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June 23, 2026
<br />
<br />At a Regular Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, there were
<br />present:
<br />
<br />Mayor Shannon E. Glover, Vice Mayor William E. Moody, Jr., Mark A. Hugel, Vernon L.
<br />Tillage, Jr., Kathryn W. Bryant, Dr. William S. Dodson, Jr., Yolanda E. Thomas, City
<br />Manager Steven Carter, City Attorney Derek G. Challenger.
<br />
<br />Mayor Glover asked for a moment of silence, which was followed by the Pledge of
<br />Allegiance to the Flag.
<br />
<br /> Mayor Glover called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
<br />
<br /> Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Hugel, to adopt the minutes of a Called
<br />Meeting of June 8, 2026, of a Called Meeting of June 9, 2026, and of a Regular Meeting
<br />of June 9, 2026, and was adopted by the following vote:
<br />
<br />Ayes: Bryant, Dodson, Hugel, Moody, Thomas, Tillage, Glover
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br />- Unfinished Business -
<br />
<br />26 - 121(a) - Adoption of an ordinance to amend and reordain Article II (Real Estate
<br />Assessments) of Chapter 35 (Taxation) of the Code of the City of Portsmouth,
<br />Virginia by adding a new Division 3 titled “Classification and Assessment of
<br />Blighted Properties and Derelict Buildings” for the purpose of establishing blighted
<br />properties and derelict buildings as separate classes of property for taxation
<br />purposes and providing that blighted properties shall be taxed at a rate five
<br />percent, and derelict buildings taxed at a rate ten percent, higher than the tax rate
<br />applicable to the general class of real property. Deferred from the May 12, 2026,
<br />City Council meeting.
<br />
<br />Background:
<br />
<br /> Virginia Code Section 58.1-3221.6 authorizes “qualifying localities” to declare
<br />blighted property and derelict buildings to be separate classes of property for taxation
<br />purposes, and to tax said properties and buildings at a higher tax rate than that applicable
<br />to the general class of real property.
<br />
<br /> Portsmouth is a qualifying locality, with a score of 100 or higher on the fiscal stress
<br />index published by the Department of Housing and Community Development
<br />
<br /> The ordinance proposed for City Council consideration would use the authority
<br />granted by Section 58.1-3221.6 to tax “blighted property” at a rate 5% higher, and “derelict
<br />buildings” at a rate 10% higher, than the tax rate applicable to the general class of real
<br />
<br />property (currently set at $1.24 per $100 of assessed value).
<br />
<br /> The purpose of the proposed amendment is to encourage the proper maintenance
<br />of structures and properties in the city, and to ensure that property owners who are not
<br />providing appropriate maintenance bear a portion of the general cost that the City incurs
<br />as a result of blighted and derelict property.
<br />
<br />Discussion:
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<br /> “Blighted property” means the same as that term is defined in Code of Virginia, §
<br />36-3, encompassing any individual commercial, industrial, or residential structure or
<br />improvement that endangers the public’s health, safety, or welfare because the structure
<br />or improvement upon the property is dilapidated, deteriorated, or violates minimum health
<br />and safety standards, or any structure or improvement previously designated as blighted
<br />pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 36-49.1:1 under the process for determination of ‘spot
<br />
<br />blight’.
<br />
<br /> “Derelict building” means the same as that term is defined in Code of Virginia, §
<br />15.2-907.1, encompassing a residential or nonresidential building or structure, whether
<br />or not construction has been completed, that might endanger the public’s health, safety,
<br />or welfare and for a continuous period in excess of six months, it has been (i) vacant, (ii)
<br />boarded up in accordance with the building code, and (iii) not lawfully connected to electric
<br />service from a utility service provider or not lawfully connected to any required water or
<br />
<br />sewer service from a utility service provider.
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