Newport News council approves ordinances, grants and $12 million bond; all motions carry unanimously

The Newport News City Council approved a package of routine ordinances, grant acceptances and a bond appropriation during its meeting. Councilors voted unanimously on measures ranging from a utility easement ordinance to a $12 million bond for distribution-system improvements.

The package included an ordinance authorizing a utility easement with Dominion Energy for city property at 7090 Church Lane in James City County, amendments to Chapter 38 of the city code to simplify fee schedules and delegate certain fee decisions to the director of engineering, and an MOU with Virginia Veterans Memorials Inc. to fund an Iraq Veterans Memorial in Huntington Park. Council also approved resolutions to appropriate federal grant funds for domestic-violence victim support; a $499,768 Department of Criminal Justice Services Operation Ceasefire grant to the Commonwealth’s Attorney in partnership with the Newport News Police Department; endorsement of an application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for $625,100 in rail industrial access funds for Annandale Millwork and Allied Systems Corporation; and a VDOT CMAQ grant appropriation of $1,026,617 for a citywide pedestrian improvement project.

Council approved a bond appropriation of $12,000,000 for the distribution system improvement program, including a $4,491,921 reappropriation from FY2024 for the advanced metering infrastructure project; the manager said the project includes replacement of more than four miles of distribution pipelines and associated road resurfacing.

All listed motions passed on voice votes recorded as 5-0. Several items had no public speakers during the hearings. The meeting’s clerk opened the votes and announced each motion as carried.