McHenry Times

Woodstock City Council met March 20.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

A regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Brian Sager on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in the Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall. Mayor Sager welcomed those present and explained the consent calendar process and invited public participation. Mayor Sager also announced that this evening’s Council meeting and future Council meetings will be live-streamed, giving the public the opportunity to view the meetings live as they happen or in the future via the City’s website where the recordings will be archived. City Clerk Smiley confirmed the agenda before the Council was a true and correct copy of the published agenda.

A roll call was taken.

Council Members Present: Maureen Larson, Daniel Hart, Jim Prindiville, Mark Saladin, Gordon Tebo, Michael Turner, and Mayor Brian Sager.

Council Members Absent: None

Staff Present: City Manager Roscoe Stelford, City Attorney Ruth Schlossberg, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Paul Christensen, Public Works Director Jeff Van Landuyt, Opera House Director John Scharres, Economic Development Director Garrett Anderson, Building and Zoning Director Joe Napolitano, Chief John Lieb, Human Resources Director Debbie Schober, Recreation Director Dave Zinnen, Assistant Public Works Director Tom Migatz, Grants/Communications Manager Terry Willcockson, Librarian Martha Hansen, Opera House Box Office Manager Daniel Campbell, and Opera House Production Manager Joe McCormack.

Others Present: Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Chairman Ron Giordano, Transportation Commission Chairman Andrew Celentano, Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House Commission Members Donovan Day and Tom Ellinghausen, Environmental Commission members Erica Poremba, Steve Wenzel, Lauri Kacmar, and Ed Ellinghausen. Plan Commission Member Doreen Paluch, and City Clerk Cindy Smiley.

III. Floor Discussion

A. Proclamations

Retirement – John Scharres

Mayor Sager noted this evening the City is recognizing the service and accomplishments of Opera House Director John Scharres, who is retiring after 41 years of service to the community. He commended Mr. Scharres for his service, noting Woodstock is better for it. He invited Mr. Scharres and his wife Bonnie to the podium. Without objection, the City Council accepted and approved a Proclamation Honoring John Scharres in Recognition and Appreciation for Service to the Woodstock Opera House and City of Woodstock, following which Mayor Sager read the proclamation and presented it to Mr. Scharres.

Mr. Scharres was acknowledged with hearty applause.

Mayor Sager stated the City values Mr. Scharres’ many years of contribution to the heart of the community, noting his passion for public service. He also acknowledged Mrs. Scharres’ contributions to the community. Mr. Scharres was presented with a commemorative lamp noting his years of service.

Mr. Scharres expressed his thanks and acknowledged and thanked the many people with whom he has worked including 6 different Mayors, 4 City Managers, 30 Council members and hundreds of people in the Community. He thanked Mayor Sager and the City Council, City Manager Roscoe Stelford, and the City’s Department Directors for their support and for making Woodstock a great place to live. He also thanked the Opera House Staff for their hard work to help make sure Woodstock has an outstanding quality of life and the many volunteers for their hard work. Finally, Mr. Scharres thanked his wife for all she has given so he could do what he did. He talked about the importance of the Opera House to the community and expressed his wish that it continue long after he is gone.

Music in Our Schools Month

Mayor Sager stated this evening the City is pleased to have a group of students from Creekside Middle School to make a musical presentation in recognition of Music in Our Schools Month following which the students performed, which was received with hearty applause. Mayor Sager thanked the students for the wonderful presentation stating the City also wished to recognize Music in Our Schools Month with a proclamation. Without objection, the City Council approved and adopted Proclamation – Music in Our Schools Month March 2018 following which Mayor Sager presented the Proclamation to the President of the Woodstock Music Boosters.

B. Recognition

Mayor Sager noted the importance of this action which will swear-in two new Police Officers for the City of Woodstock and invited Chief John Lieb to come forward. Chief Lieb stated due to the 24/7 nature of Police Officers’ work, they are frequently the face of the City of Woodstock. He stated it is important to recognize these officers as the newest members of the Woodstock Police Department. He invited Officer Hector Meza and Mrs. Meza to come forward.

Oath of Office Hector Meza

Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Chairman Ron Giordano administered the Oath of Office to Officer Hector Meza.

Mrs. Meza pinned Officer Meza’s badge to his uniform after which he was acknowledged by hearty applause.

Chief Lieb invited Officer John Huff and Mrs. Huff to come forward.

Oath of Office John Huff

Board of Fire and Police Commission Chairman Ron Giordano administered the Oath of Office to Officer Huff. Mrs. Huff pinned Officer Huff’s badge to his uniform after which he was acknowledged by hearty applause. Mayor Sager thanked the officers for choosing Woodstock for their public service, welcomed them to the community, and commended them on their duties. He also thanked their families for supporting the officers.

C. Presentations

Mayor Sager noted the City is fortunate to have three Friends’ groups who are dedicated to serving the Library, the Opera House, and the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House and invited Julie Miller, President of the Friends of the Old Courthouse, and the Board of that group forward. Friends of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House Ms. Miller provided information on the many fundraising efforts undertaken by the group and presented the City with a $10,000 donation, which was met with hearty applause. Mayor Sager thanked them for their hard work on behalf of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House.

Environmental Commission – Community Garden

Mayor Sager invited Chairperson Erica Poremba and members of the City’s Environmental Commission to come forward. Ms. Poremba and Commission members, Steve Wenzel, Lauri Kacmar, and Ed Ellinghausen, made a presentation to the Council concerning the establishment of community gardens in the City of Woodstock. Noting this was an initiative of the Environmental Plan, the presentation stated the purpose of the community gardens would be to provide access to land for people that want to garden and don’t have sufficient land, to educate children on nutrition, food sources, and gardening; to provide community engagement; to promote awareness of healthy foods and more access to them; and to generate donations of excess produce to those in need. Following the presentation, Ms. Poremba stated the Commission is requesting Council support of the overall garden concept and approval for the Commission to move forward with the creation of a community garden on Castle Road and the establishment of a Garden Committee in hopes that next Spring the gardens would be available. Mayor Sager thanked the Commission for their work on this project and noted the strong interest in gardening and healthy food. Brief discussion ensued on the construction of the garden beds and of the proposed site, including available parking in the area, with the Commission providing more information. In response to a question from Mayor Sager, it was the consensus of the City Council that the Commission proceed with plans for the Community Gardens and come back with a formal proposal for Council action at a future meeting.

D. Public Comment

Tom Grell, 1220 Savanna Lane, expressed concern about the condition of the roads in his neighborhood, stating it is unacceptable and embarrassing. Mr. Grell passed out photos of the roads to the Council members and asked what the plan is for his road. Mayor Sager thanked Mr. Grell stating he shares his concerns, agreeing this is unacceptable. He provided background information on the condition of the roads and also on the new approaches, including increasing available funds, being taken by the City for road construction, resurfacing, and repair, which will improve the condition of the City’s streets. Brief discussion ensued of the findings of the Pavement Management Task Force and how it has changed the way the City approaches street resurfacing and improvements. Mr. Grell also wished to call Council’s attention to the incident several months ago where an individual was discharging a weapon near his neighborhood, resulting in a bullet passing through his children’s rooms. He commended the Woodstock Police Department for quick apprehension of the individual.

E. Council Comment

Mayor Sager thanked Deputy Mayor Turner for his leadership in Mayor Sager’s absence. Mayor Sager recognized Promote Woodstock, Councilwoman Larson, Councilman Turner, and A-5 for winning two awards presented by the Illinois Governor’s Council on Travel & Tourism. He commended them for their efforts to promote Woodstock.

Councilman Turner provided information on the two awards, noting Woodstock won two of the nine categories available which were voted on by representatives from surrounding states, not Illinois. He noted City Staff was responsible for creating the promotional piece, which won one of the awards. Councilman Saladin noted the strong City presence at the recent Chamber of Commerce annual dinner, noting the many members of the City Council, Staff, and Commissions who were nominated and won awards.

IV. Consent Agenda

Motion by M. Turner, second by M. Saladin, to approve the Consent Agenda. In response to a question from Mayor Sager, there were no items removed from the Consent Agenda, or comments/questions from the Public or Council members on items remaining on the Agenda. Mayor Sager thanked Imagine One Facility Solutions and James Baker of Napoli Pizza for their interest in working with the City of Woodstock.

A. Minutes Of Previous Meetings:

March 6, 2018 City Council Minutes

B. Warrants: #3800 #3801

C. Minutes And Reports:

Transportation Commission October 18, 2017

Transportation Commission November 15, 2017

Transportation Commission January 17, 2018

Board of Fire and Police Commissioners December 4, 2018

Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House Advisory Commission February 19, 2018

Woodstock Department of Public Works Monthly Report February 2018

Woodstock Police Department Monthly Report February 2018

D. Manager’s Report No. 108

1. Award of Contract – Woodstock Police Custodial Services

Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Image One, Facility Solutions to provide building custodial services for the Woodstock Police Department’s facility three times per week and/or on an unexpected, emergency basis for a one-year period with annual renewals at the City’s option at a cost of $1,169.00 per month or $14,028.00 per year.

2. Award of Contract – Woodstock WaterWorks Concessions

Authorization for the City Manager to execute a contract between the City of Woodstock and Napoli Pizza for a three-year lease for the operation of the concessions at Woodstock Water Works at a rate of $3,000 for the 2018 season, $3,000 for the 2019 season, and $3,000 for the 2020 season.

3. Waiver of Competitive Bid and Award of Contract – Mosquito Control Services

a) Approval to waive the requirement for competitive bidding to provide mosquito control services; and

b) Award of contract for 2018 mosquito control services to Clarke for the quoted price of $4,913 per each application of larvae control products and $9,200 per each application for adult mosquito spraying.

4. Ordinance – McRide Amended Intergovernmental Agreement

Approval of Ordinance 18-O-20, identified as Document 1, An Ordinance Authorizing An Amendment Between the City of Woodstock, the City of McHenry, the City of Crystal Lake, the City of Harvard, the City of Marengo, the Village of Huntley, the Village of Johnsburg, the Village of Ringwood, the Village of Richmond, and the County of McHenry; adding the Village of Union as a Partner Agency (Hereinafter Referred to Collectively as Partner Agencies) for General Public Diala-Ride Transit Service in 2018.

A roll call vote was taken. Ayes: D. Hart, M. Larson, J. Prindiville, M. Saladin, G. Tebo, M. Turner, and Mayor Sager. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: None. Motion carried.

V. Discussion Items

A. Transmittal of FY18/19 Budget

Mayor Sager thanked City Staff, particularly City Manager Roscoe Stelford and Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Paul Christensen, for their efforts in formulating the City’s Budget. Mr. Stelford stated the Budget addresses the priorities Council provided to Staff, noting the highlights of the budget, including property tax relief and $2 million in road expenditures. Mayor Sager noted the Public Hearing on the Budget which will occur at the April 3rd City Council meeting and the Special City Council Workshop dedicated to the Budget at 1:00 PM on Thursday April 5th in the Council Chambers. In response to a question from Mayor Sager, there were no public comments or questions.

B. Schedule Future Council Special Workshop – Downtown Plan

In response to a question from Mayor Sager, it was the consensus of the Council that this workshop include discussion of a possible new TIF District as part of the Downtown Development. Following a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Council that this workshop be held the evening of April 5th.

VI. Future Agenda Items

At the suggestion of Councilman Hart and following a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Council that an item related to fees and membership at the Aquatic Center and the Recreation Center and the marketing of these facilities be scheduled for a future meeting.

Adjourn:

Motion by M. Larson, second by M. Saladin, to adjourn this regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council to the next regular meeting on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Ayes: D. Hart, M. Larson, J. Prindiville, M. Saladin, G. Tebo, M. Turner, and Mayor Sager. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: none. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.

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