Norfolk City Council: Difference between revisions

From Voices in the Dust
Jump to navigation Jump to search
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
 
(13 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
''To read more about local regulations around coal dust, see [[Local Regulations]].''
''To read more about local regulations around coal dust, see [[Local Regulations]].''[[File:Hampton Roads Jurisdiction.png|thumb|Map showing the local jurisdictions the Hampton Roads region, with the City of Norfolk in orange and the three coal terminals marked.|269x269px]]''To read about Newport News City Council, see [[Newport News City Council]]''


''To read about Newport News City Council, see [[Newport News City Council]]''
The Norfolk City Council is the elected legislative body that governs Norfolk, Virginia.


Norfolk City Council is the legislative and policy-making body for the city of Norfolk and is the final authority on City matters. The Council establishes general City policies; appoints the City Manager, City Auditor, City Attorney, City Assessor, the City Clerk, and members of boards, committees and commissions; enacts ordinances, resolutions, and orders; approves the strategic plan and annual budget; and authorizes contracts on the City’s behalf.[[File:Hampton Roads Jurisdiction.png|thumb|Map showing the jurisdiction of the City of Newport News and City of Norfolk, with the three terminals marked.|307x307px]]The jurisdiction of Norfolk City includes [[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Pier 6, the Norfolk Southern terminal at Lamberts Point.]]
Operating under a council-manager form of government, the Council includes a mayor and seven other members who are responsible for setting municipal policy, passing local laws, approving budgets, and overseeing land use and development. The Council wields considerable influence over issues related to economic development, environmental regulation, and public health, making it a key player in addressing community concerns about [https://voicesinthedust.org/Particulate_matter_and_coal_dust coal dust pollution].
== Relevance ==
 
Norfolk is organized into a ward system, with the city divided into five small wards, two superwards (each encompassing about half the city). Residents in each ward therefore do not vote for the entire city council, but for mayor, their ward representative, and their superward representative. This was enacted to promote a more diverse council, following a 50 year stretch form 1918-1968 when the at-large system produced an all-white council, and a seven year court case that ended with the US Supreme Court forcing Norfolk to use the ward system.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141111054722/http://blog.vivianpaige.com/2006/04/09/dyk-norfolks-ward-system/#expand Paige, V. DYK: Norfolk’s Ward System. April 9, 2006.] </ref>
 
The City of Norfolk has jurisdiction over one of the three coal terminals in the Port of Virginia, [[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Pier 6.]] The Norfolk Southern terminal is located in Ward 2.
 
== Council Members (in 2025) ==
 
* '''Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D.''' (Term: Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250806185328/https://www.norfolk.gov/200/City-Council City Council. Norfolk.gov. Accessed August 6, 2025.] </ref>
* '''Vice Mayor Martin A. Thomas Jr''' (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); [https://web.archive.org/web/20250806184923/https://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/999/Council-Ward-1-Map?bidId= Ward 1]
* '''Courtney R. Doyle''' (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); [https://web.archive.org/web/20250806185026/https://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1009/Council-Ward-2-Map?bidId= Ward 2]
* '''Mamie B. Johnson''' (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); [https://web.archive.org/web/20250806185138/https://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/998/Council-Ward-3-Map?bidId= Ward 3]
* '''John E. "JP" Paige''' (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); [https://web.archive.org/web/20250806185218/https://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1000/Council-Ward-4-Map?bidId= Ward 4]
* '''Thomas R. Smigiel Jr''' (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); [https://web.archive.org/web/20250806185244/https://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1001/Council-Ward-5-Map?bidId= Ward 5]
* '''Carlos J. Clanton''' (Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028); [https://web.archive.org/web/20250806184714/https://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5968/Superward-Map---42025?bidId= Superward 6]
* '''Jeremy D. McGee''' (Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028); [https://web.archive.org/web/20250806184714/https://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5968/Superward-Map---42025?bidId= Superward 7]
 
== Relevant Meetings ==
City Council meetings are open to the public.  Informal sessions are held prior to the formal sessions, and there is no public comment at informal meetings. Public comments are accepted at the formal sessions for agenda items. Speakers are permitted 3 minutes in total for all consent and regular agenda items.  Public Hearing items on the agenda are discussed separately and speakers are permitted 3 minutes. Signs, placards, posters or like material are not permitted in the City Council Chamber, adjoining areas or city offices.
 
Following the business meeting, speakers will have an opportunity to address the council on new business matters at the first meeting of the month.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250821202355/https://www.norfolk.gov/2410/Council-Meeting-Guidelines</ref>
 
The Council Generally conducts meetings in the following order:
 
# Ceremonial Matters
# Public Comment for Consent and Regular Agenda Items
# Public Hearings
# Council Votes on Consent and Regular Agenda Items
# New Business (Citizens will have the opportunity to address council at the first meeting of the month)<ref>[[:File:28809MeetingFormat 202502141043549775.pdf|City of Norfolk, VA. Format for City Council Meetings. February 14, 2025.]]</ref>
Further records of meetings are available on the [https://www.norfolk.gov/AgendaCenter/City-Council-Agendas-25 Norfolk City website.]
 
'''December 13, 2022'''<ref>[[:File:12-13-2022 ncc.pdf|Norfolk City Council. Formal Session Meeting Minutes. December 13, 2022]]</ref>
 
New Business:
 
* Ann Creasy spoke regarding coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point
* Monet Johnson spoke regarding coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point.
* Carl Poole spoke regarding coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point.
* Hunter Noffsinger spoke regarding coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point.
 
'''May 23, 2023'''<ref>[[:File:5-23-2023 ncc.pdf|Norfolk City Council. Formal Session Meeting Minutes. May 23, 2023.]] </ref>
 
Consent Agenda: Carl Poole spoke regarding declaring a state of public emergency for coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point.
 
* ACTION: Adopted [6 to 1]
** AYES: Doyle, Johnson, McClellan, Smigiel Jr., Thomas Jr., Alexander
** NAYS: Paige
** ABSENT: Royster
 
== Documents ==
 
* [[:File:Ward SuperWard Civic 201406241502481840 201703211205123127.pdf|Ward & Superwards. City of Norfolk. 2014.]]
* [https://voicesinthedust.org/File:12-13-2022_ncc.pdf Norfolk City Council. Formal Session Meeting Minutes. December 13, 2022]
* [https://voicesinthedust.org/File:5-23-2023_ncc.pdf Norfolk City Council. Formal Session Meeting Minutes. May 23, 2023.]
* [https://voicesinthedust.org/File:28809MeetingFormat_202502141043549775.pdf City of Norfolk, VA. Format for City Council Meetings. February 14, 2025.]
 
== References ==

Latest revision as of 20:36, 21 August 2025

To read more about local regulations around coal dust, see Local Regulations.

Map showing the local jurisdictions the Hampton Roads region, with the City of Norfolk in orange and the three coal terminals marked.

To read about Newport News City Council, see Newport News City Council

The Norfolk City Council is the elected legislative body that governs Norfolk, Virginia.

Operating under a council-manager form of government, the Council includes a mayor and seven other members who are responsible for setting municipal policy, passing local laws, approving budgets, and overseeing land use and development. The Council wields considerable influence over issues related to economic development, environmental regulation, and public health, making it a key player in addressing community concerns about coal dust pollution.

Norfolk is organized into a ward system, with the city divided into five small wards, two superwards (each encompassing about half the city). Residents in each ward therefore do not vote for the entire city council, but for mayor, their ward representative, and their superward representative. This was enacted to promote a more diverse council, following a 50 year stretch form 1918-1968 when the at-large system produced an all-white council, and a seven year court case that ended with the US Supreme Court forcing Norfolk to use the ward system.[1]

The City of Norfolk has jurisdiction over one of the three coal terminals in the Port of Virginia, Pier 6. The Norfolk Southern terminal is located in Ward 2.

Council Members (in 2025)

  • Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D. (Term: Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028)[2]
  • Vice Mayor Martin A. Thomas Jr (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 1
  • Courtney R. Doyle (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 2
  • Mamie B. Johnson (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 3
  • John E. "JP" Paige (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 4
  • Thomas R. Smigiel Jr (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 5
  • Carlos J. Clanton (Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028); Superward 6
  • Jeremy D. McGee (Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028); Superward 7

Relevant Meetings

City Council meetings are open to the public. Informal sessions are held prior to the formal sessions, and there is no public comment at informal meetings. Public comments are accepted at the formal sessions for agenda items. Speakers are permitted 3 minutes in total for all consent and regular agenda items.  Public Hearing items on the agenda are discussed separately and speakers are permitted 3 minutes. Signs, placards, posters or like material are not permitted in the City Council Chamber, adjoining areas or city offices.

Following the business meeting, speakers will have an opportunity to address the council on new business matters at the first meeting of the month.[3]

The Council Generally conducts meetings in the following order:

  1. Ceremonial Matters
  2. Public Comment for Consent and Regular Agenda Items
  3. Public Hearings
  4. Council Votes on Consent and Regular Agenda Items
  5. New Business (Citizens will have the opportunity to address council at the first meeting of the month)[4]

Further records of meetings are available on the Norfolk City website.

December 13, 2022[5]

New Business:

  • Ann Creasy spoke regarding coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point
  • Monet Johnson spoke regarding coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point.
  • Carl Poole spoke regarding coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point.
  • Hunter Noffsinger spoke regarding coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point.

May 23, 2023[6]

Consent Agenda: Carl Poole spoke regarding declaring a state of public emergency for coal dust pollution in Lambert's Point.

  • ACTION: Adopted [6 to 1]
    • AYES: Doyle, Johnson, McClellan, Smigiel Jr., Thomas Jr., Alexander
    • NAYS: Paige
    • ABSENT: Royster

Documents

References

  1. ↑ Paige, V. DYK: Norfolk’s Ward System. April 9, 2006.
  2. ↑ City Council. Norfolk.gov. Accessed August 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20250821202355/https://www.norfolk.gov/2410/Council-Meeting-Guidelines
  4. ↑ City of Norfolk, VA. Format for City Council Meetings. February 14, 2025.
  5. ↑ Norfolk City Council. Formal Session Meeting Minutes. December 13, 2022
  6. ↑ Norfolk City Council. Formal Session Meeting Minutes. May 23, 2023.
Retrieved from "https://voicesinthedust.org/index.php?title=Norfolk_City_Council&oldid=1940"