Summary

Council approves budget choices and ordinances

WinchesterMay 12, 20263 min read

At a glance

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Council adopted the FY2027 appropriation ordinance while forgoing a meals tax increase to provide additional funding to Winchester Public Schools; an ordinance updating precincts and polling places and an ordinance limiting firearm possession in certain public places were approved. A conditional use permit for an auto/truck sales business was tabled because the applicant was absent. Council approved transit grant resolutions, authorized an eminent domain settlement for 520 and 522 N. Cameron Street, and held a closed session on hiring and litigation.

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City Council

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TransportationBudget & TaxPublic SafetyEducationCommerceElectionsHousing

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What this means

City leaders passed the city’s spending plan for the next fiscal year without raising the meals tax, and directed funds to Winchester Public Schools through that plan. The council changed polling-place rules and restricted firearm possession in some public places, which may affect where you vote and where firearms are allowed. Transit funding from federal and state programs was approved, and the city settled eminent domain proceedings for two properties on N. Cameron Street. A requested permit to open an auto/truck sales business was postponed because the applicant did not attend.

Key decisions

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Approved O-2026-14 (FY2027 appropriation) with option 1, forgoing a meals tax increase to provide additional funding to Winchester Public Schools.
Approved O-2026-13 amending Chapter 7 on designation of precincts and polling places.
Approved O-2026-16 amending Chapter 16 regarding possession of firearms in certain public places.
Removed O-2026-19 (meals tax levy and rate amendment) from the agenda.
Tabled CUP-25-235 (conditional use permit for automobile and truck sales at 2500 Valley Ave) because the applicant was unable to attend.
Approved R-2026-21 (Federal Transit Administration financial assistance) and R-2026-22 (Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation financial assistance).
Approved R-2026-27 authorizing settlement of eminent domain proceedings against 520 and 522 N. Cameron Street.
Recessed into and reconvened from an executive session to discuss hiring a City Attorney and pending litigation; certification motion approved.

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Meeting information

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City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM - May 12 2026

May 12, 2026, 6:00 PMcompleted

Agenda

Minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting on April 28, 2026. City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM - Apr 28 2026 - Minutes - Pdf 5 - 12
4.1
Decision: APPROVAL OF MINUTES
CUP-25-235: A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST BY STEPHEN PETTLER ON BEHALF OF LANZETTA PROPERTIES, LLC. TO OPERATE AN AUTOMOBILE AND TRUCK SALES ESTABLISHMENT AT 2500 VALLEY AVE (MAP# 270-01-8-A) ZONED NDD - NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN DISTRICT. Presenter: Councilor Windle, Chair of Planning & Economic Development Committee / Alfredo Gutierrez-Velasquez, Zoning Administrator Council Action Memo - CUP-25-235 A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST BY STEPHEN PETTLER ON BEHALF OF LANZETTA PROPERTIES, LLC. TO OPERATE AN AUTOMOBILE A - Pdf 13 - 53
9.1
Decision: PUBLIC HEARINGS
Second Reading of O-2026-14: AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR NECESSARY EXPENDITURES FOR THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2027 ( Requires Roll Call Vote ) Presenter: John Piper, City Manager Council Action Memo - An Ordinance to Authorize the Appropriation of Funds for Necessary Expenditures for the City of Winchester, Virginia for the Fis - Pdf 54 - 238
9.2
Decision: PUBLIC HEARINGS
Second Reading of O-2026-13: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 7, ELECTIONS, ARTICLE II, DESIGNATION OF PRECINCTS AND POLLING PLACES, OF THE WINCHESTER CITY CODE. ( Requires Roll Call Vote ) Presenter: Melisa Michelsen, City Attorney Council Action Memo - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 7, ELECTIONS, ARTICLE II, DESIGNATION OF PRECINCTS AND POLLING PLACES, OF THE WINCHESTER CITY CODE - Pdf 239 - 244
9.3
Decision: PUBLIC HEARINGS
Second Reading of O-2026-16: AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 16, OFFENSES-MISCELLANEOUS, SECTION 16-34, POSSESSION OF FIREARMS IN CERTAIN PUBLIC PLACES, OF THE WINCHESTER CITY CODE ( Requires Roll Call Vote ) Presenter: Melisa Michelsen, City Attorney Council Action Memo - AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 16, OFFENSES-MISCELLANEOUS, SECTION 16-34, POSSESSION OF FIREARMS IN CERTAIN PUBLIC PLACES, OF THE - Pdf 245 - 248
9.4
Decision: PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public comments received online prior to deadline. Public Comments for Council - May 12 2026 249 - 250
10.1
Decision: PUBLIC COMMENTS
R-2026-21: Resolution Approving Federal Transit Administration Financial Assistance Presenter: Councilor Bell, Chair of the Finance Committee / Perry Eisenach, Public Services Director Council Action Memo - Resolution Approving Federal Transit Administration Financial Assistance - Pdf 251 - 254
11.1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
R-2026-22: Resolution Approving Virginia Department of Rails and Public Transportation Financial Assistance Presenter: Councilor Bell, Chair of the Finance Committee / Perry Eisenach, Public Services Director Council Action Memo - Resolution Approving Virginia Department of Rails and Public Transportation Financial Assistance - Pdf 255 - 258
11.2
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
R-2026-27: Resolution Authorizing Settlement of Eminent Domain Proceedings Against 520 and 522 N. Cameron Street Presenter: Melisa Michelsen, City Attorney Council Action Memo - Resolution Authorizing Settlement of Eminent Domain Proceedings Against 520 and 522 N. Cameron Street - Pdf 259 - 263
11.3
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
First Reading of O-2026-19: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 27, ARTICLE VI, SECTION 27-72 OF THE WINCHESTER CITY CODE REGARDING THE MEALS TAX LEVY AND RATE Presenter: John Piper, City Manager Council Action Memo - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 27, ARTICLE VI, SECTION 27-72 OF THE WINCHESTER CITY CODE REGARDING THE MEALS TAX LEVY AND RATE - Pdf 264 - 268
12.1
Decision: AGENDA
First Reading of O-2026-15: AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR NECESSARY EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026 Presenter: Councilor Bell, Chair of the Finance Committee / Celeste Broadstreet, Finance Director Council Action Memo - AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR NECESSARY EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA F - Pdf 269 - 278
12.2
Decision: AGENDA
First Reading of O-2026-18: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21, PURCHASES, SECTIONS 21-15, 21-25, 21-30, AND 21-44, OF THE WINCHESTER CITY CODE Presenter: Councilor Bell, Chair of the Finance Committee / Mary Blowe, Deputy City Manager/CFO Council Action Memo - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21, PURCHASES, SECTIONS 21-15, 21-25, 21-30, AND 21-44, OF THE WINCHESTER CITY CODE - Pdf 279 - 289
12.3
Decision: AGENDA
First Reading of O-2026-20: ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BONDS OF THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,500,000, TO FINANCE THE COSTS OF CERTAIN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS Presenter: Councilor Bell, Chair of the Finance Committee / Mary Blowe, Deputy City Manager/CFO Council Action Memo - ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BONDS OF THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, - Pdf 290 - 294
12.4
Decision: AGENDA
Motion to recess into a closed meeting in order to discuss the hiring of a City Attorney and to consult with the City Attorney regarding pending litigation and related legal issues requiring the provision of legal advice, as authorized by sections 2.2-3711(A)(1), (7), and (8) of the Virginia Code.
13.1
Decision: EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion to reconvene into open session and to certify that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act were discussed during the closed meeting, and that only those public business matters identified in the motion which convened during the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered during the closed meeting.
14.1
Decision: RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION
March 2026 Finance Report March 2026 Finance Report - Pdf 295 - 417
15.1
Decision: MONTHLY REPORTS
1st Quarter Pipeline Report - 2026 Residential Project Pipeline - 1st Qtr - 2026 Nonresidential Project Pipeline - 1st Qtr - 2026 418 - 419
15.2
Decision: MONTHLY REPORTS
April 2026 - Winchester Police Department Statistics 5 Year Trend Statistics - April 2026 Monthly Council Report Year over Year 5 Year Trend Statistics 2022-YTD 2026 420 - 421
15.3
Decision: MONTHLY REPORTS