I want to call to order the public work session.

First public work session in 2026.

Want to welcome everybody back from a long well-spent holiday vacation.

Hope everybody had received all of the toys and gifts that they chose and celebrated and brought in the new year with a lot of optimism because I can tell you we are optimistic about our future here in the city of War.

With that being said, want to take a moment to acknowledge all of those who are watching us uh online and those who are in the room.

In addition, we want to welcome our city staff and those individuals are here to assist us doing doing these presentations.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you.

Acknowledge our interim city attorney, Mr.

Derek Challenger, and of course our city clerk.

Mr.

Carter, sir.

You have the floor.

Hey, well, welcome to 2026.

Oh, yeah.

I think there's some calling role first.

We are getting ahead of myself in 2026.

I know you're excited in this mail.

Madam Clerk.

Would you please come to the role?

I missed the eye contact.

It's okay.

Miss Bryant.

Present.

Dr.

Datson.

Mr.

Hugo.

Present.

Mr.

Moody.

Here.

Ms.

Thomas.

Here.

Mr.

Tillett.

Here.

Mayor Glaver.

Here.

Thank you.

Now.

Mr.

Carter.

You have the floor, sir.

Thank you very much, Mayor.

Again, welcome to 2026.

This is our first meeting of the year.

Got a few things on the agenda for this afternoon.

First of all, have the waterfront development agreement, Mr.

Brian Donegie.

So he's going to be first up, followed by Dr.

Russell.

She's going to present two things this evening.

One is uh comprehensive plan update and so I'll permit to vouch here.

Um a formality that we need to go through to authorize um disappointment complexity on housing authority.

And finally, um our own three purpose gonna uh do a presentation or have a discussion about how do we consummate the consent agenda process into our agenda uh our uh regular council meetings.

All right.

So Doug is up first.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Carter.

Uh mayor, vice mayor, members of council.

It's a pleasure to be in front of you again this evening to uh provide some updates on the progress as it relates to the uh redevelopment of the city's waterfront.

Uh we are making some great strides here and working to put this property on the city's tax rolls uh as timely a fashion as I think is possible.

So um I'm here before you this evening to talk about uh the cooperation agreement for uh the Crawford Bay uh waterfront development site.

Um have here on the uh overhead uh an aerial view of that property.

Uh Crawford Bay is the name of the site.

I think it's been referred to uh as the holiday insight uh going back for many years, but we've kind of rebranded that.

So that's what we're going to be discussing this evening.

Um the economic development authority and the city council uh have together commenced the uh process for preparing a solicitation for development interest in the Crawford Bay site.

And it is, I think, understood that the development of the site will result in benefits to the community at large, primarily in the form of real estate tax revenue, as we're working to put that back on the tax rolls.

But in addition to that, employment opportunity and housing stock as well.

We are looking at a two-part process for soliciting development interest.

That will be initially a request for qualifications that will be followed by a request for offers, which will ultimately result in the identification of a development park.

So just to do a little bit of a deeper dive in the Crawford Bay site, you'll see here on the aerial it is the six-acre property that includes the former holiday in site, which is Area One.

It is also the existing Harbor Court parking garage, the former visitors center site and port center, which was an events pavilion for many years.

This is a fairly large site for the city of Fort Smith, six acres.

We believe we can accommodate a significant amount of investment on the property.

We will be looking for a new hotel to add to the waterfront, which will provide some overflow capacity for the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel.

We would expect to obtain somewhere in the range of 150 plus rooms for a hotel.

In addition to that, we're looking for commercial development.

So we believe we can accommodate approximately 60,000 square feet of commercial space, which would include dining retail and potential for entertainment venues.

In addition to that, we're also looking for public amenities.

Really has some pretty spectacular views.

So we're looking to ensure that the community will have access to that and incorporate it into the existing seawall.

So we really have a blank canvas here, and I think that the possibilities are quite large.

But in order to move forward, we need to take care of some things to build the foundation for what will be the solicitation process.

So our sole focus right now is Crawford Bay, and we are moving forward with that.

In order to move forward, we do need to have a cooperation agreement, which will be between the city and our economic development authority, and really that will work to stipulate and spell out some of the roles and responsibilities associated with the development process.

And I'd like to go through what those those key items will be as it relates to the terms and conditions of the cooperation agreement and the project.

The cooperation agreement will look to reaffirm that commitment and finding of public interest, which is again that the development of the property by the private sector will result in increased real estate tax revenues, employment opportunity, increased housing stock as well.

Secondly, the cooperation agreement will stipulate the conditions for conveyance of the property, and it authorizes the city manager to convey the property to the EDA to further the solicitation and development process, which will be done at a key point in time once we've identified a development partner.

The third item is the establishment of an EDA and City Council, city staff-led project committee.

We've already achieved this.

So the cooperation agreement stipulates that that will occur.

So there is a need to provide frequent and routine updates by both bodies, and that is something that will be occurring, such as what we're doing today.

What is being proposed is a uh 50% uh split on the expenses associated with the process not to exceed uh $500,000.

Um we have I say we, the EDA has incurred um considerable expenses to date.

Um they have either uh expended or obligated um $378,000 in expenses uh related to the project today.

So there is a request for a cost sharing of those expenses as the project uh moves forward.

And then lastly, we do have a timeline which I'd like to uh just review with you very quickly.

Um identifies some of the progress that has occurred uh to date.

Um really kicked off this uh initiative and effort back in uh June of uh last year.

Uh we have done quite a bit of uh planning and preparatory work.

We've held uh stakeholder engagement meetings.

Um, I believe uh each of you on the council has met with our consultant, AECOM to provide input and feedback on the solicitation process.

We've done the same with uh the economic development authority and uh city staff as well, um, in addition to some key community stakeholders, uh including the uh Old Town Business Association, the Portsmouth Partnership, as well as regional uh partners such as Hampton Roads Transit.

Um we are now in the process of working to do some public engagement.

Uh we will be holding two uh public meetings.

Uh one is scheduled for January 28th, and we have a second meeting scheduled for uh February 4th.

So I want to make sure that the public has an opportunity to ask questions, become informed about the project, um, and provide feedback as well in the process.

Uh so we will be working to uh advertise those dates and venues here um in the coming week and uh hope to uh receive a uh high turnout.

We are planning one of those workshops in the downtown area, so that will be on the 28th, followed by uh the meeting on the fourth, which will be held at Tidewater Community College.

So uh hoping to capture a citywide audience.

This is a citywide project.

Um, our entire uh city has ownership of this, so we want to make sure that we're able to get it in front of uh the community at large.

Um there are two uh items here related to the cooperation agreement.

Uh obviously this evening's briefing is one of those, uh, but there is a need for uh your authorization uh of the city manager's execution of that agreement, which we have scheduled for your January 27th.

Happy to answer any questions you might have about the cooperation agreement or the development process.

Councilman Hugo, sorry, you have it for you.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

So I have three items.

Uh first if you go to slide three, please.

Yeah, that one.

So we we've talked about this before, but the little red dotted line doesn't include North Landing.

So the water stage and the water and the south side of North Landing.

Um seems to me that it would be appropriate to extend the red dotted line to include North Landing as part of this agreement and as part of the project.

And we're at mile marker zero on the intercoastal.

Uh and basically North Landing with the exception of the ferry landing is useless for boating.

So seems like we ought to include that as part of this project.

Uh now's the time to fix that problem.

It seems to me we we got a water stage that's never used and really wonderful waterfront property.

Um so I I guess I would propose to my colleagues that we do whatever we need to do to extend the dotted line across the north and to include encompass all of North Landing.

So that's comment number one.

Comment number two.

Uh so uh parcel two is the uh Harbor Court parking garage.

Uh I know there's been discussion about providing alternate parking while the Harbor Court parking garage is out of action.

Is the alternate parking gonna be provided within the four parcels that are in the project, or should we have a fifth parcel included in this agreement to make sure that we have set aside the property to provide for alternate parking while we're doing the project?

Then my third comment has to do with budget, so so I get the 50-50 cost share, and I wonder is so so the EDA is already incurring expense.

It's not clear to me whether the city cost share is in this year's budget, next year's budget, or some of both.

So do you know which which or is it some drug?

Thank you.

Okay.

Absolutely, yes, sir.

Thank you.

Um, first councilman Hugel to your uh comment about the uh waterfront at the uh north landing and the ferry stop.

Um that was a comment that was shared during the stakeholder engagement uh workshops.

The uh image that is on the overhead is is really the area of study that was uh looked at when we had the uh market analysis performed about a year ago, um, and that boundary is being proposed for uh modification.

Um it's worth pointing out as well that uh the Harbor Tower apartment uh community is not a part of this solicitation process, but that was the area that was being studied.

Um so we are looking at extending the boundary to incorporate uh the portion of the north landing.

Uh we're also assessing any impacts uh that would be uh had to the HRT ferry stop and and working with them closely on that.

Uh we don't expect that that would be an issue for them, uh, but we do understand there's an ability to uh better utilize that that waterfront.

So is the is does this agreement have to specify that that is included, or we modify the agreement later when we decide that we're gonna include it.

How do how do we handle this agreement?

Because right now the scope of the site description is I think what's on this slide.

Uh my recommendation would be to um then the area that would be subject to transfer um at a later date unless we have a specific um area identified, and then I think that will be something that will be as part of the uh solicitation process uh largely driven by the development community that responds and what their desire is for that waterfront property, and it will be something that we will look to negotiate.

Um but it is helpful to know that that is available uh to incorporate into the development.

Um your second question about the the parking uh the harbor fork garage is uh serving as parking for the uh harbor tower community.

Uh there is a parking agreement in place, a long-standing agreement that does require uh that 250 parking spaces be provided to Harbor Tower.

We have worked with our city engineer to come up with a temporary parking plan to provide alternative parking during the uh development process because that garage will need to come down.

It will.

And we have worked on a couple of options, but we do believe that utilizing uh parcels one, three, and four, uh, we can surface park just over 200 vehicles.

Um, so we will still have a kind of a delta there that we need to address.

Um, and we think we can find some additional alternative parking uh for the residents of Harbor Tower.

Not all of those spaces are uh currently used, the 250, but we are committed to providing that.

And so when we get around to identifying that other piece of property, would that be part of this project and therefore part of this cooperation agreement?

Uh I I believe right now we're looking at existing parking facilities, so that would be uh most likely an arrangement between suspect the parking authority and Harbor Tower, which is what the current agreement uh stance is.

So for the budget base, uh there's no funding in this current budget for this.

What we're looking at is uh incorporating our split into the 2027 budget.

So that's why the uh EDA is fronting everything at this point to the point where we actually hasn't have an allocation to this so that we can start participating.

But there's nothing in this budget.

Okay, thanks.

Councilwoman Thomas, I think had a question.

Yes, I did.

Thank you.

Um thank you for the update.

Very excited.

The stakeholder engagement meetings with EDA were well, you can have a development were very helpful with our two consultants, and so happy to see this moving along.

My first question, um, I'll I'll go out of order, but since we're talking budget, so we're talking about the rev the split of cost, cost reimbursement 50 percent is what I'm hearing, but there's significant costs that might occur later with the park and garage situation that might be a significant investment.

That will this is that still the 50 percent split, or will that be solely on the city?

We when we talked to the in the stakeholder engagement meetings, one of the questions I asked was regarding the parking garage and the promise of parking spaces to Harbor Tower and that commitment that we have to uphold and what that might cause.

So, is that all within that split?

We're saying 50% split for the entirety of the project.

Is that correct?

That's that's the way I view this.

That's whatever the cost of the project is.

Now there are some I think specific things listed in general.

I'll put that wording this.

All right, here's letter B, is that what you're looking for?

City reimbursement of EDA costs.

I think he's talking about the resolution.

Oh, okay.

If you're looking to do it again, yeah.

Cooperation.

Oh, and uh rely on my and I'm looking at the cooperation agreement for a it does not this says uh solicitation, evaluation, selection, and creation of the selection of the solicitation, marketing, issuance of solicitation, and any cost related to the evaluation process.

So not project costs.

Okay, okay.

So this is just splitting the solicitation cost, not splitting the project costs.

Is that correct?

Yes, okay, yes, Mr.

Chad.

Uh in the same uh agreement when I section six C, it says any commitment to funding cost or contribution post-selection.

And it's so discretion.

So that particular part of it can be changed for it dealt with differently.

Um how do you move forward?

Because this agreement does not deal with that specifically.

Okay.

So this is just for the select.

This agreement is just for the selection solicitation of the developer.

Any future costs once we get the developer, that would be a separate agreement where we have the determined cost sharing.

Yes, that would be post-selection of the developer.

Okay, which will create another agreement that we have to work at.

Well, that answers my question that I was going to get to, which is about revenue tax revenue sharing, which I understand now is down the road with another agreement.

Okay.

This is all about the selection.

Yes.

Okay.

Then my other question, Mr.

Donahue, was a follow-up.

You actually provided an update, but I just want to get a little bit more clarity so that we can share with the public.

When we did that stakeholder engagement meeting, um, AECOM mentioned they were going to do community outreach starting in January.

So I see our first meeting is January 28th, 2020.

You mentioned it was going to be downtown.

Um, how are we targeting those in the like community?

How are we targeting?

I understand we included ourselves, uh, Old Town Business Association, and you mentioned some other partners that were part of stakeholder engagement meetings that happen in December.

But how are we making sure that we really reach the full community so that we really get all input and are are really good about reaching as many people as possible for this development?

Great, great question, Councilman.

Um it's very important that this process is open to the city as a whole, and that we are able to uh provide information to to all of our residents and in all uh corners of the city.

So we are uh working with AECOM, which is our uh consultant and the Charette Agency, which is a uh marketing communications firm.

In addition to our own marketing communications department here to make sure that we uh reach as large an audience as possible.

So we are going to be uh launching a targeted media campaign uh primary primarily through social media to uh reach that audience.

Um but we will be using you know all avenues uh that the city has uh to uh share information about the upcoming meetings.

Um so we'll be working with um Mr.

Glogol and his team uh to make sure that we're getting out uh city uh email blasts uh using city social media accounts, but also um uh working through our economic development uh office as well to do that.

We are also standing up a uh a site dedicated to the project, so we'll have a web page for the project uh where uh residents and the development community can can go to find information about the project, the status of the project, and uh provide uh information feedback as well.

So we'll also be including some uh online surveys that can be uh used to do that.

Okay, thank you.

And I I appreciate the outreach that we're you know that you already are planning for that 28th meeting, the earlier the better uh to really make sure that people can attend.

Um let me see, is that a weekend or weeks today?

What is that?

Um it is a um it's a weekday.

So are that's gonna be an evening meeting?

Okay.

Oh, so Wednesday, okay.

So I also want to add that I think of course our civic leads uh are great for engagement, and don't forget our faith-based community as well as our public schools because families, you know, they get a lot of information through the kids that attend schools here, so I don't want us to limit it to Jets.

I will hope we don't just limit it to our city social media, but also engage all of our key stakeholders, our faith-based community, our civic leagues, um, our schools again.

And then my last question, um you said something that I wrote down.

Let's see, answer that.

Um, you mentioned the project committee, and that have you all already been meeting?

Uh we have had um an initial meeting.

Okay.

Um of the project team.

Um that will begin uh the group will begin meeting more frequently now as the process is is really launching and getting underway.

So we had um in addition to that, some stakeholder engagement meetings, uh, the individuals who are serving on the project team were part of that as well.

Um, but as the actual process now begins to ramp up, um, gain momentum, uh, there will be a greater need for that group to convene.

Um, and we'll do that at key stages uh throughout the process as the solicitation actually gets underway with its uh issuance here and just a follow-up on that project committee question for uh Mr.

Carter.

Yes, ma'am.

Um I know we I'm gonna ask again about the MWBE process all always being top of mind as we're going through the solicitation.

Um is our MWB coordinator, I don't know if that's the right uh title engaged in this project committee or in this process.

She's not on the project committee, but she will be engaged in the process.

All right, thank you.

Vice Mayor Moody, sir, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh great presentation, uh Brian.

Uh good good timelines.

And I was pleased to uh hear you say that uh we're gonna keep in mind public access.

Uh you know, for a waterfront city, when you think about it, we don't have a lot of public access.

And uh as we enter into this project, and I think the North Harbor area uh would be ideal for uh the public a access part there as well, has a history of that as you know.

Uh the the other thing uh I think we'd need to r really uh it when we're communicating sp uh do special communication to our neighbors there, i.e.

the renaissance, uh uh I would hope we've already touched base with them and obviously the marina uh any of the adjacent businesses, the uh uh even uh um uh uh you know the uh the condo folks there.

I'm sure they're gonna have some uh concerns about the fate of the parking garage and parking.

Uh I hope we can take the lead on that and uh nip any uh uh concernation in the uh into bud but before the people start conjecturing what's gonna happen up based on facts.

So that's good.

Um the other thing on the uh the cost uh the post cost, do we uh uh uh do we have any idea what what not the dollar amount but what those costs may include as far as tangible things?

What what do we talk in there when we say post is your question related to uh development related excess or the actual construction cost of the well uh I'm I'm I'm looking at the the the slide uh where it says any commitment of funding post selection shall be the subject of an amendment of the uh cooperation agreement uh or sub co subsequent subsequent uh agreement of the city council and EDA.

Yes.

So what are those costs?

I think is is that the question?

Well, what what items will would make up that cost.

It's a bit of an unknown right now, right?

So I think we're we're too early in the process to um understand what what those costs would be.

Um I think we could probably uh assume with good amount of certainty that the parking garage is is going to be one of those potentially where uh development partners are looking potentially for some sort of uh city participation uh because you know some of those are going to be uh spaces reserved uh excuse me, Harbor Tower community, which is what we're currently obligated to provide.

Um but there are a lot of unknowns as it relates to infrastructure.

Um that will be something that we will have to assess and largely going to be dependent upon what the development project looks like in terms of uh its requirements.

Um we know we've had some internal discussions about the existing infrastructure.

Um we seem to believe that it is uh has been upgraded over the years and can support a number of the um uses that I discussed earlier in the presentation, um just in terms of you know water sewer capacity, um but there are many unknowns that you know just don't have uh information on yet, but that will continue to evolve throughout the process.

Yeah, and that that could be uh uh uh a big cost, as you know.

And could that and the uh uh issuance uh of the RFQ could could we uh entertain that uh as well.

Uh I I would think somehow that could be part of the uh overall development and uh uh I would hope that we would include some language in there that uh you know the this parking garage uh uh could be part of uh even a mixed use development as we saw in uh uh Greenville.

Uh so uh just throwing that out there.

And speaking of the issuance, uh it is that gonna be a nationwide uh issuance or regional or nationwide.

We are looking to attract uh as as wide an audience as we can capture, it will it will be nationwide.

Um definitely looking to promote this um as far as we can.

And uh when will that be ready?

Yeah, I think that would be good for us to um see that have a copy of it.

Uh yeah, so right now uh excuse Mr.

Carter.

No, I'll just say you had a timeline up for yeah, so we're we're looking at um an issuance of you know kind of a target date of February is when we'd like to get that out on the street uh for advertisement, um, and then uh having a uh April uh time frame for uh receipt of the initial proposals, which would be through an RFQ, so we're looking really to qualify um the initial uh submission of developers.

Uh that will be followed by uh kind of a short listing of the proposals that we receive at the start in phase phase one of the plan, and then we'll have a second uh issuance, which will be a request for offers.

Who who's actually uh structuring the issuance?

So the uh consultant that we have uh brought on board, AECOM is assisting the city staff and the project uh committee with putting together uh the criteria of the RFQ and the RFO, um, and that will be something that will be you know circulated and shared, but uh the project committee is is really going to be working with the consultant uh to develop both of those uh documents, uh making sure that they incorporate all of the priorities uh that uh the city council and economic development authority have identified as well as the engagements that we've had with stakeholders.

Um so that will be something that uh incorporates you know all of those priorities that are that are discussed.

I would think it's pretty far along if we're talking about uh January, February.

Um not as far as I'd like it to be, but it's it's going to be there uh in February ready to go.

So we're working on that now.

Okay, very good.

Thanks.

The important thing is we have um you know open communication with the public and and those meetings um at the end of January and beginning of February will be the last uh opportunity kind of to capture uh that input before we actually put pen to paper with the final uh solicitation that will go out for advertisement.

Okay, thanks.

Councilwoman Brandon, Councilman Dodson.

Thanks, Mayor, and thank you, Mr.

Donahue.

This is a wonderful way to start the new year by beginning with this project.

I know there's a lot of excitement.

Um is it possible for us to announce the January meeting tomorrow at tomorrow's council meeting?

Will it be finalized enough with location by then?

That would be a good way to kind of make sure it's it's out there, but if you don't have a firm plan yet, then of course that we are close.

If if uh if we are able to secure the venue in time, I I will share that information so it can be shared publicly.

But share it tomorrow.

Yes, absolutely.

We'll stand by.

Um I predict that there will be a lot of discussion downtown about traffic and parking related to this, which is a very exciting project, but it's going to increase significantly the number of people in that pocket of the waterfront.

So at what phase does a traffic study come into this?

Um, and what will be part of that study?

That would typically occur um like most development projects uh during the uh site planning process um, which is really driven by uh you know our planning and engineering departments and that review.

So uh you know that will be uh done at that time uh following the you know selection of a uh development partner um there may need to be a rezoning for the property to accommodate um a development proposal at that point in time there would likely need to be some uh traffic studies as well.

What's the feeling at this early stage about traffic in that pocket related to having 300 new multifamily units and and the hotel and the box space um office space is there a feeling that we can support that along Crawford Street along Cropper Bay through the neighborhood?

Is is there any preliminary traffic study that we need to do before an actual traffic study, like an in-house kind of understanding of that?

What I would tell you is that most developers will already have some idea of what they expect their traffic is what their development is what kind of traffic their development is going to create.

Okay, and that would be folded into what they propose to us.

Now we'll get that and we'll vet that and we'll you know do our own engineering studies with that.

But uh anybody that's that's gonna do a development where you're creating that many new residents, they would already do their own traffic study and provide that to us as part of their presentation.

Okay, okay.

Um relate it.

The the parking along the marina, the there's kind of two two sides to that parking.

One's that face out to the water, and one's that face into the so where that red line is, Mr.

Donahue, it goes like beyond the parking.

Is that all marina parking?

Those two roads are parking.

Uh you're referring to the surface parking that is on the northern right next to the marina.

The cars lined up right along that red dotted line, and then there's a second row.

Actually, there's a third row of cars there.

Is that all marina parking or is that safe?

It's not all marina parking.

There's a um there's a fence line that runs the perimeter of the marinas parking.

Okay.

Um they have uh two rows of parking.

Okay.

Uh the third row that I I think you're speaking to is is actually on the uh EDA site.

Okay, so that red line actually would tuck in lower because the cars would be yes.

Okay.

So that's that parking all stays the same, and that's private parking, is what I'm getting at.

That is correct.

That is uh parking that is under the ownership of uh tidewater yacht arena.

Okay, and you said that the parking agreement that we currently have with the tower that we have 200 agreed to 250 spots, but it's possible they're not using all that that number of spots, but we're committed to continuing that offer.

Is it worth going to them and saying, hey, guys, lately, how many are are you using?

And if it turns out to be a hundred, then that's significantly different than 250 just to have that information and oh absolutely yeah, yes, ma'am.

Rather than saying we need to absolutely have 250 spots during construction.

I'm just wondering if it's if it's within the realm of them being a little flexible during construction to make sure those people that live right there have access to parking.

I I love to hear that the plan is to have it within the developed area or the developing area.

Um but might be interesting to know.

We have um engaged with Harbor Tower, their their management.

Yes.

Um, I believe the current count of spaces that are released because they do lease and no parking spaces in the deck from the parking authority, um, is approximately 200.

Those are two most of those people.

You said it was 100%.

I wish that it was closer to the 220th parking.

Um and the rest of that garage is public parking?

The entire garage is public parking.

We um with the exception of those spots that are there.

Okay, reserved, yeah.

Does it get used a whole lot?

No, one of the things that uh yeah, I think through as we do this is that is a garage that we the city owns at this point, and we're gonna have to do something about the garage.

But is that does that need to be the same thing that goes back there?

Can the developer develop along with whatever the parking that they're gonna need, some parking that accommodates this also?

Well that was what we but we have the day don't have to be what it is in the city.

Yeah, that sounds wonderful.

Yes, ma'am.

Yeah, okay.

Um thank you.

Councilman Dodson.

The last meeting we talked about uh the harbor tower integration with this.

Um, has there been any new development and what what what is leading to on that was uh Harbor Tower is not built to be a hundred-year-old building?

At some point it's gonna age out.

Um, and it needs to be considered some consideration for the reconstruction of that building and access to do that.

Has there been any uh integration of that concept into it?

Um in our conversations with the uh representatives from the uh property, uh they have shared with us there have been uh improvements made uh to the property recently.

I do believe they've got plans for additional improvements in the coming year.

Um so that would um oh no, more for the access for when it when it does age out, will they have sufficient access to get in and out of that building to do major work?

And you just need to make sure that's in the consideration consideration for the the road access.

Oh, most certainly they would they would have access to the property.

Right.

Second question was tax incentives.

What tax incentives are we um normally giving for a project like this?

Well one year, five year old.

We're not in a position to really discuss that at this time.

Yeah, that's that'll be something we should that'll be part of the negotiation process with a uh potential developer.

At one point I had asked for um how old was the best use uh for this, and I was told that there was going to be a new best use uh plan come out.

Um was I wrong in my uh discussion on that?

Is there a and how old is the best use for this project?

Best use uh we've had a market study performed it, it's just over a year old.

Um, and that really looked at what the highest and best use for the property would be, um, as well as uh potentially what would be supportable development, uh what's really feasible for the property uh because it it is a site of limited acreage or six acres, um, and you can see here on the uh the first aerial there at the top um for a mixed use project, which would include uh multifamily units, uh hotel, um commercial retail, uh the parking structure that would be this necessary to support the development, um, and perhaps some office space, you know.

It it it is a true mixed-use development.

I think you could kind of compare that to maybe a town center type of can I get a copy of that best use um yes, we we can absolutely provide a copy of the uh the market study that was wonderful, yes, yes, sir.

Um and lastly, is there some in that best use that would that you've got here projected on your screen right here?

Is if a developer comes forward with some flexibility in some of those numbers, is that allowed uh in their proposal?

Have we made it made it made available they could have some flexibility?

I would expect there to be a lot of flexibility in those incomes.

It's really going to be a market-driven project.

Um the numbers there that are that are on the screen are are really what um the market study and the analysis of you know what is occurring in Hampton Roads currently um could support.

Um I would expect that to change.

Those numbers you know could increase, they could go down just based on you know economic factors and and uh drivers in the marketplace.

Last thing I have is February 4th is also the night of our high streets charret.

Um there's a conflict that evening, I believe.

Is that correct?

Uh yeah.

It is the link charret not charred.

Yes, okay.

That's why these meetings are helpful and productive.

So we will look at the calendar if there's a need to move that, and we we have flexibility, I think, at this time to do that.

Good.

Thank you.

That's all.

Thank you all.

And I just want to say before we close out on this presentation, you know.

This project has been one that we have dreamed about the last 30 years.

And I would caution all of us, I know there's going to be a lot of questions.

We all need to be as informed as we possibly can be as we go forward with what we're doing and the process, but most importantly, uh, we all need to be on the same page when we are communicating with the community, the vision, what we intend to get with this.

We need to come out of the gate, you know, with with positivity and project that we're working on this thing, and it's ultimately gonna have a positive impact on the city of Portsmouth, the quality of life, our tax revenue, and so forth.

This is phenomenal, and all I can say is I can't wait to see us go through this process and get this thing underway.

It will not only be transformational, but it will be here for the next 50 to 100 years, and that's impactful.

So thank you guys.

This will be a thoughtful process.

Everyone has something to add.

Um, if you have a question, uh, we haven't, as the two people that have been appointed to this body uh from council, we haven't fully engaged.

We're gonna start engaging, but understand this is not a secretive project.

This isn't not a city project, this is not something we want to hide from folk project.

This is a community-based project to improve our city to the degree that it's going to benefit everyone.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Brock.

Thank you.

Dr.

Russell.

You're on good.

The first one is a comprehensive plan presentation.

However, before we get for Councilman Dodson, we're cleaning that property up right now.

Well, thank you.

So that's what I want.

I forgot about it.

That's a box you can check off that that property is in the process of being cleaned up so that uh it looks better.

Thank you.

Dr.

Russell.

Good evening, everyone.

Good morning.

Good evening.

Or the keyboard.

Okay.

Almost made it all.

Almost made it all.

Birthday.

Oh no.

Happy birthday, Dr.

Happy birthday to you.

I know you're uncomfortable.

Happy birthday.

Thank you.

My mother was rolling on the overlap.

All right.

So we want to share with you, Bill Lamfer and I, principal planner, the results of our comprehensive plan audit process.

And so this presentation was made to the Planning Commission in October, and the Code of Virginia only requires that we presented to the Planning Commission, and the Planning Commission make a recommendation for amendment of the comprehensive plan.

But it never hurts to be very transparent and the information that we share with all of our public uh elected and appointed bodies.

So we had a three-fold process in the review of our comprehensive plan, our 2018 comprehensive plan.

It included uh initially a review of performance by all responsible city departments and public agencies regarding prescriptive items that uh each agency was tasked with in terms of plan implementation that followed with the review, actually not followed, it was a parallel review of our capital improvement uh plan, our annual capital budgets and those projects that aligned with implementation of the comprehensive plan, and then we completed that effort this spring and summer with uh I would call uh a community engagement piece where we uh invited ourselves to a number of uh community meetings, shared the plan um recommendations and our performance with the same and sought feedback from the community groups uh regarding our plan performance and so some of the major policy initiatives that were advanced um with the current comprehensive plan included our development of our downtown zoning designations, uh the completion of a Portsmouth poverty study, uh which is really important and it seems to have uh I guess most recently risen to the surface as it informs our decisions about housing and what types of housing initiatives we should be pursuing, uh, have guided development um opportunities and where our focus needs to be, whether it be planning or economic development, and in our community, um uh those opportunities have been entrepreneurial related in our maritime uh marine and shipbuilding um uh activities.

We have seen um in this time frame uh major private investment to include Rivers Casino, uh renewable energy projects uh and maritime and logistics investments, and our opportunities realized include uh expansion of our broadband program.

Uh I I was sitting in the back and I was listening to councilwoman Thomas uh Corey Um Mr.

Donahue about the public engagement initiatives around waterfront development.

I'm proud to say that that really is a cornerstone of what we um do and how we do business in the city of Portsmouth, and that was realized uh with uh this era in terms of the 2018 comprehensive plan and will continue um to be so going forward.

I asked Mr.

Lanfair who served uh temporarily as our interim manager of comprehensive planning to join me this evening in this presentation, and I'd like him to um share with you the specific recommendations that came out of the audit.

And I'm going to exchange seats with him right now while he shares that with you.

Thank you, Dr.

Russell.

Good morning, everyone.

Good afternoon.

It depends on what time though.

Good day, good day.

It's morning somewhere.

As Dr.

Russell noted, uh the audit of the 2018 comprehensive plan included an interdepartmental review, a capital improvements review, and public engagement feedback.

Public engagement involved the collection and review of inputs from community meetings, workshops, and neighborhood discussions.

But the photo you see here on the left was actually taken at one such meeting.

Through a series of visioning exercises, staff was able to get a clear sense of what the city is doing right and where we could do better.

Crime, quality of our schools, and neighborhood appearance ranked at the top of citizen concerns.

Recreational opportunities and libraries were often mentioned as city strengths.

The second slide summarizes the feedback received from residents based on such familiar categories as public safety, recreation, and housing.

And this was an opportunity for our staff to hear more about the citizen needs as it relates to their neighborhoods.

And often these were expressed in familiar planning terms, such as neighborhood beautification.

The next slide summarizes Portsmouth's capital investment over the evaluation period based on the vision themes of the comprehensive plan, with most of these investments falling under the resilient theme, focusing on transportation and infrastructure.

They totaled about 125 million dollars overall.

Conclusion.

If there is one key takeaway from this audit, it's that moving forward with the 2040 comprehensive plan.

As we move forward, completion of this audit marks the beginning of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan process.

Key milestones for this process will include this winter release of an RFP and consultant selection to support technical analysis, community engagement, and plan preparation.

The spring and summer we'll see additional community engagement and data collection.

This fall through the winter, we'll see drafting of the policy framework and additional stakeholder workshops.

And late winter 2027, additional community engagement and draft refinement before hopefully coming back to you in the spring and summer of 2027 for final plan adoption.

We'll now stand by for any questions you might have.

Thank you.

Oh no.

Okay.

Your conclusions are smack dab on the mark.

We've got to have to have dates and measurable objectives and get things accomplished.

It's nice and refreshing to hear that philosophy from you guys.

Thank you very much.

You know, my hot button in all of this though is transportation.

I do.

And um I've expressed it every time we met.

Um and that goes along with a theme that's very dominant in in the council today, and that's a walkable city.

To do that, we've got to integrate much more public transportation uh methodology uh into it.

So as we go along, and you'll still continue to hear from me about uh can we adapt to the future because I'm not sure that automobile transportation is in our next generation's um lives, uh, or maybe a different form than what we have now.

So I think we need to plan for adaptation to a different lifestyle than what we grew up in uh here.

So thank you very much.

Fantastic job.

Very good.

Nice memory.

Great presentation.

Uh on on the public input part.

Uh how would you say what was it uh well attended and how diverse was it throughout the city?

Uh so I I like to describe um public edition in terms of touch points.

So we uh visited uh we have uh invitations to every uh one of our civic organizations and had about 60 touch points, those are individual citizens that participated uh in the development process, and so um that's it'd say it's satisfactory, but the quality of the engagement for those that participated was really good, particularly because we uh where's that photo with the slides?

So we designed a process so this is like standard where we're talking to people and sharing information.

Um that was only that's a very small part of the public engagement activity, and then we broke them into small groups.

Um because you the people tend to be more comfortable sharing information uh in smaller settings, and we asked them to dialogue with each other about specific questions relative to what they want to see in the communities where they live.

Where do they want to work, what do where they want to live, what does that look like, what does that feel like, where do they want to raise their children?

It becomes very intimate and very personal.

Um, and you get uh genuine feedback, and then we look for trends and commonalities in that feedback between the various um meeting sessions, and that is what's reported out to you relative to the opportunities that our uh community members want to see in the 2040 plan.

Okay, I I'm I'm excited to say that every time we did that uh at the end, the participants are like, oh, that was really nice.

I just you know, I just you know it's it's it's even for me, it's like hard to share like personally like that, but then when you do it's like authority, uh and then and it's you get your your experience is almost validated because someone next to you that lives in the same area you do felt the same way.

So you know it's it's interesting, of course.

It's no surprise that crime and quality schools are first on the list.

I was a little surprised that the uh public identity and signage uh are mentioned there because we we've mentioned the need for signage and our our current signage is definitely aging uh uh quite rapidly, but uh it's maturing uh along would you say long with me?

I know I'm just I'm just kidding.

I like to kid our city manager, but uh I'm I'm really pleased that the group picked up on that as well because that is uh some areas that we need to address.

But thank you, thank you, Dr.

Russell, and happy birthday.

Thank you.

Thank you again.

And my voice sounded better than all the colleagues here.

It did.

I was not singing so well.

Absolutely.

Councilman Hugo, sir, you have the floor.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

Uh so well done.

I uh echoed uh Councilman Dodson's uh comment regarding the conclusion.

I think the conclusions are spot on, and and that leads to a question for the city manager.

So we have strategic priorities as a conclusion.

We have strategic pillars that were in the commenting phase.

So I appreciate an update on when you think the strategic pillars are gonna be ready for us to go public.

I'm gonna present them to you tomorrow.

You tell me if they're ready to go public.

Okay, and then and then this also the conclusions reinforce the conversation we had during the last budget season around having a solid five-year CIP.

So are we tracking for the valid five-year CIP as part of this upcoming budget process?

Absolutely.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's just part of the work.

That's not even something special.

That's just part of the work.

It's part of the work that's been unfinished work.

So looking forward to five years in our five-year CIP.

Good.

And one of the things I'd like to say in summary is that you know our planning department, our comprehensive plan.

Um I know some of my colleagues haven't been here as long.

Of course, Councilman Vice Mayor Moody has seen many comprehensive plans in his time here.

And I'm not saying that in a negative.

But in any event, you know, when I looked at the comprehensive plan when I think about it, a couple things that come to mind about the work we're doing.

Our comprehensive plan, many of you may not know, have received national and state recognition.

Y'all are aware of that, right?

Okay.

And so that seems to say a message to me that we are looking at things that we need to be looking at, and it's independent evaluators that tell us that.

Most importantly, the work that you guys are doing is going to help us to move Portsmouth forward.

And we're so grateful that you're doing the work.

We got to continue to communicate, share with the community, go out in the street and let people know this work that we're doing, get on whatever social media we can get on, and start telling the story.

This is a good story.

There's a good story happening.

I'm hearing it in the community.

I'm out here every day, y'all, and I'm listening to a lot of people.

Believe it or not, I'm doing a not doing a whole lot of talking.

And I hear that people are liking the porchment that they're seeing right now.

I just met the reporter at Wavy, one of the newest youngest reporters at Wavy.

Um, you may see all she lives in Old Town.

She stopped me and talked to me for an hour and a half.

She came from St.

Louis, Missouri, and she told me how beautiful the porchment is and how much she's in love with this city and all of the wonderful attributes.

And she wants to get more involved in the community.

I sent her to Councilman Brian.

Did she call you yet?

I know yet.

I'm gonna say this is what I'm talking about.

This is real stuff that's happening.

We're not just talking about it, we're doing it.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mike.

Thank you.

Susie Play.

She she's she's still the one that's uh presenting.

Uh this next presentation is really just information.

Um we have a uh a complex that uh is going to need to do something a little bit out of the ordinary uh to meet their goals.

It requires a public hearing, which we will schedule um next uh council meeting, pending how the conversation goes around this one.

All right, but yeah, it's just really information so that when we actually start talking about it in public, you know what we're talking about while we're talking about it, all the details of how it works.

I'll let uh Dr.

Russell introduce that and kind of walk you through the mechanics of what we're doing while we're doing it.

Okay.

All right, good evening.

One more time.

And so let me share with you.

Let me um remind council members that this should look very familiar to you.

You considered in March a request to uh provide a one-year extension for use permit 2222 for the proposed pencil apartment development, and so this is a subsequent request to that use permit extension request, and the applicant is asking for your um authorization or uh asking that you authorize a public hearing as soon as possible to consider project-based vouchers to support the development.

And so it is a proposed 39-unit multifamily development.

They have secured approval from the Norfolk, City of Norfolk redevelopment and housing authority to lend project-based vouchers, a total of nine for um this development, which would generate uh approximately 79,000 and additional operating revenue for the ANSL apartment development.

Um I don't have much additional information other than that to share with you.

I can answer specific questions about the project.

I can share that the developer who does have a representative present tonight, uh, advises that while $79,000 does not seem like uh a significant amount of money, it will make a difference uh relative to the uh closing of their finance package with Virginia housing uh and their operating income for the proposed development.

Let me share with you because you will see you you'll likely see at advertisements um for uh uh angel apartments uh conditional use permit request uh that will be considered by our planning commission.

How did that go back through by our planning commission at their February meeting?

Their um your use permit extension request expires in July 26th, and the standard for evaluation for the Portsmouth zoning ordinance is that a footing has to be um completed and in place.

So um one of the buildings, one of the apartment building units would have to be under construction and the foundation in place, and you know, seasoned developers know how much time that takes uh relative to the development review process, and at this point at the beginning of January, it's not anticipated that they would meet that milestone by July 1.

And so they're going back before the planning commission in February.

We're anticipating that that would be uh before the city council in March for uh a renewal of their use permit.

So that extension request per the ordinance can only be granted one time after that.

An applicant has to go through the complete use permit review process.

Nothing uh about the specific details of the project have changed.

Um what is being proposed is that the conditions would include a second expiration um date for the project.

Right.

All right, with that, um, you didn't talk about this process that they're about to go through right now.

The the the project-based voucher right.

Okay, so the project-based voucher request requires that um the Portsmouth City Council adopt a resolution allowing the project-based vouchers from the city of Norfolk to be used in the city enforcement.

Uh the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority as well as the Portsmouth Redevelopment Housing Authority have approved the use of project-based vouchers uh enforcement to support the project.

Um I don't know how much more I need to share.

So Councilman Tillich had his hand up, and I bet I know what he's asking, but he needs to ask a question.

So the question I have is number well, it's two-fold question.

The first question is the public uh base vouchers.

It makes mention in his letter here that project-based based on the project-based vouchers that Portsmouth did not have the available vouchers at this time.

So they saw from Northwood.

So my question with that would be is Portsmouth just ran out of what they had, or do we not have any at all to support this?

Um I don't know the answer to that.

That's not one of the questions that was asked.

I saw a letter from um Miss Winston saying that she didn't at least they supported it.

Um I just wanted to know how that process looked like you know, if they had ran out or could they run out?

Maybe we need to maybe work with HUD to see if there's a way we can get increased vouchers.

Um second question would be um with these being novel vouchers, these are North residents coming into Portsmouth, which would become Portsmouth residents, correct?

I um our query with the applicant did not indicate that those would be solely reserved for Norfolk residents.

Right.

My it was my understanding that they were novel-based project-based vouchers, but they're used for ports of residents.

That was my understanding when I but that's not possible.

No, no, but they're project-based vouchers from Norfolk that can be used by any qualifying uh prospective tenant.

Right, but mind when I asked a question, and maybe I misunderstood it, those people will be living in Portsmouth, though.

Is that oh yes, that that's what I was trying to say, I'm sorry.

So we're getting new residents.

Right, right, right.

Up to nine.

Okay, because that was my question.

Right.

But a voucher can be used anywhere.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think this particular process.

Right.

Norfolk already have their list of people waiting for about it.

That's correct.

So that's what I was saying.

Those nine.

Sure.

Whoever, whatever their waiting list is, right?

That's right.

Well, the other units will the other units in the project will the other units of the development will be affordable to anybody that applies to be able to continue to look at.

Councilman Tillich, I will reach out to Miss Winston for an answer to the first question.

Good question.

Councilman Dodson.

I think we're kind of locked into this design, but I wanted to use this as an example to say this is not what I call uh defensible housing.

Defensive.

Yeah, I'm gonna define it for you.

Um what it means is that the residents have control over their property, and from some of these units, they can't see their parking spots to know you know is there's something going on in the parking lot, can they get their property?

Can they protect their property?

And I would hope that uh we would have that discussion with designers in the future to not design projects like this where the parking lot can't be seen, um, and their property uh their ownership of their own property to uh controlled um in here.

I don't know how we could do better on this project.

I'm not saying didn't do it differently.

I'm just saying that as an example, I would would hope that we would have the discussion in the future.

That'd be a big ask.

Yeah, I'm not sure how we accommodate because any development that way with designated parking, some units will have site on that parking sun just roll.

That's exactly right.

Yeah, and I'm I'm not sure how you accommodate what you're asking.

I'm not on this one, we can't.

I'll talk about period.

Um there are some other projects that I've seen come through that very much go along with that philosophy of at least attempting to as many units as possible.

Um go more towards that philosophy, especially in areas, project areas.

We're gonna have a conversation that that's just not a term I'm familiar with in this process.

I'll say it that way.

I'm I may need to be smarter on it.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

The the rest is permission to include the resolution, approval of the resolution on an upcoming city council agenda.

I think that requires a public hearing also at the same time.

Yeah, it would require a public hearing, right, madam clerk.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, sir.

I mean, public hearings, yeah.

I mean, normally through the approval process through planning and zoning does require a public hearing.

Is that correct or not correct?

Yeah, I've been working with Mr.

Miller and the every public hearing is required.

Yes, that's that's okay.

We're clear on the public hearing.

Yes.

Okay, so that will be brought forth uh in the form of a public hearing, and the community will get a chance to hear and weigh in, and then we will have a decision to make.

Yes.

That's it.

All right, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Happy birthday again, Dr.

I want a piece of the birthday cake.

You didn't bring the birthday cake with me.

Okay.

Good afternoon, members of city council.

Good afternoon.

You have never seen me stand up here.

This is like a once-a year kind of thing.

Um, I am delighted to bring one of your initiatives to you, which is the consent agenda.

City council has been asking for this for a little while, and we heard and um you were provided in advance a copy of your rules and procedures to review.

I would like to bring your attention to page five of your rules and procedures, which um primarily talks about the city manager's report.

And what this entails is a couple of parts to this.

You all have had an opportunity with a couple of your council member council meetings that had several items to be able to practice using the consent agenda just so we could get a feel for how this would work for you.

Um basically what would happen and what is proposed, which is a little bit different from what you do now.

Currently, with the city manager's report, the public can speak on each and every item.

Whether it's two, whether it's 22, they can speak on each and every item.

Council's request was for us to look at consent agenda.

What does that mean?

That would mean items would go under one item, cover all the items, and would require only one vote.

Part of that process we also looked at is the ability for the public to speak.

We also looked at, and I like to thank is Jeff Miller in here.

Thank you, Jeff Miller, um, for assisting in this process because we did check with the other cities to see those that use consent agenda, what their process was.

Um, and it looks like with the majority of them, they have the public ability to speak on any of the items prior to getting into the consent agenda.

So what would happen is when we get to city managers report, we would hear anybody that wants to speak on consent agenda, not all the city manager items.

So there's two parts to this.

Yes.

Um we would hear the speakers, but this is the caveat.

Where they normally could speak on all the items, they would be able to speak one time for five minutes.

If we have 20 items on the city manager's report, um under consent agenda, they speak one time and cover all their items.

The thing you have to remember is, and I'm sure you're aware, um, normally the items under the city manager's report are grant items.

So that's money coming to the city, not too controversial.

I'm happy to say.

So what those items will be primarily what will fall under consent agenda.

Um, there will be other items that with review by the manager and our team would determine whether they could be categorized as controversial.

Uh, and if not, they will fall under consent agenda.

Those items that um in looking and reviewing them, if we see that it's a possibility that we could have quite a few speakers, or even council has we think that council might have questions beyond just one or two questions, those items would not fall under consent agenda.

So there's two parts: the non-controversial and the questionable.

So we would hear at the beginning of consent agenda, we would hear whoever wants to speak on any of the consent agenda items.

They would speak one time for five minutes.

Following that, I would read all the items, it would require one motion, one vote to adopt consent agenda.

The second part to that is those items not covered under consent agenda that um are still a part of the city manager's report, the public can still speak on them individually.

We're not taking that away.

And they would just be excuse me, madam clerk, it would just still follow the same process.

Correct.

They would have to sign up in order to speak.

Yes, those those items exactly, and for consent agenda, they would just sign up one time to speak on all the items if they wanted to.

Um, and then the other items that are not on consent agenda, they would have to sign up as you said, individually, and they would get five minutes to speak just like they do now.

So the only thing we're really changing is condensing into one vote those non-controversial items like grants, and the rest of the agenda would move as it normally would.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm sorry, Mayor.

Okay.

I didn't look at this side of the council intelligence first, and then I should um on the uh section 15 line.

Oh, line B.

Where it makes mention about the city clerk serving the titles of all ordinances of resolution.

But we have now that's not considered to be a title, that's like a whole description.

Well, so can we create shorter titles?

That's not a title.

Well, the only problem with doing that is because we're not dealing with them individually.

There's not discussion on them individually.

We need to make sure we put enough information out there for the public to know what you're considering.

So that sometimes requires a little bit more um explanation.

Um, even though it's a grant, it still requires us to say where the grant's coming from, how much, where it's going, what it's going to be used for, and that kind of thing.

So that being on paper isn't just enough information.

No.

Because not everyone gets that piece of paper.

Not everyone gets to see the backup information that gives a full description of the item.

So and putting together your agenda, we try to keep it concise, but we try to provide the public enough information that they know what you're voting on.

Yeah, yeah, and I appreciate the transparency part.

Um there's a way that we can be just a little more crafty with our words.

Um still being as transparent as possible.

Yes, sir.

We will look at that.

Councilwoman Thomas, maybe thank you.

I just want to say thank you for putting this the thought and time and effort into making our city council meetings effective, but also keeping the transparency for the public.

And I just wanted to shout out kudos to you for letter C here.

Um, that was one of my concerns about us moving towards this, but I I like that we can at any time request for an item to be removed from consent agenda item without the vote of a count of the entire council.

So thank you for putting that clarity in there.

Yes, ma'am.

And that works the same for the public.

Um, if it requires some additional information, if a public person comes and say, you know, I need more feedback from council, council can say, okay, we're gonna take this off consent agenda and move it down with the other items.

So yes, thank you for that.

Um, I do want to bring to council's attention though.

Item Dere um consent agenda or discussion.

If we're gonna give you short descriptions, we need short discussions.

Yes.

Okay, so like I said, primarily gonna consist of grant items and those non controversial items, but I encourage you if you have some additional questions on those items prior to the meeting to please touch base with the manager so those questions can be answered so it's not delaying the process of consent agenda because otherwise we're right back where we are.

And remember, the council meeting is the business meeting.

Correct.

So when you come in there, we should be about the business.

Discussion is fine, but we don't need to take it from inception to end.

That's too much.

So you gotta be clear and concise.

I know sometimes you guys look at me like, well, you cut me off or whatever.

I'm not intending to cut you off.

I'm thinking about being clear and concise on what we're doing because at the end of the day, uh our citizens have an expectation, and this is our business meeting.

We have time during all those other discussions, work sessions during the week to get it right before we come to the business meeting.

And I do encourage council to please read through your rules and procedures very carefully.

Um we did there are a couple of bits and pieces throughout this revise where it's a little bit of housekeeping done, but it was nothing major at all.

I mean, really nothing major at all.

Um, but if there's something else that needs to be addressed, we are looking to have you all adopt the uh revised rules and procedures at your next meeting, not tomorrow, but your next meeting.

So you have some time to review it, and if you will let either me or Jeff Miller know any revisions that you may have that we can bring to the other council members' attention, that would be greatly appreciated before the night of.

The business meeting, because it's a business meeting.

I would ask that our male council members wear a tie, please.

I don't think that's written in here anywhere.

I said I said it's not in the council rule.

I'm just I'm just asking.

That's all.

I'm just making a request.

There was nothing that was ordered.

I just asked.

That's not in the businessman.

I have this rash.

Oh my god.

The council business.

It's just the thought.

No medical examples.

From your doctor.

No type shit from your doctor.

I just want to put that out moving right along.

Thank you all very much.

Appreciate the work.

Thank you for that.

Very much.

That concludes everything we have for the vacation.

So we certainly want to know.

Absolutely.

So if you all minds are clear, smoothie.

I moved to go into closed meeting pursuant to Virginia Code subsection two point two dash thirty-seven eleven A seven for the purpose of consultation with legal counsel pertaining to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body specifically regarding the city of Portsmouth versus Swinson Restaurant Group and all.

And uh Mrs.

Schwitz.

Uh versus City of Portsmouth, uh workers' compensation commission jurisdiction claim numbers.

Virginia zero zero zero zero one nine zero three six four seven and Virginia zero two zero zero zero zero four zero four three two.

Second.

Yes, sir, Miss Bryant.

Yes.

Dr.

Dyson.

Yes.

Mr.

Hugel.

Mr.

Moody.

Yes.

Thomas.

Yes.

Mr.

Tillett.

Yes.

Merrick Labra.

Thank you.

They're not a close session.

We'll take a quick break.