Agenda for Regular Meeting

Synopsis:  This Substitute Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Substitute 1 to Ordinance No. 23-014 amends Chapter 4 (Building), Chapter 5 (Businesses) and Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection) of the Wilmington City Code to increase certain business license, permit, inspection, certificate, application and event fees administered by the Department of Licenses and Inspections, the Department of Land Use and Planning, the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Department of Finance in order to defray the cost associated with administering and enforcing the City’s laws, and the provision of certain municipal services.  The Substitute Ordinance excepts from the increased business license fee small businesses that have been in existence less than three years, and it provides a cap to the rental unit business license fee for businesses providing low income and senior housing.

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. This Resolution expresses City Council’s concurrence with Mayor Michael S. Purzycki’s appointment of Blair Clark Dickerson to the Wilmington Ethics Commission, effective as of the date of passage of this Resolution. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval.  This Ordinance sets the property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) based on the certification by the Board of Assessment of the assessed valuation of taxable real property in the City and the Mayor’s estimates of revenue measures necessary to balance the City budget as required by the City Charter. There is no change to the property tax rate. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval.  This Ordinance enacts the Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2024 – 2029, inclusive. 

Synopsis: This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval.  This Ordinance enacts the Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Budget in the amount of $125,013,438. 

Synopsis:  This Substitute Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval.  This Substitute Ordinance enacts the annual Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2024. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance amends Chapter 45 of the City Code to require the establishment of a schedule of water, sewer, and stormwater rates and charges for consecutive three-year periods beginning in the fiscal year that commences on July 1, 2023. In addition, it requires the Wilmington Water, Sewer and Stormwater Citizens Advisory Board to make recommendations to City Council  for consecutive three-year schedules of water, sewer, and stormwater rates and charges. 

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance enacts new water, sewer, and stormwater rates and charges for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). The rates and charges for water and sewer services will increase by five and seven tenths percent (5.7%) in FY 2024 from the rates and charges in FY 2023. The stormwater rates and charges will increase by six percent (6.0%) from the rates  and charges in FY 2023. This Ordinance does not amend the unit  charges for sewer service contained in City Code Section 45-58. Finally, as a housekeeping matter, this Ordinance makes some minor revisions to the text of City Code Sections 45-175 and 45-53 for accuracy and consistency of terminology.

Synopsis:  This Ordinance is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. This Ordinance amends Chapter 45 of the City Code to create a permanent Water Utility Assistance Program that shall be administered by the Department of Finance. The Water Utility Assistance Program will provide eligible City utility customers with financial assistance to pay water and sewer bills. This Ordinance shall be effective on July 1, 2024. 

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 City Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Action Plan Budget with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which includes funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the Emergency Solutions Grants Program, and the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program. 

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 a Substantial Amendment to the City Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Action Plan Budget with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding additional CDBG-CV, ESG-CV, and HOPWA-CV funding that is available pursuant to the CARES Act to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Synopsis:  This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval.  This Resolution expresses favor and encourages the members of the Delaware General Assembly to support Senate Bill No. 67 (SB No. 67), An Act to Amend Title 11 of the  Delaware Code Relating to Misconduct by Public Officials, also known as the “Abuse of Power Prevention Act,” which adds breaches of duty to acts constituting misconduct, updates the classes protected from misconduct intended to discriminate, and articulates the classification and punishment for various types of official misconduct.