Wilmington City Council Regular Meeting - October 16, 2025

The Wilmington City Council met in regular session on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 6:33 p.m. with remote participation. The meeting included recognitions, public comment, and action on multiple ordinances and resolutions, notably addressing property tax reassessment impacts, a moratorium on foreclosures, and uniformed services tax exemption.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written by voice vote.
• Three Finance and Economic Development Committee reports were received, recorded, and filed (Ordinances 25-054, 25-057, and 25-058).
• The City Treasurer's report was received and filed, showing total investments of $529,467,896.07, cash on hand of $17,074,336.72, and a grand total of $546,542,232.79.
• All non-legislative business was accepted by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Deacon Earl Tate (no district stated) thanked those who cleaned up a corner and removed glass, then urged attendees to "wake up America" concerning national leadership, opposing troop deployment in states, and calling for unity.
• Jesse Salmok (6th District, online) identified himself as a reservist in the U.S. Public Health Service and prior Army. He spoke in support of Ordinance 25-058, which exempts uniformed services from city earned income tax, noting that his branch was currently taxed while similar military branches were not. He offered to serve as a resource for uniform service legislation questions.

Discussion Items

• Recognitions: Councilwoman Cabrera recognized Angel Nieves, Giovanni Paredes, Yosmaira Ramos, and William Resto for their contributions during Hispanic Heritage Month. Councilmember Owens recognized Kofa Freeman for organizing Morovia Fashion Week USA 2025. Additional recognitions were noted for India Colon Diaz, Victor Rodriguez, Martha Morgan (46th anniversary of Morgan's of Delaware), La Faye Gallery Vision Center, Wilmington International Film Festival, and I Am My Sister's Keeper Tea Party. Sympathy resolutions were offered for Master Corporal Richard Arnold Sutton Sr., Harvey Alexander Harvey, and Richard Lamont Ellington.
• Ordinance 25-054 (sponsored by Councilmember Owens): Establishment of a temporary moratorium on foreclosures due to property tax increases as long as the owner is on a payment plan. Councilmember Darby offered a floor amendment to extend the moratorium from 12 months to 18 months, which was approved by voice vote. The ordinance passed third reading 12-1.
• Resolution 25-056 (sponsored by Councilmember Bracey): Confirmation of Mayor Carney's appointments of Rourke Moore and Doreen Robinson to the City Officer and Employee Residency Review Board. Adopted by voice vote.
• Ordinance 25-057 (sponsored by Councilmember Harley): Amendment to the FY2026 operating budget to hire consultants for interior assessments and to provide funds for low-income homeowners to appeal property assessments.Councilmember Harley offered a floor amendment to replace "interior assessments" with "the collection of data to improve the accuracy of the assessment" and to add language about facilitating low-income homeowners' participation in the appeals process. The amendment was approved by voice vote. The ordinance passed third reading 11-2.
• Ordinance 25-058 (sponsored by Councilmember McCoy): Exempting from city earned income tax the wages and compensation paid by the United States for active service in uniformed services. Councilmember McCocy noted that Jesse Salmok's public testimony helped clarify the need to include all uniform service branches. The ordinance passed third reading 11-2.
• Ordinances on first and second reading:
  • 25-060: Authorizing a communications platform agreement with Ring Central Inc. (referred to Finance and Economic Development Committee). -25-061: Amending city code to allow retired police officers to serve on the Police Pension Board(ref erred to Public Safety Committee). -25-062: Repealing the defunct Wilmington Advisory Commission on Youth and establishing the Wilmington Youth Advisory Council under City Council (referred to Health Aging and Disabilities Committee). -25-063: Requiring all legislative and administrative bodies to provide virtual participation for public meetings (referred to Finance and Economic Development Committee).

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 25-054 (Foreclosure Moratorium): Adopted with a floor amendment extending the moratorium to 18 months. Vote: 12 yays, 1 absent.
• Ordinance 25-057 (Propert Assessment Consultant and Apel Fund): Adopted with floor amendment to broaden data collection language. Vote: 11 yays, 2 absent.
• Ordinance 25-058 (Uniformed Servces Tax Exempton): Adopted. Vote: 11 yays, 2 absent.
• Reslution 25-056 (Appointments): Adopted by voice vote.
• Committee Appointments: Councilmember Darby md a motion to appoint members to the reintegration subcommittee (Tiffany Baysmore Jackson, Tisha Stewart,Joseph Connor, Steven Stockton, Evan Douglas, Quincy Thomas, Jamie Martinez, Starr Wilson, Hanif Salm).The resolution was adopted 12-1.
• Futer Actions: Four orances were introduced for first and second reading and refered to appropriate committees.