Rockford Sun

City of Rockford City Council met Sept. 3.

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 July 22, 2024.

2. Journal of Proceedings for the Special City Council meeting held on August 12, 2024.

II. PROCLAMATIONS

1. Proclamation declaring September 8, 2024 to be "Calvin Park Boulevard Association Day" in the City of Rockford, Illinois.

2. Proclamation declaring the week of September 8 - 14, 2024 to be "Direct Support Professional Recognition Week" in the City of Rockford, Illinois.

III. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Memorandum from Tim Hinkens, Interim Public Works Director, regarding authorization for a grant application and award acceptance for the HUD Community Project Funding for US-20/IL-2 Planning and Environmental Linkage. Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Memorandum from Jacob Rubin, Assistant City Attorney, regarding the Annexation of 1216 North Johnston Avenue. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

2. Traffic Commission’s Agenda for the meeting to be held on September 11, 2024 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on September 23, 2024. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Memorandum from Police Chief Carla Redd regarding the approval of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Winnebago County for the 2021 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

2. Memorandum from Police Chief Carla Redd regarding the approval of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Winnebago County for the 2022 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

3. Memorandum from Police Chief Carla Redd regarding the approval of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Winnebago County for the 2023 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

4. Memorandum from Police Lieutenant Richard Gambini regarding the consideration of acceptance of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Organized Retail Crime FY25 Grant Award. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

IV. PUBLIC SPEAKERS

1. John Tac Brantley

2. Kerry Phipps

3. Beth Heuer

4. Dale Costello

5. Prophet Yusef

V. NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Funding Agreement with Southwest Ideas for Today & Tomorrow (SWIFTT) in the amount of $30,000.00 of TIF funding through the Barber Colman TIF District to support their 2024 Work Plan. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Agreement with Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity for the 2024 Critical Home Repair Program in the amount of $250,000.00. The funding source is the American Rescue Plan Act. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the request for an honorary street name change on Foster Avenue from Green Street to Elm Street, renaming the street Izer Tilson Way. This request is being made in honor of Izer Tilson, who was a resident of Rockford for 62 years and who lived to be 108 years old. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

2. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Special Use Permit for a church and church related uses in an R-3, Multi-Family Residential Zoning District at 6219 Forest Hills Road (Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church/Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Special Use Permit for body art services in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 44xx and 4430 Manchester Drive Suite G1 (Shane Pease for Risen Tattoo Studio/Applicant). Subject to conditions.

The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

4. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for the Modification of Special Use Permit #053-22 for the installation and expansion of a solar farm (free-standing solar panel racks and solar panels) in an I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 4747 Harrison Avenue (Engle Distributed Renewable for Collins Aerospace/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 a Planned Unit Development for a youth community center with meeting rooms and youth social activities with a future gymnasium in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District and I-1, Light Industrial District at 2501 Charles Street (Joseph Goken for Rockford Youth, LLC/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

6. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for the Modification of Special Use Permits #067-96 and #058-98 to build a new equipment storage facility for the storage of vehicles, tree maintenance equipment, and trailers in a C-2, Limited Commercial and R 1, Single-Family Residential Zoning Districts at 2603 Kilburn Avenue (Joe Anderson for Mark’s Tree Care/Applicant). Subject to conditions.

The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of vouchers in the amount of $7,778,677.69 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on August 26, 2024.

2. Committee recommends approval of the wage increases for non-union employees of the Health & Human Services Department that are 100% funded by the Federal Head Start grant effective April 1, 2024 and August 12, 2024. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMITTEE REPORTS LAID OVER

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of a Residential Neighborhood Sign Program in the amount of $100,000.00 to assist residential neighborhoods and neighborhood groups in developing signage to create brand identity and pride in their neighborhood. The funding source is the American Rescue Plan budget. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance. (LAID OVER AUGUST 19, 2024)

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of a Special Use Permit for a Planned Unit Development for 29 Multi-Family Residential Units in an R-3, Multi Family Residential Zoning District at 310 Arnold Avenue (Arnold Isakhanian for MKES Investments, LLC/Applicants), thus reversing the Zoning Board of Appeals' recommendation of denial. Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

(LAID OVER AUGUST 19, 2024)

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

VII. OFFICERS REPORTS

VIII. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval and authorization for the application and acceptance, if awarded, of the Flood Hazard Mitigation Program Grant by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The application seeks funds to purchase six properties in the Keith Creek Corridor. The project is expected to take 18 months at a cost of $1,590,179. The application seeks 100% grant reimbursement.

2. Committee recommends approval and authorization for the application and acceptance, if awarded, of the 2024 USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Grant in an amount up to $500,000.00. The Grant provides funding assistance to improve urban forests within disadvantaged areas of communities. The funding source is the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service allocation from the Inflation Reduction Act, administered by The Morton Arboretum. The grant comes as a zero dollar cost match with the grant term expiration of approximately 3 years from the date of award.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: City-Wide Weed Abatement (Bid Nos: 524-CD-070 & 724-CD-076) to A&A Lawncare, Annely Garcia Medrano, A.P. Sullivans Landscaping, JJ Paris, Inc., Marisella Rodriguez, all of Rockford, Illinois and HR Landscape Services, of Belvidere, Illinois in the estimated annual amount of $185,000.00 (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is one (1) year with four (4) possible one-year extension options (annual price adjustments for CPI considered at renewal only). The funding source is the Construction Services Operating Budget.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Indoor Range Floor (Bid No: 724-PD-078) to Paramount Decorating, of Bartlett, Illinois in the amount of $41,600.00. The funding source is the Police Department Operating Budget.

3. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Joint Purchasing Agreement: Network Infrastructure Equipment to SmartWAVE Technologies, of Alpharetta, Georgia in the estimated amount of $750,000.00. The contract duration is one (1) year with two (2) possible one-year extension options. The funding source is the Information Technology Fund.

4. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Non-Competitive Contract: Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Endpoint and Software Maintenance, Replacement, Repair and Upgrades/Updates to Itron, Inc., of Dallas, Texas in the estimated annual amount of $35,000.00 (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is through December 31, 2024 with three (3) possible one-year extension options (annual price adjustments for CPI considered at contract renewal only). The funding source is the Water Fund Budget.

5. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Non-Competitive Contract: Four (4) 2024 Police Vehicles to Anderson Dodge Jeep, of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $155,000.00. The funding source is the Police - Drug Asset Forfeiture Account.

6. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Non-Competitive Contract: Six (6) Flock Safety Condor PTZ Cameras with LTE Service to Flock Group Inc. (Flock Safety), of Atlanta, Georgia in the amount of $94,500.00. The contract duration is a 54 month initial term. The contract includes Flock Safety Professional Services and Electrical Implementation. The funding source is the Project Safe Neighborhood 2022 (PSN22) Grant.

7. Committee recommends approval of the application and acceptance of a Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in the amount of $1,090,062.00. The grant does not require a cost match. The grant term is from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. The grant award, if awarded, will provide funds to use for developing and implementing programs to assist low income Illinois residents in working towards family stabilization and self sufficiency in furtherance of this purpose.

IX. NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. An ordinance approving the Funding Agreement with Southwest Ideas for Today & Tomorrow (SWIFTT) in the amount of $30,000.00 of TIF funding through the Barber Colman TIF District to support their 2024 Work Plan.

2. An ordinance approving the Agreement with Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity for the 2024 Critical Home Repair Program in the amount of $250,000.00. The funding source is the American Rescue Plan Act.

3. An ordinance approving the Residential Neighborhood Sign Program in the amount of $100,000.00 to assist residential neighborhoods and neighborhood groups in developing signage to create brand identity and pride in their neighborhood. The funding source is the American Rescue Plan budget.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. An ordinance approving the request for an Honorary Street Name Change on Foster Avenue from Green Street to Elm Street, renaming the street Izer Tilson Way. This request is being made in honor of Izer Tilson, who was a resident of Rockford for 62 years and who lived to be 108 years old.

2. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for a church and church related uses in an R-3, Multi-Family Residential Zoning District at 6219 Forest Hills Road (Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church/Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center/Applicant).

3. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for body art services in a C 3, General Commercial Zoning District at 44xx and 4430 Manchester Drive Suite G1 (Shane Pease for Risen Tattoo Studio/Applicant).

4. An ordinance approving the Modification of Special Use Permit #053-22 for the installation and expansion of a solar farm (free-standing solar panel racks and solar panels) in an I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 4747 Harrison Avenue (Engle Distributed Renewable for Collins Aerospace/Applicant).

5. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for a Planned Unit Development for a youth community center with meeting rooms and youth social activities with a future gymnasium in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District and I-1, Light Industrial District at 2501 Charles Street (Joseph Goken for Rockford Youth, LLC/Applicant).

6. An ordinance approving the Modification of Special Use Permits #067-96 and #058-98 to build a new equipment storage facility for the storage of vehicles, tree maintenance equipment, and trailers in a C-2, Limited Commercial and R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning Districts at 2603 Kilburn Avenue (Joe Anderson for Mark’s Tree Care/Applicant).

7. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for a Planned Unit Development for 29 Multi-Family Residential Units in an R-3, Multi Family Residential Zoning District at 310 Arnold Avenue (Arnold Isakhanian for MKES Investments, LLC/Applicants). (APPROVAL REQUIRES 10 VOTES)

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. An ordinance approving the wage increases for non-union employees of the Health & Human Services Department that are 100% funded by the Federal Head Start grant effective April 1, 2024 and August 12, 2024.

X. ADJOURNMENT

http://rockfordcityil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=14&ID=3940&Inline=True