OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting – January 21, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, January 21, 2025
BodyWoodstock, Illinois
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:06:13

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:03

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

0:08

A few brief announcements before we get started this evening.

0:11

First, the agenda for this evening will be shown on the monitors in the room.

0:16

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

0:20

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

0:26

If a member of the City Council wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, they may do so.

0:32

And if a member of the public wishes to request an item to be removed for separate consideration and voting, they may make that request and if agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, that item as well will be removed and considered uh separately.

0:46

Uh there's two opportunities for public comment this evening, the first being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion, public comment.

0:53

I invite members of the podium to come forward to the podium in the center of the aisle.

0:57

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.

1:04

Uh second opportunity is when we have items for action.

1:07

Uh we will have an opportunity for members of the public to make comment at that time as well.

1:13

Any questions on those announcements before we get started?

1:17

All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order this meeting of this January 21st meeting, 21st of 2025 meeting to order and ask Jane to please call the roll.

1:29

Councilman Flynn.

1:30

Here.

1:30

Councilwoman McMahon here.

1:32

Councilman Your Min?

1:33

Here.

1:33

Councilman Seegers.

1:34

Here.

1:35

Councilman Tebow.

1:36

Councilwoman Ziemba.

1:37

Here.

1:38

Mayor Turner.

1:38

Here.

1:39

Let the record reflect that six of the seven members of the Woodstock City Council are present this evening.

1:45

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

1:51

Yes, it is.

1:52

Thank you, Jane.

1:52

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

1:58

Uh it is appropriate, I guess, that the first item that we cover under uh 2025 would uh for the city of Woodstock is a uh a proclamation uh and it is a proclamation for Groundhog Day in Woodstock.

2:14

So at this time I would like Woodstock Willie and Rick Belairs and his entire team to join me at the podium on the side.

2:33

Got it.

2:44

George.

2:48

That's a good George, that's a good entry right there.

2:50

So it is uh once again that time of year, and that's a very special time of year for the city.

3:00

Um before I make the proclamation, I think it's very important to state not only do we is this important to us, but um it also becomes almost uh um accepted that this happens every year.

3:14

Um and uh every year it's a huge event.

3:17

Every year it's gets bigger and bigger, and it continues to you know put Woodstock on the map, and it continues to be just an incredibly fun time and an economic driver for us.

3:28

And it happens every year, and it happens because of the people behind us here in blue.

3:34

It happens because of Woodstock Willie.

3:36

It happens because all of the volunteers that put their heart and soul into this throughout the year.

3:43

And that is worth noting because without those people, without these volunteers, it doesn't happen the way that uh the way that it does.

3:52

So I want to make sure that that's stated because what you all do is incredibly valuable to the city.

3:57

So my thanks, and you good, you know, should all feel a great deal of pride in that and know that the community appreciates that.

4:03

So and last year, you know, I know you're gonna top it this year.

4:06

You've got probably some other A-list celebrity showing up this time in addition.

4:11

Steven Toboluski.

4:13

So that uh that's a great addition.

4:15

So and uh we'd love to have Tom again, but that was a you know that was a one-time shot, and that was outstanding.

4:21

So he's warmer, he's warmer in Hawaii, right?

4:24

He is a lot warmer in Hawaii.

4:25

So, yes, I I follow him on Facebook.

4:27

He seems to be fairly content in Hawaii.

4:30

So I don't know why he doesn't want to come back to the Midwest on February 2nd.

4:33

Um a reason probably not to.

4:37

So uh with that, council uh proclamation without objection.

4:43

Head not we see that?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Eminent Domain██████████████████18%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Downtown Planning████████████████16%
Tourism Marketing███████████████15%
Technology and Innovation██████████10%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Economic Development████████8%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Arts And Culture█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting – January 21, 2025

The Woodstock City Council met on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. Six of seven council members were present; Councilman Tebow was absent. The meeting included a Groundhog Day proclamation, presentations on Real Woodstock and the Downtown Development Plan, approval of the consent calendar with one item removed, a capital improvement program transmittal, an executive session on property acquisition, and postponement of the eminent domain ordinance to a future meeting. No members of the public offered comments during the public comment periods.

Proclamation: Groundhog Day

  • Mayor Turner, joined by Woodstock Willie and the Groundhog Day committee led by Rick Belairs, presented a proclamation declaring February 2, 2025 as Groundhog Day in the City of Woodstock.
  • The proclamation recognized the 1993 film, the annual Woodstock Groundhog Days tradition since 1995, and the return of Stephen Tobolowsky. The celebration runs January 30 through February 2, 2025.
  • The council adopted the proclamation without objection. Rick Belairs thanked the city for its support, noting this year includes more events than ever, including a 5K with over 300 registrants, more than half from out of state.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar originally included the December 17, 2024 City Council minutes; warrants #4130–#4133; minutes and reports from the Arts Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Plan Commission, and Opera House Advisory Commission; and Manager’s Report No. 263 items.
  • Manager’s Report items included the zoning map amendment at 200 E. Judd Street from M1 to B2C, the Joyce Nardulli advocacy agreement, the Local 150 collective bargaining agreement for May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2027, and board and commission nominations.
  • Item D2 (eminent domain ordinance for 101–109 S. Jefferson Street) was removed for separate consideration at Councilman Nearman’s request.
  • The remaining consent calendar items were approved unanimously on a single motion, with six votes in favor and Councilman Tebow absent.

Real Woodstock Update

  • Marketing Manager Maddie, along with Heather and Danielle, presented an update on the Real Woodstock tourism marketing program.
  • Highlights included website itinerary and events page upgrades, search engine optimization, influencer partnerships, short-form video, a new Pinterest account, retail merchandise, transit advertising, billboards, and the Placer AI foot-traffic analytics tool.
  • Key metrics reported: active website users increased 246% over 18 months; Facebook reach increased 158%, visits 466%, and follows 19%; Instagram reach increased 8%, visits 78%, and follows 60%. Placer AI costs $20,000 per year.
  • The current fiscal year marketing budget for Real Woodstock is $140,000 for advertising, plus staff salary estimated around $200,000–$220,000.
  • Council members praised the program. Councilman Nearman said the marketing directly supports economic development and his own property investment activity, calling it good business for Woodstock.

Downtown Development Plan Progress Report

  • Economic Development Director Jessica Erickson presented a progress report on the 2019 Downtown Development Plan.
  • She noted the plan’s four core objectives: strengthening the civic and cultural heart, residential growth, strengthening the central business district, and preserving historic character.
  • She cited achievements including courthouse and Opera House renovations, the MCC Catalyst campus, Woodstock Square Apartments, infrastructure investments, and the announced Calhoun Street Hotel.
  • Erickson discussed challenges from e-commerce, COVID-19, inflation, construction costs, housing affordability, and shifting tourism expectations.
  • Future opportunities identified included strategic site activation, expanding residential density, enhancing public spaces and connectivity, growing tourism, leveraging alternative financing tools, and updating the downtown master plan.
  • The city has issued an RFP for a downtown master plan consultant; it was published January 7, proposals are due January 31, and a professional services agreement is expected February 18.
  • An RFEI for the DICAS site is expected to go to market the following week.
  • Councilwoman Melissa questioned how the proposed railroad yard and increased train crossings could affect downtown access; Erickson said transportation and multimodal connectivity are included in the downtown master plan RFP.

Capital Improvement Program Transmittal

  • City Manager Roscoe Stelford presented the FY2025/26–FY2034/35 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
  • The plan projects $194.5 million in revenues including transfers, financing about $186.9 million in spending over ten years.
  • Streets are the largest CIP category at $57 million over ten years. The plan includes Route 47 improvements, EPA mandates for phosphorus and lead service lines, grant matches, and about $9.9 million in anticipated grant funding.
  • PFAS/PFOS costs are not yet quantified.
  • Stelford explained that department heads and staff develop the plan, and council has final authority over which projects are funded. The CIP will be posted online the next morning and discussed at a future budget workshop in mid-February.

Item D2: Eminent Domain – 101–109 S. Jefferson Street

  • Councilman Nearman raised concerns about using eminent domain, saying the owner does not want to sell and the city should avoid appearing as a bully.
  • Mayor Turner and City Manager Stelford responded that negotiations have been ongoing since July 2024, the owner has not accepted an offer or provided a counteroffer supported by an appraisal, and the independent appraisal supports the city’s position.
  • The city attorney noted that the council is bound by a non-disclosure agreement regarding negotiation details, and that purchase discussions could be held in executive session under the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2C5).
  • The council voted unanimously to move the item after the CIP discussion and then entered executive session at 8:56 p.m.
  • After returning to open session, the council voted unanimously to postpone Item D2 to a time certain at the February 4, 2025 meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted the Groundhog Day proclamation without objection.
  • Approved the consent calendar unanimously, excluding Item D2.
  • Voted unanimously to move Item D2 to later in the meeting, then entered executive session unanimously to discuss real property acquisition.
  • Voted unanimously to postpone the eminent domain ordinance for 101–109 S. Jefferson Street to February 4, 2025.
  • Received the ten-year Capital Improvement Program transmittal; a budget workshop will be scheduled in mid-February.
  • Council requested future agenda items including a revolving loan fund discussion, landlord/rental safety regulations, and continued food truck policy discussion.
  • The meeting adjourned to the next regular meeting on February 4, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

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 this evening. First, the agenda for this evening will be shown on the monitors in the room. City of Woodstock operates under what's called a consent format. Consent format means that all items for action this evening will be considered under a single motion and a single vote. If a member of the City Council wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, they may do so. And if a member of the public wishes to request an item to be removed for separate consideration and voting, they may make that request and if agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, that item as well will be removed and considered uh separately. Uh there's two opportunities for public comment this evening, the first being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion, public comment. I invite members of the podium to come forward to the podium in the center of the aisle. 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. Uh second opportunity is when we have items for action. Uh we will have an opportunity for members of the public to make comment at that time as well. Any questions on those announcements before we get started? All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order this meeting of this January 21st meeting, 21st of 2025 meeting to order and ask Jane to please call the roll. Councilman Flynn. Here. Councilwoman McMahon here. Councilman Your Min? Here. Councilman Seegers. Here. Councilman Tebow. Councilwoman Ziemba. Here. Mayor Turner. Here. Let the record reflect that six of the seven members of the Woodstock City Council are present this evening. Jane, would you please verify 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 inappropriately before us. Uh it is appropriate, I guess, that the first item that we cover under uh 2025 would uh for the city of Woodstock is a uh a proclamation uh and it is a proclamation for Groundhog Day in Woodstock. So at this time I would like Woodstock Willie and Rick Belairs and his entire team to join me at the podium on the side. Got it. George. That's a good George, that's a good entry right there. So it is uh once again that time of year, and that's a very special time of year for the city. Um before I make the proclamation, I think it's very important to state not only do we is this important to us, but um it also becomes almost uh um accepted that this happens every year. Um and uh every year it's a huge event. Every year it's gets bigger and bigger, and it continues to you know put Woodstock on the map, and it continues to be just an incredibly fun time and an economic driver for us. And it happens every year, and it happens because of the people behind us here in blue. It happens because of Woodstock Willie. It happens because all of the volunteers that put their heart and soul into this throughout the year. And that is worth noting because without those people, without these volunteers, it doesn't happen the way that uh the way that it does. So I want to make sure that that's stated because what you all do is incredibly valuable to the city. So my thanks, and you good, you know, should all feel a great deal of pride in that and know that the community appreciates that. So and last year, you know, I know you're gonna top it this year. You've got probably some other A-list celebrity showing up this time in addition. Steven Toboluski.

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