OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Regular Meeting - August 28, 2025

Regular Meeting of Wilmington City Council — Thursday, August 28, 2025
BodyWilmington, Delaware
SessionRegular Meeting of Wilmington City Council
DateThursday, August 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 31:01

Transcript — Verbatim
6:12

The meeting will please come to order.

6:15

Good evening, everyone.

6:16

Today is Thursday, August the 28th.

6:19

My name is Trippy Congo, President of Wilmington City Council.

6:23

And as always, on behalf of all of my colleagues, we want to thank all of you for joining us this evening.

6:28

Everyone who is here in Council Chambers and also we want to thank everyone who was with us online.

6:35

We are going to begin with an opening prayer by Mary Alina Ribera.

6:43

Heavenly Father, we have assembled to handle the affairs of our city.

6:47

As we do so, we ask for your guidance and understanding.

6:50

We pray that our city reaches a place of peace and safety.

6:54

Keep us out of harm's way and bless those who are in authority.

6:57

Let respect be key in all our endeavors.

7:29

The following legislation is going to be withdrawn by the sponsor, uh, Councilwoman Willower, a resolution in support of the Newcastle County resolution number 25-150 entitled Providing a Review of the Recent Reassessment of Newcastle County.

7:46

At this time, we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

8:29

Councilman Owens.

8:31

Councilwoman Darby.

8:36

Present.

8:37

Councilwoman Oliver.

8:39

Present.

8:40

Councilwoman Harley.

8:41

Councilwoman Willower.

8:43

Present.

8:44

Councilwoman McCoy.

8:45

Here.

8:46

Councilman Johnson.

8:47

Here.

8:48

Councilman Field.

8:49

Councilwoman Bracey.

8:54

Councilwoman Cabrera.

8:56

Councilman Hackett.

8:57

Here.

8:58

Councilman Spadola.

9:00

Present.

9:00

President Congo.

9:01

Here.

9:05

Nine present and one four absent.

9:09

Thank you.

9:09

Council members field, Harley, and Cavera did it did ask to be excused this evening.

9:16

We're gonna have the reading of the minutes of our previous meeting.

9:21

August 21st, 2025.

9:23

City Council met in regular session with remote participation on the above date at 6 33 p.m.

9:28

President Ernest M.

9:29

Conga, the second presiding.

9:31

The opening prayer was done by Mary Alina Rivera.

9:33

President move that the minutes be accepted as written.

9:36

So I give it a second.

9:37

It's been properly moved and second.

9:40

The minutes be accepted as written on the question.

9:43

All in favor signify by saying aye.

9:49

Any opposed?

9:50

Motion carried.

9:53

This time we'll have our city treasures report.

9:57

Treasurer's report, August 28th, 2025.

10:00

Total investments, 521,401,006.

10:06

Sorry.

10:19

Grand total 538 million two hundred and five thousand four hundred and fifty-eight dollars and ninety-nine cents.

10:25

Submitted city treasurer Dwayne Sims.

10:28

I move the treasury report be received, recorded, and filed.

10:31

Second.

10:33

It's been properly moved and second the report be received, recorded, and filed on the question.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████36%
Miscellaneous██████████████████████████████30%
Disability Rights█████████9%
Zoning And Land Use████████8%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Community Engagement█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Regular Meeting - August 28, 2025

The Wilmington City Council met in regular session on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 6:33 PM (start time based on prior meeting minutes) in Council Chambers, with remote participation. President Trippy Congo presided. The meeting opened with a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call. Nine council members were present; three (Councilmembers Field, Harley, and Cabrera) were excused. The treasurer reported total investments of $521,401,006 and a grand total of $538,205,458.99.

Consent Calendar

  • Reading and approval of minutes from August 21, 2025: Moved, seconded, and carried unanimously.
  • City Treasurer's Report (August 28, 2025): Moved to receive, record, and file; carried unanimously.
  • Non-legislative business: Moved to accept all non-legislative business; carried unanimously.

Recognitions & Resolutions

  • Councilmember Oliver presented a resolution recognizing the 211th August Quarterly Festival Celebration and a recognition for Katherine Parcells.
  • Councilmember Spadola recognized Greg Starr of Driven Authentic Branding Solutions.
  • Sympathy resolutions were offered for Michael and Castle (from Councilmember Cabrera), Miles Shacobi Sanders and Sarah Ann McGee, and Dominique Hebron Bates (from Councilmember Oliver).
  • A resolution in support of Newcastle County Resolution 25-150 (reassessment review) was withdrawn by sponsor Councilwoman Willower.
  • Council members joined in a birthday celebration for public commenter Deacon Earl Tate (birthday August 27).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Deacon Earl Tate: Spoke about parenting, discipline, and the role of teachers. Urged parents to teach children love and respect. No specific legislative request.
  • Sandra Barshaw (resident of The Devon, 8th district): Raised a concern that her apartment complex no longer allows batteries for her mobility device (electric wheelchair). Noted no existing city ordinance covers this issue. Requested council look into legislation to protect users of mobility devices. Council will forward her contact information to Councilmember Field.
  • Victor Cushman (resident of Henry Clay Village, 8th district, 38-year resident): Congratulated Councilmember Field on the birth of his daughter. Expressed the community's support for R1 zoning (single-family detached dwellings) and opposition to a developer's plans. Stated the developer has not met with the community since acquiring the property in November 2024. Asked council members to visit the community for a walkthrough.

Discussion Items – Legislative Business

  • Ordinance 25-045 (Sponsor: Councilmember Darby): First and second reading of an ordinance to enact a temporary moratorium on new business licenses for corner properties pending an equity impact assessment. Referred to the Community Development and Urban Planning Committee.
  • Ordinance 25-046 (Sponsor: Councilmember Oliver): First and second reading of an ordinance authorizing a three-year extension of a professional services agreement with ITRON Inc. for mobile automated meter reading operations and system maintenance. Referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee.
  • Ordinance 25-047 (Sponsor: Councilmember Fields, presented by Councilmember McCoy): First and second reading of an ordinance to rezone parcels at 1934 and 1934A Rising Sun Lane from R1 (one-family detached) to R2 (one-family detached and semi-detached). Referred to the Community Development and Urban Planning Committee.
  • Ordinance 25-048 (Sponsor: Councilmember Cabrera, presented by Councilmember McCoy): First and second reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 48 of the city code to permit commercial recreation and public assembly as a matter of right in the M1 Light Manufacturing Zoning District. Referred to the Community Development and Urban Planning Committee.

Key Outcomes

  • All three routine consent motions (minutes, treasurer's report, non-legislative business) passed unanimously.
  • Four ordinances received first and second readings and were referred to the appropriate committees for further consideration.
  • A resolution was withdrawn by the sponsor.
  • Public comments were heard; no formal council action was taken on the requests.
  • The meeting adjourned after a motion and second, with no recorded opposition.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting will please come to order. Good evening, everyone. Today is Thursday, August the 28th. My name is Trippy Congo, President of Wilmington City Council. And as always, on behalf of all of my colleagues, we want to thank all of you for joining us this evening. Everyone who is here in Council Chambers and also we want to thank everyone who was with us online. We are going to begin with an opening prayer by Mary Alina Ribera. Heavenly Father, we have assembled to handle the affairs of our city. As we do so, we ask for your guidance and understanding. We pray that our city reaches a place of peace and safety. Keep us out of harm's way and bless those who are in authority. Let respect be key in all our endeavors. The following legislation is going to be withdrawn by the sponsor, uh, Councilwoman Willower, a resolution in support of the Newcastle County resolution number 25-150 entitled Providing a Review of the Recent Reassessment of Newcastle County. At this time, we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Owens. Councilwoman Darby. Present. Councilwoman Oliver. Present. Councilwoman Harley. Councilwoman Willower. Present. Councilwoman McCoy. Here. Councilman Johnson. Here. Councilman Field. Councilwoman Bracey. Councilwoman Cabrera. Councilman Hackett. Here. Councilman Spadola. Present. President Congo. Here. Nine present and one four absent. Thank you. Council members field, Harley, and Cavera did it did ask to be excused this evening. We're gonna have the reading of the minutes of our previous meeting. August 21st, 2025. City Council met in regular session with remote participation on the above date at 6 33 p.m. President Ernest M. Conga, the second presiding. The opening prayer was done by Mary Alina Rivera. President move that the minutes be accepted as written. So I give it a second. It's been properly moved and second. The minutes be accepted as written on the question. All in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed?

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