Alderman Hoffman, Alderman Meets, and Alderman Salgato.

We do have a quorum.

Under Roman numeral two committee reports.

Number one is the approval of the proposed city service and licensing agreement between City Wise Software LLC and the City of Rockford to create an affordable rental housing platform hosted on a city domain.

There is no cost to the city.

Is there a motion to approve?

Is there a second?

Is there any discussion or questions?

Alderman Meeks.

Hi.

Welcome back.

Happy New Year.

Thank you.

So I went through the citywise site and just kind of checked in a couple of the locations that they currently are focused in.

A lot of Wisconsin, a little bit of Ohio, I think I saw.

So Ohio, Cincinnati had about 200 listings.

Some of the smaller communities had like three listings.

I just kind of want to understand how are we going to ensure that they kind of keep up with things, keep this site something to actually look at.

Sure.

That's a great question.

So the developers of this software original, their original product that they did was called college pads.

And they worked directly with universities to do this to look for those smaller local rentals that were maybe more of a for-rent sign in a yard but weren't listed anywhere, but they would be good opportunities for students.

To again prioritize the local, the more regional, the people that don't necessarily have the funding to go on an apartments.com or those kinds of those are expensive sites to list on, but they have really valid and really great product to offer, and we want to make sure people choosing Rockford or choosing to stay in Rockford see those options as viable.

So their city-wise version, the college pad product they had was really big directly with University of Texas, Wisconsin, all those sorts of things.

They developed it really large.

That's sold off.

So this one they are just starting.

So cities like they're based out of Milwaukee, which is why you're seeing Midwest more, those cities, right?

But Green Bay, Cincinnati, some of those are newer.

They just started those contracts, and so now they're in the three-year phase, which is what we're trying to initiate with them, where they're doing the work of finding those landlords, working with like we would haven't worked with the Northern Illinois Apartment Association or Rockford Real Estate Institute, those local organizations to find out who needs a little more traction for their units and how we could get them some more publicity for what they're offering.

Um they they verify everyone personally on the listings, which is a real issue we learned.

Um in a lot of the larger listing sites, people will just take someone else's photos, post it, say they're the landlord, collect the deposit, and walk away.

So this listing site verifies person to person, so it takes them a little bit longer to build.

Um so Cincinnati in particular is a newer city for them.

They are just in the process of starting and ramping that one up here.

That's all that I have right now.

Thank you.

Alderman Salgato.

Um regards privacy classes at no cost.

Is there a marketing letter cellation or something?

I don't believe there, I'm not sure what was in the contract on that.

I could verify that.

Um, but from what I understand, they they will be making their fees from what they collect for the listings from the larger landlords, not from using this as a uh what like an email list collection type thing.

Um there is a privacy, there is like we can't collect data on the we will not be getting the tenant information that they connect to these those sorts of things, right?

There's privacy put in place for the tenants that that use the service too.

If I can verify that question, sure.

I will do that.

Any other questions?

Um all those in favor say aye.

Aye, opposed matter passes.

Um item two approval of the 2026 to 2028 funding agreement between the city of Rockford and keep Northern Illinois beautiful in the amount of six sixty thousand dollars annually.

The funding source is the redevelopment fund.

Is there a motion to approve?

Second.

Second.

Any uh questions?

Alderman Salgato.

Thank you very much.

Well, so did Alderman Beach Salgado and everybody so chair recognizes Alderman Salgato.

I I defer I didn't have my hand up.

Thank you.

All right, we saw a hand.

Alderman Meeks.

Thank you.

Um I'll be honest.

I'm I know it's just a little bit of money additional, but it's the increase to 60,000 from the original amount of 50,000.

And I had this original, I spoke about this earlier with you, Mr.

Welhelmie, about uh the potential of because I'm under the impression that the county supports these efforts as well, and so they have typically in the past funded this forty thousand dollars, and I think the original ask is fifty thousand dollars to the county.

So I guess my hope is that we can pass something, but get a little confirmation that the county is also going to contribute to this program again and be a partner in these efforts.

So I feel like we're kind of jumping the gun a little bit because they have yet to put that on their docket as well.

Is there any way that we can kind of help to coordinate any of those efforts to kind of expedite the request to the county before we make this approval?

I mean, we can communicate our request to the county, and we feel they think need to do, but obviously it's gonna be the county's decision ultimately.

Right.

So, yeah, that was just a suggestion that I wanted to make.

Um, I really wanted to see kind of mutual efforts amongst the city and the county to continue to see this uh organization thrive.

I think they do wonderful work.

I had a good conversation with the executive director, Pam Osborne earlier, as well as Rob Will me about the work that Keith Northern Illinois Beautiful does, so I know how valuable they are to this organization and the cost savings that they allow us.

Uh you know, I am also aware that there's additional funding that makes it possible for them to do some of the work that they do.

So I just thought it would be nice to make sure that the county and the city are working together.

That's always a good thing.

Um, so I don't know how to go about that considering the time frame of knowing about this and where we are right now with regards to making that request.

So I guess what I would ask is to lay this item over and have that conversation with the county.

You're you're making a motion then to lay this over.

Correct, sir.

We have a motion to lay this over until um such what would you like?

Two weeks?

Yes, a two-week layover.

I think is more than enough time to have the conversation just to see where the county is and if they're going to confirm their commitment as well to this uh Mr.

Cagnoni.

Just regards to our our calendar.

The next regularly scheduled committee meetings is actually next week.

Um to the next committee meeting, it would be next week.

If you want a two week, we'll have a special committee meeting.

We can do that.

Um, or the following meeting in three weeks.

I think if we can expedite that, that'd be great.

Three weeks or one week.

One week.

One week as long as we can have the conversation and try to expedite it.

I think that's the goal for me.

Mr.

Wilhelmie, do you think you could have that conversation in one week?

I'm confident.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

There's a motion to lay over for one week.

Is there a second?

Alderman Selgado.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The matter will be held over one week.

All right.

Next is item number three approval of the proposed funding agreement with Northwestern Illinois Agency on Aging, which is an Illinois non-for-profit corporation for the establishment of a senior center at 5505 East State Street.

The funding source is a reallocation of unspent ARPA plan slash major corridor signage funds.

This is not to exceed $300,000.

There are a motion to approve.

Is there a second?

I'll second it.

Is there any are there any questions or discussion?

Alder Woman Meeks.

So it's the beginning of the year.

We just kind of kick things off.

I feel like I need a little bit of time to really kind of process what this ask is, kind of get a clear understanding of where the need was kind of identified.

Can maybe you help me with that.

Who kind of identified that we needed a senior center on the east side at this particular location?

Certainly, I'd be happy to give a little bit of background.

And just for reference, 5505 East State Street is the shopping center across the street from Leno's and somewhat behind the Guitar Center on East State Street.

The tenant space proposed for the senior center previously was a church and is sort of in the side uh rear space of the overall shopping center.

As it relates to the need, I think there's no doubt that there's the need for a senior center within the city of Rockford.

Um it's been raised by constituents uh numerous times in neighborhood meetings.

Um I believe the city council um individually have talked about the need for a senior center.

We engage in a conversation with the Northern Agency on Aging and partnership with Senator Stallerman in regards to how we might be able to establish a senior center within the city of Rockford.

Uh we went we we had a number of conversations with Northern Illinois Agency on Aging in regards to where appropriate location would be, and I know that they had spent a significant amount of due diligence trying to find a location that worked, uh was on a bus route, um, but also was conducive with a budget that they could advance forward with a senior center.

Ultimately, they landed on this location in part because uh the existing landlord first Midwest Group has given them an extremely favorable uh rent rate on the facility.

Um the goal would be to uh relocate their offices to this location and then also have the senior center co-locate with a long-term goal of creating a separate not-for-profit for the senior center that could operate independently but in cooperation with the Northern Illinois Agency on Aging.

Our funding proposed is at $300,000 the over a period of three years with the first hundred thousand dollars being provided after the senior center is established at this uh location.

So this would give them the opportunity to secure the lease, um, utilize the two hundred and fifty thousand dollars that's being provided by Senator Stallman's office on any necessary improvements on the site, and then as well as us making sure that our dollars are not going out the door until the senior cities senior centers ready to be established.

We would then provide a hundred thousand dollars annually um for years two and three, uh, which would help cost cover the cost of operation of the of the senior center.

Um this would also set the stage for them to go over additional or to secure additional private funding and grants for the establishment of the senior center.

So, although we did not directly identify this location and had identified a number of locations throughout the city, this is the location that was ultimately determined by the Northern Northern Illinois Agency on Aging.

Okay.

Um what is the total amount that the Center for NIAA is receiving outside of this request to build this senior center?

So the $250,000 is is being provided by the Senator Stallamans through the state of Illinois.

Is there an additional $50,000 coming from Senator Stadleman on top of the $250,000?

I'm not certain if there is or if there is not.

I think I did hear that there was more funding as well.

I guess my biggest concern is yes, there has been conversation about the need for a senior center.

I feel like I was under the impression that it was more on the west side of town, that that need was more pronounced than on the east side of town.

Is there any can you give me any feedback on that if that's accurate information?

Or we need senior I couldn't give you whether that's accurate or inaccurate.

I don't have the data to support it one way or the other.

Right.

I'm losing my question.

So the funding that is coming to this organization would cover what exactly.

Okay, so it would cover administrative costs, staffing levels, how many staff are employed by this organization?

Um it's anticipated at least one, um, but they would also partner with other agencies is part of the plan, and then they could have additional part-time staff.

Is this new to them?

Like running a senior center of this caliber of this nature.

I know they do a lot of education, a lot of information, a lot of referrals, um, but when it comes to running a senior center, is their experience that they have in doing something like this, putting something like this together, it's a lot of money.

So you are correct.

They fund a number of other organizations throughout the greater region, including um organizations that do have senior centers located within them.

So they certainly are familiar uh with the needs of seniors.

Have they run a senior center?

Not that I'm aware of, and obviously, this is the creation of a senior center in Rockford and Winnebago County.

Um, and they would you know need to hire the appropriate staff and have their staff directed in such a way to accomplish it, but understanding their historical uh efforts in regards to funding organizations and familiarity with the senior population, we feel comfortable that they have the wherewithal to accomplish this.

And I just I think my only last comment is there's a lot of senior centers that exist, there's a lot of churches, there's a lot of opportunities to for seniors to gather currently.

Um so this is something that I do not feel like I will be approving.

Um just looking at where we are as a city in our budget.

Um I just don't feel comfortable right now in this moment in the very beginning of the year, knowing that we have a whole year ahead of us, knowing that there could be other opportunities that come before us, and we might need to expend these resources to them, and we do have until and I guess I want to verify that.

Do we have until the end of December to utilize these ARPA funds?

December 31st, 2026, is that the date we have to spend claimed money?

So without going into great detail, there's no specific timeline on spending these funds.

We did feel that you know investing in a senior center was more appropriate than uh major corridor sign.

I agree with that actually.

So that's all that I have to ask.

Thank you so much.

Alderman Beach.

No comment.

Alderman Torino.

Thank you for allowing me to speak or in committee.

So the NIAA, I understand that they serve a nine county area.

Is that correct?

That is my understanding, Alderwoman.

So would this center be serving individuals outside of Rockford then?

If that's the case.

Uh, but this is gonna be a Rockford focused senior center.

Okay.

Um that's all I have at this time.

Thank you.

Alderman Shell Gao.

Thank you.

Uh thanks to other women meeks.

Um question popped up in my head.

Um the question that I have is are they gonna own the facility or are they gonna lease the facility?

They're gonna lease it.

Okay.

Um, and then you said that it's about 250,000 dollars is their operational cost.

Approximately, and some of that will be I could see it extending at a larger amount than that based on additional grants and programming that they have, but I would say at least 250,000.

So going forward, what what is their plan?

How are they going to um get the funding for the operational going forward?

After the three-year period, uh they anticipate that they'll be able to secure private funding and grant funding similar to other senior facilities um in that nine county region.

Yeah, and that makes sense.

I mean, um certainly, you know, we have the mental health as well um out there fund that could help them um from that perspective as well for that.

So cool.

Thank you.

Any further questions?

Alderman Prunty.

Thank you for allowing me to um ask questions of your committee.

Um this center, um and I probably didn't read it correctly, but this center when it becomes a non-profit, whose center will this be?

Is this because the city is funding it?

Is this the a city endeavor?

Is this will be this be a city service?

So this is a partnership with Northern Illinois Agency on Aging.

Um, but it's not a city senior um facility.

We are providing funding, but it'll be the organization's obligation to provide the services, and we've created checks and balances within the funding agreement.

You know, the first one being the establishment of the center, and then our funding agreement requires them to provide uh documentation on expenses associated with the city's funding.

And then um would you tell us again like what are some of the things that they could use this $300,000 for our rent, but also heard that I heard the director, but uh and utilities and all those things, but I didn't hear how much rent was, and I didn't hear so we've um so the to the to your first question, Alder Woman, what the the city funding can be utilized for in the most you know simplest terms operating expenses, which would include rent, which include staffing, which would include utilities, which could include you know direct programming, could re include you know subagreements to bring someone in to possibly provide um services, all those would be um anticipated operating expenses.

The rent um is approximately a hundred and forty thousand dollars with the utilities, as I recall correctly, for the entire space, and it's approximately twenty thousand square foot, half of which would be the approximately would be the seniors facility, so about seventy thousand dollars.

So that is that a hundred and forty thousand dollars a year or a hundred and forty thousand dollars for as long as we're in annually.

Annually, um has there been any consideration?

Uh I guess I'm looking at do we have any properties that might fit their need that we own as a city?

No, we didn't feel that we had any properties that would work for this program.

What about the county?

I'm not aware of the county having any buildings that would work for this.

What about the state?

I don't know about the state.

I don't think that would be would work based on who how it's being utilized now.

Not that the location or building itself couldn't be feasible.

So I don't that's what I know of.

I'm not certain of all the other buildings the state might have.

I I know that they've shifted a lot to leases.

They've shifted so the state is leasing property here in the city.

Correct.

Okay.

And NIA, is it my understanding?

Do they are they part of this arm of the state?

They're a not-for-profit.

That's a arm of the state.

I don't I don't think I'd characterize them as an arm, but um they may get funding through the state, but they are a not-for-profit.

Okay.

All right.

Um thank you very much for that clarification.

I guess um this really sounds like um a great opportunity um for seniors in our area.

Um I guess there's something else that's coming up in our um in your list of things that are going to be happening, and I'm like, I'm concerned that the parameters are kind of wide open for they can use the money for a variety of reasons, um, whereas later on in the agenda, there are some programs that they have a very narrow focus.

So I'm interested in either narrowing the focus here or broadening the focus for some of the other organizations that seek funding.

And I'm done.

Alderman Bonnie.

Thank you.

Um been working with uh Naya on this um proposal for probably a year or so, and um and that to they really did look at a lot of other locations, and um including uh at least two downtown.

Um they talked with the Rockford Public Library about using the Nordlof Center, um, space that you know that would just be dedicated to them if they were interested, but it would be on the second floor of the building.

Um they look, I believe looked at Hotel Kate, um, which is the former YWCA.

Um, but that was awfully large building that had a lot of um renovation work in it.

They uh considered uh property in Cherry Valley where they probably would not be before the council tonight if they were locating in Cherry Valley.

They looked they very seriously looked at Rockford University across the street.

And um again to uh Mr.

Cagnoni's point about the uh one of the deciding factors in this location was the um rent break that first Midwest is offering them.

They are renting it to them for a third of what Rockford University wanted for space on the other side of the street that required more um work to more remodeling to make it uh suitable for NIA's purposes, um, and that this building or this space rather, because of its former use as a church, is largely turnkey.

Um they already have an auditorium, they there's a lot um that doesn't need there's already a um cafeteria area that um that doesn't need to be done.

Um most of the um um remodeling work involves the relocation of of their offices to this space um from not far away by the way so this keeps their offices um near where they are currently on South Alpine.

Um and uh it's my understanding that if um that of the nine that the of the nine counties that NIA serves, we are the only county that does not have a senior center um that they would uh form a nonprofit that would ultimately run this um senior center similar to what takes place in the other nine counties, and that um the currently, you know, while I think I think Mr.

Cagnoni's right that I don't think there's plans to card people at the door.

Currently, other counties are serving have been for many years serving our senior population because we don't have one, particularly Boone County.

Um and that um the anticipation, and I don't want to speak for Naya, but I I believe that the anticipation is Rockford being so large that if this is successful in this location, um the plan would be to consider a opposite side of town northwest location because um of the um you know while it's on a bus route, it is not necessarily centrally located.

Um but there were a lot of obstacles with the more centrally located um locations that that uh NIA considered.

And so I think um, you know, it's a it's a need that is you know it's been a it's a it's just a hole in um in services, I mean see um activities for seniors who want to try to stay in their homes, who are not um moving into assisted living facilities.

Um it's very important and I senior isolation is uh is a is a big problem and I think um we've been without one for an awfully long time and I think this is a a great proposal.

Thank you.

Any further questions or comments?

Alaman Brunti.

Um thank you for providing insight.

Um and I too think it's a wonderful thing.

I just was kind of um couple of that did have some things where it was like we're going to we're giving them a a lot of flexibility with what they can do with the money in I know we haven't gotten to it yet, but when we get down a little bit further, there are some other groups who asked for money, and they don't well it's not on this one, I don't think maybe it's on the next one.

They don't have that kind of flexibility.

So I'm one would like to explore you know um the money will be used for blank um or opening up the flexibility for the other groups.

So that's it.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Alderman Meeks.

Thank you so much.

Alderman Durkey, I would like to make a request or make a motion to lay over this item for three weeks.

Three weeks.

There's a motion to lay over for three weeks.

Is there a second for procedural we I believe there's a motion in the second to to approve the item?

So if the legal department could provide clarification in regards to the we had a motion in a second to approve it.

I mean for discussion.

So this is part of the discussion.

And uh another motion to lay over is not out of order.

Am I correct?

Thank you.

So Alderman Meeks motion is in order.

Is there a second?

Motion um vote uh made and seconded.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Matter will be held over for three weeks.

Um let's see.

We're moving on to item number four approval of the proposed development agreement between the city of Rockford and LT construction for the 2026 construction workforce development initiative in the not to exceed amount of 700,000 dollars.

The funding source is ARPA fund and is designated for youth violence prevention.

Is there a motion to approve?

Is there a second motion second?

Is there any questions or discussion?

Alderman Meeks.

Thank you so much.

Um I just want to understand um with the it says not to exceed in the amount of 7000 dollars.

That's just the funding that we're giving to LT construction to execute the programming, but then there's the additional hundred and fifty thousand towards the wages and equipment supplies.

So does that mean that the total amount for this program is actually eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars?

That'd be correct.

Okay.

So how does that equate?

Can I mean I don't know how to do that math?

How does that we equate with regards to kind of like what we normally do as a city for sidewalks and square footage or the dollar amount per square foot is we kind of had this conversation earlier?

I want to kind of get a clear understanding of what that difference is, and I understand why there's a difference.

We talked about that too, the education of it and how important it is to do something like that, but I want to understand the actual costs.

So the the amount going to LT construction is more similar to what we would expect on a bid uh project like this that we would bid out.

The additional costs for you know the tools and equipment that the mentees need and their salaries in that would be what the extra portion really is.

And do they get to keep those tools and equipment?

Yeah, they take that with them.

Okay, thank you so much.

Alderman Bell.

Thank you, Alderman for our chairman for allowing me to speak on your committee.

Uh, just a quick question um in record in regards to um the not to exceed amount.

Um what happens if a change order comes before or or um we're we're needed to spend just a little bit more and surpasses the 700,000?

So we we do we monitor this very closely where we we would just stop the program before that would happen.

So or we would come back to city council for additional authorization, uh which we have done in the past.

Um I mean the first year we did this program, we estimated how much concrete sidewalk they would install.

Um, and they did a fantastic job and well exceeded our estimate, and we ended up coming back to city council and asked for additional authorization.

But we think we've right sized this um over the years on not only when they're gonna start, when they're gonna end, but the amount of sidewalk that they're gonna construct during that training program.

Okay, thank you.

Alderman Torina.

Thank you, sir.

Can can you can you give me can you send me a report, please, of the where the sidewalks have been placed since the program has started?

Sure.

Just so I can get an idea of how many streets and where and like the wards that they've been placed in, please.

Certainly.

Thank you very much.

Another question is uh Alderman Selgato.

Thank you, Chairman.

Um, I think this is a great program that uh has transpired.

Um I have I do have a question.

Is there uh an opportunity for more participants besides LT construction uh to participate in this uh through the workforce initiative um from that perspective?

I think it's a wonderful thing to teach uh students um how to work this the sidewalks, the concrete work.

I think that's it's a great program.

Uh but just wanted to see you know what the process is if more uh individuals can get engaged outside just LT construction.

So for this particular funding request before you tonight, no, this would be in agreement with LT construction, but as it relates to additional opportunity for training programs, if there's an interested organization, individual that wants to work with us, we'd be happy to meet with them and talk about how that opportunity could work.

Perfect, thank you.

Alderman Bell.

Sure.

Um, this is uh and of course have seen this prior to uh being elected and and and sitting on this council.

Uh but I guess for myself and and the other uh newer aldermen, can you uh share with with us or at least just myself the intention and and mission or vision behind uh this program?

Um, when we we uh engaged in some consultant services when we had received ARPA funding and really identified what opportunities and specifically gaps existed within our community that we may want to focus our ARPRA dollars on.

Um of those identified areas was workforce development and economic development.

And um as many of you know that minorities were significantly underrepresented in the construction trades um industry.

Um and when you looked at the state stock statewide statistics, it was overwhelmingly low.

Um so not only did we want to give an opportunity for economic development with this program, community investment with the construction of sidewalks, but workforce development to have these individuals prepped and ready to go into the construction trades.

And I would say that you know, the our our team, Ken and his staff has done an excellent job of setting the table, getting this program um prepped and ready to go on an annual basis, but it really the success comes down to LT construction and pastor weathers.

He creates a relationship with these individuals, he mentors them.

Not only do they learn the the trade of concrete, but the soft skills that go along with it, reality and the construction world and the rest of the world for that matter, and he really sets them up to succeed.

I've had the the privilege of going to the annual uh vetting of candidates that that takes place, and the number of returning graduates is amazing.

The stories that they share, um, not only the success that they have, but how do they prep for expectations once they get um you know into the world, you know, outside of the of this program?

So and a very quick brief explanation, that's what it's all about.

Thank you.

And Chairman, do you mind if I keep going?

Oh, yeah, sure.

Okay, uh do we have a number of how many individuals are currently in the trades from this program?

I don't have the exact number.

I'm not certain if if Ken does.

Um I think 24 are still actively working um in construction.

Um so it's in construction or in the trades.

It well, in the trades, it may not necessarily be the concrete trade.

There's been a couple that have worked uh in different trades, so um, but yeah, still actively employed in in the construction trades.

Awesome.

And then uh just one more thing.

I mean, uh while it's on my mind.

Um the current funding source is the the ARPA funds.

Um after after this, you know, is is hopefully approved.

Um do we still have remaining dollars to keep this program going, or is this uh going to run run that that will dry there there is still some ARPA dollars that would be available within this classification of funding?

Um we also have requests into the state of Illinois and when the deputy governor um was here when we explained what this program was.

We have not received a response back.

Um if that came back this year, we'd do whatever we could to you know use utilize their money before our money.

Um but it's uh been such a successful program, and you know, thank the council for the overwhelming support historically.

Um we'll look to continue to fund this program.

Gotcha.

Um I'd like you said we'd continue to support this program moving forward then.

Correct.

Thank you.

Alderman meets my hand up that's right.

Um youth violence reduction.

So right now in the ARPA funds remaining, so after I just want to clarify this was information that I received earlier from Director Haggerty.

I just want to clarify that after we spend this 700,000, then the remaining balance in the in this youth violence reduction fund is 389,000.

Okay, so it was one point six, there's 1.6 million dollars in that fund right now prior to us approving.

Is that correct?

And we've used these uh funds to pay for 2025 work under this agreement uh with LT construction.

Um so the two years of funding the program would take that 1.6 million down to 389,000.

And then what did we fund last year for this program again?

Was it 700,000 last year as well?

675,000 last year, yes.

Okay, thank you.

And then was last year the year that we came back, or was that the year before when we came back for additional funding?

I believe it was the first year.

Uh first year?

Yeah, because we we weren't really sure how much they could get done and that, and so now that we have four years behind us, we have a really good idea of how of how much they're going to be able to do.

And I just want to get that final number two for the square footage, because I don't know if we clarified that.

For the work that we do as a city, I think the number that you estimate it was around eleven dollars per square foot for sidewalk.

A little bit more than that, but it's a little bit more than and then for this particular program.

What is that dollar amount is so we base it off that similar that similar pricing that we pay on a normal contract, and again, the the additional would come in for the salaries and the tools and equipment.

So um I think that's where I'm having a hard time.

I need to kind of understand with the additional, what does that equate to per square footage?

Would that give us well if you took $150,000 divided by $50, that roughly $50,000 square feet that we do with the program, you know, it's it's not a huge number.

So the the what we pay for concrete is in essence similar, if not the same of what we would otherwise pay for lineal foot of sidewalks.

The additional cost is the $150,000 that we don't break down per delineal foot.

We just see it as a lump sum.

We could break it down by lineal foot if you want to.

I guess I I was just looking at the total eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars broken down just to kind of get a understanding of this is what we pay when we're doing it here, and this is what we pay as we do it.

Yeah, I sort of look at it as this is a hundred and fifty thousand dollars program because the concrete and sidewalk we're getting is what we would otherwise pay.

Yeah, Alderman Hump.

Thank you.

Um for Haldeman Bell, I just want to say it was not only minorities, it was minority women who became cement workers.

That's just almost unheard of.

So we did have a lot of minority women who passed the class and went on to get home.

Alderman Prunty.

Thank you so much.

Um, I just want to say that um I have people who talk about this program um and have been talking about this program all year, and so um I'm excited to see it continue.

Thank you.

Sorry to keep coming up with other questions.

Uh prioritization of the 50,000 square feet of sidewalk, how is that determined?

And you know, um, say for example, if I wanted my ward um to to kind of tackle and go after those dollars, how do I get in line for that?

So the location for for this year has not been um identified, but what our team does is looks looks at the overall sidewalk um program and tries to equally distribute that, understanding that we've had a focus on schools and um playgrounds or parks.

Um, but if you have locations that should be evaluated, we most certainly would want them.

We also get just citizens' complaints that are also taken as part of the process.

I would say that if you look at the historical last four years, we've we've been all over the city um with this this program with huge success, no matter what neighborhood um it it goes into, uh, where we've got compliments from the individuals that may live on the street to see the program in front of their their yard, um just a number of different compliments we we've seen.

I will say that we do need to be recognized that you know, not I'll all sidewalk locations might be conducive for this program.

Um these are individuals that have never laid concrete before, so we have to be a little conscious in regards to where we start them off, because you know, we've started them off some pretty hard sidewalks in the past, and um we want to make sure that we get them rolling in a in a positive way.

So we'll work with Pastor Weathers on in our own team and certainly any input that you guys have on locations.

Thank you.

Alderman Bell.

I uh I promised to just one more.

Um, really quick.

I we see you know um the proposal is for 700,000.

Um it was stated that uh the project is though 850,000.

So I just want to know where the remainder 150,000 is going to be coming from.

It's all coming from our uh yeah, okay.

Thank you.

Any further questions or discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor?

Aye, all opposed matter passes.

Move to number five approval of the proposed development agreement with Rockford Break Manufacturing at 302 People's Avenue in the amount of 250,000.

The funding source is 2025 and 2026 casino economic development funds.

Is there a motion to approve?

There's a motion and it's approved.

Any questions or discussion?

Alderman Meeks.

Thank you so much.

So I was at the um event where they rolled out this program and it was so wonderful, and everyone was there, and I thought it was a great uh event.

I I did hear while I was there, I spoke to uh one of the I don't know if he's an engineer or someone that mentioned that there was a um issue with uh kind of like pollution is kind of what I want to how I want to describe it.

Um runoff, uh just carbon and just things going into our water supply, and maybe not our water supply, but our river stormwater runoff, and I'm under the impression that there's something that this company can do to rectify that, and that they have meetings either scheduled or going to meet or have already met to kind of clarify that um this will be taken care of.

Is there any way that we can get confirmation that whatever that is that is taking place is taken care of prior to us funding 250,000 dollars to this work to this business?

So I'm I'm not certain what the issue may be.

Um I can tell you you know what I do know of the site, um, that we did have uh a stormwater runoff um situation with the previous owner of the the property.

Uh obviously the property has since changed hands.

Um and we are in communications with the existing ownership for proper protocol related to stormwater runoff.

Um so if that is the issue, it is being taken care of and handled.

If there's uh another issue, um that's the I think that's the issue.

Okay, then that that is being taken that is being taken care of.

So can you help me understand how that's being taken care of?

By providing them what they can and can't do in proper management of their stormwater runoff.

Because I was understood that they are like they took some temporary solutions with regards to like inlets and filters and stormwater, but those things need to be maintained and changed often.

So is there a plan in place for them to make those changes and when did they install them?

I just want to kind of get a clear understanding that they're doing everything that they're supposed to be doing.

So, alder woman, I I believe those would be all accurate statements, but I I don't have the the specifics um related to all those matters to be able to tell you all those time frames.

I can you know assure you that our team will follow up that's so that they are in compliance with our our stormwater um ordinance and stormwater runoff requirements to make sure that they're in compliance.

I would I would appreciate that.

I think for me, I would appreciate knowing that prior to funding them 250,000 dollars.

Not that I don't want to, but that's just my thought.

That's important for our whole community that you know they do the right thing.

So that was just my comment.

Thank you so much.

Any further questions?

Yeah, um I make a motion to lay this item over.

You can make any motion you'd like.

No, I keep asking, and I don't need to ask.

I would like to make a motion to lay this item over.

And this one, I think just to get that information would be another one-week layover, not a three-week layover.

Motion to lay this item over for one week.

Is there a second?

Second.

Would there be this is a time sensitive situation?

I'm sorry, I didn't ask that question, and I meant to ask that.

Um the the nature of this funding is to assist in operational um expenses, um, understanding the cash flow challenges of starting up a new business.

Um they had anticipated that uh they would be able to secure uh significant a loan through the SBA and potentially leveraging those funds with the state of Illinois advantage program.

However, that has not progressed at the time frame that they thought um that it would progress.

So they have been working to secure a line of credit from a local um bank and go through that process.

I'm not suggesting that a week delay will stop it.

I don't know, you know, how dire the the cash flow situation is, um, but if it is going to be laid over, we'd ask if we could potentially have a special city council meeting to um advance it because I I do know that making um you know the their operating expenses um is tight right now.

I can respect that.

I like the points that I mentioned prior with regarding with regards to the cleanup, the runoff, and all of those things.

I just want to make sure that that is all solidified before we move forward.

Um so I understand where you're coming from.

I still stand by my layover.

Yeah, I'm I'm not objecting to your layover.

I just want to make sure I'm providing all the information.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

All right.

Any discussion on Alderman Meeks motion.

All those in favor, aye.

Aye, aye.

Uh I oppose.

Next, um this is the uh item number five.

Oh no, it's item number six.

Approval of the proposed development agreement with urban equity properties for the rehabilitation of 99 East State Street as news tower lots for mixed use residential commercial development.

This funding source is the redevelopment funds and TIFF funds.

So motion to approve.

Okay, we have a motion and approved.

Is there aren't there any questions or discussion?

Alderman Prunty.

Um, thank you again.

Um I got a few calls regarding this um particular proposal, and um it had to do with um I think there's going to be an additional um 80 or so units.

Um the question, I guess my question is um what is the parking situation like for um this facility?

Um residential parking.

So there's on-site parking that would be available for both the tenant spaces and the commercial spaces, and should they need additional parking spaces for their tenants?

Uh we'd be able to accommodate that in uh public parking spaces.

I would also note that the developer owns um several parking lots in the general area that they would also uh be able to utilize should they choose not to utilize um our public parking system.

So our public parking spaces, though that would be it's it's not residential, it's nothing that they could rent or lease.

Anybody first come first serve, whoever can they could lease parking spaces.

Um is that like permit?

Do you do you mean when you say that do you mean they have a permit?

And then again, it's kind of first come first serve, or it's I own this while I'm writing it, renting or leasing it.

So um for our public, the way our public parking system works, uh there's a couple of different ways that they could do it.

They could get a monthly pass um to one of our parking lots or decks, um, or they could get a residential parking permit that allows them to park in a number of different areas as well.

Um sometimes that's a less costly uh uh option.

Um we don't, you know, in our parking system, we don't designate that to your parking space, um, but we do make sure that we don't overbook a parking lot with um too many permits that it can't accommodate the the amount of spaces that we need.

So and how many uh how many spaces do you think these luxury places might need?

I said it was 80, but maybe it's not 80, it's 40 or so.

I forgot what the number was.

How many do they anticipate?

It's it wouldn't be unreasonable that it would be 80 spaces or no more than 80 spaces on there for their development.

I mean our zoning ordinance says one and a half for a multi-unit, um, but we don't have a parking requirement in the downtown area recognizing um that that one and a half space um for a multifamily is not typically needed downtown and understanding that we have uh you know thousands of spaces downtown, we don't have a parking requirement.

And are those those extra spaces or those spaces that they could possibly lease or be permitted?

Are they proximity wise?

Are they fairly close, or am I going to have to some of both?

Um I mean, I mean, we have a entire system downtown, so there's there's not a parking deck on this side um of the river.

Um our parking decks are on the on the west side.

Um, but we do have public parking lots in close proximity in addition to the private lot that's on the property that's being redeveloped.

I just think if I'm living downtown, like I would need something because something different, because I'm not I I could be there all day, whereas in certain parts you can park an hour, you can park two hours.

I'm I'm just concerned that's one of the calls that I received.

I was just concerned, did we have we thought it the parking situation through for the number of residential and residential developments that are coming, and then um to even accommodate the people who are here?

Absolutely.

Yes, there's adequate parking to support the development.

To support the development.

Is there adequate parking to support the development that's already here?

The residentials.

Yes.

I think I would we would I would like to look at that again because I've I've had some complaints about um some of the parking for residential in the downtown area.

I I'd like to hear what those numbers are and hear what the commercial or the public and then what the residential could be as at some point.

We'd be happy to share that um information.

Okay.

It'd also be you know what the you know, as we build that information out for you, uh, you know, what the specific concern is so we can answer the quite answer the question you know, globally to your to your question, but then specifically as well if someone has a parking need um in an existing unit, what might be uh options for them to accommodate that.

Then I guess I want to take it a step further with as we talk about capacity residential versus commercial.

Um I'd like to even be able to hear the ADA numbers as well.

Do we have enough handicapp parking in our space downtown?

Thank you.

Oh, thank you, Chairman, for allowing me to speak on your committee.

Um being not only a resident, but also one of the two aldermen, two or three aldermen who cover the downtown area, I'd like to speak on uh a few or one of the the points that the uh sixth ward all their woman uh stated.

I would say and I'd have to agree with other residents that live in the downtown area, uh, that the burden is is the cost, not the availability of spaces uh for for the residents um in the downtown area.

I would I would speak to um and and second the city administrators uh statement of uh there being adequate parking for residents in the downtown area um uh whether you have ice hogs or uh uh an event at the Coronado um or both at the same time on top of uh city market there's there's plenty of parking.

I think we can uh do more to bring or and should do more to bring individuals into the downtown area.

So I don't think that there necessarily be a burden on uh on availability.

Uh I would just say that uh maybe we should look at the the cost for uh attracting residents to move to the downtown area.

Um but that's all I have.

Thank you.

Any other questions or comment?

Alderman Torino.

Thank you.

I remember when this was under past ownership.

We had a pretty extensive discussion.

It was like a a parking we we did a special use special use permit for like a parking circle in the front, and I saw the renderings had that same kind of setup, but is that permit still applicable for this new development?

I don't specifically recall the approval of the special use permit.

Um there's a time window uh for a special use permit.

I'm not certain whether that's lapsed or not.

I don't think it has lapsed yet, but the intention is for the developer to realize the similar plan for access on State Street.

Okay, I just that was my only question about this.

Thank you.

Alderman Bonnie.

Thank you.

Um, just to clarify, I believe that was it was for an additional curb cut at the foot of the State Street Bridge.

There was a lot of conversation on it, but it I was the only alderman to oppose that.

That's why I remember it.

Any further alderman meets.

Thank you so much.

I just want to get some understanding.

Um, under it says be the location of the project, and it says note that these areas all presumably will have to qualify as blighted.

So is this considered a high priority area?

Yes, under our our TIFF policy.

Under our policy, it is and and who would they have to qualify as blighted to?

So um, I believe you're referencing the TIFF scoring ranking system within the staff report.

So the the TIFF policy and ranking system was created by uh a citizen-led uh task force um and then ultimately approved by city council, and then identified um you know, you know, the central area or blight and historic preservation to a number of the um identifiers within the scoring system.

So when the proposal comes forward, staff reviews it and makes that determination or I should say a recommendation on what we believe the scoring should be.

So, how do you describe what is a high priority area?

I recall correctly, high priority areas.

Um central city, broadly defined.

Um central city would encompass most of the areas that were developed by the 1950s census tracts with high unemployment, census tracts with low median income, and riverfront.

Those are all of those apply to this particular, I guess yeah.

I think I was looking for those areas to be highlighted.

I don't know why because I saw it was highlighted in the renovation to get the 75 points.

I assume that it would need to be highlighted there as well.

Okay, interesting.

Awesome.

Thank you so much.

Any further questions?

I just have an interesting comment.

Uh when I started as an alderman, which is a while ago, certainly not when Alderman Beach started, but I think we're the longest guys here, but you beat me by a lot.

Um when I started, you could it's funny to hear the questions about parking.

It was when I started you could park any number of semis downtown and not have a problem.

So this is an outstanding uh turn of events.

The Rockford Register Star Tower, it's like an icon downtown.

Cannot decay.

Neither can our downtown.

City City Center.

It's it's arts, music, craft food, so all that stuff.

It's kind of an old term, but it it really was how we were viewing downtown.

We had a lot of inertia that was happening before COVID.

And we're starting to see that come back downtown.

And to see somebody stepping up to take on this project is outstanding.

Because it's a difficult project.

It's a costly one, but it's an important one.

We cannot have a building such as this decay downtown.

People will ask, you know, we're giving uh the developers some money, and the residents are going to ask, what do we get in return?

We're we're basically owning part of this building.

What do they get?

Will they get another piece of the puzzle to a vibrant downtown?

And so this, among other projects, there are stepping stones, they're building blocks to pieces that that help with that.

So I'm glad to see this happen.

Um I'm glad that we're complaining about parking.

Uh that is a good problem to complain about because as our population grows 24 7, as hopefully our entertainment and arts grow, um, we return that vibrancy that downtown once had, and it deserves.

Our city, our residents deserve a vibrant downtown.

So with that, um all those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Matter carries.

Next, along the same lines, approval of a proposed amendment to uh to the development agreement with Oliver Emerson Development, um, also known as Oliver Emerson Development LLC for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of 325 South Madison Street, also known as the watch factory, as residential.

The um funding source is going to be the redevelopment fund and TIFF funds.

Is there a motion to approve?

A second.

We have a motion, a second to approve.

Is there any discussion or questions?

Alderman Prunty.

Um question as it relates to parking.

It is my understanding that this development comes that with parking.

Um adequate parking for its facility and may not need to rely on municipal parking.

So that is that is correct.

There's 29 parking spaces that are on site that'll be part of the land transferred to the developer, and then there's additional on-street parking immediately in front of the building on South Madison Street that'll be dedicated to the development.

It's dedicated to the development, so it's not like it's public parking, um, but it is for the development.

Correct.

Thank you.

Any other comments, questions?

Seeing none, all those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Matter passes.

All right.

Number five, approval of a proposed amendment to the development agreement with the first Rockford, I'm sorry, First Midwest Group.

Um, also doing business as McChesney Investments LLC and McDonald's for the establishment of uh McDonald's at 4103 West State Street in the amount of 200,000.

The funding source is the 2025 Casino Plan Funds and the Economic Development High Risk Area Funds.

Chairman, we do have a request from First Midwest Group to lay the item over.

Okay.

Without objection.

All right.

Last under Roman number three, resolution one, approval of the 2026 Regrow Grant Program.

Is there a motion to approve?

Second.

Is there a second?

Ceiling no second.

Um other further business before City Council.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

We're adjourned.