Title
Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Access Agreement Between the City of Hampton and the United States Navy to Access the Mill Creek Pier Located Behind the Fort Monroe Community Center at 100 Stillwell Road
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The United States Navy, through the Commanding Officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic (the “Navy”) desires to access the Mill Creek Pier (the “Pier”, located behind the Fort Monroe Community Center, to support military training exercises. The City Attorney’s Office coordinated with the Fort Monroe Authority (FMA) and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) and all parties determined that the City was the appropriate party to execute an Access Agreement with the Navy. Both FMA and VMRC have reviewed the Navy’s proposed use and do not have any concerns.
According to information provided by the Navy, the purpose of the military training exercises is to evaluate underwater transit to target areas, execute mission task, and underwater transit to extraction location. The Pier will be used to suspend a “target plate” (1’x3’x1/8” steel) approximately 3 feet below waterline; it is secured to the Pier by 1’ nylon line. Swimmers will approach the plate underwater and attach a small magnet to plate. Once swimmers have attached their magnets, they depart the area and head south to get picked up by boats. Under normal conditions, no swimmers will depart the water at the Pier. There are no current hard dates set in place for the proposed training(s). However, the Navy intends to be excellent neighbors and to provide notice well in advance. There trainings will be subsurface and will take place during nightfall with minimal to no civilian interaction anticipated.
There are no payments associated with the Access Agreement. The term of the Access Agreement is for a total of five years; however, the Navy’s use of the Pier may not exceed a total of sixty days within that five-year term. To schedu...
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