Good evening.

Good evening.

We will call to order the City of Rockford City Council meeting for Monday, April 6th, twenty twenty-six.

Clear your minds.

Verily, thou art the omnipotent and the Almighty.

Amen.

Pledge allegiance to the final of the United States of America.

And to the reality, which is roll with liberty and justice.

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Toomber.

Frost.

Terina.

Prenti.

Hoffman.

Granite.

Beach.

Salgado.

Bonnie.

Bell.

Ten present.

Excellent.

We have a quorum this evening.

Is there a motion motion to approve the Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on January 20th, 2026?

We have a motion.

We have a second.

Is there any discussion?

Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed?

Excellent.

Is there a motion to approve the journal of proceedings for the city council meeting held on February 2nd, 2026?

We have a motion.

We have a second.

Is there any discussion?

Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

Next, is there a motion to approve the Journal of Proceedings for the City Council meeting held on February 17th, 2026?

We have a motion.

Is there a second?

We have a second.

Any discussion?

Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

Next one.

Next, we have a proclamation for Zion Lutheran Church and Mark Turrell Civil Rights Conference for 2026.

And I believe we have uh Pastor Michael Thomas as well as others with us.

Whereas Zion Zion Lutheran Church is leading the Mark Charles Common Memory Tour Civil Rights Conference on April 18th, 2026 at Patriots Gateway Community Center.

And whereas Patriots Gateway is a place created to provide a gateway of opportunities so that we the people could move towards all the people.

And whereas Zion Lutheran Church sold its property on Spring Creek near Mulford in 1982 and committed to create a community of belonging for all people.

And whereas Zion Lutheran Church believes that location matters and sharing resources matters and acknowledging our past is vital to create a common memory of the land that was stolen and the lives of those whom we have forgotten.

Let it be proclaimed that this ford near the rock was a place where others lived whom we displaced.

And whereas, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, we are called to the remember the Native American people who stewarded this land and who were called savages in our founding documents.

Now, therefore, I, Thomas P.

Maxmer as the mayor of the city of Rafford, do hereby recognize Zion Lutheran Church and Mark Charles Civil Rights Conference 2026.

Pastor, would you like to share a few words about the upcoming conference?

April 18th at Patriots Gateway Center registration through our Zion Lutheran Church website.

We're very grateful to have Mark Charles, who is a Navajo and a pastor, and he's coming to speak about what does it mean to have a common memory.

We can't have reconciliation until we have conciliation, which means we have to admit what's happened in the first place.

So we're grateful to host him and welcome anybody to attend the event.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, uh, we will go to next, we're gonna go to petitions and communications.

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

Thank you, Mayor.

We have four items, all of which are being referred to code and regulation committee.

Item one is a memorandum from Scott Capavilla, planning and zoning manager regarding plant number seven of Walmart subdivision.

Item two is a memorandum from Martin Bloom, project manager permits and special events regarding upcoming special events, which include Rockford City Market, Pride Alley Party, South Main Mercado, Iron Man 70.3, Vets Rock the Block, and National Night Out.

Item three is a memorandum from Timothy Hinkins, City Engineer regarding an amendment to the City of Rockford Code of Ordinances for Chapter 26-16.

And item four is Traffic Commission's agenda for the meeting to be held on April 8th, 2026, and minutes from that meeting for consideration at the Code and Regulation Committee meeting on April 13th, 2026.

Thank you.

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

Both items will be further to the Finance and Personal Committee.

Number one is a memorandum from Owen Carter regarding an approval of an intergovernmental agreement from the city in Rockford Township.

And number two is a memorandum from Charlotte Haas regarding a lean waiver request from the Winnebago Committee Trustee for 3617 Preston Street and 2916 Custer Avenue.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we're going to move to our public speakers.

Just for our public speakers, there's a microphone on the back left as well as the back right of council chambers.

You'll have three minutes to address uh the city council at the end.

I'm hoping I got my alarm fixed so that uh it will go off.

If it does not go off, I'll just ask that you close up your comments at the end of the three minutes.

Our first public speaker this evening is Stephen McMaster.

Throw one out.

Oh, there you go.

Good evening.

My name is Stephen McMaster.

Tonight I'm gonna highlight three issues that have occurred in these chambers, and my goal is to get them confirmed to on the record to be true, and if possible, fixed.

The first is a city council rule that we don't follow and we should remove.

The second is a Rockford ordinance that seems to be violated every time we have these meetings.

And the third involves a violation of Illinois state law that occurred in this chamber.

If any alderman wants, you can raise a point of order or information at any time and verify what I'm saying is correct.

If you do, I'll clean up trash in your ward.

You help me clean up these legal violations, and I'll help you clean up your ward.

Literally.

The first is a simple city council rule.

Rule 23 of City Council states that all members of the public shall remove their outer jackets and or coats upon entering council chambers.

The public shall be permitted to wear blazers and or suit jackets in council mayor in council chambers at the discretion of the mayor.

I have never seen this rule enforced.

Why do we have it?

If someone raises a point of order, just verifying that the rule exists.

I'll spend two hours cleaning up trash in your ward.

If you get that rule changed or removed, I'll double it to four hours.

The second issue is the timing of these meetings themselves.

Section 2-27 of the code of ordinances states that the regular meetings of the city council shall be held every first and third Monday evening, commencing at the hour of 6 p.m.

Well, that's weird.

If someone verifies that we're violating this law that we have, I'll spend four hours cleaning up trash in your ward.

If that ordinance gets corrected to actually comport with what we do here, I'll double it.

I'll spend an entire work day cleaning up your ward.

The third issue involves Illinois state law.

About a month ago, members of the public were removed from this chamber by police officers who did not activate their body cameras.

I hold issue with members being removed from the chambers, but the Illinois Law Enforcement Officer Warren Body Camera Act states that officers must activate their body cameras during law enforcement encounters.

Rockford Police Department General Order 2.56 reiterates this requirement.

Yet for some reason, none of the officers in this chamber activated their body cameras while they removed people from this chamber.

If anybody brings that up, gets confirmation that they violated the body worn camera act.

I'll spend an entire day in your ward cleaning up trash.

If there's some sort of investigation or response to this that actually has a meaningful impact, I'll double it to two whole days.

If you help me clean up these violations, I will literally clean up your wards.

Work with me here.

This is all I can offer.

This is the carrot.

Please don't make me bring out the sticks.

We obviously have a lot of problems in the city.

There's a lot of sticks that can be brought up.

Let's let's try to actually work on this together.

Seriously.

Anybody bring up anything I've brought up?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next public speaker is Julie Smith.

Hi, uh, my name is Julie Smith.

I am a lifelong resident of Winnebago County.

I grew up in Rockford and bought my home in the county 30 years ago where I currently reside.

I am your neighbor, along with all the residents surrounding the proposed data center.

I know you understand that being a good neighbor and having good neighbors are important to the success of a community.

My home is 2.5 miles away from the proposed data center, and I'm deeply concerned about the impact this will have to our community.

Data centers are known to cause air pollution, noise pollution, light pollution, water pollution, rising electricity costs, and grid reliability concerns, respiratory illnesses and cancer risks, destruction of natural areas, and enormous water use.

Estimated millions of gallons per day.

Where will that water come from?

Most of us near this site have well water, and we are concerned it will be depleted, contaminated, or both.

What assurances can the city give us that this won't happen?

Where will all that water go?

The wastewater data centers produce is filled with chemicals and fine particulate matter that most water treatment facilities do not have the capabilities to filter.

Has Four Rivers confirmed that they have the technology to do so?

Does Comed have the capabilities for increased energy use?

Who will be paying for the infrastructure when more energy is needed?

How will Kilbuck Creek, the Kishwaki River, and the Rock River be affected by that wastewater?

Will an environmental impact study be done?

How will a data center impact the neighboring Kilbuck Bluffs Forest Preserve?

The implications this will have to wildlife, plant life, aquatic life, and their habitat will be devastating.

What will the Forest City do to protect this forest?

The impact of this data center will not just affect us closest to the site.

The air pollution will not just hover over the land annexed by the city.

The water pollution will not follow proposed maps and stay within certain boundaries.

This will affect us all.

Many cities throughout the country are facing rushed processes to have data centers built before any regulations and restrictions are legislated.

These regist these regulations are needed for the health and well-being of our citizens and our environment.

Please pause this decision as many other cities around the country have done.

Thoroughly research all the effects, find answers to these proposed questions, reconsider bringing a data center to Rockford, and consider the other options that will ensure the health and safety of those in this city and your neighbors.

Good evening.

Has any elected official in this room signed an NDA for the proposed data center yet?

Well, tonight I am speaking about the proposed data center and my opposition towards it.

Now, some of you might be thinking, why talk about it?

It's too early.

We don't know enough yet.

And I am here to tell you personally that there is no better time to prepare than right now.

Now is a time to prioritize public engagement with a robust strategy of multiple public hearings, scheduled with advanced notice at times and locations that enable working families to attend and participate.

The city ignored this chance last month with Flock not going to the Community Relations Commission.

Now is the time to replicate and improve upon Aurora Illinois' newly enacted data center regulations.

For example, designate data centers as conditional uses, enforced more aggressive setback requirements for chillers and generators, require third-party reporting for sound levels, water consumption, and energy usage.

And now is the time to give the Illinois legislature a chance to vote on the Power Act because data centers are a state issue as well as a local issue.

I have sat in these very chambers, Aldman Frost and Toonberg, and watched the council vigorously debate inconsequential items like McDonald's franchises, commercial landscaping, and the color scheme of a brick wall at Disco Chicken.

Yet I've also witnessed the passage of the flock surveillance contract with little regard for public concern.

Right now, we are planted firmly in yet another situation where the entire community of Rockford is looking for leadership from their city council.

Give the people a voice and give this care and attention it serves.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next public speaker this evening is Denzel Winter.

Hello, City Council members.

My name is Denzel Winter.

And I had the privilege of going on a police ride.

And I learned a lot.

Thanks to Chief Red and her peoples.

I used to have a very negative look at police officers.

But they showed me a few things that some of them do have heart.

Not all of them, but some of them.

So it changed my perspective on them.

And I want to tell you, Chief Red, thank you for allowing me to ride with your peoples.

I learned a lot.

We helped, we helped a lot of people.

And we called, well, he called the uh house.

And then he said, Well, no, I'm not gonna leave until you know uh we'll see if this guy come back.

And I had to step back a little bit because he got out there and helped the guy push the car off the track.

And I don't know how many people would have done that.

So that gave me a very, very good, very, very good feeling about our people.

And Chief Red, I think you're doing a great, great job.

And I know I tell you that a whole lot, and I really mean it, you know.

And uh I don't care what nobody says, because what I see, what I see, you're doing a great job.

So, and uh, you know, I got a chance to, it was raining that night, so I didn't get a chance to see everything, so the officer said, you know, you can get one more ride.

So I said, Well, I'm gonna do that.

Because uh I want to I I want to get an idea of everything, you know, and like I said, it was very rewarding for me, you know.

So I just it got me away from the attitude that I had with uh police officers.

You know, I know that we can't that we don't always get along with them, and you know, but it's just like uh uh people in the community.

We don't always get along together.

But I really appreciate that.

And I want to say thank you, Chief Red, for giving me the opportunity.

And I just can't wait till I get my my little gift.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next public speaker this evening is Prophet Yusuf.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

In the book of 2 King, the seventh chapter, the third to the fifth verse, it says, now four men who were lepers were at the entrance of the city gate.

And they said to one another, why do we sit here until we die?

So they got up.

What I want to speak about tonight, people are rocking, don't just sit there, stand up.

No matter how bad the problem is, you may be facing today, no matter how far under the circumstance you may be in, in 24 hours, you can be back on top.

Oh, Prophet, you that would be impossible.

That's what the Samaritans thought in 2 King 7 chapter.

That land was being ravaged by famine.

Enemy troops had surrounded them and cut off all source of supply.

Mothers were eating their own children just survived.

But right in the middle of that, the Lord told the property leaks that in 24 hours the whole situation would change, plowing bali with sale for just a few pennies, and that would be plenty for all.

What did God use to turn that situation around?

For lepers, four lepers who instead of sitting around feeling sorry for themselves and waiting to die, decided to stand up and take their chances in the enemy camp.

When they got there, they found it abandoned.

All the warriors have been frightened away by the angels of God.

And they left enough food behind to feel all of some.

Sometimes you and I are like the fishers in that story.

We get problem center instead of word of gossip.

We let ourselves be so surrounded by negativity and negative people, the loud voice of the world that that the vision of our victory is pushed out of sight.

When that happens, our fate and power began to leave us and life cave in on us from every side.

If that's happened to you, stop crying about it.

Stop looking at your problem and feel sorry for yourself.

That won't change.

And just like he did for Lisha, God would do for you.

God has given you a word.

He has promised you victory.

He has promised the people in Rockwood, you are overcome.

And also been wanting to tell him Beach this for a long time.

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

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

And happy birthday, my good friend.

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 friend.

Happy birthday to you.

Thank you for allowing me to speak.

Thank you.

Thank you to all of our public speakers this evening.

Next, we're gonna move to new committee reports, and we'll go to Planning and Development Committee and Alderman Durkey.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Under Roman numeral 581 and 2.

Um, the committee number one committee recommends approval of the 2040 future land use map.

And item number two, committee recommends approval of the funding agreement with Phantom Regiment Incorporated, an Illinois non-for-profit corporation located at 5608 International Drive, and then not to exceed amount of 100,000 over two years.

It'll be $60,000 in 2026 and 40,000 in 2027.

The funding source is the casino foundation funds.

These are up for passage.

Thank you.

Council, we have uh two items before us.

Is there any discussion on those two items?

Alder Roman Meeks.

Um I would like to move to make an amendment to item number one.

Um I move to amend the committee report under new committee reports, Roman numero five, subsection A item one to modify the future land use designations for parcels.

And 11-02-201-002 on the 2040 future land use map for the city of Rockford from industrial to utilities.

I'm sorry, from industrial and utilities to residential medium density.

So we have a motion and we have a second.

Is there any discussion on the amendment before us?

Yeah, I just wanted to um clarify.

So I I'm fully aware that um zoning and future land use map are two separate things.

So currently this property, which is the former Singer mental health location, it's been designated by the state for demolition and to potentially move forward with development.

Um, in the future land use map, the request right now is for us to kind of shift to industrial in that location, and the mindset is because it is near industrial across the street.

There's a whole industrial park.

But in this particular area next to a school, next to uh, you know, additional housing.

Um the request is to keep the zoning as it is, which it's currently zoned, residential or R4 high density.

So I I'd like to keep this as a residential medium density.

Um that is the request of several residents in the area, several uh comments that have been made um with regards to what could potentially go there if it were to transition to industrial, and so this is my form of protection for that, but it's also expressing that um rooftops are what is needed on the west on the west side, and in particular on the northwest side, the ability to kind of expand our ability for housing is really the focus that myself and several residents feel, and so I hope that council will consider this amendment.

That is the request of several residents in the area, several uh comments that have been made with regards to what could potentially go there if it were to transition to industrial, and so this is my form of protection for that, but it's also expressing that rooftops are what is needed on the west on the west side, and in particular on the northwest side, the ability to kind of expand our ability for housing is really the focus that myself and several residents feel, and so I hope that council will consider this amendment.

Thank you.

Alderman Hoffman.

Thank you, Mayor.

But my question's been answered.

Okay.

Is there other discussion?

Alderman Bonnie.

Thank you.

Um agree with the Alderman for the ward on this.

Um I don't know that it was uh has been discussed was discussed when this came up at our last meeting, but um there is a developer out there who has um a plan to uh for residential development of this property that I have seen, and um I I think it makes more sense.

Um but uh I do have to point out that um the Alder woman for the ward seemed awfully concerned about self-storage possibly going at this site on North Main when she was in favor of it in my ward at State and Walford, but I'm still gonna support you anyhow.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh is there any other discussion on the amendment?

So we'll take a vote simply on the amendment first.

Clerk, could you please call the roll on just the amendment?

Durkey.

Aye.

Timber?

Frost.

Aye.

Terina.

Aye.

Prenti.

Hoffman.

Aye.

Grandeth.

Beech.

Solgato?

Meeks?

Bell.

Bonnie.

Aye.

Twelve eyes.

Excellent.

So council, we have uh still two items before us.

Item one has been amended.

Uh, and then we have item two.

Is there any discussion on either of those items?

Alderman Beach.

Thank you, Honor.

Just a question here.

Can we change the zoning like this here?

Or does it just need to go back to zoning to have that changed?

We can make it well, it's not a zoning change, it's a future land use plan change that we can make.

Uh and Alder Woman Meeks did make.

And I ran it through legal, all that is accurate and good.

Uh did you have another follow?

I don't want to cut you off.

No.

Uh Alderman Durkey.

Thank you, Honor.

Just a quick question in number two.

The funding source casino foundation funds.

Is it the casino foundation?

Uh they they operate independently.

Or are do we regulate that?

Mr.

Cagnoni?

Thank you, Your Honor.

So let me answer this question in two ways.

So the the foundation that was discussed with the casino has not been established.

However, the city council did designate a spending plan that would allocate a dollar-to-dollar match up to 250,000 to the foundation should it be established and they contribute funds, understanding that that has not taken place at this point in time.

That is the designated funding source.

Thank you.

Alderwoman Meeks.

Thank you so much.

I do have one question.

It's kind of a clarifying question for item number two.

Um is it confirmed that Phantom Regiment sought out funding directly through the hard rock casino, but was rejected for that particular funding?

Can anyone answer that question?

I am not aware of that.

I know they've met with me directly starting probably two, three years ago.

Um maybe even longer than that, Alderwoman, but I'm not aware that they've requested funding from the hard rock, nor am I aware if they did request it, were they accepted or not.

Okay.

Yeah, I I don't have confirmation, so I won't speak heavily on it, but I did hear that there was a request made for for funding, and that the hard rock rejected that request.

Um the the reasoning behind it, I believe was connected to youth and um the inability to fund youth organizations.

Uh so I'm not positive how that all worked out with the casino and if they can or if they cannot, but I thought it was interesting, and I I just brought it up to get clarity on that because I did notice that the hard rock did wind up funding uh Rock and Roll Institute, which is also a youth organization.

So I just didn't quite understand the rejection to that and then or the potential rejection to then saying yes, and then the request now coming to the city.

So just wanted to ask that question.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, I don't know that.

I could try to find out later on.

Yeah.

Other uh discussion.

Alderman Bell.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Director Hagerty, do we know how much uh, or can you tell me how much we have left in this uh funding source, the casino uh foundation funds for 2026?

Director Hagerty Yes.

Um 2026, we have committed 100,000 to made for Rockford, uh this 100,000 to Phantom Regiment, and uh leaving 50,000 left from the 250,000 that was allocated for 2026.

Thank you.

Alderman Frost.

If I'm reading this right, we're all or only committing sixty thousand dollars on 2026 funds, not 100, correct?

Director Aggort.

Uh apologies, that's correct.

So that would leave 90,000.

Thank you.

Alderman Thunberg.

Thanks, Mayor.

Is there a status on the committee that uh was talked about being put together with members of council and uh others?

Yeah, I would say the only status I have for you, Alderman Toomberg at this time is uh we have discussed uh and selected even uh alderman to be on uh the foundation board if it is created.

Uh as of right now, HardRock has not put money into it, therefore not creating the board.

If they are to put money into it, uh we would have the members set up to it was a certain number, and I don't have my notes with me, so bear with me.

It was uh a Democrat and a Republican at least, if not two Democrats, two Republicans, if I recall, uh, going to be on it, just waiting to see if uh Hard Rock would put money into it, and then we would match it dollar for dollar, as Mr.

Cagnoni mentioned, thus creating a pool of at least 500,000.

Alderman Bell.

Thank you.

Uh to the third word alderman's question.

Um want to ask this because it predates my time here on council.

Um it was just discussed that the Hard Rock Casino did not create the 501c3 Foundation yet.

They have not allocated funds to it.

So we have thus not created the foundation.

So it's on us as a city to create that.

Yeah, I don't know if it could be.

That would be uh option.

I think also if they're not gonna allocate funds to a nonprofit and we are gonna allocate funds.

I don't know if we need the 501c3.

Have we thought maybe um or had conversations around because it's not created that they won't be able to give to it?

Yeah, are we waiting for them to say, hey, here's we have 250,000 ready for you guys.

Can you create the foundation?

We've had direct conversations with them.

They right now don't believe that they'll be putting money into that foundation right now.

So we would not be creating the foundation unless council really wanted to create a 501c3, but I don't know if we would generate a benefit from it that we couldn't already serve ourselves.

Sure.

My uh last maybe last question to it is with the Family Peace Center, my understanding that that's a separate nonprofit as well.

It is a separate nonprofit.

And did the city of Rockford create that nonprofit?

No, it did not.

Okay.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Other uh discussion questions.

Clerk, could you please call the rule?

Durkey.

Aye.

Tomber.

Frost, Torina.

Oh, item one.

Frontie.

All right.

Hoffman?

Aye.

Grandith?

Beach?

Salgado.

Meeks.

I am one no one.

Bell.

Aye.

Bonnie.

Item number one, twelve eyes, item number two, ten eyes, two no's.

Excellent.

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

Thank you, Mayor.

We have four items.

Uh item one is the committee recommends sustaining the traffic commission's approval to establish a no parking restriction from 6 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday on the north side of Graham Street from 70 feet east of South Main Street to 160 feet east of South Main Street.

Item two, committee recommends sustaining the traffic commission's approval to establish a commercial loading zone restriction on the south side of Graham Street from South Main Street to 70 feet east of South Main Street.

Item three committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission's approval to establish an official car parking only restriction on the west side of First Street from 125 feet south of Walnut Street to 195 feet of Walnut Street.

And item 4 committee recommends sustaining the Traffic Commission recommendation that no action be taken on the request to establish always stop control at the intersection of Calvin Park Boulevard and Greenwood Avenue, thus repealing the existing traffic control of Greenwood Avenue stopping for Calvin Park Boulevard.

Thank you.

Council, there's four items before you.

Any discussion on those four items.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Aye.

Timber?

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Terina.

Frontie.

Hoffman.

Aye.

Granted.

Aye.

Beach.

Aye.

Solgato.

Meeks.

Bell.

Bonnie.

Aye.

12 eyes.

Excellent.

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

Thank you, Your Honor.

Number one, the committee recommends approval of vouchers in the amount of 10,995,740 and 64 cents as approved of the finance and personnel meeting held on March 23rd, 2026.

Number two, the committee recommends approval of an intergovernmental agreement between the city and Board of Earth Sanitation Authority for 11th Street Improvements in the amount of 169,807, which will be reimbursed to the city at 100%.

I place these two matters before you.

Thank you.

Council, two items before you.

Is there any discussion on those two items?

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Durkey.

Aye.

Toomber?

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Terina?

Aye.

Prunty?

Aye.

Hoffman?

Aye.

Graynet?

Aye.

Beach?

Aye.

Salgato.

Aye.

Meeks.

Aye.

Bell?

Aye.

Bonnie.

Aye.

Twelve eyes.

Excellent.

Next we'll go to officers' reports.

Is there any council members who have reports?

Hold their woman granted.

Um, I would like to take a moment to thank everybody who came out for the uh my Alderman meeting that I had a few weeks ago.

Um, Sarah, thank you for coming.

Officer Burke, um, Rob Wahume, we learned about uh Brownfields and also um there is going to be a meeting on April 23rd at Third Presbyterian Church at 6 o'clock to talk about Brown Park and the uh great uh things that are going to be happening there.

So I would highly recommend anybody that lives in that area or around that area to please come to that meeting with the Rockford Park District on April 23rd.

And again, thank you for everybody for showing up.

It was a great day.

Thank you.

Any other reports?

Alderman Beach.

Thank you, honor.

Just uh uh shout out to uh Jamie Funk and the uh Screw City Jeep, uh 815 for the Easter egg haunt they had.

I think some day they ought to be in the getting his book of records.

I think over 250,000 eggs they had over that place, and I guess with an uneducated guest, maybe somewhere between 1500 and 2,000 people and their parents showed up, and a special time for special needs children.

That's very meaningful to see uh before the major event uh to have a special place for kids with special needs that they could go in and have a good time.

I know that um Alderman Monty put some money into this program.

Appreciate that.

Um I just think it just needs to be highlighted.

It's a wonderful event.

Um also, I don't know whether this is a time or place, Your Honor, but um about our meetings.

Um, maybe if there'd be a time when we could explain how our committee structure happened to get the way it is.

It never used to be this way.

We used to have standing committees that met at a separate time throughout the week.

And it became a problem because if you were a member of one committee and you had an item come up on another committee, you're running back and forth trying to say, I need to speak, I mean to speak.

There was a confusion, and we're always running late for meetings, and so it was decided by the council as a whole at that time that we would have a council of committees, and each committee would act independently.

And each committee would act independently.

Their chairman would still be in charge of their meeting, and all aldermen could speak.

Therefore, those that wanted to come to committee, they could hear everything that was being said on all committees and participate.

And they agreed that to start out about 5:30 in the evening.

I don't know whether that ever made an ordinance book, but that was the purpose and the intent behind it, so that every councilman woman could listen to all other committees and hear it as the items were being debated.

And they could weigh in on it.

And we've seen here on this council chambers how sometimes on committee nights it goes on and on and on until we get our points across.

And the next night when we vote, there's hardly any discussion because it's all been voted out by Vedal by all the committee that cares to be here.

So I just want to set that record straight.

Uh that I don't recall as long as I've been around that we've decided to violate our ordinance book.

If it should have been put in there, perhaps it should have been put in there.

But the point behind it was to be a more efficient government, more transparent to each other and to the public.

Thank you for letting me speak, sir.

Thank you.

Other discussion, uh Aldermon Meets.

Thank you so much.

Um first I want to um commend the Edgewater Neighborhood Association for this weekend's annual Easter egg hunt.

We definitely did not have 250,000 eggs, but we had over 3,000, and we had a great turnout considering the weather wasn't the best, and I want to thank you, Mayor, so much for coming and showing up every year for that event and bringing your family.

I appreciate that.

Um that was first.

Second, um, the same day, I also attended an event by my father, Tommy Meeks, who um instead of commemorating the birthday of Dr.

Martin Luther King, um, the conversation was geared towards his assassination and his death, and and really focusing on where we go from here, and um his final speech before he was killed.

Um my uncle was able to present that speech in spoken word, and if you've never seen my uncle Richard Meeks um deliver uh spoken word, it it is a very moving time, and this was no different, and I was everyone in the audience was moved because it just felt like he was there in the room.

And um, so I just want to commend my father on that event and and the community that came out to support that, and then last, and I I don't feel like I'm the right person to express this, but I am just compelled to bring this up.

Um found out over the weekend as well that a friend of mine uh by the name of Rebecca Francis lost her daughter, Bella, and she was she was someone that this entire community felt like they knew, and she lived such an amazing life.

She had an amazing family, she has an amazing family, and they helped her live the very best life.

And the example that she set as a disabled child in this community and a black disabled child in this community, I think just spoke to so many people's hearts.

So to see her pass away has been very difficult.

And I would love if we could do a moment of silence in honor of her life.

We absolutely could thank you, Alderman Meekson.

Well, certainly uh beautiful, smart, kind, funny, and showed us all how to live life.

And her parents uh certainly surrounded her with a tremendous amount of love.

Um there's no good transition for this, but I would say if uh you want 250,000 eggs, you have to get like sponsored by a dentist or something, I think.

Uh I think Alderman Beach must have like dental dentists uh sponsoring the that I'm just trying to get candy away from my kids at this point.

Uh but Alderman Belly Thank you, your honor.

Um it was brought up earlier in officer reports.

Um also say to get ahead of it.

Uh I was unsuccessful with a motion to uh send the flock camera uh conversation to community relations commission, um, but have had several conversations with individuals who advocate in our community for things that they care about, and I can certainly say like the the flock conversation, and we continue to hear conversation about the data center.

Um and so uh I will be sending uh mayor yourself, City Administrator Cignoni and our legal director a uh memorandum uh by the end of the night um for a resolution requiring community relations commission review for data center developments as we move forward in the conversations uh here on city council.

Uh definitely want our community to have a voice uh publicly uh here in this horseshoe.

So I just wanted to make that public as uh individuals have continued uh and very consistently emailed and called uh and had conversations with each of us uh over the last few months.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Uh Alderman Toonberg.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh I had an issue with uh with a uh property in the third ward.

Uh again, it's out of an out-of-town landlord.

I'd like to first off say that there are uh plenty of good landlords out there, they do the best job they can.

Um but we and I'm sure I speak on behalf of the other 13 aldermen.

Uh I think we continue to have issues with out-of-town landlords primarily, not solely, but primarily.

Um I want to thank those involved, uh, whether from the police department to city legal to neighborhood standards, uh, community and economic development.

Uh we will do everything and week that we can in our capacity to write as much as we can uh within the boundaries of the law.

Um is tomorrow, the retired men's club, YMCA retired men's club all you can eat pancake breakfast.

Uh my offer stands as it always does to anyone here on council.

Uh I'm buying if you do show up.

So uh I think the mayor offered anybody on the outside of the horseshoe that he was gonna cover the rest.

So yeah, just go there and say it's under Toonberg.

Yeah, it'll be covered.

So it is for a great cause.

Uh I do pay for two, because I eat for two, so uh I don't want them to lose money on me.

So if uh Alderman Salgado shows up, uh I'm I'm willing to offer to pay two as well.

So or three if you feel compelled.

So tomorrow morning, thank you.

Uh log log lodge cabin.

What time?

7 30 to 9.

AM, not PM.

Thank you.

All right.

Alderman Bonnie.

Alderman Bonnie.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, two things.

I just wanted to elaborate on what Alderman Beach said about our meetings and point out that codes and regulation committee every year approves a meeting meeting calendar that clearly states our meeting time at 530.

So while the ordinance may say six o'clock, we approve a meeting schedule annually that says 530.

Um second, I uh wanted to thank the uh right now, primarily the legal department, but also the fire department and the building department for its work um at Versailles Apartments.

Uh we are going to court uh Thursday of this week um on a case that uh began almost three years ago.

Uh we are going to court uh Thursday of this week on a case that uh began almost three years ago and uh it is it's my understanding from talking with our attorneys that the um we're gonna be requesting or we're working on a uh settlement with the owner of Versailles, and that that would result in uh judicial order to complete certain repairs uh by a date certain, and that would order uh the owner of Versailles to pay the 100,000 dollar fine that was assessed through our court enforcement a process with by a hearing officer um back two years ago, and um that if that is not achieved, that then we will be asking uh to proceed to trial.

And although um there, you know, there were comprehensive inspection that was done of the property.

There were dozens of code violations that were found.

Many of those have been remedied.

A lot of them had to do with uh fire safety issues.

Um the parking lot has been repaved.

There's a um uh apron that went down to the garage that was crumbling that has been um replaced, but there's rem you know, there have been a number of dead trees that have been removed.

Um there have been repeated raccoon infestations that have been addressed, the swimming pool, which was really a uh cess pond has been at least drained and covered.

Um, but there are still issues that have not been addressed or have not been completed, including the um the first issue that cropped up, which is that the three buildings that make up Versailles apartment have Versailles apartments um have three inoperable elevators.

And that situation, I mean, it is to the point still where this happened, I believe two years ago.

I had a rehabilitation facility in Love's Park contact me because they had somebody that they were trying to release home, but they lived on the third floor and couldn't access their apartment without the elevator.

That person was able that person actually squatted in an empty first floor apartment.

Currently, there's another resident who is in rehab waiting who can't is ready to be released but can't, and is contemplating moving in with a first floor resident until the elevators are fixed.

So while we have made a lot of progress on this, and hopefully there's um light at the end of the tunnel here finally, it really is frustrating that we have these um deadbeat absentee landlords who just don't care.

And I'm um in this case, um the owner of this company lives in California, and um it's just um sad situation for the conditions that the uh people who live there have had to tolerate and endure, but it's also um very depressing to see uh what something that was considered you know the epitome of luxury apartment living in Rockford at one time um you know decline into this kind of condition.

But um I really uh appreciate all the effort that various members of staff have put into this for a very long time now.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman Bell.

Thank you.

Um want to keep us here all night, but Alderman, to the third Lord Alderman, I wish I could take you up on your offer.

It was great.

Uh the last last pancake breakfast, so I'll uh allow my seat for somebody else.

But um really quick on uh the 10th Ward Alderman's point.

I think the 14th Ward Alderman actually clearly made his point.

I'd add to that and say I'd like to figure out a way to um because I had conversations with individuals who served on council uh obviously prior to me being on, but uh years ago, and how committees and and the representation on those committees were selected, um, would love to entertain conversations with you all uh about uh potentially changing how it is done currently as the mayor selects who who is on each committee uh right now.

I just want to throw that out there uh for each of you to think about and open to having conversations one-on-one.

Um on the on the um drum beat of these landlords, absentee landlords and and say slum lords as well.

Um pose this question maybe to uh director lies or or um Mr.

Kignoni.

Just want to get an update.

I've had a few people reach out just today, actually, um about an hour and a half ago before uh coming in here about the Windsor apartments and and kind of an update on Windsor and where we're at.

Um I do know I just want to take a step back and say thank you to all of the staff that have worked tirelessly on getting the individuals from Windsor to uh a place of shelter um while all of this uh all of the issues are going on.

Um I I know from having conversations with the residents at the Windsor apartments that they're very grateful.

Um just want to say thank you to the community action agency staff as well uh for your tireless effort.

Um but open it up to Director Vise.

So at the Windsor, from what I understand, the their furnace, they did take out a permit, they did get a contractor, they started some work.

It's an open case.

At this point, we haven't done a final inspection, so the work's not complete.

Um becomes slowly a moot point over in the next month for a little while, but but that is still being worked on, and then the other case um still specifically open.

There's a number of fire code violations uh is even before the boiler gave out, there was half the building was not allowed to be occupied due to some other issues, and those are still open, but I do believe I heard they got the windows ordered and they should be coming in.

It's kind of like the Versailles will have to stay on it.

Um the other thing I know, and maybe legal has more deaf or would be more details, or we could get this to you, is the the lawyer that's prosecuting these cases has had regular conversations with the lawyer that represents the home the uh landowner in California and continues to put pressure like we can like we're keeping a pretty full list because there's three properties in Rockford under the same ownership, and we've had a number of issues at all of them.

So there are regular conversations where all of these things continue to be brought to their attention.

I don't know where the legal case for Windsor stands.

I just know the the code and the permit are we've had uh some progress, but they are still open.

There has done no final inspection.

Erman Bell, thanks.

Um maybe to Director Haggerty.

Do we keep a tally of how much uh this I would say project is costing us?

Um we're I know helping a lot of individuals get rehoused and also the legal and all of that.

So do we do we keep a tally of that?

Um I don't know if we've established we track things like that with what we would call a project code.

I don't know if we've established one specifically for this project because the expenses span a variety of uh operational departments um and uh and funds where some of the services are being provided from.

Um but I can I can look and see if we have um records that we can pull that would tell you how much we've spent so far.

Okay, thank you.

Bonnie.

Thank you.

I just wanted to point out for the record that the and I think uh director Lies alluded to it, but the owner of Versailles and the owner of Windsor are one and the same.

It's Illinois Fazio properties at A Z I O.

Thank you.

Any other reports?

Allerman Salgado.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Uh I want to thank you, Mayor, for coming out to our last alderman, the 11th ward.

Um I think it's very uh very good that you showed up because a lot of people heard um from your perspective, and I appreciate your commentary with the flock cameras, um, that vote, how it how we got there, um, the data center, what you know as of right now.

I think that's very critical for that.

And a lot of the 11th ward uh folks were really excited about that, and um obviously they pushed you on other things and uh questions on economic growth.

Uh very good conversations um from that uh we explained a lot of what's going on with the senior center, our council, all these different things that are occurring, uh the 11th uh street construction, but ultimately um one of the things that I also wanted to bring up was there's the Crusader Clinic um on 7th Street.

They're be going beginning to demo uh demo uh side of the building there next to theirs.

Um and you heard on the news uh about the Walgreens uh purchase on State Street uh for the women's uh center.

So there's a lot of that stuff, and so I'm I'm very appreciative of you coming out because those are the things that um I think we need to be more communicative about it, uh what's going on in our neighborhood.

So I do appreciate that for you having to take your time on a Friday night when it's the weekend and you want to spend time with the family.

So I I really appreciate that.

Um, the other aspect that I also want to remind our neighbors, and I will be sending out information is the LCI, which is um you know the um uh that we're we're having an initiative.

It's going to be the next meeting May 7th at uh six o'clock Patriots Gateway.

Uh hopefully we'll be narrowing down the different projects with Regional One plan on what things we're trying to do.

Um, so be on the lookout for that.

Second piece is um we are also looking at the six streets and nine street, uh, two-way conversion to one-way conversion feedback sessions.

Hopefully, we can schedule those in the summertime working with public works and Tim hands Tim and the team to schedule that.

So uh more information to come from that.

So I just want to once again thank you for coming out because a lot of people you know don't get that one-on-one time, and I know some people were poking at your area a little bit.

So thank you, thanks for having me.

Other uh reports, Alderman Durkey.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Uh, just uh one item uh with the thought, also uh started the um trenching again.

I don't know where it is in uh anybody else's ward.

Um there's some concerns.

Number one, the residents weren't notified that that was gonna start again, but some of the residents who are being trenched, uh their neighborhood, uh, some of the properties still have not been restored.

So the um I anticipate the complaints to increase a little bit.

So just want to make public works aware.

Thank you.

Uh we will get an email out to all the council about what is taking place with sci-fi as well as I three.

And Mr.

Sanders, if you want to address any of it now, you're yeah, just very quickly.

I'll I'll let you know that right now.

Any work you're seeing is done being done by I three, not sci-fi, who are our partner in this uh fiber city initiative.

I think that we're probably and I don't expect the general public to know that, but we're probably conflating frustrations about failed restoration with activity we're seeing right now.

We to our experience, I-3 has done a good job of restoring.

Uh I've seen them out with truckloads of topsoil already, um, restoring as they go.

Um, but trust us, it's it's um front of mind observing this.

Other uh reports.

No, okay.

Uh we'll move to motions and resolutions.

We have nothing under planning and development or code and regulation committee, so we'll go to finance and personnel and Alderman Frost.

Thank you, General.

Number one, the committee recommends approval award a bid for the 11th Street Quarter Improvements phase two to Fisher excavating an amount of nine million six hundred ninety-eight thousand and one hundred and forty-three dollars and twenty-seven cents.

The contract rations through October 31, 2026.

The funding sources are the one percent infrastructure sales tax, and the water replacement and improvement account.

Number two, the committee recommends approval and award a bid for gray iron sewer castings to Zimmer and Frankenstein, an estimated annual amount of 75,000 dollars.

The contract is through December 31, 2026 with four optional one-year extension options.

Annual price adjustments for CPI will be considered a contract renewal only.

The funding sources of street and water division operating budgets.

Number three, the committee recommends approval water bid for citywide street repairs group number one to Rock Road Companies at the amount of 387,373.

The contract is through June 26, 2026, and the funding sources is one percent infrastructure sales tax.

Number four, the committee recommends approval and award a bid for the Rockford Family Peace Center roof replacement to Miller Engineering, amount of $1,038,000.

The funding sources are the Winnebago County Health Mental Health Tax Grant, the uh DCO grant funds, and the ARPA FPC funds.

Number five, the committee recommends approval of award of joint purchase contract for infrastructure VOIP phone system to ring central and an estimated annual amount of 21,000 for a total contract of 938,864 and 52 cents, which includes a 95,000 dollar first year consulting and implementation fee.

It's a one-year contract with three possible one-year extension options.

The funding source is the IT and integration operating budget.

Number six, the committee recommends approval ward of engineering agreement for the 11th Street quarter improvements to Fairgram and the amount of $593,000.

The contract ratios through December 31 of 2027, and the funding source is the 1% infrastructure sales tax.

Number seven, the committee recommends approval and award of engineering agreement for the high crest multi-use path to Hansen Professional Services and the amount of 120,000.

The contract is through 2026.

The funding sources are the 1% infrastructure sales tax, MFT funds, and the ITEP grant funds.

Number eight, the committee recommends approval of ward professional services contract for the 2026 Brownfields Assessment Assistance to Fairgram in the amount of 125,000.

It's a one-year contract.

The funding sources of the community and economic development operating.

Number nine, the committee recommends approval and acceptance of a case for community investment built for zero intervention for unsheltered homeless grant award from community solutions in an amount of 132,000 dollars.

This grant does not require a cost match.

The grant term is from March 1, 2026 to February 20th, 2027.

If accepted, it will be used to hold payments for landlords shallow subsidy back pay for rents and other flex funding options.

And number 10 is a resolution to participate in opioid litigation settlement with six regional distributors dispenser defendants in authorized execution of the participation form.

And this would require I'd make a motion uh to suspend rule nine.

Alderman Frost, uh, before you suspend that rule, and I guess if you could take back your second Alderman Beach, I'd like to hold that 10 out because we're gonna have to go to sure session.

That's fine, Your Honor.

So if with your permission, we'll just take items one through nine right now.

That's that's appropriate, sure.

To the council, we're going to close session, so you're gonna have to hear about ten before you vote on it.

Um is there any discussion or any questions on items one through nine alder woman meeks?

Thank you so much, Your Honor.

Can I just get the breakdown?

Um I feel like I saw this, but I don't remember.

The breakdown for how much each funding source is putting towards the one million plus for the roof on item four, item four, Mr.

Cagnoni.

Or I'm sorry, Mr.

Sand.

Any of you we're getting that for you.

Is there other discussion while we wait for that?

Alderman Durkey.

Thank you, Your Honor.

My recollection is that we bought this building from it.

We did.

Usually the real estate transfer was there a problem with the roof was we already.

Yeah.

Any other discussion on any of the other items one through nine.

Mr.

Cagnoni.

I'm gonna give you an approximate estimate to Alderwoman Meeks response.

I I believe it was approximately $700,000 and the ARPA dollars, and then half a million dollars in the mental health grant, and then the I think that would that would approximately cover it.

And the reason I'm giving you that allocation is the ARPA dollars was for originally proposed at a million for the ac for acquiring the property, but we were able to get $800 a thousand dollars of that reimbursed so that we could through a DCO grant and then shifted the money um over towards um improvements versus acquiring the property.

That's pretty rough amount.

Um, but I'll be happy to follow up.

We have a whole budget, I just didn't bring it with me.

So that's okay.

Did you mention DCEO grant?

I didn't catch that.

Correct.

What was that amount?

Oh, I I'm I'm sorry.

I okay.

Uh so I heard something about let me just see if I understood it.

Okay, so originally we took out a million towards Family Peace Center out of ARPA funds, correct?

And then we were reimbursed the 800,000 from DCEO.

Correct.

Okay, thank you.

That was my question.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Other uh questions.

Okay, so we're just voting, council on items one through nine.

Clerk, will you please call the roll on just one through nine?

Durkey.

I frost.

Aye.

Terina.

Aye.

Printy.

All right.

Hoffman.

Granted.

All right.

Beach.

All right.

Solgato.

Meeks.

Aye.

Bell.

Bonnie.

12 eyes.

Excellent.

Next we'll go to new business.

And we'll go to planning and development and alderman Durkey.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Under Roman numeral eight A one and two.

Um number one, an ordinance approving the twenty forty future land use map.

Number two, an ordinance approving the funding agreement with Phantom Regiment Incorporated, an Illinois non-for-profit corporation located at five six zero eight international drive in the not to exceed amount of a hundred thousand dollars over two years.

Sixty thousand dollars in twenty twenty-six and forty thousand dollars in twenty twenty-seven.

The funding source is the casino foundation funds.

These are up for approval for an ordinance.

Thank you.

Council, we have uh two items before us.

Item one has been amended.

Is there any discussion on the two items?

Clerk, please call our roll.

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Terina.

I don't want to fronty.

Hoffman.

Solgato?

Meeks?

Bell?

Fun.

Item number one, twelve eyes.

Item number two, ten ayes, two no's.

Excellent.

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

Thank you, Mayor.

We have three items.

Item one, an ordinance establishing a no parking restriction from 6 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday on the north side of Graham Street from 70 feet east of South Main Street to 160 feet east of South Main Street.

Item two, an ordinance establishing a commercial loading zone restriction on the south side of Graham Street from South Main Street to 70 feet east of South Main Street, and item three, an ordinance establishing an official car parking only restriction on the west side of First Street from 145 feet south of Walnut Street to 195 feet south of Walnut Street.

Thank you.

Any discussion on items before you?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Aye.

Toomberg?

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Tarina.

Aye.

Hoffman?

Aye.

Granit.

Aye.

Beach.

Solgato.

Aye.

Meeks.

Oh aye.

Thank you.

Bell.

Bonnie.

Aye.

Twelve eyes.

Excellent.

Next we'll go to Finance and Personnel Committee.

Alderman Frost.

Number one is an ordinance approving an IGA between the city and border sanitation authority for 11th Street Improvements.

The amount of 169,87, which will be reimbursed to the city at 100%.

Thank you.

Council, one item before you.

Any discussion.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Durkey.

Aye.

Toomberg?

Aye.

Frost.

Aye.

Tarina.

Prunty.

Aye.

Hoffman.

Granit.

Beach.

Solgato.

Meeks.

Bell.

Bonnie.

Aye.

Twelve eyes.

Thank you.

Alderman Frost.

You're not at this time.

I would make a motion to convene in the closed session to discuss a penning litigation matter.

We have a motion.

We have a second.

Is there any discussion?

All those in favor of going into closed session, please say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed?

We'll break for closed session.

Okay, we are now back into open session.

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Derkey.

Frost.

Here.

Terina.

Beach.

Salgado.

Meeks.

Bell.

Bonnie.

Thank you.

We're going back to motions and resolutions under Finance and Personnel Committee.

Alderman Frost read it in, so I'll just read it one more time for you.

It's a resolution to participate in the opioid litigation settlements with six regional distributor dispenser defendants and authorized execution of the participation form.

But we would need to suspend rule nine.

Is there a motion?

We have a motion.

We have a second by Alderman Beach to suspend rule nine.

Is there any discussion simply on suspending rule nine?

All those in favor of suspending rule nine, please say aye.

Those opposed.