The Newport News City Council on Jan. 14, 2025, unanimously approved several ordinances and resolutions including a conditional use permit for a car wash at 13698 Warwick Boulevard, authorization to acquire property for a K9 facility at 2401 G Avenue, an interlocal memorandum of understanding with Hampton to study Central Newmarket Creek flooding, a mutual aid agreement with the Air Base Wing at Joint Base Langley‑Eustis, and a temporary sign license for the Newport News Green Foundation.

The approvals were taken as separate roll-call votes and passed 7-0. City Manager (name on file with the city) presented the items and said, "I recommend approval." The council closed one public hearing on the car-wash request after a single speaker appeared for questions only.

Why it matters: the items advance land-use approvals, a planned municipal K9 facility, coordinated work with a neighboring city on flood mitigation funded in part through a FEMA program, and continued mutual-aid arrangements with a nearby military installation — all of which affect public safety, emergency response and short-term permitting for a local nonprofit.

Most significant votes and details

- Conditional use permit (CHARLIEUNIFORM-2024-0010) — CAH Holdings LLC and Auto Bell Car Wash LLC: The council adopted an ordinance granting a conditional use permit to allow a car-wash facility on a 0.91-acre parcel located at 13698 Warwick Boulevard in the C-1 (Hotel Commercial) zoning district. The public hearing drew one speaker, Tim Trent, who stated he had questions only; no substantive opposition was recorded. Final vote: 7-0 (approved).

- Property acquisition for K9 facility — 2401 G Avenue: The council adopted an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute documents to make voluntary offers or, if necessary, condemn portions of property needed for a municipal K9 facility at 2401 G Avenue. Final vote: 7-0 (approved).

- Central Newmarket Flood Mitigation Study MOU with the City of Hampton: The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a memorandum of understanding with Hampton to pursue a collaborative study of flooding along Newmarket Creek. The study will be funded in part by Hampton through FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program, the presentation said. Final vote: 7-0 (approved).

- Mutual aid agreement with Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley‑Eustis: The council approved a resolution renewing a mutual-aid agreement that allows the Newport News Fire Department and the base wing to share fire- and emergency-response resources during emergencies and disasters. Final vote: 7-0 (approved).

- License agreement with Newport News Green Foundation, Inc.: The council approved a resolution authorizing a temporary, non‑exclusive license permitting the Newport News Green Foundation to install and maintain a sign at a designated city location, contingent on compliance with applicable laws and protections for city property. Tammy Fairenhold, executive director of the Newport News Green Foundation, attended to answer council questions; she confirmed the sign will use the foundation's new logo. Final vote: 7-0 (approved).

- Consent agenda: Minutes from the Dec. 10, 2024 work session and Dec. 10, 2024 regular meeting were approved as part of the consent agenda. Final vote on consent agenda: 7-0 (approved).

Council procedure and next steps: Most items were presented by the city manager with the recommendation to approve and were adopted without extended debate. Where public comment was available, speakers either asked procedural questions or provided brief remarks; no item on the evening's agenda was postponed or tabled. Implementation steps cited in staff presentations include execution of transaction documents (for property acquisition), formal signature of interlocal agreements (for the MOU and mutual aid), and administrative processing of the temporary license for the sign.