Woodstock City Council Takes Up Trash Contract, Zoning Rules and Employee Pay at March 23 Meeting

The Woodstock City Council convened for a regular session March 23, 2026, at The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main Street, taking up a consequential agenda that included a binding vote on the city's residential solid waste contract, two zoning text amendments, a cluster of Robin Court development cases and proposed revisions to the council's civility code.

Following the agenda items Woodstock Community News previewed ahead of the meeting, the evening opened with a CALEA and State Reaccreditation presentation by Police Chief Brian Aligood, recognizing the Woodstock Police Department's compliance with national and state law enforcement accreditation standards. Parks and Recreation staff followed with announcements about two upcoming community programs: a TrailStory literary walk through the Park at City Center in April featuring 'The Day the Crayons Quit,' and a Therapeutic Recreation Walk/Roll/Run Club for adults with disabilities, meeting Wednesdays at Dupree Park.

The most closely watched item of the evening was the award of RFP 2026-09 for Residential Solid Waste Collection and Recycling Services. As previously reported, council had narrowed the field from seven bidders to two finalists at its March 16 work session - Waste Management and Red Oak Sanitation - and directed staff to bring both options back for a binding vote. Official minutes were not available at the time of publication, and Woodstock Community News was unable to confirm which company was selected, the vote tally or the terms of the award. A finalized contract was expected to return to council at a future meeting before taking effect.

Two updates to the city's Land Development Ordinance were also on the agenda. ZTA#022-26 would allow the Development Process Committee to approve fences located within zoning buffers administratively, bypassing the full variance process. ZTA#021-26 would update use standards and density allowances for the General Commercial Village Mixed-Use zoning district, which governs much of the walkable, mixed-use development along and near Main Street. Because official minutes were not available, Woodstock Community News could not confirm the outcome of either vote.

Three Robin Court-area cases were scheduled as public hearings. CUP#093-25 at 706 Robin Court and V#220-25 at 704 Robin Court had both been recommended for remand to the Planning Commission following updated site designs that introduced new entitlement questions for a proposed single-family residential development. The third case, V#219-25 at 702 Ravenwood Drive, asked council to approve a variance allowing encroachment and limited disturbance within a 75-foot impervious stream setback and a 50-foot undisturbed stream buffer, subject to staff-recommended conditions. Vote outcomes and any public testimony on these cases could not be confirmed pending release of the official minutes.

The consent agenda included several items with meaningful implications for city employees and infrastructure. Council was set to consider a merit pay increase for eligible city employees, effective the first full pay period in April, along with a related budget amendment, MAJBA JE 20927, to authorize the funding. A separate amendment, MAJBA JE 20884, would cover additional overtime costs in the Public Works Street Division through the end of the fiscal year. Also on the consent agenda: an intergovernmental agreement with Cherokee County for a Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant resurfacing project; a budget amendment, MAJBA JE 20921, to fund construction of the Goshen Lane Extension under a developer's agreement approved March 9; a work authorization for engineering firm Arcadis to provide construction review and request-for-information services on the Neese North project through July 31, 2026, at a cost not to exceed $10,000; and an amendment to a sewer easement with SSP Woodstock, LLC, the owner of the Woodstock Mill shopping center site, to reflect a modification following a sewer line relocation approved in October 2025. Whether any items were pulled from the consent agenda for separate discussion could not be confirmed.

Under new business, council was scheduled to consider proposed revisions to Section 000-0002 of the Council Policy Manual - the Civility Code governing conduct at council meetings and in official city business - and to vote on whether to waive the public input meeting requirement for a street frontage variance sought by Paragon Accounting at 9026 Main Street. Staff had recommended the waiver, citing the city's interest in maintaining right-of-way design continuity along Main Street. Outcomes on both items were not available at publication time.

Official minutes for the March 23 meeting had not been released at the time this story was published. Woodstock Community News will update this report when the minutes become available. Residents can review agenda materials and future minutes at woodstockga.granicus.com.