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Record of Proceedings

City Council 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

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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

City Council Agenda Briefing - August 17, 2026

Introductory Paragraph

The Wilmington City Council held an Agenda Briefing meeting on August 17, 2026 at 8:30 AM in Council Chambers to review items for the regular council meeting scheduled for August 18, 2026. All council members were present, with Mayor Pro-Tem Kevin Spears attending via video conference.

Consent Calendar

  • Item C1 (Environmental Services Contract): Councilmember Andrews inquired about the estimated cost over three years and potential total with extensions. Staff responded that the contract will exceed the $90,000 limit over three years, but exact amounts are unknown until a scope and fee are negotiated after award. Council approved the contract and authorized the manager to negotiate extensions.
  • Item C2 (Hilton Bulkhead Grant): Councilmember Andrews asked why the local match is 51% ($255,000) instead of the minimum 25%. Staff explained that the higher match results in bonus points (four points out of about 38 total) in the grant rating system, making the application more competitive. The maximum state grant is $300,000.
  • Item C5 (Janitorial Services Extension): Councilmember Andrews requested current annual costs for Skyline Center and the total after adding 115 N. Third Street. City Manager Hawke stated the figures would be provided before the August 18 council meeting.
  • Item C6 (School Resource Officers Interlocal Agreement): Councilmember Andrews asked for a detailed cost-sharing breakdown. Chief Zuidema reported that the county reimburses approximately $69,000 for four officers, but could not specify the split between the county and school board. He expressed support for the arrangement, citing benefits for community-school awareness. City Manager Hawke noted the $69,914 cap has not changed in years; staff will seek an adjustment starting FY28 to return to a one-third cost-sharing formula.

Discussion Items

  • Item R1 (Affordable Housing Gap Financing): Councilmember Santaguida asked why no site plan was included with the request for $1,500,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund. Affordable Housing Manager Combs stated that as a planned Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project, site plans and elevations are typically provided; he will supply them to council. Councilmember Lyle requested a full picture of the affordable housing fund balance and planned allocations, not just for this applicant. Combs agreed to bring those balances.
  • Flooding on Dawson and Wooster Streets: Councilmember Clinton-Quintana reported recent flooding incidents, noting clogged drains from debris. She questioned the cause and capacity of the stormwater system and requested immediate attention. Plan Review Engineer Gordon committed to investigating and reporting back.

Key Outcomes

  • Staff to provide cost details for Item C5 (janitorial services) and a complete cost-sharing breakdown for Item C6 (SROs) before the August 18 regular council meeting.
  • Staff to provide site plans and elevations for the Dawson Lofts II affordable housing project (Item R1) and current balances of the Affordable Housing Fund.
  • Staff to investigate flooding causes on Dawson and Wooster Streets and report back to council.
  • All consent agenda items and resolutions are expected to be voted on at the August 18 council 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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