Wilmington City Council Agenda Briefing - March 23, 2026
Wilmington City Council Agenda Briefing - March 23, 2026
The Wilmington City Council held an Agenda Briefing on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall to review the regular scheduled agenda for the March 24, 2026 Council Meeting. Mayor Bill Saffo presided, with Councilmembers David Joyner, Salette Andrews, J.C. Lyle (arrived at 8:32 a.m.), Cassidy Santaguida, and Chakema Clinton-Quintana present. Mayor Pro-Tem Kevin Spears attended via video conference. City Clerk Penelope Spicer-Sidbury, City Attorney Meredith Everhart, and City Manager Becky Hawke were also present. The meeting adjourned at 8:41 a.m.
Discussion Items
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Item C4 – Resolution Authorizing Funding for WPD Transition from Shotguns to Rifles: Mayor Pro-Tem Spears expressed strong opposition, stating the item is untimely given ongoing community concerns about weapons and police. Chief Zuidema explained the department is "extremely behind the curve," citing the 1997 North Hollywood shootout where police had to borrow rifles to match criminal firepower. He noted that criminals locally and nationally often possess weapons exceeding police shotguns, and that a standardized patrol rifle platform would improve officer accuracy and safety. Currently, most cruisers carry a 12-gauge shotgun; officers may bring personal rifles but inconsistently. Councilmember Clinton-Quintana agreed timing was poor and suggested reintroducing the item in a month or two rather than letting it drop entirely.
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Item C5 – Resolution Authorizing Purchase of 25 Pursuit-Rated Tahoes ($1,325,175): Councilmember Joyner requested an update on the fleet transition study timeline. Fleet Manager John Fortuin reported that a meeting with the transition team had occurred on Friday, but due to city restructuring, the timeline has been delayed. Once vehicle placement is clarified, the study can proceed. Councilmember Joyner stated he could not vote in favor until a clear timeline is provided.
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Item O1 – Ordinance Amending Wilmington City Code, Chapter 1 “General Provisions”: Councilmember Santaguida noted the redline attachment did not show changes when opened. City Attorney Everhart said she would double-check and resend the corrected attachment to council.
Key Outcomes
- No votes were taken; the briefing is a preparatory session for the regular council meeting on March 24.
- Item C4 faces strong opposition from Mayor Pro-Tem Spears and skepticism from Councilmember Clinton-Quintana; staff was asked to provide information on regional police rifle policies.
- Item C5 lacks sufficient fleet transition timeline information, preventing Councilmember Joyner from supporting it.
- Item O1 will have corrected redline documents sent to council before the regular meeting.
- All other agenda items (C1, C2, C3, C6, C7, C8, PH1, O2B, R1, R2, RP1) were noted for the March 24 meeting without specific discussion.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Call the meeting to order. The pre-agenda for the Wilmington City Council. We'll take a roll call at this time. Mayor Pro Tem, are you here? I am. Councilmember Jordan, are you here? I'm here. Councilmember Andrews, are you here? Here. Councilmember Lau. It's not here as of yet. Councilmember Santa Guida. Here. Councilmember Clinton Quintana. I am here. And the chair is here. Everybody's here and accounted for. We have a quorum. C1 is an approval of the minutes. C2 is a resolution authorizing city manager to execute a contract amendment in the amount of 461,840. Janus LLC of Riceville Beach, North Carolina, for the annual needs, brick street maintenance contract. C three is a resolution declaring 52 Motorola radio surplus property to be donated to the town of Holly Ridge and to New Hanover County. Item C4 is a resolution authorizing funding for the Wilmington Police Department transition from shotguns to rifles. C5 is a resolution authorizing city manager to purchase 25 pursuit rated Tahoe's from Capital Chevrolet Incorporated of Raleigh, North Carolina in the amount of 1,325,175 from the fleet replacement fund. C6 is a resolution authorized city manager to apply for a governor's highway safety program for the year 2027 bike safe regional coordinator grant in the amount of $5,000. C7 is a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the public comment letter on Duke Energy's biannual carbon plan and integrated resource plan. And then C8 is resolution amending the City of Wilmington Housing Affordability Advisory Committee by Laws Relating to membership. We have obviously public information, public hearings. PH1 is a resolution approving an amendment to an installment financing contract and an amount not to exceed $75 million to finance and refinance various city projects.01 is an ordinance amending the Wilmington City Code Chapter 1 General Provisions. And then O2B is the ordinance establishing the speed limit of 25 miles per hour on William Booth Drive. Resolutions R1 is a resolution approving the issuance execution delivery of not to exceed $15 million storm water fee revenue refunding bonds and providing for certain other matters in connection with the issuance. And then R2 is a resolution to sign the Cape Fair Council of Government's joint letter to the Environmental Management Commission identifying specific concerns related to the Fuqua Barenas proposed inter basin transfer request. And then we'll have our final item, which is RP1, which is reports of councils appointments, committees for boards, commissions, and committees. And that concludes all of the items that we will be discussing and voting on tomorrow evening. Is there anything else? Um Madam Manager. No, Mr. Mayor. Okay. Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. Uh I I don't want to, I typically wouldn't do this, but uh I would um I I got a problem with C4. Um and and I I just don't think it's timely. I I don't think the timing is right for us to have this on the agenda. Um and and um I I just want to verbalize that now and not take anybody by surprise tomorrow, but because of some of the issues that we have going on concerning WPDE and weapons and and citizens in our community. I I just think that C4 is untimely right now. And um that's just my opinion on it. And like I said, I don't want to take staff by surprise tomorrow when when I'll be in opposition of it.
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