Virginia Beach City Council Special Formal Session – October 13, 2026

The Virginia Beach City Council held a special formal session on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room. The meeting focused on two major presentations: the draft legislative agenda for the 2027 General Assembly and an overview of the city’s agricultural industry. Council members also discussed several ongoing projects and initiatives.

Discussion Items

Draft Legislative Agenda for 2027 General Assembly

Brett McKenzie, Director of Legislative Affairs, presented the draft agenda for the 2027 General Assembly. The session will be a 46-day “short session” where legislators will amend the FY 27–28 budget and consider numerous bills. Key anticipated topics include AI and data center taxes, collective bargaining for public sector employees, automated license plate readers, and the $250 fine for public marijuana consumption. The timeline includes a public hearing on October 27 and adoption on November 10.

Policy Priorities were outlined in nine areas:

• Affordable Housing: request for increased funding for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund and state rental assistance, plus local flexibility.
• Economic Development: increasing access to affordable child care and funding for the sports tourism grant program.
• Education: implementing reforms from the 2024 JLARC study and increasing state support.
• Energy: supporting the solar interconnectivity grant program and retaining local control over siting of energy and battery storage facilities.
• Fiscal Responsibility: opposing additional unfunded mandates and preserving local option for collective bargaining.
• Flooding & Stormwater: developing a state funding program for non-federal match for large-scale flood relief and increasing funds for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund and Community Flood Preparedness Fund.
• Land Use: retaining local control over short-term rentals and land-use decisions.
• Public Safety: increased funding for police, fire, and EMS, and allowing localities to use technology for public safety.
• Transportation: support for multimodal solutions, including roads, trails, transit, microtransit, and e-bike rider safety and education.

Budget Amendment Request: Proposed to allow a 1% sales tax referendum (currently authorized only for school construction) to also fund flood resilience projects, helping meet the city’s CSRM obligations. Council members raised questions about fund segregation, voter information, and whether the change would be statewide. Staff noted they would first seek council approval before talking to other cities like Norfolk, Hampton, and Newport News.

Code Amendment Proposals (6 items):

1. Deferred retirement option plan for public safety employees (hazardous duty supplement).
2. Expanding the Tourism Development Financing Program (TDFP) to include up to 20% of state income tax from jobs created by new tourism projects.
3. Community safety zones (renamed from “pop-up zones”) to support recommendations from the mayor’s safety task force.
4. Closing a legislative loophole that only prohibited concealed carry while intoxicated; new proposal would make it illegal to carry any weapon while intoxicated.
5. Adding two law enforcement members to the statewide Forensic Science Board (currently only one member), with members from different population tiers.
6. Extending emergency temporary guardianship and conservatorship for adult protective services from 15 days (plus 5-day extension) to 90 days.

Council Additions to the Agenda:

• Councilmember Henley proposed adding a request to recognize mature tree preservation as a best management practice (BMP) for stormwater credits, based on research from Dr. McLaughlin at Virginia Tech. This would incentivize developers to retain existing tree canopy rather than clear-cutting replanting.
• The Vice Mayor (absent) had requested pursuing the “blue line” charter amendment, which would formally identify the area south of Indian River Road without water/sewer. Council agreed to work on draft language for a November public hearing.
• Council also asked for a crosswalk between the e-bike work group recommendations and the city's task force recommendations regarding e-bike safety.

Agricultural Program Overview

David Trimmer, Director of Agriculture, presented an overview of the city’s Department of Agriculture. Key statistics:

• Agriculture is Virginia Beach’s third largest industry, with an economic impact of $177.2 million (down slightly from $178.1 million the prior year).
• 26,419 acres under cultivation for crops, livestock, and equine.
• The Agricultural Reserve Program (ARP) has enrolled 11,358 acres, purchasing 992 development rights (estimated to prevent 11,358 homes and 22,000+ car trips). The goal is 20,000 acres.
• 100% of farms are family-owned; there are no corporate farms.
• The farmers market (50 years old) hosts events, sponsorships (47 companies), and educational programs reaching 3,000–3,500 children annually.
• 914 volunteers, including 230 Master Gardeners, contribute about 1.6 million in service value.
• 4-H livestock show and sale raised $243,322 in 2026 (up from $100,000 in 2000).

Councilmember Henley argued that agriculture is an industry and should not be considered “vacant land.” She warned that pushing for light industrial development in southern Virginia Beach would displace the third largest industry. She emphasized that the ARP was created to preserve farmland and has been copied by other localities. Councilmember Cash and others agreed, supporting the blue line amendment to protect agricultural land.

Other Council Comments & Updates

• Pungo Ferry Road Project: Councilmember Henley asked for clarification on federal grant obligations. The city manager confirmed that the September 30 deadline was met and the project will go out for bid within 90 days (December 2026), with bids expected in spring 2027. A budget adjustment may be needed to fully fund the project.
• Cross-Country Trail Funding: Councilmember raised concerns about using school reversion funds for a cross-country trail, suggesting the school community’s priorities should be considered.
• Youth Outreach & Crisis Intervention: A memo in the council package from the city manager (October 9, 2026) regarding group homes and youth rehabilitation was noted; further dialogue is expected.
• Other announcements: Councilmember recognized the Hampton Roads Agriculture and Research Extension Program’s fall garden festival, the NAACP Virginia Beach Branch’s 85th anniversary, and the Virginia Municipal League legislative priority meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Council provided initial guidance on the draft legislative agenda, directing staff to add the mature tree BMP stormwater credit and the blue line charter amendment for future consideration.
• The final legislative agenda will be presented for adoption on November 10, 2026.
• The Pungo Ferry Road project is moving forward; a budget adjustment will be brought to council.
• Council agreed to revisit cross-country trail funding based on school community input.
• The meeting ended with a closed session for property disposition and personnel matters.