Good evening, everyone.

We will call to order the City of Rockford's regularly scheduled city council meeting for Tuesday, January 20th, 2026.

This evening, we are fortunate to have Chaplain Ken Henley with us to provide us with an invitation.

Let's pray.

Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Father, tonight we ask that you would come and fill your this room with your presence, that the business of the city might be taken care of the way it should be.

And Lord, that you take care of the leaders of our community, that they might be able to serve the people the way they should be.

We also ask that you be with our fire and police departments lawyers they go about their daily task, uh keeping the city safe from harm and danger.

We ask now, Lord, that you be with in this meeting for all we do.

We ask in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Pledge your leaders to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Hoffman, Granit, Beach, Salgato, Meeks, Belle, Bonnie, Eleven present.

Excellent.

We have a quorum this evening.

Next up, uh, we are really fortunate this evening that we have our Poet Laureate's presentation this evening.

And I would ask if they would join me as well as representatives from the Arts Council and the Rockford Public Library.

Thank you.

But it's through that collaboration that has allowed our community to honor uh the spoken word and to honor the amazing poets that the city of Rockford has.

Next, I am so excited to announce the youth poet, Makaia Garedy.

And Micaiah, I just am really excited.

I think uh the youth poet so critical it allows our young people to see themselves and uh leadership positions, allows them to see themselves at really critical uh events and incidents throughout our city, and just want to say sincerely congratulations and thank you to both of you.

Uh and with that, I want to turn it over to Mary McTamara Burnson from the Rockford Area Arts Council.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I too from the Arts Council would like to thank Lydia and Autumn for their past service.

We even have Jenna Goldsmith, another former laureate in the audience, so thank you so much.

She's the OG, that's right.

One of them.

Um The honor of poet laureate for the City of Rockford and the City of Rockford Youth Poet was established in 2021.

And we actually established it.

Uh, we always like to add at the Arts Council that we established it before the City of Chicago.

So this was an important position that has gained uh traction across the United States as uh a role for an artist to reflect the times and the community that they live in.

Um American professor and poet Audrey Lorde, uh, who I've been reading lately, not not light reading, but she states poetry is the way we help give name to the nameless so it can be thought.

The farthest horizons of our hopes and fears are cobbled by our poems, carved from the rock experiences of our daily lives.

Poetry is not only dream and vision, it lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what was never been before.

Um poets do have a unique role, and this year Adam and Makaia will be our bridge builders and our dreamers of what hasn't been.

Um there is so much going on in our community and our world, so the material will be there for you.

Um we look forward to your poetry and how you will help give names to the nameless and reflect our hopes and our fears with compassion and beauty.

So, Adam, uh you want to use your poetry and your Midwestern and cultural roots as a tool for connection to community, and Makaia as a national competitor in poetry out loud and a multidisciplinary artist.

Uh, you will bring your creative spirit to all of your endeavors, and we are really excited, and we will now ask you to read something uh to the city council.

Can I hold that for you?

Or do you are you okay?

I can okay.

Um this poem I wrote is called The Fallen, and it establishes this theme of being very critical of yourself.

Unguard I draw my sword, taking a lunge upon my foe.

They parry, but yet no score trying to land a deathly blow.

My moves are matched, but have no fear, for I still have the upper hand.

I recover quick, but my foe makes it clear that no touch of mine will ever land.

How mad I become at our bout becoming a draw.

But as the fight comes to an end, I realize my flaws.

My blade hits the reflection on the wall, and I tremble as my body begins to fall.

The fault resides in me as my flesh fights itself.

Cool.

I'm actually gonna read this poem twice, and here's my reason.

Um I thought as the adult poet laureate, it was important to really emphasize education.

Um I want to demonstrate something about this poem.

Um this poem is for Dave Peterson, who um told me that he was much dismayed that Rockford Haiku included no poems referencing Gray's grocery.

Tree City, a history.

She said we don't rock in the rock, the river, the river and rock and the long-gone all Miss Americana that line the streets still line the streets like a stack of photographs you look at only on Christmas or when the black dog bites.

All love poems.

I know core samples inadequate.

I want you to want me long enough for the fried chicken line at the grocery to subside, for the elm bark beetles to carve settler signs and cambium.

I want you to be.

And so if only the once in future would come crest, we never see fleshed with pulp.

Pocket hole and the Craig joint and the two buyes flush.

Lunch break, not long enough.

Thank you, Adam.

That was memorable.

Would you like them in the uh center for a picture, Susan?

Okay.

And the plaques.

Thank you.

You're getting very well.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yeah.

Thank you.

We want your first experience to be as accurate as possible.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Tell me you didn't bring me chicken.

Three books.

I'll take books, but chicken from Gray's would have been equally as good.

Um thank you.

Sincerely, thank you to the Rockford Public Library as well as the Rockford Area Arts Council into our past and now current uh youth poet and poet laureates.

Uh next, we will move into our petitions and communications.

Uh we have nothing under planning and development, so we'll go to code and regulation committee and Alderman Bonnet.

Thank you, Mayor.

We have uh four items all being referred to the code and regulation committee.

Item one, memorandum from Scott Capavilla Planning and Zoning Manager regarding the approval of the final plat of District 815 subdivision.

Item two, memorandum from Scott Capavilla Planning and Zoning Manager regarding the approval of the final plat of Dulder subdivision.

Item three, zoning board of appeals agenda for the meeting to be held on January twenty-second, twenty twenty six, and minutes from that meeting for consideration at the code and regulation committee meeting on January twenty-sixth, twenty twenty-six.

And item four, liquor and tobacco advisory board's agenda for the meeting to be held on January twenty-first, twenty twenty six, and minutes from that meeting for consideration at the code and regulation committee meeting on January twenty-sixth, twenty twenty-six.

Thank you.

Next we'll go to Finance and Personnel Committee and Alderman Frost.

Thank you, General.

Number one is the memorandum from Kerry Haggerty regarding the consideration approval of finance policies.

Number two is a memorandum from Timothy Hinkins regarding an agreement between the city and Four Rivers Authority for Davis Park.

And number three is a memorandum from Todd Cagnoni regarding the proposed DCO regional slight readiness grant application authorization and award acceptance.

All three of these matters will be referred to the Finance and Personnel Committee.

Thank you.

Next, we are going to go to our public speakers.

Sorry, my alarm is not working.

Next we'll be going to our public speakers.

Want to remind our public speakers that there's a microphone on the back right as well as a back left of Council Chambers.

Each public speaker has three minutes to address counsel.

At the close of that three minutes, I'm hoping this phone will work accordingly.

You will hear an alarm.

If it doesn't, I will make you aware that the three minutes has come to a close.

Good evening, committee committee people.

My talk today is about the six Triple Eight and all black multi-ethnic battalion of the U.S.

Women's Army Corps.

Known as Wax that managed the Postal Service.

The 688s had 855 women and was led by Major Charity Adams.

And it was the only black multi-ethnic U.S.

women's Army Corps unit sent overseas during World War II.

The group's model was no male, no morale.

The battalion was organized into five companies, headquarters, and companies A, B, C, and D.

And believe it or not, most of the 680 Triple Eight worked as postal clerks, but others were cooks, mechanics, and held other support positions.

So that the 680 Triple H was a self-sufficient unit.

And I say this to say that not only was our men out there, but our women were out there.

And we deserve, they deserve a lot of credit.

Because if it wasn't for them, a lot of our soldiers wouldn't have got the mail from home, or they wouldn't have been able to send mail home.

And this is my way of taking black history, not for a month, but it's going to be two months by the time I get done.

Because we need to know this.

And the people need to know this.

And uh, because we we played a very major role in our country's defense and a lot of stuff that we didn't attribute to this country.

We need to let people know that we just didn't lay around twiddling our thumbs.

We were part of this country too.

And I just want to thank you guys for listening to me.

I want to thank the uh the city of Rockford for having two professional women, our chief of police and our chief of the uh fire department.

And uh they do a good job, and I just want to say thank you, and I really mean it from the bottom of my heart.

So this is this is what I had to say today, but I'll be back again.

Thank you.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Our next public speaker this evening is Prophet Yusuf.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

In the book of Proverbs, the 13th chapter, the 20th verse, it says, He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffer harm.

What I want to speak about tonight, black heroes of fire.

They said black firemen was misfits, bumbling idiots, and inferior.

They were not qualified to be fired.

Engine 21 members proved them wrong.

Heroism in the line of duty was common with engine 21, engine 19 and truck 11.

Engine 21 responded to most major fires of consequence in Chicago downtown business district, including the Air Corps fire, December 30th in 1903 and 1910, December the 22nd.

Engine 21 was acknowledged for their outstanding work performed at the Chicago Union stockyard fire when 21 firefighters were killed, including a chief officer.

Over the years, many black firefighters received awards for heroism in 1929.

Captain Jones Wickley of Engine 19 and his members, Optha Jones, his brother Emanuel Jones, Robert Hudson, Matthew Greer, Sidney Dawson, Richard Down, John Burke, and Lewis Stuke, all received awards for their heroic effort.

In 1932, firefighter Greg Cheney and Bernie Carrington, both members of Trucking Level received merit awards for their heroic effort.

Firefighters Lee Walton of Truck 11, Emmett Robinson of Truck 15 were both metal bono winners.

It has been said that Engine 21 and Engine 19 as a fire company received more awards than any other fire company in Chicago.

So don't believe the lies they say about our people.

Our people always been outstanding in things they do.

I also been wanting to tell my wife, Glenn Dean, Chief Everton, Mr.

Jim Ryan, Mr.

Eric wife, who works for Rockwood Paradise this for a long time.

And I'm gonna get it off my chest tonight.

I don't like you.

I love you, and you can't do nothing about it.

And happy birthday, my good friends, and I wish you many more, and God bless you and your family.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to my good friends.

Happy birthday to you.

Thanks for allowing me to speak.

Thank you.

Our next public speaker this evening is Ken Dickens.

Good evening.

I'm gonna use all my time tonight.

Glad to see a lot of the faces here that are present.

Um I think when history is recorded and we look back, I think a lot of you will understand that you have nothing to be ashamed of and that you will have found yourself on the right side of history.

Not just for Rockford, but for America.

My concern is my concern for Rockford is not just a call to action, but a sense of urgency.

I've been here 12 years.

I'm not originally from here, I'm from Buffalo, New York.

The one thing that was palpable to me was a lack of a sense of urgency for the future of the city in general terms.

I felt it the moment I came here because a lot of what Rockford's going through at Buffalo and had already gone through certain things very similar already.

And um I came here with big hopes and dreams and visions to assist the city, not just, and I'm making this clear, not just black people, because I I get this energy that I'm just for black people.

No, I have a heart for Rockford.

And I really, when I came here to discuss the Regro Grant, you have no idea how big this was intended to be for Rockford.

It would have created multimillionaires.

When I told you two years ago that this would have encompassed the entire food network, every celebrity that they had, and it would have put Rockford on a national map.

I got crickets.

The gentleman so eloquently keeps talking about food insecurity, and I appreciate him saying this, the alderman.

Because it's necessary.

But the irony is my proposal would have impacted this entire city, if not the region, to address food insecurity.

Literally, and I said that two years ago, and I got crickets.

I don't understand what happened.

I don't understand where the city's going.

But what I do understand is the Justice Center cuts a check to the city based on 80 to 90% occupancy.

I don't know how many of you know that.

So it's a conflict of interest to create anything of substance to uplift the minority community because then you have less people going to jail.

If the numbers drop, and you can confirm this with the Justice Center yourself, if the numbers drop below a certain metric, the city doesn't get a check.

Sounds like a conflict of interest to me.

Why am I saying this?

Because if Ice gets their way, and this is what Rockford needs to pay attention to, as well as many cities around America, they're not going to the Justice Center.

They're going to the ICE facility, which means your metric may not get met based on that alone.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next public speaker speaker this evening is John Tack Brantley.

Good evening there, McAlair, uh Osman, and our City Sensor of Rockford, Illinois.

Uh, tell them why we have a Santa Claus outtown.

Say one more time.

And as I go forward, you know, um, a lot of people don't understand what renewal turning point is all about.

And so it's my uh this is our mission statement, because we not a sellout, and nor have our organization ever been pumped.

But every time we apply for a grant from the city or the school system, they tell me that the reason they didn't give us a grant is because they couldn't control us.

We also want to thank Rockford Pie district, because they've been very supportive of us, and that's the reason why we got these hats on.

Renewal turning point is a catalyst for change within the city of Rockford.

We seek to mobilize the community to address common opticals that affect the city lower income youth population and to build a positive future in and around our community for our youth.

In 2010, when we started, we began taking youth to local events, giving them exposure to activity that happened outside of their neighborhood, offer them a new look at what life possibility could be.

My vision is to show the youth that there are people who care about them and their future and that there is a tremendous opportunity right here in the city of Rockford as long as they take advantage of the resources that are available.

Change is never easy, and yet wonderful things can happen when we open up to change.

Life is changed, and I want to help others adjust to the pocket of change.

I want to help free Rockford for racism, property, and value.

I want to see a thriving community where all people have equal opportunity and feel safe in their own neighborhood and the surrounding areas.

Right now we cannot feel safe.

Right now we're in the midst of a civil war.

They don't even want to admit it.

Minnesota probably gonna cap off that civil war.

They got over 3,000 ICEs.

If the police department was to do what ISIS is doing to uh choosing somebody for a time, they would be going to court, they would be having all kind of lawsuits.

And now they want to bring 15,000 troops from Alaska, where the governor got their own troops, they truth was gonna put on the uh yellow band.

Once they truth put on the yellow band, the shots have already been fired.

He already targeted every Democratic state.

He already said he hates every Democratic state.

He even took, he even stopped the youth uh of the uh the program for uh head start or the uh it's a program that uh for uh the democratic, but the uh lawsuit uh blocked that.

I got a feeling I hate to say it, they don't want to need it, but Donald Trump, when he attacked Yugoslavia, he only attacked him by time up.

I'll be back to finish talking about project 2025.

Thank you for allowing me to speak.

Thank you to all of our public speakers this evening.

Happy birthday, Dr.

King.

And last but not least, thank you.

Mayor thank you.

I just had to wait.

Thank you.

Thank you to all of our public speakers this evening.

Uh next, we're gonna move to planning and development committee under new reports and go to Alder Woman Wilkins.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Committee recommends approval of the 2026-2028 funding agreement between the city of Rockford and Keith Northern Illinois beautiful in the amount of sixty thousand dollars annually.

The funding sources garage garbage user fees.

Item two, committee recomm recommends denial of the proposed amendment to the development agreement with First Midwest Group, which has the investment LLC and McDonald's for the establishment of McDonald's at 4103 West State Street, and the amount of 200,000.

The funding sources 2025 Casino Plan Funds slash economic development high risk area.

Item three, committee recommends approval of the proposed supplemental marketing services agreement between the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, go Rockford and City of Rockford for a hundred thousand dollars annually for two years, 2026 and 2027.

The funding sources 2026 and 2027 Casino Foundation funds.

Thank you.

Council, we have uh three items before us.

Is there any discussion on those three items?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Uh Alderman Toomberg?

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

Can you move your mic just so we can hear you?

Thank you.

Uh and this may be out of order uh and correct me if legal if you can.

I was gonna make a motion to lay over, but uh is that we're beyond that.

Yes.

Okay, sorry.

Uh on the item uh uh no on two eye in the rest.

Frost.

No on two I and Red Brunty.

No on two eye on the rest.

Wilkins?

Aye.

Hoffman.

Aye.

Granted.

Beach.

No one move I removed.

Meeks?

No one.

Aye for us.

Bell.

Aye.

Bonnie.

Aye.

Logan.

Aye.

Five eyes, seven no's on number two, items one and three, thirteen eyes.

Thank you.

For clarity on number two.

The no votes were actually yes votes.

Is that accurate the way I read it?

Thank you.

Next we'll move to code and regulation.

Can you find that?

Sorry.

Um yes.

Uh so what was the final vote?

Five eyes, seven no's.

Okay.

So the it was five eyes, seven no's.

So you have uh it says committee recommends denial.

That's what it is.

Um Alderman Bonnie.

Are we missing a vote?

There's 13 of us present, and that only adds to 12.

You're right.

I believe Alderman Logan came in a moment.

Yeah, I'm sorry if I'm out of turn.

I Alderman Logan.

Yeah.

Sorry if I'm out of turn.

I was taking care of something right back there.

Um committee recommends denial, so I would like to vote no on item two, I on the remainder.

It's six eyes, seven noes.

Okay.

All right, now we got a whole lot of questions.

So can I ask a question?

Am I assuming that I won't say all, many have a concern over not seeing yes and no vote?

Am I accurate somewhat based on what people are seeing?

Um that's the case.

So Director Hammer, uh I am sure I'm not gonna assume, but I well, I guess I will assume uh that I'm about to be asked by at least three to five people if uh they could re vote based on what they know now.

Um do you have any uh advice from council?

If it wasn't clear what the vote meant, then I think it's fair to retake the vote on that item.

So a yes vote would be in favor of denial, and a no vote would be opposed to a denial.

Okay, so if Alderman Wilkins.

Sorry, just for clarity, because I know this happened before.

So we don't have to vote for them to be able to switch their vote now.

Because I thought that's what we decided last time I did that.

Is that not happening now?

Director Hammer?

So it's it's on the agenda as a recommendation for denial.

So that's what is before council.

If that fails, then it would be subject to a motion to approve to reverse the decision.

As it stands right now, it is approved by one vote to move forward or is it denied because it didn't get the eight.

So it's it's seven, thank you.

Seven yeses, no, I'm sorry, six yeses and seven no's.

So the denial would fail.

One second.

So the denial failed.

Okay.

So then it would be subject to a motion to reverse it to an approval.

It would be subject, meaning what?

Thank you.

You can't speak right now, so thank you.

Actually, you're not.

Thank you.

Director Hammer.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yes, it would under Robert's rules, it would be appropriate for a member to reverse the recommendation.

Even after they vote.

Yes, because the recommendation from committee failed as the the denial as the denial.

So thank you.

Chairman, thank you, Mayor.

Without objection, um my intention was to support uh this to deny the denial and support this um yes to deny the denial.

And so without objection, may I change my vote?

Reverse the give me one second and I will come back to you.

I promise, yeah.

I just have a feeling we're gonna do the whole vote again.

So Alder Woman Hoffman.

Thank you, Mayor.

That's my request too.

I just didn't get it.

I need to be a no.

Alderman Bonnie, did you have a question or I was just going to reaffirm what Alderman Wilkins said pre-I thought that we needed a vote to allow a change of votes, and I thought that before Alderman Lindemann changed his vote, we had that the denial was approved.

Is that director hammer?

When it was first he wasn't counted, it was seven to five in favor of the denial when he voted in favor of the denial.

No.

And then it was counted and it switched to six to seven against the denial.

I I don't believe I'm sorry, Mr.

Mayor, if I may.

I I don't believe Alderman Logan's change of vote was counted.

The the initial vote was six yeses and seven noes.

So that would is that correct, Clerk?

Alderman Logan did not vote initially when it went around.

When he came back, he never changed his vote.

He just voted a ni.

He did vote.

You called on him at the end.

Yes.

And he voted.

And then with and then changed his vote.

But he was not allowed.

He was not allowed to change his vote.

So that's where we are now is it is a six to seven vote with six voting yes and seven voting no.

However, it appears there's some confusion as to what a yes meant.

So my recommendation is that we allow uh a revote on this item.

Okay, director hammer.

Uh so items one and three will be done.

We've already voted on that successfully.

Item two, there was somewhat mass confusion.

We will have that uh vote, and I'll be part of that mass confusion.

Uh we will have that revoted.

Uh so if you are voting yes, you are voting to deny it.

If you are voting no, you are voting to support it.

Alderman Beach.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Are you saying we're going to take another vote on the vote we just took?

On item A2, yes.

Based on legal advice, because so many aldermen were confused.

What did my vote mean then?

Means you get to have that same vote.

No.

I mean, why did originally you would think this discussion should have happened before we voted?

I would have thought.

As far as I'm concerned, the vote's down.

Now we could reconsider the vote.

And perhaps make changes that way.

But it's always been my understanding that when you had these negative positive types of votes, that the opposite would occur if it was defeated.

And that's what happened here.

The committee vote was to deny it, and this council agreed not to deny it.

And I thought that took care of it.

But if that doesn't take care of it in the spirit of council, we could consider reconsider the vote right now.

And if it comes back the same way, it's done.

And if people want to change it, they could change it.

Thank you.

Director Hammer, do we need counsel or should council uh vote on having this vote for a second time?

The intent of Roberts Rules and City Council rules is so that each alder person understands what their vote means.

So based on the feedback that I've received, it doesn't appear to me that everyone was clear as to what their vote meant.

So I think it's appropriate to allow a revote so those members can accurately vote as they intended.

And would we need to have a vote to do that to allow them to do that?

Or is your recommendation just to allow them to do that?

If if you would like to have a vote to do that, I think that is proper under Roberts rules.

Okay.

All right.

Alderman Frost.

I was just going to make the motion.

I think it was done in the spirit.

I think Alderman Wilkins and Fortune Ward commented on it earlier.

So I I would make the motion to reconsider the vote.

Okay.

That'll make it easier.

We have a motion to reconsider.

We have a second.

Is there any discussion on having this vote one more time?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed?

Okay.

Uh Alderman Frost.

And then I would like to make a motion to uh uh just for it's clear for the record, and and we normally catch this, but um to reverse the denial to an approval.

So therefore, then if so we have a second to your motion.

Is there any discussion on that?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, those opposed.

Okay.

So now a yes will mean yes, you want it, a no will mean no, you do not want it.

Is there any discussion uh orman toomberg?

I'd like to mote, I'd like to make a motion to lay over.

Second, okay I'll second that.

We have a motion to lay over, and we have a second, and that's all we'll need for that.

Correct.

Wow, okay.

My apologies.

Thank you.

Item one and three pass, two is laid over.

Uh code and regulation committee.

Alderman Bonnie.

Thank you, Mayor.

We have four items.

Item one, committee recommends approval of the sale of the vacant city-owned property located at 57.

I'm sorry, 5798 logistics parkway to 5728 logistics parkway LLC, the neighboring property owner for the amount of 124,000 dollars plus costs.

Item two, committee recommends approval of the of plat number six of green estates.

Item three, committee recommends approval of plat number two of Ardmore subdivision, and item four, committee recommends sustaining the zoning board of appeals approval for a special use permit for an off-premise business sign in a C3 General Commercial Zoning District at 2102 McFarland Road, first Perryville Development Corporation is the applicant subject to conditions.

Thank you.

Council, we have four items before us.

Is there any discussion on those four items?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Ogaman.

Toomberg?

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Prunty.

Wilkins.

Aye.

Hoffman.

Aye.

Granit.

Aye.

Beach.

Salgado.

Aye.

Meeks.

Bell.

Bonnie.

Aye.

13 eyes.

Thank you.

Next we'll go to Alderman Frost and Finance and Personnel Committee.

Thank you, Honor.

Number one, the committee recommends approval of vouchers in the amount of $8,285,662.57 as approved at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting held on January 12, 2026.

Number two, the committee recommends approval of an agreement between the city and awakened foundation L3C to provide on-the-job training opportunities within the city's weatherization program.

There is no fiscal impact to the city.

Participant wages are paid entirely by awakened foundation using uh ICE GA grant funds.

Agreement is from February 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

I place these two matters before you.

Thank you.

Council, two items before you any discussion.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkey.

Logan.

Toomberg.

Frost.

Prunty.

Wilkins.

I'm sorry, Wimp.

Thank you.

Hoffman.

Hi.

Graneth.

Beach.

Salgado.

Meeks.

Bell.

Bonnie.

13 eyes.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Next we'll go to planning and development committee.

Alderman Wilkins.

Item one is an ordinance approving the 2026-2028 funding agreement between the city of Rockford and Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful and the amount of $60,000 annually.

The funding sources, garbage user fees.

Committee recommends approval of the proposed development agreement with urban equity properties for the rehabilitation of 99 East C Street as news tower loss for mixed use residential slash commercial development.

The funding sources redevelopment funds and TIFF funds.

Item two, committee recommends approval of the proposed amendment to the development agreement with Oliver Emerson Development for the Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse of 325 South Madison Street as residential.

The funding sources redevelopment funds and TIFF funds.

Thank you.

Council, uh, two items before you.

Any discussion on those two items?

Alder Woman meets.

Thank you so much.

I was wondering if you can give me a balance of what's remaining, what will be remaining in the redevelopment funds if these are approved?

Director Hagerty.

After approval of these development agreements, we will have a slight uh negative balance in the at the end of 2026 of about 220,000 dollars.

Uh we anticipate uh we we do have a significant amount of debt service that will be retired after this fiscal year in the redevelopment fund.

So um we anticipate a quick recovery in the fund.

Can I ask the community and economic development manager?

Is there anything in the pipeline for development that we know of for 2026?

Are these the only two development projects that we're considering for the year?

Director Lies.

Um I think these are the development projects that we're taking on right or that we're looking at right now.

I can the ones that I know of, we're looking at TIFF, um, and they they will be qualified or they'll be within a qualified TIFF.

Um for other ones that might potentially be eligible or be a good candidate for redevelopment funds.

I'll take we don't have anything that I would say is coming in a time frame that would necessarily threaten these.

If that makes sense, like they'll be they would take longer to develop, and we we'd need more time to put those all together.

Oh, it's the ones in 26 that we're look working on right now would be more TIFF oriented.

So I just want to make sure I understand.

So anything that's potentially in the pipeline that we would be using redevelopment funds, you could see that happening in 27 versus 26.

For what I know of right now.

Okay, all right.

Thank you so much.

Any other discussion on the two items before you alder one prunty.

Thank you.

Um someone just give me a um brief explanation.

Um as it relates to parking um for these facilities.

What's the parking agreement for between us and um the sports UW sports?

Um, it's my term.

Um both of these um projects might be accessed parking spaces.

So I believe there's about 90 stalls at uh the Rockford Register Star Tower on site, uh, and there's other public parking that the city of Rockford owns.

I'll turn to staff for uh parking for the park district.

And I could be wrong, but I believe there was an agreement when that was done, there would be parking, but Mr.

Cagnoni.

Um thank you, your honor.

So for the watch factory redevelopment, they will have on-site um parking uh that's within the footprint in the property that's being transferred from the city of Rockford to the developer.

There's also on-street parking um on South Madison Street.

Uh, when we began uh negotiations and uh approved the previous development agreement with the developer for this property, uh we had shared the plans, the lot configuration with the park district um to make sure that they didn't have any concerns related to the lot that was going to be transferred, understanding that there is public parking surrounding the the development site, and they were supportive of the proposed lot and layout.

So there is ample parking for sports factory to continue as originally planned, as well as parking um for the development, both development correct.

Thank you.

Any other all the one meets?

I'm just curious.

Are there project labor agreements for any of these developments?

Mr.

Cagnoni?

Not that I'm aware of.

Okay, thank you so much.

Any other discussion?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkey.

Aye.

Logan.

Aye, Tomberg.

Aye.

Frost.

I am one of the one too.

Fronty.

Aye.

Wilkins?

Aye.

Hoffman.

Aye.

Grant.

Aye.

Beach.

Salgato.

Aye.

Meeks.

Aye.

Bell.

Aye.

Bonnie.

Aye.

Item number one, thirteen eyes.

Item number two, twelve eyes, one no.

Thank you.

Next we'll go to code and regulation committee, Alderman Bonnie.

Thank you, Mayor.

We have two items.

Uh item one is the 2026 forward for fund initiative.

The request includes an allocation of 140,000 and an expedited special event permit process for multiple of multiple events throughout the city in partnership with Alderman and Go Rockford.

The program goal is to create and support community events in all 14 wards of the city as part of our continued pandemic recovery efforts.

Item two resolution for settlement of Isaac Cornelius Fricks Senior versus Officer Brian Prine, case number 22-CV-50410 in the amount of $32,000.

And um for item two, we need to suspend rule nine, and I will make that motion that we we suspend rule nine.

We have a motion.

We have a second by Alderman Bell.

Is there an any discussion on suspending rule nine for item two?

All those in favor of suspending rule nine say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

Okay.

Rule nine's been suspended.

We have two items before us.

Is there any discussion on those two items?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Logan.

Aye.

Toomberg?

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Prunty.

Wilkins?

Hoffman?

Graneth.

Beach.

Solgato.

Meeks.

Bell.

Bonnie.

13 ayes.

Thank you.

Next we'll go to Finance and Personnel Committee.

Alderman Frost.

Thank you.

Number one, the committee recommends approval and acceptance of an IDA homeowner assistance fund, home repair grant extension, and the additional amount of 549,000, bringing the new total to $3 million $9,000.

Number two, the committee recommends approval acceptance of uh Illinois DCO rebuild downtown and Main Street grant award amount of $2 million.

The grant requires a 25% cost match, which will be paid for using our one percent infrastructure sales tax.

The grant term is from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027.

If accepted, the grant funds will be used the ring of verse construction costs for the Madison Street Quarter Improvements Project Phase 2.

Number three, the committee recommends approval of water professional services for the peace family peace center architectural services for renovation of 214 North Church Street to Larson and Darby in the amount of 525,85.36 cents.

The contract durations through December 31, 2026.

The funding source is the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board Accelerator Grant.

It place those three matters before you.

Thank you.

Council, there's three items before you.

Is there any discussion on those three items?

Alder one meeks.

Thank you so much.

I'm just curious for the item number two, the two million dollars.

Is this an annual grant that we seek?

I don't know who to ask the question.

Mr.

Gagnoni.

Um for the for the DCO grant, that was a competitive grant that um we applied for, so I don't anticipate it coming back being an annual one.

It has been multiple years.

Whether how long DCO will continue to have that grant, I'm not positive.

Thank you so much.

Any other discussion?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Logan.

Frost.

Frontier.

Wilkins.

Hoffman.

Hi.

Granit.

Beach.

Meeks.

Bell.

Bonnie.

Toomberg.

13 eyes.

Thank you.

And I am sorry, I skipped over officers' reports.

I'd like to go back to that.

Want to uh obviously at this point it's been well known that uh President George Scott of the NAACP passed away.

President Scott uh worked at the Belvedere Assembly plant, uh retired from the Belvedere Assembly plant, uh was active in a number of different organizations throughout our community, uh and most recently had uh been leading the NAACP.

Uh through his leadership, they've uh began a whole host of different uh committees being active in a number of different areas if it was uh advocating uh with the issue of food insecurity or fighting injustice and advocating for equality.

Uh he was consistently present.

Uh and I just want to give my heartfelt condolences to his family, uh specifically to his wife Angie, uh, and I would just add to the broader NAACP family uh in ASA, we have a moment of silence for President Scott, and I will also just add uh from the individuals who are present this evening.

Uh there's been a lot of loss of life recently.

Uh and we would just add that we have a moment of silence for many people who have been impacted by death uh very close to them uh uh over the last week uh with that moment of silence.

Thank you.

Uh go to officers' reports any alderman salgado.

Yeah, just uh thank you, Your Honor.

Um just real quick uh February 12th at 6 p.m.

at the collective.

We are having our livable um community uh initiative um out there with Regional One Plan.

So for those that can attend um that are watching uh February 10th, uh 12th, uh 6 p.m.

the collective uh they're on 7th Street.

Uh encourage uh folks to come out, give ideas on what Midtown District uh could potentially um want to accomplish uh through regional one plans.

So they're gonna have feedback sessions and group sessions for that.

So just want to remind the viewers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alder One Meets.

Thank you so much.

I just want to remind everyone that's listening that um tomorrow there is one of the kind of citywide town hall meetings that the mayor will be hosting.

Um it'll be at the edgewater, the standard edgewater neighborhood meeting held at Rockford Country Club at 5:30.

Um so those who don't typically join us for those meetings on the third Wednesday of the month, please feel free to do so.

Um and it'll be joined by Chief Red, along with I believe a conversation from the longest title I've ever heard of, but um long last name executive director of Jennifer Cacciapalia, executive director of the mayor's office of community and Mexican community violence prevention.

Thank you so much.

Um yeah, I just hope everyone comes out to have that conversation about our crime levels and where we are as a city, and then if you want to stick around for more information locally for Edgewater, we look forward to having you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Any other uh print um thank you.

Um to the um Scott family.

Um and the other families who have been impacted by a lot of loss this year.

Um just wanted to uh let everybody know that on the um January 24th, uh Saturday, January 24th at 11 a.m.

The sixth world will have a meeting at the Rockford Fire Department station number seven at 2323 Sawyer Road in Rockford, Illinois.

Our special guest will be our very own Rockford Fire Chief, Rebecca Tayo.

Okay.

And also our very own Illinois State Representative of the 67th District, Maurice West.

And that will be at 11 a.m.

at the Rockford Fire Department, station number seven, twenty-three twenty-three Thoyer Road.

Thank you.

Alderman Toomberg.

Thanks, Mayor.

I was just going to ask you how could you be at two places at one time because tomorrow night is the Churchill's Grove Neighborhood Association and you are a resident of Churchill's Grove.

So I will allow the person I that represents that area to attend that meeting.

All right.

Any other discussion?

Alderman Bell.

Thank you, Mayor.

In the name of uh neighborhood meetings, uh, we'll be hosting in the 13th Ward Coffees and Conversations at Mr.

C's Family Restaurant on Friday, January 30th, next Friday at 9 a.m.

So hopefully uh if you're listening and want to have uh deeper dialogue around uh what's going on here locally uh I invite you to join us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman Bonnie.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just wanted to quickly uh thank um youth build and uh case manager there, um Calvin Wesley in particular for the opportunity to come and speak um uh just this last Friday morning uh to their students on uh they have a uh career speaker, and I talked to them about um I work in my former occupation in journalism and uh currently in government and shockingly they were more interested in journalism than government, but they had some really great questions, things like AI, criminal record expungement.

It was really all over the board.

It was a very uh um uh lively 90 minutes, other than when um Alderman Wilkins came in to visibly yawn.

It went really well.

And uh I just it was a great opportunity, and they were um great kids to meet and and talk to.

So I wanted to thank Youth Build.

Thank you.

Holder Ron Hoftman.

Thank you, Mayor.

I would like to really thank Francisca.

I hope I said it right, French, and Jeremy Carter.

They came to my rolling green meeting.

We are now on YouTube, and if you want to uh get the address, you can go to my Facebook page and it's there.

Uh but they did so well.

I had a hard time getting people out of the church so that they could lock up.

They really did an excellent job, and I hope something came of it.

I know that there were a couple people that really wanted to sign up for some of the programs.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Any other reports?

Alderman Durkey.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Um, I wanted to thank a couple of guys, a crew of guys that worked pretty uh pretty hard yesterday.

Uh we had a water main break uh in our ward, and unfortunately they couldn't get to it because they had another water main break on 18th Street.

These guys worked all through the night to do that, an incredible cold and a lot of water.

So the crew was uh run by Jesse Reinders, and the other guys were Ben Nicholson, Greg Malcolmson, and Clavion Smith Collier and Ed Spitz.

So thanks to you know at all our city workers who uh uh who do stuff like that and uh do things in incredible situations that a lot of people would never do.

So they did a great job.

Appreciate that.

I know they will too.

Thank you.

Any other reports?

Okay, thank you for that.

Uh next we'll go to new business, and we'll go to planning and development committee.

Uh Alderman Durkey, I see Alderwoman Wilkins just stepped out.

Would you mind reading those items?

This is uh under new new business number uh under A.

Umran's approving the 2026-2028 funding agreement between City of Rockford and keep Northern Illinois beautiful in the amount of sixty thousand dollars annually, the funding sources garbage user fees.

Number two, an ordinance approving the supplemental marketing services agreement between the city uh I'm sorry, between the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Rockford for 100,000 annually for the two years 2026 and 2027.

The funding source is 2026 and 2027 Casino Foundation funds.

Also doing this is as UEP Tower Lofts LLC for the rehabilitation of 99 East State Street as New Loft.

I'm sorry, News Tower Lofts, which is the former Rockford Register Star Building for a mixed use residential and commercial development.

The funding source is the redevelopment funds and TIFF funds.

And lastly, number four, an ordinance approving the amendment to the development agreement with Oliver Emerson Development.

Um also as Oliver Emerson Development LLC for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of 325 South Madison Street, which is the watch factory as residential.

The funding source is the redevelopment fund and tip funds.

These are up for passage.

Thank you.

Council, uh four items before you.

Is there any discussion on those four items?

Alderman Salgado.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Uh, just real quick on item one, uh keeping Northern Illinois beautiful.

I just want to uh express support for this organization in a sense of getting uh their sixty thousand dollars annually.

I know when I was on the county board, we did the same thing in regards to that since they do recycling uh for the electrical um piece of it, um uh taking it all that in there and also doing the earth day, the cleanup days, they do a wonderful job with that.

So as part of the whole thing with when I was on the county board, the landfill uh obviously there's a big concern of that that closing down within the next 10 years.

So with having sustained Rockford, uh, which they just celebrated their 10-year anniversary, uh it just makes sense to continue to work on these things on diverting garbage and trash uh from that perspective and how we can extend the life on that landfill.

Um so I'm very supportive of that.

Um I know there was a lot of questions asked, which I think we we uh there those questions should be asked not to delay the the whole process but to get our questions to that.

So um that's why I'm just speaking up now on this, and I just want to see that continue to be supportive, especially when we need to divert um some of the trash as well from that perspective.

So um I'm just gonna support this, and I just wanted to express that.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Uh four items before us.

Any other discussion?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkey.

Aye, Logaman, Toomberg, aye, Frost, I have one through three, no one forderman Prunty Hoffman, aye, Grandeth, Beach, Silgato, Meeks, aye, Bell, Bonnie, Alderman Prunty, items one through three, twelve eyes, item four, eleven eyes, one no.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we'll go to code and regulation committee, Alderman Bonnie.

Thank you, Mayor.

We have two items.

Item one, an ordinance approving the sale of the vacant city-owned property located at 5798 Logistics Parkway to 5728 logistics parkway LLC, the neighboring property owner for the amount of 124,000 plus costs.

Item two, an ordinance approving the special use permit for an off-premise signed in a C3 General Commercial Zoning District at 2102, McFarland Road, first Perryville Development Corporation is the applicant.

Thank you.

Council, two items before you any discussion on those two items.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Logaman.

Frost.

Aye.

Fronty.

Aye.

Hoffman.

Aye.

Granit.

Beach.

Salgado.

Meeks.

Bell.

Bonnie.

12 eyes.

Excellent.

Next, we're going to go to Finance and Personnel Committee, Alderman Frost.

Thank you.

Number one is an ordinance approving agreement from the City and Awakened Foundation L3C to provide on-the-job training opportunities within the city's weatherization program.

There's no fiscal impact to the city.

Participant wages are paid entirely by Wake and Foundation United Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act grant funds.

The agreement is from February 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

I place this matter of a passage.

Thank you.

Council, one item before us, any discussion on that one item.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkey.

Aye.

Logaman?

Aye.

Thunberg.

Aye.

Frost?

Aye.

Prunty.

Hoffman?

Aye.

Graneth.

Beach.

Solgato.

Aye.

Meeks.

Bell.

Bonnie.

Aye.

12 eyes.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Uh, you'll see that there was closed session.

There's no need for a closed session this evening.

So if there's a motion to adjourn, we can adjourn.

We have a motion.

We have a second.

Is there any discussion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed?

Have a wonderful night.