OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Hampton City Council Legislative Session - October 9, 2024

City Council — Wednesday, October 9, 2024
BodyHampton, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, October 9, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:49

Good evening and welcome.

0:50

I'd like to begin by asking our clerk to call the roll, please.

0:53

Councilman Bowman.

0:55

Present.

0:55

Councilman Brown.

0:57

Here.

0:57

Vice Mayor Cray.

0:58

Present.

0:58

Councilwoman Harper, present.

1:00

Councilman Hobbes.

1:02

Councilwoman Muggler.

1:03

President.

1:03

Mayor Tuck.

1:04

Present, Councilman Hobbes is under the weather and will not be here this evening.

1:08

I'd like to ask Councilman Bowman to do our invocation, followed by our Pledge of Allegiance.

1:20

Let us pray.

1:26

Lord bless those families that lost over 200 that died in the storm.

1:31

Lord, please bless and keep our ten Hampton firemen that has responded to provide relief.

1:39

Lord, please bless the council to work cooperatively, cooperatively, and make decisions in the best interest of our citizens.

1:48

In Christ's name, Amen.

2:14

One of the real joys I have as mayor and then actually as a former council member was before the meeting starts is to kind of go out into the audience and greet some of the individuals who are here.

2:26

And so I I want to follow up on that by first of all talking about uh a young lady, like she's 85 years young, uh, who has really been a tour de force uh in our city and particularly in the Aberdeen Gardens community.

2:43

Uh it's Miss Margaret Wilson, who was with us last year when we went to Denver and helped us to win the uh All America City Award.

2:54

And um recently she actually was gonna find my paperwork.

3:01

She was recipient of the Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Hospitality Hero Award.

3:07

Um we're gonna play her presentation of that at that award, and we'll tell you more about Mrs.

3:14

Wilson.

4:03

And here's a story that I've got to score everyone.

4:38

Built by blacks for blacks is a community motto, and Ms.

4:42

Wilson's never hesitates to share the stories of her youth being raised by our grandparents in this extraordinary community where every parent disciplined the kids when they were mischievous, and every family looked out for each other.

4:56

Every Aberdeen home had a garden, and every family grew a different item so that vegetables could be shared with the neighbors.

5:26

A must-see visitor attraction for Hampton.

5:30

Now, last year when we were in Denver, um, when it came to Mrs.

5:36

Wilson's time to make her presentation, and I would try and reenact it, but I'd probably embarrass myself.

5:43

But it went something like my name is Margaret Wilson, and I'm 84 years young, and I'm from Aberdeen.

5:51

And so last year also, she was named 80.

5:56

Was it last year?

5:57

Yes, I guess it was she was one of our Hampton heroes.

6:01

If it was in 23 or 24, okay.

6:04

So she was one of our Hampton heroes, and um she's just been a wonderful, wonderful ambassador for our city.

6:11

Now she may not like the idea, but I said, hold up, why are you sitting so far in the back when you know you're gonna be recognized?

6:19

So I like to ask Miss Margaret Wilson to come up here, and we're gonna ask our council members to come down so we can take a picture and also allow her to say anything she wants to say.

6:30

But I reminded her, I promised another group that they'd be out by seven o'clock.

6:34

So she has a time limit on how long she can speak.

6:37

Mayor, if I may just add to your wonderful remarks, not only did Miss Wilson help us win one All-America City Award, but she went with us in 2014 as well and had the same wonderful spirit, and um, I think the judges called it sassy um presentation, and she made such an impression on them in 2014, they remembered her when we went last year.

7:01

So she has always been willing to probably promote not just Aberdeen Gardens, but Hampton overall.

7:08

We're very grateful.

7:10

We need to get you a microphone before you try to speak.

7:12

All right, so what the what hid the microphones?

7:18

Thank you.

7:19

I do want to and actually, would you please come up this way, and then that way you can turn and address everybody here and they can see your wonderful face.

7:29

You are gonna lose a major mayor.

7:38

Which way do you want me?

7:40

Good evening.

7:42

You know, they talk about me so bad that I said I wasn't coming.

7:49

I want to tell you though, there's two things that I can always say.

7:54

When I retired, I knew traveling with my husband around as a military wife.

8:01

The one thing I knew, no matter what, when I retired, I was coming home.

8:08

Hampton to me is the only place to be.

8:13

If you can't love the place where you come from, then there's a problem.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety████████████████████████24%
Public Health█████████████████17%
Public Comment████████████12%
Procedural██████████10%
Tourism Promotion█████████9%
Youth Programs████████8%
Education And Workforce Development████4%
Zoning and Land Use████4%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Hampton City Council Legislative Session - October 9, 2024

The Hampton City Council held its legislative session on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers. Councilmember Billy Hobbs was excused due to illness; all other members were present. The meeting covered consent items, a proclamation, a fentanyl awareness presentation, a rezoning public hearing, public comments, and appointments. The meeting adjourned at 7:52 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 24-0438: Resolution to amend FY2025 budget to accept and appropriate $166,718.45 from Newport News for Fire Station 3 project costs. Approved 6-0.
  • Item 24-0441: Resolution to appropriate $7,683,324 in FY2024 state carryover funds to the School Operating Fund to offset state revenue adjustments. Approved 6-0.
  • Item 24-0443: Resolution approving salary increases for City Manager and City Clerk consistent with other city employees. Approved 6-0.
  • Item 24-0410: Approval of minutes from June 12, 2024, September 11, 2024, and August 14, 2024. Approved 6-0.

Presentations, Proclamations, Awards

  • Lights on After School Day Proclamation: Mayor Tuck proclaimed October 16, 2024, as Lights on After School Day. Ms. Gwen Lomax and Hampton University students accepted, highlighting free Saturday programs at Barnes & Noble (11 AM–12:30 PM) and a sign-up event on October 16 at 5 PM at the main library.

Discussion Items

  • Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Presentation (Item 24-0426): Mr. Patrick Hartig, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, DEA Norfolk District Office, presented on the fentanyl crisis. He emphasized that fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine, kills tens of thousands annually, and is often found in counterfeit pills. He noted 7 out of 10 pills contain a lethal amount; fentanyl poisonings are the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. Hartig warned about cartels using social media to target youth, the presence of xylazine in fentanyl, and the risks of online pharmacies. He urged community awareness and safe prescription practices. He endorsed Narcan but cautioned against relying on it as a safety net. The City Manager noted Hartig will meet with high school principals to bring this presentation to students.
  • Rezoning Application 24-0399: Cornerstone Custom Homes LLC requests to rezone 67 W Little Back River Road (±0.35 acres) from R-9 to R-4 to subdivide into two 50-foot-wide lots and construct two single-family detached homes. Staff and Planning Commission recommend approval with seven proffered conditions, including garage placement and design compliance with the Hampton Pattern Book. No public speakers. Council approved 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jeannie Belgrave: Expressed concern about automation and robotic services replacing human jobs in Hampton. Proposed that for every job lost to automation, the city should strive to create 10 new jobs. She urged the council to plan for job retention.
  • Craig Knopp: Inquired about police statistics on 24-hour house monitoring over a 10-year period. City Manager later advised he could follow up with police for data.
  • Aaron Weaver: Highlighted two properties: 101 N Armistead Ave (vacant bank building attracting homeless and unsafe activity) and 1809 W Mercury Blvd (city-owned lot behind Hooters). Called for partnership with Olde Hampton community and a clear timeline for revitalization of the Mercury Boulevard corridor.
  • Joan Weaver: Strongly opposed the Phoenix Commerce Center warehouses, describing them as too large and out of character. Criticized North Point development, asserting that existing workforce resources (Virginia Peninsula Community College, Huntington Ingalls) provide ample jobs and that North Point is not a savior. Called for housing instead of warehouses and for utilizing local employment services.

City Manager Response:

  • Regarding police, salary increases have made Hampton competitive; recruitment challenges are supply-based. She encouraged interest in policing.
  • The Mercury Boulevard property is part of the Coliseum Central Master Plan with active interest; specifics cannot be disclosed due to an unsolicited proposal process.
  • The bank building is private; police work with owners on trespassing. The homeless service team conducts regular outreach.
  • Automation and job replacement is a long-term issue requiring more discussion.
  • The City continues to work with the neighborhood on Phoenix Commerce Center commitments regarding land and funds.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved 6-0 (all items).
  • Rezoning 24-0399: Approved 6-0 (with seven proffered conditions).
  • Appointments:
    • Hampton Animal Response Team Advisory Committee (HARTAC) and Citizens Police Advisory Group (CPAG): Deferred to December 11, 2024, meeting (6-0).
    • Hampton VA 250 Committee: Appointed Tim Receveur and Sarah Martin to unexpired terms until October 31, 2026 (6-0).
  • New Assistant City Manager: Dr. Kwasi Obeng introduced; will oversee public safety and human services.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome. I'd like to begin by asking our clerk to call the roll, please. Councilman Bowman. Present. Councilman Brown. Here. Vice Mayor Cray. Present. Councilwoman Harper, present. Councilman Hobbes. Councilwoman Muggler. President. Mayor Tuck. Present, Councilman Hobbes is under the weather and will not be here this evening. I'd like to ask Councilman Bowman to do our invocation, followed by our Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. Lord bless those families that lost over 200 that died in the storm. Lord, please bless and keep our ten Hampton firemen that has responded to provide relief. Lord, please bless the council to work cooperatively, cooperatively, and make decisions in the best interest of our citizens. In Christ's name, Amen. One of the real joys I have as mayor and then actually as a former council member was before the meeting starts is to kind of go out into the audience and greet some of the individuals who are here. And so I I want to follow up on that by first of all talking about uh a young lady, like she's 85 years young, uh, who has really been a tour de force uh in our city and particularly in the Aberdeen Gardens community. Uh it's Miss Margaret Wilson, who was with us last year when we went to Denver and helped us to win the uh All America City Award. And um recently she actually was gonna find my paperwork. She was recipient of the Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Hospitality Hero Award. Um we're gonna play her presentation of that at that award, and we'll tell you more about Mrs. Wilson. And here's a story that I've got to score everyone. Built by blacks for blacks is a community motto, and Ms. Wilson's never hesitates to share the stories of her youth being raised by our grandparents in this extraordinary community where every parent disciplined the kids when they were mischievous, and every family looked out for each other. Every Aberdeen home had a garden, and every family grew a different item so that vegetables could be shared with the neighbors. A must-see visitor attraction for Hampton. Now, last year when we were in Denver, um, when it came to Mrs. Wilson's time to make her presentation, and I would try and reenact it, but I'd probably embarrass myself. But it went something like my name is Margaret Wilson, and I'm 84 years young, and I'm from Aberdeen. And so last year also, she was named 80. Was it last year? Yes, I guess it was she was one of our Hampton heroes. If it was in 23 or 24, okay. So she was one of our Hampton heroes, and um she's just been a wonderful, wonderful ambassador for our city. Now she may not like the idea, but I said, hold up, why are you sitting so far in the back when you know you're gonna be recognized? So I like to ask Miss Margaret Wilson to come up here, and we're gonna ask our council members to come down so we can take a picture and also allow her to say anything she wants to say. But I reminded her, I promised another group that they'd be out by seven o'clock. So she has a time limit on how long she can speak. Mayor, if I may just add to your wonderful remarks, not only did Miss Wilson help us win one All-America City Award, but she went with us in 2014 as well and had the same wonderful spirit, and um, I think the judges called it sassy um presentation, and she made such an impression on them in 2014, they remembered her when we went last year. So she has always been willing to probably promote not just Aberdeen Gardens, but Hampton overall. We're very grateful. We need to get you a microphone before you try to speak. All right, so what the what hid the microphones? Thank you.

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