Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Hampton City Council legislative session.

I'd like to ask Kurt to call the road, please.

Councilman Bowman.

Present.

Vice Mayor Brown.

Here.

Councilwoman Campbell, present.

Councilwoman Faraby.

Present.

Councilwoman Harper.

Present.

Councilwoman Mugler.

Present.

Mayor Gray.

Present.

And this evening, the uh invitation will be given by Councilman Randy Bowman and followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

So please stand for those.

Let us pray.

We pray that you cover our first respondents, city workers, citizens that we see contemporary fathers.

We pray that peace be still, we pray for unity in our community.

We pray abroad for Rome for Pope Francis and his parish to remind them that we've been made endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

God, we know that you have a purpose for us.

Rex, did you shine a light on us and use us as a vessel to navigate to a stronger, safer, cleaner Hampton as we work for a more perfect union and establish transquility in our beloved city?

This is our prayer tonight as we thank you in advance for all your favor and continued blessings, all of God's people.

Let's say amen.

Amen.

Thank you.

So a couple of items I have on the mayor's comments for this evening.

Uh first of all, uh this month and this week is focusing on volunteers in our community.

Uh this is National Volunteer Recognition Week, and earlier uh issued a proclamation that I like to read uh regarding uh our really the great work that volunteers are doing in many areas in our city that makes a huge difference.

And so we want to uh recognize them, whereas our nation's heritage is based on citizen involvement and citizen participation, and whereas volunteerism is of enormous benefit in building a better community and a better sense of one's own wellness.

And whereas the tradition of volunteering best demonstrates the American ideal of concern for one another and for those in need.

And whereas volunteerism is increasingly recognized as a central partner within government, education, industry, and doing work, the work of our nation.

And whereas our community and our citizenry all benefit from the actions, concerns, and dedication of volunteers.

And whereas volunteer appreciation month shines the light on all of our volunteers and the impact that they have in our community.

And whereas the city of Hampton has numerous volunteers providing a diverse array of services in a number of areas, and whereas the city appreciates the invaluable contributions of volunteers provide in our community, and whereas this year marks 50 years of commemorating the importance of volunteers in our community and the work that they do.

Now, therefore, I, James A.

Gray, mayor, on behalf of the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, do hereby recognize the month of April 2025 as National Volunteer Appreciation Month in the City of Hampton.

And I urge all citizens to observe this time by recognizing the outstanding contributions that are being made to our lives and community by those who volunteer their services and resources in this community.

A witness whereof I've hereon to set my hand in the cause of seal of the city of Hampton, Virginia to be affixed this 23rd day of April 2025, sign James A.

Gray.

And so when we when we think about the volunteers, and I you know, we have many who volunteer here in the city in different programs, but you know, recognizing volunteers and our coaches, that really extends out to all of the coaches and who who coach in youth basketball, baseball, and football.

And so when we when we think about the volunteers, and you know, we have many who volunteer here in the city in different programs, but you know, recognizing volunteers and our coaches, that really extends out to all of the coaches and who who coach in your youth basketball, baseball, and football, uh, the volunteers who serve our uh Clean City Coalition who help keep our city clean, the people who serve on boards and commissions in our community and offer their time and talents to help our city look better, and and this in so many other areas, the mentors in our community, the the not the nonprofit organizations, the sororities and fraternities who volunteer tons of times and resources.

You know, I don't know where we would be without them when we think about if all of that volunteer time and energy just disappeared one day, we would see a big void in our community.

So we are extremely grateful for everyone who gives their time and talents to help make our city better, and we thank you for doing that.

Um, just as a reminder, and one item that's on our consent agenda this evening that we have are making a change to uh uh public comment sign up time.

Uh beginning uh the first meeting in May, uh the the time or the the appropriate time to sign up will be 6 30.

And uh we're changing that will allow additional time ahead of that in order for people to sign up, but you must sign up by 6 30 instead of 645.

And again, I'll mention that uh for those who might come in and uh happen to not get the message that we're making the change.

We will offer you a little grace and allow you to speak if you need to.

But uh we are making a change to the sign-up time for public comment, so just be on the lookout for that.

And then lastly, uh, as we work through our budget, uh a lot of discussion around uh real estate assessments and taxes and and so forth, and a lot for our council to decide.

And uh, so we'll hear a lot uh you know with the public hearings over the next uh couple of meetings regarding uh what your you know concerns or thoughts are about the manager's recommended budget, which is already out.

But I like to offer this regarding um tax relief in our city and what we've done over the past uh several years.

That uh over the past three to four years, past three years, our city council has taken deliberate steps to ease the financial burden on the residents by reducing our real estate tax rate by a total of nine cent.

And this year, the manager is recommending a an additional one cent, which would be a total of 10 cent over the past several years.

And tonight I'd like to share that uh the plan to reduce additional taxes this year, is of course included in her recommended budget.

Now, this commitment to tax relief is more than just a number, it represents a real savings to Hampton property owners.

In total, the council's actions, if you include what might be approved, uh, and again, we haven't taken action on the next year, but uh with the additional one percent that uh council's actions would have uh provided a total of 45,973,359 in cumulative tax relief during this period of time.

That's almost 46,000 that has 46 million dollars that has remained in the hands of residents and businesses in our community, helping families manage costs, supporting their households, and investing in their futures.