Rockford Sun

City of Loves Park City Council met Jan. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Gregory Jury called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

City Clerk Bob Burden opened the meeting with an invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present: Aldermen A. Marie Holmes, Robert Schlensker, Mike Owens, John Jacobson, Clint Little, Dan Jacobson, John Pruitt, Jim Thompson, Mark Peterson

Absent: Alderman Doug Allton

Also Present: City Clerk Bob Burden

City Attorney Gino Galluzzo

1. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

The Journal of Proceedings for the regular meeting of December 16, 2024, was approved as submitted by the City Clerk on a motion by Alderman Schlensker. Second by Alderman Little. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

2. COMMUNICATIONS, MAYOR’S REPORT & ANNOUNCEMENTS

3. COMMERCE COMMISSION HEARING

Received a notice from the Illinois Commerce Commission of hearings regarding Northern Illinois Gas Company, to be held on January 15, 2025, via WebEx. Placed on file

4. THANK YOU NOTE

Received a thank you note from the Salvation Army, thanking the city for hosting a food donation barrel during the holidays. Placed on file

5. SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT

Received a Special Event Permit application for Faithful 2 Fitness, NFP, to hold a 5K walk/run on a portion of Loves Park streets, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, August 23, 2025. Referred to Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee.

6. THANK YOU NOTE

Received a thank you letter to the City of Loves Park from Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, for the city’s donation in support of their 2025 programs. Placed on file.

7. ROAD REFERENDUM

Mayor Jury reported that the City made the final road referendum payment for the Alpine Road project. Since 2014 the city was able to resurface 122 roads and reconstruct Alpine, Riverlane, Pike, Maple, and Evans Roads. Now that Alpine Road is paid off the City can use those funds for other road projects at a faster rate.

8. RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY

Mayor Jury announced that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held for Woodspring Suites, 4101 Galleria Drive, Loves Park on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

9. LIHEAP SIGN UP AT CITY HALL

Mayor Jury announced that LIHEAP will be taking applications at Loves Park City Hall on January 15, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

10. CITY OFFICES CLOSED ON MLK DAY

Mayor Jury announced that city offices will be closed on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 20, 2025.

11. NEXT COUNCIL MEETING

Mayor Jury announced that the next city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

12. APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS

13. GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the General Fund and all other bills dated January 6, 2025, in the amount of $1,377,818.59 and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

14. WATER FUND BILLS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the Water Department bills dated January 6, 2025, in the amount of $103,600.61, and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

15. OFFICER’S REPORT

16. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT

Alderman Dan Jacobson presented the Police Department Report for January 6, 2025; presented the Fire Department Report for January 6, 2025, to be placed on file.

17. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Alderman Schlensker presented the Street Department Report for January 6, 2024; presented the Water Department Report for January 6, 2024, to be placed on file.

18. COMMITTEE REPORTS

19. FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Alderman John Jacobson of the Finance and Administration Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held on December 16, 2024, to be placed on file.

20. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

Alderman Dan Jacobson announced that Thursday, January 9, 2025 is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. He also reported about the information from the Loves Park Pulse regarding the Loves Park Fire Department’s cardiac arrest, return of spontaneous circulation rate which is 46.9% for last year and the national average for last year was 30.6%. The national average for EMS response time is 10.1 minutes and the response time for Loves Park was 5.44 minutes. Loves Park had 32 cardiac calls in 2024 and 15 of those calls had a return of spontaneous circulation. Alderman Dan Jacobson added that these numbers are excellent and he thanked the Fire Department for their hard work.

21. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Alderman Schlensker of the Public Works Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held on December 2, 2024, to be placed on file.

22. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Alderman Pruitt of the Community Development Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held on December 2, 2024, to be placed on file.

23. CODES & REGULATIONS COMMITTEE

Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee announced that a committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 5:25 p.m.

24. RESOLUTIONS & MOTIONS

25. PUBLIC HEARING/JOINT REVIEW BOARD

Alderman John Jacobson presented the following Resolution calling a Public Hearing and convening a Joint Review Board in connection with approval of a Redevelopment Plan and Project for and the designation of the Central Manufacturing District Redevelopment Project Area. WHEREAS, pursuant to the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, as supplemented and amended (65 ILCS 11-74.4-1 et seq.) (the “Act”), the Mayor and City Council (the “Corporate Authorities”) of the City of Loves Park, Winnebago County, Illinois (the “City”), do hereby determine that it is advisable and in the best interests of the City that the City propose a redevelopment plan and project (the “Redevelopment Plan and Project”) for and designate a redevelopment project area to be known as the Central Manufacturing District Redevelopment Project Area (the “Redevelopment Project Area”) as further described in Exhibit A attached hereto; and WHEREAS, the Act requires the City to conduct a Public Hearing and convene a Joint Review Board prior to the adoption of an Ordinance approving a redevelopment plan and project, designating redevelopment project area, and then adopting tax increment allocation financing for the redevelopment project area, and at which hearing any interested person or affected taxing district may file with the City Clerk written objections to and may be heard orally with respect to the proposed Redevelopment Plan and Project for the proposed Redevelopment Project Area; and WHEREAS, the Act further requires that such Joint Review Board consist of a representative selected by each community college district, local elementary school district and high school district or each local community unit school district, park district, library district, township, fire protection district, and county that has authority to levy real property taxes on the property within the proposed Redevelopment Project Area, a representative selected by the City, and a public member to consider the subject matter of the Public Hearing; and WHEREAS, the Act further requires that the time and place of such Public Hearing be fixed by Resolution or Ordinance adopted by the Corporate Authorities; and WHEREAS, the Act further requires that prior to adopting such Resolution or resolution fixing the time and place of a Public Hearing, the City must make available for public inspection a copy of the Redevelopment Plan and Project or a separate report that provides in reasonable detail the basis for the proposed Redevelopment Project, qualifying as a “conservation area” under the Act; and WHEREAS, the Act further requires that the Redevelopment Plan and Project or such separate report, along with the name of a person to contact for further information, shall be sent to the affected taxing districts by certified mail within a reasonable time following the adoption of the Resolution or Ordinance establishing the time and place for the Public Hearing; and WHEREAS, the City has contracted with PGAV Planners to conduct an eligibility analysis of the proposed Redevelopment Project area and PGAV Planners has prepared the draft Redevelopment Plan and Project, on behalf of the City and has concluded that said proposed area qualifies as a “blighted area” and/or a “conservation area” as defined in the Act which analysis and findings have been presented to the Corporate Authorities and are now on file in the official files and records of the City; and WHEREAS, the Plan and Project has heretofore been placed on file and is available for public inspection in the offices of the City Clerk as required under the Act; and WHEREAS, the Act requires that notice of the Public Hearing be given by publication and mailing. NOW, THEREFORE, be it Resolved by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Loves Park, County of Winnebago, Illinois, as follows:

Section 1. Preambles. The preambles to this Resolution be, and the same hereby are, incorporated into this Resolution by this reference as if set out in this Section in full.

Section 2. Time and Place of Public Hearing Fixed. A Public Hearing (the “Hearing”) shall be held by the Corporate Authorities at 5:45 p.m. on the 3rd day of March 2025, in the City Hall Council Chambers of the City of the Loves Park, 100 Heart Boulevard, Loves Park, Illinois, for the purpose of hearing from any interested persons or affected taxing districts regarding the proposed approval of the Redevelopment Plan and Project, designation of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area, and the adoption of tax increment allocation financing for said Area.

Section 3. Publication of Notice of Hearing Authorized. Notice of Hearing shall be published at least twice, the first publication to be not more than 30 or less than 10 days prior to the Hearing, in the Loves Park Journal, being a newspaper of general circulation within the taxing district levying taxes on real property in the proposed Redevelopment Project Area.

Section 4. Mailing of Notice of Hearing Authorized. (a) Notice shall be mailed by certified mail not less than 10 days prior to the date set for the Hearing, addressed to the person or persons in whose name the general taxes for the last preceding year were paid on each lot, block, tract or parcel of land lying within the proposed Redevelopment Project Area. In the event taxes for the last preceding year were not paid, the notice shall also be sent to the persons last listed on the tax rolls within the preceding three years as the owners of such property. Notice shall also be given by certified mail to all taxing districts that levy taxes on real property included in the Redevelopment Project Area and to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity not less than 45 days prior to the Hearing, and such notice shall also include an invitation to each taxing district and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to submit written comments prior to the date of the Hearing to the City, to the attention of the City Clerk, 100 Heart Boulevard, Loves Park, Illinois 61111, concerning the subject matter of the Hearing. Each such mailed notice shall include a copy of the Plan and Project and the name of an appropriate person to contact for additional information.

Section 5. Public Inspection of Redevelopment Plan. A draft of the Redevelopment Plan and Project was placed on file at the offices of the City Clerk on or before December 6, 2024.

Section 6. Joint Review Board Convened. A Joint Review Board as set forth in the act is hereby convened and the Board shall meet, review such documents and issue such Report as set forth in the Act. The Mayor, or his designee, is hereby designated the representative of the City. The public member shall be selected by the majority of the Joint Review Board, or by the City if the City is the sole other representative to the Joint Review Board. The first meeting of said Joint Review Board shall be held at 10:00 a.m. on the 21st day of January 2025, at the City Hall, Council Chambers, 100 Heart Boulevard, Loves Park, Illinois 61111.

Section 7. Superseder; Effective date. All resolutions, motions, or orders in conflict with the provisions of the Resolution are, to the extent of such conflict, hereby repealed. This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.

Second by Alderman Thompson. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton) RESOLUTION NO. 25-001

26. PYZON, LLC REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

Alderman John Jacobson presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the City of Loves Park, Illinois, is authorized to enter into a redevelopment agreement with Pyzon, LLC, (“Developer”), relating to property located at 5919 North Second Street, within the North Second Street Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area, as per the attached Redevelopment Agreement. Second by Alderman Thompson. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-002

27. ARCDESIGN HIRED FOR 2025 CITY WIDE STREET CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING Alderman Schlensker presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the Street Department Manager is authorized to hire ArcDesign Resources, 5291 Zenith Parkway, Loves Park, IL 61111 for professional civil engineering services for the 2025 City Wide Street Construction for a cost not to exceed thirty-two thousand three hundred fifty dollars ($32,350.00). The scope of work is defined on the attached “Agreement for Services”. Funds shall be taken from Account No. 01-01-8035 (Road Repairs and Infrastructure). Second by Alderman John Jacobson. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-003

28. ARCDESIGN HIRED FOR PHASE 2 NORTH SECOND STREET TIF DISTRICT Alderman Schlensker presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the Street Department Manager is authorized to hire ArcDesign Resources, 5291 Zenith Parkway, Loves Park, IL 61111 for engineering services for the Phase 2 of the North Second Street TIF District at a cost not to exceed three hundred ten thousand dollars ($310,000.00). The scope of work is defined on the attached “Agreement for Services”. Funds shall be taken from Account No. 23-00-5090 (Public Project-ITEP). Second by Alderman John Jacobson. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-004

29. FEHR GRAM HIRED FOR LAND ACQUISITION NEGOTIATOR SERVICES Alderman Schlensker presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the Director of Community Development/Public Works is authorized to hire Fehr Gram Engineering and Environmental, 200 Prairie Street, Rockford, IL 61107, to provide land acquisition negotiator services to support property acquisition along Illinois 251 as part of the North Second Streetscape improvement project (ITEP grant) at a cost not to exceed $45,400.00, as specified in the attached Agreement for Professional Services. Funds shall be drawn from Account No. 01-01- 6666 (ITEP Grant). Second by Alderman John Jacobson. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-005

30. ORDINANCES

31. OMNIBUS VOTE

Alderman Pruitt moved that Ordinances No. 19 thru 23, on the Agenda be acted upon through a single omnibus vote. Second by Alderman Thompson. Motion carried by voice vote.

32. SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR 7450 CHUCKS WAY

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a Special Use Permit for the property known as 7450 Chucks Way, and moved to approve. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

ORDINANCE NO. 4667-25

33. TEXT AMENDMENT TO REMOVE ITEMS IN SEC. 102-175

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a text amendment to remove items in Sec. 102-175 of the Loves Park Code of Ordinances, and moved to approve. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

ORDINANCE NO. 4668-25

34. TEXT AMENDMENT TO ADD ITEMS IN SEC. 102-175

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a text amendment to add items in Sec. 102- 175, of the Loves Park Code of Ordinances, and moved to approve. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

ORDINANCE NO. 4669-25

35. TEXT AMENDMENT TO ADD ITEMS IN SEC. 102-338 (COMMERCIAL)

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a text amendment to add items in Sec. 102- 338, of the Loves Park Code of Ordinances, and moved to approve. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

ORDINANCE NO. 4670-25

36. TEXT AMENDMENT TO ADD ITEMS IN SEC. 102-338 (INDUSTRIAL)

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a text amendment to add items in Sec. 102- 338, of the Loves Park Code of Ordinances, and moved to approve. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Holmes, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson) 1 Absent (Alderman Allton)

ORDINANCE NO. 4671-25

37. GOOD OF THE ORDER

Mayor Jury wished Aldermen John Jacobson and Doug Allton happy birthdays.

Alderman Thompson requested a moment of silence to commemorate the passing of President Jimmie Carter.

38. ADJOURNMENT

Alderman John Jacobson moved that the meeting be adjourned. Second by Alderman Schlensker. Motion carried by voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 p.m.

https://cityoflovespark.com/minutes-agendas/city-council/