Rockford Sun

City of Rockford City Council met Jan. 21.

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 December 2, 2024.

2. Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on December 16, 2024.

3. Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on January 6, 2025.

II. PROCLAMATIONS

III. PUBLIC HEARING

A. Public Hearing for the Pre-Annexation Agreement for the property located at 5426 and 54xx 35th Street

IV. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Memorandum from Sarah Leys, Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development Department, regarding the REGROW Tier 2 Award Recommendations.

Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

2. Memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, City Administrator, regarding the proposed Development Agreement with Premier Woodworking, Inc. for demolition of 1012 7th Street.

Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

3. Memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, City Administrator, regarding the proposed Development Agreement with Urban Equity Properties (UEP Chick House LLC) for the rehabilitation of 119-121 South Main Street (former Chick Hotel) for mixed use residential / commercial / retail redevelopment at the southwest corner of South Main and Elm Street.

Referred to Planning and Development Committee.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Zoning Board of Appeals’ Agenda for the meeting to be held on January 22, 2025 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on January 27, 2025.

Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

2. Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board’s Agenda for the meeting to be held on January 22, 2025 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on January 27, 2025.

Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

3. Memorandum from Martin Bloom, Project Manager-Permits and Special Events, regarding the 2025 Forward for Fun Initiative.

Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Memorandum from Faniqua Hughes, Head Start Director, regarding an approval of the Change of Scope Application. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

2. Memorandum from Jeremy Carter, Traffic and Development Engineer, regarding the approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Village of Cherry Valley for City-Wide Pavement Markings (Paint).

Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

3. Memorandum from Jeremy Carter, Traffic and Development Engineer, regarding the approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Belvidere for City-Wide Pavement Markings (Paint).

Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

4. Memorandum from Anna Garrison, Economic Development Manager, regarding an Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Ryan, LLC.

Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

5. Memorandum from Fire Chief Michele Pankow regarding the approval and acceptance of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Emergency Management Performance (EMP) Grant Award.

Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

V. PUBLIC SPEAKERS

1. Prophet Yusef

2. John Tac Brantley

VI. NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the 2025 Funding Agreement with the Rockford Area Arts Council (RAAC) in the amount of $75,000.00.

The funding source is the city's Redevelopment Fund. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Amendments to Chapter 29 Article VII (Vehicles for Hire) to create an alcohol-free Pedal Bus Ordinance. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Pre-Annexation Agreement for 5426 and 54xx 35th Street. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning of Appeals' approval of a Special Use Permit for the installation of a solar farm (freestanding solar panels) in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 5426 and 54xx 35th Street (Rockford Solar Farm, LLC/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the vouchers in the amount of $3,347,854.17 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on January 13, 2025.

2. Committee has no recommendation as to the proposed sale of the city owned property located at 815 West State Street (PIN: 11-22-286-016) to Salvation Army for their bid in the amount of $1,000.00. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Rockford and State of Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for IL-70 (Kilburn Avenue) Resurfacing (Safford Road to Glenwood Avenue) project. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2,012,500.00, of which the city's share is estimated to be $19,877.00. The funding source is Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

VII. OFFICERS REPORTS

VIII. APPOINTMENTS LAID OVER

1. Reappointment of Kerry Harlacher to the Building Board of Appeals for a term expiring June 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

2. Reappointment of Mokhtar Mohamed to the Building Board of Appeals for a term expiring June 2029. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

3. Reappointment of Bill Hatfield to the Civilian Oversight Board for a term expiring December 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

4. Appointment of Sana Siddiqui to the Community Relations Commission for a term expiring December 2026. This appointment will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Nikki Lynch. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment is up for passage.)

5. Reappointment of James McDowell to the Community Relations Commission for a term expiring August 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment is up for passage.)

6. Reappointment of Jurea Crudup to the Community Relations Commission for a term expiring October 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment is up for passage.)

7. Reappointment of Scott Garwick to the Community Relations Commission for a term expiring October 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

8. Reappointment of William Martin to the Community Relations Commission for a term expiring October 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

9. Reappointment of Carrie Hagerty to the Fire Pension Board for a term expiring October 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

10. Appointment of Brad Benedict to the Historic Preservation Commission for a term expiring August 2026. This appointment is to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Kathleen Kline. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment is up for passage.)

11. Reappointment of Amanda Becker to the Historic Preservation Commission for a term expiring July 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

12. Reappointment of Maureen Kirschmann to the Historic Preservation Commission for a term expiring October 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

13. Reappointment of Raed Salem to Mechanical Board for a term expiring June 2029. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

14. Reappointment of Scott Laue to the Police Pension Board for a term expiring August 2026. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

15. Reappointment of Marcia Mueller to the Police Pension Board for a term expiring October 2027. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

16. Appointment of Kevin Schwitters to the RAVE Board for a term expiring June 2025. This appoint will fill the vacancy created by the passing of Dan McMahon. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this appointment is up for passage.)

17. Reappointment of Craig Thomas to the RAVE Board for a term expiring June 2029. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

18. Reappointment of Dorien Peterson to the Traffic Commission for a term expiring December 2029. (Pursuant to Rule 18, this reappointment is up for passage.)

IX. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Grant application and award acceptance through Bloomberg Philanthropies for the maximum amount of $100,000.00. This Grant funds creating artistic intersection bump/bulb outs and other possible street art near the area of the City Market in the downtown area. The Rockford Area Arts Council (RAAC) would be co applicant. The grant does not require a cost match.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Non-Competitive Contract: Replacement Radio Console to Motorola Solutions, of Chicago, Illinois in the amount of $46,325.97. This is a one-time purchase. The funding source is the Fire Department's Risk Management Fund.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Non-Competitive Contract: Apparatus Repair Aerial Unit 1268 to MacQueen Equipment, LLC, of Weyauwega, Wisconsin in the amount of $36,317.00. This is a one-time purchase. The funding source is the Fire Department Operating Budget.

3. Committee recommends approval of the Resolution approving appropriation of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code - IL-70 (Kilburn Avenue) Resurfacing (Safford Road to Glenwood Avenue) (25-00676-00-RS) in the amount of $40,000.00.

4. Committee recommends approval and acceptance of Health and Human Services Department Supplemental Funding Allocation in the amount of $250,000.00. The allocation includes $200,000.00 for investments in technological infrastructure. The remaining $50,000.00 will fund contractual grant writing services. The funding source is the 3% Cannabis Recreation Tax.

X. NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. An ordinance approving the 2025 Funding Agreement with the Rockford Area Arts Council (RAAC) in the amount of $75,000.00. The funding source is the City's Redevelopment Fund.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. An ordinance approving a Variation to increase the maximum number of allowed business identification wall signs from two (2) to three (3) in a C 3, General Commercial Zoning District at 8201 East Riverside Boulevard (MercyHealth/Applicant).

2. An ordinance approving Amendments to Chapter 29 Article VII (Vehicles for Hire) to create an alcohol-free Pedal Bus Ordinance.

3. An ordinance approving the Pre-Annexation Agreement for 5426 and 54xx 35th Street.

4. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for the installation of a solar farm (freestanding solar panels) in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 5426 and 54xx 35th Street (Rockford Solar Farm, LLC/Applicant).

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. An ordinance approving the sale of the city-owned property located at 815 West State Street (PIN: 11-22-286-016) to Salvation Army for their bid in the amount of $1,000.00.

2. An ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Rockford and State of Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for IL-70 (Kilburn Avenue) Resurfacing (Safford Road to Glenwood Avenue) project. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2,012,500.00, of which the city's share is estimated to be $19,877.00. The funding source is Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds.

XI. ADJOURNMENT

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