Council passes multiple resolutions and ordinances; capital program tabled, several items introduced

At its May 13 meeting, New Castle County Council approved a number of resolutions and ordinances by roll call and voice votes, introduced a set of budget-related ordinances for later consideration, and tabled one large capital-item resolution. The council approved routine recognitions, procurement and administrative resolutions, accepted state grant funds and approved several budget and grant ordinance amendments; the capital program resolution was tabled for later consideration.

Key outcomes approved at the meeting (by docket number):

- Resolution 25-073: Honoring Helen Lambert Porter (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Resolution 25-087: Recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Resolution 25-080: Authorizing purchase order/contract with Pictometry International Corp. for aerial-photography software licenses ($83,070) (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Resolution 25-081: Setting New Castle County FY2026 pension contribution rate (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Resolution 25-082: Refund of duplicate tax payment to Delaware SPCA Holding LLC (parcel 09018.0003) in the amount of $30,884 (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Resolution 25-084: Amend Council procedural rule No. 4 (order of business) (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Resolution 25-085: Amend Council procedural rule No. 12 (reporting of expenditures/trips) (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Resolution 25-086: Amend Council procedural rule No. 13 (council grants relating to purchases) (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Resolution 25-083: Plan of The Landing at Whitehall (major land development plan; 249 total lots) (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) — separate article covers this item in detail - Resolution 25-088: Adopting New Castle County Capital Program FY2026–2031 (tabled) - Resolution 25-090: Support for actions at the Delaware General Assembly regarding Title 14, Section 1902 (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent)

Ordinances approved (by docket):

- Ordinance 25-043: Amend grants budget: $70,786.42 in program income to IDEA homebuyer/homeowner rehab grant (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Ordinance 25-044: Amend FY2025 capital program: appropriate $16,820,000 in DelDOT funds to Christina Riverforce main capital project (approved, roll call 12 yes, 1 absent) - Ordinance 25-046: (substitute No. 1) Vacant-premises code amendments (approved; covered in separate article)

Introductory ordinances (read in for consideration at a future meeting):

- Ordinance 25-048: Annual revenue ordinance and rollback tax rate for FY2026 (introduction only) - Ordinance 25-049: Calculation of sewer service charges effective 07/01/2025 for FY2026 (introduction only) - Ordinance 25-050: Authorizing issuance of general obligation bonds (introduction only) - Ordinance 25-051: FY2026 capital budget ordinance (introduction only) - Ordinance 25-052: FY2026 annual operating budget (introduction only) - Ordinance 25-053: Appropriation of $3,000,000 from Tax Stabilization Reserve for one-time fire service contingency (introduction only) - Ordinance 25-054: Amend FY2025 to appropriate Recorder of Deeds technology fee funds (introduction only) - Ordinances 25-055 through 25-062: Various grants-budget amendments and program alignments (introduced)

Other procedural actions:

- Minutes for April 22 approved. - Several committee reports provided (Land Use, Public Safety, Finance).

Votes and procedural rulings shown on the record match the roll calls read by the clerk in the transcript. Unless noted above, vote tallies were read as unanimous among those present (12 yes, 1 absent) for routine consent and consent-agenda items. The council tabled Resolution 25-088 (capital program) and Ordinance 25-047 (partial tax-exemption) failed on final vote after floor amendments and debate (see separate article on 25-047).