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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Regular Meeting – May 6, 2025

City Council & Planning Commission — Tuesday, May 6, 2025

BodyWilmington, North Carolina

SessionCity Council & Planning Commission

DateTuesday, May 6, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:54:26

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:03

Call the meeting to order the Wilmington City Council like to welcome all those who are with us this evening and all those who are watching us at home.

0:09

Thank you for taking an interest in your government.

0:11

Uh at this time, before we get started with the meeting, I will have to um announce I will have to have a roll call since we have one council member that is joining us through uh satellite uh is Mr.

0:24

Wadell, whose wife just had a baby boy.

0:29

So, Luke, uh good to have you here.

0:33

Good to be here, appreciate y'all uh giving us some consideration to be remote today.

0:37

Okay, thank you.

0:38

Mayor Pro Tem, are you here?

0:40

Here.

0:40

Councilman Ravenmark, are you here?

0:42

Councilmember Spears, are you here?

0:45

I'm here.

0:46

Councilmember Wadell, I can see you're here.

0:49

Councilmember Andrews, are you here?

0:51

Here.

0:51

Councilmember Joyner, are you here?

0:53

Yeah.

0:54

And the mayor is here.

0:55

We're all here and accounted for.

0:57

And at this time, I'd like to call on Sergeant Ron Ronald Evans of the Wilmington Police Department to please give our invocation if everyone will stand and remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:08

Good evening, Mr.

1:09

Mayor Council.

1:10

Let us pray.

1:11

Dear Heavenly Father, uh, first and foremost, we thank you for this day.

1:16

We thank you for your continued grace and your mercy that you bestow upon us each day.

1:26

In these times of uncertainty, we ask that you continue to protect us from the seen and the unseen.

1:35

Cradle us in your arms and hold us close to your bosom.

1:42

Lord, we pray and lift up this council to you tonight.

1:46

We pray for the city staff.

1:49

We ask that you continue to guide their hands and their heads and their heart.

1:55

Give them wisdom as they prepare to make and continue to make decisions that will be beneficial for the citizens of the city.

2:06

After all is said and done, we will be so careful to give your name the praise, the glory and the honor in which it is due.

2:16

And your son's precious name we pray.

2:19

Amen.

2:20

Amen.

2:21

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.

3:14

Good evening.

3:15

Come on up.

3:43

City of Wilmington, North Carolina proclamation reads, whereas the month of May is observed as National Bike Month, and Wilmington City Council is committed to the promotion of safe bicycling for both transportation and recreation.

3:55

Whereas on average, 57 crashes involving bicyclists occur annually in the Wilmington region, which underscores the importance of ensuring driver awareness and bicyclist safety education, in addition to safe facilities for bicycling to prevent crashes.

4:11

And whereas the city of Wilmington is committed to promoting the safe use of bicycles on the city streets and the trails through bicycle facilities such as the Gary Shell Cross City Trail, the River to Sea Bikeway, the South College Road Trail, the bike lanes intersection improvements and the bicycle facilities included in the city's 2014 Transportation Bond projects.

4:31

And whereas the City of Wilmington supports education about bicycle safety through the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, better known as the WMPO.

4:40

Be a Looker, which campaign which encourages children and adults to operate their bicycles in a safe manner and educates drivers on how to share the road with bicyclists.

4:50

And whereas the City of Wilmington supports the annual River to Sea bike ride, which begins and ends in downtown Wilmington and includes community support and sponsors by local businesses, including two wheeler dealer and Port City Java.

5:03

And whereas the City of Wilmington has been designated as a bicycle friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists since 2011 and continues to make improvements to benefit the bicycling community.

5:14

Now, therefore, the Wilmington City Council proclaims May is bicycle awareness months and will continue to promote safe cycling opportunities for Wilmington citizens.

5:24

And I just want to say thank you for everything you folks have shared with us over the years.

5:28

It has given us the direction to continue to put in bike lanes and bike trails to our community, which people love, and we can see them now proliferating in Brunswick County and other parts of New Hanover County.

5:40

And I just want to say thank you for that for those great that great piece of advice because it paid off, and it seems like the citizens have supported it throughout the years through a lot of bond transportation projects.

5:50

So thank you very much.

5:52

Mayor Sappho, thank you.

5:53

Council members, thank you very much on behalf of the uh bicycle pedestrian advisory committee to WMPO.

5:59

We really thank your commitment for the safety of our of our citizens, especially in these times of economic uncertainty.

6:05

We appreciate the commitment you guys have made.

6:07

So thank you very much.

6:08

Thank you.

6:17

Thank you very much.

6:19

Thank you.

6:41

Next proclamation is naming May 12th through the 18th, 2025 as Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame weekend.

6:48

This time I'd like to recognize Louise McCall, her group from the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame to please come forward.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Affordable Housing████████████████16%

Budget Equity Analysis██████████████14%

Public Engagement██████████████14%

Procedural██████████10%

Public Safety███████7%

Homelessness███████7%

Public Works██████6%

Municipal Responsibilities█████5%

Racial Equity████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Regular Meeting – May 6, 2025

The Wilmington City Council held its regular meeting on May 6, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Key actions included adoption of the FY26 recommended budget presentation, approval of a 48‑unit affordable senior housing rezoning, and appropriation of over $2.5 million in ARP funds for homeless assistance. The meeting also featured public comments on homelessness, budget priorities, and foreign policy concerns, and concluded with a closed session for legal and personnel matters.

Consent Calendar

Items C1–C7 were approved 7‑0, with the exception of C3 (Charging Smart Program) which was pulled for discussion and later also approved 7‑0.

Public Comments & Testimony

Benjamin Grooters spoke about the drug and crime epidemic linked to homelessness, urging a compassionate approach and noting 600 individuals in the tri‑county area. He asked what council is doing to address the issue.
Duncan Murray Barefoot III criticized the budget allocation, stating that 46% of the general fund goes to public safety versus only 2.3% for affordable housing and $700,000 for human/health services. He claimed Wilmington residents paid over $9 million in federal taxes that fund genocide in Gaza and demanded council publicly denounce that use and restructure the budget.
Sarah Moxley reiterated the $9.07 million figure, asked council to respond to 455 citizen letters, and requested a ceasefire resolution be added to the agenda. She noted her group has attended nearly every meeting since January 2024.
Kristen Morgan, a high school teacher, spoke about the impact of genocide on education. She noted $9 million could fund school resource officers for all 67 New Hanover County schools, and read anonymous comments from a public event asking for tax dollars to be redirected from foreign military aid to local needs.

Discussion Items

FY26 Recommended Budget Presentation: Budget Director Laura Mortell presented the $306 million budget (general fund $156 million, capital improvement $33 million). The property tax rate is set at 28.25 cents per $100 assessed value (0.1 cent above net neutral). Assessed values rose 53% to $35.3 billion. The budget includes a $17.38 minimum wage, $50/month reduction in employee health insurance premiums, cancer screening for firefighters, elimination of the mounted police unit and concessions at Legion Stadium/Olsen Park, and a reallocation of $2.1 million to the general fund through debt management and property sales.
Public Hearing PH2 – 710 N. Kerr Avenue Rezoning: A 2.11‑acre site rezoned from R‑10 to MD‑17(CD) for a 48‑unit senior housing development (55+) with units at 30%, 50%, 60%, and 80% AMI. The applicant, Wallick Communities, expects construction to begin May 2026. Staff and the Cape Fear Housing Coalition supported the project. One neighbor raised parking concerns (169 spots needed vs. 144 proposed). Council approved 7‑0.
Ordinance O2 – $2,513,506 ARP Appropriation: Funds allocated for supportive housing ($2.1 million for Good Shepherd’s Sparrow project, 32 units), supportive services ($350,000 for future RFP), and non‑profit capacity building. Councilmember Waddell inquired about oversight; Ms. Schuler described construction draws, wage compliance reviews, and annual inspections. Approved 7‑0.
Resolution R3 – Gap Financing for Onyx Place: $98,000 from HOME Investment Partnerships Program for land acquisition, leveraging $142 per $1 spent for a $14 million project. Units will remain affordable for 30 years. Approved 7‑0.
Resolution R4 – Revised Funding Agreement with Wilmington Housing Authority: $660,000 interest‑free loan, repayable in 12 months. Discussion included updates on Jervey, Hillcrest, Houston Moore, and Solomon Towers redevelopment projects. Approved 7‑0.
Resolution R5 – Alcohol Use Variations at Skyline Center: Authorizes the city manager to make slight deviations to day/time restrictions for alcohol use at the Skyline Center, consistent with state law. Approved 6‑1 (Councilmember Spears dissented).

Key Outcomes

Consent Agenda (except C3): Approved 7‑0.
Charging Smart Program (C3): Approved 7‑0 after clarification that there are no city costs.
Public Hearing PH1 (613 S. 14th St.): Ordinance to vacate/close/repair/demolish an unfit dwelling approved 7‑0; second reading waived.
Public Hearing PH2 (710 N. Kerr Ave.): Rezoning for 48‑unit senior housing approved 7‑0; second reading waived.
Ordinance O1 (Grant fund adjustments): Approved 7‑0; second reading waived.
Ordinance O2 (ARP supplemental appropriation): Approved 7‑0; second reading waived.
Resolution R1 (Pond Crossing trash displacement): Approved 7‑0.
Resolution R2 (Reject bids for Hooker Road, Hinton Avenue, Wrightsville/Greenville intersection projects): Approved 7‑0; staff will rebid after updating estimates.
Resolution R3 (Gap financing $98,000): Approved 7‑0.
Resolution R4 (Revised WHA agreement $660,000): Approved 7‑0.
Resolution R5 (Alcohol use variations): Approved 6‑1.
Council entered closed session under NCGS §143‑318.11(a)(3) and (a)(6) for legal and personnel matters; no further action taken in open session.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 20, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Call the meeting to order the Wilmington City Council like to welcome all those who are with us this evening and all those who are watching us at home. Thank you for taking an interest in your government. Uh at this time, before we get started with the meeting, I will have to um announce I will have to have a roll call since we have one council member that is joining us through uh satellite uh is Mr. Wadell, whose wife just had a baby boy. So, Luke, uh good to have you here. Good to be here, appreciate y'all uh giving us some consideration to be remote today. Okay, thank you. Mayor Pro Tem, are you here? Here. Councilman Ravenmark, are you here? Councilmember Spears, are you here? I'm here. Councilmember Wadell, I can see you're here. Councilmember Andrews, are you here? Here. Councilmember Joyner, are you here? Yeah. And the mayor is here. We're all here and accounted for. And at this time, I'd like to call on Sergeant Ron Ronald Evans of the Wilmington Police Department to please give our invocation if everyone will stand and remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance. Good evening, Mr. Mayor Council. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, uh, first and foremost, we thank you for this day. We thank you for your continued grace and your mercy that you bestow upon us each day. In these times of uncertainty, we ask that you continue to protect us from the seen and the unseen. Cradle us in your arms and hold us close to your bosom. Lord, we pray and lift up this council to you tonight. We pray for the city staff. We ask that you continue to guide their hands and their heads and their heart. Give them wisdom as they prepare to make and continue to make decisions that will be beneficial for the citizens of the city. After all is said and done, we will be so careful to give your name the praise, the glory and the honor in which it is due. And your son's precious name we pray. Amen. Amen. 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. Good evening. Come on up. City of Wilmington, North Carolina proclamation reads, whereas the month of May is observed as National Bike Month, and Wilmington City Council is committed to the promotion of safe bicycling for both transportation and recreation. Whereas on average, 57 crashes involving bicyclists occur annually in the Wilmington region, which underscores the importance of ensuring driver awareness and bicyclist safety education, in addition to safe facilities for bicycling to prevent crashes. And whereas the city of Wilmington is committed to promoting the safe use of bicycles on the city streets and the trails through bicycle facilities such as the Gary Shell Cross City Trail, the River to Sea Bikeway, the South College Road Trail, the bike lanes intersection improvements and the bicycle facilities included in the city's 2014 Transportation Bond projects. And whereas the City of Wilmington supports education about bicycle safety through the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, better known as the WMPO. Be a Looker, which campaign which encourages children and adults to operate their bicycles in a safe manner and educates drivers on how to share the road with bicyclists. And whereas the City of Wilmington supports the annual River to Sea bike ride, which begins and ends in downtown Wilmington and includes community support and sponsors by local businesses, including two wheeler dealer and Port City Java. And whereas the City of Wilmington has been designated as a bicycle friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists since 2011 and continues to make improvements to benefit the bicycling community. Now, therefore, the Wilmington City Council proclaims May is bicycle awareness months and will continue to promote safe cycling opportunities for Wilmington citizens. And I just want to say thank you for everything you folks have shared with us over the years. It has given us the direction to continue to put in bike lanes and bike trails to our community, which people love, and we can see them now proliferating in Brunswick County and other parts of New Hanover County. And I just want to say thank you for that for those great that great piece of advice because it paid off, and it seems like the citizens have supported it throughout the years through a lot of bond transportation projects. So thank you very much.

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