Hampton City Council Legislative Session – April 8, 2026
Hampton City Council Legislative Session – April 8, 2026
The Hampton City Council met on April 8, 2026, at 6:31 PM in Council Chambers, 22 Lincoln Street, Hampton, VA. The meeting adjourned at 9:08 PM. All seven council members were present. The council approved a consent agenda, held public hearings on four items, heard extensive public comment, and debated a controversial ordinance to prohibit camping and storage on public property, which passed 5-2 with a six-month review provision. Appointments to Virginia Municipal League policy committees were also made.
Consent Calendar
- 26-0110: Resolution to amend the FY2026 budget by appropriating $1,084,000 from the Equipment Replacement Fund's unrestricted net position to fund replacement costs for certain Hampton Police Division vehicles. (Approved unanimously)
- 26-0116: Resolution to appropriate $7,000 from the Wetlands Encroachment Restricted Fund Balance to the Community Development Department for the City's participation in the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP). (Approved unanimously)
- 26-0129: Resolution approving the City of Hampton’s participation in proposed settlements of opioid-related claims against several pharmaceutical distributors, and directing the City Manager to execute necessary documents. (Approved unanimously)
- 26-0124: Approval of minutes from the work session of February 25, 2026, and the legislative sessions of March 11 and March 25, 2026. (Approved unanimously)
Presentations, Proclamations, Awards
- Mayor Gray read proclamations for Autism Acceptance Month (presented to Alpha Beta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.), Youth Violence Prevention Week (presented to Hugo Morrison, Interim Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities), and National Volunteer Week (read but not presented). Additional proclamations for the 125th anniversary of R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and Crime Victim Rights Week were noted.
Public Hearings
- 26-0131 (FY2026-2027 CDBG/HOME Annual Action Plan): Chief Neighborhood Development Specialist Travis Rash presented the proposed budget for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Allocations include $897,498 in CDBG funds and $489,000 in HOME funds, plus program income. Housing priorities include homebuyer assistance (targeting 5 households), homeowner rehabilitation, and code enforcement. Council discussed marketing and affordability periods. No public speakers. A vote will be taken at a future meeting.
- 26-0047 (Chesapeake Bay Preservation Overlay amendments): City Planner Valerie Taylor presented amendments to update definitions, require resiliency assessments, preserve mature trees, and permit adaptation measures. The amendments align with state Water Control Board regulations. No public speakers. Adopted unanimously (7-0).
- 26-0071 (AICUZ noise contour and accident potential zone updates): Zoning Administrator Melvion Fulgham presented updates to the Air Installations Compatible Use Zones map based on the 2020 study, affecting 1,710 parcels (745 acres). The update ensures compatible land use around Langley Air Force Base. No public speakers. Adopted unanimously (7-0).
- 26-0126 (Virginia Natural Gas franchise agreement): City Manager explained the bid process. Morgan Whayland of VNG thanked the council. The non-exclusive franchise was accepted unanimously (7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Andrew Smith and Condarious Newsom: Both appealed 18-month suspensions from holding public events in Hampton. Smith claimed he was penalized for a vendor's past infraction; Newsom apologized for a past unpermitted event and asked for a chance. City Manager Bunting directed them to Assistant City Manager Jason Mitchell for follow-up.
- David Hudson: Worked with homeless populations; urged collaboration between Hampton and Newport News, noted funding cuts to outreach teams, and warned of rising homelessness in 2027.
- Brenda Marks: Criticized property tax increases (51% assessment increase over four years vs. 10-cent rate reduction), questioned the $8.1 million jail sale proceeds, and called for a 1-cent tax cut. She also highlighted the main library closure for seven months due to a roof leak.
- Garrick Blount: Downtown resident and business owner, supported the camping ordinance as a necessary improvement, noting the stakeholder committee's thorough work.
- Jill Davis: Requested a detailed implementation plan for the camping ordinance, questioning outreach capacity, timelines, and the potential for misdemeanor charges leading to jail time and fines.
- Lauren Bowen: Lifelong resident; liked the compassionate framing but opposed criminalization, concerned that the ordinance's letter could be used beyond current council intent.
- Bob Harper: Supported the ordinance, stating it would enable police to connect people with services.
- Rachel Winall: Opposed criminalization of camping, citing research that such bans do not reduce homelessness and can create barriers to housing.
- Raymond Tripp: Representing Coliseum Central; supported the ordinance as a necessary tool for public safety and economic development, distinguishing it from a homelessness solution.
- David Likavec: Raised constitutional concerns (4th and 14th Amendments) about seizure of property without due process and potential for unequal enforcement. He urged the ordinance not pass in its current form.
- Craig Knopp: Praised a new fence on Mercury Boulevard, suggested extending it, and proposed community gardens on a city-owned lot at 16 Fox Hill Road.
- Aaron Weaver: Argued the ordinance is a homeless ordinance in practice, that existing laws already cover problematic behaviors, and that the ordinance criminalizes sleep. He urged a no vote.
- David Mongiello: Marine Corps veteran; alleged a CPS worker told him the Constitution does not apply; he sought accountability and training for city employees.
- Joan Weaver: Opposed the ordinance on moral grounds, invoking religious values, and criticized the 2022 rezoning of 63 acres in Old Wythe for North Point as a greater crime than homelessness.
Discussion Items
- Item 9: Ordinance to Prohibit Camping and Storage on Public Property (25-0170): City Manager Mary Bunting emphasized the ordinance is not a homelessness solution but a tool to address disruptive behavior on public property. Senior Deputy City Attorney Brandi Law presented last-minute amendments: first offense as a Class 2 misdemeanor (allowing immediate access to behavioral health docket), requirements for police to provide warnings and resource information, and a 24-hour minimum between encounters before a citation can be issued. Councilwoman Ferebee stated she could not support the ordinance, feeling more time was needed. Councilwoman Campbell read a text from a constituent describing a homeless man refusing help and trashing property, indicating the need for action. Vice Mayor Brown explained his no vote based on his faith and commitment to the “least of these.” Mayor Gray supported the ordinance, noting the training and body camera oversight. The ordinance passed 5-2 with a requirement for staff to report back in six months on enforcement, services provided, and other data.
Key Outcomes
- Camping and Storage Ordinance (25-0170): Approved 5-2 (Councilmembers Bowman, Campbell, Harper, Mugler, and Mayor Gray in favor; Vice Mayor Brown and Councilwoman Ferebee opposed). The motion included a directive for staff to report back to council in six months regarding activities, enforcement, and data.
- Appointments to Virginia Municipal League 2026 Policy Committees: Approved unanimously (7-0). Assignments: Community & Economic Development – Carolyn Campbell and Hope Harper; Finance – Michelle Ferebee and Martha Mugler; General Laws – Jimmy Gray; Human Development & Education – Steven Brown; Infrastructure – Randy Bowman.
- Zoning Ordinance Amendments: Items 26-0047 (Chesapeake Bay Preservation Overlay) and 26-0071 (AICUZ noise contours) were adopted unanimously.
- Virginia Natural Gas Franchise Agreement (26-0126): Accepted unanimously.
- CDBG/HOME Annual Action Plan (26-0131): Public hearing held; no action taken; vote scheduled for a future meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the uh Hampton City Council legislative session. Uh, Madam Clerk, will you call a roll, please? Councilman Bowman. Present. Vice Mayor Brown. Here. Councilwoman Campbell. Present. Councilwoman Fairby. Present. Councilwoman Harper, present. Councilwoman Muggler, present. America A. Present. And the invocation this evening will be given by Councilwoman Carolyn Campbell, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. So would you please stand and join us for this? As we recognize National Crime Victims Rights Week and Youth Violence Prevention Week, please hold those in harm's way in your loving grace and grant them peace and comfort through difficult times. Gather us all as one, even if we have various thoughts on how to support those around us, as we all have compassion for those who need our help. Please instruct us and teach us the way. Counsel us with your loving eye, and let our plans be orchestrated by you. In Hebrews 12, you teach us for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Whatever it is that you want, Lord, guide us to that light. Amen. And with a large group of people that kind of refused to leave. So I want to applaud our police department for their work and being able to resolve both of those situations without as far as we know anybody, any officers or anybody in the public getting uh injured or harmed in any way. So I'm grateful for their response and for their patience and being able to work through both of those situations. And so subsequently, there were several uh you know social media posts about the event, and people we were telling people that you know you have to have a permit to come to the beach, and so they wanted to know well, why would teenagers or kids have to have a permit to come to the beach? Well, you don't. You don't need a permit to come to the beach. Kids are free to come and enjoy the beach uh any time that the beach is open. But the problem is is when a single social media organizer messages the public to come to the beach and do a takeover, that is a large public gathering in a public place. And under our current policy, that requires a permit. Uh when you when you have an open event and you're inviting, opening it up, and anybody can come, we uh we require a permit for that. And so the organizers of that event didn't get the permit, and what we got was this invitation for a large group of people to come to the beach. So I bring that up because one to compliment our police department for being able to handle it, but two is just to you know reinforce uh to the public that you know we we invite everybody to come and enjoy our public communities like the beach, Buckrow Beach and our parks and all, but you know, these huge takeovers or huge unannounced gatherings where large groups of people show up are not permissible and they're not permissible because what's happening is they come with the intention of uh fighting and fights broke out, and uh you know, we we don't need that in our city. And so we're trying to discourage those, and if you know people who are planning to do those kinds of events, uh please discourage them to do to not do it, or if they want to try to do a large gathering or invite a large group of people to come to the beach, go to our parks and rec department and apply for a permit, and um and the police department will evaluate that and then attempt to provide the uh appropriate level of security if they can't accommodate the event. But these um unannounced just uh unorganized groups of people is not healthy, especially for those who are at the beach with their kids and trying to enjoy the beach safely, to have that coming on is not is not appropriate and not acceptable. So, you know, do uh encourage people not to do it if you know it. If your young people or kids in your household uh see information which uh people are inviting them, please ask them not to go because in more than most likely that is an unpermitted event and not allowed, and police are going to try to break that up. So once again, I want to thank our law enforcement officers for their quick response and and being able to handle those incidents. And uh we we expect uh you know that there could be others, so we'll continue to monitor those and make sure that uh during the summer we try to allow people to come to our beach and enjoy it without any kind of interruption, any kind of fights or other violent activity. So with that, I'm gonna ask the 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 motion and without discussion tonight. Your consent agenda amends the FY26 council approved budget to appropriate approximately 1.8 million from the equipment replacement funds unrestricted net position to the equipment replacement funds operating budget for Hampton Police Division Vehicles, it appropriates $7,000 from the wetlands encroachment restricted fund balance to the community development operating account to fund the city's participation and the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program. It approves Hampton's participation and proposed settlements of opioid-related claims and to execute the document necessary to effectuate the participation, and it approves the minutes from four city council meetings. All right, we need a motion and a second. So move. Second. Call the role, please.
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