OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting – August 15, 2023

City Council — Tuesday, August 15, 2023
BodyWoodstock, Illinois
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 15, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 28:16

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

We're good.

0:03

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:06

Welcome to the meeting of Woodstock City Council.

0:08

Bear with me.

0:10

I do this about once every three years since the mayor and the assistant mayor are both not here tonight.

0:18

Before the meeting is called to order, I would like to make some brief announcements.

0:22

First, meetings of Woodstock City Council are live streamed.

0:26

So please be aware that if you wish to participate and speak, you will be broadcast and copies of the broadcast will be archived.

0:33

Second, the agenda for tonight's meeting is posted on the monitors in the front corners of the chamber council chambers, providing you the opportunity to follow along with this evening's business.

0:44

Third, the City Council operates under consent calendar.

0:47

That means that all items that remain in the consent calendar are considered under a single motion and a single vote.

0:53

If members of the city council wish to have an item separately discussed and considered, they simply ask for that item to be removed from the calendar, and it will be considered under its own motion and vote.

1:04

Likewise, if a member of the public would like an item separately considered, they should make that request known, and if a council member agrees, that item would also be removed from the calendar for separate discussion and voting.

1:17

Again, all items remaining on the consent calendar would be considered under a single motion and a single vote.

1:24

Finally, it is the tradition of the city council to invite public comment.

1:28

It is done under two formats.

1:31

First is a floor discussion, during which members of the public are invited to address city council on any item not on this evening's agenda.

1:40

Additionally, the public is invited to comment on any item on the consent calendar or any item removed from the consent calendar before any action is taken.

1:49

Should a member of the public wish to address the council and they are asked to come forward to the podium and if willing, state their name and address for the purposes of the record and then make whatever comments they like to make.

2:04

Are there any questions on the announcements?

2:10

Hearing none, uh, I will officially call this August 16th, August 6th, 2019 meeting of Woodstock City Council to order and ask the clerk to please call the role of those council members physically present this evening.

2:25

Cindy?

2:26

August 15th.

2:27

Councilman Flynn.

2:29

Councilwoman McMahon.

2:30

Here.

2:31

Councilman Nearman.

2:32

Here.

2:33

Councilman Seegers?

2:34

Here.

2:34

Councilman Tebow?

2:36

Here.

2:36

Councilwoman Ziamba?

2:37

Here.

2:38

Mayor Turner.

2:42

Thank you, Cindy.

2:43

I I made I'm reading from a script here, and they had August 6th.

2:47

This is certainly not August 6th, August 15th.

2:50

So let's change that.

2:53

The record should reflect that five City Council members are physically present and participating, and we do therefore have quorum, and it is appropriate for us to proceed.

3:05

Before continuing, I'd like to ask the clerk to verify the agenda before the City Council is a true and accurate reflection of the published agenda.

3:13

It is.

3:14

Thank you.

3:15

Ladies and gentlemen of the council, that being a case of people's business is duly inappropriate before you.

3:32

The city offers our sincere and best wishes to a valued employee in a public works department.

3:37

Patrick O'Leary, whose official retirement date is September 1st, 2023.

3:44

Pat was an integral part of the public works department for over 25 years.

3:48

Pat is finishing his career as a forestry technician in the streets division.

3:52

Pat was hired into this role on August 24th, 1998 due to his credentials as a licensed arborist in the state of Illinois.

4:02

Pat continually excelled at providing extraordinary customer service for the residents and sharing his expertise with his co-workers as the city's only arborist.

4:12

Aside from his role as the city's arborist, Pat was also a team player that often assisted his department by mowing, prepping ball fields, and setting up for special events.

4:23

Pat also led the banner program in the downtown area.

4:27

As we honor his decades of service to City Woodstock, we wish Pat the happiest of days in his retirement.

4:35

Pat uh was not able to make it tonight, so I will read the proclamation.

4:41

Whereas Pat O'Leary has officially retired from his role with the City of Woodstock as forestry technician after its distinguished 25-year career.

4:50

And whereas Pat O'Leary is hired on August 24th, 1998, and has been known as the city's arborist, specializing in the care of and maintenance of trees and shrubs through trimming and pruning to ensure they don't interfere with public works power lines, roads, or sidewalks.

5:09

And whereas Pat O'Leary spearheaded the Emerald Ash Bore process that included removing 207 ashtries between 2009 and 2015.

5:22

And whereas Pat O'Leary had been an integral part of the public works department's snow removal plans for years and operated a snowplow for many seasons.

5:31

And whereas Pat O'Leary runs the city's banner program, including the installation of banners throughout the downtown four times a year, as well as installing the beloved lightest snowflakes that bring joy to residents and visitors during the holiday season.

5:47

Pat has seen over 180 banners throughout the years.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████34%
Drug Prevention Programs██████████████████18%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████13%
Parks and Recreation███████████11%
Personnel Matters████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Public Engagement█████5%
Public Works████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting – August 15, 2023

The Woodstock City Council met on August 15, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The mayor and assistant mayor were absent, so a council member presided; after an opening oral misstatement, the chair corrected the date to August 15, 2023. Five council members were present and voting. The council read a retirement proclamation, heard public comment, approved the consent calendar with two items removed for separate action, received the fourth-quarter FY22/23 financial reports, and adjourned to September 5, 2023.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar, approved in a single unanimous roll-call vote (5 yes), included the August 1, 2023 City Council minutes; warrants #4063 and #4064; the July 2023 Human Resources monthly report; June 14, 2023 Parks and Recreation minutes; July 20, 2023 Plan Commission minutes; the June 2023 Woodstock Police Department monthly report; and Manager’s Report No. 231.
  • Manager’s Report No. 231 also included the Mayor’s nomination to the Parks & Recreation Commission, a sidewalk replacement contract award to Alliance Contractors, Inc. for Phase 2 not to exceed $110,000, and a skip patching contract award to Schroeder Asphalt Services, Inc. not to exceed $51,000.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Rob Mutard of 10820 Bull Valley Road, founder of Warp Corps, spoke during floor discussion. He said he loved Woodstock, described Warp Corps as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) focused on drug-demand reduction through youth prevention and engagement, and stated the community has a massive drug problem. He expressed full support for prevention-based youth programs and invited the council and community to the premiere of a short-form documentary about Warp Corps at the Woodstock Opera House on September 1, 2023, with a VIP meet-and-greet at 6:30 p.m., the film at 8:00 p.m., and a panel discussion afterward. He said young people need somewhere to do something, somewhere to do it, and somebody who cares about them.

Discussion Items

  • City Manager Roscoe Stelford and Finance Director Paul presented the Fourth Quarter FY22/23 quarterly financial reports, noting that a few final transactions remained to be recorded.
  • Revenue highlights: income tax was $1.3 million above budget; regular sales tax was $200,000 below budget, with staff attributing the shortfall mainly to car sales; sales tax rebates were $150,000 lower than anticipated; home-rule sales tax was $145,000 above budget; interest income was $1.3 million above budget; and intergovernmental revenue was down $2.4 million because anticipated grants, including the DCO grant, are expected in the next fiscal year. Water and sewer revenue was on budget at $6.3 million.
  • Opera House performance: concession revenue rose from $44,000 in 2019 to $134,000 in FY22/23, and program revenue was up $45,000 from 2019, exceeding the pre-pandemic level.
  • Expense highlights: all funds were close to budget except two. TIF #2 was $8 million above budget, primarily from accounting for bond proceeds transferred to a side agency plus some cost overruns, to be clarified in a budget amendment in about four to six weeks. The utility CIP for water and sewer was over budget due to higher costs for water and sewer work tied to the enhanced road improvement program.
  • In response to council questions, staff said the Opera House subsidy gap was about the same as in prior years, but because usage was up, the subsidy on a per-user basis was likely lower. A council member asked for more detailed, graph-format financial reporting for the Opera House and other funds, and staff committed to improving regular financial reporting to the council and public.

Key Outcomes

  • The council unanimously approved the consent calendar as presented, with items D2 and D3 removed for separate consideration.
  • Item D2, an ordinance granting a variation to allow a gravel parking lot surface at the southeast corner of Dean Street and Hercules Road for the Land Conservancy, was approved unanimously by roll call (5 yes). Councilman Seegers supported the request but voiced concern that future gravel parking approvals should include time limits.
  • Item D3, a zoning map amendment for 708 McHenry Avenue from B3 Service and Retail District and RPUD Single-Family Residential District to M1 Limited Manufacturing District, was postponed to the September 5, 2023 City Council meeting at the petitioner’s request by unanimous roll call (5 yes).
  • The council adopted the retirement proclamation for Pat O’Leary, effective September 1, 2023, recognizing his 25-plus years as the city’s forestry technician/arborist, including removing 207 ash trees between 2009 and 2015 and managing more than 180 downtown banners.
  • The meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote, with the next regular meeting set for September 5, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

We're good. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the meeting of Woodstock City Council. Bear with me. I do this about once every three years since the mayor and the assistant mayor are both not here tonight. Before the meeting is called to order, I would like to make some brief announcements. First, meetings of Woodstock City Council are live streamed. So please be aware that if you wish to participate and speak, you will be broadcast and copies of the broadcast will be archived. Second, the agenda for tonight's meeting is posted on the monitors in the front corners of the chamber council chambers, providing you the opportunity to follow along with this evening's business. Third, the City Council operates under consent calendar. That means that all items that remain in the consent calendar are considered under a single motion and a single vote. If members of the city council wish to have an item separately discussed and considered, they simply ask for that item to be removed from the calendar, and it will be considered under its own motion and vote. Likewise, if a member of the public would like an item separately considered, they should make that request known, and if a council member agrees, that item would also be removed from the calendar for separate discussion and voting. Again, all items remaining on the consent calendar would be considered under a single motion and a single vote. Finally, it is the tradition of the city council to invite public comment. It is done under two formats. First is a floor discussion, during which members of the public are invited to address city council on any item not on this evening's agenda. Additionally, the public is invited to comment on any item on the consent calendar or any item removed from the consent calendar before any action is taken. Should a member of the public wish to address the council and they are asked to come forward to the podium and if willing, state their name and address for the purposes of the record and then make whatever comments they like to make. Are there any questions on the announcements? Hearing none, uh, I will officially call this August 16th, August 6th, 2019 meeting of Woodstock City Council to order and ask the clerk to please call the role of those council members physically present this evening. Cindy? August 15th. Councilman Flynn. Councilwoman McMahon. Here. Councilman Nearman. Here. Councilman Seegers? Here. Councilman Tebow? Here. Councilwoman Ziamba? Here. Mayor Turner. Thank you, Cindy. I I made I'm reading from a script here, and they had August 6th. This is certainly not August 6th, August 15th. So let's change that. The record should reflect that five City Council members are physically present and participating, and we do therefore have quorum, and it is appropriate for us to proceed. Before continuing, I'd like to ask the clerk to verify the agenda before the City Council is a true and accurate reflection of the published agenda. It is. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen of the council, that being a case of people's business is duly inappropriate before you. The city offers our sincere and best wishes to a valued employee in a public works department. Patrick O'Leary, whose official retirement date is September 1st, 2023. Pat was an integral part of the public works department for over 25 years. Pat is finishing his career as a forestry technician in the streets division. Pat was hired into this role on August 24th, 1998 due to his credentials as a licensed arborist in the state of Illinois. Pat continually excelled at providing extraordinary customer service for the residents and sharing his expertise with his co-workers as the city's only arborist.

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