News Flash

March 24, 2020 -While all of Hampton’s public buildings remain closed until further notice,  city residents can still make tax payments and conduct other business with Hampton online or by telephone. Police officers, firefighters and other city employees are practicing social distancing when possible, but all emergency services are still available. In some cases documents and paperwork may be submitted to the city in dropboxes at City Hall, 22 Lincoln St., and the Ruppert Sargent building, 1 Franklin St., but will be quarantined for a period of time to ensure they are safe to handle.

• Residents who need help through the city’s Human Services (Social Services) office  should call 757-727-1800, or visit www.hampton.gov/humanservices.
• Anyone can vote absentee for the May 5 local elections. See https://hampton.gov/263/Voter-Registrar for more information..
•  Hampton’s Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer’s Office have begun accepting tax payments by phone, and the city is waiving the $1 fee for online transactions with the Treasurer’s Office. For more details on doing business with them, visit www.hampton.gov/revenue or www.hampton.gov/treasurer.
• Hampton’s Community Development Department continues to accept online permit and inspection requests, and the city is developing plans to let residents use a dropbox outside of City Hall for the submission of other documents and applications.
• While all Parks buildings are closed, city beaches and outside parks continue to be open and available to those who want to go walking. Residents are reminded to practice social distancing by staying six feet away from each other. Staff will periodically monitor the city’s beaches (Buckroe, Grandview, Salt Ponds, Fort Monroe), larger playgrounds (Buckroe, Gosnold’s, Bluebird, Sandy Bottom Nature Park, Cary, and Aberdeen) and Woodlands Skate Park to break up groups of more than 10.

• The city has closed basketball and volleyball courts, as those sports require close contact. Staff will periodically monitor the city’s beaches (Buckroe, Grandview, Salt Ponds, Fort Monroe), larger playgrounds (Buckroe, Gosnold’s, Bluebird, Sandy Bottom Nature Park, Cary, and Aberdeen) and Woodlands Skate Park to break up groups of more than 10.

  The 81 playgrounds throughout the city are being deep-cleaned periodically, but parents are also reminded to follow best practices for hand washing and sanitizing as recommended by the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.

  “It is imperative that we all follow social-distancing,” said City Manager Mary Bunting this week. “If we can slow the spread of this disease, more people will be able to survive it.”

• The Public Works Department continues with regular trash and recycling pickup, stormwater inspections and other regular activities.
• Electronic books are still available through the library at www.hampton.gov/library
• The Hampton History Museum is closed, but its online archive is open. Explore the collections, including maps and surveys from the Chambers Collection, images from the Cheyne Studio Collection, and a wealth of photos and materials donated by individuals over the years. There are a variety of ways to search, and even an interactive map to browse collections relating to sites, structures, cemeteries, and waterways, or by neighborhood district or areas outside Hampton.
• The Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter will remain open normal business hours for adoptions, owner surrenders, stray drop offs and reclaims through March 29, limiting the number of guests entering the building to 5. You can view adoptable pets online. Starting Monday, March 30, adoptions will be by appointment only. The shelter will remain open for owner reclaims and intake daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 If you have a question about a city service that’s not answered here please call the departments listed on www.hampton.gov or call the Citizen Contact Center at 757-727-8311. 

You can get more information from:

• The Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
• The Virginia Health Department: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus
• Hampton City Schools: http://www.hampton.k12.va.us/index.html
• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security: https://www.ready.gov/pandemic