doing. Good evening. We will call to order the city of Rockford's city council and committee meetings for June 16, 2025. Uh this evening we do have a legislative and lobbying committee meeting. We also have a city council meeting. So we will begin uh and we're also fortunate that we have Chaplain Roy Whitmore with us uh to provide us with an invocation this evening. So Chaplain, we'll let you take it away. Father God, we thank you Lord for our city council. Lord, we ask you for your wisdom, your understanding, and your knowledge that we may serve this community. And God, we just invite you lead us and guide us and bless this council in Jesus name. Amen. of the United States of America and justice for all. Before I turn it over to Chairwoman Prunty of the Legislative and Lobbying uh committee, we do have uh one proclamation this evening. This evening we have a proclamation for Iron Man 70.3 Rockford Day. And we are fortunate that we have John, Lindsay, and Eric with us. If you would like to come forward, this council's very familiar with John and Lindsay, but you may not be uh as familiar with Eric. Eric is a race coordinator for Iron Man. Has just done an amazing job. Good to see you. Good to see you. Good to see you, John. Whereas, Rockford will proudly host the first ever Iron Man 70.3 in Illinois on June 22nd, furthering our city's status as a leader in destination sports and outdoor recreation. And whereas this world-class event will bring together over 2500 athletes from 13 countries, 30 US states, and 84 Rockford residents, creating a global celebration of endurance, community, and spirit. And whereas athletes will swim 1.2 2 miles in the Rock River, cycle 56 miles through Rockford, the rolling countryside of Winnebago County, and the historic village of Rockton, and run 13.1 miles along our riverfront path, finishing in the heart of downtown Rockford. And whereas the influx of athletes, families, and fans will invigorate Rockford's hotels, restaurants, and local businesses gener generating more than $8 million in direct visitor spending and momentum for tourism growth and local pride. And whereas more than 1,000 local volunteers have stepped up to make this event possible, a powerful display of Rockford civic pride, hospitality, and volunteerism. Now, therefore, I, Thomas P. Act as the mayor of the city of Rockford do hereby proclaim June 22nd, 2025 to be Iron Man 70.3 Rockford Day. Before I turn it over, I know that I want to say a few words. I just want to say uh one Eric, thank you so much for bringing Iron Man to Rockford and to the state of Illinois. We could not be more proud uh and appreciate all the partnership uh you and your amazing team have had uh with the city of Rockford and all the various organizations and volunteers. it genuinely is appreciated and we are grateful. Uh secondly, I do want to say uh John and Lindsay, you guys have just as you always do, just knocked it out of the ballpark uh with the coordination and the effort that you have put into this event. Uh it's really been impressive and we are grateful and I I know our staff is not up here council members but uh this morning we had our department head meeting as we do every Monday morning and as they went around nearly all of them were bringing up different items regarding the Iron Man and it just showed uh citywide commitment to this event and I s I want to say sincerely thank you to all of our city of Rockford team members who have participated ated uh in some form or fashion and making sure that our city is ready to house such an event. But John, would you like to share a few more words? Well, thank you for that and I'll echo our appreciation to the city of Rockford team from your office throughout the organization. Uh we've had tremendous cooperation and that is true across the city and the county. Uh, you know, we do we work on events like this for the benefit both that will be here this week, the 8 million plus dollars that will be spent as well as the reputational enhancements and the pride in our community. Hosting what is the world's number one most recognized sports brand uh from a competitive perspective is uh certainly good for our community. Seeing Rockfordians out uh exercising and preparing has been uh great. Those are benefits as well. Um showing that anything is possible is also important. That's one of the things that Iron Man talks a lot about is that anything is possible for the uh everyday athlete and for the competitive athlete. um they talk about that and our team has taken that to heart that if we can work uh collaboratively diligently to bring Iron Man to our community, it shows that anything is possible and we are looking forward to that. For council members, there's a packet there in front of you. We have done our very best to communicate with residents and businesses and organizations about the positive impacts and perhaps also some of the things that they'll need to watch out for. We'll ask for patience and for a little bit of grace on Sunday as some roads are closed or it might take a little bit longer to get where folks are needing to go. Uh but we are looking forward to a great day uh on Sunday uh over the next several days as we lead up to it and then again in 2026 and 2027 when Iron Man comes back to our community. Awesome. Thank you. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, next I'm going to turn it over to our legislative and lobbying chair, Alderwoman uh, Prunty. Thank you. Can we call the roll? Here. Thank you. Um, thank you committee members. Um, on the agenda tonight, we have a renewal of the professional services contract for Zephr's government strategies for the amount of 10,000 or $10,000 per month for the city of Rockford's 2025 lobbying services. I'm sorry. Um, did you Yep. You agree in All right. So, we have read this in Is there I'll make a motion to approve. Second. All right. So, we have a motion um to approve the committee reports. Is there any discussion? Yes. Yeah. I would uh just like to express uh my appreciation for uh Mike Cassidy and Zephyr for yearslong service to Rockford. I think he's been an extremely effective uh lobbyist for us in uh Springfield. Communicates well with us. Um very responsive. He knows his way around uh Springfield and uh has quite a few connections that over the years has really uh he's really done well uh to promote the city and uh is very successful. So I'm in full support of retaining um Mike Cassidy and Zephr as our lobbyists in Springfield. Thank you. Any other discussion? Um, I did want to um bring up just a little bit um as it relates to um our bidding procedures. Um and so I was just wondering if um staff could explain why um this did not go out for a request for a proposal and explain what our bidding procedures are. Certainly, Chairwoman. Um, as it rel as it relates to requests for proposals related to this contract, um, historically we have not gone out to RFPs. Um, and we have an understanding that we have a long-standing relationship with Mr. capacity uh and Zephr consultants and we have relationships that have been built uh with our local delegation as well as organizations within the state of Illinois and the state of Illinois as well as the federal government to accomplish the list of priorities that city council identifies um on an annual basis and understanding we haven't followed that process um and in numerous years for this particular contract we didn't do it this year um neither um I know that there some interest in speaking with Mr. Cassidy. We have made arrangements for him to be here this evening. So, Mr. Cass Cassid's here. um if it's the will of the committee, he's more than welcome to come up and answer any additional questions related to not only the work that he has historically done for the city of Rockford, but how we look forward in regards to additional work and priorities of the community and making sure we're aligning communication not only with the mayor's office um and the chair of Legend Lobbying, but city council as a whole beyond the you know the weekly emails that you receive from either Mr. Cassidy or his staff. Jeremy And what does our ordinance say about um amounts over um this would be $120,000. So this is $120,000 contract. I don't have the the ordinance in front of me to be able to articulate what it says. Certainly I could rely on Director Hagerty to provide additional information regarding uh requests for proposals and in this contract and when we haven't followed the the RFP process. Director Hagerty. Yes. Uh so our ordinance requires um a request for proposals process when procuring professional services outside of engineering, architectural or legal services. Uh we have in a number of occasions uh when circumstances like this uh exist where you we have um a a particularly qualified individual or someone we have a long-standing relationship with um requested that council approve a contract outside of our normal procurement process. Uh if you recall, we did it uh a few weeks ago for grant consulting services um because of the spe some specific uh circumstances with that particular vendor. So it is a it is a a regular practice for us to do that to request approval outside of the normal um request for proposals process. Yes. I have a quick question and I do not want this to happen so please don't think that I do. But if say our current lobbyist was hit by a bus tomorrow, how would we proceed with these relationships for the state, for the federal, would we be able to function? So yes, we would be able to function. um understanding that we've been able to build relationships um ourselves and with uh Mr. Cassidy, you know, throughout the state. Um, and by no means to undervalue the the importance of having um a lobbyist um on our team to help with those connections, whether that's going after and seeking grants, uh whether that's concerns uh related to certain legislation that may have a negative impact on the city of Rockford. Um whatever the case may be, there's numerous numerous um situations in which uh we are communicating with Mr. capacity being a conduit between ourselves as an organization and the state of Illinois um the federal government. Should that scenario happen that you discussed, I'm confident that we would, you know, seek services from additional lobbyists um you know through discussions which you know the mayor and I have had in the past with other lobbyists um determine to determine what process we may go through and then there would be additional communication uh with legend lobby and council on the approach may that we may take whether that's an RFP process or whether that's an alternative process to to select the lobbyist. So, I wanted to um also add and when we had that grant writer, I had questions about that as well um and how we were um not going out for a competitive bid. I I think that I would like to see us follow the ordinance in this case. So, what would it take to make that happen? So this is not a competitive bid process in regards to typical bid. This is a request for proposal for professional services um through an RFP. Um if that was the will of the committee and then subsequently council uh there would be a direction to deny the contract and direct staff to go out for an RFP for services. So in this particular instance um should we vote to Should we choose to vote to deny? Um, that means that it has gone through process, but should I request an opportunity for a layover? Has that already been extended so that this could happen? So, I don't certain if I understand your question. No, there hasn't been a layover. No, there have. Okay, if that's the question. So, no, this is um this is up for consideration tonight. Okay. At committee and at city council. And I believe at city council it's on a as a committee report and an ordinance if I'm correct. Okay. Correct. Director Hagerty confirming that's the case. Okay. Is it just a committee report? Thank you, director. Yes. I want to tail on something Mr. Kagnon said. I don't think this is a position that we hop around from year to year. Um the these are these are positions that require connections, long-term relationships, long-term stab stability and understanding of the city, the alderman that are elected and such to put this out for bid year after year I think would create an absolutely inefficient um consultant and and an inefficient lobbyist. In fact, I doubt if we started doing that we'd ever get a good lobbyist. It's like hopping around from doctor to doctor. No patients like it. Uh it's ineffective. You establish a patient uh relationship with somebody long term. It's like looking at our all of our department heads and year after year saying, "Well, you know, maybe we ought to put this position up." So, we we start to get fragmented. And I I I don't and actually I I don't know. uh really if we're we're going to find somebody with the quality of Mike uh Cassidy and Zephr and what they've accomplished. But I that's to me it's a it's a not a good precedent to take positions like this and hold them hostage in a sense year after year hoping that um you know they get a job. They're unmotivated to to do that. And I I don't know that we would we would ach I don't know what we would accomplish by doing that. I'm not sure who was next. Um either I'm not sure who was next. Mr. Okay. Mr. Bonnie. Um Al Alderman Bonnie. Um I I would have to echo what uh the first order alderman has said. Um this is a it's a hard position to find somebody to deliver results year-over-year. And I've known Mr. Cassidy since he was assigned to work in Representative Chuck Jefferson's office uh by the Speaker of the House when I was still at the newspaper. and he has the skill set that you really need to be an effective lobbyist, which is sort of a combination of being, you know, like tenacious as a pitbull and charming as, you know, I mean, you have to you have to strike that balance to be able to get things done in Springfield or in Washington. And I guess I'm curious as to the reason to want to go out to bid. I mean um or out rather out for requests for proposals. Um I was looking at the ordinance and that we are not doing what the ordinance is but I think it's as the finance director has said we've we've done it periodically and and just recently and and I had questions then. Right. Yes. Alderman Bell. Thank you for allowing me to speak. Uh, is there a desire for this committee to invite Mr. Cassidy to the floor to speak and answer questions from the council? Um, sure. I don't know if Are there any questions for Mr. Cassidy? There are no questions for Mr. Cassidy. Yes. Thank you. Um, Miss Punty, um, qu question for you guys. Um so my understanding it's a yearly contract is that my understanding or did we go out for when we selected this RFQ or this individual um this firm uh was it a three-year with a possibility of extension each year after that or is it just on a yearly basis? So, it's an annual contract that we've brought forward um you know year after year and as as I recall um you know um you know this contract or similar contract has been in in place prior to Mayor McName's um administration. So I don't have the full history uh when Mayor Marcy was office in office. So if there was a RFP process I I can't recall if there was or there there was not. But it is an annual contract. So, as a followup, if I may. Yes, Miss Prie. Um, do we do a performance evaluation on I understand Mr. Cassidy uh sent out a memo with everything that has transpired and from public safety to grants to infrastructure, you name it. It's looks like it's a tremendous accomplishments what, you know, he's put out there, you know, on on that memo. But just wanted to see is there a performance evaluations that's done through the committee? Uh maybe this is Miss Miss Prunie's question, but uh just would like to get some context to that whether there is an evaluation on a yearly basis and I only say this because I've had I I used to work for the park district at one point. I used to do the foundation. Um I was their accountant for from them. Uh we had Wells Fargo and I'm not going to throw them under the bus good or bad um one way or the other or you know giving them uh thumbs up or anything like that but they would do our wealth management for our different endowments and they had been there for 10 15 plus years and then once you know um the housing went down and our performance on those valuations obviously with the cost you know of doing business and so forth uh from the uh the investments that they did Wells Fargo, we started to question some of these things, right? So, I just think that, you know, certainly procedurally, I would hope that maybe we can start having those conversations in your committee as part of that um the long-term contracts. I'm not saying that we're going to go out there on the market and find better pricing or better um you know performance you know from that perspective but it does give an an eye uh from that perspective to see what's out there in the marketplace right um from this perspective. So, so it's kind of a twofold. Don't know about the evaluation and if you know we we certainly feel that there it's an adequate time to uh start to look at these things that we start having those conversations and and and take the lead on on potentially before we you know we're approving because it looks like April 1st 2025 to next year. So we're already past right I'm assuming the contract end date. So, you know, from that perspective, I just think getting a head start now and and hopefully, you know, whether it's this year we approve it and then next year we start having those discussions whether we want to go out for a bid or not based on that. So, by state statute 25,000 unless it's professional, my understanding that it's professional and someone else, you know, it's it's hard for us to find RFQ for the RFQ process. it does have to go out forbid but that's just my interpretation of the state law um unless it's professional and some specialized that it cannot go out forbidden from that perspective right so uh but those are my question um performance and then obviously my recommendation would be to start looking at that quicker uh sooner than later before we get to this point where we're trying to make that decision. Thank you. So the first part of the question as it relates to an evaluation I cannot say that I've been a part of that process. So I'm happy to to address the the the question on performance and historically um you know performance has been measured on an annual basis by bringing the contract forward to to city council. In addition to that, the mayor and I and the legal director or all of us have a weekly call uh with Mr. Cassidy and performance is ongoing uh related to the items that we have provided him um to work on and then in addition to that is ongoing communication uh with the chairman of legend lobbying committee um you know most recently Alderman Frost until the the change um comm of of committee. So that ongoing communication and evaluation does take place. I know that there's been some discussion in regards to having additional communication which I know Mr. Cassid is more than happy um to do beyond the the emails um and the weekly report that is provided and if that means um you know additional conversations with the committee um or the chairman um he'd be more than and willing to do that. Yes, I would just add a little bit to that. We certainly do the annual meetings and the calls once per week. I probably also call uh Mike Cassie I would say three to six times per week as well uh and have discussion about different items and can also state uh literally just uh as the session closed this year um had one of our representatives tell me that the feeling in Springfield among his peers was that Rockford just kept winning items. uh and we have been uh and I would say in large part to the good work he's doing but also on the Illinois Municipal League uh many of our my peers are asking me who our lobbyist is because we have won so many different grants and uh infrastructure fundings and major projects. Uh but the good thing in my opinion is Mr. Cassie doesn't take on other municipalities. So, he doesn't have that where he's kind of juggling. Many of the other lobbyists I have spoken to also work for multiple municipalities. So, what may be good for Peoria or Chicago may not be good or what I want here in Rockford or you want here in Rockford. So, making sure ours has been solely focused has been also I think a big plus for the city of Rockford. Yes. Thank you, Chairwoman. Uh, I'd just like to add as a former member of this committee, uh, that each time each and every time I've reached out to Mr. Cassidy, uh, he's been prompt, thorough, uh, transparent. Uh, more times than not, he was able to give me an answer uh, right off the bat. If not, he was prompt in uh, getting back. Um I think his his work has been tremendous um for our city throughout this and I would agree with the sentiments of uh the first ward alderman. Uh same in my business uh that you know just rolling over uh various individuals is just not uh tends to be a good thing. and and I know that he has in our conversations when we've talked about things in the past uh that you know he can name just instantaneously the connections that he has that he would have to go to uh to address those questions that I had. So uh I I highly recommend him personally as a former member of that committee this committee. Thanks. Yes. Um, I have long in my past history, uh, I worked down in Springfield on the energy and environment committee and I was a staff person for that committee and, um, so as a staff person, you were constantly in contact with different lobbyists and different legislators. And it was you could it was always key to staff to be able to know and go up to people that you could talk to that knew about what the situation was going forward. and you knew those people because they had been there for a long time. And I think having um Mr. Cassidy and the ability to know that he is Rockford, he is somebody that when you see him, he's going to be talking about Rockford is just vital to be able to get our message and our issues pushed forward. Thank you. Any other discussion? Oh, yes. Thank you for allowing me to speak again. Uh Mr. Mr. Kona, this is just for the state of Illinois, correct? This is not a federal lobbyist. Or do we have a federal lobbyist as well with the state? He does he does both state and he does both. Correct. Okay. All right. I just saw on the nature of the scope of representation. I just saw state lobbying, but Oh, they're federal and local. My bad. Thank you. Alderman, would there ever be a reason why a municipality or any other organization would need two lobbyists? Because because I just want to be clear, um, not everybody is in agreement that we do this year over year, but I think there are some that might be curious if this is working. Could this work in some other arenas? some very direct targeted lobbying to specific things and I've had conversations about that in the past. But would there be a reason or is it possible to not just have one lobbyist but maybe two? So yes, it would be possible to have more than one lobbyist um and certainly to have lobbyists that are directed on particular issues. Um you know when we talk about um lobbying for City of Rockford efforts. Um there's no doubt that Mr. Cassidy is a lead part of accomplishing what's been discussed tonight. Um but we also lean on other relationships that the the city of Rockford has, whether that's through the Illinois Municipal League um and the work they do and the lobbyist efforts that they have and making sure that Mr. Cassidy is aligned um with them or the Mr. Cassidy in is in conversations with IML to help advance our forwards. Um we just had a conversation with um Director Parham in regards to the lobbyist efforts of of Head Start um and our team communicating with their lobbyists, you know, towards the very specific issues on federal funding uh for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Um we also are a member of National League of Cities um and try to exercise those resources towards lobbying. Um and there's a list of other organizations that we're uh associated with uh whether it's you know lead service lines, water utilities, affordable housing, other housing advocate organizations that we align with their lobbyist efforts. So sort of a long way of saying yes, we could also engage in other um very specific lobbyist efforts on behalf of the city of Rockford. Thank you. Any other questions? Is it now? Do we call for the role? Yes, you would. Okay. Get the call for the role, please. Derky. Hi. Terrina. Hi. Prunty. No. Meeks. Hi. Three eyes, one no. And now we go to the resolution. Okay. All right. So, approval and confirmation of priority items for the city of Rockford's legislative and lobbying efforts in the Illinois General Assembly. I need a motion. It's been moved and second. Is there any more discussion? Yes. All names. Thank you, woman. Um, I wanted to start with some of the priority items. Let me just get myself together here. So, can I should I assume that any funding or assistance to the Health and Human Services Department would be in the federal funding. So, uh that is correct. um not that it couldn't align with other priorities, but understanding the conversation on the federal level, not only as it relates to the Health and Human Services Department, um but the community and economic development department, um federal funding is a concern. And sorry to interrupt you, Alderwoman. Also, I mean, there's advocacy that's needed across the community as well, understanding the other organizations within our community that could be impacted or will be impacted by, you know, a revised budget and and I totally understand that. I just want to try to focus on the departments that we kind of coordinate. So, I'm, you know, I'm understanding, you know, these items that we have are very necessary items. CDBG, CSBG, LIE HEAP, all of these things are things that actually we need more funding for rather than budget cuts. We all know this from the federal government. Um, is this are these lobbying efforts just to kind of keep us on a, you know, level playing field here or is this are we seeking efforts to increase those efforts within these departments? because I see, you know, I see where we are focused on domestic violence and family peace center and being very specific about providing funding for a family peace center. I would love to see some wording where we're very specific about funding health and human services as well. How could we factor in that kind of conversation? And I do feel like we have set up the supplemental funding committee for Health and Human Services. And and I say this because, you know, the most vulnerable people are going to be the first people that are hit with these cuts. And so it's just really important to make them a priority as much as we can. And so I just I I want to and and and I say the domestic violence part because some of the work that is done through the family peace center is done through organizations like the health and human services department. You know they they work kind of handinand in a lot of situations. So, we want to ensure that, you know, they have everything that they need in order to continue to help in emergency situations within our community, to help with the housing crisis that exist in this community. We could go on and on and on about what problems exist now that are only going to be perpetuated with the cuts that are implied. So, I just I just want to kind of understand is this us just trying to get back to where we were or are we trying to exceed this? It would be it would be both. Um, most certainly we want to be in a position where we're sustaining our the funding that we do receive, but also recognize that additional funding across the organization, including Health and Human Services Department, um, is is needed. Um so we want to go after both right we know health and human services on a head start level um is currently in the budget but I don't want to mis state how it's but there's you know it's flat funding um which creates additional challenges for that department and the organization and so and so these cuts are coming these are calls for cuts We they're they're not cut yet, right? Correct. Um you know, I I I guess I'm I'm challenged to predict what's going to happen in the federal budget process. And so, um as we have this conversation, you know, we're I'm I'm having it and our team is having it with the best information that we have at this time. Can I add just for clarity? So, the House has approved uh a It's hard to say it without smiling or laughing. The big beautiful bill. Uh the House has approved it. It's now at the Senate. And so it has, you correct, it has not happened, but the concern is very real. And the report is is that the Senate's going to approve of a bill, but it's going to nowhere nearly align with the House and it's likely going to have to go back. Um I mean, there's a whole bunch of nuances that are just tremendous to to try to fully track. And and I just have one last question regarding the blight reduction property standards and code compliance. Um it says in 2024 the city has been successful in receiving XXX dollars from Illinois Housing Development. Do we have that dollar amount? So, we do, and I put those X's in there in part because we also have an agenda item um that got read in tonight uh related to uh funding from IDA that'll be coming forward and that was additional funding that I believe we received notice on in 2024 and now we're getting the the grant agreement. It's either early 2024 or I'm sorry, late 2024 or early 2025. Um, so I can certainly get you the what the final number was, but uh I don't have enough problems, but our again our our team and and Mr. Cassidy, we've won a lot of grants and it's one it's one thing to to win the grants, it's another thing for our team to continue um to perform. uh whether that's community economic development department being one of the few departments that pushed out um the housing rehab program for up to 150% of AMI and why DCO came back to provide us more money or it's our health and human services department um that it continues to to be a high performer in regards to lie heap um dollars and putting it into the community and continually you'll see it go through council where we get additional dollars either as an information only item or an amendment to the grant agreement. I have no other questions. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Could you um identify some of our unfunded mandates? How we mayor? Yeah. Um there's a a lot of and I will start a list. I mean you can look at uh you know when you look at street sweeping we are mandated to make sure that our system is cleaned and we have to get that debris out. So we have to pay for that street sweeping. They don't provide any funding. If you look at the safety act there was a host of unfunded mandates in them. Uh one was uh the 40 hours of police training that uh they required all municipalities. 40 hours of additional police training uh that all uh police departments had to provide uh with no additional funding. Uh I think this next one they would argue that there was some funding to it, but we did body cameras before this took place, but they mandated body cameras. Um they provided grants to municipalities, but I think the if my memory serves uh me correctly, Alderwoman Prunty, I think the highest grant you could get was 250,000. And I think our body cameras cost well in excess of a million dollars. Uh lot more than a million dollars. Um you can look at uh I mean there's literally dozens and dozens there. We actually publish a book every year of unfunded mandates uh that are being proposed and those that have been approved. Uh you could go through each department. Uh I don't know if other folks want to add any additional ones or I could keep going. I mean there's a number of of regulations 77 here. So so yeah that that 277 sorry Mr. Gagnoy that 277 were the 277 unfunded mandates that were proposed just this uh legislation uh just this legislative cycle. Um, I mean, you can look at things like, not that these were just this year, but lead uh line replacement is an unfunded mandate. We not only have to replace them, but now they're uh saying that I think we have to do them within 10 years. Uh, you look at POS cleanup, uh, you look at public notice requirements, FOYA requirements, uh, public pension costs. Uh, there's a whole host of different unfunded mandates that come forward. You said that there's a list. Do we have a dollar amount as well as what we've had for say last year? Do I have a dollar amount for what we paid last year in unfunded mandates? Yeah. I don't think we've ever went back and just totaled up each individual year because, you know, we'll get one item this year and then three years down the road we're still paying for that every single year. So, do we add that into this year's amount? I mean, it it's it's enormous. I'd be happy uh alderwoman to send out the IML report on unfunded mandates that they published. Okay. All right. Thank you. Are there any other discussion? Yes. Alderman Salado. Miss for allowing me to speak. Uh real quick um on this resolution that we're talking about do so is my understanding uh your committee works with the city to come up with some of these priorities or the administration the mayor's office and administration propose this uh to your legislative body and then ultimately to city council. How does that work? Or is it just, you know, uh, based on administration and the mayor, you know, flowing that information down to us? Because my thing is like I'd like, you know, there's good stuff in here, don't get me wrong. Um, there's blight obviously that's huge in my area. Um, I talked to Mike a little bit about this and bringing um, businesses and stuff like that and some of the older buildings that, you know, we could get try to get some funding for that as well. Obviously, public safety is big with domestic violence. So, I see all these things, but I just wanted to get an understanding if there is a process and um excuse my ignorance here because I don't know, you know, how city council works with this on setting priorities for our lobbyist. Obviously, our lobbyist is getting the uh hot off the press, things coming out of the House, the Senate. So, he's keeping his his ear open and is going to continue to help us and educate us and communicate with us on things coming down the pipeline. But I just would like to understand you know is there a process where you know says here's the priorities and you know hey alderman or older woman you know is there any other priorities that um sure we could say hey pick up the phone call Mike you know he'll take care of it try to work with you on that but I also am one of those persons that you know from my perspective you know with his memo that he provided it's tremendous I mean everything that has transpired. But those are the certain things that I'd like to see is like uh processes from that perspective where I can document and say and go back to it and say, "Yep, we did accomplish a lot." Or, "Hey, there's still open, you know, items that we still want to know." So, I just I don't know if it's a question to, you know, Todd, the mayor, or you, Miss uh Pruny, on that, but I just would like to get to know what that process is. So I'm going to defer to staff on what our past practice has been. So by no doubt it is a a living document and you know staff prepared um this memo uh based on you know one the collective comments of city council over the last year as issues have come up. um as well as the one-on-one meetings that the the mayor um has had with with all of you and understanding what you want to accomplish uh within your in your ward and try to bring forward a a list of items that reflect also, you know, what we've heard from the community and other items that we've worked on um over the last um year that are important that we need to continue to be worked on. So this, you know, this document can certainly be amended um, you know, now or in the future at the desire of, you know, city council. Um, there's no doubt that there are other items that are important to our community that may not be on this list um that we do work on, but it it can be, you know, amended. It can be changed. And if something's not in here, doesn't mean that it doesn't become uh a priority mid year. And that's not uncommon, right? We don't know what's going to happen um on the state or federal level. That's going to require a response on items that are important to us as a organization. So, if I may just follow um I I appreciate you guys doing that and providing the memo because it gives direction. I think that's I just didn't understand the process if there was a process or not in place. Sounds to me like there is, right? Because if not, we would not have this memo, right? and we wouldn't have, you know, the the memo from, you know, Mike and Sciphar, um, his his, uh, agency. Um, so, so I do appreciate that. I just, you know, would want to understand a little bit more and also have some of the older men and older women have input to that. I understand not everybody you wants to dig into the weeds of things, but it's also good from that perspective and maybe through your committee. I don't know, Miss Pruny. It's something that to think about the future for that. So, thank you very much. Thank you, Alderman Derky. Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I particularly um like to see the mental health priority um that has been developed here probably on the committee. I'm new on the committee and probably the old committee as well as staff. Um I actually read uh Senator Stelman's remarks on it and sent him a a pretty supportive email. I think one of the huge roles of government uh is to take care of people who can't take care of themselves. That's a big priority. And um there's a lot of folks in Rockford who uh have some mental illness that are are challenges. And I think one of the worst things the state has done is close Singer. And that's always been um it's always bugged me. I used to be on the health department and um we we tried to uh bring forward a tax oh many years ago like in 2000 or something and it really went nowhere. So I'm glad that we have this tax. I I I hope that um I know our health care systems tend sometimes not to unite on certain things, but I hope the three health care systems also will unite on this. I'd like to see um at least if we can agree on that some lobbying effort to to see if we can reopen a um inpatient health facility for mental health um that's robust um uh that has enough beds that has staffing with it and I don't know you know it it doesn't pay much and that's the problem you don't see a lobbyist you know the group schizophrenics lobbying Springfield because they can't. And so that's what we're called on to do. We need to advocate for them. And uh I'm I'm I'm really uh glad to see this on there and that we we make it a big priority for the citizens of Rockford because it is a big need and I really do think we need to open a robust inpatient center that's open 247 um to service those folks. So, thanks for putting that there. Thank you. Is there any other discussion? Seeing none. Oh, yes, Mayor. I just want to respond. Alderman Derky uh agree, I think, wholeheartedly with all of your comments. Uh myself and the chairman uh Sharelli uh created a group uh that's working now that includes all of the health systems NAMI uh Rose Grants uh host of other organizations University of Illinois College of Medicine Wo County Health Department, the school district, uh our fire department and many others uh that have been meeting uh to talk about what we can do largely in light of uh senior and other access needs when it comes comes to mental health. Um, I will say that Rose Grants got a designation and I it's called a CCBHC. Um, failing on remembering what all those uh stand for, but in essence uh they historically would only get paid about 60%. As you said, there's not a lot of money in it uh for Medicaid clients. Now they'll get paid 100%. Uh and uh with that additional funding comes additional responsibility that now they can no longer turn anyone away. Uh and so uh many of the partner organizations are working to figure out what can we build off this pillar of that CCBHC including uh bets. Thank you. Any other discussion? See none. Clerk, would you please call the role? Turkey. Terrina Prunty I Meeks four eyes. All right. Can we get a motion to adjurnn? All right. All those in favor? Thank you. Meet adjourn. Thank you. Yes, we will work on getting you a turn out of the agenda. Okay. Okay. Uh, we will call to order the city of Rifford's regularly scheduled city council meeting for Monday, June 16th, 2025. Clerk, could you please call the role? Turkey, here. Logan, here. Tunberg here, Tina. Prunty Gren Beach, Salgado, Meeks, Bell, Bonnie, 11 present. Excellent. Is there a motion to approve the journal of proceedings for the strategic planning session held on March 31st, 2025? We have We have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say I. Those opposed. Excellent. Do we have a motion to approve the journal of proceedings for the city council meeting held on April 21st, 2025? We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say I. Those opposed. We're going to do that one more time. Is there uh All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Okay. Excellent. Thank you. Next, we have a motion. Is there a motion to approve the journal of proceedings for the city council meeting held on June 2nd, 2025? [Laughter] discussion. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Excellent. Next, we're going to go, we have already done our proclamation uh this evening. Next, we'll go to petitions and communications. Uh Alderman uh Derky, in the absence of Alderwoman Wilkins, would you be willing to read uh the petitions and communications under planning and development? Thank you, your honor. Um under three item Roman numeral three petitions and communications A1 memorandum from uh Francesca French economic development diversity and procurement coordinator regarding the proposed funding agreement with the Midtown District Association. This will be referred to planning and development committee. Number two, a memorandum from Francisca French, economic development, diversity and procurement coordinator regarding the proposed funding agreement with Miracle Mile in Rockford. This will also be referred to planning and development committee. Number three, memorandum from Andrea Henriks, grants compliance supervisor for community and economic development regarding the approval of the city of Rockford residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan. This will be referred to planning and development committee. Lastly, number four, memorandum from Todd Kagnoni, city administrator, regarding a proposed policy to establish a citywide framework to reduce food insecurity in Rockford by designating funding and improvement access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food. This will be referred to planning and development committee. Excellent. Next, we will go to code and regulation committee. Alderman Bonnie. Thank you, mayor. We have um five items all of which are referred to the codes and regulation committee. Item one, zoning board of appeals agenda for the meeting to be held on J on June 17th, 2025 and minutes from that meeting for consideration at the code and regulation committee meeting on June 23rd, 2025. Number two, liquor and tobacco advisory board agendas for the meeting agenda for the meeting to be held on June 17, 2025 and minutes from that meeting for consideration at the code and regulation committee meeting on June 23rd, 2025. Item three, memorandum from Jacob Rubin, assistant city attorney, regarding a pre-anexation agreement for 4075 Kilburn Avenue. Number five, memorandum from Jeremy Carter, traffic and development engineer, regarding an honorary street name on Johnston Avenue from West State Street to Jefferson Street to Carl E. Pond's Way. And number five, memorandum from Sarah Liies, community and economic development director, regarding a revision to the intergovernmental agreement for environmental services with the Rockford Housing Authority. Thank you. Next, I'll go to Alderman Logan and Alderman Frost's absence for finance and personnel. Uh, six items on finance and personnel. Item number one, memorandum from Sarah Lias, community economic development director regarding the request of the city-owned property located at 319 Heath Street be added to the city's modeown program. Item number two, memorandum from Andrea Heinrich's grant compliant supervisor for community and economic development regarding the approval and the acceptance of the Illinois Housing Development Authority Strong Communities Program Round 2.0 grant refer to Finance and Personnel Committee. Item number three, memorandum from Todd Cnon, city administrator regarding a proposed funding agreement with Alignment Rockford referred to Finance and Personnel Committee. Item number four, memorandum from Carrie Hagerty, finance director, related to retaining the grocery tax referred to finance and personnel committee. Item number five, memorandum from Jacob Rubin, assistant city attorney, regarding the approval of funding in the amount of $23,168.14 pursuant to the 2020 amended and restated intergovernmental cooperation agreement for assessment compliant intervention referred to finance and personnel committee. Item number six, memorandum from Owen Carter, Deputy Director of Operations for Health and Human Services regarding the approval and acceptance of the Illinois Department of Human Services Homeless Prevention Grant Award referred to Finance and Personnel Committee. Thank you, Alderman Logman. Next uh up is our public speakers. We have uh three public speakers this evening. Just going to remind you that our microphones are on the back right and back left of council chambers. You'll have three minutes to address the city council. Uh, at the time of either this alarm working or me letting you know that your three minutes has expired, I'd ask that you close your comments. Our first public speaker this evening is Denzel Winter. Good afternoon to many people. My name is Denzel Winter and uh I come each each time to talk about my kids. And uh I had a little bit of good news when I heard from uh Sa Lot because there's there was rumors going around that the kids were going in there and stealing water and taking them out and selling them. And my thing about that is, you know, it's hard for me and I'm I'm a grown man and I for me to pick up a case of water and take them outside, you know, after I done stole something and go across the street and try to sell stuff. But, uh, the fella that was doing all the complaining, uh, went into the store and the people told him, "These kids pay for their water. They don't steal any water. And if we find out that you are harassing these kids, we're going to call the police on you. And then his his comment was, "Well, I'm the I'm I'm I'm the neighborhood watch person." Says, "If we find you harassing the kids or anybody in this in this store, we're calling the police." So, that kind of busted his bubble a little bit. And I'm glad that people re are waking up, you know, because we're here to protect our children. They may not be your biological child, but they are children, and we're supposed to watch out for them. Just like I seen you on on the news the other day uh uh mayor about these people coming in and and and all over the place and you know they even going so far as to taking kids out of school when they were in schools talking about the parents sent me here to go get your kids. I have never in my life sent anybody to go pick up any of my children. And boy, I tell you, if I had have found out that they they had tooken one of my kids, it would have been a problem because they have no rights to even be doing that. See, we got a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a president that's a a a felon that seems to think that he can do whatever he wants to do with no consequences. But uh he's going to find out because I I tell you, God is going to stop this this craziness and he's going to find out the hard way. People ain't going to always go along with what he's doing, you know. and they forget that that president forgets that Puerto Rico is part of the United States. Thank you. And there's a lot of other stuff that uh he should be uh trying to get a hold of. Thank you, Mr. Winter. Our next public speaker this evening is Prophet Yousef. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. In the book of Galatians, the fifth chapter, the first verse, it says, "Christ has really set us free. Now, make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." What I want to speak about tonight, appreciating our freedom. Having been set free from slavery to sin, it is far too easy for many Christian men to take their freedom for granted. Michael Blakeley of Milwaukee shares the following account that woke him up to the value of freedom. While I was attending graduate school in the early 1980s, I stopped for coffee in a Malibu, California restaurant. Coming from a non-political family, I knew nothing of political activist, but I met one that day in that restaurant. He told everyone what a mess the United States had become. He ridiculed our government and our educational, industrial, and banking stuff. He was on a robe that he had everyone on his side except for two people. The activist shield away from me seeing my Pepperdine hat, Ronald Reagan t-shirt, and Wall Street Journal. So he went after the old man. As he approached the old man continue eating his soup and turned his back. The activist sat down at the old man's table and offered, "Mister, if you can tell me just one thing the United States has ever done for you, just one measly thing, I will leave you alone." Finally, the old man looked up. He licked his soup spoon and set it down on the table. His red face indicated years of laboring in the sun. with a heavy Russian accent. He replied, "Behold these truth to be self-evident that all men created equal life, liberty, pursuit of happiness." Then he went back to eating his soup. The activists defeated could not argue against what the old man had experienced on both sides of communism. Having lived under oppression of the Soviet government, the old man in this story had a appreciate for freedom that few of us can relate to, at least on that level. How much do you value your freedom? Lord, teach me to value the freedom. You and others have fought and died for me. I also been want to tell Alderman Rose this for a long time, but he's not here tonight. I don't like you, but I love you and you can't do nothing about it. And happy birthday, my good friend. and I wish you many more. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, my good friend. Happy birthday to you. Thank you for allowing me to speak. Thank you, Prophet. Uh, next is Mr. John Tag Brantley. Good evening, Mayor Mcame, our alman, and our Rockford and the North. I'm going speak on what they asked me to speak. Uh this weekend we had over 2,000 people to uh march against uh ISIS and I was uh uh very impressed uh with that. But what I want to go back to say uh alman of the former county uh board member that's now alman was that eight or 10 years ago that we marched and we stood against ISIS opening up the uh jail house. Want to uh utilize the jail house. We talked about that this uh Saturday. I hope that the uh fire department, police department, and the mayor, and I'm gonna go to the Wnebago County board, that they have something in place. We do not want what happened uh with George Floyd to have uh our protest hijacked like it was done during uh George when uh George Floyd when we uh uh protest. We are uh um and I'm glad the chief of police uh opened up the door with that. We are uh we have formed a coalition. We're going to be meeting at Macedonian Church where we going to talk about driving while being uh uh driving while being black and and addressing that situation. I understand you do have a a a group a group that uh citizen review board, but we are the citizens that's on the on the front line and I'm using myself as an example. So far in court, I don't won twice while driving while being by being black. I'm also gonna tell them now that when they when I my van stopped on me and and I was getting a jump and told the lady in the building that I was getting my van jumped, she called the police. The police came and told me I was banned off the property and that and that if I didn't move my van by 3:30 that I was going to be arrested and if I step my foot back on that property again that I was going to be arrested. Do you know for the past 21 years that's a oneway that's our travel path that we pass. That's is that's a big reason why we need to address driving while being black because it's not all the police officers. It's certain police officers and mostly white police officers that don't understand us. We have a white person uh if a black person call the police on a white person, the police won't do jack. But if a white person call the police on the black person, that black person is gonna get arrested. We should not be afraid of the police. We should be able to trust and work with the police. But when our young people is afraid of the police, that make a big difference. Now we I going I uh I put my foot in my mouth. We supposed to be taking 50 kids and 10 adults to the shed aquarium and to the uh to Rainbow Beach. I got over 90 people that want that want to go and the bulk of them never been to Rainbow Beach or the shared aquarium and what have you. And so now I'm looking at trying to raise a few more dollars so I'm able to uh take the uh take the other 40 and want to go. Thank you for allowing me to speak and I look forward to uh when we have a next march against ISIS. Thank you. Next we will go to new committee reports and we'll go to finance and personnel committee alderman logman. Why not one one item on the agenda here committee recommends approval of the vouchers in the amount of 11587,6204 is approved at the finance and personnel committee meeting held on June 9th 2025. Thank you council. We have uh one item before us. Is there any discussion on that one item? Seeing none, clerk, will you please call the role? Jerky. Hi. Logan. Hi. Tunberg. Hi. Tina. Hi. Prunty. Hi. Granth. Hi. Beachch. Salgado. Hi. Meeks. Bell. Bonnie. Hi. 11 eyes. Thank you. Next, we're going to go to legislative and lobbying and Alderwoman Fronty. Um, this is for the renewal of the professional services contract with Zephr government strategies for the amount of $10,000 per month for the city of Rockford's 2025 lobbying services. Thank you. Is there one item before you? Is there any discussion on that one item? Otherwise, um, thank you. Um, I just wanted to I I heard during the committee meeting people were concerned about relationships and how long our relationship has been and if we put this up for um RFP um maybe we might lose that relationship. But I will say that you know that our legislators change all the time. Um and as do people around this circle change all the time and somehow or other we've been able to cultivate relationships with new people all the time. I I'm not sure that I buy not even I'm not sure I don't buy the argument that this is just so profound that only um um and that it couldn't go out for RFP and that there couldn't be a competitive bid. Thank you. Any other uh discussion on one item before us? Clerk, will you please call the role? Turkey. Hi. Logan, hi. Tunberg. Hi. Tina, hi. Prunty. No. Granth Beach. Salado. Meeks. Bell. Bonnie. Hi. 10 eyes. One. No. Thank you. Next, we're going to move to unfinished business and we'll go to code and regulation committee. Alderman Bonnie. Uh, thank you, mayor. We have one item. Uh that item is uh the committee recommends approval of the amendment of the amendment to the city of Rockford code of ordinances section 3-119 for hookah lounges to modify the hours of BYOB. The legal director shall prepare the appropriate ordinances. Thank you. We have uh one item before us. Is there any discussion on that one item? Alderman Bonnie. Thank you. Uh so when when I requested this be laid over um last week, um uh I think that I I want to sort of update everybody on um some things that have come to light since then. Um the fifth w older woman had raised some questions about activities at this um at the only hookah establishment that's operating in the city right now. And um it was in initially um relayed to myself, I believe to our city legal director and to the city administrator that the incident reports had showed no um problems uh from this location. But, um, Chief Red, and she can correct me if I misstate any of this, um, did a little further digging and there were three incidents that occurred, um, essentially in the parking lot that, um, upon a review of the, um, uh, dash cam and, uh, body cam videos, um, indicate that, uh, it appears that the lit hookah the only operating hookah or lounge in the city was operating outside of their approved hours. Um I've met subsequently I did a little actually research of my own and have talked to um people who have frequented the business uh more than I have who confirm that that has been going on. Um, I've subsequently talked with the owner and the manager. I've met with them in person. Um, they continue to dis they dispute they they believe that the police department is misinterpreting what they're seeing on the video, but they are not willing to sit down with the police department to view the video and try to um resolve that difference. So, uh, they've informed me that they are they closed at least a week ago, um, because they can no longer afford to stay in operation. I told them that to have my support as the alderman for the ward when if we were to approve this, then they come back through to apply for an extension to 2 am. That based on um the appearance that they have been operating outside of legal hours and that they have maybe not been truthful about that. Um that I wouldn't support them until they could if approved of having hours extended till two unless they could demonstrate maybe six months of keeping their nose clean under their current hours. They indicate that they can't do that, that they can't afford to reopen. But I think that we um should still move forward. I mean that they would be free, I guess, to immediately turn it around and re and apply. Um but um absent any new information, I would not support that. I think we should still approve this. However, I think um we should have approved 2 AM in the first place. I think it was an oversight um that we didn't. Um it it if other hookah establishments u that are successful do operate more along the hour you know in line with what are typically bar hours um I think that what's happened with this establishment um indicates that um you know as a case in point that it's very difficult to earn a profit doing this and um that you need both the BYOB and the later hours um in order to make it um work. And so I would hope that um we would approve this so that it's in place um for a future applicant and um I would hope that the current owners could um had the wherewithal to reopen under their current hours and come back in six months or longer um with a clean record. Uh but if not that that the um that somebody else can. Um, so I would hope that we could still approve this. Thank you. Thank you. We have uh one item before us. Is there any discussion? Alder one meeks. I I am not quite understanding what the request was from the alderman. Um, what we're approving today would be to modify the ordinance or modify the hours for hookah lounges in general, not a specific hookah lounge. Correct. That is correct. Okay. So, and and and and is my understanding correct that you approve I'm speaking to the alderman, but I should be speaking to you that this alderman approves changing the hours for another hookah lounge, but not for this but not for the hookah lounge, the only hookah lounge that exists in Rockford. My understanding, Alderman Meeks, is uh Alderman Bonnie approves of the ordinance. The ordinance is holistic for any potential hookah launch. And then I think he outlined that he understood some or got some good information uh from the fifth word alderwoman talking to staff and talking to the chief found out additional information uh and said right now he would not have supported that specific the only one that is currently operating would not support it right now but that if they ever wanted to gain and garner his support that they would need to prove themselves for some period of time and I believe he mentioned a six-month period of Is there a current barrier in place if this were to be improved for that particular hookah lounge to open and have their hours until 2 o'clock? Yes, they would have to come back through to us uh to extend that because their uh license had one of the stipulations that it only uh is open till 11 p.m. is my understanding or 10 p.m. 10 p.m. Sorry. Okay, I understand it more. Thank you so much. Alderman Bonnie, you had another comment. The um ordinance that we previously approved is 11 p.m., but their license was 10 p.m. And I sorry I wasn't able to explain myself as well as the mayor did. Um but the but the paraphrase is correct that yeah, I think we should I think we should still approve this. Anybody else lit or otherwise has to come through and apply for Bob and for a hookah or well lit would already have the hookah license. Lit would have to apply for an extension of their hours. And as things stand right now without them being able to demonstrate, you know, a period of time of of being able to operate under their current hours without any issues. I would not that but it would be subject to council approval. Anyhow, we have one item before us. Is there any other discussion? Alderwoman Meeks. Thank you so much. Can I just get clarification from the chief related to what are we talking about with regards to the calls to service? Is this egregious behavior? We have shots fired. What what are we talking about? T Fred. So there were no reports of shots fired, but there were individuals, one in particular was wanted on a warrant. Uh there were fights that were taking place. So nothing too egregious. However, uh the issue was you once we started digging into things, they were operating outside of their approved hours. Yeah. I I I just when it comes to local businesses in the area, I want to make it easier for our businesses. I don't want to make it more difficult. If it was a major safety issue that we're talking about, I would be all on board with having a conversation. I don't know if that's what we're talking about here in this particular situation, but I'm with the alderman in the 14th ward. I would stand to approve this as well. Thank you. Any uh further discussion on the one item? Alderman Bonnie? The chief could just clarify these issues were issues in the parking lot though, not in the business. And what the video demonstrated was that the business appeared to be open outside of their hours, but the fights were not occurring in the business. That's my understanding. Anyhow, that is correct. However, the one individual that called the police that we were looking for was still inside the business to the point we had to tell the manager to go in and get her and bring her outside. And by their own admission as well that they stated, "Oh, we just closed 10 minutes ago." So, thank you. One item before us. Any further discussion on that one item? Clerk, could you please call the role? Hi. Logan, hi. Tunberg. Hi Tina. Hi Prunty. Hi Granth. Hi Beachch. Salgado Meeks Bell. Hi. Bonnie I 10 eyes. One no. Excellent. Thank you. Next we're going to go to Finance and Personnel Committee and Alderman Logan. One item. Uh committee recommends approval of the 2024 supplemental appropriation ordinances. The legal director shall prepare the appropriate ordinance. Thank you. We uh have one item before us. Is there any discussion on that one item? Clerk, please call the role. Derky. Hi. Logan. Hi. Tunberg. Hi. Tina. Hi. Prunty. Yes. Granith Beach. Salgato. Meeks. No. Bell. Hi. Bonnie. Hi. 10 eyes. One. No. Excellent. Thank you. Next we have officers reports. Does any council member have a report? Alderwoman Meeks. Thank you so much. Welcome. Um Junth is coming up on Thursday, June 19th at Cissippi Park. Um this year's there's a little change where the um headliner, which is typically at Cissippi, is now going to be performing at the Hard Rock. Um, I do have free tickets to any council member or the mayor who's interested coming directly from my father, Tommy Meeks. So, if you're interested in going to the headline concert, which is Lakeside Band, if you're not familiar with Lakeside and you're in my era, then you might be familiar with Culio and a song called Fantastic Voyage. come along and ride on a fantastic voyage. So that's so if you want to get down with the rest of the crew at Junth, come at me. I have tickets for anyone that's interested. Thank you so much. Any other uh reports of council? Alderwoman Grant. Um I would like to say I walked was able to walk in the pride uh parade last now it's been two Saturdays ago and it was a great event and it was a very warm and welcoming um event. So, I would appreciate and encourage everybody um to attend next year's parade. Thank you. Uh Alderwoman Torino. Thank you, Mayor. One second. First, I want to uh I had a ward meeting last Wednesday and I just wanted to thank Rob Willamy for being there and representing uh the city with excellence. Um he just did a a really fabulous job with this presentation. And he talked about garbage. The residents had no idea that you could talk about garbage for an hour. But he did. And he did it well. He did it. Huh. Um he did it well. And um everyone left learning something new, including myself. Um he also did walk the residents through how to put in uh a service request. So that was some new learning that everyone was able to do. So, I just really appreciate Rob and um Director Li's department for um their assistance with making the ward meeting good. The next ward meeting is August 13th, which is a Wednesday. It's at 5:30, located at 911 Michigan Avenue. Um I also just want to acknowledge uh Zamudo's um a business that was started by Italian immigrants in 1925. um turned 100 over the weekend. Uh Zena Horton is now the caretaker of that business and has been in business in the fifth ward for the past 18 years and she has certainly stewarded that business well. So, it was just great to be there to see the happiness on her face and just the community really rally behind her and support them and what they're doing. So, I just wish her all the best and continued success in her business. um she kind of serves as a mentor to me as being a business owner myself. So um just a great individual and it's just again just happy to celebrate their hundred years of being in business for Rockford and hope everybody will be at Iron Man. Needs to be said. I'm going to be volunteering. Um they put me in the hotel to talk to people about places cool places to go eat and kind of work like a little information center. So, I'm excited to meet some of the athletes. Maybe some will be cute or single. You never know. I'm in the mood tonight. So, all right. That's all I have. Thank you. The floor. All right. Any other Are you looking for cute and single athletes, too? Uh, Alderman Tunberg. Yeah. Uh, uh, thank you, Mayor. our one-on-one from the other week and uh we had some good conversation on some things going forward uh third warden and as a city. Uh, another thing I'd like to show my appreciation to the new director, uh, Scott Sanders, and just I've had public works, uh, going on a whole host of things and really how, uh, those individuals have responded with just great detailed response that was uh, my constituents appreciate it. And uh Tim, I hope that uh you've been relieved of some duties and you feel a little relief from that, but uh you did an excellent job during your time there as interim. Uh but thank you to all those at public works. Thank you. Other reports. Did I have one? Alder one meeks. Sorry, I forgot just a few things. I I also wanted to thank um Director Scott Sanders for getting to quite a few issues. We've got some roads that um were being done in my ward plan. A couple of neighbors stuck inside of their homes and they got to it right away. So, I'm very appreciative of that. But I really want to take some time to thank the Rockford Police Department. Um, Sergeant Fleming and Officer Brandon Burke um joined me at Northtown Mall last week to kind of work on some issues that we were having related to panhandling in the area. It is a very serious issue that's taking place at Northtown. And so we really want to come with some potential solutions to the issue. And just by being there, their presence there during those daytime hours, um, feedback from the businesses in Northtown were very appreciative and found that it helped, even if only temporary, solve some temporary problems related to loitering and panhandling at Northtown Mall. So, I'm thankful for that. Hopefully maybe what we can see is more daytime presence at Northtown if possible just to kind of alleviate some of the um repeat offenders that are coming. But we all know that panhandling is not against the law. So we really can't stop these things. Um, but it is an issue that I'm happy that the police department at least took the time to sit and listen to the concerns of the business owners that are definitely impacted by this activity. And I hope that um the state as they pass laws and legislation about certain things that they take into consideration, you know, all of the impact that will come down the pipeline when things are taken away such as the safety act and the things that are there's lots of benefits to the safety act. I don't want to say that there are not, but there are also some disadvantages that are impacted directly in the 12th war for sure. So, I want to thank the police department for their efforts and their help. Thank you so much. Any other re otherwise to director for um missing the head start self assessment. Um, this is one of my um favorite programs. So, I um hope that we will be able to get together and just kind of go over that um in the near future. also wanted to um thank um directors Sanders um for touring the six ward with me as um I just think that we were able to um just highlight and show some of the need and um in the six ward and I think that he was so attentive he was picking up on things that um and um that I didn't pick up on and they were um uh as we reviewed the ward plan, he was picking up on other things for us to consider. So, I appreciate that and um yeah, welcome that more of that. So, appreciate it. Any other uh reports? I would just add a couple of quick things. Uh one uh building off what Alderwoman Meek said, I believe it's the 38th annual Junth celebration. I would just add uh as the alderwoman stated, you can certainly go to Cissippi as well as to Hard Rock later in the evening. Um but I would also encourage you to go to the Ethnic Heritage Museum. Uh there is a room designated uh to the amazing work that Tommy Meeks has done over his uh long life and career. Uh, and it really is a fun room to walk through and see uh all the accomplishments that he's had and the impact. And I would also add his uh amazing wife Evelyn uh to that as well. Um, but that is open over at the ethnic heritage as they honored him officially this weekend. Also, Friday we have the Ram scholars recognition. Always a good event and encourage you to go. We have talked about the Iron Man quite a bit. uh would just say a couple of additional things. It is Sunday. Please be engaged uh in this event. If you're unable to attend or volunteer, uh please share it with any platforms that you're on. It's going to be a wonderful opportunity to highlight the city of Rockford and our region. Uh and I mentioned it earlier, but uh it's really been a remarkable and I think all of you as council members would be proud of the work that all of your departments have done. uh to get prepared uh for such an event of this magnitude and how farreaching uh this event is. Uh they have worked incredibly hard with uh as mentioned earlier the convention visitors bureau as well as Iron Man but also dozens of other organizations as well as other municipalities to make sure that this event uh a comes here uh and b uh goes off uh and puts our area on in a really wonderful light. So again uh be engaged in it, attend it if you're able to. Yes, I will take one of those tickets. uh and but also share the information about the Iron Man, especially some of the information you know you will hear as council members. Uh you will hear some good things. You will also hear complaints about the traffic and everything else. Make sure that you please share that on your social media platforms. If you utilize Next Door, whatever email list that you may have, uh please provide that. I know we have worked really hard uh to make you all aware of what is taking place, the city aware and specific neighborhoods that'll be most impacted uh by uh the event. So, please get that information out. And the last thing I would say is Alderman Beach. Uh it is so great to see you in this council chambers after 10 weeks. We are happy to have you back uh and back healthy. So, we're excited to have you back. [Applause] With that being said, uh we're going to go to motion Alderon Prunty. Thank you. Um on the Iron Man, um some of the the things that I have received um regarding the Iron Man are are kind of extensive. Do you have a blurb that makes for good social media? I can absolutely share you one. Uh what I have been sharing uh anyone can do it uh what I have been sharing is little tidbits and then here's a link to more information and sharing the go Rockford website. I will send you what I have been sharing. Okay. Thank you. Absolutely. Thank you. Next we'll go to uh motions and resolutions. Um we will go to code and regulation committee. Alderman B. Thank you mayor. We uh have one item and that item is committee recommends denial of the request for authorization to allow the zoning officer to file a text amendment to remove the special use permit option for residential storage warehouse in C3 and C4 zoning districts. Thank you. We have uh one item before us. Is there any discussion on that one item? Alderman Bonnie. Thank you. Um, I'm going to request that we lay this item over. Um, based on the some of the comments at the last at the uh committee meeting, I'd like to spend some time additional time working with staff and maybe with um I the Illinois Municipal League on um some ways to maybe refine this that um whether it wouldn't be possible to somehow create a redevelopment zone or a prime um real estate zone so that we could um not necessarily implement this citywide. Thank you. We have a motion. Is that an official motion to lay over? Yes, we have a motion to lay over. We would need a second. Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion on the layover? Clerk, could you please call the role? Derky. Hi. Wman. Hi. Tunberg. Hi. Terina. Prunty. Hi. Granith Beach, Salgado, Meeks, Bell, Bonnie. Hi. Eight eyes, three nos. Items laid over. Uh, next we will go to finance and personnel. Alderman Logerman. Uh, we have five items. Item number one, committee recommends approval of the award of bid citywide street repairs group number five, 2025 to Rock Road Companies of Rockford, Illinois in the amount of 2,300,64322. The contract duration is through October 3rd, 2025. The funding source is the 1% infrastructure sales tax. Item number two, committee recommends approval of the award of bid citywide pavement preservation microurfacing 2025 to AC pavement striping of Elgen, Illinois in the amount of $668,22945. The contract duration is through August 1st, 2025. The funding source is a motor fuel tax funds. Item number three, the committee recommends the approval of the award of joint purchasing contract pure storage upgrade to Insight Public Sector of Tempe, Arizona. The contract duration is for three years with two possible one-year extension options for a total amount not to exceed $152,31521 cents. Annual price adjustments for CPI considered a contract renewal only. The funding source is the information technology operate operating fund. Item number four, committee recommends approval of the award of joint purchasing contract legisar agenda minute software to granicus to Carasoft Technology Corporation of Restston Virginia in the amount of $100,353.77. The contract duration is through September 15, 2026 with four possible one-year extension options. Annual price adjustments for CPI considered at contract renewal only. The funding source is the information technology operating fund. And the final item is item number five. The committee recommends approval of the rejection of bids solicit new bids for FMLA administration. Only two proposals were received and two were disqualified at the opening due to documentation errors. Thank you council. Any uh questions, concerns about the items that are are up? Alderman Meeks. Sure. Thank you so much. Um, for item number five, I just want to understand, can the previous proposals, those that submitted the previous proposals reapply, Dr. Hagerty? Oh, yes. That's the intent is to allow for all four um that were interested in responding to have an opportunity to do so. Thank you so much. Any other uh discussion on the items before you? Clerk, could you please call the role? Derky. Hi. Logan, hi. Tunberg, hi. Tina, hi Prunty. Hi Granon. Hi Beachch. Salgado. Hi Meeks. I Bell. Hi. Bonnie. 11 eyes. Excellent. Next we have uh legislative and lobbying item and we will go to Alderwoman Prunty. Thank you. Um, this is for the approval and confirmation of priority items for the city of Rockford's legislative and lobbying efforts in the Illinois General Assembly. We have one item before you. Is there any discussion on that item? Clerk, could you please call the role? Derky. Hi. Logan, hi. Tunberg. Hi. Tina, hi. Prunty. Hi. Beachch. Hi. Salgado. Hi, Meeks. Hi, Bell. Bonnie, I 10 eyes. Excellent. Next, we'll go to new business and we'll go to code and regulation committee. Alderman Bonnie. Thank you, mayor. We have one item, an ordinance approving the amendment to the city of Rockford Code of ordinances section 3-119 for hookah lounges to modify the hours of Bob. Thank you, councel. We got one item before you. Any discussion on that item? Clerk, could you please call the role? Derky. Hi. Logan, hi Tunberg. Hi. Tina, hi. Prunty. Hi. Beachch. Salgado. Meeks. Hi. Bell. Hi. Bonnie. Hi. Nine eyes. One. No. Excellent. Next, we'll go to Finance and Personnel Committee. Alderman Logan. One item. ordinance approving the 2024 supplemental appropriation or we have uh one item before us. Is there any discussion on that one item? [Laughter] Uh Alderman Tunberg. Thanks, Mayor. I'd like to uh recognize Alderman uh Frost Fourth Ward uh has has joined us. Thank you. We have one item. Uh, Alderman Bonnie, can we go back to officers reports in case Alderman Frost has anything? Seeing no uh other comments, uh, clerk, could you please call the role? Derky. Hi, Logan. Hi, Tunberg. Hi, Frost. Hi, Tina. Hi, Fronty Granith. Beachchado Meeks. No, Bell. I Bonnie. I 12 eyes, one no. Excellent. For our final item of the evening potentially. Uh we will go to Alderwoman Prunty for legislative and lobbying. All right. Thank you. We have um an ordinance approving the renewal of the professional services of Zeph for government uh strategies for the amount of $10,000 per month for the city of Rockford's 2025 lobbying services. Council, we have one item before us. Is there any discussion on that one item? Alderman Salgado. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman. Um, just real quick, I just want to echo uh what I mentioned earlier about looking at our policy internally, a state statute. I know it's professional. If it's specific than, you know, legal services or anything like that, that a whole different story, but sounds like there's a consistency that maybe we need to revisit. If we do, uh, we need to look at ahead of schedule, you know, I don't know. So, I leave that up to April Prunty, our our chairperson for that. So, my my only recommendation if that's the hesitation that we look into it uh for next year um and see what's out there. I if they're blowing that out of the ballpark here, I don't necessarily think that it would cause some ripple effects of change of guard uh down in Springfield as it relates to our lobbyist and same with our federal. So, just something to think about uh you know, as a lot of folks had questions and wanted to ask about the RFQ process on that. So that's my only recommendation that hopefully that can be taken into account for next year. Thank you. Thank you. Any other uh discussion? Clerk, could you please call the role? Derky. Hi. Logan. Hi. Tunberg. Hi. Frost. Hi. Tina. Hi. Prunty. Ranith. Hi Beachch. Hi Salgado. Hi Meeks. Hi Bell. Hi Bonnie. Hi. 11 eyes, one no. Excellent. Is there a motion to adjurnn? We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say I. I. What's up?