Council approves Ward Boulevard sidewalk acquisitions, concurs on Mercy Health bond issue and appropriates $4.07M for pedestrian projects

Newport News City Council approved several measures on March 11 that advance pedestrian infrastructure and allow local concurrence on a health-care bond issuance. All votes were unanimous, 6-0.

The council adopted an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute documents to make offers to acquire—by voluntary sale or condemnation—portions of property needed for the Ward Boulevard sidewalk (Lucas Creek Road to Warwick Boulevard) project. There were no public speakers on that item; the council closed the public hearing and approved the ordinance on a 6-0 roll call.

Council also approved a resolution of concurrence for up to $600 million in aggregate revenue bonds to be issued by the Henrico County Economic Development Authority for the benefit of Mercy Health, Mercy Health Incorporated and affiliates, and specifically for Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News in an amount not to exceed $65 million. City staff clarified that council approval does not mean the city is endorsing the project's financial viability or assuming responsibility for repayment: "Approval of this item tonight does not indicate the city is an indoor is endorsing the project's financial viability or assuming responsibility for the bonds and public funds are not pledged for repayment," the city manager told the council.

The council also approved a resolution appropriating $1,757,573 of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) revenue-sharing grant funds and $2,310,445 of local project funds for four transportation projects totaling $4,068,018. The projects listed in the appropriation are: downtown pedestrian improvements; Jefferson Avenue pedestrian improvements between Green Grove Lane and Industrial Park Drive; Campbell Road pedestrian improvements between Bland Boulevard and Warwick Boulevard; and a Jefferson Avenue at Wilcox Lane traffic signal mast-arm conversion.

The consent agenda, including minutes from prior meetings and a resolution related to Winter Storm Kingston, passed on a unanimous roll call as well.

Why this matters: The property-authority ordinance clears an administrative hurdle for the Ward Boulevard sidewalk project, enabling staff to negotiate acquisitions necessary to build pedestrian connections. The VDOT and local funds appropriation directs roughly $4.07 million toward pedestrian and traffic-signal improvements. The council's concurrence with the Henrico County EDA bond issuance allows the hospital system to proceed with its financing process; staff emphasized the city bears no repayment liability.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance authorizing property acquisition for Ward Boulevard sidewalk (E-1 public hearing): passed 6-0. - Resolution of concurrence for Henrico County EDA revenue bonds for Mercy Health / Mary Immaculate Hospital: passed 6-0. - Resolution appropriating VDOT revenue-sharing ($1,757,573) and local funds ($2,310,445) for four projects: passed 6-0. - Consent agenda items F-1 through F-4 (minutes, budget public hearing notice, Winter Storm Kingston resolution): passed 6-0.

What happens next: Staff may proceed with property-offer negotiations for Ward Boulevard and will implement the pedestrian and signal projects as funding and project schedules allow. The hospital system and issuing authority will proceed with bond steps under state law and their issuer's procedures; the city's concurrence does not obligate city funds.