Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

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

That clock over there is like a minute minute slow, so just if you think I'm jumping the gun, it actually says 7 o'clock on my uh on my computer.

So it's time for us to get started with this evening's meeting.

A few brief announcements before we get started, a reminder that the meeting is being live streamed and recorded and saved out on the city's uh website.

City Woodstock operates under a consent format.

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

Um if a member of council wishes to have an item uh removed for separate consideration and voting, they may request to do so and that item will be removed for a separate discussion and vote.

A member of the public can request an item to be removed for separate consideration and voting as well.

And if agreed to by a member of the West City Council, that item also will be removed for separate consideration and voting.

Uh there are two opportunities this evening for public comment.

The first being at the start of the meeting, members of the public may come forward under floor discussion, public comment to the podium in the center of the room.

If you're willing to do so, state your name and address for purpose of the record.

Feel free to make your comments to the Woodstock City Council on any items not on this evening's agenda.

Second opportunity for public comment will be when we consider items for action this evening.

Are there any questions on those brief announcements?

All right, hearing none, I will go ahead and officially call to order this June 3rd, 2025 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order.

Please ask Jane to call the roll.

Councilman Flynn.

Here.

Councilman Hansen.

Here.

Councilwoman McMahon.

Here.

Councilman Yearman?

Here.

Councilman Seegers?

Here.

Councilwoman Zemba.

Here.

Near term.

Here.

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

Jane, I'll ask you to 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 of the council, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us.

First item on this evening's agenda is floor discussion.

And under floor discussion, the first item that we have this evening is a pride proclamation.

Council without objection.

Yes, very well.

At this time, I would like to invite the members of the Woodstock Pride Board to join me on the at the podium on the side here.

So the City of Woodstock has a very long tradition.

Long and as it relates to providing formal formal recognition support for a city pride fest and also making a proclamation.

I think that Melissa Help, how many years is this?

Seven, seven years.

So it's a tradition that was uh started by the prior mayor, uh Brian Sauger, and one that uh I wholeheartedly wholeheartedly uh endorse.

Um this is an important recognition of members of our community, um and a way that the city of Woodstock um continues the tradition of being an inviting place, a place where we accept a recognition of human values, a recognition of you know the simple concept of loving thy neighbor and having respect for others.

And that's how I view our support uh for the efforts of Woodstock Pride, and it's um it's my honor to be able to read this uh this proclamation.

Proclamation honoring Pride Month, 2025.

Whereas the month of June is recognized as Pride Month to commemorate the June 1969 Stonewall riots, widely acknowledged as the catalyst for the LGBTQ plus rights movement.

And whereas all people are born free and equal and in dignity and rights, LGBTQ plus individuals have made a measurable contributions to the cultural, civic, and economic success of our community, our state, and our nation, serving honorably and with distinction in the federal state, in federal, state, and local governments, as well as in the United States armed forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.

And whereas the City of Woodstock strives to be a model community for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion for every individual, regardless of age, gender identity, race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, or ability.

And whereas Woodstock is proud to support the rights, dignity, and equality of LGBTQ plus individuals and encourages participation in Woodstock's Pride Woodstock Prize annual Pride Fest, taking place June 13th through 15th, 2025.

And whereas this year marks a historic milestone as Woodstock Pride brings the internationally renowned names project AIDS Memorial Quilt to McHenry County for the first time, offering the community a powerful opportunity to reflect, remember, and engage with the world's largest community art project, which began in 1987 to honor lives lost to the HIV AIDS epidemic and continues to inspire compassion, education, and advocacy.

And whereas it is essential that young people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender gender identity, feel safe, supported, and empowered by their peers, educators, and community leaders.

And whereas Woodstock honors the courage, resilience, and achievements of the LGBTQ community and recognizes their continued efforts to live freely, authentically, and with pride, often in the face of adversity.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the City of Woodstock, by the City Council of the City of Woodstock, Illinois, that the month of June 2025 is officially recognized as Pride Month.

The celebration and support of the LGBTQ community, approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Woodstock, McHenry County, Illinois, this third day of June 2025.

On behalf of the city, I'd like to present this to you all and thank you for your efforts.