Rockford Sun

City of Rockford City Council met March 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 February 3, 2025. 

II. PROCLAMATIONS 

1. Proclamation declaring the week of March 9 - 15, 2025 to be "Girl Scout Week" in the City of Rockford, Illinois.

III. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 

A. Planning and Development Committee 

B. Code and Regulation Committee 

1. Memorandum from Mike Hakanson, Land Transaction Officer, regarding authorization to place for sale the city-owned property located at 727 South 3rd Street. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

2. Memorandum from Jeremy Carter, Traffic and Development Engineer, regarding an Honorary Street Name Change on Tay Street from Preston Street to Elm Street to Jessie B. Flint Way in honor of Ms. Jessie B. (Flint) Parham. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

3. Memorandum from Scott Capovilla, Planning and Zoning Manager, regarding the Final Plat of Capra Subdivision. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

4. Memorandum from Martin Bloom, Project Manager-Permits and Special Events, regarding upcoming special events which include: Pea-Coats & Denim EOW Bonfire, Cars & Coffee Rockford, Sip & Stroll at Edgebrook, RFD 911 Fun Run and Pride Alley Party. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

5. Memorandum from Robert Wilhelmi, Brownfields Redevelopment Specialist, regarding a proposed Amendment to the City of Rockford Code of Ordinances Section 17-7 - Nuisance Solid Waste Ordinance. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

6. Memorandum from Robert Wilhelmi, Brownfields Redevelopment Specialist, regarding an Illinois EPA Highway Authority Agreement and City of Rockford Amended Highway Authority Agreement for environmental cleanup efforts at 3005 N. Rockton Avenue. Referred to Code and Regulation.

7. Traffic Commission’s Agenda for the meeting to be held on March 12, 2025 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on March 24, 2025. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee 

1. Memorandum from Mike Hakanson, Land Transaction Officer, regarding the proposed sale of city-owned properties located at 122 Irving Avenue and 2614 10th Street to Maria Olga Gonzalez. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

2. Memorandum from Jeremy Carter, Traffic and Development Engineer, regarding a Local Agency Agreement for funding the proposed West State Street Sidewalk Gaps Project using Transportation Alternative Program funds awarded through R1PC. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

3. Memorandum from Owen Carter, Community Services Deputy Director, regarding the approval of the First Amendment to Intergovernmental Agreement between City of Rockford and Rockford Housing Authority for weatherization services. Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.

IV. PUBLIC SPEAKERS 

1. John Tac Brantley

2. Prophet Yusef

3. Kevin Rilott

4. Craig Moody

5. Dave Pederson

V. NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS 

A. Planning and Development Committee 

1. Committee recommends approval of a Workforce Development Agreement between the City of Rockford and LT Construction for the not to-exceed amount of $675,000.00. The funding source is Revenue Replacement through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

B. Code and Regulation Committee 

1. Committee recommends approval of the Plat of Sidewalk Easement Dedication located at 6445 East State Street.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Annexation of 1955 South Mulford Road. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Zoning Map Amendment from C-3, General Commercial Zoning District to I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 40xx-43xx South Alpine Road (Holden Linden Road 2, LLC/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

4. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for the following at 1515 Kishwaukee Street:

a. Special Use Permit passenger vehicle sales, and vehicle detailing;

b. Variation to reduce the required perimeter landscaping along Kishwaukee Street; and

c. Variation to eliminate the required perimeter landscaping along Belle Place in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District (Eduardo Pedemonte/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

5. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the Sale of Liquor by the Drink (Class NG-L) in conjunction with a restaurant in a C-1, Limited Office Zoning District at 1620 North Bell School Road (Nu Nu/Vanakkam India, LLC dba Vanakkam India/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

6. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the Sale of Liquor by the Drink (Class NG-L) in conjunction with a restaurant and outdoor seating area in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 6690 East State Street (Harold Lawlor/Anthony Garbis/Barbeque Integrated, Inc. dba Smokey Bones/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 $7,041,217.97 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on February 24, 2025.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement for a three-year Property Tax Rebate Program for Newly-Built Residential Construction for single family, townhome, two-family, three-family and multi-family structures located in the City of Rockford and School District 205. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMITTEE REPORTS LAID OVER 

A. Planning and Development Committee 

1. Committee recommends denial of the Preliminary Conditional Set-Aside Letter, which would lead to a HOME Rental Development Agreement with the owner of Creekside Apartments. The funding source is the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).

B. Code and Regulation Committee 

C. Finance and Personnel Committee 

VII. OFFICERS REPORTS

VIII. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS 

A. Planning and Development Committee 

1. Committee recommends approval of a resolution to recognize migratory birds and Migratory Bird Day in the City of Rockford.

2. Committee recommends approval of a resolution to support the City of Rockford Welcome Sign at the I-90 Gateway Entrance at East State Street.

B. Code and Regulation Committee 

1. Committee recommends approval for the authorization to place for sale the city-owned property located at 5798 Logistics Parkway (a vacant parcel of industrial land/PIN: 15-13-351-007).

C. Finance and Personnel Committee 

1. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Demolition of 422 Kishwaukee Street and 431 15th Avenue (Bid No. 1124-CD-116) to Northern Illinois Service, of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of $26,384.00. The contract duration is through completion of the demolition project. The funding source is the Community Development Block Grant.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Bid: Demolition of 3600 West State Street (Bid No. 1124-CD-112) to N-TRAK Group, of Loves Park, Illinois in the amount of $144,000.00. The contract duration is through completion of the demolition project. The funding source is American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

3. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Re-Bid: Lead Service Line Replacement Program Phase 7 (Re-Bid No. 125-PW-005) to N TRAK Group, LLC, of Loves Park, Illinois in the not-to-exceed amount of $4,000,000.00 (based on unit pricing). The contract duration is one (1) year. The funding source is IEPA State Revolving Loan Fund.

4. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Engineering Agreement: East State Street Sidewalk Gaps (Phase 2 Preliminary Engineering) to Civil Engineering Solutions (C.E.S.), of Belvidere, Illinois in the not-to-exceed amount of $56,875.00. The contract duration is March 1, 2025 through June 1, 2026. The funding sources are 1% Infrastructure Sales Tax, Motor Fuel Tax, and Federal Transportation Alternative Program (TAP).

5. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Engineering Agreement: Harrison Avenue Reconstruction (Main Street to Kishwaukee Street) (Phase 2 Preliminary Engineering) to Fehr Graham, of Rockford, Illinois in the not-to-exceed amount of $696,700.00. The contract duration is March 1, 2025 through June 1, 2027. The funding sources are Rebuild Illinois Funds and Motor Fuel Tax.

6. Committee recommends approval of the Award of Joint Purchasing Contract: Police Vehicles to Currie Motors Fleet, of Frankfort, Illinois in the amount of $2,208,320.00. This is a one-time purchase. The funding sources are Capital Lease Funds and the Police Department Capital Budget.

7. Committee recommends approval of the Extension for the Head Start Bus Transportation Services to First Student, of Naperville, Illinois in the not to-exceed amount of $795,440.44. The original contract started in July 2022. This is the last extension. The contract duration is from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The funding source is Head Start Grant Funds.

8. Committee recommends approval of a resolution to waive fees for building plan review, building permit, building inspection and water connection/service for new residential construction, structures on vacant land and lots throughout the City of Rockford.

9. Committee recommends approval of a resolution for the appropriation of Rebuild Illinois (RBI) funds for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code: Harrison Avenue Reconstruction - Phase 2 Engineering (21-00658- 00-PV) in the amount of $700,000.00.

10. Committee recommends approval and acceptance of the FY26 Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant Award in the amount of $142,435.00. The grant does not require a cost match. The grant term is from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. The grant award, if accepted, will provide funds to pay for Officers to work overtime shifts to conduct dedicated traffic enforcement activities at specific times and dates during the program year.

IX. NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES 

A. Planning and Development Committee 

1. An ordinance approving a Workforce Development Agreement between the City of Rockford and LT Construction for the not-to-exceed amount of $675,000.00. The funding source is Revenue Replacement through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

2. An ordinance approving the Preliminary Conditional Set-Aside Letter, which would lead to a HOME Rental Development Agreement with the owner of Creekside Apartments. The funding source is the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).

B. Code and Regulation Committee 

1. An ordinance approving the Annexation of 1955 South Mulford Road.

2. An ordinance approving a Zoning Map Amendment from C-3, General Commercial Zoning District to I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 40xx-43xx South Alpine Road (Holden Linden Road 2, LLC/Applicant).

3. An ordinance approving the Special Use Permit passenger vehicle sales, and vehicle detailing, a Variation to reduce the required perimeter landscaping along Kishwaukee Street and a Variation to eliminate the required perimeter landscaping along Belle Place in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 1515 Kishwaukee Street (Eduardo Pedemonte/Applicant).

4. An ordinance approving the Sale of Liquor by the Drink (Class NG-L) in conjunction with a restaurant in a C-1, Limited Office Zoning District at 1620 North Bell School Road (Nu Nu/Vanakkam India, LLC dba Vanakkam India/Applicant).

5. An ordinance approving the Sale of Liquor by the Drink (Class NG-L) in conjunction with a restaurant and outdoor seating area in a C-2, Limited Commercial Zoning District at 6690 East State Street (Harold Lawlor/Anthony Garbis/Barbeque Integrated, Inc. dba Smokey Bones/Applicant).

C. Finance and Personnel Committee 

1. An ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement for a three-year Property Tax Rebate Program for Newly-Built Residential Construction for single family, townhome, two-family, three-family and multi-family structures located in the City of Rockford and School District 205.

X. ADJOURNMENT 

THE CITY OF ROCKFORD INTENDS TO COMPLY WITH THE INTENT AND SPIRIT OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. IF A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, PERSONAL P.A. SYSTEM, OR OTHER SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED, PLEASE CALL THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT (779) 348-7391 AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE, SO WE CAN BE PREPARED TO ASSIST YOU.

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