McHenry Times

City of Woodstock City Council met Oct. 1

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

A regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council was called to order by Deputy Mayor Darrin Flynn at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 in the Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall. He explained the Consent Calendar process and invited public participation. This meeting was livestreamed. 

A roll call was taken. 

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Melissa McMahon, Tom Nierman, Bob Seegers, Jr., Gordon Tebo, Natalie Ziemba, and Deputy Mayor Darrin Flynn. 

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Mayor Michael Turner 

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Roscoe Stelford, Executive Director of Strategy & Planning Paul Christensen, Building and Planning Department Director Joe Napolitano, City Planner Darrell Moore, Police Chief John Lieb, Marketing Director Heather Arnold, Economic Development Director Jessica Erickson, Grants Writer Barb Szul, and City Clerk Jane Howie. 

OTHERS PRESENT: Jackie Speciale, Plan Commission Member; Maria Andrade, Catherine Jones, and Dan Jarke, Manufacturing Pathways Consortium. 

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

III. FLOOR DISCUSSION 

Anyone wishing to address the Council on an item not already on the agenda may do so at this time. 

A. Proclamation 

1. Manufacturing Month 

Deputy Mayor Flynn asked the manufacturers in attendance to join him at the podium for the reading of the Proclamation. He shared information about manufacturing. 

Deputy Mayor Flynn read the Proclamation for all to hear, which was received with hearty applause by all in attendance. Ms. Jones accepted the Proclamation. She thanked Deputy Mayor Flynn and the City Council for their continued support of manufacturing, and she shared some information about the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium. She said she is proud to be representing the consortium, which has 92 members. She stated, "keep manufacturing strong in Woodstock!" 

Mr. Janke shared that there are tours of manufacturing plants during the month of October through the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium, 

B. Presentation 

1. International Economic Development Council - Best in Show/Gold Award Deputy Mayor Flynn shared information about the award and shared that the City of Woodstock won the gold award in July from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for Innovative Financing related to the Old Courthouse. From there, the City's project was moved along into the final running for the overall Best in Show award, the award given to the top economic development project from all IEDC-submitted nominations. Of the 14 nominees for this honor, Woodstock's project received the Best in Show award! Kudos to the City of Woodstock! 

C. Public Comments: none. 

D. Council Comments: 

Councilman Tebo mentioned that he recently took a road trip to Woodstock, Canada. He said that although their Opera House is similar to the one here, our Woodstock is so much more beautiful in comparison to many other cities. He also shared that an area he frequents often, Greenwood, SC, was hit very hard in this past week's hurricane. A brief discussion ensued pertaining to the City's emergency management plan here in our community. In response, City Manager Stelford said the Woodstock Police Department has an emergency management plan along with emergency communication via Everbridge. 

IV. CONSENT AGENDA 

Motion by Tebo, second by Nierman to approve the Consent Agenda. 

In response to a question from Deputy Mayor Flynn, no items were removed from the Consent Agenda by Council or the Public. 

In response to a question from Deputy Mayor Flynn, there were no questions forthcoming from the Council or the Public regarding items remaining on the Consent Agenda. 

Deputy Mayor Flynn affirmed the Consent Agenda to include Items A - D-2, as follows: 

A. ACCEPTANCE OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 

1. September 17, 2024 City Council Minutes 

2. September 17, 2024 City Council Executive Session Minutes

B. WARRANTS 

1. #4118 

2. #4119

C. MINUTES AND REPORTS 

1. Board of Police Commissioners Draft Minutes 

2. Community Survey Results September 9, 2024 2024 Annual Report

D. MANAGER'S REPORT NO. 257: 

1. Ordinance - Variation for Property Split - 504 W. Jackson St. / 112 Pleasant St. (257a) 

Approval of Ordinance #24-0-55 granting Variations from the Woodstock Unified Development Ordinance to allow the subject property to be split into two parcels, each with an existing Single-Family Residence at 504 W. Jackson Street/112 Pleasant Street, Woodstock, Illinois. 

2. Ordinance-TIF #3 Consultant Agreement (2576) 

Approval of Ordinance #24-0-56 of the City of Woodstock, McHenry County, Illinois providing for a Feasibility Study and Report by Teska Associates with respect to the designation of a certain area as a Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area. 

Ayes: McMahon, Nierman, Seegers, Tebo, Ziemba, and Deputy Mayor Flynn. Nays: none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: Mayor Turner. Motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda. 

V. DISCUSSION 

A. Quarterly Financial Reports - Transmittal of the following financial reports for the first  quarter of FY24/25: 

1. First Quarter Revenues and Expenditures Report; and 

2. First Quarter Investment Report. 

Executive Director Christensen said the City is holding steady on revenues. Sales taxes on a seasonal basis are up with the municipal sales tax up 4.3%, and Home Rule sales tax also being up by 4.2%. He pointed out a few more items that are included in the reports. 

VI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 

It was mentioned that the item “Contract Award - Snow Removal Services" was included on two Future Agendas. This will be corrected by staff. 

VIL ADJOURN 

Motion by McMahon, second by Nierman to adjourn this regular meeting of the Woodstock City Council to the next regular meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Woodstock City Hall. 

Ayes: McMahon, Nierman, Seegers, Tebo, Ziemba, and Deputy Mayor Flynn. Nays; none. Abstentions: none. Absentees: Mayor Turner. Motion carried. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:16 PM. 

https://www.woodstockil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10012024-315