Fascinating photo of why Lesner was closed today
Welcome Ambulance 122 !
LESNER BRIDGE CLOSED ON & OFF 9am – 1030am TUESDAY JULY 12 for …
A tv commercial!?
EXPECT DELAYS TOMORROW APPARENTLY.
City Council wants to hear from you about PLASTIC BAG FEE July 5th.
💚 PLEASE HELP THE LAND CRITTERS & OUR WATER CRITTERS‼️
Why a PLASTIC BAG FEE makes good sense for Virginia Beach 👇🏽
🔴 Plastic bags are NOT FREE taxpayer dollars are spent cleaning up these and other nuisance plastics. The majority of the funds collected from bag fees will be returned to Virginia Beach to fund litter prevention and clean-up activities
🟢 Environment: Bag user fees reduce the plastic waste stream and protect the environment.
🟢 Reusable bags are better for the environment; many are not made from fossil fuels, but rather natural fibers, like cotton, and contrary to some misinformation, are NOT less “clean” compared to plastic bags.
🔴 Single-use bags are among the most commonly littered items in Virginia Beach and across the state (Virginians use nearly 3 billion annually!).
🔴 They end up on our roadways, waterways, and coastlines, threatening ecosystem health and creating eyesores. Reuse is also not usually an option as these bags have become thinner and tear-prone, causing grocery store baggers to double and triple bag items.
👉🏽 Please plan to attend the July 5th Council meeting at 6 PM to show your support 💚‼️
2401 Courthouse Drive,
City Hall Building #1, Room 281,
Municipal Center, Virginia Beach, VA.
If you want to speak in support, please call the City Clerk’s office in advance. A citizen who wishes to address the council concerning an agenda item must register with the city clerk or deputy city clerk at 757-385-4303 prior to the meeting.
If you’d rather not speak, then please consider showing up and being there for numbers and moral support. We’ll have a sticker for you to wear!
If you are unable to attend, please send an e-mail to all Virginia Beach City Council members voicing your support at CityCouncil@vbgov.com
Two VB Public Input Surveys – Art & Lights Festival and 2040 Comprehensive Plan
The City of Virginia Beach is asking for public input on two topics. Surveys for each item can be found by clicking the link in paragraphs below. Please take a moment to help shape the future of our City. Let your voice be heard.
International Art and Light Festival Feasibility Survey
The City of Virginia Beach engaged Keen Independent Research LLC (Keen Independent) to conduct a study to assess the feasibility of an international art and light festival at or near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in the future. Similar festivals present large-scale, illuminated and interactive art installations created by local, regional and international artists that are on display for about 10 days and have free admission.
The public input survey will be open for submissions June 21 – July 5, 2022.
International Art and Light Festival Feasibility Survey – PublicInput.com
Shaping Tomorrow Today: 2040 Comp Plan Phase 2
In 2019, the City initiated a survey to gather citizen input for the update of the Comprehensive Plan. This survey is meant to build off the 2019 survey to understand the current preferences of Virginia Beach residents and to analyze whether those preferences have shifted since 2019.
Please provide a response to the questions below by Sept. 1.
Shaping Tomorrow Today: 2040 Comp Plan Phase 2 – PublicInput.com
Like a clean Lynnhaven River?
From email invite:
Senator DeSteph asked me to let folks know that we have secured meeting space so that area Civic Leagues and other interested parties can meet regarding the Oyster Reefs in the Lynnhaven River and Broad Bay. It will be held Wednesday, July 6th at 6:00 pmat Wave Church on Great Neck Road.
The subject of this Public Hearing is the ongoing Lynnhaven River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Project. This project directly affects all recreational users and residents/homeowners of and along the Lynnhaven River, including Broad Bay, the Narrows, Linkhorn Bay, Lynnhaven Bay, Pleasure House Creek, Keeling Drain and other local tributaries.
This meeting will include affected Civic Leagues, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Lynnhaven River Now, and the VMRC. The Secretary of Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the Army Corps of Engineers will be invited as well.
Please inform, invite & encourage your Civic League Members/residents to attend this public hearing if they are a boater, a waterfront resident, or a concerned citizen on the future of our waterways and fragile ecosystem.
Many thanks,
Jill
If you want to help maintain & improve a clean Lynnhaven River thanks to Lynnhaven River NOW & Chesapeake Bay Foundation, you’ll want to attend. Bring your kids.
FLOATOPIA! “The destruction gained national attention”
Pilot coverage about FLOATOPIA this weekend.
Hopefully the event will not be a national embarrassment for Virginia Beach again.
Interested in serving on City Council representing the Bayside District?
As you know, Virginia Beach and the Bayside District lost our long time serving Mr. Louis Jones recently. The citizen appointed by City Council will hold office until Dec. 31, 2022 and must reside in the Bayside District.
Start here to learn more about applying to City Clerk Amanda Barnes.
3 items the potential candidate might be interested in advocating for for the Bayside District and Bayfront:
Thanks to VB Parks & Rec for the friendly reminder!
Friendly reminder to keep dogs on a leash in our parks and natural areas to protect our environment and other wildlife, especially during nesting season as eggs and hatchlings from vulnerable diamondback terrapins can be threatened by unleashed dogs 🐢🐢🐢
We also want to remind folks when non-biodegradable confetti or microplastics are used to make popular gender reveal announcements, the wildlife habitat at our parks and natural areas suffers greatly. This harmful litter also pollutes our waterways which affects our community and our environment.
It is critical that we all do our part to leave no trace and help protect and preserve our environment, waterways, and wildlife 🌎🌾🍃🐢🦮🐾
“Assist the Environmental Science Program teachers and coordinator in performing specific duties as assigned or undertaking specialized tasks.”
Looking for a great job at Pleasure House Point?
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direction of the school coordinator and staff, the person will work in providing assistance to the Coordinator and Teacher of the Environmental Studies. The employee in this class is responsible for performing clerical and instructional tasks as well as participating and supporting the daily indoor and outdoor activities.
The successful candidate must be able to work collaboratively with VBCPS team members, Chesapeake Bay Foundation staff, community stakeholders, and students.
Shore Drive Commercial Property Development Plan Public Engagement Opportunity
Residents have an opportunity to comment on potential plans for commercial development in the Shore Drive corridor. Proposed plans include mixed use development, pedestrian friendly connectivity, storm water prevention. If interested, please attend or submit comments at the links below
Public Meeting on Commercial Area Pattern Book and
Bow Creek Neighborhood Resiliency Toolkit Set for June 30
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (June 17, 2022) — A public meeting for the community to provide input on concept drawings and illustrations for the Commercial Area Pattern Book and Bow Creek Neighborhood Resiliency Toolkit will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, at the Planning and Community Development Office, 2875 Sabre St., Suite 500.
The Virginia Beach Department of Planning and Community Development, in partnership with consultant Work Program Architects (WPA), introduced these projects to the public in February as “Community Revitalization Guidelines.” This two-part project evolved into the Commercial Area Pattern Book and Bow Creek Neighborhood Resiliency Toolkit. WPA will present preliminary concepts based on the public input received in February and March for each project. Upon assessment and comment of the concept drawings and illustrations, drafts of both documents will be developed for further public review.
When completed, the Commercial Area Pattern Book will identify neighborhood compatibility strategies and develop design concepts based on community patterns, vision, and market trends within the strategic growth areas (SGA) and suburban areas of the city. The Bow Creek Neighborhood Resiliency Toolkit will provide guidance, flood resiliency strategies and best practices for residents in the Bow Creek area, which could be adapted to other areas of the city.
For more information about the project, contact Mark E. Shea, AICP at meshea@vbgov.com or visit www.VBgov.com/revitalization.
“I think the biggest complaint we’re going to have now is how far they’re going to have to travel to get to the water.”
Our sincere condolences to Mr Louis Jones’ family, friends & associates.
Statement by Mayor Robert D. “Bobby” Dyer on
the passing of Councilman Louis Jones
Today, I share with you my heartfelt sadness because of the sudden loss of a great leader and friend in our community. Council Member Louis Jones dedicated decades of service to our community as a former Mayor, Vice Mayor, and council representative for the Bayside District.
His legacy is drawn from so many significant milestones and accomplishments for the city: the Lake Gaston pipeline, a new convention center, expanded growth in recreation centers throughout the city, protection of our coastal resources, and all the many challenges we overcame as a rapidly growing city. His experience and love for his city helped us succeed on so many levels that carried us into the new millennium.
Louis was a true leader, working and leading organizations throughout Hampton Roads: Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization, Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Bayfront Advisory Commission, the City’s Development Authority, the Lake Gaston Water Task Force, the Military Economic Development Advisory Committee, the Minority Business Council and the Stormwater Appeals Board. These were just a few of the many groups where Louis gave of his immeasurable time and commitment.
Personally, I very much enjoyed serving on the Virginia Beach City Council with Louis. In 2004 when I came on City Council, he took me under his wing as friend and mentor, and we formed a very strong bond and close friendship. Louis was blessed with extraordinary business acumen and the ability to look at a situation, assess it, and cut to the core of the problem. Above all, his talent to inspire people resulted in so many good things for our city over the years.
Vision, persistence, knowledge, kindness, and love for Virginia Beach and its people were just a few of the characteristics that described Louis. His dedication to Virginia Beach and the Bayside District was limitless. Because of his belief in what he did and his graciousness when working with anyone and everyone, we are a far, far better city. I will miss him more than I can say.
On behalf of all the members of our City Council, as well as the members of the City of Virginia Beach government, I express our condolences and deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.
The City of Virginia Beach is inviting the public to share their opinions on proposed amendments to the City’s noise ordinance.
Proposed Changes
The proposed changes to the noise ordinance would streamline enforcement with reduced reliance on specialized sound meter equipment. The proposed ordinance would establish a hybrid penalty structure, imposing civil penalties for some violations while preserving criminal penalties for repeat or severe violations.
A key change in the noise ordinance is the addition of a “plainly audible” standard, where certain sounds that are plainly audible inside an individual’s home or beyond a specified distance from its source would constitute violations. Sound is plainly audible if it can be heard by the human ear with or without a medically approved hearing aid or device. A violation of the plainly audible standard would result in a civil violation punishable by a fine of $250 for a first offense. Excessive noise as determined by decibel readings will continue to be violations under the proposed ordinance and may result in misdemeanor charges.
Click here to learn more about the proposed changes- http://www.vbgov.com/noise
Click here to provide comments regarding the proposed changes – https://publicinput.com/R6847
VB Residents Invited to Learn More About Changes to Local Election System
VB Residents Invited to Learn More
About Changes to Local Election System
Redistricting changes will impact how voters elect their City Council representatives.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (June 13, 2022) – The City of Virginia Beach invites residents and voters to attend any of the three upcoming public information meetings to learn more about the new VB10 election system and ask any questions they may have about this topic. Following a federal court case, the City’s original method of electing City Council representatives has been replaced with a new 10-1 system.
This change divides the city into 10 districts of approximately equal voting age population, replacing the 7-district, 3 at-large, and 1 mayor system. Most notably, Virginia Beach voters will now only be able to vote for a single City Council representative for their district, plus the mayor, when that seat is on the ballot. The City’s redistricting does not impact state or federal representation.
Interested individuals who wish to ask a question in advance may do so by email, voicemail, or text. Speaker registration information and the ways to provide feedback are available online at PublicInput.com/VBRedistricting. Meeting dates and times are as follows:
- Wednesday, June 22 | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
In person and virtual participation options available
City Council Chambers (Old City Hall)
2403 Courthouse Drive- Email questions to WW4481@PublicInput.com
- Leave a voicemail by calling 855-925-2801 – use meeting code 4863
- Text WW4481 to 855-925-2801
- Thursday, June 23 | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Virtual meeting- Email questions to A57886@PublicInput.com
- Leave a voicemail by calling 855-925-2801 – use meeting code 4863
- Text A57886 to 855-925-2801
- Wednesday, June 29 | 12:30 – 2 p.m.
Virtual meeting- Email questions to R32313@PublicInput.com
- Leave a voicemail by calling 855-925-2801 – use meeting code 4863
- Text R32313 to 855-925-2801
All meetings will be livestreamed on PublicInput.com/VBRedistricting. Submitted questions will be answered whether or not the submitter is present. Those who wish to watch and not ask a question do not need to register to view or attend any of the meetings.
“This change to our election system is a significant shift from how City Council members have been elected previously,” said Virginia Beach Communications Director Tiffany M. Russell. “We want to ensure our residents are well-informed about this change and what it means before they show up to vote this November. Come share your voice on your schedule on SpeakUpVB.com or join us at one of the meetings in person or virtually.”
More information about the changes to the Virginia Beach election system can be found online at VBgov.com/VB10.
About SpeakUpVB
Hearing from our residents about the topics and decisions that will impact where they live, work and play, is important to the City of Virginia Beach. SpeakUpVB is the one-stop shop for public engagement where Virginia Beach residents can provide feedback on topics of interest, attend virtual meetings, and review past meetings. Visit SpeakUpVB.com to view current surveys and public meeting opportunities.
BAC Agenda for June 16 22 330pm at OPVRS
See ya there!
CALL TO ORDER – 3:30 pm
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Review and Approval of Minutes from 5/21/22
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Welcome Guests and Introductions – Phil Davenport, Chair
STAFF REPORTS & UPDATES
Comprehensive Plan Public Input restart
Commercial Area Pattern book Update
COMMITTEE REPORTS & UPDATES
Design – Bob Magoon
Communications – Vacant
Public Safety, Transit, Parking & Pedestrian Access – Martin Thomas
PRESENTATIONS/COMMISSION ITEMS
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
COMMUNITY REPORTS & UPDATES
ADJOURN
“So many opportunities with hands on learning…”
Amazing achievement by so many for so long!
Ocean Park gettin a whole lotta sand
Permanently preserve open space on PHP you may think is preserved but is not or condos?
SDCC Asks City Council and Virginia Beach Economic Development for Details Regarding $164 mil Pass-through Bonds for Westminster-Canterbury Project
At the time of this post, no contact has been received from any Council Member, VBED, VBDA or City Staff.
Follow-up email sent May 24, 2022
Dear Mayor Dyer and City Council Members,
I wanted to send this follow up email to confirm someone in the City is actively working on providing answers to the questions submitted last week. To date, we haven’t received any reply to the request. Excluding a blank email from Council Member Wilson, which I took to be a notification that she can’t discuss this issue due to her conflict of interest.
The community is aware that this 2nd round of Pass-Through Bonds was approved on consent with a 7-0 vote (2 COI, 2 Not Present), however, answers to the questions would go a long way to clearing up confusion that may be present in the community on this subject.
I assume the VBED department would be the ones to answer and if so, maybe Mr. Adams can send me the point of contact. I will be happy to follow up with them rather than reply via these large distribution emails.
Thank you for consideration and action,
Todd Solomon
Shore Drive Community Coalition President
Original email request sent May 17, 2022
From: Todd Solomon [mailto:todd@sdcc.info]
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 1:20 PM
Subject: City Council Agenda – May 17, 2022 Item J(7) – Resolution to Approve $164mil Bond for WCCB
Importance: High
Dear Mayor Dyer and City Council Members,
I am passing on some concerns and questions that have been raised by the Shore Drive community regarding today’s upcoming agenda item J(7) -Resolution to APPROVE the issuance of Residential Care Facility Revenue Bonds up to $164-Million re Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay.
We would greatly appreciate replies to the items below to help us better understand the details behind this resolution request.
- Will WCCB be exempt from property taxes or will they still be required to pay taxes during the bond period? It is my understanding that with Industrial Revenue Bonds/Passive Activity Bonds (IRB/PAB), the City becomes the deed holder until the bond is paid off. Bonds of this type usually exempt the developer from property taxes. WCCCB has stated it needs no help with this project, waving property taxes would be considered help.
- What are the VBDA’s rates/structure and what are the fees associated with this bond issuance? Most municipalities charge a fee or have a fee structure to manage these types of bonds. Example, Alexandria VA charges 25 basis points per bond amount and Loudoun has a structure Bond Financing Fee Schedule – Loudoun County Economic Development, VA
- Doesn’t the City hold some risk albeit very small? The City has stated that there is no risk to its bond rating for this request. If WCCB defaults on the bond payment and the bank covering the request isn’t able to sell the property or if the bank is no longer in existence, wouldn’t the City via the VBDA be next in line to cover the bond requirement?
- How can the VBDA/CC justify approving an additional $164mil bond pass through request for the Independent Living (IL) tower until several key issues are resolved? The previously approved $110mil bond issuance supported WCCB’s Memory Unit construction. This current request supports the IL tower which is still in litigation at the State Supreme Court. The designs for the tower also require the relocation of the existing beach access which needs a super majority Council approval.
- Will the City/VBDA be asked to supply an additional bond for the remaining $140mil in the future? The Fitch Bond Rating review below states that WCCB will need $400mil in debt service to complete the full campus expansion. The previous $110mil approval plus this $164mil request still leaves $140mil. https://www.fitchratings.com/research/us-public-finance/fitch-downgrades-westminster-canterbury-on-chesapeake-bay-va-rev-bonds-to-bb-outlook-stable-18-02-2022
- Where can I obtain a copy of the Bond Application submitted for this request?
Thank you for taking the time to educate us on this somewhat confusing method of financing development projects.
Sincerely,
Todd Solomon Shore Drive Community Coalition President
#WeLoveShoreDrive 