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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - December 19, 2023

City Council — Tuesday, December 19, 2023

BodyWoodstock, Illinois

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, December 19, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:23:45

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0:00

I know you you always may have so I'm just well good evening ladies and gentlemen.

0:04

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

0:07

A few brief announcements before we get started tonight.

0:12

The agenda for this evening's meeting will be shown on the monitors inside the uh inside the chamber here.

0:18

Reminder for everybody that the meeting is live streamed and recorded on the city uh website.

0:23

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

0:27

Consent format means that all items for action this evening will be considered in a single motion or a sing and a single vote.

0:34

Uh if a member of council wants to have an item separately considered and voted upon, they may request an item to be removed and it will be removed for separate consideration and voting.

0:42

If a member of the public wishes to have an item separately removed for consideration and voting, they may make that request.

0:48

And if agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, uh then that item too will be removed for separate consideration and voting.

0:58

I'm not used to that sound during uh up here, but that's okay.

1:01

Um final announcement before we get started is there's two opportunities for public comment this evening.

1:09

First being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion.

1:12

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

1:15

If you're willing to do so, state your name and address for purpose of the record.

1:18

Feel free to make your comments to the Woodstock City Council on any items not on this evening's agenda.

1:23

And then when we have items for action this evening and our discussion item, we will invite public uh comment uh at that time.

1:31

Any questions on those announcements before we get started?

1:34

Hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order the the December 19th, 2023 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order.

1:41

I'll ask the clerk to please call the roll.

1:45

Councilman Flynn here, Councilwoman McMahon.

1:48

Here.

1:49

Councilman Nearman.

1:50

Here.

1:51

Councilman Seegers.

1:52

Here.

1:52

Councilman Tebow.

1:53

Here.

1:54

Councilwoman Ziembah.

1:55

Here.

1:55

Mayor Turner.

1:56

Here.

1:56

The record reflected that all members of the Woodstock City Council are present in the chambers this evening.

2:02

Jane, would you please verify or confirm that the agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda?

2:07

Yes, it is.

2:07

Thank you, Jane.

2:08

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

2:13

First item that we have this evening is floor discussion, and the first item under floor discussion is a uh an honor uh on the part of the city of Woodstock uh to do a check presentation to the Northern Illinois Police Canine Memorial Foundation and uh at the uh at the um uh the opportunity for our uh coming from our Woodstock Police Department and under the uh efforts by uh Deputy Chief Lands.

2:38

So I'll ask Deputy Chief Lands to step to the podium and I will join him up there Tracy out there.

2:49

What's that?

2:50

Is Tracy out there?

2:51

I didn't see Tracy, no.

2:53

Okay.

2:54

Would you like them in here?

2:55

I'm sorry?

2:55

Would you like them in here?

2:56

Sure.

2:57

Yeah, sure.

2:58

They're making all that ruckus out of there.

3:01

They want to be in here.

3:02

I think they want to be in here.

3:08

No, no, no.

3:11

Thank goodness.

3:14

The head of the Knob Memorial.

3:16

She's not here.

3:17

She's supposed to be here.

3:24

Well, thank you, Mr.

3:25

Mayor, for the uh opportunity to speak.

3:27

Um as you can see, uh, members of the McCarney County Sheriff's Office have brought their canine partners here.

3:33

Um as a as a show of of uh of presence for our sixth annual no-shave November through the Woodstock Police Department.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Fiscal Sustainability███████████████████████23%

Business Registration██████████████████████22%

Technology and Innovation████████████12%

Public Engagement███████████11%

Procedural██████6%

Public Safety██████6%

Business Licensing█████5%

Downtown Planning████4%

Economic Development████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - December 19, 2023

The Woodstock City Council met on December 19, 2023, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included a check presentation to the Northern Illinois Police K-9 Memorial, transmittal of the FY22/23 audit report, public comments on the proposed Riverwoods development, and a discussion on implementing a business registration program. The consent calendar was approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes from December 5, 2023 (regular and executive session).
Approved warrants #4080 and #4081.
Received minutes from the Arts Commission, Board of Police Commissioners, Historic Preservation Commission, Human Resources, Library Board, Plan Commission, and Woodstock Opera House Advisory Commission.
Approved Manager’s Report No. 239, which included:
- Ordinance creating a new Class B-3 liquor license for McHenry County Food Cooperative d/b/a The Food Shed Co-op.
- Ordinance amending the City Code on liquor control and mobile food truck vendors (with typographical corrections acknowledged).
- Ordinance amending field usage fees and deposits for public facilities.
- Resolution authorizing submission of a FY2024 CDBG application for the Olson Park Walkability Project.
- Approval of up to $4,637.17 for exterior improvements at 124 N. Madison Street under the Historic District Residential Assistance Program.
- Contract award to Midwest Salt, LLC for water softener salt at $146/ton for 2024.
- Authorization for the City Manager to approve a contract with Affinity Chemical, LLC for liquid alum at $408.00/dry ton for 2024.
Council discussed items D3 and D4 separately: Councilwoman McMahon stressed requiring security deposits for all rentals under D3; Councilman Seegers highlighted walkability benefits for D4. The consent calendar then passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

Amber Bauman (5116 Mount Thaber Road) spoke in opposition to the proposed Riverwoods development by Lennar. She raised concerns about an incomplete traffic study (missing Lucas Road and Route 47), the use of a 20-year-old tree study, environmental impacts on wetlands and the aquifer, and the development’s inconsistency with Smart Growth America recommendations. She urged the council to consider long-term community impacts.

Discussion Items

Business Registration: Staff (Roscoe Stelford, Danielle, Garrett, Kathleen) presented a plan to use OpenGov for a business registration program to improve communication, public safety, and economic development data. Council discussed the scope, including whether to include brick-and-mortar retailers, home-based businesses, contractors, landlords, nonprofits, and Airbnbs. Opinions varied on fees: some supported a nominal fee with a first-year waiver for existing businesses, others preferred a free system with penalties for non-compliance. Data privacy and the ability to publish a directory were also debated. Council directed staff to gather input from the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses before returning with a refined proposal.

Key Outcomes

The consent calendar was approved unanimously, including all items in Manager’s Report No. 239.
The business registration discussion concluded; staff will engage with the business community and present a finalized plan in early 2024.
Councilman Flynn reported that the Christmas Clearinghouse served approximately 1,300 families and over 2,000 children, but the program is operating at a deficit and additional donations are needed.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 16, 2024, with the Riverwoods development proposal likely to be heard on February 6, 2024.

Meeting Transcript

I know you you always may have so I'm just 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 announcements before we get started tonight. The agenda for this evening's meeting will be shown on the monitors inside the uh inside the chamber here. Reminder for everybody that the meeting is live streamed and recorded on the city uh website. City of Woodstock operates under what's called a consent format. Consent format means that all items for action this evening will be considered in a single motion or a sing and a single vote. Uh if a member of council wants to have an item separately considered and voted upon, they may request an item to be removed and it will be removed for separate consideration and voting. If a member of the public wishes to have an item separately removed for consideration and voting, they may make that request. And if agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, uh then that item too will be removed for separate consideration and voting. I'm not used to that sound during uh up here, but that's okay. Um final announcement before we get started is there's two opportunities for public comment this evening. First being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion. Members of the public are welcome to come forward to the podium in the middle of the room. If you're willing to do so, state your name and address for purpose of the record. Feel free to make your comments to the Woodstock City Council on any items not on this evening's agenda. And then when we have items for action this evening and our discussion item, we will invite public uh comment uh at that time. Any questions on those announcements before we get started? Hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order the the December 19th, 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 Seegers. Here. Councilman Tebow. Here. Councilwoman Ziembah. Here. Mayor Turner. Here. The record reflected that all members of the Woodstock City Council are present in the chambers this evening. Jane, would you please verify or confirm 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 inappropriately before us. First item that we have this evening is floor discussion, and the first item under floor discussion is a uh an honor uh on the part of the city of Woodstock uh to do a check presentation to the Northern Illinois Police Canine Memorial Foundation and uh at the uh at the um uh the opportunity for our uh coming from our Woodstock Police Department and under the uh efforts by uh Deputy Chief Lands. So I'll ask Deputy Chief Lands to step to the podium and I will join him up there Tracy out there. What's that? Is Tracy out there? I didn't see Tracy, no. Okay. Would you like them in here? I'm sorry? Would you like them in here? Sure. Yeah, sure. They're making all that ruckus out of there. They want to be in here.

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