McHenry Times

City of Woodstock City Council met Nov. 1.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

A regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council was called to order by Mayor Turner at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, in the Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall. He explained the Consent Calendar process, invited public participation, and noted, as is the City’s policy, this meeting is being livestreamed 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, Wendy Piersall, Gordon Tebo, Bob Seegers Jr., and Mayor Michael Turner.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Nierman.

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, Building and Zoning Director Joe Napolitano, Human Resources Director Debbie Schober, Chief John Lieb, IT Director Dan McElmeel, Library Director Nick Weber, Recreation Director Dave Zinnen, Deputy Chief Ray Lanz, Deputy Chief Rob Pritchard, Deputy Public Works Director Brent Aymond, Executive Assistant Jane Howie, Recreation Department Program Coordinator Becky Vidales, Recreation Department Program Coordinator Renee Torrez, Human Resources Coordinator Jill May, IT Support Specialist Lou Chiodo, Public Works Staff Chris Lynk, Henry Vidales, James Wegener, Phil Mass, Trevor Schacht, and City Clerk Cindy Smiley.

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

III. FLOOR DISCUSSION

A. Recognition of Service-2022 - Employee Service Awards

Mayor Turner noted the first item this evening is recognition of service milestones for City employees, stating it is his honor as Mayor to do so. Noting the City is a service organization, he stated without the employees it would not be possible to meet the needs of the community, opining the importance of City staff cannot be overstated.

Mayor Turner recognized and presented service awards to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service with the City of Woodstock, which was met with hearty applause.

B. Proclamations - Melissa O'Leary

Noting her unexpected passing in August of this year, Mayor Turner stated this evening the City wishes to bestow special posthumous recognition on Melissa Canto O’Leary for her 20 years of service to the community as part of the Recreation Department and Aquatic Center. Recognizing the presence of Ms. O’Leary’s family and thanking them, he invited her husband, Timothy O’Leary, to join him at the podium.

Without objection, the City Council approved and adopted A Proclamation Honoring Melissa Canto O’Leary. Mayor Turner read the proclamation for all to hear and presented it to Mr. O’Leary which was met with hearty applause.

Ms. Vidales joined Mayor Turner and Mr. O’Leary. Mayor Turner said he was pleased to announce the creation of the Melissa O’Leary Memorial Splash Pad Fund with the intent to build a Splash Pad at the aquatic center to honor her life, her service, and her commitment to the community. He opined this will be a safe, inclusive place for families for years to come.

Ms. Vidales talked about her friend and colleague, speaking of Ms. O’Leary’s love of swim lessons and the contact with the students it brought. Noting Ms. O’Leary’s 20 years with the Recreation Department, she spoke of her 16 years as pool manager including recruiting and training more than 300 staff members during that time. Ms. Vidales stated it is her honor to celebrate her friend’s 20 years with Woodstock, noting she will be missed by many.

Mayor Turner stated the Splash Pad will be an incredible way to remember Ms. O’Leary, providing information on how people can sponsor and donate to the memorial fund.

C. Presentations – Transmittal of FY21/22 Audit Report

Mayor Turner stated the annual audit is vital to the assessment of the operation of the City and Council’s responsibility as stewards of the City’s money.

Noting this is an independent audit that is crucial to the process, Mr. Stelford introduced Jim Savio of Sikich to present information on the FY21/22 Audit Report which was transmitted as part of the packet.

Mr. Savio thanked Mr. Stelford, Mr. Christensen, and City Staff for their assistance throughout the audit process. He stated he will cover a few highlights of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and of the Management Letter, and then provided an overview of the Table of Contents and what is included in the report, explaining the various financial statements. He provided information on the Independent Auditor’s Report, including the opinion, noting the Auditors issued an unmodified opinion which is the highest level of assurances the City can receive.

Mr. Savio called attention to the balance sheet for the General Fund, noting the fund balance is consistent with last year and is in accordance with the City’s Fund Balance Policies. Turning to the Water/Sewer Fund, he noted the increase in operating income. He noted the funding status for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) is 108% and the Police Pension Fund net pension liability is 66%, explaining this further.

Mr. Savio then discussed the various communications to the City Council that are required to be made as part of the Annual Report, talking about deficiencies, and noting the Management Letter states there were no material weaknesses found.

Mayor Turner stated the process of the annual audit is important to the City Council, expressing Council’s confidence in City Staff and noting this is formalized by the report which carries a great deal of weight.

Regarding the comments made in the report on cash handling, Councilman Seegers asked Mr. Savio if there is any appearance that better controls are needed. Mr. Savio stated the City does not have enough Staff to cover all things. Mr. Christensen explained noting most times there are enough employees to segregate duties, but occasionally situations may arise where the same employee must cover two functions which may not be ideal. He stated there are other controls at a higher level which mitigate this, however. In response to a question from Councilman Seegers, Mr. Savio confirmed the auditors did not observe problem areas concerning this, noting they came to an understanding of the controls that are in place and that it is only occasionally that the City is short of staff. Noting Council is not expecting Staff to solve this, Mayor Turner asked Mr. Stelford to look at this issue and investigate ways it could be minimized.

In response to a question from Mayor Turner, there were no comments forthcoming from the Public regarding the Audit.

D. Public Comments

There were no comments forthcoming from the Public.

E. Council Comments

There were no comments forthcoming from the City Council.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by, D. Flynn, second by G. Tebo, to approve the Consent Agenda.

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

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

Item D-5 – Resolution – 2022 Property Tax Levy Estimate

Councilman Tebo noted the City chose to forego taking the inflationary increase allowed by PTELL for the past 11 years. Mayor Turner confirmed this, noting, in addition, the City implemented a 10% reduction to the City’s portion of the property tax levy in 2018. He stated the City was the first governmental body in McHenry County to not take the PTELL increase.

Councilman Tebo stated this is the second year the City chose to take the PTELL increase because it is needed. Mr. Christensen noted the City did not take the entire amount that it was entitled to.

Noting the City did not take the PTELL for a very long time and also implemented a 10% reduction, Mayor Turner confirmed with Mr. Stelford that what the City has taken does not come close to the reduction. He stated the City not taking the PTELL saved City taxpayers $13 million in property taxes over this time period.

Councilman Tebo stated this does not mean everyone’s taxes will go up by the PTELL increase, but rather the City’s portion of the property tax bill will go up by the PTELL rate.

Mayor Turner stated the City must address increased costs and also prepare to remain financially stable.

There were no questions or comments forthcoming from the Public.

Mayor Turner affirmed the Consent Agenda to include items A through D-6 as follows:

A. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

October 18, 2022 City Council Minutes

B. WARRANTS: 4026 4027

C. MINUTES AND REPORTS

Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes June 2022 Police Pension Board Meeting Minutes July 2022 Arts Commission Meeting Minutes August 2022 Plan Commission Meeting Minutes August 2022 Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes September 2022 Library Board of Trustee Meeting Minutes September 2022

D. MANAGER'S REPORT NO. 214:

1. Ordinance – Rezoning of Property Located Behind 801-999 South Eastwood Drive to B3 Service and Retail District – Approval of Ordinance 22-O-56, identified as Document 1, An Ordinance Rezoning the Property 801-999 S. Eastwood Drive Identified as Tax Parcel Numbers: 13-09-152-033, 13-09-152-046, 13-09-152-047, and 13-09-152-048 to the B3 Service and Retail District.

2. Ordinance – Fence Variation for 830 Manke Lane – Approval of Ordinance 22-O 57, identified as Document 2, An Ordinance Granting a Variation to Allow a 4-Foot High Wood Fence Having Less Than 50% Open/See Through in a Side Yard Abutting a Street at 830 Manke Lane.

3. Ordinance – UDO Text Amendments Relating to Solar Farms – Approval of Ordinance 22-O-58, identified as Document 3, An Ordinance Amending Section 7B.2.34 of the Woodstock, Illinois Unified Development Ordinance Relating to Supplemental Standards for Solar Energy Farms.

4. Ordinance – Repealing the Authorization of the Execution of the Proposed Pre Annexation Agreement – Approval of Ordinance 22-O-59, identified as Document 4, An Ordinance Repealing Authorization of the Execution of the Proposed Pre annexation Agreement by and Between the City of Woodstock and Dremac, LLC.

5. Resolution – 2022 Property Tax Levy Estimate – Approval of Resolution 22-R-26, identified as Document 5, A Resolution Estimating the Calendar Year 2022 Property Tax Levy in Accordance With the Truth in Taxation Act (35ILCS 200/18/60).

6. Contract Award – Downtown Snow Removal – Award of the following contracts for Downtown Snow Removal Services during the 2022/2023 season utilizing the City’s Home Rule authority; with all contracts in accordance with submitted hourly-rate pricing and on an as-needed basis from approximately November 1, 2022 through April 15, 2023:

a) Downtown Snow Cleaning Services to Langton Group, Woodstock, IL;

b) Downtown Snow Loading Services to Gavers Excavating Inc., Woodstock, IL;

c) Downtown Snow Hauling Services to Bell Cartage, Union, IL

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

VI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Mayor Turner noted the Special Meeting to be held on Friday, November 4 at 10:00 AM in the Council Chambers for the purposes of receiving presentations from three potential developers for the Die Cast property. He described the structure of the meeting noting no decision will be made at that time. He noted the meeting will be livestreamed and archived for any members of the Council and the Public who are unable to attend. A brief discussion ensued of what information will be requested from the presenters and how it will be transmitted to the Council.

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

ADJOURN

Motion by D. Flynn, second by W. Piersall, to adjourn this regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council to a Special Meeting on Friday, November 4, 2022, at 10:00 AM in the Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall. Ayes: D. Flynn, L. Lohmeyer, W. Piersall, B. Seegers, G. Tebo, and Mayor M. Turner. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: T. Nierman. Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 PM.

https://www.woodstockil.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/45682/3._f_-_11-01-22_city_council_meeting_-_part_1_of_1_-_minutes.pdf