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Home My WebLink AboutAPRIL 16, 2026 SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION MINUTES 1A BQA-s Z 4 OF OV N�rtO . VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL Virginia Beach, Virginia APRIL 16,2026 Mayor Robert M. Dyer called to order the CITY COUNCIL SPECL4L FORMAL SESSION of the VIRGINL4 BEACH CITY COUNCIL in City Council Chamber, City Hall, on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. Council Members Present: Michael F.Berlucchi,Stacy Cummings,Mayor Robert M.Dyer,Barbara M.Henley, David Hutcheson, Cal "Cash" Jackson-Green, Robert W. "Worth" Remick, Dr. Amelia N. Ross-Hammond, Jennifer Rouse, Joashua F. "Joash" Schulman and Rosemary Wilson Council Members Absent: None 2 MAYOR'S CALL FOR SPECIAL SESSION ITEM#78200 "HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL In accordance with the Virginia Beach City Code Section 2-21, and by the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Virginia Beach, I hereby call for a SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION of the VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL Thursday,April 16,2026,at 4:00 P.M. City Council Chamber Building 1—2nd Floor 2401 Courthouse Drive The purpose of this SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION is to consider the following: • AN ORDINANCE TOA UTHORIZEA TEMPORARYCURFEW FOR AND TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE RESORT AREA The Special Formal Session will be broadcast on the Cable TV, virginiabeach.gov and Facebook Live. Sincerely, Robert M. Dyer Mayor" Enclosure cc: City Manager City Attorney City Clerk Deputy City Managers FOIA Officer Communications Office April 16, 2026 IA �� CityofVirginiaBeach° z .. 0f Ot+R NP130 VirginiaBeach.gov MUNICIPAL CENTER,BUILDING 1 2401 COURTHOUSE DRIVE Robert M. "Bobby" Dyer VIRGINIABEACH,VA23456-9000 MAYOR OFFICE:(757)385-4581 CELL:(757)749-4659 BDYER0.VBGOV COM April 15, 2025 HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL In accordance with the Virginia Beach City Code Section 2-21, and by the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Virginia Beach, I hereby call for a SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION of the VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL: Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. City Council Chamber Building 1 —2"d Floor 2401 Courthouse Drive The purpose of this SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION is to consider the following: • AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE A TEMPORARY CURFEW AND TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE RESORT AREA The Special Formal Session will be broadcast on the Cable TV, virginiabeach.go\, and Facebook Live. Sincerely, Robert M. Dyer Mayor Enclosure cc: City Manager City Attorney City Clerk Deputy City Managers FOIA Officer Communications Office 3 ITEM-LC ORDINANCE ITEM#78201 Mayor Dyer welcomed Paul Neudigate, Chief. Chief Neudigate expressed his appreciation to City Council for their continued support and provided a presentation regarding the recent violence and mass shootings at the Oceanfront, attached hereto and made apart of the record. Chief Neudigate requested City Council's support to adopt the proposed, "Ordinance to AUTHORIZE a Temporary Curfew and AUTHORIZE certain additional actions to assist law enforcement at the Resort Area republic safety" Mayor Dyer expressed his appreciation to Chief Neudigate for the presentation and called for speakers. The following registered to speak.- Victoria Lyons, 313 Riverwood Court#101, Phone: 578-6539, did not respond Matthew Knox, 5404 Keystone Place, Phone: 773-2489, spoke in OPPOSITION Jason Miller, 2329 Lindale Court, Phone: 843-670-0260, proposed the Virginia Beach Ambassador Initiative, comprised of trained community members to provide observational support and promote positivity John Zirkle, 233 Bridge Landing Court, Phone: 348-4844, spoke in OPPOSITION Neil Akkor, 1152 Pine Song Place#104, Phone: 980-3888, did not respond Kat Porterfield, 2403 Rennie Drive, Phone: 323-6430, spoke in OPPOSITION Darwin Rogers, 2232 Elder Road, Phone: 353-5750, spoke in SUPPORT Dwayne Furlough, 2212 Atlantic Avenue, Phone: 652-1106, spoke in OPPOSITION Stephanie Vann, 2613 Atlantic Avenue #504, Phone: 678-491-0223, spoke in OPPOSITION Brandon Ramsey, 208 A 79`h Street, Phone: 714-6212, spoke in OPPOSITION Kelly Griffiths, 3201 Clubhouse Court, Phone: 870-9654, spoke in OPPOSITION Ahmed Harmache, 705 Earl of Chesterfield Court, Phone: 651-1031, spoke in OPPOSITION Dr. Janet Garcia, 1029 Sherando Court, Phone: 652-3559, spoke in OPPOSITION January Windrow, 507 North Birdneck Road, Phone: 491-0044, spoke in OPPOSITION Deborah Kassir, 507 North Birdneck Road, Phone: 491-0044, spoke in OPPOSITION Norman Gauthier, 176 Waverly Drive, Phone: 315-882-8115, spoke in OPPOSITION JD Johnson, 2130 Advent Court, Phone: 773-459-1313, spoke in OPPOSITION Rhoda Young, 121 Price Street#202, Phone: 241-0777, spoke in OPPOSITION Kevin Bryan, 233 15`h Street, Phone: 646-5484, spoke in OPPOSITION Stacey Braithwaite, 525 High Point Avenue, Phone:202-3435, spoke in OPPOSITION Jamal Gunn, 920 Forest Lake Drive, Phone: 576-1295, spoke in SUPPORT Liz Rossi-Did not respond Easter Grizzel, 301 Gambrill Court, Phone: 805-3336, spoke in OPPOSITION Tim Ritter, 206161h Street, Phone: 550-1595, spoke in OPPOSITION Melissa Lukeson, 1884 Wolfsnare Road, Phone: 289-9003, spoke in OPPOSITION Lea Marie Ngowaki, 4517 Notre Dame Court, Phone: 572-0392, spoke in OPPOSITION Rick Boyles, 525 Suber Drive, Phone: 589-4893, spoke in SUPPORT Jason Bohner, 701 Bishop Drive, Phone: 842-0548, spoke in OPPOSITION Leslie Washington, 1138 Broadlawn Road, Phone: 563-4316, spoke in OPPOSITION April 16, 2026 4 ITEM—LC ORDINANCE ITEM#78201 (Continued) Debbie Lou Hague, 1105 Chumley Road, Phone: 641-0777, spoke in OPPOSITION Ed Denton, 786 Sheraton Drive, Phone: 687-9223, declined to speak Bernita Richardson, 5352 Garnett Point Court, Phone: 535-3343, spoke in OPPOSITION Jack Maggeti, 2613 Atlantic Avenue, spoke in OPPOSITION Zuri Hodnett, 1311 Ivywood Road, Phone: 776-5789, spoke in OPPOSITION Upon motion by Council Member Remick, seconded by Council Member Cummings, City Council ADOPTED,AS AMENDED, Ordinance to A UTHORIZE a Temporary Curfew and A UTHORIZE certain additional actions to assist law enforcement at the Resort Area republic safety Voting: 10- 1 Council Members Voting Aye: Michael F. Berlucchi, Stacy Cummings,Mayor Robert M.Dyer,Barbara M. Henley, David Hutcheson, Cal "Cash" Jackson-Green, Robert W. "Worth" Remick, Dr. Amelia N. Ross-Hammond, Joashua F. "Joash"Schulman and Rosemary Wilson Council Members Voting Nay: Jennifer Rouse Council Members Absent: None April 16, 2026 ADOPTED VERSION 1 AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE A TEMPORARY 2 CURFEW AND TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL 3 ACTIONS TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE 4 RESORT AREA 5 6 WHEREAS, on the evening of March 7, 2026, there were multiple incidents of 7 actual or threatened violent behavior, including a shooting that injured 6 persons, and 8 several other near stampedes or riots arising from actual or perceived threats of violence, 9 all of which represented an imminent threat to public health and safety; 10 11 WHEREAS, exactly 35 days after March 7, on April 11,2026,there was a shooting 12 in the Resort Area that had eight victims between the ages of 17 and 24; 13 14 WHEREAS, the experiences of March 7 and April 11 are consistent with the City's 15 recent historical experience of unpermitted Oceanfront gatherings on warm evenings in 16 the late winter and early spring; 17 18 WHEREAS, the perils associated with such crowds create a complex and dynamic 19 public safety problem, and notwithstanding a large police presence and other 20 enforcement actions, these crowds continue to present an acute and imminent public 21 safety problem; 22 23 WHEREAS, in light of the April 11, 2026, shooting, the City Council finds the 24 existing public safety enforcement mechanisms — including the existing city-wide curfew 25 for unaccompanied minors and the Resort Area unaccompanied minors curfew adopted 26 on March 12, 2026 -- are not sufficient to effectively respond to urgent public safety 27 threats, like those experienced on March 7 and April 11, and the public safety problems 28 associated with large crowds, stampedes, and other lawless behavior are believed likely 29 to imminently reoccur, and therefore, the City Council needs to implement other 30 enforcement mechanisms to protect public safety, good order, and the general welfare in 31 light of such threats; 32 33 WHEREAS, based on the forgoing, the City Council finds there is an imminent 34 threat of a civil commotion or disturbance in the nature of a riot which constitutes a clear 35 and present danger such that a curfew is necessary; 36 37 WHEREAS, the City Council further finds that there are ample alternative places 38 in the City, other than the geographic area that will be subject to the curfew authorized 39 herein, for residents and visitors to exercise their right to assembly and other rights 40 protected by the First Amendment; 41 42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY 43 OF VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, THAT: 44 45 (1) The City Council incorporates the findings set forth above. 46 47 (2) The City Council takes this action as a matter of its exercise of the police power 48 consistent with the general grant of such powers by Virginia Code§§ 15.2-1102, 15.2- 49 1700, and City Charter§ 2.01. 50 51 (3) The City Council hereby authorizes and directs the Police Chief, upon the 52 concurrence of the City Manager and Mayor, to enact a temporary curfew, applicable 53 to all persons regardless of age, pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-925 and City Code 54 § 23-2.1, for Friday, April 17, 2026, from 9:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m, on the following 55 morning; the same curfew shall commence for the same hours beginning at 9:30 p.m. 56 and ending at 5:00 a.m. the following morning for Saturday, April 18, 2026; and the 57 same curfew also shall commence for the same hours beginning at 9:30 p.m. Friday, 58 April 24, 2026, and ending at 5:00 a.m. the following morning. The geographical area 59 of such curfew shall be bounded to the south by Rudee Park, the west by the western 60 boundary of Pacific Avenue, the north by the northern boundary of 31s' Street (also 61 referred to as Laskin Road), and the east by the Atlantic Ocean, 62 63 (4) As provided by Virginia Code 15.2-925, the curfew authorized herein shall not apply 64 to: 65 a. Any person traveling to or from home, including a temporary residence 66 such as a hotel,work, a place of worship or a ticketed event; 67 b. Medical personnel; 68 c. Members of the press; 69 d. Federal, state, and local employees and volunteers engaged in official 70 business, including emergency response; 71 e. Military personnel, including but not limited to National Guard troops; 72 f. Travel to or from public meetings of the local governing body; 73 g. Persons seeking emergency services or fleeing any emergency or danger 74 or acting to save other persons from an emergency or danger; and 75 h. Persons who are incapacitated or who are seeking medical care for 76 themselves or others. 77 78 (5) This curfew shall be in addition to the curfew for unaccompanied minors adopted on 79 March 12, 2026, and the general curfew for unaccompanied minor curfew set forth in 80 City Code § 23-2. 81 82 (6) The City Manager shall provide appropriate public information using the City's 83 website and other means of promulgating information to provide the public with 84 information regarding the curfew and limitations upon pedestrian and vehicular traffic 85 at the Resort Area. Adopted by the Council of the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, on the 16th day of April 2026. APPROVED AS TO LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: City Attorney's Office CA17210 R-3 April 16, 2026 Oceanfront Violent Crime Chief Paul Neudigate April 16, 2026 V13 Oceanfr • Total Violent Crime Victimsby . iv ios ioz 94 92 89 84 80 72 62 66 66 58 58 53 52 47 40 36 35 `� 22 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 YTD Historical Spring Break Issues rch 7,, 202 MJim v r `"4 p• `tq ." s a` ct �, April 5,, 202 ? wow �—,,pj, ag ty —77. WW ; Aa A ti y v P� I •XaF •4 1 P. r. gam°. n.y � � t q ,fi The Challenge Goes Beyond Visibility :.:I 78 s 7gp i r 6 v n. t � s 5 � t r 7 Mill � s �5 t. v A Visible Presence Didn't Stop the Violence March 7, 2026 • Visibility is not lacking. Officers were highly visible and u y. .. actively patrolling the area before the incident occurred. The shooting happened despite officers being in direct view, underscoring that visibility alone does not deter individuals' r intent on committing violence. F • Unattended Crowds: The Oceanfront has shifted from a traditional "College Beach Weekend" to a "regional collision point" for hundreds of unattended minors and young adults from across the state. 8 ........... Pill ................. 40,vo WAORWAVAM J u . enile C rfew Shows Progress, More Action Is Required April 11, 2026 • A force of 90 VBPD officers is concentrated within a ten-block radius. • More than 1,000 individuals were present at the Oceanfront. • Eight people were shot within twelve seconds. • Violent confrontations are now escalating from verbal disputes to mass-casualty events in seconds. � � 9�c a < �I 10 0 9 P t M t v v 1x_ .. f r 40 "mono. y IVAn an L I M�S'q �p s qq i Police Enforcement • Massive Weapon Seizures: During a single 48-hour "Spring Break Weekend" in 2025, police seized 28 + firearms. • Aggressive Enforcement: In that same 2025 weekend, the VBPD made 53 arrests resulting in nearly 200 criminal charges. • Violent Crime Baseline: While the city saw a record 27% decline in overall violent crime since 2023, the Oceanfront remains a volatile exception. In 2024, the resort area still recorded 33 violent crimes, including aggravated assaults and robberies. • pip Iiiiii ✓Arrested 50+ individuals on over 200 charges, ranging from 14 to df . t r 53 years of age. F � ✓Seized 28 firearms ` ✓Three individuals shot Historic Responses for Week 17 • Robust police staffing/visibility (not a deterrent for violent crime) ✓Off days cancelled ✓Assistance from VBSO & VSP • Traffic flushing on Atlantic Avenue • Zero tolerance for fights/assaultive behavior/crimes against persons. ✓ No longer able to enforce jaywalking/marijuana use (civil) , ✓ Loitering is not a crime ✓Checkpoints unconstitutional with limited exceptions • Event Programming • Coordinated messaging w/ City Comms — "Know Before You Go" 14 Tracing National Patterns: Context and Response Over Time • Beach Cities Battling Chaos: Virginia Beach is not alone. Cities like Miami Beach have already enacted similar emergency curfews, sobriety checkpoints, and limited entry , points to combat the "public safety problem" of spring break '°�� ' gunfire and fights. • Historic "Week 17" Crisis: Historically known as "College Beach Weekend," this period is now identified by officials as a misnomer. It has become an unpredictable flashpoint for daytrippers who bring community and school conflicts to the boardwalk. r • Inadequate Current Measures: Existing policies, such as the 7 p.m. "imminent threat" curfew for unaccompanied minors, have not been enough to prevent recent mass shootings involving young adults over the age of 18. 15 ;;l ., e WE MUST STOP BEING REACTIVE AND BECOME PROTECTIVE ! ---------------- • The suggestion of a 9 p.m. zoned curfew is not just a proposal—it is a necessity to ensure that " 12 seconds" doesn't turn into a lifetime of grief. sE 4 ,tip t 16 i For Council's Consideration A 9 p.m. all-ages curfew at the Oceanfront through the end of April 2026: Location: Rudee Loop to 31st Street, and from the Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Avenue. Time & Days: 9 p.m. to S a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights (starting Friday, April 17, 2026). Dates: The weekends of April 17-19 and April 24-26, 2026. Concurrent Curfew Status: The existing 7 p.m. weekend emergency curfew for unaccompanied minors remains in effect for the same location and is set to expire at the same time at the end of April. 17 VB S ADJOURNMENT ITEM#78202 Mayor Robert M. Dyer DECLARED the City Council SPECIAL FORMAL SESSIONADJOURNED at 6:46 P.M. a s Chief Deputy C'ty Clerk 4 m Am Barnes, M Robert M. Dyer City Clerk Mayor City of Virginia Beach Virginia April 16, 2026