Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Planning & Development Committee met Aug. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER

Alderman Meeks called the meeting to order at 5:52 p.m.

A. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

Alderman Frank Beach gave the invocation and Alderman Gina Meeks led the Pledge of Allegiance.

II. PRESENTATIONS

Mayor McNamara recognized Rob Wilhelmi as the recipient of the Browndbreaker Award (Brownfield Groundbreaker) at a national conference on August 17, 2022, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Browndbreaker Award is given to someone who has evolved the understanding and practice of brownfield redevelopment by retooling the goals, process, and outcomes of a community Brownfields project to promote community revitalization, and championed new practices and game changing policies. Areas of activity can include, but are not limited to, stakeholder engagement, assessment and remediation, planning, policy, finance, and law. Nominees demonstrate leadership in making a visible difference to an impactful community brownfields project and sharpening our practice.

The Mayor recognized Mr. Wilhelmi as instrumental for his expertise in acquiring grants from the U.S. EPA as well as the Illinois EPA for assessment, clean up, and for the city’s revolving loan fund. The Mayor described Mr. Wilhelmi’s work as transformational to the City of Rockford. Mr. Wilhelmi worked on a number of grants and projects, including the UW Sports Factory, Embassy Suites and the future Barber Colman redevelopment project.

III. PUBLIC SPEAKERS

1. Prophet Yusef recited scripture and expressed his concern that the youth of today have despaired towards churches because of the lack of compassion of pastors.

2. Betty Davenport failed to appear.

IV. ROLL CALL

Attendee Name	Organization	Title	Status	Arrived
Tim Durkee	City of Rockford	Alderman	Late	5:54 PM
Linda McNeely	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Karen Hoffman	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Janessa Wilkins	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Gina Meeks	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present

V. RESOLUTIONS

1. Grant Application Authorization and Award Acceptance - Bridge Investment Program (BIP) - 15th Avenue Bridge Reconstruction, in the amount of $2.5M

Tim Hinkens gave a brief overview of the 15th Avenue Bridge Reconstruction. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) solicits project applications for the Bridge Investment Program (BIP). The program was established to improve the condition of the nation’s bridges that are at risk of failing within the next three years. A total of $2.36 Billion in 2022 BIP funds are available for construction funding opportunities, awarded on a competitive basis.

The Department of Public Works has identified the 15th Avenue Bridge over the Rock River as an eligible project for BIP funds. Improving to this bridge is included in the city’s 5-Year Capital Improvements Program. In addition, the bridge has severely deteriorated and needs to be replaced in the next ten years. It is a major route for emergency response vehicles from Fire Station 3.

Currently the City has commenced preliminary engineering on the project. If awarded, the project’s construction would start within 18 months of the award agreement.

The City currently has an application pending for federal Illinois Special Bridge Program (ISBP) funds requesting $2.5M to fund this same project. The City may stack federal funds up to 80% with this grant. The City anticipates learning the status of its application for ISBP funds prior to applying for BIP funds. If awarded $2.5M in ISBP funds, the City will reduce the amount it seeks in BIP funds. However- the City's 20% match for the project would remain the same.

City costs for the project is budgeted within the “Highway Structures and Bridges” chapter in the FY 2022-2026 Capital Improvement Program, (CIP) adopted by City Council on November 15, 2021. The CIP currently shows the project being constructed in FY-27 assuming the award of $2.5M ISBP funds + $3.5M of Surface Transportation Program-Bridge (STP-Br) funds + $6M local match from the Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds. If BIP is awarded, this would lessen the City’s match to $2.5M and allow the $3.5M of STP-BR funds to be used on other City deficient bridges.

The application deadline for this program is September 8, 2022.

Alderman Hoffman made a motion to approve and Alderman Wilkins seconded the motion.

RESULT: APPROVED BY COMMITTEE [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Linda McNeely, Karen Hoffman, Janessa Wilkins, Gina Meeks ABSENT: Tim Durkee

2. Application and Award Acceptance for the DCEO Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant Program: Davis Park Master Plan Phase 1 Implementation, in the amount of $500,000

Kyle Saunders gave an overview of the DCEO Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant (Davis Park Master Plan Phase I). He mentioned that the Public Works Department has received notice of the availability of DCEO Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2023. The objective of this program is to support projects aimed at revitalizing the hard-hit tourism industry by bringing back new and returning tourism attractions and festivals to our state.

Staff is proposing to apply for a $500,000 DCEO Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant to help fund Phase I implementation of the Davis Park Master Plan. If awarded, these funds would cover approximately 10% of the costs associated with improvements to the park including the construction of a multi-use trail, trailhead parking/staging area, recreational beach and stormwater filter, cleansing wetlands, natural playscapes, open canopy stage, restrooms, splash pads, picnic areas, naturalized river edge plantings, and other improvements outlined in the Davis Park Master Plan. The estimated total project cost for Phase I is $4,624,911.37. Of that total, $500,000.00 (or 10%) would be paid with the Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant funds. The State of Illinois Capital Grants, the RPD Foundation, private donations, and the City of Rockford Redevelopment Fund would cover the balance $4,124,911.37 (or 90%).

Committee discussed and Alderman Hoffman made a motion to approve and Alderman Wilkins seconded the motion.

RESULT: APPROVED BY COMMITTEE [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Durkee, McNeely, Hoffman, Wilkins, Meeks

VI. ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Wilkins made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Hoffman.

The meeting adjourned at 5:57 p.m.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Durkee, McNeely, Hoffman, Wilkins, Meeks

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