The meeting will please come to order.

Want to thank everyone for joining us.

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

Today is Thursday, June the eighteenth.

Also want to thank everyone who is with us virtually.

If anyone would like to make any public comment, if you're virtual, there is a Google form.

Sign up link in the chat if you are in Council Chambers.

As we do so, we ask for your guidance and understanding.

Amen.

At this time, we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Liberty.

Please call the roll.

Councilmember Owens.

Present.

Councilmember Darby.

Present.

Councilmember Oliver.

Councilmember Harley.

Present.

Councilmember Willower.

Councilmember McCoy.

Councilmember Johnson.

Here.

Councilmember Field.

Present.

Councilmember Brace.

Present.

Councilmember Cabareta.

Present.

Councilmember Hackett.

Here.

Councilmember Spadola.

President Congo.

Here.

Nine present, four absent.

We are going to go just we're going to change up the order just a little bit until our city clerk returns.

Are there any council members who have any presentations this evening?

Councilmember Bracie.

I'm presenting Councilmember.

Okay.

Could those representing women in labor please come to the front?

Unfortunately, uh Councilwoman Oliver sends her regret she had an emergency and she wasn't able to be in the building tonight.

So she apologized.

So I'm going to be representing on her behalf.

Thank you.

And then as I said, this is sponsored by Councilmember Xanthia Oliver.

Whereas it is a sense of city council to honor individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and deserving of recognition and acknowledgement.

Women in Labor Inc.

is one such organization.

And whereas Women in Labor Inc., where wellness meets civic engagement was founded in 2023 by Carmen Anderson Brown with a mission to offer innovative learning initiatives for women, workers, and the community, and to promote civic engagement, health, and wellness.

Recognizing the need to acknowledge and honor women working in labor and other traditionally male-dominated workplaces, Carmen established an annual brunch, an initiative that ultimately inspired the creation of Women in Labor Inc.

And whereas Women in Labor builds upon more than 35 years of voter registration and education efforts led by Carmen.

Her efforts began at Chrysler Motors as a member of the United Auto Workers Local 1183 and continued as a member and recording secretary of the International Long Storm Association.

Clerks and checkers local 1883 at the Port of Wilmington.

And whereas Women in Labor advances civic engagement through voter registrar trainings with the state of Delaware, enabling members and others to become certified in registering people to vote, promotes community well-being through the annual fall thrive health and wellness fair, a free community event promoting health and wellness, and furthers educational opportunity through the Morgan Dixon Hudson Memorial Scholarship.

And whereas the success and continued impact of women in labor is made possible through the commitment and service of its members, including Vice President and Treasurer Tamika Goza, Shekina Rodriguez, Pammy Car Pammy Carter, Deja Stewart, and Wayne Adobson, Kim Congo Tucker, Kenya Ross, Takisha Hall, Nikia Brown, and Nikisha Armstrong.

Now therefore be it resolved by the Council of the City of Wilmington that this council is pleased to recognize women in labor for their contributions to civic engagement, community wellness, and public service.

Job well done.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Oliver, in your absence.

I also want to thank Council President Congo for his contributions towards for the organization.

Maria Cabrera, I think she's on up here.

And last but definitely not least, Councilwoman Michelle Harley.

She's been rocking out with us from the very beginning.

She's always very supportive.

She's actually supporting our upcoming voter registration education event that we have on July 11th at the PAL in Wilmington at 3707 North Market Street.

Everybody is welcome.

We have uh we have a YI vote photo booth there along with the state of Delaware bringing the actual voting booth to do demonstrations.

So it's very vital um that people support this event, especially since the automated automatic automatic voter registration law took effect right back in 2021.

A lot of people already registered that don't even know that they're registered.

We have so many different roadblocks to getting people registered to vote now because a lot of times, like I said, they're already registered, they need to update their mailing address, you know, they need to pick a party affiliation.

Some of some of them just don't even know what's going on.

So we appreciate you guys appreciate you guys' support in our upcoming event on July 11th.

I had some flyers that I can get passed around for everyone.

I can't think of anything else, but um again, thank you guys.

We really appreciate you.

Councilmember Harley.

Yes, thank you.

Um, Mr.

President.

First of all, I want to thank Councilmember Oliver for recognizing Corman.

Had I known that she was going to be recognizing Kerman, I would have tried to get my name on that resolution to be a co-sponsor because Carmen has done such an amazing job along with her team.

She's only been existing since 2023, and I am very happy to say I've been a part of her women working in labor branches from the beginning and even um up to her last event.

And I just want to just say congratulations to you, Carmen.

Um I know of a number of nonprofits that have been around for a long time.

And I know that each nonprofit has its own lane, but I just want to congratulate you for all the work that you do around civic engagement, around the women's branches, um, the R and Bingo, and you just do a lot of positive things in addition to the health resources that you do.

So I want to say congratulations and thank you for all that you do in terms of bringing the community together to move the community together to do those things that are very positive.

So again, congratulations.

Councilmember Kabara.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, Carmen, you know, I love you dearly from the bottom of my heart and all the women that are part of this organization.

And for me, what it stands for is is that you're showing folks that here you are, the women in labor, the women who are out there doing the same thing that men can do in multiple capacities, and it just recognizes the efforts and the work of the women who do this.

So, yes, thank you to councilmember Oliver.

I too would have liked to have been a sponsor, but you know that we are here to support you, Councilmember Harley, myself and others for all the work that you do.

Thank you for keeping the women in labor in the forefront, and you deserve to be recognized.

And please know that you can uh you can count on my continued support.

Sorry, I can't be there to hug you in person, but just job well done and thank you for all that you do, each and every single member.

We truly appreciate you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilmember Hackett.

Yeah, so Ms.

Carmen, we spoke uh this past week, and I just want to say continue to do great work.

You know, I'm just amazed by how you continue to bring moms together.

You know, I can tell you about a year ago, I was just traveling due to South Bridge, and I seen it was an event outside, and I thought I stopped by my mom was sitting at the front desk helping.

So you just putting these women to work.

Uh, but it's for the community and a good cause.

So continue to do what you're doing, and once again, the continued support from me.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Appreciate you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Darby.

Yeah.

And while Councilmember Darby is coming forward, I will accept the motion to move to accept all non-legislative business.

Motion.

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

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Any opposed motion carried.

Yes.

Um, so my first resolution tonight is to record recognize Juneteenth.

So we're gonna bring up our Juneteenth participants, and as you guys are coming up, I'm gonna start reading the resolution.

This is a reparations one, huh?

Where's the extra copies?

Got it.

All right, whereas Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day, is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of all enslaved African Americans in the Confederate States.

The events of June of June 19th, 1865 happened when Major General Gordon Gringor led Union soldiers into Galveston, Texas, bringing news that the Civil War had ended and that the emancipation proclamation have declared all enslaved people free nearly two and a half years earlier.

And whereas Juneteenth celebrate celebration takes place annually, consisting of readings of the proclamation, prayer and worship services, cultural performances, community service events, food and more.

The emancipation proclamation declared enslaved people in the Confederate States free.

All enslaved people in the United States were not declared officially freed until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S.

Constitution on December 6, 1865.

And whereas African Americans were not fully recognized as citizens until the passage of the 14th Amendment in 1868, and African American men were largely prevented from voting until the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870.

Despite this, blacks were forced to continue to fight for civil rights throughout the 20th century.

The enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 were monumental achievements.

However, more than 50 years after their passages, African Americans still face oppression and many many forms in the United States and globally.

And whereas Miss Lee was a retired teacher, counselor, and activist whose dreams was to have Juneteenth recognized as a national holiday.

Miss Lee campaigned for decades, promoting the idea by leading numerous two and a half mile walks each year, representing the two and a half years it took for for the news of the emancipation proclamation to reach Texas, Texas.

On June 17th, 2021, President Biden got down on one knee to greet her in the audience.

He then signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

And whereas the Delaware Juneteenth Association is a statewide community-based organization founded more than three decades ago.

The association has worked diligently to preserve the meaning of Juneteenth while creating opportunities for celebration, education, service, and cultural pride throughout Delaware.

It's dedicated volunteers has organized annual celebrations, freedom parades, festivals, worship services, pageants, flag raisins, and educational opportunities to ensure that generations of Delawareans learn about the history of emancipation, the African American experience, and continuing the pursuit of equality and justice.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the council of the city of Wilmington that as our city, state, and nation marks 250 years of independence.

Wilmington City Council commends the Delaware Juneteent Association for its long-standing commitment to celebrating African American culture and heritage and fostering understanding of the journey to freedom for the descendants of enslaved Africans here in America.

So thank you guys for the work that you're doing.

Thank you for continuing to recognize our accomplishments as black Americans here.

The economy was built on us, on our bodies as they try to still control us today.

So keep doing the work that you're doing because honoring our ancestors and our history is all a part of the journey of Sankofa as we move forward to preserve who we are and to build our future.

So I'll bring you up so you're able to speak.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Sylvia Lewis Harris, and I'm one of the co-founders of the Delaware Juneteenth Association.

And as Councilwoman Darby said, we have been teaching Juneteenth for 32 years.

This is our 32nd year.

So we are going to keep on pushing to make sure that those who don't know do know.

Because, like you said, Joe Biden created, he made it a national holiday, and we're gonna keep going forward.

So thank you for the resolution, and thank you guys for all that you do also.

We also brought our queens with us.

Just take a peek.

And again, thank you for your support.

Yes, well, thank you guys.

Um, I have oh, copies of do we have copies of their resolution?

No, I just have the reparations one.

Um, we will get you copies.

So thank you guys.

Council member, Councilmember Harley has comments.

Oh, yes, sorry, yes, Councilman Raleigh.

Yes, thank you, uh Mr.

President.

I want to thank Council Member Um Darby for recognizing uh a Juneteenth, and I wanted to just say congratulations to um Sylvia and um the leadership for on 32 years because I know um once this is over, you probably start right back out because it's just um that much work.

So I just wanted to say congratulations to the leadership and congratulations to Miss Juneteenth, 2026.

And again, congratulations.

Thank you very much.

Yes.

And the Juneteenth flag raising was earlier today.

Yes, yes, yes.

So our flag was there.

Yes, so our flag, our flag has been risen.

It has been flying bright.

Shout out there also.

Yes.

All right, well, thank you.

Um, I have a second recognition tonight.

Um, so I don't know if anyone is here from the reparations task force.

I know Kobe uh Councilman Colby was on there.

I don't know if you want to come up with them.

Um, but our reparations task force members.

As they come up, um, they'll make some comments.

But I am going to start reading the resolution.

I thought this was really important in this time as we, well, Juneteenth, you know, but also we're sub um celebrating for some 250 years of independence for America.

But that looks that means very different things for different groups of people, and what has happened to specifically African Americans, but globally, black people in this country have been displaced because of this celebration of 250 years and colonialism across this country.

Um, so I think it would be remiss if we did not acknowledge um the reparations task force, and that reparations still have not been paid to black Americans or black people globally, period, um, for the economic um sustainability that America still has off of the backbone of controlling black bodies.

Whereas it is the sense of city council to honor individuals, organizations, and significant occasions deserving of recognition and acknowledgement.

As our city, state, and nation marks 250 years of independence.

Councilmember Shine Nicole Darby acknowledges the historical harms of enslavement and affirms the need for reparate reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans.

And whereas, from the earliest colonial period, millions of Africans and their descendants were subjected to instant to the institution of chattel slavery, a system that denied their humanity, liberty, labor, family integrity, cultural identity, and fundamental human rights.

Because the emancipation proclamation granted freedom to all persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a state in a rebellion against the United States, the state of Delaware was accept accepted, it's was expected accepted until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution in December of 1865.

And whereas the economic foundations of the city of Wilmington, state of Delaware and the United States, as well as numerous countries in Europe and America were built in significant part upon the uncompensated labor of enslaved Africans and their descendants.

Despite their immense contribution, generations of black Americas, black Americans were deprived of opportunities to accumulate property, access education, garner political power, and build intergenerational wealth.

And whereas this cumulative effects of slavery and discriminator practices over time continue to manifest and immeasurable disparities in wealth, homeownership, educational attainment, health outcomes, life expectancy, employment opportunities, and access to capital among black Americans and descendants of enslaved Africans.

A peer review study of genealogy and the financial disclosures of the 117th session session of the United States Congress found that members whose ancestors enslaved more than 16 individuals had a 3.93 million higher network than members who did not.

And whereas in May 2024, the Council of the City of Wilmington adopted resolution 24-024, accepting the final report of Wilmington's reparations task force, which included findings and recommendations to address the historical and continuing harms caused by slavery, segregation, and systemic racism.

And whereas in May 2026, the Council of the City of Wilmington adopted resolution 26-043 to establish a reparations implementation and oversight subcommittee to facilitate legislative action guided by the proposals and the reparations task force final report.

Now, therefore, be a resolve by the council of the city of Wilmington that this council acknowledges the immeasurable harms of slavery on enslaved Africans and their descendants and firms the need for reparations in the city of Wilmington.

Thank you.

But someone from you would like to see.

Okay, Shane is speaking.

Thank you, uh, Councilwoman Darby, and thank you, Council, for acknowledging the need for this task force and acknowledging the need to do the work of doing the research for reparations.

And I think um, we were proud of the report the task force was able to put together was only the beginning.

Um, and I'm proud that there's a could be continue to be continued work within this council within the city.

Um, the biggest part of reparations is repairing, but in order to repair, you first had to acknowledge what the harm was.

So being real clear where the harm was, how it was affected, and how it continues to affect the the people that that work hard to make this country and make everything that we see around us, especially in the city of Wilmington and all over this country.

So I definitely well, the resolution was really good at highlighting the different principles that that highlight the uh systems that hold um black and African American people down, even today, and how we can work to continue to make the fairness uh more equitable uh for all.

Thank you.

Well, thank you guys.

Well, I don't know if any I know Councilman Harley had it.

You good all right?

Well, thank you guys.

Okay.

I'd like to recognize Councilmember Spadola who's joined us, Council Chambers in the way of other resolutions of recognition from Councilmember Bracey.

She would like to recognize the 2025 Wilmington Youth Advisory Council from Councilmember Harley, she would like to recognize Mother Bertha Lockett Parker on our 103rd birthday from Councilmember Oliver, she would like to recognize Desiree Bell, owner of Children's Laughter Early Learning Academy from Councilmember Owens.

She would like to recognize the LGBTQ and Pride Month 2026, and also recognize Melvin E.

Phillips, the emeritus president of the Delaware Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

And he would also like to recognize um Beanie Man, King of the Dance Hall.

And also, I would like to recognize Violet Jane Dixon on her 102nd birthday, and also I would like to recognize the trash porters on their third anniversary and the second chance shop ribbon cutting ceremony for sympathy resolutions coming from all of council.

A sympathy resolution for Jarrett Van Swigan Copeland from Councilmember Kabara, a sympathy resolution for Vereno Pennero from Councilmember Oliver, sympathy resolutions for Maurice R.

Sims and Ronald Sudler and from Councilmember Owens, a sympathy resolution for William H.

Gardner.

At this time, we will have our committee reports.

Oh we'll have the reading of the minutes of our previous meeting.

Thank you.

June 4th, 2026, City Council met in regular session with the remote participation on the above date at 6:37 p.m.

President Ernest M.

Congo the second presiding.

The opening prayer was done by Mary Elena Rivera, Deputy City Clerk.

I make a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting.

Second.

It's been probably moved and second the report.

The minutes be accepted as written on the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

This time we'll have our committee reports.

June 3rd, 2026.

Ladies and gentlemen, we your intergovernmental committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who is referred ordinance number 26, session 36 entitled an ordinance to amend chapter 2 of the city code to create a charter advisory board.

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

Council meeting.

Respectfully submitted those members of the intergovernment governmental committee.

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

Motion to accept the intergovernmental report.

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.

June 8th, 2026.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are finance and economic development committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who was referred.

Ordinance number 26-016 entitled an ordinance to authorize and approve an agreement between the city of Wilmington and USI Insurance Services LLC for property and casualty insurance brokerage service.

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

Council meeting.

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

Those members present, Councilwoman Bracie, Councilwoman Darby, Councilwoman Oliver, Councilman Spadola, absent with leave, Councilwoman Harley, Councilman Hackett, and President Congo.

I move the committee report BBC recorded and filed.

Second.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second.

The report BBC recorded and filed on the question.

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carried.

June 8th, 2026.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are finance and economic development committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who was referred ordinance number 26-041.

Entitled an ordinance to amend chapter 40 of the city code regarding paid parental leave.

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 Bracey, Councilwoman Darby, Councilwoman Oliver, Councilman Spadola, absent with leave, Councilwoman Harley, Councilman Hackett, and President Congo.

Move the committee report be received, 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.

June 8th, 2026.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are finance and economic development committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who is referred.

Ordinance number 26-039 entitled an ordinance authorizing the issuance of the city's general obligation bond PFAS phase four project series B of 2026 DWSRF in order to provide the funds necessary for the installation and construction of PFAS equipment at the city's Porter Plant, providing for the sale of the 2026 B bond to the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and authorizing other necessary action.

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

Respectfully submitted those members of the finance and economic development committee.

Those members present, Councilwoman Bracey, Councilwoman Darby, Councilwoman Oliver, Councilman Spadola, absent with leave, Councilwoman Harley, Councilman Hackett, and President Congo.

I move the committee report be received, 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.

June 8th, 2026, ladies and gentlemen, we are finance and economic development committee met by anchor location and remote participation to who was referred ordinance number 26040 entitled an ordinance to amend chapter 44 of the city code to extend the duration of the Wilmington downtown business district 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 Bracy Councilman Darby Councilwoman Oliver Councilman Spadola absent with leave councilwoman Harley Councilman Hackett and President Congo.

Move the committee report be received recorded and filed.

Second it's been properly moved and second the report BBC recorded and filed on the question.

All in favor signify by saying aye aye and the opposed motion carried at this time we'll have our city treasurer's report June 18 2026 total investments 573 million 31236 dollars and five cents total cash on hand 26142949 dollars and eighty cents grant total 599 million four hundred and fifty five thousand five hundred and eighty five dollars and eighty five cents submitted city treasurer doane sims I move the committee report bbc recorded and filed the treasure report yes second it's been probably moved and second the report bbc recorded and filed on the question all those in favor signify by saying aye aye any opposed motion carried at this time we will move to public comment witn are there any virtual comments all of these okay we do have an even number of virtual and um people from the public who are in council chambers so we're going to alternate we're going to start with Deacon Earl Tate please remember to introduce yourself and remember that you have three minutes for your comment once you have around 30 to 45 seconds left I will give you a friendly reminder to wrap up your comment if you like if you are representing a district you can state which district but that is not a requirement thank you for joining us good evening my name is digging Earl E Tate who's never late because he don't want to lose his parole at skates and I'm here and I'm here representing representing the people we have we have we have done something that done something with with that with the thinking about about about about where we're going to put the people at and all we we have we have we have taken the people out of the parks and everything the homeless people and not and not not having nowhere to put them at the people the people need some place to stay now not like not like that plenty of pace plenty of places where we could stay at but but but but the people haven't the people haven't took time out to think about it because that because the the shelton uh shelter hop on on on 95 that that there was uh that was uh open that was open for the homeless people and everything I don't know what happened to that but but but that's a good place to put them in second set second second that the the big big acres of land of land out here where where we could where we could where we could take the take the cards uh uh uh and that that uh did they ship up here did the ship appear with stuff in them we could take them and and fix them up fix them up as home put for the people to stay in so the people will have will have a solid roof over their head and won't have to worry about won't have to worry about where about the rain so we're seeping in but but but first of all first of all we got to realize this that the people are that the people are people and and and the people's vote count so in order in order in order for the vote order for to make the vote count we got we got the we got to stand up and we got to do it upright but if we don't do it up right then we're not hurting nobody but ourself as well as as well as to the people so it's time to take time out and and the think and and to come to reason reason because if you don't you you're gonna you're gonna mess everything up yeah 30 seconds uh just like

So in order in order in order to put a vote or to put to make the vote count, we got we got we got to stand up and we got to do it upright.

Well if we don't do it up right, then we're not hurting nobody but ourself as well as as well as to the people.

So it's time to take time out and to think and to come to reason reason because if you don't you you're gonna you're gonna mess everything up.

Yeah, 30 seconds.

Uh just like uh uh just like this guy in office.

Hey, hey, we don't need no more of that.

People, people need people need people.

And we're the people, we're the people.

So like so like it's time for us to get off our seat and and take action.

Because if we don't, we don't hurt us up.

Thank you.

Oh, and have a and have a happy 4th of July.

Next virtually, WITN we have Abdul Hay.

Okay, is Connor Brofi virtual?

Okay, you can come up.

Thank you for joining us, and please remember to introduce yourself.

Hi everybody, I'm Connor Brofi.

I'm hoping some of you are beginning to get familiar with me.

Um, I live just over South Market uh Street Bridge in Newcastle.

Um, first of all, I want to remind everyone that the city council unanimously voted to oppose Killer Kearney's eviction of Christrina Park on Monday, June 15th.

But um secondly, I wanted to thank the President Congo as well as the council members, uh Owen Chine uh for coming out and their continued support of the community that that's been scattered all over Wilmington, as well as Harley for momentarily joining up uh in her district.

Uh third, I also want to remind that there were several members of city council who said they would oppose every step of Carney's agenda should he move forward with this cruel and unusual punishment of our most underserved population by punishing the homeless people by evicting them from the only semblance of stability they've had over these last few months by by uh closing down the only place that they would illegally be allowed to sleep at night and not having enough shelters or transitional housing available or resources that can actually sustain them is also in part due to the city council's failings.

So here we are.

Killer Carney is spit in your face, yet again, city council, um, by treating our neighbors like animals, showing up at five in the morning, sneaking into the park like rats to build up fences around them before they can even wake up.

And after the next two to four weeks, all those people who somehow or maybe or maybe did not get housing vouchers will be back on the street and they will have nowhere to legally go.

So guess what?

Half a million dollars later, we're back where we started a year ago.

Well, the city council may have condemned the police action against their most vulnerable and underserved community.

This city council did not vote to put more money towards shelters and transitional housing.

And the city council voted against rent stabilization.

Y'all know this city better.

Until you give us better, we ask for accountability.

Let Killer Carney know that we can't have him walk all over the city, its council, its neighborhoods, its residents, and lie to our faces like he's done from day one.

And then show up and have expect all of his resolutions brought to the city council to be put on the agenda.

That's got that's gotta be embarrassing for y'all.

Show the city what a city council looks like that cares until the mayor's office does better for its most vulnerable, vote down every resolution that is brought by the administration or table it until further notice.

If you want the city to take you seriously, then show us what serious looks like.

The last 30 seconds, I just want to talk a little bit about my experience on the park on Monday by helping residents move their belongings by getting them to places they need to be to family uh fostering pets for them.

I met this person who was in a serious need of resources that this city that's mayor's office and the city council could not afford.

So after I had spent six hours getting them through every resource available, only to find out that the next morning they were on the street.

What are we doing here?

Do better.

Thank you.

Next in chambers, we have Ms.

D.

Thank you for joining us, and please remember to introduce yourself.

Okay, hi, my name is Dean Cox.

And I was here a couple months ago uh with concerns about Sherman Street.

I am here tonight now with concerns about Clifford Brown Walk, which my granddaughter actually just bought a home in February.

Kind of in line with the gentleman that just left the comments about the homeless people.

It's sort of like a double-edged sword, because there are people who need help and who are not trying to go back into the neighborhoods to destroy them.

But my granddaughter lives on the 100 block of Clifford Brown Walk, and there's a family there of about four or five kids and maybe three or four adults with two cars, and they are steadily trashing the neighborhood every single day.

There's a lot, uh a house on the corner.

Um they have got the gate open for that property where the fence is.

They go in and urinate and defecate in the yard at least maybe five, seven times a day, the adults and the children.

Um they leave all the trash uh garbage around from the cars that they I guess the fruit cups and stuff that they're giving their kids, and they leave that when they leave at night, which is about maybe 12 or one o'clock in the morning after the kids are on the block all day playing and in a lot playing up until about 12 o'clock at night.

They're playing music, smoking cigarettes, drinking, whatever.

And they leave everything the way it is.

They come back early in the morning when I'm when my granddaughters are going out for work.

They come back early in the morning and they stay all over again.

I've noticed this in the last week or so.

One of the my um, we were at my granddaughter's house, and my uh my daughter, she had her stuff in the car, and sometimes she's just lack of days ago and doesn't really lock the car.

And one of the little kids was in the car going through uh Hawaii, and my daughter caught them.

So I want to know.

I've called the police.

I I have not, I don't know who to call.

I'm not from really from the area, and I don't know.

This is the first time I've ever run into a problem like this.

So I want to know what the city is actually gonna do because and and an agreement with the gentleman that just spoke.

When they closed down the park, they dumped everything in everybody else's lap.

So, what are we supposed to do now as homeowners and as people in the neighborhood for the people who do care about the neighborhood?

What are we supposed to do?

These people have been there for like a week.

They're there every single day and up until late at night.

I've called Ellen I, I've called the police.

I have all everything on my phone.

I have got slow response.

I I called the police one time.

She gave me a little bit of an attitude like, huh, like, oh, why are you calling?

We'll send somebody out.

They never do.

Um, I want to know who do I address this?

What happens in this case and what do we do as my granddaughter being a homeowner with them them tra with this particular family trashing and destroying the street every single day?

I'm a little fearful.

I'm very leery because when I go out, I never know what's going on.

I see my car, a car mirror pulled in.

I see trash cans pulled out, stuff in the trash cans.

What happens in a case like this?

Who do I go to for somebody to do something about the problem?

And I'm sure this problem exists.

Clifford Brown Walk, Lumber, Pine Street, Spruce Street.

I'm thinking the whole 801.

This is where everybody is sprayed out.

It's dumped in our laps, and I want to know what do we do about it?

What do I do about it?

All right, thank you.

I'm gonna have our chief of staff, Elijah Simmins, take your information.

Thank you.

Next, virtually we have John Connolly.

Hello.

I think yes, thank you for joining us.

Please introduce yourself.

Yeah, I'm John Conley, and I would like to say, first off, to Councilwoman Darby.

Uh, she should have given thanks to Republican president Abraham Lincoln.

He was the one that freed the slaves.

It was the Democratic people from the Confederacy that made the slaves, and they're the ones that went through war in the Civil War.

Just want to let y'all know that.

Second thing I got, I'm on Miss D's side here.

Y'all are talking about transient people down at Christina Park, right?

You know what?

You all need to start taking care of the taxpayers like her daughter.

Okay?

We're out here trying to help the homeless people, which y'all should have did, Miss Councilwoman Darby and Mr.

President.

Y'all should have gone down there with school buses and sent all those homeless transient people to Spadola's neighborhood.

Because Pedola's a rat.

He's no good.

He won't go on the Rick Jensen show.

He's a piece of trash.

You know what I mean?

He's the guy that's doing you, Mr.

President.

Do you understand that, sir?

How do you think feel about that?

That guy doesn't want to be Republican.

He wants to be a Democrat.

He wants to be a Democrat, the party of slave traders.

How do y'all feel about that?

All right, thank you for joining us.

Next, we have Dora Williams.

Thank you for joining us, and please remember to introduce yourself.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

Um, Council.

Thank you so much for this opportunity.

My name is Dora Williams.

I live off of Route Nine.

I am also a part of Um Sam's um Housing Task Force that's at um on Chipley Street.

I think it's seven nineteen, Chipley.

And um, thank you.

Thank you.

Um President Congo, you have to let me know for my three minutes are up.

Yes, ma'am.

I I have um I am yielding my three minutes to I guess it's a it's actually it's it's spoken in a in a book, and um it's it's called No Words.

And um, I think this no words here, and um I'm going to yield my time to I think an entity that does have words.

I just think we're not listening.

So thank you.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Did you say you're yielding your time?

Sorry.

Yes, I'm I I'm moving my time to an entity that does have words, but we don't have words.

And I'm thinking maybe we're just not listening.

Sorry, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for the opportunity.

Thank you.

Amen.

Next, virtually we have Lip Bettley.

WI10 is lit Bettley still with us.

Let Bettley like to recognize Councilmember Johnson.

Let Bentley.

Hi, can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

Thank you for joining us.

Awesome.

Mimi, District One, you know me.

Um I for months, along with my fellow comrades, have been going to Christina Park to hand out food, supplies, resources, whatever we could, because no one was adequately meeting that demand.

And uh on the day that the city closed the park, I saw things that people should be talking about tonight.

A man decided he was going to have the police shoot him rather than leave.

And the only reason he's alive is that a compassionate officer finally let my friend in to talk him down.

And she was able to bring him out crying, but still breathing.

And that same day, a nurse begged to be let in to give someone with COPD an inhaler.

The officer scoffed at her and said if it was a real emergency, paramedics would have been called.

But no, you give someone a rescue inhaler so they don't have an emergency.

That is the whole point.

A man in a wheelchair was expected to pack up his own belongings while the public works sat on their trucks.

Two of our members helped him.

Then he was upset because he didn't know where he was being sent.

We asked Walker, and Walker keeps saying, if they worked with us, their name would be on a list.

And we kept repeating this man didn't know where he was going.

So Walker repeated himself with a smug little smile and walked off.

How hard was it to give someone an answer?

What about the people not on the list?

What about the ones that only been there for a few days?

The ones who have day jobs who don't connect with people during today or the day.

And then he played games when asked for his badge number.

This is a city employee who was manufacturing a reason to arrest someone whose only crime was that they were told to live there in the first place.

And when a friend, a resident called me while all this was going down, she was in mid-breakdown.

And I begged an officer to let our medic in.

He said no.

Someone from Friendship House finally went to go talk to her, but then she called me back and said she didn't want to talk to anyone but us because she could no longer trust anyone in the city.

There are only a few days before Wilmington loses millions that could be allocated for a pallet village.

And this is the thing that the city keeps saying is the real solution.

Yeah, 30 seconds.

We don't need to miss that funding.

And instead of a plan, we have the mayor's office and the council pointing figures, fingers on whose job it is to act.

And we don't need that deadline to come and go because people's lives are hanging in the balance.

Where I keep hearing about numbers.

Walker talking about numbers.

Where are the numbers from the people who came back from Hope?

From medical intake, from family members' homes, back to the park, back to the streets.

They're not being counted.

Even the own his own closure day numbers don't add up.

85 serves, 78 serve, 19 who hadn't engaged, then four.

But every one of those numbers is a person.

Do they know the names of those people or just the ones that cause trouble?

Today is my birthday.

Instead of going out to eat, I'm sitting here on the couch in shitty sweatpants and a torn shirt to be on Zoom to remind you of what happened while my son's over here giving me dirty looks.

But this is a reminder that there are people that will do anything because they care.

And I'm sure the mayor's office is gonna gaslight us tomorrow about how much they care.

But guess what?

We have you on video.

We have your disdain.

We have it all wrap up your comments.

I'm sorry, what please wrap up your comments?

I will wrap it up.

I'm asking that you passed resolution 0240, and on the record, you are owed a transition plan around July 4th.

Please hold that deadline the way you were asking the mayor to, please.

And one last comment to the gentleman who spoke earlier.

Southerner here, Dixie Kratz fought against everything Lincoln did and became the Republicans.

And the second LBJ signed civil rights.

That's when they dropped out.

Maybe that's your family tree, but your 1860 talking points, they need to go.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Jean Messick.

And our final speaker will be Joy Piles.

Thank you for joining us, and please remember to introduce yourself.

Thanks for having me.

My name is Gene Messick, and I still serve the unhoused in District 4 and elsewhere in the city.

Couple people talked about Monday.

I'm gonna talk about Monday too.

I've been down there serving food and clothing people for over six months now.

It's kind of been helpful to have everybody in a central place.

You get to know a lot of people.

You get a lot of people to come together to support things, but now that's come to an end.

Some people were given six months' stays in the Hope Center.

Let's take a count from June 15th, right?

Six months.

What month is that gonna put us in?

January.

January 15th.

You're gonna have all those people that you put in the Hope Center out on the streets again when it's freezing.

That's not a long-term plan for homelessness, is it?

You voted unanimously to demand a long-term plan for homelessness before Carney could evict that park.

He did not give you one.

Another contingent were given 30-day stays in hotels via vouchers.

They're at it at least five hotels.

Others were given 14-day stays.

Uh allegedly, Walker says, that's deputy chief of staff Walker.

He says that they uh refuse to engage until the day of.

So hopefully in those two weeks, y'all can find something different for them.

That's still not a long-term plan for homelessness.

Okay.

A year ago is when you started pushing people down to Christina Park.

And they used to be out on East Front Street.

That's where they are again.

What did we do this all for?

You had a lady in here earlier complaining about Lombard Street, Pine Street.

That's all that same area.

Bunch of the people that I were serving in Christina Park are out there on the street again.

Y'all didn't do anything.

You put them in hotels in other municipalities so they can be somebody else's problem for two weeks.

Where they can't get food, they can't get access to services, and the people that love them and care for them cannot support them.

In a couple weeks, they'll be right back here, and you'll still have no long-term plan for homelessness.

The people that hate the homelessness don't want them on their sidewalks, and the people that love the homeless don't want them to be outside.

Find some place to put them and take care of the people that you're supposed to be responsible for.

Thank you, Kobe Owens, for being there.

Thank you, Trippy Congo for being there and helping us pass water over the fence when the city refused to let us in to help our neighbors.

Thank you, Harley, for showing up too.

Thank you.

I'd say that a motion to extend public comment.

So motion.

Second.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

All right.

Any opposed?

Motion carry.

Next we have uh Lip Bettley virtually.

WITN DC LIP BERS.

Lip Bentley, can you hear me?

Is Joy Piles with us virtually in Council Chambers?

You may come up.

Then we'll go back to Lip Belly.

Sorry.

Okay.

WITN is Lip Bettley able to give public comment.

We'll give them a few more seconds.

Hello.

I hear something.

I hear something.

Hi, can you hear me?

Technical difficulty.

It's very hard to hear you.

Can you hear me now?

Yes, we can hear you.

Thank you for joining us.

Please please remember to introduce yourself.

Sorry about the top technical difficulties.

Uh thank you for bearing with me.

Uh, my name is Lip Bettley.

I am from the 6th District.

Um I first just want to say to please support Councilmember Darby's ordinances.

Uh secondly, I want to speak on what's going on with the homeless folks in our city.

Pardon me.

Um, I I was down there on Monday at Christina Park helping for about half the day.

Um I want to thank uh President Congo especially for helping out and all of our other council members who are down there helping and supporting as well.

And I just want to please remind y'all that um council or excuse me, President Congo mentioned that with the eviction happening that y'all in city council have the power and should practice the power that you have to withhold votes for any of Mayor Cardi Carney's ordinances or business until there is a humane long-term solution to put our homeless neighbors into safe permanent housing.

Um has said much better um than I could say about what happened Monday.

But I also just want to comment that um the comments that the Carney administration has been making to the press um have mostly been lies um and slander, um, and also saying that you know people in city council are either lying or don't know what's going on.

Uh he's made um y'all and city council look foolish.

Um, and he's made just uh I think the city in general look awful.

Um, he's done an awful job about caring for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Um, so I would like to see y'all do all that you can to support long-term safe housing for our neighbors.

Um, as people have already said, there is no long-term solution.

Um, and I also just want to advocate for I'm not sure what was going on.

Um, I believe that there was going to be something on the agenda about um a proposed tiny home community.

Um, I would like to see something done about that.

I think that's a good idea, um, especially if there is funding that is due to expire um from the federal government.

Um, but just outside of that, there is a lot of dilapidated properties in this city that could be fixed up and um, you know, we could move people in there.

Um, there are plenty of options available to help get our our homeless neighbors off the street.

Yeah, 30 seconds.

Um so please do all that you can.

And just uh in closing, um, I know um someone else already mentioned it, but uh Mr.

Connolly or Mr.

Smith, whatever his name is, was mentioning a bunch of stuff that um apparently hasn't read a history book as the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.

They ain't the same party that they were back around the time of the civil war.

Um, thank you for your time and again, sorry about the technical difficulties.

Uh thank you, that's it.

Thank you.

That does conclude public comment again.

We always welcome you to give public comment during our meetings and also during our committee meetings.

Next, we're going to go into legislative business, Councilmember Darby.

Yes, I'm holding my legislation for tonight, and I'm gonna be excused.

Yes, maybe excused.

Thank you.

Councilmember Harley.

Oh, yes, Mr.

President.

I have an ordinance to present and call for the third and final reading ordinance number 26-039, agenda number 0244, an ordinance authorizing the issuance of the city's general obligation bond, PFAS phase four project series B of the 2026 DWSRF in order to provide the funds necessary for the installation and construction of PFAS equipment at the city's Porter Plant, providing for the sale of the 2026 B bond to the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and authorizing other necessary action.

Mr.

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

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

Uh yes, Mr.

President.

This ordinance uh pretty much is authorizing the issuance of a general obligation bond for uh PFAS uh phase four project.

Um and the amount not to exceed uh 30 million dollars, which will be sold to the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund um in order to finance the installation and construction of equipment at the city's Porter Plant to remove PFAS from the city's water's uh source as set forth in the city's capital budget for its fiscal year ending June 30th, 2026.

Um, and pay the administrative calls relating to such uh capital projects and pay the cost of issuing the 2026 B button.

Thank you.

I'd like to recognize council member Oliver who's joined us virtually.

Thank you.

Seeing no hands raised, please call for the role.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver.

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson?

Yes.

Councilman Field?

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera.

Yes.

Councilman Hackett?

Yes.

Councilman Spadola?

Yes.

President Congo.

No.

Nine y's, one nay, and three absent.

Declare adopted.

Mr.

President, I have an ordinance to present a call for the third and final reading, agenda number 0245.

Ordinance number 26-040, agenda number 0245.

An ordinance to amend chapter 44 of the city code to extend the duration of the Wilmington downtown business improvement district.

Second, Mr.

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

Second, sorry.

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

Oh yes, uh, Mr.

President.

This particular um ordinance uh amends uh section uh number uh 44-153 of the city code to extend the duration of the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District until October 1, 2039.

In addition, um, as a housekeeping matter, it deletes the superfluous language.

And I just want to say on behalf of Downtown Visions, um, they have been a great uh partner to uh many of the businesses and the residents and the visitors of the city of Wilmington, um, down and around, as I said, um, as it relates to the work that they do, they do a lot around um safety and outreach, um, around cleaning and beautification, community events and activation, uh, small business support, uh, the main street Wilmington program, um, a number of our businesses that need signage, um, downtown um minority businesses, all businesses that just need that extra support, they're always there.

Um, that's pretty much called the facade improvement, the dying downtown deals, they drive that.

So I could go on and on about downtown visions.

Um, they just do an amazing job.

And um, so we want to continue to keep them downtown, and that's basically what this ordinance presents um on tonight.

Councilmember Hackett.

Thank you.

Uh President, as I'm looking at this, it just states that there's no um direct uh fiscal impact.

Um, but then as I move down, uh, you know, we they're collecting certain revenue uh from service, including cleaning sanitation, public, safety related.

Um, and then it also says that you know they are provided limited with administrator support, which is from our finance department.

So just trying to figure out um how there's no um fiscal impact for this.

Councilmember Harley, did you want to respond now or doing your closing comments?

And my closing comments, all right.

Councilmember Johnson.

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

Um, I would say to Mike uh and his team uh over at Downtown Vision, they've been very helpful through the years.

Uh, back when I worked the law department, they were helpful in terms of working with our uh team and administration back then.

It was Mayor Williams with managed safety initiatives.

Specifically, those of you had not heard, we're actually going to be doing the safe streets model out in the west side that's going to be launching this summer.

And downtown Vision is actually a partner in the program, has been helpful with giving technical guidance.

Um, because you know, I was impressed by what they do downtown.

And for me, it was like, you know, it's time to bring this out to the west side, as you know, we don't often get enough love out here.

So bringing that model out to the west side is something um downtown vision is going to be working with us and West Side Grows on.

Um appreciative of their efforts, and I continue to um you know have them be the gold standard um for doing this.

And hopefully, this model again, we can bring it to the west side.

I think we could probably bring it to the north side as well.

Um, I think this model serves a lot of our communities uh really well.

Councilmember Spadola.

Thank you, Council President.

Please add me as a co-sponsor.

Council member Oliver.

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

Debar is bringing this same idea to the Northeast area.

We just had a big meeting yesterday, so I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, thank you.

Um, Mr.

President, I did have a quick question because I do see that there's no uh fiscal impact here.

Um, but it was just stated that they handle the facade program for us in the signage and helping the small.

So are we paying them as a third party operator or is that with the dollars that we paid into economic development that they kind of manage?

I'm just a little confused on that one.

Councilmember Bracey, did you have your hand up?

Yeah, Councilmember Bracey.

Uh two things.

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

Um, and two, in response to Councilman Owens and I know uh councilwoman Harley knows better than I do.

Um, they uh the way downtown visions is funded is by the their the fees that they collect from the businesses that participate.

So all of the businesses that um benefit from their services uh pay a fee to downtown visions, and that's how their budget is set up.

Thank you.

Any other questions before we get comments, final comments by council member Harlow?

Yes, and um to add to that, thank you, um Councilmember Gracie.

Um to add to that, the facade program, they work with um Main Street, Main Street is a um organization where they apply for grants and the board votes on it, but the funds definitely does not come from the city of Wilmington, and again, um they are partnering with an organization called uh Main Street, as I said, and so no, there is no um fiscal impact coming um from the city of Wilmington.

The businesses they pretty much pay a fee um according to their uh square footage, and um they're pretty much like a management company to pick up trash to help uh around uh residents and visitors downtown feeling safe.

And so again, the the the way that they are they run their operations mainly is on the fees that are coming from the businesses.

That's all I have.

All right, clerk, please call for the role.

Councilman Owens, yes, councilwoman Oliver, yes, Councilwoman Harley, yes, councilman Johnson, yes, councilman Field Councilwoman Bracey, yes, councilwoman Cabrera, yes, Councilman Hackett, yes.

Councilman Spadola?

Yes, President Congo, yes.

Nine years and four absent.

Declared adopted, Mr.

President.

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

Ordinance number 26-041, agenda number 0246.

An ordinance to amend chapter 40 of the city code regarding paid parental leave.

Uh 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 properly moved and second that be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and called for a yay and a vote on the question.

Uh yes, one of the uh yes, this particular ordinance um amends uh section section 40-43 431 of the city code uh regarding paid parental leave and paid birthing parent medical leave uh previously enacted by council, uh, but I believe there was some clarification that was needed as it relates to employees who use less than 12 weeks of leave for parental leave or birthing parent medical leave, uh, which shall be entitled to you utilizing their remaining um FMLA uh leave benefits um in accordance with the city code and the city policy and this particular ordinance additionally will clarify that eligibility for paid parental leave may apply for birth adoptions or placement through foster care occurring prior to January 1, 2026, provided that the leave is within the first year after the birth adoption or placement through foster care.

Thank you.

See no hands raised clerk, please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens?

Yes, Councilwoman Oliver, yes.

Councilwoman Harley, yes, Councilman Johnson, yes, Councilman Field, Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes, Councilwoman Cabrera Yes.

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

Declared adopted.

Mr.

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

Agenda item number 0193.

Ordinance number 26-016, agenda number 0193, an ordinance to authorize and approve the agreement and agreement between the city of Wilmington and U.S.I.

Insurance Services LLC for property and casualty insurance brokerage services.

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 properly moved and second that be known as the enacting clause of the ordinance and called for a yay or a vote on the question.

Oh yes, this ordinance authorizes the city to enter into an agreement with USI Insurance Services LLC, uh, basically for property and um casualty insurance brokerage brokerage services for the period of one year from July 1, 2026 through June 30th, 2027, with the possibility of a three-year extension of one year each thereafter upon the same terms and conditions.

See no hands raised.

Councilman Owens, yes, Councilwoman Oliver, yes, Councilwoman Harley, yes, Councilman Johnson, yes, Councilman Fields, Councilwoman Bracie, yes, Councilwoman Cabrera, yes, Councilman Hackett, yes, Councilman Spadola, President Congo, yes, eight years and five absent.

Declared adopted Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present resolution number 26-050, agenda number 0250.

Whereas Wilmington City Code Section 2-3D authorizes and outlines the procedures for naming or renaming any structure, building, monument, ball field, recreation center, or other facility owned by the city of Wilmington in order to commemorate a particular person.

And whereas Eden Park I move this resolution, BBC recorded and filed and adopted by a Yay and A vote.

On the question.

Oh, yes, Mr.

President.

So this resolution um comes um on behalf of the community of South Bridge.

This has been in the works since the latest administration, and so we have finally uh been able to move it forward.

The committee of uh several uh residents in the South Ridge community wanted to uh recognize different individuals um from the South Ridge area um in terms of the work that they have been doing in the Southridge area and to be honored and the three individuals that they uh came up with was um Mr.

William Balagoon Robinson, uh Mr.

Robert Bob Perkins and uh Theopolis 3 Theo Gray Green Gray Green.

Sorry, yes, so um yeah, so this again as I shared has been in the the work since the last administration and I uh lastly again just want to mention um this resolution will be approving naming the pool house um the pavilion and the football field at Eden Park, um the William Balagoon Robinson Pool, the Robert Bob Perkins Pavilion, and the Theopolis Theo Grady Field respect respectfully saying no hands raised, clerk please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens, yes, councilwoman Oliver Councilwoman Harley, yes, councilman Johnson, yes, councilman Field, yes, Councilwoman Bracey, yes, Councilwoman Cabrera, yes, Councilman Hackett, yes, Councilman Spadola, President Congo, yes, eight years and five absent, declared adopted.

Uh Mr.

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

Ordinance number 26-042, agenda number 0251, an ordinance to approve the major subdivision plan for 501 South Walnut Street, Christina Crossing, and to authorize the city to accept the dedication of Howard Street located between South Market Street and South Walnut Street as a public right of way, officially name the dedicated street is Howard Street and add it to the official city map.

Officially name the dedicated street is Howard Street and add it to the official city map.

First reading of the ordinance.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Typically, this would not be in this particular committee, but due to time sensitivity with us going out on recess.

This is being um heard in this particular committee.

Is there a second?

Second.

It's been properly moved and second.

That be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and refer to the health environment environmental aging and disabilities committee.

Okay.

That's all I have, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Kabara.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

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

Ordinance number 26-043, agenda number 0252.

An ordinance to authorize and approve the first amendment to a professional services agreement between the city of Wilmington and Northeast and Bucks Company trading as Mullen and Lonergan Associates Inc.

First reading of the ordinance.

Second reading of the ordinance.

Second.

Okay.

Sorry, I didn't see that here.

Councilmember, do you wish to uh yes repeat that please it is being referred to the health aging and disabilities committee?

Second.

It's been properly moved, then second that be known as the first and second reading of the ordinance and referred to the health environmental aging and disabilities committee.

Councilmember Hackett.

Mr.

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

Ordinance number 26-036, agenda number 0239.

An ordinance to amend chapter two of the city code to create a charter advisory board.

Mr.

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

Second.

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

Mr.

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

Second.

It's been properly moved and second for the floor amendment.

Thank you.

On page two, section two-one five zero establishment.

Uh to insert the following as a last sentence.

A charter review shall occur every 10 years with two years to evaluate changes.

On page two, section two-150, composition, uh strike, geographic, generational, and professional diversity.

Insert professional expertise.

Strike.

One is local historian, archivist and educators, two community, elders and culture barriers.

Three is artists, cultural workers, and traditional uh yeah, tradition keepers, four is resident residents of historical black neighborhoods, and five is one young adult representative between the age of 18 and 15.

Insert instead one, two, three, four, and five.

One be legal, two be municipal government, three be education, four be business, and five be community.

All right, thank you.

At this time, we will take a vote on the uh amendment.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed motion carry.

Any questions on the amendment?

If not, councilmember Hackett, you may continue.

Uh thank you.

Yes, this um this ordinance um, this is uh it's for us to mention chapter two of the city code to create a tractor, uh charter advisory board to scrutinize the uh city charter.

And uh I know we're all been here, you know, for some time.

I know we got some new members, but um, just looking at our charter today, I think there's some work that could be done, and I know we all feel this way, so this is what this is about.

So you know hands, council councilmember Johnson.

Um I will be supporting this.

I guess my question is really this implementation.

I think I brought it up during the committee meeting.

Uh the fact that we don't have a lobbyist, uh, I believe has gotten in the way of us changing the charter at all.

The only charters that I recall happening in the past two or three years were administration led.

So that's the problem I think we're running into is council, is that um they're not getting to the finish line.

Councilwoman Harley has had the charter amendment um changing our summer recess.

That's been pending for like four years, and it still has not gone in Dover.

So I think I definitely support this, but we gotta combine this with a lobbyist.

And other people say, well, you know, we're our own lobbyists, but they've obviously, if you said that, you've never been in Dover.

Because in Dover, uh it's his own animal, it's a 24-7 job.

People lobbyists get paid to do this.

It's a lot of sitting in session, a lot of disleaning dealing down there.

So I hope we can connect this with a lobbyist really strong down there.

And I know the last lobbyist didn't work out.

I don't know what happened, but we really got to, I think, trust this as city council.

I appreciate the effort, Councilman Hackett.

Thank you.

Councilmember Bracey.

Well, just quickly, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

And um I agree with what Councilman Johnson said, but hopefully working with the administration and the uh you know, the administration's lobbyists.

Umce we have this in place, I think that it'll be um a stronger message to Dover when we're trying to um suggest charter changes when we're working in unison and unlock step.

Um, I do appreciate the amended changes um so that we're ensuring that the committee is made up of the right makeup of people.

Um so I appreciate that, Councilman Hackett, because we want to have people that can read the law, can dissect it, understand it, analyze it, and then also make suggestions.

We haven't really had true charter reform um in decades.

And so I do think that having it a review process where every 10 years we're looking at um the the city of Wilmington's charter, and we're looking at what um you know could be could evolve um is a good thing.

So I will be supporting this.

Thank you.

Councilmember Owens.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

First, I would like to say thank you to Councilman Hackett for bringing this forward.

It's definitely needed for the city of Wilmington.

But uh to Councilman Johnson's point, we have sent charter uh amendments down uh to Dover, and they haven't been acted upon.

A part of that reason is the Wilmington delegation does not believe that the city council should be dictating what Dover is doing.

Now, there's a direct quote from a member of our Wilmington delegation down there.

You see every other municipality go follow, do the same process that we do, um, get their state rep or state senator to be the prime sponsor on it, and it's passes almost unanimously within a three, four-week period, right?

It gets through committee, it gets through both chambers, it gets signed.

We've seen Seaford be able to get the right uh their their charter change to allow LLCs to vote, but yet council in Wilmington, the blackest city in Wilmington in Delaware is always hindered, right?

We're always stopped.

So while this is a good start, I think we really gonna have to put attention back on um being able to get things done down in Dover and putting pressure on them to do exactly what is best because just even though we're the largest city, we still have home rule and we know what's best for our residents here.

So again, I look forward to working with um my fellow council members and uh whoever is selected for this advisory board, but it's gonna take some pressure in the lobbyists to help get some things done down there.

Yes, I I agree.

I mean, at some point we need really need to be sovereign.

We shouldn't have to ask Dover how to rule.

Well, how can we we shouldn't have to ask Dover for permission on how to I guess counsel ourselves if that makes sense and how and how to move and how to legislate and I don't know, it's just it's it's really backwards if you really think about it that we have to ask another body if we can change our meeting dates if we can change our summer vacation or if we can just everything.

I mean, it's just it does it doesn't make sense if you look at the the bigger picture, but this is a great first step, but the the whole setup is it just I don't I don't understand it.

I never have and for us to for us to be elected officials and have to ask other elected officials for permission to change how we want to legislate and I don't know, it's just it's it's very frustrating, but um thank you, Councilmember Hackett for this and signal the hands raised clerk please call.

Well, I just got one final compliment.

Yeah, okay, yes, sorry about that.

Just want to say um uh for our council, I think it's at the top of everybody's mind that this is an issue um that needs to be at the forefront.

So hopefully we can all track it together.

Um, and we are working with the mayor's administration that does have a lobbyist, so hopefully that can you know work to our advantage here.

Uh obviously, we all are looking at this at the same capacity, so you know.

I'll just you know we go move forward.

Just want to make that comment.

Thank you.

Clerk, please call for the role.

Councilman Owens, yes, councilwoman Oliver Councilman Harley, yes, councilman Johnson, yes, councilman Field, yes, councilwoman Bracey, yes, councilwoman Cabrera, yes, Councilman Hackett, yes, councilman Spadola, yes, President Congo, yes, nine yes and four absent.

Declared adopted Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present resolution 26-051, agenda number 0253.

Whereas pursuant to section two-three six three of the city code, city council deemed it necessary and proper to specify the requirements.

Second property move and second, the resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by yay or nay vote on the question.

Yeah, this resolution authorized department of parks and recreation grant application to the state of Delaware of education in the amount of 463,553 uh dollars and 20 cents or such other amount that the department of education awards.

The grant funds will be used to reimburse the city for meals provided in the city's 2026 summer food service program, which will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the months of June through August 2026 to children via local community centers, camps, and other organizations.

There's no local matching funds are required.

All right, saying no hands raised.

Clerk, please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens.

Yes, Councilwoman Oliver, Councilwoman Harley.

Yes, Councilman Johnson, yes, councilman Field, yes, Councilwoman Bracie.

Yes, Councilwoman Cabrera, yes, Councilman Hackett, yes, councilman Spadola.

Yes, President Congo, yes, nine years and four absent.

Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present.

Give me one second.

Resolution 26-052, agenda number 0254.

Whereas pursuant to section 3-6, sorry, pursuant to section 2-363 of the.

Would this resolution be received recorded and filed and adopted by Yay and A vote?

Second.

That's been properly moved and second the resolution to be received recorded, filed, and adopted by Yary Nate vote on the question.

Yeah, this resolution authorized Department of Parks and Recreation Grant application to the state uh Delaware Department of Labor in the amount of 190,000 or such other amount that the Department of Labor uh awards.

This grant funds will be used to fund wages for youth participants in the youth career development program during the summer 2026 and the 2026-2027 school year.

No local matching funds are required.

See no hands raised.

Clerk, please call for the roll.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field.

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera.

Yes.

Councilman Hackett.

Yes.

Councilman Spadola.

Yes.

President Congo.

Yes.

Nine years and four absent.

Declared adopted.

Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present.

Resolution 26-053, agenda number 0255.

Whereas pursuant to the resolution be received, recorded, and filed and adopted by Yay Nate vote.

It's been properly moved.

And second the resolution BBC, recorded, filed and adopted by Yay NAVO on the question.

This resolution authorized Department of Parks and Recreation Grant Application to Bank of America, an amount of 75,000 or such other amount that the Bank of America awards.

This grant funds will be used to fund wages for youth participants in the next level internship portion of the youth career development program during the summer 2026.

No local matching funds are required.

See no hands raised.

Clerk, please call for the role.

Councilman Owens.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver.

Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field.

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracey.

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera.

Yes.

Councilman Hackett.

Yes.

Councilman Spadola.

Yeah.

President Congo.

Yes.

Nine years and four absent.

Declared adopted.

Mr.

President, I have a resolution to present.

Resolution 26-054, agenda number 0256.

Whereas pursuant to move this resolution be received, recorded, and filed and adopted by Yay Navy Vote.

Second.

It's been properly moved and second that that resolution be received, recorded, filed, and adopted by Ray NAVO on the question.

Yeah, this resolution authorized Department of Parks and Recreation grant application to the State of Delaware Department of Service for Children, Youth and their Families in the amount of 328,987.59 cents or such other amount that the Department of Service for the Children, Youth, and their families awards.

The grant funds will be used to reimburse the city for the costs associated with implementing a citywide out-of-school time program designed to provide safe structure and enriching environments for youth during high-risk out-of-school hours for the 2026-2027 school year.

No local matching funds are required.

See no hands raised.

Clerk, please call for the role.

Yes.

Councilwoman Oliver, Councilwoman Harley.

Yes.

Councilman Johnson.

Yes.

Councilman Field?

Yes.

Councilwoman Bracie.

Yes.

Councilwoman Cabrera.

Yes.

Councilman Hackett.

Yes.

Councilman Spadola.

Yeah.

President Congo.

Yes.

Nine Ya's and four absent.

Declared adopted.

Councilmember Harley may be excused.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

At this time we'll move to petitions and communications.

Councilmember Owens.

Yes, just happy Juneteenth, everyone.

Um and that's all I have.

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson.

Uh no matter tonight, Ms.

President.

Councilmember Field.

Nothing tonight, Mr.

President.

Councilmember Bracey.

Yes, I just wanted to say um congratulations to our youth um leaders through our youth um advisory council.

They finished up their session on Tuesday, and they've been meeting here in council chambers since January, and they did an amazing job on their presentation.

They focused um on safety, excuse me, I'm losing my voice, safety, um, programs and awareness.

So they were talked about what kids would like to see in the city, safe spaces for teens, uh, mental health, future readiness, and they talked about um as they graduate from high school, understanding what opportunities are out there, not only for college, but for career and being ready to go into the workforce.

And they talked about connections where um they they spent a lot of time um talking about how kids in different neighborhoods don't know each other, and they'd like to and develop ways that children across the the communities and different um districts actually get to know each other.

Um, and I thought that was really interesting that them coming together and them all being from different parts of the city, they learned a lot about each other and about their communities, and so now they want to take that to other youth.

So just really proud of what our our first iteration of Wilmington City Council's youth leadership did, and looking forward uh to uh having more students come through this program.

Thanks.

Thank you, Councilmember Cabrera.

Thank you.

Uh, a couple points.

parts of the city they learned a lot about each other and about their communities and so now they want to take that to other youth so just really proud of what our our first iteration of Wilmington City Council's youth leadership did and looking forward uh to uh having more students come through this program thanks thank you council member cabrera thank you uh a couple points first I want to uh express gratitude and recognition to our public safety uh departments our police department and public safety throughout the state of Delaware the county the state and the city for their um work in dealing with a very serious situation that took place this week at our local hospital as the mayor best said it a place where you go to save lives and to get care uh to have you know someone lose their life there a young person who most likely was probably one of their first real jobs and it was unfortunate um the incident that happened in our hospital uh but thank you for the professionalism the way that it was held to evacuate the hospital for them to go back in these are things that are part of their job and they do it um not asking for gratitude but as a member of the community and as a council member I do want to express thanks for um making people feel safe in a very unsafe situation um second most recently in my neighborhood we had a water main uh break it was gushing like a geyser uh in the early mornings of course the neighbors were concerned as the councilwoman on the block everybody was calling me again just want to say thank you to our city workers I mean these are the people who do their job every day they're not doing it to get thanks but I want to show my appreciation on behalf of this body for the day to day jobs that they do for making things better for you know they've been here for three or four days it was a pretty big uh leak and they're still working on it but their professionalism and getting it done and arriving right away so I just want to say thank you to our city departments um for the work that they do and a lot of the things that people will come in and condemn oh the city this the city that but you know we got to show gratitude um for the work that is done um regardless of that they're doing it to get paid and then again happy Juneteenth to all such a wonderful celebration to really recognize um a momentous historical moment in our country and glad to see that it's getting the recognition it deserves and last but not least just want to say happy father's day to the fathers you know you guys sometimes don't get all the big hoopla and the big to do that the mothers do um but you're there for those of you that are solid supporting your families uh being mentors to not just your children but children in the community for the fathers who volunteer in many of our organizations in our city um just want to say thank you happy father's day to you it's your day enjoy to the fathers on council uh president congo uh jeans the dola councilman spidola councilman fields uh to all of you a very um very happy father's day that's it mr president thank you council member hackett yes um i'll be really sure here i just want to say thank you to those in service to the city we we had a past event of those who service uh our city for over five 10 15 20 25 30 45 50 years they a lot of people doing a lot of great work in our city and being here for a while uh but we have some special people in city council so I want to shout out councilman uh smidola for his service uh councilwoman uh bra um to barra for her service and also miss tracy owens that's been in our office uh some are behind the scenes but they've been serving for a while so just want to say thank you to all of y'all for doing the service you do for the city of Wilmington.

Thank you Councilmember Spadola Thank you Council President uh similar comments to Councilmember Kabera thank you to all our first responders for the work they did during that tragedy uh and all the neighboring agencies that also assisted and I talked to uh the victim and the all the Christianity employees you have to go back in there um and deal with the the trauma that uh happened and deal with the aftermath of just going back into the same place where that happened uh hope everybody's gonna manage through as best they can god bless thank you again I would like to thank everyone who joined us this evening uh virtually and in council chambers please join us join us as often as you can every first and third Thursday and also we have committee meetings throughout the uh that throughout the month if we can ever be of any assistance to any of you please call us at 302576 2140 again our number is 302576 2140 with that I will accept the motion to adjourn motion to adjourn move and second to adjourn all in favor signify by saying aye any opposed motion carried thank you everyone