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Newport News council adopts code changes, lease amendment and three appropriations totaling $4.65 million
Summary
Council approved code amendments for water supply and watercraft rules, authorized a lease amendment for City Farm Tower communications facilities, and adopted three appropriations including $300,000 for ballfield lighting and $3.9 million in VDOT grant funds; all measures passed 5-0.
Newport News City Council on a series of unanimous 5-0 votes adopted amendments to the city code governing reservoirs and waterfront mooring, approved a first amendment to a communications lease for the City Farm Tower site, and approved three appropriations totaling $4,653,200.
City Manager staff presented the measures and recommended approval. The vote package included:
- An ordinance amending City Code Chapter 42 (Water Supply) to add a new Article 7 covering Dyaskin Creek, Little Creek and Skiffs Creek Reservoirs, which removes a "free and unrestricted use" provision and clarifies permitted activities on city-owned land; council vote 5-0.
- An ordinance amending City Code Chapter 11 (Watercraft, Docks, Piers and Waterways) to update and expand mooring rules for city-owned facilities, including the Minchville public bulkhead, to support investments at Minchville Marina and improve access for seafood harvesters; council vote 5-0.
- An ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute a first amendment to a lease with S.T.C. 2, LLC (formerly Sprintcom, Inc.) for continued maintenance, installation and operation of communications facilities on the City Farm Tower site at 100 City Farm Road; council vote 5-0.
- Three appropriations: 1) $300,000 from the FY2025 bond authorization for lighting improvements at Newport News Parks & Recreation ball fields at Ella Fitzgerald Middle School (practice field lighting and upgrade of an adjacent soccer field lighting system). 2) $449,000 from the FY2022 bond authorization for bathymetric study services and dredging of Leeward Marina at the Huntington Park Boat Ramp. 3) $3,904,000 in FY2025 Virginia Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside and Carbon Reduction Grant funds, plus $776,200 in FY2025 local project funds, for three pedestrian/shared-use path projects: Washington Avenue and 20th/5th Street pedestrian improvements; the Veil 757 shared-use path; and the Ace Drive and Choice Neighborhood Initiatives shared-use path.
Council comment included a request from Councilman Harris that staff revisit the city's agreement with Newport News Public Schools regarding use and funding of school facilities when the city funds upgrades to school fields. Lisa Cipriano, Director of Budget Evaluation, clarified the application deadlines for tax exemption and deferral programs for seniors in response to public comment: "The closing of the application for the deferrals and tax exempt, is August of every year." Citizen Chanel Ketchmore also addressed the council about a city-funded gun violence prevention program and offered an update on programming and partnerships.
All ordinances and appropriations were recorded as "Motion carried. 5 0."
