Agenda for Regular Meeting

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution is a vote of no confidence in Mayor Michael S. Purzycki for his disparaging comments calling public comment “mob rule” during the lively debate about the City’s residency ordinance. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution schedules a public hearing on February 15, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers regarding an ordinance proposing amendments to Chapter 48 of the City Code to revise the height, floor area ratio, and building coverage ratio requirements for the W-3 (Waterfront Low Intensity Manufacturing/Commercial Recreation) Zoning District.  Members of the public will be allowed to participate in the public hearing (i) in person in the City Council Chambers and (ii) virtually in accordance with 29 Del. C. § 10006A.  The instructions for virtual participation will be provided on the agenda for the February 15, 2024 Council meeting.

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval.  This Resolution schedules a public hearing on February 15, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers regarding an ordinance proposing the rezoning of the parcel of land located at 1195 East Seventh Street (being Tax Parcel No. 26-052.00-004) from a zoning classification of W-4 (Waterfront Residential/Commercial) to a zoning classification of W-3 (Waterfront Low Intensity Manufacturing/Commercial Recreation).  Members of the public will be allowed to participate in the public hearing (i) in person in the City Council Chambers and (ii) virtually in accordance with 29 Del. C. § 10006A.  The instructions for virtual participation will be provided on the agenda for the February 15, 2024 Council meeting.  

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution amends Res. 23-050 and Res. 20-080 to allow adequate time for the City Council Taskforce to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, with a Special Consideration for African Americans Who are the Descendants of Persons Enslaved in the United States, known as the Reparations Taskforce, to synthesize their findings and recommendations into a final report for presentation to the Council. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. In this Resolution, City Council recognizes that the Chief of the Police Department has represented that the manpower of the Police Department has fallen below ninety-five percent (95%) of the number of police officers set forth in the position allocation list attached to the Fiscal Year 2024 annual operating budget ordinance and has drafted a resolution calling for the commencement of an academy class for the Police Department.  

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution authorizes the Wilmington Police Department’s grant application to the State of Delaware Special Law Enforcement Assistance Fund in the amount of $121,000.  The proposed grant funds would be used to purchase a laser measuring system used for crime scene reconstruction, a Gator utility vehicle for use during City-sponsored events and programs, special events, and community engagement initiatives, and six (6) electric bicycles for use during patrols by the Police Department’s Community Engagement Unit and Special Operations Division.  No local matching funds are required.

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution authorizes the Office of Emergency Management’s grant application to the Delaware Emergency Management Agency for Fiscal Year 2023 Emergency Management Performance Grant funds in the amount of $245,000.00.  The funds will be used to support the operation of the Office of Emergency Management and the Emergency Operations Center. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. In this Resolution, City Council recognizes that the Chief of the Fire Department has represented that the manpower of the Fire Department has fallen below ninety-five percent (95%) of the number of firefighters set forth in the position allocation list attached to the Fiscal Year 2024 annual operating budget ordinance and has drafted a resolution calling for the commencement of an academy class for the Fire Department.  

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance is the second amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget, which was originally enacted in Substitute No. 1 to Ordinance No. 23-012 and was amended and restated in its entirety in Ordinance No. 23-030. This amendment appropriates $3.5 million to pay for ambulance services for the City for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024. The appropriation will be funded by a transfer from the Tax Stabilization Reserve. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval.  This Ordinance authorizes the issuance of a General Obligation Bond (Water Distribution & Transmission Improvements – Lead Removal Project), Series A of 2024-DWSRF, in an amount not to exceed $17,700,000 (the “2024A Bond”), which will be sold to the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in order to (i) finance a project to eliminate any exposure potable water may have with lead material in the City’s distribution system by the replacement of old cast iron pipe with modern day cement-lined, ductile iron pipe with an engineered rubber gasket, with the expectation the City will replace approximately four miles of watermains in its distribution system, as set forth in the City’s capital budgets for its Fiscal Years ending June 30, 2020, June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2024, (ii) pay administrative costs relating to such capital projects, and (iii) pay the costs of issuing the 2024A Bond. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance authorizes the issuance of a General Obligation Bond (PFAS Removal Project), Series B of 2024-DWSRF, in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 (the “2024B Bond”), which will be sold to the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, in order to finance projects to implement the most cost-efficient means of removing Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) from the City’s drinking water to gain compliance with impending changes to the Safe Drinking Water Act Water Quality Regulations and to add UV to elevate the log removal capabilities at the Porter Filter Plant to match the log removal capabilities at the Brandywine Membrane Plant, as set forth in the City’s capital budget for its Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024,  (ii) pay administrative costs relating to such capital projects, and (iii) pay the costs of issuing the 2024B Bond. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution authorizes the Department of Land Use and Planning’s Federal Fiscal Year 2022/City Fiscal Year 2023 grant application to the Delaware Department of State, Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, in the amount of $26,004.00.  The funds will be used to support the City’s Historic Preservation Planning Program, which has been in existence for over 35 years. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution authorizes the Department of Land Use and Planning’s Federal Fiscal Year 2023/City Fiscal Year 2024 grant application to the Delaware Department of State, Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, in the amount of $15,707.00.  The funds will be used to support the City’s Historic Preservation Planning Program, which has been in existence for over 35 years. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance authorizes the City to exercise a one-year extension option for Contract 24012LI “Vacant Property Services” with R&A Contractors, LLC.