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

I'd like to ask the clerk to call the role, please.

Councilman Bowman.

President Vice Mayor Brown.

Here.

Councilwoman Campbell.

President Councilwoman Fairby.

Present.

Councilwoman Harper.

Present.

Councilwoman Muggler.

President.

Mayor Gray.

Present.

And tonight's invocation Councilwoman Hope Harper.

So please stand and join us for the invocation as well as the Pledge of Allegiance.

Almighty God, we come to you as humbly as we know how.

Thank you for allowing us to see a day that we have never seen.

We thank you for the opportunity to serve the citizens and communities of our great city.

Allow us to make decisions that are in the best interest of the citizens in which we serve.

Continue to bless our public safety personnel and general employees, as they are the best investment within our city.

Thank you for your protection of the legacy of African Americans during Black History Month, of all of the accomplishments and contributions they have made to the City of Hampton.

In your holy name we pray, Amen.

One nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

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

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

Tonight, your consent agenda amends the fiscal year 2026 Council approved budget to appropriate up to 449,414 of the FY26 excess EMS fees from the assigned fund balance to the Division of Fire and Rescue's budget to purchase equipment for fire/slash EMS operations and the fire stations.

And it also approves the minutes from three city council meetings.

All right, we need a motion and a second so move.

Second Councilman Bowman.

Aye.

Vice Mayor Brown.

Aye.

Councilwoman Campbell.

Aye.

Councilwoman Faraby.

Aye.

Councilwoman Harper.

Aye.

Councilwoman Muggler.

Aye.

Mayor Gray.

Aye.

All right.

The next item uh is on the presentations, proclamations, and awards.

I do have a proclamation that I'd like to read and present this evening.

Don't see Miss Gwen Lomax here.

But I'm going to get the present uh proclamation and we'll read that anyway.

All right, this proclamation is proclaimed in March 2nd through 6, 2026 as Hampton Community Education Enrichment Program, Read Across America Week in the City of Hampton.

And whereas the citizens of the City of Hampton stand firmly committed to promoting readiness reading as a catalyst for its students' future academic success, their preparation for America's jobs of the future, and their ability to compete in the global economy.

And whereas the Hampton Community Education Enrichment Program has provided significant leadership in the area of community involvement in the education of our youth, grounded in the principle that educational investment is the key to the community's well-being and long-term quality of life.

And whereas the Hampton Community Education Enrichment Program promotes reading with diverse readers in the City of Hampton, and whereas for the past 26 years, the Hampton Community Education Enrichment Program has partnered with the City of the Hampton City of Hampton in an effort to ensure that our youth develop reading skills that they that they will use for the rest of their lives.

And whereas the City of Hampton's Mayor's Book Club promotes early literacy and strives to increase the likelihood that children grow up in an enrichment where in an environment where books are available and literacy is valued.

And whereas Read Across America, a national celebration of the joy of reading, promoting reading and adult involvement in the education of our community students.

And whereas on March 7, 2026, the City of Hampton will celebrate Read Across America Week in the at the Hampton Barnes and Nobles at 11 a.m.

Now, therefore, I James A.

Gray Jr., Mayor, on behalf of the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, do hereby proclaim March 2nd through 6, 2026 as Hampton Community Education Enrichment Program Read Across America Week, and endorse the Hampton Community Education Enrichment Program Read Across America and encourage our community to engage in programs and activities to make America's children the best readers in the world.

And witness whereof I hear intercept my hand and cause a seal of the city of Hampton, Virginia to be affixed this 25th day of February to 2026.

Signed James A.

Gray.

And we will make sure that Miss Lomax gets the proclamation, and I look forward to joining them at uh the bonds and nobles to celebrate Read Across America week.

So all right, so this evening we do have a budget presentation on uh the city's real estate assessment.

So I'd like to ask the city manager to uh introduce that item.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Each year our staff comes to you and the public to present the results of our reassessment.

In Virginia, cities do reassessments each year to comply with the state law that says we are to assess properties at close as close as possible to 100% of market value.

In larger cities like our own, where there are lots of land sales, that practically means you have to do reassessments every year.

There are places throughout the Commonwealth that do them less frequently.

Those tend to be smaller areas that don't have as many land transactions each year.

But in Hampton and most of the cities in our area, uh we have annual reassessments.

Now I want to be really clear as we introduce the assessment presentation.

Ums are not done.

Let me say that again.

Rassessments are not done specifically to generate revenue for the budget.

Again, the state law is very specific that we have to model as close as possible to 100% of market value.

Separate and apart from the assessment conversation each year is part of the budget process.

We have an examination of what the tax rate should look at and should be in response to overall budget conditions, including how assessments have grown.

So tonight we're not forecasting anything about what the budget for fiscal 27 might look like.

We're merely reporting what the results of the assessment process for the upcoming year have produced as our assessor's office has looked at these appraisal assessments.

Finally, I as I introduced Libby Greeball, our city assessor, I want to note with pride that our office is internationally accredited.

Um I think Libby will talk about that at the end of the process, but that means that the staff that we have have reached the highest possible attainment of certification to be professional assessors to do this job so that you can take comfort, whether you like your assessment change or not, um, that that has been done with the highest competency staff possible as represented by that IAAO, I think I said it right, um seal of approval.

So with that, and please introduce our city assessor.

So we meet again.

Good evening, Mayor Gray, Vice Mayor Brown, City Manager Miss Bunting, Council, and City Attorney Ms.

Sidner.

Uh I'm pleased to present this to you tonight.

If you have any questions, feel free to stop me along the way.

Uh, for those who may be uh watching this presentation, uh, if you have any questions regarding your assessment, which I will probably reiterate again before it's over, please contact the assessor's office, and you will be connected with the appraiser who would be happy to speak with you and help you understand how they arrived at your value.

Uh and with that, I will go to the next slide.

Um, we have um this year we had a total transfer of 4323 uh sales within the city.

Qualifying sales of that were a thousand five sixteen.

Qualifying sales are sales that um are what we consider to be arm's length sales, what realtors would consider to be an arm's length sale, it's not a foreclosure, it's not uh a relative sale, it's not um it's not uh let's see what else is there bank sales related parties, incorrect data.

Qualifying sales are sales that basically are good arms-length sales, they're flips, they're new construction, uh, and it also includes remodels.

Um foreclosures pretty much remain flat this year, which is good, and the median sale price increased uh slightly to 300,247.

That is all the that is the median sale price of residential single family condominiums and townhouses.

The grand total assessed value was up uh overall 3.9 percent, um 23 point one million billion dollars.

The residential was $13 billion, multifamily $2.5, commercial $2.8, as you can see.

56% of the grand total assessed value is in fact 56%.

And you'll note that 21% of that is exempt.

These are exempt properties and parcels, and the commercial was 12%.

This year the FY27 year increase was over $870.8 million billion million.

I'm sorry, million.

Just to show you what the assessments have done since 2020, since 2020 to current FY27.

The top line is the grand total assessed value.

It's steadily increased.

It does include all the exempt properties again.

Like I said, the churches, schools, city.

The top line is the or the second from the top is the total taxable assessed value.

That's the value that taxes would actually be computed on, and it has increased to over 18.4 billion and represents a 4% 4.8% increase.

So basically, we've had an overall increase of overall assessed values of 4.8%.

And the let's see, the grand total assessed value is minus exempt properties like the schools and the churches.

It's increased a half a percent from last year.

Again, schools, churches, city owned properties, it does not include the commission of revenues relief programs.

This is strictly parcels.

This is an average.

Some may have gone up higher, some may have gone up lower, some may have not increased at all.

Some may have have decreased, but that is the average.

Commercial is the brown line.4% to just over $2.5 billion.

The next slide is change of assessment.

As you can see, the total parcels residential were $46,000.3.

Assessment notices that went out on the resident or will be going out Friday the 27th.

40,467 notices are being mailed.

These are change in assessment notices.

So if you did not receive a postcard in the mail, more than likely it's because your value did not change.

Now it could have been lost in the mail, too.

So I just preempt that by saying that these are only changes in assessment.

So if you did not receive one, it's probably because you didn't change.

So that even though you may not you won't get your assessment notice probably until I don't know, maybe some may come out on Saturday, but the following week, but if you want to know what it is, all you need to do is go on this on the website and they will be posted Friday morning.

The residential assessment change, as you can see, again is went up 5% roughly.

And again, this is only single family condominiums and townhouses.

The residential change of assessment and FY27.

You can see the these are actually these aren't parcels, these are assessment neighborhoods slash areas.

Uh 138 of them fell within a change of a one to five percent, and as you can read on down six to ten percent, there were eighty-seven assessment uh areas, eleven to fifteen, nineteen uh assessment areas increased between 11 and 15 percent.

Uh over 20 percent.

We did have one assessment area that was uh reassessed over 20 percent.

We had uh five reassessment neighborhoods that did decrease in value, uh 29 that had no change at all.

Uh the next slide is just an overall map of the city.

Uh we have it broken down into quadrants so you can get a little better picture of the spread.

It's it's hard to see on this particular map, but the pink represents the decrease, and as you can see where the decrease is, or where they occurred, the Green Hill, Little Creek area, Heartwood, and the increase, which was is the orange, which is just above the pink, is the basically Fox Hill Road uh parcels, miscellaneous parcels.

Uh the green again is one to five percent.

So as you can say, uh a lot of the property assessment areas did not change.

The second quadrant is the southeast quadrant.

Again, you see the pink, um, which was the pine cone, treasure point area, um, acorn street, Meredith Road.

Uh you had the orange, which is uh over on your far left is Little England, West Hampton area, Lincoln Park, uh increase 11 to 15 percent, and let's see, 16 to 20 percent here was Bickford Newton, which is over on the far far left, uh, just below the center.

Uh that particular assessment area didn't have a significant increase.

And this would be your southwest quadrant.

The decrease again is in pink, which is up at the very top above where you see watermark condominiums, it's kind of grabs uh the Broadden Road area, uh the Woods Lane area is right in that area.

Um again, the orange, quite a bit of orange, 11 to 15 percent was Lynn Haven area, Scones Park, Mary Peak, Thomas Villa, Powhatan Park, Lee Heights, Park Place, Greenbrier Suburban Parkway.

Um so we had a significant number increasing in there, and then the blue we did have a 16 to 20 percent uh over uh in the lake haven, the Lynn Haven area, and I believe most of that was was actually on the that lake.

And the Northwest Quadrant again picks up Brogdon Woods and Lane uh Woods Lane area down at the bottom, uh bottom left.

Um to 15 percent.

The orange was Linhaven again, and waterfront Riverdale, uh some parcels in and that in and around that area that went up 16 to 20 percent.

So the multifamily assessment change, um the value increase was over 152.9 million.

Um it was an increase of 6.4 percent.

The parcel count uh change from 737 to 734, and sometimes the typically what that is is a property has perhaps it's been sold, it's no longer uh exempt, um, it might have been merged with something else.

So that that's the reason you'll see a little bit of change in parcel counts sometimes.

The commercial assessment change.

Uh we lost seven parcels again that they could have gone to exempt.

Um in fact, uh let's see, we decreased seven men as seven as many went exempt, uh, parcel counts change in all the classes, going from exempt, others come in, others come out, so sometimes they'll equal equal out one another.

And the value increase was over 80.6 million, which was a 2.9 percent increase.

The exempt assessment change was uh very slight, a half a percent.

Uh as you can see, it's uh it was 1.8 percent in FY 26.

And again, this does not include the commissioner of revenues tax relief programs.

Uh land use deferral.

We have a land use uh program in the city.

Um there was zero changes that are parcels that were in that program, uh, but we are deferring more value.

The SLIC they're called SLIAC rates, uh, the rate decrease, which increased the deferral, and it is a by the code of Virginia, it's established the state land evaluation advisory council.

It mandates uh and determines the published rate for land that is actually in that program that we have to have to use that to value the properties.

And so because the de the value the SLIAC rate decreased, the value increased, the deferral value increased.

Uh the next program is a rehabilitation tax credit.

Um we had a decrease there of 27.8 percent.

We had um it's a six-year program that's if uh effective on July 1, three years at full tax credit, three years at half credit.

Currently, we have five rehabs, one multifamily for commercial.

Uh the WIS school did come out this year, and we have two Fort Mro parcels that are in the process now of completing their work uh to qualify for the program.

So the tax credit decrease since the tax credit is decreasing, that means there's more of an assessed value increase, and then the taxable value change after all exemptions.

Um let me read here.

This amount is provided by the commissioner of revenue, and it's converted back to a value of 113.26, which is when we received it to put this report together.

Uh, and it's used as an FY27 tax credit.

Um the exemptions include the land use deferral, the rehab program, the tax credit program, um, and all of the commissioner revenue tax relief programs.

So that gives you a value increase overall of roughly four percent.

This is actual taxable value.

And having said all of that, the market conditions, uh, the Hampton housing market by all sources that that I've queried, uh, is competitive.

Uh homes are typically receiving two offers on the average, still selling in around 35 days.

Uh, the median uh sale price is calculated a little bit differently than what we calculate ours.

Um this is is based on well, I don't actually know what multiple listing is is primarily the the um source of uh of these numbers.

Ours are a little bit different because ours is based strictly on our database, but the Hampton was 280,000 last month, it was up 5.5 percent, showing that the market is still moving, it's in line basically with what our increase has been overall in residential.

Uh in December, there were 162 homes that were sold up from 142, same time last year, which was a 14.1% increase.

So mortgage rates at the beginning of 2025 hovered around 7% for 30-year mortgages and fell between 6.2 and 6.3 as of late November.

They're predicted, and there's a little bit of shift on this right now, but the mortgage rates typically when this went to print was uh to remain slightly above six percent.

However, there is I think a general consistency consensus now that actually the mortgage rates are going to fall below six percent.

Um let's see.

Umhead, the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel expansion is expected to reshape how people live, work, and move across the region.

Uh the peninsula and south side connectivity will ease that chronic traffic congestion we've seen.

It will create stronger housing demand as the commuting options will make neighborhoods more attractive.

The long-term outlook suggests increased attractiveness for the city in terms of industrial logistics, heightened demand for housing, greater access to the defense related employment, and it's positioning Hampton as an enhanced logistical hub.

And with that, I would be happy to take any questions you may have.

Okay, uh Councilwoman Campbell.

Hi, thanks for your briefing.

Um, just out of curiosity, not that it matters on the taxes.

How do you assess or do you have to go out and assess the exempt properties?

We do.

Um exempt properties have to have an assessment uh just like every other parcel.

Um I would say to you that the we we we are in a position where we have to prioritize our inspections, and typically the exempt properties are towards the bottom of that list, just because by the by the nature of uh just logistically having enough people to go out and do that.

Um we are looking at what is taxable, that is our primary focus, and so but the tax exempt is just as important.

Uh so I don't mean to minimize that in any way, shape, or form, but uh we do assess every piece of property in the city, whether it's exempt or not.

Other questions, comments from council.

Any other questions?

No, that's it.

Thank you.

Uh for doing the presentation again today.

It was just as informative.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, if I may, just say one thing as we transition.

Oh, I didn't go over this one more thing.

I did want to go to CEAA, if I may, real quick.

Um just to reiterate what Mary said.

Well, first let me go over this.

The important days to remember.

I was just getting ready to walk right out, I guess.

Um this is a change of assessment notice postcards.

So everyone needs to take a look at that.

You'll see at the very top it says notice of change in assessment.

That's a change in assessment.

Uh, we are required to list the last three assessments, and Miss Bunting, I'll let you explain the dollar eleven that you will that uh our finance department uh calculates for us.

Um, but just as a reminder to everyone if you have a question on your assessment, please contact our office.

You'll be connected with the appraiser who is responsible for that assessment, and they will be happy to meet with you and discuss with you and show you the information that they use to assess the property by.

The deadline for an office review, it is an informal office review, it is by application because we track we track all of the inquiries as well as uh applications for the office review as well as the board of review.

Uh the board of review deadline is April 28th.

And when I say the board of review deadline is April 28th, that means that your application and your complete package of supporting data has to be submitted to the board of review by that date.

So you can't just send the application in and say, Oh, well, I'm gonna bring the supporting information in in a couple of weeks.

You can't do that.

All of that has to be in for both of these.

So just please keep that in mind.

Keep this handy.

Um, as we move forward, let's see.

February 27th, again, our notices are going to be mailed Friday.

The website will be updated Friday morning.

Uh, the appeal forms will be available on the website, and by contacting our office, or you can come in.

Uh, we'll mail one to you.

The deadline again is March 30th for the office review and April 28th for the border review review.

And the certificate of excellence, uh, it is a accreditation that is afforded to jurisdictions for best practices.

Uh, it's the International Association of Assessing Officers, Certificate of Excellence.

It recognizes jurisdictions that utilize best appraisal and assessment practices in their offices.

It's the preeminent authority of assessment administration, and it's the highest professional honor and assessment jurisdiction can obtain.

Our office was the first jurisdiction in Virginia to obtain this in 2011, and we were recertified again in 2024.

And with that, I will conclude.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, when I asked to add a comment, I just wanted to mention that this, of course, is the first of many conversations we will be having about the budget for uh budget development for fiscal 27.

Uh next week begins our resident um outreach program, which we call I value.

Residents have the come have the chance in a multiplicity of forums to participate in giving us their input before we make a manager's recommended budget.

Of course, they'll have the opportunity after we make a manager's recommended budget to come here during public hearings as well.

I just wanted to take a moment to remind people of the dates and times with your permission.

So our first in-person meeting is going to be next Tuesday, March the third at 6 30 in the newly reopened and refurbished uh rebuilt Mary Christian um theater, Dr.

Mary T.

Christian Theater at Templin Hall on the campus of Virginia Peninsula Community College.

Um then next Thursday, March the 5th at 6 30, we will do a Facebook live for people who prefer to communicate in that kind of fashion.

And then next Saturday, March the 7th, we will have a 9 a.m.

in-person session at Kikatan High School as well.

And typically Libby or one of her staff are there if people want to come talk more about the assessment process.

Of course, we review a lot of other things about the budget, give people a chance not only to learn facts about how things are happening, but also express their opinions about where they'd like to see things, both in terms of tax rates and fees, but also in terms of service delivery.

So we always encourage people to try to come to the in-person sessions because you get to see how your neighbors feel and think and you know it's a really interactive time.

In fact, um, we're gonna be doing some teaser campaigns to get people to come out next week, um, some some giveaway opportunities.

Um, but we will after the conclusion of next week also have online polling as well.

So we really welcome the uh resident input and feedback.

Um we started doing this in 2010 and still remain one of the few cities that does outreach in advance of the manager's recommended budget.

So we're in that time of year.

This is the first of many presentations U.S.

Council will be getting and the community will have access to, and we certainly want folks to uh tune in and give us their feedback.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

And uh thank you.

Okay, so next I'll ask the clerk to uh read the protocol for public hearings.

The city council is committed to fair and respectful hearings.

The following guidelines help ensure an orderly process.

Individuals wishing to speak must sign up in the city hall lobby starting one hour before the meeting and ending when the meeting begins.

Speakers will be called in the order they signed up.

Speakers shall address council from the sitter podium.

Each speaker is allowed three minutes.

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

All comments must be addressed to the council.

Speakers may not yield their time to others.

After all speakers are heard, the mayor will close the public hearing and invite council discussion and action.

Your first public hearing this evening is item number four, twenty-six-zero zero six one.

It is an ordinance accepting the bid submitted by Virginia Electric and Power Company, a Virginia Public Service Corporation doing business in Virginia as Dominion Energy Virginia for a non-exclusive easement agreement to use and occupy city-owned property located within the city for the purposes of transmitting and distributing electric power to provide electric services to property operated by Langley Air Force Base.

Mr.

Mayor and Council members, as we discussed at our last meeting, Langley Air Force Base contacted the City of Hampton to inquire if the city would allow electrical services to be run across city-owned property to serve its base.

The city properties that will be affected are 2935 North Armstead Avenue, 2927 North Armstead Avenue, 2921 North Armstead Avenue, 2917 North Armstead Avenue, and 2909 North Armstead Avenue.

The Constitution of Virginia and the Virginia Code give the city authority to grant easements over city-owned property.

But if the easement is for a period greater than five years, the city must go through the bid process set forth in the Virginia Code.

Per Langley's request, the city agreed to offer a non-exclusive easement for the purposes of transmitting and distributing electrical power across city-owned property to qualified providers to provide the electrical services that Langley was seeking for its property.

To comply with the Virginia Code, the city publicly invited bids for the easement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the city's proposed ordinance and agreement that was attached to your agenda package as exhibit one.

The public notice for invitation to bids for the easement was run in the newspaper as required by the Virginia Code.

At the February 11th, 2026 Council meeting, one bid from Virginia Electrical Electric and Power Company, a Virginia Public Service Corporation doing business in Virginia as Dominion Energy Virginia or Dominion was received and opened.

City staff recommend accepting Dominions bid and granting Dominion to easement as set forth in the exhibit, and as required by the Virginia Code, a public hearing was scheduled, which is what is now available to the public to speak at.

Okay, thank you.

And now before we move forward with any further action, uh Councilwoman Mugler uh has a statement to me.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

In accordance with section 2.2-312A of the Virginia Conflict of Interest Act.

I am disqualified from participating in the consideration or voting on items 26-0061 and 26-0062 because my spouse is engaged as uh paid lobbyist for the bidder, Dominion Energy Virginia.

Okay.

All right.

This item uh requires a public hearing, so we will open the public hearing.

Uh there are no one signed up to speak on this item, so we'll close the public hearing and uh call for a motion to say um sub moved, Mr.

Mayor.

Second.

All right.

The motion is second.

Is there any further discussion?

All right.

Madam Clerk, you call the rule.

Councilman Bowman.

Aye.

Vice Mayor Brown.

Aye.

Councilwoman Campbell.

Aye.

Councilwoman Faraby.

Aye.

Councilwoman Harper.

Aye.

Councilwoman Muggler.

And Mayor Gray.

Okay.

Uh aye.

Two things going on there.

All right.

Please read the next item.

The next item on your agenda is a public hearing item number 526-0062 and ordinance accepting the bid submitted by Virginia Electric and Power Company, a Virginia Public Service Corporation, doing business in Virginia as Dominion Energy Virginia for a non-exclusive easement agreement to use and occupy city-owned property located within the city for the purposes of transmitting and distributing electric power to provide electric services to property operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia V DOT.

Mr.

Mayor, Council, Community Members, please forgive me for reading very similar language, but there is a set procedure in Virginia Code.

So for this item, the Commonwealth of Virginia, through the Virginia Department of Transportation, also known as VDOT, contacted the City of Hampton to inquire if the city would allow electrical services to be run across city-owned property located at the Bethel Landfill at 100 North Park Lane, Hampton, Virginia, to serve VDOT's property.

The Constitution of Virginia and the Virginia Code give the city the authority to grant easements over city owned property.

But if the easement is for a period greater than five years, the city must go through the bid process as set forth in the Virginia Code.

Per VDOT's request, the city agreed to offer a non-exclusive easement for the purposes of transmitting and distributing electrical power across city-owned property to qualified providers to provide the electric services to VDOT's property.

To comply with the Virginia Code, the city publicly invited bids for the easement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the city's proposed ordinance and agreement, which again were attached to the council package as exhibit one.

The public notice for the invitation for bids for the easement was run in the newspaper as required by Virginia Code.

And at the February 11th, 2026 City Council meeting, one bid from Virginia Electric and Power Company, a Virginia Public Service Corporation doing business in Virginia as Dominion Energy Virginia, or simply Dominion was received and opened.

The city staff recommend accepting Dominion's bid and granting Dominion the non-exclusive easement as set forth in exhibit one.

As required by the Virginia Code, a public hearing has been scheduled for tonight, and it is now proper for you to have the public hearing.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you.

And again, this does require a public hearing, so we will open the public hearing.

There's no one signed up to speak, so we'll close public hearing.

And uh we need a motion and a second.

So move.

Second.

Call to roll.

Councilman Bowman.

Aye.

Vice Mayor Brown.

Aye.

Councilwoman Campbell.

Aye.

Councilwoman Faraby.

Aye.

Councilwoman Harper.

Aye.

Councilwoman Muggler.

Abstain.

Mayor Gray.

Aye.

And so now I'll ask the clerk to read the protocol for public comment period.

Council meetings are for conducting city business.

Public comment is allowed on matters within the council's authority and follows 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.

Speaker shall address council 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.

Yielding time is not allowed.

Audience must remain respectful and refrain from interruptions.

Council typically listens without 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.

Okay.

And we have three people signed up to speak tonight.

And for the benefit of any new speakers this evening, the red light, green, yellow, and red is right here.

And so when you need turns yellow, you have one minute left.

So first speaker is Mr.

John Reid.

Elect officials.

How y'all doing tonight?

Thank you.

Yes.

I came here seven months ago, and um concerned about the safety on Mercury Boulevard.

And I must say, um, you guys addressed a lot of it right away.

Uh the assistant city manager, uh bang.

He I called him, he came out to the house, and uh we rode around, and I showed him some things that I was concerned about in the community as well, and he brought it to you guys, and he got it done.

The light poles on Mercury Boulevard, the fencing.

You guys put that there.

And uh the reason why I got this flag because I normally got a couple of minutes.

Um, this is African American Month, Black History Month.

And there's no uh exhibits uh around the city.

I would love to take my my cousins, my family to show them some exhibits of uh, you know, Black History Month.

We only got three days left, and then also some flags.

Something you come out the house, you it don't feel like Black History Month.

It don't.

You don't see no representation.

But you go to uh Walmart, you go to all the stores, you see the Easter bunnies, you see Christmas stuff, you know, St.

Patrick's Day stuff.

We need to, I think we need to step up.

I don't know where that's gonna be coming from, but we need a little bit more to bring this to a real, real reality.

28 days, that's a lot.

And um, I don't see enough of representation of this history month here in Hampton.

And we can get some exhibits, we can keep keep it going and roll it on to March.

And I appreciate all your hard work, this whole regime.

I watch y'all.

I don't come, but I study all.

I watch you on the TV.

You're doing a great job.

You're doing a great job.

Continue to do the great job, okay.

Thank you, Mr.

Riddick.

Next speaker is Joan Weaver.

I will say good afternoon to our governance team, mayor, council members, attorney, uh, Miss help me God, city manager, last but not least, Miss Glass.

Now let's rock and roll.

My name, Karen Joan.

Good trouble.

I am somebody, Weaver, and I am here tonight to say something.

This gentleman had spoken about black history.

I have not heard his name said, and I am here to say it.

The one, the only Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson.

Something should be said, something has to be said.

And I will say civil rights activist, politician, Baptist minister, most importantly, a presidential candidate that set the shoulders for our president Barack Obama.

Everyone who's sitting here who's on the city governance, I hope you take course and counsel and knowing what Jesse stood for.

He was of the people and for the people, not big business.

And I hope you heard that of the people and for the people.

Empowerment, peace, civil rights, economic and social justice.

Remember that when you think of our area, the greater with area that has been marginalized and neglected for so long.

No, your plan does not fit us.

You don't work better with us.

You don't have accountability, collaboration, customer service, integrity, respect to trust.

You need to educate and elevate about what you do.

You need to stop trying to humiliate and intimidate by frivolous lawsuits.

Why do I bring her up?

The mother of Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Where did she live?

Greater with my neighborhood, off of Shell Road, and one who you cannot touch, Katherine Johnson, NASA's brightest.

Where did she live?

Off of Shell Road, my neighborhood.

So before you try to treat us marginalized, not respect us, keep in mind you don't know who is where.

They didn't live in Elizabeth Lakes of Farmington, but they lived in greater width.

And I will end on saying you can't intimidate or humiliate us, and we will keep hope alive.

Thank God for Jesse Jackson.

Thank God for Mr.

Johnson and most important for Catherine and Thomas Weaver, who's taught me to stand and to address inequities wherever they may be.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Aaron Weaver.

Aaron Weaver.

We cannot criminalize homelessness and call it balanced.

I watched a work session last week, well, the week before last.

That was uh very closely.

What was presented as a neutral public safety language is in reality an ordinance that will primarily affect homeless individuals.

We can rename it, we can soften it.

However, the impact does not change at all.

A class two misdemeanor is not harmless.

Court involvement create records.

Failure to appear warrants follow.

Barriers to employment and housing grow.

This is not theatrical.

This is a structural reality.

As a black man who's lived in this system for 39 years, I know enforcement does not feel like access.

It feels like escalation.

We were told only a rare number of people are camping or storing belongings.

If that is true, then show the data.

How many calls were made?

Over what period of time?

By whom, which some people might say anonymous.

What kind of calls were they?

Public indecency, was it urinating on structures?

Show the data.

Because we do know one number.

Homelessness in our region has increased by 11%.

That is verified.

Criminal escalation during a documented increase in homelessness demands seriousness, serious justification.

As reported in the Daily Press, Miss Cipriani, a homeless expert with years of direct experience as someone who may agree specifically uh stated he wanted to hear from, made it clear.

Ordinances like this failed to address homelessness and inherently target the vulnerable populations.

She also made it clear that the agreement that was so celebrated at that work session was for policy, not ordinance.

This is not an opinion.

That is the expertise placed on record.

If that expertise is incorrect, then provide the data.

If it contradicts it, another concern is the term reasonably available.

Is it it is undefined?

Is the shelter is full?

Is that available?

If it's unsafe, is it available?

If it is not ADA acceptable, is that available?

Without this definition of enforcement becomes discretionary.

Discretion without guardrails erodes trust.

If this is an ordinance moves forward, it must include a clear definition of reasonably, mandatory service of verification, but before any citation, public reporting of warnings, citations, misdemeanors, and escalations sent to you all, demographic background breakdown of enforcement, shelter availability at the time of enforcement, and a sunset clause so that the evaluated is not permanent, but isn't made on the need to have basis.

This all this is truly about if all this is truly about is balance, then transparency and safeguards must be built into the first draft.

Show the baseline data, define the terms and build the guardrails.

Thank you, Mr.

Weaver.

Uh that uh is the last speaker for this evening.

Um next under uh let me first let me ask City Manager if she wants to provide a response to anything the speakers uh brought up this evening.

Certainly, I just wanted to let Mr.

Riddick know.

I mean, I don't disagree that stores and others could do more for Black History Month.

I did want to let you know we are doing some things in city facilities on the social media site if you weren't aware of those.

Our history museum has, I just confirmed with our museum director for active black history exhibits in our museum currently.

Um, if you're not familiar with where that uh museum is, it's um it's just right right next to almost the Rupert Sargent building.

And I use that because some people don't know addresses, but they know the big buildings in downtown.

So our Hampton History Museum has four uh major um black uh sorry, four major black history exhibits right now.

The biggest one and most important one of which is 1619.

There's a traveling exhibit that we developed that's in our museum right now here in the lobby, but it is developed to travel across the commonwealth.

Um, so I just wanted to let you know that.

We've also been promoting uh Black History Month through our social media pages.

Um, not to say that's enough, but I did want to let you know we haven't ignored it.

Um then in terms of the camping and storage ordinance.

I uh want to acknowledge that Mr.

Weaver sent an email earlier today requesting some of the data.

We were all in an all-day budget meeting, so I didn't get to start to pull that data, but we will pull the data that was requested.

Um the ordinance, as it was proposed, is currently being drafted and is intended to be very specific about the steps that must be taken to ensure that the guardrails you spoke about are identified there.

Um I did want to address, however, um the comments that Miss Cipriano made uh because she wrote me an email the very next day, and I believe she would be fine if I read it.

Um it says, uh, Mary, it really is a Friday the 13th.

In reading over the article this morning, it sounded to me less collegial than the very brief conversation we, that being her and the reporter had.

The reporter got some things moved around and out of order, and without most of my very supportive language about Hampton's efforts and the successes that the group has already achieved.

I even told him that due to the collaboration, individuals had actually been outreached and housed, something that was a direct result of the stakeholder group.

And he did not include that I was actually part of the consensus for moving forward, or that we were all committed to working on strategies around homelessness.

So many of the key points were left out of our brief discussion with a focus on only what seemed an opposition.

It does not change the facts, being the facts, showing that ordinances often do not effectively reduce homelessness, especially the homeless individuals the city is targeting.

But I mentioned to him that the city had said they were working with their attorney to see if a policy was possible.

So it was not that Hampton's ordinance will fail, because that was not the direction the city was hoping to go at the end of the meeting at least.

But that studies show that ordinances tend to fail to address some of the most chronically homeless individuals.

That's what I said in the meetings.

I just want you to know that I'm fully committed to working with you in the city on homelessness.

The stakeholder group, while the most volatile at times I've seen in a long time were also some of the very most honest exchanges I've seen.

Daphne Cunningham, that's her director, and I have already a meeting scheduled next week to help draft some efforts on our side.

And I'll it she goes on to other things, but that's pertinent to the article.

And as I noted at the meeting, and perhaps Miss Cipriano didn't catch it, our city attorney's office had already looked at whether a policy would achieve what if we had sufficient authority already to achieve what the stakeholder group had asked for, um, and they had determined that we didn't.

But I did want you to know that she wrote, I can share the email, that she was in support of the consensus report that was per presented.

So I just wanted to clarify that for the record, Mr.

Mayor.

Okay, thank you.

And uh also Mr.

Reddick, if you hang around after the meeting, I'm gonna give you a copy of uh the family tree, which is uh produced back uh convention and visitors bureau, and it highlights all the historical black history sites all around our city.

I think you find some interesting information there.

Right.

Uh so we'll move on.

Are there any any other reports from the city manager?

Okay.

All right.

I think our city council members um have some uh speaking of black history uh uh some stories to tell this evening about some uh individuals in our community who have contributed to uh you know the history of this city.

So uh Councilwoman Harfield.

Okay, Councilman Bowman, you're first.

Thank you, Mayor.

As we close out Black History Month, I'm honored to recognize Dr.

Mamie E.

Locke.

Born in Brandon, Mississippi, Dr.

Locke attended and graduated from Thugaloo uh college.

She's a distinguished American educator and public servant whose impact on Hampton community and the Commonwealth of Virginia is profound.

Dr.

Locke served on Hampton City Council from 1996 to 2004 and made history as the first African American mayor of Hampton serving from 2000 to 2004.

Since 2004, she has represented the second district as in the Senate of Virginia, succeeding uh Dr.

Henry Maxwell, where she continues to be a strong advocate for education, equality, and economic opportunity.

In addition to her public service, Dr.

Locke is a professor of uh political science and has served as a dean of schools and liberal arts at Hampton University, helping to shape and inspire future of leaders.

Thank you, Senator Mamie Luck, for your unwavering commitment and dedication of service to our community and our commonwealth.

Councilwoman Faraby.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, I'm honored to to talk about um Bay Shore Beach.

Bayshore Beach in Hampton was more than just the beach.

It was a place of pride, joy, and freedom.

Founded in 1898 by African American entrepreneurs and educators connected to Hampton Institute, now Hampton University.

Bay Shore was proudly black owned at a time when segregation denied black families access to most public beaches.

Generations of families came to swim, dance, and create memories.

Music from the dance hall filled the air.

Children played along the shoreline, and nationally known black entertainers like Duke Ellington, Cab Callaway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lewis Armstrong performed on its stages.

Even as a fence marked the boundary between Bay Shore and the Whites only Buckrow Beach, Bay Shore stood as a symbol of resilience, ownership, and community.

Its hotel was listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book, which was a safe haven for black travelers during Jim Crow.

Though the beach itself is gone, the spirit lives on in Hampton.

Bayshore Beach is a testament to the creativity, pride, and determination of those who built it and a legacy that continues to inspire, reminding us of the power of community and the importance of preserving our shared history.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And lastly, uh Councilwoman Harper.

Thank you.

Um Dr.

Mary T.

Christian.

Dr.

Mary Taylor Christian was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1968 and became the first African American since Reconstruction to represent the 92nd district.

She served seven terms and championed legislation on education, health care, and prescription drugs.

Born on August 9, 1924 in Hampton, Dr.

Christian was a graduate of Phoenix High School.

She earned her bachelor's degree in education from Hampton Institute in 1955.

And for the next five years, she was a teacher at Hampton City Schools, attending Columbia University in the summers to earn her master's degree.

In 1968, she earned her PhD from Michigan State University.

Dr.

Christian retired as professor emeritus at Hampton University after serving as a professor and dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education.

She was the recipient of numerous awards for community and humanitarian service.

She is already a Hampton hero for her work in integrating public schools.

Dr.

Christian died in 2019.

One of the things that Dr.

Christian and I share is membership in the best sorority in the world, Delta Sigma Theater Sorority Incorporated, and for her great work in education.

There are two schools, two school buildings that bear her name here in Hampton, the Mary T Christian Elementary School and the Merritt Christian Theater at Virginia Peninsula Community College.

One of the things, if you were so fortunate to be in the presence of Dr.

Christian, it was always such an honor.

And one of the things I've always admired about her personally was that she knew how to collaborate and bring people together.

She was a master at it.

And in order to get meaningful things done, and that's one thing a lot of people have said about her, even even now, and she is sorely and gratefully missed.

And thank you so much to Dr.

Christian for showing us the way.

So are there any other reports from council members?

Is there any new business?

All right, then there being none, we are adjourned.