City of Wilmington Council Agenda Briefing Meeting - June 2, 2025

This agenda briefing meeting was held on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall Council Chambers to review the regular scheduled agenda for the June 3, 2025 Council Meeting. Present were Mayor Bill Saffo, Mayor Pro-Tem Clifford Barnett, Sr., Councilmembers Charlie Rivenbark, Luke Waddell, David Joyner, Salette Andrews, and Kevin Spears (via video conference), along with City Clerk Penelope Spicer-Sidbury, City Attorney Meredith Everhart, and Interim City Manager Thom Moton.

Consent Calendar

• C9 – Resolution Rejecting Bid for Pine Grove Drive at Oleander Drive and Macmillan Avenue Intersection Improvements Project: Councilmember Rivenbark requested an estimate of total expenditures on Pine Grove North to date, to be provided after the meeting.
• O5 – Ordinance Making Supplemental Appropriation of $1,800,000 to Convention Center Operating Fund: Finance Director Martha Wayne explained that additional revenues from increased event activity necessitated the appropriation to cover directly related expenses, with any surplus flowing into fund balance. This was described a clerical maneuver.
• PH3 – Ordinance Amending Land Development Code to Eliminate Special Use Permits and Replace with Conditional Zoning: A lengthy discussion occurred. Assistant Planning Director Brian Chambers noted that the main concern from opponents is that the Special Use Permit (SUP) process is more straightforward from a developer’s perspective but restricts standing to adjacent property owners. Conditional Zoning allows broader community engagement. Mayor Saffo expressed concern that uses like schools or recovery centers might face staff opposition under Conditional Zoning, but City Attorney Everhart clarified that the same result could be achieved. Councilmember Rivenbark highlighted the unfairness of the SUP process for property owners without legal representation. Mayor Saffo suggested narrowing the SUP to only special uses (e.g., schools, treatment centers) rather than eliminating it entirely. Council agreed to request a list of the 19 uses currently requiring an SUP before the June 3 vote.

Discussion Items

Kenan Fountain Update

Dave Mayes, Director of Public Services, presented bids for repairing the historic fountain damaged by an NCDOT contractor. The repair bid was $285,500 (engineer’s estimate $225,000); restoration work was $103,500 (estimate $310,000); plumbing improvements were $68,750 (estimate $65,000); and bench repair was $48,630 (claim pending). Total estimates presented in March were $142,250 higher than the bids received. An inspection with the city’s insurance carrier was scheduled that day to recover the full $285,500 repair cost. Staff recommended proceeding with the fountain repairs to make it operational, removing the balusters and benches for possible relocation (in-house, no out-of-pocket cost, pending Historic Preservation Commission approval), and exploring future relocation options for the fountain via a Capital Improvement Project request for FY2029-2034. An appropriation of the NCDOT claim ($98,560), bench damage claim ($48,360), and $30,000 contingency would be brought to Council on July 15, 2025. Councilmembers expressed support for the plan, noting the fountain is a historical landmark. A question about the large discrepancy in the restoration bid was raised; Mayes stated the engineer is confident in the contractor.

Parks and Recreation Mural Projects

Amy Beatty, Parks and Recreation Director, and Andrea Talley, Program Specialist, reported an increasing number of mural requests. Recent murals at the DREAMS Center, Sherriedale Morgan Fitness Center, and community centers were displayed. These murals help achieve goals in the Open Space Comprehensive Plan (improving park safety, 1% public art dedication, activating spaces) at little to no cost to the city. An administrative procedure was implemented: involve stakeholders, notify the Arts Council, present to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, send a memo to City Manager and Council, and submit to the Council weekly update upon completion. Two upcoming projects: 1) A partnership with DREAMS Center for Arts Education to install murals at Greenfield Grind Skate Park to cover unwanted graffiti, involving a teen cleanup day, with materials (outdoor paint and paste-up) expected to last 8–10 years, planned for Fall 2025. 2) A self-funded mural donation by artist Kalin Devone (Wilmington native) for an outdoor basketball court mural at Maides Park, with community involvement in design and painting, also in Fall 2025, lasting 8–10 years. Staff supports both projects.

Urban Forestry Master Plan Update

Sally Thigpen, Parks and Recreation Assistant Director, updated Council on progress since the plan’s adoption in 2023. Key accomplishments: - Inventory of public trees: All street trees within the 1945 corporate limits (about a quarter of the estimated 40,000 street trees) have been identified. This is the highest priority. - Canopy assessment: Updated using 2016–2020 USDA imagery showing canopy cover declined from 48.1% (2016) to 41.4% (2020). Working with IT/GIS to update with 2024 data. Since 2020, over 1,200 trees have been planted; young trees will show in future assessments. - Staffing: Position titles changed to City Arborist and Assistant City Arborist to improve recruitment and retention. Wilmington’s per‑tree spending is 35% lower than all surveyed cities and 66% lower than Southern cities. - Regulations: Staff working with Planning Department on technical support for development plan review and updating technical standards. - Wood waste management: First wood chip giveaway event in May 2025 was a success; milling lumber from hazard tree removals will be used in the new Parks Maintenance Facility. City Arborist Aaron Reese then explained species selection: definitions of native, non‑native, and invasive trees. He noted that urban environments are not natural, so non‑native trees (e.g., Asian species) can be better suited. The current planting contract for 464 trees includes 47 different varieties/species/cultivars, with slightly over half being natives. Factors affecting selection include planting space, utilities, desired appearance, and nursery availability. Councilmember Andrews thanked staff for the education; Councilmember Rivenbark raised concerns about utility pruning (V‑cuts) on live oaks and asked about standards. Reese explained that utility pruning standards are different but do not harm the tree if done properly, and that the root issue is planting large trees under power lines. He confirmed the city now prohibits planting large‑maturing species under power lines.

Additional Items

• Audit Committee: Councilmember Joyner reported that the Audit Committee meeting that same day would examine whether any city investments are tied to the fossil fuel industry and consider policy amendments to prevent future exposure.
• LGBTQ Pride Month Proclamation: Councilmember Joyner inquired about a proclamation for June 2025. City Clerk Spicer-Sidbury stated no request had been received but would check. Council had done so in the past.
• Budget Vote Disclosure: City Attorney Everhart reminded Council that before the first vote on the budget at the June 3 meeting, state law requires that any councilmember voluntarily associated with a nonprofit referenced in the budget must disclose that association.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken at this briefing meeting; formal action on agenda items (including the SUP ordinance, Kenan Fountain contract, and budget) will occur at the June 3, 2025 Council Meeting.
• Staff will provide Councilmember Rivenbark with cumulative expenditures on Pine Grove North.
• Council expects a list of the 19 uses currently requiring Special Use Permits before the June 3 vote.
• Staff will proceed with the Kenan Fountain repair recommendation and bring an appropriation ordinance to the July 15, 2025 meeting.
• The Parks and Recreation murals at Greenfield Grind Skate Park and Maides Park will move forward with community input and fall 2025 installation.
• Urban forestry inventory and canopy assessment updates will continue; a wood chip giveaway may become a regular event.
• Councilmember Joyner’s fossil fuel investment audit will be discussed in the Audit Committee and may come to full Council.
• The City Clerk will follow up on a possible LGBTQ Pride Month proclamation.
• Councilmembers are to prepare a list of voluntary nonprofit board affiliations before the budget vote.