Hampton City Council Legislative Session – June 11, 2025

The Hampton City Council held its regular legislative session on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers at 22 Lincoln Street. Mayor Jimmy Gray presided, with Vice Mayor Steven L. Brown and councilmembers Randy C. Bowman, Sr., Carolyn S. Campbell, Michelle Taylor Ferebee, Hope L. Harper, and Martha M. Mugler present. Staff included City Manager Mary Bunting, City Attorney Courtney R. Sydnor, and Clerk of Council Katherine K. Glass. The meeting opened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance led by scouts. The mayor recognized Men’s Health Month and upcoming community events.

Consent Calendar

• 25-0173: Resolution accepting a gift of furniture, fixtures, and equipment valued at approximately $120,500 from NP Hampton Commerce Center LLC, and amending the FY 2025 budget to accept and appropriate $168,672.23.
• 25-0171: Resolution affirming solid waste charges and fees for FY 2025 and adopting an ordinance repealing Chapter 32.1 of the City Code.
• 25-0174: Resolution approving FY 2025 second and third quarter budget adjustments.
• 25-0176: Resolution amending the FY 2025 budget to appropriate $5,000 from the Wetlands Encroachment Restricted Fund to the Community Development Department for the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP).
• 25-0185: Resolution amending the FY 2025 budget to accept $1,400,000 in public assistance state and federal revenues for Human Services.
• 25-0122: Approval of minutes from ceremonial sessions of April 23 and May 28, 2025.

All consent items were approved unanimously by roll call vote.

Public Hearings

• 25-0182 – General Obligation Public Improvement Bonds: The council held a public hearing on a resolution authorizing up to $85.4 million in general obligation bonds for capital improvement projects across FYs 2024–2026. Included were $18.9 million for Hampton City Schools maintenance and technology, $14.4 million for stormwater improvements, $10.7 million for public property maintenance, and $10.6 million for steam plant maintenance. City Manager Bunting explained the city’s conservative debt approach (approximately 7 cents per tax dollar for debt service) and the need to act due to potential changes in tax‑exempt bond rules. No public speakers signed up. The hearing was closed and the resolution was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

Twenty‑two speakers addressed the council, the vast majority regarding the proposed camping and storage ordinance (item 8). Several also raised other issues:

• Brian Coyne (Four Oaks): Opposed the camping ordinance, citing 6,179 calls to the housing crisis hotline from 3,752 callers in Hampton last year. He argued existing ordinances cover trespassing and littering and that the ordinance would punish sleeping. He offered to partner with the city on pragmatic solutions.
• Joya Peppers: Complained about poor treatment by the Hampton Housing Authority, stating she needed a 15‑day extension for a housing voucher and was only helped after Councilmember Bowman intervened. She now has a new home.
• Candace Harris: Supported the idea of approaching homeless individuals with resources but asked to defer the vote; she praised the mayor’s announcement to postpone and offered to be part of community solutions.
• Edwin Boone: Requested a line‑item breakdown of $8.6 million in federal funds received by the city, specifically $4 million from Congressman Bobby Scott. City Manager Bunting later clarified the correct amount is $4.6 million, but most remains unobtainable due to federal conditions.
• Diana Morland: Opposed the ordinance, describing how Oman’s approach to homelessness (based on Quranic commands) eliminated visible homelessness by not punishing people when the state fails to provide support.
• Drew Baird (CNU sociologist): Opposed, sharing personal experience with a family member’s addiction and mental illness. He said the ordinance would criminalize survival and urged compassion.
• Kaelin Hawley, Derek Wright, Lafayette Morrison (Hampton Rose Hokies): Requested city support for basic field amenities (goalposts, trash cans, field maintenance) at Hunter B. Anderson Park (3120 Victoria Boulevard). They said Parks and Recreation had not responded to repeated requests since 2017. City Manager Bunting acknowledged the issue and promised immediate action.
• Glenn Kane: Opposed the ordinance, noting the Peninsula Homelessness Study and insufficient shelter space, especially in summer months. He shared an experience where a homeless acquaintance was given only a flyer by human services.
• Victoria Mitchell (HELP volunteer): Opposed, calling for a year‑round emergency shelter in Hampton rather than a combined regional shelter in Newport News. She noted that HELP’s winter shelter leaves a gap from March through October.
• Christine Woods: Expressed hope that the city is prioritizing homelessness, citing new poverty initiatives and Project Hope, but said the ordinance is not the answer.
• Aaron Weaver: Opposed, citing data that 44% of working Hampton households struggle to meet basic needs and no census tract in Hampton is affordable for a minimum‑wage worker. He called the ordinance “hostile architecture.”
• Cassandra Austin Townsley: Shared her own experience of homelessness and strongly opposed the ordinance, saying fines and jail time would punish poverty. She urged compassion over criminalization.
• Laura Jamborski (CNU graduate): Opposed, citing research that housing‑first approaches are more effective and that criminalization exacerbates substance abuse.
• Shirley Brackett: Opposed, describing a mother with two children coming from HELP’s winter shelter and noted that at a minimum‑wage job, only six rental units in Hampton are affordable at 75% rent burden. She said fines and jail would add further hardship.
• Dr. Johnny Finn (CNU professor): Opposed, stating the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision allows criminalization but does not address structural causes. He noted not one Hampton neighborhood is affordable for a full‑time minimum‑wage worker (based on his analysis).
• Dr. Andrea Timmer (CNU professor): Opposed, citing her experience in Hungary where similar constitutional language criminalized homelessness, pushed people to marginal areas, and discouraged helpers. She said the ordinance would create criminals out of the shelterless.
• Galen Kanoyton (NAACP Hampton Branch president): Thanked council for deferring the vote and praised the city’s statement rejecting the “sanctuary city” label. She invited everyone to the Juneteenth celebration.
• Stacy Shorter: Thanked council for the deferral and pleaded for a “no” vote, stating police are not the right tool for homelessness.
• Deborah Boyce: Urged council to fully consider the Peninsula Homelessness Study recommendations and not criminalize homelessness. She questioned whether penalties are necessary if the goal is to help.
• Nick Swan: Expressed concern about federal actions and local coordination with ICE, but his time expired before connecting directly to the ordinance.
• Catherine Tyler Northam: Opposed, stating homelessness is a crisis requiring housing, not handcuffs, and urged investment in affordable housing and services.

Discussion Items

• Mayor’s Announcement: Mayor Gray announced that after individual conversations with council members, the camping and storage ordinance (item 8) would be deferred. He stated the plan is for staff to meet with stakeholders and interested parties to seek consensus and bring back a modified version in August, with a vote no earlier than September. He invited public comment to continue despite the deferral.
• City Manager’s Remarks: Mary Bunting provided extensive context. She disclosed her own father’s homelessness due to Vietnam‑era mental health and addiction issues, stating she understands the challenges. She clarified the ordinance originated from neighborhood and business complaints about nuisance behaviors (public urination, drug use) that are difficult to address with existing laws because police must observe them. The ordinance would provide a legal basis to ask individuals to leave public property, with a penalty (fine or jail) that would be determined by courts but not necessarily enforced. She emphasized that the city’s first approach is to send social workers and community service board workers to offer help, but acceptance is often low due to distrust. She noted that a regional shelter with Newport News is the primary goal, but a backup plan exists if that fails. She asked the community to help broker trust and called for a focus group to find solutions. She also clarified the housing authority is a separate board, apologized for Ms. Peppers’ experience, and confirmed the Hampton Rose Hokies’ field issues would be addressed.
• Bond Resolution: The council heard staff explanation and approved the $85.4 million bond issuance.
• Items 9 and 10 – Peninsula Stadium Authority & War Memorial Stadium Advisory Board: Councilwoman Mugler recused herself due to a conflict of interest (her spouse is a paid consultant for Community Baseball LLC, a tenant of War Memorial Stadium). The council unanimously approved dissolving the Peninsula Stadium Authority and establishing the War Memorial Stadium Advisory Board.
• Appointments: Councilwoman Ferebee recused herself from voting on the Grievance Board because her spouse was a reappointee. The council approved appointments to the Virginia Peninsula Community College Board of Trustees (Donnie Tuck), Building Code Board of Appeals (Carl Burt), Planning Commission (Kathy Rogers, Tracy Brooks), Board of Review of Real Estate Assessments (Carl Burt, Cliff Moore), and Grievance Board (Melvin Farabee, Linda Curtis, Brad Young, Phyllis Porter, Toysette Dance, James Young). Appointments to the Citizens’ Engagement Advisory Review Commission (CEARC) and Towing Advisory Board were deferred to the July 9, 2025 meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Item 25-0182 (Bond Resolution): Approved unanimously after a public hearing with no speakers.
• Item 25-0170 (Camping and Storage Ordinance): Deferred by unanimous vote to September 24, 2025. The council directed staff to meet with stakeholders and interested parties and report back at the work session on August 13, 2025.
• Item 25-0168 (Dissolve Peninsula Stadium Authority): Approved unanimously (Councilwoman Mugler recused).
• Item 25-0169 (Establish War Memorial Stadium Advisory Board): Approved unanimously (Councilwoman Mugler recused).
• Appointments: Most approved; CEARC and Towing Advisory Board deferred to July 9, 2025; Grievance Board approved with Councilwoman Ferebee recused.
• Hampton Rose Hokies Field Issues: City Manager Bunting committed to immediately addressing the requests for basic field support.
• FOIA Request by Edwin Boone: City Manager clarified the grant amount and noted that much of the funding remains unobtainable; staff will provide the requested information.
• Housing Authority Complaint: City Manager acknowledged the issue but noted the authority is a separate board; councilmembers Bowman and Brown assisted with the constituent’s case.
• Next Steps: A focus group on the camping ordinance will be convened; community members interested in participating were asked to contact the city manager via email or 311.