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COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
The Council Committee of the Whole met on August 13, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. with Council President
Anderson presiding. Members of Council present were Ms. Arndt, Mr. Boggerty, Mr. Hare, Mr.
Lewis (departed at 9:47 p.m.), Mr. Neil, Dr. Pillsbury, Mr. Rocha, and Dr. Sudler (departed at
10:04 p.m.). Mayor Christiansen was also present. Civilian members present for their Committee
meetings were Mr. Tholstrup, Mr. Lewis (Parks, Recreation, and Community Enhancement), and
Dr. Jackson-Short (Safety, Advisory, and Transportation). Ms. Smack (Safety, Advisory, and
Transportation), Mr. Iriowen, and Mr. Wilson (Utility) were absent.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Mr. Rocha moved for adoption of the agenda, seconded by Dr. Pillsbury and unanimously
carried.
Council Reports – July 2024
First District
Dr. Pillsbury had no report to give.
Mr. Rocha reported that he had a good time attending the groundbreaking ceremony for Habitat
for Humanity on New Street, where he was joined by Mayor Christiansen. He also reported that
he is working on a constituent concern in the Turnberry development where a few golf balls have
gone through the windows on the back of his house on several occasions.
Second District
Mr. Lewis reported that he had nothing major to report, except that he was working on addressing
constituent concerns regarding garbage pickup and water issues. He also reported that he plans to
have a community meeting, and he will be advertising that in September.
Mr. Hare reported that he has received complaints from the neighborhood concerning the
upcoming development off Wyoming Avenue.
Third District
Mr. Neil reported that he attended several meetings, including the special Downtown Dover
Partnership meeting, multiple Construction and Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals
meetings, and meetings to arrange interviews for the Finance Director position. He reported that
he continued to receive constituent complaints from the East Lake community regarding
homelessness, excessive noise, dog waste, the need for signs, and the possible need for the creation
of a neighborhood watch program. He thanked Sharon Duca, Assistant City Manager, Master
Corporal Lee Cullen, and Eddie Kopp, Chief Code Enforcement Officer for their assistance. He
received help from Eddie Kopp addressing questions about the Wild Meadows community pool at
the request of the Homeowners Association President. At the request of Jason Lyon,
Water/Wastewater Director, Ms. Arndt and Mr. Neil sent out an alert regarding the special flushing
operation which would take place on August 13, 2024, before the Phish concert scheduled to start
on August 15, 2024. The communities that would be affected included Persimmon Park Place,
Persimmon Park Apartments, and Wild Meadows. Although the Homeowners Association
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COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AUGUST 13, 2024 PAGE 2
distributed resident vehicle passes needed because of the traffic detours, he reported receiving
constituent inquiries regarding the concert traffic and the passes needed. He also reported that he
obtained a pass for Ms. Marilyn Smith to allow her access to the area, so she can experience
firsthand the challenges residents face during major events that cause detours. In closing, Mr. Neil
stated that he received a constituent complaint regarding the shaving of the sidewalks on State
Street, which is something that has been done on a regular basis during the new paving jobs,
especially those involving trees and flexible concrete. He thanked Ms. Duca for her quick response
to that concern as well.
Ms. Arndt reported that, in addition to Mr. Neil's report, she attended the National Night Out at
Dover High School, where she was joined by Mr. Rocha, Mr. Boggerty, and Mr. Lewis. The event,
organized by law enforcement and volunteer firefighters from across the state, featured a
demonstration by the newest volunteers using the jaws of life to cut into a car. She was grateful
for the recruitment of younger and new volunteers.
Fourth District
Dr. Sudler reported that he met with the New Street Neighborhood Watch at the House of Pride,
along with Bishop Lott and their executive staff, to discuss renaming South New Street to Marian
Harris Way. The proposed name aims to address the stigma of the street being dangerous while
helping administer a psychometric instrument to assess the needs of the community via each family
unit. They plan to create a survey to evaluate the needs of each family and how to also address
them individually. Additionally, they are organizing a back-to-school drive and a clean-up day
around the church, which Dr. Sudler plans to assist with. He spoke to Ms. Arndt about partnering
with other agencies to bring Riddick Bowe, former heavyweight champion and two-time Olympic
medalist, to Dover to speak with the youth. Mr. Bowe is interested in sharing his experiences and
offering guidance on overcoming life challenges, drawing from his own journey through the
highest levels of boxing and personal setbacks. Dr. Sudler stated that he is looking forward to
working with Ms. Arndt, the Parks and Recreation Committee, and anyone else interested in
partnering with the City of Dover to bring him here. Mr. Bowe’s manager stated that he is willing
to come for about $6,000, which he stated is reasonable and he feels the funds could be raised and
the city could host the event. In closing, he stated that it would be a great opportunity for the youth,
especially for the gang prevention group.
At-Large
Mr. Boggerty reported that approximately 31,000 COVID tests have been distributed out of the
100,000 the city received. The tests have been distributed across the state, and requests continue
to come in. Mr. Boggerty welcomed any agency, organization, or neighborhood watch to reach
out if they need COVID tests. He reported that he attended the Central Delaware NAACP Branch
Gala and National Night Out. He spoke to several individuals regarding the Lincoln Park issues
which Ms. Duca and Code Enforcement have begun to address. He has also initiated the process
to address the lighting problem on New Street and attended several Construction and Property
Maintenance Code Board of Appeals meetings.
Council President Anderson
Council President Anderson reported that he also attended the Central Delaware NAACP Branch
Gala. He explained that the panel discussed several issues relevant to the city, including challenges
related to community engagement, which is a common difficulty for many organizations. He
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attended several events, one of them was a presentation by the Department of Health and Human
Services at the Dover Public Library. He has been addressing a potential water leak or meter issue
at The Peoples Church, where their usage has been recorded as 153,000 gallons in a month.
Ongoing issues with double parking persist in the Woodcrest development, along with new
concerns on North New Street. He explained that he is working on bringing the Innovative
Readiness Training (IRT) program which provides health services in coordination with the
reserves to the city's people. The event was successful before and brought in about $1.3 million in
services, and helped over 3,000 residents, with approximately 18,000 medical procedures,
including dental and eye examinations. The goal is to include a behavioral health component in
the screenings and connect participants with local services.
DHSS/DSAMH Overdose Response Center Presentation (Edward Schiavi, Manager-
Overdose Response Center)
Mr. Edward Schiavi, Overdose Response Center Manager, reviewed the presentation entitled
“Overdose Response Center (ORC)” (Attachment #1).
This item was informational, and committee action was not required.
Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mr. Schiavi stated that recovery is a complex issue, and multiple
attempts may sometimes be necessary. The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
(DSAMH) provides support for the underinsured and uninsured individuals seeking treatment. He
explained that a sister unit has case workers available to follow people through treatment. Mr.
Schiavi continued to explain that he could collect information on how they operate and what they
evaluate. He stated that every individual who enters treatment through DSAMH has a record of
their treatment created along with a Consumer Reporting Form. This will track their treatment,
and the ORC team can look at the gaps through the research and program analysis.
Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mr. Schiavi stated that he cannot confirm whether new recovery
facilities will be established as a result of the opioid funding lawsuit. However, he explained that
they are working on developing clinical behavioral health clinics that will collaborate with existing
organizations to make funding more accessible to those who might otherwise be ineligible.
Responding to Dr. Pillsbury, Mr. Schiavi stated that the Help is Here website advertises the free
distribution of Narcan. The Help is Here logo is prominently displayed in various locations, such
as on DART buses, and opioid rescue kits are also visibly available on the streets.
Responding to Dr. Pillsbury, Mr. Dalton Clouse, Overdose Response Center Data Analyst, stated
that CVS Pharmacy now has all of the Help is Here publications on display in their pharmacies.
When a prescription is picked up, the bag will contain the Help is Here website, and if they need
help with opioid issues or if they need Narcan the contact information will be on the bag.
Responding to Dr. Pillsbury, Mr. Schiavi stated that they are developing harm reduction vending
machines with grant funding. One challenge has been the requirement for a standing order on
Naloxone distribution, which includes a training component on how to administer it and its use.
This requirement makes it difficult to distribute Naloxone freely. He mentioned that he would look
into how pharmacies might charge for items that are otherwise distributed for free.
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Responding to Dr. Pillsbury, Mr. Schiavi stated that DSAMH does recognize the risk of overdoses
while taking prescription medications. He explained that they have introduced DETERRA bags
for the safe disposal of unused prescription medications. Additionally, they collect data on
overdoses related to prescription medications through EMS reports.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Mr. Schiavi stated that their office is located at the Herman Holloway
Campus at 1901 N. Dupont Highway, New Castle, just outside of Minquadale, where they collect
data. The Post Overdose Response Teams (PORTs) have case managers and peers in the New
Castle office. The state service center is where the Kent County PORT is currently located, and in
Sussex County, they are looking for a location. Currently, peer and case workers in Sussex County
are operating through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant, and he
believes they may be based in the Georgetown State Service Building, though he is not certain. He
explained that there are resources available in each county, along with a network of partners who
can be contacted via email, phone, or Zoom to address specific area needs.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Mr. Schiavi stated they would like to man the center seven days a week
with rotating data intelligence analysts. He explained that they currently have an opening for a
third data analyst intelligence analyst. They also have openings in Sussex County for their case
management workers and two operational planners. All the positions are contractual employees
through DSAMH.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Mr. Schiavi stated that he does not know if there is a contingency plan
for when the drug treatment centers become full. He explained that they do collaborate with
partners in Maryland on different trends and that they recently discussed people coming into
Delaware from Salisbury and vice versa and how that affects some insurances. Also, there is a
treatment facility in Bowling Green, Pennsylvania that they contract with. They also utilize a
program called Open Beds where if someone is engaged with an individual that needs to be placed
immediately, they can check the website and locate an available bed for that person to go to.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Mr. Schiavi stated that yes, they can give presentations. The Overdose
Response Center email address is orc@delaware.gov, and there is a Narcan team website where
requests for presentations and Narcan can be made. The Narcan team will go out and give a training
module for administering Narcan and handing it out as well.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Schiavi stated that they are currently in the process of building the
data as they do not have a caseload with individuals. He explained that they are out in the public
to engage people. For example, if they know that Troop 2 plans to respond to a particular cluster
of motels on New Castle Avenue due to quality-of-life issues, they will go out and canvas the
motels. Often, they encounter two to three hundred rooms in a three-block radius. They educate
people on Narcan and try to get people engaged with the Bridge Clinic for an assessment. There
are a few compartments at DSAMH, and the Bridge Clinic is one where the uninsured or
underinsured individuals can walk in and get resources. He explained that they can build models
from the data collected by the Bridge Clinic, and they look at models from other states as well.
Once they can gather a good sample size, they will be able to determine the effectiveness of the
data to point things in certain directions.
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Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Schiavi stated that the Community Response Teams (CRTs) are all
volunteers. They go through an orientation and a series of training sessions and are required to
respond to at least four even a year to qualify. They are the ambassadors, or force multipliers for
being out in the community.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Schiavi stated that there are a lot of co-occurring instances that
happen with substance abuse, mental health, and homelessness within the treatment process. He
noted that while this is not his primary area of expertise, their approach involves addressing
pressing issues and tackling underlying mental health conditions or substance abuse, depending
on the treatment episode. DSAMH employs psychiatrists who evaluate those programs.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Schiavi stated that the encampment teams that go out get to know
some of the individuals personally. For example, DelDOT has a very sound policy on dealing with
encampments on DelDOT properties and part of their policy is to contact the Bridge Encampment
Team. The Bridge Encampment Team will go out to Seaford, New Castle, Dover, Rehoboth, or
even the Ollie encampment weeks in advance. They visit several times a week to identify
individuals, offer services, educate them about Narcan, and explore options for relocation. This
proactive approach has led to successful outcomes, often leaving only debris by the time cleanup
begins. The Bridge Encampment Team demonstrates considerable compassion, such as storing
personal items like bicycles for individuals who enter treatment and returning these items once
they complete detox. Many of the individuals involved in the encampment teams have a lot of
experience and can identify with the individuals.
PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE
The Parks, Recreation, and Community Enhancement Committee met with Chairwoman Arndt
presiding.
Adoption of Agenda
Mr. Rocha moved for adoption of the agenda, seconded by Dr. Pillsbury and unanimously
carried.
Blood Bank of Delmarva Dover Donor Center Presentation (Antonio Prado, Blood Bank of
Delmarva)
Mr. Steve Corsey, Executive Director for the Blood Bank of Delmarva, and Mr. Antonio Prado,
Communications Specialist for the Blood Bank of Delmarva, reviewed the presentation entitled
“The Constant Need for Blood and Constant Shortages” (Attachment #2).
This item was informational, and committee action was not required.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Prado stated that during his seven (7) years with the Blood Bank,
they have closely monitored the numbers and made some progress in increasing donations from
African American and Native American communities. He explained that the speculation is that
historically there is a certain amount of distrust in the African American community when it comes
to the healthcare industry in general. Much of it goes back to the infamous experiments conducted
on the Tuskegee gentlemen. Just four (4) years ago there were higher mortality rates during the
COVID pandemic for African Americans, which did not help either. Mr. Prado explained that
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there is a disconnect between the African American community and blood banking, but there is so
much potential. He noted that one (1) out of every three (3) African American donors are a match
with a sickle cell patient. Sickle cell is a painful and debilitating disease, and the best way to treat
it is to give them healthy red cells. Mr. Prado acknowledged that they do not have a clear
understanding of why the donation numbers are so low, but they are diligently working to address
the issue, recognizing the significant potential for increased participation.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Prado stated that the same does apply to the Native American
community. He also noted that they were able to make strides within the Asian community when
a couple of organizations started donating as a group. They were able to double the number of
Asian donors from 1.1 to 2.2 percent.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Prado stated that donating blood is a powerful way to give back to
the community for those who do not have time to coach Little League or volunteer at a soup
kitchen. Mr. Prado explained that Dr. Sudler could remind his constituents that it could be their
aunt, uncle, or grandfather who needs blood, and only another human being can provide it. They
could help someone suffering from cancer, anemia, a gunshot wound, or internal bleeding from a
car accident, all by giving about one (1) hour of their time. By donating, individuals have the
opportunity to help any relatives, friends, or community members who might find themselves in
such a situation.
Mr. Boggerty noted that a picture from the presentation was of his fraternity and that the event was
held at the WELL Church. Although he was unable to donate at that time due to a funeral, he plans
to schedule his donation soon. He explained that he is a frequent donator and that his church will
always be available to host the event. One of the individuals mentioned was his fraternity brother
Terrence Gavin.
Mayor Christiansen, speaking as the Chief of the Lenape Tribe of Delaware, inquired about the
outreach efforts being made to the Native American community.
Responding to Mayor Christiansen, Mr. Prado candidly admitted that, at present, no specific
outreach was being done. He explained that as they approach their 70th anniversary, they are
exploring new and innovative approaches. Mr. Prado expressed openness to any ideas or assistance
the mayor could offer.
Mayor Christiansen stated that in early September, the Nanticoke tribe will be sponsoring a Pow
Wow. He suggested that if they reach out to Chief Avery, he might be able to arrange for them to
set up a booth to spread the word to the tribe and other tribes in attendance.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Mr. Prado stated that by federal law sixteen-year-olds are now allowed
to donate with parental consent as the age was lowered from seventeen. Additionally, there is no
longer an upper age limit which was previously set at seventy-nine. There were so many people in
their eighties and nineties who were healthy, and they required medical exemption, which took
extra steps.
Responding to Dr. Pillsbury, Mr. Prado stated that some of the medical conditions that exempt
people from donating would be cancer, cancer of the blood like leukemia, or lymphoma. All of
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those conditions would require someone to be deferred for five (5) years, cancer-free and
treatment-free. Anyone with other cancers would be deferred for one (1) year once they get through
their battle. People mistakenly think that they cannot donate with diabetes, however that is not
true. The general rule of thumb is that they have to be feeling healthy, have no flu or cold-like
symptoms, and have no temperature. Mr. Prado added that there are many medications that do not
exclude people from donating as well. He explained that the staff that schedules a donator in the
call center can go over a list of medications that may preclude someone from donating.
Mr. Michael Lewis stated that the 19th Annual, 9/11 Blood Drive will be taking place at Dover
Motor Speedway. He explained that while the event is typically hosted in the diamond rooms at
Bally’s Hotel and Casino overlooking the track, this year, for the second time, donors will have
the unique opportunity to exit the NASCAR Cup Series Garage after donating and make a full lap
around the track.
Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mr. Prado stated that there have been a lot of changes made at the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) level, as they are the regulating authorities for blood banking. Mr.
Prado urged anyone who may have questions similar to Mr. Rocha who served in the military to
call the schedulers and review their medical history with them, and they can provide the
authorization to donate.
Mr. Corsey stated that many individuals who were previously deferred from donating are now
eligible due to changes in regulations. He explained that as of September, the Individual Donor
Assessment (IDA) updated its guidelines, allowing members of the homosexual population to
donate, something that was not permitted in the past.
Ms. Arndt moved for adjournment of the Parks, Recreation, and Community Enhancement
Committee meeting, hearing no objection the meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
SAFETY, ADVISORY, AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
The Safety, Advisory, and Transportation Committee met with Chairman Boggerty presiding.
Adoption of Agenda
Dr. Pillsbury moved for adoption of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Rocha and unanimously
carried.
William Faust Jr., 136 Orchard Ave, Dover, expressed concerns about the rising issues of
prostitution, crime, and homelessness in Dover. Mr. Faust emphasized the need for prosecutors to
take stronger action, noting that he has heard Walgreens is closing due to significant losses caused
by theft from homeless individuals and criminals. He also criticized the criminal justice system,
describing it as a 'revolving door' where individuals are arrested and quickly released.
Nicole Chick, 510 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, Delaware, expressed concerns about
downtown crime, suggesting that allowing safe access to cannabis could be a potential solution.
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Loockerman Street Conceptual Design (Jason Lyon, Water/Wastewater Director, Marilyn
Smith, Executive Director of the Dover/Kent MPO, and Jeff Riegner, Kittleson & Associates)
Mr. Jason Lyon, Water/Wastewater Director, Ms. Marilyn Smith, Executive Director of the
Dover/Kent MPO, and Mr. Jeff Riegner, Kittleson & Associates, reviewed the proposed
conceptual design for Loockerman Street.
Staff recommended implementing the proposed conceptual plan with the ongoing utility upgrade
design project for Loockerman Street.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Riegner stated that two (2) of the topics discussed most were trees
and paving materials. He explained that the city arborist looked at all of the trees as soon as they
knew the charette process was going to occur. Most of them were found to be in good condition.
He explained that they do know based on when they were installed, and their species, which is
honey locusts, they are probably a little past the midpoint of their life. There is no immediate
reason to replace most of them however, there are a couple that would need to be replaced as part
of the project.
Mr. Riegner explained that when they are replaced one (1) of the things recommended is a larger
tree pit. This would provide a much larger area of unpacked soil that the roots could grow into so
that they are not popping up the pavement as much. He stated that the issue of pavement popping
can be resolved by addressing the underlying infrastructure. He further explained that there was
strong community support for keeping concrete in the walking areas and using bricks for the
currently smooth sections. A smoother surface is important for activities like placing café tables
and creating pedestrian-friendly spaces. The biggest issue on Loockerman Street at the moment is
the popping up of cobblestones around the trees.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Riegner stated that Flexi-Pave is a material that is rubberized and
mostly seen at playgrounds around the base of a tree. Similar to bricks, it allows water to infiltrate
the roots and moves with the roots as they grow, preventing the surface from lifting or creating
trip hazards. He noted that this approach aligns well with the community's needs and helps create
a more maintainable and safer surface.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Mr. Riegner stated that there was very active engagement from both
Delaware State University and Bayhealth Hospital throughout the Downtown Dover Pathways
project. While he could not recall if Bayhealth had representation at the charette, multiple
representatives from Delaware State University were present and actively participated.
Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mr. Riegner clarified that areas currently covered in brick will remain
brick, and areas currently covered in cobblestone will be replaced with Flexi-Pave material, as
indicated in the conceptual design.
Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mr. Riegner stated that it is unclear whether the bricks will be mortared
in place or installed as dry set. The existing bricks are dry set. During the three days on-site, they
observed that the bricks were generally in good condition, except for those near the cobblestone,
where roots were causing them to lift. Dry-set sidewalks typically have a long lifespan unless
disrupted by roots. With the installation of new tree pits and Flexi-Pave, there should be less
upward pressure on the bricks.
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Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mr. Riegner stated that the concept is limited by the existing building
doors and the need for the sidewalk to slope consistently toward the street. These constraints
prevent raising the sidewalk; however, Flexi-Pave will help address areas where roots are
relatively high. Additionally, some trees with very high roots may need to be removed.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Mr. Riegner stated that there would not be an impact on downtown
Dover's traffic flow. He explained that reducing the travel lane width to ten feet would still
accommodate the same amount of traffic as a twelve-foot-wide lane. Regarding handicapped
parking, they are not proposing it on Loockerman Street. After seeing a presentation on the
proposed parking garage between Governors Avenue and Bradford Street, handicapped parking
will be available approximately one hundred feet from Loockerman Street.
Responding to Mr. Lewise, Mr. Riegner stated that there should be no issues with emergency
apparatus making turns. He explained that Mr. Lyon stated that the concept will need to gain
approvals throughout the whole process, so that will be confirmed with the city’s current apparatus.
He stated that the National Fire Protection Association Code required twenty feet for fire access,
and it must be a clear space of twenty feet between parked cars. He confirmed that the concept
meets the code, but it is yet to be determined if it fully accommodates the city’s specific apparatus
requirements.
Responding to Dr. Jackson-Short, Mr. Riegner stated that the proposed width is eight (8) feet of
parking and eleven feet of travel lane, which is the same as it currently is. He explained that the
parking lanes are striped a foot narrower, so he does not see a difference in user experience or
safety.
Responding to Dr. Jackson-Short, Mr. Riegner stated that they did not collect the demographic
information of those who attended the charette. He explained that it appeared to be a fairly
ethnically diverse group as well as diverse in terms of the activities or roles that they play within
the city. He stated that a lot of folks who live in the adjacent neighborhood and those who own
businesses on Loockerman Street attended.
Responding to Dr. Jackson-Short, Mr. Riegner stated that he does feel there was good
representation in attendance. They went into each individual business and spoke with each owner
who had time to speak to them.
Responding to Dr. Pillsbury, Mr. Riegner stated that the overall Downtown Dover Pathways
project that preceded the Loockerman Street charette looked closely at what reasonable bicycle
accommodations could be downtown. Unlike walking where people need to be able to walk
directly to the front door of the destination, for bicycling it was found to be okay to get within a
block or two of the destination and then walk the remaining distance, much like someone parking
a car.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Ms. Dawn Melson-Williams, Principal Planner, stated that Loockerman
Street is within the local historic district and is a zoning overlay. She explained that work in the
historic district is governed by the city’s design standards and guidelines for the City of Dover
Historic District Zone document. This document provides recommendations for appropriate and
inappropriate sidewalk materials, recognizing both concrete and brick as suitable for use in the
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historic area. Since the project is within the street right of way, it does not require review and
approval from the city’s Historic District Commission. However, property owners wishing to make
changes or improvements to their buildings would need to undergo a separate review process,
which could be handled administratively by staff or by the Historic District Commission,
depending on the funding source for the transportation improvement project. Ms. Melson-Williams
also noted that other regulatory processes, such as the Section 106 process, would review the
project if federal funds or permits are involved, to ensure that historic resources are not negatively
impacted.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Ms. Melson-Williams explained that the Dover Code of Ordinances
includes provisions that prohibit the use of bicycles on sidewalks in the downtown area. She noted
that multi-use pathways are typically not included in settings where buildings are located directly
on the sidewalk; instead, they are used in other development areas, such as along Route 13. From
a transportation planning perspective, in downtown areas, bicyclists are considered vehicle types
and would use the streets rather than the pedestrian areas of the potential corridor.
Dr. Sudler recommended adding a type of no bicycling indicator such as signs that say that it is
prohibited.
Mr. Hare stated that in the past there were no left turns going in and out of Loockerman Street to
prevent traffic from being held up. He stated that may be an idea they want to consider with the
changes.
Mr. Neil moved to recommend acceptance of the staff recommendations for the conceptual
design. The motion was seconded by Dr. Pillsbury and unanimously carried.
Quarterly Briefing on Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
Projects (Marilyn Smith, Executive Director of the Dover/Kent County MPO)
Ms. Marilyn Smith, Executive Director of the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO), provided a quarterly briefing on the Dover/Kent MPO projects.
This item was informational, and committee action was not required.
Responding to Mr. Anderson, Ms. Smith stated that what most people do not realize is that the
Joint Use Agreement was not an agreement with the Dover Air Force Base. The agreement was
with the Department of Defense, and anyone who has worked with them knows that it is a very
difficult task. She explained that the original Air Cargo Terminal Study included four (4)
recommended sections of road. The first section is Garrison Oak, along with the Garrison
connector, while the remaining three (3) sections are contingent upon developments with the
parcels around the current civil air terminal. She stated that the recommendations might change
depending on the future use of these parcels and the agreements made by the city and county.
Currently, the MPO must wait for further determinations regarding these parcels before reassessing
the accuracy of their recommendations.
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Discussion – Addressing the Patronizing or Solicitation of Prostitution and Its Offenders
(Councilman At-Large Andre M. Boggerty and Chief Johnson, Dover Police Department)
Mr. Thomas Johnson, Dover Police Department Chief, explained that individuals involved in
prostitution are often closely linked to at-risk communities. Those individuals usually have
coexisting challenges whether it is mental health, substance abuse, or human trafficking. These
quality-of-life issues significantly impact police operations and the overall approach to addressing
these situations.
Chief Johnson explained that police operations start with statutory law, outlining what is legally
permissible and impermissible. Court rulings provide additional guidance on the constitutional
implications of these laws. This legal framework informs training and operational decisions. When
a 911 call is received, these decisions are applied in real-time by officers on the ground. He noted
that all these factors form the backdrop of statutory law in Delaware, where both aspects of
prostitution are considered illegal behaviors.
Chief Johnson stated that he consulted with the Department of Justice and the Attorney General’s
office at the supervisory level. He explained that the Attorney General’s office has adopted the
position that they will not prosecute sex workers for prostitution. He stated that he reviewed a
memo that predates 2019, which is part of a broader judicial guidance. He explained that when it
comes to them having the authority to begin a secured detention for prostitution there is a need for
something else to be going on. For example, there must be a significant other violation of the law
for them to intercede on that individual who is offering themselves up for prostitution.
Chief Johnson stated that this leads to focusing on addressing those who patronize prostitutes. He
explained that for an operation targeting 'Johns' to proceed, there must be substantial evidence that
clearly documents the encounter and meets the legal threshold of probable cause, while avoiding
entrapment or coercion. Such operations are labor-intensive and require on-site support from the
Attorney General’s Office to assist investigators throughout the process.
Chief Johnson stated that when the loitering law in Delaware came into play it created a lot of
discussion at the local level. He explained that this law is currently under review in federal court,
and the outcome is uncertain. He stated that if the law is struck down, as some have indicated, then
the section that even loitering for prostitution will no longer be a tool for policing to address
prostitution in any place, let alone the downtown area. He stated that there are planned
interventions, but since the operation has not yet been carried out, he could not provide further
details. The result of the operation will provide services and paths out of the lifestyle being offered
to the individuals who are part of the at-risk population.
Chief Johnson stated that the Department of Justice has asked him to remind the council that the
human trafficking unit is actively exploring resources and opportunities to assist those with
substance abuse and mental health needs involved in prostitution. Their focus is on prosecuting
those who solicit prostitutes. He explained that if officers respond to a call about a prostitute and
discover an unrelated issue, they will act on that. However, according to the memorandum that has
been in circulation for about five (5) years, the Chief of Law Enforcement Officers for the State of
Delaware has directed that prosecutions for prostitution is not initiated. The memo advises local
Attorney Generals to dispose of such cases and seek alternative solutions. He stated that they are
doing what they can in the authority that is available to them.
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COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AUGUST 13, 2024 PAGE 12
In closing, Chief Johnson stated that the last piece of concern would be resource allocation on what
can be assigned to the issue of prostitution, while trying to address all of the other issues within
the city such as violent crime and traffic safety. He explained that balance is the philosophy that
he uses. He takes what is available to him and divides it up based on need, frequency, and severity,
and then tries to spread the resources to those places.
This item was informational, and committee action was not required.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Chief Johnson stated that he would not speak for the elected Attorney
General however, she made her direction very clear. He explained that she believes these
individuals are part of the at-risk communities. Through discussions with her senior staff, and
when reading the memorandum, he determined that it is not appropriate to prosecute individuals
for prostitution unless there is some other extenuating connection to the event. It is her position to
find alternative solutions to the behavior that they exhibit and the issues that they bring to the
community.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Chief Johnson stated that if discussing a prostitution arrest alone, Mr.
Lewis's chronology would be accurate. Most cases typically result in a release on recognizance,
meaning individuals would not be sent to a secure facility but would be released at arraignment.
Once the case was picked up by the Attorney General’s Office, it was clear through conversations
that an alternative solution would be sought. This might involve dismissal at the initial listing or
extending the case due to unique issues related to the individual. However, pursuing prosecution
to the end does not seem to be a likely outcome
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Chief Johnson explained that he feels the system is out of balance and
too far into the zone where accountability is not an option. There is a need to find an alternative
for everything and holding the individual accountable for their behavior is somehow mean or
inappropriate. He explained that they are stuck between finding a balance that works for those who
want action and those who have services to provide for the individuals. He explained that they are
reaching out to the people who are in positions to make decisions, but currently, the system is not
structured to enable his organization to effectively address the problem as intended. He explained
that until there are better laws, guidance, case law, and a judiciary that aligns with directives from
central authority and state government to achieve a balanced approach, he is uncertain how to
address the concerns of constituents. He recommended reaching out to those who are restricting
options and preventing accountability from being part of the solution.
Responding to Dr. Jackson-Short, Chief Johnson stated that the department consists of both an
enforcement side and a supportive side, which includes community policing officers and the
behavioral health unit officers. Those officers compare notes and collaborate regularly. When they
are encountering individuals suspected of being in at-risk lifestyles, the behavioral health unit will
follow up on known situations, even if they are not brought in immediately. They will pursue these
situations to assess the impact and provide wraparound services.
Responding to Dr. Jackson-Short, Chief Johnson stated that there is a huge demand for the
behavioral health unit, which impacts their ability to deploy resources promptly. He mentioned
that the department's major project presentation will highlight the unit's value. Currently, they are
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COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AUGUST 13, 2024 PAGE 13
transitioning from two (2) clinicians to one (1), presenting a resource challenge, but they are
committed to maximizing their available resources.
Responding to Dr. Sudler, Chief Johnson stated that he wanted to make it clear that if he were to
call the Delaware Department of Justice for issues, his call would get returned. The Department of
Justice is actively involved in addressing the issue, supporting enforcement actions against the
Johns and endorsing the approach for addressing individuals engaged in prostitution. He noted that
they are on a philosophical divide on that issue itself, but he thinks that they could respectfully
agree to disagree on what should happen. Chief Johnson stated that he is not pointing out the
political process but more so what might come out of it and where it will lead the city. He wants
to bring attention to council the potential consequences of not listening to the voices of those who
typically do not engage in the legislative process.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Chief Johnson stated that he has spoken to Chief Campos from the City
of Wilmington on several occasions. Wilmington experiences similar situations as the City of
Dover. They handle a high volume of calls and face significant demands on their time and
resources. The behaviors observed by the public are influenced by the rules they are given. He
explained that everything begins with the laws and what the judges are likely to accept or reject.
He noted that they have not specifically addressed prostitution in their discussions.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Chief Johson stated that they would have to make contact and find
contraband on the individual to address the matter in a criminal aspect. At the time of the arrest, it
would be included in the charge list and that would be a situation where it is not a standard
prostitution arrest. Therefore, that would be a different kind of case and be a slightly different path.
Responding to Mr. Lewis, Chief Johnson stated that the Drugs, Vice, and Organized Crime Unit
is one of the special plain-clothed units that help with all of the proactive plain-clothed operations,
and they are actively involved.
Dover Police Department Major Project Outline FY25 (Chief Johnson, Dover Police
Department)
Mr. Thomas Johnson, Dover Police Department Chief, reviewed the background and analysis
regarding the Dover Police Department's major projects for fiscal year 2025.
Mr. Todd Foreman, VirTra, reviewed the background regarding the VirTra Training Simulator and
the included features.
This item was informational, and committee action was not required.
Responding to Mr. Boggerty, Mr. Foreman stated that Seaford and Ocean View currently use the
single screens, and Newark, New Jersey, and the Secret Service use the five-screen system. Also,
the Royal Canadian Mount Police use the simulators nationally.
Mr. Boggerty moved for adjournment of the Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee
meeting, hearing no objection the meeting adjourned at 10:11 p.m.
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COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AUGUST 13, 2024 PAGE 14
UTILITY COMMITTEE
The Utility Committee met with Chairman Neil presiding.
Adoption of Agenda
Ms. Arndt moved for adoption of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Anderson and unanimously
carried.
Evaluation of Proposals – Water and Wastewater Asset Management Plan Program
Engineering Support (Jason Lyon, Water/Wastewater Director)
Mr. Jason Lyon, Director of Water and Wastewater reviewed the background and analysis of the
evaluation of proposals for the water and wastewater asset management plan program engineering
support.
Staff recommended awarding the contract to Century Engineering, LLC for the engineering
support of the Water and Wastewater Asset Management Plan, RFP#24-0038WW, for #125,000.
Mr. Hare moved to recommend accepting the staff recommendation. The motion was
seconded by Mr. Rocha and unanimously carried.
Annexation Request – 139 Acorn Lane, Owned by Byler Investments, LLC. (Dawn Melson-
Williams, Principal Planner)
Ms. Dawn Melson-Williams, Principal Planner, reviewed the background and analysis regarding
the annexation request for 139 Acorn Lane.
Mr. Hare moved to recommend the annexation of 139 Acorn Lane, as recommended by staff.
The motion was seconded by Dr. Pillsbury and unanimously carried.
Mr. Neil moved for adjournment of the Utility Committee meeting, hearing no objection the
meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Mr. Anderson moved for adjournment of the Council Committee of the Whole meeting,
hearing no objection the meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
David L. Anderson
Council President
Attachments
Attachment #1 - Presentation entitled "Overdose Response Center (ORC)”
Attachment #2 - Presentation entitled " The Constant Need for Blood and Constant Shortages”
Page 15
ATTACHMENT #1
Council Committee of the Whole Meeting of 8/13/2024
OVERDOSE RESPONSE CENTER (ORC)
OVERVIEW
302-255-2773
ORC@delaware.gov
EXECUTIVE PROGRAMS AND GRANT ADMINISTRATION UNIT
AUGUST 13, 2024
Page 16
ORC STAFFING
Overdose Response Center
302-255-2773
Resource Mailbox Duty Officer
All inquiries/requests Brent Waninger Off-Hours/Emergencies
ORC@delaware.gov Director 302-657-9073
Brent.Waninger@delaware.gov
Edward Schiavi Leah Warren
Operations Manager Community Response Manager
Edward.Schiavi1@delaware.gov Leah.Warren@delaware.gov
3 Data/Intelligence Analysts New Castle/Kent/Sussex County CRTs
2 Planner IIIs New Castle/Kent/Sussex County PORTs
AUGUST 13, 2024 2
Page 17
WHAT IS THE ORC?
• Statewide operations center for near-real time collection, interpretation,
and analysis of overdose data and related intelligence
• Collect and analyze information from:
• DSAMH clients and the statewide referral system
• Law Enforcement reports
• Emergency Medical Services
• Division of Forensic Science
• Treatment Providers and outreach teams: “street” intelligence and testing
• Local community organizations
• Development of deployment plans and orders as appropriate based on
the data and intelligence analysis
AUGUST 13, 2024 3
Page 18
PURPOSE
Near real-time data/intelligence analysis and mapping
“Data-Responsive” operations and deployments
Deployment Orders and Deployment Plans
Post Overdose Response Teams (PORTs)
AUGUST 13, 2024 4
Page 19
ORC OPERATIONS
Leverage deployable state and
Near real-time OUD/STUD Rapid and agile community
partner assets to impact
surveillance, monitoring, and response that is
overdose deaths.
data intelligence. “data-responsive”.
Deployable assets
The goal is 7 day a week operations.
AUGUST 13, 2024 5
Page 20
ATTACHMENT #2
Council Committee of the Whole Meeting of 8/13/2024
The Constant Need for Blood and
Constant Shortages
Presentation by: Steven Corse – Executive Director, Blood
Operations, Bank of Delmarva; Tony Prado –Communications
Specialist, Blood Bank of Delmarva
Page 21
Blood & Time Saves Lives
The Blood Bank of Delmarva is charged with keeping all 19 hospitals in
Delmarva stocked with the blood and blood products they need for
patients.
Patients include car accident, gunshot and other trauma victims; cancer
patients, who often need red cells and platelets; burn patients, who
often need plasma; anemia patients, including Sickle Cell Anemia and
other diseases.
Page 22
Why is our story important? Blood must come
from donors.
• Blood cannot be manufactured outside the human body. We rely
on the generosity of donors.
• BBD ideally needs 350 donors per day to supply all 19 hospitals in
Delmarva as well as 6 hospitals outside of Delmarva.
• 1 donation can save 3 lives (packed red blood cells, frozen
plasma, cryoprecipitate manufactured in the lab)
• It is estimated 1 in 3 people need blood in their lifetimes
Page 24
Why do hospitals need blood?
• Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused product, i.e. for use
in traumas and other emergencies, scheduled surgeries, cancer
patients, burn patients.
• Red blood cells carry your iron and oxygen to all cells in your body and it carries
carbon dioxide waste away from your cells
• White blood cells are filtered out in our lab through a process called leucocyte
reduction.
• Red blood cells will save your life if you are bleeding to death in an emergency (O
negative and low titer O positive whole blood are key products).
• Pretty much daily in our Christiana Donor Center, we have dedicated, pink dot
donors who give for surgeries at Nemours Children’s Hospital, namely O negative,
O positive and A negative blood donors.
Page 25
Why do hospitals need blood?
• Plasma is also used for surgeries as well as well as by
pharmaceutical companies, that create lifesaving drugs out of
human plasma.
• Plasma is 55% of the volume of your blood and is composed of water, salts
and enzymes
• Carries all blood components throughout your body; in other words, it
holds the blood cells in suspension.
• It also has clotting factors that can help patients when platelets fail for
some reason. Namely, when you begin to thaw frozen plasma, you create
Cryoprecipitate, also known as Cryo.
Page 26
Why do hospitals need blood?
• Platelets are used to stop bleeding in trauma patients, to guard
against bleeding for scheduled surgeries and for cancer patients.
• Platelets are the tiny cells in your blood responsible for clotting at site of a
cut or injury to stop bleeding. Their job is to react to bleeding by clumping
at the site, thereby initiating a blood clot
• Platelet donors lose nothing; in fact, they gain platelets due to the body’s
regenerative properties
• Platelets are also called thrombocytes (from the Greek word for clot)
• When you transfuse platelets to cancer patients, you can see the color and
light come back into their face.
Page 27
We now also supply paramedics
• Sussex County Paramedics began carrying O-positive, whole blood
units on their supervisor units in May 2023.
• New Castle County Paramedics began carrying O-positive, whole
blood units on their supervisor units one week after Sussex.
• In late May/early June, Southern Chester County [PA] Paramedics
began carrying O-positive, packed red cells out into the field.
• The challenge? Type O blood was already the most in demand,
therefore it’s difficult to keep in stock at optimal levels.
Page 28
BBD now has 6 donor centers
• Headquarters is the Christiana Donor Center across the
street from Christiana Hospital in New Castle County.
• Dover Donor Center is off Saulsbury Road in the city of Dover,
west of the U.S. Route 13 corridor.
• Salisbury Donor Center is not too far from the U.S. Route 13
corridor in Salisbury, Maryland.
• The Concord Donor Center is located in Chadds Ford, Pa.
• The Dagsboro Donor Center in Sussex County opened in May
2021.
• The Middletown Donor Center opened last week, August 5!
Page 29
National vs. local Blood Supply
• Blood Bank of Delmarva and other blood centers throughout the
U.S. are local organizations with a local focus (i.e. local hospitals).
• We are a member of America’s Blood Centers and its division,
ADRP, as well as (AABB) which provides regulations for us to follow.
The main regulations we follow, however, are from the Federal Food
& Drug Administration (FDA)
• The American Red Cross is a national organization with a
national focus; they face the same challenges.
Page 30
Urgent appeal issued this summer
• BBD aims for a 7-day supply of all blood types. When we get below that,
things get precarious
• Blood supply was at 1 to 3 days for type O blood (O-positive and O-
negative blood types)
• Juxtapose that with a surge in blood usage at local hospitals as people
are more active during the summertime
• We have not just a local shortage, but a national shortfall. This means
we can’t just import if we have a shortage.
• An appeal is one step below a full-blown emergency. If all blood types
were low, we’d have an emergency. Don’t be surprised if we issue an
emergency if we can’t get more people to donate blood.
Page 31
The challenge of collecting blood
• ABC and ADRP ran the numbers, and 62% of the U.S.
population is eligible to give blood.
• The problem? Only 3% of eligible donors actually donate.
• We are not immune to those challenges locally.
• We need more people to give blood both universally and in
certain demographic groups.
• Give back to your community; donate blood!
Page 33
Donor Outreach/Growth
• Blood Bank of Delmarva has been trying to attract young and first-
time donors.
• New donor center in Middletown will not be the last, as we seek
more locations to maximize the mission.
• We are working with a number of organizations to increase the
number of minority donors. For instance, one in three African
Americans are a match for sickle cell patients, who receive red cells
regularly. (So, good things can happen if we are successful.)
• Universally, we are trying to maximize our impact with the
community. For instance, if we have one blood drive at a school,
we’re trying for two. If we have two already, we’re trying for three.
Page 34
Demographic Outreach
Blood Bank of Delmarva has been trying
to attract young and first-time donors.
New donor center in Middletown will not
be the last, as we seek more locations to
maximize the mission.
We are working with a number of
organizations to increase the number of
minority donors. For instance, one in
three African Americans are a match for
sickle cell patients, who receive red cells
regularly. (So, good things can happen if
we are successful.)
Universally, we are trying to maximize
our impact with the community. For
instance, if we have one blood drive at a
school, we’re trying for two. If we have
two already, we’re trying for three.
Page 35
Community Blood Drives
Page 36
Thank you, Madam Chair, Councilor
Tricia Arndt, and the Committee.
Any questions?
A copy of this report has been given to the
City Clerk.
For more information, please contact Tony
Prado at aprado@bbd.org or (302) 657-
1756.