Wilmington City Council Meeting – September 18, 2025
Wilmington City Council Meeting – September 18, 2025
The Wilmington City Council met on September 18, 2025, at 6:32 PM with 7 members present and 6 absent. The meeting opened with a prayer and pledge, followed by approval of previous minutes, committee reports, treasurer's report, recognitions, public comment, and unanimous passage of multiple bond ordinances, a zoning ordinance, and several grant resolutions.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of September 4, 2025, were approved unanimously.
- Six Finance and Economic Development Committee reports were received, recorded, and filed, covering ordinances to issue bonds for wastewater treatment plant substation #3 replacement ($9.966M), digester #4 rehabilitation, primary clarifier #1 rehabilitation, PFAS removal phase III, lead removal phase III (4–5 miles of water main, $10M), a general obligation bond for various capital projects (up to $50M aggregate), and a three-year professional services extension with Itron Inc. for automated meter reading operations and system maintenance ($450,000). All reports were approved by voice vote.
- The Treasurer’s report (total investments $534,930,212.34; cash $14,414,455.90; grand total $549,344,668.24) was received, recorded, and filed.
- Non-legislative business was accepted unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Deacon Earl Tate urged the city to reinstate after‑school recreation programs, citing their role in keeping children safe and teaching respect for property. He also called for traffic enforcement to slow drivers and ensure compliance with stop signs.
Recognitions & Sympathy Resolutions
- The council adopted two recognition resolutions:
- Out & About Magazine (Julie and Jerry) for 20 years of promoting Wilmington’s restaurant week and other events, including the 2025 City Restaurant Week (21 restaurants, over 17,000 diners). Council members praised their contributions to small businesses and community pride.
- Jameer Still-Stanford for his work as a social media influencer highlighting local businesses and community events. Multiple council members noted his role as a mentor and scholarship recipient.
- Three sympathy resolutions were presented (no further action needed): for Benita E. Finney, Jerome R. Campbell, Ruth Louise Fair, and Basil Bataglia.
Legislative Business: Ordinances & Resolutions
Bond Ordinances (Third Reading – All Approved 8–0)
- Ordinance 25‑038 – Authorizes $9,966,000 in general obligation bonds (Series A 2025 WPCRF) to replace substation #3 at the wastewater treatment plant, including new duct bank, conductors, fiber optics, motor control centers, and demolition of old equipment. Councilman Hackett noted the equipment was nearly 13 decades old. Councilwoman Oliver emphasized the overdue need. Passed.
- Ordinance 25‑039 – Authorizes bonds for digester #4 rehabilitation (concrete, piping, electrical, foam suppressant, new cover). Councilwoman Oliver reiterated the age of equipment. Passed.
- Ordinance 25‑040 – Authorizes bonds to rehabilitate primary clarifier #1 (concrete repairs, clarifier mechanism, weirs, baffles, walkway). Passed.
- Ordinance 25‑041 – Authorizes bonds for PFAS removal phase III (design/construction of transfer pump station) to comply with federal mandates. Councilman Owens added as co-sponsor, citing toxicity and health risks. Passed.
- Ordinance 25‑042 – Authorizes up to $10 million in bonds for replacement of 4–5 miles of old cast‑iron water mains (lead removal phase III). Councilman Owens highlighted lead’s harm to children; Councilwoman Bracey noted these projects keep water safe and avoid crises like Flint. Councilwoman Willower emphasized proactive replacement to prevent breaks. Councilwoman Oliver also co-sponsored. Passed.
- Ordinance 25‑043 – Authorizes up to $50 million aggregate principal amount of general obligation bonds to finance capital projects (fiscal years 2024 and 2026) and refund outstanding debt. Councilman Owens stressed importance for neighborhood stabilization, park improvements, street paving ($7 million allocated). Councilwoman Oliver and Councilwoman Willower praised sidewalk and street repairs. Passed.
Zoning Ordinance (First and Second Reading)
- Ordinance 25‑053 – To rezone six parcels near Lobdell, Bradford, A, and Goodman Streets from R‑3 (row houses) to M‑1 (light manufacturing). Referred to Community Development and Urban Planning Committee.
Resolutions (All Approved 8–0)
- Resolution 25‑050 – Grant of $5,700 from beautification funds to Byrd Square Civic Association. Approved.
- Resolution 25‑051 – Accepts a grant of over $370,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to support the Wilmington Police Department’s violent crime reduction efforts (overtime, additional beats, community engagement teams). No matching funds required. Approved.
- Resolution 25‑052 – Accepts a $59,000 grant for police training (patrol, investigator, specialized units). Councilman Owens asked about trauma‑informed training; President Congo noted such training could be pursued. Councilwoman Oliver urged officers to engage more visibly with residents. Approved.
- Resolution 25‑053 – Accepts approximately $32,000 for drug interdiction activities. Councilman Johnson noted the grant is for targeted drug crime enforcement. Approved.
- Agenda item 0112 (unread) was held to the October 2, 2025, meeting.
Petitions, Communications & Announcements
- Councilwoman Oliver announced a Northeast cleanup day (Oct 1, Stanford/Howard High with Roberts Legal Group), a gun‑lock giveaway at Hope Commission (Oct 20, 12:30–3:00 PM), and a press conference on fentanyl issues at 10th & Clifford Brown Walk (Sept 25).
- Councilwoman Harley announced HBCU Week Gospel Brunch (Sept 21, 2–4 PM, The Queen) and Black Restaurant Week (Sept 28–Oct 5).
- Councilwoman Willower thanked volunteers for the 49th Hispanic Parade & Festival (next year is 50th).
- Councilman Johnson reported on a Pennsylvania Avenue corridor community meeting; traffic calming petitions are now online (city roads only).
- Councilwoman Bracey promoted AIDS Walk (Sept 20, Brandywine Park), Soul of the City Festival (Sept 20, Market Street), and a Reading Consortium community event (Sept 27, Warner Elementary).
- Councilman Hackett announced Black Food Festival (Oct 5, The Queen) and an educator appreciation night (Oct 3).
- President Congo reminded families about the HBCU college fair (Sept 26, Chase Fieldhouse, registration with GPA requirement) and Wilmington City Council scholarships for all ages and trade schools.
Key Outcomes
- All six bond ordinances were enacted on third reading (8 yes, 5 absent).
- One zoning ordinance advanced to committee on first/second reading.
- Four grant resolutions were adopted unanimously.
- Two recognition resolutions and three sympathy resolutions were approved.
- The meeting adjourned at an unspecified time.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, Wilmington. This is the council meeting for September 18, 2025. The meeting will please come to order. We will have the opening prayer by Marilena 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. At this time, we'll recite the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Councilman Owens. Councilwoman Darby. Councilwoman Oliver. Present. Councilwoman Harley. Present. Councilwoman Willower. Councilwoman McCoy. Here. Councilman Johnson. Here. Councilman Field. Councilwoman Bracey. Here. Councilwoman Cabrera. Councilman Hackett. Here. Councilman Spadola. President Congo. Seven present and six absent. Thank you. And if we can have the reading of the minutes. September fourth, twenty twenty-five. City council met in regular session with remote participation on the above date at six thirty-two PM. President Ernest M. Congo, the second presiding. The opening prayer was done by Mary Alena Rivera, Deputy City Clerk. I move the minutes to be received, recorded, and filed. It's been properly moved and seconded. On the question, all those in favor signify by saying aye. And do we have any committee reports? September third, 2025. President and members of City Council, ladies and gentlemen, we are finance and economic development committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who was referred ordinance number 25-038 entitled an ordinance authorizing the issuance of the city's general obligation bond wastewater treatment plant substation number three replacement project series A of 2025 WPCRF in order to provide the city's wastewater treatment the funds necessary for one the replacement of the substation number three at the city's wastewater treatment plant, number two, a new duct bank, three conductors, four fiber optic cables, five new motor control centers, six the replacement of TCB power centers number five and number six, and seven, the demolition and disposal of existing power equipment providing for the sale of the 2025 A bond to the Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund and authorizing other necessary action. Have given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting. Respectfully submitted members of the finance and economic commit committee meeting. Those members present, Councilwoman Harley, Councilwoman Bracey, Councilman Hackett, Councilman Spadola, President Congo, absent with leave, Councilwoman Darby, Councilwoman Oliver. I move the committee report BBC recorded and filed. Second.
openpublica.com