Woodstock City Council Meeting – February 7, 2023
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Woodstock City Council Meeting – February 7, 2023
The Woodstock City Council met on February 7, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. All seven council members were present. The meeting included two proclamations, public comments highlighting the success of Groundhog Day festivities, a consent calendar with routine approvals, separate consideration of an access control system contract, and discussion of future agenda items. All votes were unanimous.
Proclamations
- Black History Month – Mayor Turner read a proclamation declaring February 2023 as Black History Month in Woodstock. Deb Schober and Joe from the Cultural and Social Awareness Commission accepted the proclamation. Councilman Gordy shared that he is finishing a book on black history titled "1699 Project."
- Mayor's Monarch Pledge Day – The council proclaimed February 7, 2023, as Mayor's Monarch Pledge Day, committing to actions supporting monarch butterfly conservation. Christina and Brent from Public Works highlighted city efforts to establish milkweed areas. The Environmental Defenders presented a certificate of appreciation. Councilman Gordy noted the McHenry County Land Conservancy offers resident guidance on planting native species.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rick Bellares (1403 Marine Drive, on behalf of Woodstock Willie and the Groundhog Days Inner Square Committee) thanked the city for support of the 30th anniversary Groundhog Day festivities. He reported that the event was a "walloping success" with extensive media coverage: seven Chicago TV stations, Channel 39 Rockford, and a 5-minute-22-second segment on the Today Show (average 3.2 million viewers). Additional coverage included radio, print (Sun Times, Tribune, Market Watch, Daily Herald, Northwest Herald), and digital streaming. Visitors came from Germany, Spain, Estonia, Ireland, Australia, Mexico City, Ukraine, and Poland. Over 300 people scanned QR codes at the event. Council members echoed thanks, noting the economic impact and volunteerism. Councilman Flynn praised Public Works for snow clearing; Councilman Gordy thanked staff for fixing a fence at Emerson Park.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0):
- Approval of City Council Minutes – January 17, 2023
- Warrants #4037, #4038, #4039
- Minutes and Reports – Arts Commission (10/26/22), Cultural & Social Awareness Commission (11/14/22), Environmental Commission (11/3/22), Parks & Rec Commission (10/11/22 and 11/8/22), Police Pension Board (1/10/23), Public Library (10/13/22), Woodstock Police Department Monthly Report (December 2022)
- Manager’s Report No. 219:
- Ordinance – Fence Variation at 561 Fremont Street (219a)
- Ordinance – Car Wash Special Use Permit at 1260 Lake Avenue (219b)
- Professional Services – New Groundwater Supply Well (219c) – Baxter & Woodman, Inc. engineering services not to exceed $118,700
- Contract Award – Sidewalk Replacement (Phase I) (219e) – Schroeder & Schroeder Inc., not to exceed $85,395
Discussion Items
- Contract Award – Access Control System (Item D4) – Councilman Nearman requested separate consideration to discuss combining this with a planned video surveillance system. City staff (Paul, Dan) explained that the Identicard system has a 40-week lead time and a pending 5–10% price increase within two weeks, necessitating immediate ordering. The video surveillance system is a separate Panasonic product from a different manufacturer, but both systems can integrate via APIs. No economies of scale would be achieved by combining bids because city staff will perform internal cable pulls. The current Police Department system (installed in 2002) runs on unsupported Windows hardware and is disconnected from the network; other facilities have no access control. Councilman Flynn moved to approve the proposal from Imperial Surveillance for $132,800 covering City Hall, Opera House, Police Department, Public Works, Recreation Center, and Old Courthouse/Sheriff’s House, and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Pearsall. Passed unanimously (7-0).
Key Outcomes
- All consent calendar items approved unanimously (7-0).
- Access control contract (D4) approved unanimously (7-0).
- Future agenda items noted: Next regular meetings on February 21 and March 7, 2023; a council workshop on February 24, 2023 (2:00–6:00 p.m.) to review the capital improvement program and operating budget.
- Adjournment: Motion carried unanimously at approximately 8:15 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
So I can't say two hundred friends. Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like it to welcome you to this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council. A few brief announcements before we get started. A reminder that the council meeting is being streamed this evening and then recorded. The Woodstock City Council operates on what's called a consent format. Consent format means that all items for action this evening are considered in a single motion or in a single vote. Member of council may ask for an item to be separately removed and considered and voted upon. And members of the public may make a request for an item to be separately removed and considered, and if agreed to by a member of council, it too will be removed for separate consideration and voting. There's two opportunities this evening for public comment. The first being at the beginning of the meeting under floor discussion. If you're willing, if you want to make a comment, come forward to the center podium. If you're willing to do so, state your name and address for purpose of the record, and feel free to make your comments to the Woodstock City Council. Second opportunity will be before any action items that are voted upon this evening. There will be an opportunity for uh public comment. There are any questions on those announcements before we get started this evening. All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call this February 7th, 2023 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order, and I'll ask Cindy to please call the roll. Councilman Flynn. Here. Councilwoman Lomeyer. 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. I'll ask Cindy to please confirm that the agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda. It is. Thank you, Cindy. That being the case, ladies and gentlemen of the council, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us. First item tonight under floor discussion is uh two proclamations that I'm going to uh read here at the dais. The first is a proclamation honoring Black History Month, February, uh February 2023, uh without objection, Council. Very well. Uh whereas each year, Black History Month is observed in February, providing the opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of African American history and acknowledge the centuries of struggle, struggles for equality and freedom. And whereas in 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a noted Harvard scholar, established the observance of African American history to reveal the contributions, achievements, and involvement of African American people in the development of our American democracy. And whereas Americanism is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, all part of land of the free, Black History Month fosters awareness and understanding while encouraging education about contributions made by Americans of color. And whereas the celebration of Black History Month is a positive way of recognizing the culture and history of African Americans as vital to the core beliefs and values of this society. And whereas Black History Month also celebrates the achievements and contributions that African Americans have made in shaping our country, society, and communities. Now they're at four, be it proclaimed that the Woodstock City Council, on behalf of all citizens of Woodstock, wishes to observe February 2023 as Black History Month and encourage our citizens to participate in activities that foster awareness and appreciation of contributions to shaping the history of America. Approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Woodstock, McHenry County, the seventh day of February 2023. I'd like to recognize Deb Schober, who is uh part of the uh uh cultural and social uh awareness committee uh commission for the City of Woodstock and uh Deb, any any comments on the work of the Commission you wish to share at this time. Uh we have one commission member here, Joe.
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