Woodstock City Council Meeting - August 5, 2025
Woodstock City Council Meeting - August 5, 2025
The Woodstock City Council held a regular meeting on August 5, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting included a public hearing on the Riverwoods Annexation Agreement amendment, public comments regarding the closure of Hearthstone Manor and a library access issue, approval of the consent calendar, a presentation on fourth-quarter financial reports for FY 2024/2025, an executive session for the City Manager's performance evaluation, and discussion of future agenda items.
Public Hearing – Riverwoods Annexation Agreement Amendment
- Mayor opened the public hearing for the Riverwoods Annexation Agreement amendment. No members of the public came forward to comment. The hearing was closed unanimously via roll call vote (all 7 present voting yes).
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously: The consent calendar included acceptance of the July 15, 2025 City Council minutes; warrants #4157, #4158, #4159; Police Pension Board minutes (July 7, 2025); Woodstock Opera House Advisory Commission minutes (June 17, 2025); Woodstock Public Library Board of Trustees minutes (June 12, 2025); and Manager’s Report No. 275 (Ordinance for IGA with Metra for warming station). Councilman Flynn moved approval, seconded by Councilwoman McMahon; all members voted yes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lou Ness (466 West Jackson, Woodstock): Expressed anger and frustration over the impending closure of Hearthstone Manor, a skilled nursing facility that has served the community for 122 years. She noted that despite previous efforts two years ago to investigate poor conditions, the facility was sold and now faces foreclosure, leaving 45 residents needing placement by the end of September. Ness criticized the lack of local oversight and urged the council to use its influence to help residents and call attention to the issue. Council members Natalie Ziemba and Greg (unclear last name) committed to leveraging state contacts and following protocols to assist.
- Dan Smith (Woodstock resident): Asked for help appealing a ban from the Woodstock Public Library, stating he was ejected for asking two questions and was told his affect (nervousness) was the reason. City Manager Roscoe Stelford advised him to contact his office by email to set up an appointment to discuss the situation with the library director.
Discussion Items
- Council Comments: Councilwoman McMahon commended the Woodstock Fire and Rescue Department for offering affordable CPR and first aid certification classes. Councilman Nearman thanked the marketing department for posting the council packet link on social media. Councilman Flynn and others praised the Recreation Department for the successful setup of the Dean Street facility and the pool at the American Hotel, noting the temporary space looked well-presented.
- Transmittal of FY 2024/2025 Fourth Quarter Financial Reports: Paul (finance) presented highlights. Sales tax ended at 107% of budget for regular and 105% for home rule; income tax exceeded budget by $257,000 (105.9%); replacement and use tax was down $675,000 due to a state miscalculation. Building department revenue had a reporting error due to misallocating impact fees. The city maintained its AA bond rating from S&P. Opera House performing arts revenue was significantly below budget (about 25% variance), attributed to extended construction closure during the holiday peak season. Council members discussed the need for further analysis of opera house revenue drivers and noted new leadership offers a fresh start.
- Executive Session: The council voted unanimously to enter executive session at 7:42 p.m. for the purpose of discussing personnel (City Manager’s performance evaluation) under the Open Meetings Act. The council reconvened in open session at 10:11 p.m.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance Amendment – Riverwoods Annexation Agreement: Approved unanimously (7-0) to amend the annexation agreement to allow three-car garages in the Riverwoods Subdivision (west of Doty Road, north of Lucas Road).
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
- Executive Session: Conducted; no action reported from the closed session.
- Future Agenda Items: The next regular meeting is scheduled for August 19, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. (noted that Mayor and Councilwoman McMahon may be absent); September 2, 2025 meeting was also noted.
- Direction: Staff were asked to investigate reasons for opera house revenue shortfall; council members committed to assist residents affected by Hearthstone Manor closure through state contacts.
Meeting Transcript
All right, 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 this evening. First being that the agenda for this evening will be displayed on the screens in the in the room. The uh Woodstock City Council meetings are streamed and saved out on our website. Um we operate under what's called a consent format. Consent format means that all items for action this evening will be considered in a single motion and a single vote. A member of the council may uh request to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, and it will be voted upon separately. Members of public may request an item to be removed, and if it was if it is agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, then that item as well will be removed and separately considered and voted upon. There is an item for action this evening outside of the consent calendar, which is under the public hearing at the start of the meeting, which is unusual, but does occur, and so not all items are in the consent calendar this evening for act uh for items for action. Uh there's two opportunities for public comment. First being at the start of the meeting, under floor discussion, public comment. Members of the uh public are will have the opportunity to come forward to the podium in the middle of the room. If you're willing to do so, state your name and address for purpose of the record. Feel free to make comments to the Woodstock City Council on any items not on this evening's agenda. Second opportunity for public comment will be when uh the city council is taking uh input on items for action. Any questions on those announcements before we get started? All right. Hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order this August 5th, 2025 meeting, the Woodstock City Council to order and ask the clerk, Jane, please to call the roll. Please call the roll. Councilman Flynn. Here. Councilman Hansen? Here. Councilwoman McMahon. Here. Councilman Nearman? Here. Councilman Seegers? Here. Councilwoman Ziemba? Here. Mayor Turner. Here. Record let the record reflect that all members of the Woodstock City Council are present in chambers this evening. 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 of the council, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us. First item on the agenda this evening is floor discussion, and under floor discussion, we have a public hearing. Public hearing for the Riverwoods Annexation Agreement. At this time, I will open the public meeting and invite any members of the public who wish to come forward to the podium in the middle of the room. Feel free to make comments under this public hearing on the Riverwoods Annexation Agreement amendment. Second opportunity, members of the public to come forward under the public hearing for the Riverwoods Annexation Agreement amendment. Third and final opportunity, members of the public to come forward and make comments under this public hearing. Hearing no requests from members of the public to make comments under the public hearing. A motion to close the public hearing would be in order. So moved. A motion by Councilman Flynn, is there a second? Second.
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