Chesapeake City Council Meeting Summary – March 13, 2025

Note: The date provided for this summary is March 13, 2025; however, the agenda and minutes indicate the meeting occurred on March 11, 2025. This discrepancy is acknowledged per instructions.

The Chesapeake City Council met in regular session on March 13, 2025 (as provided) at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber. All nine council members were present. The meeting included a presentation, public comments, consent agenda, regular agenda items, nominations to boards and commissions, and discussion of unfinished and new business.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the proposed agenda unanimously (9-0).
• No minutes were presented for approval.
• Approved the consent agenda (with the exception of City Manager Item 2) unanimously (9-0). Consent items included:
  • Acknowledgements for rezoning applications: VNG Compressor Station (23.2 acres to M-1 Light Industrial) and Etheridge Lakes Data Center (22.6 acres to M-1), tentatively scheduled for Planning Commission on April 9, 2025.
  • Resignations: Alexis Roten (Local Emergency Planning Committee) and Marc Steiner (Planning Commission).
  • Acceptance of $40,992 grant from the Supreme Court of Virginia for Behavioral Health Docket.
  • Authority to apply for a $500,000 Operation STOP Grant from Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Agenda Items:
  • Vic Nicholls (self) suggested Jennifer Naparello for the South Norfolk Revitalization Commission.
  • Jeff Staples (self) opposed the VNG Compressor Station (acknowledgement 1A), citing concerns about noise levels, respiratory illnesses, and air/water pollution.
• Non-Agenda Speakers:
  • Linwood Riddick (Oak Grove Meadows Community) complained about accumulated trash near a parking lot between a bowling alley and credit union, reporting failures to resolve the issue.
  • Vic Nicholls (self) thanked trash workers for snow service, asked for recognition of translators, raised concerns about green bar lights, free Wi-Fi restrictions, and proposed a mini court academy, among other issues.
  • Jeff Staples (self) praised cleanup efforts at the Brentwood Fire Training Center, noting improvements and thanking the fire chief.
  • Sean Pope was not present.

Discussion Items

• Harbor Hope Center Recovery High School Grant (City Manager Item 2, removed from consent):
  • Council Member Ritter initiated discussion, clarifying her questions were about the grant application, not the final action. City Manager Price answered:
    • No 2232 review required for educational facilities, but agreements will comply with all applicable laws.
    • Staffing challenges in CIBH are being addressed by Interim Director Dr. Barnwell; services under the grant would start only after core CIBH staffing is achieved.
    • Chesapeake Public Schools leads the project; Virginia Beach Public Schools is fiscal agent. CIBH staff would be funded by the grant or by Chesapeake Public Schools thereafter.
  • Motion approved with addition to communicate requirements to Chesapeake Public Schools (9-0).
• Budget Items (Regular Agenda):
  • De-appropriation of $3,100,771 from CIBH FY 2025 operating budget – approved 9-0.
  • Acceptance and appropriation of $137,946 from Virginia DBHDS – approved 9-0.
  • Transfer of $7,811,020 between health insurance internal service fund programs – approved 9-0.
  • Transfer of $1,500,000 from Chesapeake Expressway Repaving Phase I to Dominion Boulevard Veterans Bridge Toll System Upgrades – approved 9-0. Council Member Smith requested a timeline for the expressway project.
• Unfinished Business:
  • Council Member Bunn asked about a policy for accepting public art donations; City Manager stated no legal barriers and that Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the Fine Arts Commission are exploring a process.
  • Vice Mayor de Triquet addressed upcoming budget deliberations, noting the City Manager’s proposed budget may include a real estate tax increase. He requested the City Manager present two additional funding options, specify phasing of Fire Department personnel and hardware requests, and ask the Fire Chief to provide three-year priorities (critical, urgent, necessary).
  • Council Member Ritter requested options on lowering the personal property tax.
• New Business:
  • Council Member Ritter requested updates on recreation opportunities in Crestwood area and feasibility of fencing the play area at Oak Grove Lake Park.
  • Council Member Newins thanked staff for addressing elevator issues at a senior community.
  • Council Member Ward commended the renovation of Russell Memorial Library.

Key Outcomes

• All votes were unanimous (9-0) on agenda, consent, and regular items, including the Harbor Hope Center grant application with an added condition.
• Nominations for boards and commissions were closed, with interviews scheduled prior to the March 18 work session (start time as early as 2:30 p.m. due to 10-minute interviews):
  • Airport Authority: Steven Turack, Micah Hall.
  • Economic Development Authority: Troy Lindsey, Santiera Brown-Yearling, Todd Mayfield.
  • South Norfolk Revitalization Commission: Jennifer Naparela, Andre Council, TC Gray, Lateef Shaheer, Lisa Dixon.
• Motion to hold a closed meeting on March 18, 2025 at 2:40 p.m. for candidate interviews was approved 9-0.
• Council directives: City Manager to provide fire department phasing information, personal property tax options, and follow up on Crestwood recreation and Oak Grove Lake Park fencing.

Closed Meeting

• Council convened a closed meeting on March 18, 2025 at 2:40 p.m. to interview candidates for the Airport Authority, Economic Development Authority, and South Norfolk Revitalization Commission, as permitted by Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711A1.