it be known should it be that I'm there and  they Harmon these children uh they can call the police all they want to because I'm not going  nowhere I'll be right there because these children are doing things you know they could be out  doing uh bad things but they chose to become entrepreneurs you know and like it says  it takes a village to raise a child and everybody should be watching out for these  children with all these people going around trying to harm these kids steal these kids  and stuff like that and I'mma tell you I'mma Be the One going around my neighborhood  watching out for my my children because they are my children Chief r i appre pre  appreciate the job that you've been doing but there's some people out there mumbling and  grumbling and talking about what they would do to you if they saw you in person but I let  them know you mess with my sister you mess with me and I don't care how many how many police  officers she has around me she got one that that she don't even have to pay I got her back you  know and this is this is ridiculous you know these children ain't doing nothing to nobody  you know and I've been around here for a long long time I was under your dad uh mayor I was  a building inspector for uh uh for your dad and for Charles bu I love this city and we shouldn't  have to go through all this garbage that we're going through now because I tell you we have  a president all he's doing is showing Discord and uh the thing of it is we had people voting for him oh he's going to do this  and he's done going to do this my Palestinian what he's doing to  you guys land thank you keep ey open our next speaker is Prophet Yousef good evening ladies and gentlemen in the  Book of Psalms 121st chapter the 1 to the second verse it says I look to the heels  which comes my help my help comes from the Lord who made Heaven and Earth what I want to  speak about tonight forgotten Heroes fighting Germans and G about 2,000 black soldiers storm  normany while serving and a still segregated military it was the most massive aian Invasion  the world has ever seen with tens of thousands of Allied troops spread out across the air  and sea aiming to get a towle in normany for the final assault on Nazi Germany and while  portray of dday often show an allh Army in fact it also included black soldiers roughly  2,000 black soldiers hit the shores of Norman embarass capacity on June 6 1944 serving in the  United States military still segregated by race they encounter discrimination both in the service  and when they came home but on Normy they face the same danger as the everyone else the only  African-American combat unit that day was a 320 barrage balloon Battalion whose job was to set  up explosion rig balloons it's her German plane wely Woodson Jr was a Corporal and a medic with  the Battalion although won did not live to see this 75th Anniversary he died in 2005 he told  Associated Press in 1944 about how his landing craft hit a mine on the way to Omaha Beach the  tide brought us in and that's when the 88 hit us he said of the 88 The Germ 88 mimet gun they were  murdering us of our 26 Navy person there was only one left they wake the whole top of the ship and  killed all the crew the then they started with the mottor shell Senator Chris Van holand of Maryland  is headed an effort to have Woodson awarded the Medal of Honor for his action on dday another  member of the unit William Davy describ what they encounter on dday in a 2009 Associated Press  interview during The Invasion the F was Furious on the beach I was picking up dead bodies I  was looking at the minds born up the sailers and sold I didn't know if I was going to make it  it or not said that who passed away Lena hervest details the explore of the 329th in her book  forgotten the untold story of D black Heroes at home and she said the military resisted efforts  to desegregate as it wrapped up for World War II instead they kept separate units and separate  facility for blacks and whites African-Americans people don't believe the lies they say about  our people our people have fought and died for the United States of thank God for all better  welcome back home I did 19 years 11 months 29 days 1 hour 10 minutes 15 seconds and I did three  tours in the United States thank you for allowing me thank you um just as a reminder uh to the  public we do not allow standing in the room so if you could please find a seat if you cannot  find a seat inside of um council chambers there is an opportunity for you to either watch the  television outside of these doors over the balcony or you can go down to the first floor  and watch Council from there um if there are no Chairs set up down there right now there  will be some on the way in just a few moments also if any chairs do become available after public speaking feel free to  come back in um once others do leave all right our next public  speaker is Maryann Leonard I'm here to ask that the welcome to  Rockford sign be all inclusive I've heard that somebody's suggesting  making a change that would be a limiting message I simply want  it to say welcome to all Rockford right our next public speaker is Su Kendo hello everyone thank you for having  me my name is suul kadango and I've been a proud resident of Rockford for the past 40  years I stand here before you today to express my unwavering support for the Rockford all people  are welcome sign it was shortly after founding my business in 2018 that I became aware of larger  issues regarding inclusion in Rockford which prompted me to get involved in the community I  wanted to help ensure that all residents feel at home and valued something I didn't always  experience growing up here selfishly I also aim to contribute my small grain of sand to  creating a better City and environment for the family I'm raising in recent years I have  witnessed a remarkable transformation in our community our city has embraced inclusivity  hosting community and family oriented events that celebrate our diverse backgrounds at these  gatherings I have first I have seen firsthand how residents from various cultures come together  share stories and build relationships most importantly I have never experienced violence  at any of these events only camaraderie and joy Rockford's commitment to inclusivity has not only  improved our community Spirit but has also guarded national attention recent data highlights that  our crime rates have declined and Rockford is increasingly recognized as one of the best places  to live this is a testament to our Collective efforts to create a safe and welcoming environment  for everyone I want to address a misconception that welcoming all people somehow invites  criminal Behavior this assertion is not only unfounded but also ignorant there is no data  supporting the idea that cities with welcoming messages experience increased crime rates in  fact many communities that Embrace inclusivity see improved safety and cohesion among residents  I urge you to consider how keeping the all people are welcome sign will reflect our City's values  this message does not diminish Rockford rather it enhances our reputation as a compassionate  and inclusive community we want to attract new residents visitors and businesses who value  diversity and a welcoming sign sends a clear message that Rockford is a place where everyone  can Thrive let us not be swayed by fear and Di divisive rhetoric instead let us stand together  and affirm that Rockford is a community that welcomes all people while maintaining safety  and respect for one another keeping the sign as is will only strengthen our community and  show the world that we embrace our differences thank you for your time and I hope you support the  resolution to keep Rockford all people are welcome sign together let's continue to build a city  that's a Beacon of Hope and inclusive Li thank you thank you and suly I apologize  for mispronouncing your name before um our next public speaker is Janie Wilson cook I will be reading a letter that I sent  to my Alder person Miss Terina earlier today today apparently there is a resolution to be  considered at tonight's meeting to affirm the sign at the I90 any State Street entrance which  says Rockford all are well are all are welcome in response to a complaint from Alderman tunberg ward  3 the Alderman's comments during the February 10 2025 meeting opposing the message on the sign  were reflective of very recent anti-immigrant messaging heard at our federal level which  is not in keeping with the US Constitution concerning the fair treatment of all people under  the law Alderman tunberg comments also flout the spirit and meaning of the equal protection  and equal rights sections of the Illinois constitution every single citizen of Rockford  now or in their fam's past is an immigrant to the Rock River Valley which before germanicus Kent  thater Blake and Le lemon discovered the Ford Over The Rock River was until 1834 populated solely by  the indigenous peoples of the Winnebago and Pabi tribes it's way too late to stop welcoming  IM immigrants as a born and raised citizen of Rockford a 34-year resident of the Fifth  Ward and the wife of a naturalized American I express support for the resolution affirming this  inclusive and welcoming message for all all of Rockford I am acting as an individual and not on  the behalf of any organization Civic or religious in a Land of immigrants it's not brave for me  to stand up for equality it is far more braver to declare one is more entitled just because  their ancestors arrived here earlier thank you thank you to our public speakers um we'll move right into tonight's agenda cler  will you please call the RO here here here thank you item one under committee  reports is an approval of the Workforce Development agreement between the City of Rockford  and LT construction for the for the not to exceed amount of $675,000 the funding source is  revenue replacement through the American Rescue plan act arpa funds do I have a motion  to approve so move second any discussion or questions aler woman Terina thank you for  allowing me to speak on your committee uh a couple questions can you give me sort of a  a timeline because I thought like originally that we were giving like 250,000 maybe I have  my numbers wrong but I I do notice an increase in the funding and I also noticed that the funding  source for this is specifically arpa and I thought we were out of arpa funds so can we just kind  kind of explain like where the money's coming from I thought arpa funds were used up for one  yeah so arpa funds were set aside for a certain number of years for this program so we're kind  of reaching towards a tail end of that allocation okay so and then we increased this to 675 was it  a lower dollar amount before uh it was slightly lower um but in the past we've typically had to  come back and ask for more um so that they could complete the training um so they're they've been  getting more work done than originally anticipated which is driving the cost up a little bit can you  tell me what it was last time I think uh we went to council with like 525,000 initially um last  year and then we had to come back for like another 100,000 and then my final question is how are we  selecting these sidewalks so uh we've been with this program we have been focusing on gaps and  sidewalk repairs and replacements near schools and Parks um highly traveled areas things like that so  that's what our Focus has been okay thank you any other comments or questions clerk will you please  call the rooll I I I thank you that IEM passes item one under resolutions item one is a proposed  resolution to recognize migratory birds and migratory bird day in the City of Rockford drop a  motion to approve so move second any discussion or questions um clerk will you please call the role  I I I I thank you item two is an adoption of the housing strategy framework the housing strategy  framework will serve as the guiding document for City of Rockford housing policies programs  and initiatives do have a motion to approve so move I'll second is there any comments  or questions Alder woman meets I spent a lot of time um focused on another area so  I didn't really have an opportunity to really review this in the way that I want to  and so I feel like I want to lay this item over if possible um can I  make a motion to lay this item over thank you hi I thank you Sarah item three item three is a proposed resolution to  support City of Rockford welcome sign on East State Street and I90 do I have a motion to approve  so move second any questions or comments on the item I'm sorry before we go into questions or  comments from the council I would like to allow um administrative of kagon an opportunity  to discuss this item thank you chairwoman just to give a little bit of background  information related to the landscaping and signage that's up there for consideration um you  know the the signage and Landscaping is a result of an intergovernmental agreement between the City  of Rockford and the elino tollway which was first completed in 1991 um at that point in time the  structures that currently exist and Landscaping was installed later in 2017 and 2018 they my  toway had a significant uh Capital Improvement out on the property uh which resulted in a revised  intergovernmental agreement uh coming before city council which was subsequently approved that  inter-government agreement allowed for a joint investment to revamp the existing uh Landscaping  lighting and signage out at the the property uh the vast majority of the Landscaping improvements  were done by the ELO Tollway at an amount of approximately 185,000 uh within the IG IG it  identified an additional $330,000 investment that would be coming from the City of Rockford the City  of Rockford partnered with racvb and go Rockford um on the project um and ultimately became  also a part of the Forest City beautification project at that time um predominantly the  work done by the City of Rockford included the some minor landscaping uplighting for the  sculptures and signage um that was out there as well as the revamp of the the signage that  currently exists today um so an artist by the name of Justice R um was commissioned to do the  mural that sits on the sculptures um ironically there's an article in the Chicago Sun Times over  the weekend talked a lot about the murals that he's done um throughout the Chicago area and so  that portion was completed by him um the wording was identified by Graham Spencer Dre Graham um  and it was tied to a larger business attraction strategy uh that had taken place and he identified  this language through a series of studies um that suggested and aligned the business attraction  to fill um high high skilled jobs within our community communities that had language similar to  this um were successful at a greater uh result of attracting individuals to the community um in an  effort to help drive and create economic wealth um for the community um during that time that  signage was shared with the administration as mayor mcnamer has stated in the past he approved  the signage that was identified um and ultimately that sign uh was constructed you may recall  that and you know since that time you know a few things that have taken place related to signage um  that's also been part of our recent conversation uh there was an investment and I want I believe it  was arpa dollars um or maybe it was surplus funds I forget which one it was um to do some Corridor  signage and there was quite a bit of discussion related to city council approval approving um  Corridor signage um that would come forward in the future and certainly um should there be a  revamp of this sign it would fall under that um circumstance there is a resolution within your pet  um affirming um Council support of the existing signage as was referred in by Alderman Bonnie uh  last week um I know that there was some commun communication with our legal department Alman  Bonnie that didn't get connected until later today when there was the the possibility of an  amendment to the resolution um that future signage changes um come before city council certainly  that could be a friendly Amendment of the planning and development committee and we would have no  objection on a staff level as we believe that to be the circumstance as it currently exists now  um with that I would be happy to answer um any questions Alderman tumberg I'll start with you  thank you and uh thank you to all who reached out today uh had some great civil conversations and uh  had some some very Lively uh couple emails to say the least so uh for those of you who have come  here tonight thank you for showing your uh your Vigor and such within our community uh to give a  little timeline going back some people on Council uh were here at that time some people were not  uh some of you may have heard me talk about this previously um during this timeline going back uh  a number of years approximately seven or so years ago um there was talk on City Council on becoming  a sanctuary City uh it was termed a welcoming City there was vigorous debate uh myself pointed  out specifically a part of the ordinance that uh that had stated if if there so my question was  according to what this ordinance had stated was if there was an individual who was pulled over  uh according to the ordinance as long as they produced a valid governmen issued identification  card that no further questions could be asked asked so my followup to Legal was if an individual  produced a ID that was coming from North Korea Iran some country that maybe is on our terrorist  list uh that law enforcement officer would not be able to answer ask any more questions our city  legal director had given the answer that that is correct so I had an issue with that uh a few  other Alderman stated uh their issues I think there were maybe some aldermen that maybe hadn't  due to possibly no fault of their own read through it as thoroughly as as a few of us did but it was  Apparent at that time that Rockford wasn't at that time ready to be a Sanctuary city um it died in  fact it didn't even come up for vote it just died on the floor for the most part if if I remember  correctly um so again a week or two later as I've stated here before the Rockford paper did an oped  and pretty much uh reamed on Alderman derky and I for speaking up against it but failed to even  mention Alder woman hervy who was adamantly against it so I think it made for uh good story I  guess to fit the narrative that you went after the white male Republicans but you failed to mention  a black female Democrat I can I can handle it I can handle it but I just don't know why I don't  know why that was the case uh because there was there was someone that spoke up alderwoman  hervey as much I think as we did but going forth we did not vote on becoming a sanctuary  City shortly thereafter the sign had gone up and I started receiving calls are we a sanctuary City  and I didn't know we were a sanctuary City so I had stated no we're not a sanctuary City and  they said well it it pretty much says that on the sign and other other Sanctuary cities were  using that line at the time so fast forward uh if individuals other than the the uh the mayor  the police uh the County coroner maybe the state's attorney many people don't hear about  the crime in Rockford as we do as Alderman as time goes on uh my thoughts were I don't care  if someone is from out of this community out of this country or has resided in this community for  50 years grew up in this community my constituent number one issue Bar None is crime speeding  maybe close second uh but bar nun taking care of crime in our community is number one with my  constituents so as we've had individuals that have come from outside our community they've  come from Elgen uh you may remember again in the last year or two which I talked about  at another time uh we had two young girls kidnapped uh I think ages round 9 and 11 or  so one was murdered another one escaped um we had a 75-year-old woman on the bike path recently  she was beaten and then raped and that was by an individual apparently here for a short time from  either Venezuela or Honduras we've had a number we have a family Peace Center that we talk  about all the time from of domestic violence that takes place in our community and I bet a lot  of that is homegrown people that live within our community so I don't care whether someone comes  from outside our community or lives within our community is homegrown grew up here their whole  life they're a citizen or they're a non-citizen my constituents care about crime and I don't  want criminals in Rockford I don't care where they're from I don't it's most people don't want  criminals in their community so that is where all of a sudden how this turned into to for this to  turn into then everything else I I'm sorry for that that that happened that that turned into that  uh but this was something on Monday that I had stated my piece on uh at the end I did say that if  this sign stays up that's that's what it's going to be uh at least we know that going forth that  this sign or at least we know going forth that signage within our Wards and within the city uh  generally will have to go through the respective Alderman or council's approval this was one that  did not and at the beginning I was getting it from the other side how can we be a sanctuary  City this is crazy everything else in my we're not a sanctuary City now I'm getting from this  side the other side so just realize that I you get it from both sides and so if you wanna then  State everything that which I think you should be transparent um that that is what the position is  but at the end when Alderman Bonnie when I stated that uh I was done that was it sign's going to  be there fine but we know that signage going up is not going to cause this kind of controversy  going forth because the Alderman and the the city council will have a say in the matter and  Alderman Bonnie and I and I'm not putting anything forth on you because you thought at the best of  the time I'm sorry 14th wor 14th word Alderman uh that we put a motion up to vote on it so there  was no uh as someone told me today I heard you put a motion uh up to council to vote to take  down the sign uh no that is false and untrue uh so that's where we stand right now today I had a  call in fact a probably about an hour conversation I found out today uh as I told the mayor earlier  in Chairman's meeting uh that I learned more today about this sign that I did in seven years uh I  just found out today who actually came up with the verbage of the sign um and in fact this  person who did that called me today because they're a personal friend of mine and so they felt  horrible on some of the things they were reading uh and so we had a great civil conversation as I  did with some others today uh people like Beth who reached out uh had a great conversation with her  um but him this individual and I who came up had a great conversation he understood some of my  points with crime in our community uh and again not associating it with with that and so uh he  understood it and I understood his point and what was nice to hear was that point of it was  that he did which administrator KAG non talked about uh I think he was sorry to see that this has  caused the divide in the community from the onset to now this part uh he had said Chad this is this  was really to draw try to draw people here for the needed uh jobs such as is at Woodward and UTC  and he explained thoroughly and candidly and very transparently what his intentions were and I fully  understood that and so I will close now for many people thank goodness uh yeah thanks so uh that  that to those individuals out there who believe that sign means that we are are a sanctuary City  it does not and for individuals who think it it anybody who is has any thoughts on that you know  it's it's completely two different two different things and so for individuals that like the  sign uh it's going to stay and I think that individual and and those individuals uh  also can realize that it does not mean that all people are welcome meaning criminals  and that means that so thank you um before we go into further comment or questions or  allow um Mr kagon to respond to some of the comments um concerning alderman tunberg  I just like to state that I know that this is a very sensitive topic for many of us um  however we will not tolerate any disruption of the city council meeting that being said  um if it does continue you will be asked to leave any other questions or I'm sorry uh Mr  kagon did you want to respond um clarify the just to thank you chairwoman um just to elaborate  in regards to um Alman tomberg's statements that we are not a sanctuary city um Sanctuary city  was not under consideration um I believe the references was to the welcoming ordinance and I  mean there's a distinction between Sanctuary City and welcoming Community generally a sanctuary City  Limits cooperation with immigration authorities um and that's not the practice policy or adoption of  our city council where welcoming Community focuses on creating the supportive environment for um  immigrants and we certainly do that as a community now um there's a number of programs from YMCA  YWCA Catholic Charities RVC um school district 205 we speak 70 language in school district 205  so that is a robust part of our overall community at the same time um reduction in crime and crime  prevention um you know this Council has invested extremely heavily in crime reduction  uh whether that's traditional policing through our Rockford Police Department or  other initiatives such the family Peace Center as mentioned by Alderman tumber we  don't want murderers we don't want rapists we want to want we don't want individuals  that own drug houses and grow houses with all in our within our community those type of  activities had the tendency to lead to violent crime within our community we want to make  sure that we are attacking um that information uh I would also say that even though that the the  welcoming ordinance never brought forward um to city council for for consideration um we did land  on language that's that's relative um right city council this Council in January 2022 did adopt  guiding principles um and they were related to diversity equity and inclusion and says Rockford  provides a welcoming nurturing inclusive community that values our diversity where community  members feel safe and respected um ultimately the resolution in front of you um relays the language  that Council already approved as well as affirming um the existing sign that's up at I90 in the toway  thank you any other comments or questions Alder woman Terina thank you for allowing me to speak  on your committee first I want to just thank the residents um I personally love it when we see you  guys show up we love it when it's not empty behind us and people stand up for things in our community  it's it's very um it's Noble and it's appreciated and I I I want to see more of it um thank you  specifically to the residents that did reach out to me um I responded back to everyone um I  will absolutely not be voting to change a sign um it's ridiculous but um I was just in my own  research there was a uh something that I read I I don't have the source but it's quick and  it's sweet and I thought it just kind of sums up how I feel about this um crime is about  Behavior not identity criminal activity is not tied to any race nationality or immigration  status studies show that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes and native born citizens  conflating the two spreads harmful misinformation and distracts from real solutions to Public  Safety so I thought that was a great summary my my question though is this we  as a city council I don't know if it was last year or two years ago  we sat and voted um we sat and wrote it together we also voted on a city value  statement can you find that and read that please which are you referencing the the  resolution uh related to The Guiding principles something it was it was like guiding principles  or like a value statement When Miss Kango read her um her public comments and made me think that  we sat and came up with like a value statement for our city some guiding principles for our  city and there was like there had to be some sort of like summary statement that we all  agreed upon I'd like to know what that was so we you most certainly The Guiding principles  came out of a couple of working sessions that city council had and ultimately voted on in  January 2022 um I don't see that there's a a summary statement attached to it but there is  a lot of statements related to leadership and communication finance and infrastructure safety  business climate quality life neighborhoods Education Health diversity equity and  inclusion and the last statement I read related to Rockford provides a welcoming  nurturing inclusive community that values diversity where community members feel safe and  respected that is one of the guiding principles that city council created and then ultimately  approved perfect thank you Alderman Bonnie I got you I got him oh go ahead um first first a question um Alderman the alderman  from the third order and um I was have off topic had a conversation with someone in the media  today and I think we also ought to consider a changing our rules that we don't have to refer to  each other as Alderman from the Ward because then it's very news media unfriendly because nobody's  going to want to use a comment that says Alderman from the Third Ward begs the question who are you  talking about anyhow um uh when Alderman tunberg mentioned um that we now have an agreement ment of  the council to have future signage um quor signage welcome signage require city council approval  we've had that discussion on the council floor but we haven't actually approved anything in writing  to that effect have we it's a question for City administrator I I know that we articulated that  you know future signage that would come before the committee or was sponsored or approved or funded  through city council for lack of a way of defining the type of signage that we're talking about we  would bring forward to um city council and for the most part that type of signage is typically  going to come through Council one way or another um but we want to be more specific to the will  of council to identify what the signage is the specifics so that it gets approved as part of any  package so we going to receive that in writing at some point I mean the the email I sent today was  it was really along the lines of and to um be more specific about I think what Alderman Meeks was  referring to um this was forwarded to me and I didn't look at it until today because seven of  us are up for re-election tomorrow that's what I think you're referring to and that's why  I didn't look at it um until today I mean I knew it was coming I spoke with the about it  but I didn't actually look at it till today so if that's not coming I would like I would um  and I'm I'm not asking the committee to amend it I I will amend it um when it comes to Council  next week so that it also includes it because I think Alderman tunberg has a good point this we  wouldn't be having this conversation probably I I don't think we'd be having it if it had received  a council approval in the first place and that's why I brought it requested that we vote on it now  so that it does have Council approval and that we um don't have to continue having this conversation  I think there alderwoman Torina talked about the I'm not sure why and I and I heard some of the  same thing there seems to be some confusion that we're voting tonight to change the sign when the  resolution clearly says we're voting tonight to affirm our support for the message so that is  my intent that in in making it not to um to be clear not to change the sign um and and I  guess the my only other comment really is that it's unfortunate that we now live in times  where um all are welcome can't be just taken at face value and that it has to you know that  it's you know that there's subtext and you know hidden meaning and concern that it's a bipartisan  message and I get that I mean that those are the times we're living in but um I think half of us  were not on the council when this was originally message was originally put on that sign and um  I doubt I don't think the council would have not approved it if it had been put to the council at  that time and I don't think the council is going to reject the message now but um it you know it's  just it's unfortunate that that's where we are as a country and I guess as a city thank you thank  you we would support a friendly Amendment from any of the Planning and Development Committee  members um understanding that it doesn't have to be in writing at committee so if there's  an amendment that future corridor planning or similar type signage sponsored by the city  um require city council approval that would be completely acceptable on staff level thank you  um Alderman Rose yeah thank you um I did want to comment on some of the things that are been  said tonight and in past conversations about this uh development um first I I guess one of  my questions oh I I first want to recognize um third word alderman for reaffirming that idea that  it's not a sanctuary uh City sign but I do want to address the idea of sanctuary City because I  think it's very important for this discussion and this is for staff are you aware of any federal  definitions of what a sanctuary city is so I don't know if there's a federal definition but a Common  Language would be similar to what I stated earlier um limits cooperation with immigration Authority  okay and the reason I asked that is because there is no federal definition of what a sanctuary city  is um and I I think that's very important for the public to understand because what is happening  around that conversation or that narrative around Sanctuary city is a political narrative which is  meant to identify cities um that are quote unquote friendly to immigrants and I say immigrants  not illegal immigrants friendly to immigrants where then that narrative is used to co-opt our  policing and um our law structures to go in and to Target those populations um and I think it's  important to understand that this has happened historically here in the United States since the  founding of our country um back in the 17 late 1700s and early 1800s there were efforts um during  the French Revolution where our federal government limited French people from accessing our country  due to the rabble rousing of the French uh during their Revolution uh we saw it in the 1860s when  Irish immigrants were limited due to the fact that they were labeled drunks they were labeled um you  know obviously they come from Catholic backgrounds and the nativist um uh populations did not want  to see that population grow here we saw it in the late 1890s when Jews and austrians and Russians  were targeted um in their case they were targeted with medical exams when they were um trying to  come to the United States and the doctors that did those medical exams would look at their paperwork  and see that they were Jewish Austrian or Russian and deny them on the spot we saw it in the 1920  in the 1924 Immigration Act against the Chinese we are now seeing it against Hispanic folks and  any basically Brown folks in in this country and so I think it's important to call out both the  history of this and and how our immigration laws have often been co-opted to criminalize immigrants  but also the fact that we have a constitution that protects against this type of discrimination um  first of all being an immigrant should not make you liable to be um asked questions from  law enforcement we have this thing called jurisdiction okay jurisdiction means that certain  law enforcement bodies can only operate within those Frameworks for example we have uh cyber  crimes who's in charge of cyber crimes in this country the FBI because they happen across state  lines who's in charge of tax crimes the IRS is in in charge of tax crimes no other body our  Police Department doesn't go ask people about their their taxes or seeing their taxes the IRS  does that and I think it's very clear to recognize these jurisdictions because it's important to  understand that who implements immigration law in this country ice and our border patrol and so what  we're seeing here is an uptick in a conversation where individuals want to deputize local police  departments sheriffs City departments State Police to be their deputies in enforcing this law and  again based on the Constitution we should be protecting against that um I think that's very  very important in following our constitution um and I think it's also important to understand  the connection between the enforcement piece and the uptick in the use of private prisons in  this work is that private prisons have seen major Investments since the Trump Administration was  elected and I will share with you that geog group which is one of the major prison um companies in  the United States saw 100% growth in their stock price after he was elected and it's no accident  that those same companies are housing these immigrants in our country so I will say it I will  continue to say it this is no accident that these these types of conversations and narratives are  coming up because people want to make money off of it just as a reminder please um try and hold  your claps to yourselves um so we don't have disruption in the meeting please so I'll just  end with this is I think it's I I'm I'm glad that the alderman from the Third Ward made the  the change in his language that we're we're not a sanctuary City but I think it's important  as Americans to understand that there is no federal definition of sanctuary cities it's  a madeup narrative it's used politically to attack immigrants and we need to stand  up to it because our neighbors are our neighbors thank you for your comment I felt  it in y'all but thank you for holding it do we have any other comments or questions um  Al the woman Meeks and then um tberg I'm sorry um we've been talking about this for a while  now so I would much rather be having a vigorous conversation about the housing framework  and really diving into that because it was so important but here we are talking about this  and um I just want to say that I am very proud when I drive into the City and I see that  sign it makes me happy it's bright and it says words that I love to see because I believe  that to my core that we want to welcome everybody and I actually I I feel you agree too Alderman  tumberg but I just want to point out one thing um just recently the City of Rockford posted  information about the yearend crime stats so I just want to repeat again for those that  have not been able to read that that we have had a significant decrease in property crimes  since 2016 we're down 35% from 2016 to 2024 and although it's not a continual decline so I  love the transparency we're down 38% in violent crime from 2016 to 2024 and our homicide rates  have fallen drastically since they peaked in 2020 and an individual I don't know how to say  this because has been charged in 16 of the 18 homicides in 2024 so of 18 16 of those individuals  that committed those crimes have been caught by our police department and we gave out 15,8 15  citations or warnings in 2024 which is a 48% increase from 2022 I know some people won't like  to hear that but some people love hearing that because that's what they've been requesting  I border the third w so we have very similar residents and I know what I experience today  and I have to know what you experienced too and um I'm glad that you had civil conversations I  think that you'll always have civil conversations with these individuals in this work because  that's what we are we're civil people and I just can't believe that we're having this  conversation in the way that we are um but I don't believe that anybody wants to see  this sign go anywhere I think they love it just the way that it is and um coming from  a finance department and your goal is to be you know watching that money to want to tear  down this sign and bring something else that is not as it couldn't possibly be as inclusive  as what's on that sign right now I just I don't understand it but here we are in my opinion  wasting a lot of time on city council a lot of time and I would rather not do that so  I'm G to stop talking and hopefully we can all move forward and stop talking about this  because I don't think the sign's going to go anywhere thank you thank you Alderman um I keep  want to say tberg Alderman derky thank you m I have no idea why this is in front of the council  um if we voted no what happens to the sign nothing we don't even really own the sign and to tell  you the truth you know we all get what the sign means so I you know we heard all kinds of history  that has nothing to do with the issue on the floor we're running down rabbit Trails the sign's going  nowhere it's got a pretty good message and um I just don't get it so I if we vote no nothing  happens so this is I agree with Alderman Meeks it's a total waste of time Alderman tumber thank  you uh yes and I would uh agree we're done with this uh and crime stats yes uh they are down  I appreciate that we've done a lot of work on Council uh and that is one of my biggest  things uh as Alderman is the crime portion so I'm glad you did put those statistics  together uh for your comments um so thank you and we will move forward and continue  to get our streets done as well coming this year thanks thank you any other comments or  questions clerk will you please call the roll I thank you the item passes um is there  a motion to adjourn any questions or discussions all those in favor say I I any  oppose same sign this meeting is adjourned I I think e order Monday February 24th clerk please scell the roll here thank you cleric uh we have we go on to R  enumeral 2 committee reports we have two items one is a approval of vouchers in the amount of  7,412 201797 do I have a motion second do I have a second motion second discussion comments seeing  none all those in favor say I I I matter passes Item B proposed intergovernmental agreement  for a three-year property tax rebate program for newly built residential construction for  single family townhouse two family three family and multifamily structures located in the City  of Rockford and school district 205 do I have a motion motion second discussions  alderwoman pry thank you um can you just give me an idea of it's an it's an  intergovernmental agreement um can you tell everyone uh who's included and who's not  included what taxing bodies are included and are not included sure alderwoman um we have  invited all other taxing Bodies In the City of Rockford to participate in the program it's  yet to be determined uh what the final outcome will be on which taxing bodies will participate  uh last year it was the Rockford Public School 205 City of Rockford Library and Rockford Township we  believe all those um taxing bodies at a minimum um will participate in the program again this year  that generally represents approximately 75% of the property tax bill we've also heard from uh the  airport board that they want to participate in the program so they'll be re um considering a  resolution to join at their next meeting as I understand it um and we've heard from for  River Sanitation District who chose not to participate in the program um we made uh the  other taxing bodies aware uh via email of the program a few weeks ago and then are advancing  it forward now and just for timing I believe the school district will be going to their board  um this month as well this is the same same program as last year no changes with the rules  or qualifying um components of the program other than adjustments of the dates okay all right thank  you I appreciate it thank youy uh derky thank you com will support this Council but it'd be  interesting possibly to explore a similar program for remodeling uh a distressed property if uh you  remodel uh for instance you have to put a percent if you remodel uh 70% of the value of the home to  bring it up to spec so something to explore in the future thank you thank you Other Woman Meeks thank  you for allowing me to speak on your committee I just want to Second Alderman dery's comments  um I I think that this was such a successful program the first time and I would love to see  us be able to scale this for other opportunities to increase the housing in this community  so I'd love for you guys to consider thank you uh Mr kagoni so last year with the  participation rate and I don't know if I if I missed this if you mentioned it uh we  had about 75% uh of your tax bill would have been covered with a particip ANS from last year  if I read the agenda correctly that is correct chairman this year with the new participants  uh with the added participants um what do we have what are we looking at percentage wise do  we believe did you state that earlier don't have a final determination it will at least be 75% I  thought you knew everything far from it no okay um yeah i' just like to say thank you to all the  other taxing bodies that that did step up for this it does uh I think as numbers show uh increase  the building of residential units within our city and uh I think each and every one of  us here back that uh fully I'd be surprised if not so okay uh all those in favor say I  I I I have one other question oh I'm sorry Alderman Beach I'm sorry so why do the other  districts not want to participate in this program either or I see someone over there with  his hand going up and down mayor M do you want to chime in on it so uh Alderman Beach there's  various reasons uh some of the taxing bodies uh that uh take for instance uh Reclamation  District this year or uh Rock Valley College uh last year um they have multiple municipalities  and they feel that they would have to do the same thing for each municipality and their boards are  not at that point that they would be ready to do so thank you thank you any further questions  comments seeing none all those in favor say I I I matter passes on to Roman numeral 3  resolutions item a proposed resolution to wave fees for building plan review building permits  building inspection and water connection service for new residential construction structures  on vacant land and lots throughout the City of Rockford do I have a motion so move second  second motion second discussion comments seeing none all those in favor say I I matter passes  Item B award a bid demolition of 422 kwaki Street in 4311 15th Avenue to Northern Illinois Service  of Rockford Illinois in the amount of $ 26,38498 of the demolition project the funding source is  the Community Development block grant do I have a motion so move second motion second discussion  comments seeing none all those in favor say I I matter passes item C Award of bid demolition  of 3600 West State Street to ENT trct group of Loves Park Illinois in the amount of $44,000  the contract duration is through completion of the demolition Project funding sources  American Rescue plan act funds do I have a motion someo second motion second discussion  comments seeing none all those in favor say I I I item passes item D Award of rebid LED service line  replacement program phase seven to entract group of Loves Park Illinois in the not to exceed amount  of $4 million based on unit pricing the contract duration is one year funding source is iepa State  revolving Loan Fund do I have a motion move second motion second discussion comments Alderman Beach  thank you Mr chairman um is is this the source of funds that we get to do this lead replacement and  if so where are we in this total loans we that out like take that one yeah stab um so C currently  we are about 22 million um I believe it was 18 million of that has been forgiven the most recent  uh loan was an iepa loan with 0% interest but we have to pay back I see great what what what was  that rate excuse me zero zero all right and that's that's over what period of time uh seven years so  there's been one phase each year thank you thank you Mr chairman any further questions comments  seeing none all those in favor say I I matter passes on to item e Award of engineering agreement  e State Street sidewalk gaps phase two preliminary engineering two civil civil engineering Solutions  of beler Illinois in the not to exceed amount of $ 56,86282 any discussion comments seeing none all  those in favor say I I matter passes item F resolution approving appropriation of rebuild  Illinois funds for improvement under the Illinois highway code Harrison Avenue reconstruction Phase  2 Engineering in the amount of $700,000 do I have a motion I'll move motion second discussion  comments seeing none all those in favor I I matter passes item G Award of engineering  agreement Harrison Avenue reconstruction Main Street to kwaki street is the phase two  preliminary engineering to Fair Graham of Rockford Illinois in not to exceed amount of $696,000  the contract duration is March 1st 2025 through June 1st 2027 the funding sources are rebuild  Illinois funds and motor fuel tax do I have a motion second motion second discussion comments  seeing none all those in favor say I I matter passes item H approval of extension Head Start  bus transportation services to First Student of naville Illinois and the not to exceed amount is  $795,000 44 the original contract started in July 2022 this is the last extension the contract  duration is from July 1st 2024 through June 30th 2025 the funding source is Head Start Grant  funds do I have a motion so move I make a motion okay second second Allman Beach motion second  discussion comments seeing none all those in favor say I I I matter passes item I approval and  acceptance of fiscal year 26 Illinois Department of Transportation sustained traffic enforcement  program Grant award in the amount of $142,450 the grant does not require a cost MCH the grant term  is from October 1st 2025 to September 30th 2026 the grant award if accepted will provide funds  to pay for officers to work overtime shifts to conduct dedicated traffic enforcement activities  at specific times and dates during the program year do I have a motion move second motion second  discussion comments seeing none all those in favor say I I I matter passes item J Award of  joint purchasing contract police vehicles to cury Motors Fleet of Frankfurt Illinois in the  amount of 2,283 120 this is a one-time purchase funding sources are capital lease funds and the  police department capital budget do I have a motion do I have a second I'll second I'll second motion second all those in favor say or wait  discussion comments for so Alderman Beach thank you Mr chairman I take it this was out to bid and  Frankfurt out bid brockford uh for all of these vehicles D AG yes this is based on a uh  Suburban Cooperative uh bid that went out um we have used Curry Motors for our marked vehicles  for some time for the the last several purchases have been through Curry Motors so the bid did  go out to roer as well they had an opportunity to respond to it certainly thank you thank  you Alderman Beach are the existing Vehicles going to be auctioned off or traded in uh I  think we normally auction these correct yes Chief red or aler or uh director Hagerty yes  typically utilize the auction to get rid of the vehicles all right what what would you say if  you had any just ballpark guess what the mileage is on those Vehicles by the time we give them  up the mileage would vary but I can tell you with the repl we're getting rid of vehicles that  are seven years old we went a period of time two or three years where Supply and you know what  was available we were not able to get vehicles so we're replacing vehicles that are 7 years  old um with this purchase it will put us um we will be at the point with rotation where we  will be transitioning the vehicles roughly at about every five years with this purchase okay  I just needed inquire because Alderman baros is looking for a car oh and uh so they want to take  advantage of that thank you you're welcome do I have a motion to adjourn oh wait I'm sorry  all those in favor say I I I uh motion to adjourn so move second motion second discussion  comments none seeing none adjourned thank you