The Woodstock City Council met on February 6, 2024 at 7:00 PM with five of seven members present (Councilman Flynn and Councilman Nearman absent). The meeting opened with a proclamation and public comments, followed by a consent calendar from which two items were removed for separate discussion and voting.
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. First, the agenda for this evening's uh meeting will be shown on the uh monitors in the uh uh in the council chambers. Um the city of Woodstock operates under what's called a consent uh format, consent format that means that all items for action this evening will be considered under a single motion and a single vote. If a member of uh council uh wishes, they may ask for an item to be removed, and it will be considered uh discussed and considered uh in a separate uh separate motion. Uh if a member of public wishes to have an item separately removed for consideration, uh if agreed to by a member of council, it also will 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, members of the public may come forward under floor discussion uh to the podium in the middle of the room, state your name for the purpose of the record and address if you're willing to do so. Feel free to make 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, there will be an option uh an opportunity for members of the public to uh make comments as well. Any questions on those uh announcements before we get started. All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order this February 6th meeting uh 2024 of 2024 to order for the Woodstock City Council and ask please ask Jane to call the roll. Councilman Flynn. Councilwoman McMahon. Yes. Councilman Nearman, Councilman Seegers. Here. Councilman Thibaut. Here. Councilwoman Ziembah. Here. Mayor Turner. Here. The record reflect that five of the seven members of the Woodstock City Council are present this evening. Jane, can you please confirm that the agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda? Yes, it is. It is uh that being the case, ladies and gentlemen of the council, the uh uh council people's business is duly and appropriately before us. Uh the first item we have for action this evening is I'm sorry, for on the agenda this evening is floor discussion. Uh and it is my uh honor to um make a proclamation uh honoring Black History Month for February 2024, Council without objection. Very well. I think uh Carrie Smith from uh from our uh Cultural and Social Awareness Commission is with us. Would you join me at the podium on the side? Hi, Gary. Thank you for joining us. So it is my honor to to uh make this proclamation on behalf of the city. Um one of the great things about Woodstock is the diversity of of cultures and of the folks that live live here and visit here, and you know that should never be lost in us, regardless of of our you know, political or other ideology, uh, you know, a diverse community that is engaged and is you know is part is part of what makes Woodstock a terrific place to live. So uh this proclamation means a lot to me and means a lot to council, and it's our uh our pleasure to do that this evening. So proclamation honoring Black History Month, February 2024. Whereas each year, Black History Month is observed in February, providing the opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of African American history and acknowledge the centuries of struggles for equality and freedom. And whereas in 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a noted Harvard scholar, established the observance of of African African American history to reveal the contributions, achievements, and involvement of African American people in the development of our American democracy. And whereas America is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, all part of the land of the free, Black History Month fosters awareness and understanding while encouraging education about contributions made by Americans of color. And whereas the celebration of Black History Month is a positive way to recog uh to of recognizing the culture and history of African Americans as vital to the core beliefs and values of this society. And whereas Black History Month also celebrates the achievements and contributions that African Americans have made in shaping our country, society, and communities. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that this Woodstock City Council, on behalf of all citizens of Woodstock, wishes to observe February 2024 as Black History Month and encourage our citizens to participate in activities that foster awareness and appreciation of contributions to shaping the history of America. Approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Woodstock, McHenry County the sixth day of February 2024. On behalf of the city council, it's my pleasure to offer this to you and and uh appreciate your your cut your contributions on the commission and the work of the commission as well. So feel free to make a few comments if you wanted to on behalf of the diversity community.