Virginia Beach City Council Meeting - August 20, 2025: Hurricane Aaron, Demographics, TIP Fund, and Rudy Loop Park
Virginia Beach City Council Meeting - August 20, 2025
The Virginia Beach City Council convened on August 20, 2025, to receive a briefing on Hurricane Aaron, review a detailed demographic and housing analysis, discuss the Tourism Investment Program (TIP) Fund, and provide guidance on the Rudy Loop Park project. The meeting also included public hearings, consent agenda approvals, and recognitions. Key outcomes included approval of a food bank rezoning, a supportive housing project, and unanimous direction to proceed with the Rudy Loop Park design.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (11-0) including ordinances to change polling location, amend property conveyance terms, authorize structured parking acquisition, and amend the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Ordinance. Also approved several conditional use permits and rezonings, including a 20-unit multifamily condominium at 34th Street and a bulk storage yard at 503 Emma Wright Road (deferred to October 21, 2025).
Public Comments & Testimony
- 333 Laskin Road Property: Two speakers opposed the sale of city excess property at 333 Laskin Road, citing concerns about displacing existing small businesses (e.g., Wayne Jones, owner of a flower shop for 53 years, and Patricia Abernathy, a resident who emphasized the area's diversity and community character). Council member Remick noted the public opposition and stated he would request a deferral of the vote until October 21, 2025.
- Food Bank Rezoning (K1): Two residents (Ben Jackson and Greg Panza) spoke against the 110,000-square-foot warehouse proposed near Dam Neck Road, citing noise, traffic, loss of wildlife habitat, and security concerns. The applicant's attorney, Eddie Burdon, responded that the project includes a 140-foot forested buffer, limited truck traffic, and no public access.
- NAMI/CDC Affordable Housing (K3): Multiple speakers (Max Willie, Kay Flora, Eugene Coward, Ashley Jarvis) spoke in support of the 60-unit affordable housing project with nine units for individuals with mental health diagnoses, emphasizing community engagement and alignment with city plans.
Discussion Items
Hurricane Aaron Briefing
- Presented by Dave (emergency management), the update covered Hurricane Aaron, a Category 3 storm east of the Bahamas, forecast to pass offshore but track westward, bringing tropical storm force winds (25-30 mph, gusts to 40 mph) and coastal flooding. Moderate to major flood levels expected during high tides Wednesday night and Thursday night. The Emergency Operations Center is at Level 1 (enhanced monitoring). Preparations include removing loose items at the oceanfront, making town center parking garages available for residents, and staging high-water vehicles. No evacuation is planned for Sandbridge, but a tropical storm watch is in effect. The storm is expected to clear by Friday afternoon.
Resident Satisfaction Survey & Demographic Trends
- Presented by Michael Evans (Hampton Roads Alliance) and Monica Krosky. Key findings: Virginia Beach's population is flat at ~453,000, with slow growth (4% over 20 years) and an aging trend (median age from 35 to 37.5). The city lost 3,700 residents in 2022, with domestic outflows to more affordable areas. International migration (7% growth in foreign-born population) is the only source of net growth. Median household income is ~$90,000, but 30% of households are ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed). Housing affordability gap: median sale price $418,362 vs. income-eligible price of ~$268,000. The presentation highlighted five interconnected themes: workforce pressures, housing as economic infrastructure, talent retention, regional planning, and adapting services for an aging population.
TIP Fund Analysis
- Presented by Kevin Shadelier, Budget Director. The TIP Fund (Tourism Investment Program) has a current fund balance of $54.2 million, with projected revenues from hotel, restaurant, and amusement taxes. Debt service is expected to rise from $27 million (FY28) to $45.6 million as bonds are issued. The fund supports operations (e.g., CVB, beach maintenance) and capital projects (e.g., Atlantic Park, sports tourism infrastructure). A scenario analysis showed that a $50 million city project would require ~134,000 room nights annually to cover debt service. The presentation also noted that amusement tax revenue increased after Top Golf opened (2015) but normalized over time, illustrating displacement effects.
Rudy Loop Park Update
- Presented by Michael Kirschman (Parks & Recreation). The council directed staff to proceed with the park design (surface parking only, saving $28 million) and move to construction drawings (estimated 18-month process, $4 million cost). The park will elevate the site to boardwalk level, reduce impervious surfaces from 90% to 50%, and lower summer surface temperatures by 13°F. A 501(c)(3) conservancy model is recommended for operations, with a capital campaign targeting $20 million to offset TIP fund costs. Examples of similar parks (e.g., Las Olas Park, Tom Lee Park) showed increased tourism and property values. The council unanimously approved moving forward.
Other Discussion
- Council member Schulden provided an update on the Bayside Sixth Grade Campus property, which the school board voted to transfer to the city for park use. The city manager will negotiate terms and bring to council for a public vote.
- Council member Ross Hammond raised concerns about e-bike enforcement on the boardwalk, citing safety risks. The city manager noted a staff task force is studying the issue, and a legislative package may be needed.
Key Outcomes
- Hurricane Aaron: No formal vote; the council received the briefing and asked clarifying questions.
- Demographic Presentation: No vote; the council discussed the data in preparation for the upcoming strategic retreat.
- TIP Fund: No vote; the presentation was informational.
- Rudy Loop Park: Unanimous direction to proceed with the park design (surface parking option) and begin construction drawings and conservancy formation.
- Food Bank Rezoning (K1): Approved 11-0 after discussion and a motion by Councilmember Henley, who noted the project's buffers and compatibility with the residential area.
- NAMI/CDC Affordable Housing (K3): Approved 11-0 on a motion by Councilmember Ross Hammond, with council members expressing support for the project's inclusive design.
- 333 Laskin Road: Public hearing held; no vote taken. Council member Remick indicated he will request a deferral to October 21, 2025.
- Appointments: The council approved appointments to the Community Organization Grant Review Committee (Tiffany Arguello), Development Authority (Lisa Murphy, with Councilmember Henley abstaining), and VA 250 Commission (Bill Curtis) by a vote of 11-0 (with the abstention noted).
- Recognitions: The council honored Deputy Fire Chief Richard Vance Cooper III for 35 years of service and recognized the 51st Court of Neptune, including Queen Buffy Barefoot.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you all. Yes. All right. So Mr. Mayor, we discussed previously before the meeting that with the change in trajectory for Hurricane Aaron. It'll be good to start the city council off and the public with a quick synopsis and a quick briefing on the path of Hurricane Aaron and some of the things that we're going to get ready for the storm. All right, direct. I think that's very proven. Thank you. All right. Well, uh good afternoon, Mayor, members of the council. Uh give you a quick rundown of uh what we're expecting to see with Hurricane Aaron and then what we've done to prepare and what we're looking at over the next couple days. All right. Is it on? Is it on? Maybe not. I don't know. I'm not used to going first. There you go. You're right. Thanks. Look at all world. I'm I'm real good at doing what I'm told. All right. So uh kicking up hurricane season, we're back again. Uh so right now, uh Hurricane Aren is a category three hurricane. It's located east of the Bahamas. Uh it will remain a very powerful hurricane throughout the rest of this week, somewhere between a category two or three. Um it's still forecast to curve to the north northeast uh over the next few days. It's gonna it's anticipated to start that curve later tonight or tomorrow morning. Um and it will pass us offshore. Um, however, the trajectory has changed more to a westward, which means closer to our shoreline, uh bringing some of those outer bands, winds, and coastal flooding uh closer to closer to our shores and and our communities. We expect it to pass just offshore of us as a category three downgrade into a category two uh Thursday, and then being out of the area by Friday afternoon. Um so we'll see the conditions worse uh tomorrow afternoon and then throughout the day on Thursday, and then start to uh improve Friday, and by Friday afternoon, we should be uh back to semi-normal state. Uh, this is not looking like a rain event. Uh, there might be a couple periods of rain from the outer bands. Any rain this week and clouds are not associated with the storm that you're seeing today. Uh, this looks like it's mostly going to be a coastal uh tidal event uh and possibly a wind event. So as you can see uh from the latest models around from about 11 a.m. Uh the outer bands will likely uh likely reach us tomorrow afternoon and then continue throughout Thursday. You know, we're looking at 25 to 30 mile per hour uh out of the north northeast uh with gust as high as 40 miles per hour. Uh and those could be much higher as especially along the coast, directly along the coast. Umce we see where the storm curves, uh, we'll determine how west it's gonna track, and then those numbers could possibly change in the next 24 hours, depending on the actual path it takes, uh, not just the forecasted track. Uh and then this morning they just issued a tropical storm watch for our area, meaning that there is a good possibility that we'll experience tropical storm force gusts, so gust over 40 miles an hour uh in the next 48 hours. Uh tidal and coastal flooding is uh concern right now. Uh we're watching the possibility of stacking building waves along the Chesapeake Bay that could result in tidal flood flooding for our bay communities and the Linhaven Bay areas, uh Croatan, Rudy. Um the back bay area does not look like it should flood right now. We've got the winds out of the north northeast, so it should be pushing out of the back bay, but stacking those waves at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. So uh our communities along Shore Drive and Lynn Haven, uh Crowatan, like Rudy is our primary concern right now, but we are watching everywhere. Um we're expecting to hit moderate to major flood levels during the high tide periods, uh especially Wednesday night and Thursday night.
openpublica.com