Regular Meeting of Wilmington City Council

Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.

Council Chambers
Louis L. Redding City/County Building
800 North French Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order
    Invocation
    Pledge of Allegiance
    Roll Call
  2. Approval of Minutes
  3. Committee Reports
  4. Acceptance of Treasurer's Report

5. Non-legislative Business

All Council Sympathy Christopher Scrivens, Sr.
All Council Recognize 1985 Howard Career Center Championship Basketball Team
M. Brown Recognize Gail Stallings-Minor
Chukwuocha Sympathy Reverend George Eggleston
Gregory Congratulate Gail Stallings-Minor
Wright Sympathy Forrest R. Dixon

5. Legislative Business

Darius J. Brown: 3rd District

Agenda #4019
Ordinance
1st & 2nd Reading		 Adopt the subdivision plan known as "Walnut Place" and to accept the dedication of a new city alleyway to be named "Victory Lane"
Synopsis This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be approving a new residential development known as Walnut Place and would also be approving the addition of public alleyway to the Official City Street Map to be known as Victory Lane. The new subdivision and alleyway is located within an area bounded by 14th, 15th and Walnut Streets and Clifford Brown Walk. Both the subdivision and alleyway were recommended for approval by the City Planning Commission.

Hanifa G.N. Shabazz: 4th District

Rev. 1 to Agenda #4013
Sub. 1
Ordinance 15-001
3rd & Final Reading		 Amend Chapter 44 of the City Code regarding the duration of the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District, assessments on properties located within the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District and the issuance of licenses to delinquent licensees
Synopsis This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration and City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing changes to Chapter 44 of the City Code affecting the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District (WDBID). Specifically, the Ordinance would extend the authorization of the WDBID to October 1, 2024 and would stipulate that a property re-assessment by the County Board of Assessment Review (NCCBAR) would become effective with regards to the DBID having to adjust its assessment for a property within its jurisdiction only after the NCCBAR makes a final decision about an assessment appeal, as opposed to when the assessment appeal is originally filed with the NCCBAR which is the current practice. Finally, the Ordinance would authorize the City to prohibit the issuance of a business license to any person or business which is delinquent to the WDBID.
Agenda #4020
Resolution
Pending		 Approving and confirming the appointment by the Mayor of Leonard Sophrin to the Board of Directors of the Wilmington Parking Authority
Synopsis This Resolution is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be confirming the Mayor’s appointment of City Planning Director Leonard Sophrin to serve as a member of the Wilmington Parking Authority (WPA). The Mayor notified Council President Gregory of his desire to have Sophrin’s appointment confirmed by Council in a letter dated January 6, 2015. If Council confirms the appointment, Sophrin would serve as member of the WPA Board until June 30, 2019.

Charles M. "Bud" Freel: 8th District

Agenda #4021
Ordinance
1st & 2nd Reading		 Authorizing the issuance of the City’s General Obligation Bond, Series of 2015, in one or more series on a tax-exempt and/or taxable basis, in order to provide the funds to finance various capital projects of the City specified in the City’s Capital Budget for its Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2014, to refund or fund certain General Obligation Bond Anticipation Notes and to refund other outstanding General Obligation Bonds of the City; providing for the sale of the Bonds; and authorizing other necessary action
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 $112,000,000 in General Obligation Bonds to finance capital budget projects as specified in the City’s capital budget for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2014. The bond issuance would also be used to refund certain prior outstanding general obligation bonds as well as costs or expenses associated with the issuing of bonds and/or a prior series of bonds. Projects to be funded include street paving and construction, sewer improvements, stormwater drainage projects, a wetlands park in South Wilmington, playground improvements, Canby Pool renovations and athletic court renovations.
Agenda #4022
Ordinance
1st & 2nd Reading		 Authorize the annual reconciliation of accounts by transferring funds to various offices and departments in the City of Wilmington to fulfill obligations for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2014
Synopsis This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing, based on information from the Director of the Department of Finance, the transfer of funds among City departments and offices as part of the City’s annual reconciliation of accounts. These fund transfers are carried out to ensure that all government department accounts are properly balanced for the fiscal year which ended on June 30, 2014.
Agenda #4023
Ordinance
1st & 2nd Reading		 Constituting Amendment No. 3 to FY’2015 Operating Budget (being an Ordinance to amend Substitute No. 1 to Ordinance No. 14-016, As Amended) for Wilmington Police Department overtime and Town Watch
Synopsis This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the Administration to use $1.225 million of the projected $1.4 million Fiscal Year 2015 Operating Budget surplus to fund overtime costs for Wilmington police officers through June 30, 2015 and for the creation of a new Town Watch crime prevention and crime tracking website. The Administration says the additional funding is needed because the 321-authorized WPD officer staff is down by approximately 35 officers due to retirements, resignations, etc., thereby requiring officers to work overtime shifts to cover regular duty assignments.
Agenda #4024
Ordinance
1st & 2nd Reading		 Constituting Amendment No. 4 to FY’2015 Operating Budget (being an Ordinance to amend Substitute No. 1 to Ordinance No. 14-016, As Amended) to replenish the Housing Strategic Fund
Synopsis This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for City Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing the Administration to use $2.125 million from the City’s Unassigned Fund for various neighborhood housing projects, support the work of the Wilmington Housing Partnership and plan for and/or fund a land bank program for Wilmington.
Agenda #4025
Resolution
Pending		 Extending the time for review and submission of a report by the City Planning Commission on Ordinance No. 14-026 and the respective amendments to the Delaware Avenue/Bancroft Parkway Neighborhood Comprehensive Development Plan for an additional 90 days to on or about June 1, 2015
Synopsis This Resolution is being presented by City Council for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be agreeing to extend the period by which the City Planning Commission may review the former Wilmington Finishing Company project by an additional 90 days through and including June 1, 2015. Council Ordinance 14-026, introduced June 5, 2014, proposes amendments to the City Zoning Map by rezoning the property in question from C-6 to W-4 and R-2 zoning classifications.
  1. Petitions and Communications
  2. Adjournment