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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - November 7, 2023

City Council — Tuesday, November 7, 2023

BodyWoodstock, Illinois

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, November 7, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:20:30

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

0:02

Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:03

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

0:07

A few brief reminders before we or announcements before we get started this evening.

0:12

The meeting is being streamed and is saved out on the city website.

0:17

The City of Woodstock operates under what's called a consent format.

0:20

Consent format meeting means that all items will be considered in a single motion and a single vote.

0:33

If a member of the public wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, they too may make that request and have agreed to by a member of council.

0:46

There are two opportunities for public comment this evening.

0:49

The first being at the start of the meeting on uh at during public uh public discussion.

0:56

Uh 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 uh address for purpose of the record.

1:03

Feel free to make a comment on any item not on this evening's agenda.

1:07

And then there'll be another opportunity for public comment uh during items that uh council uh votes upon or acts upon this evening.

1:16

The agenda will be pr uh shown up on the uh on the video boards tonight as well.

1:21

Any questions on those brief announcements before we get started?

1:26

All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order this uh November 7th, 2023 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order.

1:34

I'll ask the clerk to please call the roll councilman Flynn here.

1:41

Councilwoman McMahon here, Councilman Nearman?

1:44

Here.

1:44

Councilman Sears.

1:46

Here.

1:46

Councilman Tebow?

1:47

Here.

1:47

Councilwoman Ziemba.

1:49

Here.

1:49

Mayor Turner.

1:50

Here.

1:51

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

1:56

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

2:03

Yes, it is.

2:04

Thank you, Jane.

2:04

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

2:10

Uh I would uh I'm pleased to start this evening's uh meeting with floor discussion, and the first item that we have is uh employee recognition uh service awards uh for employees that have had reached milestones with the city of Woodstock.

2:24

Uh it is our pleasure as a council to uh recognize those employees uh and some of them have uh joined us this evening in chambers.

2:31

So Deb, our HR director is gonna come forward and uh work with me, and we'll uh uh look forward to calling up those employees.

2:53

Thank you very much.

2:56

All right.

2:56

Uh first starting this evening uh is our five-year service award.

3:02

So we have two uh members of the Woodstock uh city staff that have been here for five years.

3:07

Uh Darrell Moore, City Planner.

3:09

Please join us up here.

3:17

It looks like we are and then Alison Snaker.

3:22

Uh County Manager, speaking.

3:31

These are our five-year folks.

3:32

Take a quick picture, Jonathan.

3:39

Well done, then that's how we can.

3:41

One, two, three, one, two, three.

3:43

Thank you.

3:44

All right, thank you.

3:50

Next up is our uh tenure anniversary.

3:54

Uh first is uh Sharon Aberson, uh patrol officer.

3:57

I don't think Sharon is here this evening.

3:59

That's not very good.

4:00

Uh Daniel Bolduck, laboratory manager, wastewater treatment.

4:03

Uh was unable to make this evening.

4:04

I think that's a good question.

4:05

Uh Paul Christmason, uh Deputy Uh City Manager, Executive Director of Strategy Planning.

4:11

So Paul.

4:17

Uh next up, uh, maintenance workers too, streets.

4:23

No.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning██████████████████████████████████34%

Procedural██████████████████18%

Energy Policy████████████12%

Public Engagement███████7%

Parks and Recreation██████6%

Veterans Recognition█████5%

Personnel Matters████4%

Community Engagement████4%

Engineering And Infrastructure████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - November 7, 2023

The Woodstock City Council met on November 7, 2023, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. All seven council members were present. The meeting featured employee service awards, proclamations, a consent agenda with two items removed for separate discussion (a zoning change for a self-storage facility and a solar farm extension), and a discussion on the design of an intergenerational inclusive playground. The council approved the self-storage facility with additional conditions and rejected the solar farm extension. A consensus was reached on a playground design concept.

Floor Discussion

Employee Service Awards: Recognized milestones for 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service. Notable 25-year honorees included Daniel Campbell (Opera House Director) and Patrick O’Leary (forestry technician, retired).
Proclamation – William Straczek Retirement: Honored William Straczek for 29 years of service as senior accountant, accepted by Alison Stanger and Paul Christensen.
Proclamation – Veterans Day: Declared November 6–12, 2023, as Operation Greenlight; encouraged residents to display a green light in support of veterans. Accepted by Michael Iwanicke (Superintendent, Veterans Assistance Commission) and other post commanders.
Public Comments: None.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda included approvals of minutes, warrants, commission minutes, and several administrative items (Manager’s Report No. 236). Items D3 (708 McHenry Avenue zoning) and D4 (Solar Farm Extension) were removed for separate consideration.
Council discussed items D7 (playground equipment purchase), D8 (logo licensing), and D9 (grinder replacement). A friendly amendment was added to D6 (wireless alarm agreement) to include attorney review.
The consent calendar, as amended, was approved unanimously (7-0).

Discussion Items

D3 – Zoning Amendment for 708 McHenry Avenue

Proposal: Rezone a portion of 708 McHenry Avenue from RPUD (Residential) to B3 (Service and Retail) and grant a special use permit for a self-storage facility, subject to conditions from the Plan Commission.
Public Comments: Several neighbors (Lance Kubachek, Jeanette Murray, John Barlow) opposed the project, citing concerns about property values, stormwater, aesthetics, and the precedent of rezoning residential land. The petitioner (Mark Saladin for Ryan Peters) noted significant concessions, including reduced footprint, 20-foot setbacks, wooden privacy fencing, downlighting, and limited hours (7 AM–9 PM).
Council Discussion: Members debated the balance between resident rights and development potential. An “abandonment clause” was added, requiring city council approval before any change of use. The motion passed 6-1, with Councilwoman Ziemba opposing.

D4 – Solar Farm Extension

Proposal: Extend a 2018 special use permit for a solar farm at the northwest corner of US Route 14 and Lily Pond Road. Conditions required a building permit by December 15, 2023, and completion by August 1, 2024.
Public Comments: None.
Petitioner (Generate): Kate Duncan, Bethel Gasha, and Eleanor Beitler requested a two-week extension to address concerns. They argued the project was ready (90% engineering drawings, state approvals) and offered a $9.5 million investment.
Council Discussion: Members expressed skepticism about aesthetics (gateway location), limited community benefit (estimated $5/month savings for subscribing residents), and the petitioner’s late engagement. A motion to postpone to November 21 failed 3-4 (Turner, Tebow, Ziemba for; others against). A subsequent motion to approve with conditions failed 3-4 (Tebow, Ziemba, Turner for; others against), effectively denying the extension.

Intergenerational Inclusive Park Design

Presentation: Christina (staff) presented two concept plans (A and B) for the Nature’s Way playground at Emricson Park. Both include similar equipment, restrooms, and shelters. Key differences: Plan A has a concrete loop walkway; Plan B features play mounds and a different parking layout.
Council Consensus: All seven council members selected Concept Plan B. Staff will refine parking design separately, aiming for more spaces and safer access.

Key Outcomes

Consent Calendar: Approved as amended (7-0).
708 McHenry Avenue: Approved (6-1) with Plan Commission conditions and an abandonment clause.
Solar Farm Extension: Denied (3-4) after two motions failed.
Playground Design: Consensus for Concept Plan B; parking design to return later.
Executive Session: Approved (7-0) to discuss real property purchase.
Next Meeting: November 21, 2023, at 7:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to welcome you to this evening's meeting of the uh Woodstock City Council. A few brief reminders before we or announcements before we get started this evening. The meeting is being streamed and is saved out on the city website. The City of Woodstock operates under what's called a consent format. Consent format meeting means that all items will be considered in a single motion and a single vote. If a member of the public wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, they too may make that request and have agreed to by a member of council. There are two opportunities for public comment this evening. The first being at the start of the meeting on uh at during public uh public discussion. Uh 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 uh address for purpose of the record. Feel free to make a comment on any item not on this evening's agenda. And then there'll be another opportunity for public comment uh during items that uh council uh votes upon or acts upon this evening. The agenda will be pr uh shown up on the uh on the video boards tonight as well. Any questions on those brief announcements before we get started? All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order this uh November 7th, 2023 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order. I'll ask the clerk to please call the roll councilman Flynn here. Councilwoman McMahon here, Councilman Nearman? Here. Councilman Sears. Here. Councilman Tebow? Here. Councilwoman Ziemba. Here. Mayor Turner. Here. The record reflect that all members of the Woodstock City Council are present uh this evening. Jane, I will ask you to please confirm that this uh that the 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. Uh I would uh I'm pleased to start this evening's uh meeting with floor discussion, and the first item that we have is uh employee recognition uh service awards uh for employees that have had reached milestones with the city of Woodstock. Uh it is our pleasure as a council to uh recognize those employees uh and some of them have uh joined us this evening in chambers. So Deb, our HR director is gonna come forward and uh work with me, and we'll uh uh look forward to calling up those employees. Thank you very much. All right. Uh first starting this evening uh is our five-year service award. So we have two uh members of the Woodstock uh city staff that have been here for five years. Uh Darrell Moore, City Planner. Please join us up here. It looks like we are and then Alison Snaker. Uh County Manager, speaking. These are our five-year folks. Take a quick picture, Jonathan. Well done, then that's how we can. One, two, three, one, two, three. Thank you. All right, thank you. Next up is our uh tenure anniversary.

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