Woodstock City Council Special Meeting - June 30, 2026
Woodstock City Council Special Meeting - June 30, 2026
The Woodstock City Council held a special meeting on June 30, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to address time-sensitive items. The council approved a consent calendar with several routine items and resolutions, and debated a contract award for the Stage Left Renovation, which passed 5-1 after a councilmember requested separate consideration. Public comment and council discussion also focused on the need for a formal policy governing the city's newly approved Flock license plate reader system.
Consent Calendar
- ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: June 16, 2026, City Council Minutes
- WARRANTS: #4202 and #4203
- MINUTES AND REPORTS: Board of Police Commissioners Minutes June 1, 2026
- MANAGER’S REPORT NO. 296:
- Ordinance – Special Use Permit – Place of Worship at 600 Russell Court (296a)
- Resolution – Contract Award – North Wastewater Treatment Plant (NWWTP) Aeration Improvements (296c) – authorizing contracts with Joseph J. Henderson & Son, Inc. ($2,978,000) and Baxter & Woodman ($324,445)
- Professional Services Agreement – SRO Agreement with D200 (296d) – School liaison program for 2026-2027 school year
All consent calendar items were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the initial floor discussion period.
Discussion Items
- Item D2 – Stage Left Renovation Contract Award: Councilman Hansen requested removal of item D2 from the consent calendar for separate discussion. The item was a resolution authorizing a contract with Manusos General Contracting Inc. of Fox Lake, IL for construction services for the Stage Left Renovation in an amount not to exceed $1,173,744, and authorizing the City Manager to reallocate funding sources to address a $122,600 funding gap. Councilman Hansen expressed concern about the overrun, noting the city subsidizes the Opera House by approximately $750,000 annually and stating he would prefer to use grant funds or operational budget rather than CIP funds. Councilman Seegers questioned whether re-bidding could lower costs. Staff explained the original grant was submitted in 2024 and costs had risen, and that a tight timeline (substantial completion by September 15, 2026) was necessary to capitalize on the venue’s prime season. Mayor Turner and other council members supported the investment as necessary to improve the venue and generate additional revenue. Councilwoman McMahon noted that the project had been delayed multiple years and not proceeding could jeopardize the grant. Councilman Flynn moved approval. The motion passed 5-1, with Councilman Hansen voting no.
Additional Public Comment and Council Discussion – Flock Camera System Policy
- A resident addressed the council during the future agenda items portion, requesting the adoption of clear usage policies, enforcement mechanisms, and regular independent audits for the city's Flock license plate reader system. He cited misuse in a neighboring municipality and offered a template for a policy. Mayor Turner asked the resident to submit his questions in writing to be circulated to the City Manager and Police Chief. A discussion ensued, with Councilwoman McMahon expressing concern that the policy should have been in place before the vote and emphasizing the need for consequences and an audit process. Chief noted that Woodstock has had LPRs for 3-4 years and they were instrumental in solving a major case. Councilman Flynn referenced cancellation and non-appropriation clauses already in the contract. Mayor Turner directed the City Manager and Police Chief to develop a comprehensive policy covering usage, penalties, and audits, and to present it to council by the third or fourth week of July 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
- Item D2 – Stage Left Renovation: Approved by a 5-1 vote (Councilman Hansen dissenting). The contract with Manusos General Contracting Inc. is authorized at up to $1,173,744, with a funding gap of up to $122,600 to be reallocated by the City Manager.
- Flock Camera Policy: The City Manager and Police Chief were directed to draft a formal policy on the Flock system, including user accountability, penalties for misuse, and audit provisions, with a deadline of late July 2026. The contract’s existing 120-day cancellation clause and non-appropriation clause were noted.
- Next Regular Meeting: July 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to welcome you to this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council. This is a special meeting scheduled so that we could um take care of some pressing items that are time sensitive uh at staff's request. So we went ahead and scheduled this meeting on an off council uh week to uh address those items and make decisions on them. Um a few brief announcements for before we get started. Uh the agenda will be shown uh on the screens in the uh in the meeting. Uh the meeting uh uh tonight we use what's called a consent format. Consent format means that all items for action will be considered in a single motion and a single vote. If a member of the city council wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, they may make that request and it will be removed from the consent calendar. If a member of public wishes to have an item removed for separate consideration and voting, they may make that request and if agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, that item will also be removed for separate consideration and voting. There are two opportunities for public comment this evening. The first being at the start of the meeting under floor discussion public comment. 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 item not on this evening's agenda. Second item second opportunity for members of the public to make comments will be when we have items for consideration and voting. Members of the public will have an opportunity to provide input on those items. Any questions on those announcements before we get started? All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call to order this uh special meeting of the Woodstock City Council for June 30th, 2026 to order, and ask Jane to please call the roll. Councilman Flynn. Here. Councilman Hansen. Here. Councilwoman McMahon. Councilman Nearman. Councilman Seegers. Here. Councilwoman Zemba? Here. Mayor Turner. Here. The record reflect that five of the seven members of the Woodstock City Council are present. That is enough for a quorum. Uh and we are able to proceed uh with business this evening. Jane, can you please verify 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 we have on our agenda this evening is floor discussion public comment. At this time, I invite members of the public to come forward to the podium in the middle of the room. Feel free to make comments to the Woodstock City Council on any item not on this evening's agenda. Second opportunity, members of the public, to come forward under floor discussion, public comment. Third and final opportunity for members of the public to come forward under floor discussion public comment. Hearing no requests from members of the public, uh I will turn uh to the next item, which is council comments under floor discussion. Council, any question any comments you have this evening on any items not on this evening's agenda. Not for me. No. No. I mean, I was just gonna make an just recognition of that additional grant that we received. So why don't we do that? Absolutely. Why don't you do that?
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