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.

As well.

Um Joe, I I'm sorry, I should have I should have pulled you guys both up tonight.

So please please join in at the last please join her as well if you would.

One of our uh members, new members is is black update, but he's feeling um not well tonight, so we didn't care to share that with the rest of us.

Thank him for that.

All right.

Well, I want to I appreciate the work that you do as a staff liaison.

Joe, any comments about the the work of the commission?

Uh I want to shout out to Craig Candle.

I know he would be really proud, Craig Crandall, he'd be really proud of me because you know um so a couple of Jewish guys who were there to introduce Christmas Clearinghouse for many years, and here we are, another Jewish guy introducing Black History Month.