Chesapeake City Council Regular Meeting - October 14, 2025

The Chesapeake City Council met on October 14, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, public comments on various issues, new business items, and a closed session. All nine council members were present. The meeting adjourned to closed session at 7:06 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Acknowledgment of Rezoning Applications: Council acknowledged two rezoning requests for future public hearings: PLN-REZ-2024-020 (Patrick Street, 0.27 acres from B-1 to R-8) and PLN-REZ-2025-014 (Royal Farms, 5028 Portsmouth Blvd., from R-15s/O&I/A-1 to B-2). These will be heard by the Planning Commission on November 13, 2025 and by City Council at a later date.
• Resignation: Accepted resignation of Jason Baines from the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Board.
• Grant Applications (Police): Authorized applications for three grants: $500,000 from Virginia Dept. of Criminal Justice Services for Operation Ceasefire (CY2026-2028); $245,448 for Operation Ceasefire Forensic and Analytical Technology Grant; $655,928 from U.S. Dept. of Justice for FY25 Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative.
• Capital Project Transfer: Approved transfer of $1,100,000 from the Chesapeake Expressway Violation Processing System Replacement project and $350,000 from the Chesapeake Expressway Repaving Phase I to the Chesapeake Expressway Renewal and Replacement Phase IV project.
• Ordinance Amendment (Business Licenses): Approved amendment to Chapter 18 of City Code regarding refunds and proration of taxes upon cessation of business, reflecting changes in Virginia Code.
• Council Member E.R. Jefferies disclosed his employment with the Chesapeake Police Department before the vote on consent items 1-3, stating no conflict of interest. The consent agenda was approved unanimously (9-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Phil Hubbard (Hampton Roads Sanitation District) requested concurrent advertising for PLN-USE-2025-035, the Dozier's Corner Pump Station Replacement, citing a federal consent decree. The project involves building a new pump station that Public Utilities will maintain after construction.
• Vic Nicholls (self) criticized the city's speed camera program, alleging that cameras are not installed at dangerous intersections (where fatalities have occurred) because localities keep only fines from school/work zones, not from dangerous intersections. He questioned spending of Greenbrier TIF funds and requested investment in Greenbrier infrastructure.
• Tommy Hart (self) alleged misconduct by former police officers and called for the creation of a commission to oversee the Chesapeake Police Department. He recounted past incidents related to unsolved murders and internal affairs investigations.
• Sue Gressley (self, resident of Bartel Drive) requested installation of speed tables on Bartel and Briarfield Drives due to speeding and unsafe conditions for children catching school buses.
• Douglas Gressley (self, resident of Bartel Drive) complained about parking spillover from early voting at the Registrar's Office (311 Cedar Road), blocking mailboxes and driveways. He asked the city to post temporary no-parking signs during voting periods or relocate the polling place.
• Debbie DeBose (self, resident of Bartel Drive) echoed parking concerns, noting mail delivery had stopped because mail carriers could not safely access mailboxes. She reported elderly neighbors not receiving medication and requested parking restrictions on one side of the street.

Discussion Items

• City Manager Response: City Manager Christopher Price explained the process for residents to apply for speed tables: neighbors must gather signatures and submit a request for council consideration. Regarding the Registrar's Office parking, he noted that state code requires early voting at the Registrar's Office and that the city leases the space to the state. He said a city election logistics team is reviewing the issue and has already taken steps (e.g., preventing city employees from parking there) to improve conditions for the next election cycle. He also warned that a state bill pending in the General Assembly would remove localities' ability to set minimum parking requirements, which could exacerbate similar problems.
• Vice Mayor Ritter noted that parking in front of a mailbox is a violation of City Code and residents can report it via the non-emergency police number (382-6161).
• New Business Item A: Council unanimously (9-0) approved proposed amendments to the City Council Rules of Order and Procedure (version dated October 14, 2025) as presented by the City Clerk.
• Concurrent Advertising: Council unanimously (9-0) approved concurrent advertising for PLN-USE-2025-035 (Dozier's Corner Pump Station Replacement), scheduling it for the Planning Commission on November 13, 2025 and City Council on November 18, 2025.
• Council Member Bunn requested an agenda item as soon as possible to amend the city's holiday/time-off ordinance to give full days off for half-day holidays granted by the state (e.g., Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve). He requested the item be presented before November.
• Vice Mayor Ritter announced that additional revisions to the Council Rules would be sent to members within seven days; feedback to the City Clerk is required within that timeframe to be considered for the first meeting in November.
• Council Member Smith requested a work session to discuss political sign regulations, noting discomfort with a 45-day pre-election restriction discussed at the retreat. City Manager Price said staff will first prepare a report for council review before scheduling the work session.

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda (including all items listed) was approved unanimously (9-0).
• Proposed amendments to City Council Rules of Order and Procedure were approved unanimously (9-0).
• Concurrent advertising for the Dozier's Corner Pump Station Replacement was approved unanimously (9-0).
• Council directed staff to prepare an agenda item for consideration of full-day holidays for city employees, to be presented before November.
• Council directed staff to prepare a report on political sign regulations for a future work session.
• The meeting moved into closed session at 7:06 p.m. to discuss real property acquisition for the Great Bridge Planning Area and two economic development opportunities. The closed session was certified as lawful by a 9-0 vote upon reconvening.