Rockford Sun

City of Rockford City Council met Sept. 19.

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 held on August 15, 2022.

2. Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on September 6, 2022.

II. PROCLAMATIONS

1. Proclamation proclaiming September 17 - 23, 2022 to be "Constitution Week" in Rockford, Illinois.

III. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Memorandum from Anna Garrison, Economic Development Manager, regarding an ordinance for the Correction Due to Scrivener’s Error in the First Amendment to the Redevelopment Plan and Redevelopment Project for the Amended Amerock Hotel Redevelopment Project Area. Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

2. Memorandum from Anna Garrison, Economic Development Manager, regarding a proposed ordinance for the Termination of the Assisted Living/River Housing Redevelopment Project Area and the Dissolution of the Special Tax Allocation Fund for the Assisted Living/River Housing Tax Increment Financing District. Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

3. Memorandum from Anna Garrison, Economic Development Manager, regarding the adoption of the Ordinance to Terminate the West State/Kilburn TIF and Ordinances for the Second Amendment to the Amerock TIF. Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

4. Memorandum from Kyle Saunders, Public Works Director, regarding an Application and Award Acceptance for the Illinois Special Bridge Program FY-28 (ISBP) Grant for 15th Avenue over Rock River Bridge. Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

5. Memorandum from Karl Franzen, Community and Economic Development Director, regarding a Resolution in support of Tax Increment Financing Districts. Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

6. Memorandum from Karl Franzen, Community and Economic Development Director, regarding the 2021 Tax Increment Finance Districts update. Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Zoning Board of Appeals Agenda for the meeting to be held on September 20, 2022 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on September 26, 2022. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

2. Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board Agenda for the meeting to be held on September 20, 2022 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on September 26, 2022. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

3. Memorandum from Scott Capovilla, Planning and Zoning Manager, regarding the Final Plat of The Cottages at Peterson Meadows Subdivision. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, City Administrator, regarding the Lien Assignment of city liens to the Northern Illinois Land Bank from City of Rockford for vacant parcels within Emerson Estates Subdivision. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

2. Memorandum from Kyle Saunders, Public Works Director, regarding a Reimbursement Agreement for Preliminary Engineering Services for Grade Crossing Improvements for 11th Street between Railroad Avenue and Woodruff Avenue and Union Pacific Railroad Tracks. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

IV. PUBLIC SPEAKERS

1. Nancy Spahr

2. Paul Baits

3. Larry Washington

4. James Castree

5. Michael Smith

V. NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS

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 permitted square footage from 720 square feet to 1,112 square feet to allow construction of an additional accessory structure in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 1341 Greenwood Avenue (Michael Tremaine/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

2. Committee recommends denial of the Special Use Permit for a gas station and convenience store in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District, C-1 Limited Commercial Zoning District, and a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 1334 and 1344 East State Street (Architect Joseph Anderson for Sadruddin & Penny Lakhani/Applicants). Thus reversing the Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation of approval.

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

a. Variation to increase the fence height from four (4) feet to six (6) feet within the front yard along Shenandoah Avenue; and

b. Variation to allow a chain-link fence with plastic slats within the front yard along Shenandoah Avenue in an R-1, Single Family Residential Zoning District at 904 Shenandoah Avenue (Stephanie Jones-Sullivan/Applicant).

4. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board recommendation for:

a. Approval for a Modification of an Existing Liquor License for the Sale of Packaged Liquor (PKG) and a Tobacco License to add additional corporate owners for a total of four (4) corporate owners; and

b. Denial for the request to remove restriction on minimum ounce requirement for single serve bottles of liquor; and

Committee recommends approval of:

c. The request for change of store hours to 24 hours a day and add video gaming terminals in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 542 and 634 North Lyford Road (Sunny Elengical/Reetha Elengical/Ajithkumar Asokabhavan Krishnan/Anil Krishnan/Star Petroleum, Inc. dba BP Star Petroleum, Inc./Applicants). Subject to conditions. Thus reversing the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board recommendation of denial.

The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

5. Committee recommends approval of the request for authorization to place for sale the city-owned parcel located at 5798 Logistics Parkway (PIN: 15- 13-351-007). The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

6. Committee recommends approval of a modification to an existing Liquor License for an additional video gaming terminal at 1710 Rural Street (Rural on Tap). The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the vouchers in the amount of $7,709,278.10 as approved at the Finance and Personnel meeting held on September 12, 2022.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Fine Reduction request for 1803 South 8th Street. The request is being made on behalf of William Cornish, the owner of the property. The owner of the property has abated all outstanding violations and is requesting the fine total of $5,470 be reduced to $500.

3. Committee recommends approval of the Fine Reduction request for 1726 15th Avenue. The owner of the property has abated all outstanding violations and is requesting the fine of $2,000 be reduced to $500.

4. Committee recommends approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement for Exchange of Services with Rockford Public School District 205 in support of Rockford Five-0 Program. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

5. Committee recommends approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Davis Junction for snow removal and salting for 2,700 ft. of Junction Road. The annual value is $6,750 with a 5% increase in each successive year. The contract duration is five (5) years with mutually agreed one (1) year increments. The funding source is Street Division Operating Budget. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

6. Committee recommends rejection of the bid for the sale of the city-owned vacant industrial lot located at 4XX Short Horsman Street (PIN: 11-22-405-018) to Seneca Meeks of Loves Park, Illinois for his bid of $2,100.00.

D. Redistricting Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the new City of Rockford Ward Map. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

VI. OFFICERS REPORTS

VII. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Application and Acceptance for Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) Grant - Riverwalk Design Engineering. This competitive grant has a maximum grant award amount of $3,000,000 which will pay for up to 80% of the project costs with the project sponsor providing the remaining match.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Application and Acceptance for Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) Grant - Highcrest Road Multi-Use Path. This competitive grant has a maximum grant award amount of $3,000,000. The grant will pay for up to 80% of the project costs with the project sponsor providing the remaining match.

3. Committee recommends approval of the Application and Acceptance of the Urban and Community Forestry Grant. This grant has an award amount of $25,000. Grant funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service through the direction of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The grant will require a 1:1 cost match up to the awarded amount with a grant term expiration of 19 months from the date of the award.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of Tour De North End

This event is scheduled for September 24th from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Olympic Tavern Parking Lot located at 2327 North Main Street.

2. Committee recommends approval of Bourbon, Brisket and Blues

This event is scheduled for September 24th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Laurent House located at 4646 Spring Brook Road.

3. Committee recommends approval of the Celebrating Our Story Rockford Public Library 150th Anniversary Celebration

This event is scheduled for October 20, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the City of Rockford Wellness Center Garage located at 120 North 3rd Street.

4. Committee recommends approval of the Festival of Lights

This event is scheduled on the following dates and times:

November 25 – 27, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

December 1 – 5, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

December 8 – 11, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

December 15 – 23, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

December 24, 2022 – 24 hours

December 25, 2022 – 24 hours

December 26, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

December 31, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

The festival will be held in Sinnissippi Park located at 1401 North 2nd Street

5. Committee recommends approval of Stroll on State/Dasher Dash 5k with IDOT Resolution

This event is scheduled for November 26th from Noon – 9:00 p.m. The 5k run will begin at noon. The parade step-off time will be at 1:55 p.m. The parade route will begin at Main and Green Street, and will end at State and 3rd Street. The tree lighting and fireworks portion of the event will begin at 6:15 p.m. Street closures will begin at 5:00 a.m., lots 3 and 10 will be closed on Friday, November 25th at 4:00 p.m.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Demolition of 2323 West State Street to N-TRAK Group, of Loves Park, Illinois in the amount of $104,780.00. The funding source is Construction Services Operating Budget. (LAID OVER AUGUST 15, 2022)

2. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: City-Wide Grounds Maintenance to Reyes Rodriguez of Rockford, Illinois and Annely Garcia Medrano of Rockford, Illinois based on unit pricing with an estimated annual value of $125,000.00. The contract duration is through December 31, 2022 with four (4) possible one-year annual extension options. Annual price adjustments for CPI considered at contract renewal only. The funding source is Street Division Operating Budget.

3. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: NW Channel Repair to Sjostrom & Sons, Inc., of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $53,371.57. The project is estimated to be completed by October 21, 2022. The funding source is CIP General Fund.

4. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: HVAC Replacements for Fire Station 1 and Fire Shop to Complete Mechanical Solutions of Machesney Park, Illinois in the amount of $138,344.00. The funding source is ARPA Funds.

5. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Professional Environmental Services Agreement: Leaking Underground Storage Tank Assistance to Fehr Graham Engineering & Environmental of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $47,700.00. The contract duration is two (2) years. The funding source is Property Fund Operating Budget.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS (ORDINANCES)

A. Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. An ordinance approving a Variation to increase the maximum permitted square footage from 720 square feet to 1,112 square feet to allow construction of an additional accessory structure in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 1341 Greenwood Avenue (Michael Tremaine/Applicant).

2. An ordinance approving a Modification of an Existing Liquor License for the Sale of Packaged Liquor (PKG) and a Tobacco License to add additional corporate owners for a total of four (4) corporate owners, the request for change of store hours to 24 hours a day and add video gaming terminals in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 542 and 634 North Lyford Road (Sunny Elengical/Reetha Elengical/Ajithkumar Asokabhavan Krishnan/Anil Krishnan/Star Petroleum, Inc. dba BP Star Petroleum, Inc./Applicants).

3. An ordinance approving the authorization to place for sale the city-owned parcel located at 5798 Logistics Parkway (PIN: 15-13-351-007).

4. An ordinance approving a modification to an existing Liquor License for an additional video gaming terminal at 1710 Rural Street (Rural on Tap).

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. An ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement for Exchange of Services with Rockford Public School District 205 in support of Rockford Five-0 Program.

2. An ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Davis Junction for snow removal and salting for 2,700 ft. of Junction Road. The annual value is $6,750 with a 5% increase in each successive year. The contract duration is five (5) years with mutually agreed one (1) year increments. The funding source is Street Division Operating Budget.

D. Redistricting Committee

1. An ordinance approving the new City of Rockford Ward Map.

IX. CLOSED SESSION

A. Motion to Convene into Closed Session in order to discuss Labor Negotiation matters.

X. ADJOURNMENT

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