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MINUTES
CITY OF WOODSTOCK
ARTS COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING
January 12, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the City of Woodstock Arts Commission was called to order by Chair
Anne Marie Whitmore Lenzini at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026, in the 2nd Floor
Conference Room at Woodstock City Hall.
ROLL CALL: A roll call was taken, and Chair Whitmore Lenzini confirmed a quorum was
present.
COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Bethany Fritz, John Hegner, Narayani Hiffman, Lynn
Mueffelmann, Mark Murray and Chair Whitmore Lenzini.
COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Barbara Bundick.
STAFF PRESENT: Economic Development Director Jessica Erickson, Business Development
Manager Laura Cullotta and Deputy Clerk Bernie Walker.
OTHERS PRESENT: None.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES:
Motion by J. Hegner, second by L. Mueffelmann, to accept the minutes from the December 8,
2025, Arts Commission Regular Meeting.
Ayes: B. Fritz, J. Hegner, N. Hiffman, L. Mueffelmann, M. Murray, and Chair Whitmore Lenzini.
Nays: None. Abstentions: None. Absentees: B. Bundick. Motion carried; minutes accepted.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: As a private citizen, John Hegner shared that his non-profit, Arterra
Projects, is planning a Grassroots arts festival in September or October. They will be looking for
local organizations, performers, shops, galleries, and people who will commit to a weekend, which
hopefully will become a template for events going forward. He added that they plan to achieve
their mission through collaborative projects at the crossroads of art, nature, and community.
COMMISSION COMMENTS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Donor Recognition & Naming Rights Policy
Director Erickson clarified that the City Council approved the Donation Acceptance
Policy and not the Donor Recognition Policy at their previous meeting. Business
Development Manager Laura Cullotta handed out copies of the Donation Acceptance
Policy and asked the Commission to review. She then provided an overview of the
policy, stating that it will ensure consistency, transparency, and accountability on both
sides, it applies to monetary and in-kind donations, including public art, and it protects
the city, donors, and advisory bodies.

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Woodstock Arts Commission
Regular Meeting
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Chair Whitmore Lenzini stated that most art is greater than $10,000, so it will require
Council approval, which is an extra step, and Director Erickson stated it could be a
concurrent step with City Council approving both the art and accepting the donation in
the same motion. Director Erickson confirmed that an individual donor has the option to
go through Art4Woodstock and/or directly to the City, and Manager Cullotta stated a
donor may wish to donate to Art4Woodstock for tax purposes. Manager Cullotta also
mentioned that the same type of agreement is set up with the Community Foundation;
discussion followed.
Director Erickson stated that they need to determine how donations and contributions will
be recognized as they move forward, and that they need to remain consistent, equitable,
and fair in who they are recognizing as donors and how they recognize them. Director
Erickson shared that the city is working with a consultant on the Wayfinding Master
Plan, which is a city-wide plan, and will include a monument to be used for recognition
of public art to ensure consistency. The monument will be brought to the Commission for
their feedback. Manager Cullotta shared that the Donor Recognition & Naming Rights
Policy, which is being drafted, contains the design piece for consistency as well as a
rubric for grading, which supports being fair and equitable. Manager Cullotta also asked
the Commission to forward their input to her.
2. Discussion – Defining an Arts Destination / Arts District
Director Erickson mentioned that at their last meeting, Sue Stelford stated that the
perception from artists and others outside of the community is that Woodstock isn’t ready
to be an arts destination. As a result, Director Erickson started thinking about what makes
an arts destination, how it is defined, and how we can become one, adding that we don’t
get to say we are an arts destination, but rather the outside world determines that we are
one. She believes that the City has grand visions but has not put resources behind those
visions. Director Erickson acknowledged that Woodstock is an arts-friendly community
but is not yet a true arts destination as defined by the outside world. She went on to
reference research she had done regarding arts destinations and asked the Commission to
envision what they would like people to say about Woodstock when talking about us as
an arts destination in the future.
Discussion ensued about the Old Courthouse and its lack of art, other arts destinations,
including Paducah, KY, that developed an artist relocation program, and the barriers that
prevent art from happening in Woodstock. M. Murray believes that Woodstock is at an
identity crossroads, stating we are either going to aim for and create the conditions by
which we can become an arts destination, or we’re going to preserve the historic, very
traditional Square, and that will be our identity. He went on to share about the history of
the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago, and how it is now considered a Forbes top world
community to visit for the arts. Director Erickson stated there are lots of resources
available, but we need to have an identity, a point of view, and a clear message stating
what we are trying to achieve so others will want to help us achieve it; they need to
understand their role in the bigger picture.
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Woodstock Arts Commission
Regular Meeting
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Director Erickson brought up some ideas like having a facilitated identity workshop to
figure out what our unique point of view/identity is, doing a gap analysis, putting together
a list of arts identities that Woodstock could own/claim and put some resources behind,
or perhaps we don’t want to be an arts destination, and we’d rather work on being
something else.
B. Fritz brought up the hotel that is planned to be built and asked about the hotel/motel
tax from hotel rooms and short-term rentals, and how it goes back into the community.
Director Erickson stated that the policy was written before short-term rentals existed, so it
doesn’t currently apply; however, they are planning to change the policy, which will
require Council approval. She confirmed funding will increase with the new hotel, noting
resources have to go toward tourism-related initiatives that have the potential to put
“heads in beds.” The hotel/motel tax currently funds annual grants for community events,
including Naturally McHenry County, Chamber, Opera House, Groundhog Days, Pride,
and others. There was also discussion about utilizing other resources in McHenry County
to help bring people to Woodstock. M. Murray shared that he is a commuter and feels we
are way overdue for improvements along the train line. With the Metra railyard coming
to Woodstock, there will be additional opportunities for commuter arts engagement, and
we need to be ready.
3. Discussion – Expanding Arts Commission Membership
Chair Whitmore Lenzini shared that people have expressed interest in being on the Arts
Commission, and with expected changes and future growth, she asked the Commission if
they are in favor of adding two additional members to the Arts Commission, increasing
from seven to nine members. They discussed reasons for growing the Commission, which
Director Erickson will include in her staff report to City Council.
Motion by J. Hegner, second by L. Mueffelmann, to recommend that the City Council approve
adding two additional members to the Arts Commission, increasing from seven to nine members.
Ayes: B. Fritz, J. Hegner, N. Hiffman, L. Mueffelmann, M. Murray, and Chair Whitmore Lenzini.
Nays: None. Abstentions: None. Absentees: B. Bundick. Motion carried.
4. Discussion – Woodstock Arts Portal
Director Erickson checked with Heather Arnold, Marketing Manager-Tourism at Real
Woodstock, to see how arts will be incorporated into the new website that they’re
developing and was informed that Real Woodstock will focus on art in Woodstock and
Woodstock as an arts destination, rather than items that directly support artists. Director
Ericson shared elements that could exist on Real Woodstock and others that couldn’t, like
an artist resource center, art events, and educational items like “how to” for artists. She
stated that if the Commission wants a central place for everything, they will need to look
at alternative options. Discussion ensued about the time it takes to maintain a website and
the City’s current website, and its challenges. Chair Whitmore Lenzini asked the
Commission to give more thought to this topic.
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Woodstock Arts Commission
Regular Meeting
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OLD BUSINESS:
1. Semiquincentennial Planning
M. Murray stated that the Commission he is working with is deploying money, and
planning is happening. Director Erickson stated she passed along the Commission’s
suggestions and recommendations to City staff. She also confirmed that there is a
committee that will convene groups to work collectively on planning, as the City doesn’t
have the capacity or bandwidth to do it. L. Mueffelmann feels it is an opportunity for art,
and she doesn’t believe it needs to be a city-funded event. M. Murray stated it may be
helpful to understand what they are planning so the Commission can make
recommendations to supplement/enhance their activities. Chair Whitmore Lenzini will
attempt to make calls to the schools and libraries this week to see what is being planned,
and Director Erickson will disseminate to the Arts Commission.
2. Cultural Arts Master Plan
Chair Whitmore Lenzini agreed with what Director Erickson mentioned earlier about
defining themselves, as to who they are and what they want to be and utilizing the Arts
Master Plan tools to achieve it.
L. Mueffelmann brought up a vision exercise that was facilitated by Director Erickson at
a Chamber event. Director Erickson added that the process is from Vivid Vision, and it’s a
process of not just getting to a vision statement but also talking about it from a future
state (three years out) of who you are and getting in that mindset, which makes it easier to
envision and get passionate about achieving it. Discussion ensued, and Director Erickson
offered to facilitate a visioning presentation/workshop for commissions, which she will
think about and bring a recommendation to the Arts Commission at a future date.
3. Art Fair in the Square
Chair Whitmore Lenzini stated that the art fair will be held during the first weekend of
October and that Amdur is offering ten slots for local artists at $250, half of the regular
price, which they will need to apply for. Chair Whitmore Lenzini asked the Commission
to forward the names of any local artists they would like to recommend, so she can
forward a letter to them regarding this opportunity. J. Hegner and Chair Whitmore
Lenzini mentioned taking up a fund to sponsor an artist with quality work, if they can’t
afford the booth fee. N. Hiffman asked if a booth could be split between two artists, and
Chair Whitmore Lenzini offered to find out. B. Fritz asked about providing items needed
for a booth, and Chair Whitmore Lenzini stated they could come together as a community
to help provide items, and Director Erickson referenced the “library of things,” adding
that perhaps the community could do something similar for the art fair.
STAFF REPORTS: None.
UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES: Chair Whitmore Lenzini shared that the Chamber
Community Guide will have the picture of the roundabout sculpture on the cover with a story
inside.
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Woodstock Arts Commission
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B. Fritz shared that she captured photos and video content of Bobby Joe Scribner creating the
statue and also the dedication of the sculpture, and she is looking for ideas on where it should
live once it is put together. Director Erickson recommended she talk to Heather Arnold from
Real Woodstock and also Naturally McHenry County.
J. Hegner is looking for people who are interested in participating in a Grassroots arts festival,
utilizing the 250th Anniversary themes (Power of Place, Doing History, We the People), and
asked the Commission to send people his way.
B. Fritz also shared that the Starline Factory is tentatively thinking about doing an art show with
all-female artists during the weekend of Mother’s Day, so if anyone is interested, please send
them her way.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
1. City Social Media Policy (February 2026)
2. Downtown Master Plan
3. Roundabout Art – Uniform Aesthetic Requirements
4. Artspace
5. Public Art Review & Approval Process
6. Public Art at the Library Reading Room
7. CFMC Transformational Grant
ADJOURN:
Motion by M. Murray, second by J. Hegner, to adjourn to the next regular meeting of the
Woodstock Arts Commission to be held on February 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the 2nd Floor
Conference Room at Woodstock City Hall.
Ayes: B. Fritz, J. Hegner, N. Hiffman, L. Mueffelmann, M. Murray, and Chair Whitmore
Lenzini. Nays: None. Abstentions: None. Absentees: B. Bundick. Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bernie Walker
Deputy Clerk
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