Rockford Sun

City of Rockford City Council met June 2.

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 May 5, 2025.

II. STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

III. PROCLAMATIONS

IV. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Traffic Commission’s Agenda for the meeting to be held on June 11, 2025 and Minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on June 23, 2025. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

2. Memorandum from Alderman Bonne regarding authorization to allow the Zoning Officer to file a Text Amendment to remove the Special Use Permit option for Residential Storage Warehouse in all commercial zoning districts. Referred to Code and Regulation Committee.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

V. PUBLIC SPEAKERS

1. Susan Singh

2. Joseph Spangenberg

3. Robert Pace

4. Prophet Yusef

5. Jeffrey Barnes

VI. NEW COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement between City of Rockford and GoRockford for the Forest City Beautification Initiative to include 2025 Sculpture Program in the amount of $135,250.00. The funding source is the 2025 Arts and Culture Casino Tax fund. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval for a “No Parking Any Time” restriction on the south side of Jacqueline Drive from 50 feet west of Jacqueline Court to 110 feet west of Jacqueline Court. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

2. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval to restrict parking to “No Parking 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Regular School Days” on the west side of Huffman Boulevard from Halsted Road to Jonathan Avenue. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval for Residential Parking Permits on the west side of Madison Street from 50 feet north of Market Street to 265 feet north of Market Street. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

4. Committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's recommendation of "No Action" be taken on the following items:

a. A request to establish “Residential Parking” on both sides of Market Street from Madison Street to 130 feet west of Madison Street;

b. A request to establish all-way stop control at the intersection of Pioneer Drive and Winthrop Lane; and

c. A request to establish one-way stop control at the intersection of Victory Street and Lydia Avenue.

5. Committee recommends approval of the Amendment to the City of Rockford Code of Ordinances Section 16-223 Traffic Signal Preemption Devices to provide clarification on the unlawful possession of a traffic signal preemption device in subsection (a). The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

6. Committee recommends approval of the Amendment to the City of Rockford Code of Ordinances Section 3-119 for Hookah Lounges to modify the hours of BYOB. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinances.

7. Committee recommends approval of the Plat of District 1 Police Station Subdivision.

8. Committee recommends approval of Plat No. 3 of State View Subdivision.

9. Committee recommends approval of the Annexation of 3007 South Alpine Road and 26xx Bavarian Lane. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

10. Committee recommends approval of the Annexation of 4201 O'Connell Street. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

11. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a:

a. Special Use Permit for the storage of empty dumpster bins; and b. Variation to allow a gravel storage area in an I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 114 Vista Terrace, 29xx and 28xx Elm Street (Jasinto & Abigail Carrasco/Applicants).

Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

12. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Special Use Permit to allow dwelling units on the first floor in a C-1, Limited Office Zoning District at 7901 Royal Oaks Road (North Arrow Development/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

13. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Variation to increase the maximum allowed number of free-standing signs from one (1) to two (2) in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 620 North Alpine Road and 4400 Rural Street (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

14. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Variation to reduce the side yard setback from the required 4.5 feet to 2 feet in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 126 Welty Avenue (Keith Hoover/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

15. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Special Use Permit to convert a former church into a neighborhood pantry in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 840 Mattis Avenue (Sonji & Kenneth Collins/Applicants). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

16. Committee recommends sustaining the Zoning Board of Appeals' approval for a Special Use Permit for the installation of a solar farm (freestanding solar panel racks and solar panels) in an I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 1801 Morgan Street (Orbital Energy, LLC for Rock River Capital, LLC/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

17. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for a Modification of an existing Liquor License to a Class TRK License and a corporate name change in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 8070 East State Street (QuikTrip 1818, LLC dba QuikTrip/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

18. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the Sale of Liquor by the Drink (Class WB50) in conjunction with a sports bar and restaurant, video gaming terminals, and an outdoor seating area in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 4412 and 4414 Charles Street (Robert D. Taft/Brewsky’s Neighborhood Bar, Inc. dba Q Bar Rockford/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

19. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the Sale of Beer and Wine by the Drink (Class WB50) in conjunction with a restaurant with video gaming terminals in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 479 North Springfield Avenue (Abdullqader Saleh/Mah-Sah Enterprises, LLC dba Alize’s Grill/Applicant). Subject to conditions. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

20. Committee recommends sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board's approval for the:

a. Sale of Package Liquor (Class PKG); and

b. Sale of Tobacco Products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C-3, Commercial Zoning District at 453 North Springfield Avenue (Abdullqader Saleh/Springfield Gas Mart, Inc. dba Springfield Mobil/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 $10,837,914.31 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on May 27, 2025.

2. Committee recommends approval of the 2024 Supplemental Appropriation Ordinances (SAO). The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3. Committee recommends denial of the Fine Reduction request for 1510 Custer Avenue being made on behalf of Kowalski Investments LLC, the owner of the property. The owner of the property is requesting the fine total of $2,800.00 be reduced to $100.00. The property is in compliance with the appropriate building and sanitation codes at this time.

4. Committee recommends approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Rockford and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for maintenance of State-owned routes within the City of Rockford. The City of Rockford maintains roads per the agreement and is reimbursed on a quarterly basis by the State of Illinois. This agreement has a term of ten (10) years. The Legal Director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

5. Committee recommends denial of the Amended Agreement between the City of Rockford and Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) for 11th Street Improvements (Phase 1) in the amount of $9,300,000.00. The funding source for this project will come from a Local Governance Compliance (LGC) Rider.

VII. OFFICERS REPORTS

VIII. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

A. Planning and Development Committee

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the FVV Block Party

This event is scheduled to take place on June 15th from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event location will be on State Street between Madison Street and 1st Street.

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. Committee recommends approval of the Resolution for appropriation of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code - West State Street Sidewalk Gap (19-00629-01-SW) in the amount of $200,000.00.

2. Committee recommends approval of the Change Order for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) (Bid No. 321-HS-010) to Delicious Unlimited, of Gurnee, Illinois.

Original Amount: $26,979.00

Change Order: $55,661.41

Amended Amount: $82,640.41

The change order includes providing meal service for the cost of milk and meals for an additional eight (8) Early Head Start students and sixty (60) Head Start Students and the request to increase the cost of meals by 3.7%. The funding source is the United States Department of Agriculture grant funds through the Illinois State Board of Education.

3. Committee recommends approval of the application and award acceptance of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) in the amount of $25,000.00. The grant does require a 100% cost match and the funding source will be the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG). The grant term is from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. The grant award, if accepted, will provide funds used to pay for approved clients’ rent, housing search/placement, budget education, staff training, payroll, and administration costs.

4. Acceptance of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) LIHEAP State Supplemental (26-254023) Grant Award in the amount of $3,747,962.00. The grant does not require a cost match. The grant term is from June 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026. The grant will provide funds used to pay for approved clients' electric and/or heating bills, energy usage education, staff training, payroll, and administration costs.

5. Acceptance of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Weatherization Health and Human Services (HHS) (25-221023) Grant Award in the amount of $772,748.00. The grant does not require a cost match. The grant term is from June 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.

The grant will provide funds used to pay for approved clients' work orders, energy usage education, contractor(s), staff training, payroll, and administration costs.

6. Acceptance of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Weatherization State Supplemental (26-251023) Grant Award in the amount of $450,575.00. The grant does not require a cost match. The grant term is from June 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. The grant will provide funds used to pay for approved clients' weatherization work orders, energy usage education, contractor(s), staff training, payroll, and administration costs.

7. Acceptance of Integrated Mobile Partners Action Crisis Team (IMPACT) Grant Award from Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board (WCCMHB) in the amount of $1,304,401.00. The grant does not require a cost match. The grant term is from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2027. The grant will provide funds used to cover salaries of five (5) Mental Health Navigators and one (1) Housing Navigator, temporary housing costs, and other services to move eligible individuals towards permanent housing.

IX. NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCES

A. Planning and Development Committee

1. An ordinance approving the First Amendment to the Development Agreement between City of Rockford and GoRockford for the Forest City Beautification Initiative to include 2025 Sculpture Program in the amount of $135,250.00. The funding source is the 2025 Arts and Culture Casino Tax fund.

B. Code and Regulation Committee

1. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for residential self-storage warehouses in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 5866, 5884, and 5936 Columbia Parkway (Barefoot Land Company/Applicant).

2. An ordinance approving a “No Parking Any Time” restriction on the south side of Jacqueline Drive from 50 feet west of Jacqueline Court to 110 feet west of Jacqueline Court.

3. An ordinance restricting parking to “No Parking 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Regular School Days” on the west side of Huffman Boulevard from Halsted Road to Jonathan Avenue.

4. An ordinance approving Residential Parking Permits on the west side of Madison Street from 50 feet north of Market Street to 265 feet north of Market Street.

5. An ordinance approving the Amendment to the City of Rockford Code of Ordinances Section 16-223 Traffic Signal Preemption Devices to provide clarification on the unlawful possession of a traffic signal preemption device in subsection (a).

6. An ordinance approving the Amendment to the City of Rockford Code of Ordinances Section 3-119 for Hookah Lounges to modify the hours of BYOB.

7. An ordinance approving the Annexation of 3007 South Alpine Road and 26xx Bavarian Lane.

8. An ordinance approving the Annexation of 4201 O'Connell Street.

9. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for the storage of empty dumpster bins and a Variation to allow a gravel storage area in an I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 114 Vista Terrace, 29xx and 28xx Elm Street (Jasinto & Abigail Carrasco/Applicants).

10. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit to allow dwelling units on the first floor in a C-1, Limited Office Zoning District at 7901 Royal Oaks Road (North Arrow Development/Applicant).

11. An ordinance approving a Variation to increase the maximum allowed number of free-standing signs from one (1) to two (2) in an R-1, Single Family Residential Zoning District at 620 North Alpine Road and 4400 Rural Street (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints/Applicants).

12. An ordinance approving a Variation to reduce the side yard setback from the required 4.5 feet to 2 feet in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 126 Welty Avenue (Keith Hoover/Applicant).

13. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit to convert a former church into a neighborhood pantry in an R-1, Single-Family Residential Zoning District at 840 Mattis Avenue (Sonji & Kenneth Collins/Applicants).

14. An ordinance approving a Special Use Permit for the installation of a solar farm (freestanding solar panel racks and solar panels) in an I-1, Light Industrial Zoning District at 1801 Morgan Street (Orbital Energy, LLC for Rock River Capital, LLC/Applicant).

15. An ordinance approving a Modification of an existing Liquor License to a Class TRK license and a corporate name change in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 8070 East State Street (QuikTrip 1818, LLC dba QuikTrip/Applicant).

16. An ordinance approving the Sale of Liquor by the Drink (Class WB50) in conjunction with a sports bar and restaurant, video gaming terminals, and an outdoor seating area in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 4412 and 4414 Charles Street (Robert D. Taft/Brewsky’s Neighborhood Bar, Inc. dba Q Bar Rockford/Applicant).

17. An ordinance approving the Sale of Beer and Wine by the Drink (Class WB50) in conjunction with a restaurant with video gaming terminals in a C-3, General Commercial Zoning District at 479 North Springfield Avenue (Abdullqader Saleh/Mah-Sah Enterprises, LLC dba Alize’s Grill/Applicant).

18. An ordinance approving the Sale of Package Liquor (Class PKG) in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C-3, Commercial Zoning District at 453 North Springfield Avenue (Abdullqader Saleh/Springfield Gas Mart, Inc. dba Springfield Mobil/Applicant).

19. An ordinance approving the Sale of Tobacco Products in conjunction with a gas station and convenience store in a C-3, Commercial Zoning District at 453 North Springfield Avenue (Abdullqader Saleh/Springfield Gas Mart, Inc. dba Springfield Mobil/Applicant).

C. Finance and Personnel Committee

1. An ordinance approving the 2024 Supplemental Appropriation Ordinances (SAO).

2. An ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Rockford and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for maintenance of State-owned routes within the City of Rockford. The City of Rockford maintains roads per the agreement and is reimbursed on a quarterly basis by the State of Illinois. This agreement has a term of ten (10) years.

3. An ordinance authorizing and providing for the issue of not to exceed $13,750,000 General Obligation Bonds (Sales Tax Alternate Revenue Source), of the City of Rockford, Winnebago and Ogle Counties, Illinois, for the purpose of paying amounts due by the City related to settlements of litigation against the City prescribing the details of said bonds, providing for the imposition of taxes to pay the same, and for the collection, segregation and application of certain sales tax receipts to pay said bonds and authorizing the sale of said bonds to the purchaser thereof.

X. ADJOURNMENT

http://rockfordcityil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=14&ID=4139&Inline=True