8th 2026.

Call the committee meeting to order.

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Here.

Here.

Present.

Thank you.

Six committee reports before us.

Item number one, plat number five of Woodhill subdivision for the property located at 5101 and 5115 Woody Ranch Lane.

Is there a motion on the floor?

So motion and a second.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, uh Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Aye.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Item number two at 714 Broadway.

Uh the liquor and tobacco advisory board recommends approval for the sale of tobacco products in conjunction with a tobacco store in a C4 urban mixed use district at 714 Broadway with Damian Lyman doing business as Dala Dame Smoke Shop.

Is there a uh motion on the floor?

Seeing no motion, the item will fail.

Uh moving on to item number three.

At 2614 and 2600 Kilburn Avenue.

Uh Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board recommends approval for the sale of packaged liquor in conjunction with a grocery store in a C2 limited commercial zoning district at 2614 and 2600 Kilburn Avenue with Samabi Patel and Shiv Dristi doing business as Jasmine Pantry.

Is there a motion on the floor?

So move.

It's a motion.

Is there a second?

I'll second.

We have a motion and a second.

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Oh, sorry.

Uh any discussion?

Alderman Bell.

Yeah.

Um just want to say I do not believe that we need to be selling liquor at this establishment.

I would be voting no at council.

Um with respect to the all of woman uh in advocating for for this to move forward.

I made a motion today, but I'll be voting no.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh any further discussion.

Uh clerk, could you please call the roll on item number three?

No.

Auntie.

I no.

Motion fails.

Item number four.

The zoning board of appeals recommends approval for a special use permit for a planned unit development for an RV and fifth wheel only community in an R1 single family residential zoning district at 2530, 2710, and 2720 South Main Street.

Uh Midwest Yard Holdings is the applicant.

Is there a motion on the floor?

So moved.

There's a motion.

Is there a second?

I'll second the motion.

Um any discussion on item number four at on South Main Street.

Alder Woman Torina.

Thank you, Chairman.

This is a tough item.

Um just kind of want to walk through the process um with this one.

First, I did attend the initial zombie board meeting for this item.

And that's when I first learned about um the grievances from the residents.

Um, I was very concerned with that.

Then it did move.

Um actually has moved out today, but some of the some of the other things that I did was I I felt it very important to listen to the concerns of the residents.

Oh, yeah, I'll play the door time, but again, concern to hear about from the residents.

Um just felt it was important, so we met on a Saturday.

Um we had Alder Woman Granite was there, Alder Woman Meeks, Alderman Prunti.

Thank you all for showing up for the residents so they can be heard.

Um sat down with the attorney of the new developer.

Um I've read every single email.

I've I've had conversations here, so I I really try to do my due diligence just to make sure that ultimately the voice of the resident was heard, but we also were able to offer services to the residents.

I felt like we want to see the city do a better job in situations like this.

Um, especially like when it went through zoning, I think there was an opportunity there for us to get in front of that, knowing that we would be potentially displacing 120 people just to get in front of that to say we kind of see it's coming down the pipeline, so what can we do to get in front of it?

Um so perhaps in the future we can be more mindful about the work that we do is always to serve people first.

So I have had extensive conversations with attorney Rod Regret, excuse me, Rodriguez.

Um we have talked today, and they have come up with a plan to help the residents the best that they can.

I can certainly appreciate that the developer has tried to do the most if they can, right?

They don't have to give a package, but they're offering one.

They have gone up significantly in the amount that they originally offered.

Um they're also willing to um I don't want to say this wrong, so I'm gonna read my email just to make sure I got this the verbiage.

Um we're ultimately going to be wanting the the residents to elect to participate in a program, a package within 30 days, and then they would have 60 days thereafter to move.

So it almost gives them pretty close to 90 days additional um time after this, but again, I'm giving all the background to say that I ultimately I am going to say yes to move this forward.

Um while I certainly feel for and have empathy for the residents and their concerns, I do I don't think that the developer coming forward is a couple things are happening.

I don't think that the the whoever the current seller is, they they're not doing anything wrong by wanting to sell their property.

Um I know that the the residents were concerned that they weren't informed that we should have given additional zoning uh warnings according to our legal department that it's not a legally we're not required to do that.

Um so I think the city did all they could and on that aspect of things, um, but I don't again what I feel like is what's being presented is probably the better option to move it to the RV park.

Um so again, I will be voting to support to move this forward, um, but just knowing that the residents are taken care of.

Um Health and Human Services Department was present at the meeting.

Um they had plenty of information, plenty of packets they know how to get in contact with services to help them in the transition should they have issues.

Um, I did get another letter from um was a signed letter by maybe five or six different residents just supporting the project.

So, you know, I've just kind of heard from both sides of it.

Um, but I did try again to do my due diligence to make sure that I'm gonna say it for the fifth time that the residents' voices were heard and that um they will ultimately have support um during this transition.

Um, and again, I just want to thank my colleagues for just showing up and being willing to help, and um I really really really appreciate Alder Woman Granit because I don't know, I didn't know the first thing about camping culture and RV parks and she does, and so it was really it was nice to work with her to be able to answer, get some of the questions answered because I wouldn't even know how to ask some of these things without um her expertise in the area, so I appreciate that.

Um I think that's the remainder of my comments unless you might have any more questions about something I might have forgotten.

Thank you.

Thank you, Alderman Trina.

Fun fact about older one granite.

Thank you for sharing.

Um thank you, uh yeah, Alderman Trina for uh for providing that uh more of the social context there.

I think it's difficult for others, uh others around the horseshoe here to understand like an SUP or a PUD and how it affects kind of the social context.

So thank you for that.

Any further discussion?

Uh clerk, could you please call the roll on item number four?

I know thank you.

Item number five is a proposed lift assist ordinance.

Is there a motion on the floor?

We have a motion, is there a second?

We have a motion and a second.

Uh any discussion.

Alderman Beach.

Thank you.

And I was Tunberg's not either, but I like you more.

So we'll go with you, Beach.

So thank you, Mr.

Chairman, for the committee on your committee.

If I repeating, right?

There was a fee established, or at least proposed fee of 470 dollars after the sixth time.

Correct.

So my concern is if this is going to apply to the residents as well as businesses, should there be a different responsibility for a business, a for-profit business?

When they call like a high rise calling the fire department out.

If I'm not mistaken, I've seen calls wallet.

You have a fire truck with four farm.

That's six, sometimes even an administrator.

And they can be there two hours or something more than that for $470.

So I'm just asking the question should the fee connected with this be different for the residents as opposed to the business.

It's a good question.

Chief Tile, I'll swing it over to you.

I think Director Hammer.

So the statute that was enacted to allow us to adopt a lymph assist fee only applies to assisted living facilities or nursing halls.

So the fee would be assessed against an assisted living facility or a nursing hall.

Well, let me see if I'm reading this wrong.

I had it right up here.

Well, I can't find my own right now, but I thought it said all uses services, rescue services that all residents of the city of Rockford expect.

No does that just mean assisted living?

I are you reading those of where house on this other it may be that this lift assistment allows us to recover the costs allocated for those lift assists at assisted living and nursing homes, so we can't focus on providing services to the taxpayers and that's right here.

Okay, if someone came to your house.

No, don't charge.

Correct.

Alderman Toonberg.

Thanks, Chairman.

Newly appointed.

Now this is on assisted living facilities, so uh I believe I read there's six allowed, and then after that the fee comes into play.

Um, I would think that a place like Wesley Willows or Fairhaven, they're gonna burn through that six probably within a few days.

So the you know, and I I understand the burden on our fire department on these lift assists, and if I'm not mistaken, it's more of a uh a liability issue why that these uh facilities will not lift somebody that fell and just literally needs to be lifted back into bed or in a chair, and so yes, thank our legal system on that attorney uh so but here's here's an issue.

I I just so I can understand the and in and the and the cost to the city on these calls is immense.

Um but now we're going we're going to implement this on our assisted living facilities, um which could put a cost burden on them as well.

We don't have any cost when we have calls to RA facilities, Rockford Housing Authority, uh, and they are called to do some of these same things there.

Do we charge RAJ after six calls?

Uh I think I already know the answer to that.

Um so I mean it's almost going back to the conversation we had regarding the public schools pitching in a little bit on services that I think we as a city are offering to their benefit.

County as well.

Is that correct?

For instances like this.

I would defer to that she tile actually.

No we're not currently building billing those facilities.

There are there is a RH property that I'm aware of that does have like maybe a certain floor that's dedicated that has dedicated staff.

I think when it triggers that assisted living or nursing home, um there needs to be 24-hour staffing or qualified staffing to be able to care for those residents, and some of the RHA facilities do not require that, and so I think that's where that the you know separates us from what we can and can't do underneath uh this the state law director Hagerty.

Yeah, just to add a little bit here, the the assisted living facilities and nursing homes were the facilities included in the state statute because the residents of those facilities are paying for medical support services that the agencies are then relying on our fire department to provide RHA, the the bulk of RHA residents are not paying RHA to provide medical support services to them while we wouldn't bill RHA for arriving at the property when we do arrive and transport a patient, we're billing that individual's health insurance, whatever that may be for the transport specifically.

So, but their RHA doesn't staff their facilities with medical professionals to provide medical services like a nursing home or an assisted living facility would understandable um well I think maybe further thought, but uh right now it's thank you.

Any further discussion?

Older woman mixed so much for allowing me to speak in your committee.

I just want to ask does an independent living community also apply as the uh assisted living.

Uh I'm familiar with independent living senior living communities that also do not staff properly in certain times, and so they utilize the fire department very frequently for lift assists.

So are are they included in this?

The short answer and the the definition of assistant facility is provided by the state statute, so it requires that two three or more persons who reside in residential setting and are not related to the owner of residential setting.

Um it includes a home and apartment or other facility.

So it's possible that that it would be case dependent on the circumstances.

It's case by case, yeah.

Okay, thank you so much.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none, clerk, could you please call the roll on item number five?

I mean that's thank you.

Item number six is a proposed amendment regarding committee chair and vice chair selection.

Is there a motion on the floor?

So move.

Sir second motion, a second, any discussion.

Chairman Alderman Bell.

Make a motion to lay this item over, please.

Second.

Uh we have a motion and a second for a layover.

Uh, I believe we need to take a vote on that layover, correct?

There was a second, correct?

Yes, then the motion is laid over.

Okay.

Clerk, could you please call the rule?

I'm table.

Thank you.

Moving along to uh resolutions.

We have two resolutions before us.

Item number one, River District Association and City of Rockford Street Parkland program.

Uh is there a motion on the floor?

There's a motion and a second, any discussion?

Older woman Torina.

Thank you.

Um, my question is I I really like these parklets.

In my head, I call it parklet, but maybe I'll just flow into that part, but um, I really like the one that's in front of wood fire.

My question is why are we just proposing this for the river district and not all of Rockford?

So um the river district are uh is the business district that is reached out and express interest in it.

Absolutely, if business districts like say the town or Broadway business district were interested, I believe this could be scale to include them.

But at this point, river districts, you have the money who's reached out to ask about it.

Would it not just be smarter to just do the whole city at once?

So other people did.

Well, tell me the re you know, you may have a different reason.

So I think it could it could work in other business districts.

I don't know that we would do it throughout the entire city.

I don't see these happening over like on the state stream, um out east, but um example.

Right.

If if Midtown was interested, this would absolutely be used for that.

I guess what I'm saying is that because there are other districts that could benefit from this, why would we wait for somebody else to ask?

Wouldn't it just be cleaner to just do one citywide ordinance that cover the whole city?

If in that within the parameters of what was here, um I mean I I guess it could it could be handled that way, yes, but right now river district.

Thank you, Chairman.

Um, sorry.

I'll pass it back to you, Terry.

Uh Alderman Trina, go ahead.

I guess I don't feel like I got the like a clear answer on that.

Like why wouldn't I like the question is would it just be cleaner to do it for the whole city?

So I I can answer that question, Terry.

Maybe there's a reason I'm slightly understand why the primary reason is because we had an operating partner that was willing to do the due diligence in advance of it coming to City of Rockford staff with the river district.

If it is the desire of the city council as a whole to have a parklet program in all the urban areas, we're more than willing to work on that for an expansion.

Is that like a lot of work?

Um, you know, when it's it's not a tremendous amount of work, no.

Um the historical benefit is it's taken some of the pressure off staff on making sure that uh communities and the businesses associated with it accepted it and had the river district do some of that lake work versus landing on the staff or the alderman of the water.

Okay, that's what I needed to hear.

Thank you.

Alderman Bell.

He can go.

No, it's fine.

I I'm gathering my thoughts.

Okay.

I can uh vouch for some of what uh Director Cagnoni said as I was alderman of uh most of the river district down there at the time when this came through.

Uh the River District Association did in fact do a lot of the legwork on it.

Uh and it was kind of a unique thing.

Um I I appreciate uh Alder Matrina on proposing for us for maybe a citywide thing.

I can tell you though that what may fly in one area uh may not fly in another area, uh, and meaning in in relation to that, some business owners may be in majority that don't want it.

Uh in the case of the river district, there was uh a couple that were uh against and one that was adamantly against, and actually referred to these as hillbilling porches.

So uh that this uh this isn't always accepted in maybe other areas, and that would be kind of a word of caution, maybe if if midtown, for instance, majority of individuals uh or businesses wanted wanted it, then obviously that shows, but uh if a majority didn't and it was put through on a citywide level, they really wouldn't have a majority of those people that were against it in midtown, really wouldn't have a say then uh if it was a citywide initiative.

So yeah, good point.

The chief concern I hear is uh usually safety in the streets um with these type of parklets uh too.

So thank you, Alderman Thunberg.

Alderman Bell.

I mean, probably like others, I don't want a definition of what it is, but I'll move on.

Um I think that should be redacted out of the minutes.

Um thank you for allowing me to speak on this item.

The river district, uh the third I have the river, some of the river district in the 13th board, along with yourself and I believe uh maybe even Alderwoman Torino.

The River District, like the third word Alderman mentioned, has advocated for this.

And so I mean, maybe Steph, if you guys want to uh meet with this specific alderman or propose something of that nature.

Um but I do think separating the areas would be um ideal given the fact that we've done this already in the river district, and so we're bringing this back.

Is that correct?

Mr.

Pignone.

So this is we're bringing this.

And I I could imagine that there could be some traffic um stipulations or what have you, or modifications I should say, um in other areas, and so maybe those that programming plan has to be created specifically for them.

Um but should it come forward?

I'm I'm definitely in support of expanding this program.

Thank you, Alderman Bell.

Any further discussion seeing none, Clerk, could you please call the roll on item number one?

Aye.

All right.

Thank you.

Uh fight alone item on the agenda, item number two, request for authorization to allow the zoning officer to file text amendments for multiple sections of the zoning ordinance.

Uh is there a motion on the floor?

So there's a motion and a second.

Alderwoman Torina.

Let's make a motion over this item over, please.

Is there a second second?

We have a uh motion, a second to lay the item over.

Clerk, could you please call the roll on the layover?

No.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Laid over.

Uh thank you.

Well, that concludes the code and regulation committee uh meeting for this evening.

Do I have a uh motion to adjourn?

Oh move.

We have a motion and a second.