Virginia Beach City Council Workshop – September 1, 2026
Virginia Beach City Council Workshop – September 1, 2026
The Virginia Beach City Council held a workshop on September 1, 2026, to receive a presentation on Zero Waste Awareness Week, discuss liaison reports, review agenda items including a resolution for Atlantic Park Development and planning items, and vote to recess into closed session.
Presentation: Zero Waste Awareness Week
- Terry Stevens, Chair of the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission, introduced the commission's mission (established 1980) and highlighted its role in beautification, litter prevention, recycling, and environmental education. Christy Rhines, Recycling Coordinator and commission liaison, presented the Zero Waste Awareness Week campaign (September 6–12, 2026). The week features the slogan "Seven Days, Seven Ways, One Beautiful Virginia Beach" and focuses on the seven R's: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Repair, Rewear, Refuse, Rethink.
- Rhines noted that Virginia Beach City Council recognized the first full week in September as Zero Waste Awareness Week in 2023, and the Virginia General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 446 declaring it a commonwealth-wide observance. The campaign logo, created by Rhines, has been distributed nationally through Keep America Beautiful.
- The commission hosts free Zero Waste Wardrobe events where residents can donate and reuse clothing; the next event is scheduled for November at Salem High School (Turkey Bowl).
- Council members expressed strong support, commending the volunteers (11,000 volunteers mentioned) and the impact of small choices by 455,000 residents. Council member Jennifer asked to have posters and postcards made available.
Council Liaison Reports & Comments
- Council member reported on the 64th annual Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships and Funk Fest, both successful events at the oceanfront, and noted the upcoming Virginia Beach Supergirl Surf Festival (13 women's sports, 22 free concerts).
- A special needs prom hosted by House of Angels at West End drew over 200 attendees; Council member thanked volunteers and the third precinct for support.
- The Green Ribbon Committee is planning a symposium for next April on watershed issues (Albemarle vs. Chesapeake drainage).
- Council member read a letter from the sheriff requesting inclusion of the sheriff's department in retention efforts alongside police.
- Council member highlighted the reopening of New Light Full Gospel Baptist Church after renovations by a member who used her professional talent.
- Council member mentioned a pharmaceutical group conference that provided trade opportunities for youth.
- Council member Barbara requested a briefing on flock cameras in Virginia Beach, expressing privacy concerns: "When does it stop being just something for determining traffic safety and become a privacy invasion?" Staff will prepare a draft report in about two weeks.
Discussion on Agenda Items
- Item 8 – Atlantic Park Development Resolution: A $5 million appropriation from the General Assembly for Atlantic Park Development was clarified as pass-through money. Council member Hanley asked whether it obligates the city to match or spend additional funds. Staff confirmed it is pass-through with no match required; the city only needs to report on use of funds and cannot replace existing money.
- Planning Items (1–7): Several items were placed on consent (items 2, 4, and possibly others). Item 3 (one speaker) was noted as likely pulled by the applicant. Items 5 and 6 were identified as needing to be pulled. Item 7 – Ordinance to amend zoning regarding parking garages: Planning Commission passed an original version; an alternative version was proposed by Council member and Vice Mayor Wilson, allowing existing short-term rental (STR) owners to keep reserved parking in public garages when their permits renew, provided space is available. The alternative was presented as income for the city and not tying up specific spots.
- Items 8 and 9 (STR related): Council member asked for a 30-day deferral to October formal meeting, citing citizen concerns. The motion to defer was accepted with a date certain in October.
Key Outcomes
- The council expressed unanimous support for the Zero Waste Awareness Week campaign and encouraged public participation.
- Consent agenda items were approved without objection (specific items not individually voted on in the transcript).
- The resolution for Atlantic Park Development (Item 8) was discussed; no vote was shown, but it was moved to the agenda speed and is expected to pass.
- Item 7 will consider the alternative version for parking garage permits for STR owners.
- Items 8 and 9 on STR regulations were deferred to the October formal meeting.
- A motion to recess into closed session under Virginia Code sections 2.2-3711(A)(3) (real property) and 2.2-3711(A)(1) (personnel matters) was made, seconded, and carried unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
We're about ready to start the meeting. Mr. Dehaney, what do we got? So, Mr. Mayor, members of council, as you all know, this is Zero Waste Awareness Week. We'll be joined by members of our Virginia Beach Clean Communities Committee Committee. And also Christy Rhines of our public works department to give City Council overview of the campaign regarding zero waste awareness. Welcome. Also, Chair Stevens as well. Okay. All right. Good afternoon, members of council. I'm really excited and honored to be here. My name is Terry Stevens, and I am the chair of the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission. The commission was established in 1980 by City Council with the mission to beautify our city, help with litter prevention, recycling correctly, and provide environmental awareness through education. In keeping with our mission, the city of Virginia Beach has been a catalyst in the zero waste awareness movement. Christy Rhines is our liaison to our commission with waste management. A couple years ago, she created a logo for Zero Waste Awareness Week. And that logo has been spread not just in the city or the Commonwealth, but across our nation through the Keep America Beautiful program. In keeping with our mission also, the commission hosts two totally free events that are open to our residents, where residents can donate their clothing that they no longer want, and it can be reused by another resident in our city. That is called our zero waste wardrobe event. I have a flyer right here that I will pass out to you guys. I'd love for you to share it in your district. The next one will be at the Turkey Bowl in November, which will be at Salem High School. She should be commended for her creativity and her dedication to our city. And now I am happy to introduce Christy, and she's going to share with you the Zero Waste Awareness Week social media campaign, which will start September 6th and continue through September 12th. Thank you. That really said the stage, didn't it? See how that works for me. A few of you may know me as the recycling coordinator for the city as well. So we're gonna roll through this real quick. I don't want to take up too much of your time, but this is Zero Waste Awareness Week at seven days, seven ways, one beautiful Virginia Beach. So a little bit about your commission, and at least for the 10 people at home watching. Excuse me, the Virginia Beach uh keep Virginia Beach Beautiful. Um, and as you'll see up there through volunteer uh volunteerism, education, beautification, litter prevention, recycling, and of course now zero waste. They continue to promote uh sustainable Virginia Beach. So we're did this all start. So in 2023, the Virginia Beach City Council recognized the first full week in September as Zero Waste Awareness Week. The Virginia General Assembly picked that up last year. Um, and they passed uh House Joint Resolution 446, which does declare the first full week in September every year and there every year thereafter as Zero Waste Awareness Week. And that is supposedly going to be recognized across the Commonwealth. And this is the logo that uh Terry was speaking about. So this is the launch. So this is the first of the uh series of posters that'll go out. Um, this is Zero Waste Awareness Week, as Terry mentioned, September the 6th through the 12th of this year, and we're calling for everybody to reimagine seven days to see waste differently. Oh, too far. There we go. Um, seven days, seven ways, one beautiful Virginia Beach is the slogan. Reduce, reuse, repurpose, repair, reware, refuse, rethink. All the ways that you can minimize waste before you ever get it to a trash can or a recycle card.
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