Statements by Tricia K. Arndt
340 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
Machine transcript. Statements are matched to this official by machine and can be wrong. Check the recording.
Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Okay, thank you for that. I would also ask that um should this ordinance pass um that the Division of Professional Regulation be notified that we've made a change to home sales within within the city, and also that the Delaware Association of REALTORS be made aware that we've made a change to how homes are purchased in the city.
Play from 2:22:45Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I think that that answers my questions.
Play from 2:23:21Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I move to accept staff recommendation for the setting of the property assessment appeals.
Play from 2:34:01Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I make a motion to uh move this uh forward. I guess, uh, back to the Consent Agenda from from last month.
Play from 2:34:33Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you.
Play from 15:37Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Uh excellent presentation. I'm glad you ended with some good news. I was starting to get a little worried there.
Play from 15:38Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
It's a lot of negative.
Play from 15:42Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I appreciate that. Uh my question is about the industrial land needs assessment. I'm curious as to what your timeline is for completion of that, and if you're looking at redeveloping current sites that are underutilized, or are you only looking at new lands?
Play from 16:16Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. I yield.
Play from 17:28Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you for recognizing me. I I agree with you, Councilman Rocha. Um I think being as flexible as possible is is a boon for redevelopment, so and I appreciate the number of eyes that have been on this application, um both from the state and then in the DAC and from the Planning Commission. So, with that, I'm um making a motion to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to approve the subdivision waiver.
Play from 1:12:17Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Madam Clerk, could you restate the motion for us?
Play from 2:44:30Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you for recognizing me. I I too, I looked at the agenda and I saw that the the most popular item for discussion this evening is is at the end of the agenda. Um, but when I look at the agenda, uh the only items in front of it are um first reading referrals, um and referral to a planning commission. So very very quick items. I was thinking that those that are here for that those items could present and and carry on, and then majority of those that are left for the the final ordinance, we would get to it very quickly. I yield.
Play from 03:59Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
No. Sorry, y'all.
Play from 05:56Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 06:34Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Not a question, I was ready to make a motion. I'll yield to Dr. Sudler.
Play from 19:50Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you. I move to accept staff recommendation and refer this uh site plan back to the planning commission for additional review.
Play from 20:37Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you for recognizing me. I still have concerns about this this ordinance as proposed, particularly in how it relates to the state process and requirements for home inspection. So I look forward to having those questions answered during the during the hearing when there are real estate professionals available to answer those questions. I yield.
Play from 23:08Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I move to consider the ordinance by title only.
Play from 39:01Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
He already emailed us his comment, so.
Play from 2:01:34Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I I have thoughts and comments, but I was confused as to how the motion was stated. I just want to make sure that I knew which way I was voting based on the motion, so I appreciate that.
Play from 2:21:02Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I can vote yes to deny it?
Play from 2:23:12Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you. Um so my my opposition or my my thoughts on the ordinance have not have not changed, but I'll just reiterate some of my points um to justify my decision. Uh so first and foremost, for me it comes down to choice. Um if others choose to give their money um while in their car at a light, um who am I to dictate when and if their charity is permissible? Um to me that's an individual's choice, not the government's decision. Um I also have concerns with how it would be enforced, um as written
Play from 2:36:40Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
um, it states 200 ft for certain road classifications, 100 ft for other road classifications. Um, it'll be marked by a sign, but not where impractical. So, sometimes there'll be a sign, maybe sometimes there won't be a sign. Um, but it's still enforceable even if it's not marked. Um, so in in my mind that is a lack of clarity, both for the public and for law enforcement, um in terms of enforcing where you can stand and where you can't stand.
Play from 2:37:17Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I also have concerns about the penalties. Um, so it's a warning initially, um and then fines for repeat offenders. Um, someone else had made the point, I I I agree that the police have their hands full with speeding and and actual crime um without having to monitor intersections for the exchange of a few dollars uh and give warnings while also being expected to to reach out and provide services to to find out why folks are on the median and determine what help they need. I just think it's it's too much to put on our police force that is already stretched.
Play from 2:37:42Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Um, the and lastly, I'll just mention the the fines. Um, so repeat offenders can be fined $50, I'm sorry, $15 up to $50. Um, and I understand that the purpose of the penalty is to affect change, um but I just can't get past the irony of fining people asking for money to get them to stop asking for money. Um, so for for those four reasons primarily, I'm going to vote yes, which is to deny the ordinance. Thank you.
Play from 2:38:10Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Can Can I make a suggestion with the logistics? If since there's only four of us in the room from council, if we sit up there, at least then we can look at the audience and the audience can look at us.
Play from 15:15Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Are you all amenable to to moving?
Play from 15:21Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
So, you identified the challenges, um, what are your thoughts on solutions? What what would you like to see moving forward?
Play from 19:13Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
So, what what can we as council do to be more proactive and less reactive in terms of regulating or um for new large load customers? Um for instance, New Castle County is proposing an ordinance specific to data centers, and that came about as a result of a data center being proposed, several being proposed. Um what are some things or concerns that we as council should be addressing in in your opinion?
Play from 43:18Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Thank you for that, that answer, and look forward to seeing that ordinance.
Play from 46:06Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Just to clarify, so that tax is being levied by Kent County? Where is that coming from? Okay.
Play from 2:10:42Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Thank you.
Play from 2:10:46Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
What about um internships or work-study with with trade schools, similar to what the IT department is doing with internships every summer? Kind of grooming folks to to move up?
Play from 2:53:08Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Yeah, I would want $26 an hour to do that as well. Thank you.
Play from 2:53:57Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Thank you. So with response to to that, I think, something like that. Well, one, first of all, within your presentation you've mentioned several times what the responsibilities of the city are and what they are not. And I appreciate that. And I agree with you that the the the housing and the shelters and the um the services to the disadvantageous, disadvantaged, that is not a city function, per our charter. That is a a state and nonprofit um function. If we were to move in that direction, one, we can't afford it. Two, we don't, you know, we don't have the resources or the expertise. Um, but if we were to move in that in that direction, I would think that would be a good question to ask all of the residents, our constituents, um what are you willing to pay for that? Um, how much of a tax increase are you willing to take on for us to provide those services? Um, rather than constantly being hammered on the floor that we should be ashamed of ourselves for not providing these services, um when it is not our role to do so and we cannot afford to do so, um and and put that back out to the public. You know, how And I'm pretty sure the answer is going to be they're not going to be willing to accept a 10 or 15% tax increase in order to pay for this suite of services that we are accused of of not providing. So, that's just my thought on that.
Play from 3:28:02Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
So, I think like to that to that aspect, I think our role is to provide opportunities for affordable housing. I mean, our role is for the planning, the zoning. Those those are the things that are under the city's control in terms of um allowing for um housing options at multiple price points. And I think we do a pretty good job in terms of multifamily units, percentage-wise, within within the city.
Play from 3:30:01Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
And I'm hoping that the the pilot that we're doing with DSHA that's doing the review of our our our our code or, you know, to determine how well we're doing with housing, I'm hoping that provides that um, you know, information that we are doing um as well as we can. There will there will be opportunities for improvement, sure, but um I'm looking forward to their report. Have they started?
Play from 3:31:03Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay. Thank you.
Play from 3:31:20Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Absolutely.
Play from 3:43:15Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
So and from my perspective, if you look at where we ended fiscal year 24 in the ACFR that was released through audit, there was a significant swing for the general funds specifically. So our budget balance, as as Jeff has said - sorry, Jeff has said many times to all of us, we're dwindling that, those funds down. I think we're we're really in a tough situation where we hear all the wants and we hear the needs, but we have to make the tough choices of saying no. And if you're going to say yes, you're not going to have a choice but to raise taxes, and I or other fees, and I know that's something that the community at large can't truly support. So we we're all going to have to take a a deep-dive look. But not not only at what we're saying here. Through my time in finance, I've found quite a few reconciling issues. Like for for example, that impacted fiscal year 24, there was a health, a health recon where we had had to recoup, if you will, or write off nearly $100,000. Well, $100,000 in the grand scheme of things of a $250 million budget may not seem like a lot, but that's $100,000 that could be used for another...
Play from 3:45:25