The Wilmington City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and adjourning at 9:11 p.m. Mayor Bill Saffo presided. (Note: The agenda lists the meeting location as City Hall, Skyline Center, 929 N. Front Street; the approved minutes list City Hall, Council Chambers, 102 North 3rd Street.) The Council honored retiring City Manager Tony Caudle, held public hearings on the FY2026 budget and two annexation/dilapidated-dwelling ordinances, approved multiple infrastructure contracts, and appointed Rebecca Hawke as the next City Manager. The next regular meeting was announced for June 3, 2025.
Note: The agenda lists the meeting at the Skyline Center, while the minutes state Council Chambers at 102 North 3rd Street; this summary does not resolve that discrepancy.
I'd like to welcome all those who are with us here this evening, 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 Captain Jermichael James of the Wilmington Fire Department. If please come forward to give us our invocation for every ask of everyone else, stand at this time and in the aftermath. I mean, have to Mr. James gives the invocation, we will do the Pledge of Allegiance. Decisions rooted in compassion and justice and understanding. May the action is taken within these walls to be guided by our desire to create a thriving and exclusive environment where every voice is heard, and every sentence that feels valued. We ask these things. In Jesus Christ's name, I pray. 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. And uh storm water and roads and maintenance of our uh drains and so many of the things the infrastructure in our community that make this community what it is. And I just want to say it's a tough job. At times it's a you know, some of the city is very old, and the things that you folks have to do to make it continue to work and run. And I just want to say, on behalf of the entire city council and all of the citizens of Wilmington, thank you for everything you folks do every single day for our community. I really do appreciate that. Thank you. City of Wilmington, North Carolina proclamation reads whereas the City of Wilmington's public works department employs women and men who focus on maintaining and improving public infrastructure, facilities, and services that are vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to the public health, high quality of life, and well-being of the people of the city of Wilmington. And whereas the work performed by the City of Wilmington Public Works Department employees could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public work staff who are engineers, managers, and employees at all levels of the city who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, maintaining, and protecting our nation's transportation, drainage, and solid waste systems, public buildings and other structures and facilities essential for our residents. And whereas it is the public interest for the residents, civic leaders, and children in Wilmington to gain knowledge of and maintain an ongoing interest and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities. And whereas the year 2025 marks the 65th annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works Association and Canadian Public Works Association. Now, therefore, on behalf of the Wilmington City Council, I Bill Sappho do hereby designate the week of May 18th through the 24th, 2025 as National Public Works Weeks, and urge residents to join with me and the American Public Works Association and other government agencies in expressing appreciation for the women and men of the City of Wilmington Public Works Department and acknowledge the substantial contributions they make protecting our nation's health, safety, and advancing quality of life. So congratulations, Dave, to you and your great team. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um first uh I just want to say really to council. Um I hear you say all the time that our employees are our most valuable resource. The decisions that you make up here for us on our behalf to give us the tools and the resources we need to do the job that we love to do, it does not go unnoticed by us. So thank you. First of all, first of all, uh, second of all to people that are here and listening tonight. Uh if you see our staff out in the field, uh, chances are they have a city logo shirt on, they're driving a big truck, or they've got a high visibility vest on. Please take the time to walk up to them and say thank you. Um, they work hard, they want to make a difference, and uh any sort of recognition that you can give them out in the field is very meaningful. And lastly, um here's an invitation. This Thursday, starting at 11 a.m. till 2 p.m. in the south lot of our new skyline center, we will have a public works and other departments demonstration day. Lots of equipment, lots of people out there. Please come out and interact with our staff. You'll be able to uh see some of the things that we do, and we love to have you out there on Thursday. So thank you again, Mr. Mayor. Appreciate it. Thank you, buddy. Appreciate it. Thank you. There we go. Thank you.