Committee 

1. An ordinance approving the Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Agreement between the City of Rockford and GG Cedar St, LLC for the redevelopment of 502 Cedar Street, 5XX S. Winnebago Street, 5XX Cedar Street, 600 Cedar Street, 608 Cedar Street, 624 Cedar Street, 628 Cedar Street and 642 Cedar Street.

B. Code and Regulation Committee 

1. An ordinance approving a Variation to increase the maximum fence height permitted in the front yard from four feet to 8’4” for the existing fence along 19th Street; and a Variation to increase the maximum fence height permitted in the side yard from six feet to 8’10” for the existing fence along the east property line in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 2303 16th Avenue (Mi Reh/Applicant).

2. An ordinance approving the Zoning Map Amendment from C-1, Limited Office Zoning District to R-2, Two-Family Residential Zoning District at 5924, 5926, 5942, 5944, and 5972 Apawamis Way and 910 North Mulford Road (Attorney Mario Tarara for Joseph Fanara/Applicant).

3. An ordinance approving a Variation to allow two (2) dumpsters in the front yard along North Court Street, a Variation to allow a dumpster enclosure six (6) feet in height in the front yard along North Court Street and a Variation to allow a shed in the front yard along North Court Street in a C-1, Limited Office Zoning District at 412 North Church Street (Jennifer Smith for Emmanuel Episcopal Church/Applicants).

4. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for residential self-storage buildings, a Variation to reduce the required side yard setback from six (6) feet to zero (0) feet, a Variation to eliminate the four (4) foot open green space along the north and south sides of the property and a Variation to allow two freestanding monument signs on one lot in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 3303 North Main Street (Attorney Sherry Harlan for Stephen Beers/Applicant).

5. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for an indoor residential self-storage facility in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 1321 Sandy Hollow Road (Attorney Marvin Keys for 2018DT Sandy Hollow, LLC/Applicants).

6. An ordinance approving the Sale of Liquor by the drink in conjunction with a bar and grill and video gaming terminals and the Sale of Packaged Liquor in a C-3, General Commercial District and R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 2842 and 28xx 11th Street and 2845 Kinsey Street (Jay Gesner & Luke Meyer/BJ’s Place, Ltd., dba BJ’s Place/Applicants).

7. An ordinance approving the Sale of Liquor by the Drink in conjunction with a social club and video gaming terminals in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 1201 Sandy Hollow Road (Ellida Lodge Home Association dba Ellida Lodge Home Association/Applicants).

8. An ordinance approving the amendments to Chapter 113 (Historic Preservation) of the City of Rockford Code of Ordinances to strike Section 113-35(c)(4) requiring a two-thirds majority vote to approve landmark designation of any building, place, or area when the owner of said building, place, or area is opposed to designation.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee 

1. An ordinance approving an agreement for ALS Ambulance Services with Northwest Rescue, LLC, of Woodstock, Illinois to provide backup ALS ambulance services to the City of Rockford. This agreement will only be exercised when the City does not have the internal resources available to respond to calls for service. There is no cost associated with this agreement.

2. An ordinance approving the purchase of property located at 605 Whitman Street in the amount of $63,000, which was accepted by the owner, Melvin Kruse. The property is part of the CIP project that is reconstructing the intersection at Whitman Street and Ridge Avenue. The funding source is CIP General Fund.

X. ADJOURNMENT

https://rockfordcityil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=14&ID=3255&Inline=True