Woodstock City Council Meeting – April 7, 2026

The Woodstock City Council met on April 7, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers with all seven council members present. The agenda included a public hearing on the proposed FY26/27 budget, a Diversity Month proclamation, a design presentation for the Stage Left renovation, public comments, a consent calendar, a separately considered legal action item, and transmittal of third-quarter financial reports. The meeting was livestreamed and recorded on the city website.

Public Hearing – FY26/27 Budget

• Mayor Turner opened the public hearing for comments on the FY26/27 annual budget.
• One resident used the hearing to deliver unrelated remarks about war, referencing 1984 and stating, in part, that fake wars make fake warriors. No budget-specific testimony was offered.
• The public hearing was closed by voice vote.

Proclamation – Diversity Month

• Mayor Turner read and presented a proclamation designating April 2026 as Diversity Month in Woodstock.
• The proclamation recognized the Cultural and Social Awareness Commission and committed the city to an inclusive, equitable, and respectful community. Anthony Alfaro accepted the proclamation on behalf of the commission.

Stage Left Renovation – Design Progress and Consultant Presentation

• Mercedes Miley, president and director of FAR Associates, presented the design progress for the Stage Left renovation.
• The project is funded by a $1 million state grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
• The proposed design flips the room layout: audience seating would be near the front entrance and the stage would move to the back of the space.
• The bar would be relocated into the Opera House proper, with accessible service access and a window for Stage Left patrons.
• Other proposals include adjustable stage risers to allow flat-floor events, stackable chairs and lighter cabaret tables for faster room turnover, flexible lighting for day and evening uses, and neutral finishes that can serve many event types.
• The design addresses the existing elevation difference between the Opera House and Stage Left, including relocating ramps. Some second-floor green room space would be reduced to accommodate the new stage.
• An acoustic consultant is working on sound issues, including pipe noise from the Opera House bathrooms.
• Timeline: the kickoff was December 17, 2025; bidding and permitting submission was expected as early as the Friday after the meeting; full construction could take a couple of months, with bathrooms included as a deduct alternate.
• Council members asked about acoustics, stage finishes, accessible chair heights, staffing needs, and future rental rates. Mayor Turner praised the plan and noted that the Opera House and Stage Left are economic generators for downtown Woodstock.

Public Comments and Testimony

• Cecilia Carmen, chair of the waste reduction team for Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, announced International Compost Awareness Week on May 2 at Kishwaukee Brewery and described a food scrap drop-off program at Blue Lotus. She reported that more than 1,000 pounds of food waste were collected in the first three months and more than 6,000 pounds were collected over one year. She asked the city to help promote the program through newsletters, websites, or utility mailings.
• Rob Muter, executive director and founder of Warp Corps, thanked the city for allowing the organization to use the train station depot for street outreach. He provided service statistics: 13 employees, about $15,890 in sales taxes over two years, 490 unduplicated street outreach clients served since 2022, 301 in 2025, 240 clients receiving vital transportation services, 125 people moved to stable housing countywide, 180 families fed at the annual Thanksgiving meal, and 607 unique youth clients from Woodstock with 4,589 combined re-engagements in 2025. He asked the city for flexibility and timely code interpretation for a planned expansion at 1375 Eastwood Drive, citing a need to move quickly.
• Mayor Turner acknowledged Warp Corps’ impact and outlined the likely process, including Plan Commission review if a variance is needed.

Council Comments and Reports

• Council members reported on an advocacy trip to Springfield with lobbyist Joyce Nardoli. They met with Senate President Don Harmon and other legislative staff, focusing on Route 47, the Metro rail yard, FOIA concerns, and unfunded mandates. The mayor said virtual testimony was being scheduled around May 5–6 in support of future Huntley-to-Woodstock Route 47 funding.
• Mayor Turner reported that the Route 47 groundbreaking took place earlier that day. The project formally began April 1; Congressman Bill Foster secured a $3.15 million earmark for water and sewer costs. Construction is expected to last under three years, and the mayor urged continued support for businesses along Route 47 during construction.
• Mayor Turner also noted meeting with 14 German exchange students from D200 to discuss local government.

Consent Calendar

• The city operates under a consent format; all consent items were considered in a single motion unless removed. Item D11 was removed for separate consideration.
• The consent calendar included prior meeting minutes, warrants #4190 and #4191, commission minutes, and Manager’s Report No. 290 items covering liquor and video gaming ordinances, Riverwoods Phase 3 final plat, liquor license changes for BratHaus and Oak & Alchemy, a video gaming push tax tolling addendum, the ADA Transition Plan, an asphalt rejuvenator contract, an Opportunity Zone 2.0 nomination, TIF inducement and facade allocations for 3 Brothers Restaurant, an Opera House grant application, and legal action authority for 318 Clay Street.
• Notable consent discussion:
  • D1, video gaming cafes prohibition: staff explained a 40% video gaming revenue threshold and a two-year corrective period. Councilman Flynn questioned whether future violations should receive only a short correction period. City Attorney TJ noted existing probationary license language could be added later. Tim Shabani, owner of Sophie’s Whiskey and Wine, asked clarifying questions about the video gaming revenue threshold. Staff estimated that about three of 20–24 reviewed licensees could be in violation.
  • D2, Riverwoods final plat: Councilwoman McMahon noted a date discrepancy, and staff confirmed the correct date was March 19, 2026.
  • D6, ADA Transition Plan: Councilwoman McMahon asked about elevator signage and live captioning. Staff said the city is working toward captioning requirements and that current streaming equipment cannot yet support live captions.
  • D8, Opportunity Zone 2.0: Councilman Seegers asked why the eligible area could not be shifted; staff explained that eligible areas are based on federal census tract designations.
  • D12, facade grant for The Records Department: Councilman Seegers asked about the after-the-fact request; staff explained timing constraints with the tenant’s move-in schedule.
  • D13 and D9, 3 Brothers Restaurant: Mayor Turner voiced strong support for the $5,000 facade allocation and the TIF inducement, praising the owners’ investment in the Route 47 corridor during reconstruction.
  • Historic Preservation Commission minutes: Councilman Nearman raised concerns about the Murphy Development Group / die-cast site concept changes and the market feasibility study not yet being shared. Staff explained the project remains in a conceptual collaborative review process under the exclusive negotiating agreement, that the 100-plus-page market assessment will be shared with council, and that no approvals have been made.
• The consent calendar, excluding D11, was approved unanimously by roll call, 7–0.

D11 – 318 Clay Street / Thompson Appliance Legal Action

• Item D11 was removed from the consent calendar after a request by Robert Thompson.
• Haley Thompson, Robert Thompson’s daughter, said the building collapsed in December 2025 due to heavy snowfall, that her father lacked access for nearly a month, and that asbestos and sub-zero temperatures prevented safe winter work. She said work resumed in March and asked the council not to pursue legal action, noting the business has been family-owned for 98 years.
• Robert Thompson said the building needs to be demolished, that water service had been disconnected, and that asbestos must be kept wet during removal. He reported difficulty finding asbestos contractors and said communication with the city needed to improve.
• Mayor Turner said the collapsed building has created a public risk and blocked a city street and sidewalk for nearly five months. He stated that the city preferred cooperation over legal action.
• The council voted unanimously to postpone D11 to a time-specific agenda item at the April 21, 2026, City Council meeting to allow progress and communication.

Discussion Items – FY25/26 Third Quarter Financial Reports

• The city transmitted the third-quarter revenues and expenditures report and the third-quarter investment report.
• Staff indicated that detailed financial discussion was deferred to Budget Workshop #2, scheduled for April 8, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• The FY26/27 budget public hearing was closed.
• The consent calendar, excluding D11, was approved unanimously, 7–0.
• D11 was postponed to the April 21, 2026, council meeting.
• The third-quarter financial reports were transmitted, with detailed review deferred to the April 8 budget workshop.
• The next meeting is Budget Workshop #2 on April 8, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.; the next regular council meeting is April 21, 2026.