OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Chesapeake City Council Meeting - July 22, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, July 22, 2025
BodyChesapeake, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:49

Council is now in session.

0:50

I'd like to recognize Councilmember Ritter at this time for the invitation and to lead us into the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:59

Thank you.

1:00

We pray for guidance in the matters at hand, and as that you would clearly show us how to conduct our work with the spirit of joy and enthusiasm.

1:12

Help us to work together and to encourage each other to excellence.

1:16

We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:19

Amen.

1:22

I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:33

Indivisible with a clear receiving justice from Thank you, Ms.

1:41

Rutter.

1:43

Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll?

1:45

Council Member Bond?

1:46

Here.

1:47

Councilmember King.

1:48

Here.

1:48

Council Member Newan.

1:49

Here.

1:50

Councilmember Ritter.

1:51

Here.

1:51

Councilmember Smith.

1:52

Here.

1:52

Councilmember Ward.

1:54

Present.

1:54

Councilmember Whitaker.

1:55

Present.

1:56

Vice Mayor Dietrich is excused.

1:58

Mayor West.

1:59

Here.

2:01

Next is the approval of the proposed agenda.

2:04

Are there any changes to the proposed agenda?

2:07

Council members have.

2:08

Move approval.

2:09

Thank you.

2:10

Ms.

2:10

Newens and Dr.

2:12

Ward, please prepare to vote.

2:13

Vote and record, Madam Clerk.

2:16

Motion to approve the agenda as presented is adopted by an eight oh vote.

2:20

The meet amendment for the meetings of June 10, 17, and 24th, 2025 are presented for approval.

2:30

Move approval.

2:31

Thank you, Mr.

2:32

Second.

2:32

No one thank you, Mr.

2:34

Bond.

2:34

Please prepare to vote.

2:35

Please vote and record.

2:38

Motion to approve the minutes of the June 10th, 17th, and 24th, 2025 meeting are adopted by an eight-o vote.

2:52

Yes.

2:53

I'll read this statement for before we call them.

2:56

Uh the city council meeting constitutes a limited public forum, therefore public comments must be relevant to items on council's agenda and otherwise reasonable, considering the purpose of the meeting.

3:29

Do we have any would you please call the speakers, please?

3:32

The first speaker is Vic Nichols representing sales speaking on various items, followed by Marquilla Moore.

3:44

City Manager Item One indicates light rail.

3:53

And not worth the money, worth anything else.

3:56

But yet we're looking at it.

4:15

Next, on boards and commissions.

4:19

Are we ever going to have this open so that people have to actually earn getting on there or not?

4:25

Thank you.

4:55

And as usual, I just have questions.

5:00

The city's share for this grant is about $133,000 for the first year.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████37%
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Public Safety████████████12%
Personnel Matters██████████10%
Mental Health Awareness██████6%
Flood Management█████5%
Racial Equity███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Fiscal Sustainability██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Chesapeake City Council Meeting - July 22, 2025

The Chesapeake City Council held its regular meeting on July 22, 2025, at 6:30 PM in City Hall Council Chamber. Mayor Rick West presided, with all eight council members present (Vice Mayor de Triquet excused). The meeting included approval of consent and regular agenda items, public comments, appointments to boards and commissions, and a closed session. Key actions included resolutions on transit, fire department grants, opioid overdose prevention, and economic development.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 1: Resolution recommending Hampton Roads Transit proceed with Phase Two of the Connecting Chesapeake Study (feasibility analysis).
  • Items 3–7: Authorizations to apply for various federal and state grants: flood mitigation, hazard mitigation, tourism advertising, and witness protection.
  • Note: Item 2 (firefighter SAFER grant) was removed from the Consent Calendar by Council Member Ritter and considered under the Regular Agenda.
  • The Consent Calendar was approved unanimously (8-0) with the exception of Item 2.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Vic Nicholls (self) opposed the light rail study, questioned the firefighter grant’s city share ($133,000 first year) and future cost ($6.4 million), and asked how demolishing one home under flood mitigation would reduce flooding.
  • Markiella Moore (self) asked whether the firefighter grant’s positions would be retained and about the city’s budget for the grant. She later questioned the FEMA demolition program, noting over $13 million spent to demolish 45 homes without reducing tidal or rainfall flooding.
  • Jeff Staples (self) criticized the council’s one-hour time limit on public comments at a previous meeting (July 15), arguing it violated First Amendment rights, and contrasted it with a longer, more inclusive hearing on a data center proposal in June.
  • Sue Scerbo (CEF) argued against the VNG compressor station, distinguishing distribution vs. transmission pipelines and warning of explosion risks.
  • Joseph Davis (Eva Gardens Civic League) alleged racism, miscarriage of justice, and disrespect by council toward minority communities, citing the limited speaking time on the compressor station rezoning.
  • Tommy Hart (self) discussed a long-standing murder case investigation, claiming police misconduct and fabricated evidence.
  • Dr. Sarah Williams (self) expressed frustration with council’s disregard for community concerns, particularly regarding the compressor station and air quality.

Discussion Items

  • Item 2 – Firefighter SAFER Grant: Council Member Ritter asked City Manager Price about retaining the 18 firefighter positions after grant expiration. Price confirmed the city plans to keep the positions permanently, with the cost factored into future budgets. The motion to approve was unanimously adopted (8-0).
  • Item 8 – Region 2 Recovery School MOA: City Manager Price presented a resolution authorizing agreement with Region 2 Recovery School to operate Harbor Hope Center Recovery High School. Approved unanimously (8-0).
  • Item 9 – Opioid Overdose Prevention Grant: Council Member Ritter explained that Chesapeake was one of seven vulnerable localities selected for a $500,000 grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority. She highlighted that while Chesapeake has the lowest number of opioid deaths, it has the highest percentage rate change (nearly 450%). The funds come from drug company settlements. Ritter requested a coordination meeting with staff in early August. Approved unanimously (8-0).
  • Item 10 – Economic Development Investment Grant: A resolution approving a $115,000 grant to Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America. Approved unanimously (8-0).
  • Unfinished Business: Council Member Newins asked about flood mitigation and a flood planner study. City Manager Price noted Public Works Director Earl Sorey will report on communications with the Army Corps of Engineers.
  • New Business:
    • Council Member Smith requested a work session on deferring conditional use permits not ready for council consideration. Mayor West noted a work session is planned for August.
    • Council Member Bunn announced the World Changers program (~100 volunteers, 80 teens) working in South Norfolk, thanking Raleigh Heights Baptist Church and Buffalow Family and Friends.
    • Council Member Newins inquired about agricultural signage on rural roads to address unsafe passing; City Manager Price committed to follow up.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda (except Item 2) approved unanimously (8-0).
  • Regular Agenda Items 2, 8, 9, 10 approved unanimously (8-0).
  • Appointments:
    • Chesapeake Hospital Authority: Dr. Alireza Farpour appointed.
    • Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority: Stephen Blair and Dwight Parker appointed; remaining vacancies continued to September 23, 2025.
    • South Norfolk Revitalization Commission: Robert “Kirk” Culpepper, Michael Vecchione, and Chasity Pritchett appointed; one vacancy continued.
    • Fine Arts Commission: Joy Naik reappointed; Barry Elliott and Timothy Jones appointed.
    • Public Art Committee: Courtney Triplett appointed.
    • Economic Development Authority: Eight nominees (Michael Benedetto, Jonathan Foster, Lindsey Elliott, Gregg Kruer, Dwayne Larkin, Todd Mayfield, Roberto Ortiz, David Ropp) nominated for three vacancies; interviews scheduled for August 12, 2025, with appointments at September 9, 2025 meeting.
  • Closed Meeting: Council voted unanimously (8-0) to enter closed session at 7:27 PM to discuss investment of public funds involving competition or bargaining.
  • The meeting adjourned after the closed session (time not recorded).

Meeting Transcript

Council is now in session. I'd like to recognize Councilmember Ritter at this time for the invitation and to lead us into the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. We pray for guidance in the matters at hand, and as that you would clearly show us how to conduct our work with the spirit of joy and enthusiasm. Help us to work together and to encourage each other to excellence. We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Indivisible with a clear receiving justice from Thank you, Ms. Rutter. Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll? Council Member Bond? Here. Councilmember King. Here. Council Member Newan. Here. Councilmember Ritter. Here. Councilmember Smith. Here. Councilmember Ward. Present. Councilmember Whitaker. Present. Vice Mayor Dietrich is excused. Mayor West. Here. Next is the approval of the proposed agenda. Are there any changes to the proposed agenda? Council members have. Move approval. Thank you. Ms. Newens and Dr. Ward, please prepare to vote. Vote and record, Madam Clerk. Motion to approve the agenda as presented is adopted by an eight oh vote. The meet amendment for the meetings of June 10, 17, and 24th, 2025 are presented for approval. Move approval. Thank you, Mr. Second. No one thank you, Mr. Bond. Please prepare to vote. Please vote and record. Motion to approve the minutes of the June 10th, 17th, and 24th, 2025 meeting are adopted by an eight-o vote. Yes. I'll read this statement for before we call them. Uh the city council meeting constitutes a limited public forum, therefore public comments must be relevant to items on council's agenda and otherwise reasonable, considering the purpose of the meeting.

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