City Council Legislative Briefing

AGENDA City of Williamsburg City Council Monday, December 11, 2023 A meeting of the City Council will be held Monday, December 11, 2023 in the Stryker Center, 412 N. Boundary Street commencing at 1:45 PM. Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. INTRODUCTIONS OF LEGISLATORS 4. 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION FORECASTS 5. REVIEW OF 2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITES A. 2024 Legislative Agenda 2-3 6. CLOSING COMMENTS A. Mayor B. Legislators 7. ADJOURNMENT  ADOPTED NOVEMBER 6, 2023 INTENT STATEMENT Annually the City of Williamsburg adopts, via resolution, a legislative agenda. The purpose of the agenda is to provide our state and federal legislators a quick reference that outlines the City’s position on issues facing the nation and state that may impact our locality. The proposed agenda is intended to be a short listing of specific positions held by the City of Williamsburg that will be the basis of advocacy during the 2024 legislative session. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of issues that the City considers important. During the session, items will be debated that are not included in this agenda, and their exclusion does not preclude the City from taking a position. PRIORITY PROTECT LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S ZONING AUTHORITY ISSUE Local Land Use Decisions Should Remain Local Land use decisions are best implemented at the local level where elected officials know and experience directly the nuances, impacts and repercussions, both intended and unintended, of such decisions upon the locality and its residents. Localities must maintain control of local land use decisions, and neither the state nor the federal government should usurp or pre-empt a locality’s authority to make such decisions. PRIORITY PUBLIC NOTICE ISSUE Public Notice Reform City supports further amendments to modernize state code requirements to publish lengthy and expensive written notices in local newspapers. PRIORITY CONNECTIVITY, ASSET BUILDING & TOURISM ISSUE Virginia 250 The City supports funding for legacy infrastructure and tourism projects as part of Williamsburg’s commemoration of America’s 250th Anniversary. Birthplace of America Trail (BoAT) The City requests state funding for the construction of the Birthplace of America Trail (BoAT) on the Peninsula (connecting the Capital Trail from Jamestown through Williamsburg to Fort Monroe).  ISSUE OF TRANSPORTATION FOCUS Passenger Rail on the Virginia Peninsula The City supports efforts and projects that promote higher speed and more reliable passenger rail service to Richmond and the Northeast Corridor, including a third train to Williamsburg and Newport News. ISSUE OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOCUS William & Mary The City supports investment in William & Mary to include: • Construction funding to address critical deferred maintenance issues on William & Mary’s Historic Campus in advance of 2026 Commemoration events • Creation of a state funding source to incentivize modernizing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems • Renovate Ewell Hall to update life safety and other building systems to support health sciences, the Reves Center for International Studies, and the Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office PARTNER AGENCY SUPPORT The City of Williamsburg is a member of the Virginia Municipal League, Virginia First Cities, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization. Each of these partner agencies adopts legislative agendas annually. Through participation in board meetings, annual conferences and committees, the City Council and executive management of the City of Williamsburg endorse and support the legislative priorities included in these respective legislative agendas for the 2024 session. When these partner agency agendas advocate for statewide application, the City maintains local autonomy for implementation in a manner consistent with local regulation. Items above marked with partner logos indicate issue overlap and mutual support. LEGISLATIVE CONTACT: Michele Mixner DeWitt | Assistant City Manager | (757) 293-8812 | mdewitt@williamsburgva.gov