The Wilmington City Council held its regular meeting on November 18, 2025, at 6:30 PM in City Hall, Skyline Center, 929 N. Front Street. The meeting began with an invocation and pledge, followed by a presentation, consent agenda, public comments, public hearings, ordinances, resolutions, and councilmember announcements. All votes were unanimous (7-0 or 6-0). The meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.
Okay. There we go. 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 and watching us at home. Thank you for taking an interest in your government. This time I'll have to introduce Captain Joe Michael James of the Wilmington Fire Department for Imbarcation. I'll ask if everyone standing, remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance. Captain James. Let's bow our heads of reverence. Thank you for the gift for this city and the people who serve it. Tonight we ask for the wisdom, the wisdom to listen well, decide fairly and serve services of our community preserved together, East Doing our part for the greater good, working together to build something strong and everlasting. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I do want to recognize that we have former Councilmember Neil Anderson with us here tonight. I know he's going to be speaking doing public information. So, Neil, welcome. This time I'd like to recognize Ms. Evelyn Adger, who's the chairperson of the Commission on African American History. We'll be doing a presentation of Wilmington's Commission on African American History on their annual report. Good evening. Can y'all hear me? Yes, we can. Wonderful. Uh, I'd like to invite my chair up with me if they'd like to. So this is the City of Wilmington's Commissioner on African American History, and I am Evelyn Adger, the chair of the City of Commission on African American History. The Commission was established December the 5th, 1989 with 15 members. May 17th, 2005, the council reduced the number of members from 15 to 9, as there was a problem recruiting prospective members and having a quorum. The commission was established because African Americans have played and continue to play a significant role in the historical development of the Wilmington community. The purpose of the Commission is to develop and implement programs to recognize African American history. The duties and responsibilities of the Commission are plan, develop, and implement special community projects to recognize and to increase awareness of the contribution of African Americans to Wilmington's history. Encourage and assist groups to develop their own projects on Wilmington's African American history, recognize sites in the community that are significant to African American history, and make periodic report to City Council regarding the Commission's program and activities. Two of our signature programs are the Living Legends Program for Adults. The purpose of that is to recognize accomplished Wilmington leaders with a keen vision to helping people succeed in life and a dedication to improving our community. Work with schools, churches, community boys and girls club, and other organizations. We have worked in collaboration with the city's historic preservation planners, planning development, and assist with updating a guide to Wilmington's African American American Heritage Brochure. We have collaborated with the state of North Carolina African American Heritage Commission in recognizing the North Carolina Civil Rights Trail along with other programs and naming of state highways, roads, and bridges. One of my favorites was naming the Metal Art Lemon Bridge and meeting his wife and the new Globetrotters. We continue to work with City Council's Name and Facilities Committee. When requested and received, our commission reviews and makes suggestions and recommendations. We work in collaboration with community churches regarding emancipation proclamation. These are only a few of the events and programming that our commission has been tasked to do. And although we may be small in numbers, I am grateful that our commission believes in our city and what it has to offer as we all serve as representatives of other boards and committees within the city, such as the Greater Downtown Steering Committee, the Juneteenth Committee, the Reverend Dot, the Martin Luther King Committee, and the City of Wilmington's Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of the City of Wimmonson's Commission on African American history, thank you for your continued support as we continue to fulfill our mission by acknowledging educating our community, visitors, tourists, and people worldwide on the wonderful contributions of our African American legacies. Thank you. Thank you so much, Evelyn. Thank you very much. Next item of business is our consent agenda. Items one through four. Motion to approve by Mayor Pro Tim Barnett, segment by council member joyner.