Local Government
401 Lafayette Street, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
The Council-Manager Plan: The City of Williamsburg has operated under the Council-Manager plan since 1932. Under this plan, the governing body is composed of public-spirited citizens serving on a part-time basis to decide major policy issues. The City Council members serve four-year, staggered terms. The Mayor, who is elected by the City Council, presides over Council meetings and serves as the Chief Elected Official of the City. City Council meets the second Thursday of every month in the Stryker Building in the Municipal Complex.
City Council:
- Jeanne Zeidler, Mayor (term expires 2010)
- Clyde A. Haulman, Vice-Mayor (term expires 2008)
- Paul Freiling (term expires 2008)
- Mickey Chohany (term expires 2008)
- Robert "Bobby" Braxton (term expires 2010)
Constitutional Officers:
- Judy Fuqua, Commissioner of the Revenue
- M. Ann Davis, Treasurer
- Robert Deeds, Sheriff
- Betsy Woolridge, Clerk of Circuit Court
- Michael McGinty. Commonwealth Attorney
City Manager's Office:
Jackson C. Tuttle, City Manager (220-6100)
Jodi M. Miller, Assistant City Manager (220-6100)
Sheila Crist, Clerk of Council (220-6100)
Joseph Phillips, City Attorney (220-6253)
The City Manager, under this system, is comparable to the corporation's Chief Executive Officer. The City Manager is a professionally trained public administrator charged with implementing the policies and directives of City Council. The City Manager has broad administrative authority with strict rules prohibiting political interference in administrative matters. Likewise, the City Manager refrains from participating in partisan political activities, which would impair professional administration.
Strategic Goals: Every two years, the City Council identifies strategic goals and objectives for City government. The Biennial Goals and Initiatives provide an expression of city priorities, as specific and measurable as possible, covering a two year period. The Goals and Initiatives are available online.
Comprehensive Plan: The City's Comprehensive Plan, which outlines the direction of the City's growth and goals for the next five years, was updated in 2005. As guided by the Comprehensive Plan, the City enforces land use and development standards. The 2006 Comprehensive Plan is available online.
State Government
The Commonwealth of Virginia is composed of 95 counties and 39 independent cities. Its bicameral legislative branch is known as the General Assembly. The executive branch is comprised of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, each of whom is elected for a four-year term in years following Presidential elections.
State Representatives:
Governor Mark R. Warner (804-786-2211)
Lieutenant Governor Timothy M. Kaine (804-786-2078)
Attorney General Judy Jagdmann (804-786-2071)
Delegate, 64th District, William K. Barlow (357-9720)
Senator, 3rd District, Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (259-7810)
State Parks: Nearby state parks include Chippokes Plantation State Park and York River State Park. First Landing and False Cape State Parks are also within the Hampton Roads region.
Federal Government
Federal Representatives:
U.S. Senator George F. Allen (804-771-2221)
U.S. Senator John W. Warner (441-3079)
U.S. Congresswoman, 1st District, Jo Ann Davis (874-6687)
Military Installations: In 2004, over 100,000 active duty military personnel were stationed at 12 bases in the Hampton Roads region, occupying over 40,000 acres. In 2003, approximately 12,625 individuals, including 851 officers, separated from the military in the region.
Colonial National Historical Park: This National Historical Park administers two of the most historically significant sites in North America, Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield. It also administers the Colonial Parkway, a 23 mile scenic roadway stretching from the York River at Yorktown to the James River at Jamestown.
Emergency Services
Fire Department:
T. K. Weiler, Chief (220-6220)
Bert Geddy, Deputy Chief (220-6225)
The Williamsburg Fire Department is a combination career and volunteer department. The career staff consists of 35 members. Suppression personnel are assigned to three platoons of ten members per platoon. The department also maintains a volunteer unit consisting of 25 members that serve the city, add financial support, and provide fire ground support. This unit has an officer structure that reports to the career Fire Chief. The Department has a hybrid automatic mutual aid agreement with the surrounding counties.
Police Department:
James M. Yost, Chief (259-7201)
David Sloggie, Deputy Chief (259-7209)
The Williamsburg Police Department is staffed with 50 full-time employees. On July 12, 1987, the Williamsburg Police Department became the 49th Law Enforcement Agency in the United States to be awarded Accreditation. The Police Department has received re-accreditation status three times, most recently in 2003. The Williamsburg Police Department helps interested neighbors form Neighborhood Watch groups and makes signs and window decals available to them. The File of Life and Heads Up programs help citizens advise emergency response personnel of important medical information. The Department also offers home security checks while residents are away and home security surveys.
Other City Services
Finance Department:
Phil Serra, Director (220-6180)
The Finance Department handles tax collection as well as vehicle registration and parking permits. Real estate tax bills are mailed in April and October. Personal property tax bills are mailed on October 1st. Certification of Tangible Personal Property application will be mailed during January, it must be signed and returned by May 1st to avoid incurring a non file fee. Residential parking decals for resident-only parking areas may be purchased in August.
Planning Department:
Reed Nester, Director (220-6130)
The Planning Department assists the Planning Commission and the City Council in the development of the Comprehensive Plan, and administers its implementation through enforcement of zoning ordinances, building inspections, and the property maintenance code. It also helps the Architectural Review Board enforce the City's Design Review Guidelines.
Public Works and Utilities Department:
Dan Clayton, Director (220-6140)
The Public Works and Utilities Department maintains the Community Building, a multipurpose event space that is available for rent; the Transportation Center; city streets; sidewalks; traffic control devices; landscaped areas; storm drains; mosquito control; and Cedar Grove Cemetary. It is also responsible for providing water and sewer service.
Parks and Recreation Department:
Paul Hudson, Director (259-3760)
The Park and Recreation Department operates the City's six parks and one recreation center.
Human Services Department:
Peter Walentisch, Director (220-6161)
The Human Services Department administers a wide range of programs for youth, families, elderly, and disabled citizens. Benefit Programs include Medicaid, Food Stamps, Energy Assistance, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and hospitalization. Service Programs include counseling, crisis intervention, day care, emergency assistance, employment, foster care, adoption, and services to the elderly. Community Programs include year-round youth achievement programs, food distribution, home visitation, disaster assistance, and Citizen Corps.