§ 2.01. General grant of powers.

The city shall have and may exercise all powers which are now or may hereafter be conferred upon or delegated to cities under the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth and all other powers pertinent to the conduct of a city government the exercise of which is not expressly prohibited by the said Constitution and laws and which in the opinion of the council are necessary or desirable to promote the general welfare of the city and the safety, health, peace, good order, comfort, convenience, and morals of its inhabitants, as fully and completely as though such powers were specifically enumerated in this Charter, and no enumeration of particular powers in this Charter shall be held to be exclusive but shall be held to be in addition to this general grant of powers.

a.

The city shall have the power and authority for making and improving the walkways upon then existing streets, and improving and paving then existing alleys, and for either the construction, or for the use of sewers, the council shall have the power to impose a tax or assessment upon the land abutting such improvements, or abutting the street along, or within which such improvements are constructed. But such assessment shall not be in excess of the peculiar benefits resulting to the land from such improvements.

b.

The method of establishing such assessment, including provision for the determination of the amount thereof, notice, hearing, judicial review, and creation and enforcement of the lien thereof, may be determined by ordinance.

c.

The city is hereby authorized and empowered in addition to the other powers granted by this Charter, to adopt ordinances paralleling state statutes prohibiting misdemeanors and may provide for forfeiture proceedings which may be instituted in the name of the said city and the procedure shall be mutatis mutandis, the same as is prescribed for forfeiture proceedings by the Commonwealth.

d.

The city is hereby authorized to acquire by condemnation proceedings land, buildings, structures, and personal property or any interest, right, easement, or estate therein of any person or corporation whenever, in the opinion of the council, a public necessity exists therefor, which shall be expressed in the ordinance directing such acquisition. The city shall have the same powers as to condemnation as are provided in Title 25 of the Code of Virginia. As to property desired for streets, water, sewer or utility pipes or lines or related facilities, the city shall have the same powers as to condemnation as are provided in Article 7 of Chapter 1 of Title 33.1. In case of any property owned by a corporation bearing the powers of eminent domain, the provisions of Section 25-233 of the Code of Virginia shall be complied with.

e.

The powers set forth in Sections 15.1-841 through 15.1-907, both inclusive, of Chapter 18 of Title 15.1 of the Code of Virginia are hereby conferred on and vested in the City of Hampton, except that Section 15.1-896 shall not be applicable to the powers herein granted.