OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting – January 16, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, January 16, 2024
BodyWoodstock, Illinois
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 16, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 50:59

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:04

I'd like to welcome you to this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council, our first one for 2024.

0:12

A couple brief announcements before we get started this evening.

0:14

First being that this evening's meeting is being live streamed and is recorded on the city's uh his website, just website, just want to make sure everybody's aware of that.

0:23

Uh there uh the city of Woodstock operates under what's called a consent format.

0:28

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

0:35

Uh if a member of council wishes to have an item uh removed for separate consideration and voting, they may do so, uh may make that request.

0:43

If a member of public wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, if it is agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, then it too would be removed for separate consideration and voting.

0:53

There are two opportunities for public comment this evening, the first being at the start of the meeting uh under floor discussion, members of the public may come forward during public comment of floor discussion to the podium in the middle of the room.

1:04

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

1:15

Second opportunity is that when we have items for action this evening, uh there will be an opportunity for public comment on those items prior to a vote.

1:24

Any questions on those brief announcements before we get started?

1:28

All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call the order this January 16th, 2024 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order, and I'll ask the clerk to please call the roll.

1:38

Councilman Flynn.

1:40

Here.

1:41

Councilwoman McMahon here.

1:43

Councilman Nearman.

1:44

Here.

1:45

Councilman Seegers.

1:47

Here.

1:47

Councilman Tebow?

1:48

Here.

1:49

Councilman Ziembah?

1:50

Here.

1:50

Mayor Turner.

1:51

Here.

1:52

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

1:58

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

2:03

Yes, it is.

2:04

Thank Jane.

2:04

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

2:10

First item uh this evening is under floor discussion is a proclamation.

2:15

And again, we have a great opportunity to uh to recognize Groundhog Day in the City of Woodstock, um, which is uh a huge event for us, and we uh we look forward to the festivities which will start uh before Groundhog's Day, I believe on February 1st uh and continue throughout the uh the weekend once again.

2:36

So I would like to to uh call uh Rick Belairs uh from the Woodstock Groundhog Days Committee to join me at the podium on the side here.

2:45

We uh uh council a proclamation without objection.

2:48

Very well.

2:57

Other members of the committee are more than welcome to join us here as well.

3:00

Please and Woodstock will end up thank you.

3:09

Thank you very much.

3:12

Thank you.

3:14

Can you make it warmer?

3:16

All right, good.

3:19

Don't say that.

3:21

We got a crowd.

3:22

You have a crowd.

3:23

That's outstanding.

3:28

It goes without saying that the uh that groundhog's day in Woodstock is a uh is a huge event.

3:34

But but what what it is, it's not just an event, uh it is an identity for us as a city.

3:41

It's not a singular identity, but it is a very important identity as to who the city of of Woodstock is.

3:47

And what it's also great about it is is the fact that so many people come together as volunteers to make this happen.

3:58

It is all of the members of of this committee uh who have joined us here tonight.

4:03

Uh it is countless businesses, it is members of the city staff uh putting in extra time and preparation for uh groundhog days.

4:11

It is a true community event and celebration in the city of Woodstock.

4:16

So it is always an honor to be able to read this proclamation.

4:19

So I will go ahead and do so.

4:21

Proclamation declaring February 2nd, 2024, Groundhog Day in the City of Woodstock.

4:28

Whereas we will be welcoming the groundhog, Woodstock Willie, at our beautifully restored old courthouse center for the first time.

4:36

And whereas the motion picture groundhog day was filmed almost entirely in the City of Woodstock in 1992 and released in 1993.

4:46

And whereas we will be celebrating the filming of the movie that put Woodstock, Illinois on the map.

4:52

And whereas the annual commemoration celebrating the event known as Woodstock Groundhog Days began in 1995 with a prognostication and breakfast.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████████████39%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Public Works████████████████16%
Tourism Marketing████████████12%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Immigration Policy███3%
Cannabis Regulation███3%
Public Engagement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting – January 16, 2024

The Woodstock City Council met on January 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. All seven council members were present. The meeting began with a proclamation for Groundhog Day, followed by council comments, approval of a consent calendar with one item removed for separate discussion, and consideration of a Unified Development Ordinance text amendment on vehicle parking and storage.

Proclamation

  • Mayor Turner read a proclamation declaring February 2, 2024, as Groundhog Day in the City of Woodstock. The proclamation highlighted the 2024 celebration, which will be the first held at the restored Old Courthouse, and noted that WGN meteorologist Tom Skilling will translate the groundhog's prognostication as part of his retirement celebration. Rick Belairs of the Woodstock Groundhog Days Committee accepted the proclamation and thanked the city for its support.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar comprised items A1 through D8, with the exception of D3 (UDO text amendment on parking and storage of vehicles), which was removed for separate consideration. Item D6 (professional services contract for splashpad design) was discussed but not removed. The consent calendar was approved unanimously by roll call vote (6-0-0, with Mayor Turner also voting yes). Items approved included:
    • Acceptance of December 19, 2023, and January 2, 2024, meeting minutes
    • Warrants #4082, #4083, #4084
    • Minutes and reports from various commissions and the Library Board
    • Video Gaming License for Main Street PourHouse
    • Ordinances for a UDO text amendment and special use permit at 410 S. Eastwood Drive
    • Resolution and purchase for a National Fitness Campaign outdoor fitness court at Nature’s Way Park (grant of $50,000 received, total cost not to exceed $162,000)
    • Contract award for sludge hauling to Synagro ($85/cu yd dry solids, $0.045/gal transportation)
    • Professional services agreement for splashpad design with Wight & Company ($69,800)
    • Supplement #1 for design engineering on Route 47 road widening ($139,689.28)
    • Authorization to execute a non-disclosure agreement with Throop Street, LLC regarding 101 S. Jefferson Street

Discussion Items

  • Splashpad Design (D6) – Councilman Tebow questioned the timing of design without full funding, and suggested bundled design-build packages might be cheaper. Assistant City Manager Danielle and Public Works Director Christina explained that $65,000 has been raised, a design is needed to fundraise and apply for an OSLAD grant, and that McHenry’s splashpad cost between $300,000 and $400,000 including engineering. They noted that several firms declined to bid because the budget seemed too low. Councilman Nearman asked about low bidder participation; staff cited prevailing wage compliance as a deterrent for local contractors. No vote was taken as the item remained on the consent calendar and was approved.

  • UDO Text Amendment – Parking and Storage of Vehicles (D3) – Councilman Nearman initially expressed concern about limiting cannabis dispensaries, but staff clarified that provision is not in the ordinance. Councilman Flynn noted that Section 9.6B only requires newly constructed parking/display areas to be paved, allowing existing areas (e.g., car dealerships on Route 47) to continue parking on grass. He proposed adding a sentence requiring existing areas also to be on an improved paved surface. Councilman Tebow raised a similar concern for Section 9.6C4B (recreational vehicle parking in yards) which lacked a surface requirement. After discussion, the council voted to approve the ordinance with two amendments: (1) insert “and on a paved surface” at the end of 9.6C4B; (2) add a new sentence to 9.6B stating “All existing areas for parking, storage and display for sale of motor vehicles, trailers, and intermodal shipping containers in any district shall be on an improved paved surface except as provided for in section 7B.2.26 and section 9.13.d of this ordinance.” The motion passed unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar Approved (all items A1–D8 except D3) by unanimous roll call.
  • UDO Text Amendment on Parking/Storage Approved with the two amendments described above. The vote was 7-0.
  • Future Agenda Items – Council noted the next regular meeting on February 6, 2024, and February 20, 2024. Budget workshop dates will be sent to council within a few days. Councilwoman McMahon and Councilwoman Ziemba will be absent from both February meetings.
  • Meeting Adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m. (time inferred from transcript length).

Meeting Transcript

Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to welcome you to this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council, our first one for 2024. A couple brief announcements before we get started this evening. First being that this evening's meeting is being live streamed and is recorded on the city's uh his website, just website, just want to make sure everybody's aware of that. Uh there uh the city of Woodstock operates under what's called a consent format. Consent format format means that all items for action this evening will be considered in a single motion or a single vote uh and a single vote. Uh if a member of council wishes to have an item uh removed for separate consideration and voting, they may do so, uh may make that request. If a member of public wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, if it is agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, then it too would be removed for separate consideration and voting. There are two opportunities for public comment this evening, the first being at the start of the meeting uh under floor discussion, members of the public may come forward during public comment of floor discussion 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, and feel please feel free to make comments to the Woodstock City Council on on items that are not on this evening's agenda. Second opportunity is that when we have items for action this evening, uh there will be an opportunity for public comment on those items prior to a vote. Any questions on those brief announcements before we get started? All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call the order this January 16th, 2024 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order, and 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. Councilman Ziembah? Here. Mayor Turner. Here. Like the record reflect of all members that all members of the Woodstock City Council are present in the chambers this evening. Jane, would you please confirm that the agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda? Yes, it is. Thank Jane. That being the case, ladies and gentlemen of the council, the people's business is dueling appropriately before us. First item uh this evening is under floor discussion is a proclamation. And again, we have a great opportunity to uh to recognize Groundhog Day in the City of Woodstock, um, which is uh a huge event for us, and we uh we look forward to the festivities which will start uh before Groundhog's Day, I believe on February 1st uh and continue throughout the uh the weekend once again. So I would like to to uh call uh Rick Belairs uh from the Woodstock Groundhog Days Committee to join me at the podium on the side here. We uh uh council a proclamation without objection. Very well. Other members of the committee are more than welcome to join us here as well. Please and Woodstock will end up thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Can you make it warmer? All right, good. Don't say that. We got a crowd. You have a crowd. That's outstanding. It goes without saying that the uh that groundhog's day in Woodstock is a uh is a huge event. But but what what it is, it's not just an event, uh it is an identity for us as a city. It's not a singular identity, but it is a very important identity as to who the city of of Woodstock is. And what it's also great about it is is the fact that so many people come together as volunteers to make this happen.

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