OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Pre-Agenda Briefing - August 17, 2026

City Council & Planning Commission — Monday, August 17, 2026
BodyWilmington, North Carolina
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateMonday, August 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 13:03

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay, let's go.

0:03

We call the meeting to order the Wilmington City Council on this pre agenda.

0:08

We're gonna do a roll call real quick.

0:10

Mayor Pro Tem, are you here?

0:14

Good morning.

0:15

Councilmember Join, are you here?

0:16

Good morning, I'm here.

0:18

Uh Councilmember Andrews, are you here?

0:20

Here.

0:20

Councilmember Lau?

0:21

Here.

0:22

Councilmember Santa Guida?

0:24

Here.

0:24

Councilmember Clinton Quintana?

0:26

Here.

0:27

The chair is here.

0:27

Everybody's here and accounted for presentations.

0:31

We have two tomorrow night, one from the report on the Thalean Art Association, Community Arts Center, and the other one is from the Wilmington Urban Metropolitan Planning Organization.

0:42

Then we have the consent agenda.

0:44

Item C One is a resolution award in the contract of environmental services at Flemington Landfill to GeoSyntec consultants of NCPC.

0:54

Mr.

0:54

Mayor.

0:55

Yes, ma'am.

0:55

I had a question about that one.

0:57

Okay.

1:02

What's the estimated cost over the original three years?

1:05

And what could the total be if we exercise both extensions?

1:10

Okay.

1:10

Sally Thigpen will address those questions.

1:13

Thank you.

1:13

Good morning, Mayor.

1:14

Mayor Putem, City Council.

1:16

To address your questions, we are going to have to go out for a scope and fee once this contract is awarded.

1:24

We do think it's going to exceed the $90,000 limit over the three year period.

1:30

I'm not exactly sure about how much.

1:32

Okay.

1:33

So that'll come back to council.

1:35

I don't believe.

1:36

Well, the amendment.

1:37

Okay.

1:38

No, no.

1:39

If you agree to this, then you're um then you're approving the contract and allowing the manager to negotiate the contract and the extensions.

1:47

Okay, thank you.

1:49

Okay.

1:49

Item C2 is a resolution authorizing the city manager to apply for $245,000 in voting and infrastructure grant funds with a proposed local match of $255,000 for the Hilton Bulkhead Corrosion Repair Project.

2:05

And Mr.

2:06

Mayor, I just had a question about that too.

2:08

Yes, ma'am.

2:10

Um so I see that the minimum local match is 25%, but we're proposing 51%.

2:16

And I just wanted to have somebody explain how the higher match amount improves our competitiveness for the grant and whether staff considered a lower matching amount.

2:27

Um Justin Carter will address this.

2:28

Thank you.

2:29

Thanks, ma'am.

2:30

Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, members council.

2:32

Uh yes, ma'am.

2:33

We did consider a different match.

2:34

Um so the maximum for the state is $300,000.

2:38

Um so as you see, that's $55,000 more.

2:41

We could have asked for and shifted.

2:43

Um as you look at what the proposed match is, we get bonus points and the grant um for putting more in there.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis██████████████████████████████████████38%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Affordable Housing██████████████████18%
Public Safety███████████████15%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████9%
Summary of Proceedings

Wilmington City Council Pre-Agenda Briefing - August 17, 2026

The Wilmington City Council held a pre-agenda briefing on August 17, 2026, at 13:30 UTC to review items for the upcoming formal meeting. All council members were present. The session focused on clarifying details of consent agenda items, resolutions, and ordinances, with councilmembers asking staff about costs, matching fund percentages, and project plans. No votes were taken; the briefing was informational.

Consent Calendar

  • C1 - Environmental services at Flemington Landfill: Mayor Pro Tem asked about the estimated cost over the original three years and the potential total with extensions. Staff (Sally Thigpen) stated the scope and fee would exceed the $90,000 limit but the exact amount was unknown, and that the amendment would come back to council.
  • C2 - Hilton Bulkhead Corrosion Repair grant: Councilmember Andrews asked why the proposed local match was 51% (above the 25% minimum). Staff (Justin Carter) explained the higher match earns extra points (four out of 35–38 total) in the grant rating system, improving competitiveness.
  • C3 - HVAC and building automation services for Skyline Center: No discussion.
  • C4 - Drainage easements at River Lights: No discussion.
  • C5 - Janitorial services extension: Councilmember Andrews asked for the current annual cost at Skyline Center and the total after adding 115 North Third Street. Staff said the figures would be provided before the formal meeting.
  • C6 - School Resource Officers interlocal agreement: Councilmember Andrews requested a full cost-sharing breakdown. Chief Zudemo noted the county reimburses about $69,000 for four officers. The city manager explained the number hasn't changed in years, and staff plan to seek adjustment starting FY28 to reflect a one-third cost share.
  • C7 - Pay calendar for mayor and council: No discussion.
  • C8 - Minutes approval: No discussion.

Discussion Items

  • O1A/O1B - Sable helicopter equipment: No discussion.
  • R1 - Affordable housing gap financing ($1.5 million): Councilmember Andrews asked whether plans (site plans, elevations) should accompany the funding request. Staff (Gilbert Combs) said they could be provided. Councilmember Lowell requested an update on the Affordable Housing Fund balance and a comprehensive view of planned expenditures.
  • R2 - Eastwood Road Phase 2 construction ($2,430,217): No discussion.
  • R3 - Dawson and Wooster Streetscape construction ($4,378,734): No discussion.
  • Flooding on Dawson and Wooster: Councilmember Andrews reported recent flooding and asked about its cause. Staff (Rob) said he would investigate, noting some drains were clogged with leaves and debris. The councilmember requested immediate attention.

Key Outcomes

  • Staff committed to providing the requested cost details for C5 and C6 before the formal meeting.
  • For R1, staff agreed to present site plans and a fund balance update.
  • The flooding concern on Dawson and Wooster will be investigated by operations staff.
  • No formal actions were taken; all items remain on the agenda for the August 17 formal meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, let's go. We call the meeting to order the Wilmington City Council on this pre agenda. We're gonna do a roll call real quick. Mayor Pro Tem, are you here? Good morning. Councilmember Join, are you here? Good morning, I'm here. Uh Councilmember Andrews, are you here? Here. Councilmember Lau? Here. Councilmember Santa Guida? Here. Councilmember Clinton Quintana? Here. The chair is here. Everybody's here and accounted for presentations. We have two tomorrow night, one from the report on the Thalean Art Association, Community Arts Center, and the other one is from the Wilmington Urban Metropolitan Planning Organization. Then we have the consent agenda. Item C One is a resolution award in the contract of environmental services at Flemington Landfill to GeoSyntec consultants of NCPC. Mr. Mayor. Yes, ma'am. I had a question about that one. Okay. What's the estimated cost over the original three years? And what could the total be if we exercise both extensions? Okay. Sally Thigpen will address those questions. Thank you. Good morning, Mayor. Mayor Putem, City Council. To address your questions, we are going to have to go out for a scope and fee once this contract is awarded. We do think it's going to exceed the $90,000 limit over the three year period. I'm not exactly sure about how much. Okay. So that'll come back to council. I don't believe. Well, the amendment. Okay. No, no. If you agree to this, then you're um then you're approving the contract and allowing the manager to negotiate the contract and the extensions. Okay, thank you. Okay. Item C2 is a resolution authorizing the city manager to apply for $245,000 in voting and infrastructure grant funds with a proposed local match of $255,000 for the Hilton Bulkhead Corrosion Repair Project. And Mr. Mayor, I just had a question about that too. Yes, ma'am. Um so I see that the minimum local match is 25%, but we're proposing 51%. And I just wanted to have somebody explain how the higher match amount improves our competitiveness for the grant and whether staff considered a lower matching amount.

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