Chesapeake City Council Regular Meeting - January 14, 2025

The Chesapeake City Council convened on January 14, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chamber. All nine council members were present. The meeting included the election of the Vice Mayor, a public hearing on two items, approval of a consent agenda, discussion and votes on regular agenda items, public comments on both agenda and non-agenda topics, and planning for a future closed meeting. All votes were unanimous (9-0) unless noted.

Election of Vice Mayor

• Council Member Ritter nominated John M. deTriquet to continue as Vice Mayor for the term January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026. The nomination was seconded by Council Member Ward and approved by a 9-0 vote.

Public Hearing Items

• Item A: Resolution #25-R-001 authorizing the City Manager to execute a siting agreement with Yadkins Energy Center, LLC, for a battery energy storage facility, including mitigation and a cash contribution for broadband deployment. Tyler Rosa (attorney for Yadkins Energy) spoke in support; Vic Nicholls expressed concern about applying the agreement to agricultural areas. Motion by Council Member Ritter, seconded by Council Member Bunn, passed 9-0.
• Item B: Resolution #25-R-002 authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with BayPort Credit Union for office space and ATM/ITM at 401 Albemarle Drive, retroactive to April 1, 2024. No public speakers. Motion by Council Member Ward, seconded by Council Member Whitaker, passed 9-0.

Consent Agenda

• Approved by a 9-0 vote, including:
  • Refund: Shillelagh Commons LLC – $6,620.55.
  • Resignations: Trevon Boone (Chesapeake Community Criminal Justice Board), Jennifer Bailey (Hampton Roads Disabilities Board), Amanda Newins (Hampton Roads Planning District Commission), Roland Shaw (Local Board of Building Code Appeals).
  • City Manager Item 1: Mutual aid agreement with U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs for emergency radio system access.
  • City Manager Item 2: Mutual fire/EMS aid agreement with Currituck County, North Carolina.
  • City Manager Item 3: Transfer of $3,991,299 within Human Services FY 2025 operating budget to align salaries.
  • Council Member Newins disclosed that her spouse is a City firefighter, and she could participate in Item 2 per City Attorney advice.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On Agenda Items (before consent agenda): Vic Nicholls spoke on various items, questioning costs, reimbursement in mutual aid agreements, and operations of the disabilities board.
• On Non-Agenda Items (after regular agenda): Nine speakers addressed the council:
  • Tommy Hart, representing self, criticized police response to a shooting incident.
  • Vic Nicholls, representing self, raised concerns about employee punctuality, lack of celebration for Oscar Smith football state championship, unresponsive HRPDO/HRPDC, retaliation issues, and road safety concerns.
  • Lacey Shirey, Executive Director of Chesapeake Humane Society, requested approval of budget requests for additional staff at Chesapeake Animal Services (CAS), warning that understaffing could lead to euthanasia of adoptable animals.
  • Tracy Magro, shelter manager of Chesapeake Humane Society and CAS Advisory Board member, supported the budget request for CAS staffing.
  • Amanda Camden, CAS volunteer, voiced support for CAS staffing.
  • Kevin Cardwell, volunteer, noted workload exceeds available employees.
  • Julie Prosper, chair of CAS Advisory Board, strongly supported the proposed budget, citing increased intakes, overcrowding, and unnecessary euthanasia.
  • Mark Bowmer, representing self and disabled veterans, complained that the real estate tax exemption process takes nine months (six months for Commissioner of Revenue approval, three months for Treasurer reimbursement), compared to one month in Virginia Beach; asked who is liable for interest accrued during processing.
  • Kathy Guindon, Executive Director of Airfield 4-H Educational Center, reported that the center served 183 youth from Chesapeake (capacity 208), highlighted grants, capital improvements, and new programs, and invited council to visit.

Regular Agenda

• Item 4 (removed): Request to accept and appropriate $3,699,051 from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare was removed at staff request; no action taken.
• Item 5: Resolution #25-R-005 authorizing payment of $5,270 to the U.S. Army Engineer District, Norfolk for preparation of a new drainage easement on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and execution of a new easement contract. Presented by City Manager Price. Motion by Council Member Ritter, seconded by Council Member Whitaker, passed 9-0.
• Item 6 (A and B): Virginia Department of Forestry grant.
  • A: Resolution #25-R-006 authorizing acceptance of $161,129 in state matching funds for purchase of development rights under the Chesapeake Open Space and Agriculture (OSAP) Program.
  • B: Request to appropriate $161,129 in grant proceeds to the Open Space and Agriculture Preservation II capital project.
  • Motion by Council Member Whitaker, seconded by Council Member Ritter, passed 9-0.
• Item 7 (A and B): Virginia Land Conservation Foundation grant.
  • A: Resolution #25-R-007 authorizing acceptance of grant funds.
  • B: Request to appropriate $310,500 in grant proceeds to the Open Space and Agriculture Preservation Program II.
  • Motion by Council Member Ritter, seconded by Council Member Bunn, passed 9-0.

Unfinished Business

• Council Member Ritter requested an update on the Bold Blue Line/Operation Ceasefire initiatives. City Manager Price noted the programs involve grant funding and partnership with Virginia State Police, and suggested Police Chief Sileski provide a future report to council. Ritter also thanked Lacey Shirey for her service as outgoing Humane Society executive director.
• Council Member Newins asked about the budget process for Animal Services (under the Police Department). City Manager Price stated budget hearings occur in January, and information will be provided. Newins requested that if staffing for Animal Services is not a department priority, it still be brought back for council consideration, and suggested metrics such as live release rate and foster program participation to measure success. Newins also thanked the 4-H representatives and asked that summer camp information be shared publicly.

New Business

• Council Member Bunn congratulated the City Manager and staff on a successful two-day council retreat (January 9–10, 2025).
• Council Member Whitaker congratulated Oscar Smith High School football team for winning the 2024 VHSL State Championship; Mayor West confirmed plans to recognize the team at a future meeting.
• Mayor West requested an initiating resolution: staff should identify needed zoning ordinance amendments to align with the Greenbrier Area Plan (currently being amended), and present an initiating resolution for council consideration.

Closed Meeting

• A motion was made to conduct a closed meeting on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall, to discuss a proposed lease of public property in the Washington Borough, as permitted by Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(3). Motion by Council Member Ward, seconded by Council Member Bunn, passed 9-0.

Key Outcomes

• All resolutions and requests presented were approved unanimously (9-0) except where noted.
• City Manager Item 4 (behavioral health grant) was removed and not acted upon.
• Council requested a future report from the Police Chief on Bold Blue Line/Operation Ceasefire outcomes.
• Council directed that Animal Services staffing concerns be considered in the budget process, even if not a department priority.
• Staff is to draft an initiating resolution regarding Greenbrier Area Plan and zoning ordinance alignment.
• A closed meeting is scheduled for January 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. for lease negotiations.
• The meeting adjourned after a closing prayer by Council Member Newins.