PRESS RELEASE Councilmember Owens Clarifies Purpose of Wilmington Informal Meeting Resolution
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Councilmember Owens Clarifies Purpose of Wilmington Informal Meeting Resolution
“This is about collaboration, not secrecy.”
Wilmington, DE – In response to recent public commentary and reporting on Wilmington City Council’s adoption of Resolution 25-015—which urges the Delaware General Assembly to amend state law to allow councilmembers to meet informally—Councilmember Coby Owens, the resolution’s prime sponsor, issues the following clarification:
“Let me be clear: this resolution is not about secrecy. It’s about giving Council the same ability that other legislative bodies—including the Delaware General Assembly—already have: to meet informally to brainstorm ideas, develop policy concepts, and build consensus.”
Currently, FOIA restrictions prevent a majority of Wilmington City Councilmembers from meeting together outside of formal public meetings—even if no votes are being taken and no official action is occurring. This makes it difficult for Council to collaborate early in the policy process, which is essential to producing thoughtful and effective legislation.
“Our intent is to allow councilmembers to sit together in a structured, legal setting to talk through challenges, develop potential solutions, and work out policy differences before legislation is drafted and introduced,” Councilmember Owens continued. “These informal meetings would not involve any votes, decisions, or official actions—they would simply serve as a space for internal collaboration, which ultimately leads to stronger, more transparent public debate.”
The ability to meet informally would provide a forum for councilmembers to engage in preliminary conversations, exchange ideas, and align on shared goals. All matters discussed in these settings would still follow the full public process—being formally introduced at public meetings and debated publicly.
“This isn’t about avoiding transparency,” Councilmember Owens emphasized. “This is about enhancing it. By working through complex issues ahead of time, Council can present more polished, more thoughtful legislation for public review and discussion.”
Council staff have also expressed that the current limitations are burdensome and create logistical challenges, often forcing them to monitor and navigate around potential quorum issues—hindering collaboration and slowing the legislative process.
The proposed change would permit informal discussions among all 13 councilmembers—regardless of political affiliation—including the body’s sole non-Democratic member. The resolution was crafted with fairness and inclusivity at the forefront, and it does not change the legislative power, voting structure, or transparency requirements currently in place under FOIA.
“At the end of the day,” Councilmember Owens said, “we’re simply asking to be allowed to do what a lot of legislative bodies and municipalities across the country already do: meet, talk, and try to find common ground before bringing topics to the floor. This is about being better prepared, not less accountable.”
The resolution passed by a majority of Wilmington City Council and has been formally submitted to the General Assembly. If enacted, the legislation would authorize the Council to hold informal meetings with clear legal guardrails—mirroring many of the same procedures followed by the Delaware Senate and House.
For more information, members of the public are encouraged to read the full resolution on the Wilmington City Council website here.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Yesenia TaverasDirector of Communications, Wilmington City CouncilOffice: (302)576-2585
Mobile: (302)757-5748Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.govCity Council Website: www.