OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Meeting - May 21, 2026: Budget Adoption, Housing Debate, and Recognitions

Regular Meeting of Wilmington City Council — Thursday, May 21, 2026
BodyWilmington, Delaware
SessionRegular Meeting of Wilmington City Council
DateThursday, May 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:15:22

Transcript — Verbatim
0:13

At this time we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance States of Republic for Witch.

0:29

One nation under God.

0:44

For anyone who would like to make public comment, uh please make sure that you sign up before 645.

0:51

If you're in council chambers, if you are on Zoom, there is a Google form sign up link in the chat.

0:57

Again, please make sure that you signed up if you're virtual before 645.

1:03

Clerk, please call the roll.

1:06

Councilman Owens.

1:07

Present.

1:08

Councilwoman Darby.

1:11

Councilwoman Oliver.

1:12

Present.

1:13

Councilwoman Harley.

1:14

Present.

1:14

Councilwoman Willower.

1:16

Present.

1:16

Councilwoman McCoy.

1:18

Here.

1:18

Councilman Johnson.

1:20

Here.

1:21

Councilman Field.

1:23

Present.

1:23

Councilwoman Bracey.

1:25

Present.

1:26

Councilwoman Cabrera.

1:28

Here.

1:28

Councilman Hackett.

1:30

Here.

1:30

Councilman Spadola.

1:33

Congo.

1:34

Here.

1:35

Here.

1:36

11 present and two absent.

1:41

All right.

1:41

Thank you.

1:42

Now we will have the reading of the minutes from our previous meeting.

1:50

May 7th, 2026.

1:52

City Council met in regular session with remote participation on the above date at 6 48 p.m.

1:57

President Ernest M.

1:58

Congo, the second presiding.

2:00

The opening prayer was done by I'm sorry.

2:04

Um may the minutes be accepted as written.

2:07

Second.

2:07

Second.

2:09

I wasn't going to be able to do that.

2:10

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

2:15

All in favor signify by saying aye.

2:18

Aye.

2:18

Any opposed.

2:20

Motion carried.

2:21

And now we will have our committee reports.

2:27

May 4th, 2026.

2:29

President and members of council, ladies and gentlemen, will your finance and economic development committee met by anchor location and remote participation.

2:35

So who is referred ordinance number 26-021 entitled 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 have given this ordinance careful review and recommend council vote on it at an upcoming council meeting.

2:54

Respectfully submitted those members of the Finance and Economic Development Committee.

2:58

Those members present, Councilman Harley, Councilwoman Bracie, Councilman Hackett, and Councilman Spadola.

3:05

Absent with leave, Councilwoman Darby, Councilman Oliver, and President Congo.

3:09

I move the committee report be received recorded and filed.

3:13

Second.

3:13

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

3:19

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████████29%
Homelessness████████████████████20%
Procedural████████████12%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████9%
Community Engagement██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Racial Equity████4%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Mental Health Awareness███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Meeting - May 21, 2026

The Wilmington City Council met on May 21, 2026, at 6:48 PM with 11 members present and 2 absent. The meeting included the approval of minutes, committee reports, a treasurer's report, several recognitions, extensive public comment on housing and homelessness, and the adoption of the FY2027 operating budget after amendments. Key votes included passage of resolutions on reparations and police audit, ordinances on property taxes, water rates, and a retiree stipend.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes from the May 7, 2026 meeting were approved as written.
  • Committee reports from Finance and Economic Development (May 4, May 21) and Community Development and Urban Planning (May 14) were received and filed.
  • City Treasurer's report: total investments $561,100,223.31, cash on hand $21,678,678.28, grand total $582,178,901.59, received and filed.
  • Non-legislative business was accepted.
  • Ordinance 26-033 (removal of Mabel Street from city map) passed 13-0.
  • Ordinance 26-021 (employee leave donation amendment) passed 13-0.
  • Ordinance 26-022 (property tax rate for FY2027, no change) passed 12-0 (one absent).
  • Ordinance 26-023 (capital program FY2027-2032) passed 12-0 (one absent).
  • Ordinance 26-024 (capital budget FY2027, zero dollars) passed 12-0 (one present).

Public Comments & Testimony

Over 40 speakers signed up; public comment was extended past 7:30 PM. Speakers voiced strong opposition to the planned eviction of residents from the Christina Park encampment on June 15, 2026, and urged the council to fund direct assistance programs (rental assistance, eviction prevention, home repair) over developer subsidies. Many criticized Mayor John Carney's administration for creating the sanctioned encampment and then ordering its closure without a housing plan. Specific positions included:

  • Deacon Earl Tate urged voting and affordable housing.
  • Edwina Bell (Community Communications Corp.) requested updates on PEG channel 28 and the spiritual revival hour.
  • Dexter Bland (District 7) supported the unhoused and working families, opposing development without community input.
  • McKee Booker criticized the council for failing to address affordable housing and police brutality.
  • Lip Bettley (District 6) called the eviction

Meeting Transcript

At this time we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance States of Republic for Witch. One nation under God. For anyone who would like to make public comment, uh please make sure that you sign up before 645. If you're in council chambers, if you are on Zoom, there is a Google form sign up link in the chat. Again, please make sure that you signed up if you're virtual before 645. Clerk, please call the roll. Councilman Owens. Present. Councilwoman Darby. Councilwoman Oliver. Present. Councilwoman Harley. Present. Councilwoman Willower. Present. Councilwoman McCoy. Here. Councilman Johnson. Here. Councilman Field. Present. Councilwoman Bracey. Present. Councilwoman Cabrera. Here. Councilman Hackett. Here. Councilman Spadola. Congo. Here. Here. 11 present and two absent. All right. Thank you. Now we will have the reading of the minutes from our previous meeting. May 7th, 2026. City Council met in regular session with remote participation on the above date at 6 48 p.m. President Ernest M. Congo, the second presiding. The opening prayer was done by I'm sorry. Um may the minutes be accepted as written. Second. Second. I wasn't going to be able to do that. It's been properly moved and seconded 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.

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