425 E. State Street  
Rockford, IL 61104  
Planning and Development Committee  
Meeting Minutes  
Monday, March 23, 2026  
5:30 PM  
The following represents, in general, the chronological order of proceedings at the City  
Council/Committee Meetings: Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Public Speaking  
and City Council/Committee Agendas.  
Meeting will be live streamed on Channel 17 and via this link:  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The chair, Alderwoman Wilkins, called the meeting to order at 5:35 PM.  
Alderman Karen Hoffman  
Alderman Janessa Wilkins  
Alderman Gina Meeks  
Alderman Jaime Salgado  
Alderman Tim Durkee  
Present  
Absent  
II.  
INVOCATION  
Pastor Cameron Henderson of City First Church gave the invocation. Alderwoman Wilkins led  
the Pledge of Allegiance.  
III. PROCLAMATION  
Mayor McNamara read in a proclamation proclaiming the month of March 2026 to be Social  
Work Month in the City of Rockford, Illinois.  
IV. PUBLIC SPEAKING  
1.  
Andrew Petrocelli introduced himself and announced his running as an independent  
candidate for County Clerk.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
Matthew Wylder voiced his opinion about the data center.  
Prophet Yusef quoted scripted and spoke about how to reduce gun violence.  
Alexander Thingvold expressed support for a data center that is done ethically and is  
socially minded.  
5.  
Carson Reed spoke about the negative impact of AI.  
V.  
COMMITTEE REPORTS  
1.  
Committee recommends approval of the 2040 Future Land Use Map.  
Colin Belle, Comprehensive Planning & Design Coordinator, gave a brief explanation of  
the future land use map. Highlighting that the updates are not changes in zoning or  
authorization for development but policy guide. He went on to display the difference  
between the current and updated map. One of the notable changes from the 2011 map is  
the inclusion of water ways that had been previously absent. Mr. Belle went on to discuss  
some of the input received from the 30-day comment period before discussion next steps.  
After the presentation Mr. Belle took questions from the aldermen.  
Alderman Salgado made a motion to approve. Alderman Meeks seconded. After  
discussion, MOTION PREVAILED 4 to 0 by roll call vote.  
Alderman Hoffman, Alderman Wilkins, Alderman Meeks, and  
Alderman Salgado  
Aye:  
Alderman Durkee  
Absent:  
2.  
Committee recommends approval of the Funding Agreement with  
Phantom Regiment, Inc., an Illinois not-for-profit corporation located at  
5608 International Drive in the not to exceed amount of $100,000.00  
over two years ($60,000.00 in 2026 and $40,000.00 in 2027). The  
funding source is Casino Foundation funds.  
Alderman Hoffman made a motion to approve. Alderman Salgado seconded. After  
discussion, MOTION PREVAILED 3 to 1 by roll call vote.  
Alderman Hoffman, Alderman Wilkins, and Alderman Salgado  
Aye:  
Alderman Meeks  
Alderman Durkee  
Nay:  
Absent:  
VI. ADJOURNMENT  
Alderman Hoffman made a motion to adjourn. Alderman Salgado seconded. MOTION  
PREVAILED by unanimous voice vote. The meeting closed at 6:40 PM.  
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SPIRIT OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. IF A SIGN LANGUAGE  
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