OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Virginia Beach City Council Meeting – July 15, 2026: Focus Action Plan, Kempsville RFP, Disparity Study, Golf Course Sale, Shore Drive Development, and STRs

City Council Meetings — Wednesday, July 15, 2026
BodyVirginia Beach, Virginia
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateWednesday, July 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

Yeah, I have to make the announcement on the closed caption first.

0:18

Before we get started, I'd like to let everyone know that the captioning in the room is currently unavailable.

0:24

If anyone needs captioning, it is available on Facebook or by downloading the VB now app.

0:30

And you can see the clerk, Manda porn should be so Mr.

0:36

Mayor, members of council.

0:38

The first briefing will be given by Deputy City Manager Monica Krosky.

0:41

She'll brief the council in the public on an update regarding our focus action plan.

0:46

Thank you, Mr.

0:47

Mayor, Madam Vice Mayor, City Manager.

0:51

Every two years, City Council comes together and you have discussions, you work with a facilitator and you talk about your priorities.

0:59

You get feedback from the community.

1:01

Well, you do that year round, but we also do some specific engagement with the community around your uh strategy plan.

1:08

And uh semi-annually, we do a public report to give you progress update.

1:15

Um I always like to talk about the intentionality behind this plan.

1:19

I think governments get criticized a lot about doing a lot of plans and they sit on shelves.

1:25

Uh that's the opposite of what this focus action plan is, heavy emphasis on the word action.

1:30

Um every single month, the deputy city managers, assistant city managers, and I, we meet with all of the departments to talk about the progress, the initiatives in the plan quarterly.

1:42

We then get before our city manager and we give him updates on our progress.

1:47

He asks us questions.

1:49

Every single department that reports to the city manager has a departmental performance plan and some of their initiatives tied to your focus action plan.

1:56

And just about every Thursday, the city managers meeting with departments to go over their progress.

2:01

So there's a lot of intentionality built in to make sure that we make movement on what your priorities are.

2:08

Um this particular focus action plan, there are 45 initiatives.

2:13

Um I will not go over all 45.

2:15

I'll just do a sampling.

2:17

And next month, early September, we will have the official year-in report for fiscal year 26 that will go over every single initiative within the plan.

2:29

Uh there are three focus areas in this strategic plan, focus action plan, people, places, partnerships.

2:36

People really is about centering the residents' voices, um, making sure that the services we provide, how we provide them are rooted in their feedback.

2:46

It's also about taking care of the people who serve our community.

2:50

So emphasis on public safety, which is the foundation of any communities and people.

2:56

Places really acknowledges that we need to have places for people to work, uh, places for people to live, and places for people to play.

3:05

So things like Rudy Park, VB Trail, um, economic development are in places.

3:11

And then finally, partnerships is recognizing that as government, it doesn't make sense for us to do it alone.

3:16

Uh, there makes uh there are times when it makes sense to leverage community partners to advance an initiative.

3:22

Uh so the partnerships um key focus area is all about how can we leverage community assets to advance priorities.

3:30

So let's get started with some highlights.

3:33

Uh, first up is a people initiative, public safety.

3:37

Um, you all have been investing pretty um heavily in EMS.

3:41

It's a time when people need us most.

3:43

They were probably at their dire uh hour, and making sure that we are positioned to help them is of importance to you all.

3:50

Um, you all invested in 24 new positions back in November.

3:55

Um, and uh assistant city manager Stroud and his staff were able to hire 24.

4:00

And in addition to hiring uh those 24 FTEs, he also implemented a staffing model 2472.

4:09

And what that is is you work 24 hours and then you have 72 hours off.

4:13

And what that does is that offers uh work life balance for the employee, um, helps with burnout.

4:20

What it does for us as the employer is it provides a stable foundation for scheduling.

4:26

Um, so you will know that you have a 24-hour period that's covered for the ambulances, and then for those career employees who still choose to operate on a 12-hour shift, it's easier to stack it.

4:40

And the fruits of that is in this graph.

4:42

Uh, the blue, well, the graph represents um a quarter, average staffing of the ambulances by hour.

4:51

And what you'll see is the orange is the fiscal year after we went to 2472 the quarter.

5:03

And you can see every single hour we have a higher staffing of ambulances.

5:08

So we're moving in the right direction.

5:10

And that's that's an important.

5:13

We're a large city, we're a tourist city, so making sure that we have ambulances staffed is a high priority.

5:19

Assistant City Manager Stroud wanted me to say we're moving in the right direction.

5:22

There's still opportunities for improvement, and we'll continue to seek those opportunities.

5:28

But really wanted to publicly thank council for your investments, as that graph shows they're paying off.

5:37

The next area and people is it's an interesting one.

5:41

When we look at the community survey, our residents say that they are satisfied with the services that they get.

5:48

When we benchmark the satisfaction for the value of the taxes paid, we are higher than the national average, we are higher than the regional average.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing██████████████14%
Racial Equity█████████████13%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Community Engagement████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Public Safety██████6%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Economic Development█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Virginia Beach City Council Meeting – July 15, 2026

The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including an update on the Focus Action Plan, authorization to issue an RFP for the historic Kempsville quadrant, the 2025 Disparity Study findings and recommendations, a deferred vote on the sale of Virginia Beach National Golf Course, approval of a mixed-use development on Shore Drive, and denial of three short-term rental conditional use permits on 20th and 20th Half Streets. The session included extensive public comments and council deliberation.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved several consent items including an ordinance to amend absentee voting locations, ratification of Parks and Recreation Commission bylaw amendments, and a fund appropriation for police donations.
  • Approved a resolution designating Beechley Drive in honor of the band Black Street.
  • Approved the rezoning of a vacant parcel on Upton Drive from R7.5 to P1 Preservation District (District Five).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Golf Course Sale (Virginia Beach National): Numerous residents spoke in opposition, citing lack of transparency, undervaluation, potential environmental harm (bald eagle nests), traffic and stormwater concerns, and the exclusion of District Two Councilwoman Henley from early discussions. Some speakers supported the project, noting the need for attainable housing and the developer's community engagement. A federal lawsuit was mentioned.
  • Shore Drive Development (Marlin Bay): Several speakers opposed the rezoning, arguing it exceeds the Corridor Design Guidelines, increases density sixfold, and exacerbates flooding and traffic. Others supported it, emphasizing stormwater improvements, community input, and the owner's right to develop.
  • Short-Term Rentals (20th/20th Half Streets): A resident opposed three CUR applications, citing parking, noise, and investor real estate saturation. The applicant’s representatives stressed professional management and compliance.

Discussion Items

  • Focus Action Plan Update: Deputy City Manager Monica Krosky presented highlights, including EMS staffing improvements (24 new FTE positions, 24/72 staffing model), over $20 million in cost reductions from the Process Improvement Steering Committee, community engagement via Parks After Dark and the Ages & Stages campaign, progress on apprenticeships and attainable workforce housing (Performance Grant program, increased shelter capacity, 53% of sheltered individuals placed into permanent housing), and business retention efforts. Council members praised the cross-departmental collaboration.
  • Historic Kempsville Northeast Quadrant: Acting Economic Development Director Emmy Archer briefed council on the 10.6-acre city-owned site at Witchduck and Princess Anne Roads. Community feedback from the Historic Kempsville Citizens Advisory Committee favored mixed-use development with attainable housing (at or below 80% AMI) and respect for historic character. Council directed staff to issue an RFP after completing a survey and utilities assessment, with a proposed 60-90 day timeline (possibly extended to 120 days) beginning in October.
  • 2025 Disparity Study: Purchasing Agent LaVera Talentino provided background on the SWAM program since the 2018 study, noting significant spend increases (minority-owned businesses from $2.26M in FY1999 to $61.5M in FY2024; woman-owned from $0 to $59.1M). Samir Bawa of BBC Research presented findings: white woman-owned businesses received 46 cents per dollar of availability; minority-owned businesses received 18 cents. The use of project goals improved outcomes for Black-owned businesses (from 23 to 84 cents). Recommendations included re-implementing an expanded project goals program (including WBE goals, lower thresholds, other industries) and a tiered small business enterprise program. Staff recommended waiting for state action before implementing new race/gender measures. Council noted the city’s gold-standard reputation.
  • Golf Course Sale (Item deferred): Council deferred the ordinance and term sheet for the sale of Virginia Beach National Golf Course to Dragas Associates to August 11, 2026, following a disclosure that the required public hearing notice was not properly published. Councilwoman Henley expressed concern over the lack of prior information and impact on her district. A motion to defer passed 11-0.
  • Shore Drive Mixed-Use Development: Council approved 10-1 the rezoning and conditional use permit for a 52-unit for-sale condominium building with 2,000-2,500 sq. ft. of commercial space at 3853 Shore Drive. The applicant incorporated community feedback, reducing density from 62 units, stepping down building height, and adding buffering. Staff, Bayfront Advisory Commission, and Planning Commission had recommended approval. Councilman Shulman, the district representative, supported it as an improvement over previous rental proposals.
  • Short-Term Rental Conditional Use Permits: Council denied three applications (511, 513, and 509 20th/20th Half Streets) by 8-3 votes each, citing density concerns in the resort area and a desire to review the overlay map at the upcoming retreat. Councilman Remick noted eleven existing STRs on 20th Street and a need to reduce the overlay area.

Key Outcomes

  • Focus Action Plan: The semi-annual report was received; full year-in-performance report scheduled for September 2026.
  • Kempsville RFP: Council authorized staff to issue an RFP for mixed-use development on the northeast quadrant, with due diligence work (survey) to be completed in approximately 60 days, aiming for an October RFP release.
  • Disparity Study: Council accepted the study findings; staff will monitor state actions before implementing new measures. The city will continue current SWAM program practices.
  • Golf Course Sale: Deferred to August 11, 2026, with direction to properly notice the public hearing.
  • Shore Drive Development: Approved 10-1.
  • Short-Term Rentals: Three CURs denied 8-3 each. Council plans to revisit the STR overlay map at a retreat.
  • Appointments: Herbert Woodhead appointed to Parks and Recreation Commission (District 10); William Curtis appointed to the STOP Inc. Board.
  • Other: Council directed staff to send a letter to the Bureau of Energy Management expressing concerns about seabed mining and requesting extension of the comment period.

Meeting Transcript

Yeah, I have to make the announcement on the closed caption first. Before we get started, I'd like to let everyone know that the captioning in the room is currently unavailable. If anyone needs captioning, it is available on Facebook or by downloading the VB now app. And you can see the clerk, Manda porn should be so Mr. Mayor, members of council. The first briefing will be given by Deputy City Manager Monica Krosky. She'll brief the council in the public on an update regarding our focus action plan. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Madam Vice Mayor, City Manager. Every two years, City Council comes together and you have discussions, you work with a facilitator and you talk about your priorities. You get feedback from the community. Well, you do that year round, but we also do some specific engagement with the community around your uh strategy plan. And uh semi-annually, we do a public report to give you progress update. Um I always like to talk about the intentionality behind this plan. I think governments get criticized a lot about doing a lot of plans and they sit on shelves. Uh that's the opposite of what this focus action plan is, heavy emphasis on the word action. Um every single month, the deputy city managers, assistant city managers, and I, we meet with all of the departments to talk about the progress, the initiatives in the plan quarterly. We then get before our city manager and we give him updates on our progress. He asks us questions. Every single department that reports to the city manager has a departmental performance plan and some of their initiatives tied to your focus action plan. And just about every Thursday, the city managers meeting with departments to go over their progress. So there's a lot of intentionality built in to make sure that we make movement on what your priorities are. Um this particular focus action plan, there are 45 initiatives. Um I will not go over all 45. I'll just do a sampling. And next month, early September, we will have the official year-in report for fiscal year 26 that will go over every single initiative within the plan. Uh there are three focus areas in this strategic plan, focus action plan, people, places, partnerships. People really is about centering the residents' voices, um, making sure that the services we provide, how we provide them are rooted in their feedback. It's also about taking care of the people who serve our community. So emphasis on public safety, which is the foundation of any communities and people. Places really acknowledges that we need to have places for people to work, uh, places for people to live, and places for people to play. So things like Rudy Park, VB Trail, um, economic development are in places. And then finally, partnerships is recognizing that as government, it doesn't make sense for us to do it alone. Uh, there makes uh there are times when it makes sense to leverage community partners to advance an initiative. Uh so the partnerships um key focus area is all about how can we leverage community assets to advance priorities. So let's get started with some highlights. Uh, first up is a people initiative, public safety. Um, you all have been investing pretty um heavily in EMS. It's a time when people need us most. They were probably at their dire uh hour, and making sure that we are positioned to help them is of importance to you all. Um, you all invested in 24 new positions back in November. Um, and uh assistant city manager Stroud and his staff were able to hire 24. And in addition to hiring uh those 24 FTEs, he also implemented a staffing model 2472. And what that is is you work 24 hours and then you have 72 hours off. And what that does is that offers uh work life balance for the employee, um, helps with burnout. What it does for us as the employer is it provides a stable foundation for scheduling. Um, so you will know that you have a 24-hour period that's covered for the ambulances, and then for those career employees who still choose to operate on a 12-hour shift, it's easier to stack it. And the fruits of that is in this graph. Uh, the blue, well, the graph represents um a quarter, average staffing of the ambulances by hour. And what you'll see is the orange is the fiscal year after we went to 2472 the quarter.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com