Hampton council approves consent agenda, five-year billboard lease; appoints Pompey to EDA

At its Sept. 10 meeting, the Hampton City Council approved a consent agenda that included contract amendments, budget adjustments and other routine items, voted to lease two city-owned billboard sites to Adams Outdoor Advertising Limited Partnership under a five-year agreement, and appointed Robert Pompey to the Economic Development Authority.

The consent agenda, presented by staff as routine and noncontroversial, included the city's participation in proposed settlements of several opioid-related claims; authorization to use construction management contracting for a sanitary sewer force-main replacement; amendments to the FY25–26 contract with the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board; an amendment to the 2025 council-approved budget to accept and appropriate approximately $300,000 in additional state funds to the city’s general fund school operating budget; and an amendment to the 2026 council-approved budget to accept and appropriate approximately $5,000,000 in additional federal and state funds to the school operating budget. The consent agenda also included approval of minutes from four council meetings. A motion to approve the consent agenda was made and seconded and carried on a roll-call vote with all members voting aye.

Deputy City Manager Bridal De Profio described the billboard lease during a separate public-hearing item. Under the five-year agreement with Adams Outdoor Advertising Limited Partnership, the company will lease approximately 10,598 square feet of city-owned land at 715 Eaton Street and approximately 11,037 square feet at 732 North King Street. Adams will pay the city $100,000 per year, with a 3% annual escalation, and will provide space on other Adams-owned billboards within the city for public service announcements. “Adams will pay the city as part of the lease $100,000 a year, and that amount will escalate at 3% per year,” De Profio said. She also noted that, because of an Interstate project that includes sound walls, Adams intends in the short term to raise the height of one billboard so it will remain visible from I-64; De Profio said that height change was not part of the lease agreement being approved.

The lease required a public hearing; no members of the public spoke. A motion to approve Resolution 25-0238 (the lease) was made and seconded and carried unanimously on roll-call vote. Vote records for the advertised items show Councilwoman Bowman, Vice Mayor Brown, Councilwoman Campbell, Councilwoman Farrabee, Councilwoman Harper, Councilwoman Mugler and Mayor James A. Gray Jr. voting aye on the lease and on the consent agenda.

On appointments, the council voted to appoint Robert Pompey to the Economic Development Authority for a term ending Sept. 30, 2029; action on the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority appointment was deferred indefinitely.

There was no additional new business, and the meeting adjourned.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (opioid-related settlements; construction management contracting for sanitary sewer force-main replacement; Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board FY25–26 contract amendments; budget amendments of approximately $300,000 (2025) and $5,000,000 (2026) to the school operating budget; approval of minutes): motion approved (unanimous). Mover and seconder recorded in the meeting audio but not identified by name in the public transcript. - Resolution 25-0238 — Lease to Adams Outdoor Advertising Limited Partnership for city-owned land at 715 Eaton St. (≈10,598 sq ft) and 732 N. King St. (≈11,037 sq ft): 5-year lease, $100,000/year with 3% escalator; Adams to provide PSA space on other city billboards; motion approved (unanimous). - Appointment — Robert Pompey to the Economic Development Authority (term to 09/30/2029): motion approved (unanimous); HRHA appointment deferred indefinitely.

Clarifying details: the $300,000 and $5,000,000 budget figures were presented as approximations by staff; the lease term length, annual payment and escalation rate were specified by Deputy City Manager Bridal De Profio; the planned short-term billboard height adjustment associated with an Interstate sound-wall project was described by staff as an intended measure by Adams but was not described as part of the lease terms under consideration.

Meeting context: the consent agenda items were presented as routine; the billboard lease required and received a public hearing but had no public speakers; several items were described only in summary on the consent docket and will be reflected in contract documents and budget ordinances filed with city records.