Hampton City Council Legislative Session – April 22, 2026

The Hampton City Council met on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers at 22 Lincoln Street, Hampton, Virginia. All seven council members were present. The meeting included a consent agenda, proclamations, presentations, public hearings on the proposed real estate tax rate, the FY2027 budget, and the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), as well as public comment and an appointment. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 26-0125: Authorized the donation of a fire boat to the Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Department. Approved 6-0 (Councilmember Harper was out).
• Resolution 26-0068: Approved the minutes from the special session of April 9, 2026. Approved 6-0 (Harper out).

Presentations, Proclamations, Awards

• Proclamations: Mayor Gray proclaimed April 19–25, 2026 as Administrative Professionals Week and April 22, 2026 as Earth Day. The Earth Day proclamation was presented to the Hampton Clean City Commission.
• Hampton City Schools – Cuts and Conversations (Item 26-0144): Students from Hampton High School presented a student-led initiative that provides free haircuts and mentorships to build confidence and community connections. The program served 40 students with 100% participation, gave 65 free haircuts, and saved $1,100. Council members commended the students and offered support, including help setting up a donation website.
• Finance Committee Recommendation (Item 26-0140): Linda Curtis, representing the Finance Committee, presented the tax equalization policy. The Committee voted unanimously to recommend a real estate tax rate of $1.14 per $100 of assessed value, the equalized rate per the revenue guideline. The Committee noted that the City Manager’s recommended budget is fiscally responsible based on this rate.

Public Hearings & Testimony

• Item 26-0096 – Real Property Tax Increase: Public hearing on the proposed rate of $1.14 per $100 (same as prior year). Only Aaron Weaver spoke, arguing that while the rate is unchanged, rising property values mean residents pay more. He urged the City to lead a regional push for state reimbursement for military tax relief, which disproportionately affects Hampton. No vote was required.
• Item 26-0097 – City Manager’s Recommended Budget for FY2027: Three speakers testified:
  • Jane Foge (on behalf of More Laughing Arts and Media) requested city investment for a youth summer camp, facility, and equipment.
  • Brenda Marks criticized the lack of line-item detail, questioned $10 million for golf courses and $18 million for a fire station, and called for budget clarity.
  • Aaron Weaver asked for a separate accounting of the Aquaplex’s revenue and expenses, seeking transparency on its operating costs and taxpayer subsidy. No vote was taken.
• Item 26-0098 – FY2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan: Public hearing with one speaker, Aaron Weaver. He asked about $500,000 in FY2027 for tiny homes (part of family resilience, 0.7% of the $489 million CIP), whether $10 million for golf course renovation is for The Hamptons or Woodlands, and whether $850,000 for therapeutic recreation center renovations includes a sign. He questioned the overall investment level in housing and behavioral health. Councilwoman Campbell stated she would vote no on any tax rate above $1.12 and therefore voted no on the CIP. The motion to adopt the CIP passed 6-1, with Campbell in opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony (General)

• Keith Walker (6 MacAlva Drive) described a collapsed drainage ditch causing flooding, foundation cracks, and wall damage. He said the City demands fence removal for regrading, which he considers a financial and security burden. He also questioned his property assessment increase from $89,000 to $161,000 despite damage.
• James Stephens (President, Peninsula Youth Football and Cheerleading) and several others (Jamill Beach, Deena Hughes, Alexis Tharpe, Ashley Jenrette, Laphea Morrison, and 9-year-old McKenzie Pickett) opposed new Parks and Recreation fees of $25 per practice day and $100 per game day, totaling $3,500–$6,000 per team per year. They argued the fees double-tax volunteer-run programs serving 800–1,000 children and would force price increases that drive families away.
• Erin Flannigan requested traffic improvements near the VA Medical Center, suggesting right-turn-only restrictions on Emancipation Road and Martin Luther King Boulevard to reduce congestion.
• Aaron Weaver (also spoke earlier) asked for a public follow-up on the April 9 special session where Council toured data centers in Hanover and Henrico, seeking clarity on how the trip will inform economic development decisions.
• Veronica Parker supported the Kappa Cardinals Athletic Association, stating the program helped her son and now her five-year-old, and urged reconsideration of fees.
• Brenda Marks (also spoke earlier) claimed that the City Manager previously said the City could reduce taxes if a federal court ruled the COVID-19 tax relief clause unconstitutional. She stated she found the ruling and will provide the tape; she called for a tax cut to $1.12.

Discussion Items

• City Manager Responses: Mary Bunting responded to each public comment:
  • For Mr. Walker, she said the City has cleaned the ditch but regrading requires fence removal because some fences were built in the easement without permits. Assistant City Manager Jason Mitchell will visit the site.
  • Regarding youth football fees, Bunting acknowledged the fee structure had not been consistently enforced. The new Parks and Rec director proposed a flat fee lower than the previous $25/hour. She offered to hold a meeting to find a resolution and explore grants from the Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities.
  • On VA traffic, she noted ongoing coordination with VDOT, Hampton University, and the VA, and that Mr. Mitchell will follow up.
  • On disabled veterans tax relief, she confirmed it has been in the City’s legislative package for years; former Delegate Mugler carried a bill, but the General Assembly did not act. Regional efforts continue.
  • On tiny homes, she said Hampton and Newport News are partnering on transitional supportive housing, likely tiny homes, with land options in both cities. Costs are estimated at $4.5 million for a 50-home community, but more planning is needed.
  • On the golf course, $10 million is one-time money saved from prior years for improvements at The Hamptons, based on a National Golf Foundation study.
  • On the data center tour, Bunting explained the Council toured facilities to prepare for potential proposals and to develop zoning code. A public presentation is expected in summer.
  • On the Aquaplex, she said it is grouped with the Coliseum and Convention Center in an enterprise fund for accounting best practices; some subsidy was always expected because of lower resident rates and community programming, but revenues come from concessions, rentals, and passes.
  • On the therapeutic recreation center, a sign will be installed after the renovation.
  • On the budget format, Bunting defended the outcome-based budget, which provides more context than line-item budgets, and noted the City receives national awards for it.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 6-0 (Harper out).
• Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): Adopted 6-1 (Campbell voted no).
• Appointment to Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority: Brian DeProfio was appointed as an alternate to the City Manager. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Next Steps: The second public hearing on the FY2027 budget will be held on May 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM. Budget adoption is scheduled for May 13, 2026.