New Castle County Council approves several ordinances, tables resolution on Falun Gong

New Castle County Council on July 22, 2025 voted to approve multiple ordinances and a subdivision plan and tabled a separate resolution on Falun Gong and Shen Yun. The council approved changes to the county's tax stabilization reserve account, a budget transfer for video production equipment, a change to police retirement age, and a historic-overlay zoning for the Jackson House.

The measures carried by roll call votes during the meeting in the County Council chambers. Several items had been discussed at prior committee meetings, and public comment was limited or declined for most of the ordinances.

Rationale and immediate effects: Council members said the measures address administrative budget needs, personnel policy, and preservation. For the tax-stabilization item and a related reassessment matter, staff and members noted ongoing public concern about recent reassessments; a separate ordinance on penalty abatement after reassessment was introduced for a special meeting on Aug. 5 and drew public comment elsewhere in the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Resolution R25-120 (Falconers Road subdivision): Approved. Creates an 11-lot residential subdivision and open space on specified tax parcels in Christiana Hundred (see clarifying details). Roll call: 11 yes, 1 not voting, 1 absent. - Ordinance 25-095: Approved. Amends county code on the tax stabilization reserve account regarding reassessments. Roll call: unanimous recorded yes votes (12 yes, 1 absent reported). - Ordinance 25-096: Approved. Appropriates funding from the Recorder of Deeds technology fee account to the Office of Technology to refresh video production equipment. Roll call: unanimous recorded yes votes (12 yes, 1 absent reported). - Ordinance 25-084: Approved. Amends the merit system to increase retirement age for officers in the Department of Public Safety's police division from 55 to 57. Roll call: 12 yes, 1 absent. - Ordinance 24-172: Approved. Adds a historic overlay (H) for the Jackson House property (rezoning 1.78 acres in Christiana Hundred). This item required a poll vote and passed 11 yes, 1 not voting, 1 absent.

Action details and roll-call notes - R25-120 (subdivision): Recorded roll call showed Councilman Tackett recorded as "not voting" and one member absent; the clerk reported 11 yes, 1 not voting, 1 absent. No public speakers in chambers addressed R25-120 during the meeting; the project team had been available at the prior land use committee meeting.

- 25-095 (tax stabilization reserve account): Council discussion in committee was noted; several council members indicated they changed positions after reviewing the depleted status of the assessment reserve account. There was one member of the public in chambers who asked for clarification and was directed to staff and representatives in the hallway; no online public commenters urged opposition. The clerk reported the tally as 12 yes (one absent).

- 25-096 (video equipment): Presented briefly as an interdepartmental budget refresh paid from an internal technology fee; no public comment and unanimous approval recorded by the clerk.

- 25-084 (police retirement age): Council members said the measure had been discussed in committee and that the county's police FOP supports the change. Councilman Street described prior attempts to raise the retirement age and expressed support for the new leadership who brought the item forward.

- 24-172 (historic overlay for Jackson House): Council members and staff described the property (the Jackson House, c. 1935) and the historic review board and Planning Board recommendations. Because it was a poll vote, the clerk reminded council of the seven-vote threshold; the clerk later reported 11 yes, 1 not voting, 1 absent.

Tabling of Resolution R25-121 Resolution R25-121, "calling to end Chinese Communist Party's transitional repression of Falun Gong and Shen Yun," was introduced and debated. Several council members said they were not comfortable voting without additional review. After comments and questions from council, a motion to table R25-121 carried by voice vote. The council then proceeded to other business.

What this means going forward Several items require implementation steps by county departments (budget transfers, code updates, land records). A separate ordinance addressing penalty relief for taxpayers after reassessment was introduced for an August 5 special meeting; that item attracted public comment during this meeting and will be considered separately.

Votes, actions, and references in this summary are taken from council roll calls and agenda readings during the July 22, 2025 New Castle County Council meeting.