McHenry Times

City of Woodstock City Council met Feb. 7.

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, February 7, 2023, 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, Tom Nierman, Wendy Piersall, Gordon Tebo, Bob Seegers Jr., and Mayor Michael Turner.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Roscoe Stelford, Deputy City Manager/Executive Director of Strategy & Planning Paul Christensen, Executive Director of Business Development Danielle Gulli, Executive Director of Operations Christina Betz, Human Resources Director Deb Schober, Public Works Director Brent Aymond, Economic Development Director Garrett Anderson, Building and Zoning Director Joe Napolitano, IT Director Dan McElmeel, City Engineer Chris Tiedt, and City Clerk Cindy Smiley.

OTHERS PRESENT: Cultural and Social Awareness Commission member Joe Starzynski.

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

III. FLOOR DISCUSSION 

A. Proclamations 

1. Black History Month 

Without objection, the City Council approved and adopted a Proclamation Honoring Black History Month February 2023. Mayor Turner read the Proclamation for all to hear. He presented the Proclamation to Commission Liaison Deb Schober and Commission member Joe Starzynski, who thanked the City Council on behalf of the Cultural and Social Awareness Commission. Mayor Turner thanked Ms. Schober and Mr. Starzynski for their work on the Commission.

Councilman Tebo stated he is reading the 1619 Project, recommending it to others as a good read for this month.

Mayor Turner stated the City Council has a long history of being supportive of the many cultures which make up the great community of Woodstock, noting this is a source of pride.

2. Mayors' Monarch Proclamation 

Without objection, the City Council approved and adopted a Proclamation for Mayors' Monarch Pledge Day in Support of a National Wildlife Education Program.

Mayor Turner stated he became aware of the dangerous state of the Monarch butterfly and the City's efforts regarding this a year ago, inviting Ms. Betz and Mr. Aymond forward to address this. Mr. Aymond provided information regarding the City's efforts including establishing an area for Monarch plantings. Ms. Betz thanked Mayor Turner and the City, presenting him with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

C. Public Comment 

Rick Bellairs, appearing on behalf of the Groundhog Days Committee, expressed appreciation to the City for everything it did to make this year's events a rousing success. He stated the Committee heard wonderful comments from both first-time and returning attendees.

Mayor Turner expressed the City's appreciation to Mr. Bellairs, noting the role he played with the media leading up to the event. He also thanked the members of the Committee and all volunteers, stating Groundhog Days is a great event that puts Woodstock on the map.

Mayor Turner noted the presence of seven television stations and the Today Show in Woodstock for the prognostication. Ms. Gulli provided information on the media exposure Groundhog Days provided, citing the economic impact the City derived. Mayor Turner opined the level of exposure is amazing, noting it is the result of multiple years of work by the Committee and the City.

Councilman Seegers echoed the Mayor's comments, opining this event is an example of the type of thing the City Council has been encouraging to increase "the vibe" of the City. He thanked the Committee, City Staff and volunteers, and urged others to get involved.

D. Council Comment 

Councilman Flynn commended the Department of Public Works for their snow removal efforts during the recent snowstorm,

Councilman Tebo complimented and thanked Ms. Betz and Public Works Staff for the repair of the Emricson Park Fence.

Mayor Turner noted the brochure placed at the Councilmembers' places, stating it will be taken to Springfield tomorrow by Mr. Stelford and himself as part of a group from MCCG. He talked about the part this will play in the group's meetings with State legislators and the Secretary of Transportation, noting the brochure prioritizes the items that are important to the County which will be the basis of the discussions. He recognized the City's Marketing Department for creation of the brochure.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA 

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

In response to a question from Mayor Turner, the following item was removed from the Consent Agenda at the request of Council or the Public:

• Item D-4 Contract Award - Access Control - Various City Facilities by Councilman Nierman

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

Item D-1 - Ordinance – Fence Variation – 561 Fremont Street

Councilman Seegers stated he will support this request because it is inconsequential. He opined a change in view as a result of a change across the street is not a valid reason for a variation, however.

There were no comments or questions forthcoming from the Public.

There were no questions forthcoming from the Council or the Public on the motion on the table.

Mayor Turner affirmed the Consent Agenda to include items A through D-3 and item D-5 as follows:

A.  APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 

January 17, 2023 City Council Minutes

B. WARRANTS: 4037 4038 4039

C. MINUTES AND REPORTS 

Arts Commission Minutes October 26, 2022

Cultural & Social Awareness Commission Minutes November 14, 2022

Environmental Commission Minutes November 3, 2022

Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes October 11, 2022

Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes November 8, 2022

Police Pension Board Minutes January 10, 2023

Public Library Board Minutes October 13, 2022

Woodstock Police Department Monthly Report December 2022

D.  MANAGER'S REPORT NO. 219: 

1. Ordinance - Fence Variation --- 561 Fremont Street - Adoption of Ordinance 23-0- 07, identified as Document 1, An Ordinance Granting a Variation to Allow a Sixteen- foot Section of Six-foot High Privacy Fence in a Side-yard Abutting a Street at 561 Fremont Street. 

2. Ordinance - Car Wash Special Use Permit – 1260 Lake Avenue - Approval of Ordinance 23-0-08, identified as Document 2, An Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit to Allow a Car Wash at 1260 Lake Avenue, 

3. Professional Services - New Groundwater Supply Well - Approval of the Baxter & Woodman, Inc. proposal to provide engineering services for the site selection, design, and construction services of a new groundwater supply well to replace existing Groundwater Supply Well #11 at a cost not to exceed $118,700.

5. Contract Award – Sidewalk Replacement - Approval to award a contract for the 2023 Sidewalk Replacement Program (Phase I) to the lowest responsible bidder, Schroeder & Schroeder Inc., Skokie, IL, in accordance with the unit prices as submitted and for an amount not to exceed $85,395.

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

Item D-4 - Contract Award – Access Control – Various City Facilities 

Noting the item to provide video surveillance at various City facilities that is scheduled for consideration at the next meeting, Councilman Nierman opined that item and Item D-4 should be considered together as one project to save money.

Mr. Stelford noted this is a matter of timing with Mr. McElmeel stating there is a 40-week lead time for the access control hardware so Staff wished to proceed with this project as soon as possible. He stated, in addition there will be a price increase within the next two weeks which Staff wished to avoid.

Additional discussion ensued of doing these two projects separately versus as one. Mayor Turner stated his wish to spend the funds wisely. Mr. McElmeel stated doing them separately is more cost effective and the two systems can be integrated. He stated Staff is doing as much of the work on the projects as possible so there would not be economies of scale if done together and there would not be any discounts offered by the companies, explaining this further. In response to a question from Councilman Nierman, Mr. McElmeel stated Staff is comfortable that the City will not be overspending on these projects or getting inferior products. He explained the system further and why it is needed, noting the current City Hall system can no longer be supported by the vendor and the other City facilities do not have security systems.

Motion by D. Flynn, second by W. Piersall, to approve the proposal from Imperial Surveillance for a new access control system to include City Hall, Opera House, Police Department, Public Works, Recreation Center, and the Old Courthouse and Sheriff's House, and to authorize the City Manager to execute said contract for a price of $132,800.

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

VI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 

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

ADJOURN 

Motion by D. Flynn, second by L. Lohmeyer, to adjourn this regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council to the next regular meeting on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall. Ayes: D. Flynn, L. Lohmeyer, T. Nierman, W. Piersall, B. Seegers, G. Tebo, and Mayor M. Turner. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: none. Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:44 PM.

https://www.woodstockil.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/46466/city_council_minutes_2-07-23.pdf