Chesapeake City Council Meeting Summary - August 12, 2025
Chesapeake City Council Meeting Summary - August 12, 2025
The Chesapeake City Council met on August 12, 2025, at 6:30 PM. Prior to the regular meeting, a closed session was held from 3:20 PM to 5:05 PM for Economic Development Authority interviews. Mayor West presided. The council recognized the 175th anniversary of Lake Drummond Baptist Church with a proclamation. Public comment sessions featured criticism of city policies, concerns about a police investigation, and allegations of failures within the Department of Social Services. All items requiring a vote passed 8-0, with Vice Mayor deTriquet excused. A motion to place council salary increases on a future agenda was withdrawn after significant debate.
Consent Calendar
- Rezoning Acknowledgement: The Sawyer Property at 1917 Elbow Road, a rezoning request for a 22-acre portion of a 72-acre parcel, was acknowledged. The request is tentatively set for the Planning Commission on September 10, 2025.
- Resignations: Accepted from Dwight Parker (Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Board) and Jameka Jackson (Chesapeake Interagency Consortium).
- Virginia Rules Camp Grant: Approved a $2,500 grant from the Attorney General's Office to the Police Department.
- Library Fund Transfer: Approved transferring $318,080 from the Russell Memorial Library Addition project to Library Facility Improvements.
- Perdue Agribusiness Railroad Funds: Adopted a resolution supporting Perdue Agribusiness, LLC application for $750,000 in Industrial Access Railroad Funds.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Vic Nicholls (Agenda Items): Criticized the Perdue grant for creating only four jobs. Questioned potential conflicts of interest around the Atherton Construction award. Argued the public utility rate increases demonstrated poor financial planning. Opposed the Remote Participation Policy for council members as hypocritical, stating citizens are restricted in what they can say.
- Vic Nicholls (Non-Agenda): Alleged gender discrimination in the enforcement of meeting decorum regarding profanity. Criticized infrastructure delays, including the Deep Creek Bridge, and traffic management issues in Greenbrier.
- Tommy Hart (Non-Agenda): Addressed a 48-year-old murder case, accusing the police department of lying, destroying evidence, and disregarding his testimony as a witness.
- Ashley Vannote (Non-Agenda): A mother of eight and community advocate, strongly criticized the Department of Social Services (DSS). She stated parents face conflicting information and struggle to access resources, citing a specific case where a referral for respite care went unmet for weeks. She questioned whether DSS funding (specifically $127,000 in PSSF funding) was being properly used for family preservation. She urged the council to directly investigate citizen experiences. Mayor West directed the City Manager to obtain her information and report back to council.
Discussion Items
- Great Bridge Village Plan Seed Funding: Council approved a $150,000 award to Atherton Construction & Development, Inc. to implement the Great Bridge Village Plan.
- MOU with Briggs Funeral Home: Council Member Newins moved to continue this item to the September 9, 2025 meeting for more information regarding the agreement for removal, storage, and cremation services during mass casualty incidents. Passed 8-0.
- Deputy Clerk of Circuit Court Position: Council approved adding one full-time Deputy Clerk IV position, appropriating $51,509 in state revenue and transferring $25,491. The item was approved as an emergency action to expedite funding. Council Member Newins discussed the cessation of criminal e-filing with Clerk Krasnoff, who stated the new position would not cover this service but he would provide an update.
- Public Utilities Rate Adjustment Budget Amendments: Council approved all 12 budget amendments (Items A through L) related to the rate adjustment. This included increasing operating revenue by $1.67 million, reducing transfers to capital projects by $3.93 million, and appropriating funds for major infrastructure like the Northwest River Water Treatment Plant ($8 million) and Sanitary Sewer Pump Station ($4.56 million). Council Member Ward requested a detailed explanation of the transfers and rate impacts be posted on the city website.
- Right of Way Agreement (Dominion Energy): Approved a resolution granting a non-exclusive utility easement on city property at 1733 Indian Creek Road.
- Remote Participation Policy for City Council: Adopted a resolution establishing a policy for individual remote participation in public meetings for City Council members only.
- South Norfolk Historic Design Guidelines (Initiating Resolution): Approved a resolution referring proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation.
- Subdivision Plat Requirements (Initiating Resolution): Approved a resolution referring amendments to Chapter 70 regarding subdivision plat requirements to the Planning Commission for review.
- Council Member Salary Increases: Council Member Smith made a motion to place a discussion of salary increases on a future agenda. The state code amendment would allow the Mayor salary not to exceed $51,000 and Council Member salary not to exceed $47,000. Council Members Ritter and Newins strongly opposed the increase, stating it was poorly timed given citizen financial struggles and that the position should be about service alone. Council Member King expressed concern over the large increase. Following debate, Smith agreed to withdraw the motion and the seconder concurred.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (all 8-0): Consent Agenda, Great Bridge Seed Funding, Deputy Clerk Position (emergency), Public Utility Budget Amendments, Dominion Energy Right of Way, Remote Participation Policy, both Initiating Resolutions (South Norfolk Guidelines and Subdivision Plats), and certifications of both closed meetings.
- Continued: The resolution for the MOU with Briggs Funeral Home was continued to the September 9, 2025, meeting.
- Withdrawn: Council Member Smith's motion to schedule a council salary increase discussion was withdrawn.
- Directives Issued: Staff to follow up with Ashley Vannote on DSS complaints. Staff to explore accelerating water meter replacement and waiving the $25 meter test fee. Staff to report on eligibility of historic district signs for EDIP grants. Staff to provide an update on the South Norfolk Farmers Market. Council to receive a report on the feasibility, cost, and best practices for allowing virtual citizen participation in meetings.
Meeting Transcript
You ready? Council is now in session. We don't need that reinforced. I'd like to recognize Councilmember Ward at this time for the invocation and delete us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. We ask for special blessing on the city council meeting tonight as we deliberate and make decisions for our Chesapeake citizens. We are inherently mindful of the fact that we were indeed elected to serve our city and our citizens. And God, we speak your favor in providing a healing for our nation. Where there is hatred, replace it with love. Where there's turmoil, replace it with peace, where there's dissension, replace it with compromise, where there are wars and random acts of violence, replace these with peace and act of kindness for one another. As we work together on this council to make decisions for all of our citizens, let us keep fairness and honesty, compassion and love in our decision making processes. And as our students prepare to be returned to schools, colleges and universities, we pray for them to have a safe return. And we pray for parents, teachers, and schools to have the resources they need for a productive year for these and all other lessons we ask in thy precious and holy name. Please join me as we pledge with the American flag. Only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements were discussed. Second. Please vote. And record, Madam Clerk. Motion to certify the closed meeting held on August the 12th, 2025 at 320 is adopted by an 8.0 vote. Next is our approval of the proposed agenda. Move approval. Thank you. Ms. Newens. Thank you. Dr. King. Please prepare to vote. Please vote. And Madam Clerk, please record. Motion to approve the agenda as presented is adopted by an 8-0 vote. Next to the minutes, uh the approval of the minutes from the meetings July 8th, 15th, 25th, 2025 are presented. Motion please. Thank you, Dr. Ward. Second. Who's that? Thank you. Dr. King, please prepare to vote. Please vote and record. The minutes from the meetings of July 8th, 15th, 22nd, 2025 are adopted by an 8-0 vote. At this time, I will go down to the podium for a special award and like to turn the gavel over to uh Ms. Ritter. Thank you. Today we're honoring a remarkable milestone. 175 years of unwavering ministry at Lake Drummond Baptist Church. Since 1850, this congregation has been a steadfast light in the community, standing strong through the Civil War, offering comfort during World War II, and remaining a place of prayer, hope, and service through every generation. The mayor's having a little trouble with his voice. So in this these are the words he would have used. It is my privilege to present this proclamation in recognition of the church's enduring legacy and profound impact.
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