Good evening, citizens of Portsmouth.

Want to welcome you to our public work session today, November 25th.

Also uh want to welcome those who are following us online.

Want to acknowledge the presence of our city staff who is here with us today and all of our invited guests.

Um recognize Mr.

Carter, who is our city manager, Mr.

Derek Challenger, our interim city attorney, and of course our clerk, Mr.

Evan White.

Also want to acknowledge with us today in our legislative session is delegate Cliff Hayes.

Uh thank you for being here, delegate Hayes.

I see we have a few that are not here yet, but may be arriving.

Uh but with that, I will continue on.

Madam Clerk.

Yes, sir.

Would you please call the role?

Sure.

Miss Bryant, present, Dr.

Dyson.

Present.

Mr.

Hugo.

Present.

Mr.

Moody.

Here.

Ms.

Thomas.

Here.

Mr.

Tilly.

Here.

Mr.

Carter?

Sure.

Um I will now turn the meeting over to you.

Thank you, Mayor.

We only have one item uh that we're going to discuss this evening, and that is our legislative initiative.

Um has a presentation that you will go through.

And update uh where we go with that.

Thank you, sir.

Uh good evening, Mayor Brother, Vice Mayor Moody, members of Castle, City Manager, staff, honored guests.

Um this evening on behalf of the Portsmouth City Council legislative advisory committee.

I'm here to share with you our recommendations for the 20 minutes.

Um so we have five state legislative initiatives.

We have six budget amendment requests.

Um I have a few state public policy statements that's included in this education.

That we support and oppose.

Um important dates and next steps and then questions and answers.

So looking at the legislative initiative.

Um the first one is a request to have the city appointment.

And that would provide an extra tool in the city tool zoning toolbox to allow the city the uh ability to impose conditions upon any special exception or use permit.

Cities of Hampton and Newport uh Hampton and Norfolk have already been given how did they get there?

Have already been given this authority.

And so we're on this one, we're simply asking the city of Portsmouth to be added to that section of the code as well.

The next item on there is uh well the next four basically to assist our police department statewide and the uh legislation allowing retired law enforcement officers to be able to um execute temporary detention orders and emergency custody orders.

Uh this is also supported by the Virginia Methodist police universities, and it would help to free up our officers from um having to sit with people for long periods of time in the hospitals and so forth when they are under these particular orders.

The the third bullet is also um public safety, and it's an effort to deal with gun violence and uh not only just our cities but statewide.

Um so this is creating a class two misdemeanor violation for the act of leaving firearms and unlocked vehicles.

Uh this year the Virginia First Cities, along with the University of Virginia conducted a uh gun violence workshop.

So this is uh issue statewide, and also the JLOC joint legislative uh of the audit and review commission is supposed to be bringing out a report in December on gun violence in Commonwealth of Virginia.

So it's a big issue statewide, not only just in Portsmouth.

The next issue is legislation amending the current photo enforcement authority specifically for stoplight speed infractions to address the increase in business day reviews of violations from 10 to 30 days.

This is a parity issue.

Currently, the police have at least 30 days to review um infractions dealing with school buses, and when it comes to the stoplights or the the speed infractions, the code only provides them 10 days.

So what they're asking for is to have it increase to 30 days so that there would be parity there, possibly giving them more time to review these films.

And the last but full it goes along also with the first one, which is legislation to authorize trained special conservators of the peace and technicians that are employed by localities to review and certify photo and video traffic violations.

Again, helping our police department who are often short staff and overtasked, and so this would help them to be able to um more efficiently and effectively deal with these videos.

I'm gonna pause here for a minute to see if there are any questions on any of these, and to let you know that being that pre-filing began on the 17th of this month.

I was able to speak with our delegation members.

Good evening, speaker staff.

Um I spoke with our delegation members, and I have secured sponsors for several of these items.

There are two that we don't have sponsors for yet, which is the legislation creating a class two misdemeanor and the legislation that's going to increase the time from 10 to 30 days for reviewing these violations.

Comments, questions, nothing there.

Councilman Dodson, too.

I'm very impressed by the briefings that you've already given us to bring us up to speed on this and to develop professionally a final version for submission.

It's been wonderful experience this year.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Um excuse me, Miss New, on behalf of the council.

I want to welcome speaker.

Scott, thank you.

Thank you for having me.

I was just looking at something before you pause.

Can you go back to item number one?

Yes, that was the first one we spoke of.

What was the what's the issue there?

Are you trying to have permission to allow change?

Was it the automatic expirations?

Well, as I understand it, uh mayor speaker scott.

Speaker Scott, as I understand it, um the city is looking for another tool in your toolbox to be able to deal with these special use permits.

Uh the cities of Norfolk and Hampton have already been given this authority, and so basically we're just asking for the same authority to deal with um the imposed imposing conditions upon special exceptions or use permits related to retail alcoholic beverage control licenses, which provides that such special exception of the use permit will automatically expire upon the change of ownership of their property, a change in possession, a change in the operation or management of a facility or the passage of a specific period of time.

You have that legislation that's already enacted, just trying to add ports to it.

Yes, it's can you send me that the bill that code statue on the time?

Yes, it's 15.22HA.

Can you send me the paging of our bill and pass the original?

Oh, the original?

Okay, sure.

Thank you.

Uh-huh.

Okay.

Nothing else.

We'll move on forward.

Please.

The budget amendment request.

So we have um six requests here on this page.

The first one is the 16 million for phases one of two of the Prentice Street transmission project.

That particular one, phase one was uh in our 2025 legislative package.

We had received uh 4.5 million dollars to do that phase of the project, which was vetoed by the governor.

So we're putting it back in again, and along with a requesting funding to go towards phase two as well.

There's a 17 million dollar asked for the new housing resource center, 4.25 million for sanitary sewer pump station rehabilitation.

This is uh second request.

We uh we were rewarded 4.25 in this last session.

And I think it took five straight minutes for gonna so this is for the next five.

Um there's four million um requests for the court system security infrastructure project that's for the Portsmouth Courthouse.

The um the infrastructure, the security infrastructure there is over 10 years old, and it severely needs to be updated, technique the techno to make it more safe for everyone there.

Uh 1.2 million for the lead service inventory line, enhancement for lead service uh line replacement program, and then the final one is uh uh to amend the budget law uh language that to allow the more time for reimbursement of expenditures uh regarding the new city jail renovation project.

Any questions or any of those?

So I have a question in terms of the priority.

I mean, I know you've listed these here, but is there a ranking what's what's the most important second, third is this the actual priority order, or is this just a list?

It's listed in the amounts for the money, but what is most important?

I would leave that to this list in rank order, right?

Highest priority at the top, lowest priority at the bottom.

And phase one had been approved before in the governor vetoed to come in.

Okay, I feel confident that we can get that back in.

But we look at the other things.

I'm really concerned about the system security program as well.

So we'll take a look at it.

I think we'll we'll we'll follow up with you all and see what we can get down.

Um Senator Lucas may have a word to say that.

We got we've been able to do a lot.

Yes, people are probably wondering what the heck is going on down here.

But uh, I think we can do we can do a little bit more of this cycle depending on what we look like, uh revenue projections for the state, which we hope we look okay right now.

Thank you.

Um, if I could um I'd like to acknowledge our Senator, Senator Jordan, who has just arrived.

Welcome to the city of Portsmouth, ma'am.

Glad to be here.

Welcome, thank you.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Senator Jordan, welcome.

Glad to see you.

And Speaker Scott, yes, you think we've done a lot.

We appreciate all of what you've done.

Uh our delegation, delegate Hayes, uh Senator Lucas, unfortunately, was not able to join us this evening due to an emergency that turned up on she, but she has definitely been a champion for the City of Portsmouth and a lot of things that we've been asking for.

Well, if I may, I I recall having a conversation with Speaker Scott, and one of the things that he had recommended is that you know he needed to see more of us, and we needed to more be more definitive on what our needs were, and we needed to be forthright and coming forward and not waiting and getting things in front of him.

So I appreciate the guidance on that because I think we have done a better job with our legislative committee and really focusing on how we work collaboratively together.

Also want to acknowledge the work that our manager, Mr.

Carter did, because I know you spent some time up there with the speaker in his office and Senator Lucas as well.

So it's really about us continuing on the same way that we've been going uh in the past.

I think we we have come a long way.

We've done a lot of things on behalf of the support that we've gotten from the General Assembly.

And we're grateful community as a result of that.

Ma'am, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, Senator Jordan, um, I know you did you have a chance to go through quicker you have any before I move any forward on the legislation or um budgeted money.

If you don't have anyone taking the TDO issue, I can take that and I can also take um if you want the special use permits so on the TDOs and the special use permit.

Um yes, we do have sponsors on the two that I don't have a sponsor for is the legislation creating the test to Mr.

Mima for a gun and online and the other one is legislation amending the current photo enforcement authority.

Um right now that the problem is that for school bus infractions, they have 30 days to review, but for these they only have 10 days, so it's the parity issue.

So that's why they're asking the police departments asking not just the police department but statewide.

Sure, if I could stop real quick and ask the speaker, I think he probably would know.

I think um leader herring is going to open this back up.

So if she's gonna do that, could she make that change?

I think this issue is gonna be dealt with.

I don't know what which way it's gonna fall, but I think there's a lot of legislation that's going to happen.

Okay, so someone will open it up.

Someone will do with that issue.

I'm not sure about the files and unlocked vehicles.

I think that issue that bill was passed, or something similar to it.

I gotta go back and look, and I think it was vetoed.

Marson had it.

Yeah, more than it was vetoed.

I think we'll well, it'll probably come back that time.

Okay.

On the two that you said that you would be interested in, would you be a co-sponsor?

I can carry it or be a co-sponsor with cherry preferred.

Okay, we appreciate that.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

You have anything else, Senator?

Uh I'll wait till we get the budget amendment.

Well, we were there when you came in.

All right.

So $60 million additional for uh phase one and two for printing street.

I know we did a six million, I think it was last year.

That's the one that we got passed, and then it would be okay.

I don't I don't I can do that again.

If you want to do that one again, thank you.

Any other precedent?

I want to see.

I don't know what the budget's gonna look like.

Uh there's a lot to to be done, but there may be some grant money, I think, for the LSL issue.

Um I received from another locality that they had talked with VACO that they're gonna do a full inventory across the Commonwealth and try to move um some of the inspection piece to VDH to be able to uh kind of hasten that response because there's a ten of locality of course that's one of them that aren't making sure that they're okay on that, and I think that there may be some language coming um in regard to that.

So I can look into that, but I think this might solve itself, maybe not with the money, but buying you some time.

Okay, thank you.

And we'll we'll follow with you prior to session.

If we get closer to the session, we have a pretty good idea.

The governor presents on the budget committee.

You'll have some time to kind of understand where we are.

So the governor propose his uh his outgoing budget is uh outgoing.

Outgoing he'll send us uh he'll propose a fairy tale budget, and then we'll we'll with the house and the senate will come up with the real budget as well.

Thank you, speaker.

Sneal.

Okay, moving forward.

So we have a few uh stated public policy positions.

I'm not going to read them all.

Uh everybody received the uh PowerPoint, so that chance to go through them.

I'll just highlight the first one, the 599 program.

Of course, that's something that uh all of the localities that have police department support, Virginia municipal leave, backup as well as Virginia First City.

So and then I will also point to the second one um for the JLOC and putting all of the JLOC recommendations in for the K-12 Public Schools education.

Um for the opposed ones, I would may I ask a question?

Sure.

On the 599 program, it is I I mean, I've followed this for the years I've been on council, and it seems that there hasn't been any dedicated funding toward that program.

Is that just something that is in an exercise we just go through?

Is there is there something real that could really happen with that?

I mean, I just I don't know.

That was 599 money in the budget last cycle.

Right.

It was.

And the governor took it out.

Okay.

All right.

I mean, I uh we'll go back and take a look at it again.

There is definitely dedicated money for the 599.

It's a it's it's a it's a statutory program.

We don't have a lot of, it's kind of like Medicaid.

It's just a federal, it's a federal is a flow through, it's an administrative flow through amount of money.

So it's it's it's real.

Uh but that's some that's some that's some parameters on it, but I feel confident that this year that we'll take a look at it.

The second item on JLOC's recommendations, I don't know about that.

That's a huge number.

The schools have been chronically underfunded.

That's what J Log found.

Yeah, those schools have been chronically underfunded for years, decades.

Yeah, decades.

So uh I'm I'm not sure we're gonna be able to get us back to the level that it needs to be in one federal swoop.

But I think if you take a look at what we've done over the last couple of cycles, we've had historic uh funding in public school education, and I think we'll be able to continue to be in that range, but we'll see.

I mean, I think there's a budget because of some of the things that are going on in the country with the implementation of some federal uh past downs basically just pushing it down.

The states will pay for Medicaid, so Medicaid is gonna be coming.

I guarantee you you're gonna look at our budget this year, you're gonna see a much larger chunk of dollars used to uh supplement Medicaid subsidies.

And so the state's gonna have to pick it up.

So we're gonna have to figure out how we how we where we pay for that from.

That's gonna be a huge fight because we gotta take care of our most vulnerable um regarding health care.

There's there's three things to piggyback on what the speaker said on 599 when I was in the house actually, the House position at that point was very supportive of 599, and it got out of the Senate before I went to that body.

Um the Senate had a different kind of position when they went through negotiation and they put about 50 million instead that cycle into crisis stabilization, it was a Janet Howell priority, I believe, if you guys recall.

And so that kind of stepped back a little bit, that 599 funding, um, just so you know the historical perspective there.

Um two, when it comes to the JLARC 2023 study, while that's great, one of the biggest things that we have to do, especially in this part of Virginia.

Um not that I you know speak ill often of Nova, but we have to figure out how to really tackle uh the composite index in the Commonwealth and make sure that our part of Virginia is getting their fair share.

We just sat through our our respective finance retreats, and I have some sneaking suspicion that Northern Virginia is playing with some numbers on getting more funds this year because they were showing a major loss, which does not make sense to me.

I I think Servell was saying it had something to do with commercial property vacancy, but I don't see that.

Um and so LCI is something we need to address head on before we I think we get to this step to make sure that we're getting the fair money for a city like Portsmouth.

And I'm sure hopefully the school board understands it, but hopefully you guys too that LCI is huge.

So hopefully y'all can take a look at what's going into that formula because uh making sure that we get it that we understand what's going on.

I'm gonna say like make sure that we understand what's going into that formula.

And also what he said on Medicaid um in December of 24 last year, we had a report come out that we'd asked four years ago from the House perspective from the joint commission on health care.

Uh it found that our CSBs uh were not doing their full billing.

They were maybe between 35 and 60 some percent.

And uh they have billable federal Medicaid services, they were not billing like they should have been.

Right.

And so there's gonna be some compliance that D Mass and DBHDS and other agencies are trying to get into the infancy of uh enforcing that because it's already our money.

They should have been billing it so we can pull that federal money down because the state's on the hook for that if they're not doing that.

And so um that was in December of 24, and so we're getting into a phase hopefully to get some of that money and get that billing up to make sure that the the House and the Senate don't have to make up that loss.

Very good.

In terms of the health care situation, uh I I know I've I've I've been following this, and from the federal level, certainly if subsidies go away, you know, a number of our our citizens, probably a half a million.

I know when we pass the legislation to make sure that we provided health care to our vulnerable folks.

Um, there's a big number of people that are going to be impacted if that doesn't go through, and as the speaker said, of course, somebody's gonna have to pick up the bill, right?

And that's a huge bill.

Is there anything that we can do from a locality perspective to help or support?

I I know it's it's it's not all put together yet, but we want to be proactive as well as you all and supportive and and things that we can do at a local level, if that's advocacy, if that's calling folks, what whatever that is, we want to be pro so I just wanted to throw it out there.

Absolutely.

I don't think it hurts to be a part of the chorus that's letting the everybody know how bad this is on the localities and right on the ground.

So as a locality, we think it's a great thing if you let your voices be heard individually, but also you all are part of VML.

But also you all are part of VML.

So I don't I can't think of a locality that's happy what's going on.

So in terms of via mail, uh working through those channels to make sure that you know that that message gets out loud and clear.

And some of the triggers don't take place until after the midterms next year.

And then there's going to be the part of the deal to open the governor back up that was guaranteed to be able to vote on the on the subsidies, except the premium.

So we'll see what happens with that.

We may end up having some some some interim solutions while they probably figure out long term what they're gonna do.

And I think I think that's likely to happen, considering politicians usually act in their self-interest, and they all want to ballot in November.

So maybe they'll they'll figure that out.

It's probably not a good day, they'll end all the subsidies prior to next uh November 26th.

So they may go.

And mayor, I would also say that DSS usually have a line item per tana.

So if there is some gap funding issues in between a loss in service and like say uh a pickup or a start date, if there's something that they've uh applied through a different line item, I think TNF could fill some of the gap for that.

Okay.

Well, I think we'll just have to stay tuned and follow that development because it's it's critically important.

Any other questions from the other thing I was gonna say with the new governor coming in?

Y'all should be advocating.

I know I have we had Portsmouth was uh without a uh a lead person for the for the department of health for one.

And so, and we have probably still are without one.

We have been asking, pushing.

I don't know if it's what's going on there, but I know the new administration coming in is a priority because we have a better relationship and it's a high priority for them to look out for Portsmouth.

Uh and looking for all of us, but the fact that we haven't had one for a while has hurt us.

Uh, and that's part of their job is to go out and educate the community and bring services to communities like they do mobile, you know, blood, you know, uh blood pressure screens, mobile delivery of vaccinations, that things that they were doing that they can do that it helps improve the health for all of us.

And so I'm hopeful that we can, if you want to help uh a letter from the city council uh from the mayor saying that you know to the new governor elect that this is something that we hope that's a priority for you to do as fast as possible.

Not putting anybody on the spot, but just saying, hey, we've been without that for this another time.

We hope that you can get make that a priority to hire that role and to hire the staff.

Not only do they not have a lead, they got a lot of staff shortages in that area.

And for a city like us not to have those dollars allocated to help us, the professional staff, that's it's shameful.

Well, I I agree with you 100%.

It's a two-pronged issue for me.

It's not only shameful, it's it's it's it's not right.

It's not fair.

We we just I just sent out an editorial to all my colleagues on council about the impact of that particular issue, not having that health department lead, but more importantly, how it impacts the health of our community.

Our maternal health is suffering in our city as a result of some decisions that were made, and that's not gonna stand.

We do have a meeting with our health care providers, and as a part of that, we we we were talking about putting our health care coalition together.

I shared that with our council council council folks, and so that's what's gonna happen.

We will follow up with a letter to the governor.

We will also governor elect, right, governor elect.

I don't think the governor, he's he's out, he's right, right.

The governor elect, right?

That's that's the governor electors who we were going to.

And this is what I was gonna say, you know.

I'm not and I'm getting this off.

We get we get back to this, but I think it would be helpful in light of that situation.

Whenever the new secretary of health is named, hopefully that person will be named in the next week.

So we probably need to have a follow-up conversation.

I'm happy to do that in conjunction with you and the team here to bring them in to Portsmouth and have a sit down and talk about where we are and what the next steps are.

So hold me, hold me to that, and we'll we'll try to make that happen as soon as that person is sworn in.

So once they're announced, we can probably get it on the calendar for January after the government's sworn in on the 17th of January.

We can try to do it sometime right after that one on the weekend or something like that.

That way they don't have to leave Richard.

They can come out down on Richmond on a weekend day.

Very good.

And the last thing on that, I'll send you all a copy of the letter, the editorial that I share with my colleagues, because I think it's very important that we all speak speak at the same time.

The Coast Guard, um, the lady who worked in the Coast Guard and retired from the Coast Guard.

Yeah, but I saw that editor.

Did you?

Yeah.

We've been I don't get out of if another.

No, I mean we're having a conversation.

It's been ignored.

Um thank God we have elections.

That's all I can say.

Go ahead.

Okay.

We're gonna follow people then.

Ms.

Neal, go ahead.

Because it's very engaging conversation.

It's important.

That's important.

Yes, it is.

Health of our community is extremely important.

Uh thank you.

Um and then moving on to the a few of our opposition statements.

The one that I would really uh point out is any acquisition of the Virginia International Gateway by the Virginia Port Authority or the Commonwealth without providing adequate compensation to the city of Portsmouth for lost tax revenues.

That's uh big amount.

I'm sorry, it's not an ount.

I think that we'll remember.

Do you have that idea?

Nine million dollars a year.

But that was under that was still under trying to get us more.

Right.

Leak thinking.

Thank you.

Um and then again, of course, any unfunded state mandates we do oppose as well.

And any uh efforts by the state to usurp or prevent any local land use authority, and of course, any initiatives and things that'll eliminate sources of revenue to cities, counties, and towns without a firm commitment of ongoing reliable and recurring general fund resources to offset local lost local revenues.

All that car tax.

But anyway, that's a little uh so just moving on to the next steps.

Of course, I already spoke about the 17th was pre-filing began.

Um tonight, after this meeting, um uh this city council is scheduled to adopt a resolution folks, our state and federal packages.

On the 17th, as the speaker mentioned, the governor's going to present his final budget for the Bien.

Moving into January, the 14th is when the session begins.

Our internal committee for uh legislative purposes is going to come together again on the 29th, so I can brief them, update them on what's going on so far with our package and other items of interest for the city.

And then on the 20th, the fifth of uh February is Vietnam Local Government Day.

And with that, that's what I have.

Any questions?

Further I do have a question.

Uh along the way, there was uh some discussion around um whether or not the city was doing a study on the tolls.

And there was an inquiry about how we felt about the matter.

Um Mayor Glover, yes, uh delegate hey, so there was some conversations that we had with Dr.

Cook about uh having another study done.

And if I may, Mayor, to our you have any updates on that?

Not crap.

It's still a work in progress.

Any other discussion, questions, answers?

Can I can I say something what I'm hearing?

I think I've already addressed this with a couple of folks here.

I've been getting a lot of feedback from small business owners, mostly African American, that they've been they're getting bullied by the city.

They're not getting any assistance, they're just being told that you violated something and you need to go.

And I know that may not be the case.

I'm just giving y'all what's been what I'm hearing.

And so I think it's important.

I I talk to I talk to folks about how the navigator, somebody who can help folks interact with the city, because sometimes some of these folks they do what they do, but they're not good at engaging with the city and frankly following up on some of the things they may need to do with the city to stay in compliance.

They probably thinking I'll pay my taxes, I'm okay more to that.

And hopefully, um, as we move forward, because I see some of the things that you have as initiatives in here by land about ownership, management to prevent you know, some some I guess some businesses from continuing to operate without the city having a say after that transfer, and that's okay.

I'm hopeful that the city will take those complaints seriously, because I'm hearing from uh I've had I've had several meetings with folks, it's not just one or two several, and it's been going on for a while.

It's just bubbled up lately recently because I got some more vocal people that'll come to me that I have that I've known for a while.

But I'm hopeful that uh the city will will take a look at look at that.

Um there are folks in the community that believe, and I'm not saying that's true.

Small business owners in the community that believe that the city is trying to shut them down for the benefit of the sino.

And I don't know if that's true or not.

I don't I don't go to casino except for functions.

I love the casino, but I don't go in there to gamble.

But um people have brought it to me that there have been fights and incidents at the casino and nobody tries to shut them down.

So if they have a fight or an incident in the parking lot at their establishment, the city tries to come and shut them down.

So I'm just asking for us to have a conversation around fairness, and I'm happy to I'm bringing it here now because then I'm happy to go offline and you can reach me and bring me up to date on what's happened because I'm hearing it from one side.

I'm happy to hear some more details from the city from the other side.

But that is a a community sentiment that is taking hold that I hope that uh we can address.

And I'd love to see y'all hire a navigator to deal with some of these folks that have some of these night life navigator to be able to deal with some of the issues that pop up in cooperation with law enforcement and public safety um leadership.

Thank you, sir.

But I will say um we appreciate the the information and the guidance.

Um this council, and I will speak on behalf of this council.

Um we do not have any intent to single out or do anything to any group or person.

And we have an open policy where individuals can come and speak to us prior to whatever they engage in or what they want to do as a business.

Uh I think we've been very forthright and transparent in that process.

So we welcome a conversation.

If there's a conversation to be had, um, but we are always going to err on the side of taking care of the whole community, and that's the commitment of this council.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If I may, I'm gonna steal your thunder mayor.

No, the thunder's all gone.

This time, I'd like to see if I uh our delegation have any insights they want to bring to us about the upcoming general assembly session, um things that we should be aware of for Navarda.

One thing I have to say is, you know, we always follow the money, right?

And as the speaker has mentioned, governor will propose, and as we go into the next session, general assembly display.

We will depose.

So we start all over.

Uh pretty much.

Um it is an introduction.

But I can I sense uh from appropriation side on the house side, that there's gonna be some some starting over.

Nothing.

I was just gonna uh finish up on the maternal health issue.

I think that we've got a statewide issue on that.

I I delved into that last year, and I think long term we're gonna have to have a serious conversation with the Secretary of Health and the Governor.

Uh when we approve COPN applications, it has to come with that understanding that they can't be chopping laboring delivery services left and right.

That's just because you know they're more worried about a profit center than our people, and we have to walk that back.

If they want to do business in this commonwealth, then they need to be serving all people.

Thank you, Senator Jordan.

I I couldn't echo that more because you know, right now you can't deliver a baby in the city of Portsmouth.

And that's a city of almost a hundred, a city of almost a hundred thousand people.

That's not acceptable.

It's not acceptable.

And that's what I was saying.

You know, we have to look at the way we put these CO, these certificates of public need and all that stuff.

There has to be some stipulations that keep them locked in because without that, they're gonna play the political game and do what they do.

But that's another story, but I agree with you 100%.

So I want to add one other thing on that issue.

We we we started a maternal health uh task force as your mom of bus.

We did this a lot of bills to try to continue to prove that one of the things that we have not been able to tackle is the COP and issue.

This we didn't get here in a day, we didn't get here in a year.

This took years to get what we are.

No, it's true.

We're trying to unpeel this onion right now to figure out how the heck did we get it to a place where a city like Portsmouth no longer has uh OBGYN services to be able to deliver babies and and from what I've talked to from you know our largest provider here, it's just super expensive.

They're having a very difficult time.

I mean, it is what it is.

It is super expensive.

We need to have we need to have a conversation with them so we can really understand what it is, what's their challenges, and is there some and are there some incentives or a package of incentives that we can put in place to get them where they need to feel comfortable that they won't, you know, this won't be a lost leader for them.

You know, at the end of the day, they still we need them to be successful.

We need them to be that we have a model where they have to be profitable.

That's our health care model that they have to be able to make ends meet.

So we need to have a blunt conversation with them in partnership with the city and the legislature so we can get them in a position where they can work with the city, and I don't think we're there right.

I don't think we're there yet, but I think we can get there, but I think it's gonna require some really rolling up the sleeves and having a very, very, very tough conversation.

You know, the commonwealth last year, we allocated over 88 million dollars.

We have a huge budget.

Uh Portsman's got Portsmouth's did very well over the last couple of years.

We've done well over close to 200 million dollars in budget items, which is unheard of in a short amount of time for the city of Portsmouth.

I don't know if we're gonna get there again, but we we're there now, and I think we're in a good place.

I think some of these initiatives that y'all have in place are very, very well thought out since I've been here.

Uh and so I've only been elected since 2020.

So this is this was obviously starting my seventh session.

This is like the last cycle in this cycle of the two best cycles that I've worked with with the city of Portsmouth and understanding your priorities and where y'all want it to be.

And so it makes it really easy for us to identify your needs and put them in the in the queue.

You know what I mean?

So we had some things in the queue last time, we got them passed, one was vetoed, that goes back to the front of the queue for us.

We'll get that.

I feel confident we'll get that done.

There's some other items in here that we have to figure out where they fit in in the overall strategy, and we're looking at what the revenues are for the state.

We'll get that um this year, we'll get that next month from the governor.

We have some indication right now where we are.

Once we see where our revenues are, see what the Medicaid impacts will be for the year, see what we anticipate.

Both Senate appropriations and house appropriations have a more um, I guess more realistic view of where we are with the economy.

They expect some shortfalls.

The governor's giving a presentation that he believes that will a more a more rosier outlook.

Um, we'll see where he comes in with his budget, and then we'll take a look at that.

And as Delegate Hayes says we kind of start over, you know, we kind of look at what he says.

We may look at his revenue, we may look at his spending, and then we kind of take those numbers and reallocate where that goes, and we'll do that, and then uh we'll come back and meet with y'all.

I think it was very helpful last year.

I think the mayor came up last year and a couple other folks.

I think it was very helpful.

The city manager came up to kind of keep us on track, keeping track where you are.

I think the squeaky will give the oil in this business.

And so hopefully folks will continue to keep on pace, because that helps us make the argument.

I'll people coming in, we need to make sure that we're looking out for them.

So hopefully y'all will come in, meet with the senator, meet with delegate Hayes, meet with Senator Lucas, and hopefully keep us all on track and help us tell the story to the rest of General Center.

Portmas has been neglected for a while.

It's time for us to be able to help show up some of these infrastructure issues.

Um I think y'all have y'all have identified the right things that we need.

With that.

Mr.

Carter, sure, you have the floor.

Um first of all, thank you guys.

That's natural take people taking the time out today to come and spend some time with us.

Uh, two things.

One is on the maternal health issue.

Um, as I've started to look into this, uh, we've been in the situation where we are where we can't, or women can have babies in Portsmouth for some time there.

We're we're passing the five-year point of that.

We're getting to the point now where there's gonna be a whole generation of people that was not born in Portsmouth.

I think that's that's that's really something to say if you think about that.

A whole generation of people that won't have any birth in Portsmouth.

But the other thing before the real one asked you was what is it that you need from us?

Uh let me know where you need me to come.

I'll I'll do whatever I gotta do to get there.

If there's something else that we can do uh to accelerate this move this forward, uh let me know.

And we're willing to do what's necessary to make it happen.

I would say um, unlike you know, the other localities, this window that we have right now with the leadership at the General Assembly is very unique.

And we shouldn't take that for granted.

And I don't think any other locality will look at what's been happening and be curious about why.

I think they'll all recognize where this leadership is, and just say that's what you expect from a city with that leadership.

Upon the maternal health thing, I think it's gonna we got to think outside the box.

Yeah.

We'll need some public-private partnership.

It's not gonna be a government solution.

So we gotta start thinking outside the box.

I've already begun to talk to manufacturers and others.

We gotta, that's why we got, I mean, I'm on there's some things in the works, but we gotta have a convening to see what people's advertising are, but we gotta, it's not gonna be the state can make it happen.

It's gonna be the state plus state plus the city.

So we definitely have to be some some for-profit providers as well as some some non-profit foundation.

We need a combination of folks to make this happen.

So I think we gotta start thinking outside the body.

If we're serious about getting this fixed, so that's the market districts.

already begun to talk to manufacturers and others gotta that's why we gotta I mean I'm on if things in the work but we gotta have a convenience it's not going to stay can make it happen for me to stay plus they public definitely have to be some some some for profit providers as well as some some nonprofit foundation we need a combination of both to make this happen so I think we gotta start thinking I thought about the face private watch to make it happen it's a very large rural and urban issue that we've known for a while's been diligent on the rural health care piece and um it's you know urban setting issue as well it's gonna take a minute I know I I know it didn't get here overnight because we're not gonna get out of this overnight all of it's gonna be a whole generation just so the citizens know we are already engaged in that process with our providers we've met with the local leadership in the healthcare industry on both sides of the water we we understand too to Mr Speaker's point it is going to take us thinking out of the box with different types of birthing options right um bringing in different players to the table that we haven't had in the past and they're reaching out as well so we're gonna engage we're gonna get full in um I I'm not gonna single out my my two uh lady council council persons but they're intimately involved and want to be heading up that effort so I I expect that you are going to be hearing a lot more because they have a voice and we all plan to you forward to it so if that's if that's do you have anything else you're just in closing I just wanted to thank the city council for all of your support and your help throughout this whole legislative session I want to thank my committee members my panel committee members for all of what y'all have done to make this today and moving forward I want to thank our city manager for all of his support I definitely want to thank my delegation members that are present and those who'm not for all of your support and your input and as well as your professional staff that I could not do without and I thank you for all of your help and happy Thanksgiving everybody that you're here for your leadership and if I may I want to acknowledge once again thank you Speaker Scott Senator Jordan and Delegate Hayes we can't get the work done without you also want to acknowledge our our legislative committee uh Mr Tillage and Mr Hugo and everybody on council for all of the input that you have provided we look forward to continued success as we move forward and if there's anything that we can do at the local level in support of your efforts please let us know thank you thank you and happy Thanksgiving to you and you're until Senator Lucas we hope she feels better soon I will my daughter perfectly might want to take a five minutes break uh fix that probably thank you so much how you do how you do it

Okay, we saw the meeting back to order, and Manager Carter, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mayor.

The only thing I have left is the overview.

Uh tonight we have a couple of public hearings.

First is proposed uh citywide code amendment to uh for the Chesapeake Preservation Area Overlay District.

This amendment brings our orders into alignment with state requirements by incorporating climate change and sea level rise impact assessment and to project reviews within our resource protection areas.

The planning commission recommends approval on that one.

In summary, uh items include a donation to say um social services and funding for judicial personnel bonuses, uh medical water system testing, they say grant for a damn safety engineering at Lake Kilby, has matter reimbursements, and several BHS appropriations supporting peer services, supporting uh supportive housing, workforce development, and major facility repairs.

Collectively, these actions re reflect over five million dollars in external for designated funding coming into the city.

Authorizations to reconvey school water pond properties associated with the MLK extension and the approval of city's uh 2026 legislative package, which we just uh talked about.

There's several items related to the Portsmouth School Systems, all involve rip reappropriation of previously approved but unspent FY25 funds for FY26.

These reappropriations include Food Services Fund, Portsmouth General Fund, Portsmouth Grant Fund, risk management fund, and the textbook fund in total these actions in total for these actions approximately 30 million dollars in carryover uh funding that Portsmouth will continue to use in the current fiscal year.

That concludes their overview and third court.

Thank you, manager Carter with any questions.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

So similarly to what we did last month, I would propose to my colleagues that we bundle all of the city manager report items, move to bundle and vote those items as one item and then and then take that one vote as a consent agenda.

That's also known as the Moody Bundle.

I'll never let y'all forget the even when I'm gone trade market.

Moody rule trade marketing.

We have no uh speakers that have asked to speak to any of the CMR items.

So we don't have to exclude anything from the yes, sir.

And basically it's two motions that's gonna happen.

You're gonna have the one motion to move to change the order of business to consider the city manager's report items and those items that fall under the city manager's report as one vote.

Correct.

So you'll have that motion, you'll get a second and then you'll vote.

I will read all the items, so be patient with me.

And then we will have a second motion, which is to adopt those items, and then we'll get a second annual vote, and you'll be done with that.

And then we'll move on to the agenda.

Is that okay with everyone?

Yes.

You all were provided with your boards and commissions information last night.

I've given Councilman Hugo the paperwork he had his, but I gave him another copy.

So he'll read those at the appropriate time for you to vote on it for that item.

And the one item that isn't on that list is the clean commission, council liaison assignment.

So I'll add that at the end.

Yes.

And I assume we don't have to talk CIPSA since that's already nominations.

Yes, sir.

And that letter is in the mail.

You all have a copy of it in your mailbox.

Okay.

Any uh other business to conduct?

Councilman Hugo.

Yeah, mayor, so I got three council liaison reports.

First, uh EDA.

So at the most recent EDA meeting, the EDA voted to approve a process to do small business loans in the amount of ten to fifty thousand dollars uh to basically provide a low interest loan to all to allow small businesses that need working capital to have access to working capital at below the market rate.

So they hired a contractor to oversee that process.

Uh they put a quarter of a million dollars into that process as uh as seed money, and their hope is that uh as they dole out loans and the loans are repaid that the that it becomes a revolving fund that replenishes itself through uh through loan payment process.

So that's EDA liaison report.

Uh PPIC liaison report.

Uh during this past month, the PPIC, several members of PBIC toured the American cruise line ship that docks at High Street Landing.

Uh we did that.

So this the chief operating officer of American Cruise Lines actually lives in Old Town.

And uh one of the PPIC members connected with him, made arrangements for us to tour the ship.

We provided a tour by the captain of the vessel uh on a Saturday afternoon.

Uh, and uh and we we spoke to him about uh you know what's what's the relationship between American cruise lines and Portsmouth, how's that working?

Right now, American Cruise Line stops here, uh, but we're not a uh starting point for cruises.

Uh and so we we talked through that, got some ideas from them.

Uh those ideas are gonna come from the PPIC primarily through uh director Donahue into our waterfront development discussions because the the thing that I think that we took away from those discussions is if we were to provide fresh water and sewage connections on the waterfront for the cruise line, uh that that that would be uh uh shore services that they're not provided in most other locations, and that would cause them to consider um uh bringing uh their business uh uh to Portsmouth.

The importance of uh of having us as a initiation point is the folks that go cruising would fly in beforehand, stay in stay in our hotel or hotels, eat in our restaurants until the cruise ship got here, uh, because what what we saw during the cruise, the uh the kind of their mission, the cruise mission is to provide five-star accommodations including on the ship.

So when they pull in, they go ashore and enjoy shore excursions, but they don't stay here and they don't eat here because they've already paid for a bed and they've already paid for top-notch meals, and so they tend not to to spend money in our hospitality places uh other than uh walking tours and whatnot.

The other thing that we did was connect uh feedback from them into our tourism group to see if there are other opportunities for us to provide for local shore excursions so that they don't come to Portsmouth and walk down High Street Landing and get on a bus to go to Moffat or Williamsburg or who knows where.

Uh but we want to find things to do that are gonna keep them here in downtown Portsmouth and joy enjoy the uh that the attributes that we have.

Okay, that's PPIC.

Third item, uh military affairs committee.

So uh at the most recent Military Affairs Committee, uh we had feedback from all three military installations thanking Portsmouth for the provisions that we made during the shutdown to allow their workforce that were not getting paid to defer their utility payments.

Uh the the CEOs told us when we told our workforce if you live in Portsmouth that that there's Portsmouth is trying to accommodate the fact that you're not getting paid.

The feedback they got was uh it's great to live in Portsmouth, and all the folks that worked for them that didn't live in Portsmouth were kind of grumping that uh how come nobody did that for us.

So well done to uh to Mr.

Carter and the team for accommodating our uh government employees that were working without pay.

That's it.

Councilman Dotson.

Actually, my questions to uh Councilman Hugo, when will the details of the loan program uh be forthcoming?

Um they're they're available now.

Uh so I guess we'll we'll uh maybe uh ask uh economic development office push those out.

But access to the loan application process is available now on the city website according to the brief we got at EDA uh last week.

We can get you some more information on that, just put it in a report by I would think that would be something that we would uh want to uh share with the with the public with the business community uh other than just putting it on the website.

Yeah, and there was I'm sure there'll be a lot of questions and everything from the you know the the selection process uh also the uh how the loans gonna be secured, what have you.

So stay tuned.

Stay tuned.

with the public with the business community uh other than just putting it on the website yeah and there was I'm sure there'll be a lot of questions and everything from you know the the selection process uh also the uh how the lumens gonna be secured what have you so stay tuned stay tuned yeah also coming out of the PPIC meeting for the uh water and sewer hookup was that uh economic development was inspired to consider uh putting more than just one hookup in there so they're looking into the feasibility of expanding it along our waterfront as we look at our waterfront development to possibly bring up more cruise lines in the economic I'm just glad that economic development was inspired this trip whoever arranged it thank you very much that was a worthwhile excursion to get us out on that boat to see what's going on especially to get the city employees there to see what's going on we also have some interest uh from the uh community too that is expressing an interest in developing excursions so I want to spread the word out to you guys if you know anywhere that anybody that runs a business one of the ones that inspired me is when I went on some trips to Ireland was making rings making silver rings just the way we can get off and make your own silver ring anything like that that we can advertise to these excursions to build that experience for them that doesn't involve food um you have some business connections uh even I would be appreciative of hearing about it if you if you can't get the word out there thank you sir couple of things anybody else have anything I did want to add um councilman hugel and myself met with the school board chairman um and one of the school board members Ms.

Sessums um just to kind of begin to build a relationship I think it was ultimately a good meeting we we came away with some takeaways and and and so the first takeaway was the mayor and the school board chair will have a monthly roundup to kind of talk about what's happening and share information with both organizations in addition to that we talked about perhaps doing a retreat uh with the school board as well as the council probably in the first quarter which will enable us to not talk about dollars um but talk about really the relationships and what things we can help them with and how they can help us to tell a message you know we hear coming constantly we have a messaging problem well if it's a messaging problem with our schools it's a messaging problem with our city we're all in this together so if we're gonna change the image and the message we all need to be talking from the same uh sheet of music so we determined that that was important to all of us so we're gonna move in that way certainly you'll hear more about the engagement but it was very positive on both sides we recognize do that we need each other and we won't be the city we desire to be if we don't work well together on all those fronts so good good stuff uh stay tuned for that uh we're working and I want you all to know that you guys are doing the work I know that Mr.

Carter had a a meeting remember the new policy we we started with the nonprofits in order to apply for uh funding Mr.

Carter had a meeting it went extremely well I can tell you I stopped in a meeting it was over at the children's museum probably over a hundred close to a hundred participants 50 to 100 in the room and the feedback that I heard back from those folks thank you all for providing that kind of information much to your point uh vice mayor in this rollout of this micro loan program micro lending I'll call it our program that's important the messaging how we deliver it and when we do that we create more advocates right doesn't mean that they're gonna get what they think they may get but they're gonna know what they need to know in order to apply and that makes us all look better so thank each and every one of you for the work you put in I'm also on the uh retirement um liaison to the retirement I went this last meeting I ex it expressed uh Mr.

Alexander's concern for some of the funding uh to them to which they seem seemed oblivious that uh there were some concerns and our end and they were hungry for a little bit more information on what our rank was so I'm trying to provide them um with that information and to one other uh report this from personnel committee so the last time we met to talk about the compliance against our new ordinance uh you all asked the personnel committee to meet with commissioner of the revenue and with city treasurer and so the mayor and I had meetings with both of those folks the along with city manager uh I'd say both meetings were positive we we could talk through uh um the gist of the discussion that we had and and uh asked uh uh them to uh to work collaboratively with us to uh to to work on those compliance issues and and got uh commitments from both so I think both of those meetings were uh were positive yeah anything else well that being everything um for the good of this meeting it's adjourned we'll see everybody at seven o'clock p.m

Good evening, citizens of Portsmouth, invited guests and all who are in attendance.

Want to welcome you to our Portsmouth City Council meeting.

First of all, let me acknowledge as I have already our guests and also our city staff who is with us today in support of this meeting.

In addition to that, I want to acknowledge our leadership on council who is here with us and our city manager, Mr.

Stephen Carter, our interim city attorney, Mr.

Derek Challenger, and our city clerk, Miss Deborah White.

Thank you all for being here this evening.

And just for the information to the public, we are experiencing a little technical difficulty with our electronic voting apparatus.

So we will be calling out the vote in a voice manner.

Present.

Dr.

Dotson.

Mr.

Hugo.

Present.

Present.

Mr.

Tillich.

Here.

Here.

And I know I'm a little out of order, but in any event, we have called the role.

And now I will ask our friend Dr.

or Pastor Martha Provo from Faith, our St.

Mark Deliverance Center, excuse me, to please come forward and provide our prayer, and afterwards we will have the pledge of allegiance.

Thank you.

Please stand.

We thank you for being the wise God.

Remind us when two or three are gathered together, you are in the midst.

So we pray over leadership.

We ask you to touch our mayor.

Each and every council member that's here.

God touch the police department, the fire department.

We are in need, God, of your hand to be upon each and every one.

This is not a simple job, but we know that you, if we cry out unto you, that you would touch the hearts and mind of the citizens.

God give them clarity.

Open the hearts and mind that as they guide us through whatever is needed for the city, that God, they would do it with love.

They would do it for understanding.

Whatever we do here, God, we do it for your glory.

Whatever we say, we say it for your glory.

Amen.

And amen.

And to the republic for which it stands.

One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you again, Pastor Provo, for that prayer.

We have called the roll.

Now we will move to the minutes.

And we have the minutes of a called meeting on October 27th, 2025.

A called meeting on October 28th, 25.

And also a regular meeting on October 28th, 2025.

And a special meeting on November 3rd, 2025.

Do we have a motion to approve the minutes?

Move adoption.

Second.

We have a motion and second.

Madam Clerk, would you please call the role?

Yes, sir.

Ms.

Bryant.

Yes.

Dr.

Datson.

Yes.

Mr.

Hugel.

Aye.

Mr.

Moody.

Yes.

Ms.

Thomas.

Mr.

Tillage?

Yes.

Mayor Clever.

Yes.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Next item on the agenda are special presentations.

And we have a presentation of our Calia certificate.

I will now ask the Chief of Police, Chief Stephen Jenkins, and Ms.

Tonya Hopkins and Mr.

Travis Parrish to be please join me up front.

Good evening.

Mayor Glover, uh, Vice Mayor Moody, Mr.

Carter, Council of Members and Citizens of Portsmouth.

On behalf of the Commission on Accreditation of Law for Law Enforcement Agencies, the Commission Chair and Superintendent of the Colorado State Police, Colonel Matthew Packard, and Executive Director Craig Hartley, Calia is honored to be here, recognizing Chief Jenkins and the men and women of the Portsmouth Police Department.

To provide a little background, CALIA was created in 1979 when the founding organizations, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriff's Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum recognized a need within the law enforcement community during a period in time not unlike what we have experienced as a nation over the last several years to develop professional standards to enhance the delivery of police services to citizens throughout the community they served.

Since its inception, CALIA has accredited agencies under standards developed by many of the best public safety practitioners and leaders of our time.

The standards are reviewed continuously to ensure each is current and remains relevant.

These standards cover a wide range of administrative, operational, and logistical issues and serve as a modern management model that provides the framework for recognizing professional excellence within public safety.

City leaders and citizens should take effort or should take comfort, I'm sorry, in the fact that its police department have voluntarily committed to operating at a higher level that we call the gold standard under a set of rigorous law enforcement standards.

The goals of CALEA are to strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities, formalize essential management procedures, establish fair and non-discriminatory personnel practices, improve service delivery, solidify interagency cooperation and coordination, and increase community and staff confidence in the agency.

Based on the goals and mission statement of CALEA, I can think of no better time or place to present this accreditation certificate to the agency than at a public meeting, where all can share and recognize the hard work this agency committed to remain accredited.

The certificate itself is simply matted paper with a frame, but it has a much broader symbolic meaning.

Their certificate clearly represents the agency's efforts to achieve accredited status, thereby demonstrating its willingness to change in order to effectively address contemporary public safety concerns.

It represents a commitment to doing the right thing and doing it the right way.

Lastly, it represents an ongoing dedication to ensuring the agency's resources are appropriately developed, effectively deployed, and constantly managed, all in the name of a safer community for workers, visitors, and customers.

In March and April of this year, Calia Sessors visited the Portsmouth Police Department and reviewed the agency's applicable files, activities, functional impacts, and management strategies as they relate to CALIA's required 462 standards.

At the Commission meeting held in Little Rock, Arkansas, August 9th, 2025, CALIA Commissioners reviewed the assessor's report, concurred with their findings, and unanimously voted to approve the Portsmouth Virginia Police Department Law Enforcement Advanced Accreditation.

It is if it is okay with the council at this time, I'd like to invite Chief Jenkins as well as members of his command and accreditation staff that are present to please come forward to receive the CALIA law enforcement advanced accreditation certificate.

I'll try and do it so I can everybody can see up.

Thank you so much.

Be it hereby known that the Portsmouth, Virginia Police Department, having fully demonstrated its voluntary commitment to law enforcement excellence by living up to a body of standards deemed essential to the protection of the life, health, and safety and rights of the citizens it serves, and having exemplified the best professional practices in the in the conduct of its responsibilities, is hereby upon the recommendation of the members of the commission award this certificate of advanced accreditation, effective on the ninth day of August 2025, and is recognized as an accredited law enforcement agency for a period of four years.

Congratulations, sir.

I'll just be brief.

So first and foremost, uh thanks everybody for the applause.

We very much appreciate it.

This is a uh a long time in the coming uh for us to be able to stand here and and accept this accreditation as a police department.

Uh a lot of hard work has gone uh gone on behind the scenes for a number of years to get us to this point.

Uh I cannot uh hesitate to thank Ms.

Hopkins, who is our accreditation manager, but more importantly, all of the men and women of of uh the Portsmouth Police Department who believe that we could get here to this point.

Uh it is a uh a milestone that we uh we are looking for to uh help propel us into the best police department in the state of Virginia.

That is our goal, uh and this is just uh one of the founding pieces to get us to that point.

So again, thank you, sir, for coming and helping us present this.

Thank you for all of your efforts.

Thank you to the men and women of the police department, thank you to the council, mayor, city manager, for believing we could get to this point.

Uh, but again, celebration stops.

Uh now the work continues as we look to get better.

Thank you all again.

And if I may, you you know the credit doesn't belong to any of us.

The credit truly belongs to the leadership of our chief, Chief Steve Jenkins and Ms.

Hopkins, and all of the men and women that serve the city of Portsmouth.

I just want to tell you, I could not be more proud of our police department.

These folks have put in the work, have worked as a team, and unbeknownst to many of us have gotten this done first time in the history of our police department.

I think you all do you should really give these folks a chance to understand what this means to you.

So if we could give them another round of applause, I would greatly appreciate that.

See, because what what what we're doing in our city, we're not just changing attitudes, we're elevating opportunities.

And that's opportunity to be the best that you can be.

And yes, we are not there yet, but as I said to the chief and to all my colleagues on council and Mr.

Carter, our our city manager, we are improving not only our people, but our community one day at a time.

Thank you, Chief.

Continued success.

Mr.

Parrish, we greatly appreciate you being here in our presence today.

Love to be here again in four years.

Absolutely.

Thank you, guys.

Our next presentation for our next presentation, I'll hand it over and turn it over to Mr.

Carter.

We will be acknowledging our graduating class of government 101.

Good evening.

Thank you, Mayor.

For all of the members of the Government 101 class, uh, we will have your uh presentation made in a moment.

I'm gonna ask Dr.

Coleman if he will come forth.

Where did we go?

Oh, there he is.

He's going to call names myself and the mayor.

We're gonna uh stand and take pictures with you.

We'll have a group picture at the end.

But again, thank you so much for spending so much of your time with us this fall.

This is a is a heavy lift that we've asked people to do, and they made a commitment, and these are the ones who have gone through and completed that commitment.

So thank you for your commitment to yourselves to our city, and thank you for spending that much time with us and allowing us to share what Portsmouth is with you.

All right, let's go.

Here we go.

Sharon Anderson.

All right, we'll know.

All right, thank you.

Congratulations.

Amber Key Bolden.

That's a cheering section.

Stanley Bryant.

Thank you, sir.

Robert Campbell, Junior.

Elizabeth Colin.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Eric Cook.

Good job, sir.

Monique Dalty.

I don't want to trouble it.

James Dole the Second.

Denzel Glover.

Good job, sir.

Rodney Granger.

Christian Harris.

Christian Harris.

Johnson.

Make you famous, Miss Johnson.

Monica Mayfield.

Mia Moore.

Kalia Moses.

Tracy Pierce.

Chantel Porter.

Brenda Porter Rockwell.

Mona.

All right.

Mona Watkins.

Very good.

Dr.

Aisha Williamson.

Hey, got one more.

Everybody come back, we're going to take a group picture together.

Did we miss anyone that didn't check in?

No?

Okay.

Come on up for a group photo.

Just line up, line up across the front.

There you go.

Yes, sir.

There you go.

No, stand up.

You can see the camera, the camera can see you.

Okay.

I think we're going to just shift towards the here, so we don't have to go to the end.

I can't see you.

Oh, sorry.

Yeah.

All right, good.

Once again, I want to thank everyone for participating in the government one oh one program.

Right now we have all these new ambassadors to go out and promote the city of Portsmouth.

And we're excited about that.

So thank you all once again.

Moving to the next item.

And Madam Clerk, would you please read the speaker's statement?

Ladies and gentlemen, City Council rules require a limit of up to five minutes to speak.

As you approach the speaker's podium, you will notice a timer.

At the beginning of your five minutes, you will see a green light.

Four minutes into your remarks, you will notice a yellow light.

At the end of five minutes, you will see a red light here beep, and we ask you to conclude your comments at that time.

While speakers have an opportunity to address council on matters of public concern, all comments should be made in a manner that respects the seriousness of the form and should not be made in a belligerent, sarcastic or demeaning fashion.

All remarks shall be directed to the city council as a body rather than any particular member of City Council staff for the audience and should be limited to matters that only the Portsmouth City Council can influence.

A speaker who fails to observe this basic rule of decorum will be deemed out of order, not allowed to conclude his or her comments.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Next item is public hearings.

Item 25-331.

First item item A.

CA 25-01.

And Madam Clerk, would you please read the public hearing ordinance we are considering at this time?

Yes, sir.

Ordinance granting the request of the City of Portsmouth proposes to amend City Code Chapter 9.1, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Overlay District Ordinance to include provisions to assess the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on proposed land development in the resource protection area during the project review process as required by the Virginia State Code 9 VAC 25 830-155.

Planning Commission recommends approval.

The actual ordinance reads and ordinance amending and reordaining Chapter 9.1 Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Overlay District of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia for the purpose of making amendments required by state law, including implementing criteria for resiliency to be included in the performance standards for development and resource protection areas.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Do we have the applicant or the presenter here?

Is that the city?

So Dr.

Russell, ma'am, you have the floor.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Good evening, everyone.

Okay, well, we will make this brief because we are required to adopt these proposed amendments.

The Virginia General Assembly adopted amendments to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act or the Bay Act and is requiring localities that have Chesapeake Bay programs to amend our respective ordinances to address resiliency and to be included in performance standards in primarily in our resource protection area.

The City of Portsmouth proposes to amend chapter 9.1 of the Portsmouth City Code to address these proposed amendments.

And we were required to adopt the proposed amendments to our Chesapeake Bay Ordinance, which impact our Chesapeake Bay program by October 31st.

And the graphic before you delineates the extent of those buffer areas.

So the resource protection area is from the is measured from the furthest landward delineation of the environmental features, which include non-title wetlands, tidal wetlands, and state waters and measures 100 feet wide.

And then our resource buffer area extends from the resource protection area and additional 100 feet.

First, create an exemption for living shorelines or the creation of living shorelines for shoreline stabilization.

And then secondly, the standards requiring preservation of mature trees and woody vegetation in our resource protection areas.

So in short, it will become more challenging to get exemptions for development of even the landward 50 feet in the resource protection area.

And again, we're required to do this per the code of Virginia.

With respect to development in the resource protection area, we're describing it as more challenging because of the requirement, the permitting requirement, and the documentation that is required.

And so either a minor or major water quality impact assessment will be required to develop property within the 50 landwork feet of the resource protection area.

In addition to that minor water quality impact assessment, a resiliency assessment will be required for development, and those elements in the resilient resiliency assessment have to address sea level rise, flooding, and storm surge with respect to how the development proposal will impact the property as well as development within the buffer area.

Additional amendments in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance address requirements of the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Provision Act.

And then lastly, but equally important is the proposed amendment reaffirms the Chesapeake Bay Preservation District map for the city of Portsmouth, which delineates our buffer areas, our resource protection area, our resource management area, and those properties that are designated as intensely developed area, meaning they're significantly hardened and more than 50% impervious and have a less stringent development standard.

And so with that, we'd like to just share that our timeline for adoption of the ordinance began in September.

Uh, with your approval this evening, we will be in compliance with the requirements of the code of Virginia, and I'd be more than happy to answer any questions from council at this time.

Are there any questions for my colleagues on council?

Seeing none.

Dr.

Russell, I do have one question, and and for my information and that the public well, why is this important?

Why why is this important the chest the the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act?

Well, well, the ordinance and why is it important to go through this process and do what we do because I just think some people may not understand why it's important.

Okay.

So I'll take that to mean why why is the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act important?

Correct.

And and uh when asked similarly at the Planning Commission level, uh the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act in total with uh localities in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, any um communities that impact um Chesapeake Bay because of development, the water quality is improved by being sensitive to the water quality and quantity impacts of development and the pollutant load that discharges into these water bodies as a result of development activity.

So I I graduated college in 1989, that's when the the Chesapeake Bay Act uh provisions in the code came online.

They were my first planning related projects, and at that time, because they were my first projects, I remember them, right?

So at the time, the water quality of the bay was a score of D.

So 1989.

So 2025, the water quality score of the bay is a C.

And so it is improving, but it is a slow path forward.

Um, and as we collectively continue to be ever present with respect to the development, development quality, the impact of development, and very diligent inforcing the regulations that score which relates specifically to improvement of water quality of the bay will improve.

Now, if you are an outdoorsman, and even if you're not an outdoorsman, if you just like being around water and seeing the vegetation and um uh waterfowl and um just appreciating the outdoors parks amenities that have uh water influence, the quality of that uh water impacts your experience.

Thank you, ma'am.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, this is a public hearing, and you are not required to have signed up to come speak on this public hearing item.

Dotson yes Mr.

Hugo Aye Mr.

Moody Yes Ms.

Thomas is absent Mr.

Tillage Yes Mayor Glover Yes Thank you this is adopted six zero next item item B UP-25-09 and Madam Clerk would you please read the public hearing resolution we are considering for this item yes sir resolution granting the request of urban life substance abuse and outpatient services for a use permit to operate a drug and alcohol treatment facility at 21 Royal Street in the urban residential zoning district the property is owned by a KIA ended investments and holdings LP the future land use map of the Bill 1 Porsche comprehensive plan designates this property for low to medium density single family residential uses planning commission recommends denial and the resolution before you is a resolution granting a use permit UP 2509 to T Coleman to operate a drug and alcohol treatment facility at 21 Royal Street the applicant obviously is present how are you all good great great good good to see you this evening um state your name and address sir and you will have 10 minutes to present okay my name is Joe Hector and this is the owner uh Mr.

Leon Battle and um we're actually um talking you know in um urban life subsidies program it's a 3.1 um group home program that will be operating on Rod Street and for 3.1 program is actually a group home for it's a follow-up care for when individuals going to inpatient services and it's a follow-up care to rehabilitate those individuals so the those individuals have been treated um they're coming back into the home they'd be living there for at least about 90 days um which insurance give you about 90 days so they could have a routine and they would develop self-sufficiency learn how to um have employment services will be helping them there and we also be doing psychoeducational groups and those psychedicational groups would evolve relapse prevention those psycheducation groups will also be dealing with developing um healthy coping skills those psychoeducation groups will be also doing a CBT care which is cognitive behavioral therapy helping them develop those you know restructuring the thinking and also doing with mindfulness techniques as well and we also would have case management there to assist individuals uh with the employment to show them how to complete application if they don't know how to do those things and how to go online and um those individuals like to say would be there we'd be also teaching them how to have a structure of nutritional needs as well within the facility um I know there were concerns about um parking and it was saying that would be probably like in the street but well there was actually there's actually room within the yard where the staff members could park their their vehicles right just to give you a clear vision of that excuse me sir could you please move to the microphone so we can hear you yes yes and just to give you a clearer vision of that how that would look actually it would only be six people at a time you know uh and as as far as parking is concerned the only parking would be the staff and that's one staff member I would provide public transportation form the focus is on programming so there'll be no visitation on and off the street uh it's uh if you're familiar with the group home then that's really exactly what it is it's just not you know intellectual disabilities it's substance abuse okay are there any questions from my colleagues on council thank you that there are no questions yeah ladies and gentlemen once again this is a public hearing you are not required to have signed up to speak on this public hearing item if you do wish to come forward please state your name and address and you will have five minutes seeing none this public hearing item is closed council members we are in need of a motion and a second move to deny second any further discussion seeing none madam clerk would you please call the role yes sir miss bryant yes Dr.

Seeing none, this public hearing item is closed.

Council members, we are in need of a motion and a second.

Move to deny.

Second.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll?

Yes, sir.

Ms.

Bryant.

Yes.

Dr.

Dotson.

All right.

Mr.

Hugo.

Mr.

Moody.

Yes.

Ms.

Thomas is absent.

Mr.

Tillage?

Yes.

Mayor Glover.

Yes.

This item is denied 600.

Moving to our next item on the agenda, the city manager's report.

Mayor, like to make a motion.

He needs this mic.

Mr.

Moody, your mic, is your mic on, sir?

Yeah, probably.

Gotta pull it up a little bit.

Thank you.

Mayor, I move to change the order of business to consider the city manager's report items 25 through 332 through 25 through 348 as one vote.

You have a second.

Second.

You have a motion and a second.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Yes, sir, Miss Bryant.

Yes.

Dr.

Dotson.

Yes.

Mr.

Hugo.

Aye.

Mr.

Moody.

Yes.

Ms.

Thomas is absent.

Mr.

Tillage?

Yes.

Mayor Glover.

Yes.

Thank you.

Yes.

Adopted 60.

Mayor, I move to adopt items.

Wait, wait, wait.

Oh, that's right.

Okay.

So long.

Okay.

Adoption of an ordinance accepting with appreciation a donation of $100 from the Todd Order Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention Incorporated and appropriated SEP funds in the FY 2026 Social Services Fund for use by the Department of Social Services to support foster children at Christmas.

Adoption of an ordinance appropriating miscellaneous revenue in the amount of $6,000 to the judicial section of the FY 2026 general fund budget for the payment of one-time personnel bonuses to circuit court judicial assistance.

Adoption of an ordinance accepting settlement funds in the amount of 288,215 and 13 cents from PFAS settlement with the 3M Company and appropriating set amount in the FY 2026 public utilities fund for use by the Department of Public Utilities for water supply testing and treatment and other authorized uses under the terms of the settlement.

Adoption of an ordinance accepting a dam safety flood prevention and protection assistance fund grant in the amount of 334,117 from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and appropriating set amount in the dams upgrade project in the water category of the FY 2026 Capital Improvement Fund Budget for the preliminary engineering report necessary to evaluate the spillway at Lake Kilby Dam.

Adoption of a resolution approving the 2025 edition of the emergency operation plan for the city of Portsmouth.

Adoption of an ordinance accepting has mat response cost recovery funds and the amount of $4,636 and 41 cents from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and appropriating set amount in the FY 2026 grant fund for use by the Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services for the South Side Regional Hazardous Materials Team.

Adoption of an ordinance accepting step VA peer and family support funding and the amount of $92,000 from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and appropriating set funds in the FY 2026 Behavioral Health Care Service Fund for use by BHS to provide peer and family support services.

Adoption of an ordinance accepting permanent supportive housing funding in the amount of $830,462 from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development of Services and appropriating SEF funds in the FY 2026 Behavioral Health Care Service Fund for use by BHS to provide stable long-term housing and supportive services.

Adoption of an ordinance accepting funding in the amount of 200,000 from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and appropriating SAT funds in the FY 2026 Behavioral Health Care Service Fund for Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative.

Adoption of an ordinance appropriating $3,460,000 from the fund balance of the Behavioral Health Service Fund to the FY 2026 Behavioral Health Care Service Fund Budget and transferring said funds to the municipal facilities of the FY 2026 Capital Improvement Fund Budget for the purpose of performing remodeling and roof repairs at BHS offices located at 1811 King Street and 2011 Queen Street.

Adoption of a resolution authorizing the reconveyance of properties containing stormwater ponds that serve the Martin Luther King extension to the Commonwealth of Virginia or designated agency.

Adoption of resolution approving the 2026 state legislative initiative package and the 2025 legislative initiatives package.

Adoption of an ordinance to reappropriate unexpended funds in the amount of 234,784 from the FY 2025 Portson Public Schools Food Service Fund Budget to the FY 2026 Porsim Public Schools Fund excuse me food service fund budget.

Adoption of an ordinance one to reappropriate encumbered unexpended funds in the amount of $12,960,928 from the FY 2025 Porsche and Public Schools General Fund Budget to the FY 2026 Portsome Public Schools General Fund Budget and two to acknowledge the placement of 164,000 of unencumbered and unexpended funds from the FY 2022 Porsche and Public Schools General Fund Budget into the PPS Capital Reserve Fund.

Adoption of an onus to reappropriate unexpended funds in the amount of $13 million $18,724 from the FY 2025 Porcson Public Schools Grant Fund Budget to the FY 2026 Porsum Public Schools Grant Fund Budget.

Adoption of an ordinance to reappropriate unexpended funds in the amount of $3,010,593 from the FY 2025 Porcing Public Schools Risk Management Fund Budget to the FY 2026 Porcson Public Schools Risk Management Fund Budget.

Adoption of an ordinance to reappropriate unexpended funds in the amount of $1,709,379 from the FY 2025 Porsen Public Schools Textbook Fund to the FY 2026 Porsen Public Schools Textbook Budget.

Thank you, Madam Clerk and Council Members.

We're in need of a motion to adopt.

I move to adopt items 25 through 3325 348.

We have a motion in the second in the initial discussion.

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll?

Yes, sir, Miss Bryant.

Yes, Dr.

Dotson.

Yes.

Mr.

Hugel.

Mr.

Moody.

Yes.

Ms.

Thomas's absent.

Mr.

Tillich.

Yes.

Mayor Glover.

Yes.

This item is adopted 6-0.

Thank you, ma'am.

Our next item on the agenda, new business item 25-349.

Boards and commissions.

Councilman Hugo.

Yeah, thanks, Mr.

Mayor.

We have uh several reappointments and new appointments to discuss this evening.

Uh on the reappointment list for the historic preservation commission, Thomas Butt, Edwin Dagdagan, and Matthew Royce.

On the Museum and Fine Arts Commission, Rosa Jones Williams and Ronald Peterman.

On the library board, Stephanie Bristow.

On the Tidewater Youth Services Commission, Sunia Manga Mangalgalt Westbrook.

On the Board of Zoning Appeals, Danielle LaRue.

On Economic Development Authority, Teresa Saunders Smith.

On the Law Library Board, Michael Massey the Second and Stephanie Morales.

On Planning Commission, Keith Curry and Roy Melvin.

On Port, the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission, Angelia Allen.

For new board and commission appointments for the crime and gun violence prevention task force.

On the economic development authority, Heather Harkel Road.

On the library board, Alison Sublet.

And then one other appointment.

And uh and Councilman Tilledge has uh agreed to serve in that capacity.

Those are our nominations from four boards and commissions tonight, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councilman Hugo.

Uh you have heard the nominations.

Council members, we are in need of a motion and a second to accept the nomination.

A second you have a motion and a second.

Move to approve.

We've already had a move.

Oh, I'm sorry.

You're right.

I apologize.

Vice Mayor, thank you for the reminder.

Any additional discussion on the item.

Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll?

Yes, sir.

Miss Bryant.

Yes, Dr.

Dotson.

Yes.

Mr.

Hugel.

I Mr.

Moody.

Yes.

Mr.

Tillage.

Yes.

Mayor Glabber.

Yes.

This item is adapt at 6-0.

Next item, item 25-350.

Items submitted by council members.

Does anyone have any items to submit at this time?

Councilman Dodson, sir.

You have the floor.

Yeah, I just wanted to ask there's been a lot of discussion outside of the committees on a Harbor Master position.

I wanted to know if I could ask City Management for a position and a direction on that.

City Manager Carter, you have the floor.

We can consider that as we move through our new budget year.

So I'm not, I haven't had any discussions about it up to this point, but as we move forward, we can have that discussion.

If there's a if there's a need to create a position, then we can do that at the as we move across the budget year.

Thank you, sir.

Councilwoman Bryant, ma'am.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, give a couple notes of appreciation to our staff that um have been working very hard this season with several local events that have been aimed at raising up the community.

Um these included the Rock the Block event where staff came out to do litter pickup and meet with citizens and allow people in the neighborhood to um share concerns and and connect with city staff in ways to move their neighborhoods forward.

Um I also had the pleasure of attending awards and promotions for both the fire department and the police department, which was a very meaningful couple of ceremonies.

Um it's really important that we recognize the hard work of our public safety officials and um some of the stories that we heard were really remarkable about how brave our public safety officials are.

Um we've had uh countless Thanksgiving giveaways in our community over the last several weeks.

Councilman Tilledge led a wonderful initiative and our very own city staff gathered to give away 300 turkeys and Thanksgiving meals.

Um, and I want to especially thank our city manager and city staff for arranging that wonderful experience.

Our staff members volunteered that day to distribute that food.

Um it was just a wonderful experience, and several of us were there, and it was a pleasure to attend and really have an opportunity to connect with folks during this really meaningful week.

Um lastly, the mayor and councilwoman Thomas and I were able to bring our families on the Christmas parade in Norfolk at the Grand Illumination Parade, and our parks and rec team is just fantastic.

We are at the front of the parade, and we had the opportunity to be one of the first floats that the parade goers got to see.

We had snow bubbles that just delighted not just kids but everybody in attendance.

So Portsmouth brought the Snow Day Energy to Norfolk, and it did not go unrecognized.

It was a delightful experience.

But really, our Parks and Rec team worked so hard to make these holiday seasons special for our community.

And it it's just it's so wonderful.

As someone who's raising a family in Portsmouth, it these are the memories that we're gonna we're gonna carry with us for a very long time.

Um so that said, as we transition to the next holiday season, I of course want to wish you all a wonderful and happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Um we did get a notice today from our city clerk that the Virginia Symphony Orchestra is hosting a free holiday concert at Churchland High School on December 5th at 5 o'clock.

This is a wonderful opportunity to hear um musicians that are extremely talented um and it's free, so look for that on social media, and thank you.

Thank you, thank you all too for a wonderful first year of serving on council, our staff and and every single councilperson up here, including councilwoman Thomas, have just been hugely supportive, and I'm really grateful for all of you.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Councilman Tillich.

Oh anything.

Are you speaking for me?

Giving everybody an opportunity to do that.

Oh no, no, I'm good.

I'm coming.

I appreciate it.

Anybody else?

Vice Mayor.

Yeah, uh one uh mayor.

And I'm gonna read a statement.

Um, and uh I want everyone to know my colleagues and uh citizens of Portsmouth.

After a careful thought and consideration, I've decided that I will not seek an eighth term on the Portsmouth City Council.

Serving the residents of our city has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I'm deeply grateful for the trust and support the community has shown me over these many years.

The decision was not made lightly, however.

Uh I believe it's time, the right time for new voices, new energy, and new leadership to help guide Portsmouth forward.

I remain fully committed to fulfilling my responsibilities for the remainder of my term, and I will continue working to support policies and initiatives that strengthen our neighborhoods, improve quality of life, reduce the tax burden on our citizens, and build a brighter future for all of our residents.

I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to my colleagues through the years, city staff through the years, and a countless community members who partnered with me throughout my service uh on the city council.

Together we faced challenges, we've celebrated successes and worked with determination to make Portsmouth a better place.

I want to thank you again for the privilege of serving you.

I look forward to supporting our city in ways, uh new ways in the years ahead.

And uh I've got a whole year left, and I look forward to doing some great things.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

It means a lot.

You welcome Vice Mayor and B before I make my comments.

I I do want to say we're not letting go of you yet.

Um, but at the end of the day, um Mr.

Moody and I have had a lot of conversations over the years that I've served with them.

And if I can be very transparent, I didn't know him very well when I came on council.

But I got to know him.

And we don't always have to agree.

But one thing I know about Bill Moody is he's committed to a better Portsmouth.

And he will always end up on that side in his decision making.

I've learned a lot from him.

And see, sometimes in our in our in our struggle for life and position, we think we know more than what we really do.

And there's nothing wrong with getting another person's opinion because I think that's an opportunity for growth.

So I'm not I'm not saying goodbye to my friend.

Um I'm saying that we still got work to do, but I can tell you he is the longest serving councilman, I think, in the history of Portsmouth consecutively.

I think Mayor Hawley did did several terms long in a longer time, but this gentleman has served his city honorably.

And so I'm just proud to have had the opportunity to sit on a dais and learn some things from them and share some things with them.

And I believe that because he has been here, we are a better place.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Mayor, for your service.

The other thing I wanted to say on behalf of what is taking place this past weekend, uh, Councilwoman Bryant talked about it.

But we had an opportunity to feed about 300 folks in the city of Portsmouth.

And many may say that that's not a big thing, but to us it was very big.

And the reason why it was big, because I will tell you, I went to Mr.

Carter and I said to him, I said, we as a team have to do something to help our people.

In light of what's happening in our community, we want to make sure that we provide hope and an opportunity to have people to have a Thanksgiving that will provide the food that they may need to get through.

See, when you see us up here, you get a lot of ideas.

But I can remember when I was a little boy, my mother raised six children.

And during Thanksgiving, we didn't have a whole lot of food and a whole lot of money.

But I can remember at that time, Salvation Army stepped in and provided us with the Thanksgiving meal.

I have never forgotten that day.

So what I was excited about is that when I asked Mr.

Carter, could we do it?

You know, his answer was absolutely.

And the team was assembled and you all showed out in support of the citizens of Portsmouth.

And I personally could not have been more proud of the effort.

We don't need to call out names necessarily.

You know who you are, but this was a city effort.

I saw hope in people's eyes.

I saw thankfulness and I saw gratefulness.

So at this season of giving, the most wonderful time of the year, I want you to take that away from the day.

That in Portsmouth, we care.

We care about our people, and we will do what we need to do to make sure that we help to elevate you each and every day.

Thank you.

The next item on our agenda is report on pinning items.

Mr.

Carter, you have a floor, sir.

All right, thank you, Mayor.

Uh the first thing is uh have with us the new uh director of public utilities, Mr.

Michael Johnson.

If you please stand and let everybody see who you are.

This young man is the future of Portsmouth here.

He's uh he's a PE and come from um uh HRSD.

Brings us uh some experience into the uh public utilities department.

So thank you, sir.

Just wanted everybody to see who you are and and let everybody know that we do have a new director of public utilities.

Welcome, Mr.

Johnson.

Uh forgive me for not getting this document to you on time.

Um so I'll I will make sure you have it, but I'll tell you some of the things that's on it.

One on our last meeting was a question about what we would do for the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the SNAP benefits, because there was a possibility that that was going not was not going to be um delivered as we expected.

Uh fortunately, the state of Virginia stepped in and made those benefits available until the federal government did reopen on November 12th, so that that program did not uh lapse, but we were prepared uh to to step in and do something uh to help our community.

We also was asked about um the furloughed workers.

Um that program is still going on.

Uh Councilman Hugo talked a little bit about it at in our work session.

We have a uh deferred utilities payment process that we have going on that will go that will stay open until November.

I'm sorry, December 12th.

We made a commitment to keep it open for uh 30 days past uh when the government reopened and allow those individuals that uh submitted applications.

Uh we will allow them 60 days uh to bring those accounts current again.

So uh that that they get about a 90-day deferment on on their utilities there.

So that hopefully will help uh quite a few people.

There was a question about Cedar Lane and Manhope Cody.

Uh hopefully.

Hopefully.

Am I all right?

Am I all right?

Let me let me expound on that.

I don't know how many in the audience here drive down Cedar Lane.

But uh if you drive down Cedar Lane now, it it's a relatively smooth road.

All right.

Uh thanks.

Thanks, thanks to the manager.

Uh he uh he saw to it that uh between me and Councilman Hugo, I think we we brought this up uh a couple of times.

So uh uh Mr.

Manager uh thanks for a job well done and uh in getting that done.

Those accolades go to our public works department, they're the ones that pull that off.

So uh thank you, public works.

Uh they they say they are the backbone of the city, so uh maybe maybe you agree this time.

Excellent.

Uh the final thing is uh the gift card eligibility program is still going on.

Um those gift cards are being distributed as we speak.

Well, not maybe tonight, but you know, not literally but figuratively as we speak, those gift cards are being delivered.

When we first started there, there was uh $1,689 100 gift cards.

The value of those cards is $37.50.

Uh when we first started, there was $31400 gift cards.

The value of that was $432.50.

We enlisted the aid of a group called Plan U, who is uh working to deliver those gift cards to our citizens.

Um they they have already started the program.

Uh it is still going on.

They have not distributed all of the gift cards yet.

I do anticipate that this program is probably gonna wrap up by the end of the year, though.

Um we uh they have been giving them out.

Um I think they have a a quarter of 200 per site as they've moved around our city.

Uh they take applications, they make appointments for people to verify the application, they make appointments for the people to come in and pick up the gift cards.

So that's kind of the process they're going through.

They're keeping great records of that because that's one of the requirements um that we've levied on them.

And again, we're anticipating this program through wrap up by the end of the year.

Uh, I will make sure that you get a document with this.

Uh please forgive me for not uh Miss Ms.

Hog gave it to me, and I just didn't get to it and get it out to you.

So thank you, Bernardette, for getting that to me.

Please forgive this.

But happy holidays.

Everybody be safe across the uh Thanksgiving holidays.

If I don't see you till I till I see you after the holidays, everybody take care and have a really safe and happy time with your families.

Thank you.

Thank you, Manager Carter.

And I would like to acknowledge just to add a little bit to the discussion on the gift cards.

Today, my family was participating in a thousand Thanksgiving meal giveaway to all of our senior housing communities here in the city of Portsmouth.

And the group was there today.

Plan U was there today distributing those very gift cards.

And they were already up to 400 at the distribution, and it was this evening, so they were distributing cards at four o'clock this afternoon when I left the building.

So the distribution is underway, and I can share with you the response from the citizens who were in receipt of those gift cards uh was very positive.

And there's more to come, but I want to thank you for taking that on.

I know that that was something that you inherited, but we're grateful that the process is moving forward and that the citizens are receiving those dollars that they should receive.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Next item on the agenda, item 25-352, non-agenda speakers.

And madam clerk, would you please read the speaker's statement?

Ladies and gentlemen, city council rules require a limit of up to five minutes to speak.

As you approach the speaker's podium, you will notice the timer.

At the beginning of your five minutes, you will see a green light.

Four minutes into your remarks, you will notice a yellow light.

At the end of five minutes, you will see a red light and hear a beep.

And we ask that you conclude your comments at that time.

While speakers have an opportunity to address counsel on matters of public concern, all comments should be made in a manner that respects the seriousness of the forum and should not be made in a belligerent, sarcastic or demeaning fashion.

All remarks shall be directed to the city council as a body rather than to any particular member of the city council staff or the audience.

A speaker who fails to observe this basic rule decorum will be deemed out of order and not allowed to conclude his or her comments.

Thank you, madam clerk.

Our next speaker, our first speaker tonight, excuse me, is G.

W.

Thompson.

Sir, if you will come forward, state your name and address, you will have five minutes.

Good evening, Mayor Glover and City Council members.

My name is G.W.

Thompson III.

I reside at 4065 Windembrow Drive here in the City of Portsmouth.

All those who are here to advocate for our homeless brothers and sisters, would you please stand at this time?

You may be seated.

Thank you.

Portsman volunteers for the homeless PVH under the leadership of Dr.

Darlene Washington continues to do an outstanding job with the population they serve.

However, the capacity of the facility is limited to 20 persons with a maximum of 25 during inclement weather.

Homelessness is still one of Portsmouth's most pressing challenges, demanding both compassion and coordinated action from city leaders and the community.

Seeing the homeless sleeping beside the library at the bus stops and other places highlights the urgent need for expanded shelter capacity, improved communications, and long-term solutions.

I cannot imagine what it's like sleeping outside without shelter.

As winter approaches and the city prepares for inclement weather, these remarks underscore the importance of immediate relief and the critical role of a permanent shelter in ensuring safety and dignity for every resident.

Last year, the city partnered with emergency management services, the Department of Social Services, OASIS Social Ministries, and Parks and Recreation to provide shelter and transportation to Portsmouth volunteers for the homeless shelter during a snow event.

Notifications of the services were posted on the city's website, and signs were posted in locations where the homeless frequent, such as the library, Zion Baptist Drop-in Center, OASIS, and other locations.

I was informed by Mrs.

Anna McCray, Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management Department that a meeting is scheduled for next month to plan warming stations, inclement weather facilities, and methods of communicating this to our homeless population.

Thank you for your efforts to address this issue.

Finally, we would like to know the status of the permanent shelter that is planned to be built for our homeless population.

Has a specific timeline been put in place, and if so, what is it?

We would encourage City Council to make this an agenda item in an upcoming meeting.

We look forward to supporting the CODES Night Out sponsored by Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless.

We urge City Council to act swiftly, expand emergency shelter capacity, accelerate the development of permanent shelter, and strength and strengthen outreach to those in need.

By working together and together and responding decisively, Porsum can become a city where every neighbor is cared for and no one is left behind.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you, sir.

Our next speaker, Mr.

Leon Hammonds.

Mr.

Hammonds, if you would come forward, state your name and address.

You will have five minutes, sir.

My name is Leon Hammonds, Bowie Court, Portsmouth.

I'm glad that the uh gift call is being given out.

But I'm willing to sit down with uh the city manager about the value of them.

Because right now, my figure is that each one of the 100 ones is not worth no more than 25 dollars.

Now it would be nice if the city would make up that difference, since on the gift card is has 100 on it.

And if the people does not understand the value of it, they need to call the number on the back of it.

And it and they will tell you exactly how much that car is worth.

So it won't be no discrepancy when they go to the store or anywhere else about the gift card.

And it's a shame that it has to go down that low for uh it to be distributed.

It's a shame right there, and it's an insult, in my opinion.

You're not looking for to take care of the city of Portsmouth residents.

I shouldn't have to get up here from from almost two years talking about gift cards.

That's ridiculous.

It really is.

See, so really, if you don't want to do things right, don't get gift cards again.

That's right.

Because really you don't know how to handle them, evidently.

Somebody though.

I don't know.

But anything else that is for the city of Portion?

Start the job and finish it.

Don't delay it.

And delay it and delay it.

So have a Thanksgiving.