With little debate Monday, the City Council approved the rewritten zoning ordinance in the first of two votes on the matter.

The new code establishes design standards for larger new housing developments, including mandating side or rear-loaded garages for a portion of houses, and new standards for commercial development.

The document spent months in the Code and Regulation Committee while aldermen and city staff hammered out a series of compromises with developers.

Ald. Linda McNeely, D-13, cast the lone “no” vote Monday. The second vote on the law should happen in the next two weeks.

Compensation study group
The Finance and Personnel Committee is considering a resolution creating a study group to examine moving city employees from an automatic cost-of-living raise each year to merit-based raises.

City Attorney Patrick Hayes suggested having one alderman from each party meet with city staff to examine how such a change would affect the city, then reporting back to the Finance and Personnel Committee in 90 days with their report. The meetings would not be subject to the state’s Open Meetings Act because only two aldermen would be part of the group.

Keith Creek pact OK’d
Aldermen approved a deal Monday between the city and the Army Corps of Engineers for a flood control study of the Keith Creek area.

The two-year probe will determine what improvements, if any, should be made to Alpine Dam and Keith Creek to protect people and property from further flooding.

The $1.8 million study is being funded by $400,000 in federal money, $500,000 from Rockford’s citywide storm water management master plan and $80,000 from Winnebago County’s hazard mitigation plan. More federal money will be necessary to finish the work.

Stormwater money approved
The City Council approved a $250,000 addition to the Capital Improvement Program to fund neighborhood stormwater repairs. The request came as part of the budget review process.

The money was initially cut and redirected to neighborhood road projects, but aldermen were upset they had to use road money for stormwater matters.

Jacobson back in action
Ald. Lenny Jacobson, D-6, returned to City Council on Monday after having eye surgery. He was sporting a pair of sunglasses while his vision continues to recover.

“It’s good to see you back,” Mayor Larry Morrissey said in the meeting.

“I wish I could say the same thing,” Jacobson joked in return.

Staff writer Sean F. Driscoll can be reached at 815-987-1410 or sdriscoll@rrstar.com.