Wilmington City Council Newsletter August 13, 2021
Wilmington City Council is Back in Session
Wilmington City Council will be back in session next week. For the first time in 18 months, since Covid-19 pushed all council meetings to virtual, City Council will be opening the doors to Council Chambers, located in the Louis L. Redding City/County Building at 800 N. French Street in Wilmington, DE, on August 19, 2021 for their first 6:30 p.m. regular meeting since taking a legislative break. Members of the public will have the opportunity to attend the meeting in-person and address the Council in-person during public comments.
The meeting will be open to the public starting at 6pm, so members of the public can sign up to speak. There will be a sign-in sheet in Council Chambers for individuals to sign up for Public Comment in-person. For those attending the meeting virtually, members of the public must go to the following website here and fill out the information requested. Public Comment will take place after non-legislative business, and the City Council President will recognize speakers in the order listed on the sign-in sheet and on the website. When a member of the public is called on, their mic will be unmuted for comment and there will be 3 minutes allotted to each speaker. To view the agenda, visit the link here.
For those who cannot attend the regular council meeting in-person, you still have the option to participate in and to view all Council meetings online. To join the August 19, 2021 meeting, you can visit our Zoom meeting here, or visit the WITN22 website hereor WITN YouTube channel here. You can also listen in by calling one of the following phone numbers (929) 205-6099 or (301) 715-8592. You will be asked for the Webinar ID. Please enter 924 9783 5556 and then #.
For all future regular meetings and council committee meetings, please visit our events calendar here.
Wilmington City Council announces
their Redistricting Committee
Every ten years, local governments use new census data to redraw their district lines to reflect how local populations have changed. The City of Wilmington will begin the process of redistricting its councilmanic districts the week of August 23, 2021. Per City Code/Charter, Sec. 2-32, the process sets forth the mandatory duty of the city council to redistrict the city into eight councilmanic districts within six months after the date of publication by the United States Census Bureau of the population of the city.
To set in motion the process of redistricting, a redistricting committee has to be formed by Wilmington City Council. Per City Code/Charter, Sec. 2-32, the city council’s redistricting committee must be comprised of the president of city council and six members appointed by the president of city council. The following Councilpersons have been appointed to the official City Council Redistricting Committee:
- Council Member At-Large James Spadola,
- Council Member At-Large Rysheema Dixon,
- Council Member At-Large Maria Cabrera,
- 2nd District Council Member Shané Darby,
- 3rd District Council Member Zanthia Oliver,
- 4th District Council Member Michelle Harlee,
- and President Ernest “Trippi” Congo will chair the committee.
The City Council Redistricting Committee is tasked with preparing a report that contains a recommended plan for adjusting the councilmanic district boundaries of districts one through eight. To find a complete list of procedures the City Council Redistricting Committee must follow, visit the following link here. For more details, and updated information, please visit www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com/redistricting
3rd District Summer Concert Returns
The City of Wilmington and 3rd District Council Member Zanthia Oliver are presenting the second annual 3rd District Summer Concert on Saturday, August 21st, from 1pm to 6pm at the Brown Burton Winchester Park. The FREE concert will feature live Jazz performances, food trucks, voter registration and so much more to residents in Wilmington’s Northeast area. Attendees will be able to enjoy performances by Best Kept Soul, Tony “Big Cat” Smith, Barbara Walker, and the Cannon Family.
This year’s 3rd District Summer Concert is dedicated to one of Wilmington’s legendary Jazz singer’s, the late Millie Cannon. Cannon is historically and locally known as one of the founding musicians of Wilmington’s Jazz scene and is the sister of one of Wilmington’s most widely known jazz musician Lem Winchester, whom the Brown Burton Winchester Park is named after.
Residents, visitors, and families are encouraged to come out, bring their chairs and blankets, and enjoy a summer evening of local jazz music.
Upcoming Back To School Events in Wilmington
Rather in-person or virtual, students are gearing up for the 2021-2022 school year. Here are some upcoming events to celebrate going back to school, with some events offering free school supplies to students!
BOOKBAG BASH
United Way of Delaware and Wilmington Library will host the 1st Annual “Bookbag Bash” at the Wilmington Public Library on Saturday, August 14th, from 11a.m. to 4p.m. at 10 East 10th Street in Wilmington. This event will provide free backpacks, school supplies, video games, food, resource tables, book giveaways, parent workshops, performances, Covid-19 vaccinations and testing, and so much more!
FREE BACK PACKS & SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Sunday Breakfast Mission will be hosting their BACK TO SCHOOL RALLY offering FREE BACKPACKS & SCHOOL SUPPLIES for grades K through 8th. The event will take place at 10a.m. on Saturday, August 14th, at 110 North Poplar Street in Wilmington. Pre-registration is NOT required, but children must be present and accompanied by their parent or guardian.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL VACCINATION CLINICS
Delaware Division of PublicHealth, the Department of Education, School Districts, and Albertsons are hosting a back-to-school vaccination clinics event on Thursday, August 19th, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Howard High School of Technology located on 401 East 12th Street in Wilmington. If interested, you can register online at https://mhealthsystem.com/howardhigh
BACK 2 SCHOOL BASH
Delaware Prevention Coalition will be hosting a FREE Back 2 School Bash event on Saturday, August 28th, from 11a.m. to 3p.m. at Harlan (David W. ) Elementary School at 3601 North Jefferson Street in Wilmington. There will be book bag giveaways, free food, games, music, art, family fun, and more. If you’re interest, or have questions, call 302-658-4171 ext. 144 or email TLOPEZ@WESTENDNH.ORG
GARY DIGGS “COVER ME” SUMMIT BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT
The United Change and iKenRock Entertainment are partnering with Pastor Tyrran Smith and Arise Church to Present Gary Diggs’s “Cover Me Summit” on Friday, September 17th, from 6p.m. to 8p.m. at 2200 Baynard Boulevard in Wilmington. The Cover Me Summit will give out school supplies, sneakers, clothing, haircuts and groceries for families in need. If you are interested and would like to volunteer or donate, please email info@iKenRockEnt.com
The Upcoming School Year
will now require Masks
In an attempt to help all Delaware students safely return to classrooms full-time this fall for the 2021-2022 school year, Governor John Carney made an announcement on Tuesday that effective Monday, August 16, face coverings will be required for all child care homes and centers, State of Delaware facilities, and for all public and private school students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Regardless of vaccination status, the mandate will apply to all, including staff, teachers and visitors.
Governor Carney’s announcement aligns with the guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To also help prevent the spread of Covid-19, the CDC also recommends maintaining three feet of social distancing between students. For more details visit the link here.
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Media Contact:
Yesenia Taveras, Legislative & Public Affairs Director
302-576-2585 | ytaveras@wilmingtonde.gov
City Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com