And term two big one that will be.

I don't think we've got a company for that.

Oh, this is how it's no.

So they won't let me turn to the system.

So that's why I think we're gonna buy your moon.

Dare to be different.

Yes.

Okay.

Oh, because of I'd like to call the order of the planning and development committee meeting for Monday, June 8th, 2026.

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Here.

Thank you.

Um our first item is an approval for the proposed funding agreement with comprehensive community solutions, CCS to expand prevention and intervention programming in collaboration with the City of Rockford's Community Healing Center in the amount of four hundred thousand dollars.

The fun the funding sources can just funds.

So I have a motion to approve.

I'll second.

Um are there any questions or comments?

Okay, I just I have a question.

Can you second being that you were more than likely to do that?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm upstairing.

I apologize.

Force a habit.

Are you waiting with that was my question?

Oh, okay.

All right, we have a first no second.

All right, we'll move it.

Hold on, all the chairman.

Who made a motion?

Yeah, so we're looking for a second.

Um regards to where you're at.

So I and item number one correctly.

Correct.

We have we had a motion and a second already there.

I accidentally second.

I cannot second, I'll be upstairing.

We are looking for a second.

Okay.

Item does not pass, we'll move on to item two.

Item two is an approval for the proposed funding agreement with goodwill in partnership with IBEW local three sixty-four for electrical workers' trades program to better prepare individuals for IBEW application process and the amount of eighty-five thousand one hundred and seventy-two dollars.

The funding sources casino funds.

Do I have a motion to approve?

So uh I will second that.

Um do we have any questions or comments?

Can I get a few more?

Alder Alderman Durkey.

Thank you, ma'am chair.

Just a quick comment.

This is now um going uh to comments that have been previously made about redundancy and funding.

The backdrop of all this is we are facing a pretty big budget deficit.

As it relates to this particular item, the International Brotherhood Electrical Workers, although they're uh you know they're trying to do a human job trying to get individuals back up to some math and reading proficiency, they actually already have a program at Rock Valley College where these uh these folks are channeled in and the uh remediation program to get people uh high school graduates up to where they should be in math and reading and writing is far more robust than this program, and um interestingly uh it's redundant and it's not as good as the program that already exists at Rock Valley.

So I I don't under I I don't I I couldn't support this because we already have something in place that's far more robust unless somebody can correct me on that I'll be happy to respond, Gerald uh Alderman.

We work directly, good Goodwill and IBEW Local 364 to come up with this program.

Um they identify uh what they see as weaknesses and individuals being prepared to take their test.

Uh we they work directly with Goodwill to build the curriculum.

They will actually also be investing in this program by providing uh a trainer to help bring individuals along historically when we worked with the unions and discussed uh where their applicants are coming from.

We have a lot of applicants uh that are coming from outside the city of Rockford, and we felt that this program was important on identifying Rockfordians that uh are often overlooked with the focus of individuals of color.

Um we know that they're underrepresented in many of the trades, um, and we believe that goodwill um has a track record of identifying those individuals, working alongside other partners such as IBEW to get these individuals prepared to take the IBEW test and have better outcomes uh than what we've seen.

Um so that's why we discussed this proposal.

Whether you know, RBC existing program is more robust than this program, you know.

I I I can't state whether it is or it isn't, um, but we we do recognize that the outcomes that we're seeing in regards to individuals of color uh taking the test and meeting the requirements are being underrepresented because we compare that to the population of the city.

So we think it's a pretty good program.

We've considered a pilot program.

Um we'd like to thank you know Goodwill and IDW directly for their efforts on helping move this forward.

It's something that we talked uh on and off again uh for a number of years, and just haven't been an opportunity, and we're hoping that this could be uh that opportunity Alderman Thomberg.

Thanks, Chairwoman for allowing me to speak on your committee.

Uh when it comes to the Excel funds being used for this, is that I didn't catch it uh in fact, and I'm not sure.

Uh but I I thought I didn't see is that coming from the funds that were allocated for their build-out originally that was set aside for Northtown.

So this is not Excel funds, this is casino uh funds that are being proposed to support the program.

Okay, I thought maybe I read casino and and excel some funding that had maybe been set.

One of the previous committee.

Thank you for for that.

Um I I thought I did see that there's a 70% requirement for minorities in this program.

Uh and I don't know if I should use the word requirement.

I can't recall exactly how it was termed, but my question is what if what happens if that percentage is not uh acquired?

Is there any uh I don't believe that being a requirement uh other than an estimate of how they're gonna focus the bucket um so it does say 70 percent of government students should be minorities and are women, uh, but it's not a requirement.

Okay, all right.

Thank you.

I I know and the reason I just say that is that I know that the trades have in the past at times reached out to minorities and uh uh tried to increase their enrollment uh within the trades, and at times have been unsuccessful in doing that.

So I just wanted to see to make sure that if this wasn't attained, there wouldn't be any penalties to the program of any sort.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Is there a plan to do something different to Alderman Tumber or the Third War Alderman's point about reaching out?

Is there a plan to do something different so that you can achieve those outcomes?

So I'm I'm not aware of a program similar to this that has been proposed in the past.

When we look at the track record of goodwill of engaging individuals of color for their programs, they are successful at accomplishing that.

So we do have confidence that they'll be able to succeed, but we'd also ask for the alderman's support and helping us identify potential candidates that we could funnel to goodwill to take advantage of this program.

So we would, you know, should this be approved?

We would certainly encourage all of you to provide individuals that may be appropriate for this program.

If I remember correctly, and I don't know that you all would be able to say that they were indicated that they could serve about 12 students per year.

Um what how many students did you anticipate here?

Let me confirm that number with you 30, 30 students to the very okay, and then last question.

Um that they identify places where the candidates coming from older other programs are missing, and so my question to the first war alderman's point about there being better programs out there.

I don't know that that to be the case, but if but they do know what makes a candidate not viable for them.

Is there anything in the plan to share those concerns with those other programs so that they too can because 12 is a nice pretty number, but it's not enough if RVC, if that is the number that they use.

12 and 30.

Now we're looking at 32, but there are other programs out there.

Is there a plan to share the good news and best practices with some of the other outlets so that we can see even more viable candidates more than certainly willing to share the process and the outcome as we go through the process and the more programs or individuals that we can prepare to take the test, the better.

The uniqueness in this particular one is IEW is directly engaged in the process.

Okay, um, did I see it was a hand over here?

Alder Woman meets just a question.

So is the idea that if we move into other uh trades that we would then be funding at this level for each of the individual trades, or there's really not four to that.

I think that's the question.

The 85,000 that were funding, this is strictly for the electrical workers.

If we wanted to expand that, scale that to other trades, would this look like using something like 85,000 every time we do it?

Or is this program really about the trades collectively?

So uh that's an excellent question.

This is a direct partnership with IBEW.

However, um it is known as one of the hardest tests.

Um so understanding that the candidates that go through this test would also be prepared to take the other trade tests, understanding that these are core skills that are being taught in regards to math and we to get them to a level to be successful with the test.

And so and so what is the goal that we're setting for ourselves?

Did I catch that?

Um we plan on going through this program?

Third.

Are you I'm sorry, are you done with your questions?

Alderman Bell.

Thank you for allowing me to speak on your committee, Chairwoman.

Um love to talk about this as you know, council or this committee moves it forward or or not and figure out where we're at with it, but um just food for thought, I'm gonna put this out here.

Uh there are about 30 individuals that have uh been trained through the CEGA hub in our community, uh specifically with Zion West, and uh there are about 30 individuals who uh are in need, I think, of additional training and support so that they can um qualify or be ready for this robust test.

And I think um maybe we we may be missing another partner at the table um and really ensuring that we get the return on the investment that we are desiring to see.

Um so I just you know maybe add another partner at the table to see how we could pipeline uh the individuals who were supported uh through the CEGA hub, which is a the state uh funded program uh that has been successful, but we've seen barriers uh with community partners or businesses um pipeline those individuals who are graduated with a uh a national certification uh into a sustainable job.

And so I would just love to see you know one more partner or the hub and their partners there uh at the table to see if that is something they'd like to do.

Um just wanted to put that out there and would love to set those meetings up, but just want to share that to this committee.

As we go forward, we'd be happy to coordinate and have that meeting as well.

Alder Woman Funding.

Um if you're going to um I would also say that there's um the awakened foundation they're a part of the sorry they are they're part of the oh you said the hull of okay, that's what you mean.

Okay, thank you.

Alder Woman's thank you.

Um I I remember when I originally heard about this, there was a conversation about a guarantee of an interview.

Um is that on the table that these individuals would be guaranteed an interview with IBW?

Yes, that's correct.

Okay, but there's probably no guarantee of place correct.

Okay, all right.

That was my question.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman's not gato.

Yeah, thank you, uh, Chairman Woman for allowing me to speak.

Um so I do have a question.

Um, it's a valid question in regards to you know what happens uh these folks um are gonna get trained on their mathematics skills and you'd be able to apply for the applications and uh be successful to be a candidate for um to that program.

The question is if they don't get a position, what happens?

I saw some of the things about an expo trying to get them you know aligned with particular different programs.

So we'd like to see if there's any other additional information with those because it is very competitive.

Um so in and hearing that there are like Rock Valley potentially out there as well, um, and the certain applications that exist out there, does it give them any not I would say favoritism, but an upper hand uh through this program through goodwill to um essentially open the door for them, and so that's my kind of not concern, but I'd like to see what that retention would be if they would offer them a position or into their programs that they exist out there.

So um, but I did read the information that you know, obviously they wouldn't be able to solidify a position, you know, there's expos, there's this, that they would put them in into a line to to get positions like that.

So I don't know if you could elaborate a little bit on that.

You know, most certainly should they not get into the IBW again, they could uh you know apply for the other trades, and you know, understanding that the individuals would be going to this training program, that's the start of creating the network.

Um, and I would agree with your statement, you know, nothing's guaranteed.

Um, but understanding that the instructors about IBEW will be directly invested with these individuals.

Um I would I would think that would would be helpful in uh in the process, but at the end of the day, they're gonna have to score.

Yep.

Um like everyone else taking the test, uh, but the attention of the entire program is to get them successful.

Yeah, just if I may, I I think this is great.

I think what good will does with you know, with uh their GD program and everything, I think it's a success.

I think the more um educate uh our individuals, I think it would translate to other positions, not just this particular um direction or union um in this particular, ultimately enhance obviously their ability to succeed um elsewhere.

So I do think it's it's it's a good program from that perspective.

Um but that's just my only question that um that I I come up with when I I read the program from that perspective.

Thank you.

Um Mayor McIntyre, you raised your hand.

Yeah, I just wanted to add uh RBC does have I'm assuming that I've not gone through it, but I'm assuming a wonderful program.

I think theirs is a highway construction program.

Um this um I would also say uh something that stands out to me about this is RBC uh rightfully.

So uh I don't want it to be negative, but they serve a sixth county area.

This will just serve our uh so that we can prioritize our rock for kids getting into the trades, and they will be uh as they go through this, uh they will be funneled through to uh the other trades.

Uh, if IBW is booked and they don't have a time uh slot for them, or maybe they fell short of the electrical test, but they could pass one of the other tests.

Uh goodwill will be helping them navigate through that process to work to get them into the other trades.

And we have a commitment from IBEW to also uh share those students and uh really uh prioritize those students, not just within IBEW, but within the rest of the building trade center.

Were there any other questions or comments?

Alderman, I'm sorry, um Alderman Durkey.

Thank you, madam chair.

Um just to reiterate the the RBC program.

I don't know where the number 12 comes from, however, the RBC program is affiliated with the other trades.

Um they have a highway program, I think they have HIVAC, plumbing, and carpenters, and the the unions are all involved in that program.

Um I've seen the test scores that some some of the folks come out of school with here.

This program is an eight-week program.

The uh the electric the electrician test is is robust, and you're you're gonna go from possibly zero to robust in eight weeks, and I'm a little cynical about that.

And sometimes we set people up to fail.

And so we convince them that you know you put in your eight weeks, and boom, there you go.

But then if they don't pass, then there becomes the what if.

The reason why I think the RBC program is more robust, more comprehensive.

Reading, writing, mathematics, and it's far more longitudinal.

It's not it's not a quick fix.

And I I don't know that students would would benefit from a uh a quick fix.

And uh, like I said, the program does appear to be somewhat redundant.

And if they do fail or do not connect in one trade, the RBC program will help them channel into others, or they may find something else they would would do and stay in RBC for another program.

Not saying this is a bad program.

I just think that the RBC, as I'm looking from the cheap seats, because I I don't know the intimacy between this program and that program.

But looking at a 40,000 foot view, it seems a little redundant to me.

It seems a little bit shallower.

Um there, you know, to be an electrician is is a challenge.

I mean, these guys are are smart guys, and uh like I said, they already have a program over at RBC, so I don't know what the benefit is, and I don't know how you to get a student to be that proficient in mathematics in eight weeks.

So uh that's why I would oppose this.

Hopefully that clarifies my Alderman Bell.

Yeah, I know it's thank you, Chairman for allowing us to be on the committee.

Um I I think you know, from the conversations that we've had on this item today, uh, certainly we should look at partnering with Zion West.

I I know that Zion West is in the CJ hub with Goodwill and Awaken and the others, but we have well-trained individuals uh that have gone through, I believe it's a 12 to 12 to 14 week program, and they've taken the math courses, they've gotten certified, they've taken the hard tests, um, and so should they want to you know go through uh with getting into the union with IBEW to do solar installation and such?

I think that um that would be a good opportunity for them to directly pipeline in, and then uh we're not covering that that initial cost uh because the state is already front given that money, and uh we have individuals who need the uh expanded support already.

Thank you.

Were there any other questions or comments?

Alderman McPrunty.

Um student kids.

Can you give me uh age range of this program?

17 to 25.

Okay.

Were there any other questions or comments?

I thought I saw another hand.

All right, clerk, will you please call the roll?

Derek, no Neil Aye, aye, means two Amazon.

Item three is an approval for the proposed funding agreement with Angelic Organics Learning Center Incorporated in an Illinois not-for-profit corporation doing business as farmers rising in partnership with City Center Market for the establishment of a mobile grocery store in the amount of eight hundred twenty-two thousand dollars.

The funding sources 2025 and 2026 casino funds.

Is there a second?

Right.

I'll go ahead and second that.

Um, are there any questions or comments?

Alderman Durkey.

I'd like to be down there tonight, I guess.

Um I would like to know we we just passed a program earlier tonight, but also this relates to the same comments that we made.

This is at Auburn High School, and um I don't you know, I look in my property tax bill, and I see a big chunk of the vast majority of our taxes go to district 205.

So is there a reason why we were going beyond uh things we just passed and now doing this at Auburn and just Auburn?

Why we're funding 205?

Did you want to speak on that?

So uh chairwoman, I'm I'm happy to address this.

We're not funding um 205.

Um, this is city foundation for early earth social work development program, and was a previous recipient of Recover 10,000 uh funding.

Uh our team has worked directly with Ashton in the past, and we had seen great success with the work that her and her team has conducted.

Um, and we're looking at the programs under consideration.

We spoke with all of them and meets who brought this forward, and we felt that it was a program worth supporting, and it's 25,000 at the proposed funding source of cannabis dollars, which we do believe aligns with the policy approved by uh city council or one-year funding agreement.

Alderman Durkee.

How did we define success?

Um certainly willing to have actually speak directly.

She is in the audience, but based on feedback from the students that have participated in the overall work.

Are there any other questions or comments?

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

No.

Neil.

I guess item five is an approval of the proposed funding agreement with Zion West for a youth training and mowing program to better prepare individuals for future opportunities and the amount of $25,000.

The funding sources cannabis funds.

Is there a motion to approve?

So move.

Second.

Are there any questions or comments?

Alderman Meeks.

I just want to kind of clarify the amount of money that they're funding total more than the actual request.

Yeah, I would just kind of get like to get clarification of where the additional funding is coming from.

So it was uh the overall budget for the program, I believe it's also 45,000.

Um 25,000 coming from the city of Rockford design US Enterprises being secured to additional how they're securing that.

Um is there a way I can shift to Ottawa and Bell who says we can speak to it.

So Chairman, please may I ask the Alderman a question?

Please no, I can't ask the question.

Okay.

Never mind, I can't ask the question.

Alderman Durkey.

Yeah, um, don't worry, I'll probably support this.

Um I don't want to get off of Mr.

Kevin's Christmas cards.

So they're all I look forward to every year.

Um I would just suggest uh these basic uh these mowing uh programs.

Um I don't it seems scattered.

Uh is there a way that we could utilize uh these folks to cut city property since we're using city taxpayer dollars, and uh because I don't know if we're doing private property, but uh but if we're using taxpayer dollars, there is a way that we can have these uh young folks cut uh city lots.

So uh chairman, I can give a little bit of background.

Um Zion West, uh, we had a past relationship with them.

Um, and it was approximately I'm gonna estimate about 10 years ago when the city of Rockford was responsible uh of mowing Winnebago County trustee lots by default.

Um so we had a funding agreement uh with Zion West Enterprises where they would mow uh trustee properties.

We did that in partnership with Rockford um corridor improvement, uh which was a not not-for-profit working in the West Side.

Um we worked directly with John Holmstrom, which raised funds for capital improvement startup costs to Zion West, and then we paid a small fee for Zion West Enterprises to mow lots.

Um over time we were successful in getting the Winnebago County trustee program reform, and we are no longer mowing those lots by default.

Um historically, they have uh mowed trustee lots, and they currently mow land bank properties uh that are under the control of one, and they do have some commercial um lots that they that they mow.

Um when we did have a program where we paid them to mow lots, it was at a higher expense than what's proposed here because there was significantly more cost understanding that the lots that they already owe, some of them being funded by taxpayer dollars, um, and the contribution that we're providing.

Um we believe that you know sustains the program.

We have no objections to going back and working with um Zion West for additional opportunities to mow.

They have been contractors for some of our other properties in the past as well, and has uh been on, and they are currently uh not on contract with us on low and the city properties, but certainly something that we could um explore.

They are not the profit.

Um, they have been successful in raising funds on their own, whether that's to grant opportunities or private fundraising, and I would presume that to all of Moment Meeks' question where the other dollars will come from.

Thank you.

Any other questions or comments?

Alderman's dog.

Yeah, this is not really a question for this particular item, but I noticed uh the funding source of cannabis funds um uh come up quite a few um here.

So I was wondering um if there is a way to get uh running total um that um and based on what's available, what's not available, and then pending balance of of that perspective.

So I just noticed there was quite a few items um from that perspective, um, and just would like to kind of get if Ms.

Haggerty or I would give it to you right now.

850,000 was the estimated um budget and uh cannabis funds uh 400,000 dollars is under consideration with the CCS uh funding agreement that's on the agenda, um hundred thousand dollars for health and human services, which was previously approved and finance personnel, 25,000 for early herds and 25,000 uh for for this particular program.

If all those programs are approved, uh that would leave approximately 300,000 dollars available on cannabis funds in 2026.

Okay, thank you.

Any other oh, I'm sorry, Alderman Thunberg.

Thanks, Chairwoman.

Uh in it it says uh improving the appearance and cleanliness of neighborhoods throughout the 13th ward and surrounding west side communities.

I know there are multiple wards on the west side.

Who determines how this is going to be the services provided are going to be allocated amongst the areas within the west side in particular?

Uh, because this would lead me to believe that an emphasis is going to be more than the 13th ward while ignoring the rest of the what's at West Side communities, not completely ignore, but favoring the 13th ward.

So I mean, I just like clarification on that.

Fair question.

Um they won't be ignoring um the other wards, but they will go over the opportunities that exist where they have an existing uh contracts or mowing, and when they originally uh were formated with uh Rockford Corridor Improvement, um their focus wasn't necessarily on the 13th ward, but Ellis Heights neighborhood, which is predominantly the 13th board.

So uh I believe that language is just a uh carry over from the origination when they had the partnership with Rockford Corridor Improvement, and quite frankly, we've done a ton of work in the Ellis Heights neighborhood, understanding that is an area where we had the highest foreclosure rates, the highest number of vacant lots, and you know, some of the highest needs, so that's where that came from.

Um, but it's it's not exclusively for the 13th board.

Thank you.

Any other questions or comments?

Aye, Neil, I grant I.

Or item six is an approval for the proposed development agreement with court construction, 1322 East H Street LLC for the rehabilitation of 1322 East State Street and the amount not to exceed 100,000 dollars.

The funding sources the Jackson School TIFF district have a motion to approve.

So are there any questions or comments?

Alder Woman meets so my first question is who assigned the guidelines for the point system for the actual scoring advice and staff number.

Hi, city staff number.

And when was that done?

Do you do recall last week?

Does this change?

Is this consistent amongst all TIFFs, or does this point system change at all?

That point system is part of the city's TIF policy, so the actual scoring of that is uh not changed.

Okay.

So the reason why I bring that up is just as I'm looking at the point system, I'm noticing things like residential receiving 50 points, whereas professional and offices receiving 75, industrial and manufacturing receiving 100 points, and commercial receiving 75, which I can use and understand.

Um as we prioritize what what we deem important, how do we go about making it so some of these items that are on the lower scale that they're the 30 for events education and training?

I feel like that's also something that we need in this community.

Um are seen at a higher point system versus what we're seeing.

So I might not be able to answer that completely, but my assumption is that we would have to approve a new scoring system to utilize that.

If you wanted to change the scoring for each of those different categories, yeah, that would be a new policy that would need to be.

So can I can I add to that, Chairman?

Um we'd be happy to send out the TIFF policy and the scoring system that was approved by city council.

Um I want to say it was approved by city council back in 2015, 2016.

Send it to the entire council.

Happy to provide to receive feedback from the alderman on where they think priorities should be changed and work on a potential draft amendment to bring forward to P for consideration.

I appreciate that very much.

Um also I just want to understand.

I think this totaled 225 points.

Is that correct?

Correct.

So I see the scale shows mid-priority 124 to 224, and then high priority over 225.

So I guess when I see over 225, I assume it's over 225.

So I would put this in a mid-priority because there's really not a section if you fall right on 225.

Am I wrong about that, or what would you say?

So I can see what you're indicating, um, but I think because of the way the scoring is we're not able to score at 226.

So there's not an individual way to score since it's blocked off in tens and fives versus individuals.

So I can understand what you mean by landing right at 225.

Um, it's not over that number.

Yeah, that's a interesting problem.

Okay, yeah, I guess just from my perspective of looking at this, I would consider this more of a mid-priority than a high priority when we look at what a TIFF district can actually do.

And so this is another situation where we are um basically trying to retain this business, correct?

This is similar to the retention of I feel like we've done this before with um track that we funded uh something to retain the business here in the area.

Maybe I'm getting this wrong.

So there's a couple things, and I can't speak directly to the one that you might be thinking of, but in regards to short construction, obviously they're a long-standing construction company in our area.

They handle a lot of large-scale projects, um, were with you know clients like PCI, Rockford Toolcraft, um, and this is since um the business as well as the associated properties were sold to a new employee, and our support of that is to keep them here in the community.

Um, also, if you think of East State Street, that is the gateway to not only our downtown, but also um an area with the stationary hospital right there, or a new health right there located in the same area.

So sustaining a business there that is also you know uh has um you know higher level employees, um, provides a lot of level of support for that area in addition to supporting and keeping them in our community.

And and last question, can you uh tell me how we have utilized this TIFF in the past?

So um, two of the projects in the Jackson Street TIFF district that um there was support um up to 200,000 for a dialysis center, and I also believe um the Swedish American Foundation received funding for that.

I would note that that Jackson Street TIF district is quite small, and as well as um it is going to be terminated very soon, um, having lived its full 23 years.

Awesome.

Thank you so much.

Any other questions or comments?

Quickly, please call the role.

Neil I mean no, I have a motion to adjourn.

So move second.

Are there any questions or comments?

Um