Virginia Beach officials direct lobby to support transit funding but oppose added light‑rail study
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Summary
At a council briefing, legislative affairs director Brent McKenzie reviewed state bills and budget amendments. Council authorized staff to support regional transit funding while opposing a new amendment that would fold a light‑rail study into a broader HRP workgroup. Several budget amendments of local interest were noted.
Brent McKenzie, the city’s legislative affairs director, told the council that the General Assembly crossover was winding down and that a number of bills and budget amendments relevant to Virginia Beach were moving through committee.
McKenzie outlined funding requests that include a $10 million amendment tied to the Atlantic Park developer, $1.7 million sought for the fire department’s urban search‑and‑rescue task force, and state proposals for cancer screenings and EMS funding. He also flagged a $2 million solar interconnection grant and multiple regional transportation funding requests aimed at Hampton Roads transit.
The immediate point of debate centered on HJ28, a workgroup‑study resolution that staff said now mentions light rail among many modes of transportation. Several council members noted the city previously held a referendum in which voters opposed extending light rail to the oceanfront; others said HRT and regional partners view the broader study as a useful funding and operations review if the language is not a de facto push to revive a light‑rail plan.
Council directed staff to continue to pursue support for regional transit funding but to oppose or seek removal of language that would require or specifically study light rail for the oceanfront. McKenzie said he would work with the delegate who filed the amendment and check with the study’s administering body on how they interpret the language.
McKenzie also reviewed several land‑use bills and workforce‑related measures that worry local officials — including legislation that would require localities to increase housing stock, bills expanding accessory dwelling units, and proposals that would impose prevailing‑wage (Davis‑Bacon) rules on more classes of public projects. On enforcement technology, he summarized several bills dealing with speed and red‑light cameras; Senate amendments added reporting requirements and fee limits so those measures could move forward in revised form.
What happens next: McKenzie will continue negotiating language with the General Assembly delegates and will report back to council. He emphasized that many budget amendments remain subject to finance committees and appropriation decisions.
