Wilmington City Council Regular Meeting - August 19, 2025

The Wilmington City Council held its regular meeting on August 19, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the City Hall at Thalian Hall, 102 North 3rd Street, Wilmington, NC. This was the final council meeting held in historic Thalian Hall before the city government moves to its new location at 929 North Front Street. Mayor Bill Saffo presided over the meeting, which included consent agenda approvals, public comments on homelessness and a proposed chaplain program, a public hearing on a dilapidated property, a resolution to begin the process of establishing a railroad quiet zone, appointments to boards and commissions, and the appointment of a new police chief. The meeting also featured a presentation on the future of Thalian Hall and ended with a ceremonial ghost light activation.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the August 4, 2025, Agenda Briefing and August 5, 2025, Regular Meeting.
• Adopted a resolution accepting a drainage easement for the Brookshire Lane/Beasley Road Stormwater Improvements Project.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a service contract with BFPE International, Inc. for city-wide alarm system monitoring in the amount of $306,060.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract amendment with Clarke Power Services, Inc. for emergency generator preventive maintenance and repair at multiple locations in the amount of $71,725.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a 2025 Department of Homeland Security Port Security Grant in the amount of $269,000, with a $67,250 local match from the NC Drug Tax Fund.

All consent agenda items were approved unanimously (7-0) on a motion by Councilmember Andrews, seconded by Councilmember Joyner.

Public Comments & Testimony

Nine speakers addressed the council during the public information segment (30 minutes allotted). Key positions expressed:

• Chase Daniel George (sixth-generation Wilmington native) spoke in support of establishing a City of Wilmington TPM Chaplain program to serve police, firefighters, and the community during crises, highlighting the need for emotional support and community relationship-building. He framed his remarks with a religious perspective.
• Linda Higgins spoke against the proposed camping ordinance, arguing that it would primarily affect the newly homeless who still have cars. She stated that the city lacks a 24-hour plan for homeless individuals and that a designated right place must be established before declaring a wrong place. She suggested more portable toilets as a partial solution.
• Cammeron Batanides provided statistics: among the chronically homeless, 50% suffer from PTSD, 53% from traumatic brain injury, 18% from schizophrenia, 19% from bipolar disorder, 20% from intellectual disability, and 92% from personality disorder. She urged education and a non-"one-size-fits-all" approach and mentioned Ryan Dowd's homelessness training as 80% successful in de-escalation. She expressed opposition to the proposed ordinance but advocated for community solutions.
• Terri Hudson Mann (native of Wilmington) expressed strong opposition to criminalizing homelessness, stating the city has nowhere to house people. She criticized uncontrolled building and lack of affordable housing, asking where eight low-income housing projects had gone. She proposed using large empty buildings for shelter.
• Suraiya Motsinger (owns three downtown businesses) expressed concern that the proposed ordinance would not achieve its intended goals, citing that the Good Shepherd Center—the only emergency shelter in the tri-county area—has 119 beds with a 75-person waiting list and is a 45-minute walk from downtown. She encouraged council members to tour the shelter and engage with faith groups and social workers.
• Laurel Taylor spoke against criminalizing homelessness, arguing that it could happen to anyone due to medical debt, job loss, divorce, or mental health issues. She urged treating homeless individuals with dignity and suggested one-on-one outreach.
• Bridget Tarrant (downtown resident) questioned the need for the new ordinance, noting existing laws cover most issues except surface street parking. She expressed concern about vagueness in the 10 PM–7 AM prohibition and potential selective enforcement.
• Angie Ulmer spoke against the ordinance, challenging the council to find proactive solutions rather than reactive rhetoric. She stated that taking away tents during sleeping hours would cause people to wander. She noted a shortage of shelter beds for men, including veterans, and cited sociological studies showing that 80% of chronically homeless improve when given housing.
• Judy Justice (whose daughter experienced homelessness and mental illness) opposed criminalization, stating that 36% of homeless are mentally ill (2019 HUD study) and a more recent analysis of 85 studies found 67% suffer from mental illness. She described her daughter's struggles and urged creating supportive systems rather than making lives worse.

Three scheduled speakers (Linda Barnett, Robin Muro, Sonya Muldrow) did not appear.

Discussion Items

Public Hearing: 2606 Robeson Street Property

• Chief Code Enforcement Officer Brian Renner presented the case: a single-family home damaged by fire in 2019, owned by heirs. The property was deemed dilapidated (2024 tax value $76,000; estimated repair cost $41,000, 54% of value). The ordinance directs the housing inspector to vacate, close, and repair or demolish the dwelling within 90 days. Staff had contact with heirs, who intended to sell, but the sale fell through. No utilities connected. No public speakers. Council approved unanimously (7-0) and waived second reading.

Resolution R1: Notice of Intent to Establish a Quiet Zone

• Economic Development Director Aubrey Parsley presented the resolution to begin the process of establishing a railroad quiet zone (eliminating routine train horn blowing) across 28 at-grade crossings in Wilmington. The process, regulated by FRA, requires baseline safety equipment (flashing lights, gates), which is largely funded by over $15 million from NCDOT and CSX. The quiet zone would apply to horn blowing only; bells would still sound. Two types: qualified in perpetuity or subject to annual review if risk index is below national threshold. Estimated timeline: 1–3 years. The resolution passed unanimously (7-0).

Appointments Committee Report (RP1)

• Councilmember Rivenbark presented recommendations for multiple boards and commissions, including reappointments and appointments to Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, Civil Service Commission, Downtown Parking Advisory Committee, Firefighters’ Relief Fund Board of Trustees, Municipal Services District Advisory Committee, Port, Waterway & Beach Commission, Sister City Commission, and Zoning Board of Adjustment. Approved unanimously (7-0).

Appointment of Police Chief

• Council waived rules (7-0) to consider a resolution appointing Ryan M. Zuidema as Chief of Police, effective September 22, 2025. He was selected after a national search by PERF. The resolution passed unanimously (7-0). Chief Zuidema spoke, thanking the council and expressing commitment to the community, the fire department (mentioning the day's explosion), and his wife Jana. He stated, "the toughest job in America is not being a police officer, it's being a spouse or family member of one."

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: All five items approved unanimously (7-0).
• Public Hearing PH1: Ordinance for 2606 Robeson Street approved unanimously (7-0) with waived second reading.
• Resolution R1: Authorized City Manager to deliver Notice of Intent to Establish a Quiet Zone; approved unanimously (7-0).
• Appointments RP1: All recommended appointments and reappointments approved unanimously (7-0).
• Police Chief Appointment: Ryan M. Zuidema appointed as Chief of Police, effective September 22, 2025; approved unanimously (7-0).
• Thalian Hall Transition: The council held its last meeting in the historic Thalian Hall Council Chambers. Executive Director Shane Fernando presented plans for transforming the entire building into a performance and arts space, including a new 300-seat venue (Hippodrome), archives, and education center. The goal is to double annual visitors from 100,000 to 200,000 and economic impact from $4 million to $8 million. A ceremonial ghost light was activated to mark the transition. The next regular meeting will be held at the new location, 929 North Front Street, on September 9, 2025.