Wilmington City Council Meeting – October 21, 2025

The Wilmington City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, Skyline Center, 929 N. Front Street, Wilmington, NC. Mayor Bill Saffo presided; Mayor Pro-Tem Clifford Barnett Sr. and Councilmembers Charlie Rivenbark, Kevin Spears, Luke Waddell, David Joyner, and Salette Andrews were present. The meeting included a Wilmington Housing Authority update, approval of a seven-item consent agenda, public comments, two public hearings, several ordinances and resolutions, and additional announcements. The Council adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

Presentation: Wilmington Housing Authority & Hillcrest Development

• Wilmington Housing Authority CEO Tyrone Garrett reported that the federal shutdown has not yet stopped Housing Authority operations because agencies are required to hold a three-month reserve, which lasts until the end of December 2025. Letters went out to landlords instructing them not to charge residents extra if the shutdown continues past December 31, 2025; no evictions may occur during that period, and landlords must accept the resident 30% rent share if the Housing Authority cannot make payments. HUD approvals for redevelopment closings may slip from first quarter 2026 to second quarter 2026, but funding is not expected to be affected.
• The Hillcrest development team, including Michael Copeland and Chris Ogunrinde, presented the phase one plan for Hillcrest. The existing site has 98 structures, 256 units, about 26.2 acres, and roughly 84 occupied units. Phase one is a senior living building with 84 units, including 69 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom units, with construction planned from June 2026 to December 2027. The team stated that phase one and phase two are 100% focused on allowing impacted residents to return, and residents have a right to return after relocation.

Consent Calendar

• The Council unanimously approved all seven consent agenda items by a 7-0 vote:
  • Approval of minutes from the September 23, October 6, and October 7, 2025 meetings;
  • Resolution authorizing application to the Land and Water Conservation Fund for replacement of Lions Bridge in Greenfield Park;
  • Resolution approving contracts for the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization on-call transportation planning services;
  • Resolution declaring certain vehicles and equipment surplus for electronic auction;
  • Resolution approving amendments to the Wilmington Planning Commission Rules of Procedure;
  • Resolution authorizing a $3,050,000 contract change order with Highland Paving Co., LLC for the 2025 Annual Needs Roadway Maintenance Contract;
  • Resolution authorizing Task Order #7 with GFT Infrastructure, Inc. for $550,831 for construction engineering and inspection services for the Hooker Road MUP, Hinton Avenue MUP, and Wrightsville Avenue/Greenville Avenue intersection improvements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Maddie Wills, a human rights consultant, gave formal notice regarding what she called an unlawful proposal from the October 7, 2025 board meeting on homelessness. She urged the Council to reconsider Ordinance Section 6-10, saying it targets unhoused residents and raises constitutional and discrimination concerns under federal and North Carolina law. She argued it criminalizes sleeping, pitching a tent, and leaving belongings unattended, violates due process by allowing seizure and disposal of property, and risks violating ADA protections; she asked the Council to lead with housing, dignity, and inclusion rather than criminalization.
• Joel Barrio asked the Council and community to boycott Avelo Airlines because of its $150 million contract with ICE. He said ICE has terrorized immigrant communities without due process, and he asked Councilmembers to make public statements against the contract. He also said Avelo has a base at ILM Airport and is expanding in New Hanover County.
• Four scheduled public speakers did not appear: Sonya Muldrow, Terriale Hall, Rebecca Lilly, and Hannah McCoy.

Public Hearings

• PH1 – 401 North Kerr Avenue: Chief Code Enforcement Officer Brian Renner presented a repair-only ordinance for a vacant dwelling, originally recommending 90 days. Property owner Cynthia Mitchell said she wanted to keep the house, detailed health and contractor setbacks, and asked for a year. Councilmember Spears moved to approve the ordinance as amended to 365 days; the motion passed 7-0, and the second reading was waived.
• PH2 – 1308 South 7th Street: Renner presented a repair-or-demolish ordinance for a vacant house and two accessory structures, originally recommending 90 days. Owner Eric Johnson said he had invested about $25,000 to $27,000 of his own money, was doing the work himself while living three hours away, and needed at least a year. Councilmember Spears moved to approve the ordinance as amended to 365 days; the motion passed 6-0, and the second reading was waived.

Ordinances, Resolutions, and Actions

• O1: Appropriated $5,300 from a Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc. grant to construct a vegetable garden at Maides Park; adopted 6-0, and the second reading was waived.
• O2: Reduced the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on White Oak Drive and Birch Court based on an Oak Forest neighborhood petition; adopted 6-0, and the second reading was waived.
• O3a: Accepted public streets and drainage improvements at Pacific Place and Woodlands Grove, totaling 1.26 miles of roadways; adopted 6-0.
• O3b: Established a 25 mph speed limit on streets in Pacific Place, Woodlands Grove, and Pond Crossing; adopted 6-0, and the second reading was waived.
• O4a: Appropriated $1,320,000 from the Transportation Bond Roadway Contingency Fund to the Pine Grove Drive and Greenville Loop Road roundabout project; adopted 6-0, and the second reading was waived.
• O4b: Authorized the City Manager to execute a $1,502,103 utility relocation agreement with Duke Energy for the Pine Grove South Corridor improvements; adopted 6-0.
• O4c: Authorized the City Attorney to file condemnation actions for the Pine Grove South Intersection Improvements project. After an amendment reflecting settlements, the amended resolution totaled $1,162,630 and passed unanimously. The City Attorney noted the filings were needed while waiting for lenders to consent to the takings.
• R1: Approved a Registry Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to protect and preserve the South Wilmington Sandhills natural area in Halyburton Park; adopted 7-0.
• R2: The proposed resolution amending Council Rules of Order to allow ordinances on the consent agenda and to allow ordinances to pass on first reading with five affirmative votes was not approved. During discussion, Councilmember Joyner said no councilmember had requested the change and that the Council should maintain control of its own rules; Councilmember Andrews expressed concerns about public notice and amended ordinances passing without a second reading; Councilmember Waddell suggested further council discussion in the future. A motion to deny carried 5-1 per the agenda, although the minutes record 6-1 with Councilmember Rivenbark voting no.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items were approved 7-0; all public hearing ordinances, ordinances, and resolutions except R2 were approved.
• Both public hearing properties received amended compliance deadlines of 365 days instead of the recommended 90 days.
• The amended O4c condemnation resolution total is $1,162,630; the City Attorney will proceed with condemnation filings after lender consent.
• Municipal election early voting continues, with additional sites opening on the weekend and fare-free WAVE Transit rides on Saturday, Sunday, and election day.
• Mayor Saffo congratulated those involved in lighting New Hanover High School; Mayor Pro-Tem Barnett noted cancer and domestic violence awareness month.
• The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for November 5, 2025.