The Wilmington City Council met on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 102 North 3rd Street. The meeting included presentations, a consent agenda, public hearings, ordinances, resolutions, reports, and a closed session. Mayor Bill Saffo presided, with Mayor Pro-Tem Clifford Barnett and councilmembers Charlie Rivenbark, Kevin Spears, Luke Waddell, David Joyner, and Salette Andrews present. Interim City Manager Thom Moton, City Attorney Meredith Everhart, and City Clerk Penelope Spicer-Sidbury were also in attendance. The meeting adjourned at 9:51 p.m.
Items C1–C17 were considered. Councilmembers pulled items C2 (Police Canine Officer Dex retirement), C14 (YWCA grant), and C17 (Front Street Bridge bids) for separate votes. The remaining consent items were approved unanimously on a motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Barnett, seconded by Councilmember Andrews. Approved items included:
Councilmember Rivenbark asked when staff discovered the low bidder was not NCDOT pre-qualified. Project Manager Kyle Burden explained that pre-qualification is verified after bid opening. City Attorney Everhart noted the bidder believed they were qualified due to past bridge projects but lacked three specific codes. The project will be readvertised with more precise code requirements. Mayor Saffo recused himself because a family member submitted a proposal. The resolution passed 7–0 (with Mayor recused, 6–0).
Mayor Saffo thanked Officer Dex and Sergeant Murphy for their service. The resolution passed 7–0.
Councilmember Spears requested all information and data associated with the program be sent to him and the council. He then moved approval. The resolution passed 7–0.
Mr. Jordan Pettid, President of Wilmington Professional Firefighters Local 129, thanked council for supporting firefighter health (annual cancer screenings, transition to PFAS‑free gear, mission‑ready gear), the Senior Firefighter position, competitive compensation to close the wage gap, and the Training Captain position. He presented each council member with a challenge coin as a symbol of trust and respect.
No action was requested. Rachel Schuler, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services, and Gilbert Combs, Community Development and Housing Manager, presented the plan. A survey with ~800 responses identified top priorities: rehabilitating vacant housing for affordable homeownership, affordable childcare, financial assistance for homebuyers, and homelessness prevention. The public comment period runs through June 26, 2025. Council will consider adoption on July 15, 2025. No public speakers appeared; the hearing was closed.
The item was continued from March 4, 2025. Councilmember Waddell asked if the applicant would consent to a further continuation pending council’s review of SUP uses. Attorney Sam Potter declined, stating the applicant wanted to proceed. Mayor Saffo opened the quasi‑judicial hearing. No members of the public claimed special damages; only staff, the applicant, and expert witnesses were sworn in.
Laura Mortell, Budget Director, outlined changes since the recommended budget: HUD entitlement adjustments, addition of $10,000 to Downtown Business Alliance, $40,000 to Voyager, and $15,000 to YMCA (all one‑year or three‑year commitments). The Mounted Unit was added back for the fiscal year, with the understanding that the new police chief will assess its efficacy. The ordinance passed 5–1 (Councilmember Waddell voted no).
Second reading; passed 6–0.
Second reading; passed 7–0.
Councilmember Spears asked about reinvestment of rental fees into facilities. Interim City Manager Moton noted that a $1 committed revenue per rental fee exists for improvements and that staff will work on increasing that amount for the next budget cycle. The ordinance passed 7–0.
Mortell explained that unanticipated health insurance claims (one $700,000 claim), workers’ compensation settlements ($258,000), and retirement system liabilities required the appropriation. The ordinance passed 7–0 on first and second readings.
Finance Director Martha Wayne stated that the city received slightly more settlement funds and interest than expected; the additional $40,000 will be transferred to the county to fund joint programs. Councilmember Spears clarified the city’s share is approximately 4% of total settlements. The ordinance passed 7–0 on first and second readings.
Wayne explained the need to record leases and subscription‑based IT agreements as liabilities. The ordinance passed 7–0 on first and second readings.
Assistant City Attorney Michael Satterfield reported four potential condemnations are outstanding. Three owners have agreed to settle but not closed; the deadline to stay on schedule is July 14, 2025. The resolution authorizes filing condemnation actions if necessary. Passed 7–0.
Economic Development Director Aubrey Parsley explained that a lease exceeding 10 years must be treated as a sale under state law. The lease parameters: 22,500 sq. ft., 132‑month initial term, initial annual rent of $541,920 escalating 2.5% per year, $300,000 market‑rate abatement and up to $800,000 additional abatement for permanent improvements. The total lease term could reach 21 years with renewal options. The upset bid process would run for 10 days; if no upset bid is received, no further council action is needed. Passed 7–0.
Parsley reported a $1 million bid from Vinny, Inc. for the 0.8‑acre property. The sale would be as‑is, where‑is, non‑warranty deed, closing 30 days after execution. The property has been on the market for 120 days. Proceeds will go toward variable‑rate debt reduction, as included in the FY26 budget. Councilmember Waddell noted the rapid progress on debt reduction. The resolution passed 7–0.
Councilmember Rivenbark presented revised recommendations for boards and commissions:
Council voted unanimously (7–0) to enter closed session under N.C. Gen. Stat. §143‑318.11(a)(6) to consider qualifications of prospective public officers or employees. After reconvening, Mayor Saffo stated that council provided instruction and guidance to staff. No other action was taken.
May and you guys are we call the meeting to order 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 would ask and introduce Sergeant Ronald Williams of the Wilmington Police Department if he'll please come forward. Evans, I'm sorry, and give us our invocation. If everyone stands and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance afterwards, Sergeant Welcome. It's been a long day. That's fine. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we first and foremost thank you for this day. Thank you for your continued grace and your continued mercy that you bestow upon us day in and day out. Lord, we ask for your protection from the seen and the unseen. Lord, I lift up this council to you. Left the staff up to you. Continue to guide their hands and their heart. Give them wisdom as they continue to make decisions that will be beneficial for the citizens of Wilmington. We thank you for everything that you have done in our lives. In 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 of the first time. The Wilmington City Council unanimously approved Chief Williams as our Wilmington Police Department Chief in June 23rd, 2020. He earned the job through his demonstrated leadership, commitment to the citizens of Wilmington, and admirable execution of the projects that he managed. As mayor, I have seen Chief Williams' devotion firsthand. He was hands-on and present through the civil unrest of 2020, particularly in affected neighborhoods, to listen to the concerns, address the grievances, facilitate dialogue, and promote peaceful solutions. He has led Wilmington Police Department through multiple natural disasters, including Hurricane Florence, wherein he played an integral role in responding to unprecedented public safety concerns. Under his leadership, violent crime in Wilmington has neared a multi-year low. His commitment to innovative approaches has produced a highly trained and well-equipped police force, which has delivered on City Council's priorities for public safety. Chief Williams has a heart for our community's youth and is credited with expanding the Wilmington Police Department's police activity league, better known as POW, which now includes four sports: basketball, soccer, Olympic wrestling, and cheer and dance. More than 500 young Wilmingtonians participate in PAL activities each and every year. I am grateful for Donnie's dedication to the law enforcement profession and his core belief that everyone who calls Wilmington home deserves to live in a safe community with a trusted and effective police force that treats all persons with fairness and respect. Since 1963, North Carolina's governors have reserved their highest honor, the Order of the Longleaf Pine, for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. Tonight, on behalf of the governor of the state of North Carolina, I get to bestow this honor upon Chief Donnie Williams, who will retire on June the 30th after more than 33 years of admirable service to the Wilmington Police Department. Over his lifetime, Donnie Williams has demonstrated an enduring dedication to the city of Wilmington and to the state of North Carolina, and that makes him worthy of the high honor of the Order of the Longleaf Pine as we honor him tonight. So on behalf of the governor and all of the citizens of this Wilmington, thank you very much. Thank you. I will go ahead and say a few words from here. First, I'd like to thank God for getting me here. But more importantly, I want to thank my mom, Joanne Kellum Williams, who gave birth to me 50 plus years ago, and my wife that has supported me through thick and thin, but more importantly, to the workers of the city of Wilmington that I've called co-workers for the past 30 plus years. That group, and it goes beyond the police department, has stood with me through thick and thin. And the group that I want to thank the most are the citizens of the city. There's that adage that it takes a village to raise a child. And my mom had help raising me. But in addition to raising me, this community supported me for 35 years and allowed me to serve you from being a police cadet all the way up to the office of the chief. And I just want to thank the council members that have supported me through thick and thin. I know at times things have been a struggle finding money to do things, but you have just been so supportive of the police department when we came to you, and we really needed some. So to the current council members, thank you. And there's several former council members that I want to thank all. So I'm not going to name them all, but there's three that are not here that were part of the group that appointed me in 2020. And again, just thank you to this community for embracing me and the women and men of the Wilmington Police Department.