Minutes 08/25/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 25, 2026 Discussion:  City Council is the body authorized to name or rename a City park or facility. A recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission is advisory and is not required for City Council to act. Accordingly, City Council may approve the requested renaming of Eighth and Jefferson Park as Charles B. Whitehurst Sr. Park. If approved, City staff would coordinate the administrative changes necessary to implement the new name, including updates to park signage, maps, webpages, facility inventories, public information materials, and other City records, as applicable. Financial Impact:  A new sign would need to be constructed per the Parks & Recreation standard, which will state the rules and also have the new name of the park. The estimated cost of signage is between $5500 and $6500. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the resolution to rename the park as Charles B. Whitehurst Sr. Park and authorize the City Manager to direct the administrative actions necessary to implement the name change. Strategic Pillar # 4: Safe, Connected, and Thriving Community. 1. Leon Hammond, 809 Bouie Court, spoke in support of this item. “RESOLUTION TO RENAME EIGHTH AND JEFFERSON PARK AS CHARLES B. WHITEHURST SR. PARK. WHEREAS, Charles B. Whitehurst Sr. was a Portsmouth native, a 1956 graduate of I.C. Norcom High School, and a retired United States Marine Corps major; and WHEREAS, Charles Whitehurst was elected Treasurer of the City of Portsmouth in November 1985, was named Treasurer of the Year by the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia in 1992, and served as City Treasurer until December 31, 1993; and WHEREAS, Charles Whitehurst was elected to Portsmouth City Council in 1998, was reelected in 2002, and continued serving on Council until 2012, including service as Vice Mayor; and WHEREAS, Charles Whitehurst was a member of numerous Portsmouth community organizations, civic leagues, and committees and received numerous honors and awards for his service; and WHEREAS, Charles Whitehurst’s accomplishments were recognized by the Virginia General Assembly through the adoption of House Joint Resolution 647 in 2017; and WHEREAS, Charles Whitehurst’s military, civic, and elected service reflected a longstanding commitment to Portsmouth and its residents; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia that the name of Eighth and Jefferson Park is hereby officially changed to Charles B. Whitehurst Sr. Park.” 26-195n: Adoption of a resolution in support of an Advancing Main Street designation for the City of Portsmouth and the City’s participation in the Main Street Program. Background:  By Resolution R-25-07 adopted on February 25, 2025, City Council authorized the City to apply to become a Mobilizing Main Street community, the first step in the Virginia Main Street accreditation process overseen by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.