McHenry Times

City of Woodstock City Council met June 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

A regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council was called to order at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall by Deputy Mayor Darrin Flynn. He explained the Consent Calendar process, invited public participation, and noted, as is the City’s policy, this meeting is being live streamed with a recording archived should members of the public wish to view it in the future.

A roll call was taken.

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Darrin Flynn, Lisa Lohmeyer, Tom Nierman, Wendy Piersall Bob Seegers, Jr., and Gordon Tebo.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Mayor Michael Turner

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Roscoe Stelford, City Attorney Ruth Schlossberg, Deputy City Manager/Executive Director of Strategy & Planning Paul Christensen, Executive Director of Business Development Danielle Gulli, Executive Director of Operations Christina Betz, Economic Development Director Garrett Anderson, Building and Zoning Director Joe Napolitano, City Planner Darrell Moore, Grants Manager Terry Willcockson, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Anne George, City Clerk Cindy Smiley and several staff members of the Department of Public Works.

City Clerk Smiley confirmed the agenda is a true and correct copy of the published agenda. III. FLOOR DISCUSSION

A. Proclamations

Pride Month

Without objection, the City Council approved and accepted A Proclamation Honoring Pride Month June 2022.

Deputy Mayor Flynn was joined at the podium by Cris Squires, President, and Melissa McMahon, Vice-President, representing Woodstock Pride. He read the proclamation for all to hear, which was met with hearty applause.

Ms. McMahon thanked the Mayor’s Office and Staff for acknowledging Pride month. She stated they are happy to bring this to the community and to continue to grow it each year.

Retirement of Wayne Baker

Without objection, the City Council approved and accepted A Proclamation Honoring Wayne Baker’s Retirement.

Deputy Mayor Flynn was joined at the podium by Mr. Baker, Ms. Betz, and Ms. George. He read the proclamation for all to hear, which was met with hearty applause.

Mr. Baker thanked everyone. Ms. George thanked Mr. Baker, stating he has been a mentor to all and a great help to her. Ms. Betz stated Mr. Baker will be missed, opining it is great to see the Wastewater Treatment Plant staff here to support him on his retirement.

B. Public Comments

There were no comments forthcoming from the Public.

C. Council Comments

Deputy Mayor Flynn noted the City of Woodstock, and the Chamber of Commerce had a very successful food truck event last weekend, noting it featured 27 food trucks with 7,500 attendees from all over McHenry County, throughout Illinois, and even from other states.

Deputy Mayor Flynn stated the Pride Fest will take place this weekend, talking about the various events to be held. He encouraged everyone to attend and have a great time.

Deputy Mayor Flynn stated he spoke at the ribbon cutting for the new retailer Iron and Ivory, noting it is great to fill the store fronts.

At Deputy Mayor Flynn’s request, Ms. Betz gave an update on the Enhanced Streets Program describing the streets currently being worked on and noting the streets on which work will begin soon. She talked about the work that began this week on Dean Street, noting this project will take approximately 2½ months. She stated everything is being done to avoid the closure of Dean Street, although at times it will be down to one lane.

Ms. Betz then noted the roundabout project is moving forward. She noted soil contamination was found at the site of the old gas station, which will require environmental remediation. Ms. Betz stated the goal is to complete the project by Thanksgiving.

Ms. Betz then noted the Throop Street parking lot will be closed beginning June 15 until fall to allow for the installation of geothermal wells as part of the Old Courthouse project. She stated additional traffic control signage has been placed in the project area. Noting people are still turning left from Cass onto Throop, Councilman Tebo urged everyone to be careful in that area.

Ms. Gulli gave an update on the opening of the Aquatic Center, noting this is the 20th anniversary of Woodstock Waterworks. She stated the sale of pool passes is up dramatically with 1,822 sold and 2,600 walk-ins so far this year. She stated overall attendance is down due to the weather, noting the facility has been closed for two days already in June. Ms. Gulli stated the marketing team is doing a great job with the Aquatic Center team and also working closely with the Recreation Department to get new materials out for the Playground Program.

In response to Councilman Seegers’ question concerning Emricson Park, Ms. Betz stated Staff looks at the park streets each year to determine when they need to be scheduled for improvement. Councilman Seegers suggested the parking spots at the Dream Field be reconfigured to provide a sufficient lane for traffic.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by G. Tebo, second by W. Piersall, to approve the Consent Agenda.

In response to a question from Deputy Mayor Flynn, there were no items removed from the Consent Agenda at the request of Council or the Public:

In response to a question from Deputy Mayor Flynn, the following questions or comments were forthcoming from the Council or the Public regarding items remaining on the Consent Agenda.

Item D-1 – Ordinance – Multiple Variations – 111 W. South Street, former First Church of Christ Scientist Building

Councilman Nierman commended Ms. Keefe for taking a building that could have become an eyesore and making it an asset to the community.

Expressing respect for the Plan Commission’s decision regarding this item, Councilman Seegers noted a comment that there is now a new environment where more people are working from home. He expressed support of approval of the request in this case citing the nature of the building and unique situation, but stated he would be opposed to this if it was a normal house in a neighborhood.

Item D-9 – Ordinance – Old Courthouse & Sheriff’s House Historic Tax Credits In response to Councilman Seegers’ question about whether the law firms involved in the partnership have provided certificates of insurance covering errors and omissions, City Attorney Schlossberg stated they are nationally-recognized law firms who carry malpractice insurance.

Deputy Mayor Flynn affirmed the Consent Agenda to include items A through D-9 as follows:

A. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

City Council SGA/CIP/Budget Workshops April 4th and 5th, 2022

B. WARRANTS: 4007

C. MINUTES AND REPORTS

1. Arts Commission Minutes February 23, 2022

2. Police Department Monthly Report April 2022

3. Public Library Director’s Monthly Report April 2022

D. MANAGER'S REPORT NO. 205:

1. Ordinance –Multiple Variations – 111 W. South Street, former First Church of Christ Scientist Building

Approval of Ordinance 22-O-31, identified as Document 1, An Ordinance Granting Variations from Sections 7B.3.3 (Home Occupations) and 13.4 (Prohibited Signs and Practices) to Allow One Ground Sign and One Wall Sign Identifying a Home Occupation at 111 W. South Street.

2. Resolution –Public Utility Acceptance

Approval of Resolution 22-R-17, identified as Document 2, A Resolution Accepting Public Watermain Improvements Constructed as Part of the Cedarhurst of Woodstock Development Project.

3. Ordinance – TIF Redevelopment Agreement – 235 Washington Street

Approval of Ordinance 22-O-32, identified as Document 3, An Ordinance of the City of Woodstock, McHenry County, Illinois, Approving a Redevelopment Agreement by and Between the City of Woodstock, McHenry County, Illinois and Harley Hart Properties, LLC subject to final review and approval by the City’s TIF Legal Counsel.

4. Contract Award – 2022 Crack Sealing Program

Approval to award a contract for the 2022 Crack Sealing Program to the lowest responsible bidder, Patriot Pavement of Des Plaines, IL in accordance with the unit prices, as submitted, and not to exceed $22,250 for FY22/23.

5. Contract Award – 2022 Reclamite Application Program

Approval to award a contract for the 2022 Reclamite Asphalt Rejuvenator Application Program to the sole source provider, Corrective Asphalt Materials, LLC of South Roxana, IL for an amount not to exceed $57,750, with all work being completed at the unit price of $0.04 square yard in FY22/23.

6. Contract Award – Mary Ann Park Basketball Court Replacement

Approval to award a contract for the removal, replacement, and restriping on one basketball court at Mary Ann Park to the lowest responsible bidder, Chicagoland Paving, Lake Zurich, IL for a total bid price of $79,000.

7. Contract Award – FY22/23 Sewer Televising & Cleaning Program

Approval to award a contract for televising and cleaning of sanitary sewer lines to the lowest responsible bidder, Visu-Sewer of IL, LLC, Bridgeview, IL, in accordance with the unit prices for 2022, as submitted, and not to exceed $105,000.

8. Contract Award – Phone System Upgrade

Authorization for the City Manager to execute an agreement with Telecom Innovations Group to perform necessary phone system upgrades for a total cost of $20,000.

9. Ordinance – Old Courthouse & Sheriff’s House Historic Tax Credits

Approval of Ordinance 22-O-33, identified as Document 4, An Ordinance Authorizing the Transfer of the Woodstock Historic Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House and Granting Authority Related to the Historic Tax Credit Transaction with PNC Bank for the Rehabilitation of the Property and the Ongoing Operations of the Property.

A roll call vote was taken. Ayes: L. Lohmeyer T. Nierman, W. Piersall, B. Seegers, G. Tebo and Deputy Mayor D. Flynn. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: Mayor M. Turner. Motion carried.

VI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

There were no additions, deletions, or corrections to the tentative future Council agendas.

ADJOURN

Motion by L. Lohmeyer, second by B. Seegers, to adjourn this regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council to the next regular meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes: L. Lohmeyer, T. Nierman, W. Piersall, B. Seegers, G. Tebo and Deputy Mayor D. Flynn. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: Mayor M. Turner. Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 PM.

https://www.woodstockil.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/45672/2.c._f_-_06-07-22_city_council_meeting_-_part_1_of_1_-_minutes.pdf