OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - October 3, 2023

City Council — Tuesday, October 3, 2023
BodyWoodstock, Illinois
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 3, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 38:52

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:03

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

0:08

A few brief announcements before we get started this evening.

0:11

First, the seed this evening's meeting is being live streamed and is recorded and retained on the city's website.

0:19

The City of Woodstock operates on what's called a consent uh agenda.

0:23

Kent consent agenda means that all items for action this evening will be considered in a single motion or a single vote.

0:29

Uh member of the Woodstock City Council can request an item to be separately uh discussed, considered, and voted upon if they choose to.

0:37

Uh, and a member of public may likewise request an item to be removed for separate consideration and voting, and if it by a member of the Woodstock City Council, then it too will be uh removed and considered uh under a separate motion and a separate vote.

0:50

Um two opportunities for public comment this evening, the first being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion.

0:56

Members of the public may come forward to the podium in the middle of the room.

0:59

If they're willing to do so, state their name and address for purpose of the record, and feel free to make comments to the Woodstock City Council on any items not on this evening's agenda.

1:08

Second opportunity for public comment will be during any uh items for uh action this evening.

1:14

The public will have an opportunity to provide input.

1:17

Any questions on those brief announcements before we get started tonight?

1:23

All right.

1:24

Um before we get started, I will note a few special guests in the in the room this evening.

1:28

Um I will forego, uh, but I would like to welcome uh former city manager Tim Clifton.

1:41

Appreciate you joining us uh joining us this evening.

1:44

I don't think I've seen Tim in this room for how many years, Tim?

1:48

Ten years.

1:51

So welcome to both of you.

1:54

All right, with those announcements, I'll go ahead and officially call the order this October 3rd meeting, uh October 3rd, 2023 meeting of the Woodstock City Council of Order and ask our clerk to please call the roll.

2:04

Councilman Flynn.

2:06

Here.

2:06

Councilwoman McMahon here.

2:08

Councilman Nearman.

2:09

Here.

2:10

Councilman Seegers?

2:11

Here.

2:11

Councilman Tebow.

2:13

Councilwoman Ziemba, here.

2:15

Mayor Turner.

2:16

Here.

2:16

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

2:21

Uh I will ask uh Jane to please confirm that the uh agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda.

2:28

Yes, it is.

2:29

Thank you, Jane.

2:30

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

2:34

The first item this evening uh is floor discussion.

2:38

And under floor discussion, we have a uh presentation on the retirement of uh Cindy Smiley, our city clerk.

2:45

So I'm gonna ask Cindy uh to join me over at the podium, please.

2:54

And I'm gonna ask Brian and Tim and Roscoe to join me up here as well, please.

3:05

Should I have approved that with you beforehand?

3:08

Yes.

3:09

Too late.

3:17

Um it is a great uh honor, of course, a little bit of a little bit bittersweet, but at the same time a great honor to uh to uh welcome Cindy up here and to recognize the contributions that she's made to the City of Woodstock as City Clerk with a uh proclamation.

3:33

Council without objection.

3:35

Uh and I'm I appreciate uh uh these other uh folks in her history joining us this evening uh this evening as well, Brian and and Tim and then Roscoe, who he's who's worked with Cindy for a very long time as well.

3:47

So I appreciate you all standing up here with us.

3:50

A proclamation honoring Cindy Smiley, whereas Cindy has officially retired from her role with the City of Woodstock as the city clerk after a distinguished 26-year career, including roles as executive assistant to the mayor and city manager, chief deputy city clerk, and lastly as city clerk.

4:09

Whereas in her tenure, Cindy Smiley has honorably served under two city managers.

4:55

I think some of them are still sitting in there, right?

5:32

And whereas Cindy Smiley has been a staple of Woodstock and is extremely proud of her service and support the city and its residents.

5:42

She has been a valuable asset in sharing her knowledge, solving problems, and helping people through difficult times.

5:50

She goes the extra mile in all she does, such as design and planting of the City Hall flower beds and being a local elected election official.

6:00

Cindy has left her mark on the city of Woodstock and is greatly respected by the community.

6:07

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed the Woodstock City Council on behalf of all citizens of Woodstock, which was to wishes to congratulate and commend City Smiley offering the community's deepest gratitude for her service for the past twenty-six years.

6:25

She has earned the respect, affection, and admiration of her co-workers, colleagues, and the community.

6:41

Approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Woodstock, McHenry County, this third day of October, twenty twenty-three.

6:49

Cindy a few words, I shall let the other dignitaries go first.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Historic Preservation█████████████████17%
Public Works████████8%
Economic Development███████7%
Arts And Culture████4%
LGBTQ Rights███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - October 3, 2023

The Woodstock City Council held its regular meeting on October 3, 2023, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations honoring retiring City Clerk Cindy Smiley and declaring October as Manufacturing Month, public comments, and unanimous approval of the consent calendar. A council member raised a question about a bid discrepancy on a tennis court contract, which was addressed by the city engineer.

Proclamations and Recognitions

  • Retirement of Cindy Smiley: Mayor Turner read a proclamation recognizing Cindy Smiley's 26-year career with the city, including roles as executive assistant, chief deputy city clerk, and city clerk. Former Mayor Brian Sager and former City Manager Tim Clifton spoke, praising her professionalism, integrity, and dedication. Smiley thanked her family, former mayors, and staff, reflecting on the city's growth and the Old Courthouse Center project.
  • Manufacturing Month: Garrett (Business Development) accepted a proclamation declaring October 2023 as Manufacturing Month in Woodstock. The proclamation highlighted that manufacturing is the largest employment sector in Woodstock, with 2,500 jobs, $125 million in annual wages, and an average salary of $76,000. Garrett thanked the council and noted partnerships with education and government to support the manufacturing workforce.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Anne Marie Whitmore Linzini (Woodstock, incoming Chair of the Arts Commission) expressed her enthusiasm for leading the Arts Commission and cultivating the arts in Woodstock. Mayor Turner thanked her for her service.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: Minutes from April 10, 2023 (Budget Workshop), September 11, 2023 (Special Meeting), and September 19, 2023 (City Council) were approved.
  • Warrants: #4070 and #4071 were approved.
  • Minutes and Reports: Board of Police Commission (Sept 11, 2023 draft), Library Board of Trustees (Aug 10, 2023), and Parks and Recreation (Aug 8, 2023) minutes were accepted.
  • Manager's Report No. 234:
    • Appointment of Jane Howie as City Clerk effective immediately (234a).
    • Appointments to Boards and Commissions: an existing member to Chair the Arts Commission and two new members (234b).
    • Ordinance approving a B-2 liquor license transfer for Woodstock Food and Liquor (234c).
    • Ordinance creating a new A-6 liquor license for Duke's Inferno (234d).
    • Contract award to DK Contractors Inc. for tennis court and pickleball court removal/replacement at Emricson and Olson Parks for $751,343 (234e).
    • Contract with Thelen Materials LLC for leaf disposal services at $485 per load (234f).
    • Agreement retaining Sher Edling LLP for PFAS-related legal matters, with David McArdle as authorized representative (234g).
    • Change order with Imperial Surveillance for access control automation at the Old Courthouse Center, $40,600 plus up to $5,000 for conduit installation (234h).

Discussion Items

  • Bid Discrepancy on Tennis Court Contract (Item D5): Councilwoman McMahon noted a large price discrepancy in the grading line item: the winning bid (DK Contractors) was under $10,000, while other bids were $37,000 and $67,000. City Engineer Chris T explained that the line item is a lump sum, so the contractor cannot come back for more money; discrepancies may arise from how contractors allocate total costs. He confirmed the bid is firm. Council accepted the explanation.

Key Outcomes

  • The consent calendar, including all items A through D8, was approved unanimously by a roll call vote (6-0, with all present council members voting yes). Councilman Flynn made the motion, seconded by Councilwoman Ziemba.
  • The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:00 PM (based on agenda timing), with the next meeting scheduled for October 17, 2023, at 7:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like you to welcome well to like to welcome you to this evening's meeting of the uh Woodstock City Council. A few brief announcements before we get started this evening. First, the seed this evening's meeting is being live streamed and is recorded and retained on the city's website. The City of Woodstock operates on what's called a consent uh agenda. Kent consent agenda means that all items for action this evening will be considered in a single motion or a single vote. Uh member of the Woodstock City Council can request an item to be separately uh discussed, considered, and voted upon if they choose to. Uh, and a member of public may likewise request an item to be removed for separate consideration and voting, and if it by a member of the Woodstock City Council, then it too will be uh removed and considered uh under a separate motion and a separate vote. Um two opportunities for public comment this evening, the first being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion. Members of the public may come forward to the podium in the middle of the room. If they're willing to do so, state their name and address for purpose of the record, and feel free to make comments to the Woodstock City Council on any items not on this evening's agenda. Second opportunity for public comment will be during any uh items for uh action this evening. The public will have an opportunity to provide input. Any questions on those brief announcements before we get started tonight? All right. Um before we get started, I will note a few special guests in the in the room this evening. Um I will forego, uh, but I would like to welcome uh former city manager Tim Clifton. Appreciate you joining us uh joining us this evening. I don't think I've seen Tim in this room for how many years, Tim? Ten years. So welcome to both of you. All right, with those announcements, I'll go ahead and officially call the order this October 3rd meeting, uh October 3rd, 2023 meeting of the Woodstock City Council of Order and ask our clerk to please call the roll. Councilman Flynn. Here. Councilwoman McMahon here. Councilman Nearman. Here. Councilman Seegers? Here. Councilman Tebow. Councilwoman Ziemba, here. Mayor Turner. Here. The record reflect that six members of the Woodstock City Council are present uh this evening. Uh I will ask uh Jane to please confirm that the uh agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda. Yes, it is. Thank you, Jane. That being the case, ladies and gentlemen of the council, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us. The first item this evening uh is floor discussion. And under floor discussion, we have a uh presentation on the retirement of uh Cindy Smiley, our city clerk. So I'm gonna ask Cindy uh to join me over at the podium, please. And I'm gonna ask Brian and Tim and Roscoe to join me up here as well, please. Should I have approved that with you beforehand? Yes. Too late. Um it is a great uh honor, of course, a little bit of a little bit bittersweet, but at the same time a great honor to uh to uh welcome Cindy up here and to recognize the contributions that she's made to the City of Woodstock as City Clerk with a uh proclamation. Council without objection. Uh and I'm I appreciate uh uh these other uh folks in her history joining us this evening uh this evening as well, Brian and and Tim and then Roscoe, who he's who's worked with Cindy for a very long time as well. So I appreciate you all standing up here with us. A proclamation honoring Cindy Smiley, whereas Cindy has officially retired from her role with the City of Woodstock as the city clerk after a distinguished 26-year career, including roles as executive assistant to the mayor and city manager, chief deputy city clerk, and lastly as city clerk.

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