OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Portsmouth City Council and Broadband Authority Meetings - June 10, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, June 10, 2025
BodyPortsmouth, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
15:10

Yes, sir.

15:10

Ms.

15:11

Glover.

15:12

Here.

15:13

Mr.

15:13

Green.

15:14

Here.

15:15

Mr.

15:15

Hugo is running late.

15:17

Ms.

15:18

Hughes.

15:18

Here.

15:20

Ms.

15:20

Thomas.

15:22

Mr.

15:23

Tillett.

15:23

Here.

15:24

And Mr.

15:25

Walker.

15:29

Thank you.

15:30

Um, the minutes have gone out.

15:32

Any uh anyone have any discussions or any edits to the minutes presented?

15:38

If not, can I get a motion to accept the minutes?

15:43

Okay.

15:44

Second.

15:44

Second.

15:45

All in favor?

15:46

Aye.

15:49

Okay.

15:50

The minutes are passed.

15:53

And now to updates and discussions.

15:58

Mr.

15:59

Hayes, are you handling uh this sir?

16:02

Thank you, Mr.

16:03

Chair, members of the commission, and we do have presentation for you on this afternoon that encompasses the update and discussion items that you have on your agenda.

16:16

They're all encompassed in uh one full presentation.

16:22

So we'll start with that presentation.

16:27

Um our agenda this afternoon will cover uh four topics, one being the regional connectivity ring that we have for the regional fiber ring in the city, and I'll give you an update as to uh some of the materials, some of the information that we provided during the last chief information officer uh group uh meeting that we have uh once a month.

16:53

Uh the next item will be to cover our local uh fiber ring that we have.

16:59

I do realize we have some new members as with our um with the organization now, this commission, and so we'll make sure that we point out what some of this means.

17:12

So the NGN or the next generation network, whenever you see that, we're referring to the Portsmouth actual ring here in the city of Portsmouth.

17:25

Um what we do is and what the strategy that was laid out in this partnership with the cities on the south side is that we would take the local ring and eventually connect it also to the regional ring.

17:41

So there's a regional ring that encompasses the partnership amongst the cities on the south side.

17:47

So when you hear me refer to the RCR, the regional connection ring, that's the regional one.

17:54

If you hear me say N uh GN, that's the next generation network.

18:00

I'm referring to our local ring here in the city of Portsmouth.

18:04

And then of course, we'll provide a bead update uh in the presentation, which is the broadband equity access and deployment grant, which was a federal grant uh that was provided to the state and in turn any localities that are interested in getting access to those funds, they have to apply for those funds through the state.

18:28

And then the final item will be on economic development or broadband related objectives and our strategy through the use of our economic development office, and Mr.

18:39

Brian Donahue is here with us today, and he'll touch on some of those items.

18:44

Next slide.

18:46

And so um first up again, the regional connectivity ring, our regional CIO chief information officers meeting that we had uh on June the second.

19:00

Um some of the items that we discussed, we thought it very important to return to uh roots, if you will, or the original purpose for this partnership on the south side and what the plans are in the future.

19:19

So when that those discussions initially initiated originally for this partnership, the whole idea uh first and foremost, and the primary function and primary objective was for public safety, right?

19:35

And it's important that we know what these two the primary and secondary objectives were so that we don't you know kind of have mission creep and then we forget why we even did this in the first place, right?

19:47

Because we've got a lot of players that are now converging on the region and the city that are interested in providing internet service during this time.

20:00

So to get back to that focus again, our primary objective of that partnership when the South Side Cities came together was public safety.

20:10

The CIOs, the chief information officers from each city came together, made those recommendations to our mayors and our city managers, and off we went.

20:22

And it was for making sure that in this region we remained a certain level of interoperability amongst our public safety agencies.

20:34

In other words, we wanted to make sure that we had NG next generation 911 services, which each city has been working on getting themselves up to speed.

20:46

Portsmith was the first to complete that and finish that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████27%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Technology and Innovation█████████████13%
Zoning And Land Use█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Public Engagement████4%
Economic Development███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Youth Programs███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Portsmouth City Council and Broadband Authority Meetings - June 10, 2025

On June 10, 2025, the City of Portsmouth convened multiple meetings, including a Broadband Authority meeting, a City Council work session, and a regular City Council meeting. Discussions covered fiber network expansion, public safety initiatives, crime statistics, use permit applications, and various community concerns. Key outcomes included a denied use permit for a shipping container storage yard, a deferred use permit for an event space, and unanimous adoption of several ordinances.

Consent Calendar

  • Broadband Authority minutes were approved by voice vote.
  • City Council minutes from May 27, 2025 (called and regular meetings) were adopted electronically, 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Gary Bahina (Friends of the Portsmouth Maritime Museums) announced the inaugural Junior Paddle Battle on September 6, 2025, offering free kayak lessons for Portsmouth youth ages 8-14, in partnership with Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, Virginia Beach Surf Sessions, PRHA, and the YMCA. He invited council to attend.
  • Aaron Cody advocated for ranked-choice voting, listing benefits including majority support, reduced spoiler candidates, more choice, increased voter participation, reduced negative campaigning, and focus on issues.
  • Ethan DeRosa expressed concerns about a potential ICE agreement, but council clarified no such agreement exists under city jurisdiction. He urged the council to protect immigrant communities.
  • Joseph Kelly called for increased police presence, enforcement of curfew, and parental responsibility. He also promoted the Island Pulse Music Festival on April 26 to raise funds for youth recreation centers.
  • Sergio O'Neal supported a parental accountability ordinance, citing recent incidents of youth violence and vandalism, including at St. Paul's Church. He urged holding parents legally responsible for their children's crimes.
  • Sherman Tyler praised recent street improvements (Lincoln Avenue, the Link, pothole repairs) but questioned why existing laws against face masks are not enforced. He also criticized the council for spending an hour on an applicant who operated without a license while quickly dismissing another applicant.
  • Sheila Joseph raised concerns about the new water billing system, requesting an update on unresolved charges. She also asked for enforcement of city codes on right-of-way maintenance and urged use of the Clickfix app for reporting issues.
  • Marvin Ridley (264 Dock Street) complained about poor work by a cable/utility contractor (Verizon and another unnamed company) that damaged lawns, broke a water main, and left debris. He asked the city to hold contractors accountable. He also noted flooding at Williams Court and the Dollar Tree lot.

Discussion Items

  • Broadband Authority Update (Mr. Hayes and Mr. Brian Donahue):
    • The Regional Connectivity Ring (RCR) and Next Generation Network (NGN) fiber rings were discussed. The primary objective is public safety (interoperability for Next Generation 911, CAD-to-CAD), with secondary goals for smart city sensors (flood, weather, air quality).
    • Phase 1: Connect 10 community anchor institutions by end of 2025. Phase 2: Libraries, recreation centers, and affordable housing units (PRHA) by end of 2026. Phase 3: All remaining anchor institutions. The city plans to apply for a SEID grant (full application due July 18, 2025) with potential awards of $350,000 (design only) or $500,000 (design and construction).
    • The local fiber ring (55 miles) is complete except for a 70-foot segment under Norfolk Southern railroad near Suffolk, which remains pending approval. The West Norfolk Bridge fiber deal generated $1.3 million in revenue from the regional ring.
    • Cost avoidance: Currently paying ~$40,000/month for 1 Gbps circuits; after fiber connection, costs drop to ~$7,000–$8,000/month for 10 Gbps circuits.
    • Mr. Donahue (Economic Development) outlined plans to market the fiber infrastructure to attract businesses, especially maritime, logistics, defense, and manufacturing. He emphasized partnership with IT and the regional Southside Network Authority.
    • Councilman Hugo requested detailed cost avoidance figures per phase for budget planning.
    • Councilman Walker asked about GPS capabilities in Next Gen 911; staff confirmed it can pinpoint location and floor, and can provide live video streaming to dispatchers and officers.
    • Councilwoman Thomas asked about integrating sensors; staff noted that sensor deployment is part of the IT department's three-year plan, dependent on fiber infrastructure.
    • Councilman Hugo asked about the impact of not receiving the grant; staff confirmed a contingency budget request is in the next cycle.
  • City Council Work Session – Youth Permit Extensions (Dr. Russell):
    • Staff presented a request for a one-year extension (to July 2026) for Use Permit #2307 (Ron Holloway, townhouse development on Deep Creek Boulevard). The item was not for a vote; it was informational. Council agreed to place it on the next business agenda after proper notice.
  • City Council Work Session – Crime Statistics and Public Safety Initiatives (Chief Jenkins):
    • Property crimes: 22.2% decrease year-to-date (over 300 fewer incidents). Main drivers: burglaries to sheds and domestic-related larcenies.
    • Violent crimes: 11.5% increase. Drivers: brandishing of firearms and aggravated assaults (shooting into occupied dwellings up 73%).
    • Overall crime: 18% reduction in incidents, 19.25% reduction in victims. Homicides down 70% (7 victims in 2025 vs. 23 in 2024).
    • Recent incidents: Graduation party shooting on Viking Street (4 injured, all expected to recover; at least 4 shooters, multiple calibers). Accidental shooting of a juvenile the next day; another shooting investigation ongoing.
    • Technology successes: Flock gunshot detection and license plate readers helped solve a June 4 shooting within two hours, leading to arrests.
    • New initiatives:
      • Social Media's Most Wanted: weekly posting of retail theft suspects for identification.
      • Strategic Anti-Violence Enforcement (SAVE) Unit: proactively investigates brandishing and low-level gun crimes to prevent escalation. Since late April, a 50% decrease in brandishing reports, with 40 charges filed.
      • Officer Community Problem-Solving Project: each officer assigned a monthly project (e.g., illegal parking, nuisance properties) with a report at month's end.
    • Crime Dashboard: launched 1.5 months ago, updated daily, shows shootings by neighborhood, day of week (Sunday highest), stolen firearms (72 year-to-date), and comparisons. Available on police website.
    • Accreditation: The department achieved advanced CALEA accreditation, making Portsmouth one of the few advanced-accredited departments in the region. The chief highlighted increased pride and accountability.
    • Council asked about staffing (8 new officers graduated that day, 15 expected in next academy), unsolved homicides and cold cases (communication challenges, need for more personnel), gang activity (prevalent but not all incidents gang-related; homegrown, fluid), and enforcement of curfew (11 p.m.–5 a.m. for under 17; officers instructed to cite juveniles and charge parents if knowingly allowing violations).
  • City Council Regular Meeting – Public Hearings:
    • Item A (UP-23-24) – Grossman Trucking LLC, use permit for shipping container/chassis storage at 680 Military Road: Extensive discussion. The applicant had been operating without a business license since at least 2021. Neighboring property owner Dave Luter raised concerns about drainage, access, and a proposed entrance apron blocking his gate. The city engineer stated drainage is a civil matter. The motion to deny passed 7-0.
    • Item B (UP-25-04) – B. Ashby, use permit for event space/banquet hall at 6031 High Street West: Staff recommended approval with conditions. Council deferred to August 26, 2025, to allow time for staff to develop regulations for new industries. Vote was 6-1.
  • City Manager's Report – Ordinances (all adopted 7-0):
    • Acceptance of additional HOME-ARP funds ($1,727) from HUD.
    • Acceptance of $20,000 from Beasley Foundation for pediatric pre-hospital care program.
    • Acceptance of $444,374 from USDA for Child and Adult Food Care Program.
    • Acceptance of $933,652 from DEQ for stormwater improvements (Green Lakes 3 Retrofit).
    • Acceptance of $1,067,316 from DCJS for 11 school resource officers (Sheriff's Office).

Key Outcomes

  • Broadband Authority: Plan for fiber buildout phases approved; grant application to proceed; staff to provide cost avoidance data per phase.
  • Use Permit 2307 (Holloway extension): Informational; will be placed on a future business agenda.
  • Use Permit UP-23-24 (Grossman Trucking): Denied 7-0.
  • Use Permit UP-25-04 (Ashby event space): Deferred to August 26, 2025, by a 6-1 vote.
  • Ordinances 25-160 through 25-164: All adopted 7-0.
  • Next meetings: Broadband Authority next meeting July 8, 2025 (as noted). City Council work session and regular meeting schedules continue.

Meeting Transcript

Yes, sir. Ms. Glover. Here. Mr. Green. Here. Mr. Hugo is running late. Ms. Hughes. Here. Ms. Thomas. Mr. Tillett. Here. And Mr. Walker. Thank you. Um, the minutes have gone out. Any uh anyone have any discussions or any edits to the minutes presented? If not, can I get a motion to accept the minutes? Okay. Second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Okay. The minutes are passed. And now to updates and discussions. Mr. Hayes, are you handling uh this sir? Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the commission, and we do have presentation for you on this afternoon that encompasses the update and discussion items that you have on your agenda. They're all encompassed in uh one full presentation. So we'll start with that presentation. Um our agenda this afternoon will cover uh four topics, one being the regional connectivity ring that we have for the regional fiber ring in the city, and I'll give you an update as to uh some of the materials, some of the information that we provided during the last chief information officer uh group uh meeting that we have uh once a month. Uh the next item will be to cover our local uh fiber ring that we have. I do realize we have some new members as with our um with the organization now, this commission, and so we'll make sure that we point out what some of this means. So the NGN or the next generation network, whenever you see that, we're referring to the Portsmouth actual ring here in the city of Portsmouth. Um what we do is and what the strategy that was laid out in this partnership with the cities on the south side is that we would take the local ring and eventually connect it also to the regional ring. So there's a regional ring that encompasses the partnership amongst the cities on the south side. So when you hear me refer to the RCR, the regional connection ring, that's the regional one. If you hear me say N uh GN, that's the next generation network. I'm referring to our local ring here in the city of Portsmouth. And then of course, we'll provide a bead update uh in the presentation, which is the broadband equity access and deployment grant, which was a federal grant uh that was provided to the state and in turn any localities that are interested in getting access to those funds, they have to apply for those funds through the state. And then the final item will be on economic development or broadband related objectives and our strategy through the use of our economic development office, and Mr. Brian Donahue is here with us today, and he'll touch on some of those items. Next slide.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com