The Rockford City Council met on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 5:38 p.m. at 425 E. State Street. Mayor McNamara presided. The meeting included a proclamation for Pride Month, public comments opposing a proposed data center, numerous committee reports, and several votes on land use, liquor licenses, and police equipment contracts. Aldermen Hoffman and Bonne were absent; Aldermen Durkee and Logemann arrived late.
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. on a unanimous motion.
This evening we are fortunate that we have Pastor Chad McKenna of St. Mark's Lutheran Church to provide us with an invitation. And Pastor, there's one microphone due to our technology difficulties that we have been having. It's just right over there. Thank you. Let us have a song. God, our Creator, as we, the people of Rockford and its elected officials gather this evening, we pray that wisdom and compassion prevail in all decisions. With technology rapidly transforming languages, relationships, institutions, and forms of power. We pray that your people choose in the words of Pope Leo the 14th which projects to work on and in what manner so as to safeguard and value the grandeur of humanity that has been given to us as a gift. We pray for our neighbors, both human and otherwise, that all creatures would thrive in our city and our county. We pray for our water table and our rivers, that they remain healthy for generations to come. And on this first night of Pride Month, we give thanks for the many ways our community chooses equality over inequality, inclusion over exclusion, and invitation over exploitation. And we pray with hope for the day when all people can live fully as they have been created, to be celebrated and loved in communities rooted in compassion. We lift up all these things in the name of our creator. Amen. Super here. Here. Terina, here. Neil, here. Subdado? Present. Meet here. Present. Excellent. We have a quorum this evening. Just want to remind council and the public. We have had uh some technology difficulties, specifically with our audio. So uh when we get to the public speakers, there is one uh microphone on the back, my back left, your back right of council chambers. Uh that is transmitting uh for our YouTube and online uh features uh for council members, just ask that you would speak up. Uh we have microphones set throughout the chamber so that your audio can be uh caught uh for our online features as well, but ask that you speak up so we can all hear you. Uh is there a motion uh to approve the Journal of Proceedings for the special city council meeting held on May 11th, 2026. We have a motion, we have a second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Those opposed? Okay. Next, we have one proclamation this evening for Pride Month. We're fortunate this evening that we have members of our Cyclos Scope Employee Resource Group with us uh to receive the proclamation. Whereas the City of Rockford is committed to ensuring the right of every citizen to experience equality and live free from discrimination in a more inclusive and just society. And whereas the City of Rockford embraces and welcomes all people of diverse backgrounds as a critical aspect of fostering a vibrant community. And whereas the City of Rockford will continue to support our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, arrow, and ace citizens, not only in June and Pride Month, but throughout all of the year. Our LGBTQI Plus citizens help contribute to the city's life, prosperity, and overall well-being while continuing to fight for their rights and the rights of other marginalized groups. And whereas we gratefully acknowledge the City of Rockford's employee resource group, Kaleidoscope, city departments, and community organizations who have helped bring LGBTQIA plus history and community stories, as well as educational materials to help us all be more consciously aware of the LGBTQI Plus impact on Rockford. And whereas the City of Rockford stands proudly with its citizens, organizations, and employees as they work to improve the services and rights of the community. Now, therefore, I, Thomas P. McMur, as mayor of the city of Rockford, do hereby proclaim the month of June 2026 to be Pride Month.