Bigger? Smaller? Possible changes for Wilmington City Council

A new commission will examine the size and structure of Wilmington City Council and recommend changes.

City Council voted to create the commission at Thursday night’s meeting in downtown Wilmington. The commission will be made up of five Wilmington residents who don’t currently hold public office and are not seeking election. The group will consider a number of issues concerning the way Wilmington City Council is currently set up.

“We need to transform city government by taking a hard look at what we are doing and how we are doing it,” said City Council President Theo Gregory. “The commission’s recommendations could create an opportunity to reduce the cost and size of government.”

Among ideas the commission will examine include the following:

The appropriate number of council members based on the city’s population,
The appropriate number of districts and at-large positions,
Should the position of Council President be part-time or full-time,
Should the election of Council members be staggered (currently all of City Council is elected every four years).

The panel will deliver its recommendation 180 days after its first meeting. That report isn’t expected until January after a new Council takes office. Any recommendations would have to be approved by City Council. Once approved, the recommendations would not take affect until January 2021 when the next City Council is sworn in.