Agenda for Regular Meeting

Synopsis: This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the Administration, through the Department of Parks and Recreation, to accept a $22,500 grant from the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. The grant was used to extend the weekend hours of the William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center from June 15, 2015 through October 3, 2015. For timing purposes, the application was submitted prior to Council’s approval of the submission of the application. There is no local match required for this grant.

Synopsis: This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the Administration to issue General Obligation Bonds for the purpose of borrowing up to $50 million to fund certain projects from the Fiscal Year 2014 Capital Budget.

Synopsis: This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the City Administration through the Finance Department to sign a five year agreement with Paymentus Corporation for a new electronic bill payment system for citizens. Initially, the new payment system would accept electronic payments for City water, sewer and stormwater bills as well as for property taxes. The payment system would be expanded over time to allow citizens to pay other City bills or fees. Citizens would pay a service fee for each transaction of the new bill paying process but the fee would be lower than the fees charged by the City’s current online bill payment vendor. The new electronic payment system would include the convenience of credit card, debit card or eCheck payments either online, via telephone or through mobile devices 24 hours a day and seven days a week. City customers could also manage their water and sewer account(s) online. The five year agreement with Paymentus Corporation would automatically renew for successive three year (3) periods unless the City or company provides six months prior written notice that the agreement will not be automatically renewed.

Synopsis: This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the Administration, through the Department of Human Resources, to enter into a $125,000 one year contract to expire June 30, 2016 with Oluseyi Senu-Oke, M.D. to serve as the City’s Physician. The decision to award this contract to Dr. Senu-Oke followed a publicly issued request for proposals (RFP) for a physician to provide high quality, cost effective health care for City employees through routine physical examinations, return-to-duty evaluations for injured employees and treatment for minor work- related injuries. The contract has an option for three renewals periods of one-year each.

Synopsis: This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing an extension of the City’s head tax abatement program through June 30, 2018. The City’s head tax abatement program expired on December 31, 2014. Under this program, an eligible entity approved for participation in this program is entitled to head tax abatement for a period of five (5) years to begin on the date of initial entry into the program and continuing for the full five years regardless of the programs expiration date.

Synopsis: This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing a one-time payment to 221 non-union City employees. The amount of the one-time payment is tied to the date non-union employees were hired. Those hired prior to July 2, 2013 would receive $4,000 while those hired between July 1, 2013 and July 2, 2014 would receive $2,000. Another 20 non-union employees hired after July 1, 2014 would not be entitled to a one-time payment. This Ordinance also authorizes a 2% cost-of-living salary increase (COLA) for all non-union employees retroactive to July 1, 2015, which is the beginning of the current Fiscal Year 2016. The total cost to the City for the one-time payments would be $925,790, which would be funded from the City’s unassigned fund balance and the total cost for the 2% COLA for the current fiscal year FY 2016 would be $432,160 which would be funded from the budgeted Fiscal Year 2016 surplus. The ongoing annual budget cost for the 2% COLA for non-union employees would be $432,160.

Synopsis: This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval.If approved, Council would be authorizing the Administration, through the Wilmington Police Department (WPD), to obtain a $348,031 grant from the U.S. Department of homeland security’s Port Security Program. The funds will be used to purchase five special service vehicles and a patrol boat. While the grant does not require a local monetary match, it does require a 25% “in-kind” match of $87,008, which will be provided through the time and effort of the staff of the WPD Bomb Squad and Marine Units.

Synopsis: This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval.If approved, Council would be authorizing the Administration, through the Wilmington Police Department (WPD), to obtain a $201,311 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The funds would be used to subsidize overtime costs for an anti-violence initiative and would pay for the salary of a civilian cold case investigator. This grant does not require a monetary local match or“in-kind” grant.