OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Agenda Briefing Meeting – March 31, 2025

City Council & Planning Commission — Monday, March 31, 2025
BodyWilmington, North Carolina
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateMonday, March 31, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 47:22

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Call the meeting to order of this agenda briefing.

0:07

We have several presentations tomorrow night.

0:10

Consent agenda was a C One is approved of minutes.

0:13

C two is a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a lease amendment with TOVA Wealth Management LLC for a portion of the seventh floor of 929 North Front Street.

0:24

C three is a resolution requesting the city clerk to do the roll call.

0:28

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Kevin.

0:30

Yes, yes, thank you.

0:31

I'm sorry.

0:31

Mayor Pro Tem, are you here?

0:33

Councilman Reinbark, are you here?

0:35

Councilmember Spearch, are you here?

0:37

I'm here.

0:38

Councilmember Waddell, are you here?

0:40

Councilmember Andrews?

0:41

Here.

0:42

Councilmember Joyner.

0:43

And the chairs here.

0:44

Everybody's here and accounted for.

0:46

Um C three is a resolution requesting the city clerk to investigate the sufficiency of a petition for annexation.

0:54

C4 is a resolution revising membership terms of the downtown municipal services district advisory committee.

1:02

Public information, public hearings.

1:05

PH1 is a resolution approving the second amendment to the amended and re restated purchase and development agreement for the river place development and authorizing city manager to sell property to the developer at a fair market value.

1:19

And then PH2 is an ordinance amending the land development code chapter 18 to provide a height exception for hospitals.

1:25

And that looks like uh it's it.

1:28

Anything else?

1:30

Mary.

1:32

Good morning, Mayor.

1:33

Mayor Pro Tem Council.

1:34

We do have two presentations this morning for council.

1:37

Okay.

1:38

The first item, uh, Chad McEwan, our deputy city manager will do a presentation on the social district pilot program uh that we did in February.

1:47

Okay.

1:49

Morning, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim, members of City Council.

2:03

I could start without a presentation.

2:05

There's really nothing on the presentation other than what I'll cover uh verbally.

2:09

Um as you recall, we received a request in late October of last year from the Brooklyn Arts District folks for a pilot social district program.

2:17

Um we uh the council approved that program and and then in February, the first three Saturdays in February, the uh pilot program was held.

2:25

So wanted to give you an update basically to go over the uh the the outcome of that social district as well as advise you of the future requests we're gonna receive from the uh Brooklyn Arts District Collective.

2:40

Um first and foremost, uh, wanted to point out that there was no request for additional services requested of the city, no financial contributions from the city for the pilot social district program.

2:53

Um there were supplemental services provided by WDI and Miss Christina Haley is here to assist with the uh social district pilot program.

3:03

Um the city's level of services that were um normally would have occurred on those Saturdays were provided to assist trash collection, um those type things within the district uh during those particular three Saturdays.

3:18

Um we received a number of uh emails throughout the course of the three Saturdays, and then a large group of emails at the end from business owners, from residents, from attendees of the social district.

3:31

The overwhelming majority of those uh emails were positive.

3:36

Um they pointed out a lot of different um benefits of the social district uh in terms of their attendance in terms of uh revenues created, and and it's really important to point out that uh the goal of enhancing business uh within the district related to non-alcohol selling establishments was realized.

3:56

A lot of the emails we received in terms of the positive impact of the district were from businesses and individuals who weren't involved in alcohol sales.

4:04

So that we one one comment that was made early on was we hope that the social district would have a butterfly effect not only obviously with uh alcohol sales would be increased, but a butterfly effect for non-alcohol establishments, and then after the social district, a butterfly effect outside the district.

4:23

Once you got the people downtown, they may go down to Front Street, they may go to uh another district of the city um to have dinner.

4:32

All those things were realized in the emails that we received.

4:35

Um the few complaints that we saw, and I and I want to say few, it was two or three that I saw in writing, um, and then there's been comments I think made at at prior city council meetings about um negative implications of the the three Saturdays uh program.

4:53

The uh primary focus of those complaints involved parking, residential parking.

5:00

A lot of the folks that live in the Brooklyn Arts District and Curcier areas around that district rely on on street, uh no fee parking.

5:09

Obviously, if you're gonna have an influx of a couple thousand people on a Saturday afternoon coming into that district uh that that wouldn't otherwise be there to that degree, that parking was going to be impacted.

5:21

Uh comments were made about the inability to park in close proximity to these residents.

5:25

Uh there was one, I think, an email that referenced having to park several blocks away and carry groceries in.

5:30

Um there was some comments made uh about public intoxication, public urination.

5:36

Um I do want to point out that there were no complaints, calls received from the fire department, the police department, or ALE related to any activities that went on in the uh pilot program during the pilot program.

5:50

Um we did learn some lessons uh and moving forward.

5:54

Um, we will need to address uh the the parking issues as best we can.

5:59

Um after the first pilot social district uh Saturday, we did discuss with WDI and with Chance Dunbar our need for better signage uh related to parking uh outside of the district if at all possible.

6:13

We did see those numbers increase to the skyline deck uh once we did put up more better signage directing people away from that district.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Social District Establishment███████████████████████████████████35%
Historic Preservation███████████████████████████████31%
Public Safety█████████████████████21%
Procedural█████5%
Public Engagement█████5%
Parking Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Agenda Briefing Meeting – March 31, 2025

The Wilmington City Council held an Agenda Briefing meeting on March 31, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall Council Chambers to review items scheduled for the April 1, 2025, regular council meeting. The meeting included two detailed presentations: an update on the Brooklyn Arts District Social District Pilot Program and a status report on the Kenan Fountain repairs. No public comments were taken, and the consent agenda items were noted without discussion.

Consent Calendar

  • The council reviewed the consent agenda for the April 1 meeting, including approval of minutes (C1), a lease amendment with TOVA Wealth Management (C2), a resolution for an annexation petition investigation (C3), and a resolution revising membership terms of the downtown municipal services district advisory committee (C4). No questions or discussion were raised, and the consent agenda was accepted.

Discussion Items

Social District Pilot Project Update

  • Deputy City Manager Chad McEwen reported on the pilot social district program in the Brooklyn Arts District, held on the first three Saturdays of February 2025. Key points:
    • No additional city services or financial contributions were requested; Wilmington Downtown Inc. (WDI) provided supplemental services.
    • Feedback from business owners, residents, and attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting increased business for non-alcohol establishments and a “butterfly effect” drawing visitors to surrounding areas.
    • Few complaints (2–3 written) focused on residential parking and concerns about public intoxication/urination. No calls to police, fire, or Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) were made.
    • Lessons learned include the need for better parking signage (already improved by directing visitors to Skyline Deck), clearer boundary designations, and crowd management at participating alcohol establishments.
    • The Brooklyn Arts District Collective has submitted a draft request to make the social district permanent—every Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., within the same footprint. Staff is developing a framework to internally review such requests, aiming to bring a proposal to council within the next few months.
  • Council discussion:
    • Councilmember Rivenbark asked about a mechanism for future social district requests; Mr. McEwen confirmed a structure is being created.
    • Mayor Pro-Tem Barnett questioned whether one pilot justifies permanence; staff said it would be case-by-case, noting that the pilot worked with minor, addressable issues.
    • Councilmember Andrews requested robust public notification (mailings to all residents within the footprint) before any permanent proposal comes to council.
    • Councilmember Joyner raised concerns about city staff capacity to monitor multiple future districts; staff acknowledged the need to limit time slots and rely on self-management by districts.
    • Councilmember Spears emphasized that many residents were not contacted and worried about fair representation; he also noted safety concerns about drinking and driving.
    • Mayor Saffo supported the application/permit process as a tool to address bad actors and protect neighborhoods.
    • Jane McDonald from Coastal Horizons (Cape Fear Coalition) offered to present best practices for social districts when the item returns.

Kenan Fountain Repairs Update

  • Public Works Director Dave Mayes provided a status update on the Kenan Fountain, originally gifted in 1921 and damaged by an NCDOT paving accident that broke the bowl.
  • Current repair costs and funding:
    • Contractor accident repairs: estimated $225,000, with $98,560 from a processed insurance claim (potential for additional funds pending bids).
    • Restoration (joints, stone, ornate features): $310,000; $138,736 budgeted.
    • Plumbing improvements to address safety/access issues: $65,000.
    • Bench repairs (south side, vehicle hit): $48,630; claim pending, full reimbursement expected.
    • Baluster repairs: east side $91,500, west side $68,850; no claims available for these damages.
    • Total estimated cost: $808,710; available funds/claims: $237,276; shortfall: $571,434.
  • Recommendations:
    • Remove the balusters (most frequently damaged) to reduce costs by ~$160,000.
    • Fund bench repairs and file a claim for full reimbursement.
    • Fund plumbing improvements to eliminate confined-space safety issues.
  • Bid process underway; pre-bid held last week, bids open April 22, target to bring a contract award resolution and appropriation ordinance to council on May 20, 2025. The proposed appropriation of $450,000 includes contingency and baluster removal; if balusters are kept, costs would increase.
  • Council discussion:
    • Councilmember Rivenbark expressed frustration that the NCDOT contractor’s insurance only paid $98,560 of the $225,000 accident claim and requested the risk manager explain the shortfall.
    • Councilmember Joyner supported not reconstructing balusters and using landscape improvements instead.
    • Councilmember Andrews noted that 24 police-reported accidents (half DWI) have occurred at the fountain, underscoring safety concerns and the burden on taxpayers.
    • Councilmember Waddell suggested relocating the entire fountain and amenities to Waterfront Park; Mr. Mayes confirmed it is technically possible but expensive, and a historic review process would be needed.
    • Mayor Saffo noted ongoing traffic issues on Market Street and suggested a road diet to improve safety.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken at the briefing; these were informational presentations.
  • Staff will bring a permanent social district proposal to council within the next few months, with enhanced public notification and a framework for future requests.
  • For the Kenan Fountain, staff will proceed with the bid process and return to council on May 20 for a contract award and appropriation of $450,000 (including baluster removal). The risk manager will provide further details on the insurance claim to councilmembers.
  • Council consensus leaned toward removing balusters (possibly preserving them for future use elsewhere) and prioritizing getting the fountain operational.

Meeting Transcript

Call the meeting to order of this agenda briefing. We have several presentations tomorrow night. Consent agenda was a C One is approved of minutes. C two is a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a lease amendment with TOVA Wealth Management LLC for a portion of the seventh floor of 929 North Front Street. C three is a resolution requesting the city clerk to do the roll call. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Kevin. Yes, yes, thank you. I'm sorry. Mayor Pro Tem, are you here? Councilman Reinbark, are you here? Councilmember Spearch, are you here? I'm here. Councilmember Waddell, are you here? Councilmember Andrews? Here. Councilmember Joyner. And the chairs here. Everybody's here and accounted for. Um C three is a resolution requesting the city clerk to investigate the sufficiency of a petition for annexation. C4 is a resolution revising membership terms of the downtown municipal services district advisory committee. Public information, public hearings. PH1 is a resolution approving the second amendment to the amended and re restated purchase and development agreement for the river place development and authorizing city manager to sell property to the developer at a fair market value. And then PH2 is an ordinance amending the land development code chapter 18 to provide a height exception for hospitals. And that looks like uh it's it. Anything else? Mary. Good morning, Mayor. Mayor Pro Tem Council. We do have two presentations this morning for council. Okay. The first item, uh, Chad McEwan, our deputy city manager will do a presentation on the social district pilot program uh that we did in February. Okay. Morning, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim, members of City Council. I could start without a presentation. There's really nothing on the presentation other than what I'll cover uh verbally. Um as you recall, we received a request in late October of last year from the Brooklyn Arts District folks for a pilot social district program. Um we uh the council approved that program and and then in February, the first three Saturdays in February, the uh pilot program was held. So wanted to give you an update basically to go over the uh the the outcome of that social district as well as advise you of the future requests we're gonna receive from the uh Brooklyn Arts District Collective. Um first and foremost, uh, wanted to point out that there was no request for additional services requested of the city, no financial contributions from the city for the pilot social district program. Um there were supplemental services provided by WDI and Miss Christina Haley is here to assist with the uh social district pilot program. Um the city's level of services that were um normally would have occurred on those Saturdays were provided to assist trash collection, um those type things within the district uh during those particular three Saturdays. Um we received a number of uh emails throughout the course of the three Saturdays, and then a large group of emails at the end from business owners, from residents, from attendees of the social district. The overwhelming majority of those uh emails were positive. Um they pointed out a lot of different um benefits of the social district uh in terms of their attendance in terms of uh revenues created, and and it's really important to point out that uh the goal of enhancing business uh within the district related to non-alcohol selling establishments was realized. A lot of the emails we received in terms of the positive impact of the district were from businesses and individuals who weren't involved in alcohol sales. So that we one one comment that was made early on was we hope that the social district would have a butterfly effect not only obviously with uh alcohol sales would be increased, but a butterfly effect for non-alcohol establishments, and then after the social district, a butterfly effect outside the district. Once you got the people downtown, they may go down to Front Street, they may go to uh another district of the city um to have dinner. All those things were realized in the emails that we received. Um the few complaints that we saw, and I and I want to say few, it was two or three that I saw in writing, um, and then there's been comments I think made at at prior city council meetings about um negative implications of the the three Saturdays uh program. The uh primary focus of those complaints involved parking, residential parking.

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