Woodstock City Council Approves Trail Projects, Tree Fine Appeals, and Event Road Closures at February 23, 2026 Meeting

The Woodstock City Council met Feb. 23, 2026, at The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main Street, approving a wide-ranging consent agenda, conducting two public hearings on utility and development fees, and acting on a pair of zoning fine appeals involving the removal of protected trees. Council Members Brian Wolfe and David Potts were absent, as was City Manager Jeff Moon. Deputy City Manager Coty Thigpen was present in Moon's place.

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 budget amendment for parking deck patrols - be pulled from the consent agenda to be heard separately.

The remaining consent agenda items, numbered 6.1 through 6.5 and 6.7 through 6.10, were approved in a single vote. Mayor Pro Tem Ake made the motion; Council Member Tracy Collins seconded. The motion carried, with Wolfe and Potts absent.

Among the items approved in that block was Change Order #11 for the Noonday Creek Trail Extension from J.G. Leone Enterprises in the amount of $79,832. The change order funds construction of a concrete turn-up wall to protect bridge piles supporting the State Route 92 bridge over Noonday Creek. During planned excavation for the trail beneath the bridge, crews discovered that existing pile encasements did not extend far enough downward, leaving the piles exposed. The trail project engineer designed the turn-up wall as the solution, and the Georgia Department of Transportation approved the approach.

The council also approved awarding RFQ 2026-03 to Pond & Company and authorized contract negotiations for design and engineering services for a Noonday Creek Trailhead. As anticipated in preview coverage, the final contract will return to the council for approval at a future meeting.

The council ratified the previously completed acquisition of right-of-way and easements associated with Parcels 45 and 46 for the Neese Road (North) Roadway Improvement Project. The acquisition for Parcel 45 covers 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 46, the acquisition includes 5,680.74 square feet of right-of-way and 3,133.62 square feet of temporary construction easement.

Arcadis Work Authorization #58 for construction review submittals and request-for-information services related to the Towne Lake Parkway Widening project was approved 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 added costs for the CDBG Dupree Road Connection Walkable Woodstock sidewalk project. Those costs stem from unforeseen right-of-way acquisition expenses, one change order, and concrete repair work required at bridge transition points for ADA compliance.

Road closures for both the July 4th Spectacular and the Christmas Jubilee Parade of Lights on Dec. 6, 2026, were approved. 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 10:00 a.m., with road closures starting at 9:45 a.m. The Dec. 6 parade of lights begins at 5:30 p.m., with closures starting at 5:15 p.m. Roads reopen after a pass of the street sweeper at the end of each parade, per police approval.

The council also 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, along with band contracts with RCS Productions for the same series.

The surplus and trade-in of various police weapons to Smyrna Police Distributors for credit toward new equipment was also approved as part of the consent agenda.

The minutes reflect that Item 6.6 - budget amendment MAJBA JE 20763, which would authorize $20,000 from council contingency funds for dedicated 16-hour-per-week parking deck patrols, plus funding for up to 27 additional patrol hours - was pulled for separate consideration at Mayor Pro Tem Ake's request. The minutes do not record a separate vote outcome on that item in the extracted text.

The meeting opened with Boy Scout Troop 994 leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Pastor Job Dalomba of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church offering prayer. Mayor Michael Caldwell introduced Dr. John Cowan, who he said is running for the 11th District Congressional seat. Cowan addressed those in attendance and introduced himself. Caldwell encouraged residents 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.

As part of the city's annual Arbor Day Celebration, the council honored employees reaching their 20-year work anniversaries with dedicated trees. Stormwater Operations Manager Greg Roach, Fire Captain Sean Mulvihill, and Fire Captain Rodney Kendall were present to accept their recognition. 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.

During public comment, three speakers addressed the council. 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 Pro Tem Ake also read announcements, including that vendor applications for the 2026 Woodstock Farm Fresh Market are now available at visitwoodstockga.com/market. The market is scheduled to run every Saturday from April 18 through Dec. 19, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, 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.

The Woodstock Police and Fire Departments also announced the return of 'You've Been Egged!' On the evening of Saturday, April 4, officers and firefighters will deliver Easter eggs to participating residences throughout Woodstock. Residents can register at woodstockga.gov/egged by Wednesday, March 23.

The two public hearings on the Development Impact Fee Program update and proposed amendments to the city's water, sewer, and stormwater fee schedule - both previewed by Woodstock Community News ahead of the meeting - were on the agenda as scheduled. The minutes do not record detailed testimony or separate votes on those hearings in the extracted text.