City Council

City Hall, Second Floor

Agenda — 11 items

1. 1 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: https://rockfordil.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Items appearing on the City Council Standing Committee Agendas for today's date may receive a vote at committee and come before the City Council meeting tonight held after the committee meeting. Final vote may be taken on said items at the City Council meeting.
2. I. CALL TO ORDER
3. A. Roll Call
4. 3 Mayor McNamara called the meeting to order at 7:41 p.m.
5. II. ELECTION
6. 1. Election of alderperson to serve as Acting Mayor pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50(f). 26-00937 Approved
7. III. ADJOURNMENT
8. 7 THE CITY OF ROCKFORD INTENDS TO COMPLY WITH THE INTENT AND SPIRIT OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. IF A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, PERSONAL P.A. SYSTEM, OR OTHER SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED, PLEASE CALL THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT (779) 348-7391 AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE, SO WE CAN BE PREPARED TO ASSIST YOU.
9. 7 Alderman Frost shared his views regarding the cited statute, including its legislative history and subsequent amendments and discussed how it relates to the City of Rockford's unique circumstances concerning the mayoral vacancy. He referenced a memorandum prepared by Attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer and Attorney Stewart Diamond of Ancel Glink and spoke about the intent of the statute and his opposition to voting on an Acting Mayor. Alderman Tuneberg expressed his concerns regarding there not being a state statute that specifically addresses the City of Rockford's current situation. He referenced the memorandum by Attorney Krafthefer and Attorney Diamond and agreed the statute lacks clear language applicable to this situation. He suggested that, since the law does not provide clear direction, the City Council wait for guidance from the Illinois Legislature following its meetings in November. Alderman Meeks stated she was comfortable moving forward with the election of an Acting Mayor. She expressed her appreciation to Legal Director Angela Hammer for her efforts, assistance and the guidance she provided to the Council members regarding the election. She also thanked Director Hammer for seeking additional guidance from the attorneys at Ancel Glink and confirming that their opinion was consistent with the direction Director Hammer had initially provided. Alderman Neal inquired whether Director Hammer had any response to Alderman Frost's comments. Director Hammer stated the memorandum from Ancel Glink did a thorough job of outlining the language in the statute. She agreed with Alderman Frost that there is a discrepancy in the plain reading of the statute. However, based on the analysis of the statute, the guidance received from Ancel Glink, and the plain meaning exception to statutory construction, she was comfortable moving forward with the election of an Acting Mayor. Alderman Beach thanked Director Hammer for her efforts and the guidance she provided. He mentioned the opinion from the attorneys at Ancel Glink confirmed the guidance Director Hammer previously provided to the Council members. Alderman Beach referenced the portion of the memorandum that relates to the appointment of a Mayor. He inquired if the Council chose to do that who would have the authority to appoint a Mayor. Director Hammer indicated according to the City Council's Rules of Procedure they allow the Mayor to make appointments upon the advice and consent of City Council. She stated that rule is what would guide the appointment provision that the memorandum refers to. Alderman Bonne made a motion to establish the voting procedure to elect an Acting Mayor for the vacancy effective on August 30, 2026:
10. 8 1. The Mayor opens the nomination process and leave the nomination process open until no further nominees are placed up for consideration; then 2. The nominees shall collectively be placed before Council for consideration by which each alderperson will vote for one nominee by stating the last name of the nominee via roll call vote; and 3. In the event that one nominee fails to receive a majority of the votes after the initial vote, only the two nominees who received the most votes in the initial vote shall be considered for subsequent votes for the Acting Mayor to fill the vacancy that occurs. Alderman Bell seconded the motion. Alderman Bell inquired if Alderman Bonne's motion, as presented, would remove the option for Mayor McNamara to appoint a Mayor Pro Tem. Director Hammer responded that she did not believe the appointment of a Mayor Pro Tem was a viable option. She explained that, under state statute and the City's own ordinances, the appointment of a Mayor Pro Tem does not apply due to the vacancy created by Mayor McNamara's resignation, effective August 30, 2026. Mayor McNamara then called for the vote on Alderman Bonne's motion. MOTION PREVAILED with a roll call vote of 9 Ayes and 4 Abstains (Aldermen Tuneberg, Frost, Beach and Meeks abstained and Alderman Durkee was absent). The group discussed various aspects of the memorandum prepared by Ancel Glink and the authority of the City Council to elect an Acting Mayor. Alderman Bell asked Mayor McNamara to share what he felt the new Mayor should focus on during the time they were in office. Mayor McNamara responded the new Mayor would not be able to focus on one priority. He indicated the individual would need to continue addressing public safety, improving the quality of life for the residents, creating additional employment opportunities, and advancing education through initiatives like Head Start and Rockford Promise. He encouraged the Council members to support the Acting Mayor and work together to continue moving the City forward during this unique time. Mayor McNamara then opened the floor for nominations for Acting Mayor. Alderman Hoffman nominated Alderman Neal. Alderman Meeks nominated Alderman Torina. Alderman Bonne made a motion to not allow individuals from the Council to abstain from voting for the Acting Mayor unless the council member cites a specific personal conflict. Alderman Meeks seconded the motion. After a lengthy discussion regarding whether the Council members could abstain from voting on the election of an Acting Mayor, Alderman Bonne withdrew his motion and Alderman Meeks withdrew her second. Alderman Bell made a motion to lay the election of an Acting Mayor over. The MOTION FAILED for lack of a second. Mayor McNamara then asked if there were any additional nominees to be considered for Acting Mayor. Hearing none, he called for a vote on the two nominees, Alderman Neal and Alderman Torina. The roll call vote resulted in Alderman Torina receiving 4 votes (Aldermen Torina, Prunty, Salgado and Meeks) and Alderman Neal receiving 6 votes (Aldermen Logemann, Neal, Hoffman, Granath, Bell and Bonne and Aldermen Tuneberg, Frost and Beach abstained). Mayor McNamara then congratulated Alderman Neal on her election as Acting Mayor.
11. 10 Alderman Granath moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Alderman Logemann. MOTION PREVAILED with a unanimous voice vote (Alderman Durkee was absent). The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m.

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