Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Code and Regulation Committee Meeting Summary - August 10, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, August 10, 2026

BodyRockford, Illinois

SessionMeeting Portal

DateMonday, August 10, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 17:41

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Here.

0:04

Present.

0:05

Here.

0:08

Present.

0:08

We have three items before us under committee reports.

0:11

Item number one, request for the annexation of 14X.

0:16

Export Road, 34X, Export Road, 36XX Prairie Road.

0:21

Is there a motion on the floor?

0:23

So moved.

0:24

Second.

0:25

We have a motion and a second.

0:26

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

0:31

Aye.

0:38

Chairman, point of clarification.

0:40

I don't think we had a discussion over this item.

0:45

I think we skipped past it, or we went right to a vote.

0:49

Sure, we can I guess we can hold the vote.

0:50

Any discussion?

0:51

Yeah, I just wanted to ask Mr.

0:53

Capabillo.

0:54

Uh this states there's a proposed solar farm solar farm subject property has requested annexation.

1:03

Can you tell us a little bit about the solar farm and how it could potentially impact the area?

1:08

I know the last time I think we talked about a solar farm was in the 13th ward, and that was off of Kilburn Avenue.

1:14

So if you could just give us an update or uh summary of this, please.

1:20

This is a piece of property that's uh the owner's name is Mark Momsen, and he's been actively uh marketing it uh and he's been talking to uh various people at the city over the last few years.

1:33

Um he came to us because he's he's got a very unusual shape property, it's very triangular up on the north part of it.

1:39

Uh and so solar made sense.

1:42

And uh we worked with him on this agreement, and he had a solar company that approached them named Sol America.

1:47

They just went through uh the ZBA in July.

1:50

Um and once if this is approved, then the solar farm will come to committee next.

1:55

But uh staff was in favor of it to strategically it's a good move for us.

1:58

It keeps the uh development under control of the city and instead of uh allowing that allowing it to just happen in the county.

2:06

So having annexed to the city gives us great greater control and it will help us grow in the future.

2:12

Thank you.

2:13

Uh Chair.

2:16

Follow Mr.

2:17

Kignoni.

2:20

Mr.

2:20

Cignoni, sorry, interrupt your conversation.

2:23

A quick question on this.

2:25

Um we talk about the solar industry.

2:28

I've talked about it many, many times.

2:31

Um we even passed, I think it was last week or two weeks ago, a funding agreement with IBW to better prepare our our young individuals in our community for uh a better career opportunities.

2:43

Was there any conversation with this developer um to include um uh the CJ hub um cohorts uh to possibly get some of our um uh certified students into this into this project?

3:03

Uh Alderman, I haven't had any conversations with the developer of the solar farm.

3:10

Okay.

3:11

So no.

3:13

Not had any conversations with the developer of the solar farm.

3:16

Okay, I I do plan to support this uh however I'd love to reach out to I'll be reaching out to the uh developer to see if he has any interest.

3:26

Um and I that ultimately would determine my support at council.

3:30

Uh but I'm I'm in favor of moving this forward and not delaying uh the uh layover in during committee.

3:37

So thank you.

3:38

Thank you.

3:39

Any further discussion?

3:42

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

3:44

No.

3:44

Aye.

3:46

Aye.

3:47

Aye.

3:49

Aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████45%

Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████33%

Workforce Development██████████████████████22%

Summary of Proceedings

Code & Regulation Committee Meeting

On August 10, 2026, the Rockford City Council's Code and Regulation Committee met to discuss three items: an annexation request for a solar farm, the corresponding annexation agreement (including a debate over workforce development provisions), and a historic landmark designation for a former toy factory. The meeting began at 7:21 p.m. and adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

Discussion Items

1. Annexation Request for 14xx Export Road, 34xx Export Road, 36xx Prairie Road (Solar Farm)

Scott Capovilla, Planning and Zoning Manager, explained that property owner Mark Mommsen sought annexation to allow a solar farm developed by Sol America. The Zoning Board of Appeals had already approved a special use permit for the solar farm in July. Staff recommended annexation to maintain city control over development. Alderman Bell inquired about workforce development involvement; City Administrator Todd Cagnoni confirmed no such conversations had occurred with the developer. Bell expressed support for moving the item forward but indicated his final council vote would depend on future developer engagement.

2. Annexation Agreement for the Same Properties

Alderman Bell moved to amend the agreement to require workforce development (specifically connecting the city's CJ Hub graduates to project jobs). After discussion, Bell moved to layover the item to allow further negotiation. The layover motion failed 2–3 (Aldermen Prunty, Bonne, and Logemann voted no; Bell and Torina voted yes). The original motion to approve the annexation agreement then passed 4–1 (Alderman Bell dissenting).

3. Proposed Landmark Designation for 1202 Eddy Avenue (A & E Tool & Gage)

The property, once home to Midge Toys, was nominated for historic landmark status. The Historic Preservation Commission approved the nomination based on its architectural significance (streamlined modern style) but removed the criterion of historical association with toy manufacturing, citing other toy companies in Rockford. The property had code violations, but the owner had pulled a permit for roof repairs and intended to restore the building. Alderman Prunty requested additional information and received assurance the application packet would be emailed the next day. The committee approved the designation unanimously (5–0).

Key Outcomes

Annexation Request (Item 1): Approved 5–0. The solar farm's special use permit will next appear on the Code and Regulation agenda.
Annexation Agreement (Item 2): Approved 4–1. A motion to lay over the item for workforce development discussion failed 2–3. Alderman Bell stated he would continue pursuing workforce connections with the developer.
Landmark Designation (Item 3): Approved 5–0. The designation makes the property eligible for historic tax credits and requires future exterior changes to be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission.

Meeting Transcript

Here. Present. Here. Present. We have three items before us under committee reports. Item number one, request for the annexation of 14X. Export Road, 34X, Export Road, 36XX Prairie Road. Is there a motion on the floor? So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second. Clerk, could you please call the roll? Aye. Chairman, point of clarification. I don't think we had a discussion over this item. I think we skipped past it, or we went right to a vote. Sure, we can I guess we can hold the vote. Any discussion? Yeah, I just wanted to ask Mr. Capabillo. Uh this states there's a proposed solar farm solar farm subject property has requested annexation. Can you tell us a little bit about the solar farm and how it could potentially impact the area? I know the last time I think we talked about a solar farm was in the 13th ward, and that was off of Kilburn Avenue. So if you could just give us an update or uh summary of this, please. This is a piece of property that's uh the owner's name is Mark Momsen, and he's been actively uh marketing it uh and he's been talking to uh various people at the city over the last few years. Um he came to us because he's he's got a very unusual shape property, it's very triangular up on the north part of it. Uh and so solar made sense. And uh we worked with him on this agreement, and he had a solar company that approached them named Sol America. They just went through uh the ZBA in July. Um and once if this is approved, then the solar farm will come to committee next. But uh staff was in favor of it to strategically it's a good move for us. It keeps the uh development under control of the city and instead of uh allowing that allowing it to just happen in the county. So having annexed to the city gives us great greater control and it will help us grow in the future. Thank you. Uh Chair. Follow Mr. Kignoni. Mr. Cignoni, sorry, interrupt your conversation. A quick question on this. Um we talk about the solar industry. I've talked about it many, many times. Um we even passed, I think it was last week or two weeks ago, a funding agreement with IBW to better prepare our our young individuals in our community for uh a better career opportunities. Was there any conversation with this developer um to include um uh the CJ hub um cohorts uh to possibly get some of our um uh certified students into this into this project? Uh Alderman, I haven't had any conversations with the developer of the solar farm. Okay. So no. Not had any conversations with the developer of the solar farm. Okay, I I do plan to support this uh however I'd love to reach out to I'll be reaching out to the uh developer to see if he has any interest. Um and I that ultimately would determine my support at council.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com