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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Code and Regulation Committee Meeting Approves Several Special Use Permits and Event Resolutions on February 23, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, February 23, 2026

BodyRockford, Illinois

SessionMeeting Portal

DateMonday, February 23, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 20:50

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:06

Welcome to the code and regulation committee meeting for February 23rd.

0:12

We have some ground to make up.

0:15

And we have four items under committee reports.

0:24

Ground ground to make up.

0:34

Here.

0:36

Thank you.

0:37

Item one is plat number five of Perryville Promenade's promenade subdivision.

0:42

Is there a motion to approve?

0:44

Second.

0:45

Are there any questions or comments on item one?

0:50

Alderman Bell.

0:52

Hold on one second.

0:55

Go ahead.

0:56

So last time we talked about, I believe it was the last time we talked about gaming terminals.

1:02

There was a number associated with that that in the agreement with the casino.

1:07

I'm sorry, Alderman Bell, I think you're on item two.

1:11

Oh, I am.

1:12

I am I'm jumping ahead.

1:13

That's right.

1:14

We are trying to make up ground, but not that fast.

1:17

Sorry.

1:18

I I'll yield back to you, Chairman.

1:20

Okay.

1:22

Were there any questions on or comments on item one, Peryville Promenade?

1:29

Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

1:33

Aye.

1:34

Any opposed?

1:36

Motion carries.

1:37

Item two.

1:39

Uh 2525 Auburn Street Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board recommends approval for the sale of liquor by the drink class L50 in conjunction with the restaurant and video gaming terminals in a C3 General Commercial Zoning District at 2025 2525 Auburn Street, Colleen Therese, Kaulaski, Michelle Kines, Eero House and Moore Incorporated doing business as a Eurohouse are the applicants.

2:08

There are a motion to approve.

2:11

Are there any questions or comments on item two?

2:16

Alderman Bell.

2:17

Thank you.

2:20

So I believe the last time we talked about gaming terminals, there was a number associated with or discussed about the city's uh ability to issue pass a certain number.

2:37

Um can you remind me of that number, please?

2:41

There's a term there's a cap at 600 terminals for the city per the host agreement with uh hard rock.

2:48

And how many are we currently at?

2:52

Attorney Rubin?

2:55

Uh yes.

2:57

So we currently have uh Alderman, uh 579 authorized within the city.

3:03

Um so this request is for five additional.

3:07

Thank you.

3:08

Sirder Woman Terina.

3:14

Thank you, Chair.

3:15

Uh so I did have a conversation with the Alderman of the ward.

3:21

So she knows my position on this, and I don't think it's any surprise to anyone that I always I I really don't love the machines in general, but when we add liquor and gaming to what I already feel is a vulnerable community.

3:42

Um I just think that this adds to the cumulative negative effect of again adding liquor and gaming to communities, especially when this is like it's essentially a fast food place that put in their plan that while they have been established for three years, they need liquor and gaming to grow their business.

4:10

And so I don't agree with that.

4:14

Um so I will not be supporting this.

4:17

Um I just wanted to go on record as saying so.

4:19

Thank you very much.

4:21

Thank you.

4:23

Um Mr.

4:25

Capavilla, I'm wondering if you can um it's my understanding that we we have previously approved um uh VGTs at this location, but that they but the the applicant actually never um pulled those and that this so this is sort of a this is a reapplication of something that we've already approved, but I don't know if it did it time out or something.

4:54

So, Mr.

4:54

Chair, the the it was four and a half years ago it was approved for uh liquor and gaming.

5:00

My understanding is they did take the liquor license, but then they forfeited it in 2024.

5:05

So now this uh new person has purchased this and they're partnering with uh this owner who is also has uh three other um you know uh taverns and our restaurants in town.

5:17

So did do we know why they forfeited those?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████████████████39%

Zoning Regulations██████████████████████████████████████38%

Liquor Licensing███████████████████████23%

Summary of Proceedings

Code and Regulation Committee Meeting - February 23, 2026

The Code and Regulation Committee met at 5:30 PM on Monday, February 23, 2026, to consider four committee reports and six event resolution items. The committee approved most items, laid over one zoning case for 30 days, and debated the impact of liquor and video gaming terminals in a commercial district.

Committee Reports

Item 1 – Plat No. 5 of Perryville Promenade Subdivision (26-00200): Approved unanimously by voice vote.
Item 2 – 2525 Auburn Street – Liquor and Gaming Terminal Approval (26-00201): The Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board recommended approval for a Class L-50 liquor license for Gyro House & More, Inc. dba Gyro House, including five video gaming terminals. Discussion revealed the city has a cap of 600 terminals per its host agreement with Hard Rock; currently 579 are authorized, and this request adds five. Alderman Terina spoke in opposition, citing cumulative negative effects of adding liquor and gaming to a vulnerable community, and voted no. The motion passed 4-1 (roll call: Terina no, Prunty aye, Wilkins aye, Bell aye, Bonne aye).
Item 3 – 609 Kilburn Avenue – Solar Array and Fence Variations (26-00202): The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended denial. The Boys and Girls Club of Rockford requested the item not advance. Alderman Bell moved to lay over for 30 days to allow evaluation of concerns raised by staff and the ZBA regarding the ground-mount solar array and fence variations. Motion passed 4-1 (Terina aye, Prunty aye, Wilkins aye, Bell aye, Bonne no).
Item 4 – 73xx East Riverside Boulevard – Coffee Shop Special Use Permit (26-00203): The applicant amended the request at the ZBA to remove a previously proposed retail strip center, leaving only a stand-alone coffee shop with drive-thru and deviations for parking and landscaping (20-foot setbacks reduced to 10 feet on the front). Staff report initially recommended denial but was based on the pre-amendment plan. The committee approved unanimously by roll call (all ayes).

Resolutions (Event Permits)

All six resolutions were approved by voice vote without debate:

Item 1 – Irish Marching Society St. Patrick's Day Parade (26-00204): Saturday, March 14, noon–5 p.m., parade steps off at 3 p.m. Route: 7th Street and 5th Avenue to Prairie Street.
Item 2 – Spruce Up Day at the Veteran’s Roundabout (26-00205): May 9, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. at North Main and Auburn Streets.
Item 3 – Rockford Area Pride Parade (26-00207): June 6, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., parade steps off at noon. Route: East State Street and 6th Street to Wyman Street.
Item 4 – Lifescape Classic July 4th Run/Walk (26-00223): July 4, 6 a.m.–11 a.m. Start/finish at Riverview Ice House.
Item 5 – 4th of July Celebration (26-00212): July 4, 4 p.m.–10 p.m. Parade at 4:45 p.m., fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Route: 7th Street and 2nd Avenue to State/Church Street.
Item 6 – One Table: An Open-Air Dining Experience (26-00214): August 29, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. on Water Street from Market Street to Lower Jefferson Street Bridge.

Key Outcomes

Item 2 (liquor/gaming) approved 4-1; Alderman Terina dissenting.
Item 3 (solar/fence) laid over 30 days (4-1) to address concerns.
All other committee reports and resolutions approved unanimously.
Meeting adjourned after completing all agenda items.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the code and regulation committee meeting for February 23rd. We have some ground to make up. And we have four items under committee reports. Ground ground to make up. Here. Thank you. Item one is plat number five of Perryville Promenade's promenade subdivision. Is there a motion to approve? Second. Are there any questions or comments on item one? Alderman Bell. Hold on one second. Go ahead. So last time we talked about, I believe it was the last time we talked about gaming terminals. There was a number associated with that that in the agreement with the casino. I'm sorry, Alderman Bell, I think you're on item two. Oh, I am. I am I'm jumping ahead. That's right. We are trying to make up ground, but not that fast. Sorry. I I'll yield back to you, Chairman. Okay. Were there any questions on or comments on item one, Peryville Promenade? Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item two. Uh 2525 Auburn Street Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board recommends approval for the sale of liquor by the drink class L50 in conjunction with the restaurant and video gaming terminals in a C3 General Commercial Zoning District at 2025 2525 Auburn Street, Colleen Therese, Kaulaski, Michelle Kines, Eero House and Moore Incorporated doing business as a Eurohouse are the applicants. There are a motion to approve. Are there any questions or comments on item two? Alderman Bell. Thank you. So I believe the last time we talked about gaming terminals, there was a number associated with or discussed about the city's uh ability to issue pass a certain number. Um can you remind me of that number, please? There's a term there's a cap at 600 terminals for the city per the host agreement with uh hard rock. And how many are we currently at? Attorney Rubin? Uh yes. So we currently have uh Alderman, uh 579 authorized within the city. Um so this request is for five additional. Thank you. Sirder Woman Terina. Thank you, Chair. Uh so I did have a conversation with the Alderman of the ward. So she knows my position on this, and I don't think it's any surprise to anyone that I always I I really don't love the machines in general, but when we add liquor and gaming to what I already feel is a vulnerable community. Um I just think that this adds to the cumulative negative effect of again adding liquor and gaming to communities, especially when this is like it's essentially a fast food place that put in their plan that while they have been established for three years, they need liquor and gaming to grow their business. And so I don't agree with that. Um so I will not be supporting this.

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