North Tidewater News

The City Council of Hampton is set to convene on Wednesday for its regular work session, where it will receive a presentation regarding current real estate assessments. Initially scheduled for January 22, the presentation was delayed due to a winter storm that resulted in the cancellation of that week's meeting. These assessments are crucial as they impact property taxes and play a significant role in shaping the budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which commences on July 1.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will take place in chambers on the eighth floor of City Hall, located at 22 Lincoln St. During this session, an update will also be provided concerning plans for the former Virginia State School for the Deaf and Blind site. This report will include community feedback on how to utilize $1.5 million from the sale of this land.

Additionally, the City Council has planned a special meeting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning to address public safety issues. This meeting will feature a closed session and will also be held in chambers.

In another session at 6:30 p.m., the council's regular legislative agenda includes accepting and appropriating a grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services aimed at anti-violence programs, along with an application related to short-term rentals on North Fourth Street.

These meetings are open to public attendance and can be accessed through various platforms including local TV channels Cox 47 and Verizon 22, or streamed online via hampton.gov/livetv.