Government

Portsmouth City Government

Understand how your city works, who represents you, and how to access essential services.

Portsmouth, VA — City Council Members

Position	Name
Mayor	Shannon E. Glover
Vice Mayor	William E. “Bill” Moody, Jr.
Councilman	Mark A. Hugel
Councilman	Vernon L. Tillage, Jr.
Councilwoman	Kathryn W. Bryant
Councilman	William S. Dodson, Jr.
Councilwoman	Yolanda E. Thomas

Links to the city’s official website

• Council Videos
• City Council Meeting Schedule 2025
• Virginia General Assembly
• Speakers Guide
• Vision and Mission
• Archived Minutes
• City of Portsmouth Seal and Logo

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Selected Portsmouth Boards & Commissions (Appointed by City Council)

Board / Commission	Members / Leadership
Planning Commission	Occasio Gee (Chair) Rev. Keith Curry (Vice Chair) Miriam Jackson Jiggetts Shonda Taylor Roy Melvin Sheila Glover Kristian Johnson
Historic Preservation Commission	Sean Prince (Chair) Renee Schneider Chris Crowder Victoria Ward George Brockman Donna Lee Biggs Jack McGinty Matthew Roiz Alison Cabrera-Bosque Monique Doutre
Economic Development Authority (EDA)	Malcom Mitchell (Chair) Neal J. Barber (Vice Chair) Theresa Saunders-Smith (Treasurer) Anthony Brown Ross Morgan Joe Harmon Camille Cherry

Planning Commission	Occasio Gee (Chair) Rev. Keith Curry (Vice Chair) Miriam Jackson Jiggetts Shonda Taylor Roy Melvin Sheila Glover Kristian Johnson
Historic (Museum & Fine Arts) Commission	Joseph Brown Kathleen Cullen (Chair), Linda Dyer (Secretary) Kenyatta Handy Amelia Horton Pamela Jones Rosa Jones‑Williams, Patricia Knight James Overton Ronald Peterman Dawn Richardson, Doris Shelton Kierra Underwood
Port & Industrial Commission (PPIC)	Angelia Allen (Chair) Keith Rice (Vice Chair) Arnette McSwain (Treasurer) Benjamin Foster Peter Hansen Ronald Peterman Edward A. Barham, III
Crime & Gun Violence Prevention Commission	The commission has nine at-large members, including community‑organization leaders; specific names are not publicly listed on the city’s website.

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Links to the City’s Boards and Commissions

• Board of Zoning Appeals
• Boards and Commissions Vacancy List
• Crime and Gun Violence Prevention Commission
• Downtown Design Committee
• Historic Preservation Commission
• Planning Commission
• The Portsmouth Museum & Fine Arts Commission
• Portsmouth Mayor’s Military Affairs Committee
• Wetlands Board
• Boards & Commissions Online Application
• Boards & Commissions Application (Download)
• Boards & Commissions Manual

Directory of Key City Departments — Portsmouth, VA

Department	Address	Phone	Department Head / Lead
City Manager	801 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704 Portsmouth VA+2Portsmouth VA+2	757‑393‑8641	Steven Carter, City Manager
City Clerk	801 Crawford Street, 6th Floor, Portsmouth, VA 23704 Portsmouth VA	757‑393‑8639	Debra Y. White, CMC, City Clerk
Planning Department	801 Crawford Street, 4th Floor, Portsmouth, VA 23704 Portsmouth VA	757‑393‑8836	(Head not explicitly listed on site; see “Staff Directory” for individual planners)
Public Health / Health Department	1701 High Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704 vdh.virginia.gov+1	757‑393‑8585	Angela Tillery, Acting District Health Director
Police Department	700 Port Centre Parkway, Portsmouth, VA 23704 portsmouthpd.us	757‑393‑8257 (Dispatch)	Colonel Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Police
Parks & Recreation	801 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704 parks.portsmouthva.gov+1	757‑393‑8481	Adam Relan, Director of Parks & Recreation
Sheriff’s Office	2690 Elmhurst Lane, Portsmouth, VA 23701 portsmouthsheriffsofficeva.gov	757‑391‑3177 (24‑hour)	Sheriff Michael Moore

CITY DEPARTMENTS