Good afternoon and welcome to the Hampton City Council legislative session.

And I will ask Clerk to call the road.

Councilman Bowman.

Present.

Vice Mayor Brown.

Here.

Councilwoman Campbell.

Present.

Councilwoman Faraby.

Present.

Councilwoman Harper.

Present.

Councilwoman Mugler.

President Mayor Gray.

Present.

And the invocation this evening will be given by Councilwoman Michelle Faraby, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

So if you would please stand and join us for prayer and then President Believe us.

Thank you.

Let us bow our heads.

Gracious God, thank you for bringing us together in service to our city.

Grant us wisdom, patience, and compassion as we make decisions that affect the lives of those we represent.

Tonight, we lift up our Mayor Gray and his family in prayer as they grieve the loss of his beloved wife, Dana Frayley Gray.

We extend our deepest sympathies and ask for comfort and peace during this difficult time.

Now please join me in pausing for a moment of silence in her memory.

Thank you.

As we begin this month of October, we also recognize and honor the following observances that reflect the diversity and needs of our community.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, just to name a few.

So thank you for all of that.

This month is breast cancer awareness month.

And uh breast cancer awareness month month takes place during the month of October with the goal of increasing awareness, promo promoting early detection, and supporting individuals who have been affected by breast cancer.

It's also a time to encourage women and others to do self-exams and get regular screenings.

These small acts have been known to increase the probability of early detection and successful treatment.

So please join me in recognizing October as breast cancer awareness month and pledging to advocate for this important cause which helps save lives.

We receive this national honor in the category of respect for diversity, inclusion, and culture, celebrating how Hampton elevated community voices, incorporated ASL interpretation, and honored the legacy of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind.

And this recognition shines as a tremendous spotlight on Hampton's commitment to be meaningful to engage in meaningful public uh engagement and inclusive storytelling.

And so thank you to everyone who helped make this project a model for communities across the country to understand how we do that.

And we're proud of the way that we uh involve the members of our community in uh just about every uh important aspect of government, uh we we do take that uh very uh serious, and we want to make sure that we include people in you know helping us to make uh get to the right decisions on a lot of important things in our community.

And so thanks to all who participated in that project to help make it uh make it a success.

Uh we have some visitors uh with us this evening, and uh I like to ask them to stand they are part of a fellowship program working with Dr.

Quase O'Bane, and these are all professionals in various uh careers uh from uh Southeast Asia, and they are here uh observing our city council meeting this evening.

So we welcome you to being here and thank you for joining us.

Lastly, um Cybersecurity Cybersecurity Awareness Month is also in October, and so October uh is a great reminder for us to stay alert and online.

Cyber criminals are always looking for new ways to trick people through emails, texts, and fake websites.

And the best protection is simple be cautious about clipping, clicking, using strong passwords, keep your devices updated and trust your instincts if something feels off.

A few small changes in habits can go a long way to working towards your protecting your personal information, keeping our community safe.

And I know I was affected by that a few weeks ago because I started getting uh messages from a lot of people saying, You did you send this invitation?

And apparently an invitation came out with my name on it, but you couldn't open it, it was just inviting you.

So folks wanted to know what was I inviting them to, and I had not sent out that invitation, but obviously it was a phishing email.

So these things do occur, they're real, so just pay attention when you're online and making sure that you uh you stay safe and keep your uh your information safe as well.

So, with that, I'm going to ask the uh clerk to read the protocol for the consent agenda.

The consent agenda consists of routine, non-controversial items requiring council approval.

These items are typically adopted with one without with one motion and without discussion.

Tonight, your consent agenda directs the community development department and other appropriate staff to prepare draft text for proposed amendments to the Hampton Zoning Ordinance, adopting in fill housing design standards, and approve the amendment from the legislative session of September 10, 2025, and the special joint meeting, the special closed session, the ceremonial session, and the legislative session of September 24, 2025.

I'm sorry, I need a motion in a second.

Mr.

Mayor Solomon, second Councilman Bowman.

Aye, Vice Mayor Brown, Councilwoman Campbell.

Aye, Councilwoman Faraby.

Aye, Councilwoman Harper.

Aye, Councilwoman Muggler.

Aye, Mayor Gray.

Aye.

All right, and I do have some proclamations uh this evening on the proclamations and awards, and uh the one that we're most used to doing every time this year is all of these great people here with the uh beautiful uh red and white hats on are here because it is lights on after school day.

And so uh claiming October 11th, 2025 is lights on after school day in the city of Hampton.

And whereas the citizens of Hampton, Virginia stand firmly committed to quality after-school programs and opportunities, and whereas after school programs provide safe, challenging, and engaging learning experiences that help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural, and academic skills.

And whereas after school programs support working families by ensuring that their children are safe and productive after the regular day of school ends.

And whereas after school programs build stronger communities by involving our students, parents, business leaders, and adult volunteers in the lives of young people, thereby promoting positive relationships among children, youth, families, and adults.

And whereas after school programs engage families and schools and diverse community partners in advancing the welfare of our children, and whereas the Hampton Community Education Enrichment Program, the Read Across America program, the Kitty STEM program, and the community mentorship program have provided significant leadership in the area of community involvement in the education and well-being of our youth, grounded in the principle that the quality after school programs are the key to helping our children become successful adults.

And whereas on October 11th, 2025, Lights on After School, a national celebration of after-school programs will promote the critical importance of quality after school programs in the lives of children, their families, and their communities.

And whereas many after school programs across the country are facing funding shortfalls so severe that they are being forced to close their doors and turn off the lights, and whereas the city of Hampton is committed to investing in the health and safety of our young people by providing expanded learning opportunities that will help close the achievement gap and prepare young people to compete in the global economy.

Now, therefore, I, James A.

Gray Jr., mayor on behalf of the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, do hereby proclaim October 11th, 2025 as lights on after school day in the City of Hampton, Virginia, and I urge all citizens to participate in the annual Lights on After School celebration to help ensure the lights stay on and the doors stay open for all of the children after school.

And witness whereof, I've hereinto set my hand to cause the seal of the city of Hampton, Virginia to be a fixed 18th day of October, 2025, and sign James A.

Gray Jr.

Mayor.

And so I believe there is a rally this Saturday at Barnes and Nobles at 11 o'clock.

So everybody come out and support Lights on After School in the City of Hampton.

So I want to ask Ms.

Lomax to come forward and I'm going to present you with the proclamation.

As a matter of fact, if your entire group wants to come forward, we can do that as well.

Come on down to the community.

And whereas individuals can be victims of domestic violence regardless of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, culture, socioeconomic status, or religion, and whereas without intervention, cycles of violence can perpetuate through generations.

And whereas it is in critical is critical that those seeking help and services have access to appropriate, equitable, trauma-informed care and services.

And whereas in 1987, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence observed the first domestic violence awareness month and established the first Monday in October as a National Day of Unity.

And whereas during the month of October, victims, advocates, domestic and sexual violence centers, government agencies, community, and communities come together to recognize those who work to end violence to celebrate those who have survived and to mourn those who have died because of domestic violence.

And whereas domestic violence impacts communities across the Commonwealth and in 2024, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Hotline responded to over 68,000 calls for survivors seeking support.

And whereas the domestic violence agencies and partners gather on October 6th to honor the resilience of the survivors, remember those who have lost their lives to domestic violence and spread awareness about domestic violence in Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk for Coastal, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, York, and York County, and whereas the Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for domestic violence advocacy agencies, system partners, communities, and allies to stand with domestic violence survivors to celebrate the progress made in responding to the harm and to increase measures to educate communities, support families, and prevent domestic violence across Hampton Roads.

Now, therefore, I, James A.

Gray, Mayor, on behalf of the City of Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, do here about proclaim the month of October 2025 as domestic violence awareness month and in the city of Hampton, Virginia, and call for the observance and I'm sorry, and call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.

And furthermore, I encourage all citizens recognize the important work being done by by domestic violence programs and to participate in activities that work toward the elimination of domestic violence.

In witness whereof, I have hereinto set my hand and cause the seal of the City of Hampton, Virginia to be affixed this 18th day of October to 2025.

Signed James A.

Gray, Mayor.

And now this evening we have members from our transitions, Transitions Family Violence Center here in Hampton, Virginia.

We do some you know just really great work in our community helping to assist victims and prevent domestic violence when they can.

So I'm gonna ask them to come forward so we can present the proclamation to you.

Okay, so there are no public hearings uh scheduled for this evening.

So with that, I'm going to ask the clerk to read the protocol for public comment and uh to remind everyone that they have three minutes to speak.

And that's all Madam Clerk.

Council meetings are for conducting city business.

Public comment is allowed on matters within the council's authority and followers public hearing items.

Speakers must follow the citizen participation protocol.

Speakers may sign up in the lobby one hour before the meeting and until it begins.

Speakers shall address counsel from the center podium.

Each speaker is allowed three minutes.

The timer has a green light, which will turn yellow with one minute remaining, then red when time is up.

Please speak respectfully and avoid personal attacks, focus on topics within council's jurisdiction, do not use the platform for political campaign speeches.

Comments must be directed to the council and yielding time is not allowed.

Audience must remain respectful and refrain from interruptions.

Council typically listens without engaging in engaging in discussion.

Responses may be provided by the city manager, city attorney, or council members after public comment.

Failure to follow the protocol may result in removal from the podium or meeting after fair warning.

Thank you.

And I do not have anyone signed up for public comment or they gave me all right.

Sorry about that, Miss Weaver.

I got the wrong sheet of paper.

So we do have one person signed up, so Miss Joan Weaver, will you please come forward?

Good evening to everyone.

I would be remiss if I did not extend my deepest sympathy to my fellow Hamptonian, Mr.

Gregg, and to the Gray family from the Weaver family.

We extend our sincerest sympathy to you.

I would also like to acknowledge someone that really touched my heart today.

The wheels on the bus go round and round, the wheels on council go round and round.

You are phenomenal, who took the time out of a busy schedule to see that I got the information that I needed in order to do my presentation.

You are phenomenal.

Your candor, your personality, your person, and thank you for caring.

Now moving along, family.

I've always said thank you when I needed to, but there's still a need in the greater with area, and we want you all to not forget that.

Being that you have what you wanted, the commerce center.

Don't forget our needs still run deep.

It hurt me very deeply yesterday when I was in my backyard.

Great God from Zion, a baby buck from our forestry, where that school set that is still running looking, raccoons.

We have all of those things.

So remember us too.

We are there.

Our council, the purpose is enhancing the community quality of life.

When your codes and compliances comes out, keep that in mind.

We are not asking anybody to do anything illegal or immoral, but when you put that down, you do it and you do it fairly.

It has gotten to the point where I have even stood to ask it to be escalated.

I am not the one.

Karen Joan Weaver is not intimidated by anything, especially quote, legal.

If you say Hampton is an all-American city, let's make sure it is.

Some of my best and most fairest moments from due process came not from the municipal government, but from the court system itself.

So do right and remember what you did when we were ravaged.

Now you gave us a promise of neighborhood improvements.

You work with us.

Don't be condescending.

Don't try to isolate, vindicate, but remember why you came there and be inclusive and keep us and consider us all.

Last but not least, City of Hampton 2025, Virginia School Engagement Project Award.

It was won through our blood, sweat, and tears.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Weaver.

And that is the last speaker for this evening.

And so with that, I'm going to ask the clerk to read the motion required for the appointments.

Tonight, the motion required on the neighborhood commission is to reappoint Pamela Kelly to her first full term, which will expire on September 30, 2029.

Appoint Gabriella Hayes and Waylon McDew to second terms, also expiring on September 30, 2029, and appoint Zoroya Meyer and Honesty Williams, both students at Bethel High School to serve as youth representatives until August 31, 2026.

On the Parks and Recreation Advisory Aboard, I'm sorry, advisory board, appoint Catherine Weisman to a term which I'm sorry.

First appoint Evan Grummel to fill the unexpired portion of a term until December 31, 2027, and Catherine Weisman to fill the unexpired portion of a term until April 30, 2026.

On the Citizens Unity Commission, appoint Christopher Smith to fill the unexpired portion of a term until September 30, 2027, and Stephanie Denati to fill the unexpired portion of a term until August 31, 2026, appoint Daniel Washko in the place of Natalie Crumpson to a term which will expire on October 31, 2029.

On the Citizens Engagement Advisory Review Commission, appoint Lorielle Hardesty to fill the unexpired portion of a term until July 30, 2029.

And on the Hampton Youth Commission, appoint Joong V.

Fawn or Fan Natha Ibrahim, Zaire Harris, Ethan A.

Hart, and Honesty Williams to the Hampton Youth Commission.

So you need a motion and a second.

So moved.

Second.

Councilman Bowman.

Aye.

Vice Mayor Brown.

Councilwoman Campbell.

Aye.

Councilwoman Fairby.

Aye.

Councilwoman Harper.

Aye.

Councilwoman Muggler.

Aye.

Mayor Gray.

Aye.

All right.

Are there any reports by the city manager?

City Council?

Committees.

All right.

Is there any new business?

All right.

There being none.

We are adjourned.