Wilmington City Council President Theo Gregory, on behalf of all Members of Council, invites citizens to attend the next meeting of City Council which will be held Thursday, July 7, 2016 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the first floor of the Louis L. Redding City/County Building. Citizens unable to attend are invited to view the meeting live on WITN, Channel 22 or online live and on replay at WITN22.org.

The following City Council agenda includes a synopsis of each Ordinance or Resolution so citizens are better able to follow the proceedings of Council. You can view and download a complete copy of any Council Ordinance or Resolution by visiting the City’s website at www.WilmingtonDE.gov/ccagenda.

The agenda for the July 7 meeting is as follows beginning with the name of the sponsoring Council Member:

THEO GREGORY (Nnamdi Chukwuocha presenting on behalf of Theo Gregory)
#4243
Resolution Encouraging the Federal Government to Investigate the Feasibility of Enacting a Program Designed to Offer Young Professionals Student Loan Forgiveness and Deferral Options to Incentivize Residency in Urban, Suburban or Rural Communities with Designated Levels of Poverty and Economic Disadvantage

Synopsis: This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be urging the Federal government to incentivize residential living in higher poverty and economically disadvantaged communities in Wilmington and around the nation by adopting a student loan forgiveness or deferral program. The Resolution states that the adoption of an incentive program would allow a student to take advantage of the benefits of loan forgiveness or deferral if they agreed to reside in residential areas in order to inject energy and investment in those areas. The Resolution is being offered as a way to reduce the projected $1.2 trillion student loan burden on student citizens in the United States while infusing residential communities with energetic and involved Americans who are eager to enter the workforce after completing their education.

THEO GREGORY (Trippi Congo on behalf of Theo Gregory)
#4244
A Resolution Establishing a Council Organization Commission to Conduct a Review of City Council’s Structure and Organization and Make Findings and Recommendations to this Council within 180 Days of its Appointment

Synopsis: This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be establishing the Council Organization Commission (COC), a five-member advisory group appointed by the Council President and comprised of Wilmington residents who are currently not holding and/or seeking public office. The mission of the COC would be to update the 30-year old report of the 1987 Council Compensation Commission, which laid out a formula for periodic updates to the compensation plan for citizens who serve as Members of City Council. The COC is further charged with reviewing the structure and functions of the Council. Specifically, the COC would recommend the appropriate number of Council Members based on current and historic population totals and needs of City residents, the appropriate number of district and at-large member positions; whether the Council President position should continue to be a part-time position or become a full-time position with appropriate compensation; and the reasonableness of establishing staggered Council terms of office. The COC is charged with issuing a report within 180 days of its appointment. The report would be presented to the 107th Session of Council which convenes in January of 2017 for its consideration. Any part or parts of the report that are accepted and enacted by the 107th Session would become effective beginning in January of 2021 when the 108th Session of the Council convenes.

HANIFA SHABAZZ
#4203
Ord. 16-027
Authorize Contract 17004PW – Bituminous Concrete with Diamond Materials, LLC (3rd & Final Reading)

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 Public Works Department, to enter into a one-year agreement with Diamond Materials LLC for bituminous concrete which is commonly referred to as asphalt, blacktop, or pavement. The agreement totals $92,375 and carries an option for the City to renew the agreement at the same rate and conditions for two, one-year extensions.

#4226
Ord. 16-032
Authorize Contract 17008PW – Vending Machine Service – with RDS Vending, LLC (3rd & Final Reading)

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 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.

#4227
Ord. 16-033
Authorize a Municipal Discount Disposal Fee Agreement with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority for the Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials (3rd & Final Reading)

Synopsis: 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.

#4236
Ord. 16-039
Authorize an Agreement for Water and Sewer Service Line Protection Programs with American Water Resources, LLC (3rd & Final Reading)

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 Public Works, to enter into a five-year contract with American Water Resources LLC (AWR) to administer and provide a voluntary warranty protection program for Wilmington’s residential owners of water service lines and sewer laterals (water and sewer service lines). This program would enable residential owners of water and sewer lines to purchase warranty protection from AWR for water and sewer line maintenance and repair costs on portions of the water and sewer system that are the responsibility of the property owner and not the City government. AWR would pay the City an initial $50,000 administrative fee and would also annually pay the City 10% of the warranty fees it collects from residential owners. In addition, AWR will pay the City $20,000 annually to be used at the City’s discretion to assist residential water and sewer line owners who are not AWR warranty customers. The annual cost to a residential owner to have both their water and sewer lines under warranty with AWR is approximately $100.

#4245
A Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Federal Railroad Administration and its Regional, State and Local Partners to Study and Propose Enhancements to the Transit Infrastructure in and around Delaware, and Encouraging Collective Action and Innovation to Expand Public Transit and Rail Options for Wilmingtonians

Synopsis: This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be supporting efforts by the Federal Railroad Administration and its regional, state and local partners to expand the range of public transit and rail options for Wilmington residents as well as for all residents of Delaware. The Resolution further urges a collective effort to come up with innovative projects to improve and enhance public transportation.

ROBERT WILLIAMS
#4228
Ord. 16-034
Amend Chapter 42 of the City Code Regarding the Mobile Food Vending Unit Pilot Program (3rd & Final Reading)

Synopsis: 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.

CHARLES FREEL
#4238
Ord. 16-040
Authorize the Issuance of the City’s General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2016, In Order to Provide the Funds Necessary to Refund Certain Outstanding Prior General Obligation Bonds of the City; Providing for the Sale of the Bonds; and Authorizing Other Necessary Action (3rd & Final Reading)

Synopsis: This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the issuance of up to $50 million in General Obligation Funds in order to enable the City Treasurer to refinance current City bond debt at a lower interest rate. This Ordinance would authorize the Treasurer to proceed to secure a lower interest rate which would save the City money on future payments to retire its outstanding debt.

MARIA CABRERA
#4231
Ord. 16-037
Amend Chapter 4 of the City Code Regarding Amendments to the International Building Code of 2012 (3rd & Final Reading)

Synopsis: 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.