City of New Castle Press Release: City Services Update

City of New Castle Press Release
City Services Update
August 12, 2016

The City continues to work diligently to manage our resources and provide a positive experience for both visitors and residents.  Due to recent increased visitation, we are adding some additional measures to address safety, parking, traffic and trash concerns through the following actions:

• Battery Park Hours Enforcement: Based on recommendation from the Police, and in cooperation with the Battery Park Committee, the City experimented with temporarily relaxing late night enforcement as a way to reduce sidewalk/street pedestrian traffic.  Taking citizen feedback into consideration, City police will resume previous practices, and will continue to monitor.
• Seasonal Police Officer coverage will be extended into the fall and increased traffic and parking enforcement actions including ticketing will continue.
• Parking meters and resident sticker options are being evaluated.
• More trashcans and cigarette butt holders with more frequent pickup are being added to Delaware Street and along the Green.

We ask citizens to immediately call 911 in case of any emergency or any time an immediate response is needed.

We are identifying and filling potholes in addition to other road and drainage projects. Please call City Office at 322-9801 if you would like to report any issues in your neighborhood.

We are proud of the safety, cleanliness and beauty of our City and the personal service we provide our citizens and are continually working to better serve our community.

DHSS Press Release – DELAWARE PUBLIC HEALTH REMINDS PEOPLE TO BEAT THE HEAT

 

DHSS Press Release

July 6, 2016 DHSS-7-2016

Rita Landgraf, Secretary Jill Fredel, Director of Communications 302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498 Email: jill.fredel@delaware.gov

DELAWARE PUBLIC HEALTH REMINDS PEOPLE TO BEAT THE HEAT

DOVER (July 6, 2016) – With temperatures expected to rise into the 90’s this week, with heat indexes (‘feels like’) over 100 degrees, the Division of Public Health (DPH) is reminding residents to take precautions.  Hot weather can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and severe respiratory conditions, which can be fatal.

On excessively warm days like these, our bodies have less chance to recover, placing everyone at risk for heat-related illness. Sweat ceases to evaporate and the body’s natural cooling system slows down or shuts down completely when temperatures and humidity are extremely high. Extreme heat is especially dangerous for seniors, young children, people with disabilities, and people with breathing conditions and other chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Also at risk are people without access to air conditioning, fans, or cooling shelters.

During days of extreme heat, Delawareans should check on vulnerable members of their families and neighbors.

Pet owners should take steps to protect their furry family members.  Make sure to provide shade or move animals to shaded pens, provide plenty of cool drinking water, and avoid unnecessary transportation, and walking of pets. Animals at the greatest risk of stress from the heat include pregnant or lactating animals, very young and older animals, animals with darker coats, obese pets, short-nosed dog breeds, and animals with chronic health conditions. In dogs and cats, such signs can include rapid panting, increased heartbeat and body temperature, weakness, increased salivation, restlessness, and muscle spasms, lack of coordination, bright red or pale and sticky gums, vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.

Delaware 2-1-1 connects Delawareans with critical services and support. Eligible callers can receive referrals to summer cooling and crisis assistance, the City of Wilmington’s Free Electric Fan Program for seniors, and nearby cooling centers.

Tips to prevent heat illness:

• Do not leave a child or pets alone in a parked car, even for a minute. Call 911 if you see a child or pet left unattended in a vehicle. Carry water with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks containing sugar, alcohol, or caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Check with a doctor before increasing fluid intake if you have epilepsy, heart, kidney, or liver disease, or if you are on a fluid-restrictive diet. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/nutrition/index.html for more information.
• Stay indoors on the lowest floor possible. When outdoors, wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Wear a hat or use an umbrella. Use sunscreen. Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself, and has been linked to skin cancer. Avoid extreme temperature changes. Be careful trying to cool down too quickly; a cold shower immediately after coming in from hot temperatures can lead to hypothermia, particularly for the elderly and children. In these cases, cool water is better than ice cold water.
• Limit outdoor activity, especially mid-day when the sun is hottest. Work out or hold team practices early in the morning or in the early evening. A CDC online course for coaches, athletic trainers, students, school nurses, parents, and teachers is at cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/extreme/Heat_Illness/index.html

Heed the following heat danger warning signs and take suggested actions:

• Heat cramps occur in the muscles of the limbs or abdomen occurring during or after physical activity in high heat. Sweating results in a loss of fluids and salts that cause muscle cramps. Address heat cramps by resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water.
• Heat exhaustion is more severe, occurring when a person is overheated along with reduced or unbalanced intake of fluids. Symptoms include dehydration, fatigue, weakness, clammy skin, headache, nausea and/or vomiting, rapid breathing, irritability, and fainting. Take these simple steps to reduce heat exhaustion: Move the person indoors or into shade. Loosen or remove the person’s clothing. Encourage the person with heat exhaustion to eat and drink. Get the person to a cool shower or bath. Call your doctor for further advice.
• Heat stroke occurs when the body can no longer cool itself, and can be a life-threatening event. Prompt medical treatment is required. Symptoms include: flushed, hot and dry skin with no sweating; high body temperature (above 103 degrees F, taken orally); severe, throbbing headache; weakness, dizziness, or confusion; sluggishness or fatigue; decreased responsiveness; and loss of consciousness. If heat stroke occurs, take these steps: Call 9-1-1 immediately. This is a medical emergency. Get the heat stroke victim indoors or into shade. Get the person into a cool shower or bath or wipe them down with continuously soaked cool washcloths while awaiting emergency responders.

For more information, visit the CDC at cdc.gov/extremeheat/warning.html.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, drink almost no sugary beverages.

 

Thank you,
Ingrid Hansen

PRESS RELEASE: FY2017 Budget

June 28, 2016
City of New Castle
FY2017 Budget Press Release

Yesterday City Council passed a balanced budget of $5,313,838 and grant budget of $1,183,200 with no tax increase.  The budget includes about $500k of needed street repairs throughout the City, storm drainage enhancements and improved civic access for people with disabilities. The City also increased its working capital and reserve cash funds by about $200k or 15%.  Due to efficiency improvements and staffing decreases through attrition, the City has maintained approximately the same employee expenses since FY2013 even with wage increases and rising health care costs.   The City will continue to identify efficiencies while maintaining services to its citizens and businesses.

Street re-paving projects approved:  

1. East 12th Street from Moores Lane to Baldt Avenue              
2. East 9th Street from Delaware to Clayton Street      
3. Foundry Street from 3rd Street to 4th Street                                     
4. Karlstad Road (portion)                                                                  
5. Tremont Street near 7th Street                                                                   

Other highlights include:  Contributions to local nonprofits ($600 Arasapha, $1500 each to New Castle Historical Society, Library, Senior Center and Beautification Committee), $15k for an architectural and engineering survey of Banks Building to determine next steps, small economic development fund ($5k to advertise in the Greater Wilmington visitors guide, wayfinding signage and City website improvements.

PRESS RELEASE: Delaware Street Pier Project

PRESS RELEASE

CITY OF NEW CASTLE
June 10, 2016

The City of New Castle has been entrusted by the State of Delaware with $1,025,000, for the purpose of building a pier at the end of Delaware Street.  In addition, the City has received funding for this project from the Delaware City Refinery in the amount of $10,000.  The City also anticipates the receipt of $145,000 from FEMA under a federal program payment for the damage to the former pier, destroyed by Hurricane Sandy; for a total of $1,180,000.

With the funds provided by the State, the City has an obligation and commitment to the State to utilize these funds as judiciously as possible, and to construct the pier.

Since the project was put to public bid with the experienced contracting firm of Dissen and Juhn as the lowest bidder, we have had numerous meetings with representatives of the contractor, City engineer Dave Athey, City Solicitor Dan Losco and engineers from Duffield and Associates, to determine a path forward that will allow us to maximize the dollars available to construct a functional pier, and also establish plans to enhance it to permit docking by ships such as the Kalmar Nyckel in the future.

With engineering design and testing costs already committed, the balance of the funds remaining for construction is $1,055,658.  With that, the City has agreed to move forward with Dissen and Juhn and construct a pier that will be operational and open for use by the public at a total construction price of $1,005,444.  When this first phase of construction is completed, residents and visitors will have full access to walk and utilize the pier.  Additional funding will be required to accommodate docking by the Kalmar Nyckel, as originally planned.

To this end, we have requested that the State provide $300,000 to assist with these additional costs, project management expenses, and cover any other potential costs such as remobilization.  We are optimistic that these funds will be made available in the upcoming fiscal year, and completion of the entire pier will be done within the same time frame as the construction of “phase one.”

Should that not be the case, the City will continue to pursue other funding options through State agencies, private donors and fundraisers to complete the project.

 

City of New Castle Downtown Development District Plan

Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition in Battery Park

DON’T MISS THE FIRST ANNUAL COLONIAL BBQ COMPETITION!

Saturday, June 11th, 2016
12:00 – 5:00
In Historic New Castle At Battery Park
Website

Gates are open to the Public at Noon

This Kansas City Barbecue Society (www.kcbs.us) sanctioned event is the first ever event associated with Separation Day in Delaware! Competition teams, vendors, musicians, sponsors and the public are invited to enjoy all the fun that comes with competition barbecue, live music, beer and beverages of all kinds, and vendors selling really cool stuff! Come meet and see the BBQ teams in action, watch a cooking demonstration, buy mouthwatering sauces and spice blends to try back home, and watch as student teams from area high school culinary arts programs compete against one another! Fun for the entire family!

*New Castle Charities is a local organization dedicated to making improvements to Battery Park and supporting the arts in the City of New Castle and Battery Park. The group also makes home improvement grants available to City residents that demonstrate financial need. New Castle Charities is recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations made to New Castle Charities are exempt from federal taxes

Trash Schedule for the week of May 30th

City Notice: Resolution Withdrawn

City Notice:

Resolution withdrawn

Resolution 2016-05; “A Resolution to impose a moratorium on new land development applications in the Downtown Gateway Zoning District for 60 days, to permit review by a City Planner and the City Solicitor, for the purpose of recommending amendments to land use regulations to regulate mixed use development and enhance quality of life for residents,” has been withdrawn from the March 8, 2016 Council agenda.

Thank you – Linda Ratchford, Council President

Invitation to Bid – City of New Castle Riverfront Redevelopment Pier Project

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed bids for the City of New Castle Riverfront Redevelopment Pier Project will be received by the City Administrator until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday March 31, 2016, at the City Administration Building, 220 Delaware Street, New Castle, at which time they will be publicly opened and read.  Bids received after the stated time will be returned unopened.  This project was first bid in December 2015 but a contract was not awarded.

The City of New Castle Riverfront Redevelopment Pier Project involves the construction of a fixed dock structure along the Delaware River to accommodate commercial, institutional, and historic vessels.  The fixed dock will extend from the Delaware Street Wharf approximately 170 feet to the navigable channel.  The project will include a fixed 100 foot long dock, access causeway, access ramp and stairs.  The construction will involve mobilization / demobilization; installation of driven piles; erection of steel framing and wood decking; construction of concrete ramps; and placement of miscellaneous railings, security gates, and dock mechanical facilities.  Piles for a floating dock and a floating dock with gangway are being bid as add / alternates.

Bidding documents may be obtained during normal business hours from New Castle Public Services Department, 900 Wilmington Road (Trolley Barn), New Castle.  A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Thursday March 10, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 201 Delaware Street, New Castle.  Attendance of this meeting is mandatory for all prospective bidders and will be a pre-requisite for submitting a bid. 

Bids shall be submitted in a sealed envelope and shall be marked clearly as follows:  Sealed Bid – Proposal for Riverfront Redevelopment Pier Project.  Requirements for a 10% Bid Bond, 100% Performance Bond, 100% Payment Bond and Maintenance Bond, and Contractor’s Insurance are included in the Contract Documents.

Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE) will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids on this contract and are encouraged to do so.

Each Bidder must deposit with their bid a security equivalent to 10% of the bid amount, form and subject to the conditions provided in the instructions for bidders.

The City of New Castle reserves the right to reject any or all bids and makes such award as appears most advantageous to the City.

The City may extend the time and place for the opening of the bids from that described in the advertisement, with not less than two calendar days-notice by certified delivery, facsimile machine, e-mail, or other electronic means to those bidders who have obtained bid packets.

END OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

 

Your Opinion Counts! City of New Castle Downtown Development District Online Survey

CITY OF NEW CASTLE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

Click to take the Survey.
The survey closes on March 11, 2016.

The City of New Castle will seek Downtown Development District (DDD) designation as an integral component to its comprehensive, ongoing economic efforts.  Along with the designations of the First State National Historic Park and the Bayshore Byway Discovery Zone, the DDD designation will be an instrumental piece in creating a unified story of New Castle’s unmatched history and exciting future.  As part of the designation, the City will prepare a fully grant-funded Plan that:

• Exhibits the City as a great place to invest
• Identifies and attracts market needs
• Strengthens the downtown’s ties to the waterfront
• Unifies the many stakeholders and initiatives towards a shared goal
• Organizes businesses with joint marketing efforts and resources
• Is the primary marketing tool to stimulate economic activity
• Involves coordinated efforts of the City, State agencies, civic and community associations, and other stakeholders

YOUR OPINION COUNTS

As part of the Downtown Development District planning process, we are conducting an online survey on the frequency and purpose of consumer activity in the New Castle area, the demand for new and expanded commercial offerings, the factors that influence local consumer shopping decisions, and the needs of local business owners and operators.  The results of this survey will help to identify current and future market opportunities in the New Castle area in attracting businesses that consumers want and need, as well as needs of business owners and operators.

As a current patron of businesses in the New Castle area, a resident, tenant, employee, visitor, or a business owner or operator, we need your opinion!  The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.