Norfolk City Council Work Session - April 14, 2026

The Norfolk City Council work session on April 14, 2026, focused heavily on updates and discussions related to major infrastructure and resilience projects, particularly the Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) project. The US Army Corps of Engineers provided a detailed briefing on the project's objectives, updated cost projections which have increased from $2.6 billion to over $6 billion, and the revised funding strategy including efforts to reduce the city's local cost share from 35% to 10% through federal legislation and state partnerships. The council discussed upcoming contract awards for construction phases, including a design-build contract for the Harbor Park pump station and flood wall construction along Front Street, with construction timelines extending into 2029 and beyond. Additionally, the council reviewed a water and sewer utility upgrade project near Norfolk International Airport, which involves lane closures and traffic management plans to accommodate aging infrastructure replacement. The session also covered city planning matters such as conditional use permits for restaurants with live entertainment and alcohol sales, and a resolution to designate an extended special event area downtown. Several closed session motions were proposed related to contract negotiations and property discussions. Overall, the meeting emphasized significant capital improvement projects with substantial procurement and contracting activities underway or anticipated.