The Code and Regulation Committee of the City of Rockford met on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 5:30 PM in City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 5:38 PM by Alderman Bonne and adjourned at 6:07 PM. The committee unanimously approved four special event resolutions, recognized the Irish Marching Society and the Chicago Storm Special Hockey Team, and observed a moment of silence for community advocate Suni Puri. Five members of the public addressed the committee.
All four resolutions were approved unanimously by voice vote (Aldermen Torina, Wilkins, Bonne, Bell, and Prunty voting aye). No discussion or opposition was recorded.
Good evening, welcome to the March Night Code and Regulations Committee meeting. This evening. There we go. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this council meeting tonight. We invite you into the space, Lord, and we just ask that you give us wisdom to make the best decisions that we can for the people of Rockford. We ask that you protect our first responders, and again, just give us wisdom and insight for us to make the best decisions for our city. In your name we pray, amen. I pledge to the flag of the United States America and to the Republic, which is nation under God. Thank you. And uh we also, before we proceed into the agenda, uh I'm gonna have uh Mayor McNamara come up to present a proclamation and a special recognition. Thank you, Chairman. Uh this evening we have one proclamation and uh one very special recognition. Uh this evening to begin with, we have a proclamation for the Irish Marching Society Week, and we have the Irish Marching Society with us, or members of the Irish Marching Society. I'm not gonna bite any of you. I'm Irish, you're all right. Good to see you. Give that to you. Whereas Irish Marching Society, Rockford is strictly a not-for-profit organization, chartered in 1976 and was established to preserve and promote Irish heritage within our community. And whereas the Irish Marching Society continues to preserve, promote, and educate Irish and Celtic culture in the Greater Rockford community. And whereas the Irish Marching Society's 50th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held on East State Street on Saturday, March 14th, 2026 at 3 p.m., starting at 7th Street and 4th Avenue and ending on Water Street. Patty Fest will be held at Prairie Street Brewing Company from 4 p.m. This says to 9 p.m. I'm guessing it goes a little bit longer, uh, with live Irish music and food. Now, therefore, I Thomas P. Maxmer, as a mayor of the city of Rockford, do hereby proclaim the week of March 9th, 2026 to be Irish Marching Society Week. I just want to say sincerely thank you for the work that you do every year. I mean, not just the parade, not just Patty Fest, but all the work you do throughout the community throughout the year. Uh 50 years is really remarkable. Just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. And Tyler, would you like to share a few words? Yeah, uh thank you. Uh your administration's been incredibly uh great to work with and supportive. Uh thank you to the council as well. I think this is my tenth year coming here and getting the proclamation, but uh it's our 50th year. So it's a it's a big celebration for us. And you know, 50 years ago, your dad was amongst one of those uh few hundred members that marched down State Street in the rain and and started this tradition. So it's really cool to come full circle and and and and have you here. Um so we made it to 50. Uh looking forward to the next 50 years, and I hope to see everyone come down and celebrate us or celebrate uh St. Patrick's Day with us. So thank you. Awesome. Yeah, I'm gonna appreciate you. Absolutely. T-shirt. I'll take it. Thank you. It looks like we'll see you there. Thank you.