Norfolk City Council

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.

It also has jurisdiction over one of the three coal terminals in the Port of Virginia, Pier 6, the Norfolk Southern terminal at Lamberts Point.

More coming soon on:

- regulatory power

- the ward system

Regulatory Power

The Norfolk The Norfolk Southern terminal is located in Ward 2.

Enforcement power is limited to local tools like fines, stop-work orders, or zoning actions. The Council cannot create criminal penalties or impose conditions outside the scope of municipal code. Political and budgetary constraints can limit how aggressively ordinances are pursued or enforced.

Like all Virginia cities, Norfolk operates under Dillon’s Rule, meaning it only has powers explicitly granted by the Virginia General Assembly. It cannot enact laws that conflict with state or federal statutes and has no authority over environmental permitting, which is handled by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Council Members (in 2025)

• Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D. (Term: Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028)
• 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

Relevance

While the jurisdiction of Norfolk City includes

Documents

Ward & Superwards. City of Norfolk. 2014.