Wilmington City Council Meeting – August 18, 2026
Wilmington City Council Meeting – August 18, 2026
The Wilmington City Council met on August 18, 2026, at 6:30 PM at City Hall, 929 N. Front Street. The meeting included presentations, public comments, approval of consent agenda items, ordinances, resolutions, and committee reports. Key decisions included a $2 million loan at 2% interest for affordable housing, contracts for road projects, and appointments to boards and commissions.
Presentations
- Thalian Association Community Arts Center: Executive Director Susan Habas reported that 67,202 people attended events in the building in the past year, with 6,975 hours of operation. The center provided free space to 35 nonprofit organizations, hosted 206 classes, and served as a hub for youth arts education, history preservation, and community events. A $1 preservation fee is added to each ticketed event.
- Wilmington Urban MPO Annual Report: Mike Kozlowski presented the annual report. The MPO provides transportation planning for a population of ~300,000 across 494 square miles. Key statistics: 439 development plans reviewed, 83 traffic impact analyses (TIAs) reviewed, 444 traffic counts collected, 68 helmets distributed to low-income communities, and a newsletter reaching over 12,000 people. The MPO board is exploring a local option sales tax as a potential funding source for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement.
Consent Calendar
- Items C2 through C8 were approved unanimously in a single motion. C2: Resolution for $245,000 in Boating and Infrastructure Grant funds with $255,000 local match for Hilton Bulkhead Corrosion Repair. C3: HVAC services contract at Skyline Center. C4: Conditional release of drainage easements. C5: Janitorial services contract extension. C6: Interlocal agreement for School Resource Officers. C7: Pay calendar changes for Mayor and Council. C8: Approval of minutes.
- Item C1 (Environmental Services contract at Flemington Landfill) was pulled for separate discussion and approved unanimously after staff clarified the expected cost (~$40,000 per year).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bus stop benches (David Braga, Joel Barrio, Jordan Reed, and Chapman): Multiple speakers from the Wilmington DSA and supporters urged the city to work with them to install benches at bus stops. Braga detailed a timeline of negotiations, stating the city gave only 2.5 days to respond to an encroachment agreement and that the total cost of permanent benches would be $150,000. Barrio noted that less than 10% of 400 bus stops have benches or shelters. Reed spoke of the need for dignity and kindness. Chapman opposed the benches, arguing they were political messaging from a political organization and that the messages (e.g., "Everything for Everyone") promoted radical ideologies. She called on the council to stop what she termed "influence pedaling."
- College Road Wawa gas station (Diana Hill): Hill expressed opposition to the approved Wawa, citing concerns about traffic, parking (43 spaces instead of 22 allowed), setback (138 feet instead of 200), and the lack of a traffic impact analysis for College Road. She argued that the required improvements to University Drive would use city money and that the project received too many variances.
- Wilmington Riverfest layout (Roderick Bell): Bell, president of Riverfest, objected to the proposed relocation to a parking lot at Nutt and Brunswick Streets, citing safety concerns, ADA access issues, and vendor/sponsor pullouts. He requested the festival be allowed to stay on Front Street between Red Cross and Princess.
- ADA requirements (Jade): Jade raised concerns about ADA access in Wilmington, including difficulty accessing the old courthouse and lack of accessible parking. She urged the city to open a dialogue with the disability community.
- Navy Week (Jack Pollack): Pollack announced that Wilmington will be a Navy Week City starting August 3, 2027, and thanked the council for support.
Ordinances
- O1.A: Appropriated $68,853 from the sale of SABLE helicopter assets to the SABLE-UAS (drone) program. Passed 7-0 on first reading, and second reading was waived unanimously.
- O1.B: Declared certain SABLE helicopter equipment as surplus to be donated to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. Passed 6-0 (one council member absent). Staff explained that the donation benefits the city through regional cooperation and that the equipment would have required additional costs to sell.
Resolutions
- R1 (Affordable housing gap financing): Resolution to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with BRAD WHA Dawson Lofts II Apartments, LLC for $1,500,000 in gap financing. After discussion, the applicant requested $2,000,000 due to rising costs. Councilmember Spears moved to approve $2,000,000 at 2% interest. The motion passed 4-3 despite concerns about the interest rate impact on rents. The project will create 86 units (17 at 30% AMI, 23 at 50%, 31 at 60%, 15 at 80%) and replace the existing Jervey units.
- R2 (Eastwood Road Phase II): Awarded a construction contract to Highland Paving Co., LLC for $2,430,217 for a center median, signal and pedestrian improvements, and resurfacing from Rogersville Road to Cavalier Drive. Lidl US contributed $1,281,500. Passed 7-0.
- R3 (Dawson & Wooster Streetscape): Awarded a construction contract to King Asphalt, Inc. for $4,378,734, plus a 15% contingency of $656,850. The project includes sidewalk gaps, curb bump-outs, ADA improvements, and resurfacing between 3rd and 17th Streets. NC DOT will contribute up to $2.165 million for resurfacing. The contract duration is one year. Passed 7-0.
Reports
- Appointments Committee (RP1): Councilmember Andrews, chair, presented the slate of appointments. Key appointments: Natalie English to Housing Affordability Advisory Committee, Chandler Davis to Convention Center Advisory Committee, Jay Lasseter and Kathy Heslin to Loan Review Board, Ashley Grimm to Commission for Women, Troy Demers to Downtown Parking Advisory Committee, and several reappointments to Parks and Recreation, Planning Commission, and Sister City Commission. Two members of the Municipal Service District were removed for lack of attendance. The slate was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Affordable housing loan: $2,000,000 at 2% interest approved for the Dawson Lofts II project (vote 4-3).
- Road contracts awarded: Eastwood Road Phase II ($2.43M) and Dawson & Wooster Streetscape ($4.38M) both approved unanimously.
- Appointments and openings: Slate of board appointments approved. Several vacancies remain, including on the Housing Affordability Advisory Committee, Board of Adjustment, and others.
- Closed session authorized: Council voted unanimously to enter closed session to discuss economic development incentives and personnel matters.
- Upcoming public hearings: Cape Fear Memorial Bridge hearings announced for September 14 (Wilmington) and September 15 (Leland) at 4:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Call the meeting order of the Wilmington City Council. I'd like to welcome all those who are with us here this evening, all those who are watching us at home. Thank you for taking an interest in your government. This time I'm gonna call on Sergeant Ron Evans of the Wilmington Police Department. If you'll come forward to give our invocation if everyone will stand and remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance. Good evening, Mayor Council. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you this evening just to say thank you. Thank you for your continued grace and mercy that you bestow upon us day in and a day out. We thank you for your love and your your protection from the seen and the unseen. We ask that you continue to guide the minds and the hearts of this council as they continue to make decisions that will be beneficial for every citizen of this city. Amen. Welcome. Thank you. Our first presentation I'd like to recognize Susan Habas, who is the executive and director for the Thalian Association Community Theater, and she's going to report to us of Thalian's Art Association, the Community Art Center. Susan, welcome. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Sappho, Mayor Pro Tem Spears and Council members. Um, I am here on behalf of Thalian Association Community Theater, and we thank you for the privilege of managing the Hanna Block Historic USO Community Arts Center on behalf of the city since nineteen ninety-four. This iconic building is not only an important historic site, but it's a vibrant center for the arts, education, culture, and community in Wilmington. Last year, sixty-seven thousand two hundred two people attended events in the building, and the community art center was open for six thousand nine hundred and seventy-five hours. Many residents and visitors enjoy our lobby museum, which features World War II exhibits and serves as an important center for World War II history and preservation in Wilmington. Among the most popular exhibits are the 1940s era phone booth, the Liberty Bell, and our aviation display. The historic USO building also played an important role in Wilmington receiving its designation as America's first World War II Heritage City. The Community Arts Center is truly a multi-use venue. Our old tagline was the best kept secret in town. Well, the secret is out. Last year, 35 nonprofit organizations held meetings or rehearsed in the building at no charge. We also hosted 206 classes, an average of 17 classes every month. From meetings and rehearsals to classes, performances, exhibits, and special events, the building is in constant use. The building is synonymous with youth arts education and is known as the home of Thalian Youth Theater. Each year, five fully realized productions provide approximately 30 public performances along with 10 free school shows, including sensory friendly performances. Each season also includes a rookie production, specifically for children who have never appeared in a Thalian show, and all public performances are free. We believe that youth theater should be accessible to every family. During the school year, TACT Academy provides after school theater arts classes, and every summer Creative Arts Camp provides affordable visual and performing arts education. Safety is also a top priority. Our staff and summer counselors are trained through partners in prevention to recognize signs of abuse, and everyone is CPR certified. The community gallery provides free exhibition space for local artists. We host Art Tall for emerging and established artists, Arn Street Pottery Classes and Education and Exhibits, Arn Street Arts Fest, the WAA Azalea Festival official Juried Art Show, and the Azalea Festival Youth Art Context. The Community Art Center has a special connection to the Azalea Festival. The very first Festival Queen was introduced to the community on the steps of the building in 1948. A theater program for adults 55 and over. The program includes free monthly dance and audition workshops and productions specifically adapted for older actors with accessible scripts, longer rehearsal periods, and shorter performance runs. Our first production, Guys and Dolls Senior, was sold out. The historic USO building has also been an important venue for Wilmington's America 250 programming in partnership with Captain Wilbur Jones and the Wilmington World War II Homefront Heritage Coalition. Events included recognition of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with 25 World War II veterans in attendance. History presentations, a Rosie the Riveter Live Theater Performance, and World War II era jazz with Benny Hill. Throughout the year, the building also hosts free and affordable events for the community. Just a few examples include our July 4th Open House, Veterans Day Weekend USO Show and Dance, Pearl Harbor Commemoration, The Voices Workshop Christmas Concert, and Orange Street Pottery Holiday Sale. These events help ensure that the Community Arts Center is accessible to everyone.
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