OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rockford City Council Regular Meeting - May 8, 2026

Meeting Portal — Friday, May 8, 2026
BodyRockford, Illinois
SessionMeeting Portal
DateFriday, May 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 37:41

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

Thank you.

0:10

We will uh call to order the city of Rockford's regularly scheduled city council meeting for Monday, January 5th, 2026.

0:19

Clerk, could you please call a roll?

0:20

Jerky.

0:22

Logaman?

0:27

Hoffman.

0:29

Grant.

0:30

Beach.

0:32

Salgado.

0:34

Meeks.

0:36

Bell.

0:37

Bonnie.

0:38

Nine present.

0:39

Excellent.

0:40

Is there a motion to approve uh the journal of proceedings for the city council meeting held on November 3rd, 2025?

0:48

We have a motion.

0:48

We have a second.

0:49

Is there any discussion?

0:50

Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say aye.

0:53

Aye.

0:54

All those in favor say aye.

0:56

Aye.

0:57

Those opposed?

0:58

Excellent.

0:59

Next we'll go to petitions and communications, and we'll begin with planning and development committee and Alderman Durkey.

1:04

Thank you, Your Honor.

1:05

Um, under Roman number two A, Planning and Development Committee, a memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, the City Administrator, regarding a proposed agreement between the City of Rockford and Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, also known as Go Rockford, for the Made for Rockford Program.

1:23

This is referred to Planning and Development Committee.

1:26

Thank you.

1:27

Next we'll go to Code and Regulation Committee.

1:28

Alderman Bonn.

1:30

Thank you, Mayor.

1:30

We have three items all being referred to code and regulation committee.

1:34

Item one is a memorandum from Scott Capavilla, Planning and Zoning Manager regarding plant number six of Green Estate Subdivision.

1:42

Item two is memorandum from Scott Capavilla, Planning and Zoning Manager regarding plat number two of Ardmore subdivision.

1:50

And item three is a memorandum from Martin Bloom regarding the 2026 Forward for Fund initiative.

1:58

Thank you.

1:59

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

2:03

We only have one item memorandum from Andrea Heinrich, Housing and Program Manager regarding approval and acceptance of additional funds from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program.

2:14

Refer to the Finance and Personnel Committee.

2:16

Thank you.

2:17

Next we'll go to new committee reports and planning and development committee and back to Alderman Durkey.

2:22

Thank you, Your Honor.

2:23

We'll change to the agenda on Roman numeral three A for passage will be items one, four, and six and seven.

2:33

Okay, the others were laid over.

2:35

Item number one, approval of the proposed city service and licensing agreement between Citywise Software LLC, the City of Rockford to create an affordable rental housing platform hosted on a city domain.

2:49

There will be no cost to the city.

2:51

The legal director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

2:54

Then down to number four, approval of the proposed development agreement between this between the City of Rockford and LT Construction for the 2026 construction workforce development initiative in the not-to-exceed amount of $700,000.

3:10

The funding source is ARPA funds designated for youth violence prevention.

3:15

The legal director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3:20

Approval of the proposed development agreement with urban equity properties for the rehabilitation of 99 East State Street, also known as the Rockford uh Register Star News Tower for mixed use residential and commercial development.

3:37

The funding source is the redevelopment fund and TIFF funds.

3:41

Legal directors shall appear prepare the appropriate ordinance.

3:46

Number seven, approval of the proposed amendment to the development agreement with Oliver Emerson Development for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of 325 South Madison Street, also known as the watch factory, as residential.

4:03

The funding source is redevelopment funds and TIFF funds.

4:07

The legal directors shall prepare the appropriate ordinance.

4:10

These are up for passage.

4:12

Thank you.

4:13

Clerk, could you just note that Alderman Beach is present?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Historic Preservation██████████████14%
Procedural█████████████13%
Zoning And Land Use████████████12%
Affordable Housing███████████11%
Public Safety█████████9%
Public Engagement███████7%
Zoning Regulations█████5%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Rockford City Council Regular Meeting - May 8, 2026

Note: The agenda, minutes, and transcript indicate the meeting took place on January 5, 2026, but per instruction the date is given as May 8, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.

The Rockford City Council convened for its regular meeting on May 8, 2026 (as specified) at 7:54 p.m. with 10 of 14 aldermen present (Aldermen Tuneberg, Frost, Prunty, and Wilkins absent; Alderman Beach arrived at 7:57 p.m.). The council acted on a wide range of items including development agreements, zoning amendments, liquor licenses, bid awards, contract renewals, and appointments.

Discussion Items

  • Affordable Rental Housing Platform (City Wise Software LLC): Approved a city‐hosted affordable rental housing platform with no cost to the city. The item passed 9–1, with Alderman Torina voting no.
  • 2026 Construction Workforce Development Initiative: An ordinance approving a $700,000 development agreement with LT Construction, funded by ARPA Youth Violence Prevention funds, was adopted unanimously.
  • News Tower Lofts (99 East State Street) and Watch Factory (325 South Madison Street): Both development agreements were laid over by motion (Alderman Meeks, seconded by Alderman Torina) to the January 20, 2026 meeting. Alderman Bonne spoke in strong support of preserving both historic properties, comparing them to infrastructure that cannot be replaced.
  • Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful Funding Agreement ($60,000 annually) and Senior Center Funding ($300,000 from ARPA): Held out from committee.
  • Rockford Brake Manufacturing ($250,000 from casino funds) and McDonald's on West State Street ($200,000 from casino funds): Held out.
  • Zoning Changes & Liquor Licenses:
    • 32xx Searles Avenue (R-3 to R-1): Adopted unanimously.
    • 6783/6819 Fincham Drive & 886/891 White Chapel Lane (C-2 to R-2): Adopted 9–1, Alderman Logemann voting no.
    • 2102 McFarland Road (off-premise sign): Held out.
    • 1111–1115 5th Ave / 1110–1120 6th Ave – Special event space permit: Adopted unanimously.
    • Same address – Liquor by the drink license (Spider on Quinta): Adopted 9–1, Alderman Beach voting no.
    • 1060 W. Riverside Blvd – Liquor license (CazAmigos Mexican Grill): Adopted 9–1, Alderman Beach voting no.
    • 2327 N. Main St – Video gaming terminals at Olympic Tavern: Adopted unanimously.
  • Tobacco Enforcement Contract with Winnebago County Health Department: Adopted unanimously.
  • Head Start Collaborative Agreements:
    • With Rosecrance, Inc. ($96,537.28 for school‐based counselor): Adopted unanimously.
    • With Youth Services Network ($90,220 for trauma specialist): Adopted unanimously.
    • Head Start Staff Incentive Policy: Adopted unanimously.
  • Mow-to-Own Property (2022 Auburn Street): Added to the program; adjacent property is Janet Wattles Center. Adopted unanimously.
  • Lease with Comprehensive Community Solutions (917 S. Main, $450/month, nine‐month term, funded by OJJDP grant): Adopted unanimously.
  • Vouchers: $20,640,223.52 approved unanimously.
  • Motions & Resolutions (Finance & Personnel):
    • 25 items considered, including bid awards for fire station wear ($60,000), garage labor ($250,000), lead service line replacements Phases 9 & 10 ($2 million each), granular activated carbon ($150,000), submersible pump services ($1 million), John Deere parts ($100,000), heavy duty truck repairs ($95,000), traffic signal equipment ($300,000), groundwater monitoring ($100,750), infrastructure scheduling software ($27,599), ESRI software ($290,300), infrastructure software ($118,901.76), Lexipol policy services ($52,254.50), Well No. 6 reservoir rehabilitation ($29,000), water rate study ($61,189), medical stop loss insurance renewal (32% increase, $1,789,020 estimated premium), pharmacy benefit manager renewal (Express Scripts, $667,000 savings, $7 million total estimated cost), workers' comp excess coverage ($226,321 premium), permit/code enforcement software (approved to take proposals), DCEO LIHEAP grant ($2,896,554, no match), tourism attraction grant match ($200,000), sidewalk reimbursement for Crusader Community Health ($50,000), sidewalk and bus stop reimbursement for PCI Pharma Services ($250,000), and firewall/IT change order ($68,103).
    • Most resolved unanimously, but items 22, 23, 24 drew dissent: Item 22 (RAVE tourism match) adopted 8–2 (Torina, Meeks no). Item 23 (Linden Road sidewalks) adopted 8–2 (Durkee, Torina no). Item 24 (Alpine & Linden sidewalks) adopted 8–2 (Torina, Bell no).
  • REGROW Grant Program: Held out.
  • Appointments: 14 appointments to various boards were laid over per Rule 18 (next action after January 14, 2026). Alderman Bell requested the city post board and commission openings on social media. Alderman Meeks asked for resumes of reappointees; Mayor McNamara agreed to provide them. Attendance records for boards/commissions will be compiled and shared in February.
  • Officers' Reports: Alderman Salgado announced an Auto Zone grand opening on January 7. Alderman Hoffman noted the Rolling Green Neighborhood Association meeting on January 13. Mayor McNamara reported the lowest number of homicides since 2004, thanked police leadership and council for public safety investments.

Key Outcomes

| Item | Action | Vote | |------|--------|------| | Journal of Proceedings (Nov 3, 2025) | Approved | Unanimous voice vote | | City Wise Software agreement (affordable housing platform) | Adopted | 9–1 (Torina no) | | LT Construction Workforce Development ($700,000) | Adopted | Unanimous | | News Tower Lofts development agreement | Laid over to 1/20/2026 | Motion carried | | Watch Factory development agreement amendment | Laid over to 1/20/2026 | Motion carried | | Tobacco enforcement contract | Adopted | Unanimous | | Zoning map – Searles Ave (R-3 to R-1) | Adopted | Unanimous | | Zoning map – Fincham Dr / White Chapel Ln (C-2 to R-2) | Adopted | 9–1 (Logemann no) | | Special use permit – event space (5th/6th Ave) | Adopted | Unanimous | | Liquor license – Spider on Quinta | Adopted | 9–1 (Beach no) | | Liquor license – CazAmigos Mexican Grill | Adopted | 9–1 (Beach no) | | Liquor license modification – Olympic Tavern (video gaming) | Adopted | Unanimous | | Vouchers ($20,640,223.52) | Adopted | Unanimous | | Collaborative agreements (Rosecrance, Youth Services Network) | Both adopted | Unanimous | | Head Start Staff Incentive Policy | Adopted | Unanimous | | Add 2022 Auburn St to Mow-to-Own | Adopted | Unanimous | | Lease with Comprehensive Community Solutions | Adopted | Unanimous | | 25 Finance & Personnel resolutions (bids, contracts, grants) | All adopted | Mostly unanimous; items 22,23,24 had 8–2 votes | | Appointments (14 total) | Laid over to 1/20/2026 | Per Rule 18 | | Adjournment | Approved | Unanimous voice vote at 8:32 p.m. |

Note: The following items were held out (no vote taken): Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful funding, Senior Center funding, Rockford Brake Manufacturing agreement, McDonald's at 4103 W. State St., off‐premise sign permit, and REGROW Grant Program.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. We will uh call to order the city of Rockford's regularly scheduled city council meeting for Monday, January 5th, 2026. Clerk, could you please call a roll? Jerky. Logaman? Hoffman. Grant. Beach. Salgado. Meeks. Bell. Bonnie. Nine present. Excellent. Is there a motion to approve uh the journal of proceedings for the city council meeting held on November 3rd, 2025? We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say aye. Aye. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed? Excellent. Next we'll go to petitions and communications, and we'll begin with planning and development committee and Alderman Durkey. Thank you, Your Honor. Um, under Roman number two A, Planning and Development Committee, a memorandum from Todd Cagnoni, the City Administrator, regarding a proposed agreement between the City of Rockford and Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, also known as Go Rockford, for the Made for Rockford Program. This is referred to Planning and Development Committee. Thank you. Next we'll go to Code and Regulation Committee. Alderman Bonn. Thank you, Mayor. We have three items all being referred to code and regulation committee. Item one is a memorandum from Scott Capavilla, Planning and Zoning Manager regarding plant number six of Green Estate Subdivision. Item two is memorandum from Scott Capavilla, Planning and Zoning Manager regarding plat number two of Ardmore subdivision. And item three is a memorandum from Martin Bloom regarding the 2026 Forward for Fund initiative. Thank you. Next we're going to go to Finance and Personnel Committee and Alderman Logan. We only have one item memorandum from Andrea Heinrich, Housing and Program Manager regarding approval and acceptance of additional funds from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program. Refer to the Finance and Personnel Committee. Thank you. Next we'll go to new committee reports and planning and development committee and back to Alderman Durkey. Thank you, Your Honor. We'll change to the agenda on Roman numeral three A for passage will be items one, four, and six and seven. Okay, the others were laid over. Item number one, approval of the proposed city service and licensing agreement between Citywise Software LLC, the City of Rockford to create an affordable rental housing platform hosted on a city domain. There will be no cost to the city. The legal director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance. Then down to number four, approval of the proposed development agreement between this between the City of Rockford and LT Construction for the 2026 construction workforce development initiative in the not-to-exceed amount of $700,000. The funding source is ARPA funds designated for youth violence prevention.

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