Wilmington City Council Meeting – January 15, 2026

The Wilmington City Council held its regular meeting on January 15, 2026, with 10 members present and 3 absent. The meeting included approval of minutes, a treasurer's report showing total investments of $579,710,635.14 and cash on hand of $16,447,309.55, recognition of civil rights pioneer Lewis L. Redding, public comments on homelessness, drug use, and civil rights, and passage of a gender identity anti-discrimination ordinance. Several new ordinances and resolutions were introduced and referred to committees.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved as written by voice vote.
• Committee Report: The Finance and Economic Development Committee recommended Ordinance 25-074 (amending Chapter 35 to include gender identity as a protected class) for a vote.
• Treasurer's Report: Accepted and filed. Report showed total investments of $579,710,635.14, cash on hand of $16,447,309.55, and combined total of $596,157,944.69.
• Non-legislative Business: Accepted as a block by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Deacon Earl E. Tate (in chambers) requested the city provide trailers on land for the homeless to get them out of parks and under bridges, and also urged installation of speed bumps to slow traffic. He expressed opposition to the current presidential administration.
• Roberta Tapman (virtual, 5th District) spoke against public drug use, citing Delaware laws prohibiting public intoxication and marijuana consumption. She expressed concern over proposed House Bill 252 that would reclassify personal marijuana use, and asked council to enforce existing laws.
• Rob Bullock (in chambers) called for a shift from a "Day of Service" to a "Day of Organization" on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, urging the city to protect teaching Black history and to prepare for possible federal overreach.
• Danielle Covington (virtual, 1st District) sought clarification on the city charter provision that no more than three of four at-large council seats should belong to one party, noting that all four now belong to the Democratic Party after a recent party change. She asked how the council would address this and whether candidates who received the fourth-highest votes for Democratic seats would be considered.
• Dora Williams (in chambers) thanked Councilwoman Oliver for historical recognitions and listed numerous city issues needing council attention: homelessness, rent stabilization, energy bills, tax reassessment, water quality, data centers, healthcare dismantling, education cuts, veteran services, food safety, gun violence, and ICE enforcement. She urged action.
• Sophia Block (virtual, Innocence Project Delaware) spoke in support of council resolutions backing Senate Bills 57 and 58, which would update Delaware's post-conviction DNA testing statute and create a legal avenue for individuals convicted based on flawed forensic science to return to court. She urged council to support both.
• Luther Bunting Jr. (in chambers) criticized the city's response to homelessness, recounting a broken window incident near his home that affected his daughter. He argued that fiscal impact statements are essential for effective leadership and alleged that current homelessness services are ineffective.

Discussion Items

• Recognition Resolutions: Councilwoman Oliver sponsored a resolution honoring the legacy of Lewis L. Redding, the first African American attorney admitted to the Delaware Bar (1929) and a key figure in desegregation cases. Speakers included Mr. Evans, Harmon Carey (Afro-American Historical Society), and other community members who spoke about Redding's impact and efforts to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The resolution passed by voice vote.
• Sympathy Resolutions: Presented for David Nocho (by Councilwoman Harley), Harvey Turner Jr. and Mary E. Jones (by Councilwoman Oliver), and Carl Leon Leonarducci (by Councilman Spadola).
• Ordinance 24-074 (Gender Identity): Councilwoman Oliver presented for third reading. She noted the ordinance aligns city code with the Delaware Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act and stated it is needed to protect residents amid national targeting. Multiple council members requested to be added as co-sponsors. Passed 11-0 (two absent). Note: In the committee report, this ordinance was numbered 25-074, but during the vote it was called 24-074; the discrepancy was not addressed.
• Ordinance 26-001 (Cross-Connection Control): First and second reading to establish inspection charges under the city's cross-connection control program. Referred to Public Works and Transportation Committee.
• Ordinance 26-002 (Utility Wire Enforcement): First and second reading to empower the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections to issue civil penalties against cable and utility providers for failing to remediate wires. Referred to Public Works and Transportation Committee.
• Ordinance 26-003 (Itron Metering Contract): First and second reading to authorize an amendment to the agreement with Itron Inc. to transition from automated meter reading to advanced metering infrastructure. Referred to Public Works and Transportation Committee.
• Resolution 26-001 (A Heart for the City Grant): Councilwoman Harley presented a resolution approving a grant from council community support funds to A Heart for the City Delaware for kitchen upgrades at their dining hall to expand hot meal service. Councilmember Johnson asked whether a long-term partnership with county and state could be formed for homeless services. Harley responded the grant was one-time for kitchen compliance. The resolution passed 11-0.
• Ordinance 26-004 (Smoke Shop Moratorium): Councilmember Johnson presented a first and second reading for a temporary moratorium on new smoke shops in Wilmington. Referred to Public Safety Committee.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 24-074 (Gender Identity): Passed 11-0 with two absences. City code now includes gender identity as a protected class.
• Resolution 26-001 (A Heart for the City Grant): Adopted 11-0, releasing community support funds for kitchen upgrades at the Third and Walnut location.
• Ordinances 26-001, 26-002, 26-003, and 26-004: All passed first and second readings and were referred to appropriate committees for further review.
• Public Comments: Heard on multiple topics; no immediate council action taken on comments, though council members echoed support for Martin Luther King Jr. Day service and organizing events, and addressed homelessness concerns with updates on the temporary Christina Park encampment managed by Friendship House.