City Council Meeting, 3/3/2026

Want

to welcome all. We call this meeting to order. And Mr. Duhaney, I understand has another magnificent update from Richmond.

Yes, Mr. Mayor, members of council, we're going to be joined today by Brent McKenzie, who's live and in action in Richmond, Virginia. is going to come and give city council an overview of where we are with this legislative session on our general assembly. So Brent, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. Manager. Good afternoon, uh, Mr. Mayor, Madam Vice Mayor, members of the council. It's a pleasure to be with you again this afternoon. Uh, we're going to follow a similar format as you've probably seen the last couple weeks, including most of the same bills as we're still kind of battling a lot of the same issues. Um, it's that time in the legislative session where tensions

are really high and tempers are pretty hot and uh on some pieces of legislation that look pretty inevitable. We've uh we're looking to try and find amendments and some substitutes of some changes that we can make some of these pieces of legislation uh better and more livable um as we continue to to work them through the system here. So, uh, lots going on. Uh, Andrew, you can go to the next slide for me.

Uh, so we're in the last two weeks of legislative session, supposed to go to sin die next Saturday. Um, our legislative agenda is um had a bit of a rough week on in in some ways. Uh, so um our cancer screening bill just this morning was carried over to 2027 in Senate Finance. uh they said they would look to find some dollars in the budget.

We'll see what happens there. But uh there's also this pilot program that is taking place out of Fairfax County that is supposed to report later this year some results on some cancer screening uh programs they've been running up there.

And so they've decided to kind of wait to see what the results were from that pilot program before they uh create a a permanent program and uh fully fund it.

So that was disappointing this morning but um as I mentioned we'll continue to work to try and find some dollars in the budget for that. Uh similarly our EMS board for life funding uh legislation was continued in Senate finance. Um they had done the same thing to the Senate version and typically when they do that they stick with the same result.

That's kind of what happened there. Um our HB390 passed the Senate with a substitute. um just some technical changes and then now that's headed back over to the house uh where we're hopeful they will accept those changes and that will then go to the governor. They reject the changes then it'll go to conference. So we'll continue to work on that legislation. Um as we've mentioned

the last couple weeks, our 101 election system legislation has all been successful. Um, Governor Spanberger has until March 5th to um take action on the Senate versions of those bills as those hit her desk last week. So, we're waiting on her um um her action on those pieces of legislation.

So, these are legislation with fiscal impact that we've been talking about with you guys. Um we're not really expecting a whole lot of um resolution on these until the very end. Most of these will head to conference as they have different uh pieces in the House and the Senate have different versions and so um we're not anticipating a lot of resolution till the end on these. Um the collective bargaining bill in the

House um passed commerce and labor and was sent back over to finance. Just typical process what we would expect to see. Um, Delegate Fagan's bill dealing with prevailing wage, same thing. Passed out of commerce and labor was sent to finance um the legislation that requires paid sick leave uh passed commerce and labor and is headed to the floor and then um the legislation that would

create a paid family leave program uh passed Senate Finance and is headed to the floor there. So uh lots of movement but nothing that isn't uh what we expected on this.

Similarly the uh pieces of legislation that carry some revenue streams that uh all the local governments are following uh skill gains legislation continues to move forward. Um they're hoping to get those to be in the same format and same language so they don't head to conference. We'll see if they're successful on that. Um the cannabis legislation I think is going to do the opposite and I think it will head to uh

conference committee as they try to iron out some of the differences there dealing with some zoning authority and I think um uh the tax structure is a little different. It's just some some technicalities they got to work out there. Um and then we haven't seen any movement so far on the house version of the local sales tax for school construction. As you'll remember, I was telling you guys last week, the Senate

version of that bill was rejected, but they put the language in the budget. So, um, all the, uh, a lot of the local governments have been working to try to get the legislation passed that has some of the better language in there that would allow you to do, um, use those dollars should the locality choose to to be able to use those on debt services uh, rather than just on uh, future

um, school construction payments. So, trying to make them make sure that it provides maximum flexibility for the local governments.

land use legislation was a bit of a mixed bag yet again this week. Um the first bills there the they call this the housing target bills. This is legislation that would have required every local government to increase their housing stock by one and a half% over 5 years. Uh those pieces of legislation were finally put to rest this week. Um unfortunately though we did see um positive movement on a piece of

legislation that would require ADUs in certain um single family home allow them by right rather than uh giving the localities the choice. Um and similarly these bills HB816 SB454 the patrons call these uh housing year jobs. And so what this legislation would do is uh in its original format, it would have required every locality to designate 75% of all of their commercial properties as being available to um or

multif family residential housing by right. Uh we have made a ton of amendments to this legislation. the uh delegate Helmer and Senator Vulcanberg have been very gracious to work with on these pieces of legislation. We've got that 75% down to 50%. We've got a carve out for our AQ's um uh district. We have what I think is a carve out for some of the blue line issues. Um waiting on um

uh our our friends in planning to make sure that the it does what I think it does. Um and so that legislation is a perfect example of something that we don't particularly love. We've been kind of working against the working with the legislators and we've made it uh tremendously better than where it is where it started from. Um and we'll continue to work on that throughout the process. Those pieces of legislation

uh may be headed to conference. They may be trying to mirror up the language so it doesn't get there, but we'll see.

Opposite of that though is uh HB1279 and SB 388, the faith and housing legislation. Uh this is legislation that would allow any property owned by a religious organization or a 501c3 to um develop their property as uh affordable housing. 60% of the units would have to be affordable housing, which on the surface of it and by theory uh sounds great, but it takes away all of our zoning authority. As we all know,

many of the churches in Virginia Beach are right smack dab in our neighborhoods, and this would allow them to um increase the density at very high level would allow them to build the housing at 45 ft. Uh where it's like a typical ranch house is about 10 to 15 ft. twotory houses 20 to 25 feet. So you're talking about um a lot more density and a lot more impacts on neighborhoods. So we're trying to work

on these pieces of legislation. We haven't had a lot of success on those yet. And then the last one here is a nice piece of compromise legislation as well. This legislation and uh there were two pieces of legislation that were introduced dealing with um parking requirements and how localities can deal with them. one would have completely eliminated our ability to set parking limits. Uh that

legislation was set aside, but this one is still alive. This would uh allow localities to um or would limit localities ability to set parking limits and designated areas where there are uh transit stations and high density. So, it's a much better version than the the original. And um we think this is going to be the compromise bill that probably winds up uh passing.

And then my last slide here, uh some of these we've talked about a little bit.

There's a couple pieces here on ebikes.

The legislation that would create the ebike task force at the state level. It um is now headed to the governor, which really great news. uh legislation that would allow a locality to require children 14 years and younger to have to wear protective helmets for motorized scooters um and motorized skateboards.

That legislation passed out of committee um and is now headed to the floor. So that's really good news. Um so that's the kind of ebike stuff. Uh you'll remember last week I told you about a bill that would have required localities to use a.gov gov domain um for cyber security reasons. Um so for cyber security reasons that would there were a bunch of pluses there but it would have had a pretty big fiscal impact to

require us to transfer over all of that um technology. That legislation would continue to uh next session. The legislature wasn't particularly happy about that outcome. So, this legislation will definitely be back and he's looking for us to provide some um additional data on what the cost would be. Um he's not exactly buying everything that we were selling on what that fiscal uh

impact would be. So, we'll work over the um the off season to uh make sure he gets that information and try and work with him to make that legislation uh more palatable. And then the last one I'll leave you with here, the HJ28, the HRT uh workg group that reported out of Senate Finance this morning is now headed to the Senate floor. So with that, Mr. Mayor, I'm going to turn it

back over to you for any questions or comments.

Okay, worth.

Thank you, Mayor Dire. And thank you, Mr. McKenzie, for the update. I just have concern if page six uh house bill 816 all the land use bills but house bill 816 and for and senate bill 454 just a clarification when you say 75% of land and now perhaps 50% of all land is that unimproved or is that improved like a shopping yeah 50% of any commercial properties uh and commercial or businessz zoned

properties so improved or unimproved so we would a shopping center that has a parking lot and all the shops are leased. We now have to look at all of our inventory of all of our improved and unimproved and look and find 50% for residential use.

We would have to designate it as being available for residential use. The owner would still have to want to do that.

Okay.

Um it wouldn't force them to do that, but it wouldn't make it available to them.

Wow, that's a that's a hard one for me to get my and I think everyone knows where I am on this. I mean, we all need affordable, attainable workforce housing, but some of these are really interesting bills. I'll I'll put it that way.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Okay. Anybody else at this point?

Okay, Josh.

Thank you, mayor, and thank you, Brent.

So, just following Well, I I'm sure there's a lot left to be unanswered so far with that one that Worth was talking about, but with the STRs, um this is requiring a locality to include in its zoning ordinance um for accessory dwelling units. So, um would when when would something like that be effective?

And then thinking ahead like it would it would it be timely for us to consider such a thing alongside you know plenty of community engagement otherwise when we when we do the the zoning ordinance update. Um or would we have to kind of get in front of that process based on whatever timing that may you know come out of something like this if it were to pass?

It does have um I'll have to go back and double check but I'm fairly certain it has a delayed enactment date. So, as you know, most pieces of legislation when they pass the general assembly take effect on July 1st. Um, often times they'll put in a delayed enactment so that whoever it's impacting has time to deal with it. Um, I'll have to double check. I know like the um the uh housing

housing your jobs bills, those have a one-year delayed enactment. Um, the parking one has a delayed enactment.

I'm fairly certain the ADU one does as well. So, we would have some I'm pretty sure we would have some time to to work through any issues that we might have um to prepare for that. Um Okay. And I just I want to acknowledge in my own mind I misspoke and said STR when I met ADU, but so I don't want anybody to get get up on that. But um

and I will point out there is a if that is a concern, there is a um there is a clause in the ADU legislation that says they can't be used for an STR. They have to be rented out for more than 30 days at a time. Um so that was some some a bit of concession that we got.

Yeah. Um the only reason the only reason I ask is because I mean it's a conversation worth having but I think it's a conversation worth having with community alongside engagement and you know in connection with you know the the process that we know the zoning zoning ordinance update will be. So thank you.

Yeah. And I will also say that with that legislation, one of the other um one of the other concessions we did get out of it was that they would still have to um uh get like an application and there would be a process. It wouldn't just be, you know, they could just go out in their backyard and start building. Um so there are there are some protections and some ability for us to control um what

happens there. It's just not a pure um it's not a pure local option anymore as it is today. It's requiring us to allow um some consideration for it. So, it's not as bad as the original version. Um, or not as challenging as the original version, I guess I should say, uh, depending on your perspective, but, um, but it's, you know, it's certainly a continuation of erosion of local local

land use authority, which all of these pieces of legislation, um, they all do.

Thank you.

Okay. Anybody else at this point?

Okay, Brett, thank you for doing uh some tremendous work up there. I know it's a it's a contact sport these days, but we got the right person up there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate it.

You guys have a great day.

Okay, we're going to go into uh less reports and discussion. And if you don't mind, I'm going to go ahead and uh get things rolling. Um you know once again uh you know politics is like cliff diving sometimes and um parking is a key priority that we have in the city especially at the oceanfront area and I had a long discussions you know with the manager about the possibility of holding

back on implementing the increases at the uh at the convention center and sports center for a number of reasons and I think a lot of it has to do with timing. Uh, you know, part of the timing, you know, there's a couple major reasons that, you know, led me to this.

um you know so we you know it let me put it this way there's financial implications you know with in the future that we're just not aware of. Uh the other thing is too uh concurrently in April is really going to be the you know really a big season coming up now that uh the dome is open uh you know the surf park is open uh the restaurants are open

and residents are going to be living up it out there and uh you know the garages are still not up to you know up real operational speed yet. And I I really think that, you know, before we go to a broad brush, you know, trying to implement a broad parking uh thing, you know, let's focus on, you know, Atlantic Park uh you know, coming up and uh because once again, you know, when you

think about uh maybe 5,000 people looking for parking spaces and then the surf park and the restaurants and things of that nature, I think, you know, we want to make sure that we get this right and I think it would be prudent to really uh surgically look at that and then instead of a broad spectrum um and the other thing is uh rosemary's uh oceanfront residential is taking thing let's see how that goes you know

make sure that that's implicated uh you know get the bug bugs out of that and who knows maybe that can also transfer over to the you know the parking at the convention center right Mary um I I think that's fine And one of the problems is we have a huge shortage of parking in that center area and that was the reason we were doing this. But at the same time,

we've got an RMP for a new parking garage.

Yep.

And I don't think the story has been told why the money was needed. And the money is needed for this new parking garage that's going to eventually be built because um when I tell people a parking spot cost in a garage $35,000 45 that means is that correct?

Yeah.

It's it's a lot. 35 to $45,000 a parking spot. And people are just stunned by that. And we've got to have more because as you know we've had people tow because they're just not parking. they park in the wrong places and then that's creates a lot of havoc. So I think once we decide uh about the parking garage and people know the fiscal impact because it has to pay for itself.

It has to pay for itself then we can talk some more about parking down there so that the public will understand that to park have a place to park and there is a cost to that. So, I'm fine with us waiting because I don't think the public has a good understanding. But with the new parking garage, wants to decide who's going to build it, what it's going to cost,

that might be a good time to sort of get back to the discussion.

Oh, without question. And I was going to mention the 19th Street uh garage, but I think you know the purpose you know of a strategic delay um is give ourselves the ability to communicate as Rosemary was saying with the stakeholders to come up with a a operational plan that would really really truly you know be effective and you know but once again I think you know just kind of peacemealing it and you

know trying to be over ambitious right now. Uh I I think that you know if we wait a bit and we get to determination about the overall parking strategy which we're going to street or maybe some other things and you know fuel testing the residential I just think it would be prudent to see the big picture. safety.

Um, yeah, I don't disagree with delaying the implementation while we work out some of the kinks and see how uh of these other see how some of these other items are going to affect what we're doing. But at the same time, you know, we've all received a number of emails from people that were really upset about the implementation of a parking fee down at the convention center saying that

it's not fair uh to have to pay for parking. Well, as a city, we offer a lot of things for our citizens that are free or well below cost. and not everybody in the city takes advantage or gets to take advantage of those opportunities.

So again, I think it's fair to transfer some of the costs of providing these services to the people that use them and take that burden, take a 100% of that burden off of the homeowners who are now subsidizing a lot of these services. you know, our uh free parking for an event is not common throughout our country.

It's not common throughout our region.

And we we've been offering it. And there are people who come from a lot of people that come from out of town, from out of the area that use these parking spaces for free. And that's just not the norm.

And the people, our homeowners are subsidizing that. And again, even the people that live within the city who are using those spots, they're being subsidized by the other homeowners. And I don't think it's unfair to have to charge for parking at all. I think it's very common and ordinary. And what we're what we we have proposed is only to pay for the uh parking as uh the vice mayor

said, you know, the cost of a parking spot is somewhere between 35 or $45,000 a spot and that's not including the maintenance. So, you know, I'm not um I don't think we need to abandon the idea. I don't have any objection to uh looking at how we implement it, but I think it's a necessary thing that we're doing and I think it's only fair that the people that are using those types of services

are paying for those types of services.

You know, Stacy, let me put it this way.

I agree. Uh but once again, um you know, like I said, think timing is everything.

And it's also as we get our operational plan and once we make a firm decision on 19th Street, you know, once we get the residential parking program uh debugged and everything, I think then we have time to make a compelling case to the stakeholders uh you know about the rationale you know what we're doing uh you know because once again free uh free parking is you is has always been a thing at town

center. Yeah. free park parking and you know we had a meeting uh you know Ameilia and I just the other day with some of the residents down there about you know the fee that they pay for it.

it it's a very tough emotional uh situation. But you know, you know, once again, it's just kind of talking to people and uh the other day I went to an event and on the way home I stopped at uh McDonald's to get a burger and fries for my wife and a gentleman was at the kiosk right next to me. He said, "Mr.

Mayor," he goes, "You know, I I'm a a volleyball referee at this and everything."

all of a sudden this this feed just popped up and things of that nature. So I think folks like that and there was another lady uh sent an email uh you know that she goes to the veterans memorial and everything you know I think a lot of times when we implement you know something that's going to cost something you know we have the duty and the obligation you know to explain to

them and I think once we have a broader perspective of the plan about what kind of garage we're going to need and things of that nature you know we'll go I'm well armed and I you know I concur with work.

Thank you, mayor. I appreciate the discussion and the decision. I support it, but I think Stacy's right. I mean, we have to look at this. These fees, I think, were also to help us maintain the current parking places there. And there are a lot of parking spaces there around both the sports and convention center.

So, I like the discussion. We need to have it, but let's hear from the stakeholders stakeholders, as you said, because some employees who work at the oceanfront park at at the convention center. We have to take everything into into account.

No, I'll tell you what, parking is is going to be one of our biggest challenges. You know, it's a you know, let me put it this way. Our success, you know, creates uh, you know, other necessities and parking is going to be one of them. uh you know as I say we talked about a sold out concert hall and then you know people using the surf park the restaurants and people living there

and then what happens currently at the sports center and the convention center when they have events going on uh you know that's an inconvenience and you know the thing is we have to you know I think we all agree we're going to have to aggressively address this situation but once again I think if we have a well planned um you know sequence you know once we have more information about you

know the cost of the garage that we're going to put up and also assessment and needs who knows there might be another need for another garage out there you know that's a possibility too Josh um thank you mayor I agree with what's been said um on you know all sides of the equation and I know you know we we all get inquiries from residents about cost of services and and uh you know

something that strikes me along the lines of what you were saying is parking is an enterprise fund and enterprise funds like public utilities and um other other services. Core city services are the charges are meant to pay for the costs to deliver the service and um these are not profit centers for us. Uh they are um meant to pay for the pay for the people people that are doing the

work and the work um that that they do.

So, um, so I I I I don't know that most people think about it quite like that, but, um, it's probably pretty expensive to maintain and build parking garages, especially in a city that, you know, is by the ocean. So, um, so thank you.

Appreciate the conversation.

Okay, Patrick.

Um, so, Mr. Mayor, I would like for LG to come in and just kind of give city council an update on some of the things that we've been working to improve in the oceanfront area. And just to let council know that technically we can absorb it for another year, right? So if council wants to defer this to January or February, we we can make it work. Um we have made some enhancements because

as you all know parking is sometimes a nightmare in that area when we have multiple events kicking off at the dome, Atlantic Park and the sports center, the convention center. So, we have used the parking enterprise fund to make some enhancements to help navigate some of the confusion that's created whenever we're tremendously packed there. And we could absorb that in the parking

enterprise fund for now. And I think as council makes a decision on what to do with 19 and parks, we could then kind of get a sense of where and how best to um deploy charging for parking there. So, we can possibly go for a period of time.

So I think probably deferred it for the next January and next April is something that we can kind of work towards. But LJ, can you give city council just a quick synopsis of some of the things that we're doing in that area?

Yes, sir. Thank you. Um, since council directed us to move in this direction, both with the the changes at the convention center and sports center and with the resident uh voucher program, uh, park the parking staff have been hard at work and in large part they're they're really kind of taking what we were doing from an infrastructure standpoint and rebuilding a lot of that with much more flexible software and

some hardware that's going to allow us to monitor some of what we're doing. Um, we have already issued some contracts to vendors to install some hardware at the Sports Center Convention Center and that work is ongoing. We're through design.

Uh, materials have been purchased and they'll be getting installed in the next couple of weeks in anticipation of the April 1st date. As the manager said, we can certainly delay that uh, you know, if if if there's a time. I think one of the really great things about this uh hardware that's going to go in though is it'll allow us the opportunity to see what's happening in the parking lot both

real time and to be able to come back and give you all an understanding of exactly how many weekends a year are we pushed to the max. How uh how many weekdays do we see issues? Um I know there have been a lot of questions as it relates to you know activities such as volleyball at the sports center uh helping us to understand what the behaviors are and understanding those behaviors will help us to make good

decisions about fees uh as we move forward. So I I I think this is certainly something that I mean I not I think I know this is certainly something that we can accommodate. I think when we uh as we decide to move forward, we'll be able to do so with uh a lot more information as a result of the the work that staff have been putting in and we'll continue to put in as we move

forward. But there will still be changes out here regardless of of what we're doing because we've already started down that road. Well, it's a very complicated process and it's better to you know instead of go broad brush you you know de get it debugged and so this way when it does spread to other parts of the city uh you know you a lot of times when you're debugging it's better to keep us

know it's a small contained area uh first and that way when you do expand it out it'll be you know less ter you know burdensome.

Yes sir.

Okay.

Anybody else at this point? Okay. At this point, does anybody object to us, you know, putting this thing on hold for a while?

I think we should once we on the 19th and park garage, we should start this discussion again.

Yes, we that that's a good idea. Okay.

And then we can set a time, but at least uh you know, let's get through this summer season first.

Just wanted to mention um we're going to go ahead and let the public know about that delay because we have been receiving lots of you know mothers and their kids and sports.

Yes. So, Mr. Mayor, members of council, um I just looked at Ally and we're going to work to get some information out to the public and obviously the media is going to pick this up as well and ask us some questions while we work to get some information out.

Stacy, hello.

Good.

Okay.

Hello.

Welcome. Uh uh the next thing I'd like to bring up um you know last Saturday you know city of Virginia Beach lost a dear friend Barry Knight.

And I think uh you know it was tough on all of us. It was tough on a city. It was uh tough on the Commonwealth of Virginia. they've lost a true true champion.

And uh you I just like to you know if anybody wants to bring up a thought or reflection you know at this point you know I'm going to invite you to do so.

Anybody?

Well, I attended and um I was very pleased how well it went and having um Senator the step also help with the coordination and I heard they had eight governors there.

That's a lot you know of the former governors and so forth. We saw a few but um it was very well done. He is a good man and will, you know, well remember him.

Okay, Barbara. And then Roseberry. Well, of course, Barry uh served a long time and but the I I think he had a lot of uh talents, but I think his uniqueness is being the lone farmer in the general assembly to be able to speak for agriculture and to really know what he was talking about with agriculture being the largest industry in the state. He really played an important role and uh

he did a wonderful job and we're going to have a hard time replacing that that background uh because there are not very many people who have it. So that's something that we're going to have to be mindful of that we're going to be not having that expertise that we need to make up.

But he did a great job.

Yeah. He always bragged about being a proud hog farmer.

Always. Rosemary.

In fact, he was say I'm just a hog farmer.

Losing Barry has been really hard on me.

I uh he was very special to me and we worked on a lot of things together and uh before he became the House of Delegates, I had appointed him to the planning commission where he got his political start so to speak.

He really did a lot for the state and he did a lot for the city.

He was always there trying to help us wherever he could and he even when he wasn't well he was still trying to help with blue line charter bill church and those are the last few things that he was able to try to do something with this this last I mean everybody's replaceable but he's one of those people that really will be irreplaceable and I I miss him with all my heart and

I'm struggling a little bit with it because uh he was really really special and I know with the the whole Nemo Parkway 7B when it was being delayed delayed delayed you know I called Barry and I said Barry what can we do to try to it's costing time and it's a safety issue and it's a national security issue and so he got on the phone immediately and started making phone calls with with people in the

federal government all And I think he's got it on something that's called speed sed to get it going faster. So he he always cared no matter what it was you called him about. So we're going to miss him.

Michael, thank you, mayor. Well, I would just add very briefly that um I feel very privileged to have had the chance to know him and to collaborate with him and to work with him as a citizen and as a council member. Um Barry was one of a kind. They don't make them like that anymore. He was a true statesman. He was widely respected by Republicans and Democrats and independents for his

ability to cut to the core of an issue, to find resolution, to build consensus, to bring people to the table around um a common sense approach to the issues that we all face. He was pragmatic, he was sharp, and he was caring. And I learned a lot about that from attending his funeral. The types of relationships and connections that he fostered all across the spectrum. Didn't matter who

you were uh or what you did. Um Barry cared and um I think that our discourse is diminished because of his absence and we will miss his I know I will miss his many contributions to public life. And um I'm also grateful for the kindness that he showed to me and the friendship that he extended toward me as long as I ever knew him.

No, I you know, you know, Barry was indeed a likable guy and you know, whether it be uh the beltway or in any um you know, state assembly, you know, that I think we need more of that bipartisan, you know, reach across the line and figure out what you have more in common than when you have dividing. Yeah.

and uh you know the the world will be a better place with more battery nights in it.

I do want to say one last thing for the public that as you all know I'm very much into doing this and so forth and in the African-American area and was up there talking with him cuz Bob had also worked with that one room schoolhouse and I saw him in the hall and he says I've just sent $25,000 to help.

So many people don't know that he helped also with the um things for the African-American um redo that place. Right.

Right. I should say that.

That's great. Okay. Any other ways or discussions at all today? Rosemary and then Stacy.

Well, and this may have already been thought of and taken care of, but I wasn't sure, so I thought I would throw it out. With the uh building 14 closing, and there won't be any satellite voting there moving forward, there's really no place in that part of the city for the satellite voting. I think the closest thing would be CATAC Rec Center. So, I I think we really need to make sure that there is a satellite

location for that part down in this part of the city. Maybe the Prince Ed Rex Center might make it an excellent spot, but we need to put some thought on it because every time we turn around there's an election going on. Thank you.

Okay, Stacy. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, let's see. This Sunday in the uh Virginia pilot, there was a uh editorial, guest editorial that was written by state senator Angelina Williams Graves and it has to do with housing affordability.

It's a subject that I'm very passionate about as as you all know and she put it uh so eloquently and so succinctly and I just wanted to read some of the highlights from that and give everyone a copy because I'm not trying to tell you how to thank or think the way I think or think the way she thinks. I'm just saying that I think she makes some incredible points that

again I I take took to heart and Virginia's acknowledged what many of us already know. The real challenge is that we simply do not have enough housing to meet demand in Norfick and across Hampton Roads. Single family rentals are part of the broader housing ecosystem.

Families at different life stages need different options. Teachers, shipyard workers, nurses, first responders, young professionals, and retirees all deserve access to safe, stable housing that fits their circumstances. Limiting supply of any kind only tightens competition and increases pressure on prices. If we are serious about lowering costs, we must address the root cause, a supply

shortage. Decades of restrictive zoning, slow peritting processes, and regulatory hurdles have constrained construction.

When development is slowed by restrictions or other barriers, the added costs don't disappear. They are passed along to home buyers and renters, making it harder for everyone for everyday families to manage the cost of living. To improve affordability in a meaningful way, we should focus on encouraging more responsible investment and reducing obstacles that prevent new housing from being built. In today's

housing economy, demand continues to rise or production has not kept pace.

Economists estimate that if pre2000 building trends had continued, millions more homes would have to exist nationwide today. That shortfall has real consequences for working families.

limiting options and putting continued pressures on prices. As a legislator, I believe our focus should be clear.

Expand supply across the spectrum.

Single family houses, town homes, duplexes, apartments, and responsibly built built to rent communities all play a role. That means modernizing zoning, streamlining approvals, and equipping localities with tools to add housing where it makes sense. It means encouraging responsible investment that produces new homes, not discouraging, with broad policies that reduce options.

The truth is simple. Virginia does not have a does not have enough housing. The work before us is to build more wisely, responsible, and at scale. If you want the Commonwealth to remain competitive, welcoming, and accessible to working families, we must commit to practical, datadriven solutions. I will continue to advocate for policies rooted in evidence, not emotion. Policies that

expand opportunity and strengthen our communities.

I agree with every single word she said and I I I see the same challenge especially here Virginia Beach is exists throughout the whole Commonwealth.

See us take it off.

I do have copies for every She's a realtor too.

Yeah.

Yeah. And Stacy, let me just say I appreciate that. Um I guess it was around 2 years ago uh Governor Yncan had a uh meeting at the convention center and about,00 people came from throughout the Commonwealth talking about the housing crisis. The housing crisis is not unique to Virginia Beach nor Virginia. It's a national and somewhat international crisis that's going on.

And you know the point is that you know we often get criticized you know for pushing housing you know politically and things of that nature.

The thing is we are responding to a demand you know ever since I've been elected to city council back in 2004.

We always heard about the brain drain about you know kids graduating from universities and can't find a job here.

But you know companies won't come here unless there's housing you know for their employees.

And you know what uh the housing does it also creates new housing creates new revenue sources that really helps you know uh you know with the mill rate for um you know keeping it you know within reason and uh but once again people don't I think have to understand that even though you build a high-end house that it creates a vac a vacancy in another house that it is really kind of worth

And then once again with the regulatory costs that are involved and everything now a starter home is around $450,000.

So but once again this is a crisis and thanks for bringing it up. We have to deal with it and deal with it aggressively. Just want to add on thank you mayor and thank you Stacy for the for reading this because this is really truly I mean a bipartisan issue. It's an economic development issue. It's a workforce issue and it's a cost issue.

But I think I've seen or heard where we, the city of Richmond Beach, are lacking 2,000 units. Not sure of that number.

Don't go to the bank on that one. But we're lacking that. The other thing I wanted to mention, um, we did have the presentation last week on the comprehensive plan. So, this is a big part of that comp of the comp plan is is this aspect of it, but the Weld and Cooper Center, I believe this past week came out with an update on population trends. And the trend in Virginia Beach

is getting better, but we still lost people over the past year. Stat that I'm not too proud to to announce, but again, it's a national flight to the excerpts as I continue to say, but um we are losing people and we need to build more units, single family houses, condos, apartments, all the above to help uh economic development as well as the tax taxes.

And you know, let me reiterate another thing. Uh, you know, when I was at the Pentagon a couple years ago, every under secretary or assistant secretary of defense from all the branches said that housing and daycare were key elements to military readiness in terms of recruitment and retention. And I can tell you a lot of the projects that some people consider controversial, uh, be assured that the Navy is in favor

of because they need housing. Um, and then my friend, my counterpart in Newport News, uh, you know, Mayor Jones, you know, fellow Marine, uh, they have to find increased housing because the chief of naval operations doesn't don't want sailors living on ships when they're in dry dock. They want them in the community. You know, they, you know, living on ship. They had a number of suicides and things of that nature. And

the other thing is Portsouth, the Naval Yard in Newport News is looking for 5,000 new workers because we are woefully behind in ship building. So, but once again, you know, it's not just Virginia Beach, but you know, Stacy's, thanks for bringing this forward. Okay, any other comment?

Okay, ready for the agenda?

We have seven items on the agenda. Um, anybody have any issues with doing all consent?

That's it. Okay. At this point, the chair will entertain a motion to recess into the code session pursuant to the exemptions from open meetings allowed by section 2.23711A code of Virginia as amended for the following purposes. of legal matters.

Consultation with legal counsel and briefings of staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation where such con consultation or briefing in an open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating litigating posture of the public body pursuant to section 2.23711 through 3711 A7 and that's City of Virginia Beach versus LDSM fall and public contract discussions of

the award of public contract involving the expenditure of public funds uh and discussion of the terms and scope of such contract where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Pursuant to section 2.237 11A 29 and that is Toiver Road.

Okay. Do we have a motion? So move second.

I

hi.

Hi.

Okay, we are recessing to close.

Welcome one. Welcome all. I call this meeting to order and if you are willing and able, please stand for the invocation.

Heavenly Father, you are always with us and beside us. Please 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 if we may have a moment of silence for all of those who have paid the ultimate price to protect our city.

Thank you. And the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay. Uh, Madame Clerk, do we have a roll call?

Yes, your honor. All present, excluding Council Member Hutchinson.

Okay. Thank you. Uh, have a motion to certify the close session.

Second.

Okay, we'll open the vote.

One second.

The vote is open.

By a vote of 10 to zero, you've certified the closed session be accordance with a motion to recess. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes of the informal and formal sessions of February 17th, 2026 and the special formal session of February 24th of 2026?

So moved.

Second.

Okay. Open the vote.

One second.

The vote is open.

By a vote of 10 to zero, you approve the minutes as submitted.

Okay. Thank you. And this is the point where we have a presentation honoring those who deserve honors. And I'm going to ask my friend and vice mayor uh Rosemary Wilson to please go ahead and read.

I'd be delighted. Would the rambers like to come up to the f to the podium?

You can bring them all.

Come on up, folks.

Come on. Come on down. Price is right.

A whole shooting match. Come on. There we go. Come on.

Yeah. Everybody, we want to We want to see our

that. Oh my goodness.

That That's a football even I might be able to catch.

Oh. Oh, welcome everybody. How y'all doing?

We are so glad you're here with us tonight. Thank you for being here.

Okay. Whereas the Ramblers Youth Football Organization is a program that has become a cornerstone of youth development in Virginia Beach. And whereas the Ramblers officially became part of America Youth Football in January 2019. And since that time, the organization has grown tremendously and now serves over 250 children ranging from baby flag through 12 U. I guess anyway, the uh the mission of

the Ramblers has always been to provide instruction, discipline, and positive mentorship while keeping our youth active, engaged, and in the right and on the right path.

And whereas the Ramblers, an organization was founded by Rodney White and his brother Richard Jameson who who named the team after their former school in Washington DC known as the Eastern Ramblers. What began is a vision rooted in brothers and brotherhood and community was later established there in Virginia Beach where it continues to impact families across the city. And whereas tragically

Mr. Richard Jameson passed away on July 21st, 2025. His legacy, dedication, and love for the youth lives on through the organization he helped build. In honor of his contributions, the division 2 Ramblers consider um consisted of 17 determined young athletes dedicated their season to his memory.

And whereas these young men traveled to Naples, Florida, where they fought and fought with heart, discipline, and unity, finishing the season undefeated with a perfect 17 to0 record and learn. Yes.

and earning the title of AYFN national champions.

This historic achievement marks the first national championship for Virginia Beach for over seven years with last occurring in 2018. And whereas the team was led by an ex comp an exceptional coaching staff who comp who who exemplified the leadership with both on and off the field. Head coach Lewis Skinner, Coach Ronte Johnson, Coach Cornelius Johnson, Coach Cordell Norell, Coach Osini Maxwell, Coach Ruan McMiller.

Whereas throughout the season, the coaching and helped guide the team to incredibly 383 total points while instilling discipline, teamwork, confidence, and accountability to each child. And whereas beyond the winds and and statistics, the Ramblers represent hope, resilience, and opportunity, many of the athletes face challenging life circumstances.

And this program provides them with the mentorship structure and a positive outlet that they that reinforces the belief that there is more to It's a very nice long resolution to life and that success is achievable through hard work and dedication. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the city council would individually and collectively def extend their heart congratulations, heartfelt

congratulations and commendations to the Ramblers Youth Football Organization community for their outstanding dedication, presentation, partnerships, and success with with and on and off the field. Go Ramblers.

Mayor. Mayor.

Given by Mayor, I just want to say something. Let me see your rings. Let me see your rings. That's right.

Hang on.

We got something for you.

While we're coming down to you.

Um yes. Um on behalf of the 7U Ramblers and our organization, our parents, our coaches, our kids, our community. We would like to thank you all for your recognition for us um and having us here in this time. And thank you

Oh, look at that.

Shift just a little bit. You guys just a little bit big.

All right, we're going to do it a few times. You guys ready? Look in here first. Get all the all the parents.

One, two, three. We're smiling. We're smiling. Nice job.

Keep that smile. There you go. All right, one more time.

All right, we're smiling. Ready? Two, three.

All right. Now, show me those rings.

Nice job.

Thank you.

Parents, get in there.

Sorry.

Perfect.

giving them out.

Yeah. What about those people though?

Wish I had this baby.

I've only got one. It only took 75 years.

Ring.

adorable.

All right.

Okay.

And uh my friend, Council Member Rouse, you have some introductions this evening.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Uh we have so many wonderful folks in our gallery this evening and I want to have the ladies from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated to please stand and be recognized as we are winding down Black History Month and making our way into Women's History Month. We have some representatives from the uh Virginia Beach Alumni Chapter. So this is a group that was chartered in April 18th, 1982.

And this distinguished chapter has served as a pillar of leadership, scholarship, sisterhood, and public service in our city. Um there through impactful programming, their work is guided by the sorority's fivepoint programmatic themes. Economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement.

This dedicated chapter has 175 members who meet critical needs in our city and in our community, including youth mentorship scholarship civic engagement, advocacy, which is part of why they've joined us here this evening.

Um, and this chapter, the Virginia Beach Alumni Chapter, exemplifies what it means to leave with purpose and serve with excellence. Um, it's worth noting that today is the 113th anniversary of the Women's Suffrage March, uh, Delta Sigma Theta's first act of public service. So, they are continuing that service by being here with us this evening. So, thank you, mayor, for the opportunity to recognize them in the

gallery today.

Thank you.

And uh Jennifer, if you don't mind, I'm going to add on one of the things we have a point of pride of at Virginia Beach is that we're recognized as being the most caring city in this great nation. And it's folks like you that just exemplify what we are about, community service and what you do, you know, over time and what you're going to continue to do. I say thank sincerely

say thank you and God bless you for what you do. Thank you. Appreciate it. Okay.

Uh we're going to move on to public hearings. Um the first one is the lease of city property for agricultural purposes approximately 23 acres off Newbridge Road to Dolly Family Farms LLC. Approximately 68 acres off Indian River Road to Dolly Family Farms LLC.

and approximately 457 acres off Northlanding Road to Land of Promises Farms Partnership. Do we have any speakers?

No speakers on any of those. Okay, we will move on to the next and that is acquisition by agreement or condemnation centerville park turnpike phase 2 project CIP 1000572-49 1000451 5-251 and 1 0 0452 6 556.

Any speakers? No speaker sir.

Okay.

And uh then we have number three acquisition by agreement or condemnation the LHaven River uh basin ecosystem restoration project phase 2 wetland construction CIP1000263.

No speaker sir.

Okay. Thank you. And uh you know and uh council member green we got something going in district 7ville too. You got it. Okay. Um moving on to the consent agenda. Do we have any speakers?

No sir.

Okay. If you would be so kind.

Uh yes. An ordinances resolution number one is the ordinance to authorize the city manager to execute a lease agreement with Lumos Telephone LLC for two strands of dark fiber in the city's communications network. Number two is the ordinance to approve and adopt the revised city council policy for council member sponsored forums and events.

Number three is the ordinance to amend city code section 2-3.1 to boards and commissions attendance policy. Number four is the resolution to authorize and direct the city manager to execute a memorandum of agreement to the Hampton Roads regional groundwater litigation program mitigation program.

Number five is the ordinance to accept and appropriate $720,472.93 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management uh VDEM to the FY202526 Emergency Communications and Citizen Services Operating Budget um the 911 infrastructure updates. Number six is the ordinance to accept and appropriate $5,250 from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services to the FY202526

Human Services Operating Budget Ray additional training opportunities.

Number seven is the ordinance to transfer $725,381 $981, excuse me, from vacancy savings to the general fund for the FY202526 voter registration elections operating budget race special election was April 21st, 2026. Move to approve.

Okay. Second. Second.

All right. Any discussion? Let's open the vote.

The vote is open. Council Ross. Thank you. By vote of 10 to zero, you've approved the consent agenda as read by Vice Mayor Wilson.

Okay, great. At this point, do we have any appointments?

We do, Mr. Mayor. Um, the Human Rights Commission to appoint Latana Robertson, the Military Economic Development Advisory Committee to appoint Richard Barkcus, the Oceanana Land Use um, conformity committee to appoint Captain Rob Litman. Move to approve.

The vote is open.

All right, here we go.

Mrs. Rouse, may I have your Thank you. By a vote of 10 to zero, you have um appointed those as read by Vice Mayor Wilson.

Okay. At this point, any unfinished business?

Any new business? Okay, we are journed.

Open mic.