Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Community Relations Commission met Nov. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

I. CALL TO ORDER 

Chairperson Todd Burton called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

Attendee Name	Organization	Title	Status	Arrived
Todd Burton	City of Rockford		Present
Eric Brown	City of Rockford		Present
Jurea Crudup	City of Rockford		Present
William Martin	City of Rockford		Absent
Norma Borrero	City of Rockford		Present
Mary Kaull	City of Rockford		Present
James McDowell	City of Rockford		Present
Joan Velazquez	City of Rockford		Present
Scott Garwick	City of Rockford		Present

II. ACCEPTANCE OF JOURNAL 

A. Journal of Proceedings for the Community Relations Committee meeting held on September 12, 2024 

Commissioner Mary Kaull moved to accept the Journal of Proceedings for the Community Relations Committee meeting held on September 12, 2024, seconded by Commissioner James McDowell.

III. INFORMATION ONLY 

A. City of Rockford Minority & Women-owned Business Enterprise Spend Report

Michaela Harris, Contract and Grant Compliance Officer, presented

commissioners with the 2023 totals for the MWBE spend, and the totals of 2024 will be presented to them next year. She mentioned the total spend amount accounts for direct vendors that are registered with the City of Rockford and it does not count for subcontracts. Also said they are currently working on exploring options to be able to track the data of the subcontractors that work with MWBE. Presented some historic data form the past several years on how the amount spend has generally increased over the years, as well as businesses registering with the City. Pointed out areas of pride, like the spend going into construction contracts, home rehabilitation programs, and streets and water divisions. Noted some of the things the City is working on to be more successful by partnering with other local government agencies to bring resources; through their "Cutting the Red Expo". It is an event where contractors and entrepreneurs attend to learn about doing business with local agencies. Mentioned areas of improvement are to continue to encourage MWBE contractors to bid, encourage expansion of existing MWBE contractors, as well as improved Administration of Human Rights Ordinance.

Commissioner Burton mentioned the CRC Commission is responsible for administering the Administration of Human Rights Ordinance, and asked what they can focus on or how can they make improvements and help drive that goal forward?

Compliance Officer Harris said that is an area they are diving into to see what areas need improvement; mentioned expanding opportunities for small businesses and what drives them to get registered with the City if there is no reward for that.

Commissioner Burton also said he is familiar with contracting for the Federal government and they have certain funding to be awarded to minority and small businesses. He wanted to know if it was the same way at the State and Local level of government?

Compliance Officer Harris mentioned there is a Responsible Bid Ordinance that requires an approved Apprenticeship Program, which limits who they can award contracts to, but it is helping them with the steps needed to take for the small businesses to build those approved Apprenticeship Programs.

Legal Director Nicholas Meyer, also added that was an area it is still being worked on since there are not enough small businesses registered to take big projects because of capacity issues. Mentioned some improvement can be made and get experiences from is encouraging big contractors to engage in MWBE for their subcontracting.

Commissioner Mary Kaull asked what is the benefit for registering with the City?

Compliance Officer Harris mentioned agencies are required to contract and award MWBE to reach their goal on the funding received, and those on the list get priority on those opportunities.

Sarah Leys, Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development, added to be able to submit a bid there is paperwork to be completed, and by being part of the list most of that is already taken care of and it is easier start and focus on the bid.

IV. CONTINUE DISCUSSION OF SUSTAINABLE HOUSING 

A. Development of Recommendations 

Commissioner Burton commented there is a report owed to the Mayor and Council in December, regarding sustainable housing. Will work on draft to send out to all commissioners before the next CRC meeting along with the agenda packet. Anticipates the report to be 3-5 pages with concrete suggestions on what has been talked about in the past year. Encouraged commissioners to share their suggestions, successes, opportunities, areas where council could take more action, and things that were talked about. Also mentioned about a year ago a few of the commissioners (sub-committee) got together and map out the topics to be discussed throughout the year and said it was time to do it again. Would also like to arrange a meeting with the Mayor to get his City Council's input of any particular topics to address and have the commissioners focus on.

V. REGROW GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS 

A. REGROW Tier 1 Scoring

Chairperson Burton proposed only discussing the top 15 grant proposals that had a high score, of which commissioners were part of reviewing and evaluating beforehand. Of the 15 only 10 will be recommended to Council for approval and unless a commissioner has one in particular that didn't score high they would like to address and review.

Legal Director Meyer suggested to make comments on the support or lack of support for each one, as Council's interest of knowing the rationale behind the decisions and recommendations.

Deputy Director, Sarah Leys, described how the list of the top 15 were selected based on innovation and community impact to classify on what the grant is meant to fund, while at the same time including grassroots to have an opportunity. Which were the top 15 selected that were the ones that really have a shot of doing something in the community next year.

Jocelyn McLaughlin, Community & Economic Development Fiscal Coordinator, gave a summary of the top 15 organizations and what each of them proposed they would use the grant for.

The commissioners would then discuss each one with feedback or comments, and then voted if they would want to make it part of the top 10 that will go to Council or not.

Following were the top 9 that passed on the first round:

1. Rockford Barbell - Youth Programs Mobile Unit

2. Blackhawk Learning Connection - Learning Library

3. CITIED Foundation - Early Bird Social Worker Development Program

4. Greater Rockford Music Academy - Nourishing Futures - GRMA Meals Program for Youth Empowerment

5. Blackhawk Area Council, Boy Scouts of America - ScoutReaching for Success

6. Dwayne Collins "DBA" The DA Consulting Group - Club 800 Financial Literacy 101

7. Boys & Girls Club of Rockford - Academic Success & Tutoring

8. Rockford Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (RAASE) - Trafficking Intervention and Prevention Program

9. Regional Access & Mobilization Project, Inc. - Youth Education & Career Readiness

Following were the 5 that were voted against:

1. AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER AT BOOKER - FLOURISH (TANF) JOB READINESS & RETENTION PROGRAM

2. Hope Community Project - Pathways to Peace ComUnity Series

3. United Way of Rock River Valley - United for Literacy

4. Guilford High School Swim - Guilford School Public Swim Project

5. Nbf clothing - Nbf silence the violence flag football tournament

Following was mentioned by Commissioner James McDowell and Commissioner Mary Kaull to possibly consider being the 10th approval:

1. KIKIFER'S Entrepreneurial Academy - Empowerment Through Leadership: Mentorship and Career Skills for Youth in Impacted Communities

Following was mentioned by Commissioner Jurea Crudup to revisit one that was voted against to possibly be the 10th to be recommended to Council:

10. Sounds of Good News - "SPEAK IT! SING IT!" Video Project

Chairperson Burton asked City staff to relay their top 10 votes to City Council for approval. He also reminded commissioners of the REGROW Tier 2 scoring and there are 4 - $50,000 grants and 2 - $100,000 grant. Once commissioners complete scoring, City staff will gather the top scorers to have them present at the January 2025 CRC meeting.

Deputy Director, Sarah Leys, added they will be given 3 minutes to present. Also suggested having top 5 do presentations for the $100,000 so commissioners will choose 2 to move forward to City Council. Then the top 10 do presentations for the $50,000 and again commissioners to pick 4 to go to City Council. She encouraged commissioners to score ahead of the meeting and will let them know the timeline for that.

Chairperson Burton thanked and congratulated Legal Director Meyer who is departing for the Courthouse as the new Judge.

VI. ADJOURNMENT 

The meeting was closed at

Motion to: Adjourn

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