[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6569112,"mediaKeyId","3192528-a2fdefdcfd23b6f423381d09bc81c35b","parentId",3192528,"title","Residents push for stronger rules on student parties, landlord accountability in Williamsburg","audioSeconds",288,"startMs",3071000,"endMs",3359000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3192528-a2fdefdcfd23b6f423381d09bc81c35b&start=3071&end=3359","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3192528-a2fdefdcfd23b6f423381d09bc81c35b/thumbnail_3071000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6569112/Williamsburg-City/James-City-County/Virginia/Residents-push-for-stronger-rules-on-student-parties-landlord-accountability-in-Williamsburg","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569112-a0700e6faa8a51a740e9e3b384754584/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207648&Signature=dOK1yTBKjQTwLbCzjRrNpmH1D0M6dUBVYY6VKP~VYyQ5vf7wtnl0tSCPhdVnoa6mDCmpE66~3qVRR1yFGKkxRNd4nNW~Pwlpsw4yr6dsWvdWtS-BxeA3mjCUsaTI-r26ua8D5mqmr4EZZNdeA489uFPpnkN7Emh1nC9fWea3pYDd9Gjo94VgGu5zwaAoGLqJ4ByFMl2dZtcTfkTSr9a2paFAyHPXJQdyq2MmZnyh2WCR9VHohDijX1nHROxVV6dVu2C1Q7qQAk87LE72C-P0dBg5rItcDhMu1CqGnlQa3~fs7aSRIdm6hz1cY1HsbgvgreG7vkVQNCWhp4~0wB4obA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Williamsburg","date","2025-05-05T22:12:57.907Z","article","During public comment at the May 5 Williamsburg City Council meeting, several residents urged city action to address recurring noise, parties and neighborhood impacts tied to off-campus student housing.

Bill Carr, who identified himself as a resident and a former member of the neighborhood balance committee, proposed three specific measures: a publicly available dashboard or link listing landlords and contact information; a certification requirement by landlords that units comply with occupancy limits; and a permit system for private events above a specified attendee threshold (Carr suggested 25 people). Carr said a permit should include contact information for the event organizers, evidence of liability insurance if alcohol is served, and notification to adjacent neighbors.

\"That way, if there is an issue, the city has it right there and the police can go and see what the permit has or doesn't have,\" Carr said. He emphasized the measure should apply to any resident hosting a large event, not only students.

Other speakers noted strong police presence during recent large student gatherings and praised that enforcement. Councilmembers acknowledged the neighborhood concerns and pointed to existing limitations on inspection frequency and landlord responsibilities; they asked staff to consider neighborhood-facing solutions while balancing legal constraints. No formal ordinance or motion was introduced at the meeting; council members invited further study and feedback.

Several speakers also urged tools that shift initial responsibility onto landlords — such as a certification of occupancy — and recommended making contact information public so neighbors can reach property owners directly before calling city enforcement.

The council did not adopt new rules at the May 5 meeting but left the concerns on the record for staff follow-up and possible future action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Williamsburg City Council Work Session May 5 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents used public comment to urge the City Council to tighten oversight of off-campus student housing — proposing a public landlord contact registry, mandatory occupancy certification, and event permits for large gatherings.","taxTitle","Williamsburg City, James City County, Virginia","taxId",4540,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6569117,"Williamsburg negotiates extended water supply deal with Newport News; no upfront payment required",391,5857000,6248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3192528-a2fdefdcfd23b6f423381d09bc81c35b&start=5857&end=6248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3192528-a2fdefdcfd23b6f423381d09bc81c35b/thumbnail_5857000.jpg","/articles/6569117/Williamsburg-City/James-City-County/Virginia/Williamsburg-negotiates-extended-water-supply-deal-with-Newport-News-no-upfront-payment-required","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569117-2a9967322a8248cf26c20c991437cd32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207648&Signature=CDWKq6bhiTTVhCELh3DJgB4NHcGw~h0Qlwk6rcfRWoX7R2Ng0Z6YAyPuFVxyA66UuVBSF6dVyPOrrzYlhdtKZCH54d8-Nc70a9EdhfnVYLE4yuCpU8i8jRDMYfESPVkZpXNvT3PxSrLLTieWtj7Out-r0Edpo5n-1b2ltui4~nviULbV3wi3J05mnNCmgYUWqdq1Gly3DqjhHnd5NI3XkmL9-1CIyKQtRKrt~ItILYsFCwIj8DManx-AL1Ro0i1qtkMN-GT1F8OS0JD-7RVGMc8XUxyxPQ0D9orv70Jfv~AZ00ZcsLM0Z~bZdkp0AOxWAW3Wbyb7X8nXarHtjPnCUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Williamsburg City Council on May 5 that negotiations with Newport News Water Works produced a revised long-term water supply arrangement that officials say secures additional capacity without the $18 million upfront payment the city had previously faced.

Mister Reid (city staff presenting the agenda item) summarized the contract history, saying the original 2009 agreement provided for 1 million gallons per day and included an option that would have required a second payment that, together with earlier amounts, could have reached roughly $18 million. Staff recommended foregoing that upfront payment and, instead, extending and reworking the agreement.

Under the terms described to council, the proposed agreement (term 2025–2050 with options to extend) keeps the city's base 1 million gallons-per-day entitlement and adds up to 3 million gallons per day of treated water available for bulk purchase at an industrial rate (approximately $4.29 per 1,000 gallons). Staff emphasized there is no upfront purchase price in the negotiated proposal and that the arrangement would allow the city to avoid the earlier $12–18 million cash outlay.

When council members asked about downstream implications for development served by Newport News mains, staff said that some future customers located along the Newport News water line could be served directly by Newport News rather than Williamsburg, which would reduce potential local demand.

Council members praised staff negotiations and the regional relationships that aided the outcome. The council was told the revised contract should remove near-term capacity concerns; staff said the city will only pay for the extra treated water if and when the city uses it.

Staff and council noted the item will come back for formal approval at a June meeting after additional vetting. \"We chose to forego the second payment,\" Reid said in the briefing, \"and we've negotiated an additional 3,000,000 gallons a day of treated water available for bulk purchase…The major difference with this agreement versus the other is there's no upfront cost.\" Robert Wilson, speaking in open forum later, warned council to ensure water quality controls and raised that Newport News had reported PFOS contamination needing treatment; staff acknowledged treatment timelines and system integration work as implementation matters for the utility department to resolve.

Council indicated appreciation for the negotiated terms and the extra capacity they provide but did not take a binding vote; staff will return with final contract documents for the June meeting.","City staff reported a renegotiated long-term water supply agreement with Newport News that provides up to 4 million gallons per day of capacity (1 million existing + 3 million on bulk purchase at industrial rate) without the previously anticipated $18 million upfront payment; council will consider the contract in June.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6569122,"Williamsburg council trims FY26 budget, weighs admission tax and library plan",727,3383000,4110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3192528-a2fdefdcfd23b6f423381d09bc81c35b&start=3383&end=4110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3192528-a2fdefdcfd23b6f423381d09bc81c35b/thumbnail_3383000.jpg","/articles/6569122/Williamsburg-City/James-City-County/Virginia/Williamsburg-council-trims-FY26-budget-weighs-admission-tax-and-library-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569122-ac40c81bf7c4ee71ea5512536a7f27be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207648&Signature=kOHJIZxdB-FYbluDbRvBLeUm7DUDkjAmgbhPEgFAQGAYbzRwLRYI9shcl64d~zXs7beIaxD1RpAgfFnSoxe6Qc3TkyT3EszVs-6AF19y7VyjeHWxavV-23bp9FiyFTRpBsX~OxD77-5kjNPUZYGnykgZyM~0tNK~Z7RUdabTDPowRSQF69yFO11VBA8j59i9MsSAP-bpC0DMc5nMbmj1YC6Yni955BNBghB3~CXcM94bEGxrWZMagdRxviTmkCjulHY~A4GLVvUVqGtbx2YxIXp-3yS3TQ-RsF8cEVX1g8R4G95iXgd6ZRhQF2EODp-l94ZanoyfqoAWytCwX4gvZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Williamsburg City Council members on May 5 reviewed a revised FY26 draft budget that officials say has been pared down to about $103 million after multiple rounds of reductions and is still likely to include new revenue measures if council adopts it Thursday.

City staff presented the budget and the line-item changes to council and the public. The proposed plan reduces the original $112.3 million request through about $22.8 million in capital project cutbacks, two rounds of expenditure reductions ($1.9 million and $1.3 million), and staffing freezes. City staff said the draft also repurposes $5.5 million in CARES/COVID relief funds and $1 million in reserves to help balance the capital improvement plan (CIP).

The presentation put the revised total at roughly $103,000,000 across six funds. City staff described three potential revenue actions that would not take effect until mid-year if adopted: a 1.5% increase in the real estate millage (estimated to produce about $1.2 million), a 2% lodging tax increase (about $635,000), and a proposed 10% admissions tax with exemptions and caps (estimated to produce about $793,000). Staff also proposed a water rate adjustment that would add $1.59 per thousand gallons to the water rate to fund utility infrastructure work.

The admissions tax proposal would be collected from patrons on ticketed events, capped to the first $10 of taxable admission price, exempt university-sponsored events per state law, exempt public school events, and exempt charitable organizations with fewer than 2,000 admissions per year. The council directed staff to include a 2% dealer discount to reimburse hotels, restaurants and ticket sellers for collection costs. City staff told council the state limits the city’s discretion to tax university-sponsored events.

On utilities, staff proposed investing about $27.6 million over the next 10 years in water infrastructure and returning to annual, incremental rate increases after the larger step this year. The presentation estimated the proposed water increase would add about $6.36 per month for an average residential customer and about $28.62 per month for a commercial user; the increase would apply only to the utility fund.

Council members and residents pressed several themes during public comment: prioritizing needs over wants; pausing major capital projects such as the proposed new library until county plans and usage data are clearer; stronger transparency and public involvement in the budget process; and considering hiring freezes and cuts to nonessential positions. Multiple speakers urged re-evaluating the new library project in light of James City County plans and questioned whether renovation of the existing facility could meet needs at lower cost.

\"A budget is not a contract,\" said Trivette, the city staff presenter, explaining the capital projects in the CIP still require further approvals before borrowing or construction begins. \"Just because something is in the budget does not mean that we will proceed with it. That's particularly true on the capital side.\"

Vice Mayor Dent and other council members repeated that the library remains in the CIP as a placeholder and that the city has not borrowed money or committed to construction; the council intends public input sessions to inform any eventual decision. Staff announced two identical public input sessions hosted by the library contractor on May 15 (5:00–7:30 p.m., Fire Station Apparatus Bay) and May 20 (1:00 p.m., same location).

Council members emphasized trade-offs: several said they sought to preserve basic city services and public safety while trimming capital projects, and noted that schools’ requested increases (about $1.4 million this year) create additional pressure on the city budget.

Votes at a glance: the only formal vote recorded in the transcript was a procedural motion to adjourn, which passed by voice votes from the council members present.

The council will return May 8 for a final adoption vote on the FY26 budget; staff and council asked residents to submit additional feedback before that meeting.","City Council reviewed a revised FY26 draft budget reduced to about $103 million, proposed new revenue measures including an admissions tax and utility rate increase, and left the long-term decision on a new downtown library for later public input.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents push for stronger rules on student parties, landlord accountability in Williamsburg

Williamsburg negotiates extended water supply deal with Newport News; no upfront payment required

Williamsburg council trims FY26 budget, weighs admission tax and library plan