Good evening, everyone.

Today is Thursday, September the 4th.

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

On behalf of all of my colleagues, we just want to thank everyone who is listening, everyone who is watching, and those of you who are in council chambers.

We are going to begin with our opening prayer by Mary Alina Rivera.

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.

Amen.

And now we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilman Owens.

Councilwoman Darby.

Councilwoman.

Councilwoman Oliver.

Present.

Councilwoman Harley.

Present.

Councilwoman Willower.

Councilwoman McCoy.

Here.

Councilman Johnson.

Councilman Field.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Here.

Councilwoman Cabrera.

President.

Councilman Hackett.

Councilman Spadola.

President Congo.

Here.

Ten president and three absent.

Thank you, Councilmembers.

Feel Johnson and Willow.

Did I ask to be excused this evening?

From our previous meeting.

August 28th, 2025.

City Council met in regular session with remote participation on the above date at 6 31 p.m.

Apprentice.

President Ernest M.

Congo the second presiding.

Mr.

President, I make a motion to approve the minutes as written.

It's been properly moved and seconded the minutes be accepted as written on the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carry.

Now we'll have our city treasurer's report.

September 4th, 2025.

Total investments 52 million, 544, 689 dollars and eighty-two cents.

Total cash on hand, 15 million fifty-six thousand nine hundred and sixty dollars and eleven cents.

Grand total 537 million six hundred and one thousand six hundred and forty-nine dollars and ninety-three cents.

Submitted city treasurer Dwayne Sims.

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

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

Also, just as a public note for any public comment for anyone who is virtual, there is a Google form.

And public comment will take place after non-legislative business.

I will accept the motion to move to accept all non-legislative business.

So it's been probably moved in second to accept all non-legislative business on the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

All right, we're gonna have uh our recognition resolutions from Councilmember Kabera.

She would like to recognize Katherine Ingram, who is the author of It's In You, The World Is Waiting from Councilmember Harley.

She would like to recognize Martha Morgan on her 46th year anniversary of Morgan's of Delaware.

And from Councilman Owens, he would like to recognize Monrovia Fashion Week USA 2025.

In the way of sympathy resolutions from Council Woman Cavera, a sympathy resolution for Fred Pienny.

And a sympathy resolution for John J Mink from Councilmember Spadola, a sympathy resolution for John Dana Stant.

And it does include our sympathy resolutions.

Thank you for joining us, Deacon Tate.

Good evening.

My name is Degan Earl E.

Tate, who's never late because he done wanna lose his parole at skates.

And I'm here and I'm and I'm here to say about this is it.

Uh last night, last night around my way.

There was there was this crazy driver coming up, coming up Jessup Street.

He was drunk as a skunk.

And he was out there driving fast as could be, not caring about anybody.

Not even caring about himself.

He ran into plenty of cars and everything, knocked poles down, hit hit fence, hit fences, knocked it down, and everything.

And he almost and he almost hit one of my neighbors.

Putting up the stop sign and everything is good.

But but we still need we still need something else to slow these people down.

Because before you hit the toll booth, they had this little to slow you down.

Slow you down.

That's all we asked for is to put some of them in some of the places around the city.

So it could slow these people down.

So the so the people so that the kids and adults will be here tomorrow to see another day.

Because with the way that they've been driving, uh uh uh not many.

Uh uh, if they keep this up, that they're not gonna be many kids, many kids, no adults around.

So we got so we got the we got the slide.

We got we got to stop and take a look.

Not only look, but see and hear and speak up, speak up and do something and do something about it because if it if the county could have speed pumps put out there, we we we got to have something put here in certain areas and certain areas.

We're not asking you to put them all over all over the town.

We have you we ask you to put it in certain areas, certain areas to slow these people down because we want we want to live and we want we want to see our children grow up nice and big and strong.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And virtually we have Christina Kelly.

Thank you for joining us.

Good evening, and thank you for an opportunity to speak.

Um, I would like to speak today about um the recent news articles about um the January shooting of Calvin Warren.

Um, I'm here today because the recent shooting demands accountability.

Um, Mr.

Warren stated he did not know the unmarked SUVs approaching him were even police vehicles.

That confusion happens all too often and alone should raise serious alarms about current policing tactics and the policies.

This body has the power to oversee.

City council is not just a budgetary body, it is an oversight body.

You have both the authority and the responsibility to hold the Wilmington Police Department accountable when their actions put lives at risk.

This means depending train demanding transparency about the use of unmarked vehicles, ensuring clear identification protocols are followed, and convening independent review processes when tragedies like this occur.

And let's be clear Wilmington already has a police accountability board on the books, but it has yet to meet.

That in action alone sends a message to the public that accountability is optional when in fact it must be a priority.

This council has the ability to change that to activate the board and to demonstrate to residents that oversight structures are not just symbolic but real.

Without council's leadership, the community is left with unanswered questions, eroding trust in both law enforcement and city government.

Accountability cannot be optional.

It is necessary to protect residents and rebuild confidence in our public institutions.

I urge this council to exercise its oversight authority, call for a full and independent review of this incident, and ensure WPD's policies and practices put public safety first.

Wilmington deserves a police department that operates transparently and a council that stands up for people.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That does conclude public comment.

We want to thank everyone who we did speak this evening.

As always, you'll you're always welcome to speak at all of our official city council meetings every first and third Thursdays of the month.

Now we will move to legislative business.

Councilmember Darby.

Yes, Mr.

President, I have an ordinance to present and call for the first and second reading.

Ordinance number 25-049, agenda number 0103, an ordinance to amend chapter 48 of the city code to require applicants appearing before the zoning board of adjustment or the design review and preservation commission to notify neighborhood planning councils and/or civic associations.

First reading of the ordinance.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Second.

That be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and referred to the community development and urban planning committee.

Mr.

President, I have an ordinance to present and call for the first and second reading.

Ordinance number 25-050, agenda number 0104.

An ordinance to amend chapter 48 of the city code to require applicants seeking building demolition or minor or major waterfront development projects to notify affected city council members.

An ordinance to amend chapter 48 of the city code to require applicants seeking building demolition or minor and or major waterfront development projects to notify affected city council members.

Second reading of the ordinance.

I move that be known as the first to second reading of the ordinance and refer to community development urban planning committee.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second that be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and referred to the community development and urban planning committee.

Yeah, Mr.

President, I have an ordinance to present and call for the first and second reading.

Um just want to make a note.

Those two items are going to the planning commission.

Okay, thank you.

Ordinance number 25-051, agenda number 0105, an ordinance to amend chapter two of the city code to expand the qualifications of members of the Wilmington Community Police Accountability Board and increase compensation for board members.

First reading of the ordinance.

An ordinance to amend chapter two of the city code to expand the qualifications of members of the Wilmington Community Police Accountability Board and increase compensation for board members.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Mr.

President, I move that be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and refer it to the public safety committee.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded that be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and referred to the public safety committee.

Councilmember McCoy.

Mr.

President, I have an ordinance to present and call for the first and second reading.

Ordinance number 25-052, agenda number 0106.

An ordinance to authorize and approve two one-year extensions of contract 26008 PD police clothing between the City of Wilmington and McDonald Uniforms Company Inc.

First reading of the ordinance.

An ordinance to authorize and approve two one-year extensions of contract 26008 PD police clothing between the City of Wilmington and McDonald Uniforms Company Inc.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Nothing tonight, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilmember Darby.

Nothing tonight, um, Council President.

Thank you, Councilwoman Oliver.

Yes, Mr.

President.

First, I'd like to thank all my um city council members who contributed towards the um Millie Cannon concert.

It was a very successful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes, Mr.

President.

I got two quick announcements.

Um, one, uh, the blonde uh mansion weekend is going to be uh this Friday and Saturday, September the 5th and 6th.

Um it's all about culture, connection, and community is two days of uh blondie mansion.

Um is located on two 200 West Ninth Street, right there on 9th and Orange.

The doors open at 7 o'clock PM, and it actually starts at 8.

It's going to be live music, the spoken word, and they're going to have light bites.

So Sarah Crawford, um, she is behind Blonde Mansion.

It's going to be uh uh two days of of uh live music again, performances and some workshops um on Saturday.

And then the second announcement is that um Naj and Jay are going to have their fourth annual block party on Saturday, September the 6th, starting at 7.30 from 7.30 to 10.

This is their fourth annual.

They're going to have a full ban, and of course, Naj and Jay are going to be doing live performances last year.

It was a lot of fun.

And I just want to encourage everyone to just share um the information.

We have our arts community trying to organize and plan um different events for our communities and neighborhoods, and so let's encourage our constituents to go out and to participate.

That's all I have, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilwoman McCoy.

Uh, yes, Mr.

President.

I actually have two um meetings coming up.

I have the Browntown Civic Association meeting.

That community meeting is going to be on Wednesday, September 10th.

It is from 6 to 8 p.m.

The location is the local fire hall, 1590 at 804 Maryland Avenue.

That is a meeting that goes on regularly, monthly, and it's usually the second Wednesday of every month.

The other meeting is the Hedgeville Civic Association.

The meeting normally starts at 6 30 and lasts till 8 p.m.

Also, um, I just want to say, you know, state that uh thank everyone for reaching out to me about you know making me aware of what it happened in my district on Labor Day.

It is a sad, sad day as we're seeing some of our people still having um issues and unable to resolve those issues that lead to gunplay.

And I just hope that we are praying for not only just their families, but these young people that they'll figure out a way to not have to go that route.

So I do want to thank all my council members for reaching out and making me aware that they were thinking about me.

Thank you, Councilwoman Bracey.

Nothing tonight, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilwoman Cabrera.

Councilman Hackett.

Councilman Spadola.

Nothing tonight, Council President.

I'm here, Mr.

President.

Yes, yes, thank you.

I'm sorry, I could not get to the mute button fast enough.

Um, I just want to remind people that as we're entering into the kickoff for Hispanic Heritage Month, which is September 15th.

Um, it starts with tomorrow at 11 30 a.m.

the Latin American Community Center.

Uh City Council will read um resolution starting with the proclamation of Hispanic Heritage Month.

In addition, want to remind folks that not this weekend, but the following weekend, September 14th, uh, they will have the Calle Quattro Hispanic Day celebration.

It starts with a parade at 1 p.m.

that starts on Union and 4th Street, coming all the way down to Jackson Street.

Feel free to come out, friends, family, anywhere along the parade route to watch and cheer people on.

In addition, there will be uh a short festival right after uh the parade until I believe it's till 7 p.m., 6 p.m.

uh right there on 4th Street, uh, where the parade ends.

So we welcome everyone to come out, enjoy the food, enjoy the music, uh, enjoy the beautiful culture uh as we always love to share our heritage with others and welcome all.

Um and there will be other activities um that'll announce at the upcoming meetings.

We just want to make sure that people partake of that.

And um a very well-attended and successful event that takes place here in Wilmington is the Brandywine Arts Festival, and that's happening this Saturday and Sunday at Brandywine Park.

Again, a great family event to bring, you know, the whole family.

There'll be a lot of uh original artwork from different artisans, amazing food.

Um, so it's gonna be a lovely weekend, two lovely weekends in Wilmington.

So inviting all our residents and others to spread the word to come out and enjoy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I would like to uh to announce our third annual Black Restaurant Week is going to start on September 28th, going through October the 5th.

The culminating event is going to be our Black Food Festival, which is going to be October the 5th from 12 to 5.

This is a free event.

It's going to take place at the Queen 500 North Market Street.

There will be a celebrity chef appearance, food tasting DJ and student cookoff.

For more information, please call us at City Council 302-576-2140.

I want to thank everyone who joined us.

Again, if we can help you in any way, please call our our city council office.

Again, our number is 302576-2140.

With that, I will accept a motion to adjourn.

Still moved.

Second.

It's been popular moved and second to adjourn.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried, meeting adjourned.

Thank you, everyone.