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Record of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Meeting – September 17, 2026

Regular Meeting of Wilmington City Council — Thursday, September 17, 2026
BodyWilmington, Delaware
SessionRegular Meeting of Wilmington City Council
DateThursday, September 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:09:21

Original source
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4:00

The meeting will please come to order.

4:03

Good evening, everyone.

4:04

Today is Thursday, September 17th.

4:07

I am president of Wilmington City Council Trip Recongo, and on behalf of all of my colleagues here on Council, we want to thank everyone who has joined us in Council Chambers and those who are with us virtually.

4:30

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

5:08

Now we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

5:29

The following legislation is going to be held tonight by the sponsor, Council Member Spadola, is holding his resolution number 0274, which is a resolution approving grant funds from the City Council Community Support Funds to the Neighborhood House.

6:09

Is a resolution requesting a report on the potential implementation of leading pedestrian intervals throughout the city of Wilmington.

6:17

That's agenda number zero two seven six.

6:28

Councilman Owens.

6:29

Present.

6:30

Councilwoman Darby.

6:32

Councilwoman Oliver.

6:39

Councilwoman Willower.

6:40

Present.

6:41

Councilwoman McCoy.

6:43

Councilman Johnson.

6:45

Councilman Field.

6:46

Present.

6:47

Councilwoman Bracey.

6:48

Present.

6:49

Councilwoman Cabrera.

6:51

Here.

6:51

Councilman Hackett.

6:53

Here.

6:54

Councilman Spadola.

6:56

Present.

6:56

President Congo.

6:58

Here.

7:02

Ten present and three absent.

7:04

Just want to remind everyone who was with us virtually.

7:07

Any council members with us virtually to please mute your phones.

7:10

And Councilmembers Darby and Johnson did ask to be excused this evening.

7:25

September 3rd, 2026, City Council met in regular session with remote participation on the above date at 6 32 p.m.

7:33

President Pro Temp McCoy presiding.

7:37

I move that the minutes be accepted as written.

7:39

Second.

7:48

All in favor signify by saying aye.

7:50

Aye.

7:51

Any opposed?

7:53

Motion carried.

7:55

We do not have any committee reports this evening.

7:57

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

8:00

September 17th, 2026.

8:03

Total investments 586 million 66,216 and 70 cents.

8:09

Total cash on hand, 19 million six hundred and seventy-eight thousand four hundred and forty-seven dollars and eighty cents.

8:16

Grant total 605 million seven hundred and forty-four thousand six hundred and sixty-four dollars and fifty cents.

8:22

Submitted to City Treasurer Duane Sims.

8:25

I move that the treasury report be received, recorded, and filed.

8:28

Second.

8:28

It's been properly moved and second.

8:30

The report be received, recorded, and filed on the question.

8:34

All in favor signify by saying aye.

8:36

Aye.

8:37

Any opposed?

8:39

Motion carried.

8:40

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

8:44

So moved.

8:45

Second.

8:46

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

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Events███████████████████████████████████35%
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Youth Programs████████████12%
Public Safety████████8%
Community Engagement██████6%
Food Access█████5%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Historic Preservation████4%
Zoning And Land Use████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Meeting – September 17, 2026

The Wilmington City Council met in regular session on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6:32 p.m., with President Trip Recongo presiding. Ten council members were present, three absent (Councilmembers Darby and Johnson excused). The meeting included approval of minutes and financial reports, recognition of local businesses and a championship rugby team, public comments, a legislative vote, and announcements from council members.

Consent Calendar

  • The minutes of the September 3, 2026 regular session were approved by voice vote.
  • The City Treasurer’s report was received, recorded, and filed. Total cash and investments reported: $605,744,664.50.
  • All non-legislative business was accepted by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Earl Tate spoke about housing standards, advocating for a return to multigenerational family living arrangements and emphasizing non-violent conflict resolution for younger generations.
  • Susan Collins (7th District resident) criticized a proposed development she described as contrary to the neighborhood. She urged council to represent their districts faithfully, distinguishing between being a representative and a politician. She also praised Naughty Pine restaurant.
  • Evangelist Deborah Sally Fett, a recent transplant from New York, introduced herself and expressed a desire to become involved in community social work, particularly with homeless and mental health services.

Recognition Resolutions

  • Wilmington Black Restaurant Week 2026 – Council Member Hackett presented a resolution honoring participants of the fourth annual Black Restaurant Week (September 20–27, 2026), with special recognition to Walks Flavor Crisp Chicken (est. 1975). Owners and representatives of multiple restaurants gave remarks highlighting their businesses and the impact of the event. Council members expressed strong support for the initiative.
  • Salesianum School Rugby Team – Council Member Owens presented a resolution recognizing the team’s 2025–2026 DIAA state championship, its first in four years (29–0 victory on May 14, 2026). Council members and a former graduate celebrated the team’s achievements.
  • Additional resolutions were read (not debated): recognizing Mother Blonde Redden’s 80th birthday (Councilwoman Harley), Noah Straisis’s 50th anniversary, Miss Delaware 2026 Anaya Harrison, and sympathy resolutions for Terrence Keith Wright, Dolly Rebecca Parton, and Nada Rado Pelegaro.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 26‑066 (Agenda 0275) – Presented by Council Member Owens, this resolution authorized acceptance of a parcel of land into the city, with a condition to preserve the basketball court at the East Lawn community. Council Member Oliver added co-sponsorship. The resolution passed unanimously (11–0, with two absent).

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 26‑066 adopted – All present council members voted yes; declared adopted.
  • Court ruling announced – Council Member Spadola stated that the Court of Chancery had ruled in his favor earlier that day, finding that the “Congo resolution” represented a clear misuse of council authority and was invalid.
  • Upcoming events highlighted – Black Restaurant Week events (Sept. 20–27), Open Streets on West Second Street (Sept. 19), HBCU Week college fair (Sept. 18–19), and a community safety meeting at William Hicks Anderson Center (Sept. 24) to address recent violence.
  • Meeting adjourned by motion.

Meeting Transcript

The meeting will please come to order. Good evening, everyone. Today is Thursday, September 17th. I am president of Wilmington City Council Trip Recongo, and on behalf of all of my colleagues here on Council, we want to thank everyone who has joined us in Council Chambers and those who are with us virtually. As we do so, we ask for your guidance and understanding. Now we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The following legislation is going to be held tonight by the sponsor, Council Member Spadola, is holding his resolution number 0274, which is a resolution approving grant funds from the City Council Community Support Funds to the Neighborhood House. Is a resolution requesting a report on the potential implementation of leading pedestrian intervals throughout the city of Wilmington. That's agenda number zero two seven six. Councilman Owens. Present. Councilwoman Darby. Councilwoman Oliver. Councilwoman Willower. Present. Councilwoman McCoy. Councilman Johnson. Councilman Field. Present. Councilwoman Bracey. Present. Councilwoman Cabrera. Here. Councilman Hackett. Here. Councilman Spadola. Present. President Congo. Here. Ten present and three absent. Just want to remind everyone who was with us virtually. Any council members with us virtually to please mute your phones. And Councilmembers Darby and Johnson did ask to be excused this evening. September 3rd, 2026, City Council met in regular session with remote participation on the above date at 6 32 p.m. President Pro Temp McCoy presiding. I move that the minutes be accepted as written. Second. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried. We do not have any committee reports this evening. This time we will have the city treasurer's report. September 17th, 2026. Total investments 586 million 66,216 and 70 cents. Total cash on hand, 19 million six hundred and seventy-eight thousand four hundred and forty-seven dollars and eighty cents. Grant total 605 million seven hundred and forty-four thousand six hundred and sixty-four dollars and fifty cents. Submitted to City Treasurer Duane Sims. I move that the treasury report be received, recorded, and filed. Second.

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