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Record of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - September 20, 2022: Branding, Flag Proposal, Sign Ordinances, Solar Farm Extension, and Splash Pad Memorial

City Council — Tuesday, September 20, 2022

BodyWoodstock, Illinois

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, September 20, 2022

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:34:16

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:02

I'd like to welcome you to this evening's evening of or this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council.

0:07

A few brief announcements before we get started.

0:10

First, um, there are two opportunities for public comment this evening.

0:14

First being at the start of the meeting during public comment section.

0:17

Members of the public, feel free to come forward to the podium if they're willing, state their name and address for purpose of the record and provide comments on any item that's not on this evening's agenda.

0:27

And then when council discusses or take takes action on an item, there'll be an opportunity for public comment as well.

0:33

City of Woodstock operates on a what's considered what's called a consent calendar, which means that all items for action this evening are considered in a single motion or a single vote.

0:42

Member of council may remove an item for separate consideration and voting.

0:46

Um, and members of the public may request an item to be removed as well.

0:50

And if agreed to by a member of council, then that item will also be removed for separate consideration and voting.

0:57

Any questions on those brief announcements before we get started this evening?

1:00

The agenda will appear on the uh on the screens in the front of the room as well.

1:06

Hearing no questions, I'll go ahead and officially call the order this meeting of the Woodstock City Council for September 20th, 2022, and ask Cindy to please call the roll.

1:16

Councilman Flynn?

1:17

Here.

1:18

Councilwoman Lmeyer.

1:19

Here.

1:19

Councilman Nearman.

1:21

Here.

1:21

Councilwoman Pearsall.

1:22

Here.

1:23

Councilman Seegers?

1:24

Here.

1:24

Councilman Tebow?

1:25

Here.

1:26

Mayor Turner.

1:27

Here.

1:27

The record reflect that all members of the Woodstock City Council are present this evening.

1:31

Cindy, can you please verify that the agenda this evening is the true and published agenda?

1:36

It is.

1:36

That being the case, ladies and gentlemen of the council, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us.

1:42

First item on this evening's agenda is floor discussion.

1:46

And for floor discussion this evening, we actually have a uh presentation uh on branding uh as the first item this evening.

1:54

So I would uh turn that over to Roscoe and Danielle to begin that process.

1:59

I'll just turn it over to Danielle.

2:02

Thank you.

2:03

Some of you may know that the North Star branding company is here this week, today, tomorrow, and Thursday, doing the community outreach portion of the process.

2:13

Thank you to some of you who are already there today for your one-on-one interviews.

2:17

So I'm gonna turn this over to Roberto and let you go ahead and present.

2:25

Thank you so much, Danielle, Mr.

2:26

Mayor, members of the council.

2:28

Uh it is my pleasure today to be here representing North Star place branding and marketing.

2:33

Um we are a place branding consultant that will be um helping the city of Woodstock with a comprehensive branding and marketing um project in the coming months.

2:45

Um first of all, before I begin, I'd like to extend my thank you to the city um to Danielle to Heather for the very warm welcome that we've received so far.

2:57

Um as as she mentioned, we'll be here until this Thursday afternoon.

3:02

Um really just taking in the sights and deeply appreciate you having us here today.

3:08

Um is there any anywhere that I can get a clicker?

3:13

I can move it for you.

3:14

Okay.

3:16

Thank you.

3:17

So I'll I'll begin.

3:18

Um by way of introduction, uh, North Star Place Branding and Marketing is a firm based out of Nashville in Jacksonville, Florida.

3:25

Um we have worked in about 44 states over the past 20 years with about 250 communities.

3:33

Um you see the map here above.

3:36

Um what's most important about that is that we have the specific place branding experience.

3:41

We dedicate ourselves solely to place branding, um, and we have done it repeatedly as outside consultants across the country.

3:49

And if there's a dot missing in the Chicagoline area, I assure you it's not because we haven't worked here, it's simply because the dots would just stack on top of each other.

3:57

Um and we are happy to to be in Woodstock for for our next engagement.

4:04

Um these are some of our results.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Energy Policy███████████████████████23%

Procedural████████████12%

Community Engagement████████████12%

Parks and Recreation███████████11%

Environmental Protection███████████11%

Cannabis Regulation███████7%

Public Engagement██████6%

Arts And Culture████4%

Economic Development███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - September 20, 2022

The Woodstock City Council met on September 20, 2022, at 7:00 PM. The meeting included a presentation on comprehensive branding, public comments proposing a city flag and architectural enhancements, and several action items. The council approved most consent calendar items, denied a proposal to make cannabis dispensaries a permitted use, approved temporary sign amendments, reduced electronic sign message interval, and postponed a decision on a solar farm extension to October 4. A discussion on a splash pad memorial for Melissa O'Leary received strong support.

Consent Calendar

Approved all items A through D9 except D1 (UDO text amendments) and D2 (solar farm extension), which were removed for separate consideration.
Items approved: September 6, 2022 City Council minutes, warrants #4020 and #4021, various commission minutes (Historic Preservation Special Commission May 2022, Opera House Advisory Commission May 2022, Environmental Commission June 2022, Historic Preservation Commission June 2022, Plan Commission June 2022, Economic Development Commission July 2022), HR monthly reports for June, July, and August 2022, and several contracts (lift station telemetry awarded to Berg-Johnson Associates for $120,067; burying electrical lines at Emricson Park awarded to Associated Electrical Contractors for $31,615; lightning detection systems awarded to Perry Weather for $54,783; IGA for IT services with Woodstock Fire/Rescue District; architectural services for Old Courthouse with Studio GWA for $105,000).

Public Comments & Testimony

Alex Swimmer (1421 Westwood Trail) proposed a new city flag design, noting Woodstock lacks an official flag. His design features a square, red color, a five-pointed star, and stripes representing agriculture. He encouraged the council to consider a flag as part of the branding process. Council members praised the idea and suggested it be incorporated into the branding initiative.
R.B. Thompson (626 East Calhoun Street) advocated for extending the rock-faced stone architectural feature found on the square to other areas, such as the bandstand and park fountains. He also requested a permanent sound system for the square to improve event audibility. Staff confirmed that electrical upgrades and a sound system design are in progress.

Discussion Items

Comprehensive Branding Presentation – Roberto of North Star Place Branding outlined the firm's approach to developing a community brand through research, focus groups, surveys, and creative development. He emphasized that branding is about expressing existing community identity. Council members expressed support and looked forward to the outcome of the ongoing community engagement.
UDO Text Amendments (Item D1) – Divided into three separate votes:
- D1A: Cannabis Dispensaries as Permitted Use – Council member Pearsall moved to deny, arguing that special use permits provide needed oversight, especially near the square. Staff noted that making dispensaries permitted would reduce time and cost for applicants, but council favored retaining control. Motion to deny passed unanimously (7-0).
- D1B: Temporary Sign Requirements – Approved to clarify language and expand business opportunities for special sales promotions. Motion approved unanimously (6-0, Councilwoman Pearsall recused).
- D1C: Electronic Message Sign Frequency – Reduced from 10 seconds to 6 seconds for message changes. Approved unanimously (7-0).
Solar Energy Farm Extension (Item D2) – Request for a one-year extension of the special use permit for a 7.2-acre solar farm at US Route 14 and Lily Pond Road. Council debated gateway aesthetics, decommissioning bonds, and long-term ownership. The petitioner, New Leaf Energy, explained delays due to state program changes and expressed confidence in securing financing. Council postponed the vote to October 4, 2022, to allow further review of decommissioning plans, landscaping updates, and recourse mechanisms.
Melissa O'Leary Memorial Splash Pad – Staff proposed building a splash pad at Woodstock Waterworks to honor Melissa O'Leary, a long-time employee who passed away. The project would replace outdated playground equipment and cost an estimated $200,000. Council strongly supported the idea and encouraged fundraising efforts, including a potential challenge run.

Key Outcomes

Consent calendar approved as listed (all items except D1 and D2).
Motion to deny D1A (cannabis dispensaries as permitted use) passed unanimously (7-0).
Motion to approve D1B (temporary sign amendments) passed unanimously (6-0, one recusal).
Motion to approve D1C (electronic message sign frequency) passed unanimously (7-0).
Motion to postpone Item D2 (solar farm extension) to the October 4, 2022, meeting passed unanimously (7-0).
Council directed staff to proceed with planning and community fundraising for the Melissa O'Leary memorial splash pad.
Council discussed scheduling separate short meetings in October to review concept proposals from developers for the DICAST site, with presentations streamed publicly.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to welcome you to this evening's evening of or this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council. A few brief announcements before we get started. First, um, there are two opportunities for public comment this evening. First being at the start of the meeting during public comment section. Members of the public, feel free to come forward to the podium if they're willing, state their name and address for purpose of the record and provide comments on any item that's not on this evening's agenda. And then when council discusses or take takes action on an item, there'll be an opportunity for public comment as well. City of Woodstock operates on a what's considered what's called a consent calendar, which means that all items for action this evening are considered in a single motion or a single vote. Member of council may remove an item for separate consideration and voting. Um, and members of the public may request an item to be removed as well. And if agreed to by a member of council, then that item will also be removed for separate consideration and voting. Any questions on those brief announcements before we get started this evening? The agenda will appear on the uh on the screens in the front of the room as well. Hearing no questions, I'll go ahead and officially call the order this meeting of the Woodstock City Council for September 20th, 2022, and ask Cindy to please call the roll. Councilman Flynn? Here. Councilwoman Lmeyer. Here. Councilman Nearman. Here. Councilwoman Pearsall. Here. Councilman Seegers? Here. Councilman Tebow? Here. Mayor Turner. Here. The record reflect that all members of the Woodstock City Council are present this evening. Cindy, can you please verify that the agenda this evening is the true and published agenda? It is. That being the case, ladies and gentlemen of the council, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us. First item on this evening's agenda is floor discussion. And for floor discussion this evening, we actually have a uh presentation uh on branding uh as the first item this evening. So I would uh turn that over to Roscoe and Danielle to begin that process. I'll just turn it over to Danielle. Thank you. Some of you may know that the North Star branding company is here this week, today, tomorrow, and Thursday, doing the community outreach portion of the process. Thank you to some of you who are already there today for your one-on-one interviews. So I'm gonna turn this over to Roberto and let you go ahead and present. Thank you so much, Danielle, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Uh it is my pleasure today to be here representing North Star place branding and marketing. Um we are a place branding consultant that will be um helping the city of Woodstock with a comprehensive branding and marketing um project in the coming months. Um first of all, before I begin, I'd like to extend my thank you to the city um to Danielle to Heather for the very warm welcome that we've received so far. Um as as she mentioned, we'll be here until this Thursday afternoon. Um really just taking in the sights and deeply appreciate you having us here today. Um is there any anywhere that I can get a clicker? I can move it for you. Okay.

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