Petersburg council adds courthouse‑funding ordinance to agenda, schedules public hearing

PETERSBURG, Va. — The Petersburg City Council voted Nov. 18 to add a first reading and schedule a public hearing on an ordinance to appropriate funds for a courthouse construction project.

Mayor Perrin asked for the motion to add the ordinance; Vice Mayor Hill moved to add the item and Council member Myers seconded. The council then approved the motion by voice vote to place the ordinance on the agenda for first reading and to schedule a public hearing. The council subsequently directed the clerk to advertise the item and include it on the December meeting agenda for public hearing, second reading and consideration for adoption; Vice Mayor Hill moved and Council member Smith Lee seconded that directive, and members signaled their approval.

The action was taken immediately after the council concluded a closed session; during the meeting the body cited state law authorizing closed‑session discussion of real‑property acquisition, litigation and personnel matters. City staff did not present specific funding amounts or a detailed budget in the meeting record. The ordinance’s text, funding amount and any proposed financing were not specified in the transcript and will be set out in the language of the ordinance when it is posted for public review.

The council did not record an itemized roll‑call tally for the two subsequent procedural motions; the clerk recorded members answering collectively in the affirmative when asked to indicate their votes. The schedule for the December meeting and the formal ordinance text will determine the next public steps, including the date of the public hearing and any opportunities for public comment.