Newport News council passes ordinances, resolutions and $17.75M water bond appropriation in unanimous vote

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Newport News City Council on Aug. 12 approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and appropriations covering planning, code enforcement, housing and water‑system projects, with all recorded motions carrying 7‑0.

The council approved numerous land‑use and code items on first reading or by ordinance, adopted policy changes, and authorized a series of appropriations and conveyances. City staff and council described several items as routine or administratively required while highlighting some policy changes that aim to strengthen neighborhood protections and streamline enforcement.

Key actions taken (all votes recorded 7‑0): - Conditional use permit (case CHARLIEUNIFORM‑2025‑0004) allowing a small motor vehicle repair and service facility at 9955 Jefferson Ave (Zone C‑2). - An ordinance amending City Code Chapter 13 (building regulations), Article 12, to address identification and inspection of rental dwelling units (section 13‑193). - An ordinance authorizing the execution of a deed of easement between the city and Trustwood Properties LLC for an access easement across city property at 13141 Jefferson Ave. - An ordinance authorizing the city manager to make offers to acquire property by voluntary sale or condemnation for the James River Drive forest main project. - A resolution renaming a portion of Orchid Avenue as Dr. McKinley L. Price Way to honor the former mayor’s public service. - Adoption of a new derelict buildings and spotlight abatement ordinance (Chapter 13, new Article 13) establishing procedures to address properties that endanger public health, safety and neighborhood stability. - An amendment aligning unsafe‑structure notice requirements with Virginia Code §15.2‑906 (certified‑mail and newspaper publication procedures). - An ordinance authorizing city removal of debris and collection of unpaid charges as a lien on property tax bills. - Approval of the consolidated plan for housing and community development (FY2025–2029) and the FY2026 annual action plan, plus updates to citizen participation and neighborhood revitalization strategy documents. - Conveyance of the Julius Khan gymnasium property (328 30th Street) to the Economic Development Authority to support downtown redevelopment and Huntington Hall efforts. - Acceptance of five underdeveloped parcels from Livingstone Monastery to aid wetlands preservation and stormwater management. - Authorization for the city manager to execute the fourth amendment to the tower attachment lease with the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 100 Tower Lane, Yorktown. - An ordinance to add military family businesses as a protected group in contract awards and to clarify that U.S.‑manufactured solar photovoltaic equipment not be excluded in procurement rules. - A resolution authorizing the city’s participation in the proposed settlement of opioid‑related claims involving the Sackler family and directing the city attorney to complete participation documents.

The council also approved a set of 10 appropriations totaling multiple millions for arts grants, waterworks planning and infrastructure projects, downtown initiatives, PFAS compliance and design work. Notable appropriations include: - $1,000,000 for preliminary engineering of Copeland Park pump station improvements (construction anticipated FY2027–28). - $2,000,000 for design, permitting and mitigation of the Diascund Creek Dam remediation project. - $3,000,000 for preconstruction support for PFAS compliance projects (design and construction targeted for completion by 2028). - $4,000,000 for Westhampton neighborhood distribution improvements from the Waterworks FY2026 revenue bond authorization. - $4,937,874 from FY2026 Waterworks revenue bonds to purchase property and continue Lee Hall Complex master plan development. - A package of downtown funding appropriations ($5,500,000 across multiple bond years: $1,000,000 FY2023; $1,000,000 FY2024; $3,500,000 FY2025) to support downtown initiatives. - $17,750,000 from the Waterworks FY2026 water revenue bond authorization for construction to address seepage and erosion at Little Creek Dam, including filter berms, riser upgrades and monitoring improvements.

Citizen speaker Chris Bridal raised PFAS funding and statewide legislative context during the appropriations discussion, noting recent General Assembly bills and vetoes and asking council to be aware of potential cost impacts.

Several council members briefly commented on items. One councilmember asked that the city incorporate findings from a current homeless study into future consolidated‑plan allocations for permanent supportive housing. Council members also praised partnerships for workforce and downtown redevelopment projects described elsewhere on the agenda.

All listed ordinances and resolutions were approved by recorded votes of 7‑0; the meeting record provides motion carries 7‑0 for each acted item. Where the record did not include ordinance numbers or detailed implementation schedules, the transcript identifies the agenda item and the descriptive text read into the record by staff.