Woodstock council adopts citywide wayfinding master plan, budgets initial funding

Mayor Turner and staff presented a detailed wayfinding master plan on May 5, 2026, and the City Council voted unanimously to adopt it as a guiding document for phased signage across Woodstock. The plan, prepared by KMA Design Group, lays out sign types, message schedules, construction specifications and a multi-phase installation strategy intended to improve visitor navigation and support downtown businesses.

Roscoe introduced the project and said the city has budgeted roughly $200,000 in the upcoming fiscal year to begin initial work. Chris Teat described the city's contractor selection and coordination with staff. Mariana Mahoney of KMA Design Group walked the council through inventory findings, sign types (primary gateway, secondary/tertiary gateways, district identification signs, pedestrian kiosks and park signage), message schedules and code considerations. David Kostick and other KMA staff emphasized that the deliverables include construction documents intended to allow fair, apples-to-apples bidding by qualified manufacturers.

Council members focused questions on phasing and cost control. Several members said the full package as presented looked expensive; KMA later showed options and value-engineering steps, including modular panels that allow sign faces to be replaced without rebuilding sign structures if branding changes. Roscoe and KMA said phases could be reordered except for certain roadway guideline phases that should proceed in sequence.

Members of the public raised questions about whether private businesses would appear on signs and asked whether the city should post notices informing the public of surveillance cameras on the square (a request that came during public comment on an unrelated agenda item). KMA staff said the plan prioritized destinations that benefit visitors and that final messaging decisions would be made before construction.

Councilman Nearman moved to adopt the plan; Councilman Seegers seconded and the resolution passed unanimously. City staff and consultants said the plan is a master planning document and does not itself commit funds beyond the amounts already budgeted; future specific purchases and construction packages will return to council as needed.

The council directed staff to return with priorities and cost breakdowns to guide which sign types to build first and to preserve flexibility for future councils. The council also asked staff and consultants to consider warranties, maintenance guidance and construction packaging that would allow competitive bidding and local manufacturer participation.

The council's action: adoption of the wayfinding master plan as a guiding document; next steps include priority-setting, phased procurement and specific budget requests for implementation.