[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6047059,"mediaKeyId","3539029-caad5037e61fac4d0b2b3938105bc9c0","parentId",3539029,"title","Council adopts transparency and public-comment measures; asks state to review Delmarva charges","audioSeconds",3884,"startMs",5493000,"endMs",9377000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3539029-caad5037e61fac4d0b2b3938105bc9c0&start=5493&end=9377","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3539029-caad5037e61fac4d0b2b3938105bc9c0/thumbnail_5493000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6047059/Wilmington-City/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Council-adopts-transparency-and-public-comment-measures-asks-state-to-review-Delmarva-charges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047059-11d484687d39ce408742798f56284f7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149950&Signature=C1F9cLLKFJXmqO0oE2~YOirqHA2oWBul7cmTfwCndHQqZMrlhw9JtT-bfWVfgatloIo1YhfNB67h66N8NcLMbTR9uH7NPFevR0~mC2tFY-yNlOkloLLtiWiLkDNnsndJiBmZiVBB6SvZoQoR2jEWPZivNV9l8JRc7aZSbyH7yXwf1grh8IwWSCvEPymHWUmrd1uFXuCmdljOuplmR0xolOYpWcYa~MjHOZp2saMDsuJ~ALJgMRUjgL3qgDtOoA~W7xMQhQY6NuAG-ob-o72tND~ZgUGkXwcI7ZoMZ1pMk1AON-tXyzXZ8BKfiBzCnwtR56B9qVuLhrMG3JPiFEeBFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wilmington, DE","date","2025-04-18T00:00:00Z","article","Wilmington City Council approved a set of resolutions intended to increase transparency and public access to legislative materials and committee sign-ups, and separately urged state action on utility billing practices related to Delmarva Electric.

Council adopted Resolution 25-021 to require draft legislation, presentations and updates to be available to the public before committee meetings (with emergency exceptions). The resolution’s sponsor said the change aims to allow part-time council members and the public to prepare for committee deliberations.

Council also considered a related rule-change (Resolution 25-022) to reinstate a pilot practice of allowing public comment on each legislative item as it is considered. An amendment to the rule that narrowed speaking slots failed to reach the threshold required for a rules change; the main resolution did not pass the stricter amendment. A separate measure, Resolution 25-023, was adopted to permit meeting agendas to include sign-up links for those wishing to give public comment and to remove residency-only limits on who may speak during public comment.

On utilities, the council adopted Resolution 25-025 urging the state legislature to consider a temporary moratorium on residential electric shutoffs and late fees and to review affordability measures for Delmarva customers after a wave of higher bills. The council also passed Resolution 25-026 requesting a findings-and-recommendations assessment of regulation for third-party electricity vendors; the sponsor cited cases where third-party contracts initially offered low rates and then produced much higher bills for consumers.

Council members said the transparency measures will make it easier for residents and part-time council members to engage meaningfully in committee work. Resolutions asking the General Assembly to act on utility bills were described as support for state-level initiatives already in motion; sponsors said they coordinate with state legislators who are reviewing related proposals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wilmington Regular Meeting of Wilmington City Council | 4/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council passed multiple resolutions expanding access to committee materials and public comment sign-ups and urged the Delaware General Assembly to review Delmarva Electric billing practices and third-party vendor regulation.","taxTitle","Wilmington City, New Castle County, Delaware","taxId",12638,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6047065,"Council passes resolution demanding public hearing after land bank transfer of Gibraltar property",2142,7038000,9180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3539029-caad5037e61fac4d0b2b3938105bc9c0&start=7038&end=9180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3539029-caad5037e61fac4d0b2b3938105bc9c0/thumbnail_7038000.jpg","/articles/6047065/Wilmington-City/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Council-passes-resolution-demanding-public-hearing-after-land-bank-transfer-of-Gibraltar-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047065-d50fbcc2464f7eb15c4f3af04cbe1e96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149950&Signature=VfcX2L7FcNAdaIxztSYuBPJPlyEWq6LMlYp0CZ3B2d2yeF1UamLKQU2klcSG9ay8N8p9ooVpyIvrOb-yZ0mEornoKXbAUxfJkCd5a7VCh7DoYjj33owha1NZYA5mDGNoO5~xjIgoFB2SvbXqFy5xdFHWrQ8KV8pTAVG~KN~wJNtqPWV7mVGjhVz~jY6aYcUEiB~2VabwxeJOUGhwW2pf1w8ym0vAGbRcb0d7r82cb-RA7m3WCIOu7xMQNbJyC0GsMWUvQWyad-9J7q2tKePG6yt9ewJCtMfEoUEXQimozL4y13xFoUYKjiOmJgboXzpfTSUAgFXeHeNQkZ9zRGUTYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wilmington City Council adopted a resolution requiring the Wilmington Land Bank to provide a public hearing and additional transparency about its acquisition and plans for the Gibraltar property.

Sponsor Councilwoman Darby said the land bank had accepted Gibraltar in a manner that sidelined council and community members; the resolution asks the land bank to explain how it acquired the site, its plans for development, and what public benefits will follow. Darby described the measure as a way to hold the land bank accountable when taxpayer funds and community interests are at stake.

Supporters argued a public hearing is common practice for major transfers and would allow the community to ask questions directly of the land bank. Opponents — including the land bank chair and several council members representing the Eighth District — said the land bank has been conducting internal reviews, had recently posted inventories online, and that a public hearing was not required to access existing records. Some council members argued reforms to the land bank's meeting schedule and governance are already under way and that a separate hearing could be duplicative.

On roll call the measure passed: six yeas, five nays and two absences. Those recorded voting yes were Councilman Owens; Councilwoman Darby; Councilwoman Oliver; Councilwoman Willower; Councilwoman McCoy; and President Congo. Those recorded voting no were Councilman Johnson; Councilman Field; Councilwoman Cabrera; Councilman Hackett; and Councilman Spadola.

The resolution and the broader land-bank reform work are now expected to overlap: council members said a separate, forthcoming ordinance will propose broader governance reforms for the land bank. The resolution directs the land bank to schedule a public hearing and provide a written accounting to council; the land bank’s executive director and board must provide inventory and contract documents identified by council in follow-up requests.

Council members asked the land bank to hold evening meetings and improve public access to agendas and Zoom links; the land bank earlier in the meeting had posted an inventory and indicated an audit report would be released at the end of the month.","Council adopted a resolution directing the Wilmington Land Bank to hold a public hearing and provide an accounting after controversy over the transfer of the Gibraltar property; vote was 6–5 with two absences.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6047070,"City council adopts budget amendment to hire 30 firefighters, move to city-run EMS",1373,3817000,5190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3539029-caad5037e61fac4d0b2b3938105bc9c0&start=3817&end=5190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3539029-caad5037e61fac4d0b2b3938105bc9c0/thumbnail_3817000.jpg","/articles/6047070/Wilmington-City/New-Castle-County/Delaware/City-council-adopts-budget-amendment-to-hire-30-firefighters-move-to-city-run-EMS","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047070-d2711249aeb81f4f78ad237594f4d247/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149950&Signature=htr5Jb0p~BIhaaDCaNbvcw7VK~teX2HPOc7230ivrPR2e8Dfa96c0kuzMBkNkkS0U93z2DnVTbKZq7Cq8yrMhl53g1CqDDr~RQdtERXvdVNFijd0pvscXTUCtMVTE2AUHbCoYGAK~mbaAmdg7QR8hgTvVuVL5LQwqeGIYMGmoXMwcydoq5uqkT4-iaDdfj3mNmlwaORLepizWrdfy5bclpokKIKVqUDtcnRGO9CLKg2ApxuuO~Kx8vIYw17y80JJ5Od1ngSmqzxU5l6r-ZcxBAXAjnn4WeYOtSTi7Xtq4tKX9L9XRpgpJKP3iVAf7dFtHRncVR4lVPfYMK~WQPNHmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wilmington City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 25-011, a fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment that reallocates existing budgeted funds to hire 30 additional firefighters and to staff a city-run emergency medical services (EMS) operation.

Councilwoman Harley presented the ordinance as an urgent budget amendment to enable the fire department to recruit and certify 30 more firefighter/EMTs, upgrade one lieutenant to battalion chief, and create a civilian EMS manager. The measure also allocates about $166,000 for technology and equipment (videos, laptops, tablets) to support the expanded service.

The ordinance uses unspent funds that had been budgeted for a private contractor (Trinity) that the city said was not meeting contract obligations. Council members debated the compressed timeline and the difficulty of the late notice; several members said leadership had been discussing the shift with the mayor since February. Supporters said the move was necessary to ensure ambulance response capacity and to avoid reliance on outside providers.

Council discussed recruitment, retention and diversity concerns for the fire department alongside the budget action. Council members asked for pay, schedules, recruiters and retention strategies to ensure the department can sustain added responsibilities without overtaxing current personnel.

The council approved the ordinance by roll call: 13 ayes, 0 nays. Those recorded voting yes were Councilman Owens; Councilwoman Darby; Councilwoman Oliver; Councilwoman Harley; Councilwoman Willower; Councilwoman McCoy; Councilman Johnson; Councilman Field; Councilwoman Bracey; Councilwoman Cabrera; Councilman Hackett; Councilman Spadola; and President Congo. The ordinance authorizes recruitment to bring staffing from 156 to 186 and aims to field five ambulances 24/7 by late summer, with a recruit academy scheduled to start in May 2025.

The measure transfers previously budgeted funds for the contractor to the fire department; council members said the contractor had been operating on a fee-for-service basis and that unused budgeted funds were available for reallocation. The law department and administration retained responsibility for any contract recovery questions.

Council members requested follow-up reporting on recruitment diversity, retention measures, shift schedules and any additional operational costs.","Council approved Ordinance 25-011, a fiscal-year 2025 amendment reallocating previously budgeted funds to hire 30 additional firefighters/EMT personnel and prepare the city to operate five ambulances 24/7; vote was 13–0.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6047073,"Hundreds of residents press Wilmington City Council to pass rent-stabilization ordinance",2587,1226000,3813000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3539029-caad5037e61fac4d0b2b3938105bc9c0&start=1226&end=3813","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3539029-caad5037e61fac4d0b2b3938105bc9c0/thumbnail_1226000.jpg","/articles/6047073/Wilmington-City/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Hundreds-of-residents-press-Wilmington-City-Council-to-pass-rent-stabilization-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047073-ff00b3e6355ed8343794a8082e50a99a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149950&Signature=eTuv4uK8~eqxRDnXUqZV2-La2lLRII7f8a6MlAf5ofpBWoN4HYUv9kCnEcImzToSw1IllcUFH0z9N-a2N0YYbxakP6LXhMHZXaSD8hRccUXDUpSXpGGd1hF3PPSVrnwUPLml~w6UltqBo2-xJU7dE4uRcvYlwioii-ZsGAXWg4jYsBR8V9jUdw04MkDQoxCsmv0ffN5e~eB1xj7K~-BTP7BeQeqwLwDrP3D3~E4Hrhpi1AwQHlYvUt6rqQPZ3c3~Od34QSCTJ9Jy-UOPHN08PIi6Ei5SgQytc0SWz32vNa8Tz3ei7meKjE35xBEO5nBeuyPtJK4aC4U8225bNEguqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hundreds of residents filled council chambers and dozens more spoke during public comment to urge Wilmington City Council to adopt rent-stabilization measures to limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from sudden hikes.

Supporters — renters, housing advocates and academics — told the council that rising rents are forcing families to choose between housing and other necessities. \"Rent stabilization would provide stability to renters who otherwise are left guessing how much the rent will raise each year,\" Julia Robinson, a renter from the Fifth District, told council. Residents described families paying more than half their income on housing, rising eviction filings since pandemic-era protections ended, and households pushed toward homelessness.

The assembled speakers repeatedly asked the council to pass Ordinance 25-016, which was introduced on the council floor and referred to the Community Development and Urban Planning Committee. The ordinance would “provide for residential rent stabilization,” by capping allowable annual rent increases; details such as the permitted percentage increase, building-size exemptions, and administrative enforcement were not finalized in committee at the meeting.

Councilwoman Shanae Darby and other advocates also highlighted Ordinance 25-018, introduced at the same meeting and referred to the same committee, which would allow tenants in city properties to deposit withheld rent into a city-held escrow account while code or habitability disputes are resolved. That bill was presented for first and second reading and referred; no final vote on either ordinance occurred at the council meeting.

Public commenters included tenants with health and disability concerns who described unsafe housing conditions and rapid rent increases. Housing organizers asked the council to add robust exemptions for small landlords, mechanisms allowing landlords to request larger increases for legitimate capital improvements, and stronger code enforcement tied to any stabilization policy.

Council members did not take a final vote on rent stabilization at this meeting. Several council members acknowledged the volume and intensity of testimony and noted they would consider the research and stakeholder input as the committee takes up the proposed ordinances.

The proposals now go to the Community Development and Urban Planning Committee for hearings and recommended changes; committee schedules and next steps were not specified at the meeting.","Dozens of residents gave public comment urging the council to adopt a rent-stabilization ordinance; sponsors introduced Ordinance 25-016 to create a cap on annual rent increases and Ordinance 25-018 to allow tenant escrow for withheld rent.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts transparency and public-comment measures; asks state to review Delmarva charges

Council passes resolution demanding public hearing after land bank transfer of Gibraltar property

City council adopts budget amendment to hire 30 firefighters, move to city-run EMS

Hundreds of residents press Wilmington City Council to pass rent-stabilization ordinance