OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Hampton City Council Legislative Session - July 10, 2024

City Council — Wednesday, July 10, 2024
BodyHampton, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 10, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:47

Good evening and welcome.

0:49

Like to ask our clerk to call the roll, please.

0:52

Councilman Bowman.

0:53

Present.

0:54

Councilman Brown.

0:55

Here.

0:56

Vice Mayor Gray.

0:57

Present.

0:57

Councilwoman Harper.

0:58

Here.

0:59

Councilman Hobbs.

1:00

Present.

1:00

Councilwoman Muggler.

1:01

Here.

1:02

Mayor Tuck.

1:03

Present.

1:03

Our invitation tonight will be given by Councilman Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray, followed by our Pledge of Allegiance.

1:11

Let us pray.

1:13

Lord, we meet this evening to serve our community, to use our resources wisely and well, to represent all members of our community fairly, to make decisions that promote the common good.

1:24

And we recognize our responsibility to the past and to the future and the rights and needs of both individuals and community.

1:31

And as trusted service, we seek your blessings this evening on our deliberations and our efforts here this evening.

1:37

And may we act wisely and well.

1:39

In your name we pray.

1:40

Amen.

2:09

Welcome.

2:11

Thank you, Mayor.

2:15

Glad to be of service again.

2:18

Thank you.

2:19

And uh for those of you who may not be aware, but yesterday our city attorney 414 years old.

2:25

I think we still look pretty.

2:30

And with that, now I'll ask our clerk to read a protocol for the consent agenda.

2:37

The consent agenda is comprised of non-controversial matters before the council, which require a vote by council.

2:43

Due to their routine nature, typically these items are adopted by one motion without separate discussion.

2:48

Tonight, your consent agenda supports improvements alongside Chesapeake Avenue on the eastbound side, adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay from Claremont Avenue to LaSalle Avenue.

2:58

It requests the Virginia Department of Transportation program three new projects into their six-year improvement plan.

3:04

It approves two encroachment agreements allowing an encroachment for installation of offense and another for installation of buried fiber optic cable in the area area of Enterprise Parkway.

3:14

It approves the city's participation in the proposed settlement of opioid-related claims against Kroger and approves the minutes from eight city council meetings.

3:29

Second Councilman Bowman.

3:32

Aye.

3:33

Councilman Brown.

3:35

Councilwoman Harper.

3:36

Vice Mayor Gray.

3:37

Aye.

3:38

Councilwoman Harper.

3:39

Hi.

3:39

Councilman Hobbs.

3:40

Aye.

3:41

Councilwoman Mugler.

3:42

Hi.

3:42

Mayor Tuck.

3:43

Hi.

3:44

And I'm gonna pause right here because earlier, I guess last month, let me early last month, was the latter part of last month.

3:52

Um we had our Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray and Councilwoman Hope Harper go on a trip to Angola.

4:01

And one of the things about that trip, uh they went with the Tucker family, which um has traced their heritage or ancestry back to Angola.

4:09

And not only that, but we're also looking at establishing a twin city relationship with one of the cities in Angola.

4:16

So I will pause now and ask um Vice Mayor Gray and Councilwoman Harper for their uh, I guess to make comments about your trip, please.

4:25

Good.

4:25

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

4:26

Yes, we did travel to uh Angola, uh left on uh June 21st, uh returned on uh July 2nd, and you know, all I can say, you know, for the trip to sum it up is that it was um really a a great experience and one that uh really kind of you know will stick with me for a long time.

5:00

And I'll tell you that the you know we went because the the Tucker family who are related to the or have traced their ancestry, I guess, to the uh uh first arriving Africans in Old Point Comfort in 1619, and uh since that time, and as they have begun to learn more about their their ancestors and their heritage, they have gone on tours to uh Angola to meet people to learn about the sites, to visit the places and uh kind of learn more about the place where their ancestors actually came from.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Animal Welfare███████████████████████████27%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Public Safety██████████10%
Procedural███████7%
Transportation Safety███████7%
Public Comment██████6%
Public Works█████5%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Event Planning██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Hampton City Council Legislative Session

On July 10, 2024, the Hampton City Council met in legislative session at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers. All seven council members were present. The meeting included a consent agenda, three public hearings, extensive public comment (33 speakers), approval of a traffic ordinance, and numerous board appointments. Key topics included feral cat management, traffic safety, budget amendments, and city employee compensation.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (7-0): Resolution of support for the SMART SCALE Round 6 Chesapeake Avenue Corridor Improvement Project; Resolution requesting VDOT program three new projects into its Six-Year Improvement Plan; Two encroachment agreements (for a fence and for fiber optic cable); Resolution approving Hampton's participation in the opioid settlement with Kroger; Approval of minutes from eight prior meetings.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Feral Cat Management (H.A.R.T. Initiative): Over a dozen speakers opposed the city's animal control program to trap feral cats, arguing for trap-neuter-return (TNR) instead of euthanasia. Speakers included Veronica Davis (murals project), Antoinette Weathers, Vaida Moore, Regina Parks, Chandler Scarborough (Feral Affairs Network), Tiffany Young (The Cat Corner), Dawn Mann, Dawn Morris (Newport News Shipbuilding), and others. They cited effectiveness of TNR, ethical concerns, and the vacuum effect. City Manager Bunting later clarified the city supports TNR with registration, and the social media post was misleading and corrected.
  • Traffic Safety at Shell Road and Greenbrier Avenue: Charlene Thompson, Ursula Barker, and Joan Weaver reported that new four-way stop signs are ineffective; speeding continues. They requested traffic lights or speed humps. City Manager Bunting noted 92 summonses issued, and a new ordinance for enhanced fines was on the agenda.
  • Pothole on Lee Street: Beverly Austin complained of a pothole left unaddressed for over 30 days. City Manager Bunting said Public Works Director would follow up.
  • Councilman Bowman Behavior: Brenda Marks alleged inappropriate touching and requested a chaperone for council events.
  • Employee Pay and Council Salary Increases: Aaron Weaver criticized the council's recent pay raise (from $25K to $47K for mayor, $23K to $43K for council) while city employees struggle. City Manager Bunting explained the raises were permitted by new state law, effective for the next council, and that employee pay scales were adjusted with up to 13% increases for long-tenured staff.
  • Aquaplex Concerns: Michael Mulheran worried about Eastern Coast Sports Management's performance, noting Virginia Beach's $6.1M payout. City Manager Bunting said Hampton has not had overruns and has backup plans including YMCA partnership.
  • ARPA Funds: Richelle Wallace requested clarification on individual assistance distribution. City Manager Bunting explained that funds were used for revenue recovery, small businesses, and individuals via United Way.
  • Other Topics: Cemetery preservation (Teresa Roundy), short-term rentals (Susan Rolfe), youth programs (Ketchmore Kids), flooding response (Diane Davis), and the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind museum (Joan Weaver).

Discussion Items

  • FY2025 CDBG and HOME Plan Amendment: Jonathan McBride presented the amendment based on actual HUD allocations. CDBG allocation reduced by $7,001; HOME reduced by ~$70,000 (10%). Program income increased to $150,000. Wait list update: 487 households, 165 serviced, 84 waiting. Critical repair program: 14 completed, 20 underway. Approved 7-0.
  • Budget Amendments (Items 8-10): Combined public hearing for $13,906,613 additional school funds, $176,619.20 USDA Summer Food Service grant, and $10,000/$5,840 Virginia Tourism grants for Jazz Festival. All approved 7-0.
  • Ordinance to Designate Additional Fine Streets (Item 11): Added Shell Road (Old Aberdeen to Powhatan Parkway) and Greenbrier Avenue (Pembroke to Victoria Boulevard) to the enhanced speeding fine zone ($200 fine). Approved 7-0.
  • Appointments: 15 appointments approved unanimously, including reappointments to the Arts Commission, Community Services Board, HRHA, Building Code Board, H2O CDA, Board of Review, Golf Course Advisory, Neighborhood Commission, Citizens' Unity Commission, and CEARC. Two appointments (FADA and CPAG) deferred to August 14, 2024.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved 7-0.
  • FY2025 CDBG/HOME plan amendment approved 7-0.
  • Three budget amendments approved 7-0 each: $13.9M for schools, $176,619.20 for summer food program, $15,840 for Jazz Festival grants.
  • Ordinance adding two fine streets (Shell Road and Greenbrier Avenue) approved 7-0.
  • All board appointments approved 7-0, with two deferrals to August 14.
  • City Manager to follow up on pothole, cemetery, ARPA data, and feral cat registration process.
  • Meeting adjourned at 8:59 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome. Like to ask our clerk to call the roll, please. Councilman Bowman. Present. Councilman Brown. Here. Vice Mayor Gray. Present. Councilwoman Harper. Here. Councilman Hobbs. Present. Councilwoman Muggler. Here. Mayor Tuck. Present. Our invitation tonight will be given by Councilman Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray, followed by our Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. Lord, we meet this evening to serve our community, to use our resources wisely and well, to represent all members of our community fairly, to make decisions that promote the common good. And we recognize our responsibility to the past and to the future and the rights and needs of both individuals and community. And as trusted service, we seek your blessings this evening on our deliberations and our efforts here this evening. And may we act wisely and well. In your name we pray. Amen. Welcome. Thank you, Mayor. Glad to be of service again. Thank you. And uh for those of you who may not be aware, but yesterday our city attorney 414 years old. I think we still look pretty. And with that, now I'll ask our clerk to read a protocol for the consent agenda. The consent agenda is comprised of non-controversial matters before the council, which require a vote by council. Due to their routine nature, typically these items are adopted by one motion without separate discussion. Tonight, your consent agenda supports improvements alongside Chesapeake Avenue on the eastbound side, adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay from Claremont Avenue to LaSalle Avenue. It requests the Virginia Department of Transportation program three new projects into their six-year improvement plan. It approves two encroachment agreements allowing an encroachment for installation of offense and another for installation of buried fiber optic cable in the area area of Enterprise Parkway. It approves the city's participation in the proposed settlement of opioid-related claims against Kroger and approves the minutes from eight city council meetings. Second Councilman Bowman. Aye. Councilman Brown. Councilwoman Harper. Vice Mayor Gray. Aye. Councilwoman Harper. Hi. Councilman Hobbs. Aye. Councilwoman Mugler. Hi. Mayor Tuck.

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