Agenda for Regular Meeting

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution appoints Chantaé Vinson, Gary Fullman, and Devon Hynson to vacant spots on the Wilmington Civil Rights Commission. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution requests the Delaware General Assembly to amend Section 2-101 of the City Charter to allow the citizens of Wilmington to fill a vacancy arising on City Council through a special election. 

Synopsis:  This Substitute Ordinance is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Substitute Ordinance amends Chapters 2 and 40 of the City Code to exempt City employees, other than elected officials, from the City’s residency requirement.  This Substitute Ordinance also eliminates the City Officer and Employee Residency Review Board and the requirement to file an annual declaration of residency with the Department of Human Resources.  Finally, as housekeeping matters, this Substitute Ordinance eliminates outdated references to City Charter Section 3-304(b) and updates the names of the Human Resources Department and its director. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for City Council’s review and approval.  The City of Wilmington has the opportunity to benefit from an analysis of police call-for-service from the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), at no cost to the City. This Resolution urges the Administration and Wilmington Police Department (WPD) coordinate with LEAP to provide the data necessary to complete a call-for-service analysis, which is the first phase in assessing local demand for community response team services, in our City. It further requests that the resources and necessary budgetary funding is made available to carry out the findings and  recommendations provided to complete the subsequent phases required to establish a community response team that is equipped to meet the unique needs of Wilmingtonians. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution encourages the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) to offer free rides for Delawareans over the age of 65 on all DART (Delaware Authority for Regional Transit) buses and paratransit vehicles throughout the state of Delaware. Seniors are among the most financially insecure and have the greatest risk of experiencing social isolation. Public transportation can be a lifeline for elderly Delawareans, especially those who are aging in place, to reach food stores, health facilities, and other essential services, as well as family and friends. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution encourages the Delaware General Assembly to support the passage of House Bill No. 43 (HB No. 43), An Act to Amend § 3110, Title 15 of the Delaware Code Relating to Primary Elections, which allows Delawareans without political affiliations to vote in the primary election of their choice without  declaring an affiliation. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution approves the City’s grant of an easement in the Seventeenth Street Right-of-Way to Tower Hill School Association to make certain street improvements. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval.  This Ordinance provides a partial  property tax abatement for low-to-moderate, long-term City homeowners who meet certain eligibility requirements. Eligible homeowners who have their property tax obligation increased by 50% or more following a property assessment may apply for a partial abatement of their tax obligation. The partial abatement would pause their tax obligation at the pre-assessment amount as long as the property  homeowner meets the eligibility requirements.

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution expresses support for House Bill No. 62 (HB No. 62), An Act to Amend Title 9 of the Delaware Code Relating to the Assessment of Real Property, which sets a  requirement that real property reassessments occur at least every five (5) years. Property taxes are a significant source of revenue for counties, municipalities, and school districts. Requiring more consistent, timely reassessments reduces inconsistencies between present  market value and assessed market value on taxable properties, facilitates a more equitable distribution of the property tax burden, and allows for more incremental tax increases from inflation and other factors that property owners are better able to absorb into their  household budgets. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance satisfies the City’s statutory duty by amending Chapter 42 of the Wilmington City Code to create a procedure for residents to obtain permits for the use and installation of curbside charging cords and electric vehicle charging stations in the public right-of-way.  In doing so, it defines relevant  terms, establishes standards, requirements and prohibitions, and inspections related to their use and maintenance, and creates civil  and criminal penalties for certain violations. 

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 Clearwell/Storage Improvements Design Phase 1 Project), Series of 2023-DWSRF, in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000 (the “2023 Bond”), which will be sold to the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in order to (i) finance the design and construction, in phases, of a new Clearwell that eliminates all water quality risks, including miscellaneous upgrades to the  adjacent 35 MG settling basin which include the lining of the basin, baffle wall restoration, and various structural, mechanical, electrical, and treatment related upgrades, 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 2023 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 (Reliability Improvements Project), Series of 2023-DWSRF, in an amount not to exceed $11,000,000 (the “2023 Bond”), which will be sold to the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in order to (i) undertake a project in the City consisting of Water Plant electrical improvements that will include new conduit/cabling, enhancing switching capabilities, new MCCs,  breakers, and additional improvements, all tied into the City’s SCADA systems for comprehensive power-use oversight, 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 2023 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 Design Phase 1 Project), Series of 2023-DWSRF, in an amount not to exceed  4,787,405 (the “2023 Bond”), which will be sold to the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in order to (i) implement the most cost-efficient means of removing Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances from the City’s  drinking water to gain compliance with impending changes to the Safe Drinking Water Act Water Quality Regulations, (ii) add UV to elevate the log removal capabilities at the Porter Filter Plant to match the log removal capabilities at the Brandywine Membrane Plant, (iii) pay administrative costs relating to such capital  projects, and (iv) pay the costs of issuing the 2023 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 (Water Distribution & Transmission Improvements – Lead Removal Project), Series of 2023-DWSRF, in an amount not to exceed $18,501,872 (the “2023 Bond”), which will be sold to the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in order to (i) complete both large and small diameter transmission and distribution projects across multiple service zones to improve water quality, fire flow, and to elevate the overall level of service to the City’s water customers with an emphasis on disadvantaged  communities, 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 2023 Bond. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance rezones seven parcels of land located along Lincoln Street between Tenth and Eleventh Streets (being Tax Parcel Nos. 26-020.10-037, 26-020.30-014, 26-020.30-038, 26-020.30-039, 26-020.30-040, 26-020.30-041, and 26-020.30-032) from a zoning classification of R-3 (One-Family Row Houses) to a zoning classification of C-2 (Secondary Business Centers).

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution schedules a public hearing on July 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers regarding an ordinance proposing the rezoning of seven parcels of land located along Lincoln Street between Tenth and Eleventh Streets (being Tax Parcel Nos. 26-020.10-037, 26-020.30-014, 26-020.30-038, 26-020.30-039, 26-020.30-040, 26-020.30-041, and 26-020.30-032) from a zoning classification of R-3 (One-Family Row Houses) to a zoning classification of C-2 (Secondary Business Centers).  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 July 13, 2023 Council meeting. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution schedules a public hearing on July 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. regarding the proposed amendment to the City’s comprehensive development plan entitled “Wilmington 2028: A Comprehensive Plan for Our City and Communities” to change the future land use category of seven (7) parcels of land located along Lincoln Street between Tenth and Eleventh Streets (being Tax Parcel Nos. 26-020.10-037, 26-020.30-014, 26-020.30-038, 26-020.30-039, 26-020.30-040, 26-020.30-041, and 26-020.30-032) from “Medium Density Residential” to “Neighborhood Mixed Use” in relation to the proposed rezoning of such parcels.  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 July 13, 2023 Council meeting. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Resolution encourages the members of the Delaware General Assembly to support Senate Bill No. 8 (SB No. 8), An Act to Amend Title 6 of the Delaware Code Relating to Medical Debt. SB No. 8 would protect patients from “unfair debt collection practices for medical debt” by providing reasonable standards for the handling of medical debt that prevent individuals from being overwhelmed by the burden of unforeseen medical costs.