Wilmington City Council adopts rules, names standing committees and appoints council staff at organizational meeting

Wilmington City Council adopted procedural rules, established standing committees with personnel assignments, elected a president pro tempore and appointed council staff during its organizational meeting on Jan. 7, 2025.

Councilmember Michelle Harley presented the package of organizational items and moved their adoption, saying, “This resolution adopts the rules of the council of the city of Wilmington for the 109th council session.” The measures were approved on voice and roll-call votes and recorded as 13 ayes.

The package adopted included Resolution 25-001 to adopt the council’s permanent rules for the 109th session and Resolution 25-002 to establish standing committees and their membership. The standing committees and named chairs included: Community Development & Urban Planning (Chair: Maria D. Cabrera; Vice Chair: Shanae N. Darby; members: Nathan Field, Alexander D. Hackett, Yolanda M. McCoy, Kobe J. Owens, Christian Willhauer); Education, Youth and Family Services (Chair: Leticia T. Bracey; Vice Chair: Alexander D. Hackett; members: Michelle Harley, Yolanda M. McCoy, Xanthia Oliver, Kobe J. Owens); Finance & Economic Development (Chair: Michelle Harley; Vice Chair: Leticia T. Bracey; members: Shanae N. Darby, Alexander D. Hackett, Xanthia Oliver, James Padola); Health, Environmental, Aging & Disabilities (Chair: Kobe J. Owens; Vice Chair: Christian Willhauer; members: Maria D. Cabrera, Nathan Field, Alexander D. Hackett, Chris Johnson); Intergovernmental (Chair: Shanae N. Darby; Vice Chair: Leticia T. Bracey; member: Christian Willhauer); Public Works & Transportation (Chair: Xanthia Oliver; Vice Chair: Nathan Field; members: Chris Johnson, Kobe J. Owens, Christian Willhauer); Public Safety (Chair: Yolanda M. McCoy; Vice Chair: James Padola; members: Leticia T. Bracey, Shanae N. Darby, Chris Johnson, Xanthia Oliver). (The council record lists these assignments in Resolution 25-002.)

Councilmembers then elected Councilmember Yolanda M. McCoy as president pro tempore by roll call (Resolution 25-003). Council also approved Resolution 25-004 appointing the city clerk and city council staff for the 109th session. Resolution 25-004 placed the following staff on the council payroll: Elijah A. Simmons (Chief of Staff); Marshall Basnite (Senior Legislative Adviser & CFO); Kendra Broomfield Nwanga, PhD (Legislative Research & Policy Director); Akira Bernardo (City Clerk); Tracy Owens (Executive Administrative Assistant); Mary Elena Rivera (Legislative Administrative Assistant / Deputy City Clerk); Anita Hawks (Legislative Administrative Assistant); Nigel Sanderson (Producer); Yesenia Tavares (Director of Communications); Paul Kennard (Senior Producer); Wendell Ralston (Station Manager); Amanda Robbins (Production Coordinator); Saquon Stimpson (Digital Media & Web Content Coordinator). The resolution directed the city clerk to forward copies to human resources, the city treasurer and the city auditor.

Councilmember Harley also presented Ordinance 25-001 (Amendment #2 to the FY2025 operating budget, amending substitute #1 to Ordinance 24-016). Council moved to read the ordinance as the first and second reading and referred it to the Finance & Economic Development Committee for further consideration.

President Trippie Congo closed the legislative portion by thanking staff and noting the organization items concluded the evening’s formal legislation.

Votes at a glance: Resolutions 25-001, 25-002, 25-003, 25-004 — each adopted by roll call (13 ayes). Ordinance 25-001 (budget amendment) — read and referred to Finance & Economic Development Committee (first/second reading taken; committee referral).