OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - May 20, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, May 20, 2025
BodyWoodstock, Illinois
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 25:32

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:02

Uh welcome to this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council.

0:05

Before we get started, I have a few brief announcements.

0:08

Uh first off, I'd like to say that the overwhelming attendance this evening is because of my guest starring in the role of mayor, but uh I understand there's something much more important going on.

0:16

So um the few agenda uh agendas are uh will be shown on the screens around the room.

0:20

Uh the City of Woodstock operates under what is known as a consent format, which means all items for action this evening will be considered under a single motion and single vote.

0:28

Um if a council member would like to have an item removed and separately considered and voted upon, they may make that request, and the item will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered under a separate vote.

0:38

If a member member of the public would like to have an item removed and separately considered and voted upon, they may make that request, and if agreed by a member of council, um it will be considered on removed and considered under separate vote.

0:50

There will be two opportunities for public comment.

0:52

Uh one at the start of the meeting under floor discussion.

0:55

Members of the public may come to the podium in the center of the room, state their name and address for the record if they are comfortable doing so and comment on items not on this evening's agenda.

1:04

Uh the second time is um when we are proposing items for action.

1:07

Uh members of the public will have the opportunity to make comments on those items prior to a vote.

1:12

Any questions on those items before we get started this evening?

1:17

Wonderful.

1:17

Hearing none, there we go.

1:19

Um at this time, I would like to call this May 20th, 2025 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order and ask the clerk to please call the roll.

1:26

Okay, Councilman Hansen.

1:28

Here.

1:29

Councilwoman McMahon.

1:30

Here.

1:31

Councilman Nearman.

1:32

Here.

1:33

Councilman Seegers.

1:34

Here.

1:35

Councilwoman Ziamba.

1:36

Here.

1:37

Mayor Turner.

1:38

Deputy Mayor Flynn.

1:40

Here.

1:40

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

1:44

Uh Bernie, will you please confirm that the agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda?

1:50

It is.

1:51

All right.

1:52

All right, we've got that.

1:53

We've got going good.

1:55

All right.

1:56

That being the case, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us.

2:00

Uh the first item this evening under floor discussion is um a swearing-in of Woodstock police officers.

2:06

If we could have the chief take the podium, please.

2:10

Just a few words, uh, Deputy Mayor.

2:12

Thank you.

2:12

Number one, thank you for allowing us to do this in this forum.

2:16

Um this is a big deal.

2:20

Um for everyone who's wear wearing a uniform tonight, and especially for our two officers this evening.

2:28

They have had to prove themselves over and over and over again, similar to Groundhog Day.

2:34

Every day.

2:35

Um they had through their application process, they had to prove themselves to the BOPC that they had the potential to become police officers.

2:46

Once they were selected and hired, they went down to the academy and went through four months of rigorous training to reach graduation and then become certified law enforcement officers.

2:58

But it didn't end there.

3:00

Once they came back to Woodstock, they had to go through 90 train working days of field training process with the field training cadre under the tutelage of uh Sarn Copola.

3:14

That's not easy getting to this day for these officers.

3:19

So again, it is a benchmark moment going from field training into solo patrol as part of their police career.

3:30

So we again we we look at this time in someone's career as that that upward trajectory of wherever they plan on taking their career.

3:43

Another thing that you have heard me say time and time again is this is all about families.

3:50

Um tonight we're welcome, we're we're recognizing them for their achievements, showing that they've got the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do this job, but they're swearing that oath yet again in front of families, not only the Woodstock police family, but also their biological families.

4:13

And tonight it goes a little bit further.

4:16

You're going to see that the individuals who pin their badges onto their uh chests are also law enforcement here in McHenry County, whether it's a deputy chief for Lake in the Hills or uh a stepfather for from Lake and Deputy Chief for Lake in the Hills, and or a brother who works for the County Sheriff's Office.

4:38

So with that, I'd like to turn the floor over to Mr.

4:42

Giordano.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████████31%
Public Works███████████████████████23%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%
Active Transportation█████████9%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting - May 20, 2025

The Woodstock City Council met on May 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. with six of seven members present. The meeting included the swearing-in of two police officers, a proclamation for National Public Works Week, public comment on a bike rack proposal, council announcements, and approval of a consent agenda containing multiple routine items and contracts.

Swearing-in of Police Officers

  • Officer Alex McKinney and Officer Anacaren Carbajal Bernal were sworn in after completing field training. Police Chief thanked the officers and their families, noting the rigorous training process including four months at the academy and 90 training days. The officers were pinned by family members who are also law enforcement officers.

Proclamation: National Public Works Week

  • Mayor Turner read a proclamation designating the week of May 18–24, 2025 as National Public Works Week, with the theme "People, Purpose, Presence." Director Amons accepted the proclamation and thanked the council for recognizing the essential role of public works.

Public Comments

  • Mercedes Matthews, representing Warp Core on the square, requested a bike rack be installed near Warp Core and Millie's to accommodate youth who ride bikes to the area. She cited safety and promotion of healthy transportation. The city manager indicated the request would be taken under advisement.

Council Comments & Announcements

  • Mayor Turner welcomed new Marketing Communications Manager Colleen Rogalski and new attorney TJ Clifton.
  • Councilwoman McMahon reported on a tour of the Groot recycling facility in Elk Grove Village, emphasizing that plastic grocery bags should not be placed in recycling bins and that pizza boxes are recyclable.
  • Several council members praised the Public Works Department for recent improvements to the square, including flower baskets.
  • Councilman Hansen invited council members to a ribbon cutting for the Woodstock Pride community space on June 3 before the proclamation.
  • Mayor Turner added a future discussion item on reinstituting the cost-sharing sidewalk program.

Consent Agenda Discussion

Items A through D7 were considered as a consent agenda. Several council members requested discussion on specific items:

  • Item D1 (Antioch Pizza liquor license): Councilwoman McMahon asked whether Antioch Pizza intended to add video gaming. Staff responded that they are still debating and would need to return to council if they decide to pursue gaming. For the Quality Inn & Suites license (Item D2), the applicant plans to file for video gaming.
  • Items D4 and D5 (Sound system upgrades for the square): Councilman Seegers and Nearman praised staff for canceling a prior agreement with Professional Audio Designs and contracting directly with Thompson Electronics for $69,351.82, saving an estimated $23,000. Councilman Nearman noted the system may be more user-friendly. Councilwoman McMahon added that the square's current sound system was inadequate during Groundhog Day, making speeches inaudible. Staff clarified the system is initially for the bandstand but can be expanded.
  • Other consent items passed without separate discussion: acceptance of minutes, warrants, various commission minutes, Police Department monthly report, Motor Fuel Tax appropriation ($1,035,000), dissolution of audio design agreement, landfill monitoring agreement with GHD Services ($56,000), and engineering services for aeration tank improvements at the North Wastewater Treatment Plant ($129,691).

Key Outcomes

  • The consent agenda (Items A through D7) was approved unanimously by all six voting members present.
  • The next meeting was scheduled for June 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
  • The meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Uh welcome to this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council. Before we get started, I have a few brief announcements. Uh first off, I'd like to say that the overwhelming attendance this evening is because of my guest starring in the role of mayor, but uh I understand there's something much more important going on. So um the few agenda uh agendas are uh will be shown on the screens around the room. Uh the City of Woodstock operates under what is known as a consent format, which means all items for action this evening will be considered under a single motion and single vote. Um if a council member would like to have an item removed and separately considered and voted upon, they may make that request, and the item will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered under a separate vote. If a member member of the public would like to have an item removed and separately considered and voted upon, they may make that request, and if agreed by a member of council, um it will be considered on removed and considered under separate vote. There will be two opportunities for public comment. Uh one at the start of the meeting under floor discussion. Members of the public may come to the podium in the center of the room, state their name and address for the record if they are comfortable doing so and comment on items not on this evening's agenda. Uh the second time is um when we are proposing items for action. Uh members of the public will have the opportunity to make comments on those items prior to a vote. Any questions on those items before we get started this evening? Wonderful. Hearing none, there we go. Um at this time, I would like to call this May 20th, 2025 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order and ask the clerk to please call the roll. Okay, Councilman Hansen. Here. Councilwoman McMahon. Here. Councilman Nearman. Here. Councilman Seegers. Here. Councilwoman Ziamba. Here. Mayor Turner. Deputy Mayor Flynn. Here. Let the record reflect that six of the seven members of the Woodstock City Council are present this evening. Uh Bernie, will you please confirm that the agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda? It is. All right. All right, we've got that. We've got going good. All right. That being the case, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us. Uh the first item this evening under floor discussion is um a swearing-in of Woodstock police officers. If we could have the chief take the podium, please. Just a few words, uh, Deputy Mayor. Thank you. Number one, thank you for allowing us to do this in this forum. Um this is a big deal. Um for everyone who's wear wearing a uniform tonight, and especially for our two officers this evening. They have had to prove themselves over and over and over again, similar to Groundhog Day. Every day. Um they had through their application process, they had to prove themselves to the BOPC that they had the potential to become police officers. Once they were selected and hired, they went down to the academy and went through four months of rigorous training to reach graduation and then become certified law enforcement officers. But it didn't end there.

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