Transcript: Regular Council Meeting
Monday, November 24, 2025
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Showing 263 of 263 statements
Fred A. Neil
You have before you this evening's agenda. I will entertain a motion for its adoption.
Play from 00:00Fred A. Neil
Any opposed? It is approved unanimously. We now have before you the consent agenda. These items on the consent agenda are considered routine and non-controversial, and will be acted upon on a single roll-call vote of the council. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of council so request, in which event the matter shall be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its as a separate item. What is the pleasure of the council?
Play from 00:17Fred A. Neil
The consent agenda is approved unanimously. And now I will call the Mayor, invite Elaine Pincowski from the Compassionate Care Hospice to the podium for the presentation of of a proclamation for National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Madam Clerk, please read the proclamation into the record.
Play from 01:21City Clerk
Proclamation: Whereas during the month of November, hospice and palliative care programs across the nation raise awareness about the compassionate care that helps patients and families live as fully as possible despite serious or life-limiting illness; and whereas hospice and palliative care providers offer the highest quality services focused on comfort and dignity, ensuring that patients facing serious illness receive care that aligns with their values and wishes; and whereas these programs bring together professionals and volunteers, including physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and therapists who provide medical, emotional, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones; and whereas hospice and palliative care improve quality of life, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, and provide critical assistance for families coping with end-of-life challenges and grief; and whereas the City of Dover recognizes and commends the dedicated caregivers, healthcare professionals, and volunteers who devote themselves to ensuring that our residents receiving receive compassionate care when it is needed most. Now, therefore, I, Robin R. Christiansen, Mayor of the City of Dover, Delaware, do hereby proclaim November 2025 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month in the City of Dover, and encourage all residents to increase their understanding and awareness
Play from 01:46City Clerk
of Hospice and Palliative Care Services, and to observe this month with appropriate activities and appreciation for those who provide this essential care.
Play from 03:16Robin R. Christiansen
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Mr. President. So, Irene, on behalf of myself, the members of the Dover City Council, and the citizens we all serve, it's a pleasure to present to you this proclamation. And because you got the puffy cover, you know the drill, you get time at the podium.
Play from 03:22Irene
Oh, my gosh. Thank you all so much. It's an honor and a pleasure to be able to do what we do every day. I'm going on my 24th year here at Compassionate Care Hospice, and it's actually it is just such an honor to do what we do. And thank you so much for this. I know my team is going to be
Play from 03:33Robin R. Christiansen
So, the young lady brought us a box of candy. And I know you are all on a diet. And it is an ethics violation if we take this candy. So, Mr. President, I would propose that the youngest person in the audience— no, not you, Vonda— come down and take this box of candy off our hands.
Play from 03:52Robin R. Christiansen
There is one caveat. You see this one here? When you open the box, make sure I get that one.
Play from 04:39Fred A. Neil
We now have the final reading of proposed ordinances. The first reading of the proposed ordinances was accomplished during the council meeting of November the 10th, 2025. The ordinances are available at the entrance of the Council Chambers, or on the city's website at www.cityofdover.com under Government. First, I will entertain a motion to consider the final readings by title only. A separate motion will be necessary for each adoption. What is the pleasure of Council?
Play from 04:47Fred A. Neil
Okay, we have both a a motion to move and a second. All in favor, please say aye.
Play from 05:36City Clerk
Ordinance 2025-18, amending Chapter 2, Administration, Article 5, Finance, by adding Section 2-427, New Vehicle Bill of Rates— rates.
Play from 05:47Fred A. Neil
Jason Lyon, our Water and Wastewater Director, please brief the members on this ordinance.
Play from 05:57Jason Lyon
Good evening, Council President, Council members, Mayor, and Team Dover. My name is Jason Lyon, Director of Water and Wastewater and Engineering Services for the City. This was a collaborative effort between
Play from 06:26Mr. Lyon
multiple departments within the city to align any billable rates that we have with any services that we provide, such as if someone hits a fire hydrant, or if someone runs into a transformer, and we have to bill the insurance companies. Our our billable rates for our vehicles have are drastically outdated, over 10 years old. It's a cumbersome task to go through each vehicle to try to identify how much each vehicle would cost per hour. So the idea was to utilize the FEMA rates, which are updated periodically, and they have almost every vehicle that we have listed. We utilize FEMA for any sort of emergency management, for damage. So we felt that this would be a wise move to keep things orderly and uniform to help with recouping costs. Be happy to answer any questions.
Play from 06:33Fred A. Neil
Seeing no questions. Madam Clerk, oh I need a motion. I need a motion to approve this ordinance. Councilman Anderson.
Play from 07:31David L. Anderson
Uh thank you, Mr. President. I move that we approve uh ordinance 2025-18 amending chapter 2, administration, article uh 5, finance, uh by adding section 2-427, new billable rates.
Play from 08:20Fred A. Neil
It's been moved and it's seconded, now we can ask all for the uh call the roll for approval.
Play from 08:43Fred A. Neil
That's it, the ordinance has been approved unanimously. Thank you Mr. Lyon.
Play from 09:13Fred A. Neil
Ordinance 2025-20 amending chapter 106, traffic and vehicles, article 1, in general, by adding section 106-18, strictly enforced. Mr. Anderson, please brief the members on this ordinance.
Play from 09:19David L. Anderson
Uh thank you Mr. President. Uh this ordinance is one that allows uh strict enforcement in residential districts, only residential, uh because of the huge problem of speeding in uh our neighborhoods. Uh unfortunately, without strictly enforced, uh you basically enforcement starts at 36 miles per hour, and you look at the stopping distance between 25 and 35 miles per hour uh is very significant.
Play from 09:40Roy Sudler, Jr.
Yes. Yes. And if uh, if there is uh, no objection, um, there were no problems with the amendment with legally, is that, Mr. President, if I may direct that to Mr. Griffith?
Play from 10:00Fred A. Neil
Okay. Now we still have a motion to well, the the motion is now ready for vote, right? Is that correct?
Play from 10:17Nicholas Rodriguez
That's correct, Councilman, that the the main amendment had to do with the definition of residential district. So, one of the things we looked at was whether local municipalities had the authority to make that definition and whether it would be consistent with state law. We looked at state law, and state law made it pretty clear that municipalities have the authority to define residential district on their own.
Play from 10:23Roy Sudler, Jr.
That is correct. I would uh, Mr. President, I move that we adopt Proposed Ordinance 2025-20, amending chapter 106, Traffic and Vehicles, article I, In General, by ask- adding section 106-18, Strictly Enforced.
Play from 10:23Roy Sudler, Jr.
Then uh, if there is no objection, Mr. President, uh I would ask unanimous consent that Dr. Sudler's amendment be incorporated into the ordinance.
Play from 10:44Fred A. Neil
Any questions? If not, I'll call for a vote on a basis of a unanimous consent.
Play from 10:56Brian E. Lewis
Okay. Thank you. Um, my question, uh, and this is for the Chief, um, at the October 28th Committee of the Whole meeting, uh, I'm reading the minutes here,
Play from 11:05Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.
I'm sorry I'm sorry to interrupt I'm sorry to interrupt. Sorry, um, Councilman Lewis, but just for the sake of uh being in order, I think there was a a motion that was made, and I think we have to have a second.
Play from 11:16Brian E. Lewis
again, uh I reiterate, at the uh October 28th Committee of the Whole meeting, um Chief Johnson uh was uh asked several questions, and I have a copy of the minutes that I reviewed, and uh he had indicated uh that he may need to have a conversation with Judge Wilson to get his opinion on what would happen if a few local ordinance citations were challenged.
Play from 11:41Brian E. Lewis
as they will require extra paperwork to get on the court docket, which would be Justices of the Peace Court number seven. Um, you also noted uh that he would like to see what the judges do to provide a better answer as to what strictly enforce means because it is a subjective message in signage. Um, Chief Johnson were you able to get an answer? Did you have a conversation with Judge Wilson as of this date?
Play from 13:06Thomas Johnson
Yes, sir, I did. Um, going to say it was probably Wednesday or Thursday of last week. And, again, the uh judge cannot speak for the discretion of other judges as to what they would use as their deliberative factors in any particular uh hearing that would be held in response to a speeding citation. Um, there is nothing in the law that says even 26 in a 25 could not be, ultimately, uh a conviction at the JP Court uh level. Um, now, of course, timing devices and and other things that come into play depending on whether the person has an attorney, doesn't have an attorney, um citing uh there there's a lot of things that have that have driven why, uh to speak to Mr. Anderson's point, why most of the time police officers don't cite until it's 10 over, uh is because of all the reasonable doubt that can be found in timing devices and other factors that impact a judge trying to decide whether they're going to convict a motorist uh of speeding. There But, there is no there's nothing that bars an officer from writing this citation. But, every time it comes into court, there will be a unique set of circumstances with each individual case. They'll be heard by different judges, and they all have the discretion to take um both the um evidence that's offered and any mitigating factors in rendering a decision. Um, so I I really wish I could give you a a more crystal-clear um answer as to what might occur, but the judiciary has uh significant discretion in this area. And I'll I guess I'll revisit the comments that you review that you reviewed, sir, before this evening, which is I'm going to be able to give a much better answer as to what the actual impact uh of this change will be after I see how many times they get um challenged, how many times we go to court, and what the ultimate disposition is um at that hearing. Um, but right now, it's still a bit of a gray area because every case is unique, and each judge has the ability to exercise the discretion of their office.
Play from 13:44Brian E. Lewis
Uh thank you. I uh wish you had that answer tonight because uh to to further ask you, uh if this uh ordinance is in fact uh appealable, which is a a $10 ticket, uh how much is it going to cost
Play from 16:08Brian E. Lewis
cost the the city in resources, police officer overtime and such, to appear in court for a $10 ticket?
Play from 16:22Thomas Johnson
To get the um section put on a JP docket, it has to be converted from a city ordinance violation into uh a state-level offense. That's not too hard to do, but if the person that wants to fight the ticket comes into headquarters, we have a standard process to do that with on-duty resources. Uh as it pertains to the case coming up on the docket, um we have what's known as the Police Prosecution Project, which is allows us to put a supervisor in court to um stand up all of the citations that are pending on that day on the docket. If some kind of a reasonable disposition can be worked out between the police department and the various motorists that are appearing in court for that day, um for lack of a better term, we we have a parade of plea bargains that occur, which saves the city money in having all of the officers that had written um tickets that day to be on the clock in court ready to testify. If we find ourselves at an impasse, um where an individual is is very much um interested in a hearing, if the officer happens to be on day work and on the clock, we typically call them in and we take care of it. If the officer doesn't have to uh doesn't happen to be working, then the case will get relisted on a future date, and then we will have that officer appear. And I would tell you that that's been our experience so far, that that's the vast minority of the cases. Most of the time, the motorist wants to um find disposition that day and and they work something out in front of the judge.
Play from 16:30Thomas Johnson
That is pretty much another revisit of the uh idea of discretion, sir. And if uh council's direction is that we um go down the road of somewhere between 1 and 5 mph over, and that we're going to um start making that point, uh as with any new ordinance or new rule, we will probably start off with a lot of warnings and trying to get the motorists to uh understand that there's new rules and and new uh benchmarks, uh because driving is a habit and it's a little unfair to suddenly
Play from 18:41Brian E. Lewis
Okay. My next question is, and this again is from the minutes from the uh October 20th Committee of the Whole meeting. Uh you had uh indicated in response to Mr. Garfinkel's question, it states Chief Johnson stated that in the real world he does not envision his officers giving a citation for 26 mph in a 25 mph zone. He explained that due to legal standards and case law, officers typically do not pursue speed enforcement for violations under 5 mph over the limit, as such cases rarely hold up in court. So, I guess my question is going to be very frank: so what good would this ordinance be if it will not be enforced by the police based on your statement?
Play from 18:48Thomas Johnson
change the rules uh on a lot of folks without at least giving them a little bit of time to adapt. Um after that, we have record keeping. Um when we stop vehicles, there's an electronic record of that. So most reasonable police officers will see that if someone's been stopped and warned uh on a prior occasion, and particularly in the same zone, if it's a strictly enforced zone, um then that starts to change the dynamic where we might have to generate um a citation and and make the point through an enforcement action because the verbal warning was not effective. Um after that, after we see um, and as a, to just revisit my earlier point, when we have enough of these cases come into the court system, and we see what the posture of the judges are on these um particular offenses, to a certain degree, that actually kind of becomes, by default, training. Um that's um, like like I've cut, tried to say in other um situations before, we have statutory law, we have case law that comes out of the appellate courts, um but we also get case law or guidance that comes out of the local level. So if it turns out that the benefit of the doubt continues to go to the motorist with such low-level speeds, I can envision a future where my supervisory team is going to come to me and say, "Chief, how many more citations are we going to write that have no chance of surviving uh a hearing because
Play from 19:39Thomas Johnson
the the mood of the judiciary is not to convict at a certain level?" Uh and that's kind of why I keep returning to the idea that within a relatively reasonable amount of time, we'll have an idea of how the courts view this and and how much utility um this is going to have. Um and and I again, I wish I could answer you more definitively on this, but this is a subjective topic in in some uh uh as it's viewed by some that uh have to have business with this issue.
Play from 21:12Roy Sudler, Jr.
Well, if that's the case, uh from what you just stated, then this ordinance would be frivolous. You know, and and and again, uh let me move on, but let the record reflect that you did state, okay, that your officers typically do not pursue such cases, and they rarely hold up in court. Uh you and I, about six months ago, had conversation uh with regard to speeding. Uh this is going back when I kind of took the bull by the horns in my district and was able to uh ascertain some uh radar, uh let me get the right terminology, but the uh
Play from 22:02Roy Sudler, Jr.
the digital radar signs, uh electronic speed monitor system, that's what they're referred to as under Title 21, um through a grant, through the assistance of Mr. Jason Lyon. Um but you had, I had conversation back then, and you had indicated to me because uh one of the concerns was that uh due to a staffing shortage, your officers uh are rarely going to be able to conduct speed traps and speed enforcement. Is that correct?
Play from 22:31Thomas Johnson
And a a little bit of a subjective assessment, sir. We have a rotating, um, speed enforcement posture that we adopt based on data.
Play from 22:56Thomas Johnson
Um, right now, um, we're just getting enough officers back out of the academy that we can put the motorcycle unit back together, which is our traffic enforcement arm.
Play from 23:06Thomas Johnson
When they go out, they are enforcing various locations that we've traditionally addressed that produce the accidents, that produce the highest number of violations.
Play from 23:15Thomas Johnson
So when I come back and talk about any specific area getting the kind of enforcement where someone would say, "Oh, this is a game changer, they're out here every day," that's not going to be, um, statistically possible in a city of 24 square miles.
Play from 23:25Thomas Johnson
Um, this is a resour- proactive traffic enforcement posturing is a resource-dependent, um, activity.
Play from 23:43Thomas Johnson
So when our census numbers, or our authorized strength is low, it's harder to get to that point because we're chasing 911 calls.
Play from 23:50Thomas Johnson
When we're back closer to authorized strength, that gives us the uh the kind of staffing where we can get after it a little bit better, and we can spread ourselves out a little bit further. Um, but that changes with, um, conditions.
Play from 23:58Thomas Johnson
But even at our high-water mark, when we're covering the school zones in the morning, especially when the school year is in, and then the school zones in the afternoon, and we're hitting our high accident areas where the injuries, um, are occurring, and that's kind of the space that if you were to ask DelDOT or Highway Safety or any of the folks that, um, we're in partnership with, um, to try and get, um, traffic and safety issues addressed,
Play from 24:13Thomas Johnson
um, every kind of roadway gets its fair shake and its fair turn, but numerically, it's not going to feel or seem like much because of the amount of officers that we have versus the amount of real estate that we have to cover.
Play from 24:30Brian E. Lewis
So currently, would you say, uh, as of this date, that, um, you have a sufficient amount of officers to enforce Title 21 speeding, which would be Chapter, uh, 8 4168 speed restrictions under, uh, Delaware State Code?
Play from 24:38Thomas Johnson
And that's, um, a that number or that answer, sir, would change probably every other council meeting.
Play from 24:57Thomas Johnson
Um, I have four officers that are almost done field training. I just got done hiring a lateral that starts, uh, on the 1st of December, and I'm about to put five new officers in the academy starting in January, um, assuming that I'm not struck too hard with attrition.
Play from 25:04Thomas Johnson
Um, by the time the weather breaks, our speed enforcement posture is going to be much improved, um, by the second quarter of 2026.
Play from 25:19Thomas Johnson
Um, but if I have sudden attrition, um, it might take a step back or two, and it might be somewhere between where we are now and the best that we could be.
Play from 25:28Brian E. Lewis
Okay, I'm going to come back to you with my last question, but, uh, this question is for, uh, our finance director, Ms. Marney. Uh, at the October 28th Committee of the Whole meeting, um, my colleague Ms. Arndt asked an integral question, uh, with respect
Play from 25:38Brian E. Lewis
back to uh the cost, who's going to pay for the signs? Um, so my question to Ms. Marney, I guess, would be um where would the funding come from for the strictly enforce signs? Uh through taxpayer dollars, uh are there any grants, or is it going to come out of the police budget?
Play from 26:12Patricia Marney
Uh Patricia Marney, Controller/Treasurer. Uh there there are a couple of different avenues in which we can pay for it. One would be from the police budget, which of course is taxpayer-funded. Another could be grant uh grant funding. Um I liken this to a situation we had several years ago where we instituted a no smoking policy on city grounds uh where we obtained uh grant funding to pay for those signs. So, depending upon if this is enacted tonight and where exactly we have to place the signs, we of course would need to cost uh cost those fees um out for the particular signs to find funding.
Play from 26:27Brian E. Lewis
Thank you. I have one more question for the Chief. And uh the question uh is actually the last page uh of the actual proposed ordinance and it would come under uh fines. So, as I look at this, it's under subsection A1 moving offense, non-moving offense. So, uh what would the actual fine be for uh clarification? Um is it a $10 ticket? Uh and then would it be classified under moving offense? Uh and what if the person, it's a two-part question, uh where would the uh actual fine be, number one? And number two, uh what if a person declines to pay the fine, uh how will it be collected?
Play from 27:25Thomas Johnson
Sure. Uh Councilman Lewis, um based on what I'm seeing over my right shoulder, I I would have to land on this being a moving offense as compared to the other options. Um this would be a local ordinance violation where the individual would come into police headquarters and square that away with the city at the local level. Um mailers go out after certain um timelines just like any other um Dover city ordinance, whether that be a traffic ordinance or some other kind of ordinance that's under our control. It's not unlike parking. And at some point, um after x amount of mailers go out and no response was received, uh it pushed out uh through the city financial policies whenever the timeline is for it to finally make it to uh collections.
Play from 28:23Brian E. Lewis
So for clarification, and let me move on, maybe Ms. Marney can answer this, so in a situation like this, um since it technically don't fall under Title 21, um we utilize a collection agency to collect uh city ord-
Play from 29:19Sharon Duca
Yes, we do. We go through a third-party collector. We do in-house collections first, and of course if those attempts are not successful, then we utilize a third-party collector. There is a cost to that of about 20% based on the amount referred to them. And I just also wanted to clarify for your questions about paying for the signs. We do have funding within our Streets Division and Highway Safety.
Play from 29:32Sharon Duca
So there there's a few different avenues for funding sources that we could look into.
Play from 29:55Brian E. Lewis
Other than that, it would have to come out of the police budget, correct?
Play from 30:21Brian E. Lewis
Okay. That's all I have as far as my questions pertaining to this ordinance. And, Mr. Anderson and Chief, you know, I'm not knocking you for trying to address the speeding issues in the city. I I just don't think that this ordinance is going to have that much of a an impact, and you know, the monies and the cost of the signs, I personally feel could be utilized for something that's going to make a difference, like another police officer, or you know, possible cameras attached to maybe the electronic speeding devices. That's That's my opinion, so respectfully I cannot support this ordinance. Thank you. I have no further questions.
Play from 30:24David L. Anderson
Mr. President, I'd like, as author's privilege, I'd like to respond to a couple of things that were stated?
Play from 31:57David L. Anderson
Uh thank you, Mr. President. One thing, when you look at the strictly enforced, it is based upon Title 21 state code, so it's that's what's being enforced, and that so therefore the fine would vary based upon what how much somebody was speeding. If somebody's going 50 in a 25, it's going to be based upon what the state violation was. And that's the uh that that's specifically in there. And second, when it comes to where it was with Sharon Duca, it's correct that it come that that's a streets issue because that's where signs are purchased. Um and in fact, it says in the ordinance that this that comes how the city the city manager directs, it didn't say the chief of police directs. Therefore, it comes out of your where all the other signs come from, where the speed limit signs come from, where the other, you know, where where the yield signs and the stop signs, and it's just adding
Play from 32:12David L. Anderson
um a a little sign that says in this zone is strictly enforced because uh the case law gives um a lot more recognition to if a person is warned as opposed to if they are not warned. Now, none of us want somebody pulled over for going 26 in a 25. And I I support the police department uh keeping that discretion and and look and looking at a in area. And I I personally think 5 mi is uh sufficient and, but that can be very in a weird situation that maybe if somebody's driving recklessly even at 27, but there's ice on the ground, you know, the police officer has that discretion and and that type of thing. And that's all. But I but those are two technical areas that I just wanted to uh clarify so that we're discussing what's actually in the ordinance. Uh thank you, I yield.
Play from 32:45Roy Sudler, Jr.
All right, thank you, Council President, for recognizing me. Um I would like to, since I have at least two of my constituents here that have faithfully been coming to City Council or two of our constituents here that they faithfully been coming to City Council meeting. Um, I would like to hear from uh those two individuals, the the Mayne family just to get a perspective on how they feel as though the um this would impact their community. So if you would if it's okay, could you come forward just so we can I can hear it from you since mine one of our constituents is here that is impacted?
Play from 33:49Belinda Mayne
Belinda Mayne, City of Dover. Um the ordinance with posting strictly enforced, okay, they don't read stop, S-T-O-P. They're not going to read the little sign underneath that says strictly enforced. You need to do something a little bit more stricter than just a sign. And that's not just everywhere. You're you're talking about putting these little tiny signs. I don't have a speed limit sign on my street. It's 25 in my little neighborhood. So, that little sign on every entrance and exit is only going to show, "Okay, from that point to that point, strictly enforced, but we can speed down this whole drag strip right here." So, that doesn't imply in the neighborhood that is 25, any speed limit over, even 26, as I had said before, and I was fought back with, "Oh, it's only 26." Okay, well, your son was hit by a car, am I correct? Riding a bike in the street. Okay, if that sign strictly enforced was underneath the 25 mph sign, do you think that person would have went, "Oh, there's a kid riding a bike in the street, let me just do strictly 25"? No, they would have done the same speed, and your son still would have gotten hit.
Play from 35:07Belinda Mayne
My kids do the same thing on a public street because you cannot ride bikes on a sidewalk.
Play from 35:56Roy Sudler, Jr.
I'm sorry to interrupt you, but do you, just for us to save time, do you—um, so do you think that this would this would be helpful?
Play from 36:02Ms. Mayne
I do not I don't think it would help at all, because like I had said before, I was told signs can't direct traffic, they can't control traffic. But if there's not enough signs that say stop in certain areas or changing the path of traffic, you can control it that way, but putting a little strictly enforced is not going to do anything.
Play from 36:08Roy Sudler, Jr.
Thank you for your input. Thank you, appreciate it. Thank you, I yield. I just need to hear
Play from 36:21Donyale M. Hall
I don't really have a question. It's more a comment, and it, um, it speaks a lot to what Ms. Mayne said and and I support that. Um, I feel that with the amount of resources that it would take to be able to enforce something like this, that these funds could be better served using them to explore the options that we have all talked about here on council floor about, um, doing things that create barriers that actually physically slow people down. And so I'm more amenable to supporting something that looks at that, um, in a strategic way, um, and it would, um, be a better use in my humble opinion of the funds. So, I yield. Thank you.
Play from 36:26Tricia K. Arndt
Thank you for recognizing me. Um, okay, so I I understand that there's a a limited ability to force enforce, and I I can appreciate the nuances in the in the Chief's responses. Um, my thought on it was that it it would have some level of public awareness. People perceive it in different ways. Um, if I were to see a sign that saw said strictly enforced, I would think, okay, well, maybe there's additional enforcement in this area. Uh, I would I would
Play from 37:24Tricia K. Arndt
think more carefully about how I was driving in that vicinity. Um, so just from a public awareness standpoint, if the signs have the limited ability to change driver behavior in certain circumstances. It's obviously some people are just going to ignore it, what have you. Um, but just from a public awareness standpoint, I have no opposition to this ordinance. Um, it's fairly benign. Um, it's just a sign under a speed limit sign. So, an existing speed limit sign, this sign would be placed underneath of it. And again, if if it can help, great. I don't see that it would hurt anything. I yield.
Play from 37:44Brian E. Lewis
Yes, I would just like to, uh, put on the record that, um, I agree with, uh, Ms. Mayne and her comments 100%. Um, now if this was a proposal, uh, for speed cameras or, uh, dips in the road, uh, that I believe will actually, uh, you know, prevent or have repercussions, uh, for people that are speeding in these neighborhoods,
Play from 38:37Brian E. Lewis
I would be carrying the banner for it, because those are some things we need. Or if it had to do with going towards hiring another police officer to enforce it, since the Chief has indicated, uh,
Play from 39:07Brian E. Lewis
um kind of going to say in an up-and-down manner that he's either short-staffed or he has people available this month, but not next month, for uh speed and traffic enforcement. Um, but I think Ms. Maucher brings up valid points. Um, I could show the chief uh after we uh adjourn uh photos and videos of people speeding through my neighborhood, as I have a camera in front of my house, and I want to show him how quickly uh these vehicles are going down my street. And we have uh 25 uh 25-mph speed signs and the uh electronic speed monitor system. So I don't know how this little, you know, rinky-dink sign that says strictly enforced is going to have any impact at all. Again, I would like to see, you know, something, you know, that's going to be more cumbersome and, you know, uh useful to to stop the speeders. Uh, and that's all I have. Thank you.
Play from 39:19David L. Anderson
I I raise uh objection uh, Mr. President. We already had a public comment.
Play from 40:31David L. Anderson
Well, well that, but that was somebody was specifically invited to and yielded to um by a member um which, but, and so what I'd like to do is uh call the question and go into a vote this particular time because uh it's time to uh, it's time to vote on this particular issue.
Play from 40:42Fred A. Neil
I haven't commented yet uh Councilman Anderson, and I will. People ask for help, and this is certainly a gesture to help. The fact that you say it doesn't help really is wrong, simply because it's a something that we can do that will actually cause when we have officers available to do it. If this is not in the law, it basically you can't hold someone to the strict interpretation because this would be in the law to help that. The second thing is, it's real practical. If a person is stopped, they have to go to court. Isn't that an effect, even if they toss out the the the fine? The fact that you have to give up your time, your day, go to court, and explain to a judge, this is the reason why. And believe me, when I've done that, and I have done that on occasion, you really say that why am I sitting in this court with this long line of people? It has an effect. And if you don't realize that it has an effect just even if you have to go to court, so basically, saying it's no good is no good. It basically is good, because basically what you have is an effect of saying that if if if it happens...
Play from 41:11Fred A. Neil
and the officer does give you a ticket, and it says strictly enforced, it has more enforcement and gets you to the court. And if you have to go to court and waste your time in the process, that is a punishment is enough.
Play from 42:35Brian E. Lewis
Mr. President, I would like to make a motion to suspend the rules for public comment.
Play from 42:53Tricia K. Arndt
If if the request was made to call the question, doesn't that take precedent that we would call the question?
Play from 43:05City Solicitor
If the request has already been made to call the question, if the request has already been made to call the question, the question has been called.
Play from 43:10Tricia K. Arndt
And that was before, we didn't act on that request. I'm just trying to figure out the process here.
Play from 43:21City Solicitor
Right, under Robert's Rules of Order, once the question has been called, it's the question has been called.
Play from 43:59Donyale M. Hall
I'm not sure what I'm voting on at this point. Could we clarify it, please?
Play from 44:22Roy Sudler, Jr.
Before I say no, I would like to say when you called for the question, you did not allow people to have discussion. After you call for the question, you're supposed to allow people to have discussion. So for the record, I just... No, discussion discussion. Once you call for the motion, call for the question, that is just to vote on things, but you did not allow people to have, allow us to have discussion, which I would have stated something. So I'm just for the future reference, anytime you call the question or have a second, you have to allow for discussion, which was not allowed. And because I do not agree with stifling the voice of the community, which in my view this is a quick way to do that, I'm saying no.
Play from 44:51David L. Anderson
Yes, I was just waiting for the vote to be. It's it's a point of order. Call of the question actually is to end debate, so there is no further discussion, and it's just the opposite of what my honorable...
Play from 45:39Robin R. Christiansen
Good evening, Mr. President, members of council. As everyone knows, I am the fun mayor. Right, Cody?
Play from 46:18Robin R. Christiansen
So I am going to announce tonight that we are anticipating our Home for the Holidays celebration, which is December the 4th at between It starts at 5:00 p.m. and goes uh till 8:00 to the rightful hour of 8:00 p.m. because I have to go to bed at 9:00 p.m. We will be lighting our our uh holiday lights in Downtown Dover, and there are a lot of events that will be uh going on. Uh one of the premier events will be council will be singing that night. And I will be bringing a bucket so they can carry a tune. The other premier fun event that we are having in Downtown Dover for the holidays is the Dashing Through Dover electric light parade, which is December 13th,
Play from 46:25Robin R. Christiansen
commencing at 5:30 p.m. And I hope everyone is there, and I'd like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous Thanksgiving. Don't eat too much.
Play from 47:32Brian E. Lewis
Well, he's the fun mayor. I'm the serious councilman. And I like to uh wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving in the city, and uh let's not forget those out in the community that are suffering, uh that are disadvantaged, that are out on the streets. Uh I implore uh some of you to get out to some of these shelters and and help serve, but you know, let let's not forget about um these unfortunate souls that are out there. And uh I'm not just talking about people. I'm talking about, you know, animals, too, like the SPCA runs a program where you can go there and feed them on Thanksgiving. So, uh you know, let's let's keep our hearts open during this holiday season. That's all I have to say. God bless.
Play from 47:44Roy Sudler, Jr.
Uh thank you, Councilman Boggerty. Um uh the Mayor's Blue Ribbon um OUD Task Force is planning our first outreach initiative to usher individuals off of the median peer via peer support staff
Play from 48:45Roy Sudler, Jr.
and other partners with DDP, as well as the Human Relations Commission and the state has now joined us for the resources as well, to usher them off of the median into resources so that they can um properly assess uh what are some of their external challenges and also get them the
Play from 48:55Roy Sudler, Jr.
help that they need. We're looking forward to having a very productive outreach initiative, and those individuals or organizations that want to help us, please contact the Mayor's office as we will be looking forward to your assistance. Thank you. I yield.
Play from 49:08Andre M. Boggerty
Thank you. I want to announce that on Thanksgiving morning from 8:00 to 10:00, Councilman Boggerty, The Well Church, Omega Psi Phi, Psi Iota Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, 100 Black Men of Delaware, and in the, in a catering company that I'm, that I'm, that I'm working with, will be feeding 200 individuals breakfast. Again, it's 8:00 to 10:00. I want to thank you for the friends who've already donated. But if you know anyone who's going, it's carry out. It's carry out only, because it's at 300 Loockerman, the home and future home of The Well Life Center. So again, it's carry out breakfast. We plan to feed up to 200 individuals, and it's carry out only as we are pending construction. So, thank you.
Play from 49:31David L. Anderson
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to say excellent, and, and I also fully support Councilman Sudler, Dr. Sudler's organizing the outreach effort. That is something that, of course, he knows that because I was at that meeting. And fully supportive of it, and I applaud it, by the way. It's, some, I have a statement, but some announcements that are important is The Hive this Saturday, 10:00 to 2:00, will have, which is Saturday, November 29th, this happens to be Small Business Saturday, will have artisans and others again this year and have, so that you can have a very specialized experience with local artisans in the community. You can get something far, special this Christmas. So please drop on by. Support your local community. Keep local dollars local. Speaking of keeping local dollars local, in, like I said, Small Business Saturday, you can get some benefit by doubling your money. In these times, doubling your money is a good thing because we can all stretch our money a little further, and there's been a, there's a grant that's gone to the Downtown Dover Partnership, which has, which you can buy gift cards, and those particular gift cards are, can only be utilized in downtown businesses, and which some of, which are represented by some of the fine people in our audience here. And I would encourage you to buy those, and, and I, I
Play from 51:10David L. Anderson
I've utilized them many times myself and plan to do so again this year, um, because I support downtown businesses and, hey, I'm cheap. I like doubling my money.
Play from 52:25David L. Anderson
And and then, um, I I also, um, want to point out that Dashing, um, Through Downtown will be December 13th, uh, which, uh, I'm sure next meeting our mayor will give us more details. It's at 6:00 p.m. Uh, but the registration is open now.
Play from 52:36David L. Anderson
So I would want to encourage you to go and and register if you want to participate in Dashing Through Downtown. But one of the things for your planning is Toys for Tots, um, is also doing It's one of the last times you'll be able to make a Toys for Tots, uh, donation and drop-off, uh, in December 13th. And that's very important because we need to remember the young people in this community who, for whatever reason, may not have something to receive this Christmas.
Play from 52:54David L. Anderson
Uh, so let's support Toys for Tots, uh, now. You don't have to wait till then. Start Please support them now and go all the way through, and also, of course, the Salvation Army does a fine job in in that area as well.
Play from 53:53David L. Anderson
And and that's, um And, uh And I'd like to encourage, uh, uh, people to show up tomorrow for, uh, some very important ordinances, including, uh, pedestrian safety. I want to thank the hundreds of people who have expressed their support because this community understands that that we have a real problem in this community. And it's not just a Dover problem, it's all over, uh, Delaware. But we have to start here in our community in Dover and protect people, protect lives.
Play from 54:04David L. Anderson
Yeah, so, uh, make sure to tune in, and I I want to thank each and every person who who's, uh, contacted me, everyone who's on social media, on the news stories, and Nextdoor, and and who have signed petitions. Uh, it is vital to this community that we take a stand and we do something that's right for all of our citizens to stop people from getting hurt, to stop people from getting harassed, and to, uh, restore a sense of, uh, community.
Play from 55:10David L. Anderson
Uh, once we do that, we are we are going to be in better shape because you know that this city is one of the most compassionate, uh, around. We've invested over the last 5 years literally millions of dollars in housing and trying to help the homeless, and we've
Play from 55:41David L. Anderson
gotten such a good reputation that people are coming from all over to us. Um we are we are literally uh becoming a victim of our own success. And so, um when er so when you go into a shelter and you ask people, um one of the reasons they come here as opposed to where they stayed is because they believe that there are resources here. And I think we don't have enough resources, but it is um a testament to the compassion of this community, and we're going to keep investing in affordable housing, we're going to keep investing in transitional housing, and we're going to keep supporting our shelters because that is the right thing to do. I yield, Mr. President.
Play from 55:41Donyale M. Hall
Thank you for recognizing me. Um I just want to say in closing that um Reverend Louder, thank you for setting the tone and the tempo here in chambers. Um my my spirit was encouraged and uplifted um by uh what you uh gave us today to start out with. And to Cody, I I just want to tell you that I'm equally thankful and grateful for your heart um to come forward and give those words during public comment because um you're you're right. The spirit should be in this place to have conversation around these issues. And we don't always have to agree, but what we do have to do is agree to work together to find a common solution. And I'm very thankful and grateful to each and every one of you that chooses to come out and spend your time um sharing with us um your thoughts and your feelings. Um Miss Payne, you know you and I haven't always seen eye-to-eye, but I love you and I love your family. Thank you for coming out. Um and I just want everybody to um embrace a spirit of gratitude this Thanksgiving um as we move into um our Thanksgiving season. I know some are not as fortunate as us, and I just wanted to um give a shout out to one of the local businesses that um is starting a new tradition here. Um Friendsgiving um at 329 Loockerman Street with Al Noor. Um they'll be feeding the community between 11:00 and 2:00 p.m. So thank you all, enjoy your holidays, and um I'm looking forward to continue working with each and every one of you. God bless.
Play from 56:34Fred A. Neil
All right. Any other council announcements? Hearing none, meeting is adjourned.
Play from 58:15