CCW and Attachment #1

COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE The Council Committee of the Whole met on June 10, 2025, at 6:01 p.m. with Council President Neil presiding. Members of Council present were Mr. Anderson, Ms. Arndt, Ms. Hall, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Rocha. Mr. Boggerty, Dr. Pillsbury, and Dr. Sudler were absent. Mayor Christiansen was also present. Civilian members present for their Committee meetings were Mr. Garfinkel, and Mr. Shevock (Legislative, Finance, and Administration). ADOPTION OF AGENDA Ms. Arndt moved for adoption of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Rocha, and unanimously carried. Council Reports – May 2025 First District Dr. Pillsbury was absent; no report was given. Mr. Rocha reported meeting with a 55 and over community, along with Mr. Boggerty and Dr. Pillsbury, to discuss challenges that they have had since moving in. Since moving in, their rent has increased by eight (8) percent, yet they have no amenities within their building. Neighborhood Partners has offered to host a follow-up meeting, and they are working on scheduling the meeting. Second District Ms. Hall had nothing to report. Mr. Lewis reported that residents on Elm Terrace have contacted him regarding road issues, specifically potholes and dips. He has been in contact with Assistant City Manager Sharon Duca, who is addressing the problem with Public Works. Last month, he met with Clearview Meadow Development residents to help them start a neighborhood watch program, a meeting that also included the Community Policing unit. Other communities have been in contact with him as well about starting the program after it was publicized in the newspaper. Finally, Mr. Lewis received a complaint about a high number of syringes found on Lotus Street. He plans to contact the Mayor and Police Chief regarding individuals discarding syringes with needles attached near South Dover Elementary. Third District Ms. Arndt reported that she received a few quality-of-life issues reported by constituents, primarily related to trash or unkept yards. She explained that there was also an issue related to a Capital School District property issue that was remedied immediately after they were contacted. She thanked them for being so responsive. Fourth District Mr. Anderson reported that the people in the fourth district are active and engaged. He explained that there are efforts that are underway dealing with neighborhood quality of life issues. He further explained that the community, with the collaboration of Restoring Central Dover and NeighborGood Partners, is starting a neighborhood watch south of Division Street, hoping to

COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING JUNE 10, 2025 PAGE 2 duplicate the success that was achieved north of Division Street. Mr. Anderson stated that there is a similar effort being put forth with Holy Trinity. He explained that the only issue is if they want to schedule their meetings on the same night, and it is hard to be in two places at once. Mr. Anderson stated that the People's Community Center has supported them in other efforts, working on a major project to set up a full veterans facility, and they have done a great job with their youth outreach already. Mr. Anderson stated that a positive event that may be happening is that there may be a medical clinic right in the neighborhood. Mr. Anderson thanked city staff for looking into and addressing issues in the Millcreek community. He also reported receiving notifications about tree issues on College Road and a few other locations, specifically concerning trees growing into people's yards and general overgrowth. Mr. Anderson stated that he has received requests for an ordinance to take care of a few issues, and these will be addressed when a new city solicitor is hired. Mr. Anderson further stated that he has received inquiries that people want to be involved regarding America 250, and with it being next year, the city should get started on the planning. Dr. Sudler was absent; he submitted his report electronically (Attachment #1). At-Large Mr. Boggerty was absent; no report was given. Council President Neil Council President Neil reported that on May 15, 2025, he attended a very peaceful transition meeting with my predecessor, Councilman Anderson. He also had a meeting regarding council business with Mayor Christiansen, Chief Johnson, City Manager Hugg, and Finance Director Marney. Mr. Neil further reported that he attended a drinking water week luncheon at the library, the Construction and Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals hearing with Councilman Boggerty and Councilman Rocha, the May Tourism meeting, the Dover Housing Authority at Manchester Square with Councilman Anderson and Councilman Rocha to include follow ups, the ribbon cutting at Ocean State Job Lots Store with Mayor Christiansen, and the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) Joint Council Briefing. Mr. Neil further reported that he attended the Dover Air Force Base briefing held at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve regarding PFAS water issues. Mr. Neil met with Mr. Bobby Wilson regarding a proposal to bring the Clean Streets Program, a very successful program in the City of Wilmington, to Dover. Mr. Neil reported receiving complaints of loud music from an event called Afterfly. He further explained that the issue was being discussed at Levy Court this evening and that he had written a letter to Mrs. Masten, Levy Court President, regarding the issue. Mr. Neil reported that he attended the ReStore Central Habitat for Humanity event on June 6, 2025. Mr. Neil thanked the city staff for taking care of the constituent issue for Joseph Cubbage. Mr. Neil stated that 41 Anchor Lane notified Speedway officials that the MPO rejected the city's request to add a study of the Leipsic Road bottleneck at Route 13 due to 216 apartments that are being built there. Mr. Neil reported a constituent complaint over their water bill, and that it was due to a water irrigation meter and followed by saying that there was a quick response from Jason Lyon and staff. Mr. Neil reported receiving constituent neighbor questions about the construction between Persimmon Park Place and Wild Meadows. Mr. Neil further reported the ongoing work with the constituent on the house from hell she bought in White Oak Farms, which included a meeting with the mayor and a letter sent to Attorney General Jennings by himself and others in the Department of Justice. Mr. Neil

COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING JUNE 10, 2025 PAGE 3 responded to a constituent's concern about her neighbor's trees and limbs encroaching on her property. Mr. Neil reported that he consulted with former state Senator Ennis on a matter dealing with leased land housing beyond Dover's jurisdiction. Mr. Neil reported that he and Assistant City Manager Duca heard a constituent complaint about noise on Route One (1) intruding as a result of the small forest of trees removed surrounding the area of South Hancock and Hopkins Avenue. Mr. Neil reported responding to complaints from an East Lake constituent about dog’ owners not cleaning up after their animals and loud barking. LEGISLATIVE, FINANCE, AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE The Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee met with Chairman Anderson presiding. Adoption of Agenda Mr. Garfinkel moved for adoption of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Rocha, and unanimously carried. Lloyd Schmid, 170 Merion Road, Dover, gave public comment regarding an issue at the intersection of Mifflin Road and Hazlettville Road. He explained that he had spoken to the City of Dover and Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), and he still felt that there was an issue with not having a yield sign when heading west on Hazlettville Road and turning north onto Mifflin Road. He was told by DelDOT that the intersection meets Federal Regulations. Mr. Schmid further stated that he is thinking about requesting public records from the City of Dover Police Department that would give information on how many accidents have happened at the intersection. Responding to Mr. Schmid, Mayor Christiansen explained that he is the Chairman of the Dover Kent MPO and that he would have them review that intersection. Downtown Development District (DDD) Relaunch (Ann Marie Townshend, Rossi Group, and Chris Salzano, Planner II) Ms. Ann Marie Townshend, Rossi Group Consultant, and Chris Salzano, City of Dover Planner II, reviewed the background and analysis of the Downtown Development District (DDD) Relaunch. Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mrs. Townshend stated that the program application on the website is a fillable PDF. Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mrs. Townshend explained that they made sure everything was together that was needed to complete the relaunch. She further explained that the next conversation will be surrounding the promotion of the program to include the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce (CDCC), the Kent Economic Partnership (KEP), as well as the Downtown Dover Partnership, and the City of Dover. Responding to Mrs. Arndt, Mrs. Townshend thanked her for pointing out the benefits of the program to the City of Dover. This item was informational, committee action was not required.

COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING JUNE 10, 2025 PAGE 4 Proposed Ordinance #2025-12 - Amending Chapter 102 - Taxation, Article III - Realty Transfer Tax, Sec. 102-71 - Definitions and Article IV - Abatement of Real Estate Taxes, Sec. 102-113 - Qualifications (David S. Hugg, III, City Manager, and Ann Marie Townshend, Rossi Group) Ms. Ann Marie Townshend, Rossi Group Consultant, reviewed the background of the proposed ordinance, explaining that when they were updating the materials for the relaunch, they realized that the terminology in the code on the handouts for the program had changed. She further explained that to be consistent with the state program and more identifiable, they made the technical corrections. Staff recommended that the committee approve Proposed Ordinance #2025-12 and forward it to council for approval. Responding to Mr. Lewis, Ms. Townshend explained that when the ordinance was approved, it changed the boundary and therefore changed that terminology for the Downtown Development District. She further explained that it is just to maintain consistency. Mr. Rocha moved to recommend accepting staff recommendation. The motion was seconded by Mr. Neil and unanimously carried. Mr. Anderson moved for adjournment of the Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee meeting, hearing no objection, the meeting adjourned at 6:34 p.m. Mr. Neil moved for adjournment of the Council Committee of the Whole meeting, hearing no objection, the meeting adjourned at 6:34 p.m. Fred A. Neil Council President Attachments Attachment #1 – Dr. Sudler’s 4th District Report

ATTACHMENT #1 Council Committee of the Whole Meeting of 06/10/2025 Walls, Ashley A From: Roy Sudler Jr. <roysudlerjr@comcast.net> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 2:42 PM To: City Clerks Office Subject: EXTERNAL: Submitted into the record under District 4 Report - Dr. Sudler WARNING: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Madam Clerk Bennett, Please submit the following details regarding the meeting I attended on May 30, 2025, along with Dr. Travis Mishoe Sudler, I., as Human Relation Commission's Interim Chairperson to be inserted into the meeting minutes as District 4 - Dr. Sudler's Report. Appreciatively, Dr. Sudler __________________________________________________________________ OUR Voices: Meeting Minutes Date: Friday, May 30, 2025 Location: Tomeka’s Homestyle Eatery, Dover, DE Topic: Civic Engagement & Understanding Local Government Special Guests:  Councilman Roy Sudler, Jr., Ph.D. – Representative, 4th District, Dover City Council  Dr. Travis Mishoe Sudler – Commissioner, Dover Human Relations Commission, District 4 Dover City Council Presentation Summary Structure and Role of the Dover City Council Councilman Roy Sudler, Jr. provided a comprehensive overview of the City of Dover’s government. The city operates under a council-manager form of government, with a mayor who has limited executive authority—primarily the power to veto legislation and supervise the police chief. The nine-member City Council serves as the city's legislative body. Councilman Sudler emphasized that the council is responsible for: 1

 Managing the city budget  Crafting legislation  Responding to constituent concerns  Promoting ethical and responsive governance He reaffirmed his commitment to being a present and engaged representative, stressing the importance of listening to community members and reflecting their voices in city decisions. Understanding the Budget Process Councilman Sudler explained that:  The city manager compiles funding requests from each department.  A proposed budget is submitted to council for review, questions, and revisions.  The council votes on the final budget, typically approved by July 1 each year. He highlighted that although public attention often focuses on the mayor, the council holds real legislative and fiscal power. He encouraged residents to understand how their local government functions, noting that systems differ by city (e.g., Dover’s council-manager system vs. Philadelphia’s strong-mayor system). To support civic education, Sudler directed attendees to explore the National League of Cities and learn about different forms of local governance. He acknowledged that much of his own learning came from independent research, as formal onboarding for new council members is limited. Council Leadership and Informed Voting Sudler explained that:  The Council President (also called Vice Mayor) is the most powerful role in city government, stepping in when the mayor is incapacitated.  This position is not elected by the public, but chosen by the nine council members—a process he believes undermines accountability. He advocated for:  A public vote to determine the Vice Mayor.  More scrutiny of council candidates, warning that some run for personal gain rather than community service.  Voter education on candidates’ track records and values, not just campaign slogans. He noted that low civic literacy leads to low standards for elected officials and urged residents to educate themselves and others. Low Voter Turnout in Local Elections 2

Councilman Sudler called attention to poor voter participation in city elections:  Despite a population of nearly 40,000, fewer than 5,000 voters participated in a recent election.  Multiple council seats were on the ballot, yet turnout remained low. He framed this as a call to action for increased civic engagement and education. How Residents Can Engage with City Council In response to a question about civic involvement, Councilman Sudler recommended the following:  Attend Council Meetings: Physical presence shows strength in numbers and raises issue visibility.  Submit Written Feedback: Emails, letters, or comments read into the record can shape decisions.  Ask Questions: Directly contact your councilperson for clarification on issues.  Build Relationships: Ongoing dialogue helps ensure your concerns are represented.  Know Your Representatives: Dover residents have both a district and at- large councilperson; those outside city limits are represented by Kent County Levy Court members. He reiterated that real power lies with the people, and even small groups—as few as five concerned citizens—can influence decisions. City vs. County Residency and Voting Confusion A participant raised a common issue: having a Dover mailing address but living outside city limits. Councilman Sudler clarified:  These properties often receive city services but fall under county jurisdiction and are ineligible to vote in city elections.  To check: review your property tax bill—if you only pay county taxes, you're not a city resident. Sudler is advocating for more transparency and fairness around taxation, annexation, and service delivery. Improving Communication with Residents Sudler addressed ongoing communication gaps:  Notices are posted on the city website or in newspapers but often missed.  Most residents only visit the site to pay utility bills. He proposed using utility bill inserts as a consistent method to inform residents, citing past success when he chaired the Human Relations Commission. He stressed that this requires a City Council vote, with at least 5 of 9 members in favor for such motions to pass. 3

Youth Engagement and Digital Challenges Dr. Travis Sudler shared insights on youth and civic participation:  Young people are navigating a digitally fragmented world—what he called “Internet Delaware”—filled with harmful content and misinformation.  Social media significantly influences their values and behaviors, often negatively. He called for intentional efforts to engage youth and build their awareness of real-world issues and community involvement. Closing Remarks Councilman Roy Sudler, Jr. ended with a powerful reminder: “Power begins with the people. The more informed and engaged we are, the better our government becomes.” He encouraged residents to stay involved and offered the following opportunities:  Dover City Council Meetings Held on the 2nd and 4th Monday and Tuesday each month at 6:30 PM ➤ City Council Calendar  Human Relations Commission Meeting Monday, June 16, 2025 | 6:00–7:00 PM | City Hall  Find your representatives and more details: ➤ City of Dover Council Members Brainstorming Session Summary Vision Statement Feedback  Proposed Vision: “Organize, Educate, and Empower Together”  Most attendees liked the phrasing and message.  Some noted it reads more like a slogan, recommending a deeper discussion to align with long-term goals. Key Areas of Civic Focus  The group debated focusing efforts on city, county, state government, and school boards.  Consensus favored engaging across all levels, citing their interconnected nature. Group Name  Current communications are under the name “OUR Voices.”  Most participants were in favor of keeping the name. 4

Meeting Schedule  Meetings will continue on the 4th Friday of each month, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.  In-person format will remain for now; virtual options will be explored. Civic Resources Participants were encouraged to build their civic knowledge using these tools:  Harvard Free Government and Civics Courses ➤ https://pll.harvard.edu/subject/government?page=0  National League of Cities – Resource Library ➤ https://www.nlc.org/resources-training/resource-library/ Special Thanks to Tomeka’s Homestyle Eatery, Kenya Alston, Councilman Sudler and Dr. Sudler, and all of the guests who so generously donated their time and resources to make our meeting a success! Next Meeting 괤 괥 괦 Friday, June 27, 2025 괣 괧 괢 괡 괠 괟 괞 괝 괜 굘 Location: TBD 굙 굗 꽝 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 꽇 꽜 꽛 꽚 5