OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting: December 2, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, December 2, 2025
BodyWoodstock, Illinois
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 49:14

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:02

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

0:06

A few brief announcements before we get site uh started.

0:09

A reminder that the agenda will be displayed on the screens uh in the meeting.

0:13

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

0:17

Consent format means that all items for action this evening will be considered in a single motion, a single vote.

0:23

If a member of council wishes to have an item separately uh considered and vote upon, they may make that request and it will be removed from the consent calendar for separate consideration.

0:32

If a member of the public member of the public wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, that uh member of the public may make that request, and if agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, that item as well will be removed for separate consideration and voting.

0:47

A reminder that the uh uh meeting is being uh recorded and is uh live streamed and uh saved out on the city website.

0:55

There are two opportunities for public comment this evening.

0:58

First being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion, there's an opportunity for members of the public to come forward to the podium in the middle of the room.

1:05

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

1:09

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

1:14

And then when we have items for action, we will have an opportunity for public uh comment as well.

1:20

Any questions on those announcements before we begin?

1:24

Hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order this December 2nd meet uh 200 uh 2025 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order and ask Jane to please call the roll.

1:34

Councilman Flynn.

1:36

Here.

1:36

Councilman Hansen.

1:38

Here.

1:38

Councilwoman McMahon.

1:39

Here.

1:39

Councilman Nearman.

1:40

Here.

1:41

Councilman Seegers.

1:42

Here.

1:42

Councilwoman Ziemba.

1:43

Here.

1:44

Mayor Turner.

1:44

Here.

1:45

The record reflect all members of the Woodstock City Council are present in chambers this evening.

1:49

Jane, would you please confirm that the agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda?

1:55

Yes, it is.

1:56

Great.

1:56

Thank you, Jane.

1:57

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

2:02

First item under uh under our agenda this evening is floor discussion.

2:07

And unless there's an objection by council, I'm going to um have uh a item inserted into floor discussion, which is a continuation of the employee service awards from our last meeting.

2:18

Uh there were no objections, I assume, council.

2:21

There were three individuals who uh were not able to make the last meeting because they were dealing with a rather substantial serious but now corrected and fixed issue uh with a water main break.

2:34

And so it was very appropriate for them not to be at the meeting, and it is very appropriate for us at this meeting to recognize them.

2:41

So when I call them up, I'd like them to uh come up to be recognized on their uh on their service award.

2:47

So give me just a moment.

2:49

Um, first uh first two folks I'm gonna call up.

2:59

First, Alex Martinson, uh water sewer maintenance and public works.

3:03

Alex, on give them a round of applause.

3:14

Uh and next for the five-year award is uh Gavin Butenshain, water and sewer maintenance public works as well.

3:26

So this one is really really interesting for me because I knew Gavin when Gavin was very young, which just makes me very, very old.

3:35

Uh Gavin grew up in my neighborhood and I know his older brother and sisters.

3:39

So I want to thank you both for uh your years of service, but also for work that you were doing that particular night.

3:44

So uh and I know that that was uh a very uh complex and uh big job.

3:51

So thank you again.

3:52

Quick picture.

3:58

All right, thank you both.

4:04

And then next up um tenure service award for uh Bryant Williams, also water treatment public works, Brian.

4:16

Thanks, sir.

4:16

Congratulations.

4:17

Thanks for your 10 years.

4:18

Thanks for what you're doing.

4:25

All right, thanks again.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works██████████████████████████26%
Environmental Protection███████████████████████23%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Personnel Matters███████7%
Economic Development███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Woodstock City Council Meeting – December 2, 2025

The Woodstock City Council met on December 2, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting included employee service awards, public comments on a proposed city ordinance and construction issues, a consent agenda with unanimous approval of routine items, and detailed discussion on environmental remediation costs for a city-owned property. The council affirmed the consent calendar and addressed future agenda items before adjourning.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the November 18, 2025 City Council minutes.
  • Approved warrants #4174 and #4175.
  • Accepted minutes from the Historic Preservation Commission (October 20, 2025) and Parks and Recreation Commission (November 11, 2025).
  • Approved Manager’s Report No. 283, which included:
    • Ordinance for the 2025 Property Tax Levy of $10,477,302 (excluding debt service levies) for various funds to support the FY26/27 budget.
    • Ordinance revoking a prior redevelopment agreement and approving an amended and restated Redevelopment Agreement with KEBB CS-WK, LLC for the downtown hotel project on city-owned property at Calhoun and Jefferson Streets.
    • Resolution authorizing a professional services agreement supplement with GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. for environmental remediation at 311 Lake Avenue at a cost not to exceed $39,500.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Grant Talibi (Woodstock resident and attorney): Presented a petition signed during a two-week passive drive on the town square, requesting a Woodstock ordinance prohibiting civil immigration enforcement and staging in city-owned spaces. He argued the ordinance would protect safety, privacy, dignity, and trust between local government and the community, and that it would uphold the Illinois Trust Act. He urged council to consider the economic impacts of ICE raids.
  • Zach Reimer (Castleshire area resident): Expressed frustration with the recent construction on Borden and Castle Shire roads, citing safety hazards (lack of flaggers, large equipment parked in entrances), inconsistent schedules, and poor communication. He appreciated the road improvements but urged better contractor oversight and staggered road projects. He also questioned the approval process for a halfway house on Jackson near Borden, noting a canceled zoning meeting and lack of opportunity for residents to ask questions about vetting and location. He requested follow-up information from city staff.

Discussion Items

  • Employee Service Awards: The council recognized three public works employees (Alex Martinson, 5 years; Gavin Butenshain, 5 years; Bryant Williams, 10 years) who missed the previous meeting due to a water main break. Mayor Turner praised their dedication.
  • Council Comments: Council members thanked public works for snow removal during the first snowfall and for their participation in the Christmas parade. They also praised the holiday lighting event and the new sound system. The mayor announced a ceremonial wall-breaking at the Recreation Center (renovation starts Monday, with a target of 90-95% complete by November 30, 2026). Additionally, Guardian Electric received a $50,000 grant from IMEC for manufacturing improvements.
  • Manager’s Report Item D3 – Environmental Remediation at 311 Lake Avenue: Councilmember Bob questioned the cumulative cost and value of the property, expressing concern about spending additional $39,500 (total first contract ~$36,000) on a parcel purchased via quick take for a roundabout. City Manager Roscoe Stelford explained that the site was enrolled in the LUST (Leaking Underground Storage Tank) fund to seek reimbursement from the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, with a $10,000 deductible and potential recovery of most consultant costs. The EPA originally requested 18 borings but was negotiated down to 8. Councilmember Tom suggested leaving the building (no utilities) for cold storage and applying a mural, rather than demolition and paving. Discussion also addressed potential liability for contamination beyond the property line. Council directed staff to minimize costs, maximize utility, and limit risk, with continued step-by-step reimbursement from the LUST fund.

Key Outcomes

  • The consent calendar (all items A through D3) was affirmed unanimously by roll call vote (7-0).
  • Council directed staff to continue environmental remediation at 311 Lake Avenue with an eye to reimbursement, cost control, and potential reuse of the building for storage.
  • A follow-up was promised to resident Zach Reimer regarding the halfway house approval process.
  • Future agenda items for December 16, 2025 (12 items) were reviewed; council requested early materials to facilitate review during the holiday season.
  • Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m. with a motion (Flynn/McMahon) passed by voice vote.

Note: Meeting minutes from this session were not provided in the source materials.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to welcome you to this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council. A few brief announcements before we get site uh started. A reminder that the agenda will be displayed on the screens uh in the meeting. Um the City of Woodstock uh operates under what's called a consent format. Consent format means that all items for action this evening will be considered in a single motion, a single vote. If a member of council wishes to have an item separately uh considered and vote upon, they may make that request and it will be removed from the consent calendar for separate consideration. If a member of the public member of the public wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, that uh member of the public may make that request, and if agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, that item as well will be removed for separate consideration and voting. A reminder that the uh uh meeting is being uh recorded and is uh live streamed and uh saved out on the city website. There are two opportunities for public comment this evening. First being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion, there's an opportunity for members of the public 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 free to make comments to the Woodstock City Council on any item not on this evening's agenda. And then when we have items for action, we will have an opportunity for public uh comment as well. Any questions on those announcements before we begin? Hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order this December 2nd meet uh 200 uh 2025 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order and ask Jane to 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. The record reflect 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. Great. 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 under uh under our agenda this evening is floor discussion. And unless there's an objection by council, I'm going to um have uh a item inserted into floor discussion, which is a continuation of the employee service awards from our last meeting. Uh there were no objections, I assume, council. There were three individuals who uh were not able to make the last meeting because they were dealing with a rather substantial serious but now corrected and fixed issue uh with a water main break. And so it was very appropriate for them not to be at the meeting, and it is very appropriate for us at this meeting to recognize them. So when I call them up, I'd like them to uh come up to be recognized on their uh on their service award. So give me just a moment. Um, first uh first two folks I'm gonna call up. First, Alex Martinson, uh water sewer maintenance and public works. Alex, on give them a round of applause. Uh and next for the five-year award is uh Gavin Butenshain, water and sewer maintenance public works as well. So this one is really really interesting for me because I knew Gavin when Gavin was very young, which just makes me very, very old. Uh Gavin grew up in my neighborhood and I know his older brother and sisters. So I want to thank you both for uh your years of service, but also for work that you were doing that particular night.

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