The upcoming Portsmouth City Council virtual meeting on Tuesday, May 11, has the makings of what Ed Sullivan would call “a really big show”. No, the Beatles won’t be there, but council will be adopting the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget and considering zoning and two use permit changes that will lay the groundwork for establishment of an entertainment zone and construction of a casino and associated hotel in the Victory Village section of our city.

At its two April virtual meetings city council held public hearings on the components of the overall spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1: the annual operating budget, the five-year capital improvement plan, and proposed changes in (tax) rates and levies. Advertised in the usual fashion — printed notices in the Virginian-Pilot and announcements through city communication channels — the notice did not elicit anything like the participation witnessed prior to the pandemic. Whether it was COVID fatigue, the lack of anything that aroused public outrage, or some combination of factors and others, only one speaker provided comments captured by the recordings and minutes of the two sets of hearings. So, if you wish to contribute your ideas before the budget is all “signed, sealed, delivered”, the deadline is 3 PM, Monday, May 10 for written submissions or speaker signups for the Tuesday meeting. The same deadline applies for comments on the casino-related matters going before city council during that same meeting. Last calls, neighbors!

(The agenda for the May 11 Virtual Meeting of city council, current as of this posting date and time, is available here. Links within the agenda — underlined and in blue — will open documents with supplemental information about each associated item. The entire FY 2022 Proposed Budget is accessible here.)