Virginia Beach City Council Special Formal Session - June 23, 2026

The Virginia Beach City Council convened a special formal session on June 23, 2026, following a regular rescheduled formal session. The meeting included briefings on the Flood Protection Program, the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) marketing efforts, and a preview of planning items for the July 7 and July 14 city council agendas. The council also discussed various community events and concerns before recessing into a closed session for personnel matters and appointments.

Flood Protection Program Update

• Jeff Waller, Chair of the Flood Protection Bond Referendum Oversight Board, reported on the program's progress. The board has been meeting quarterly and provided updates on projects under construction, including Bow Creek Stormwater Park Phase 1, First Colonial Road, Oceana Boulevard Drainage, Elizabeth River Floodplain Restoration, the Windsor Woods/Princess Ann Plaza/Lakes Bundle, and Eastern Shore Drive Bundle. The Bow Creek Stormwater Park Section 2 is at 100% design.
• Lee Shapel (Jacobs Engineering) gave a second-quarter update on project milestones. Notable advances: Pungo Ferry Road reached 60% design, Point Sienna Pump Station reached 100% design, construction started on the Eastern Shore Drive bundle, and CTAC drainage improvements were completed. The overall project estimate increased by $4 million since Q1, now totaling approximately $1.5 billion, up from the original $567 million largely due to inflation.
• The city has been awarded $73 million in state and federal grants and will submit for another $44 million. Seven new blogs and four new videos were published, with 1,776 blog views and 10,006 video views.
• Council member mentioned a design change for the Chubb Lake Hope Station and Outfall: after neighborhood input, staff rerouted access to avoid a coastal primary sand dune, resulting in a cheaper, faster, and less environmentally impactful solution.
• Council member Barbara raised a concern about safety fencing around stormwater ponds, noting they are an attractive nuisance, especially for children, and requested further consideration.

Tourism Marketing Update

• Nancy Hellman, CVB director, and Anna Stone, vice president of marketing, presented the FY26 year-to-date marketing and advertising plan. The $13 million budget funds the "Happiness Is" campaign, which has driven over 341 million digital media impressions and 65 million paid meta impressions. The campaign will conclude in February 2027, with a new campaign in development.
• Public relations efforts earned over 3 billion impressions and an advertising equivalency value of $27 million. Highlights included the New York Times naming Virginia Beach one of the "52 Places to Go in 2026," which generated 54 additional placements and 1 billion impressions.
• The Visit Virginia Beach website won the 2026 IAC Award for Best Travel Website, achieved perfect ADA compliance, and had 8.4 million page views from 220 countries.
• A "Spring Push" campaign included partnerships with Disney Plus, CBS, and SXM, resulting in 7.3 million video views and a 98% completion rate. A "Surge Marketing Campaign" was launched in response to April oceanfront incidents to stabilize visitor confidence, with results pending.
• The CVB added several business intelligence tools to drive data-driven decisions. Hotel occupancy pacing is 7.6% ahead of last year.
• Council members praised the coordination of oceanfront events, including the Sail 250 tall ships event, which was a regional success.

Planning Items for July 7 and July 14 Agendas

• Caitlin Alcott and zoning administrator Hannah Sabo presented 14 planning items for the upcoming council meetings.
• July 7 items included: a subdivision variance for 1117 Beautiful Street, modifications of conditions for home occupations and short-term rentals (STRs), a conditional rezoning for a parking garage at Westminster Canterbury (3100 Shore Drive), a conditional rezoning for an auto repair garage at 3288 Damneck Road, adult daycare facilities in Expressway Court Commerce Center, and a food truck CUP at 549 New Town Road. Also, five zoning ordinance amendments to comply with 2026 state legislation: solar facilities, wireless communication facilities, parking reductions near transit, R2.5 district updates, and non-conforming mobile homes.
• July 14 items included: a rezoning of a city-owned parcel on Upton Drive to preservation district, a conditional rezoning for a 52-unit condominium with retail at Shore Drive and Marlin Bay Drive (with 57 letters of opposition, but planning commission recommended approval 9-1), and four short-term rental CUPs in District 6 (two at 20th Street and two at 20th and a half Street). The STRs drew opposition from residents concerned about the number of rentals in the area.
• Council member Ross expressed concern about the proliferation of STRs in his district and noted that the planning commission is considering removing that area from the STR overlay.

Other Council Comments

• Council member Josh reported a fire in the Bay neighborhood that impacted four homes; the fire department responded in six minutes. He thanked the emergency services.
• Council member Amelia noted the success of the Sail 250 tall ships event and the collaborative efforts of police, sheriff, and fire departments.
• Mayor Dyer acknowledged the state budget progress and thanked Delegate Askew and Senator Lucas for funding for the church property, which had been deferred pending state funding.
• Council member Mary reported on the minority business council retreat and HRT interviews for a new president following William Harrell's retirement.
• Council member Barbara raised the stormwater pond fencing issue.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on the briefings or planning items; they were presented for information and will be considered at the July 7 and July 14 council meetings.
• The council unanimously voted to recess into closed session for personnel matters, council appointments, and appointee evaluations.
• The flood protection program continues to progress with ongoing construction and design work.
• The CVB marketing campaigns, including the surge campaign, are active and will be evaluated later.