Woodstock City Council Meeting - November 18, 2025
Woodstock City Council Meeting
November 18, 2025 | 7:00 PM
The Woodstock City Council met on November 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included employee service awards, presentations on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) update and the FY24/25 audit, public comment, and discussions on the 50/50 sidewalk replacement program and the 2026 Art Fair contract renewal. The consent calendar was approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
The following items were approved via a single motion without separate discussion:
- Approval of November 4, 2025 City Council minutes
- Approval of warrants #4172 and #4173
- Acceptance of minutes from the Plan Commission (October 16), Library Board (October 9), and Opera House Advisory Commission (August 19, September 16, October 21)
- Adoption of Manager's Report No. 282 items:
- Ordinance amending City Code Title 6, Chapter 2, Section 6.2.6 (O) regarding signage in city parks
- Resolution authorizing the purchase of one 2025 Ford F600 4x4 Versalift VST-40-MHI bucket truck from Custom Truck One Source for $192,500 (budgeted at $205,000)
- Resolution authorizing liquid alum purchase from Affinity Chemical at $439 per ton for calendar year 2026
- Resolution approving Amendment #1 to the Temporary Pump and Haul Agreement for Riverwoods Subdivision
- Resolution of support for the FY2026 Community Development Block Grant application requesting $1,225,000 with a 10% city match ($122,500) for water softener rehabilitation
- Appointment of a member to the Cultural & Social Awareness Commission
Public Comments & Testimony
- Karen Hoig, Secretary of the Woodstock Food Pantry, provided an update on the pantry's progress. She reported that demand had grown by 119% over the last five months, driven in part by SNAP changes. The pantry is moving from a 1,500 sq ft space in Door Township to a 6,500 sq ft building at 708 Washington Street (former Easter Seals/Independence Health & Therapy building). The pantry launched a $1.25 million capital campaign to cover the purchase, repairs, and renovations; they have reached 60% of their goal and expect to close on the building this week. The tentative move-in date is fall 2026. Several council members expressed support and suggested using local media and social media to promote the remaining need.
Discussion Items
Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Update
Gabby Hart (Clarion Associates) and Leslie Oberholzer (Codometrics) presented the findings of the UDO assessment. The project aims to implement the comprehensive plan, modernize development regulations, improve user-friendliness, and simplify procedures. Key elements include:
- Replacing current zoning overlays with building-type-based regulations
- Shifting from subjective to objective design standards
- Streamlining approval processes to favor by-right approvals
- Updating allowed uses and creating standards for accessory/temporary uses
- Incorporating development standards (parking, lighting, site layout) currently in separate review guidelines
Council members provided feedback:
- Councilman Bob Flynn expressed strong opposition to proposed mandatory requirements for electric vehicle charging stations and bicycle parking, calling them anti-business and anti-growth. He also cautioned against creating legal nonconforming parcels as zoning changes are implemented.
- Councilman Tom Hansen supported simplification to reduce staff workload and conditional uses.
- Councilwoman Teresa Zamba asked about commission involvement (Plan Commission, Historic Preservation, Environmental Commission) and whether zoning changes would disrupt the community's continuity. Presenters confirmed commissions will be consulted and that new zoning follows the comprehensive plan to minimize disruption.
- Councilman Greg Nearman questioned review cycles; presenters recommended a review every five years and a major rewrite every 10–15 years.
- Mayor Turner emphasized maintaining a balance between objectivity and the council’s ability to consider atypical proposals. He agreed with Flynn on EV chargers but supported future-proofing (conduit installation). He stressed the ordinance must be an economic development initiative, not just a zoning exercise.
The presentation concluded with questions for council on desired outcomes and public engagement strategies.
FY24/25 Audit Presentation
Kellen O'Malley (Sikich) presented the annual audit. Key findings:
- Unmodified opinion (highest level of assurance) on the financial statements
- Governmental activities net position increased by $5,045,000 for fiscal year ending April 30, 2025
- General fund unassigned fund balance: $8.1 million (91% of expenditures, ~11 months reserve)
- Capital improvements fund ending balance: $9.0 million
- Water fund operating income: $531,000; net position increase: $360,000
- Police pension trust fund: $2.2 million in contributions, $2.9 million investment income, $3.0 million increase
- IMRF net pension liability: approximately $4.9 million (91.98% funded)
- Police pension net pension liability: $16.2 million (68% funded, up from 49% in 2016)
- No new recommendations for improvement; two prior-year comments remain open (segregation of duties over payroll user access and proposed audit adjustments). City staff are working on solutions.
Council praised the clean report but encouraged continued progress on the outstanding items. Councilman Darren Siegers suggested adding staff if necessary to improve processes. The city accepted the report.
50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Program
The council discussed reviving a cost-sharing program for sidewalk repairs and new installations. Points raised:
- Current annual maintenance budget is $50,000 (plus $100,000 dedicated to downtown). Concrete costs have nearly doubled in five years and may rise another 10%.
- Prevailing wage requirements apply when city funds are used, potentially negating the benefit of cost-sharing unless homeowners pay 100% and donate the work.
- Several council members preferred shifting focus from general 50/50 replacement to targeted connectivity improvements (e.g., missing sidewalk segments, park access, high-traffic routes).
- Ideas included waiving permit fees for homeowners who install new sidewalks to improve connectivity, offering a 75/25 split for new sections, and exploring mudjacking as a low-cost alternative.
- Council directed staff to develop a targeted area plan (based on walkability and connectivity), investigate cost differences between prevailing wage and private work, and consider increasing the sidewalk budget to $75,000–$100,000. A formal program could roll out in spring/summer 2026.
Art Fair 2026 Contract Renewal
Council debated renewing the contract with Amdur Productions for the Woodstock Art Fair, which has run for two years (both hampered by bad weather). Key points:
- 2025 fair had 43 artists (6 from Woodstock); one report showed artist sales were poor. Booth fees are $495, which some local artists consider too high (two Woodstock artists will not return).
- City contributes $8,500 cash plus in-kind services (police, public works, barricades). Amdur also receives all booth fees.
- Council members Greg Nearman and Natalie Zamba argued for not renewing, citing poor return on investment, lack of local benefit (no purchase awards, low local artist participation), and that other suburbs have dropped Amdur. Tom Hansen and Mayor Turner favored one more year to build momentum, with negotiations to reduce the city subsidy to ~$6,000 and offer discounted local artist booth fees ($250).
- A split vote occurred: Councilman Siegers, Councilman Hansen, and Mayor Turner supported option 2 (negotiate and extend one year); Councilman Nearman and Councilwoman Zamba supported option 3 (do not renew); Councilman Flynn was undecided. No formal motion was made.
- Mayor Turner will contact local arts organizations (Art for Woodstock, the Arts Commission) for input and bring the item back to the December 2, 2025 meeting if needed.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
- UDO Update: Council feedback provided; staff and consultants will incorporate input and proceed with drafting.
- Audit Report: Accepted; staff to address outstanding internal control recommendations.
- Sidewalk Program: Staff to develop a targeted connectivity-focused plan with budget increase, exploration of 75/25 cost sharing for new sections, and mudjacking options. Program expected to launch in spring 2026.
- Art Fair: No final decision; mayor to gather input from local arts groups and reconsider at the December 2, 2025 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
He's got his husband. Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to welcome you to this evening's meeting of the uh Woodstock City Council on this miserable November evening. Did you say hey now? Well, we can debate that later. We'll add it to the agenda. A few brief announcements before we get started. The uh city council uh agenda will appear on the screens in the room this evening. Uh 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 or single vote. If a member if a member of City Council wishes to have an item separately considered, they may ask for it to be removed and it will be separately considered and voted upon. If a member of the public wishes to have an item separately considered as well and voted upon, they may make that request and have agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council. That item as well will be removed and considered uh separate in a separate motion and a separate vote. Uh there's two opportunities for public comment this evening. First being under floor discussion at the start of the meeting. Members of the public may come forward to the podium in the middle of the room 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 on any items and not on this evening's agenda. Second opportunity for public comment will be when we have items for action. Uh members of the public have an opportunity to provide comment to city council at that time. Any questions on those announcements before we get started? All right, hearing none, uh I'll officially call to order this November 18th meeting of the Woodstock City Council and ask uh Jane to please call the roll. Councilman Flynn. Here. Councilman Hansen. Here. Councilwoman McMahon. Councilman Nearman. Here. Counselman Siegers. Here. Councilwoman Zamba. Here. Mayor Turner. Here. Let the record reflect that six of the seven members of the Woodstock City Council are present in chambers this evening. Jane, can you please confirm that the agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda? Yes, it is. All right, thank you, Jane. That being the case, ladies and gentlemen of the council, people's business is duly and appropriately before us. First item this evening is floor discussion and under floor discussion. I have the great honor on behalf of the city council and and the city's senior staff to provide recognition uh service awards to our employees. Uh this is always a great event uh for me personally to be able to recognize uh members of the uh city staff who've been with the city in different uh five-year increments. Uh we'll work our way from the five-year award all the way up to uh the most senior award that we have this evening. Um the role that the city staff play, I mean, we make decisions up here, um, but the folks who have to execute on things we do and on the day-to-day things that the city is responsible for. And being in public service is not easy. Um those of us that get elected and do it learn that very quickly, that you know what you all have to do every day uh is number one vitally important to the city. Number two, it comes with a great deal of scrutiny uh from the public, and not that's not always a comfortable place to be. It's the nature of public service. Um but at times that's become increasingly difficult. So it is it's important that you know that for for me and for the entire city council. We we value the work that you do and the work that the things that we've achieved as a city, the things that we maintain as as our as a city uh have been you know are vitally important.
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