The Hampton City Council revisited its ongoing chicken debate during Monday’s workshop meeting, following the council’s failure to approve the third and final reading of a revised chicken ordinance at its April 23 meeting. Mayor Steve Birdsall recommended the city not allow livestock within city limits and said current authorizations for three residences to keep chickens should not be renewed when they expire later this year. The council discussed what the future may hold for those residents, whose one-year approvals expire in October and November.
Council member Jerre Grefe also raised concerns about the lack of loading zones downtown, specifically near the corner of 1st Street Northwest and 2nd Avenue Northwest. Grefe said delivery drivers often block a handicap parking space and obstruct pedestrian visibility. Police Chief Mark Morrison was asked to review downtown accident history.
The council also agreed to allow the Hampton High School Class of 1976 to install a memorial bench in Band Shell Park and reviewed a proposed 3% increase in employee health insurance costs for FY27.
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