Chesapeake City Council Meeting – October 8, 2024
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Chesapeake City Council Meeting – October 8, 2024
The Chesapeake City Council held a work session at 5:00 PM to discuss a code of ethics, followed by a closed meeting at 5:30 PM, and the regular meeting at 6:30 PM. The regular meeting included presentations, public comments, consent and regular agenda items, board nominations, and new business. All voting items passed unanimously (9-0) unless noted.
Work Session: City Council Code of Ethics Discussion
- Council Member Ike proposed adopting a code of ethics for the council, initially suggesting a version previously posted on the city's website. City Manager Price noted that version is outdated and that city employees follow the 'CARE standards' (Courteous, Attentive, Responsive, Empowered, Stewardship).
- Council Members Newins, Carey, Bunn, and others expressed interest in a council-specific code that incorporates elements from the CARE standards and from other jurisdictions (e.g., James City County and Bristol). They discussed the need for enforcement mechanisms and consequences for violations.
- Consensus was to form a committee (Council Members Newins and Ward volunteered) to draft a code, with input from other council members, to be brought back for future discussion. The committee will also consider syncing the code with the council's rules of procedure.
Presentations
- American Red Cross – Mayor’s Cup Blood Drive: District Manager Chris Adams and Account Manager Sarah Donnelly presented the trophy to Mayor West for Chesapeake's seventh consecutive win. Deputy City Manager Geis reported the city exceeded its goal of 500 units, collecting 534 units (17.2% participation rate), up from 295 units in 2018. Police Captain Greg Staylor was recognized for leading multiple drives.
Consent Calendar
- Acknowledgements for Rezoning Applications: PLN-REZ-2024-011 – Yadkin BESS: Conditional zoning reclassification of ~20.6 acres from B-2 to M-1 for a battery energy storage system on George Washington Hwy N, south of Yadkin Road. Scheduled for Planning Commission on November 13, 2024, and future City Council consideration.
- Request to Apply for FY 2024 Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Police).
- Accept and Appropriate $100,000 Grant from Hampton Roads Planning District Commission for Housing Development Program (Planning).
- All consent items approved unanimously (9-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Agenda Items:
- Vic Nicholls (self): Questioned the need to pay Summit Pointe for the Belaire Avenue Extension, opposed the $30,000 grant to Security Technology Group, supported Blazen Bloom for the Bay Preservation Board (citing environmental dedication), noted lack of attendance by some board nominees, and opposed the PUFA expansion (item 12) citing lack of cost estimates.
- Christian Chiles and Bob Gantt (Dollar Tree, Inc. and Summit Pointe Block 5, LLC): Present and available for questions in support of City Manager Item (3) – Belaire Avenue Extension.
- On City Services, Policies, and Affairs (Non-Agenda):
- Jennifer Knight (Ballahack Road): Expressed strong opposition to large industrial developments (citing Port 460 in Suffolk) and worried about negative impacts on rural communities in Chesapeake, including safety and quality of life. Drew parallels to Asheville, NC.
- Vic Nicholls (self): Proposed several ethics reforms for council, including disclosure of campaign contributions from developers, personal financial liability for lawsuits resulting from ignored citizen warnings, requirements for remote public access (like Virginia Beach), and limits on budget growth.
- Tommy Hart (1900 St. Brides Road): Described a frustrating experience with the Chesapeake Police Department after being hit by a drunk driver; police refused to assist, so he prosecuted the case himself with state police help, resulting in a conviction. Expressed disappointment with city police response.
- Sharon Lawson-Davis (self): Raised a continuing issue of a large non-self-propelled commercial trailer parked behind her house since April, despite complaints to police and code enforcement. The property owner does not live there; the trailer belongs to a neighbor who parks it there in exchange for lawn care. She asked council to consider modifying the code (Section 6-2003) to limit such parking to property owners/residents and to review size and location requirements.
Discussion Items
- Belaire Avenue Extension Development Agreement (Item 3): Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a development agreement with Dollar Tree, Inc. and Summit Pointe Block 5, LLC for the Belaire Avenue Extension (Economic Development). Passed unanimously.
- Economic Development Investment Grant to Security Technology Group (Item 4): $30,000 grant to Security Technology Group, Inc. City Manager Price confirmed the expected return on investment within 36 months (taxes on property, machines, tools). Passed unanimously.
- Accept and Appropriate $3,100,771 from Virginia DBHDS (Item 5): Funds for Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare (CIBH) FY 2025 operating budget. City Manager Price reported that the Heron’s Cove Crisis Receiving Center (opened June 2024) has served over 100 citizens, with 94% not requiring higher care. Funds will support expansion from 8 hours/day to 24/7 by early 2025. Council Member Ritter praised the service. Passed unanimously.
- Unfinished Business: Resolution to amend the donation of a 1999 Boston Whaler police boat to the Mathews County Volunteer Fire Department (correcting previous resolution). Passed unanimously.
- New Business: Initiating resolution to request the Planning Commission to consider amending the 2035 Comprehensive Plan to expand the Public Utilities Franchise Area (PUFA) to include seven parcels southwest of St. Brides Road and Battlefield Boulevard South, to support the Public Safety Training Academy. The academy was approved in the FY 2025-2029 CIP and council directed acceleration. Passed unanimously.
- Council Member Requests:
- Council Member Ike directed the City Attorney to draft a charter amendment moving the resignation date for council members running for mayor to December 31. Council Member Carey suggested flexible language (resign day before mayor takes office) and Council Member Ritter requested inclusion of language on installation dates for new council members.
- Council Member Ike requested the cost incurred by the city for the recent writ of mandamus action. Council Member Newins asked to separate costs: outside counsel bill vs. internal staff hours. City Attorney Lindley agreed to provide the outside counsel bill and an estimate of staff hours.
Key Outcomes
- All voting items on the agenda were approved unanimously (9-0).
- A committee (Council Members Newins and Ward) will draft a council-specific code of ethics, incorporating input from other members and referencing the city’s CARE standards and examples from other localities.
- The City Attorney will prepare a charter amendment regarding the resignation date for mayoral candidates, with flexible language and consideration of new council member installation dates.
- The City Attorney will provide itemized costs for the writ of mandamus (outside counsel bill and estimate of internal staff hours).
- A closed meeting was scheduled for October 15, 2024, at 4:00 PM to interview nominees for boards and commissions, with the possibility of splitting interviews across two sessions to allow more time.
Meeting Transcript
I want to welcome everyone to our October 8, 2024 council work session. I believe we only have one item to consider. And we do, just for council members uh knowledge, we need to conclude this uh by 5 30 so we can go into a closed session if at all possible. Uh Mr. Icke, you have brought this uh idea of a code of ethics before the council. So I want to let you uh present what you have. Sure. Thank you. Uh I asked for this work session because I felt a deep sense of responsibility to address a matter that strikes at the very heart of public service, and that's ethics. When we let council members uh or any public official, we trust them to represent us with honesty, integrity, accountability, fairness, and transparency. We trust them to make decisions that reflect the interest of the community and not their own self-interest. Unfortunately, when leaders violate the code of ethics, they betray that trust. Reach recent actions by certain council members. I'm gonna call a point of order. Mr. Mayor, I it if we're gonna get into a personal attack that's inappropriate, if we're gonna get to wanting to have a discussion on what our code of ethics should be, I think that is appropriate, but to sit here and point fingers would be inappropriate and in violation of our rules and procedures. Yeah, that could start a little uh exchange of Ukraine Council members. Can you stick to the code of ethics? Sure. Uh whether it's conflicts of interests, financial mismanagement, or using office for personal gain, these violations damage not just the individuals involved, but the integrity of the entire system. The code of ethics exists for a reason to ensure that public servants act in the best interest of the people they serve. These violations don't just break a rule, they break the covenant between elected officials and the community. When that bond is broken, we all suffer. We have the power to demand accountability. We have the power to insist that our leaders uphold the ethical standards we expect. And if they can't do that, they have no place in leadership. We deserve better. Our children deserve better, our community deserves better. We are not powerless in the face of this. We must be vigilant, and we must speak out, and we must hold officials accountable, whether that means calling for their resignation, pushing for investigations, or voting them out. Public service is a privilege, not a right, and we should never allow those who treat it as their own playground remain in power. I urge you all to join me tonight in this fight for transparency, for fairness, for ethical leadership. And it's time that we as a council stand together and create a coat of code of ethics binding on ourselves. I'm gonna hand this out. This is the uh the one that was on the City of Chesapeake website uh until recently. Uh I think it speaks to probably uh every concern that I have, and uh I think this in and of itself should be uh added into our council rules of order and procedure as our code of ethics. Thank you. So that's your your proposing this uh code of ethics is used for this employees for us to adopt, is that what I'm hearing you say? Yes. It's good enough for our employees, it should be good enough for us. Uh Ms. Newwise. May I ask the manager a question? Do our employees follow this code of ethics that Mr. Ike's proposing? No, ma'am. That hasn't been our code of ethics in over a decade. We we uh adhere to what we call the care standards. Okay, so if it's good enough for our employees, it's good enough for us. We should probably go by we're currently using the care standards, is what we're currently using.
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