NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — At its Oct. 14 regular session, the Newport News City Council adopted a package of routine and project-specific measures including three five-year leases for parcels at the Seafood Industrial Park, city code changes to vehicle license fees, utility easements to support traffic-signal and school projects, and four appropriations covering grant and bond funds.

The items cleared with little debate. Council approved all consent-agenda minutes and routine ordinances by voice vote. Most roll-call votes were unanimous; one appropriation passed with a recorded abstention because a council member declared a personal interest.

Why it matters: the leases and easements support ongoing waterfront and transportation projects; the vehicle-license code change alters residents’ billing cycle; and the appropriations fund flood preparedness work, stormwater analysis, school capital projects and a proposed governmental center in City Center.

Council actions and key details

- Seafood Industrial Park leases: The council adopted ordinances authorizing five-year leases for parcels in the Seafood Industrial Park, including a lease by the city to RDM Corporation of Suffolk for Parcel 4 at 807 Jefferson Avenue, and two lease ordinances with Lockwood Marine Inc. at 920 Terminal Avenue (Parcel 17 and Partial Parcel 17A). Each ordinance was adopted by council vote (motion carries 7–0).

- Vehicle license fee code amendment: The council adopted an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 26 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic), Article 3 (vehicle license fees). The amendment moves the annual due date from Dec. 5 to June 5, aligns billing with the calendar year, and allows prorated charges and refunds when vehicles are bought or sold during the year. The ordinance passed 7–0.

- Utility easements and open bids: The council received and opened bids for a utility easement across city property at 11780 Rock Landing Drive to support a traffic-signal and turn-lane project; one bid from Dominion Energy Virginia was recorded. The council also adopted an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of a utility easement to Dominion Energy Virginia across city property at 2901 Orchid Avenue to support the Southeast Community Resource Area and the Huntington Middle School project (vote 7–0).

- Property acquisition for traffic-signal repairs: The council adopted an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute documents to acquire by voluntary sale or condemnation a portion of property at 601 Denbigh Boulevard to replace a damaged pole as part of a traffic-signal repair project (vote 7–0).

- Appropriations and bonds: Council approved four appropriations. Three passed 7–0: $929,080 in grant funds from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Community Flood Preparedness Fund for a Flood Ready Homes study; $1,060,000 from fiscal 2026 bond authorization for stormwater drainage analysis and improvements (Stony Run); and $10,000,000 from fiscal 2026 unissued school bonds for Newport News Public Schools capital projects. The fourth appropriation — $15,000,000 from fiscal 2026 public-buildings bond authorization to support creation of a governmental center in City Center — passed with a 6–0–1 tally and a recorded abstention (the member indicated a personal interest and a written declaration is on file with the city clerk).

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance: Lease to RDM Corporation of Suffolk (Seafood Industrial Park, Parcel 4, 807 Jefferson Ave.) — adopted, vote 7–0.
- Ordinance: Lease to Lockwood Marine Inc. (Seafood Industrial Park, Parcel 17, 920 Terminal Ave.) — adopted, vote 7–0.
- Ordinance: Lease to Lockwood Marine Inc. (Seafood Industrial Park, Partial 17A, 920 Terminal Ave.) — adopted, vote 7–0.
- Ordinance: Authorize acquisition (portion of property at 601 Denbigh Blvd.) for traffic-signal pole replacement — adopted, vote 7–0.
- Ordinance: Amend City Code Chapter 26, Article 3 (vehicle license fees) — adopted, vote 7–0.
- Action: Open bids and receipt of responses for utility easement at 11780 Rock Landing Drive — received; one $1 response from Dominion Energy Virginia recorded.
- Ordinance: Convey utility easement to Dominion Energy Virginia across 2901 Orchid Ave. (supports Southeast Community Resource Area/Huntington Middle School project) — adopted, vote 7–0.
- Consent Agenda (F1–F3: minutes from joint and regular meetings listed on agenda) — approved, vote 7–0.
- Appropriation (H1): $929,080 — Virginia DCR Community Flood Preparedness Fund for Flood Ready Homes study — approved, vote 7–0.
- Appropriation (H2): $1,060,000 — FY2026 bond authorization, stormwater drainage (Stony Run analysis/improvements) — approved, vote 7–0.
- Appropriation (H3): $10,000,000 — FY2026 bonds (unissued schools) for Newport News Public Schools capital projects — approved, vote 7–0.
- Appropriation (H4): $15,000,000 — FY2026 bonds (public buildings) to support creation of a governmental center in City Center — approved, vote 6–0–1 (one abstention recorded; declaration on file).

What council members said: Most items passed with no extended debate. The vehicle-license change was introduced by staff as a fairness and administrative-efficiency measure to align billing with the calendar year and to permit proration and refunds; staff said the change would not significantly reduce revenue beyond a temporary interest-earnings effect.

Next steps: Several of the measures (easements, property acquisition, appropriations) involve executing documents and coordination with departments such as Engineering, the Department of Finance, and Dominion Energy. The city manager and staff will proceed with implementation steps authorized by the adopted ordinances and resolutions.

Ending: The council moved quickly through the consent agenda and the items described above; the meeting continued with public comment and other business.