OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Agenda Briefing - April 6, 2026

City Council & Planning Commission — Monday, April 6, 2026
BodyWilmington, North Carolina
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateMonday, April 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 21:18

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Call the meeting to order.

0:04

We'll take a roll call at this time.

0:05

Mayor Pro Tim, are you here?

0:08

I am.

0:09

Councilmember Join, are you here?

0:11

I'm here.

0:11

Councilmember Mandrews.

0:12

Here.

0:13

Councilmember Alau.

0:14

Here.

0:15

Councilman Santa Guida.

0:17

Here.

0:17

Councilmember Clinton Quintana.

0:19

Here.

0:19

The chair is here.

0:20

Everybody's here and accounted for.

0:22

We'll have a recognition tomorrow night of the leadership Wilmington class of 2026.

0:27

Proclamation naming April 9th is local newsday.

0:31

Consent agenda.

0:32

C1 is approval of the minutes.

0:34

C2 is a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a professional services agreement with Signa Health and Life Insurance Company for medical insurance coverage and related administrative services.

0:49

C three is a resolution adopting the 2026 Southeastern North Carolina Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

0:56

C4 is a resolution authorizing city manager to execute a contract with Odyssey Mechanical LLC for removal and replacement of the HVAC system in the main data center, the Skyland Center.

1:10

C5 is a resolution authorizing city manager to apply for a $17,500,000 grant from the U.S.

1:17

Economic Development Administration for the 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program, which includes a required local match of 3,500,000 for the Riverfront Bulkhead Replacement Project.

1:32

Then C6 is authorizing the city manager to execute a contract amendment in the amount of 1,500,000 with JYMCO, Jim Co.

1:41

Construction Company Incorporated for the Annual Needs Sidewalk Maintenance Contract.

1:47

And then C7 is a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract amendment in the amount of three million with Highland Paving Company LLC of Fayetteville, North Carolina for the annual needs roadway maintenance contract.

2:01

C8 is a resolution authorizing the city manager to apply to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for a 2026 multimodal network planning grant.

2:11

And then public hearings.

2:13

PH1 is an ordinance amending the official zoning maps of the city of Wilmington to rezone property located at 910 South 8th Street from R5 R5 medium density mixed residential district to UMX Urban Mixed Use District.

2:29

And then PH2 is an ordinance amending the official zoning maps of the City of Wilmington to rezone property located at 4118 Market Street from RB Regional Business to MD 17 CD High Density Multi-Dwelling Residential Conditional District for 76 unit multi-dwelling development.

2:50

PH3 is for the year 2027 annual action plan for the CDBG and home funds.

2:57

And this is a public hearing only.

4:26

None.

4:27

We do have one report this morning that Meredith is uh our city attorney is going to report uh introduce.

4:32

Okay, very good.

4:33

Thank you.

4:34

Good morning, Mr.

4:34

Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim, members of council.

4:37

This morning we've got an update from Eric Cradle.

4:39

He's the CFO for New Hanover County.

4:42

This is an annual update on opioid settlement funds.

4:45

As most of you are aware, the city participates in the national opioid settlement along with New Hanover County.

4:52

We were one of the first North Carolina communities to enter into those settlements and to take part in them.

5:00

We do receive a set a certain amount of money from those settlements every year.

5:03

The city has an ILA interlocal agreement with the county as to how to handle those funds.

5:08

And our funds go directly to the county.

5:11

However, under the terms of the ILA, there has to be both a joint staff committee that meets first to discuss how those funds will be used and then a joint elected committee, which council member joyner sits on.

5:25

These recommendations have come through both of those committees and are coming to you today.

5:30

And as long as there are no objections or major changes that are needed, this is how the funds will be distributed through the county's budget process.

5:39

So at this point, Mr.

5:40

Eric Cradle from New Hanover County.

5:43

He's their CFO.

5:44

Thank you.

5:45

Thank you.

5:46

Good morning, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim.

5:48

Council, thank you for allowing me to be here today.

5:57

I also serve on the joint staff opioid committee, and we're here today to provide an update on the fiscal year 26-27 budget recommendations for the use of the funds received by the county and the city related to the national uh opioid legal settlements.

6:12

We're providing you with summary of the process here today that has been undertaken by the and the resulting recommendations.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Opioid Settlement Funds█████████████████████████████████████████████53%
Procedural████████████████████24%
Public Health Awareness████████████████████23%
Summary of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Agenda Briefing - April 6, 2026

The Wilmington City Council held an Agenda Briefing on April 6, 2026, at 8:30 AM in City Hall to review the agenda for the April 7, 2026 regular meeting. Mayor Bill Saffo presided with all councilmembers present. The meeting primarily consisted of a presentation and discussion on the annual update of opioid settlement funds, along with review of consent agenda items and public hearing items.

Consent Calendar

The consent calendar included the following items, which were read out but not individually discussed:

  • C1: Approval of minutes
  • C2: Resolution for a professional services agreement with Signa Health for medical insurance
  • C3: Resolution adopting the 2026 Southeastern NC Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan
  • C4: Resolution for HVAC system replacement contract with Odyssey Mechanical LLC
  • C5: Resolution to apply for a $17,500,000 grant from the EDA with a $3,500,000 local match for the Riverfront Bulkhead Replacement Project
  • C6: Contract amendment of $1,500,000 with JYMCO for sidewalk maintenance
  • C7: Contract amendment of $3,000,000 with Highland Paving for roadway maintenance
  • C8: Resolution to apply for a NCDOT multimodal network planning grant

Public Hearings

The following public hearings were scheduled for the April 7 meeting but were not discussed in detail:

  • PH1: Rezoning of 910 South 8th Street from R-5 to UMX
  • PH2: Rezoning of 4118 Market Street from RB to MD-17 (CD) for a 76-unit development
  • PH3: Public hearing on the 2027 Annual Action Plan for CDBG and HOME funds

Councilmember Lyle requested a full-size site plan for PH2 (4118 Market Street) to better review the proposal; City Manager Hawke agreed to provide it.

Discussion Items: Opioid Settlement Funds Annual Update

City Attorney Meredith Everhart introduced Eric Credle, CFO of New Hanover County, who presented the annual update on the joint opioid settlement funds. Key points from the presentation and discussion:

  • The City and County participate in the National Opioid Settlement, one of the first in NC. Funds are pooled under an interlocal agreement administered by a Joint Staff Committee (7 members, chairs alternate yearly) and a Joint Elected Officials Committee (2 county commissioners + 1 councilmember). This year, City Manager Becky Hawke chairs the staff committee and Councilmember David Joyner chairs the elected committee.
  • Total allocated to date: $36.4 million, with an additional $4.4 million in pending settlements awaiting court approval. Payments are made over 15-18 years, with larger amounts in early years.
  • The local overdose rate was 40% higher than the national average. Non-fatal overdoses declined from ~600 in 2021 through 2025; fatal overdoses declined from a peak of 110 to 37 in 2025. (Councilmember Joyner noted the 2025 fatal figure was through October.)
  • The five-year strategy focuses on three areas: Education & Outreach, Access to Services & Treatment, and Sustainable Recovery & Well-being. Currently 15-20 programs are funded annually via one-year contracts with renewal options. Each contract has key performance indicators (KPIs): outcome, quantity, and quality metrics, with quarterly reporting. Monthly "COMPASS" meetings bring providers together for collaboration.
  • The recommended FY 2026-27 budget maintains similar programs with some adjustments. For example, the Case Management Support program ($75,000 in FY26) was not renewed because the need was met through wraparound services provided directly by funded providers. A new "Strategy Development Survey" line item was added to conduct a third-party customer satisfaction survey ahead of the required four-year strategic plan refresh.
  • Council discussion: Councilmember Lyle asked about KPI specifics (client outcomes, sobriety levels). Councilmember Andrews asked where performance data is available (State's Core NC website and a county annual report). Councilmember Clinton-Quintana asked whether manufacturers are included in the settlements; Credle confirmed several manufacturers have settled, with one large pending (Purdue/Sackler) included in the $4.4 million.
  • Councilmember Joyner commended the progress and noted that funds will continue through FY 2039 but with decreasing amounts; the strategy is to fund effective programs that may eventually be absorbed into the county's public health budget.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken at this agenda briefing. The opioid settlement fund recommendations presented are expected to be approved as part of the county's budget process absent council objections.
  • Councilmember Lyle's request for a full-size site plan for PH2 (4118 Market Street) was granted.
  • An Appointments Committee meeting was scheduled to follow the agenda briefing.

Meeting Transcript

Call the meeting to order. We'll take a roll call at this time. Mayor Pro Tim, are you here? I am. Councilmember Join, are you here? I'm here. Councilmember Mandrews. Here. Councilmember Alau. Here. Councilman Santa Guida. Here. Councilmember Clinton Quintana. Here. The chair is here. Everybody's here and accounted for. We'll have a recognition tomorrow night of the leadership Wilmington class of 2026. Proclamation naming April 9th is local newsday. Consent agenda. C1 is approval of the minutes. C2 is a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a professional services agreement with Signa Health and Life Insurance Company for medical insurance coverage and related administrative services. C three is a resolution adopting the 2026 Southeastern North Carolina Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. C4 is a resolution authorizing city manager to execute a contract with Odyssey Mechanical LLC for removal and replacement of the HVAC system in the main data center, the Skyland Center. C5 is a resolution authorizing city manager to apply for a $17,500,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program, which includes a required local match of 3,500,000 for the Riverfront Bulkhead Replacement Project. Then C6 is authorizing the city manager to execute a contract amendment in the amount of 1,500,000 with JYMCO, Jim Co. Construction Company Incorporated for the Annual Needs Sidewalk Maintenance Contract. And then C7 is a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract amendment in the amount of three million with Highland Paving Company LLC of Fayetteville, North Carolina for the annual needs roadway maintenance contract. C8 is a resolution authorizing the city manager to apply to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for a 2026 multimodal network planning grant. And then public hearings. PH1 is an ordinance amending the official zoning maps of the city of Wilmington to rezone property located at 910 South 8th Street from R5 R5 medium density mixed residential district to UMX Urban Mixed Use District. And then PH2 is an ordinance amending the official zoning maps of the City of Wilmington to rezone property located at 4118 Market Street from RB Regional Business to MD 17 CD High Density Multi-Dwelling Residential Conditional District for 76 unit multi-dwelling development. PH3 is for the year 2027 annual action plan for the CDBG and home funds. And this is a public hearing only. None. We do have one report this morning that Meredith is uh our city attorney is going to report uh introduce. Okay, very good. Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim, members of council. This morning we've got an update from Eric Cradle. He's the CFO for New Hanover County. This is an annual update on opioid settlement funds. As most of you are aware, the city participates in the national opioid settlement along with New Hanover County. We were one of the first North Carolina communities to enter into those settlements and to take part in them. We do receive a set a certain amount of money from those settlements every year. The city has an ILA interlocal agreement with the county as to how to handle those funds. And our funds go directly to the county. However, under the terms of the ILA, there has to be both a joint staff committee that meets first to discuss how those funds will be used and then a joint elected committee, which council member joyner sits on. These recommendations have come through both of those committees and are coming to you today.

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