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Petersburg council passes multiple budget and zoning items, adds vape tax to legislative agenda
Summary
Council approved consent minutes, a $48,000 DHR grant match for Center Hill Mansion, a $3.1 million amendment for PHS stadium enhancements, rezoned 318 Irvin St to R3, adopted a sign ordinance, added a vape-tax proposal to the legislative agenda, renamed Petersburg Community Corrections to Gateway Justice Services, and appointed Jennifer Murphy James to the arts council.
At its Dec. 11 meeting, the Petersburg City Council approved a series of routine and substantive items across finance, zoning and the city's legislative agenda.
Key votes and outcomes
- Consent agenda: Council approved the consent agenda, including minutes of Nov. 18, 2025.
- FY26 grants fund: Council approved a Virginia Department of Historic Resources planning grant for Center Hill Mansion totaling $48,000 with a 50% city match ($24,000 each).
- FY26 general fund: The council approved an amendment adding $3,100,000 to the FY26 general fund to fund Petersburg High School stadium enhancements.
- Courthouse appropriation: Council adopted an ordinance appropriating full funds for the District Courts Complex and authorized staff to proceed with contract authority discussions (see separate story). The project total was stated in the meeting as "80,000,000, dollars 200,000" and should be confirmed with finance for formal reporting.
- Sign ordinance: Council adopted updates to the sign and advertising ordinance (planning commission recommended approval, 5–1 with one abstention).
- Rezoning: The council approved a rezoning request by Rudama Mata on behalf of Ruth Investments LLC to rezone 318 Irvin Street (Parcel ID 006050012) from M2 (heavy industrial) to R3 (two-family/residence); the Planning Commission recommended approval unanimously.
- Legislative agenda: Staff presented requests including a $12,000,000 request to replace a city bridge and support for a pharmaceutical training facility. Council voted to add a proposal to allow taxing vape shops to the city's legislative agenda to support enforcement funding.
- Name change: Council approved a joint resolution to rename Petersburg Community Corrections to Gateway Justice Services to reflect the shared Petersburg–Dinwiddie governance and encourage county participation in funding.
- Appointments: Jennifer Murphy James was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Petersburg Arts Council.
Procedural notes
Several items were tabled or deferred: the zoning text amendment defining vape shops was tabled pending Berkeley Group review, and a separate agenda item (item f) was deferred to the Jan. 20 meeting at the applicant's request.
Next steps: Staff will return items as noted (Berkeley Group input for the vape-shop text amendment, the deferred item on Jan. 20), proceed with courthouse procurement and report back on contract steps and project financing.
