Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

It's great to see a full house this evening.

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

A few brief announcements before we get started this evening.

Um, a reminder that this meeting is being live streamed and then saved to the city's uh website.

Um the City of Woodstock operates under what's called a consent agenda.

That means that all items for action this evening will be considered in a single motion and a single vote.

If a member of Woodstock City Council wishes to have an item separately considered and voted upon, they may make that request, and we will separately consider that item.

If a member of the public wishes to have an item separately considered and voted upon this evening, that they may also make that request and have agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council.

That item will also be considered under a separate motion and a separate vote.

There's two opportunities for public comment this evening.

The first being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion.

Members of the public may come forward to the podium in the center of the room if they're willing to do so, state them their name and address for purpose of the record.

Feel free to make your comments on any items and not on this evening's agenda.

Um second opportunity is when we have items for action, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to make comment as well.

Any questions on those announcements before we get started.

All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call the order this March 4th 2025 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order and ask please ask the clerk to please call the roll.

Councilman Flynn.

Councilwoman McMahon.

Here.

Councilman Nearman.

Here.

Councilman Seegers, Councilman Tebow.

Here.

Councilwoman Zamba.

Here.

Mayor Turner.

Here.

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

Jane, would you please 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, the council, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us.

First item we have this evening is floor discussion, and under floor discussion, we have our annual proclamation about music in our schools.

This is one of the uh great things that we get to recognize in the City of Woodstock is the uh music program in District 200, and we're always treated with a performance by some members from D 200, and we're gonna be getting that this evening as well.

We're gonna start with a uh a city proclamation honoring music in our schools.

Council without objection.

Okay, very well.

Uh I'd like uh Cheryl Einstein and Debbie uh Schweist to please join me at the podium on the side of the room, please.

Second.

Hi.

Thank you so much for being here.

So, as I mentioned, this is a uh uh time honored tradition for the city of Woodstock.

I can't even tell you how many years we've been doing it, uh, but every year is an absolute treat.

So we really appreciate you bearing being here today.

Um I do have a uh a bit of a deviation from the normal uh proclamation uh in recognition of uh Councilman Tebow's long service to the city and his involvement in in theater and his family's involvement in music.

I'd like to invite Gordy to come up and read the proclamation.

Surprise.

I know I surprised you on that one, but as Mayor said, I've been involved in the music in my wife for the 40 years we've been in Woodstock here, so I'm honored to read this.

Whereas music is a universal language that speaks to all people, and whereas the residents of City Woodstock have a long history of supporting a musical arts, as evidenced by the upcoming 141st season of the Woodstock City Band, as well as numerous musical concerts and programs conducted at the Woodstock Opera House throughout the year.

And whereas the study of music contributes to the development of young people through heightened skills in listening, reading, self-expression, and creativity.

And whereas the study of music is basic to a complete education and provides a competitive edge for successful educational reform while engaging students in individual and group activities that develop creativity, problem solving, critical thinking and evaluation skills.

And whereas music education helps students require acquire skills into production and performance of music and gives them an understanding of history and culture, and whereas music and other arts significantly enhance the morale and quality of school environments, and whereas music programs should be maintained and improved for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status or their abilities.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the City Council of the City of Woodstock on behalf of all residents in Woodstock endorses the observance of the month of March as music and our schools month encourages all students and their families to participate and showing their appreciation for the value music brings to their lives as performers or as audience members.

Approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Woodstock, McKenry County, Illinois on its fourth day of March 2025.

I'm Debbie Schweiss.

Good evening.

My name is Cheryl Van Ostrand, and I'm here on behalf of the Music Boosters.

I've got a daughter who's involved in the music programs in the Woodstock schools, and I can't speak more highly of a program.

And I think we've got a couple students who are going to perform for you.