City Council Meeting, 2/17/2026

Thank you, Mr. Hey, welcome back.

All right, so Mr. Mayor, members of council, the first briefing will be join will join us actually in person this time. He'll give city council an update as it relates to the general assembly session and where things are [clears throat] in that process. But go ahead, Brent. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. City Manager. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Madame Vice Mayor, members of the city council. It's a pleasure to be here with you today. Um, so today we're going to give you our typical weekly update on general assembly action. Uh today is the last day before crossover or today is crossover depending on how you look at it, but today is the deadline for each chamber to deal with the legislation

that originated in this chamber and send it over to um the other chamber. So uh it's a busy floor day. They're typically there uh late into the evening. Um the other big uh milestone to keep an eye on is this Sunday the each chamber will release their version of the budget. So, that's the next big thing that we'll be keeping an eye on. Once you kind of get each chambers's budget, you get through

crossover, you get a better grasp of what's really um going to kind of happen this legislative session and how things are kind of looking for you. So, we'll know more hopefully by next uh Tuesday's briefing.

Our legislative agenda, um hopefully you guys saw some of my emails over the last few days. Um the Senate version of our 101 charter bill and the 101 general law has now passed both chambers and is headed to the governor. Uh typically takes a few days for them to do what they call the enrollment process. I'll be honest with you, I don't know exactly what it is they do in that process, but

it takes them three or four days to do it and then they send it off to the governor. once she and her office officially receive it, she'll have 7 days to take action on that piece of legislation since it was passed uh with more than seven days to go in the legislative session. So, we should see some uh additional action on those two pieces of legislation here in the next

week or so. Um just today, our HB393, the cancer screening for public safety bill, passed the House 97 to0. Um, I'll be giving you a few additional updates as things moved through the House chamber today. Uh, we had to turn in this presentation prior to that. So, there'll be a few additional updates.

Um, so cancer screening bill passed the House today 97 to zero heads to the Senate. Um, all the other stuff is similar to where we last talked. The only other one I want to um highlight for you is HB1049, the menhaden fishing study. Um, this bill has uh we call it has caught a fever. It was moving along has been approved by the committee, but somewhere in between the committee and

when it's supposed to go to the House floor, it ran into some trouble and it sounds like it's not going to get a vote on the House floor as of right now. Um, as I mentioned, today's the deadline.

Something could change, but it was not on the uh House docket for today. Um, and I checked in with a few folks and um, I think they just uh, basically told me it ran into some trouble and it may have to come back next year. So, one of those weird kind of uh, procedural things where you know if you uh, you remember Schoolhouse Rock, how a bill becomes a law, they don't really mention

this sort of thing in the song, but it happens uh, fairly often.

Uh so uh last week we talked about all of this legislation. We've called this our legislation with fiscal impact things that we're working um mostly working against. And I'll highlight here just the first four. The last two nothing's really changed on but um the collective bargaining legislation passed the House earlier today on a 6135 vote.

Uh so the House version will now go to the Senate. Senate version is currently being debated on the Senate floor. Um, and so we'll get an update on that as it goes. Andrew is going to give me a thumbs up here in a little bit if it passed or thumbs down if it didn't. Um, the there the Senate version's a little different than the House version. Uh, so they'll have to rectify those uh those

differences as it moves through the process. So still a lot of action to take place here on collective bargaining. Uh, as you hopefully saw in my email on Friday, the legislation that would have eliminated sovereign immunity for local governments was continued to 2027. So, that legislation is dead for now. Um, and then I've highlighted this piece of legislation for you multiple times and it's gone through multiple

iterations, but HB569 and SB518 um originally would have required all public works projects at the local government and at the state level to use prevailing wage um in their procurement process. Um there were some amendments that took local governments out of the bills and then there were some amendments uh in the last week that now would require uh local governments to use prevailing wage if they are

receiving state funds for the project kind of mirroring how federal projects work. So that's where they are currently. Um the Senate version of that bill passed through the Senate 20 to19 and the House version um is on the on for final vote today and is likely um going to head in the same direction. And then the last one I'll highlight here for you is SB233.

This was a piece of legislation that would have changed the funding formula that the state uses to provide funding for uh fire services for fire departments. Um the goal behind it was to try and provide additional funding for rural fire departments. Obviously that would have reduced our funding. Um so the legislation has been changed into a study so they can look at trying to find ways to better fund rural fire

departments. Um and then they'll bring back some recommendations for next year.

Uh we're bringing back uh I think it was my first or second um briefing. We highlighted some major tax legislation that have been proposed uh for you all. Almost all of those pieces of legislation have failed to report out of committee. Uh some were continued to 2027. Some were just voted down completely. Um the first box there highlights there were three or four pieces of legislation um that were

coming from Northern Virginia legislators that were geared to try and find additional transit funding for Metro. that's their biggest issue up there in Northern Virginia and then would provide um some additional money for transit um agencies throughout the state as well. But it um really was geared heavily towards additional taxes for the Northern Virginia region and then to spend those additional tax

dollars in the Northern Virginia region.

All those pieces of legislation have failed to report out of committee. Um and then the second one I'll highlight here for you is HB378. And Councilman Cummings, you had asked about this one early on. It would have imposed a net investment tax uh on individuals. That legislation was voted down uh unanimously in committee. Um I will say the only thing to always keep an eye on, especially when it comes to tax

structure, is uh it's important to remember that at the state level, the budget supersedes the code. So, they can always put any of this stuff into the state budget on a two-year cycle and still implement it. Um, and that happens, I won't say often, but it happens more often than they like to admit. You will always hear floor speeches of the legislators talking about how, you know, we don't legislate

through the budget. We don't uh put legislation that got uh voted down in committee. We don't put that into the budget. But the truth is that they do those things all the time. So, uh, again, Sunday's budget will be very telling, and we'll keep an eye on all of those items.

All right. Um, so we're going to continue each week. We've kind of brought you a chart here of legislation of interest. Few of these you've seen already. A couple of these are new. Um, first one to highlight for you, and this one actually just went through a big change. So, but I had it on my chart already, but um HB 1238 would have authorized localities to um to create some additional regulations around pet

shops. This was a question that we actually got and did some research on earlier in the year from um a couple of you council members had asked us a question. So, I just want to highlight this for you. This legislation um looks like it's headed towards passage passed out of the House 5836, but they put a reenactment clause on it. So that means that it doesn't actually take effect until it passes again next year. So um

it's just a kind of a procedural process that it's going through. Uh so this would not actually give us this authority this year, but it'll bring it back next year and if it passed again next year, then we would get some additional authority. Uh second one here to highlight for you is this interesting bill from Delegate Cliff. pays um who which would uh prohibit a local government from using a web domain that

doesn't end in.gov. So that would include us, right? We're vbggov.com.

Um Delegate Hayes believes that this is an important cyber security measure that local governments should uh not just local governments but all government bodies should undertake. Um the challenge with it is is that obviously redoing all of our email addresses, marketing, website, anywhere we have vbggov.com printed uh is a is an expense on us. And while we haven't been able to really kind of get a grasp of what that

expense would be, we do think it would be um you know, it would be impactful.

So, we're keeping an eye on that legislation. It um got out of the first two committees by one single vote and then out of the appropriations committee on a 15-7 vote.

Pass the House chamber today 5443 and it's headed to the Senate. Next three bills here are uh ebike related. I know that we all know this has been an issue for us here. Uh big topic of conversation. So HP 343 has passed the House 7522. This would allow a locality to adopt an ordinance to um require children 14 and under to wear a helmet on an e scooter, a non-motorized scooter, or a motorized skateboard.

Right now, we have that authority for bicycles, but not for those items.

Uh the second one, HB120. This is probably the most impactful one. This legislation would create a work group, a study group at the state level to look at a lot of the ebike issues similar to what we're doing here at the local level. Um, that legislation passed 97 to zero at the House uh in the House and heads to the Senate. Um, and then you may recall one of my first briefings also HB269.

This was a piece of legislation that would have heavily regulated uh ebikes. As you've I think I put in some of my emails uh email updates. It was a bit of a mess in how they tried [clears throat] to do it. It basically created some new classes of ebikes without taking out the old classes. Um it was just kind of um I don't know, it was a bit messy. So that legislation

didn't go very far. And I think the the study gave them a way to advance this issue without having to take a hard stance on anything. So that legislation did not um did not pass. But all of these uh Delegate Martinez, Delegate Sing, and Delegate Reed are all out of Lden County, and they're really at the forefront with us on this issue and um and and working diligently to find some

some resolution on it as we are.

All right, my last two slides here. Just want to give you a quick update. There has been a lot of movement on speed camera legislation. Um there were probably a half dozen or more pieces of legislation on speed cameras introduced this year doing a variety of things from providing some additional regulations to ending the programs altogether. Um the legislation that would have ended the

programs altogether were um were defeated. Took a little bit of work, but that happened. Um and so we'll highlight a few things here for you. So the first box here, HB 684 and SB59.

Um this is an interesting piece of legislation that would uh require um the Department of Criminal Justice Services to basically create a um like a training course for the people who review the photos. Uh and then would expand the the the eligibility of the type of people who are uh eligible to review those photos. So, right now you have to be a sworn police officer. This would expand

that to be um uh conservators of the peace or um some sort of local government technician, but those folks would have to go get take this course and be certified before they were allowed to do it. So, could could open it up um and give us some more flexibility. So, it's a it's a good piece of legislation.

Um, the second one, HB1330 from delegate Seabold would expand uh would add two new kinds of cameras to local government portfolios. It would uh allow us to operate pedestrian crossing and stop sign monitoring cameras, but only within uh school crossing zones, highway work zones, and the high-risisk speed B corridors.

Um, I'll highlight a couple others here for you. SP 219 requires a second summons be issued. Um SB221 would expand the hours school zones can be active. So right now school zones are only active for a half an hour in the morning, a half an hour in the afternoon when schools are in session. This would expand that to an hour in the morning, an hour in the afternoon. Um and then on the last slide

here is really the big piece. This is kind of the um I don't know omnibus speed camera legislation. As you can see, there are a bunch of changes being made here. Uh Delegate Delaney out of Fairfax County has really taken on a leadership role on this issue, and we've been working closely with her to um to to ensure that this legislation is workable for local governments and provides the right protections that um I

think everybody believes should be in place. So, this legislation uh directs the Virginia Supreme Court to establish a uniform summons to be used for photo speed enforcement violations. That's a big step forward in making sure Oh, and it requires um that summon to include information to contest um and how to pay the civil violation, opportunities to inspect the photo um and to make sure that the device um had

been calibrated properly and and and to be able to get proof that the device had been calibrated properly. uh requires two conspicuous signs be be placed within 1,00 ft of the camera. Right now, I think it only requires one. And one of those two uh signs has to be the type of sign that shows you how fast you're going. Um a good uh warning and protection system there. uh restricts how so once the locality

collects the fee. You'll remember maybe remember last year there was a um very long debate on whether the fees that are collected should be go to the state or should remain with the locality. Um, we've been able to ensure that the funds stay with the locality, but the protection is that those funds have to be spent on safety improvements for uh traffic safety, speed management, bicycle and pedestrian safety. Um, and

that the funds have to be you prioritized in areas where the photo speed enforcement cameras are first before they can be used in any other area.

um eliminates the ability of vendors to collect fees. Uh that was a big um issue for for the legislators. Uh limits the fees to no more than 5%. Um and the cost of postage.

And let's see what else here. Um as I think I mentioned in one of the first bullets, it includes a new requirement for vendors to provide calibration data upon request.

And if the the vendor does not provide that within I think it's a 10day time frame, the vendor can be fined $1,000.

And um there are also some new reporting requirements that uh each locality would have to uh abide by. Um there had been a piece in HB1 1220 that would have allowed local governments to be sued and would have pierced that sovereign immunity shield. but uh amendments have been made on the floor uh to remove that at this point. So that's a a big win for us as well.

With that, Mr. Mayor, I'm going to turn it back over to you for any questions or discussion.

Uh let me get started. Where where do we stand with right to work?

The right to work legislation in the Senate uh was never docketed in committee. So that legislation is no longer under consideration. Um the local governing collective bargaining legislation, they're still debating it.

Oh, they vote. Yeah. So, uh the Senate version has now passed the Senate. House version has passed the House. And so, they'll go across to um to the other chambers now for further discussion. Let me express a frustration. And I know this is controversial and I know we're not in full accord on this, but when nine mayors put partisanship aside [snorts] and say that having collective

bargaining imposed on us is the right way to go. I I'm appalled by that.

Do you realize Okay, let me put it this way and let me vent. Okay, I don't do it that often. Uh but you know I teach human resources on the on on the management level and we talk about you know what unions do people okay there was a time when unions were necessary you know because of labor uh you know problems and everything but they're no longer necessary you know let me just

say you know um I was talking to a fellow mayor from the peninsula at an event the [snorts] other night and he understands that they want to impose this on us because they want to make sure that we treat our employees well.

But let me tell you something. Don't forget we compete against each other as cities and we also comp compete with the uh private sector. You better believe we treat our people well. And when we had public safety come to us last year and needed something, we did it without collective bargaining.

And it just I think it's very frustrating. You know, we were reasonable. Do a study on it to find out how it's going to impact the localities and it's going to affect every locality from the smallest hamlet to the largest city.

And we take a look at Fairfax. I'll bring it up again. I think it was 2024 they had a a surplus of 254 million after collective bargaining uh recently.

They're 300 million underwater.

They had to impose a food tax. They had to raise their mill rate almost 5 cents and 33 taken out of um operations.

We can't afford it. If if we want to make Virginia Beach affordable, you can't impose another unfunded mandate on the municipalities.

And that's exactly what it's going to do if it's not handed. I know I'm venting.

I'm a thing, but hopefully we get to a point where we can agree on something, you know, without getting our cities in going into insolveny. So, I'm said what I had to say. Anybody else at this point?

Okay, Josh. Mr. Mayor, I'm gonna vent a little bit too on a different subject.

I'm sorry I started a drink here. And this is um actually two subjects. One is the menhaden fishing study that you had mentioned ran into trouble. I can only like guess what what all that means.

[snorts] Um but um you know, from my my perspective, um I don't I don't think that bill places any limits. It doesn't shut anybody down.

um is just simply ask for better data um [snorts] transparency around industrial activity that has tremendous implications on our bay and um and our uh coastal environment. Um and and my guess is that there are some concerns from industry advocates and um people who obviously, you know, who are sensitive around employment issues and workforce issues.

Um but when an industry resists even a study um it raises some serious questions about whether we're getting the full picture. Um so I just um it is it is really disheartening to see that even just a simple study into the issue is is getting resistance and um I think it's shameful. Um and then the other thing uh I wanted to um speak on is the ebike legislation. Um, I just want to

thank um, Council Member Cummings and everybody else who's who's uh, and staff who who put together the task force and who've been um, reviewing this information and coming to us with recommendations.

Um, I drove through a neighborhood yesterday. Okay, I won't say which one just so so I don't identify, but um there were there were three kids, one of them laying in the middle of the street hurt. Um because they were on one of these larger class 3 ebikes and um this kid looked like he was no more than 13 years old and he looked like he was on something that looked like a motorcycle.

Um [snorts] I don't know what can be done. I know we talked about it early on. Um I know we've had the task force. I was I mean I think there were probably one or more of us who were ready to just ban those class 3 ones altogether. Um I know that's where I was at, but um and then get on to the work of evaluating the other classes. And I understand what

kind of stresses that puts on our police and enforcement and everything. But I mean, these young kids are driving what essentially are motorcycles in our neighborhoods, through our schools, through our playgrounds, through our neighborhood streets. They're going 30, 40 mph. Some of them don't have helmets on. Some of them even don't obey stop signs and other things. So, um, this is

a a serious public safety crisis um for us. um and how how we do better, but we have to.

Hey, Rosemary and Michael, can you bring us up to speed on some of the uh land use legislations because some of it was pretty honorous, but Yeah. Uh hasn't been much changed since my last briefing last week. Uh there are probably two or three pieces of legislation in that realm that um are problematic, including most uh I think most problematic is this piece of legislation. and they call it the faith

in housing uh that would allow any um religious organization or nonprofit that buy right to uh build multif family housing on on their property. Um we're working with the patrons to try and make it much more livable. Uh Kathy and Carrie have been really helpful in providing some recommendations on that legislation. Uh with crossover, we haven't been able to have many of those conversations. Um we did get um an

more livable. um and then continuing to fight areas where we just can't find compromise and hope to get legislation defeated. But uh there is just uh there is a large movement in this general assembly to make uh uh I don't know to get more houses built and it's um you know the the writing isn't quite on the wall yet but we're moving in in a direction on some of those issues that are challenging for local governments.

about the one on homelessness.

Uh there was the legislation that would have um impacted uh some of our existing ordinances. That legislation was uh rejected in committee um and so is no longer under consideration, but will be back again next year in some iteration.

Thank you.

And Michael and K. Thank you, Mayor.

Well, um I'd like to vent on a few things, too. Oh god.

U but for the I'm sorry. No.

Well, it's it's actually really amazing um to imagine the type of overreach that I think is happening in the Virginia General Assembly during this session. Um and a lot of people who are paying attention are frustrated, have taken note, and um and are watching and are paying attention. And I hope the legislators in Richmond are too. Um, I could opine on a variety of topics, but for the purposes

of this discussion, I just want to offer some remarks [snorts] to support what council member Schulman said about the menhaden study.

Um it's equally as important as to what the legislators are doing um as what they're not doing. And refusing to advance this study in my view is a a breach of um responsible stewardship of a global and internationally uh recognized sensitive environment environmental area of the Chesapeake Bay. Virginia Beach is a Chesapeake Bay community as well as an oceanfront community and the industrial scale fishing that is

occurring in the Chesapeake Bay from Manhaden um to harvest those animals, process them in another part of Virginia by a company that I understand is Canadian-owned um is having a direct impact on the people who live, visit, and um recreate in Virginia Beach and on the Chesapeake Bay. And that includes people who uh visit our Bayfront beaches and are forced to endure the impacts of fish

spills which have known been known to occur repeatedly as a result of the industrial fishing. I'm talking about the essential role that menhaden fish play into the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

Um, I'm talking about um the degradation of sport of of other uh fisheries, other types of animals that rely on manhaden and for the general assembly not to even advance a study to better understand what's happening there. And I was proud to be one of the [clears throat] council members who um sought to advance this um in for the first time ever as far as I know as part of our legislative agenda.

and the and the council rallied around this topic. It should be non-controversial. We need to understand the impact of the industrial scale fishing that is occurring in the Chesapeake Bay um in and in and around um the Virginia Beach shoreline and how it's impacting our environment and how it's impacting our ability to um lead uh the quality of life that we expect in Virginia Beach. whether that's visiting

the beach or being on the bay fishing and anywhere in between. Um I'm very disappointed that it I think you were very gracious. I actually would like to know what happened and that's one aspect I would like what actually did happen.

Um, we'll gather more information. Literally happened this morning and as I was texting with a couple folks and uh and I can appreciate your position and and and I you know, but and and I I'm not saying this to question the way you reported it because you reported it accurately, but we're but maybe give me some information to be more specific about because I don't want to gloss over it by saying, "Well, it

got caught up." It didn't just get caught up. there were special interests who intervened and imply and applied leverage. That's how it got caught up and we need to understand who is applying that leverage, how and why. And um any information you could provide would be beneficial to me because it's important. I know that there are council members here who serve districts that are directly adjacent to the Ches Bay

and I don't, but the Ches Bay wershed includes all of Virginia Beach in some form or another. Um, my neighbors have boats and they go out onto the Chesapeake Bay and they do all different types of fishing. And all of this is linked to the menhaden which is an essential connector species and we is I'm actually amazed that we can't even advance a study about it. It's highly disappointing.

Yes, sir. Councilman, I will uh we will gather some additional intel on that and report back to you on that. And um there are a couple other pieces of legislation dealing with the health of the bay.

We'll we'll pull some of that for you as well. I think there are is some progress. Well, hopefully there will be some progress made this year. Um I will also say, you know, there's still the the the budget. We'll see if there's any money in there for a study. The request for um this study was um most of these sort of studies are in the tens of thousands of dollars range. This

one was in the millions of dollars in request. Sometimes that complicates things with the general assembly. Things that cost money are always harder to get past. Um, but I share your disappointment. Um, and especially having come out of committee and headed to the floor with the momentum we had, I was uh, surprised and disappointed this morning as well.

Well, I'll put a finer point on it. The leadership in Richmond today has advanced themselves as the more responsible stewards of the environment.

That's the political messaging that we have heard and I don't think they're living up to that claim.

Hey Cash.

So, thank you. Um, and to put context with this, I don't have a vent. Um, probably you broke the chain.

I know, right?

Peace, love. Um but but this is important because um with all of the popup smoke uh shops, vape shops, and uh I I'm ready to have the um cannabis bill to be approved by the governor because this will give us some type of controls.

of what's happening in these businesses.

And so for me in my district and and others, I we see these shops [clears throat] just popping up, right?

And I'm sure they went through the business protocols and business permit, but we as a locality can't um attach oursel to it um to receive any financial uh taxation from their operation. And so, um, you would think that that would be on the driving points of those who are our elected leaders in Richmond.

Do you have an update on that?

Uh, yes, sir. Yes, Councilman. Um, so the cannabis legislation um continues to to progress. There are uh is a House version and a Senate version. um the Senate version at my last check and I'll have to go back and look at it again, but um had not included some of the um zoning authority for local governments that the House version that we preferred included when we were working to get those inserted

into the Senate version. I'll have to go back and double check to uh make sure that that happened before it crossed over today. But all of that legislation continues to progress. Um, and we'll continue to keep you guys up to date as major changes are made on those. Um, but we all anticipate um some sort of resolution on on cannabis uh a retail marketplace this year and you never know, things fall apart, but that's

certainly the the progression that it's on currently. And um there are some additional pieces of legislation dealing with some of the vape shops, which is kind of a different issue. Um we'll pull some of that stuff for you and send you um some if you're interested in that. um send you some information there.

Yeah, we're I'm very much interested because we have to have some type of standardization of how these um businesses operate in Virginia Beach and if we don't set the parameter, they will.

Yes, sir. Stacey um on the ebike situation. I first thank you for the uh recognition of the ebike task force.

[clears throat] So I have come to appreciate how complicated of an issue this is. It's a very complicated issue to uh deal with at the local level, much less the state level. And to try to come up with parameters and solutions for the entire state of Virginia, which has very different uh populations is a incredible task. And I would love to see the state legislation take the handcuffs off of the local

localities and let us deal with these ebikes in a manner that's appropriate to our uh to our city. We have a boardwalk which no other city has that needs to be dealt with in a manner that uh Richmond may not appreciate. You know, we have in one city, we have farms, we have neighborhoods, we have urban centers, and so and and I don't blame the state legislature for wanting to do a study of

this because this is a situation that has just exploded in the last year. I mean, I I I would say two years ago, you you may have seen a bike here and there.

You may have seen something go, what was that?

you know, why is that kid riding a motorcycle in the on the sidewalk, you know, but today it's all day every day.

It has virtually exploded in the last 24 months. Certainly in the last year, it's really gone over the top. So, I hope they're expeditious in their study. I hope that they will let the localities deal with some of these issues uh that are appropriate uh to the localities but this is something that um I don't blame them for doing a study because it's complicated issue but time is of the essence because

this is getting to be a larger and larger pro problem every day uh that goes on and so uh as Councilman Schulman said there are kids getting hurt um every day on these things. They're causing accidents and uh I I just hope that they move forward and let us do what we need to do also.

Yes, sir, Mr. Councilman. And um I'll have to go back and double check. I'm going to look at Walter over here, but I think the requirement is for them to conduct the study and have it done by November of this year so that they can put and he's giving me a thumbs up uh for legislation to be introduced in next year's session. So that's as quickly as they can do it. Um so I think that's a

positive and also note that as you mentioned, you know, each locality is viewing this differently. You know, as I check in with my colleagues and friends who have similar jobs to mine, um there are places that this is um a top concern. And then there were actually other localities that were looking for ways to give away ebikes to um folks to help with um transportation and traffic

issues and deal with some of those final mile issues and they ran into some stumbling blocks that they didn't believe they had the state authority to be allowed to do that. So um certainly different viewpoints from different parts of the state and I think as usual that points to um the best decisions for most things and my opinion uh is done at the local level and this is certainly amongst this.

Hey anybody else? Okay let's uh end on a positive note and uh I thought mine was positive. Let me just say that. Let's just say this. You know, once again, we're, you know, Stacey, we're a Dylan rule state and that's it.

And part of the process is that, you know, we have a full-time city council and a part-time legislature. That's just the way it is. And Brent, how about how many thousands of bills did they get?

You know, this year, uh, this year there were about 4,000 bills, studies, and resolutions. A lot of those are commending resolutions like you know somebody's 100th anniversary or something but 4,000 uh of some form that we all had to sift through and that's packed into couple months.

Yes sir. 60 days this year including weekends you know and thing you know you know through adversity find opportunity you know we have the situation that yeah you know Stacey and everybody we do get frustrated you know we had our voting uh system changed on us six localities had their voting time move from May to November and you know we found out about it after it happened and the thing is

what really really works is effective communication and relationships and I I just think it would be positive behoove both uh not only our delegate local delegation but all the delegation that you know we have the type of um gettogethers or relationships that they understand the impact of what you know they're you know putting on us and if I could use as an example um number of years ago back when I was at the

centerar back then and um I used to work a lot uh you know um panels and everything, medical panels, and I did a number of panels uh with a guy by the name of Senator Ralph Northam, and we got to know each other. We built a relationship ideologically and philosophically uh you know, we had a lot of differences, but when he was governor and we were desperate to get the beaches open, we had a trust there

and we got the beaches open. And the point I'm trying to make is that, you know, right now, let's be honest, whether it be in the beltway, whether it be in all the state halls and everywhere, politics is a contact blood sport these days. And right now, we are a divided nation. Let's say it up front.

Uh we are polarized and paralyzed. And I hate to say it, if you try to reach across the table to people, you're ostracized.

That's just the nature of the thing that we have to change. And the thing is if thing if we can build those bridges and you know like we did you I'll keep on bringing it back. You know, the nine of the seven mayors of the 757 came together in a very bipartisan way and say, "What is good for our communities and how how can we help each community thrive and survive as well as

their own and I think that's what we need." And you know, I appreciate the challenges that the delegates and senators have there. I mean, we think about 4,000 things going across the thing. How do you get a full story, whether it be the Manhattan fisheries or uh collective bargaining or anything, and get the whole, you know, picture?

And I think that's the challenge, but Brett, I just want to say thank you. I know you're our paid pinñata up there.

Uh, and I know you, you know, I tell you what, you must feel like Mel Gibson in the final scene of Braveheart.

uh but you know just keep on doing the work but you know something going forward let's see what we can do a better job building the bridges if you want to do a study on light rail hey bring us into the loop in the discussion you know while you're crafting your leg legislation this could be a win-win for everybody but I'm just saying that you know just having it uh hoisted upon us

after you uh a referendum said we didn't want it you know we had we got to have those conversations preemptively Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

All right.

All right. So, Mr. Mayor, members of council, at the request, Mr. Mayor of yourself and council member Remick, planning department staff, Kathy Warren, director of planning, and also Carrie Bookhold, deputy director of planning, will brief city council on some of the customer service changes and their development review statistics.

Good afternoon, mayor, vice mayor, members of council.

So today first I'd like to introduce uh you all know already but our deputy director Carrie Book Holt who will be with me today presenting. We are happy to bring you some good news today. Uh we recently presented this information to the resort advisory committees planning design and review committee meeting and thanking council member Remick who thought that it'd be a good idea to

bring this information to you today to really show you what our uh reporting timelines look like.

So just a an overview on our presentation today. We're going to go over some of our newer customer service offerings and statistics.

I'm going to talk about our development review process and provide our uh FY2025 statistics and performance tracking. And then Carrie's going to go through our allotted timelines for reviews, our current statistics for site plans and building plans, and then we'll be here to take any questions.

So, since we moved back to campus in May of 2025, we modified and expanded our customer service offerings. Our customer service counter is open 5 days now.

It is staffed with two full-time customer service positions and subject matter experts from our various divisions.

We offer multiple methods of payment that can be done online at the counter without having to go anywhere else to pay. That's a huge in improvement from past years.

We also have a new phone system. This allows queuing for our customers. So, if you call in and you're put on hold, it will immediately tell you you're number four in line and so you'll know that someone will be helping you in the very near future. It allows us to collect a lot of data. So, we're able to show who is calling in, why they are calling in, and then provide that information uh in our reports.

And then it allows for better coordination within the department. So, if someone calls into the zoning, but they really needed permits and inspections, it's easy for us to help navigate the system that way.

for our FY26 uh numbers. Based on our customer visits, we had 5,268 customer visits to date. That's an average of 752 per month. We've already received 28,83 phone calls. That's an average of 4,114 calls per month. And our capture rate is 92.7% of those calls. So that doesn't mean that that small gap between 92.7 and 100 is that we lost those customers. And in many cases, someone is hung up and then

they'll call back at a later time.

For an idea of our volume of projects and plans moving through our office, the data on this data on the screen presents what we processed in FY25.

So we had 101 presubmitt meetings held with staff, 450 discretionary applications processed by our staff and approved by respective boards or commission commissions such as the city council, Chesapeake Bay board of zoning appeals or planning commission to name a few.

We had 2,655 submitts to the development services uh division for our site plan review and related projects.

34,631 permits issued by our permits and inspection staff with an accompanying just under 79,000 inspections.

So back in 2020 and in response to concerns in the development community that plans and permits were taking too long to review and approve, city manager Duhaney created a solutionsoriented data-driven focus group called permit stat. to determine where the challenges were and how to improve our process.

City leadership, planning, public utilities, and it work together to collect data and put it into an understandable format so that we can show where our true review timelines are. Our permit stat initiatives included data collection, data collection over four years, uh department coordination, hardware and software upgrades, efficiency and processes, and then of course our staffing improvements.

So I will turn it over to Carrie to get into the detail and then I'll be back.

Thanks Kathy. Good afternoon, city council. I will pick up here and dive into the details of what we're collecting for our site plan review and building plan review. We'll start with the development services center. The development services center or DSC as you hear us call it all the time. Really serves as the home base for site planning projects. Each project is assigned a project manager that is um

the point of contact for the development team as they move through our process.

Site plans are routed through DSC.

They're reviewed both in planning, but also we send them out to subject matter experts for the fire department or public works, traffic engineering, public utilities, etc. The maximum review times for site plans are mandated by the state and you may remember last summer there was some legislation passed that pinched those review times down that the state allot.

So for initial reviews, we used to have 60 days for an initial review of a site plan. That's been reduced to 40 days.

Subsequent reviews used to be 45 days.

They're now at 30 days.

And it should be stated that these are calendar days. They're not business days. And if we miss this target, it can a project can be automatically assumed approved. So we have to stay on top of them and we can't miss them. Um, in addition to the statemandated timelines, we also have an internal review policy that's generally less than the state.

Um, for site plans for commercial projects, we try to get those through in 28 days. Subsequent subsequent reviews in 21 days. For single family or smallcale residential projects like a duplex, we cut that by a week even more to route those through our office in 21 days on an initial review and 20 or 14 days, I'm sorry, on a subsequent review.

So, our data that we've been collecting shows how we stack up. This chart um is for last calendar year. So, half of the year is under that new state legislation. And you can see that we're showing in 2025 calendar year, we approved 128 single family projects. On average, that takes 2.8 cycles to get approved through our office. Um we transitioned or um moved over into business days. So if you transpose what

the state code would allow in calendar days to business days, those 200 those 2.8 cycles would be allowed to have 63.6 6 days of review time with our office and we're pushing those out in 36.1 days. We also wanted to capture because it's part of the story, how much does time does the project spend in our office and then how much time does it spend out of our hands. So we're able to

capture how much time outside of our review process does the project spend and that's 48.6 days for a single family project. On average from start to finish, 84.7 business days for a single family project.

The next line are for duplex projects.

This is for a little bit larger of a project. They have different criteria that we have to review against. It's also for two single families on one lot that you might see in the north end of the at the oceanfront or in Old Beach.

We had 20 projects approved in 2025 with an average of 3.7 review cycles. The state code would allow 82.5 days for us to review and we've gotten those approved in 60.6 6 days with staff time.

80 days are out of our hands for a total of 140.9 days.

The last category is for a commercial site plan. This could be something as small as a halfacre, quarter acre Starbucks to a multi-, you know, hundreds of acres of an Amazon warehouse. This is really where things get technical and there's a larger number of staff reviewing the plans and also reviewing to a higher advanced level. This is where storm water modeling is mostly required. So you'll

see a longer average review cycle of 4.6 review cycles for those 43 projects we approved in 2025. The state would allow us 100.2 days to complete those reviews.

On average, we're pushing those out in 79 total days. And with our customer, those projects spend 111.1 days for a total of 190.1.

Shifting the focus from site planning, which is everything outside of the building grading drainage utilities etc. to the building itself. We also need to know how are we stacking up in our permits and inspections division. Um the permits and inspections division they are responsible for administering the uniform statewide building code both in plan review and in inspections.

However, the code does not specify a maximum review timeline for building for building permits. We have internal policies set and we break them into four categories. Um commercial new buildings would be a brand new commercial structure. Those have an initial review with us for 30 days and subsequent reviews we cut that in half to 15. A commercial alteration or addition.

You'll see there's quite a scope of that initial review because that could be anything from a simple tenant switch swap at a shopping center to something like the place where the planning department is housed now in former city hall. That permit was a commercial alterations permit. So that would be on the other side of the scale at a 30-day review timeline. review. Subsequent reviews are again cut in half between 10

and 15 days. The next category is residential new structures, brand new homes or residential buildings. Initial reviews are set at a 30-day target policy cut in half for subsequent reviews. And then residential alterations, once again, you'll see that sliding scope um or sliding scale since the projects can vary widely in scope from a small deck to a second story edition.

The chart copying the DSC information is for calendar year 2025.

And so for that entire year, we've approved 27 new commercial structures.

On average, it takes 2.6 cycles to get through. Our policy would allow us 36 and a half days to review that. And Scott Stein's team is is putting those out in 12 days. on average that spends 22 days with our customers out of our hands for a total of 34.4 days.

Commercial alterations, you'll see there's a a much greater number of those alterations and additions permits. Uh on average, those are 1.8 cycles. That helps us that some of those can be approved at our counter in the same day.

Um the scope, the time, it just really is based on scope, how much time is allowed. But on average, we're reviewing those with 9.9 days, 13 days with our customer for a total of 22.9 days.

Residential new buildings, new residential homes, 277 in last calendar year. 2.1 is the average review cycle. 30.1 day or 30 days, 31 12 days is what our policy would allow. And again, we're reviewing in 10.7 days on average. 15 days is spent with our customer out of our hands between cycles for a total days to approval of 26.1.

And then our real bread and butter, our residential alteration permits. This is the deck, a driveway permit, you know, a small addition on a home, but it could be a large one. We had 1986 approved last calendar year with a 1.58 standard review cycles. Um again the timing can be varied on scope. We take about 4.3 days to review those. On average 7.1 days are spent with our customer with a total time frame of 11.4

days.

Thank you Christoph.

So, just briefly in closing, we just wanted to mention a couple of our ongoing tracking and uh provide you with some information. Again, our goal is to keep the public informed about future land use and development in the city.

You may recall each month you get the land use report as part of your package.

This is also provided on our web page for the public to view. The information in here is it provides you with permits issued and site plans approved. It provides details on presubmittal meetings and discretionary applications submitted for that past month. It also has the upcoming planning commission agenda.

the information that Carrie provided today with regard to our review times that will actually go live tomorrow on our web page for anyone that wants to review those time frames and plan out their development accordingly.

We continue to provide information with regard to review and approvals of site plans to the process improvement committee.

And then with our next uh focused action plan initiative 2.20, 20. We are continuing to pursue and explore ways to expedite review of attainable housing projects here in the city too because we know that's a a city council priority. So that's all we have today and happy to take any questions.

Okay. Before I get to Worth and Stacy, let me just say, you know, s, you know, since you came on board, I'll tell you, I I have received and I'm sure the manager has significant positive uh feedback by overall improvements. It's a tough job. It's a demanding job.

[snorts] um and without doubt question our reservation when you talk about all the storm water regulations that seems to be the major um elephant in the phone booth that we are constantly dealing with but I'll make another uh point at the end worth and then uh Stacy thanks Mayor Dara and Miss Warren and Miss Bhol thank you very much for the presentation and Mr. city manager as well for your focus on this because you

you have improved dramatically and I've heard that from many people in the community. I just want to make that statement a little bit more in a minute and then a question. But um I mean those are millions and I mean probably over I don't know if there's a metric up there somewhere about what dollar value that's invested in our city that you are safeguarding consumer protection which you're doing for the public. It's

probably over a billion dollars worth of value invested in a homes, residents, uh, commercial property. So that it's not an easy process. Um, so that leads to the question, um, you say the development services center is home base.

um because you have told me several times that it does take time to coordinate with other departments input and I think the public doesn't necessarily understand that but you need you know public safety and public works and other Can you speak to that because that does take time to coordinate.

Yes. So we're really the clearing house when these plans come in for approval and so we coordinate and route these plans throughout various departments in the city. I mean it can be 10 other departments, 20 departments and we have to have them review these plans, provide comments so that they can come back to us. We put together that review letter to submit back to the applicant and then

we we move forward from there. But yes, it takes a lot of coordination with other departments. It's not a a lot of people think it's just a planning department, but it's not.

Okay, Stacy. Thank you.

It's great. A lot of good information and it's a good warm fuzzy feeling about what's happening in planning. Uh it's my understanding that with the comprehensive plan there's going to be there needs to be a review of the zoning ordinances and the process. And that being the case, I believe it would be helpful if the process improvement steering committee was would work with staff to give

recommendations and input. There's a lot of seasoned experience on on that committee and I think it would be helpful to to staff and and reviewing and bringing forth recommendations.

We absolutely agree and they will be involved.

Before I get to Amelia, Stacy, let me just say years ago, the process improvement uh team did a white paper, you know, on an analysis of it and the presubmittal was actually one of the [clears throat] rec recommendations that came out of there. Uh but process you got you got some very good minds uh and expertise the outside set of eyes looking good idea Amelia.

Yes, I was really impressed with what you've done. I keep looking back at the title, city manager, [snorts] but you do not hear long ago. One of the first things you hear is complaint permitting storm water takes forever and that discourages people from continually have it on the website so people can go and say we're going to look at the per.

So thank you for doing all the work you're doing.

Okay, Josh. Um thank the mayor. Um Miss Warren Lol. Thank you very much. Um, I just also wanted to since they were sitting here in the in the gallery, I wanted to recognize um your DSC director, Seth Edwards and Scott Steen from inspections.

It takes a village to do all this stuff.

Um and it's complicated. Uh, it's fast-paced and it's gotten even more fast-paced because of the requirements that came down from the state. You guys did a wonderful job pivoting into a more streamlined process and not to mention you got the 11 of us asking you questions every other day about different things that are happening in our district and um y'all are extremely responsive and professional. So, thank

you very much.

You know, you know, once again, kudos and you know, once again, ever since I've been on council, that's a couple decades now. Uh permits was always been a um topic of discussion and a lot of the frustrations were that you know people would submit something they [snorts] get a list of stuff to do they send it in then they get another new list of stuff to do. Uh you know how how

can we kind of fix that into a more but once again from what I understand a lot of the project engineers and architects that submit stuff they want you guys to do the work.

Exactly. I think that's part of the problem that is that that's been there. So, you know, how do we address that?

At times that is part of the problem for sure, but uh we talk a lot about that.

We've had a lot of conversations about making sure that we're not introducing new comments that don't need to be introduced. But at times there are things that that come through because of a design issue and that ends up it may look like a a an comment that we didn't hit on the first round but as part of a new design that someone submitted it created new comments. So it looks like

there's new comments that we missed but that we didn't miss. There's there's a certain nuance to it but we we do talk about that. we are are very focused on making sure that does not happen and we also do need to meet code. [snorts] So in the event we do miss something we do have to address that course and we do have mistakes here and there for sure

and uh let me just uh you know bring up a a glimpse into the future. Uh I've been approached by a couple companies that are developing software for AI for the permit process. Is that you know on the radar at any time in the future?

Yes, it is. And we're we're starting to look at that and and do some specific reviews and demos with respect to software programs like that.

I'll tell you what, but overall, Patrick, you know, kudos to this team and uh you know, we're in the right direction. Thank you.

All right, we need to clap for this.

Yes, we permit clapping.

That was That was a growner. I'll admit it.

Thanks, All right, we're going to start uh council discussions and comments.

Millia, what did you do this weekend?

Oh, boy.

I wish you all had been there. As you know, we've been working on the neighborhood times and this time we did Nick Smith, and it really topped the cake. We had a great audience. We had some of the elders all come out and to end it, we had um Jared Boyd singer and he's a oper

baseball league from that area which we didn't know. A lot of information came through. I want to also mention her name is Ecta Javius. She's from the Minority Business Council. She's president and she's been coming to each one. So, I wasn't sure pronouncing her name right, so I didn't, but I went out to make sure I could mention her today cuz she's been coming representing the Minority Business

Council. Of course, we had Josh because that's his district could explain to them, you know, the district and ask and of course our mayor.

He came, spoke to them, hugged them.

Some of them had never seen a me.

So, he was like a superstar taking pictures and smiling all these movies. And it was raining.

Yeah, it was. But we had a nice folk group.

So thank the city for you all supporting this initiative.

Well, a lot of people that you know was whether it be Emily Archer, the people how many tell all the people that you described, how many people were involved with getting those monuments built?

Oh, we have Emily Asher, we have um also Gina, we had I can't think of all the names right off. We had the contractors, that's what we call each area, the um parks and wreck for setting up the land and the forum. All of those people really worked. And not only that, Emily King, she's been to both this session and some of the others that media communications set things up.

Yes.

Other works real estate got the rights of entry. Yeah.

You know, Patrick, the many moving parts it took to get a this going. It seems like a simple thing, but I'll tell you what, there were a lot of hands, you know, on on the clay that formed us.

Good stuff.

Yeah.

C, did you have something?

Um, sure.

So, what's going on in what district?

Thank you. District seven. Okay. Um, so just wanted to say hello, but I was I really was talking to uh Councilwoman Henley, just saying hi to her, but you put me on the spot, so I was like, "Yeah, I'm ready." Anyway, so that's council com.

Okay, Barbara, u this staff report for council member sponsored events. I would just like some clarification of when is it uh an event that is only allowed four times a calendar year and when is it something else just to be right at the point I want to know if it's going to mean I can't have my monthly forums anymore.

I've been doing that for 30 years and I didn't know that it was a problem. So So I think the c the cap is for staff presentations right? So that is for staff to come. Like for example, if the item that Kathy Warren gave today, if a council member wanted that in their forum for one of their town halls, they'll be allowed to do that four times, basically one per quarter or four

times per year. So if you're doing your monthly forum, Miss Hy just give your the public an update where typically you ask staff for information and you're giving that, I don't see that being a prohibition for you to do that. I think basically the council what I heard from the um the retreat was they went to put a cap on the amount of staff that comes to give a presentation on particular

issues. But if you want to have a monthly forum, if you want to use a city facility 12 times a year, 15 times a year, that's okay. It's just a campus for staff presentations to to present to the public and allow the public on city related items.

Okay. So, it's all right if I continue to have my monthly forums in a city building. Okay. I couldn't tell exactly what we were talking about when it was some of the wording, but I just wanted to clarify it. So, this just means as long as I'm just presenting information, I'm good. But if I ask a staff person to come and present, that counts as one of the four.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay. I I just I I hope we're not doing something that's going to limit our ability to inform the public because I think that's one of the most important things we do and the information has to be accurate and sometimes it's best to ask the staff person to double check it.

So, I'm I'm a little nervous about this.

Um but because like I say, I think the most import one of the most important things we do is is keep our public involved. and keep our public informed and make them want to know what's going on in the city and not put roadblocks.

So, um I just wanted to clarify that a little bit and I'm still not sure if this is the right answer. Uh because sometimes it just might take more than four times out of the year to explain.

we have so much going on and especially in a district like district 2 that has so many things going on. It's just sometimes seems to me important to make sure I'm giving the right information and that takes the the appropriate staff person. But I'll fumble along and do the best I can and try not to make any mistakes.

Well, let me just say this, Barbara. You know, once again, I think, you know, you always got to think about the genesis of, you know, what we're trying to do.

And, you know, with 10 districts, you have people having multiple engagements and bringing the staff out. And don't forget, we got 10 people that are putting, you know, demands on staff and usually public safety, finance, and, you know, things are the big ones. Now, [clears throat] maybe another uh kind of solution is, you know, because a couple times I did joint um district things,

you know, coming together uh you know, because Josh and Amelia's districts, you know, have some overlap, you know, in terms of what's going around. So, it's the idea of just being efficient, but uh but but I'll tell you another valuable tool for people and they still got the precinct CAC's that they do.

Yes, sir. And if you go to those things, you know, a lot of times you'll have fire, EMS, uh, health and human services. And, you know, that's another great avenue uh, you know, for, you know, the public to, you know, to take care of and they find out all the crime stats in their districts and things of that nature. So, I think that's the u, you know, I'm not sure about how the

format, you know, wound up. Yep. Each precinct, you know, each precinct, you know, does it. Yeah, that way you find out what's going on right now.

If you if you do combine, it only counts as a half of a meeting.

Yeah. Yeah. I think that might be, you know, kind of a toll to do that.

Yeah. Well, you know, most of the other districts are more compact and are similar, but when you've got a district like district 2 that's almost half of the area of the city, it's very diverse and very [clears throat] spread out and we have a lot of different things. And so, um, now if a staff person shows up and I haven't invited them, it doesn't account as one of my four, does it?

No.

Especially if you took it to lunch that morning.

I I can't support this because I think it's limiting things in a way we don't need to, but I'll try to conform to what it requires.

Okay. We talked about the retreat.

Yeah. Okay. [clears throat] Okay.

Anybody else?

Okay. Agenda.

Agenda. Okay. Um, ordinances and resolutions. Any comments?

I have a question.

On item three, this curfew for unaccompanied minors.

It's had very little public disclosure discussion. I don't When is it going to take effect? I don't want one of our young folks to be arrested for being outside before uh after 10:00 and they didn't know about it because I mean I know we talked about this in a couple of little discussions [snorts] but I don't know that there's been a lot of public discussion about doing this and if it takes effect immediately

I I really hope these young people are going to have some time to know that the curfew is 10:00 and not 11:00 so they don't get in trouble. trouble for something they didn't know about.

So, um there was a briefing on it last year and then council as us to do a real show, but that was with the stakeholders of the the the resort area and the business community as well and then we did the public briefing two weeks ago on this matter and it's presented before council now. There'll be public comment today. Um council wants so they can defer the effective date to for 30 days

from now. We already we were planning to put out tremendous amount of um information via our communications team to let the public know about it. And just note there there are tremendous amount of exceptions as well, right? So if a young adult that's unaccompanied, remember this is an unaccompanied minor.

If a young adult is working, going to a religious activity, going to a first amendment protest and a various of other emergencies like medical emergencies or family emergencies, they get there's an exception for the for them on in those situations for the curfew. But there there are a lot of carveouts there as well. So, it really is for unaccompanied minors that don't have a reason to be out beyond 10:00.

Well, if we do the 30 days, that still puts us right into March. And, you know, we'll get us ready for the April season.

So, that might be Let's go Stacy and Josh.

My [clears throat] understanding was that they're not being arrested. They're being detained and their parents are being notified to come pick them up. So, it's not like they're going to be thrown in jail. And typically how this works as well is typically a warning as well, right? It's not the the police are not necessarily in the business of arresting folks for um curfew violations unless

it's absolutely necessary to keep a young adult safe or to keep them from doing harm to the public as well.

Josh, thank you, Mayor. um on this topic. I I I've seen so much misinformation out there about this um and it's really a shame um because we we really need to be educating people on these exceptions like you were talking about um because somebody came to me a couple weeks ago and said, "Well, what if you know what if I'm attending a concert at the dome or the amphitheater and it lets out at

10:00 and the and and I you know they they got to drive home and they they're unaccompanied. Um I mean just Exception number three, attendance at a specified engagement or performance, uh, religious services, any assembly, any first amendment activity, interstate travel. I mean, there I mean, the point is like you made, if you if you don't if you don't have any reason to be out,

then then then you don't need to be out.

Um but um but if and there are a laundry list of of of exceptions that um I think do a really good job of of of capturing even all types of activity that somebody might uh legitimately and reasonably be up.

Yeah. Would it be okay just say implement it within 30 days from now?

Yeah.

So they're going to give a 30-day time frame before it goes into get the information out.

Thank you.

You know, you know, would it be worthwhile to put out a blurb to have the schools uh, you know, spread this out too?

Yeah, we we plan to. We've been coming up with a communication plan where we plan to engage the public in There we go.

There we go. Okay.

That worth.

It's okay. Stacy, do you have something?

Worthless.

I'm sorry. I was just going I have an issue with our resolution number four on the signage.

I I don't know that the resolution that as it's been put forth is informative enough or or explicit enough in describing what we're trying to accomplish. Uh specifically, I think it lacks [snorts] it doesn't really define what election day means. Is it the actual day of the election or early voting? I I just think it causes confusion. We talk about no more that signs can be put out on at the um on city property

uh no larger than 4x4, but it doesn't talk about how many. And I don't know that we've come to a resolution, but for somebody to put up, you know, 100 4x4 signs. I think I don't think that would be the intention of anyone at the table to allow that. I don't I don't know that we clarified that, but I think we should. And the other thing I think it should be uh clarified is that we were

going to talk to the schools and get their buy in also on it. And I think it would be better to defer this resolution until we've coordinated with the schools so that we can incorporate that into the resolutions to make it clear that you know whereas the schools has have adopted a policy also so that we're not coming back and and regurgitating this or clarifying it later. Uh and there's

no I don't think there's any real hurry to get it done today. I would just like to see that resolution be a little clearer on those those specific items.

Michael, you have a comment on this?

Um, well, I think the city manager was going to respond, but the only thing that I would say is that I agree basically with everything that you said.

I would have a question related to the upcoming uh referendum election and early when early voting starts in March.

So, I agree with you. I don't know that it's um as urgent as as um approving it today. But then on the other hand, uh Councilman Cummings working backwards, I actually think maybe it is important that we do it today because if we would wait until the first meeting in March that we're basically on the election.

I'll just say that it's not clear when does election day start. Does it is the day of the election or is it early voting? And to your point that yeah, that's coming up bonus, but it's unclear which which one's met.

So, Mr. Mayor, I'll speak on the school specific item. Dana can clarify the other items. Um, but on as it relates to the schools, the school's policy from talking to the superintendent is that they only allow signs up the day of election and they said if the council adopts this resolution, they'll mirror whatever we decide, right? So, they'll if we allow I think we're proposing here

to um put up signs 6:00 p.m. the day prior to the election, they'll move their policy to that as well. And if the council adopts a 4x4, then they'll move to a 4x4 standard as well. Then it'll explain about the number of signs and other information you ask.

Sure. So, this resolution informs another document administrative directive uh 3.01.

And that document could be more prescriptive on date of election means you know the second Tuesday in November followed by the first Monday, you know, or we can say no more than 100 signs on site or we could say um the um the other more granular pieces, but this sort of presents the guide rails, right? So, so the manager is not going to go outside of the bounds of this, but we can we can

flesh out those more uh granular pieces in that document. And the document is posted on the city website. was but shared with all the the campaigns. So I don't think you need this to be perfect if you want us to fine-tune the pieces that were discussed.

Yeah. So it would be no harm just from moving moving it today.

Defer to the council how you want to do it. I'm just saying that this document doesn't need to be as pinned down if you're okay with the guard rails and then the manager can report out as he updates that administrative directive which is going to be the thing that regulates the actual premises.

Think about what Michael said. We got a referendum coming up that that is particularly important about um number two which is relates to the office of the voter registar.

Okay.

And I think it is clear that it's only day of starting the night before of the election not early vote. Early voting is not going to be any signs which is only at the voters register office and satellites and there's not going to be any signage there.

Michael, and I would just say I I um I'm thinking back to the experiences that I've observed over the last I would say five years in particular about the proliferation of sign garden down there and then fort the forts that were built with the signs. I won't use it official name, but the um the forts that were built with the signs and and the feedback that I received from people um at the early voting

locations and I've heard from people I really respect and admire about their perspectives here and seeking clarification and I think it's important that we consider those perspectives and under almost any other circumstance I would be completely um personally supportive of a of a deferral [snorts] and that instance or a delay, but we do have an election coming up um in the beginning of March. And my preference,

this is just me, my preference would be um this would be a great um opportunity for us to test out the policy. And if there are areas that we need to further refine or align with our uh goals based on the feedback we receive from the community, that would be perfectly positioned um as we would approach the fall and the in the more robust election and all the signs. So my my preference

would be to adopt the policy if and if it's if it needs refinement, we we would have an opportunity to do that.

Yeah, that's a good we could actually field test it and then we could always redefine it.

Okay, I'm sorry, mayor. Just one really quick question because I know the number of signs was just discussed and my recollection was you can't limit the number of signs for any one particular candidate because that's contentbased regulation um of speech and and political speech which we can't do but can we I think I think it might be a bad idea for us to say a total number of signs

for fear that somebody just comes in say we called a 100 signs signs and somebody just comes in with a 100 signs and you can't do anything about that.

So you are correct that we would only regulate the total number irrespective of the content of the signs.

But I think that has somewhat of a built-in governor because you're only doing it from 6 p.m. and then the day of election. So I'm not sure about the investment. Um, so if we said 10 on premises, like we'll field test that piece and and see if we sort of run up into like a real constraint there or it's just not fiscally um responsible for them to put up more, I guess,

because there's so limited time period.

Yeah, I I concur with Michael to make this kind of a work in progress and this is going to be kind of a micro election, you know, in a lot of ways in terms of things on the ballot and everything and you know we could always adapt accordingly.

Are we okay with keeping or not?

Okay, now just a quick statement on that. But so this what we if we adopt this tonight, it states in here no signs during early voting, which from what I understand would be March 6. So this doesn't really affect anything. In fact, it no signs would be out at the new red voter registration building which is going to open soon. So we have several more sessions to to talk about this if

there's any problems or much less have us as of So I'm I'm fine. Yeah, I think the important thing is from issues that I brought up is defining the day of the election day. If we do that, then as Worth just said, you know, we don't have an issue uh going forward and if the schools have the same policy, then we can defer to that. So, I'd be fine doing

that. I just wanted to bring that, you know, bring that up. So, it was a good discussion.

Yeah. Okay, Dana, I think you back into that by the location. So, the voter registar has that 45day window and we've addressed that in paragraph two. In paragraph 3, you have the satellite voting locations which are 14 days and so we've addressed them also. So then the only thing you're left with is the polling locations that are open on election day.

Okay. Okay, Rosemary, what else?

So next in number is number five. um under ordinances to establish a Virginia Beach Sports District and I've talked to a number of you all uh and I am also a co-sponsor of this and I support this but I do think that more discussion with the community as we have heard in our emails um is necessary and so I asked to if we could defer this I'm going to ask

for 60 days because it could take you know two three four weeks to get this on for example the resort advisory commission agenda or set up some meetings so defer to a definite date I believe Amanda of uh April 21st would be 60 days or so from today or the second formal session in April.

Anybody object to that?

April 21st. [clears throat] No, I don't object. I I think it's important that we make certain that everybody understands what we're doing and we have to have the opportunity for everybody to come together and get comfortable with what we're doing because I I want this to be a very positive step for us and trying to reach our goal of being the sports capital of the east coast. And of course we we want

to include all these things. So uh as long as we've got a definite date, I think that's okay. So, do we want to say April 21st or 61st?

May

I'm I'm just I'm with you, Councilman um Worth, and I thank you for wanting to include the public on this discussion.

It's very important. Um, uh, Councilwoman Henley had had mentioned that, um, as long as we have a a date set, and I, and let me speak as a a newbie to, um, council, as a newbie to my passion for Virginia Beach, sports tourism is is near and dear to my heart.

Not because it was my driving force for me to be on council.

It became that because I'm in the community and it was the community that impressed that upon me that they want to be classified as a sports tourism destination spot. not just for their kids but for um that's how we receive a lot of our income as being a tourist destination spot and Princess Anne Corridor is what people call it now but um Chuck Thornton and I had a long in-depth conversation and you know he

does a lot to put heads in beds people in our hotels and so his his his youth are impressing upon me. So this can't be something that we push off for 60 days and and then does nothing because time elapsed and now we have a newer issue that becomes that takes precedence over this. This is my only caveat that I would put in that in 60 days a lot could happen and then

we've forgotten about classifying this as if the public wants to call it the sports destination spot or how we um classified it or coined it here, Virginia Beach Sports District. I just hope that in 60 days that um we don't have another fire to put out and this becomes on the back burner because then that's going to be a problem for this is and I'm going to say this and I'm done.

This is my concern about Enriiko taking um and I'm going bring it up again the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame because we've don't know what identity to follow. Are we business industrial?

Are we sports tourism? And and Reicho and other cities are just taking it while we're finding out our identity. So our identity is sports tourism. Our we've got natural talent. We've got celebrities here and we're missing the mark when we tell the celebrities that they don't matter or the kids who are in Taiwat Swim that that they don't matter.

They matter. And this is why it's called Virginia Beach Sports District.

Okay. Uh Cash, we're not telling anybody that they don't matter. We are not doing that. Okay. And let me just say this, you know, we are putting this on a date certain. Nothing else is going to deviate that. You know, we have to deal with multiple issues all the time. This is a priority. And by you know having a def deferral with the date certain I give you my guarantee you don't have

nothing to worry about. Okay Amelia.

Yes and that that is something I was going to say too because the people who came to us talking about having that deferral was looking at other areas within the city that also have sports like the sports center which is different to what's at the princess and complex. So they're just asking we have not had an input in it. So that's why it's important that council remain defer so that it is inclusive. We bring

them on. There's nothing about not having it. So that is important for you know for you to understand. I know your passion and we all look forward to this but we don't want to leave anybody out.

Yeah. It's a bit, you know, cash is just a better informed public and then, you know, once again, you know, getting input and everything from a lot of other folks, but also educating people about what we're about and that would take care of a lot of the concerns you're having. And believe me, you know, we figured out, hey, listen, we shut an arena down and we're going in this direction and that's going to be the

direction that's going to take us to the next level.

So, is there anything under else under ordinances and resolutions planning?

Uh, planning number one, uh, David and Robin Parker, District Five. I'm okay with that.

We have no speakers on anything.

Um, number two, Cardinal Sign, District 4.

Yep, that's one.

Number three, Matthews Cornovachi, District Five. I'm fine with that. Number four, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, District Five. I'm okay. Uh, number five, Patrick and Joey, District 6.

Consent, please. Thank you.

Number six, Vivy Mattel LLC, District 6.

Very excited about this. Uh, yes, consent please.

Number seven, the gyms district 6.

So for this, it asks for a second deferral tonight. For item number seven to March 17, we want to have a community meeting with the applicant, go through the application, and we should be ready to vote on March 17th. I I can be ready to recommend one thing or another.

Uh number eight is Zakiya Walcott, District 9.

Good for consent. Thank you. And that's it.

Okie dokie.

All right. At this point, the chair will entertain a motion to recess into a close session pursuant to the exemptions from the open meetings allowed by section 2.23711A code of Virginia as amended for the following purposes. Legal matters.

Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation where such consultation or briefing in an open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body [snorts] pursuant to section 2.2 3711A7 and that is the city of Virginia Beach versus LBSM at all. of publicly held property.

Discussion or consideration of acquisition of real property for public purpose or disposition of publicly held property where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect a bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body pursuant to section 2.2 [clears throat] 2 3711A3.

District 2, District 5, District 6.

Public contract, discussion or reward of public contract involving the expenditure of public funds and discussion of terms or scope scope of such contract where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiate the negotiating strategy of the public body.

pursuant to section uh 2.23711A29 23711A29 and that would be the aquarium moratorum of agreement. And then finally personnel matters discussion consideration or interviews of prospective candidates for employment assignment appointment promotion performance demotion salaries disciplining [clears throat] or resignation of specific public officers appointees or employees of any public

body pursuant to section 2.2 to 3711A1 and that would be council appointments for boards, commissions, authorities, agencies and appointees. Do we have a motion?

So moved.

Second.

All righty.

Council I councley.

Hi.

Jackson.

Hi.

Counc. Hi.

Councilman.

Hi.

Council member.

Hi.

Shman.

Hi.

Vice Mayor Wilson.

Hi.

Mayor D.

Hi. 10.

Okay, we are recessed into we

welcome all. Uh warmed up a little bit, but we'll keep on going here. I'm going to call this uh to order. And if you and if you're willing and able, please stand for the invocation.

Heavenly Father, you are always with us.

Be with us this evening as we consider the affairs of our great city. Give us the patience to listen, the wisdom to decide, and the strength to act. Amen.

And may ask for a moment of silence for all of those who paid the ultimate price defending our city and our nation.

[snorts]

Thank you. And the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible.

[clears throat] All right. Thank you.

And madame clerk, do we have a roll call?

Yes, your honor. All present, excluding council member Hutcherson. And I believe I see council member Ross Hammond walking in now. So, all present excluding Council Member Hutchinson.

All right. Thank you. Uh, do I have a motion for the certification of the close session?

So moved.

All righty.

We need We need a second.

Second. Thank you.

Go ahead.

The vote is open.

Council member Ros, may I have your vote please?

Yes.

I need you to press the button, please.

Thank you. By a vote of 10 to zero, you certify the close session to be in accordance with a motion to recess.

[gasps] All right. Do I have a motion for the approval of the informal and formal formal sessions of February 3rd, 2026 and the special formal session of February 10th, 2026?

So moved.

Second.

Okay. [snorts and clears throat] The vote is open by a vote of 10 to zero. I'm sorry, nine to zero.

Vice Mayor Wilson abstaining. You have approved the minutes as submitted.

And I'm abstaining because I was not present for the February 3rd meeting.

Thank you. So, are you voting um yes for February 10th then?

Yes.

Thank you.

Okay. At this point, this is a part of the uh our formal session where we honor some people who really deserve honor.

Captain Abazado, will you please join us?

Okay, welcome. Thank you. I tell you before we do this, we just want to say what a proud heritage, what a proud relationship that we have with our military right here in Virginia Beach.

We often say that the Navy and their family members are part of the DNA of this city that makes our nation straight. But be assured that every serving member and every retiree is a vital part of what makes us the great city of Virginia Beach. [snorts] So at this point, you know, you know, it's bittersweet, Josh. you know, we've had a great relationship, not only myself, but you know, with you and the

city with the air show and all the magnificent things you have done to build that bridge of community and uh you're going to be missed, but once again, I hope that you continue the tradition of former commanding officers and find a home in Virginia Beach when you're finished. So at this point it is my privilege whereas Captain Joshua Anthony Apazado calls sign noodle I never called you that. Okay. Hailing

from our great Navy community in the city of Alama California. proudly graduated in 2000 from the University of Notre Dame, having earned degrees in both history and Spanish literature and having at the same time received his commission in the United States Navy and who having earned his wings of gold as a Navy Flight Officer in 2002 when he was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 41,

the world famous Black Aces, and which he twice deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, including the inaugural com combat crews of FA18F Rhinos aboard the USS Nemit CVN68.

And whereas in 2006, Captain Apazado was selected to attend the Navy's venerable flight weapons school known to the Navy and movie uh goers Top Gun where he subsequently retained a as a Top Gun instructor. He then returned to the fleet in 2009 making combat deployments with strike fighter squadron 22 and strike fighter squadron 154 the black knight's rule in support of operations enduring freedom

and new dawn after which he held command at sea as strike fighter squadron 41 during which he expertly led the black aces on the 201819 around the world combat crews aboard the USS John Stenitz CVN74 supporting operation freedom sentinel and inherent resolve.

Whereas Captain Abazado has served as the air operations officer aboard the USS George Washington CVN73, the strike fighter community detailer at Navy Personnel Command and a safety officer at at commander Naval Air Force uh Atlantic and earned a master of arts degree in defense and strategic studies at the Naval War War.

Whereas, in the midst of accumulating more than 3,000 flight hours and 857 arrested landings in the F uh in the FA 18 uh including 103 combat missions, thus earning two meritorious service medals and multiple strike flight air medals, Navy commenation medals, and other unit campaign and service awards.

He found the time in the uh 2016 to craft a sufficient intriguing profile that ultimately won the affection and hand marriage of the former Miss Jill Dagel of Frisco, California, who together with Captain Abazad and their beloved Cavapool Parker have graciously opened the haunted mansion known as the Bell House to friends and friends far and wide.

Whereas since his assignment as executive officer to fe in February 2023 and continuing through his tenure as NAS Oceanana's commanding officer which began on August 9th in 2024, he vigorously fought to improve the critical infrastructure and the quality of life at the three bases under his command while at the same time working to profoundly deepen the relationship between NA as oceana and the city of

Virginia Beach, especially through the intricate Navy City collaboration necessary to produce three hugely successful air shows. Whereas having created an enduring legacy which is best exemplified by his frequent description of NAS Oceanana and the city of Virginia Beach is the land of pleasant living.

Captain Apazado will be rel relinquishing command of neighbor A station on February 19th, 2026, but who will always be known to exemplify the finest traditions of the US Navy as an officer, a gentleman, a gallant war fighter, and a friend. Therefore, now be it resolved that the city of Virginia Beach City Council pauses in its deliberations to recognize Captain Josh Joshua Noodle Apazado to thank him for

his meritorious service to our country and our city. And be it resolved that all citizens recognize Captain Apazado's exemplary military service on this day.

Captain Joshua Noodle Episado Day given by the entire city council. Thank you and God bless you, Josh.

Anybody else want to come down?

[snorts]

That was the shameless

Bobby.

and Josh, please with your wife by your side, please say a few words.

Okay.

[clears throat]

Hey, we got the long walk around. We got our steps in.

Take your time, sir. Thank you.

Mr. Mayor, uh, as you mentioned, I grew up in Alama, California, and my father was the mayor of Alama, uh, which at the time when I was younger, um, had a large naval air station attached to it. It was a beautiful resort community, much like the city of Virginia Beach, not as big as Virginia Beach, but but very similar.

Um, so it is not lost on me with my father's service as a mayor the honor that is conveyed uh by a proclamation from the city council and from the city of Virginia Beach. So for that uh Mr.

Mayor, Vice Mayor Wilson, members of the city council, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and with every fiber of my being uh for this proclamation, this recognition. Um it's a huge honor uh and thank you. Um, serving as a commanding officer at Naval Air Station Oceanana has been the honor of my 26-year naval career. Uh, but being a part of this community has been the privilege of a lifetime. Um, my wife

and I, this is our first tour in Virginia Beach at NAS Oceanana. I've been stationed primarily on the West Coast. And we always wondered when we were stationed on the West Coast, why does everybody who has been stationed at Oceanana in Virginia Beach, why do they fight so hard? or why did they desire so strongly to come back to Oceanana? And it wasn't until we checked in 3 years ago that we finally uh understood why

why people wanted to be here so badly and enjoyed it so much. U working with the city has truly been a privilege. uh operating a large master jet base home to the strike arm of the fleet, the reason that aircraft carriers exist, those F-18s. Operating that base in the middle of a of the largest city in the Commonwealth, takes a lot of work and takes a lot of cooperation, but we make

it work together as a community. And that that I think is what has impressed me most. I've got close relationship with the ch with the chief of police, with the fire chief, with the school district, uh not only in Virginia Beach, but also in Chesapeake. Um, and it just works. We could not pull off an air show where we host 300,000 people a year, uh, without the steadfast and lockstep

support of the city of Virginia Beach.

Uh, so with that, uh, Mr. Mayor, again, thank you all. Vice Mayor Wilson, members of the city council, thank you for this tremendous honor. Uh, I will treasure it always. Um, and as I like to say, in addition to being the land of pleasant living, NAS Oceanana and the city of Virginia Beach, no better base, no better place. Uh it's been an honor and a privilege. Thank you and fly Navy

and thank you and um you know Josh and uh your wonderful wife. We get to know each other over the years and like I said partying is you know sweet sorrow but we know you're it's part of your career but you know once again if you ever do come back it would be great. But if I can just say a point of uh privilege speaking as a Marine who served in the Marine Air Squadron back

in ' 68 to 72.

Um in the article today on Robert Duval, they had a picture of him from uh the great Santini in front of one of the uh phantoms that I used to work on back in the day. and just having, you know, uh, you know, what a pleasure and honor it's been for a Marine Corpal to work with folks like you and the many the seamless continuum of excellence and leadership that I have been at NAS Oceanana since

I've been involved. I say thank you. I say God bless you. Godspeed and by all means stay in touch. Thank you.

We'll do, sir. Fly Navy separately.

You got it.

Okay, next up, uh, we have another special one and we're going to ask the school crossing guards to come on up and I'm going to ask my dear friend Michael Belaluchcci to go ahead and read a proclamation honoring you. Come.

And here comes some of the folks that they work with. She's nudging his staff.

Michael, thank you, mayor, and and welcome um all of you to your city hall, to our city hall. Before I read this proclamation, um if I could um just thank the mayor for the opportunity to to do so and just say that I really consider it a special privilege because um you perform one of the most important um essential and necessary public service jobs that exists. And I if I could just say as a

point of per personal privilege, every time I drive to work or drive around town and I and I see you all with the care and professionalism that you bring to your role and the level of responsibility that you take, I see see it every day. Um it brings a smile to my face and um you're very friendly with the with all the cars and especially with the young people you serve. So it's

a great honor to read this proclamation and to have you all here today tonight.

Thank you.

Whereas school crossing guards play a vital role in keeping children safe on their way to and from school and must have a deep sense of responsibility, a great deal of character, and an excellent relationship with children.

And whereas school crossing guards support the Virginia Beach Police Department with community safety and are guardians of the crosswalk.

And whereas school crossing guards make drivers more aware of pedestrians.

And the guards guide children in learning the best practices for walking, cycling, and rolling near roadways. And whereas school crossing guards are dedicated individuals who are on duty each school day, rain or shine or snow.

Maybe not snow. Um I added that.

Greeting students, parents, and staff.

And whereas the city of Virginia Beach is proud of its school cross school crossing guards and commends them highly for their commitment to the safety and well-being of Virginia Beach children.

And whereas the safety and security of young people is a top priority for Virginia Beach and our city's hardworking school crossing guards deserve our heartfelt gratitude for your service to our community. And whereas since 2014, the Virginia Department of Transportation has designated a date in February for the recognition of school crossing guards.

Now therefore Robert M. Bobby Dyer, mayor of the city of Virginia Beach, to hereby proclaim February 17th, 2026 as school crossing guard appreciation day in the city of Virginia Beach. and he calls upon all citizens of the city of Virginia Beach to show our support for the dedicated crossing guard serving our city and encourages all motorists to be especially careful when driving near schools.

Thank you very much for your service and congratulations.

Sit tall.

Hi everybody.

paparazz to say a few words on your behalf. Thank you all.

Oh, it's all good. You stay behind me.

Come on. It's all good.

[snorts]

Okay. Chief, mayor, members of council, we really just want to take an opportunity to thank you for the recognition. Um, I work with a lot of great men and women. Uh, they are true heroes. But when we talk about unsung heroes that truly contribute to the public safety mission for the city of Virginia Beach, who more than those that take care of our children and make sure that they get there safely every day.

And I think Council Member Beluchcci, you mentioned it. We see them every morning. when we're driving in our vehicles, it's cold out, it's rainy, but they are out there sacrificing uh for the the betterment of our city and uh our youth and we can't thank them enough. So, thank you for acknowledging them and thank you all for everything that you do for us. And uh when we talk about partnership and public safety, you

are one of our great partners. Thank you.

And uh you know, let me say this on behalf of the council. You know, we pride oursel as being probably one of the, if not the most safest city in this great nation, and it's a lot of moving parts of public safety. You know, you got police, fire, EMS, you got the sheriff, you got 911, but you are very much a part of what makes us that safe city when you think of it. ne never

please realize how important that you are you know just in terms of safety and you know quite frankly the lives you may save and you know things of that nature and I think Michael brought up it doesn't you like you folks are like you know the the post office folks you know neither rain nor sle or snow or anything is going to stop you for what you're doing and that takes sacrifice it takes

commitment so on behalf of the council I say sincere thanks thank you and God bless you and thank you for keep on doing what you're doing. You do it so great. Thank you.

Thank you, mayor. Thank you, council.

Thank you all.

I tell you what, if we don't mind, we got some Boy Scouts. Hey, come on down.

Hey, this is proclamation time. You know, major mayor's presentations.

Yeah, come on up and introduce yourself and uh your troop.

Good evening, mayor, city council. Uh I'm Landry Gillery, assistant scout master with troop 791.

Uh we appreciate the opportunity to have the boys here tonight. They're working on their citizenship in the community merit badge. So everything being discussed tonight is uh building our future citizens for this community and our nation. So thank you for the opportunity.

It's great looking at our future. And what I would like you to do one at a time, come up and say your name and then come up and I'm going to give you a city pen.

Hello. My name is Julian Gillery and I am in Troop 791. I'm honored to be here tonight.

Honored to have you. Come on over. There you go.

Oh, you're quite welcome.

Hi, my name's um Sebastian Casesu. I'm in troop 791.

Uh come on up.

[clears throat] Uh I'm uh Carter Mertig and I'm also in troop 791 here for my um one of my merit badges.

Oh, good. Welcome.

Logan H. Chewy of Troop 791.

Hey, come on up.

Hi, I'm Vihan Putneri from uh Troop 791. I'm working for my citizenship in the community merit badge and I'm honored to be here.

Oh, great.

I'm Nathaniel Slattkkey and I'm honored to be here.

Oh, great.

Here you go.

I'm Dash Walker.

I'm in troop 791 and I'm honored to be here.

Thank you. [sighs] Hello, my name is Dean Slacki. I am from Troop 791 and I'm honored to be here.

Thank you. [sighs] My name is Joseph Buck from Troop 791.

Glad to be here.

My name is Tony Pette Chayagun.

Um I'm in Troop 791.

Um and it is an honor to be here.

Thank you. And scout master, we got one of these for you, too.

Yep.

Thank you for your time and taking care of these guys. Really good job.

You got it.

Thank you. Uh thank you very much. It's great looking at our future. And let me just say before I was a jar head, I was a Cub Scout and a boy scout. So, uh you know, I tell you what, the future is bright. Thank you. God bless you and thanks for being here.

Oh yeah.

Another one of these photo ops.

Here come

the camera.

Perfect. Thank you guys.

Thank god you don't have those old flash balls when I was rage.

Okay, he's back.

Okay. And you I'll tell you, isn't it nice that Virginia Beach [sighs] gets to honor so many people? This is what makes us the great city we are.

Thank you all. Okay, moving along to a public hearing. Uh [sighs] um I'm going to have a public hearing for dark fiber lease agreement.

Pursuant to Virginia Code 15-21813, the Virginia Beach City Council will hold a public hearing to obtain public comment regarding a proposed lease of two strands of city-owned fiber optic cable Lumos Telephone LLC in one form of D of in the form of dark fiber. Any speakers?

No speaker, sir.

Okay. At this [clears throat] point, we're moving on to the consent agenda.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Under ordinances and resolutions, number one is the ordinance to authorize the acquisition of property and fees simple and acquisition of temporary and permanent easements either by agreement or condemnation rate Lindbrook landing sidewalk improvements project CIP423.112.

Number two is the ordinance to amend city code section 21-230 ray inclusion of South Woodhouse Road in the traffic calming program.

Number three is the ordinance to amend city code section 23.2 ray curfew for unaccompanied minors and that is going not to be implemented for 30 days. Number four is a resolution to provide direction to the city manager race signage on public property requested by city council. Number five is a resolution to establish a Virginia Beach Sports District and authorize the city manager to take actions to support

and that's requested by Beard D and the council members Henley, Jackson, Green, Remick, and Schulman. And that is to be deferred until uh April 21st. Number six is the ordinance to authorize the city manager to execute on agreement with the school board and appropriate miscellaneous revenue rate the use of school buses during the national high school coaches association senior nationals. Number seven is the ordinance

to amend the FY202526 capital improvement program for flood protection to the Eastern Shore Drive projects. Number eight is the ordinance to appropriate $40,000 from the fund balance of the Commonwealth Attorney's forfeited asset special revenue fund to the FY 202526 Commonwealth Attorney Operating Budget Ray remodel [clears throat] existing office to remodel existing office space. Number nine is the

ordinance to accept and appropriate 2,953,29 in surplus regional surface transportation program funds to capital projects. Number 100, excuse me, 157 Centerville turnpike phase 2 ray roadway roadway improvements. Number 10 is the ordinance to accept and appropriate $24,34647 from the Commonwealth's Office of Emergency Medical Services to the FY202526 Department of Emergency Medical Services

operating budget. It authorize a 50% in grant match ray 4 uh portable ventilators and accessories. Number 11 is the ordinance to transfer $1 million within the FY2025-26 capital improvement program from capital projects 10552, the Western Branch, Linhaven River Maintenance Dredging 2 to Capital Project 345, Rudy Inlet outer channel maintenance dredging, ray dredging.

I open a public hearing on planning.

Number one is the David [clears throat] and Robin Parker for a street closure rate approximately 3,750 square ft of Arctic Avenue adjacent to 300 Winston Salem Avenue and that is in district 5. Number two is the Cardinal Sign Corporation BS Corp Inc.

for an alternative compliance replacing ma existing monument sign at the 4616 Virginia Beach Boulevard that is district 4. Number three is the Matthews Scornavichi for a modification of modif of conditions to a change in non-conforming ray modify previously approved concept plan renderings and a and elevations for existing staircase and future handicap accessible ramp at 514 9th Street and

that is in district 5. Number six is Star of the Sea Public uh Catholic Church and Catholic Dascese of Richmond, Catholic Dascese of Richmond for modification of conditions to a conditions of the permit ray commercial church parking lot at 1500 Pacific Avenue. That's in district 5 number five as Patrick and Joy Pater for conditional change of zoning from O2 office district to conditional B2

community business district Ray retail store at 901 first colonial road and that's District 6. Number six is Bivy Fidel LLC, Alaskan Road Associates, LP for conditional use permit ray indoor recreation facilities at 941 Alaskan Road and that's in district 6.

Number um seven is the Gems LLC, Richard D. Goldstein and James P. Goldstein for a conditional use permit uh bulk storage and at 1361 Virginia Beach Boulevard District 6. So we're going to defer that until March 17th. Number eight is Zakia Walcott Hoda Investment LLC for a conditional use permit uh reassembly use at 5193 Shore Drive Sweet 108 and that is in district 9. Move for approval.

Okay. Do we have a second?

Second.

Any discussion on anything? Let's open the vote.

The vote is open.

By a vote of 10 to zero, you have approved the [clears throat] consent agenda as read by Vice Mayor Wilson.

Okay. At this point, um, any appointments?

We certainly do, Mr. Mayor. We have quite a list. uh the advertising advisory committee to reappoint Hersad Barat uh Justin Beal, Kyler Brown, Meredith Gray, Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission to appoint Truit Boozich as a high school student member.

the Clean Community Commission to reappoint Carlen Gregory, Terry Stevens, Community uh Criminal Justice Board to reappoint Cal Bane, Wanda Cooper, Stacy Cummings, Indie Rocky Hulkcom, [snorts] Philip Hollowell, Paul Nudigate, Stacy Smith, Colin Staly, Kay Thomas, Audrey I excuse me, Andrew Truit, the Historic Preservation commission to appoint um John Settle and to appoint um Bobby Gribble and Harry Frenzel as of

March 1st for those two. Human Rights Commission is to reappoint Virginia Gencock Melissa Kverina Zagaria. Open Space Advisory Committee to appoint Richard Holine for representing parks and wreck. Park and Rex Commission appoint Anvar Miles to represent district 4 and to reappoint Daniel Edwards representing district 7.

The personnel board to appoint David Nash. Um, public library board is to appoint Gerald Golden and Anthony Oats.

Social services Advisory Board to appoint Amber Costa. The Stormwater Appeals Board to reappoint Travis Fox and Mark Johnson. The Virginia Beach Cannabis Advisory Task Force to appoint Debbie Lu Heg. uh the Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation to appoint Jessica Lynn, Matthew Bombgarden, the wetlands board to appoint William Serge as a representative alternative member, Jeff

Ensley as a rep alternative members. Uh the next folks are going to be city council liaison. Michael Baluchcci with agriculture and advisory commission.

Barbara Henley the historic review board.

David Hutchinson active transportation advisory committee and the cog review and allocation committee. Uh Cal cash Jackson Green is a Virginia Beach Cannabis Advisory Task Force. Ameilia Ross Hammer Hammond for the Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation and Joshua Schulman is Flood Prevention Bond Ref over Oversight Board. Move for approval.

Okay, any discussion? Hey, let's open the vote.

The vote's open.

Council Hanley, may I have your vote?

Thank you. By a vote of 10 to zero, you have appointed those as read by Vice Mayor Wilson.

Okay, thank you all. Okay, at this point, any unfinished business, any new business? Thank you all. We are adjourned. Keep well, folks. Thank you all for