McHenry Times

Woodstock City Council met April 2.

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, April 2, 2019, in the Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall. Mayor Sager welcomed those present and explained the consent calendar process and invited public participation. He noted, as is the City’s policy, this evening’s meeting is being live- streamed with a recording archived should members of the public wish to view it in the future.

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: Dan Hart, Maureen Larson, Gordon Tebo, Mark Saladin, Michael Turner and Mayor Brian Sager.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Jim Prindiville

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Roscoe Stelford, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Paul Christensen, City Attorney Ruth Schlossberg, Public Works Director Jeff Van Landuyt, Chief John Lieb, Library Director Nick Weber, Building and Zoning Director Joe Napolitano, Economic Development Director Garrett Anderson, Deputy Chief Jeff Parsons, Deputy Chief Ray Lanz, Librarian Pam Moorhouse, Librarian Martha Hansen, Finance Staff member Cary Woodruff, and members of the Woodstock Police Department.

OTHERS PRESENT: Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House Advisory Commission Member Jessica Campbell, members of the Friends of the Library, and City Clerk Cindy Smiley

III. FLOOR DISCUSSION

A. Proclamations

Proclamation – National Public Library Week

Mayor Sager invited staff from the Public Library and members of the Friends of the Library to the podium stating he is grateful for the many years of the support the Friends have provided to the Library. He commended the Library Staff for all they do to make the Library the wonderful community asset it is.

Without objection, the City Council approved and adopted a proclamation National Public Library Week.

Mayor Sager read the proclamation for all to hear and presented to N. Weber and those representing the Library including the Staff, the Friends, and the Board. He acknowledged the significant work that they do to enhance the community thanking them for this and expressing the City’s appreciation for all they do.

Mr. Weber thanked the community and the City Council for the support they have given the Library for many years. He stated he is proud to be in Woodstock and happy to see all the faces here to acknowledge the Library. Mr. Weber also thanked the Library staff and Board for their hard work year in and year out.

B. Presentations:

Joshua Rapacz - Promotion to Police Sergeant

Mayor Sager called on Chief John Lieb to preside over the promotion ceremony of Officer Joshua Rapacz, who approached the podium with his wife.

Chief Lieb stated the evolution of an organization brings new ideas, energy, and programs, noting this is the case with the Woodstock Police Department. He stated when a Sergeant retires it is an opportunity to bring in new energy.

Chief Lieb stated this evening the Department is promoting Joshua Rapacz to Sergeant. He noted Officer Rapacz has been with the City for 15 years, reviewing the various positions he has held. He stated Officer Rapacz’s knowledge and experience will now be applied as a supervisor to the men and women of the Woodstock Police Department.

Chief Lieb introduced Mrs. Rapacz noting the sacrifice and support families provide to the members of the Police Department.

Mayor Sager stated he was pleased to have so many members of the Woodstock Police Department present, noting the importance of this brotherhood. He asked the members of the family to stand and to be introduced by Officer Rapacz.

Mayor Sager stated he was also pleased to have Chairman Ron Giordano of the City’s Board of Fire and Police Commissioners present this evening.

Chairman Giordano administered the oath of office to Sergeant Rapacz, following which Mrs. Rapacz pinned on his badge. This was met with hearty applause.

Mayor Sager thanked Sergeant Rapacz on behalf of the City of Woodstock, the City Council, and the residents and businesses of Woodstock for his exceptional service and for making the choice to serve the community. He noted this is not an easy task and commended Sergeant Rapacz for his strong degree of professionalism and commitment to ensure the community has a safe environment in which to live.

C. Public Hearing

FY2019/2020 Budget

Mayor Sager noted this is a Public Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Annual Budget which is an opportunity for members of the public to make comments or raise questions concerning the Budget. He stated the Budget will be discussed at a Council Workshop at 2:30 PM on Monday, April 15th in the Council Chambers. He noted it will be considered for approval at the next Council meeting on Tuesday, April 16th at 7:00 PM.

City Manager Stelford opined the Budget as presented meets the priorities identified at the previous Council Workshop. He stated Staff is looking forward to Council’s Budget review and to any comments the public may have.

Mayor Sager opened the Public Hearing for the FY2019/2020 Budget at 7:20 PM. There were no public comments.

Motion by M. Larson, second by M. Saladin, to close the Public Hearing for the FY2019/2020 Budget.

A roll call vote was taken. Ayes: D. Hart, M. Larson, M. Saladin, G. Tebo, M. Turner, and Mayor Sager. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: J. Prindiville. Motion carried. The Public Hearing was closed at 7:23 PM.

Public Comment

There was no Public Comment forthcoming.

Council Comment

Councilwoman Larson stated she has not seen the minutes of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House Advisory Commission or the Historic Preservation Commission on the City’s website or in the Council packets. City Manager Stelford stated he will look into this matter.

Mayor Sager stated he is pleased to note that once again the Finance Department and its Staff has been recognized by the Government Finance Officers’ Association with its Certificate of Achievement for Financial Reporting. He noted that this award has been received by the City for many years stating it should not be taken for granted, as it takes much work and is a significant accomplishment. He commended all Finance Department Staff members, in particular Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Paul Christensen and also City Manager Stelford.

Mayor Sager stated the City has received information from State Representative Steven Reick, who has been working with the State Legislature, that $50,000 has been approved and appropriated to be used for security cameras in the downtown area. He expressed his gratitude for the efforts of Representative Reick.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by M. Turner, second by M. Saladin, to approve the Consent Agenda.

Mayor Sager stated it is his understanding that there are members of the Public here to comment on Founders’ Crossing. He stated the item before the Council this evening is whether to refer Founders’ Crossing back to the Plan Commission. Noting this is just a procedural action, he stated the Council will not be discussing the proposal this evening. He stated, recognizing there are people who wish to comment on the proposal, Council will allow that opportunity, but recognize there will also be further opportunities at various future meetings regarding this item.

Councilman Turner agreed, noting the opportunity to provide feedback will not only occur when this item comes before the Council, but also before the Plan Commission when it goes back to that body. He emphasized this item is going back to the Plan Commission for further discussion and the Council will not be acting on this tonight.

In response to a question from Mayor Sager, there were no items removed from the Consent Agenda by the Council or a member of the Public.

In response to a question from Mayor Sager, the following comments were made, or questions asked by the City Council or the Public concerning items remaining on the Consent Agenda.

Item D-7 – Award of Contract – Façade Improvement Grant – 236 Main Street

Councilman Turner expressed his appreciation for Staff’s quick movement on this item, noting the owners of Cesaroni’s are very pleased. He stated what has been created is visually appealing and is a win for everyone. He supports this expenditure as it is good for all involved.

Item D-8 – Founders’ Crossing – Preliminary Plat

Noting that his firm represents the bank involved with this property, which may be a perceived conflict, Councilman Saladin stated he will not be recusing himself from this item as it is merely a procedural matter.

As he noted earlier would be permitted, Mayor Sager opened the floor to general Public Comment regarding Founders’ Crossing.

Ed Houde stated he is a 12-year resident of Woodstock, a homeowner in the Brownstones of Woodstock, and President of the Homeowners Association for that development.

Mr. Houde stated he is well aware of the issues that this specific development has endured, as he is one of only two original owners of the Brownstones still in residence, and has had experience with the issues regarding Hummel and the problems that followed with these units after bankruptcy.

Mr. Houde stated the residents would like to see future development of these parcels, noting they all bought with the understanding it would be fully developed in the Woodstock Vision (i.e., multi-use residential, commercial, and retail). He noted the property is in the Historic District, opining it represents a large portion of the historic fabric of the community. He stated when they moved to Woodstock they felt they knew how the property would be developed, noting they wished to live in a historic small town, participate in the community and support the community, and felt it supported them.

Looking at the original plan for the development, Mr. Houde stated there were pros and cons. He noted it was mixed use, which he opined was one of the things it got right. He asked Council to look at the development relative to the City’s Vision 2020 statement, opining the original plan was consistent with this vision. He noted the original development had an emphasis on open space, opining it was reasonable to assume there would be facilities for families within the development through the open space. He stated the materials proposed for the original development were historically accurate or consistent, which also is consistent with Vision 2020. Mr. Houde stated another positive aspect of the original development was it maintained setbacks consistent with other properties in the community.

Mr. Houde then looked at the negatives of the original development, noting it had no concept of phasing. He stated it was “all or nothing” concerning the residential unit plans available, noting the brownstones only offered two-floor plans to choose from, meaning there was no diversity in floor plans or cost.

Mr. Houde stated the residents do not intend to stop any development, but wish it to be consistent with Vision 2020 and with what they were told by members of the City Council at that time, and reiterated from a newspaper article on what the intentions were when the property was developed. Mr. Houde then discussed a meeting which was held in 2009 between City representatives, bank representatives, and residents at the time the project went bankrupt. It was stated the development and architectural elements would remain with the property regardless of who purchased it. He stated this gave the residents assurance everyone was acting on the same basis to make a better Woodstock.

Noting the residents’ comments were previously provided to the Plan Commission, Mr. Houde stated it was not his intent to rehash them, but expressed his hope they will be reviewed. Mr. Houde stated there are clear differences in what is being proposed and what was originally proposed.

Mr. Houde then summarized the comments provided to the Plan Commission expressing their primary concerns to be:

Project viability – Mr. Houde stated Vision 2020 says all development should consider economic viability. He stated the residents realize the market could not support the Hummel development today. He stated the developer has said there is a demand for the type of development he is proposing, which relies on millennials and over-55. He questioned where the market study was supporting these assumptions, or the number of units or income that could support the cost of the units. Mr. Houde asked how viable is this proposal and where the people will come from to fill the units.

Zoning concessions – Mr. Houde noted the significant zoning concessions that are being requested by the developer, noting the Brownstones had significant setback and material requirements. He talked about what is being requested and what the requirements, including reductions in the lot width, front-yard setbacks, and side setbacks. He talked about how close the porches will be to one another. Mr. Houde also noted there is a reduction in side lots when they abut a street, noting there already has been trash alongside the buildings and issues with noise. He opined the request will result in additional issues. Mr. Houde stated the requested rear-yard setback means the buildings can be on the property line. Noting much of the movement within the development will be in the alleyways, he opined this will cause problems. He also expressed concern about how the requested concessions will affect parking and emergency access opining these are significant issues from environmental and safety aspects.

He stated the concessions will also significantly reduce the green space available to the public. He stated this will increase the feeling of a highly-developed area, opining this is not what Woodstock is about. He stated Woodstock is a rural area that supports homes with larger green space. He stated Vision 2020 states developments must emphasize green space, opining the requested reductions are just the opposite. He stated Vision 2020 also states a development is required to demonstrate it will benefit pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Mr. Houde stated the intent is to see a benefit from development.

Traffic – Mr. Houde stated he does not see any information on traffic patterns and how they will be affected by this development. He noted there is a potential to remove the stop sign at Newell and Wheeler, which is contrary to the Vision 2020 statement.

Parking – Mr. Houde stated the first plat had 9 parking spaces for 91 units, noting it has now been increased to 43 spaces. He opined the location of the spaces is unusual and would be dependent upon concessions. He also discussed the affect the development will have on parking for neighboring businesses, noting some of the parking now used is within the proposed development.

Mr. Houde asked the Council to look at how many units could be placed on the property if the City’s standards are maintained, working within the required setbacks and remaining consistent with Vision 2020. He opined if this makes the project non-viable, this is a good thing to know now.

Phasing – Noting they do not wish to find themselves in the same situation as they did with the Hummel development, Mr. Houde opined it would seem a phasing concept should be introduced. He stated if the first phase works then the second phase could be opened so the community does not end up with something partially done.

Mr. Houde stated the residents have no problem with development of the area, but wish to be sure it is consistent with what Woodstock needs, the requirements, and what people expect from Woodstock.

Design – Mr. Houde stated the development proposes 91 units with the same floor plan and virtually the same elevation. He noted these units will be across from the Brownstones with their dramatic designs, which have been shown in the Vision 2020 as examples of desirable design. Mr. Houde opined this lack of diversity is not the vision of the community.

Economics/Financing – Mr. Houde stated their concerns about the economics of the financing. He noted much of the infrastructure is already in place, but there is a request from the TIF to support the development. He asked whether the developer would be able to sell the property with improvements made using money from the TIF reflected in the sale price if the development is not viable. He asked that everyone be made to understand how TIF funds work through this process.

Mr. Houde expressed his concern as a citizen with the speed at which the City is looking at this project. He opined the residents of the Brownstones have had little time to review the plan and participate in the process and feel this is far from what they were led to believe would be developed on the property. He stated it is their intent to work with the City and the developer, cite their issues and hope they will be considered.

Mr. Houde thanked the Council for the opportunity to present their concerns.

Mayor Sager stated Council knows there are a lot of concerns. He reminded those present this is a procedural agenda item this evening, noting Council provided the residents an opportunity to speak, nonetheless. He noted there will be other opportunities for public participation on this item when it comes back before the Plan Commission, and if it should come back before the City Council.

Councilman Turner stated if the Council does not comment on this item tonight, it is because the development is not on the Agenda for actual approval of the development, so now is not the time. Mayor Sager noted this item was procedural, so this must be taken into consideration.

In response to a question from Mayor Sager, there were no further comments regarding items on the Consent Agenda.

Mayor Sager affirmed the Consent Agenda to include items A through D-9.

A. MINUTES:

March 19, 2019 City Council Minutes

B. WARRANTS: #3850 #3851

C. MINUTES AND REPORTS:

Plan Commission Meeting Minutes January 24, 2019

Police Department Monthly Report February 2019

Public Works Department Monthly Report February 2019

D. MANAGER’S REPORT NO. 131

1. Ordinance – Hotel/Motel Lien Authority - Approval Ordinance 19-O-32, identified as Document 1, An Ordinance Amending Title 2 Chapter 17, Section 3.17.7 of the City Code of Woodstock, Illinois Regarding the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax.

2. Ordinances – Old Courthouse Space Usage and Donation Agreements - Approval of:

a) Ordinance 19-O-33, identified as Document 2, An Ordinance Authorizing a Space Usage and Donation Agreement Between the City of Woodstock and Northwest Area Arts Council for the Old Courthouse Art Center at the Old Courthouse building;

b) Ordinance 19-O-34, identified as Document 3, An Ordinance Authorizing a Space Usage and Donation Agreement Between the City of Woodstock and Talia Pavia for the Talia Pavia String Academy at the Old Courthouse building;

c) Ordinance 19-O-35, identified as Document 4, An Ordinance Authorizing a Space Usage and Donation Agreement Between the City of Woodstock and Donna Jill Witty for artist space at the Old Courthouse building.

3. Award of Contract – Permeable Paver Placement at Library Auxiliary Lot -

Authorization to award of contract to Nierman Landscape and Design of Woodstock, IL to reset the permeable paver surface in the Library Auxiliary Parking at a cost not to exceed $12,200.

4. Ordinance – 13707 West Jackson Street Building Lease – Approval of Ordinace19-O-36, identified as Document 5, An Ordinance Authorizing a Lease Agreement Between the City of Woodstock and Pioneer Center for Human Services for the Lease of City-Owned Property at 13707 West Jackson Street.

5. Waiver of Competitive Bids and Award of Contract – Mosquito Abatement –

Approval of:

a) Waiver of the requirement for competitive bids to provide mosquito control services; and

b) Authorization to award a contract for 2019 mosquito control services to Clarke for the quoted price of $5,010 for each application of larvae control products and $9,380 for each citywide adult mosquito spraying.

6. Resolution – Melody Lane Bridge – Approval of Resolution 19-R-06, identified as Document 6, A Resolution to Apply for and Utilize Received STP-Br Funds to Pay for Engineering for the Replacement of Melody Lane Bridge.

7. Award of Contract – Façade Improvement Grant – 236 Main Street -

Authorization to award $2,000 of TIF funding for landscaping improvements at 236 Main Street.

8. Founders’ Crossing – Preliminary Plat – Approval to refer the Preliminary Plat for Founders’ Crossing back to the Plan Commission to review the Petitioner’s requested plat revisions.

9. Removal from the Table of Noise Ordinance – Removal from the Table of an Ordinance amending Title 4, Public Health and Safety, of the Woodstock City Code Related to Noise Control, originally included on the March 19th City Council Agenda as Item D.3.

A roll call vote was taken on items A through D-9. Ayes: D. Hart, M. Larson, M. Saladin, G.Tebo, M. Turner, and Mayor Sager. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: J. Prindiville. Motion carried.

VI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

There were no further changes, additions, or deletions to the tentative future agendas.

ADJOURN

Motion by M. Turner, second by M. Saladin, to adjourn this regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council to the Special City Council Budget Workshop on Monday, April 15, 2019 at 2:30 pm in the Council Chambers. Ayes: D. Hart, M. Larson, G. Tebo, M. Saladin, M. Turner, and Mayor Sager. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: J. Prindiville. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 8:14 PM.

https://www.woodstockil.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/26391/f_-_4-2-19_city_council_meeting_-_part_1_of_1_-_minutes.pdf