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Virginia Beach Council approves consent agenda, certifies closed session and proclaims International Holocaust Remembrance Day
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Summary
Council voted to recess into closed session for legal, property and personnel matters and certified that closed session by roll call (10–0); it approved minutes with two abstentions, passed the consent agenda (including an interest‑free ambulance loan to Sandbridge Rescue), and adopted a proclamation recognizing Jan. 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The Virginia Beach City Council conducted routine business on Jan. 20, 2026, moving through procedural votes that included a recess to closed session, approval of meeting minutes, consent‑agenda action and a proclamation recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Closed session and certification: The council voted to recess into closed session citing exemptions in state open‑meetings law to consult with legal counsel on specific legal matters, to discuss acquisition or disposition of publicly held property and to address personnel matters. After the closed session the council certified the closed meeting by roll call; the transcript records the certification as passing "by a vote of 10 to 0." The motion to recess was moved and seconded on the record.
Minutes: The council moved to approve the informal and special formal session minutes (01/06/2026 and 01/13/2026). The transcript reports approval by roll call "by a vote of 8 to 0" with two members (noted in the record as Henley and another member) recorded as abstaining.
Consent agenda and appropriations: With no public speakers on the 15th Street Pier franchise public hearing, the related items remained on consent. The council approved the consent agenda by a recorded vote of 10 to 0. Notable items read into the consent agenda included an ordinance appropriating $364,817 from the general fund to provide an interest‑free loan to Sandbridge Rescue and Fire Inc. for the purchase of one ambulance, and acceptance and appropriation of $499,771 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice for two grant‑funded Commonwealth’s attorney positions focused on juvenile gun charges.
Appointments: Council approved a slate of appointments and reappointments across boards and commissions as read by staff; the record notes at least one abstention by a council member (Henley) during the roll call summary.
Proclamation: The council adopted a resolution proclaiming Jan. 27, 2026, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Virginia Beach. Mona Shapiro Flax, president of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, accepted the proclamation and announced a public commemoration at 7 p.m. on Jan. 27 on the Riva and Sam Sandler family campus; RSVPs are requested for security purposes.
What happens next: The council’s certification of the closed session and the consent agenda votes conclude the recorded formal actions for this portion of the meeting. Several council members asked staff to return with memos or follow‑up items noted earlier in the meeting (for example, legislative analysis).
