FAQs • Hampton, VA • CivicEngage

Are council meeting open to the public?: All regularly scheduled council meetings are open to the public and the media. All action taken by the city council is taken at public meetings. The city council is authorized to hold closed meetings whenever necessary to discuss legal and personnel matters, or other items not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. These meetings are not open to the public or media, but city council may not vote on any issue in these sessions.

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City Council

1. How does the public have a voice in City Council meetings?: Prior to the meeting, there are sign-up sheets for the public hearing items located at in the City Hall lobby. If you wish to address the City Council on a non-agenda item, use the sign-up sheet for "Audiences Granted to the General Public." There is a three minute time limit for each speaker.

2. What are public hearings?: Public hearings are held by the City Council to give citizens the opportunity to comment on specific current issues involving the city. All public hearings are advertised and placed on the agenda.

3. How can the public serve on council-appointed boards and commissions?: Persons interested in serving on any of the city's boards and commissions should complete a Hampton Board Bank Application. As vacancies occur, the Board Bank provides the names of all the persons who have expressed a desire to serve on the board and/or commission that has the vacancy. These names and applications are then submitted to the City Council for consideration. To obtain additional information about the boards and commissions, contact Katherine K. Glass, Clerk of Council, at (757) 727-6315. Board Bank information

4. How do you find out what’s coming up on the agenda?: Agendas are posted online on the Friday before a meeting. Printed copies are available in the City Council Office at 22 Lincoln Street, Eighth Floor of Hampton City Hall. You can also sign up to get an email or text when the agenda is posted. Click on the "notify me" symbol at the bottom of this web page to sign up for alerts. Agendas

The order of the agenda is:

6. Are council meeting open to the public?: All regularly scheduled council meetings are open to the public and the media. All action taken by the city council is taken at public meetings. The city council is authorized to hold closed meetings whenever necessary to discuss legal and personnel matters, or other items not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. These meetings are not open to the public or media, but city council may not vote on any issue in these sessions.

7. How is an amendment handled?: An amendment is a City Council member's means of making a change to a motion, ordinance, or resolution as previously submitted. The amendment must be proposed by a motion and treated as any other motion.

8. When are meetings held?: Hampton City Council meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. Afternoon work sessions take place at 1:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. The Council may also call special meetings as needed. Typically these meetings are broadcast live on TV-47 and are also available on the city’s website.

During the months of June, July, August, November, and December, Hampton City Council meetings only take place on the second Wednesday of each month.
The public may sign up to speak during Public Comment and on Public Hearing Items beginning at 6:00 p.m. The sign-up sheets for Public Hearing Items will be presented to Council promptly at 6:30 p.m. and for Public Comment promptly at 6:45 p.m. Please note that failure to sign up may result in not being able to speak before Council.