Good evening.

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

At this time we will begin the meeting.

Good evening again.

Today is Thursday, March the fifth.

I'd like to to welcome everyone who has joined us here in Council Chambers, as well as everyone who is with us virtually.

Anyone who is with us virtually, there is a Google form sign up link in the chat.

us virtually there is a Google form sign up link in the chat public comment will take place at the non-legislative business and now we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance Clerk please call the roll councilman Owens present councilwoman Darby Present Councilwoman Oliver Councilwoman Harley Present Councilwoman Willower present councilwoman McCoy here councilman johnson here councilman field councilwoman Bracey Councilwoman Cabrera here councilman hackett councilman spidola president congo here eight present and five absent thank you council members um bracey and field did ask to be excused this evening councilmember spidola said he will be here but he's running late at this time we'll have the reading of the minutes from our previous meeting February 19 2025 city council met in regular session with remote participation on the above date at 6 32 p.m president ernest m congo the second presiding the opening prayer was done by Mary Elena Rivera President I move that the minutes be received as written second it's been properly moved and second that the minutes be accepted as written on the question all in favor signify by saying aye aye any opposed motion carried and now we will have our committee reports February 18 2026 ladies and gentlemen we are community development and urban planning committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who was referred ordinance number 26-013 entitled an ordinance to authorize and approve a one year extension of contract two six zero one l i vacant property services between the city of wilmington and RNA contractors LLC Mr President given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting respectfully submitted those members of the community development and urban planning committee mr president I move the committee report be received recorded and filed okay it's been properly moved and second the report be received recorded and filed on the question all in favor signify by saying aye aye aye any opposed motion carried March 2nd 2026 ladies and gentlemen we your finance and economic development committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who was referred ordinance number 26-015 entitled an ordinance constituting amendment number two to the fiscal year 2026 annual operating budget being an ordinance to amend substitute number one to ordinance number 25-009 have given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting respectfully submitted those members of the finance and economic development committee those members present councilwoman harley councilwoman bracey councilwoman darby councilman hackett councilwoman oliver councilman spidola and president congo i move the committee report be we see recorded and filed second it's been properly moved and second that the report be received recorded and filed on the question all in favor signify by saying aye aye aye any opposed motion carried march third 2026 ladies and gentlemen we are public works and transportation committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who was referred ordinance number 25-064 entitled an ordinance to authorize and approve a network as a service agreement between the city of Wilmington and Delmarva Power and Light Company have given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting those members present councilwoman oliver councilman field councilman owens councilwoman willower president congo and absent with leave councilman johnson I move the committee report BBC recorded and filed second it's been properly moved and second the report be received recorded and filed on the question all in favor signify by saying aye aye any opposed motion carried March 6 2026 ladies and gentlemen we your public works and transportation committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who is referred ordinance number 26-001 entitled an ordinance to amend chapter 45 of the city code to establish charges for inspections made pursuant to the city of wilmington cross control program have given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting those members present councilwoman oliver councilman field councilman owens councilwoman willauer president congo absent with leave councilman johnson I move the committee report bbc recorded and filed second it's been properly moved and second the report be received recorded and filed on the question all in favor signify by saying aye aye any opposed motion carried march third twenty twenty six ladies and gentlemen we are public works and transportation committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who is referred ordinance number 26-003 entitled an ordinance to authorize and approve the first amendment to a provided

I move the committee report BBC recorded and filed.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded the report B received recorded and filed.

On the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

March 3rd, 2026, ladies and gentlemen, we are public works and transportation committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who is referred ordinance number 26-003 entitled an ordinance to authorize and approve the first amendment to a professional services agreement between the city of Wilmington and I tron Inc.

for mobile automated meter reading operations and system maintenance to transition from automated meter reading to advanced metering infrastructure.

Have given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting.

Respectfully submitted those members of the public works and transportation committee.

Those members present, Councilwoman Oliver, Councilman Field, Councilman Owens, Councilwoman Willower, President Congo, and absent with leave, Councilman Johnson.

I move the committee report be received recorded and filed.

So it's been properly moved and seconded the report be received recorded and filed.

On the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Motion carried.

March 3rd, 2026.

Ladies and gentlemen, when your public works and transportation committee met by anchor location and remove participation to who is referred ordinance number 26-014 entitled and ordinance to authorize and approve the first amendment to an agreement for water and sewer service line protection programs between the city of Wilmington and American Water Resources LLC.

Have given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting.

Respectfully submitted those members of the public works and transportation committee.

Those members present, Councilwoman Oliver, Councilman Field, Councilman Owens, Councilwoman Willower, President Congo, and absent with leave, Councilman Johnson.

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

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

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

March 3rd, 2026.

Will your public works and transportation committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who is referred substitute number one to ordinance number 26-002 entitled an ordinance to amend chapter 45 of the city code to empower the commissioner of the Department of Licenses and Inspections to issue civil penalties or take other enforcement action against cable to telecommunication and other utility providers for failing to remediate utility wires.

Have given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting.

Respectfully submitted those members of the public works and transportation committee.

Those members present, Councilwoman Oliver, Councilman Fields, Councilman Owens, Councilwoman Willower, President Congo, absent with leave, Councilman Johnson.

A move the committee report be received, recorded, and filed.

Second.

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

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carry.

Like to recognize Councilmember Spadola who's with us virtually.

This time we will have our city treasurer's report.

March 5th, 2026.

Total investments, 576 million four hundred thousand three hundred and sixty-seven dollars and thirty-six cents.

Total cash on hand, 17 million four hundred and twenty-two thousand six hundred and eighty-two dollars and seventy-three cents.

Grant total five hundred and ninety-three million eight hundred and twenty-three thousand fifty dollars and nine cents.

Submitted city treasurer Dwayne Sims.

Mr.

President.

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

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

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

So moved.

Second.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded to accept all non-legislative business on the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

And this time we will have our recognition resolutions.

Council member Darby.

Um, good evening, everyone.

I have a resolution tonight recognizing um the holy month of Ramadan.

I do have um, I don't know if she's here yet, can't see her.

Um, but if you are here tonight, if you can come up, I don't know who's coming up with you tonight to speak.

Not here yet.

She's walking in shortly.

I'm gonna read the resolution, and then hopefully she's in here by the time I read the resolution.

Whereas it is the sense of city count council to honor individuals, organization, and special occasions that demonstrate outstanding achievement and are deserving of recognition and acknowledgement.

Council member Shine Darby recognizes Ramadan 2026 as such an occasion, and whereas Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a sacred month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

The observation of Ramadan is one of the central practices of the Islamic faith, and it's a historical period where the Quran was first revealed, an event of foundational importance in Islamic history, and whereas in 2026, Muslims will observe Ramadan from February 17th to March 19th, 2026 by fasting each day from dawn until sunset, refraining from food, drink, other physical needs as an act of discipline intended to cultivate self-restraint, empathy for those experiencing hunger and hardship, and a stronger prayer life, and aware and whereas, in addition to specially nightly prayers, charity is especially emphasized during Ramadan, encouraging acts of generosity, service, and compassion towards neighbors and those in need, strengthening bonds within and beyond the Muslim community.

The conclusion of Ramadan is marked by the celebration of Eid, a festive holiday beginning with communal prayer and characterized by gratitude, fellowship, charitable giving, and joyful gathering.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the council of the city of Wilmoton that this council recognizes and honors the um observation of Ramadan 2026, and it extends his severe, his sincere wishes for a peaceful, reflective, and fulfilling month to all those who um uh all those who observe Ramadan and you can come up to have you come up, you can introduce yourself.

We I just read the resolution good evening, everyone.

Good evening.

Uh my name is Tasina Smail, and I'm the director of Daughter Amana Academy, and rather than make a big speech myself about Ramadan, I bought my students to say something.

So first we'll have Jaish come up and recite a short sort of for us.

Jay Shmail coming up and we're saying for us.

Um tell us your name.

No, he's shy.

What are you reciting?

Sword al Fatia.

The opening chapter of the Quran.

I think he's shy.

Yes.

No.

He means a shait on the Rajim.

Bismillah Rahman Rahim.

Alhamdulillah, you're mean.

Oh Rahman Rahim Deen.

I lay him walking.

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.

All praise and thanks are Allah's the Lord of the time.

The Ramadan me.

Yes.

Mankind, Jinn, and all that exists.

The most gracious, the most merciful.

The own the only owner and the only ruling judge of the day of recompense.

The day of resurrection.

Resurrection.

You alone we worship, and you alone we ask for help for each and everything.

Guide us to this guide us to the straight way, the way of those of on whom you bestowed your grace, not the way of those who earn your anger.

She's nervous.

Very nervous.

Very nervous because she's an excellent reader, by the way.

Okay, and now if we could have Khalila Roe, our high schooler to step up and give a brief talk on what Ramadan means to her.

Hello everyone.

My name is Khalila Roe.

I'm a high school student at Dalala Manna Academy.

And I'm here today to tell you what Ramadan means to me.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observed by so many Muslims worldwide as a holy month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

It's a time of worship and mercy where we ask God to forgive us of our sins and shortcomings.

When I think about all the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world fasting just as I am, it makes me smile.

It's a time of the year when families come together to break fast at sunset, and you tend to see people you haven't seen in months, even years.

And we all come together to worship in the name of our Lord.

Three of my favorite parts of Ramadan is fasting and going to the mesh for the night prayer.

Oh, and breaking my fast.

I love to eat.

It also makes me grateful to have food every day.

When we go to the to when we go to pray at the mesjid, I get the best feeling ever.

It's like the air is different during Ramadan.

Did you know that the definition of Ramadan is scorching heat?

If a person can just stop and ponder on what that means, when I learnt it, I said that when I learned that, I said, hold on.

This isn't just a month of forgiveness, but our sins can be burnt away like getting a clean slate.

I love getting a closer connection with my Lord.

I asked God to help us and I I ask God to help us and our brothers and sisters all over the world in Gaza, Sudan, China, all over where Muslims are suffering.

Oh God, remove our suffering, help whatever we suffer to be for your sake and reward us for it and remove our sins by it and help us to be patient until you remove it.

Amen.

Oh believers, fasting is prescribed for you as it was for those before you.

So perhaps you will become mindful of God.

Say, O people of the book, let us come to common terms that we will worship none but God, associate none with him, nor take one another as lords instead of God.

Thank you to the city council for allowing us to come together tonight and to let me speak.

Once again, we're absolutely honored to be here and we appreciate being invited.

If there are any more daughter man of students here in the audience, would you please stand up?

Any daughter amount of students here?

Stand up.

That's right.

You a student, y'all.

You want to take a picture up front, or y'all want to take a picture out there?

We can go out there.

Okay, yeah.

Okay.

We're gonna take a picture out front, everybody.

I'm gonna say something.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

I just wanted to say to the uh sponsor, thank you for presenting the resolution tonight, and to the uh Muslim organization.

Um, thank you for sharing uh what you're doing during Rob Ramadan.

And I just want to say that I stand in solidarity as a believer, um, as it was mentioned um from the the young student, how it's about believers and not always just about one particular religious group, but if you are a believer, so I just wanted to say thank you.

I stand in solidarity with them as it relates to their goals in terms of why they're fasting um for unity for more peace um for those that are suffering to uh that they will be protected and that there will be support and advocacy for them.

So I just wanted to say that I really appreciate appreciated um the young lady uh sharing, and I just wanted to say that I I stand in solidarity with them, and my hopes is that more uh believers would join them as well with the fasting to deny this flesh so we can be more loving, more caring for one another.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember McCoy.

Yes, uh, I actually have two presentations.

If I can have um is it Nora's here and perhaps some of her uh colleagues from Christianity care for the colorectal cancer awareness month good evening, everyone.

So I am Councilwoman Yolanda McCoy, and I'm here to do a presentation.

Well, to present rather to uh Christiana Care and Nora and her colleagues about colorectal cancer awareness month.

I don't know whether or not you've been made aware, but uh, if you've been watching the news, we just another celebrity actually just passed away a few weeks ago from colorectal cancer, and they were under 50.

And so once I looked at that and seen that the month was coming up, I felt as though it was necessary that we do a presentation to remind people about how important it is that we are doing the prevention screenings.

Okay, so this I am the sponsor.

Whereas Wimitton City Council recognizes the month of March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Whereas on February 29, 2000, President Clinton issued a presidential proclamation designating March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to increase public awareness about colorectal cancer and promote prevention and early detection through screening.

On the first Friday of March, individuals and communities are encouraged to wear blue to raise awareness of colorectal cancer and show support for those affected by the disease.

Whereas colorectal cancer is among the most common cancers in the United States among both men and women, an estimated one in 24 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.

Colorectal cancer is often preventable through routine screening and when detected in its early stages.

It is highly treatable with the survival rates exceeding 90%.

Whereas colorectal cancer cause uh cases among younger adults have increased in recent years.

Health experts now lowered the recommended age to begin getting screened from 50 to 45.

Whereas disparities in colorectal cancer outcomes persist, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaskan natives, and often often face barriers to screening and timely care.

Black Americans also experience higher incidence and mortality rates, increasing awareness, encouraging preventive screenings, preventative screenings, and supporting individuals and families affected by colorectal cancer can help reduce the impact of this disease and improve health outcomes for communities across the nation.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the city council, the council of the city of Wilmington that this council is pleased to recognize the month of March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Job well done.

Now, Ms.

Nora, I've actually known Ms.

Nora for quite some time.

I say in my community outreach days back with the uh health health care facilities.

So I've always stayed in contact with her, and she always keeps me and Mr.

Owens up to date about everything that's happening.

Yes, we do.

I'm just gonna say a few words because that that proclamation was well written, whoever wrote it.

So thank you very much.

But I want to just summarize a couple things that I heard, and then I'm gonna let my colleagues here say a few few words too.

Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

You heard preventable, curable, and treatable.

That's what matters to me.

I'm here because I know that this will make a difference if you get screened.

So that's the message that I want to give you as I walk away.

I'm an oncology nurse, and I think it's important that you look at your family history.

You look at your own screening of what your own screening guideline is.

And if you need help, call me.

I'm at the cancer center.

I'm gonna just stop there because I can talk more than you want me to talk tonight.

Um let me introduce um the next person, and then I'll I'll introduce.

This is Renisha Polium, she's an oncology nurse at the Helen F.

Graham Cancer Center.

Renisha, would you want to say a few words?

Or no, yeah.

Okay, she'll be brief.

I just want to say hello and bring home the point.

I'm a colon cancer survivor, and I was diagnosed at the age of 45.

And that was around in 2020, and that was the year that the recommendation changed to get your colonoscopy a little earlier.

So you definitely need to pay attention.

Go to the doctor if you're having pain.

But I'm still here, and it was 2020.

Next to be Dr.

Heather Bittner Fagan, she's with uh Christiana Care as primary care, and she has uh what matters to her too with colorectal cancer screening.

It's hard to find anything else to say.

That was all great.

I will just say this.

We know that um one of the things that is most motivating to people to get their cancer screening and to get their colonoscopy is hearing from their physician.

So I'm a family physician, a primary care doctor.

And I'm telling you, get your colonoscopy.

Go do it.

You heard it here, and spread the word.

Definitely start at 45.

The other thing that Heather does is she works with the Screening for Life program, which is our statewide support program for other cancer screenings.

I mentioned it before.

It will help if you're income eligible and meet the requirements to get a colonoscopy or another uh cancer screening that you would want.

So Heather leads that as the medical director.

So thank you for doing that, Heather.

And last but not least, is my colleague that's from our diversity in Delaware Health.

I always get this wrong.

Delaware Health Empowerment Coalition, which is my friend Cindy Teal.

Dr.

Teal, say your word.

Hi, Philo.

I actually see some familiar faces again.

I'm Dr.

Sydney Teal, I'm a primary care physician.

I'm a colleague of Christiana Care, former uh uh person who worked there, and now part of Delaware Health Empowerment Coalition.

And you know, as I was reflecting on the comments and seeing a real life survivor here, I think most of us were stunned when we learned about Chadwood Bozeman, right?

Black Panther, about the time of 2020 when we were shocked to learn that someone could be so young and be not only diagnosed but actually die from the disease of colon cancer.

And then most recently, as was stated, James Vanderkeek, uh uh, who also recently passed away again at a very young age.

Most importantly, we want you to know not only about screening, but it's it's pretty scary, right?

Because you're thinking I'm I may find out something that I may or may not want to know.

We really want you to go talk to your primary care providers.

We want you to have this conversation.

It is really important because it is treatable, it is preventable.

Um, and there's really at this point no reason we we want to eliminate every barrier that keeps you from um having this screening uh taken care of for you.

So whether it's our organization or it's Christiana Care or it's our partnerships, we want to make sure that um you get you get screened.

Thanks.

Councilmember Owens, followed by Councilmember Oliver.

Thank you.

Yes.

Um, first off, I just want to say thank you all for joining us here tonight, Dr.

Heather.

I don't think I've had the pleasure to meet you, but if you're running with these three, uh you're AOK person with me.

Umora, thank you for all the work that you do in the community, not just about bringing awareness to this, but you're at almost every community event.

Um, Dr.

Till, your group has partnered with the community quite often, especially over at Northside to bring free services to youth and adults over that way as well, too.

And I look forward to see your work continue to expand.

I have a ton of family that go your way, um, that are patients of yours as well, too.

And then um, Miss Nish has known me since I literally was a baby.

Um, but again, um, seeing everything that you've been through and the work that you do at the Helen Graham Center is just absolutely amazing, and you continue to inspire everyone as well, too.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you.

Like to recognize Councilmember Oliver.

Thank you.

Um, first I'd like to thank Miss North for her community work.

She um used to be a part of the health commission under Jim Baker, and just to see that she's still out there working in communities um uh as if she was still doing it uh years ago.

Really appreciate um your efforts and everything you do.

Um, I've been knowing Nish for a long time.

It's so good to see you.

You look fabulous.

And um Dr.

T.

I have to really thank her.

She's my primary doctor, and thanks to her, I'm in much better health than I used to be.

So thank you so much.

Councilmember Kabara.

I too would like to say thank you to the whole team for the awareness.

Um, I know that your your outreach is very multi-diverse and cultural, so you make sure that there is no stone unturned in our community reaching the different ethnic groups uh in their language with uh culturally appropriate marketing, which is important because as we know that in many minority communities, people are opposed.

Um, they don't have the information, sometimes they don't have the insurance to come out and get these screenings.

Um, and you know, lives can be safe.

As you said, it is preventable, it is curable, and it is treatable, and people need to know that.

So I thank you for all the work that you do, as was already mentioned.

You're everywhere.

Um, you're near and dear to my heart and all your colleagues uh who join in.

Thank you, Councilmember McCoy for bringing this, you know, to the forefront because it is important uh that our community knows to take these exams to do the the screenings.

There it took me 10 years, so I'm guilty, but I finally went, and I'm glad that I did.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I actually have another resolution.

I have a resolution for uh attorney general Kathy Jennings.

I'm sorry.

Uh I believe that she has a representative here.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for coming.

This was actually um, this is about women's history month.

March is more than just colorectal cancer awareness.

March is also women's history month.

And I wanted to make certain that I paid homage to the women, all of the women that I basically come in contact with, all of these great women.

But the person who's been on my mind most recently has been A.G.

Kathy Jennings.

So I had to make certain that I did a little something to make certain she was aware that we are all pretty much rooting for.

Now I'm not gonna read much from the resolution because I had my own words that I wanted to state.

At the time when the public is paying close attention to what's happening, and who is willing to stand firm.

Attorney General Jennings' focus and resolve has been visible.

Her willingness to remain engaged and not cave under pressure reflects the kind of leadership that serves the people of Delaware well.

Over the past 13 months, the Delaware Attorney General's office has been involved in at least four significant successful rulings or settlements against federal actions.

Most as part of multi-state coalitions, while additional cases are still pending, these outcomes demonstrate a clear willingness to challenge decisions that could impact Delaware residents.

Myself uh and my and my colleagues, we'd like to thank Attorney General Jennings for her dedication for continuing to advocate for Delawareans in every community.

So this resolution is from all of council.

Whereas Wilmington City Council recognizes the month of March as Women's History Month, celebrating the contributions of women throughout the history of the United States.

Whereas the observance originated at Women's History Week, back when uh President Carter first issued it.

Congress then passed a law in 1987 designating the month as March as Women's History's Month.

Women's Histories Month is I'm sorry, I'm skipping that.

Delaware's 46th Attorney General Kathy Jennings has been at the forefront of leading change of all Delaware's.

A proud Womington native, she began a career as a prosecutor in the Delaware Department of Justice.

Whereas since her inauguration, January 1st, 2019, A.G.

Jennings has continued to champion policies addressing gun safety, criminal justice, consumer protection, anti-corruption, community policy, policing, and uphold access to justice for individuals from all backgrounds.

Under her leadership, the Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust was elevated to a permanent division.

The state has received several million dollars in compensation related to the opioid epidemic, water contamination, and other threats to public health and safety.

Her team has helped preserve nearly one billion for various federally funded programs.

Whereas this council commends Attorney General Kathy Jennings for her distinguished career in public service and for exemplifying the leadership, dedication, and lasting contributions to shaping strong communities in the city of Wilmington and throughout the state of Delaware.

Now therefore, be a resolved by the Council of the City of Wilmington that this council is pleased to recognize the month of March as Women's History Month and to honor Attorney General Kathy Jennings for her dedication to the people of the City of Wilmington and the state of Delaware.

Job well done.

Hello everyone.

Thank you so much, Councilman McCoy.

I on behalf of Attorney General General Kathy Jennings, I am truly honored to accept this recognition.

The Attorney General sends her sincerest gratitude to the Wilmington City Council for this thoughtful acknowledgement during Women's History Month.

Attorney General has dedicated her career to justice, safety, and equity for all Delawareans.

And she would be the first to say that this is only possible because of the strong woman who came before her and her wonderful team that works beside her every day.

The Delaware Department of Justice remain committed to protecting the people of the city and state, and we are proud to stay in partners with the Wilmington City Council and that work.

We thank you and appreciate you for that.

Councilmember Willower.

So I wanted to invite Director of the City of Whippington, Department of Parks and Recreation Phillips and the Deputy Director Warner and Superintendent Collins and all the city workers at the Wilmington Hicks Anderson Community Center who are here tonight to come up for this resolution.

Can you come over here if you want?

And please come up to the thank you, thank you.

So I just wanted to um say a little bit about um why this resolution is um offered by the city council.

Um and many of you may know that um during the storm, the city leadership made the decision to open up the William Hicks Anderson Community Center to people who are homeless during the storm.

And that was a decision that the city made to take care of the people who are living in Christina Park and you know, without a home for that big, big storm this year.

Um, but uh you know, the people who made it happen are uh the people right here who are the um the city workers who work at the Department of Parks and Recreation at the William Hicks Anderson Community Center, and you know it's not their regular role, it's not their regular uh responsibility, you know, it's not it's not what they do every day.

And I had the chance to go over a few times during the storm, and I just was so impressed by the spirit of community service that everybody at the William Hicks Anderson Community Center brought to this uh brought to this responsibility, and so um city council is here tonight to offer um this resolution to really uh hold up that uh that work that everybody did.

So um I'm the sponsor, but this is on behalf of all of City Council.

Whereas it is a sense of city council to honor individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and deserving of recognition and acknowledgement, the city of Wilmington's parks and recreation employees who manage the recent emergency shelter responses, merit such distinction.

And whereas the parks and recreation employees exemplified the highest standards of public service, proving that community centers are not only places of recreation, but pillars of support and a haven during times of crisis.

Whereas from January 24th through January 27th, the snow event known as Winterstorm Fern poured an average of 6.5 inches of precipitation throughout the city of Wilmington.

And again, from February 23rd through February 24th of this year, our city received between eight and nine and a half inches of snow.

For the first time in Wilmington's history, the parks and recreation staff were tasked with activating emergency shelter services at the William Hicks Anderson Community Center to respond to urgent community needs.

The successful operation of this initiative was made possible through their extraordinary leadership, flexibility, and dedication.

These staff members worked beyond their normal responsibilities to prepare, operate, and maintain the facility to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for those in need of a place or to shelter.

And whereas Parks and Recreation staff not only demonstrated professionalism and compassion, but also a deep commitment to public service.

They supported intake operations, coordinated logistics, maintained cleanliness and order, and ensured the well-being of as many of as 150 individuals in January and about 79 individuals in February.

And whereas working in partnership with the Wilmington Police Department and Friendship House, they coordinated transportation for individuals staying at Christina Park and the Episcopal Church of St.

Andrew and Matthew to relocate to the Hicks Center, prioritizing safety, dignity, and access to resources.

Community members further strengthen this effort through generous donations of food, clothing, hygiene products, and other essential items, reflecting the unity and compassion of Wilmington residents.

Now, therefore, be a resolved by the council of the city of Wilmington that this council is pleased to recognize the employees of the Department of Parks and Recreation for their extraordinary commitment to the people of the City of Wilmington.

Job well done.

Good evening, everyone.

My name is Dr.

Melody Phillips, and I serve as the director for the City of Wilmington Parks and Recreation Women's History Month, first woman to ever do it.

There we go.

And I also have my tag team partner, Deputy Director Tanya Warner.

So this is the first time in history that Parks and Recreation has had two women leading it.

So would they say when you tell them here?

I have to significantly and seriously thank Deputy Director Tonya Warner for all of the logistics that she did, everything on the ground, the entire team from our superintendent of recreation, Naeem Collins, and everybody standing behind me who worked 12, 18, 24 hour shifts, were stuck at Hicks, um, played games with the residents and everything there.

So it was really, really great to see.

Team, I thank you.

I appreciate all that you do.

Um, even when I'm rough on you guys, I still appreciate all that you do.

I'd like to echo um our director, Dr.

Melody Phillips uh words.

Um I cannot have asked for a better team, a better uh group of people who showed not only sympathy but empathy to everyone that they served.

Uh everyone was served with dignity and respect, and they worked tirelessly without complaint.

I could not ask for a better team.

They were amazing, they're all not standing up here.

Some are a little shy.

So those of you still seated, you are a part of this team, and I'd like to thank you so very much.

This could not have happened without you.

One last thing.

Thank you, City Council members.

For those of you came and donated.

I definitely saw people city council coming in, providing donations.

And as well to our deputy chief of staff, Daniel Walker for the day, he called me and said, Hey, Mel.

And I said, Hey Daniel, he said, well, and then it went from there.

So thank you.

So on the night of the storm, I did have a chance to talk and um, you know, stop by the center.

And I just uh said, you know, thank you so much for you know what you're doing.

And and uh I was just really impressed.

Um I talked I talked to somebody here and they said this is what we do.

So um, you know, thank you so much.

Councilmember Councilmember Oliver.

Thank you.

Sure.

I just would like to say congratulations to everybody.

I'm looking at everybody here.

I see my family.

This is my whole posse.

Congratulations to Councilman Willow for um acknowledging the hard work that this whole team does.

Um I appreciate y'all.

Love y'all.

See you.

Good.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, I just want to say thank you, all of y'all for going above and beyond.

Um, I know none of this was in your record job duties, um, but it shows your true love for the city of Wilmington and for one of our more vulnerable communities.

Um, and that's something that you don't just you can't just learn that in school.

You can't get a degree in that.

That's true heart.

Um, so from city council to all of y'all, thank you all for sharing your heart with the city.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

So, first of all, I want to thank uh Councilmember Willair for this uh presentation, and I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for going as uh councilmember Owen said, above and beyond.

Um I heard so many good things about the work, the people, and how you handled how you interacted with everyone, of course.

Speaking with the uh leader of the friendship house, uh her and I, we we talked periodically, and she really was impressed with everything in terms of what happened um at the center.

And I want to say to the leadership, to Dr.

Phillips and to her deputy that great work comes from great leadership.

So I want to just say thank you for your leadership because everything rises and fall at the top.

So thank you for your leadership, thank you for your organization, your your compassion, your professionalism, and all that.

And so thank you to everyone, and again, thank you, Councilmember Willar, for this well-deserved acknowledgement.

That's all I have, Mr.

President.

Councilmember Cabrera.

First, I just want to say that true leadership is when you can give the credit to others as you both have done.

Um, because we know, you know, we have the people who work and execute the work, but it does take leadership to get it moving.

And um, I have always said we've had the best city employees, and the parks and recreation department is near and dear to my heart because you guys do so much out there, and you do above and beyond what your job titles are and your descriptions.

So, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you.

Thank the leadership.

You guys are an amazing team, and I expect to see more and more wonderful things.

And guess what?

We're getting a havoc park.

Thank you.

Also, in the way of other uh recognition resolutions.

Umson on his 70th birthday from Councilmember Harley.

She would like to recognize Marcel Brown for 40 years of service at St.

Michael's School and Nursery.

From Councilmember Oliver.

She'd like to recognize the dedication of the man at Residential Recovery House and to Paul Mahooney on his retirement from Councilmember Owens.

He would like to recognize Les Belle Fonts, the Ivory Coast National Football Team from Councilmember Spadola.

He would like to recognize at Chelsea Tavern on her 16th anniversary, and Wanda Jenkins on her retirement from AIDS Delaware for a sympathy resolutions from all of council.

And a simpathy resolution former city worker Marcia Starks.

I'm gonna come back and give me from Councilmember Kabara.

Sympathy resolution for former House Majority with John Jay Viola and former state senator George Howard Bunting Jr.

From Councilmember Harley.

Sympathy resolutions for James Borley and Teresa Johnson Webster from Councilmember Owen.

Sympathy resolution for Carmen Henry and from Councilmember Spadola, a sympathy resolution for Patricia S.

Rothermel.

At this time we are going to begin public comment, but before that, I am going to accept the motion to extend public comment past 7 30.

So move.

Second.

It's been motions and second.

And all in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion passed.

This time we are going to begin our public comment.

First, we're going to start with Anthony Fairley.

Just want to remind everyone that you do have a three-minute time frame.

When you have around 30 seconds left, I will give you a friendly reminder.

So please start to wrap up your comments.

Then if you are representing or if you live in a district, you may state that district.

And thank you for joining us.

Yes, how are you doing, Mr.

President?

Council.

My name is Anthony Furley.

And I have a problem here.

Um I came to Wilmington City to try to get some help with some paperwork.

When I say Wilmington employees, two females, they're the most disrespectful person ever seen in my life.

Talk to me like I was a kid.

Come on, come on, come on.

13.

Um, the fifth district I'm talking about.

1322, 1326, 1324 has outstanding taxes.

I'm talking $6,000 run off order.

I'm talking about school property tax.

The taxes ain't nothing but $100 a year.

I don't understand.

My taxes went up.

I paid $2,300 for the city.

100 $1150 something dollars.

This property is outstanding taxes.

Newcastle County helped me.

Well, when I came to the city of Wilmington, I couldn't get no help.

The young lady lied.

She's with it.

She's in the fifth district.

Whatever her name is Crystal, whoever I try to contact her.

I try to talk to her.

Let us see what the truth is.

You can't go one side.

You understand?

They took a alley.

They took a driveway and turned into an alley.

Somehow's property.

I try to talk to Miss, what's her name?

The fifth district driver.

I went to her office.

She's in the neighborhood.

She wouldn't help me with nothing.

She's on these people's side.

I'm going to city license inspector.

When the Colvin came, they tore a house down on a block.

I called him.

You know, they told me you better watch yourself.

I said, say what?

I said I own my home.

I own my home.

I'm not a renter.

I own my home.

But like I say, this lady here would not help me with nothing.

I mean nothing.

I'm a homeowner.

I pays my taxes, but I gotta be abused by this that neighborhood society they in on it too.

I've been in my neighborhood 40 years.

And I gotta take this abuse, this mental abuse.

This female is lying.

I don't understand.

I'm asking y'all, please.

Can you investigate?

It's a whole lot of crooked stuff going on around it.

I've been there 40 years.

The neighborhood society people.

They the main one is trying to take what I got, putting strikes against the city.

I ain't never disrespect her.

That that that lady right there.

And I would like to let I wish she was sitting in here right now that she can hear me.

She might do other things good.

She came to me at my porch at my home.

Slander the person she was running against.

You understand?

Talk bad about it.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Thank you so much.

I'm very sorry.

No disrespect.

Thank you.

But Mr.

President, I pay my taxes.

Little taxes don't want to.

I'm talking.

10 seconds.

Oh.

I pay my taxes.

They ain't worried about the little taxes.

They're worrying about the big taxes.

You understand?

And it ain't right and it ain't fair.

I don't understand this.

I need investigation.

Somebody to come there.

Please wrap up your comments, sir.

That's time.

Yes, yes.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have Deacon Earl Tate.

Thank you for joining us.

And please remember to introduce yourself.

Greetings.

My name is digging Earl E.

Tate, who's never late because he don't want to lose his pair of roller skates.

And I'm here, and I'm here to tell you.

We got to get up off our seat.

People, this is your year.

This is our year.

Make your voices heard.

Those of y'all that are 18 and above, get out here and vote.

Because uh because uh because this guy who we got an office now is making a wreck of things.

And if you're not gonna vote, he don't want to listen to you.

You gotta get out here and vote because if you don't, if you don't get out here and vote, you you won't have no say.

So it's especially especially in our kids for our future.

Our kids are future.

But but but if we if we have him in office any longer, he he's gonna he's gonna make a mess of society.

He already, he already, he already had he already has started a war where the where there was no need of war.

He wouldn't, he wants to do things out of out of out of out of out of whack.

But we can't have it.

We we got to we gotta make the world a better place for our kids to live in because we have already lived the life.

Now we gotta make it better for them.

And we can't have it any better than they get out here and show them what to do and how to do it.

Get that learning in your head so that so that so that you could help others get that get get that get that education, not only the book education, but but the wisdom and knowledge that that that cannot that cannot come by us sitting on our hands and us doing nothing.

We got to do something, and we got to help each other out.

But but if you don't, you hurt nobody but yourself.

So people, this is the time.

Get off your seat and make your voices heard.

And don't forget this Saturday before you go to bed, set your time set your clock ahead so you could be so you could be with the time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have virtually we have Victor Cushman.

Thank you, counsel.

Um I appreciate you uh allowing me to comment.

I want to say thanks to the public works department for all they do.

I think we all appreciate their hard work.

Uh, and especially the teams on the ground over these latest storms.

Uh, but I'm not here to give them pats on the back.

I'm here to ask counsel to reject bills number 132 and 166, known as Del Marvas of Service, and uh the bill to amend the agreement with iTron.

These bills are uh canaries in the coal mine for additional future costs with no quantified bits benefits or commitments by the public works departments to the residents of the city of Wilmington, or in the delivery of actual services or cost reductions.

That's what's in the bills.

In the short term, it's a commitment to spend 5.4 million over five years.

That's because they're gonna finance part of the cost with iTron.

Uh so the Del Marva cost is 488 K.

The duh uh the Itron cost uh could be 4.9 million, a total of 5.4 million over five or about 1.08 million per year for the next five years.

That's a fixed incremental cost with no benefits on the hopes that we'll figure it out.

I urge you to send this back to public works to do their homework.

It gets worse if you take the Del Marva cost, including their their total cost increase uh over 20 years, that's about 2.4 million.

If you take the itron cost, it's a minimum of 19.7 million or a total of 22.2 million over 20 years.

That's without iTron uh increases, which are not specified in the agreement.

If we use 50 percent uh as an increase over 20 years for the services increases, which is kind of in line with the contract that they just uh uh are trying to increase with us over the last 15 years, instead of being 22 million to iTron, that would be 33.3 million at a minimum, this cost uh is gonna be 1.1 million incremental per year uh with no quantified benefits.

It's not fiscally prudent.

Uh Wilmington businesses would not do this without benefits.

Further ties to Del Marva over a long period, we should not do.

There are other ways of doing this uh solution that I don't think have been presented, and I don't think the cost benefit and benefit analysis has been done well.

Yeah, 30 seconds.

So thank you.

Uh so I think these things would alone be disqualified disqualifying, but if you add the lack of of commitment to data privacy issues by both companies, and uh the fact that these uh contracts allow for data to be requested by government agencies, DHS, ICE, and CVP, I'll finish.

Uh, these bill and that these bills include no or limited liability, you should just send this work back to public works to do their homework.

Thank you very much.

I apologize for going over.

Thank you.

Next in Council Chambers, we have Takim Mohammed.

Thank you for joining us, and please remember to introduce yourself when you have 30 seconds left.

I will give you a friend of your mind as you wrap up your comments.

Peace and blessings, City Council.

My name is Jackim Mohammed.

I'm here because uh we are bringing to attention to a light to this city council about the SEPTA ticket office that was closed in December.

Both I and John Flarity, you may have seen us or either television or heard us on radio and WDEL talking about this for a number of months now.

And I want this city council, since Wilmington, Joseph R.

Biden station is in the city of Wilmington to take charge as Newcastle County Council took charge last month.

They made a resolution to ask the governor to reopen the SEPTA ticket office.

That right now that we're being made to pay premium prices to go to center city Philadelphia when it should only be nine dollars, but because they closed the ticket office, it is now $11 for you to go per ride for you to go to center city.

That is disgusting.

It is against senior citizens, it's against anybody who is not tech savvy, who does not have a SEPTK card.

Now, me for myself, public transportation is my second card.

I owe I have an omni card from New York, New York, New Jersey Transit Card, which is New Jersey Transit is the worst transit in the metro in the metropolitan area, accept a key card, and of course, dark Dart buses.

You heard me talk about uh being a trap an advocate, both me and John Flarity talking about this for a long time.

One of the things that our state did that was wrong was they closed it on December 31st, but didn't announce it until December 12th.

That's disgusting in itself.

Now we heard the outcries from Newcastle County.

Council has send the resolution.

We thank uh council uh member Cabrera for bringing the resolution to this particular body.

And I want to tell you again that this is something that we have to stop.

Our state is in the business of disrespecting its citizenship.

And we're gonna have to stop this.

This council, I have been pretty critical of this council.

I've been pretty critical of this council, but I tell you what, if you're past this resolution, we can get started something new.

And I want to just end this real quick with a quote from an actor.

And this actor was Courtney B.

Vance.

You probably have heard of him.

One of the things he said that what we live in right now is deep, wide, and continuous.

We need to do better.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have John Flattery.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

That does include public comment for this evening.

We want to thank everyone who gave public comment virtually and those to those of you who are in council chambers.

You're always welcome to give public comment at any of our council meetings and our committee meetings.

Next, we will move to legislative business.

Councilmember Kabara.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and thank you for allowing this to be at the top of the agenda.

So the people who are here to support this uh don't have to sit through all the legislation we have tonight.

So, Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present resolution 26-021, agenda number 0202.

Whereas the Jordan R.

Biden Junior Railroad Station, Wilmington Station, serves as Delaware's busiest transit hub and one of Amtrak's highest volume stations nationwide, providing a central inner city and commuter rail service to residents, workers, and visitors to the city of Wilmington.

And whereas SEPTA Southern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Wilmington, New Artist.

President, I move this resolution to be received, recorded and filed and adopted by a Yay and Nay vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded the resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Yearney vote on the question.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

As we have heard, Mr.

Jackim Mohammed in his comments that he just made, as well as Mr.

Flaherty and their advocacy along with other members of the community.

Yes, it was done very quickly, and it seems almost deceptive in that an announcement was made December 12th, and then 10 days, nine days later, uh the office has closed.

And our concerns, I understand the budgetary constraints of closing an office that is not seeing the amount of traffic that perhaps the other offices are in a more populated city like Philadelphia.

However, that does not negate the fact that we still have seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income riders, and visitors unfamiliar with digital ticketing who could still use assistance from having uh human being present.

Maybe the idea of having a hybrid office, uh coming to a compromise is something that the advocates are asking um the Department of Transportation, SEPTA, and others to get on board with coming up with solutions versus just um going on closing the ticket office all together.

Um there is an important role that agents play, and they contribute to a sense of safety in the busy station, and it helps maintain that level of in-person service, especially for people who are not familiar with using technology.

Now, I will tell you a recent experience I had while in New York.

I bought my ticket electronically from the machine.

Then I turned around and I didn't know which direction to take.

Do I take the green?

Do I take the red?

And I'll be quite honest.

I I literally miss my father's viewing because I was riding the subway all night long in New York and didn't get there till afterwards.

I was going in the wrong direction, which I happened to catch because I started looking at the at the stop.

So I just didn't have anybody to ask.

And the people that I asked were giving me bad information.

So having I couldn't find anybody that worked there, and it was very frustrating.

So I can imagine what it's like for someone who's not digital savvy who may not have been paying attention and getting lost when you're just trying to get from one place to the other.

So I am happy to support this resolution.

We've been working on it for a while and to support the coalition that's trying to come up with a compromise, understanding that they may not be able to do a full-time office because of budgetary constraints.

But I think that the advocates are willing to compromise to some extent to maybe having them look at a hybrid model or maybe days, certain days of the week.

Thank you.

You'd like to be added as a co-sponsor, Councilmember Owens.

Yes.

So I I do want to say thank you so much for bringing this forward.

And I hope that the PA government can stop playing political chess.

This is a throughway that is beneficial to numerous people, not only in my district, but all throughout the city of Wilmington.

Um, but also the workforce that we have here.

There's a ton of people who live in the South Jersey and PA regions, that South PA region that work here in Delaware as well, too, and depend on this train as well, too.

So again, uh thank you for bringing this forward, and I would like to be at it as a co-sponsor.

Thank you, Councilmember Oliver.

I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you, Councilmember Spadola.

Please add me as a co-sponsor.

Thank you, Councilmember McCoy.

Yes, please ask me at this co-sponsor.

Councilmember Willower.

I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Councilmember Harley.

Of course, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

And I would like to ask the sponsor.

Um, do we have a champion down at the General Assembly?

Because as we know, uh the state is responsible for transportation, education, incarceration, and all that.

So I'm hoping that with this support that the city council is given as it relates to this matter, is that someone down in Dover is championing this this topic and making sure that someone is listening and someone is gonna do something about it.

And again, like I said, I'm happy that we are supporting it.

We are um speaking up to be uh co-sponsors for it, but we know that the muscle is is definitely on the state level.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson, followed by Councilmember Darby.

Uh I would like to be at a co-sponsor as well.

And this also as to follow up with Councilwoman Harley's question.

I think this is a very complicated issue, as Councilman Owens even said, it's um so if a delegation is needed to even go to Harrisburg, I would love to do it.

I have a lot of experience in Harrisburg and being up there, I used to live there.

Um it's one of those things where I think it's very complicated because we're like a redheaded stepchild in a way.

Well, I shouldn't use that term, but a stepchild in the region because we're just a part of the big region, but SEPTA board of governors really runs everything.

So I think it's uh Governor Meyer, honestly, uh, and getting a co working with him to get a coalition to go to Governor Shapiro and the SEPTA board to say this is what your region needs, this is what Delaware needs.

So I think that if there's not a a consortium of Delaware people going up, I think we need to get one city, state, and people from the governor's office and federal to advocate for SEPTA issues only.

Because I think that's the complications.

We don't control it, DART doesn't control it.

We just give access to the center, and but really the funding streams through Harrisburg.

So I think we need to talk about maybe organizing a group and maybe working with the coalition to organize elected officials who are focused just on this issue.

Thank you.

Please just add me as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Back to the sponsor.

Any final words?

Thank you.

Um the Delaware Transit Coalition to answer the question of the colleagues are working with some of our state legislatures.

I don't know exactly um whom, but I'm sure there's quite a few of them that they're working with.

But as was mentioned by Councilman uh Johnson, this is really about our state, our leadership on our state, as was suggested the governor speaking to Pennsylvania because again, the SEPTA station and that ticket office is run by their authority, not necessarily our authority.

Um so it's not that Delaware is encouraging this, it's that this is Pennsylvania basically saying this is one of our hubs, and we don't need to have that office there anymore.

Um, but you know, speaking of people that we might know in the state legislature in Pennsylvania, that might be something that we could also take up.

And um honestly, I think that what we need to do is we're sending this resolution to our our to our group here in Delaware that this also needs to go to Pennsylvania.

So we may need to do that as well.

And that's it.

I can call for the vote.

Clerk, please call for the role.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby, yes.

Councilwoman Oliver, yes.

Councilwoman Harley, yes.

Councilwoman Willower, yes.

Councilwoman McCoy, yes.

Councilman Johnson?

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera?

Yes.

Councilman Spadola?

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

Ten years and three absent.

Declared adopted.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present.

Resolution number 26-022, agenda number 0182 revision one.

Whereas the Wilmington City Charter requires Wilmington City Council to adopt an annual operating budget ordinance to and make certain appropriations.

I move this resolution to be received, recorded, and filed and adopted by Yay Nay Vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded the resolution BBC recorded, filed, and adopted by Yeah Nay Vote on the question.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

So having been new to this council last year, I've talked to many of you about the equal balance of government here between city council and the mayor's administration.

This resolution in the next two to follow or a package of resolutions that looks to bring more accountability and oversight on the council side when we receive special funds or grants, such as the federal dollars that we received in 2020 from ARPA funds.

This is asking the General Assembly to make a charter change in order to grant us that power so that we can have a more equal say in the process of that.

This first resolution has it requires the city council to appropriate grant funds through the normal annual operating budget on cycle.

So this would all three of these are going to be paired up together.

Seeing no hands raised.

Councilmember Willower.

Oh, Councilman Owens, I just think this is a great idea, and I really appreciate you putting the effort into seeking this charter change.

It's uh really important that council has a role to play in the distribution of funds like this.

And I think it's uh it's it's it's past due trying to get these kind of changes made to the charter.

So thank you very much.

And I'm I'm pretty sure I've already been asked to be out as a co-sponsor.

Councilmember Kabara.

Thank you.

So I guess my question is this.

Um currently, we as the council approve a budget.

Some of that does include grant monies and other monies that come in, and plus when we do apply for grants, we do vote on that as a council uh when those applications go through.

So the example of the ARPA funds, I guess brought it more to, you know, to understand that maybe we should have had more of a say on how that was distributed.

So my quandary is that I understand what you're saying, more of a balance, but I feel that as it is now, we have the power of the budget to approve or disapprove certain things and that power to negotiate for the things that the administration wants and that hope that we're on the same page for what is the greater good for the city.

So I always uh tread carefully when I feel that we may be overstepping in some in some ways when you know the powers are given to the mayor to come up with a budget to how that money is spent, and that we approve that through our votes or disprove it and vote it down and make our own suggestions as we have done.

Um I'm not saying that these three things are bad, but I'm a little hesitant as to, and I know that they're just resolutions that'll go down to to the state and see if they will consider them, you know, treading carefully on overstepping when we already kind of have the power of the budget on our side.

Those are just my thoughts.

Thank you.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

So I'm I recall this being discussed, and my mind went back to um when the city of Wilmington received the ARPA funds, and the city council was in a situation where we were told that the administration had the autonomy and the authority to make the final decision, even though the administration at that time, I feel as though they were somewhat generous in terms of meeting with council to find out what we would like to see done with those dollars.

However, um checking with other municipalities, there was definitely more of an equal power as it related to those particular dollars, and for some reason, um it it sounded like it was something different.

So my my question to the sponsor is this.

Um is it we is this just we referring to just grants, or are we talking about um funds outside of the grants, Mr.

President?

Council Member Owens.

Yes, so this would be grants that we're receiving.

Um and it would again the the system that we use now works, right?

I think everyone can agree on that.

Um this would just require for when we get those grants that come uh with this resolution right here, when we get those grants that come in, if there's ever another pandemic or something like that, um, it would require that same go through the finance committee, go through us talking, debating, um having negotiation about how those dollars are gonna be spent as well, too.

Okay, follow up, Mr.

President.

Yes.

Thank you.

So again, um we did not have the autonomy to even vote on it before.

Correct.

But basically what you're saying is with this, this would give us that authority to to vote on it.

Okay, thanks for the clarity.

That's all I have.

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson.

Uh so uh I just wanted to clear up just for the public.

Um council did vote on ARPA funds.

Um I'm very very clear on that.

I was finance chair when that happened.

We voted on accepting the ARPA funds.

The difference is once we accept funds in our code, we can't dictate then how those funds are doled out.

So just to clear that up.

We we did vote on it, but um I'm in a and I definitely support.

I think we should have more oversight.

Um, I know working with Marshall and and I mean, we we looked at every nook and cranny, but the way the code was written, once we accepted it, that was it.

Um so I'm definitely in favor of this and and I hope it passes.

Um I don't know if it's gonna happen again.

Obviously, this is once in a lifetime, but but who who knows?

So I think this is good measure for us to with these larger funds, um, have more of a say.

Although I did say the administration did work with us.

Uh, I think we did get a lot of say, but by code, it was kind of up to them.

So I just wanted to clear it out.

We did vote on accepting the millions of dollars, and then the administration got to dull it out.

Thank you.

Councilmember Darby.

Yeah, so um this piece of resolution was actually uh one of the pieces of resolutions I introduced back in the first term.

Um, it was actually in response to what happened in regards to the ARPA funds when we voted to accept it, and the administration was only generous to a few council members.

They were not generous to everyone, only to the people that he liked.

Um, so let's make that clear.

He was not generous to council, he was generous to certain people.

Um so I am in support of this piece of legislation in regards to the process was not fair.

Um it was um very um one-sided, and that the mayor administration got to decide what he wanted to do with the money and who he wanted to work with and what he wanted to do with the money.

So I believe city council, it should be more balanced.

City council as a whole, everybody should be included in the process and being able to make a decision on what to do with that money.

Um so add me as a co-sponsor if I'm not already a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Oliver.

Yes, um, Mr.

President, and then I like to put my clarity on this, um, my clarification on this.

Um, we did vote on it.

Um, everybody got X amount of money equally uh from City Council, and I think it was um I know it was um the city solicitor who made that decision uh who stated that um we didn't have a say and it was one of them situations we didn't take them to court because that was not fair.

Um we got bullied a lot, and everybody knows it from the last city solicitor.

So it was no fault of council because we voted on it.

We asked for additional money and it ended up giving us like all 100,000, and it was across the board.

So it wasn't no one that was uh treated one way or another because it was a flat fee for everybody.

I do remember that.

Um but um I'm in favor of this.

Um and I like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Councilmember McCoy.

Yeah.

Uh you can add me as a co-sponsor, please.

Thank you.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, I'm asking to be a co-sponsor, but I just wanted to clarify one thing is that when the federal government decided to send these dollars to Wilmington, they clearly uh explain the eligibility.

So if you represented it, if you represented an uh a neighborhood that was an opportunity zone, that was by default.

So I I don't know who were uh who were were designated individually, but I know that I sat in the meeting where there was a representative from the federal government that outlined how those dollars could be spent and how they could be distributed.

So I just wanted to say that for the record.

So again, there was clear eligibility in terms of how those dollars could be directed.

Thank you.

Yes, thank you for that, Council President.

Um we can go ahead and vote on this and then I'll do the next one.

All right, let's call over.

Councilman Owens, yes.

Councilwoman Darby, yes, Councilwoman Oliver?

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley, yes.

Councilwoman Willower?

Yes.

Councilwoman McCoy?

Yes.

Councilman Johnson?

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera.

Yes.

Councilman Spadola?

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

Ten years and three absent.

Declared adopted.

Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present.

Resolution 26-023, agenda number 0183, revision one.

Whereas the Wilmington City Charter empowers Wilmington City Council.

Second.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second that the resolution be received, recorded.

Filed and adopted by year and a vote on the question.

Yes, Mr.

President.

Again, like I said, um, these next well, this one and the next one go with the first resolution that we just voted on.

Um, this one will require the approval of new and assess funds um that become available during the fiscal year.

So if we're in the middle of a fiscal year, um, like I believe y'all were um when the first ARPA funds came in, or whatever that first intervention of it was.

Um again, I did want to add in, I could have said it during the last one.

Um I want to take all the administration out of it.

I want to take all the current council members out of it.

This is just a good governance, right?

Whether whenever we have another pandemic, wherever something like this may come up, we just want to make sure that there's a system in place um so that we don't run into that same issue that the the former council ran into um with the solicitor and and the uh the memo that came out for that.

Um I can answer any question.

Councilmember War Laura.

So again, I mean I really appreciate your um attention to like all the different ways that this could happen and putting together these resolutions.

So if I haven't already, I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor to this one too.

Councilmember Kabara.

Okay, so my question on this one is when it says approval to make certain supplemental appropriations of excess revenues, grant funds or special funds.

So that kind of removes when I see excess revenues to me, it seems like excess revenues in the budget.

So now we're we already dictate where the monies are spent in the budget and we make changes as the year goes by when things come up, whether it's an emergency or whatever, and then there might be those excess revenues, although the budget is pretty much to the T.

So I definitely feel this is overstepping.

Um I support the spirit of it and why we're doing it.

Um and I don't have a problem with the first one, which I just voted yes.

Um, but yeah, this one I don't know to think about it.

Can I respond to that real quick?

Sure, Councilmember Arms.

Um, so councilwoman Cabrera is absolutely correct that during our normal uh fiscal year, if there's additional things that we need to make adjustments to, we have the ability to do that.

Again, the way this is written, it would also create that same system for these funds that come in.

Um so again, if it's coming in from the federal government like it did in 2020, um and during a pandemic, it would add it to the structure that we have for this already.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Johnson.

Um similar to Councilwoman Kibera, I I do understand um the intent.

The first one I support it.

This one does um get into with the special funds and emergency funds.

So the way the budget actually currently works, if there's emergency funds, such as when we had the Adam Street issue, there's a contingency in the mayor's budget.

Also, woman believed city council, we have a a fund for certain things like that.

So there's already provisions because we you can't essentially an administration or council can't add an emergency fund.

I just don't know if we need to go that extra step as we're not a town council.

Um we're already dictating grant funds.

I don't know if special funds we need to go there.

But um, you know, so if I can understand from the sponsor why the addition for the other two, because the first one I understand, but the second and third one, I think goes, I think it's redundant to a point.

And again, uh chairwoman Harley can step in as well.

Just seems to be it's already covered in the first, so why would we need to do a code update for the second and third one?

That's all.

I agree.

Councilmember Owens.

Yeah, so again, this is for like a mid-year um monies that appear.

And if the I will agree if the the word revenue is giving people pause, we can amend that out, right?

We can make a floor amendment to strike a word.

Okay.

Um, but again, the the grant funds and the special funds um would qualify from the federal government.

Again, this is just if that money comes in in the middle of the year, if it's normal budget season, or if it's you know, we're just trying to hit it at every timeline so that we have a structure in place.

But I I will I will listen to my council colleagues.

If the the piece in there about revenues is an issue, I I am more than happy to take that out with here.

Can I make a motion to amend is that how so moved?

I'd make a motion to amend the word uh revenues um in section D of revision one to uh 0183 at this time we're gonna take a vote on the amendment.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Amendment passed.

Can I councilman owens?

Can you just clarify section D?

Yes, and your change.

Yes.

So uh it removes it currently reads if during a fiscal year revenues grant funds or special funds in SS, we uh just voted to remove the word revenues from that first line where line D is striking revenues, yes.

Okay, the one that fiscally and that would also strike it from the synopsis as well, too.

Thank you.

Is there a second to to the um motion to amend?

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed amendment passed council member McCoy?

Uh are we on the question back to the um okay?

Yes.

So I just wanted to get clarity then on special funds.

What made that any different than the regular like grant funds of people receiving like we received the ARPA and the CARE AX and such?

How the special funds any different?

Um, so if it's a pass through or anything like that, um, if it's passing through through the state as well, too.

So we could pass through to us or come directly to us.

I see no other hands raised.

Any final comments?

Councilmember Owens.

No.

Sir, please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver, yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilwoman Willower?

Yes.

Councilwoman McCoy?

Yes.

Councilman Johnson?

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera.

Yes.

Councilman Spadola.

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

10 years and three absent.

Declared adopted.

Uh, Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present.

Resolution 26-024, agenda number 0196 revision one.

Whereas the Wilmington City Charter and that this resolution be received, recorded, and filed and adopted by YNA vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second the resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Yaryna vote.

On the question.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

This is the piece that just ensures that if there's emergencies like the pandemic, it requires quick um financial decisions, but also um has a structured uh oversight from the Woman to City Council um going forward.

And it um again, this is public dollars that we would probably be receiving from one level government.

Um this would just make sure that in emergencies uh for emergency ordinances, this is being added in as well too to that language.

So again, we have a section that already addresses emergency ordinances.

This just adds the these type of funds as what could fall under that as well, too, so that we can handle this in a um professional and structured manner as well, too.

Councilmember Oliver.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Now see this is the one um I had a um a little issue.

I mean, issue with because uh now we're saying um to require city council to make emergency appropriations.

Um I would think that's what emergency services is for, uh public works, I mean, etc.

But for city council um to make emergency appropriations with grants funds.

I would like to um sponsor uh Ms.

President, if he can explain why we're city council be um involved with a hurricane or something like that when we have emergency services or the state.

I mean, such is what happened on Adams Street.

So if the sponsor could tell me why um we would be involved with emergency appropriations.

Councilmember Owens.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Yeah, so um the public gets hit with all different types of emergencies.

The uh a pandemic would qualify as an emergency.

Um so if it affects life, health, um, property or public peace, right?

Um, we currently have the power to go out and do an emergency ordinance to borrow money.

Let's say, God forbid the city ran out of money, like we can go and borrow money very quickly.

This is in the same structure of that, right?

The the same financial oversight that we would be able to do a um ordinance in regards to uh these special funds or grant funds that come in based upon we're in a state of emergency um because of a pandemic or something like that.

Um so this would actually be the thing that would enable the full power for our ordinance to come through for us to to allocate funds um once those monies are um goes through the finance process and everything like that.

Follow up.

Yes.

Now I would think that's what the mayor's office is for.

Now you're saying city council saying it wrong.

So it would it it would be both working together.

So um how we go through the budget process already when there is uh emergency going on, right?

Again, these funds would come in.

Um it's just like if we wanted to extend if we wanted to like again borrow money, right?

That would be a decision that would be talked about with the mayor's office before council just decides to go do that.

Um we have that power currently under emergency ordinances already to go out and borrow money.

This just adds in special funds and grant funds um to do the same thing as well, too.

Councilmember Kaber.

Okay, so my question is here because you says requiring city council approval to make appropriations.

Basically, it would mean that the money was already there and that we would appropriate it, which is what I thought the other ones were doing, because it doesn't say to be able to go out and seek the additional grant funding and to instead of the administration just going and writing the grant or asking for that money that we would have to approve them asking it the way that you just explained it if they're getting emergency funds from available sources.

So that's one thing I'd want you to explain, and then I would also want unappropriated revenues removed from here.

So we're not using, let's say that the city might have a surplus in a certain department they didn't use, then now we're saying we're gonna go to that for emergency funding when perhaps that funding could be used for something else that the department needs or roll into the next budget.

Um I can see if we go out and get grant funds and special funds for an emergency.

I have no problem with that, but I think the wording would have to be that city council would have to approve the grant requests from whatever emergency basis available sources exist or special funds, if that's the way you just explained it, because now I'm really confused on that one.

So council member Owens.

Yes, thanks, Council President.

Um, so I don't want to answer your questions, but I do agree with you about the revenue to make it in line with the ordinance or the resolution we just passed.

Um, so I will make can I make that amendment first and then finish the convo?

So I will make can I make that amendment first and then finish the convo?

So I do um make a motion to strike the word revenues on the third line under section 2-204 emergency ordinances and also in the synopsis as well to um on the third line there.

Is there a second?

Second.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Amendment passed.

Um in regards, and I may ask you to just restate it real quick.

She actually restated so I answer it correctly.

Okay.

So when council member Owens explained this to council member um Oliver and Johnson, a resolution to require city council approval to make appropriations on an emergency basis.

But I understood when you explained that it would be for city council to approve any grant requests on an emergency basis if we had an emergency like the hurricane, and that we needed to request those funds that before the administration requests those funds, that the request go through city council.

And of course, I also feel that if there's something is time sensitive, you know, and a request needs to go through, they should have the freedom to do that without us having to vote on it because we're already stating in 0183 that we would vote on how those funds would be spent, whether there was an emergency or not.

An emergency I think would fall into could be number in into the previous one.

But when you stated, you said that it was for funds and grants that we would be requesting, that we would have to vote on the request.

This makes it sound like we already have the money and we're just appropriating it again, redundant.

Yeah, so this uh this is for if we do have that money, we so we have the money, we would be able to do an ordinance to uh appropriate that those dollars from that money we have currently received.

So let's say we received in the ARPA dollars, right?

This is the back end after the other two that would clarify, okay.

Now we've done through all those other steps.

Now council actually has the power through emergency ordinance to be able to appropriate those dollars, and that would also go through the finance committee, very similar to like a uh almost like a budget amendment um request.

If I could follow up, but don't we do that already?

I thought that when that happens and those changes happen in the budget, we are required to do that before monies are spent.

You are absolutely correct.

We do do that currently already with the dollars that we have in this targets those outside dollars that we did not appropriate already are not coming in through our normal match metrics of getting money.

This would again in a special circumstance where we get a lump sum of money from the federal government, this would also add that lump sum of money into our regular processes.

So I thank you for bringing that up.

That this is something that we do already.

It just makes sure it's that all dollars that come through the city, we would have the same structured uh uh process for so without something I follow up, sorry, Mr.

President.

So shouldn't it read that it would be for new funding or new grants that we go after mid-year from the budget, just to clarify the difference between just us using the money.

We're talking about money that we want to go after.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes.

Um so it wouldn't for this section.

Um that's what the other two resolutions clarified.

This just adds it to this session as well, too, so that they're all uniform together.

So it's cleaning up the code so that it's all you you know, all the same language, so there's no gray space.

Thank you.

Councilmember Willower.

Um thank you, Mr.

President.

Yes, I just wanted to say what I think um councilman Owens, what you're doing here is just adding some checks and balances to um the process of allocating funds that might come during emergencies and things like that.

So I think checks and balances are you know a great idea in general.

So I um I think this one makes sense too.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

The one thing that um that concerns me is the the word a public emergency.

Um I mean emergency could mean I mean, who's defining emergency?

And I do think that we we have the checks and balances in place currently as it relates to any kind of emergency that happens within the city.

This is one of the reasons why we have some of the budget revenues that we have uh to address emergencies.

This is one of the reasons why we have some of the budget revenues that we have to address emergencies, and like I said, I do see an um a few uh things uh pointed out here affecting life, health, property, or the public piece, the city council shall adopt emergency ordinances, and then it goes into other um language here.

So I do appreciate the spirit behind this, but there's I think that this is already in place.

We have the balance of of council that if there's an emergency and we feel as though that the men administration is not addressing it, we can put it, we can put in a uh a request if if something comes up and we're not addressing it.

So I do think that we already have those um those checks and balances in place, and I like I appreciate the spirit, but I think that these other two uh pieces of legislation to me is all pretty much saying the same thing for the most part.

So I'm happy about the two other pieces, but I don't I I want to stay away from this one because it's very general for me.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Johnson.

Yeah, and I I I did oh um councilwoman Harley as a finance chair.

Um again, I'm just looking at from practical standpoint.

If we want to get this over the finish line in Dover, let's let's be a little streamlined.

I think pieces one and two are enough to get what we need, and I don't want to do too much so that we get that all of them rejected.

I think we passed piece one and two, I think it approaches it, because as you've even you've seen council member owing, and you might not have seen yet, there is a process we have, such as Adam Street and other emergencies where it does go to Kit City Council.

So uh we do have that process in place already.

Um so I think the emergencies have already been handled that way.

Um obviously in the future, um every emergency is different.

But I think and it's a council president's um um credit, you know, when Adam Street happens, he did everything in the power, make sure it came to council, and I think it didn't even go to committee, went right to the floor.

So I I don't think we need piece three of the hands raised, Councilmember McCoy.

Okay, excuse me.

Um I just wanted to make uh the uh sponsor aware that revenues is actually still left in on the um the piece of legislation, the resolution uh under the second whereas clause.

But before we get to that, I just also wanted to state it was the emergency piece for me because when you think of emergencies, everything is time sensitive, and there and I feel like the sense of urgency to for me, I feel like no everyone is always lacking the sense of urgency when it's time to get things done, and to give to make uh another hurdle, I think is yeah, it's a little that's just a little bit too much for me.

But I just want to make you aware that if you do get this passed, you want to make certain that you hit the other um revenues and the second whereas clause at the very um fourth uh sentence, you probably want to make the amendment, but um uh because the because of the emergency piece of it, I do have reluctance.

I will not be uh supporting this one.

All right, you see no other hands raised to go back to the sponsor.

Um I will listen to councilwoman McCoy and make another motion to strike the revenues from the second whereas as well, too.

Sorry I missed that.

Y'all second, second, second.

It's been first and second.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carry amendment passed.

Councilmember Owens.

Yeah, so I'll close with this.

Um again, like I said, the the three um resolutions, they may seem like they're all the same thing.

It's adding in these special funds to three different areas, right?

Um, so one is about controlling during um being able to have the control um to appropriate these funds during our annual budget, um, control during new uh if new funds come in, and then control if there is a state of emergency going in.

Um I I've heard uh North Adam Street mentioned quite often that wouldn't qualify for us receiving additional 50 million dollars, right?

Um, so I I don't want to get held up on that.

This would be if we received millions of dollars coming in from another entity, right?

Um a state of emergency cannot be declared, and then everything the other two resolutions does can be sidestep because we're in an emergency, right?

So because we don't have that under emergency ordinances during those special operation times, right?

So again, that's why I know they all three seem repetitive.

I I I hear y'all on that.

I wish it could have all been in one.

I I did ask that.

Um, but um they said because it's three different sections, that's why um I had to do it that way.

Um so I do apologize for being repetitive.

Um, but this is the last of the three to make sure that council has that equal balance um during times like this.

All right, thank you, clerk.

Please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens, yes, Councilwoman Darby, yes, Woman Oliver, no, councilwoman Harley.

No, Councilman Willower.

Yes.

Councilwoman McCoy?

No.

Councilman Johnson?

No.

Councilwoman Cabrera.

No.

Councilman Spadola?

No.

President Congo.

Yes.

Madam Clerk.

Mr.

Voting Time, sorry.

Can't make a comment during voting time.

No, I don't.

Can I change my vote?

That's a good question.

I believe so.

Yes.

Can I change my vote to no, please?

Thank you.

Can I just clarify why I did that?

No.

Yeah, okay.

No.

Three A's more.

Seven A's and three absent.

I know why you did it.

Declare defeated.

We all know.

Yes.

Uh Mr.

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

Ordinance number 26-017.

Agenda number 0197.

An ordinance to amend chapter 8 of the city code to create a rental assistance program.

Sorry.

First reading of the ordinance.

An ordinance to amend chapter 8 of the city code to create a rental assistance program.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Mr.

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

Second.

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

Councilmember Darby.

Agenda number 0198.

An ordinance to amend chapter 2 of the city code to establish an office of community safety.

First reading of the ordinance.

Second reading of the ordinance.

First and second reading of the ordinance and refer it to the public safety committee.

Second, second.

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

Mr.

President, oh sorry.

Ordinance number 26-019.

Agenda number 0199.

An ordinance to amend chapter 8 of the city code to establish an affordable housing trust and a community advisory board.

First reading of the ordinance.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Second.

That be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance.

Yes.

May I be excused?

Yes, you may.

Thank you.

Councilmember Oliver.

Yes, President.

Thank you.

Ms.

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

Ordinance number 26-020.

Agenda number 020.

An ordinance to authorize and approve an electricity procurement contract starting in fiscal year 2027.

Mr.

President.

An ordinance to authorize and approve an electricity procurement contract starting in fiscal year 2027.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Second.

That be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and referred to the public works and transportation committee.

Ordinance number 26-021.

Agenda number 0201.

An ordinance to amend chapter 40 of the city code to allow employees to donate an unequal amount of accrued sick and vacation leave to designated employees or to the donated leave bank.

First reading of the ordinance.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I move this be known for the first and second reading of the ordinance and refer to the finance and economic development committee.

Second.

It's been properly moved in second that be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and referred to the finance and economic development committee.

Okay.

Turn it over.

Mr.

President, I have an ordinance present and call for the third and final reading.

Ordinance number 26-001, agenda number 0164.

An ordinance to amend chapter 45 of the city code to establish a charge for inspections made pursuant to the city of Wilmington cross connection control program.

I have a substitute to present in lieu of the ordinance.

Is that that one?

I'm on 065001.

I'm sorry.

Why do they always get mixed up?

It's a mess.

Here it is.

Okay.

Mr.

President, uh call for a third and final reading.

Sir second.

Second.

Second.

It's been properly moved in the second.

That being known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and calls for a yay and a vote on the question.

Mr.

President.

This ordinance is from the complete from the state.

This is a state law from Dimreck that was discussed thoroughly in the committee room and individuals were there to public works to talk about it.

So this is an ordinance being presented by the administration for reviewed the ordinance amends chapter 45 of the code to establish charges for inspections and reinspections conducted by the city of Frost, City of Womanton Cross Connection Control Program.

Seeing no hands raised.

Councilwoman Councilman Owens, sorry.

Yes.

Councilwoman Darby is absent.

Uh councilwoman Oliver?

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley?

Yes.

Councilwoman Willower?

Yes.

Councilwoman McCoy.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson?

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera?

Yes.

Councilman Spadola?

Yes.

President Cago.

Yes.

Nine years and four absent.

Clear it adopted.

Thank you.

Mr.

President, I have an ordinance to present and call for the third and final reading.

Ordinance number 26-002, agenda number 0165.

An ordinance to amend chapter 45, the city code to empower the commissioner of the Department of Licenses and Inspections to issue civil penalties or take other enforcement action against cable telecommunication and other utility providers for failing to remediate utility wires.

Mr.

President, I have a substitute to present in lieu of the ordinance.

Substitute number one to ordinance number 26-002, agenda number 0165, revision one.

An ordinance to amend Chapter 45 of the City Code to empower the commissioner of the Department of Licenses and Inspections to issue civil penalties or take other enforcement action against cable telecommunication and other utility providers for failing to remediate utility wires.

Mr.

President, I've been Mr.

President, I move this be known as the enacting clause of the substitute ordinance and call for a yay and they vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved in second that be known as the enacting clause of the substitute ordinance and called for a yay or nay vote on the question.

Yes, uh, Mr.

President.

Um we have seen the increase in concern about low-hanging unsafe utility wires, and this is only for bright-aways.

Um we know that some wires are not addressed as quickly as we would like some to um some instance.

We have gaps in our enforcement ability.

This is just um scoring up the gap and providing a process.

What does the ordinance do?

Address the unsafe utility wires and public right-aways, define unsafe utility wires as not being secure on both ends and lose any overhead wires less than 18 feet above uh the road and any that interfere with um the right-of ways.

Um the imposed fine of 250 is not um we met it within our time required, allowed also allows necessary flexibility to take into account communities' needs and organizations' operations.

An additional information allows entities to alert that they cannot meet the deadlines due to a natural disaster, also allows for a secondary notification process in addition to the certified letter, and it does not address wires solely on private properties.

Thank you, Councilmember Kabara.

Yes, I would like to be added as a sponsor, and this is long overdue because this is a major issue and predominant in a lot of our neighborhoods, these fallen wires.

People call, they don't know what to do.

Um, and it's just very problematic.

So I think that this is um a great piece of legislation.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember McCoy.

Yes, I also like to be added as a sponsor.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes.

I would like to be added as a uh co-sponsor as well.

Thank you, Councilmember Oliver, for um presenting and sponsoring this.

This is long overdue, and um I hope that there can be um a follow-up conversation about this in terms of like who does what wires because the issues that I'm hearing about or that sometimes um Verizon will say is Del Marva, then Del Marva will say it's Verizon, that type of thing, and then the right-aways and some of these easements and some of the communities that we represent, and and they both you know kind of blame each other and nothing gets done.

So with this legislation, it sounds like the city of Wilmington is gonna take the lead on Iden hopefully identifying um what wires belong to what company and reinforce that they remove them.

So thank you.

And I would like to be added, like I said, as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

I'd also like to be added as a co-sponsor, Councilmember Johnson.

I would like to be added as a co-sponsor, Council President.

Thank you, Councilmember Spadola.

Thank you.

I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

And prior to this uh legislation, I had conversations with the administration about their uh the intake system for complaints coming in uh being very poor, and uh the follow-up in terms of the city would go out there and say, Oh, not our wire, and essentially turn around, similar to a council member Harley's points.

So I think this is good on the enforcement piece.

I still think there's something lacking on the intake piece because you're not gonna get enforcement unless you have a good intake system on the city side where there's a you know essentially a chain of you know, the O and I inspector went out and so and so uh at you know at this this date in time, they notify Delmar, but that's all uh an important piece of the prosecution uh to essentially make the case.

So I still I this is a good piece at the end of it, but I still think there's something to be done on the beginning.

Thank you.

Happy to support it as it is.

Thank you, Councilmember Owens.

Yes, can I be added as a co-sponsor?

Councilmember Rollauer.

Yes, I'd like to request to be added as a co-sponsor.

Councilmember Kabara.

Okay, I did want to add another piece now that uh council member Spadola brought that up because in my own neighborhood, I recently was trying to help the neighbor out, and it was determined that the wires were Delmarva's wires.

I mean, not Del Marva's wires, it was the cable wires.

So that in terms of cutting the limbs and the trees that the you know the wires were intersecting, that it would not be the utility's responsibility, it would be I don't know whose responsibility, but I know that normally Delmarva will come out and cut trees to make sure that the wires are not obstructed, but then there's the cable wires.

So maybe moving forward, we need to look at that situation as well with trees obstructions and the wires and what Councilmember Spadola said is key because if we're going to enforce this, we need to know that it's happening and we can't be passing the book.

So hopefully the administration puts things in place and doesn't let this sit to make sure that there is a process so that our when people call it in, there is speedy action on this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember McCoy.

Uh thank you.

Um I I just want to say I understand what both you guys are saying.

Uh both of my colleagues are saying the thing is that um it is sometimes hard to identify which uh telecommunication wire it is.

I've actually had an inside connect with Del Marva, and they were kind of able to figure out just by me getting them to come down and take a look at it.

Call Verizon, call Xfinity.

But if we don't have someone on L and I who's capable of doing that, I think that that training needs to happen because it is difficult in Verizon is hard to get in contact with because I don't think nobody has cell phone wires anymore.

All right, thank you.

So you know the hands raised back to the sponsor for any final comment.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

Um thing I didn't miss it, um, it does define a timeline for compliance as 15 days from the day the utility uh received a certified notice from the city of Wilmington.

So the city of Wilmington has been in contact with Verizon, um Del Marburg Power, Infinity, um, and um spoken to public works.

So this has been a real detailed conversation regarding this, and it just falls under public works.

So um because Phil on the Public Works um sponsored it, but I think it's a good piece because it's always some wise land around, as everybody has stated, and I'm just glad to see that now the city is stepping in and it's a 15-day compliance.

So um after that they will be fine, and the city seems like they're stepping up to um be involved with this as far as the fit because it's a certified note of from the city, so the city is involved.

So with that being, um, I'd like to call for a role.

Clerk, please call for the rule.

Councilman Owens?

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver, yes.

Councilwoman Harley?

Yes.

Councilwoman Wellhour?

Yes.

Councilwoman McCoy.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson?

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera?

Yes.

Councilman Spadola?

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

Nine years and four absent.

Declared adopted.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

President, I have ordinance present and call for the third and final reading.

Ordinance number 26-03, agenda number 0166.

An ordinance to authorize and approve the first amendment to a professional services agreement between the city of Wilmington and I tron Inc.

for mobile automated meter reading operations and system maintenance to transition from automated meter reading to advanced metering infrastructure.

Mr.

President, I move this be known for the enacting clause, a call for an AA vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second that be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and call for a yay or nay vote on the question.

Yes, Mr.

President.

Again, this was discussed in public works in detail.

Um the individuals were there from ITRON.

Um they had a whole presentation.

If anyone had any questions, they were answered.

This is a data system that is a uh AMR driven by AMI.

It's a network service and a meter vendor.

Um, and it's just to fix the structure and it's data storage.

Um, thank you.

Councilmember Spadola.

Thank you, Council President.

For those that are not on the committee uh or not there, is anyone able to speak to the gentleman's concerns that he mentioned at public comment?

Councilmember Oliver.

Thank you, Ms.

President.

No, um the individuals who um specialize in this was there, public works.

Um the public works committee was there.

We were there for quite a uh a while and it was explained in detail.

So um if he gives us his number or something, I can have someone to give him a call to speak with this uh in detail.

That's why we have the committee meetings, and that's why the agenda is posted X amount of days out.

So not on the floor that can I get into everything that they discuss.

Thank you.

Councilmember Willower.

Thank you.

You want to give me one second, Councilmember.

Councilmember Sidola follow-up.

Thank you, Council, Council President.

Councilmember Oliver, I appreciate your points, but my point is not everybody is on the committee, and there was nothing put out to the there wasn't there was nothing put out to the council selling this piece of legislation legislation.

I don't expect you to get into that.

I was just looking for some brief talking points to what he said, but I understand your point.

Thank you, Councilmember Willower.

No, I I was I mean, if you if you was at the committee meeting, but I don't want this to get into a committee meeting, I'm asking.

No, I'm sorry.

So I just uh thank you.

I had a lot of concerns about this legislation.

But I want to thank Councilwoman Oliver for having a really in-depth conversation at the committee meeting where we talked about a lot of those concerns.

Um, they did have some people from iTron from there.

I'm sure, of course, iTron thinks it's a great idea, but Public Works gave um an explanation.

And you know, in a nutshell, it's gonna be equal cost, like over time, based on like our current contract and our is that okay?

Based on our current contract, which is escalating in cost and like the new contract with the new infrastructure, the debt service over time.

His numbers, I missed part of his presentation because I was outside with the uh parks and rec, but his numbers seemed really high to me.

Like if you read the fiscal impact note on the legislation, it's it's actually 250,000 a year for debt service plus 100,000 a year for the network service, and it's kind of the same.

And it's better because you can detect leaks.

That's what I got out of it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Harley.

Oh, yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

So the one thing, the one positive thing, I guess, as as it relates to the benefits of it, um, even if it comes across like it's a net zero, is that um is it's expected to improve billing accuracy, and I think billing accuracy is important um in terms of us generating revenue, um, billing accuracy, reduce manual reading costs, enhance leak detection capabilities, um, improve operational efficiency and provide long-term cost savings and revenue protection for the utility.

So I I see that as the bit benefit, and sometimes uh um in the short term, you don't always see it in terms of uh short term and in terms of fiscal sometimes when it's a net, but if it's allowing the city to run more effectively and efficiently and to um improve the billing accuracy, I think that that's a benefit to to this to the constituency or constituency.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Kabara.

Thank you.

And I will ditto everything that council member Harley said as to the advantages, and I was at that meeting because I was presenting my piece, so I did get to listen to the presentation.

And the part that I will speak to is the part that stuck out for me the most because we see this problem too frequently when people come right here to get public comment about their water bills and and get shutoffs and water shutoffs and how they can't afford it.

A lot of those people have issues with leaks in the water, and many of them are not the ones getting the bill.

It is the landlord, but yet they're being required to pay the bill.

The detection for leaks can be done in real time.

When you see that there is something unusual about the use, they can see those numbers going up.

So you're able to look at that problem within days or weeks versus waiting for the next billing cycle to detect that there was a fluctuation in the bill.

So if nothing else for that piece alone, I think that is an advantage of technology, because I think that will help a lot of our residents who currently don't have control over monitoring their water utility, but yet are being told that they have to pay it.

Thank you.

Councilmember McCorrew.

Uh thank you.

Um I just wanted to ask the sponsor.

I do realize that we have already entered into a three-year extension agreement, and that this is an amendment because this agreement basically ends in 2028.

Now that we are amending this agreement and adding this um 3,300,000, whatever.

Does that change the end date of the agreement of how long we will have have them?

Councilmember Oliver.

Thank you, Ms.

President.

No, as every as um Councilman Um Councilwoman um Willower and Harley and Um Korea um just stated no, it won't.

And one of the main things I didn't, you know, get into because like I said, it was a long detailed conversation and um the could admit meeting is the leakage and on, but to your question is no.

Okay.

Councilmember Owens.

Yeah, I just want to add one point of clarity.

Um it will not take days or hours, like you will be able to get updated information every 15 minutes um with the network um that we're gonna be voting on next um once that is all set up, so it would be able to uh the customer would be able to uh access that AMI data um uh a website, right?

Um just like you can go in and check your bank account, you'll be able to check that you will be able to detect if you're having a leak as well too, and say something sooner so that can be get fits as well too.

I try and also um in the contract had some um commitments that they're making about um severity of different incidents and their response times with that as well, too, um, to help make sure that they're best serving the customer as well, too.

So um it was a very nice presentation at the meeting.

Um, so I hope that answers the the question that they had a public comment.

Councilmember Core.

Uh thank you.

I just had one more question for the sponsor.

So um I I think we had kind of talked about this briefly, and it was basically about extensions.

I just wanted to know whether or not an extension was actually because I didn't see it, and that was something that I had picked up before.

Is there an extension already cooked into this uh this legislation where we'll do this till 2028 and then they get like another it's a possibility, yeah.

So it's I didn't see it in here.

Yes, you you answered your question.

This is this is just for 2028.

Oh, so there's no there's no extension.

No, that right now.

Okay, all right, thanks.

And I would like to um thank public works committee members for being there and hearing all the presentations and thanks a lot.

We call the vote.

All right, seeing on the hands raised, clerk please call for the rule.

Councilman Owens.

Yes, Councilwoman Oliver, yes, Councilwoman Harley.

Yes, Councilwoman Willower?

Yes, Councilwoman McCoy, yes, Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera, yes, Councilman Spadola, yes, President Congo.

Yes.

Nine years and four absent.

Declared adopted.

Thank you.

The president have an ordinance present and call for the third and final reading.

Agenda number zero one three two.

An ordinance to authorize and approve a network as a service agreement between the city of Wilmington and Delmarva Power and Light Company.

Mr.

President, I move this be known as the enacted clause and call for the yay and they vote.

Second, yeah.

It's been properly moved and second that be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and call for a yay and they vote on the question.

Yes, Mr.

President.

This is connected to um Ordinance uh 003.

Umnection with um iTron.

This also is from Delmar Power Network, and it reads the data, um, the gas and electric, and we just leave it's just a lease piece from Delmar Power, and it's for data from iTron.

It's it's connected to the iTron piece.

If you was at public works, or if you went back and watched this, this was also a long detail conversation, and the people were there to discuss this in depth.

Thank you.

Councilmember Willower.

Um, I'll just want to say that I um you know saw Del Marva as part of this legislation, and I thought, what are we doing?

Marrying our system to um Del Marva because Del Marva's just shown that when they have a monopoly, they're more than happy to increase prices in ways that are really unfair and unaffordable.

So I was like, why would we do that?

Why would we connect our water usage utility to Del Marva?

But what I was uh told at the public works committee was that this contract is 91,000, three percent increase.

It's five-year contract with two extensions, so it kind of locks in.

And then the other thing that really gave me peace of mind was is that at any time the meters can be turned off of the network capabilities, and we could just go back to like reading them without Del Marva.

So those two things made me think like, okay, it makes sense.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes.

Um, the one thing that stands out is the ongoing costs will need to be incorporated into future operating budgets for the duration of the contract term.

Um that sounds like a little unknown type of statement.

Ongoing costs will need to be incorporated.

So hopefully we'll be able to get updates on this transition and um us marrying our our systems together because that ongoing costs.

We we always want to keep our finger on that, right?

So anyway, I just wanted to point that out and that we continue to keep our eye on it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, to Council Harley's point.

Um, I did want to point out that um it is on annual about a three percent increase.

Um, so that we would want to keep eye on that because those three percent increases start to add up.

See no the hands raised back to the sponsor.

Yeah, thank you, uh Mr.

President.

Um again, this is Domar Power Like Company with the city and Allen Tron Inc.

to use Delmar Powers Automatic Meteor Infrastructure Infrastructure Um Network to collect the water usage information for the city of Wilmington.

So we're saving millions of dollars, but this is worth keeping an eye on.

That would be all.

Clerk, please call for the rule.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver, yes.

Councilwoman Harley, yes.

Councilwoman Willower?

Yes.

Councilwoman McCoy.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson?

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera?

Yes.

Councilman Spadola?

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

Nine years and four absent.

Declare it adopted.

That would be all uh Mr.

President, and it was so many because we public works had to be delayed two times because of the snow.

Thank you.

It's not over, honey.

Where is it?

I don't need to be home.

Ordinance 26-014.

Oh, ordinance zero one nine eighty-nine.

Ordinance 26-014, agenda number 0189 in ordinance to authorize and approve the first amendment to an agreement for water and sewer service line protection programs between the city of Wilmington and American Water Resources LLC.

Mr.

President, I move this being known as an enacting clause and call for a yay and they vote.

Okay.

It's been properly moved and second that be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and called for a yay or nay vote.

On the question.

Yes.

Um ordinance to another piece.

One second, I'm sorry.

This is ordinance that I have my notes.

Oh, here it is.

I'm sorry.

This is an ordinance.

Um another organization who came and gave a detailed um presentation.

American water resources who um was under um President Hanifa Shabags from National League of Cities.

Um, and they spoke very highly of the city of Wilmington.

Um, so this is a piece from council members traveling um to various um events for National League of Cities, and it's a water uh and sewer line warranty protection service available to homeowners in the city of Wilmington.

And uh it ends June the 30th, 2021.

Um, and it started uh they're renewing it.

I'm sorry, July the first, 2026, and it ends 2000, June the 30th, 2021.

And the warranty protection is 12.99 cents, and Kendra has this service, and everybody said it's really good, but it's something that the um city of Wilmington residents use, and they're just renewing the contract, five-year contract council member Owens.

Yes, uh, I just is the American water resource, correct?

Um I just want to just point a clarity.

They've been around for like 40 years um working in the city, and I know we have a partnership with them on that, and they have been good partners of ours.

Um, and they offer this service uh to the community at a very cost-sufficient price of eight dollars and some change.

Um so you know it was a very robust conversation.

See no the hands raised.

Clerk, please call for the rule.

Councilman Owens, yes, councilwoman Oliver, yes, Councilwoman Harley, yes, councilwoman Willower, yes, Councilwoman McCoy, yes, councilman Johnson, yes, councilwoman Cabrera, yes, Councilman Spadola Councilman Spadola, yes, President Congo, yes, nine y's and four absent.

Declared adopted.

Councilmember Harley.

Oh, yes, uh, Mr.

President, I have a floor amendment to ordinance number 26-015.

You got it.

Um this particular floor amendment amends the second amendment.

Councilman Harley.

Yes.

Can you present it first?

Okay, yes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mm-hmm.

Mr.

President, I have an ordinance to present and call for the third and final reading.

Ordinance 26-015, agenda number 0192, and ordinance constituting amendment number two to the fiscal year 2026 annual operating budget being an ordinance to amend substitute number one to ordinance number 25-009.

Mr.

President, I move that it be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and call for the yay and a vote.

Second, it's been probably moved in second that be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and called for a yay or nay vote on the question.

Yes, Mr.

President, at this time, I would like to uh do a floor amendment to ordinance number 26-015.

This particular amendment amends the second amendment to the fiscal year 2026 annual operating budget to one increase the general fund materials supplies and equipment appropriation for the Department of Information Technologies by 20,000 to hire an in-house mapping and graphics technician from a staffing agency and two authorize the use of up to 425,000 dollars from the tax stabilization reserve reserve portion of the general fund balance to balance the fiscal year 2026 general fund operating budget.

Um so uh Mr.

President, I would like to make a motion for a floor amendment at this time as such on page two in the fourth overall whereas clause, and we did go over all of this um in the finance committee meeting, and for the most part, I just want to say that um we're just wanting to balance the budget.

It was not balanced based on what was presented by OMB, and so this floor amendment is pretty much text excuse me.

Yes, the motion, Mr.

President.

Yeah, I would like to make a motion.

Uh we didn't do the second, first and second.

I would like to make a motion for a floor amendment at this time as such.

Second okay, thank you.

Uh so as I was saying, um, we went over this in the finance committee meeting on Monday, and what was presented was out of balance, and so we wanted to meet to make sure that the the budget was balanced.

So I just want to give a little context here.

So on page two and the fourth overall whereas clause in line 21.

Um, we need to insert a comma after the word position and strike the word and line 23 after the number six six thousand one hundred and seventy-seven.

Insert the following phrase and three, increase the general fund materials supplies and equipment appropriation by twenty thousand to hire an in-house mapping and graphics technician from a staff and agency.

And I want to just mention that that was a um update from the meeting that we wanted, and this is amendment is incorporating that request on page three in section one line four.

Strike the dollar amount of the two two one three two five one five and insert the dollar amount two to one five two five one five on page five and section two table entitled to the department of information technologies column edited city row entitled materials supplies and equipment.

Strike the dollar amount eight two five seven zero four two and insert the dollar amount a two seven seven zero four two on page five in section two table entitled to the department of information technologies column entitled city road titled total strike the dollar amount 11609 076 and insert the dollar amount 11629 076 on page five and section two table entitled to the department of information technologies column entitled total role entitled material supplies and equipment strike the dollar amount of 8257 042 and enter the dollar amount 8277 042 on page five in section two table entitled to the department of information technologies column and title total road and title total strike the dollar amount 11609 076 and insert the dollar amount of 11 629 076.

To the Department of Information Technologies column entitle total rule entitled materials supplies and equipment strike the dollar amount of 8257042 and enter the dollar amount 827704 on page five in section two table entitled to the Department of Information Technologies Column and Title Total Rot and Title Total Strike the Dollar Amount 11609076 and insert the dollar amount of 11 629 076 then on page five insert a new section six that states as follows section six in order to balance the fiscal year 2026 general fund operating budget the use of up to 425 thousand dollars from the tax stabilization reserve portion of the general fund balance is hereby authorized on page five remember the current renumber the current section six regarding the effective date as section seven on page seven and the synopsis in line eighteen insert a comma after the word position and strike the word and in line 20 after number six one seven seven insert the following phrases and thirdly increases the general fund materials supplies and equipment appropriation by 20 000 to hire an in-house mapping and graphics technician from a staff and agency on page seven in the fiscal impact statement on line four strike the dollar amount two six seven one one nine six and insert the dollar amount two six nine one one nine six line seventeen strike the dollar amount three nine six zero zero zero and insert the dollar amount 41600 in line 18 through 20 strike the sentence that begins with the word however in its entirety and insert the following sentence however the proposed use of up to 425 thousand dollars in tax stabilization reserve funds is sufficient to offset this deficit and balance the budget and then lastly on page eight in the ongoing cost section of the fiscal impact statement in line seven strike the dollar amount eighteen thousand six hundred and thirty four dollars and insert the dollar amount 5864 that completes my floor amendment mr president second all right any questions on the floor amendment council member willauer okay um I just I was just wondering if maybe we could get these in writing it says nothing about this particular floor amendment but it's just sometimes it's hard for me to keep track of everything that's going on we have a copy yes yeah yes okay council member mcoir yes I just want to note that um from listening to your amendment we are getting our graphics design person back yes yes yes thank you mr president um I'd like to thank this administration for working with city council and listening and um I'm glad that they added the tip for the flyer and administration is using the tax stabilization so that the budget is balanced and there is no deficit um for this um for this budget and I'd like to thank um I'd be remiss if I didn't thank um um Michelle best night for really catching this at the committee meeting and I'm just glad we all working together all the council are really working together um on this budget and I like to thank you too Mr.

President thank you so much thank you council member owen yeah just real quick uh is it okay if like staff shares a copy with us yes um so let me just know all the numbers visually um I will like to say um that this is why we have processes to be able to talk and negotiate back and forth with the administration um you know even if it is an emergency but um I do want to say I'm glad that uh this will keep the the budget balanced thank you um the budget balance and um congratulations to councilwoman oliver uh because I know you really wanted that map and a graphic position councilmember Johnson uh I want to also if kudos to uh chairwoman um harley this is uh quite a lengthy uh budget amendment I say we every year we would do budget amendments not one this big uh so this is actually biggest mini year one I've seen probably since we did the body camera program years ago so this is a big one um one when Daniel told me about one six one point six million dollars for the uh snow removal my my heart almost out but you know because we've been fiscally responsible we do have that money in the tax stabilization fund so again that's why when we get the budget time soon it's important that we look at those emergencies that can come up and uh so you know we don't bankrupt the city so I appreciate the work of the whole chair and of course Miss Bass Knight yes is the best all right speaking to the amendment oh no this is speaking to the amendment I'm sorry take a vote on the amendment all in favor of signified by saying aye any opposed amendment passed now back to their legislation yes um so

So again, that's why when we get the budget time soon, it's important that we look at those emergencies that can come up and uh so you know we don't bankrupt the city.

So I appreciate the work of the whole chair, and of course, Miss Bass Knight.

Yes is the best speaking to their amendment.

Oh no, this could be a good question.

I'm sorry, take a vote on the amendment.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Any opposed amendment passed.

Now back to their legislation.

Yes.

Um I wanted to just highlight quickly um some of the is it okay to okay to highlight uh some of the major items included um in this amendment.

So one um it was necessary for us to do this uh as it related to some unanticipated items um that was requested to go into the budget of the administration and now that it's balanced.

Um I just want to point out um one item, which was the 1.65 million to cover costs incurred during the recent win winter storm fern, which brought more still snow than Wilmington has seen in the last decade, and was followed by the longest stretch of below freezing temperatures in 50 years.

Also, um the Wilmington 250th celebration.

Um the 800,000 is to support a series of events to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary, and this funding is needed immediately to begin placing deposits and planning events.

Um, I want you to know that we had another follow-up meeting with the administration to really understand these figures and these amounts, and it made sense in terms of the 800,000 that those activities that we are planning, we need to put deposits down on them.

Um the fire position changes, the budget amendment includes changes that were negotiated by local 1590 and their collective bargaining agreement in the fall of 2025 that became effective in October 2025.

Um, the director of the Office of Community Safety, the office was created by executive order on March the 3rd, 2026.

The office will be led by the director who will serve as a senior advisor to the mayor, helping to share public safety policy and coordinate ongoing public safety efforts with law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, community members, and other city partners.

And the last three um items uh manager of communic communications programs and strategic partnerships.

Um, this position is being requested by the treasurer's office, and the primary purpose of this position is to oversee creation and implementation of a comprehensive treasury communications function.

Um a funding funding for a temporary employee to handle fly requests.

We just talked about that a little.

Uh the temporary employee will be scheduled to work during the hours of nine o'clock a.m.

to 12 o'clock p.m.

to handle graphic designs and fly requests on as needed basis.

So keep that in mind, nine to twelve, that person is going to be around.

And then we just um I'll just say the the other position.

The administration is requesting for a number of vacant positions to be converted into new positions that address an immediate operational need in their respective um departments.

And so this pretty much is a high-level summary of some of the the biggest largest amounts um that was requested within this budget.

That's all I have, Mr.

President.

Councilmember Oliver.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I too would like to give kudos to um council member Harley.

I don't talk as much because she's always in meetings.

Um, but she's handling the budget, and I think um you've done an extraordinary job this year.

We're attending all the meetings, and you know, it seems like you're starting to really get into it now.

Kudos to you for you know doing a good job and following up with the budget, and you know, seems like you're really catching on.

So good for you.

Thank you.

I would like to call for the vote, Mr.

Prince.

Council member Roller.

Oh, sure.

Oh, you didn't okay.

I'm sorry.

See no other hands raised.

Call for the vote.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver.

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilman Willower?

Yes.

Councilwoman McCoy.

President Member Willower Oh sure Oh you didn't okay I'm sorry seeing no other hands raised call for the vote councilman Owens yes Councilwoman Oliver Yes Councilwoman Harley Yes Councilwoman Willower Yes Councilwoman McCoy Yes Councilman Johnson Yes Councilwoman Cabrera Yes Councilman Spadola Yes President Congo Yes Nine Yay's and Four Absent Declared Adopted Councilmember McCoy That was something else coming up Mr.

President I have an ordinance to present and call for the third and final reading ordinance 26-013 agenda number 0179 and ordinance to authorize and approve a one-year extension of contract 26011 LI Vacant Property Services between the city of Wilmington and RNA contractors LLC.

Mr.

President, I move that that be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and call for the Yay and A vote.

Second it's been probably moved and second that be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and called for a year and a vote on the question.

Yes, so this actually was in the um community development urban planning uh meeting that committee meeting.

Um I had uh was a substitute for our chair for our chair for that meeting.

This is about the group, what is it?

Rm RA contractors, we are giving them a new contract to do the vacant property services, which are which takes place with the um making the phone calls, uh boarding up the windows, making certain that the doors are secured and things of that nature.

This is um this is a contract that they've had previously, and this is exercising their one-year extension option.

And so my only question was basically if whether or not we were uh bringing this forward so quickly, because uh the last the last uh contract is actually not up yet, but this was just clean, this is just um housework, housekeeping, and they wanted to take care of it now.

The new this new contract will not begin until the other the older contract is expired.

So we do need those services.

They still have funds to board up vacant properties, and so if y'all need someone call Ellen See no hands raised, clerk please call for the roll councilman Owens, yes, councilwoman Oliver, yes, Councilwoman Harley, yes, councilwoman McCoy, yes.

Oh, sorry, councilwoman Willower?

Yes, Councilwoman McCoy, yes, Councilman Johnson, yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera, yes, Councilman Spadola, yes, and President Congo, yes, nine years and four absent.

Declared adopted this time.

We will move to petitions and communications starting with council member Owens.

Yes.

Um I just would like to remind everyone that today starting at sits um was the kickoff of do more 24, um, a 24-hour giving um time here in the state of Delaware.

So please find your favorite nonprofits um and at least donate five dollars to them um during this time.

There's a bunch of different incentives that they could win if they get a donation at weird hours.

If you're up at 1 a.m., they may win an extra $500.

So um, I know all of us have nonprofits in our district.

Just go on do more 24's website um and see if they're on there.

If you need a nonprofit, reach out to me.

Thank you, Councilmember Oliver.

Yes, um, Mr.

President.

Um, thank you.

I just wanted to make an announcement that my birthday is next March the 16th.

I'm having a birthday party at the legacy center on the 14th.

And if you're not invited, don't come because you won't get in.

Thank you.

You're terrible.

You just invited the whole city, right?

Councilman.

They know who they are.

She's letting them know they're not invited.

Yes.

Um thank you.

I first of all I want to say happy um women's month um to all the women, all of my city council colleagues, and to the women in the city of Wilmington.

Um, for we know that we make things happen.

And so I'm just always excited about the month of March, not only because it's women's history month, because it's also my birthday as well, March the 14th, but I will be traveling, and I want to say an early happy birthday to um councilwoman um Oliver, and I'm I know I got an invite, but you know now that where I'm gonna be.

So I just wanted to say happy um uh women's uh month to all the women and to please keep in mind there are a number of activities and events that are going on around the city, and um it was one in particular.

So um Mr.

President, I'm gonna ask that you come back to me.

You can move on.

Thank you.

Councilmember Willower.

So I wanted to do thank you, Mr.

President.

I wanted to um let everybody know that the deadline to appeal your tax assessment for this year, it's March 14th.

So it has to be in by 4 p.m.

to Newcastle County.

And there will be two events that um I'm sponsoring in the fifth district to help people appeal their assessment, and also um get information about programs that you may qualify to reduce your taxes, including the homeowner tax abatement, the senior tax credit, the disabled person tax credit, and a bunch of other um programs.

So those two events one are gonna be this Saturday, March 7th.

The first one is at the William Hicks Anderson Community Center at 501 North Madison Street at 1 p.m.

Everybody's welcome to get assistance applying for programs or getting help uh filling out your appeal.

And the second one is also Saturday, March 7th at the Latin American Community Center, the MOB building at 301 North Harrison at 3 p.m.

That one will be also um there'll be Spanish translations.

There's also gonna be a virtual event, and to get that link, you can um visit my website, Christian for council.com.

All right, thank you, Councilmember McCoy.

Okay.

Uh so thank you, Mr.

President.

I have a and an event happening on Saturday, March 7th.

It is a community college and career fair that's gonna be taking place at Momentum Church.

The address is 314 South Jackson Street.

Um it's the building that we normally call DNA, which is developing next level achievers.

So it's inside that building.

And they wanted to make certain that people were aware of this event, and so I wanted to share it.

Uh the time frame is gonna be from 11 a.m.

to 3 p.m.

Again, that's the Saturday um at basically the corner of Lyndon Street in Jackson, South Jackson.

The other thing that's actually coming up is the public safety meeting is gonna be on Monday the 9th.

I think that's the date of it.

So, yep.

Monday night, uh, Monday the 9th at 5 p.m.

Um, we have three things on the agenda, and I just look forward to everyone attending.

The next thing is on the 11th, which is Wednesday, Browntown will be having their community meeting.

So we haven't had a meeting.

Um, we took time off for the winter because it was cold out.

So this is gonna be our first meeting of the year with the Browntown Civic Association.

The beatings will be held at the um firefighters union hall at 804 Maryland Avenue, and it begins at 6 p.m.

So that's all I have for it today.

I think you're gonna go back to Councilmember Harley.

Yes, um, the one thing that I meant to announce was our old Town Hall Council meeting that's gonna be Thursday, March the 19th, which is going to be the mayor uh delivering his budget address.

So I definitely wanted to make sure that we announced um that important date.

And we definitely have some flyers uh that we have been posting on our social media page, and we're asking um that everyone, of course, our council members to be there for 30.

Um the actual meeting will start around five o'clock and between 5:45 and 550.

Um there's gonna be a lot of movement going on.

So the main event will definitely start at 6 o'clock.

Um, and so we are encouraging our our uh residents to please keep that in mind.

Again, it's gonna be at the old town hall.

It's not gonna be here in the chambers, it's going to be at Old Town Hall on 6 in Marcus Street.

And again, the event will start at 6 o'clock PM.

Any questions, you can reach out to the city council office or reach out to me, 302-519-5974.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson.

Um, this is a quick FYI where we talk about tax assessment.

Um, Nehemiah Gateway CDC is doing tax assessment assessment, uh, free um low-income tax assistance program.

They have one at Route Nine Library.

There's one at Woodlawn.

Um, you have to go to Nehemiah Gateway's um website, and there's the um you can sign up.

Um you have to call.

They do it Thursday through Saturday.

Um, but it's a very important, I believe, uh income, household income, 69,000 and below you qualify.

So um I used to do that when I was in law school, the volunteer tax assistance program is a great program.

Um, really great for individuals, and uh it's really great um to take advantage of that free tax prep so you can get your refund.

Um, and then the other um FY, there is gonna be some more um information about the smoke shops.

I appreciate the community engaging, reaching out to WPD.

Um, we just had one today, uh hats off to uh Chief Campos.

Uh there was a smoke shop that was uh closed down.

Um so we are aggressively moving in city council and cleaning up our community.

So again, hats off to Chief Campos, L and I, everyone, for taking quick action.

Um it was uh a shop on uh Union Street.

So thank you.

And we're gonna be doing more public information about how you can be involved as a community with helping um um um take care of our community.

And last but not least is add on what Kobe said there are Do More 24.

It's an organization I'm proud of and have worked with as well.

They have prizes every hour, so go on.

Um, and and when you donate, you're eligible for prizes.

So please, please.

Um, and they also do corporate matching.

So if you work for corporations such as Chase or Bank of America, you can um choose to match your donation.

So that's uh add a bonus.

Thank you.

Councilmember Spadola.

Nothing to my council.

Councilmember Caberra.

Yes, Mr.

President.

Um, just want to remind folks that tomorrow is the art loop, and there's gonna be locations downtown, West Side and Off the Loop with the warmer weather.

Let's come out, let's support our local artists and establishments uh here in the city county building.

We'll have an exhibit in our lobby.

And um Eunice the Fate, the Fate Gallery is gonna have um an exhibit focused on women's history.

Of course, we have places like Christina, Chris White Gallery downtown.

So it should be a great day to come out, a great evening um to support the art loop and check out our local eateries and establishments.

On March 14th, the St.

Patrick's Day Parade will be taking place in downtown Wilmington in celebration of uh St.

Patrick's Day.

On March 18th, Councilmember Oliver and myself will be sponsoring another event, and this one, Delmarva Power will come out.

It's going to be held at the Hope Commission between 5 and 7 30 p.m.

Um, we had one uh last week where we partnered with Rosemont Community Center.

A lot of people came out to get assistance with your Delt utility bills, your Delmar utility bills.

Do not forget to bring your bills with you again, March 18th, 5 to 7 30 at the Hope Commission on Vander Avenue.

Um, also would like to express my gratitude uh to this council body, um Mr.

President, you and everyone for the beautiful flowers and your expressions and sentiments of condolences on the loss of my father.

So I thank you.

The flowers were beautiful, and um they really stood out.

So I thank you very much for that.

Oh, and since everybody's self-promoting their birthday, I did have a birthday march.

Happy birthday to all the March Council ladies and former president Anita Shabazu had hers yesterday.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, I would also like to mention that the Northwest Civic Association is having a meeting on March the 9th.

Um, and that will start at 6 p.m.

at the POW.

Um, the fire marshal's office is coming out to do a presentation.

Um, and also happy birthday to all my fellow Pisces.

Yeah.

Um, I'm a February Pisces, but I'll let y'all slide with March.

But happy birthday.

You're invited.

Council Member McCoy.

Thank you.

I hardly ever do this, but I just wanted to make certain I add.

Well, first I gotta say, my baby's turned 18 two days ago since we were celebrating.

I like he's no longer a baby.

All right, so the other thing is I wanted to make certain I add, I don't know whether or not people have been keeping uh track of this, but the DMV has been closed ever since you know the unofficial, you know, the um the death of uh Officer Schnook.

So they will be reopening March 10th, but it's by appointment only.

It has been very taxing for the state trying to get that together.

So I'm glad that they're finally getting uh they're finally opening, but you know, they're very tentative about how they're gonna do things because of security.

So we just want to be patient and make certain that they move in the right direction.

Happy birthday, Pisces.

Thank you.

Do you want to mention the um police?

Oh, yes, congratulations to our 16 new officers.

We have 16 new patrolmen who took their oath uh last week.

It was a great event at PS U School.

And um, there was one um police officer that I kind of made mention to because they actually talked about it at the event.

Uh patrolman smalls actually used to be a dispatcher, and she has now taken the oath.

She is now a police person.

So to go, I'm like, so she's already, in my eyes, she's already made an impact without even working her first day at that point because she has become more invested in public safety when it comes to uh the city of Wilmington.

So I just thank everybody for being there.

Thank you for um Mr.

President for making sure you were there and stood up for a council and my other council colleague was there as well, Mr.

Councilman Spinola.

It was a great event.

Very well attended.

I just want to thank everyone who who uh joined us this evening, everybody who's still here with us.

Give a special shout out to Deacon Tate.

He's there with us.

He was asleep for about 20 minutes, but he woke up.

So and also everyone who's with us virtually.

Of course, you're always welcome to join us every first and third Thursday for our official council meetings.

You can always join us for our committee meetings throughout the month.

If any of us can ever be of any assistance, please call us at 576-2140.

Again, our number is 576-2140.

Just want to remind all my colleagues here and the public that there will be a committee of the whole meeting meeting next Thursday at 5 p.m.

right here in council chambers.

If you can't make it, you can also join uh virtually.

And with that, I will accept the motion to adjourn.

Second.

Second.

All in a favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you.