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Norfolk council approves multiple budget and economic items; two ordinances continued
Summary
The Norfolk City Council adopted a slate of consent items including grant appropriations and an economic development agreement, and continued two ordinances for additional review, city leaders said during the meeting.
The Norfolk City Council approved a block of consent items including several grant appropriations, an economic development performance agreement and multiple budget amendments, while continuing two ordinance items for further review.
The vote cleared an ordinance appropriating up to $152,280.85 from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to expand Community Services Board workforce capacity and another appropriation of $155,321.55 from the same department to expand community-based treatment for substance use (identified in the meeting as grant number 2025.SUD.773). The council also amended the capital improvement plan to revise Hampton Boulevard project scope, and approved a performance agreement involving Bauer Compressors, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority and the city with related acceptance of a $50,000 Commonwealth Development Opportunity Fund grant through the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. A resolution appointing a committee member was also adopted.
The council dispensed with the charter requirement for second readings and adopted the listed ordinances and appropriations as part of the consent agenda, with the exceptions of two items that councilmembers requested be continued: C3 (restaurant conditional use permit amendments) and C6 (seizure, impoundment and disposition of unlawfully operated off‑road motorcycles and similar vehicles). C6 was continued to January 28, 2025 so staff could clarify provisions regarding disposition and reclaiming of seized vehicles; the transcript records council discussion that staff wanted more time to address questions about disposition language and Granicus posting errors.
Roll-call votes during the consent-block actions recorded affirmative votes from the councilmembers identified in the meeting transcript as Mister Clanton, Missus (or Mrs.) Doyle, Missus Johnson, Mister McGee, Mister Page, Mister Smigiel, Mister Thomas and Doctor Alexander (mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander), and motions passed as announced by the clerk.
Why it matters: the appropriations fund local behavioral health and substance‑use treatment efforts and a small economic development incentive tied to a private company; continuing the vehicle‑seizure ordinance delays local implementation pending legal and procedural clarifications.
Votes at a glance (items discussed on the consent agenda) - Resolution certifying a closed meeting: adopted (recorded ayes from all members present). - Consent agenda (with exceptions C3 and C6): approved; C3 and C6 removed for continued consideration. - C3 (conditional use permits and extended hours/alcohol sales for Hair of the Dog Eatery at 250 Granby Street): continued (recorded as continued by council; motion carried). - C6 (addition of section 25‑180 to City Code governing seizure/impoundment/disposition of unlawfully operated off‑road motorcycles and similar vehicles pursuant to Virginia Code §46.2‑915.1): continued to 01/28/2025 for further review (staff explained outstanding questions about disposition and reclaiming terms). - R1: Authorization to accept and appropriate up to $152,280.85 from Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for Community Services Board workforce initiatives: adopted. - R2: Authorization to accept and appropriate up to $155,321.55 from Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for community‑based substance use treatment (grant 2025.SUD.773): adopted. - R3: Amendment to CIP budget revising scope for Hampton Boulevard improvements: adopted. - Performance agreement (referred to as R Ford) among City of Norfolk, Bauer Compressors Inc., and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; city manager authorized to execute: adopted. - R5: Acceptance and appropriation of up to $50,000 from the Commonwealth Development Opportunity Fund (through VEDP) to support the Bauer Compressors performance agreement: adopted. - R6: Resolution appointing one member to a committee: adopted.
Ending: Councilmembers asked staff to return with clarified language on the seized‑vehicle ordinance; otherwise the adopted appropriations and performance agreement move forward under the city manager and relevant departments.
