Woodstock City Council Approves Trail Funding, Tree Fine Amendments, and Event Permits at February 23, 2026 Meeting

The Woodstock City Council met Feb. 23, 2026, at The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main Street, approving a broad consent agenda that included trail infrastructure funding, road closure permits for two major city events, and a budget amendment for parking deck patrols - while also taking up two zoning fine appeals involving protected tree removals under new business.

Following the agenda items Woodstock Community News previewed ahead of the meeting, the council moved through most business as anticipated, with one notable procedural adjustment: Mayor Pro Tem Colin Ake requested that Item 6.6 - the surplus and trade-in of various police weapons to Smyrna Police Distributors - be pulled from the consent agenda and heard separately.

Council Members Brian Wolfe and David Potts were absent from the meeting. City Manager Jeff Moon was also absent. Deputy City Manager Coty Thigpen attended in Moon's place.

The meeting opened with Boy Scout Troop 994 leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Pastor Job Dalomba of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church offering a prayer. Mayor Michael Caldwell then introduced a special guest, Dr. John Cowan, who is running for the 11th District Congressional seat. Cowan addressed the group and introduced himself. Caldwell encouraged those present to take time to get to know the candidates running for the seat.

Mayor Caldwell recognized Denise Leak and Pam Dover from the Hightower Trail Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution for their work promoting National Reading Month. The council also formally recognized Boy Scout Troop 994.

As part of the city's annual Arbor Day Celebration, Caldwell honored city employees who reached their 20-year work anniversaries, with a dedicated tree planted in each honoree's name. Stormwater Operations Manager Greg Roach, Fire Captain Sean Mulvihill, and Fire Captain Rodney Kendall were present to accept their recognition in person. Fire Captain Kerry Vanderpool, Master Firefighter Bobby Dean, and Fire Sergeant Jordan Carter were also honored. Fire Battalion Chief Shane Tetterton, who is marking 30 years of service, was not present and will be recognized at the March 9 council meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem Ake read the meeting announcements, which included notice that vendor applications for the 2026 Woodstock Farm Fresh Market are now open at visitwoodstockga.com/market. The market is scheduled to run every Saturday from April 18 through Dec. 19, 2026, with hours from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The market will be located on Market Street, Elm Street, and in Reformation Brewery's backyard in Downtown Woodstock. Vendors will be approved based on quality and fit, not on a first-come basis, with approvals beginning in March.

Ake also announced the return of the 'You've Been Egged!' program, a joint effort by the Woodstock Police and Fire Departments in which officers and firefighters will deliver Easter eggs to participating residences on the evening of Saturday, April 4. Residents can register at woodstockga.gov/egged by Wednesday, March 23.

Three members of the public signed up to speak during the public comment period. Martha Jean Schindler spoke about concerns regarding transparency and ICE. Chris Rogers and Michael Daniel spoke about the future of Cardinal Woods. Gopi Govindaraj spoke about the Comprehensive Transportation Plan, TSPLOST, and trees. Mayor Caldwell closed the public comment period following those remarks.

On the consent agenda, Mayor Pro Tem Ake made a motion to approve Items 6.1 through 6.5 and 6.7 through 6.10, with Item 6.6 - the police weapons surplus and trade-in - pulled for separate consideration. Council Member Tracy Collins seconded the motion. The motion carried, with Council Members Wolfe and Potts absent.

Among the items approved in that block: the council awarded RFQ 2026-03 to Pond & Company for design and engineering services for a Noonday Creek Trailhead, with the final contract to return to the council at a future meeting. The council also approved Change Order #11 for the Noonday Creek Trail Extension from J.G. Leone Enterprises in the amount of $79,832. As Woodstock Community News previously reported, the change order funds construction of a concrete turn-up wall to protect bridge piles supporting the State Route 92 bridge over Noonday Creek, after trail excavation revealed that existing pile encasements did not extend far enough downward. The solution was approved by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The council ratified the acquisition of right-of-way and easements associated with Parcels 45 and 46 for the Neese Road (North) Roadway Improvement Project. The acquisition includes 473.23 square feet of right-of-way, 1,343.43 square feet of permanent drainage easement, and 1,278.62 square feet of temporary construction easement for Parcel 45, along with 5,680.74 square feet of right-of-way and 3,133.62 square feet of temporary construction easement for Parcel 46.

The council approved Arcadis Work Authorization #58 for construction review submittals and request-for-information services related to the Towne Lake Parkway Widening project, at a cost not to exceed $10,000, covering the period from Feb. 11 to June 1, 2026.

Budget Amendment MAJBA JE 20738 was approved, recognizing additional Tax Allocation District revenue and transferring it to SPLOST VII to cover additional costs for the CDBG Dupree Road Connection Walkable Woodstock sidewalk project. Those added costs stem from unforeseen right-of-way acquisition expenses, one change order, and concrete repair work required at bridge transition points for ADA compliance.

Budget Amendment MAJBA JE 20763 was also approved, authorizing $20,000 from council contingency funds to provide dedicated 16-hour-per-week patrols of the city's parking deck, with funding for up to 27 additional patrol hours if needed.

The council approved alcoholic beverage caterer permits for Collegiate Concessions dba Premier Events for the 2026 Summer Concert Series, scheduled for May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, and Sept. 12, 2026. Band contracts with RCS Productions for the same series were also approved.

Road closures were approved for both the July 4th Spectacular and the Christmas Jubilee Parade of Lights on Dec. 6, 2026. Closures include Main Street and Rope Mill Road, from Woodstock Elementary School at 230 Rope Mill Road to Highway 92, as well as East Main Street in front of The Park at City Center, for both events. The July 4th parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., with road closures starting at 9:45 a.m. The Dec. 6 Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., with closures beginning at 5:15 p.m. Roads reopen after a pass of the street sweeper at the end of each parade, per police approval.

The minutes do not include the outcome of Item 6.6 - the police weapons surplus and trade-in - or the results of the two zoning fine appeals involving Roger Connett at 308 Winchester Way and Alejandro Petz at 142 Bentley Parkway, as the available minutes excerpt ends before those items were recorded. Woodstock Community News will update coverage as additional information becomes available.

The next regular Woodstock City Council meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2026, at which Fire Battalion Chief Shane Tetterton will receive his 30-year service recognition.