OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Hampton City Council Legislative Session – April 22, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, April 22, 2026
BodyHampton, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, April 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:07:53

Transcript — Verbatim
0:46

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

0:50

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

0:53

Councilman Bowman.

0:54

Present.

0:55

Vice Mayor Brown.

0:56

Here.

0:56

Councilwoman Campbell.

0:57

Present.

0:57

Councilwoman Ferraby.

0:58

Present.

0:59

Councilwoman Harper.

1:00

Present.

1:00

Councilwoman Mudler, present.

1:02

Mayor Craig.

1:03

Present.

1:03

And the invocing will be given by Vice Mayor Stephen Brown.

1:08

So I'd ask you to please stand and join us for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:17

Let's bow heads in prayer.

1:20

Oh Lord, how great and excellent is your name and all the earth.

1:23

This is the day you've made we should rejoice in it and be glad.

1:27

Tonight, Father God, as we are at war, I pray tonight, God, for our young men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice, laid on their lives to defend the freedoms of this nation.

1:41

Pray for their families who will mourn their loss.

1:44

Pray for their families who will have to suffer because they're no longer with us.

1:49

And so we pray tonight for peace and civility in our nation and our world.

1:54

Today is Earth Day.

1:56

We pray, Lord, for the earth.

1:58

We pray that we will take care of this earth.

2:00

We take care of our natural resources.

2:02

We will take care of our land, our trees, our forestry, our waters.

2:11

Livestock and live animals would thrive and grow.

2:15

Our earth is precious to us, and we have to take care of it.

2:18

And so, Lord, I thank you tonight for members of council who have gathered tonight to deliberate to deliberate to make decisions that will affect every citizen who sits in this in this uh arena tonight and those in our city.

2:32

I pray tonight, God, that as we uh ponder major decisions on the budget, uh, that we won't be disagreeable, even though we may disagree on some things, that we won't have a spirit of disagreement, and at the end of the day, it's about providing court services and doing what is right.

2:48

I pray now, God, that you have your way tonight as we celebrate those who've come to speak.

2:54

We pray tonight, God, for peace, not only in our locality, but in our land.

2:59

We give you praise for our first responders.

3:02

We pray for them as they have difficult jobs, and uh every day they're brave men and women who put their lives on the line, and we're grateful for them tonight.

3:10

Ask them that you would have your way, that all that we say and do in this uh arena tonight, in this chamber, we'll be done to give you a name to praise, give it in the glory, and to give you honor.

3:23

In Christ's name we pray.

3:25

All of God's people said together.

3:26

Amen.

3:27

Amen.

3:40

We literally and just as far.

3:52

So I have a couple of uh items on the mayor's comments this evening.

3:57

So uh the first of those, uh you may recall uh a couple of weeks ago we had a teen takeover at Buckrow Beach, uh, which you know for a while was uh pretty orderly, and then toward the end it got uh got a little bit out of hand.

4:14

Um the problem, as I've spoken uh about before with these types of events is that they unplanned events like this don't give uh police department and our city staff who manage the parks an opportunity to uh prepare for large crowds with parking and you know, everything that is needed to be able to you know allow people to enjoy those kinds of situations.

4:39

So, in order to do public events like that, where you're gonna invite the public to come out to a gathering, it requires you to get a permit.

4:46

And in many cases, when these events pop off, uh they are unannounced to us.

4:52

Uh and they you know create a large distraction.

5:00

So uh but one special interest story that I like to acknowledge this evening because on the one that occurred a couple of weeks ago, the young man who organized that event um you know wanted to make up for it, and uh he wanted to do something that was more positive because he did not intend for the event to end the way it did, uh, even though the uh event was uh organized in a manner that's not consistent with our permitting process.

5:25

So he has reached out to uh Mr.

5:27

David Spring down at uh Buckrow Coff Buckrow Coffee Company, Buck Roe Coffee Co.

5:33

is what it's known as down there.

5:34

And if you've been down in Buckrow recently, uh, you know, uh he has a pretty thriving business down there, you know, a coffee shop sometimes are kind of like the first step that ends up turning the community around.

5:45

But David is doing a lot in Buckrow, he's he's transforming the area behind his uh his coffee shop as a public gathering space, uh uh a community park, and uh and so it's it's drawing a lot of attention.

5:59

But what drew attention this week was uh you know, a story on the news about him uh reaching out and connecting with the young man who organized that uh takeover at Buckrow.

6:12

And so now I from what I'm told and what I heard on the news was that this young man is now going to use his influence and his social media network to uh do a takeover of Buckrow again, but for the purpose of cleaning up the Buckrow Beach.

6:26

And uh so I think that's uh something that should that is very notable.

6:30

But uh we want to thank David for you know reaching out and connecting with him, or he reached out and connected with you.

6:37

I'm not sure how it happened, but uh obviously you're giving him the right guidance uh he needs in terms of how to do things right with Hampton.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Youth Programs███████████████████████████████████35%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████████████19%
Parks and Recreation█████████9%
Procedural███████7%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Homelessness████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Environmental Protection███3%
Summary of Proceedings

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.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the Hampton City Council legislative session. I'd like to ask the clerk to call the roll, please. Councilman Bowman. Present. Vice Mayor Brown. Here. Councilwoman Campbell. Present. Councilwoman Ferraby. Present. Councilwoman Harper. Present. Councilwoman Mudler, present. Mayor Craig. Present. And the invocing will be given by Vice Mayor Stephen Brown. So I'd ask you to please stand and join us for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Let's bow heads in prayer. Oh Lord, how great and excellent is your name and all the earth. This is the day you've made we should rejoice in it and be glad. Tonight, Father God, as we are at war, I pray tonight, God, for our young men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice, laid on their lives to defend the freedoms of this nation. Pray for their families who will mourn their loss. Pray for their families who will have to suffer because they're no longer with us. And so we pray tonight for peace and civility in our nation and our world. Today is Earth Day. We pray, Lord, for the earth. We pray that we will take care of this earth. We take care of our natural resources. We will take care of our land, our trees, our forestry, our waters. Livestock and live animals would thrive and grow. Our earth is precious to us, and we have to take care of it. And so, Lord, I thank you tonight for members of council who have gathered tonight to deliberate to deliberate to make decisions that will affect every citizen who sits in this in this uh arena tonight and those in our city. I pray tonight, God, that as we uh ponder major decisions on the budget, uh, that we won't be disagreeable, even though we may disagree on some things, that we won't have a spirit of disagreement, and at the end of the day, it's about providing court services and doing what is right. I pray now, God, that you have your way tonight as we celebrate those who've come to speak. We pray tonight, God, for peace, not only in our locality, but in our land. We give you praise for our first responders. We pray for them as they have difficult jobs, and uh every day they're brave men and women who put their lives on the line, and we're grateful for them tonight. Ask them that you would have your way, that all that we say and do in this uh arena tonight, in this chamber, we'll be done to give you a name to praise, give it in the glory, and to give you honor. In Christ's name we pray. All of God's people said together. Amen. Amen. We literally and just as far. So I have a couple of uh items on the mayor's comments this evening. So uh the first of those, uh you may recall uh a couple of weeks ago we had a teen takeover at Buckrow Beach, uh, which you know for a while was uh pretty orderly, and then toward the end it got uh got a little bit out of hand. Um the problem, as I've spoken uh about before with these types of events is that they unplanned events like this don't give uh police department and our city staff who manage the parks an opportunity to uh prepare for large crowds with parking and you know, everything that is needed to be able to you know allow people to enjoy those kinds of situations. So, in order to do public events like that, where you're gonna invite the public to come out to a gathering, it requires you to get a permit. And in many cases, when these events pop off, uh they are unannounced to us. Uh and they you know create a large distraction. So uh but one special interest story that I like to acknowledge this evening because on the one that occurred a couple of weeks ago, the young man who organized that event um you know wanted to make up for it, and uh he wanted to do something that was more positive because he did not intend for the event to end the way it did, uh, even though the uh event was uh organized in a manner that's not consistent with our permitting process.

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