Events

For the purpose of a public hearing, including a presentation by the Office of the State Planning Coordination Director Constance Holland and City staff.  This will be followed by Council discussion, public comment, and potential direction to City staff on the City's Comprehensive Plan V (Plan V), proposed amendments to Plan V, whereby City staff with Planning Commission recommendations propose the establishment of four “Focus Areas” in certain areas of the City proximate to the University of Delaware that are currently ripe for redevelopment to facilitate student housing development. 

Patty Cannon from the Delaware Division of Small Business will present regarding opportunity zones, followed by Council discussion and public comment.  The following link gives more detail on the Focus Areas, including Area #1 that includes part of District 1 in the West Main St./Hillside Road area:

 https://newarkde.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12440/Comp-Plan-Review-Focus-Area-Council-Presentation- 

This is your chance to have a voice in future planning!  The meeting should be livestreamed as well through the following link:

https://livestream.com/newarkde

If you cannot attend the meeting but want to comment for the record, please e-mail your comment to the Mayor, Council, and our City Secretary at the following addresses:

TSchiano@newark.de.us

gjclifton@verizon.net
jen@jenwallacefornewark.org
shughes2853@gmail.com
horningfornewark@gmail.com
chris.hamilton@newark.de.us
stu.markham@gmail.com 

lawhornfornewark@gmail.com 

This is a link to the agenda (click on the blue-colored text for documents detailing the respective agenda items): https://newarkde.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6128

The meeting should be livestreamed as usual through this link: https://livestream.com/newarkde

Council may vote on giving our lobbyist direction regarding legislation in the Delaware General Assembly. This link provides the status of pending legislation as of Monday, June 17th:
https://newarkde.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12458/6B

Item 6C (2019-2020 Council rules and procedures discussion) is likely to be the most debated topic among Council Members and I value your input. Our City Secretary outlines the issues well in her memo contained in the following link:
https://newarkde.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12459/6C

My primary concern with increasing the number of meetings are the additional expenses taxpayers will incur and whether that is a wise use of funds. I am requesting that more detail on those costs be provided.

This is a link to the agenda (click on the blue-colored text for documents detailing the respective agenda items):
https://www.newarkde.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6154

The meeting should be livestreamed as usual through this link: https://livestream.com/newarkde

Item 6A (2019-2020 Council rules & procedures amendment). Our Council split (4 to 3) on doubling our regular meetings from 2 to 4. While I support efforts to enable public comment earlier in the evenings, I voted against doubling our meetings. I would have voted for a trial run of 3 meetings/month. My primary concerns are additional costs to taxpayers to staff the meetings & whether a continual cycle of meetings is the most effective use of our staffs' time. I will monitor this closely & work to ensure additional meetings are productive. Our City Secretary outlines projected additional costs in her memo (see page 5) contained in the following link:
https://newarkde.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12536/6A

Item 6C will likely generate the most discussion. It requests a City budget amendment of an additional $134,667 to $273,667 (depending upon the chosen of 3 options) to fund the White Clay Creek/Emerson Bike & Pedestrian Bridge construction immediately west of the existing Paper Mill Rd. vehicular bridge. Council approved construction & funding of the bridge in 2017 for $1,750,000 with our City funding $233,333 in the current budget. The attached memos detail the factors that increased the total revised construction estimate to $2,057,000 requiring an additional $134,667 to $273,667 from Newark:
https://newarkde.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12538/6C

I especially value your input on a City budget amendment of an additional $134,667 to $273,667 to fund the White Clay Creek/Emerson Bike & Pedestrian Bridge.

The Newark Post article contained in the following link details the concept for a new Main St. hotel and parking garage.  Mr. Danneman is hosting this community meeting for resident feedback on the concept. 

https://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/community-meeting-on-main-street-hotel-proposal-set-for-sunday/article_0df053dc-fc76-5424-9b54-03a0e4d74891.html