June 22nd, 2026.

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Here.

Neil.

Here.

Here.

Me.

Here.

Thank you.

Item one is an approval of the proposed grant of easement to comment for the city owned property located at 850 South Horace Avenue, Rockford, Illinois.

Do you have a motion to approve?

So moved.

Second.

Are there any questions or comments?

Thank you so much.

I was just wondering.

Are we aware of any plans that are expected to take place at this location?

It's a good question.

And currently this site is being developed for a solar farm on the city property just to the west.

That's just granting the season so they can tie in the solar farm to the to the um comrade line.

And I'm just gonna assume they're not burying these lines, correct?

So I there the lines are buried inside the solar farm, but this section going from the solar farm to the polls is going to be overhead.

Thank you so much.

Are there any other questions or comments?

All those in favor, please indicate by stating aye.

The item passes.

Item two is an approval of the proposed funding agreement with comprehensive community solutions to expand prevention and intervention programming in collaboration with the city of Rockford's Community Healing Center and the amount of 400,000.

The funding sources cannabis funds.

Thank you, Chairwoman.

Um, you know, certainly this is a proposal with community uh comprehensive community solutions, an amount of 400,000 dollars utilizing cannabis funds.

Um we have had a partnership with CCS for a number of years, uh, working very closely with the healing center, and Diana can talk about the the details and answer questions related to the programming and efforts.

Uh they work very closely with CCS when the proposal uh was built and under for your consideration, and additionally, Will is here from CCS.

Should you have any direct questions for him?

Are there any questions or comments?

Alderman Durkin.

Thank you, madam chair.

Um I'm uh going to oppose this uh mostly because first of all, their data is isn't outstanding.

They have a 20% per the memo, 20% increase in math performance, and only a three percent increase in school attendance.

The other um the other reason for opposition, we pay an awful lot of money to Rockford Public Schools, and uh I think that this falls under their purview rather than using the cannabis funds.

I don't know that this is uh an appropriate easier.

Um so I I'm in uh I'm in opposition to this Alderman Thunbert.

Thanks, Chairwoman.

Uh, for allowing me to speak under committee.

I would uh reiterate a little bit of that.

Uh I you know, although I see the the uh the benefit of this um I just recently mentioned about our various IGAs uh with the public schools also uh yeah I think there are the public schools could probably pitch in on this as well, but with the taxpayers' money going into the mental health uh tax.

I almost think that these numbers should be reversed.

Um I'm not seeing that just my two cents, thank you.

As in we put in a hundred and then you put in four hundred because there seems to be a larger pot of money in that mental health tax fund right now.

So thank you.

Alder One Weeks, yeah.

I don't usually agree with Alderman Tumber, but I will agree on that.

I do believe that should be reversed.

But I do have some questions just related to the program since we're here to discuss what when did the program start in 2025?

Are you referring to the community healing center or comprehensive community solutions?

We're on funding agreement for comprehensive community solutions, right?

That's over here on number two.

Are you asking specifically for the library free program?

Yes.

Okay.

Um will the executive director, William Chapman is here.

At least everybody speak up.

You can hear me either.

It's like nobody's talking about.

When did the program start in 2025?

The alive and free program.

Thank you for your question.

Um, executive director William Chapman is here if you all would wish um for him to answer your question.

To answer the question, the program started in 2021 when allocations for COVID relief funding was done was given to the state of Illinois.

IDHS started a grant fund um called uh trauma.

Um and that particular grant funded a number of organizations throughout the state of Illinois.

That funding has since gone away as a result of the Hending of COVID relief funds.

And the first award that we received from the state before that grant was over 800,000.

So the metrics or the information that we received, at least what I saw was from 2025 through 2026's fiscal year, is that correct?

Um are there metrics that we can review to just kind of talk about the success of this program over the course of the years 2021 through 2025?

Was that I don't believe that was included in the package?

That was not requested for me, but I can get that down into anybody that wants to see it.

If you would like to also look at the data of all our programs, including this particular program, you can visit our website.

There's a page where we post our annual report, and I have one of those annual reports with me tonight as well.

I will take that.

Thank you so much.

And then I just get an idea, and I know first of all, Diana, thank you so much for um giving me the tour of the or we will be having the tour tomorrow for the community healing center, and I appreciate that so much.

Um can I get an idea of the daily kind of the daily or weekly schedule of activities that this program executes?

And I just want to kind of get an understanding because there's a 11 through 26 or 24, is the age uh range.

So I just kind of want to understand how this program kind of functions.

Surely I'll jump, I'll kick us off and then we'll you can jump in.

Um so we do have the community healing center.

We have our main office inside of comprehensive community solutions with us being on site with comprehensive community solutions.

We have the opportunity to partner with them on building programs, building strategies to support one another and to better serve the community.

We do partner at Macintosh Elementary School as well as on site at other community centers, one of them being Washington Park Community Center, for example.

Um CCS has a few different programs, and they all are different ages, they have different age requirements.

So I'll let Will speak on that.

Yeah, so the alive and free.

I want to be clear also, because it sounds like there's talk as if alive and free only focuses on those the young people in RPS 205, and that's a small portion of the youth that that program offers services to.

Um, I'll just read off a list so that we can be precise on what they're thinking about this.

Um of the organizations that alive and free provide services to the Northwest Community Center, Patriots Gateway, Washington Park Community Center, Rock House Kids, um, the violence prevention council, uh, emergency response team that's in partnership with the Rockford Police Department, the City of Rockford victims, and survivors of gun violence, the Rockford Boys and Girls Club, Alpha, Youth Bill Rockford, Rockwood Work, and Tony's House.

Um, I also knew we will be providing services to Rockford University individuals going into college classes.

So live and free is not just in the schools.

So when you look at the percentage of 20% academic success, that's based on all of the kids that Alpha, I mean alive and free services, a small portion being the uh public school system.

So it's all of kids in Rockford, we bus in and out of our facilities and provide services to those are the organizations that we show up on site and provide services to.

What was the original question and concern alive and free?

I I don't know.

I'm just trying to get an understanding of are we talking about different programs?

Are we talking about alive and free?

And I think you're you're explaining it.

I I'm just trying to get a more of a handle on what programming looks like for this particular program.

What programming looks like this is what we're funding.

Are we funding CCS right now, or are we funding alive and we're funding alive and free?

So again, alive and free starter reservants uh receiving funding, and it was launched in 2021 as a response to violence prevention in the city of Rockford through addressing trauma and uh social emotional learning.

We were awarded over 800,000 from the state.

That was through COVID relief funds that was passed through funds from the Feds from the federal government.

The federal government has since stopped funding because COVID relief funds right now.

Hence our request now to city council to help support that program.

Um we have already received grant funding from the uh Winnebago County Mental Health Board and the amount of 100,000 to match what you're asking you all for the next two years to support this program.

Yeah.

Well, I appreciate you explaining.

I think for me, what I'm seeing is COVID funding that took place during a very critical time that no longer exists, and so now the question is how do we sustain some of these things that were created during this time?

And it sounds easy enough to come to the city and get all of the funding from the city.

It seems very easy to get funding from the city at this point.

So I get it why the ask is here.

I just feel I completely agree with the sentiment that we as a city are funding a mental health tax that really should be funding this at much higher level, in my opinion, and that's just so thank you so much.

Thank you.

Uh Alderman Darkey.

Yeah, madam chair, I just want to know if this was correct right now in our memorandum.

The only thing that I have is that this is uh this appears to be focused on schools, and the number of students served is a hundred.

That's five thousand dollars a student per year.

So are is are these data incorrect that it's a hundred youth?

That's what's in our memorandum.

That's what I have in front of me to vote on.

I just heard I heard somebody tell me that we have kids from all over the place, but that's not what we're voting on.

We're voting on this specific program at $5,000 a student, which I agree with uh Alderman Toonberg, that the Winnebago County Health Fund has what they're sitting on, I think 48 million dollars.

So we have all these cross paths with trauma community.

I'm starting to lose track of the number and of uh non-government organizations that are in the city that are doing the same thing, and and we're cannibalizing our tax funds to do that.

And I quite frankly haven't seen any of them.

I don't see improvement culture with these programs.

We have isolated cases, but as an aggregate, I'm not sure that a lot of these approaches are working.

Thank you.

Are there any other questions?

I'm sorry, did you want to respond?

No, just being clear, the hundred the 100 youth is the amount that we were awarded from rank fund and from the state to service.

We've serviced that and exceeded servicing the amount of young people that we service.

A small amount of that hundred youth that we services directly going into the schools and providing those services.

Other services are provided by going to other organizations that's a part of that hundred and more, and also servicing people that are on site.

So when we're talking about what's being serviced in Rockford public schools, again, that's a small amount of that 100 youth.

Alive and free is not just the school program.

Uh Alderman Bell.

Thank you, Chairwoman.

This is this is not my committee, but I do remiss but then say a few words and ask a question, as especially as it pertains to the young individuals in our community that this program would be servicing and has supported, in my opinion, well.

Um I've been a part of many different uh events and and programs that you all at CCS offer.

Um I just want to say to the executive director of the organization, thank you for what you do for our young people.

Uh, when I look through you know, weekend incidents on my email here.

I see, and I think each city council member gets these emails.

Um we definitely had one over the over the weekend.

We got the email, I think today um of a young young man who was shot and killed at a gas station.

You look at uh a 21-year-old, an 18-year-old, uh, arrested by you know, a 17-year-old, a 22-year-old in these in these reports that we get.

I think it's very important that we invest in into our young people so that they have an opportunity to get off of the street and into productive programming.

Um, I do hear you all's comments, and I can appreciate that.

I'd hate to just say no because of the current proposal in front of you.

If if there are amendments or tweaks that you'd like to see, I'd love for this committee to consider that.

Um, but I say all that to ask the question to Chief Sander, and I know that that Chief Red is not here today, um, and I'm sure she would comment, but I I just asked the question how would an how would a program like this, how does a program like this benefit um our our police department and the work that we do here in the city of Broadford?

I can't speak directly to the program, but I can speak directly to uh your thoughts on if we can reach a young person and guide them appropriately, the fatherhood program that took place this weekend and a number of the other programs and keep them off the street in a in the right path.

It benefits society, it benefits the record police department benefits the city benefits us as a community as a whole.

So thank you.

And I I just I appreciate that.

Um, this the same committee also, right?

There was no second to this last two weeks ago, and so I'm glad that we're having the conversation.

I think you know, if there are you know questions regarding uh all of the things that were mentioned, maybe maybe we should lay this over instead of saying no to it.

But um, I'd just like to see us continue to invest in our young people, and um again, CCS does great work in partnering with a multitude of different organizations, and uh, since we are given some information, you know, I'd like to take a look at this as well.

Um, should it come to city council next week?

I'd be supporting it.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Alderwoman Meeks.

Thank you so much.

And I just want to be clear.

The questions that are being asked is in no way, shape, or form, not wanting to support on people.

We just want to make sure, or some of us just want to make sure that we're doing it in the most effective and efficient way.

And so the suggestion that was made is that we as a community have put forth a lot of intentional efforts to bring funding towards mental health services, and the notion that this should be flipped, and mental health should be supporting a large portion of this, and the city should be filling gaps like we're very good at doing.

I don't think that's a notion that we shouldn't be making to be the best stewards of these dollars.

So I just want to say that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Alderman Dunberg.

Well, thank you, Chairwoman.

Uh Alderwoman Meeks and I don't agree all the time, uh, but tonight we do.

So appreciate that.

Uh is there any wiggle room for this to for this the the amount to go back to be asked to the Winnebago County Mental Health Board.

Uh this board is responsible for distributing the funds.

Uh again, as it was pointed out, has a sizable sizable amount in it.

Uh and I'm wondering again if if yeah, if there's any wiggle room to go back to that board for a reason per se, or is it just done?

That's their final answer.

As I received word, and then this was the final answer to find it from them.

This is the first time that we've ever been funded by the window count the the Mental Air Report.

Uh previous applications when we were getting from the state or not.

This is the first time that they've approved those.

And I would also like to point out an unpacket that I gave you in terms of fiscal responsibility that there's question about how money's being used past six years without an executive director.

Go stand goal standard on audits, um, and we continue to increase services in this community.

And we can say we increase services in this community.

Yeah, again, I think almost what was you know what was alluded to earlier is I don't think we're as much questioning the intent of the program.

It's the funding and money being allotted on the city level versus the county level who has control of the mental health tax.

Every citizen in here is taxed daily on their expenditures going into that mental health tax.

And reading this surely seems that this is a for the most part a mental health issue.

So I'm just a little flabbergasted that they aren't if this amount is needed that there isn't a larger amount on the county level.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman, oh, I'm sorry.

Did you want to respond to that?

Yeah, could I answer?

Yes.

Um so I I wanted to add that, yes, this is mental health related, but uh something that community healing center and comprehensive community solutions have in common is a majority of our families are in survival mode, meaning that they are in need of employment, they are in need of service navigation, support with school, tutoring, mentorship, and our collaboration along with our partners allows us to come together and brainstorm ways that we could address those different issues to help our families thrive in Rockford.

And if we don't try um different approaches, then we won't know what effectively works in supporting our youth.

Um, but working together, we have seen a lot of progress, and alive and free is in your program just like the community healing center is, and we have made tremendous strides in establishing ourselves in the community and building strong relationships with the youth and families that we serve.

Thank you.

Uh okay, Alderman Durkey.

Yeah, I just want to reiterate that something.

I I caught something uh that the chief said uh and uh I'll start with quoting that great philosopher Gratel Marks.

Um, and he said uh politics is government looking for trouble, making the wrong diagnosis, and providing the uh the wrong uh treatment.

The chief mentioned something about a fatherhood program, and you've heard me say this before, and I know the tune room has said this.

We celebrated Father's Day yesterday, we had a shooting uh this weekend, and I'll bet you the perpetrator came from a fatherless home.

I see all these programs.

I'm a physician, it's like treating cancer with time off.

The the basis of much of what's happening in our culture has to do with fatherless homes.

And we come up with all these solutions, and every program that's come before here.

I I rarely see uh community programs trying to address that at its root cause and stop that.

You look at statistics prior to the Great Society in the 1950s, things were very, very different.

And I'm wondering how much of these programs become nothing more than uh toxic charity.

We in government like to do a lot of things.

We like to say work for programs that we spent money on this, but it's very rare that somebody will stand up and say, this is the data, this is how it worked.

Even the data we are provided here, and all I can go by is this document is insufficient.

It's almost like it's by design.

So that again, I I'm wary of this, and I think we have a lot of redundant programs.

We have a mental health uh board that can address the funding, and we have uh a school system where these students are uh being uh counseled that can uh and we do pay money to do that as well.

Alderman.

Oh I'm sorry, Mayor McIntyre.

So uh really appreciate the dialogue that's taking place.

I would say a couple of things.

One, uh I share a lot of frustration, probably even flabbergasted and probably even angry at different uh taxing bodies and how they choose to use uh taxes or not to use them.

Uh I would say a good thing for the mental health board, they at least tell us where those dollars are going.

I'm uh strong uh I've been strongly frustrated the fact that 60% of that revenue comes from the city of Rockford, and we have three of the 11 board appointees.

I don't always uh agree with how they allocate funds.

I uh one that has not been mentioned this evening is our public uh safety tax, where when it was originally created, we were supposed to generate 22 million dollars, today it generates more than 40 million dollars.

When it was originally uh created, we were supposed to put 2 million dollars towards prevention and intervention, and today with 40 million dollars being generated every year, we put less than 400,000 into intervention and prevention.

Uh I understand the concerns about the school district.

I also think uh one, they are providing an incredible service.

I think all of us can do better, including myself.

Uh, but I think if we just continue to say those folks should fund this, we lose actually we don't lose the kids, and I think that's one thing that yeah, I think other people in my ideal world, someone else should fund this, but they are not, and so to me, it is do we do it and help these young people who if it is a hundred or if it's a thousand, they're coming from disadvantaged neighborhoods that are uh historically crime ridden, historically oppressed, and we have an opportunity to step up and help fill that gap.

I would also say I certainly have benefited uh from uh having an amazing dad.

I would also say that people a lot smarter than me over at Harvard said that you don't need an amazing dad.

You just need one caring, loving adult who loves on you and cares for you, and I guess I see that is what they do.

I every time I have the opportunity to go to CCS.

I'll be honest, Will, I get a little like, oh man, it's a Saturday I gotta go.

But every single time I walk away happier and grateful that you're there.

I look at what they've done.

Our education outcomes for kids who participate in those programs are up.

Their discipline is that and their attendance, not as high as we all want, but it's increasing if they go to his program.

We spend a lot of time talking about really important things.

I do believe this is a program that is a strong program.

I think they're excellent at partnering with organizations.

They've been a strong partner with our intervention and prevention efforts out of our police department and the mayor's office, and what we're doing is working.

It's not happening overnight, but we're down 48% in violent crime.

It didn't just happen because we have a great police department.

Happened because grassroots organizations are stepping up and helping fill those gaps and helping these young people get on whatever they're right tracking.

I would just urge this committee and the council to support.

Thank you.

Any other questions or comments?

Alderman Bell.

Uh thank you, Chairwun.

I just uh want to throw out the suggestion that I agree, you know, we should put some pressure on the county to fund some of these programs as well, or uh at least some of them.

Uh maybe that's something that the legislative and lobbying committee can consider when uh putting together a priority list for this upcoming year.

Thank you.

Alderman Salgado.

Yeah, thank you for allowing me to speak on your committee since I'm not part of it.

But since Winnebago County has been brought up and uh uh I was part of the mental health sales tax, not defending them.

I just want to remind folks that uh there's a set criteria that they go through, right?

Um doesn't mean that you're gonna get it just like Jennifer Capibelea came over requesting funding that some of the Justice Department cut out.

We have to fund similar situation to that point.

Uh but I do want to bring up an organization, not to throw them under the bus or give them credit or anything like that.

But Marshmallow, um you guys have all heard of them.

If you guys aren't familiar with suicide teens, uh they went uh through the mental health board.

They got denied.

The county funded them, and then now they're well established, they've gotten funding from that uh perspective.

Not defending the mental health or Winnebago County uh since I was part of that board.

But most definitely, yes, they have a surplus, huge surplus, but they also have criteria on the way they administer funds in order to make sure that it's new.

And to some of the folks that have said here that some of these are we're cannibalizing, we are also competing for the same thing.

And that is the reason why some of the criteria is established to make sure there's new existing program that happens for mental health perspectives, right?

So just wanted to bring that up to that point.

What would be the impact?

Say, for example, I've heard propositions about the mental health giving you 100,000, you're asking for four.

What if we decide to do a match of 100,000?

So now you have 200,000 versus half a mil.

What impact would that be to your organization?

Yeah, size.

To what level though is the impact, like for example, it was heard, I've heard numbers 100, more than 100 participants.

What would that shrink down to 25 to you know what would be the impact?

So again, we uh so what we're requesting is 500,000.

So if you match it 100,000, that's 200,000.

So you look at that was that a third of the funding that it takes to run at the capacity that we're running now, so we will have to cut services to that third.

And I just want to speak to I'll give you an example.

One of the things that um has started taking place since COVID is dealing with feeding our young people when they come to us.

Um, our young people, many times they're not passing tests because they're trying to take these tests because they're hungry.

We feed all the young people that come to our doors two meals a day.

So in eating, they get opportunities to do better in school, better at home, better in our community.

So, what we're talking about is wrap around services that these young people are getting.

Not to mention we're one of the only programs in Rockford that pick up and drop off.

We go pick them up from school, drop them off at home.

On the weekends, we pick them up from home and drop them off at home.

So we're talking about transportation services.

Um, we even provide transportation services to the City of Rockford program to see uh see the CHC program.

So we're talking about cutting back and rolling back those services when it in a time of need.

Um, when as you were just saying, an opportunity to fund gives us an opportunity to get more things in place to firmly establish the program in the future.

And if you look at our success over the past six years, we're continually doing that.

In the past six years, we're up to 12% of our funding as an organization now comes from the private sector, and we're not just relying on grant dollars from the public.

So we're building even that sector to make sure that we're able to provide these services to our young people, and we'll continue.

Yeah, and then if I may uh make an additional comment, um I agree 100% with Alderman Bell on this.

Uh one of the things that uh my Republican colleagues on on this floor is we brought up at our Democratic Caucus is hosting, you know, a joint venture.

Um, we've done it in the past with Winnebago County on issues like this with animal shelter, with our our ordinances on dogs, cats that affect both the Winnebago County and City Council, and this is one other example because it was brought up uh the mayor McNamara has brought up about the public safety sales tax, you know, in regards to growing from 22 to 40 million, and where is that share?

I think those conversations need to be held.

I completely understand that's why you know, when we're in the Democratic Caucus, we brought this discussion.

I want to have those conversations to address some of these issues and be collaboratively.

And one of the things that really frustrates me as well, as Alderman Bell explained it perfectly is I see over the weekend 16, 15-year-old, 17-year-old minors that are committing some of the crime that's going on.

And my thing is like if I can save those kids, you know, whatever it is, I'd rather throw in $50,000 now than have them be locked up or in the process in the judicial system where I'm having to pay you know property taxes or whatever taxes in order for them to have their housing or whatever.

But if I can save an individual from that perspective, they can contribute taxes, they can have a good paying job, raise a family, and contribute to this area.

I think it goes a long way, right?

And so some of these programs like this, I appreciate that we have them.

Yes, it's good to ask questions, you know.

Is it are we doing the same thing with this other organization?

And I think we need to, you know, take down those sides, right?

Because we're all in this, we think our different organizations have the better opportunity, the knowledge to execute on some of these programs.

And so I feel that yes, it's it's necessary to to ask these questions, but I also wanted to express this is that we also took the rebround and took 3.8.5 million dollars out of it uh to close the gap.

This is what this money is intended to go back into the community and serve those purposes.

So I you know, we can choose and pick and choose from that perspective, but at the end of the day, you know, I I would love to see a comprehensive how do we deal with juvenile justice uh from that perspective and help out both our Winnebago County, our city population from that perspective and work together.

But those are kind of my comments from this perspective.

I I think that yes, the mental health board, you know, has the opportunity to fund some if it's particularly the healing center, whatever it is, I think they have the opportunity to do that.

But let's not lose hope.

We had Marshmallow uh a perfect example, Marshmallow Hope, you know, they didn't get funded.

The county founded, and then later on, the mental health came forward and and did what they did, right?

And establish their significance.

So not all hope is lost here, but just trying to figure out if there's a way that we can alleviate some of the the pressures that might exist in this organization that has been established since 2020.

Is that so the organization is since 1915, 1992?

So just from that perspective, I just you know urge that perspective, and if we need to lay it over and have further conversations, I would uh would recommend that from that perspective.

Thank you.

Alderman meets and I see you, Alderman Beach.

And this um this request is for cannabis funding for um just 2025, 26, 2026.

Just 2026.

Thank you.

Did you have another question?

Alder Moment Meets um I didn't see that this was 2026 and 2027 funding.

25 and 26 two years worth of funding?

So it's a total amount of 400,000 dollars, and there's sufficient dollars in 2026 to pay for the 400,000 dollars.

It's a one-year agreement, it would start July 1st through June 30th, 2027.

One year 400, 500,000 total, but 400,000.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, Alderman Beach.

Thank you, Madam.

I'm part of your committee, but I appreciate so um has the city of Rockford ever cases like this requested for the mental health board, uh, either partnership or a need for funding programs like this.

That's just a question that's the advantage.

No, but have we ever officially as a city gone to them and ask for money?

The other thing I'm not saying just an observation.

Um I know that in my church, there's youth groups, and there's youth groups all over the community that are funded by various denominations that are working with kids on the street and off the street, if you will, uh, to give a better look at life and to bring them from one point to another.

And so I want to just simply say that in the midst of all of these discussions, there are other groups out there truly trying to make group, and they're not getting eight penny, now they're dying from the city of Rockford to help support their programs, and so um, I think Oliver Durke's servers are right uh as we talk about it.

Um there's um there's a need to help these kids more than just uh what they eat, which is very important to start with, or what clothes they put on their back, but what guidance they can get spiritually, if you will, to change the way they think, and they need the help.

There's no question about it.

So I I don't think this discussion is against these programs.

I think the discussion is against the funding of it.

And at some point in time, maybe we have to make some hard decisions and try to help this thing up to another level.

So thank you for your letting me just sell a little bit.

If you uh chair before me answer the answer the question related to the mental health board, um the city of Rockford has gone to the mental health board on numerous occasions for funding, um, and they have approved uh significant amount of funding for a number of different programs.

Uh that would include the co-responder model uh run out of our police department.

Um they've also funded the mental our mobile integrated health program out of the fire department.

They've also um funded a number of programs with the our family peace center um staff as well as you know a portion of the improvements for family peace interface two.

Uh we have provided letters of support for a number a number of other programs that have gone and asked some they have funded us on on a number of occasions, and I would say that we have a good working relationship uh with the staff of the mental health board and the mental health board um themselves.

Did we did we um go to them directly on this grant?

No, we we did not.

CCS went directly and had conversations with them and secured the 100,000 dollars.

Um we do think it's an appropriate um program to support our community and that the funding source of cannabis dollars is it is appropriate for that the use of those funds.

I appreciate that other woman granted.

Um my support for this is because it it talks about the whole child and the whole family, it's not just focused on school or home or job, it's focused on the entire family and the whole person.

And as an educator, I know that if they come to me um hungry, they're not going to learn.

And I know that if they come to me homeless, they're gonna be worried about it, and if they come to me with a lot of mental health issues, they're going to have those in the classroom.

So the fact that they're talking and working with the whole student and the whole family is the reason that I will be supporting this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Aldermany Frost.

Thanks, Let me speak.

Yeah, I just uh Mr.

Cagoni kind of cleared it up, but I mean uh the I hate to throw out a program like this and and project you know a negative feeling towards CCS because people are mad at the mental health board and how it's operated for funded.

I think Mr.

Cagnoty gave examples of uh how at least the city does work with it.

We may not all always like the all of the outcomes that we get, but I mean we we definitely can have a uh see the table.

I think we do.

I think both the uh the mayor and Mr.

Cagoni both advocate on it for a number of different programs for that.

Some we win, maybe some we don't.

But in this particular case, I mean, both youth build youth build and the rocket work programs are specifically, I think not quasi mental health programs, but they're really you know, we've talked about some of the unfortunate crimes or somewhat unfortunate events with with teens that in both of these programs, I think you know, teach kids you know, leadership, job placement, the long-term uh employment opportunities and exposing them to matters like that.

I'm sorry, what regulate their emotional?

Well don't you be quiet, right?

Yeah, okay, I don't think so.

With respect to that matter, I mean I I think it it as Alden Slagato suggested as well, uh it is a really good use of of the cannabis fund here.

I mean that that's we we have the fund, uh we need to use it properly, and I in my mind when I get the vote next week.

This this would be advice would be a good place that they could program and a good ed to use it up to that.

Thank you.

Are there any other other one with fronting?

Um after we get that um well, if this is approved, um, how much would be left in the cannabis funds for this year?

I'm gonna I know I responded uh two weeks ago on that number, but I I'd like to hear anything.

I don't know if I have it on my notes.

I want to say it's 350,000.

Correct.

Yeah, 350,000 from 2026.

300 is there?

Is there any other are there any is there any other um are we going to request being made for the 326?

I mean I guess I just want to make sure that we are able to find as many programs that's making it.

So there's not any requests under consideration that have been brought from brought forward from the public or the aldermen uh for the remaining funds at this time.

Were there any other questions or comments?

Last one, sorry, chairwoman.

Alderman Tumber.

All right.

Uh lastly, how much has the mental have you have some mental health uh money that's been given to you?

You know, the the mental health tax, the the money through the mental health tax.

How much has been given to uh this organization thus far for this thus far?

Yeah, as of right now, zero dollars, but this was awarded this program.

All right, and if there was an opportunity to go back and request more money, you would you would take advantage of that.

Absolutely, absolutely.

I understand how it works, though, we'll have to fulfill the current contract that we just answered into with them.

Um, and then we can be reconsidered once they look at our outcomes and make sure that we use the money correctly.

Okay, we can be reconsidered.

All right, thank you.

Any other questions or comments?

Clerk, will you please call the role?

No, Neil, abstain.

Whereas I mean no IT.

Thank you, Mr.

Chapman.

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

The funding source is 2025 and 2026 casino funds.

Don't have a motion to approve.

It's almost I'll go ahead and second.

Are there any uh questions or comments?

Clerk, will you please call the role?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Sorry, I didn't understand.

I'm gonna be further disagreeable tonight, so I'm I'm sure I'm off a lot of people's Christmas again.

Um I'm actually opposed to this uh mostly because uh they're generally the mobile groceries, as far as I could read, are not sustainable unless they are supported either by government or donors.

Um so I'm not sure it's a good long-term model.

You know, I look at it and their margins are gonna be higher.

They have to pay for a truck driver, uh, which is not cheap uh according to the scale.

Um they can only serve a limited amount of food, limited choice, they haven't really shelf life, so it's very difficult.

But I uh I looked up, I got online.

There's any number of grocers uh that will deliver.

In fact, Walmart, if you have a Walmart plus whatever that is, membership, they'll deliver food for free.

So different different grocers will um will deliver, have good produce, have a better selection than uh truck that drives around the city.

So, but I haven't found one, I haven't found anything that was sustainable in and of its own.

And they generally they uh don't they don't last.

I haven't found anything.

Somebody can correct me.

Um I'm okay with that, but most of them that I was reading about don't make it without external support.

Thank you.

Um before we take any other questions or comments, I just want to remind everyone.

I know some of these things may be a sensitive topic for you all.

Keep in mind our microphones are not working, so it's it's already hard enough for us to hear.

Um, but in terms of any type of reactions or public comments beyond what is happening around this horseshoe, we would ask that you do not do that, otherwise you may be asked to leave.

Okay, let's keep it respectful.

Um, do we have any alderman bill?

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

Um, just before the first word alderman raises hand, you're about to go through with the bow.

I just wanted to ask Mr.

Kignoni.

Can he kind of walk us through this uh program and why sit the administration feels that it's worthy for this investment?

Certainly, Alderman and whatever questions I cannot answer.

Uh Jackie and Team from Farmers Rising is here uh this evening as well to make sure that you do have the opportunity to get all your questions um answered.

This is a three-year funding agreement.

Um, you know, what we have done as a staff and community is evaluated, you know, additional opportunities for food insecurity.

And when we talk about food insecurity, um, you know, two major issues come up mobility and cost.

Um, and when you look at this program here, we are trying to address both of those issues through this mobile grocery store.

Um, it is a total amount of of you know 500.

Wait, I have my number wrong, 822,000 dollars over three years.

Um, the initial startup costs would be to secure uh tractor and trailer, and then years as well as operating costs in year one, and then in years two and three, it's up to 150,000 annually in operational cost.

Um, they will be exercising efforts to raise dollars.

Uh, we have looked at other programs.

Our staff has attended uh community groups that visited Milwaukee, and we have communicated uh with the mobile grocery down in St.

Louis.

Um both have had um different successes in deploying affordable uh food to their their community.

Um this is a pilot program.

Uh, we believe it's a cost-effective pilot program when you look at the overall cost over a three-year time period, and understanding that we would anticipate that the program would continue beyond the three years.

I would agree with Alderman Durkey, it will require additional fundraising to sustain the program, and that's why in years two and three, it's an up to um amount, so that our dollars are the last dollars in to help assist and offsetting um the overall operational cost.

When we looked at the other models in Milwaukee and St.

St.

Louis, um, they also have a private fundraising arm.

Um, you know, farmers rising will be um partnering with City Market downtown, so they will be uh help facilitate and providing um the foods for the different locations that they uh will be stopping at.

If you look within the overall project, you'll see that they've identified a number of locations in which they anticipate that that's where they would start.

Um, and they used uh a number of network partners to help identify uh those locations in Northern Illinois Food Bank as well as surveys that they completed throughout this process.

Um, but by no means are those spots fixed.

Um, you know, this is gonna be a fluid effort, recognizing that they're gonna have a mobile grocery that will provide uh much needed healthy food options to the community, but it also needs to be purchased.

So if there's locations that are not purchasing or the the count is down, they will continue to test pilot locations so they get the best um return uh for service to the community as they can on a very high level.

Um that is what is being proposed uh with this program.

Thank you.

Automate bell.

Yeah, thank you.

Uh Mr.

DeMoni, can you kind of walk us through how this aligns with the uh food insecurity policy that this this body passed uh in 2025, June of 2025?

Um certainly.

So when city council reviewed and approved the food insecurity policy, that was um you know, work that had come out from the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence, where they had a working group um related to food insecurity, and again, those two key points being mobility um and affordability.

Um we use the work from that committee to structure a policy that we brought forward.

I identified the specific goals of the policy within the staff report, which would include increased access, so expand the availability of healthy and affordable food options, especially in underserved um neighborhoods, support local food initiatives initiatives, partner with local farmers, growers, and community organizations, and that is most certainly what they're proposing here as one of those groups themselves.

Promote equity, prioritize investments in communities most impacted by food insecurity.

And I think when you look at those locations, um those are areas that have are impacted by food insecurity support coordination, which I touched on, as well as sustainability.

We identify and recognize there are gaps in advancing a project like this, and it does require public dollars to move uh a pilot program like this forward and why we have brought it brought forward.

Thank you.

Umder Woman meets one of the reasons I think the Milwaukee program, the Hunger Task Force has seen some success is because they offer 25% discount at least based on their website for the food that's offered on the mobile unit.

Would this mobile grocery store offer discounts of that nature?

They will they will, yes, as well as accepting.

They will have discounts.

I'll defer to Jackie a little bit on what the total discount amount will be on also doing joint locations with the Northern Illinois Food Bank to deliver low cost and in some circumstances free.

And so is this 25% of the comparable pricing dollars, or is this 25% of the procurement that is coming from city center market?

That one individual market.

So I will let Jackie answer that question if acceptable with the committee in regards to the specifics in regards to the cost structure with city market and how they will deploy that.

Yeah, so the question was if you would mind doing a question.

Is this a good part?

So we have budgeted the annual operation budget for this program on farmers rising side is 265,000, which we're asking.

Oh, this will work.

Hello?

Does this work?

This one?

I don't think any of them are working.

Okay, so just um top dollar, the operations of the of farmers rising um side of this is 265,000 a year, of which we're asking the city to backfill 100,000.

Um of the 265,000, we have $30,000 at allocated for food subsidy specifically.

Um we are projecting 120,000 a month in food sales, and so that will go to lower those um the cost of those the food that's being sold.

So basically it will subsidize the prices that people are paying.

In addition to that, we will be accepting SNAP and EBT, and we have access to the link match program so people can use their SNAP dollars to purchase um, say a bunch of collar greens for five dollars, and they'll get a second bunch for free.

Um so we're able to utilize that that funding as well to subsidize the cost of the uh produce.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Alderman?

Thank you, Chairwoman.

I uh I know we've been talking about a truck driver and a state cab needed and all uh some of the pictures that I saw looked like it was more like uh big four by four uh pickup truck, fifth wheel pulling or trailer.

Uh is that what it's gonna be more like, or is this uh big semi-18 wheeler type cap?

No, it'll be uh it'll be a heavy-duty pickup truck polling, yeah, a gooseneck.

So I guess my question is more as being a member of the finance committee is if the city is gonna purchase this uh truck and trailer, who then is then technically the owner is the organization, farmers rising is the owner.

Okay, what if after so you'll be paying insurance and that's correct?

Um so if maybe after a couple years, God forbid ends up not working out.

Who then is has the right to the proceeds of that trailer that the city purchase because it would be in, I assume the organization's name and that's correct.

So they would benefit from the proceeds of that sale, I imagine.

This is actually written into the proposed legal agreement with the city, so we actually have a proposed contract that's you know kind of um set up that is written that um if the project does not move forward that the city would have the rights to the proceeds of the sale of um that capital expense that Kepler investment um within a certain time period.

Yes.

I can provide a little bit of a clarification.

Jackie, yeah, she answered that 100% correct.

Uh we will have a lien on the vehicle in the trailer for the term of the agreement.

So should it discontinue uh for whatever reason we would be able to foreclose on that more likely we'd work in partnership to dispose of it and then the proceeds would come to the city of Rockford?

Correct.

You're welcome.

Alder Warman Torino.

Yes, thank you.

I just had a quick question regarding I did ask multiple times actually if I I wanted to break down of who was a part of the stakeholder list of the task force, just to know what organizations and individuals crafted this.

That was not in the pro forma.

I know it's some general, you know, someone from the hospital system.

I I want to list.

So if I could please have that.

But I do want to know if was Health and Human Services a part of that list?

City of Rockford Health and Human Services specifically.

Are they a part of the task force?

I guess I'll just ask Director Party.

Does anyone are are you or anyone from your team on that?

No.

No.

That's interesting.

Kind of shocked by that information that we would not have gone to our own health human services department first.

Um that deals with people on this initiative.

Hey, that's all I have at the same time.

Thank you.

Were there any other questions or comments?

Uh Alderman Darking?

Just one overarching of reiteration.

If the private sector, which is moving in that direction, has a capacity to deliver.

Why is this program needed?

I mean, I'm I'm happy to answer that question.

Um because it's certainly one that we have had uh discussions on as a as a staff.

Um we still believe that there's a gap.

Um, and that's ultimately why we adopted a food insecurity policy.

They delivered when we adopted that policy.

If we didn't recognize as a community that there is a food insecurity issue, we wouldn't be adopting that policy.

And I think it's gonna take multiple methods, um, and a mobile grocery can be one of the solutions, but by all means is not the entire solution for getting access to fresh affordable food to our residents.

Alderman Bell.

Uh thank you, Chairwoman.

Um, I just want to point out um, because there was made mention of a list that was not shared.

That list was asked uh of to me uh during Democratic Caucus and June 8th.

I did send that email.

And I just want to read the list of some of the partners that are a part of the task force.

It certainly does not list all that did not have access to the whole list, but here's a significant part.

Crusader Community Health, OSF, UW Health, Rockford Health Council, Live for Lolly, uh Nami Northern Illinois, Northern Illinois Food Bank, University of Illinois Extension, University of Illinois, Chicago, Rockford Public School District has been represented, Northern Illinois University through NICNE, Western Western Illinois University, the Excel Center, Goodwill, Learn Grow Connect, Platform Group, Rockford Area Realtors, Housing Stakeholders have been involved, Winnipeg County Housing Authority, Northwest Community Center, uhlignment Rockford, uh Farmers Rising, of course, Community Life Center, uh, City Center Market and Discount Drugs, uh, myself, uh Senator Steve Stottleman, Alderman Bonnie.

I know Alderwoman Granith has been there.

Um the city of Rockford, Ana Garrison has been represented for I think now a year and a half uh on behalf of community economic development department and pretty involved in this process for the last year, I'd say.

Uh and I I could go on and on with the list, but I just wanted to clarify for the record that that email was sent to received.

Any other Alderman Durkey clarification from Mr.

Cagnoni did UW Health contribute any money to this?

I'm not aware that they have.

Well, Jack could just raise your hand, so maybe she's been working on fundraising.

Yeah, so the UW Health Foundation has pledged 10,000 dollars towards this project.

So that's their first pledge.

Um, and then they'll be in consideration for moving forward.

Any other questions or com okay?

Alderman Frost?

Yeah, um, you know, I I wish the program well and it is a success, but I I was I know that the Milwaukee one was used as a model, and it's a little bit different because that does have the heavy investment of the Pingley Wingly grocery store.

And so those were the those were the 25% off of the 25% off of Pigglyway rates, but but they've done a great job of getting you know large private donations involved.

If you look at their financials, um they have about uh 12 million dollars in donations in 2025 that they received.

So you know, we just heard a list of all these you know government quasi-government entities, and I guess my suggestion would be that you really need to reach out to the private well and get you know organization entities here in town that are that are they like in Milwaukee that are donated cash instead of just say you know you have a major hospital chain donate 10,000 dollars while that's like me giving it a nickel.

I mean, right?

You gotta you're gonna need to get some serious money to run this program.

I mean, I think at the truck budget was 340,000.

I mean, I looked at the Milwaukee truck, that's still 340,000 our truck, so I don't know why you know you ought you ought to start maybe looking at a way to kind of buckle it and figure it out now up front before before all the money is spent on a fixed asset that's depreciated.

Um thank you.

Alder Woman Meeks.

Thank you so much.

I just want to just say this that when I did sit and speak with the um with Congress Rising prior to me knowing the dollar amount, I'm gonna be completely honest.

Prior to me knowing the 822,000 dollar dollar amount, I was really liking the idea.

I I really I really was um but I feel like I made it clear on that call and subsequently that I would like to see additional funding before we start here.

Um so um I will not be supporting this.

Surprise, surprise today.

I'm just um I'm having a hard time with some of these um requests for funding, and I think that there's a lot of efforts that can be made to really get more community support, and then we come to the city to fill that gap, and I would be more than happy to do that and very honored to do that.

So I just want to say that.

Thank you.

Alderman Bell.

Uh thank you.

Appreciate uh the opportunity to speak on the committee.

Um I have a lot to say.

I think uh I'll start here.

Uh the funding sources the 2025 and 2026 casino funds.

We are in 2026, and so um we I understand too speaking.

So in 2025, we did not spend the funds that are being requested here, right?

And in 2026, we have the funding available to to use.

So that is that is correct.

We did not spend all the economic development funds in 2025, so a portion of is 2025 and then 2026.

And theoretically, understanding that this is three years, we could spread it out if there was other funding opportunities that we wanted to advance forward.

And then um, understanding, right?

It was made mentioned today during discussion um that I think it was 2.6 million dollars in December during the budget time was was reappropriated to the general fund um to fill the gap.

And uh I remember you know being an advocate, you know, on the other side, the opposing side of that.

Uh, and I think what a few of my colleagues and I have discussed with the administration, and I appreciate y'all bring this forward, is that we need to come in to a consensus on what we are going to support when it comes to our cannabis and casino funds.

Otherwise, I mean, as you saw in what we continue to hear about is the deficit that we're in, right?

9.4 million dollar uh revenue shortfall.

Um, and so I I think you know we do have to have more conversations.

Um I don't think that we're gonna solve those issues around this horseshoe.

I think maybe this is a call to action in the item before us, uh item number two, or before this one, item number two, you know, uh, did not have the votes throughout committee and a lot of different discussion, but I'm hearing some of the same when it comes to the funding part, and so uh maybe maybe it's on us that we we've come together and have conversations on what we do want to prioritize for me.

Uh I want to support um ensuring that individuals in our community have fresh and affordable food and access to that.

I think that this program allows for that, it has successful uh compared organizations uh and Nickney and Farmers Rising has met with and visited again the mobile grocery stores, um, has worked with those teams to ensure that this pro forma was um revised in a way that could fit a uh a form of sustainability within their organization.

Um has worked with those teams to ensure that this proforma was revised in a way that could fit a form of sustainability within their organization.

I would just hate that this item uh fail, and we we show our community that we don't want to prioritize providing fresh and affordable food.

I'm not saying everyone's saying that, but I do think that we ought to have a conversation on how we address the food insecurity issue.

We have a framework.

This proposal has been in the making for a year and a half with host of stakeholders.

Um there was an organization that said we'll step up and be that organization that would provide the access to maybe I think about six different wards throughout our community, and could expand an operation as they receive funding from those private donors.

But I of course I'm supportive of this, I won't label the issue.

You all know our stand on this outside of council on one days.

We've got to have conversations on what we're going to prioritize.

Otherwise, I think you know, 2025 and 2026 casino funds and 2027 because you know funds will then go into that general fund just like the cannabis dollars did as well.

So thank you.

Before uh Aldi Barnman Pronti, did you have your hand up?

Um yeah, I it doesn't work.

I just remember um a conversation regarding um being able to price match um Aldi and Walmart, but I just heard by dollars for green.

So I'm just how are we going to be how how are how is the organization price map matching?

How are they gonna get to where they can uh match or beat those change I would defer to Jackie in regards to their pricing model?

Yeah, so um the the reference to five dollars for a bunch of greens was just an easy example, it wasn't an actual example in reality of the cost of a bunch of colored greens, for example.

Um but the we have the ability as a nonprofit to raise private dollars.

We've been invited to write grant proposals, for example, to the community foundation of Northern Illinois to help support specifically the food subsidy for the mobile grocery store.

So that's one example of many opportunities that we have as a nonprofit to bring in private dollars to support specifically the cost of food and make sure that it's affordable.

Um top of that, in response to the um the fact that Piggly Wiggly offers a subsidy as well.

City Center Market has committed a 10% profit share with us as well.

So any offset of costs that help offset the cost of farmers rising to administer this program goes directly into lowering the cost of the food.

So I think that there's a lot of creative um ways and a lot of potentials that an organization like farmers rising can bring to the table, uh making sure that it's mission-driven, that it's not a profit-driven um initiative.

Profit oftentimes is the reason why we don't have brick and mortar stores um in some of the food deserts in our community is because the profit margin isn't there, and that's what we can bring to this is the ability to raise private funds and lower those costs for individuals, and that's our commitment to this project.

And and um quite frankly, we wouldn't be at the table to administer this project if we wanted to sell expensive groceries to people.

That's that's not what we're about.

We're about making sure that people have access to affordable fresh food.

Any other printing?

Thank you again.

Um I think in a conversation somewhere, I asked the question what happens to this proposal or this initiative if the city does not find it.

I can at least I mean I think there's a reasons why there's food insecurity throughout our community.

I'm sorry, Mr.

Catoni.

Do not answer because I think I heard an answer when I was on a meeting that wasn't that it doesn't mean no.

I heard an answer that says yes, we will still do this, it will just take us longer.

It will just take us longer.

That's correct.

That is correct.

So we are committed to moving this project forward.

Um we have been reaching out to uh state representative West for to change some laws at the state level that will enable capital funding to support mobile grocery stores versus brick and mortar stores.

All of that is um to be determined and pending, of course.

And so we are committed to moving this project forward.

Um the timeline will be um dramatically pushed back, I believe, if the city does not want to make a commitment.

Um we but we intend to move it forward.

Um we are also launching our public fundraising um campaign as we speak.

Um tomorrow we'll be holding a press conference to start to have those community-wide conversations um and reach out to the private corporations in our community to ask for funding support as well.

Um so the project will move forward, but the timeline is going to be pushed back.

Thank you.

Did you have a follow-up question on the amount of fronty?

I was just thinking about the question that talk about filling the gap prices being because I'm obviously I'm looking for a compromise fill in the gap versus being the sole provider, I don't know.

I mean, oh Jackie's gonna respond.

I I will uh just one brief comment is I mean we tried to structure the the agreement as a well, we did as a last dollar.

So if they are successful in securing additional funding, those dollars come before our dollars.

Um but we did think it was prudent to move this forward sooner rather than later.

Now obviously it's up to the city council.

Um they'd rather wait and see if they're able to secure the funding and the timing.

That would that would be you know a possibility.

Yeah, I exactly.

We we did try to be very creative with our ask to be respectful of public funding.

Um we have a path towards sustainability um with the profit share with city center market, and also I just want to point out that we do have a food emergency um happening in our community right now.

Uh SNAP funding is being cut today.

Um, and you know, we had someone at the last food and security task force meeting state that their parent receives $18 a month in SNAP funding.

And so, what can that buy?

And so we have people who are hungry today, and whether or not this project moves forward um, you know, next month, six months from now, a year from now, uh, we we need to move forward creative solutions to feeding people in our community.

Um, did you have your hand up?

Alderman Salgado.

Yes, thank you for allowing me to speak again on on this topic.

Um just want to thank uh Alderman Bell for establishing some of the one-on-ones that we had um with with uh everybody um and discussions about that.

Um but I also want to point out that we have this task force, um we brought this framework of food insecurity.

We talked about the West side not having grocery store.

We talked about certain parts of the city not having you know groceries or availability.

So I took it upon the research they've done and uh beaches looking at the whole forma that they provided, the research, the statistics that they provided.

Um they did the work um that food insecurity.

Now, if we have a proposal for building a site somewhere on the west side where we really need it, let's do it.

I'm not opposed to that from that perspective.

Um might say a million, you know, 1.5 million, whatever it is, might be a good start for anyone for uh brick and mortar from that perspective.

Um I know that on Broadway and uh Kishwaki next to the McDonald's, there is El Rancho uh grocery store coming in that I believe uh Steve Stadleman secured 1.3 if I'm not mistaken on on the dollar note to establish some of the funding for that grocery store there from that perspective.

So there is opportunity for those things from that perspective.

But I do take um, you know, I'm thankful for this body and especially the administration to take in some of the the feedback that we've gotten about you know the framework.

Um we put pumped the brakes a little bit, we had discussion, go back, figure this out, and then we went to the the task force for insecurity food um and they divulging the information, and I uh you know someone brought it up from uh president of the NWCP, you know, that heard about this program, you proposed it, kind of took models.

Milwaukee may not be the same uh population compared to Rockford, but similar ask or needs for the community.

And so, yes, definitely we can have partners.

I love Collins in my organization to pitch in on certain things, uh, private you know, sector as well.

Um, this, like I said, this is a beginning from this perspective.

Um, and the way they laid it out, you know, after year three, you know, they're gonna be sustainable.

Um, that's what I'm more interested in.

Yes, startup costs are huge from this perspective, but I do want to reiterate like we came back to the city council and said, here's the framework, go figure it out task force, and Alderman Bell explained to the different organizations uh the connections that we might have, you know, potentially for private donations going forward, etc.

etc.

But this is a good stepping stone from this perspective, and once again, this is good use of these funds back into our community.

Um so I just want to bring that up.

You know, we talk about you know doing certain things, and then we take a step back.

And I I'm a financial guy.

Um, you know, I'll call it out the way it is.

And I did it during the budget process last year, and we've heard the deficit, uh, the revenue that we burn, you know.

So you know, from that perspective, I'm I'm cognizant of that, but I'm also respectful of the process that they've taken information and provide the pro forma and their projections on how they're going to be success sustainable for the next three years.

Now, could something dramatically happen and that does not happen and they dry up in two years, that could be the possibility unsuccessful.

But that's the risk and opportunity that we're taking as a community to address some of these issues that we have, which is food insecurity in this point.

So yeah, I'd love to see more grocery stores where uh folks don't have access to it for walking distance, just like I'm having an issue with uh the food pantry moving, uh trying to find a new location on Broadway after Crusader Clinic will be rebel redeveloping their their site that they won't be able to be housed there.

So I have those concerns as well in trying to find them a location.

So that's another battle that we'll have to do, but I just want to express that they they have taken the time, they've gone through the process, they've looked at our framework and put something together to address the issues that we might have.

And one of the things is you know, and I expressed this uh to them when we were there, they're gonna come to the financial.

How are you gonna what's the ROI?

What how are you gonna make sure that you're gonna break even and continue to be sustainable for the future?

Those are questions that were addressed, and I feel pretty comfortable where they're at from that.

And I just wanted to bring that to your attention.

That through my conversations I've had, um, they were very positive, and and I'm very appreciative of that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I lost some hands, I'm sorry.

Uh Alderman Durkheim.

I have uh one last question.

That is the um the folks who are in need of this uh mobile grocery store.

Where do they get the other staples like paper towels, things like that?

How do they get that?

I'm not I can't answer that question.

Neither can I it's not gonna be in this Alderman Bellet.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, Chairwoman.

I think one of the uh coolest things about this project is uh this is this is a this is a mobile food grocery store that anyone can shop on.

Um of course anyone can go to the food pantry, um, but this is bringing food to people that directly aligns with the mission of the Northern Illinois uh Center for Nonprofit Excellence Food Insecurity Task Force.

Um again, I keep referring back to that food and security task force because well, I've been apart for now a year and a half, and have seen the different organizations come together uh for a comprehensive coordinated approach, and this proposal um thankfully from Farmers Rising saying yes after months and months of trying to find a nonprofit to uh answer the call of addressing food insecurity in this way.

And so much so again that the organization expanded after conversations with a few aldermen who uh took the meeting and shared their uh perspective and advocacy to addressing food insecurity.

Um there were additional stops, uh location stops added to the performa while over the last two weeks since the original um uh vote two weeks ago, and so it goes from the uh West Riverside Boulevard corridor where the cliffbreakers area is.

I believe it's the 12th board uh Auburn Street retail corridors on Auburn and Central.

Um UW Health or the Jackson Charter School area, but UW Health is our in and or their intended uh stop until Crusader is done, and then Crusader will be the stop right there where they're redeveloping the Walgreens over there, West State in Springfield uh in the Rockford Ridge community.

That uh well, that's in my war, and when I drive down the street or am in the neighborhood, or just growing up, this is exactly what I saw, or experiences individuals from Rockford Ridge have to walk all the way to Save a lot with bags and their kids on sidewalks that are dilapidated, and yes, we're investing in infrastructure, but as we invest in infrastructure, we can also invest in access to fresh and affordable food.

And so I think that addresses uh that stop addresses that need in that area as well.

Sandy Hollow and 11th Street in the Horton Keys, uh Kiswaki Harrison area.

Um I believe that that street over there kind of encompasses the 5th and 6th ward, uh North Rockton Avenue.

I think this stop came from the advocacy of Alder Woman Granit and her conversation at the Good Shepherd Client CA to ensure that that you know her area uh was uh able to be impacted by this mobile food grocery store.

The Broadway and 15th, uh Black Hawk Courts area, Charles Street Corridor, Patriots Gateway.

I think uh the 11th Ward Alderman uh during his meeting advocated for that as he mentioned the food pantry transitioning locations and the uh gap in access that will take place because of that in that general area.

Um Booker T.

Washington Center, the historic Booker T.

Washington Center and South South Maine and Morgan area, uh, and then uh the Boys and Girls Club Sentrum unit that serves about 150 to 200 kids a day during the school year.

So I I think these these areas again through the performa really target specific areas that are food swamps and food insecure areas that residents, our residents have been they've been longing for the access to be given to them, and I think this is an opportunity to do that.

Uh it may not impact you uh here, uh, my colleagues around the the city or this this uh horseshoe, but it certainly impacts your residents.

And I I just ask that you take in consideration uh that hey, sometimes I I I won't say who it is in my family, but and I'm sure it's many individuals throughout our community now that we have slots in every corner and the casino.

These these funds are probably generated by individuals trying to find a way to double their money at the casino to go and pay for groceries.

Um, and so I I would just say, you know, I I probably have talked too much.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman Beach.

Oh, I'll make a short, just as a businessman, taking a look at the national averages on the net margin of grocery stores, probably somewhere between one and three percent.

So you take a look at a million dollars three years out as their combined revenue, and you apply it, let's say a three percent number to that, that's not a lot of money left for them to reinvest, and you make that business continue to grow.

So I'm just making a comment is that all the goodness that we're talking about.

That's that's wonderful.

But the bottom line of the numbers don't lie, and you've got history across the country, and you've got facts in front of you, and so it's not that we're against it, but to get a look at it because everything on this performance has to work perfectly in order for the numbers to become what they are, and that's what the performance is.

It's just kind of a roadmap to guide you along the way.

Any startup is that way.

So it's you know, uh, I I don't really expect, I hope they're all right.

I hope these numbers are right, but maybe it might take four years or the fifth year to actually make it work.

But I'm just saying, based on the average, and if maybe their net margin will be greater.

I won't deny that because you're sure saying that some of these other places they're probably getting some discounts that maybe make that margin, but right now, even four even five percent of a million doesn't give you a lot of money left to continue investing to making that thing grow, and there's no dollars in it yet that we know of by the public.

So uh I wish that well, I want it to work out, but the numbers don't lie to us either.

Were there any other questions or comments?

Alderman Meeks.

Thank you so much.

I just um you know, I just want to I I do have a hard time sitting through constantly feeling like the decision that I'm trying to make, and what I think are thought conscious decisions about funding, um make it so that I don't care about feeding people.

I just I I I'm not gonna act like that doesn't bother me because it does.

Um there was a moment where I've worked at um United Way, and um it was during COVID, and they brought a program uh by the name of Top Box Foods into the community, and this was an opportunity out of Chicago, a nonprofit organization that went into the community, brought fresh foods, brought frozen foods, and delivered it to the door.

It was a partnership within the community, there were volunteers that participated, and food was delivered directly to people's doors.

Um I think about that program, I know that it didn't last after COVID.

Um, but I think about programs of of that nature when I think about people like my neighbor who um turned 80 years old, doesn't have a driver's license anymore, is ineligible to drive, and I I you know he currently gets meals on wheels delivered to him, but in order for him to get to a grocery store, D means transportation, and knowing that he's not in one of these 10 areas, I know that this particular individual will not be able to benefit from this particular program unless he still has transportation, and then I don't know if once he gets that transportation if he's going to choose this as the option versus going to uh schnooks or Walmart or a Aldi or whatever the options are that exist in the community, so this is a high risk.

We talked about the fact that this is a high risk potential opportunity, and the from my point of view, it's not about not wanting to fund something of this nature, it's it's about seeing the community's support in dollars before we move forward, and I know the initial thought was and I don't know which came first, I don't know what if it was the task force that gave us the information of the framework, or you know, or this came directly from the city.

I'm not sure how it all came before us.

Um I just know it came before us, and approving framework is a very easy thing to do, so it really gets more difficult when you start adding in the numbers because that's one thing I will say when we talked about the framework back then.

I asked back then, what are the numbers that we're talking about?

How much are we putting aside to support these efforts?

And we never got a number, and then we got this number off of this particular program.

So this has just been um I know it's been a long process, I know that it's a sensitive subject.

Um but yeah, I just I I stand to agree that there needs to be more funding.

Um I guess I'll just say collaborations, in my opinion, before we initiate all of the funding.

So sorry I got low there, didn't stay loud.

Um, but that's all I have to say.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman Bill.

Thank you, uh Chairwoman for allowing the speaker on your committee.

Uh I thought I was done, but I'll circle back around question.

Um so I think one of the things when I look back at budget time uh in 2025 in November, December, um when the 2.6 million dollars was reappropriated to the cannabis, or sorry, to the general fund.

The cannabis dollars were reappropriated to the general fund.

Um we had conversations uh about bringing back the Rego program for the dollars that we did end up uh I guess reserving for the cannabis dollars, in which I think the item before this one uh was tapping into those dollars that we that we reserved for 2026.

Um I forget the number, I think somewhere close to 800,000 dollars was uh kept for the cannabis uh POP.

Um intended.

But uh also right, this committee, and I wish I served in planning and development um uh maybe next year, but um this same committee didn't did not second did not second the regrow program, and so I think you know, from the conversations that we had during budget time, we were able to save or secure about $800,000 in negotiating uh through budget time, and and thanks to the colleagues for that.

Um ultimately we we did not set a framework or or continue the rubric for rewill, and so I think this program really aligned with potentially tapping into those re-roll funds, but we don't have regroup program, um, and so maybe we should revisit uh bringing back the regrow program as well.

Um but again the planning and development committee.

Uh I had I couldn't vote on that, otherwise I would have said yes to bring that back, but just wanted to bring us back in time six months ago as well for for that from that perspective.

Thank you.

Are you questions or comments?

Um clerk, will you please call the role?

No, Neil.

Aye.

Correct?

I mean, no, two out of two minutes.

Okay.

Do I have a motion to approve?

So are there any questions or comments, or did you want to speak on onto this at all?

Sure, I could just um add some clarification so that um there's an understanding that um the termination that that's up right now um goes alongside the next three ordinances for the confirmation of a new TIFF district.

Any questions or comments?

Alderman Meets.

Um can you just clarify?

I think this applies to several of the upcoming items.

Um the word I I guess I'll just start with.

I'm very aware that this is strictly a conversation about the TIFF.

Um not necessarily about the data center that is within the bounds of the TIF.

But can I just get some clarity on the I know that there's no incentive coming from the city of Rockford based on the language that was placed in the ordinance?

Um is there funding coming from or can you verify if there's an incentive being offered to Monarch for from state of Illinois, DCEO?

Can you say that again about the is there funding um incentive coming from DCEO to fund Monarch data center?

So I would want to just add one clarification to that, as you already stated that um the proposals for the new TIFF are just for the creation of the TIFF as a mechanism to offer cost reduction tools to encourage development.

Um it is not for any specific project.

Um, and even with that, um, when we speak of Monarch in general, um there it's not a data center project for Monarch.

It is a industrial development that they are looking to accomplish.

add one clarification to that as you already stated that um the proposals for the new TIF are just for the creation of the TIFF as a mechanism to offer cost reduction tools to encourage development um it is not for any specific project um and even with that um when we speak of monarch in general um there it's not a data center project for monarch it is a industrial development that they are looking to to accomplish um I don't know about anything when it comes to this state um on whether or not um monarch is receiving any incentives from them that makes it difficult for me to ask any questions then um yeah I'm gonna just pause for a second to collect my thoughts thank you I'll come back to you Alderwoman meetings um alder woman pronty I'm sorry I know this is somewhere but if you could tell us all um we're terminating this but how much time is left on this one so um the TIFF was created that's currently in place was created in 2011 um it would naturally come to its full life end in 2035 one of the reasons absent any other um monarch or data center or anything like that um for a TIFF that is that far into its full life cycle for us to be able to utilize that to incentivize that private investment that this land is intended to do um we need to have a type of TIFF with a younger life because when companies that are looking to come to the area are looking they're looking for incentives that are available right now and to be able to have to say okay well now we have to go through this whole process it sets us apart and we lose our competitiveness from other areas this is the only this area is the only rail served area that has a green field available within our region.

I'm not talking just Rockford it's the region so to be able to have the appropriate tools that when other companies are looking at coming to the United States or coming to Illinois they're looking to see what we have in place and to have a TIFF that is a new enough to be able to really incentivize is imperative.

And in addition this is a large amount of land and again to sets us apart as a competitive area within the state of Illinois that we have land of this size available available for industrial development you can continue Alderwoman Ponte.

Do you have lookers so there are so I guess it kind of depends on on what you mean exactly by lookers but for our um through the just regular state process when the states contacted um by companies or site selectors looking to come to the area we do respond to those requests including this the this area this site in addition just last week through the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce they held a tour where they had site selectors come and look at different options available within the within the area and having again you know we we so we do have lookers and we do need in order to be able to land a project like that we have to have the right tools in place.

We have other TIFFs in our area that are this large so we tend to keep the TIF the size that's appropriate for whatever project is going to come alongside it.

And alongside this is where there's the existing TIFF district there's also additional land being annexed into again for industrial development they we're encompassing all of that industrial land with the TIF district to be able to provide that support.

However last year the the TIF districts that were created were much smaller because they were only serving certain projects that would align with those sizes in this instance because these um this industrial land is of this you know thousand plus acres is 1600 acres that's why it's the size that it is so that that would so when you talk about the lookers are the people who came in view that seems to suggest either a lot of lookers or a huge or huge some huge right so I mean we we've had great lookers come there's been I I don't have the exact numbers on how often we've responded to requests with um the the site um but it's been provided for um you know

So that that would so when you talk about the lookers or the people who came in view, that seems to suggest either a lot of lookers or a huge book or a huge some huge bookers, right?

So I mean, we we've had great lookers come.

Um there's been I I don't have the exact numbers of how often we've responded to requests with um the the site, um, but it's been provided for um you know industrial projects since it was probably annexed, and then I definitely since it was you know, a TIF district was created there to support it.

Um obviously um you know that TISP district was created in 2011, um it was like created under a completely different um state statute process, um, and that doesn't exist anymore.

That that process is not available to to go through that job recovery act, it doesn't exist.

Um, and so for us to be able to again know make sure that you know this land was annexed into the city for industrial purposes, and to go alongside that um is the need for a TIFF that can actually um support such uses and and what in my reference to any of those projects, it's not um um a reference to any of the specific projects that would include a potential data center, it's only that um when we annex the land in it was for um the purposes of industrial use and zones such I was concerned since you brought up annexation, thank you very much.

Um I guess one of my questions as it relates to this package because this is about four items, uh like can those TIFF dollars because I uh I'm sorry, like who would be responsible for the uh like the streets and and making the streets and making the roads and keeping the roads up to car if this annexation and TIFF were created.

Could the TIFF dollars, I'm sorry, could the TIF dollars be used for so TIFF TIF funding can be used for public infrastructure, yes.

That's what thank you public infrastructure, thank you so much, and then is this this is well probably I just want to make sure and I know that I think I know the answer to this question in the event that there are some infrastructure type things I'm sorry, let me stop.

I stop for an hour.

Were you ready with your vote?

I'm just you know, I don't really feel like I have any questions.

I I received word that the incentive is already grandfathered into um monarch, so they would be receiving DCEO grant funds uh through the data center incentive program, and so at first it was you know, this kind of conversation of could this vote potentially kind of pause things, delay things until we get past that July 1 mark, and would that have any impact?

I don't believe it will whatsoever.

So I just you know, I'm I'm feeling a little defeated right now being in the camp where I don't I don't want to see this direction, and and this is just a personal opinion of mine that I have had for a while, especially when it comes to agricultural land turning into industrial land building industrial around an area that was intended to be preserved or utilized, and I just I'm having a really hard time, and I appreciate Mr.

Good, who I sat with, and I do, I really do appreciate sitting with you, getting the history, understanding that this has been a long time plan for this city, a long since I think 2006, we have been talking about the growth of uh industry in this area.

And I don't know how to stop that train here.

So I will not be voting for this.

I I want to say it's just it's a personal opinion that I share.

And I am fully aware, so I don't need anyone to explain to me that this approval and and and you know that this termination, that this approval, that the redevelopment project area and all of these things are not in relation to Monarch.

I do fully understand it.

There is a bigger picture for me with saying yes to all of this.

And I am just I cannot comfortably do that, despite appreciating what venture one has brought already to this community, and the fact that infrastructure is for the most part already started in the area, so it is a prime area to continue moving that forward.

But for someone that you know that appreciates nature and appreciates butterflies, I mean, like all of the things that make up the potential change that could come from some of these projects.

And so I just have to say that.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Alderman Beach, my apologies.

Well, I think I'll just be quiet.

Are there any maybe I will?

Okay.

One thing community need is shovel ready property.

Because when corporations decide they want to move, and I'm not saying any particular name of corporations, they get together in their boardrooms and they make decisions on their expansion, and when they make that decision, they don't want to wait around for a community to go to the committees and then do this and do that, and eight months later they can start building.

If a business wants to go out there, they basically have like a fast team.

They say, where do you want to go?

And what in the world do we have to do right now to get you in the ground?

And try to get themselves ready.

You look at the building, and you look at the building from DeKel right up this corridor towards Rockford, Illinois, and you look at this possibility.

We need if we want to grow in this area.

Well, I say the area, the area of development, no business.

We need to invest in that kind of thing, so that when these corporate are ready, we're ready to go with it and grow.

And and I tell you that's enough.

But as well I really believe in my heart.

Thank you.

Alderman Fronty.

Thank you for your cash.

And uh, I guess my question is you know that I kind of heard this a few times around this area about need and people walking away if they don't get what they want.

And I'm just wondering like I had a chance to drive through a lot of a lot of this is in my ward, if not all of it, will be in my ward.

Um work is being done.

Um I mean I can't tell that they would walk away.

Any bank will walk away.

Um if this is such a lucrative such a wonderful opportunity.

Yes, thank you for your passion.

That's it.

Alderman Frost.

Um, since uh Alderman Beach mentioned uh Mr.

Good, who was the uh the proponent uh of this development uh the committee would like maybe you could answer what his actual intentions are with respect to the use of this property because I think I think people have maybe misinformed us of this how it is when you develop and use do you want to sit over to the mic thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Mark Good.

I'm a principal at uh Venture One Real Estate.

All we do are build industrial buildings throughout Illinois.

Uh we're also in New York and Florida.

Uh we've been a major investor in Winnebago County since 2005.

Um you mentioned Loves Park.

We have developed the expansion for Dan Foss in Loves Park.

In addition, we have a business park off of Baxter Road just east of I-39, which uh houses five different companies from FedEx uh to um Burner Foods, Microsoft.

Our business park there is a high-end business park, all pre-cast.

Um we employ about a thousand people in that business park, not we, but the companies that are there.

Many of you might know people that work at those companies.

Um there they pay good uh rent.

We have another hundred thousand hundred acres just south on Baxter Road there that we would like to develop at some point in that area.

Um we put under contract the land that's just west of the Gensler um food stand there or farm stand there for the purpose of building industrial buildings, uh not a data center.

We have signed an agreement with the city of Rockford that we would not do a data center there.

So I appreciate your signs, they don't relate to me.

Um and I and I can understand some of you may not want them.

We are not data center developers.

Um if you drive along Baxter Road, you'll see the buildings we build, which are primarily industrial warehouse buildings.

Um I've been doing this only for 50 years, um, but I've been but I have built um close to 20 million square feet in the last seven years for companies like an Amazon or a Microsoft, they're good companies, they pay good wages.

But communities that bring industrial into their areas in areas near highways and and not in the and not I don't put build them in the center of town or in residential areas.

Every industrial job that comes to a community supports three additional jobs.

That's based on a national study.

So when I hear you talking about the growth of your community, I've done some research.

The Rockford City of Rockford, only four percent of your tax base is industrial.

That's on the extremely low end.

Chicago, eight to ten percent.

DuPage County, eight ten to fifty percent.

So you're you're you're looking at Rockford, and I've been working with the mayor here for years, and I and I work with Scott Christensen and and and now Joe Shirilly here in Winnebago County.

They building up the tax base in your community starts with industrial.

And and from industrial, you get other jobs.

And from that you get residential development and you get retail development because people have money from these jobs.

And industrial also does not require heavy services from the community.

We are the low on the low end of the chain.

Multifamily, retail, residential require heavy services from your fire departments and other areas.

You know, we don't require that.

We have a we have on we have the lowest need of services, but we pay the highest amount of taxes.

So when you when you look at this and you can look at where we're locating behind Gensler, east of the railroad, there's no residences around there.

It's on the north side of Edson Road.

We have about a hundred and sixty-five acres there to develop.

We can build about two million square feet.

Um, you know, that's those are nice buildings to build, they'll be precast.

Access will be up 251, which is a truck route, to Baxter Road, east on Baxter Road to I-39, which you just spent a lot of money improving I-39 and Route 20 to support all that.

They won't be driving through your communities.

And that's what we look to.

We don't put industrial land next to residential.

We like it out and where the trucks can get to the highway without going through residential areas.

So from our perspective, I know the data center thing is a big deal.

I I I don't have any opinion on that.

We are not doing data centers.

We are only doing industrial buildings that will support the community.

And by the way, when we build an industrial building, we employ about 500 union laborers to build that building.

Okay, and it takes about 12 to 15 months.

So when we do all those buildings on Baxter Road, we are we we hire union labor, and and and it again, we take 12 to 15 months to build them, and we employ about I guess I'd say 300 to 500 people on each building that we build.

So we would appreciate you thinking about it.

And I'll only make one other comment on incentives.

Every single business park that we have, and we you talked about the Calb earlier.

I have the largest business park in DeKelp called Park 88.

We built three buildings for 3M there, about 2 million square feet and targets and about a million and a half square feet in our business park.

That has incentives.

Our projects in University Park have incentives.

Our projects in Love's Park have incentives.

We have our business park there.

So incentives are used to attract companies.

But the TIFF will wear out, you know, if you provide some incentives, and those taxes will then go into the community chest.

So you know it's a way to bring employment to your area, it's a way to bring union jobs to your area.

And and and you are competing with Wisconsin heavily.

And you're competing with other areas in Illinois that are taking your businesses.

So I I would say that again, I've been an investor here for 25 years.

I want to continue to be an investor in the area, but we need your support on the incentives to do it.

And again, most of those go toward public infrastructure, improving your roads, improving your water systems, your sanitary systems.

So that's where we spend, you know, we look to those incentives TIFF to be used for.

I can answer any questions.

Um you mentioned transparency.

I see a lot of signs here.

We are amazingly open book.

I will answer any questions from anybody.

I'll be happy to hold a town hall off-site.

But from my perspective, we are 100% transparent and open book my company, venture one.

I won't speak about anybody else.

Speak about my company, and uh and I'd be happy to answer any questions from anybody.

Thank you.

Um thank you for giving me the time.

No problem.

Are there any other questions or comments?

Alderman Pronti.

This is for uh Mr.

Good.

Um sorry, I didn't get a chance to meet with you.

Um talk later, but um you talked about um the other places are offering incentives.

Yes, ma'am.

Would the incentive that's already there?

Uh oh, because that's gonna enlarge.

Okay.

All right.

Um, are they offering the same kinds of incentives?

Are they offering TIFFs?

Yes, our project on Baxter Road, which is the TIFF there is controlled by the county.

We started that with Scott Christensen.

Now we work with Chairman Shirilly.

Um we offer an incentive there.

We used a lot of the TIFF money to build the water tower that's there that's being used by Cherry Valley and New Milford.

We use the TIFF to improve Baxter Road, the three lanes.

Uh we also added sanitary to that area and brought it all the way from the airport out to that business park, and then part of the TIFF is used as incentives to in track the companies to come there.

Um so they offer them some tax relief for a period of time, and that can be decided on a deal-by-deal basis.

But those are the types of things you use the TIFF for incentivizing a company to come and then public infrastructure.

Yes, ma'am.

So that's I'm sorry, did I hear you correctly?

And it relates to TIFF, it's like a in part you can do case by case basis.

All of our transactions, so okay, so I I can back I I again I've every one of my business parks has a TIFF in them.

100% because we always need infrastructure.

You need roads, you need you need utilities.

So the the basic creating the basic TIFF district just creates the district.

It doesn't obligate the city to any incentives.

What ends up happening is once the district is created, then we would have to come to you and say we have this business that would like to be here.

And in order to bring this business to Rockford in this area, we would like to extend the sewer, extend the water, build the road, and that will cost this amount of money.

And then you would then say to us, well, we'll give you X percent of the taxes being paid in the future from this user to help you pay for those improvements.

Sometimes the community will do the improvements and use those taxes, sometimes we'll pay for the road.

We're doing a transaction in Indiana right now where we have a TIFF, and we're putting in 11 million dollars worth of infrastructure, but we're getting taxes back from the TIF to compensate us for putting in public improvements.

The other way the TIFF is used is the TIFF could be used to give a percentage of future taxes to the you to the user to attract them to your community.

Right now, those that real estate that we're buying probably pays five thousand dollars in taxes a year.

That's all you get.

Agricultural land.

If we build two million square feet there, you'll receive about three and a half to four million dollars in taxes per year.

Some of that goes to the school district, some of it goes to the city, some of it goes to the county.

And if we use 50 percent of the taxes for public infrastructure or other things, you'll receive one to five one to one and a half million dollars in our estimate if we build the two million square feet that will come into the TIFF district that could be used for other items in in the TIFF district or with the school district or other places.

So it's an opportunity to turn our property from a taxpayer paying five thousand dollars a year to a taxpayer paying two to four million dollars a year.

That's the benefit long term.

Did I answer your question?

I'm not sure I did.

No, you did.

Could you could you do it without the tip?

No.

You need to bring there the sewer isn't quite there, the water isn't there, Edson Roads needs to be rebuilt.

It's not a truck route that you know that's appropriate.

Similar to what we did on Baxter Road for our project in Cherry Valley, that's what TIFFs are used for.

And it's not using your money, it's using the future taxes that a company will pay to locate in your community.

That's the benefit.

And we will not do a data center there.

We've agreed to sign an agreement that we wouldn't do that.

So these would be industrial warehouse and manufacturing jobs.

What?

Thank you.

Other I'm sorry, Alder Woman Pronti.

Did you have any are there any additional questions or comments?

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Aye.

Neil.

Aye.

Aye.

No.

Yes.

Thank you.

Item five is an ordinance approving the South Rockford Industrial Tax Increment Financing District Redevelopment Project Area.

Is there a motion to approve?

So are there any questions or comments?

All those in favor, please state by saying I'm sorry.

Please state by stating aye.

Aye.

Any opposed same sign?

No.

Item six is an ordinance designating the South Rockford Industrial Redevelopment Project Area.

Is there a motion to approve?

So move.

Second.

Are there any questions or comments?

All those in favor, please state by indicating aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, same sign?

No.

Item seven is an ordinance adopting tax increment allocation financing for the South Rockford Industrial Redevelopment Project Area.

Is there a motion to approve?

Second.

Are there any questions or comments?

All the women makes I just have a question related to the project area.

Um I know this bumps up to the forest preserve, and I feel like there were conversations that I had about the forest preserve wanting to speak about that project area and maybe some setbacks to uh the forest pres to the forest kill buck uh bluff, I believe it is.

Um was any of that recorded in the public comments by chance?

So the the public comments from the forest preserve are are recorded, yes.

Okay.

How do I get a hold of the public copy transfer?

So I believe um I would have to confirm with the legal department, but I believe that all of the comments, both orally and we received also written comments are included in the um record from the public hearing.

So if there was a request for a certain kind of setback for the port for us preserve to not kind of be so close to the industrial activity, how would they go about making that promise?

Would it come from the project area, changes to the project area, or would it come in the development agreement process?

Where would they make that appeal?

So I I don't know exactly um how that process would work.

I can speak to the creation of this TIFF district.

Um, just because we are including the entire parcel that might butt up to Kilbuck on the force preserve there.

Um it doesn't mean that development has to come up right to that parcel line, it's just including that parcel within this area for the TIFF creation.

Um concern that they might have about the actual development that would occur later on within that could be addressed at that time.

Um, but creating the boundary today is not creating the boundary of what's going to be developable, it's just in indicating which of these parcels and the boundary that's included in this TIFF district.

That was the answer.

Thank you so much.

Are there any other questions or comments?

Um saying none, all those in favor, please state by indicating aye.

Any opposed same sign?

No.

Moving on to resolutions.

Item one is an approval for the proposed spaces to place this program, which is intended to reduce commercial vacancies and for small business growth by providing temporary rent assistance for new or expanding businesses.

The city will reimburse security deposits and 50% of rent for up to 12 months for a total funding level of up to 20,000 per business.

The program will have 300,000 designated from 2026 and 2027 casino funds.

So second.

Are there any questions or comments?

Yes, thank you for allowing me to speak.

Um I was wanting to ask a question in regards to I was looking as says that for those that are established the batch program.

Is that correct?

Correct.

So the initial intent of the program is to be able to make sure we can target areas where there's two pieces that are already gonna be built in.

Um, they have a business district association already there that's gonna help us with actually um securing these vacant storefronts on the property owners that um have them in order to be gonna connect them in with uh a small business that could move in by um also then those small businesses moving in have that additional support that a business district association can offer.

Um, so as additional business districts form under the badge program, they would be eligible to participate in this program.

So if I may follow up, uh, because uh you know, we we also see this in housing, the rehab programs, and you know, there's a wait list, you know, potentially, and so my question is you know, based on the badge programs that exist out there currently or that might come online.

You know, how is the $300,000 kind of is it divvy up or is it first come first serve?

Because you know, um, you know, I'd like to spread the wealth, right?

Like, you know, some business districts, you know, um may not get a lot of applications, but that does not mean you know uh the communication, you know, getting the word out and so forth.

So I just wanted to see what perspective you guys have on addressing that, whether it's first come first serve, whether it's you know what there's throwing a number out there, 10 badge programs out there, business districts within the city of Rockford, you know, a hundred thousand dollars, whatever, 30,000 per uh district, you know.

You know, I just want to get a sense of how that's gonna go.

Is it a lottery?

You know, kind of that you know, that's kind of what I'm trying to figure out.

Sure, it's gonna be first come first serve.

Our intent would be to try and um have at least three vacant storefronts filled in the existing business district areas that doesn't exclude though anybody that might be established under a badge, um, but we are gonna be doing it as first come first serve because the intent is that we actually activate and have a success with this program rather than reserve funds for a um area that might not be able to secure a property owner and a business that are able to form the right deal to be able to move forward.

Um, so we haven't um we are rather than reserving certain funds for designated areas are going to be doing it as a first come first serve basis.

Um, we understand that certain areas might need additional support to be able to make sure that this program is activated.

Um, and so we have already reached out to the business district associations that are established.

We are also um cataloging the vacant storefronts in their footprints so that they know which ones they can also start targeting on their own, and then we're also engaged with our small business partners who are gonna be supporting our businesses as they go through this program, but also are gonna be able to use them as a source for these entrepreneurs who are teed up and ready to actually open their first location.

Yeah, and then if I may, um so which leads me to my next question is um I I noticed that it's encouraged new business openings support small business and local entrepreneurs.

You're an entrepreneur, you know, you don't know, you're kind of taking a risk, you know, and so this provides some of some of that relief.

So I just wanted to get an understanding.

I know it's kind of getting the storefronts, you know, built in, but just is it more geared towards new businesses and entrepreneurs?

It's definitely geared towards new business or second location.

Um, we're not gearing this towards people moving into the five districts, so we don't want to create more vacancy with this program.

It's to solve vacancy.

So that's why we're really focusing in on somebody starting a new location or second location.

Gotcha.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Alderman Tuber.

Uh I think we can all appreciate uh helping small businesses in the capacity we can, uh, especially filling storefronts.

Uh as an entrepreneur myself, uh I know that it is tough, and most of these uh has a high, high failure rate in the first year.

I think they say in the first year if you make it uh you're doing pretty well if you make it within three years, you're kind of home free.

Um in this case, I you know, having these subsidizations in a sense with a 50% security deposit uh for the first 12 months, uh, and then you know, other payments made throughout the 12 months as well, up to 20,000, understanding that they can't break a lease to go into one of these storefronts.

So we're looking for new business and/or second vocations.

Um they do have to work with SBDC or Think Big, can't be called the third entity offhand.

So we think big and SVDC are example organizations, um, but we are opening it up so that if somebody had a um another resource that they were working with, um we would determine whether that would be appropriate or not.

Like RLDCs are they sometimes blocking on the side.

So who who then is ultimately making the final decision?

Uh you know, so somebody starts and they start working with RLDC or one of the other entities at what point in it, what entity is it the city then that says, okay, everything looks good, we're going to, or is it these other entities that are weighing in very heavily on the decision that you're gonna then weigh on to give final approval?

I just it it I I just would hate to see a business depending almost solely on this to then after 12 months when they're cut off, all of a sudden just go into a absolute spiral.

Right.

Uh so yeah, please.

So it's so we um totally get what you're what you're getting at, right?

And we we go through this with um all our different programs, trying to think of how we make it viable and sustainable, right?

So some of the criteria we chose, um, not just like Anna described they'd have the partnership of the business association, they'll have a partnership of of another partner alongside them, like a think bigger that that's walking through their portfolio.

We've also chosen to make this reimbursement only, so you have to show some financial capacity because you're gonna have to pay the cost front.

This is only gonna be reimbursable, right?

You're gonna have to be able to enter into a lease, which means you're gonna have to have know enough about your business to talk to a property owner to say this is a good fit for this space and to get that property owner to lease to you, right?

There's there are these steps in there that we feel show capacity.

If someone can fulfill some of those steps and agree to those steps, they are showing some acumen.

This is not written for somebody that says, I got a great idea, why don't you give me a space?

It'll probably work out, right?

Like they will have to sign that they are responsible for the for these things.

Um, so we feel that that's built in some amount of safe or safety for the program, I guess is what it is, like right, somebody that is willing to do that and and think about it in that way because I do think that you have to when you're moving into brick and mortars, like say it's the new location, because there's there's so many opportunity now to do things like um do more of an inventory, uh wholesale to like maybe just be in a market, not at the brick and mortar.

If we want to have them in a brick and mortar, they need the sales to prove the lease.

So if we can give them the theory is we give them the first year, we give some help that first year, they build up some of their financial resources back that they had to put down for everything, and that does get them into that second, third, or fourth year.

That's the goal with the program.

Um but again, it's not gonna be for somebody just starting out who has an idea because they're gonna have to front everything, and they're gonna have to they're gonna have to prove to more than just us that their business is worthwhile, because we're not purchasing inventory, right?

We're not there's a lot of stuff we're not doing, they're gonna have to have financial relationships, and all of those people require cash flow statements, projections, business plans, all of these kinds of things.

So we feel like the requirements that we're putting in place have built-in requirements that are we don't have to police it as much because some of those partners are gonna have to be doing it too.

That makes sense, and it does, thank you.

Uh is there do you have any businesses right now that have expressed interest that you don't have to do?

But is there is this been let out of the bag enough that there's been businesses interested that you've seen, or is there been feedback based on putting together this program that you've seen an interest in up to this point?

We did we um we met with Think Big and Think Big has evolved where they um they are they have a 1.0 and a 2.0 and now a three, like they're thinking through the iterations of the uh small businesses and entrepreneurs they've helped, like not just beyond the initial start they've done now some programs to stay.

I'm sorry, sustained businesses.

Um she immediately thought of the the ones that are in the 2.0 or 3.0 that are probably ready to move from.

I'm doing an inventory base, selling this out of my house because it's male to a location where they could have some retail but then have a more formalized space for that warehousing that they're doing, or she thought of restaurants that um could potentially think about.

We have plenty of restaurants with some kitchens that are open, they maybe need a little bit of rehab, not sure, but we have spaces, right?

So there are some people that they're doing well, they're doing good with their catering, they're doing some things, but they do kind of want to make that leap into a more permanent schedule for what they're doing.

So um we feel positive about that.

Uh we do think the first year will be a learning year where we'll see how viable the conversations are.

This there's a lot of MP spaces, and we've got a lot of people that um sell out of food trucks, sell at the market, do different iterations of their their businesses.

We think that this will answer that need and be something viable, but if it second year we need to think about it again, we'll come back and do that with again with you all.

Are there any businesses that aren't allowed within this program?

I know it sounded like you want businesses that have face-to-face interaction with a personal injury attorney.

Uh would that be viable?

Would somebody like that be viable for a second office uh who may not see unless they're real good personal injury attorneys that uh may not see as many face-to-face people?

So I would say we I think we called it customer facing, and I don't know if I would I think um personal entry lawyer, they have clients, not a customer.

So um it isn't to engage people coming into the areas because I think one of the key things that we also have to keep in mind with this program is it's to address the vacant storefronts.

We have great businesses downtown in midtown on South Main that we need to have people coming and visiting, and when you walk long around several vacant areas to finally get to your destination, that's lost opportunities for sales tax dollars that we don't have because they're not filled.

And so one of the reasons that we're creating this is to address those vacant properties so that when somebody's coming over to 7th Street and they are going there and they're getting their corn ice cream, like that they can then go down and finish their shopping down 7th Street, so that they're not just walking by vacant storefronts, and so then also alongside that it gives the opportunities because we do get calls on an almost a daily basis asked from very small businesses saying I just need some way to get open, and this is our mechanism to provide that, where as Sarah had shared, there's additional mechanisms that they're gonna have to work through in order to be successful, and already if it's just reimbursement and they were having to sign a multi-year lease, we're only providing part of it, but it is giving that platform for them to really be able to make that first step that into a space that's currently empty, and you know, if we're able to help um support that step, it does the two pieces of what we're wanting to accomplish having more opportunities for people coming into Rockford and places for them to go, and then also encouraging our entrepreneurs as they do make that big bigger leap into a to their own space.

Having more opportunities for people coming into Rockford and places for them to go, and then also encouraging our entrepreneurs as they do make that big bigger leap into a to their own space.

Thank you.

Any other questions or comments?

Terina.

I'm starting to get delirious, so I had to write some of my comments down.

So the aldermen asked the question that I wanted to ask was is there are there prospective tenants?

And respectfully, I there was an answer given, but what I heard was no.

That's what our so I guess my question is if I like the concept, but it sort of feels like we're creating a solution for a problem that doesn't actually exist.

So I guess I'll ask the second part of my question, which was what evidence do we have that rental assistance would be the primary barrier for these spaces being occupied?

So we in our programs that we have, we often get people who apply for rent assistance alone, and it might be somebody who is in an existing pro uh property or somebody who's wanting to step in and start a business.

So we though we don't have a list of businesses that contacted us after this program got announced.

What we do have is we have our um we we are well aware of those that have expressed that this is their but that this is the support that they do need because they are the first initial step, that first investment that they have to make is you know a higher level of it is that that first big step that they they are having to take.

Um so we are um you know understanding that it's not a list of businesses, it is a there has been on the community has expressed that this is something that they would um be able to access or would like to access.

And we've had that feedback too from Think Big and Small Business Development Center, um, creating more flexible funding for the rent conversation.

They often get there when they're working with their when Think Big's educating when SBDC is applying for loans with people, that's the gap that it's hard to find the security deposit, the rent.

Um, and so we are solving to me.

The problem we didn't give a bunch of like there's one a couple different angles to come at it.

The problem we're trying to solve, because uh a city looking at an issue, we're trying to ultimately generate sales tax and vacant storefronts as a problem because it takes away from that sales tax base.

So to get more sales tax and to fill in our vacants, we're creating an opportunity then for those partners who have said they need this to take advantage of it, and like maybe to your point or to what we were talking about before.

Um, we believe this will work.

There's that like based on those conversations.

If it doesn't, we'll come back and think about because I I sort of think in a second year, we'll talk a little bit more about um how we get a few of the vacants of storefronts a little more ready physically.

Thank you for that.

I think for me in my head, I'm looking at specifically the fifth ward.

I'm looking at the storefronts that I have empty.

I don't see them as like turnkey.

I see a lot of money that would need to go into completely redeveloping these spaces.

So you have businesses that yes, rental assistance would be phenomenal, but that's not gonna be enough for these empty storefronts that I've sat for decades in some instances.

So I'm just that's where my hesitation comes from is that I think that a lot of businesses, especially again if you're targeting these empty storefronts in particular, that they're gonna need much more than just what we're offering because there's gonna be a lot of development needs for the spaces.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alder Woman Pronte.

Thank you.

Um talked about that you are aware that they probably need more.

What is your department doing to kind of help them locate position themselves to be eligible for the what's needed beyond this?

So are you talking about specifically for uh businesses that business and that small business person, what are we doing for that person, or are you talking about the property owner?

Okay, the the business, because I can see I've gone through big big, I've gone through FBA, I have um you know, I I'm gonna get this rental assistance.

Um are you still working with folks to get them that extra boost beyond so um so we aren't so we are relying on our depart our partners, and this city council has invested heavily in Think Big to be a partner that offers workshops and one-on-one coaching.

Think big is expanded the coaching to include financial, um like credit and other things, but also looking at leases, looking at marketing, looking at all like there's instead of staffing that here, we've invested in that organization, right?

And then we've invested as in other not necessarily from direct um city money, but the small business development center is a statewide program that state taxes go into to invest and help walk alongside and help them look at loans and SBA and how to understand, and then over time in in many different ways, all of the public partners have worked with Rockford Local Development Corp and other programs that they're running to really think about in this business space how are we offering those kinds of tools.

So for our department, um we're really uh we're we meet with them regularly, we talk about what they're providing, how it's going, where the gaps are, if anything else is needed, um, but we're not necessarily staffing for the one-on-one coaching for the businesses because we've got these great partners.

Um, what we're trying to do is make sure that we're understanding what's the in-between.

So they get businesses and then there's properties, and and to Alderman Terina's point, some aren't ready, some are.

Um, that's where we're focusing.

This is the first year of the program.

We were told this is what we think we really need.

So we're gonna try this first year.

I do believe years two and three, we will need to come back a little more creatively about getting spaces more ready and making sure that businesses can move in there, and that we we feel we have offered that to property owners, the TIP 5050, the corridor program.

You could do that as a property owner or as a tenant.

So any property owner could have been working with us, right?

On and matching that and and trying to catch up their properties.

So we've had programs where we've been in this conversation.

This is a gap that we have not tried to fund, and so we're gonna try to fund it, see how it goes.

Thank you.

Are there any other questions or comments?

See that there are none.

Um, all those in favor, please state by indicating high.

Aye.

Any opposed same sign?

Item passed.

Do I have a motion to adjourn?

Second.

Are there any questions?