Delaware Record
Wilmington
CJO

Coby J. Owens

1st District Council Member2025-01-07 – 2029-01-01 (sworn in at the 109th Session inauguration Jan 7, 2025 per wilmingtoncitycouncil.com inauguration page; month-level end: January 2029 per four-year sessions [108th session sworn Jan 5, 2021, 109th Jan 7, 2025])

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Jan 1, 2029.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
12
Total speaking time
1:23:32
Avg per meeting
6:58
Segments
984

Want every word Owens has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Owens said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

medium→Sep 2026[25]

Leading pedestrian intervals citywide

Supported by a federal Safe Streets grant.

critical↓May 2026[19]

Five City Properties Redeveloped for Affordable Housing

No immediate appropriation; future funding could come from the general budget, tax stabilization reserves, grants, and developer fees under inclusionary zoning.

high↑Apr 2026[15]

Lead service line and water main replacement funding

Up to $13 million in bonded debt via the drinking water revolving fund.

high↓Jul 2026[14]

Water shutoff protections and Mayor's veto

A fiscal note estimated potential revenue loss of $500,000 to $1.86 million, which supporters called speculative since affected households largely aren't paying anyway.

medium↓Aug 2026[13]

Community Response Team Program (held)

medium↓Aug 2026[13]

Vacant property fee relief for small developers (held)

The city would forgo delinquent registration fee revenue on qualifying properties.

high↑Apr 2026[13]

Delmarva Power Rate Increase Hearings

A granted rate increase would raise household electric and gas bills; the resolution seeks to block it.

high↑May 2026[12]

Permanent COLA for City Pension Retirees

No property tax increase; $969,000 budgeted for the retiree stipend.

medium↑Apr 2026[11]

Adams Street Green Infrastructure Bond

$808,242 in bonded debt via the state revolving fund.

high↑Apr 2026[11]

Police State Grant Applications for Crime Reduction

About $36,900 in state grant funds with no city match.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Rebuilding Mother African Union Church

$11,650 from council discretionary and special funds toward rebuilding.

high↑Oct 2026[10]

Child and Adult Care Food Program Funding

$525,000 in federal/state reimbursement; no local match.

low↑Nov 2026[10]

AI as a public health concern

high↑Nov 2026[10]

Housing Subcommittee formation

low↑Nov 2026[10]

Youth Advisory Council membership and term limits

low↑Oct 2026[10]

Plummer Center Demolition Correspondence

$760,000 in state funding for the demolition.

low↓Apr 2026[9]

Cursive Handwriting Instruction

medium↓Apr 2026[9]

External Auditor Contract and Diversity

About $198,000 per year for the audit contract — now unresolved.

medium↓Apr 2026[9]

FY2027 Budget Staffing: Grant Writer and Navigator

$60,000 and $80,000 requests were rejected; the city is separately spending about $125,000 upgrading 311.

high↓May 2026[9]

Police accountability after the shooting of Khadir Skinner

An independent audit would cost roughly $100,000 in the FY2027 budget.

Decisions during term (149)

Recorded while Owens was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approvedVoted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-076 — Council Community Support Grant Funds to I Am My Sister's Keeper

approvedVoted yes9-0Oct 15, 2026

Res. 26-077 — Pension COLA for City Retirees

approvedVoted yes10-0Oct 15, 2026

Res. 26-078 — Grant Funds to Peter Spencer Life Foundation for Mother African Union Building Fund

approvedVoted yes8-0Oct 15, 2026

Res. 26-079 — Police EIDE Drug Enforcement Grant Application

approvedVoted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-080 — Police Fund to Combat Violent Crimes Grant Application

approvedVoted yes10-0Oct 15, 2026

Res. 26-081 — Police SALLE Training Grant Application

approvedVoted yes10-0Oct 15, 2026

Res. 26-082 — Police SLEAF Equipment Grant Application

approvedVoted yes10-0Oct 15, 2026

Res. 26-083 — Parks & Recreation Child and Adult Care Food Program Grant Application

approvedOct 15, 2026

Approval of Minutes — October 1, 2026 Regular Session

approvedOct 15, 2026

Acceptance of Treasurer's Report

approvedOct 15, 2026

Non-Legislative Business (Recognition and Sympathy Resolutions)

approvedOct 1, 2026

Approval of September 17, 2026 Meeting Minutes

approvedOct 1, 2026

Treasurer's Report acceptance

approvedVoted yes13-0Oct 1, 2026

Resolution 26-067 — $90,000 opioid grant for overdose response equipment (Agenda #0277)

approvedVoted yes13-0Oct 1, 2026

Resolution 26-068 — $83,200 opioid grant for Partners in Care peer support (Agenda #0278)

approved13-0Oct 1, 2026

Resolution 26-069 — $61,160 opioid grant for EMS peer response program (Agenda #0279)

approved13-0Oct 1, 2026

Resolution 26-070 — $63,000 opioid grant for grant compliance (Agenda #0280)

approved11-0-1Oct 1, 2026

Resolution 26-071 — $41,983 opioid grant for Victim Services Specialist (Agenda #0281)

approvedVoted yes10-3Oct 1, 2026

Ordinance 26-044 — parking-space blocking fine increase from $60 to $75 (Agenda #0263)

tabledOct 1, 2026

Ordinance 26-045 (Sub. 1) — public alcohol consumption fine increase, HELD (Agenda #0264)

Voting record (74)

72 yes2 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-076 — Council Community Support Grant Funds to I Am My Sister's Keeper

Voted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-077 — Pension COLA for City Retirees

Voted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-078 — Grant Funds to Peter Spencer Life Foundation for Mother African Union Building Fund

Voted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-079 — Police EIDE Drug Enforcement Grant Application

Voted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-080 — Police Fund to Combat Violent Crimes Grant Application

Voted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-081 — Police SALLE Training Grant Application

Voted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-082 — Police SLEAF Equipment Grant Application

Voted yesOct 15, 2026

Res. 26-083 — Parks & Recreation Child and Adult Care Food Program Grant Application

Voted yesOct 1, 2026

Resolution 26-067 — $90,000 opioid grant for overdose response equipment (Agenda #0277)

Voted yesOct 1, 2026

Resolution 26-068 — $83,200 opioid grant for Partners in Care peer support (Agenda #0278)

Voted yesOct 1, 2026

Ordinance 26-044 — parking-space blocking fine increase from $60 to $75 (Agenda #0263)

Voted yesOct 1, 2026

Ordinance 26-035 (Sub. 1) — security deposit and first month's rent assistance pilot (Agenda #0236)

Voted yesOct 1, 2026

Resolution 26-075 — confirming Norman Oliver, Sr. to Wilmington Parking Authority (Agenda #0286)

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Res. 26-066 — Donation of Portion of 3505 Governor Printz Boulevard for Eastlawn Playground (Agenda Item #0275)

Voted yesSep 3, 2026

Res. 26-061 — Grant to Nuestras Raíces ($14,250)

Voted yesSep 3, 2026

Res. 26-062 — Cityfest / Millie Cannon Concert ($19,000)

Voted yesSep 3, 2026

Res. 26-063 — Dunleith Water System Grant Application ($2.525M)

Voted yesSep 3, 2026

Res. 26-064 — Roberto Clemente Little League ($3,500)

Voted yesAug 27, 2026

Res. 26-060 — DEMA Cybersecurity Grant Application

Voted yesAug 20, 2026

Ordinance 25-048 — Commercial Recreation and Public Assembly in M-1 Districts (3rd & Final Reading)

Voted yesJul 9, 2026

Sub. 2 to Ord. 25-017 — Water shutoff exemptions

Objects to cutting off residents while commercial accounts are treated differently

Voted yesJul 9, 2026

Res. 26-058 — Affordable energy strategies resolution

Voted yesJul 9, 2026

Ord. 26-028 — Eviction settlement funds

Voted yesJul 9, 2026

Ord. 26-029 — Homeowner Repair Program

Voted yesJul 9, 2026

Ord. 26-030 — Vacant Property Rehabilitation Assistance Program

Voted yesJul 9, 2026

Res. 26-059 — Emergency Management Performance Grant

Voted noJul 2, 2026

Override of Mayoral Veto — Housing Trust (Sub. 2 to Ord. 26-019)

Voted yesJul 2, 2026

Resolution 26-055 — Planning Commission Extension for Bancroft Parkway Rezoning (Agenda 0258)

Voted yesJul 2, 2026

Resolution 26-056 — Concern re Wilmington Head Start Transition (Agenda 0257)

Voted yesJul 2, 2026

Ordinance 26-038 — Physician Services Contract (Agenda 0243)

Voted yesJul 2, 2026

Ordinance 26-042 — Christina Crossing Subdivision / Howard Street (Agenda 0251)

Voted yesJul 2, 2026

Ordinance 26-043 — Mullin and Lonergan Agreement Amendment (Agenda 0252)

Voted yesJul 2, 2026

Resolution 26-057 — Disposition of Five City Properties (Agenda 0259)

Voted yesJun 18, 2026

Ord. 26-039 — $30M General Obligation Bond, PFAS Phase IV (Porter Plant)

Voted yesJun 18, 2026

Ord. 26-041 — Paid Parental Leave Clarification

Voted yesJun 18, 2026

Ord. 26-016 — USI Insurance Services Brokerage Agreement

Voted yesJun 18, 2026

Res. 26-050 — Naming Eden Park Facilities

Voted yesJun 18, 2026

Res. 26-051 — Summer Food Service Program Grant ($463,553.20)

Voted yesJun 18, 2026

Res. 26-053 — Bank of America Next Level Internship Grant ($75,000)

Voted yesJun 18, 2026

Res. 26-054 — Out-of-School Time Program Grant ($328,987.59)

Voted yesJun 4, 2026

Res. 26-045 — Christina Park Transition Plan and Homelessness Coordination

Voted yesJun 4, 2026

Sub. 2 to Ord. 26-019 — Housing Trust and Community Advisory Board

Voted yesJun 4, 2026

Sub. 1 to Ord. 26-008 — Online Rental Property Registry

Voted yesJun 4, 2026

Res. 26-046 — Housing Sub-Committee of CD&UP

Voted yesJun 4, 2026

Res. 26-047 — Ethics Commission Appointments

Voted yesJun 4, 2026

Res. 26-048 — Second Substantial Amendment to FFY2025/City FY2026 HUD Action Plan

Voted yesJun 4, 2026

Res. 26-049 — FFY2026/City FY2027 Annual Action Plan Filing

Voted yesMay 21, 2026

Res. 26-043 — Reparations Implementation & Oversight Subcommittee

Voted yesMay 21, 2026

Res. 26-044 — Independent Audit of Wilmington Police Department

Voted yesMay 21, 2026

Ord. 26-033 — Remove Mabel Street from Official City Map