Agenda for Regular Meeting

This Resolution 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 Real Estate and Housing, to declare a City-owned property at 511 Concord Avenue as surplus. The Resolution would also convey the property to the 2nd District Planning Council at no cost to be used as a community green space.

This Resolution is being presented by the Administration and City Council for the Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the Administration, through the Department of Real Estate and Housing, to sell five City-owned properties on Clifford Brown Walk and on East 11th Street for the sum of $5.00 (five dollars) to the African American Heritage Center of Delaware, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, the Heritage Center organization must use the property to provide the public with a historical center to detail the heritage of African Americans and their associated history. The agreement stipulates, among other things, that the City may purchase the property back from the buyer if certain requirements are not met such as the organization obtaining at least $200,000 by December 31, 2017 to hire an Executive Director and obtaining at least $1.2 million by December 31, 2021 to be used for the redevelopment of the properties into a heritage center.

This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be supporting the intent of Delaware Senate Resolution No. 10 which encourages governments in Delaware to establish or increase their social media presence to better connect with residents, businesses and visitors in order to promote the exchange of information and ideas.

This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing certain traffic and parking regulation changes.

This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing portions of E Street, Claymont Street and Green Street to be removed from the Official City Map. The request for the change is being made by 200 LLC, the owner of eight parcels of contiguous land in South Wilmington. The request, which has already been approved by the City Planning Commission, would allow the City of Wilmington and New Castle County access to existing buried utilities as well as water and sewer infrastructure in the area.

This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be expressing support for a proposed rule by the Federal Communications Commission which would make it easier and more economical for citizens to purchase cable reception units or boxes in order to receive cable or video services. The new FCC rule would allow a citizen to purchase this equipment at competitive rates on the open market as opposed to being required to rent or purchase the equipment from the cable provider which is currently providing services to the citizen.

This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be urging that lead abatement services be available in Wilmington either through the efforts of the City or through other community partnerships. A grant supporting the DE-LEAD program has expired. The Resolution states that lead poisoning remains a national health concern with high lead levels causing severe neurological problems in children. The Resolution cites national statistics which indicate that as many as 22% of the homes in the United States have one or more lead-based paint hazards that need to be remediated, thus the need for the program to be re-started in Wilmington.

This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the renaming of Elbert Park in the City’ Southbridge community to “The Joseph Perkins Playground and Norman Oliver Courts at Elbert Park” as a way to recognize the significant contributions of Mr. Perkins and Mr. Oliver to the wellbeing of the Southbridge community and the City as a whole. Samuel Elbert, who died in 1939, was a doctor, businessman and civic leader in South Wilmington. Joseph Perkins, who died on May 16, 2015, was a community leader and youth advocate in both Southbridge and the City’s Hilltop community, and was known for his involvement in Project Stay Free, the Martin Luther King Center, the Stallion’s Social Club, the Monday Club and was co-creator of the Midnight Basketball League. Norman Oliver is currently active as an entrepreneur, businessman and organizer of a statewide turkey drive for senior citizens at Thanksgiving, is the founder of the former Stormin’s Classic Basketball Summer League, is a former member of Wilmington City Council and serves on the Board of Directors of Delaware State University.

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 Public Works, to enter into a one-year contract beginning July 1, 2016 with RDS Vending, LLC for vending machine services in all City government buildings. The City would receive $1,253 per month or 25% of gross sales (whichever is greater) for allowing this vending company to sell its goods in City buildings. The contract contains an option for three, one-year extension periods. RDS Vending LLC was selected through a City competitive bidding process.

This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the Departments of Public Works and Parks and Recreation to enter into separate five-year agreements with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) for the disposal of the City’s trash (solid waste) and recyclable materials. Under the Public Works agreement in the first year, the DSWA will accept the City’s trash and recyclable materials at the Cherry Island Landfill for a cost of $69 per ton instead of the regular $85 per ton tipping or dumping fee. In each of the following four years of the agreement, the cost to the City would increase by one dollar per year. Under the terms of the Parks and Recreation agreement, the DSWA will accept the City’s trash for a cost of $65 per ton versus the regular $85 in the first year of the agreement. As with the Public Works agreement, the cost to the City would increase by one dollar in each of the four successive years of the Parks and Recreation contract. The City anticipates saving $1,828,000 in trash tipping fees over the course of the five-year agreements along with an additional savings of $150,400 in disposal costs for recyclable materials.

This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration and City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing an amendment to the City’s Mobile Food Vending Unit Pilot Program to extend the expiration date of the pilot program to September 30, 2016 instead of June 30, 2016. The extension period will allow the City to gather more information about the food vending program to help determine its effectiveness.

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 Police, to enter into a one-year agreement with Graves Uniforms LLC for the purpose of providing police clothing for department personnel. The cost to the City is $108,770. The agreement contains a one-year extension option at the same terms. The vendor was selected through the City’s competitive bidding process.

This Ordinance is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing an amendment to Chapter 5 of the City Code to require mandatory training for landlords as a condition for landlords to receive a license from the City to rent properties. Property owners, operators and lessors who complete a comprehensive City-approved training will receive written proof of the completion which can be used to obtain or renew a City business license. The Ordinance intends that such a landlord training program will promote better relationships among landlords, tenants and police and help to prevent illegal activities in rental properties throughout the City.

This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing an amendment to Chapter 4 of the City Code regarding the International Building Code of 2012. Specifically, this Ordinance would add provisions to the code related to the installation and operation of elevators.

This Ordinance is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing an amendment to Chapter 8 of the City Code regarding economic opportunity plans. Specifically, this Ordinance would add a new section to City law which would require any developer who receives City funding, City subsidies, a grant or an in-kind contribution exceeding $200,000 to submit an economic opportunity plan to the Office of Economic Development. Such a plan would demonstrate how the developer will maximize participation in the project by disadvantaged businesses, disadvantaged individuals and City residents. Failure to comply with this new requirement may result in the revocation of City funding assistance for the immediate project and/or subsequent projects.

This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be expressing its support for passage of Senate Bill 134 by the Delaware General Assembly. The State legislation would protect the legal and civil rights of homeless individuals and ensure equal treatment for such individuals. Protections would include, among other things, the right to use public spaces, the right to equal treatment by all State, County and City agencies, the right to equal housing or temporary shelter, the right to receive medical care, the right to vote, and the right to protection from unlawful disclosure of personal records.