Wilmington City Council Meeting - April 15, 2025: Awards, Public Hearings, and Resolutions
Wilmington City Council Meeting - April 15, 2025
On April 15, 2025, the Wilmington City Council met in regular session at 6:30 PM at City Hall. The meeting included life-saving awards, proclamations, public comments, two public hearings on unfit dwellings, several consent agenda items, ordinances, resolutions, and a late-added resolution opposing House Bill 765. The meeting adjourned at 8:38 PM.
Consent Calendar
- C1-C8b: Approved unanimously (7-0) including minutes from prior meetings, transfer of police helicopters and equipment ($287,771 for 23 police vehicle equipment), purchase of a tracked aerial lift ($188,041), two mini packer trash trucks ($292,112), 2,000 banquet chairs for the convention center, a grant application for NCDEQ Resilient Coastal Communities Program, and resolutions for annexation of properties at 904, 912, and 1000 N. Kerr Avenue (ANX-1-425).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sarah Moxley and Yasmin Bratcher spoke about federal tax dollar allocation. They stated that in 2024, Wilmington residents paid over $9 million in federal taxes that went to fund weapons for Israel. They urged the Council to pass a resolution or make a public statement calling on the U.S. government to end military funding to Israel, and to pressure state and federal representatives to oppose such funding. They argued the money could instead support local needs like housing, education, healthcare, and food security. Ms. Bratcher and supporters sang a song to illustrate community needs.
- Glenn Wells (President, Sea Spray Landing HOA) spoke about loud modified-exhaust vehicles gathering at Mayfair. He noted that a police officer on scene said the city's existing modified exhaust ordinance is unenforceable because officers cannot crawl under vehicles or look under hoods. He asked the Council to develop an enforceable ordinance. Mayor Saffo acknowledged similar complaints from other areas and directed the City Attorney to investigate.
- Kristen Morgan spoke about using $9 million in local taxpayer money sent to Israel for community improvements, reading citizen suggestions such as public transportation, green space, housing, healthcare, and education.
Public Hearings
- PH1 – 613 South 14th Street: The dwelling was found 68% dilapidated (estimated repair cost $24,821 vs. $36,400 tax value). The tenant is an 81-year-old man; the owner (Eric Anthony Clyde) had not responded for over a year until earlier that day. Council continued the hearing to May 6, 2025 to allow further communication with the owner and tenant, and to consider giving the tenant 90 days to vacate instead of 30. Motion passed 7-0.
- PH2 – 315 Meares Street: The dwelling was 66% dilapidated. Owner Matthew Johnson appeared, explained prior tenant issues, and requested 180 days (instead of 90) to complete repairs and sell the property. Council approved the ordinance with a 180-day repair timeline, waiving second reading. Motion passed 7-0.
Discussion Items
- O1 – Sting Center Office Upfit: The Wilmington Police Department requested $70,000 from NC Drug Tax Revenue to upfit offices at the Skyline Center. Approved unanimously, second reading waived.
- O2a/O2b – Dawson/Wooster Streets Resurfacing: The NCDOT will reimburse the City up to $1,911,000 for milling and resurfacing of Dawson and Wooster Streets from 3rd to 17th Streets, including portions of 16th and 17th Streets. This work aligns with the Dawson and Wooster Streetscape Project (part of the city’s transportation bond program), which aims to improve pedestrian mobility, safety, and aesthetics. The resolution and ordinance passed unanimously.
- R1 – Land Donation: Accepted a remnant parcel from Cameron Company, L.L.C. for the Silverstream Branch Water Quality Facility. Passed unanimously.
- R2 – Rules of Order Amendment (Public Comment Period): Councilmember Andrews proposed reducing speaking time from five minutes to three and allowing same-day sign-ups. After lengthy discussion, Council voted 4-3 (Andrews, Joyner, Waddell, and Mayor Saffo in favor; Barnett, Rivenbark, Spears opposed) to approve an amendment to keep the online form open past the Monday noon deadline but remove the option to speak at the next day's meeting from the dropdown list. The full resolution was postponed to a budget work session on May 16, 2025 for a deeper review of all Council rules.
- RP1 – Appointments Committee Report: Approved appointments to the Commission on African-American History (Tiffany Cook), Historic Preservation Commission (Beth Rutledge), Sister City Commission (Kitt Starnes), and Zoning Board of Adjustment (Deirdre Carroll and Bill Day, with alternate moves). Motion passed 7-0.
- Additional Items: Councilmember Joyner raised concerns about Chemours attempting to seal court documents in the Cape Fear River pollution lawsuit, arguing disclosure is in the public interest for proper oversight of CFPUA board appointments. Councilmember Rivenbark assured that CFPUA has been diligent since 2018. Councilmember Andrews announced Wilmington's Earth Day Celebration on April 26, 2025 at Longleaf Park, with free WAVE Transit fares. Councilmember Spears reminded the public about health precautions given recent illness.
- Resolution Opposing House Bill 765: Council waived its rules (7-0) to consider a resolution opposing House Bill 765, which would erode local planning and zoning authority, eliminate certain citizen input, and subject local officials to legal penalties. The Council unanimously passed the resolution opposing the bill and related measures.
Key Outcomes
- Public hearing on 613 S. 14th St. continued to May 6, 2025.
- Ordinance for 315 Meares St. approved with 180-day repair timeline.
- Rules of Order amendment regarding the online sign-up form passed 4-3; broader rules review scheduled for May 16, 2025 budget work session.
- Resolution opposing House Bill 765 passed 7-0.
- City Attorney to investigate enforceable modified exhaust ordinance.
- All other consent and regular agenda items approved unanimously.
Next regular meeting: May 6, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Call the meeting in order of the Wilmington City Council. I'd like to welcome all those who are with us here this evening and all those who are watching us at home. Thank you for taking an interest in your government at this time. I'd like to introduce Chaplain Leona Jones of the Wilmington Police Department for our invocation and ask that everyone stand and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Chaplain Jones. Let us pray. Gracious Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for all that you are doing in this great city. We ask that you keep this city safe. Father, we just thank you for all you are doing. We ask and that you govern the people of the city to make the right decision that it will be done in a decent order. We give you honor and glory. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Come on, guys. These two officers that we are recognizing this evening are outstanding members of the Wilmington Police Department, and they did a tremendous service for our community in saving two people's lives that we would like to share with the community. And they will be receiving this award this evening from the chief of police and from the entire city council. So we thank you for your public service to this great community. On November the 13th, 2024, Officer Daniel Ellers responded to an address on Carolina Beach Road in response to a distraught man who had stabbed himself in the abdomen with a knife. Officer Ellers quickly determined that he needed to act quickly. The man was in danger of dying if he did not receive aid immediately. Officer Ellers forced open the door, called for EMS, and rendered aid until their arrival. The Swift actions of Officer Ellers helped to save the citizens' life. These actions are within the finest traditions of the Wilmington Police Department and warrant him a life-saving award. Thank you for taking such brave and heroic actions. Thank you. On February the 22nd, 2025, Corporal Barksdale was working the Wilmington Marathon. One of the runners at that marathon suffered a cardiac event and fell. Corporate Corporal Barksdale quickly responded and called for EMS. While EMS was in route, Corporal Barksdale and several other citizens, including a nurse and a doctor, began CPR and gave chest compressions until Rice for Beach Fire and Novot EMS arrived. Once paramedics were on the scene, they took over in chest compressions and delivered multiple AED shocks. Ultimately, all the life-saving measures were successful. The quick actions of Corporal Barksdale, the citizens, Rice for Beach Fire, and Novod EMS all contributed to saving the patient's life. For her part, Corporal Barksdale's actions are in the finest tradition of the Wilmington Police Department and warrant her a life-saving award. Corporal Barksdale, congratulations, and thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you for the tremendous service to our community. Thank you very much. And to all the men and women of the Wimpton Police Department, thank you. Already seeing you. Thank you. Thank you. Well, it's that time of year. And I know how important this is to you folks and everything that you do out there to protect our citizens. And the proclamation reads from the city of Wilmington, whereas North Carolina has 5,000 miles of water shoreline and 361,000 registered boaters in this state alone. And whereas boating and fishing are one of the state's most popular real round year-round activities. And whereas on average, six hundred and thirty people in the U.S. each year are dead in boating related accidents in approximately 80% of those fatalities are caused by drowning. And whereas in approximately 86% of drowning cases, the victim was not wearing a life jacket.
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