Agenda for Regular Meeting

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance amends Chapter 34 of the City Code by establishing residential rent stabilization policies.  For non-exempt residential dwelling units, the authorized rent ceilings for rental units shall be determined by the current base payment standards established by the New Castle County Housing Authority.  In addition, and subject to the rent ceiling provisions, the maximum percentage increase to rent in any 12-month period shall be the lesser of (a) three percent (3%) or (b) the 12-month average percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (All Items), as most recently published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance amends Article V of Chapter 11 of the City Code to revise the City of Wilmington Pretreatment Ordinance to (i) incorporate the updated and approved local limits as required by the EPA, (ii) update select definitions to better align with specific language in the EPA regulations, (iii) clarify select general prohibitions intended prevent the discharge of corrosive and explosive substances, (iv) codify requirements (a) regarding the time allocated for permittee review of draft permits (b) regarding the required use of accredited laboratories for all compliance monitoring, (c) to ensure consistency between the Pretreatment Ordinance and its enforcement response plan, and (d) to update maximum penalty levels to reflect EPA adjustments since 2011, and (v) move the detailed local limits and program fees to appendices to facilitate future updates.  Finally, as a housekeeping matter, this Ordinance replaces certain written numbers with numerals for consistency.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by City Council for City Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance updates the City’s Historic Marker Program, including the creation of a City Council Subcommittee to determine the location of historic markers, and the creation of a taskforce to determine the types of markers to be installed, which materials will be used for the markers, and to ensure that the City’s historic markers do not duplicate state historical markers in visual appearance.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance authorizes the removal of a portion of Wilson Street, located between East Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets, and two unnamed alleys, located between Wilson Street and Clifford Brown Walk from the Official City Map.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance approves the major subdivision plan entitled “1225 & 1320 East Eighth Street” and authorizes the City to remove a 0.175-acres agreement of right-of-way at the terminus of East Eighth Street from the Official City Map.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance permits twenty-five (25) or more residents of a designated census tract to submit a petition to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, or their designee, indicating residential street traffic issues that substantially affect the livability and safety of the community and requires the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, or their designee, to conduct a traffic study when certain requirements are satisfied.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance authorizes the City to exercise three (3) one-year extensions options for amended Contract 22002WDPS “Pump, Valve and Miscellaneous Mechanical Equipment Maintenance Services” with Municipal Maintenance Company.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance authorizes the City to exercise three (3) one-year extensions options for amended Contract 22003WDPS (Water Distribution System Electrical Equipment Management and Maintenance Services) with Willier Motor Electric Repair Company, Inc.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance authorizes the City to exercise two (2) one-year extensions options for amended Contract 24009PWPS “Municipal Complex Facilities Management” with Asset Management Alliance.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance amends Section 42-722 of the City Code to revise the Underground Facilities Coordination Manual (the “Manual”) by adding a new Figure C-2c regarding permanent patches when backfilling excavations involving gas lines as the last page of Appendix B of the Manual. In addition, as a housekeeping matter, this Ordinance deletes a minor typographical error contained in the Manual.

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution authorizes the Mayor’s Office to accept a grant from Highmark BluePrints in the amount of $49,000.00.  The grant funds will be used to support a Citywide health initiative including (i) setting up health related events throughout the City and (ii) purchasing healthcare equipment, such as blood pressure monitors, glucose monitors, and fitness equipment.  No local matching funds are required. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance authorizes the execution of an Agreement between the City of Wilmington and Passport Labs, Inc., for parking citation and permit management.  Passport Labs will provide parking services for a period of three (3) years pursuant to this agreement.

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval.  This Resolution approves Mayor Michael S. Purzycki’s nomination of Helen Anderson to serve as the City of Wilmington’s appointee on the Wilmington Learning Collaborative Council for the remainder of Donald Patton’s four-year term, which commenced on or about January 5, 2023.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval.  This ordinance amends Chapter 11 of the City Code by amending the City’s Noise Ordinance to prohibit and fine noise disturbances targeted at a particular residence.

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval.  This Resolution authorizes  the Mayor, or his designee, to file the (i) federal Fiscal Year 2024/City Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Action Plan with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), which includes funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program, HOME  Investment Partnerships Program (the “HOME Program”), Emergency Solutions Grants Program, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program and (ii) second substantial amendment to the federal Fiscal Year 2021/City Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Action Plan with HUD, which includes funding through the American Rescue Plan Act to be distributed pursuant to the HOME Program. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance makes the following amendments to Chapter 4, section 4-27, 120.0 entitled Annual Registration of Vacant Buildings and Registration Fees and section 202.0:

• Increases the registration fees for properties vacant two (2) or more years;
• Defines “vacant” to include commercial buildings that are intermittently occupied by the business-occupant and subjects such properties to the registration and fee requirements of this section;
• Establishes a program allowing delinquent registration fees to be voided if the owner obtains a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion within one year;
• Lengthens the time period triggering the requirement to register a building from forty-five (45) days vacant to six (6) months vacant;
• Provides for two (2) one-year extensions to the exemption from vacant registration fees for properties deemed “occupancy ready”;
• Clarifies that past due vacant registration fees are not subject to the one-time waiver and appeal provisions;
• Clarifies that past due vacant registration fees must be paid in order to obtain a one-time waiver;
• With regard to an extension of a one-time waiver, clarifies that the vacant registration fee must be paid if the property is not occupied, sold, demolished, or rehabilitated prior to the expiration of the extension period;
• Clarifies that in subsection (f) (which addresses the failure to register a vacant property) the issues on appeal are 1) whether the person subject to the violation notice is the owner of the property; 2) whether the property was required to be registered; or 3) whether the property was properly registered;
• Removes the requirement for Law Department review of the commissioner’s decision to grant a waiver of a vacant registration fee;
• Provides that individuals who purchase a vacant building directly from the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank Corp. are billed a vacant registration fee based on the duration of vacancy from when they received the building from the Land Bank, rather than a vacant registration fee based on the total number of years the property has been vacant; and
• Provides that the $50 filing fee for an appeal will be refunded if the appeal is successful.