Want to thank you all for uh being here for tonight's work session, December ninth, twenty twenty-five.

Mr.

Manager, before I turn it over to you, I just want to take a second to thank you for these work sessions.

I mean, they really are a great opportunity for council members to get updates and progress of uh some of the things that we're trying to achieve.

So having said that, I'm turning it over to you, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And on behalf of the staff, they really appreciate the opportunity as well, because it's a these are more informal meetings, though the work sessions than the council's business meetings.

So I'll turn it over to the city auditor, uh, Darren uh to introduce our external auditors.

Okay.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, Madam Vice Mayor, members of the City Council.

My name is Darren Padilla, and I am your city auditor.

We'll start tonight with a brief report of our external auditors, uh, Cherry Beckard on the results of the 2025 audit of the city's annual comprehensive financial report.

Logan Booth, a partner with Cherry Beckard, will provide a high level summary of their work and confirm the overall outcome of the audit.

After their remarks, our finance director, Kristen Bailey will present the highlights of the annual comprehensive financial report itself and walk us through the key financial trends and major takeaways for the year.

So with that, I'll turn it over to Logan Booth.

Happy holidays, everybody.

All righty.

Thank you, Darren.

Good evening, uh, Mr.

Mayor, Ms.

Vice Mayor, and uh members of City Council.

As Darren mentioned, my name is Logan Booth, and I'm an audit partner with Cherry Beckard uh in our Virginia Beach uh office.

Um and I'm here to present the results of the annual audit of the city's financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025.

Um so most importantly, I'm I'm happy to present that uh once again the city got a an unmodified opinion on the financial statements.

Um that is a clean audit that is um the highest um audit opinion that you can get, so very uh commendable for to the city and the team, Kristen and her team in accordance with the government or we conducted our audit in accordance with the government auditing standards as well as the Commonwealth's auditor of public accounts specifications for counties, cities, and towns.

Um there were no items of noncompliance as it relates to the government auditing government auditing standards.

There was one non-material non-compliance item under the APA specifications, and that is item number 2025 001.

Um, and and that can be seen in the schedule of finding question costs in our audit report on the financial statements and management is working to address that item.

Additionally, we uh typically issue an opinion on the uh single audit of the city, which is the city's federal grants.

Um this year, the compliance supplements which dictate the audit requirements for these city's federal grants was delayed in issuing uh the audit requirements um due to the government shutdown.

So those uh items did not come out until late November.

So the single audit is still ongoing.

Um, and we will uh present our results at the conclusion of the audit, and we will issue a report most likely in the new year, but we we are working diligently to get those items done.

Uh there was one new audit or accounting standard uh implemented by the city uh in fiscal year 2025, and that is GASBE statement number 101 uh relating to compensated absences as required by the new standard.

Um the city implemented it as of July 1, 2024.

And there were no other um new accounting principles or inappropriate accounting practices uh discovered under the course of our audit.

And there are a few additional um items that are required to be communicated to you all under the uh auditing standards over the course of the audit.

If we had any difficulties encountered with any staff members or any disagreements with management, we would be required to communicate those.

Um I'm happy to report there were there were no disagreements or uh difficulties over the course of the audit.

Um if we became aware of any consultations by management or any second opinions from other auditors that management um sought out over the course of the audit, I would be required to report those, and I'm happy to record there were none.

Um there were no other findings or issues um noted over the course of the audit, and there were no fraud or illegal acts uncovered during the audit.

Um and there are no going concern issues noted for the city.

And at the conclusion of our audit, we did receive a management representation letter dated as of the date of our report date.

Um with that, I will um I'll open it up to any questions.

We very much appreciate our our partnership with the city and and Kristen and her team and the cooperation of all the departments that we work with uh at the city.

But I'll close there and open it up to any questions.

Any comments or questions from council members?

Next.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thanks, Logan.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and members of City Council.

It's my privilege tonight to present the city's fiscal year 2025 financial results.

Before we get into the numbers, I want to take a moment to highlight some of the projects delivered in Fiscal 25 that strengthen the quality of life and connect our community in meaningful ways.

Blue Heron Park is a great example.

With its living shoreline, it supports council's environmental responsibility outcome while also improving access and connectivity for residents.

We also added the fireboat and the Chesapeake CARES bus, both of which enhance our safety and security efforts by giving first responders better tools to serve the community.

The reopening of Russell Memorial Library improves neighborhood connectivity and reflects our commitment to cultural diversity by providing inclusive resources and gathering spaces for all residents.

And finally, the adoption of the Greenbrier Area Plan supports economic prosperity by guiding thoughtful long-term growth in one of our most important commercial centers.

Along with the community projects, we also made progress on several initiatives that strengthen our fiscal responsibility and sustainability and support the new desired outcome of accountability.

This slide highlights a few of these initiatives.

We completed a school's bond refunding and a new issuance, which delivered significant savings for the schools.

Our triple triple A rating was reaffirmed through this process.

The city's first popular annual financial report was created in Fiscal 23.

While the budget document and the annual comprehensive financial report have received GFOA excellence awards for decades, the PAFER allowed the city to obtain GFOA's triple crown award for the second year in a row.

This is GFOA's highest recognition for transparency and excellence in government finance.

The investment committee was fully implemented and continued its work to ensure our investment decisions align with policies and procedures.

And three functions, EMS billing, investments and banking fully transitioned from the Treasurer's Office to City Finance, which creates better alignment, improves internal controls, and streamlined service delivery.

These initi these initiatives all reinforce the city's long-term financial strength and our commitment to transparency and accountability.

Now on to the numbers.

The following slides provide a high-level overview of the city's financial performance for fiscal 25.

This slide provides a high-level summary of the general fund financial results.

In the following slides, we'll take a closer look at each area.

The key takeaway on this slide is that we ended the year better than expected.

Each year, the budget includes a planned use of fund balance.

For fiscal 25, it was 35.4 million.

But we finished the year 90.6 million ahead of budget.

So rather than spending down our resources, we actually added 55.2 million to the general funds fund balance.

Conservative budgeting and careful spending helped us strengthen our financial position.

While 90.6 million appears to be a significant positive variance to budget, several amounts are set aside that reduce the available funding for discretionary spending based on council's policies and practices.

As you can see on the slide, 61% of the variants is set aside because it's appropriated in the fiscal 26 city operating and capital budgets.

24% is set aside for schools reversion, revenue sharing, and capital projects.

3% is set aside for some smaller commitments and assignments.

This leaves 10.8 million that is committed to fund one-time high priority projects.

Total revenues for the year exceeded budget by 5.6 percent.

Two revenue sources made up 4.5% of that variance.

Investment income and delinquent personal property taxes.

The remaining 1.1 was made up of all other general fund revenues.

Investment income was exceptionally strong again in fiscal 25, coming in at 21.1 million over budget in the general fund.

Our budgeting for investment income is very conservative due to market risk, which makes this positive variance especially notable.

Delinquent personal property taxes came in 14.2 million over budget.

This reflects the diligent efforts of the Treasurer's Office in collecting delinquent taxes.

While overall revenues exceeded budget, current personal property and real estate taxes came in under budget.

Current real estate taxes were $5 million under budget, and current personal property taxes came in $2 million under budget.

The primary reason for the decrease is that more residents qualified for tax exemptions and relief programs this year.

Even with a solid housing market and strong vehicle values, those additional exemptions reduced the amount of real estate and personal property tax billed and collected.

For expenditures, overall, the city also ended the year with 5.6 in expenditure savings compared to budget, and this chart shows where those savings came from.

The biggest driver was payroll and benefits, which accounts for 2.5% of the savings, or about $19.3 million.

Since payroll is our largest cost as an organization, it's not surprising that this is where most of the savings occurred.

This was mainly due to vacancies throughout the year.

The average vacancy rate for fiscal 25 was 10.7%.

General expenditures, things like contracts, supplies, and services made up another 1.6%.

And the remaining $1.6% came from all other general fund spending categories combined.

So in total, the 5.6% savings reflect a combination of vacancy driven payroll savings and conservative spending across departments.

This slide highlights the changes in the overall fund balance of the general fund.

The general fund began fiscal 25 with a fund balance of 459.5 million.

The fiscal year results contributed $55.2 million to the fund balance, resulting in an ending balance of $514.7 million.

Additionally, again, the portion of the fund balance committed to one-time high priority projects increased by $10.8 million, bringing the total to $191.3 million at the end of fiscal $25.

Now we'll move on to some high level information from some of the other city's key funds, beginning with public utilities.

Revenues in public utilities were $4.4 million above last year and only slightly less than budget.

Operating revenues were $1.7 million less than last year and were $7.7 under budget.

Public utilities added $31.1 million to the fund's net position for the year.

Chesapeake Transportation continues to perform well.

Revenues were $2 million above last year and $1.5 million over budget.

Operating expenses were $3.5 million under last year and $3.8 million under budget.

The fund contributed $2.8 million to the fund bound to the net position in fiscal $25.

Stormwater's rep stormwater revenues performed as expected, and expenses came in $3.3 million under budget.

The fund added $12.4 million to the bottom line with an ending net position of $141.8 million.

Other post-employment benefits are benefits we promised to employees after they retire, other than pension.

For most retirees, this mainly means help paying for health insurance.

So OPEB is essentially the city's commitment to support retiree health care and related benefits in retirement.

The following information is about the city's OPEB trust fund.

The city participates in two OPEB plans, a VRS directed and a city directed plan held in a trust.

The VRS directed plan is state controlled and required for employers that participate in the Virginia retirement system.

It provides retirees with a state-controlled health insurance credit and basic life insurance.

The city OPED plan delivers the actual retiree health coverage that the city fully designs and funds.

The VRS directed liability remained essentially flat year over year with a net liability of $35.2 million.

In fiscal 24, the city directed plan moved from a net liability to a net asset position and performed exceptionally well in fiscal 25 due to a stroke to strong investment earnings.

The city directed plan is in a net asset position valued at 42.8 million at the close of the year, an increase of 26.3 million, and it's 150 percent 150.9% funded.

The city's pension liability is measured on June 30th of the previous year.

The total liability increased by $76.1 million year over year and was $88.5% funded as of June 30, 2024.

The city's pension funding is in a very solid position.

Statewide plans are funded at about 80 percent, but local government plans, including ours are closer to 89 percent.

That means we're performing well against the benchmark and continuing to responsibly fund our long-term commitments to employees.

The city's self-funded health plan continued to perform well in 25 as well.

Revenues were 5 percent over budget due to pharmacy rebates and investment earnings.

Because our health benefits are budgeted on a different cycle than our contracts renew, we plan those insurance costs cautiously each year.

The good news is those costs did not increase as much as we thought they would, which saved the health insurance fund about 1.3 million.

The fiscal 25 success is directly supported by the city's wellness initiatives, preventative care programs, and employee engagement in healthier lifestyles.

Our investment is paying off.

Healthier employment employees help drive lower costs and stronger, more sustainable health plans.

This concludes my presentation.

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to the city manager and to each of you for your leadership, guidance, and commitment to establishing sound financial policies that promote fiscal responsibility and sustainability.

And finally, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the financial reporting team.

Producing the annual comprehensive financial report is no small feat, and their hard work, professionalism, and dedication to the city is truly commendable.

I appreciate your time, and I'm open for questions.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kristen.

Thank you to Cherry Beckard.

I I wanted to say before I may have some questions for you.

Um could you ask the members of your team to stand, please, so they can be recognized.

Um this is a tremendous amount of work for these very few but very talented people.

We thank you.

Um the city's reputation for financial stability and for being the best managed city in Virginia has a lot to do with your dedication and your hard work and the accountability that you provide to the city.

Um we were very fortunate, and we thank you.

I would not want you to leave here without knowing you have our greatest gratitude.

We don't get to give you an extra day off, but Mr.

Bund did for the holidays.

Anyway, I do have a couple of questions and issues that you raised.

Um the first, I guess I'll go to the I'll leave the most impactful for last.

How's that?

The exclamation point.

I want to ask you a little bit about the OPIB.

That's something that the public may not be terribly familiar with.

Um other post-employment benefits, and to translate that into real people English, that means benefits promised to employees upon their retirement.

Yes, correct.

And that's not necessarily their pension, it's other benefits.

Could you expound on that just a little?

It's um health insurance costs mainly.

Um that'll help.

So we have two plans.

We have to participate in the Virginia retirement system plan, and that generally gives retirees a credit toward health insurance, but our plan fully covers their health insurance, and it's um designed, set up, and managed in-house.

We have a trust that we have established, and we work with an advisor for the investments on that.

Um, but we we cover let's see.

Oh, it's it was right up here, I'm sorry.

It's all of the the health insurance costs, the actual costs of the of the insurance.

And that's until an employee reaches the age at which they're eligible for Medicare costs.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

Um so I'm trying to remember how long ago the GASB standard changed, where we had to reflect this as a liability as opposed to not having it be carried.

Was that about 12, 15 years ago?

Oh, you're talking there was one more recent.

And that was, I think in 2021.

No, I think you're talking about the the older one where we really had to pick this up on the books.

15, 12.

The mayor thinks it was 2012.

I remember it was on the audit committee, Ms.

Willis and I at the time.

And we left that meeting, I would say in a panic, that suddenly we had to book these liabilities, and it became clear that the city had to take some very strong actions to make sure that we met that standard.

And we did, correct?

We did, yes.

And we're um we're doing very well.

At 150.9 percent funded.

Um the last two years have really contributed due to a lot of positive investment earnings.

But the plan has done well since I've arrived.

I mean, that that commitment that you all made to fund it is evident, and um we're in a really nice position with it.

So I want to congratulate you all and to the management team for this is part of conservative budgeting that we meet the obligations we need to meet so that our city doesn't financially collapse.

Is that um too hyperbolic?

No, not at all.

Um I think we do budget very conservatively, not very conservatively.

I think we we were very close actually on the budget this year, except for the things that we do budget very conservatively that we can't control, like the investment earnings.

Um that had a very big impact on the results this year and on the OPEP fund.

Well, again, it goes to the point that we're not gonna be the newspaper story of the city not funding liability they're required to fund.

No, we're very conservative with the liabilities that we have to fund and we ensure that we keep them funded where they should be.

Okay.

Then I'm gonna move to number two of three.

The fund balance.

There's always a question about the fund balance and whether you would like to answer this or Mr.

Price.

Um people always listen and go away thinking you have this much money to spend, but that's not the case, is it?

So, Kristen, do you want to answer about the fund balance and then I'll answer about the high priority one-time account?

Sure.

So the fund balance, as you can see on the slide here, has different categories.

Um we have a non-spendable inventory piece, which isn't not money.

We have committed for other things.

Um there are policies and practices that we have.

That includes our um we also have our 12 percent fund balance policy for reserves for cash emergencies.

Everything is set out in the fund balance, and really the only discretionary that we have, we've decided to commit to fund for one-time high priority projects.

So that's really the only freedom that we have for spending, and um Mr.

Price will speak to that.

The high priority one-time account is the one we talk about the most because it's another one of those practices of being very fiscally conservative in our budgeting instead of budgeting for things like vacancy savings, which may or may not materialize, um, we we budget um uh to actual, and then when those savings drop to the bottom line, we put them into the one-time high priority account so that we can then fund the next year's uh projects like the CIP, large, you know, we we we use a lot of cash to do um capital projects to keep borrowing costs low, and then during the course of the year when we have unbudgeted but but really timely expenses.

So, for example, um last month the SWAT vehicle, um that those things like that, or our economic development incentive programs, things like that are largely funded or augmented by the high priority one-time account.

So it's not a slush fund.

Correct.

In other words, it's it goes to good use.

It keeps next year's taxes as low as possible.

Right.

And then should interest rates fall, we might use less cash and more borrowing, but right now with the high rates, we relying on heavier infusion of cash.

Yes, yes, ma'am.

All of these work together to make sure that we're really well covered in case of an emergency or a catastrophe, and that we have um we're well positioned to take advantage of opportunities all at the same time of being very conservative in our in our budgets.

And my recollection, I'm looking around.

I'm not sure anybody else was still here.

That frightens me.

When we had Hurricane Isabel, and we had a large reserve account, we spent, I believe, 20 million dollars on debris removal, and it was not a hundred percent reimbursed by FEMA.

So keeping those emergency reserve accounts is really a very wise thing to do because especially days like today, you you never know when we might need that.

And our citizens do have expectations that we can deal with, particularly weather emergencies and cleanup.

So 20 million dollars was a lot to spend in a short period of time.

For most of us, that's worth having it sit there.

My last question.

With that 20 million nominee, Isabelle.

Okay.

Oh, you were okay.

I I just don't, you know, I kind of lose track.

I thought that was like 2001, but maybe not.

There were several eye storms, Irene, Isabel, and we got hammered pretty much.

Um my last question, and I think this is something we need to continually remind people.

We remind people of their conscience and their kindness and their awareness in supporting a constitutional amendment or a series thereof exempting certain people with service connected disabilities or deaths with tax relief.

That was a constitutional amendment overwhelmingly passed by the voters of Virginia.

I think I was reminded today that originally the cost looked to be $8 million statewide.

Is that correct?

Currently, the city has a $27 million coverage that we do just for the people in Chesapeake.

So what started out as a wonderful and necessary gesture has really become seven cents or more on your real estate tax.

And I I don't know that anybody ever should regret that vote.

But that is a position that we are in.

And unless the State legislature wants to go in and again take a look at, or even better, the Federal Veterans Administration wants to take a look at how they structure the programs, but it affects real estate tax, is that correct?

And personal property?

And personal property tax exemption.

And then we add in a much smaller but still significant dollar amount for the elderly and disabled not service connected.

So I don't I don't think we I don't recall what that is at $3 million.

So just so people are aware of the structure and obligations of the city.

And we all, there is not a person sitting up here who would not be delighted to lower real estate tax rates to lower personal property tax rates.

If it's at all possible, I feel sure we'll take we'll take those into consideration.

But I think all of these are important for folks like me who don't speak finance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

And I really appreciate you bringing up the tax relief issue.

And Mr.

Manager, we had that conversation earlier.

And I know that we've had that conversation with other cities.

I have spoken to many of the other mayors who are very, very concerned about the rising cost of that decision, as well as what is lurking in the General Assembly in terms of what the implications could be.

Should uh there be changes in the right to work status.

Did you want to make any comments about either of those?

I would just say, you know, and obviously I always start this conversation with we really appreciate our veteran community, and this is a very, very supportive community for veterans, and we want to continue to be that way.

We've had some conversations with other localities and and um uh and our General Assembly uh members, and I think that they are positive conversations in that we want to continue to be um a state and a region that values our veterans, and maybe that includes some kind of state participation in the in the exemption program.

So we're sort of in the early stages of those discussions, but just want to keep that program strong and viable for for all of our localities.

Um that that's the status of the uh those conversations right now.

Thank you, sir.

Dr.

Ward.

Oh, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And uh City Management Price, I know we uh stay on these regional boards.

Uh is it um possible to find out um our percentage of veterans because we just have a lot of veterans moving into Chesapeake, and I hear this every day.

Um not every day, but a lot compared to the other cities in the region, and we have a lot of amenities, a lot of things, but including schools and safety.

Uh and but we do have a large percentage, so I know that the number does seem to be staggering when it comes to benefits, but I would like to for us to just get a general um some statements about how our veteran population, because it's steadily growing, and we're in some of the uh localities around us, they're decreasing.

And uh, you know, talk about you know, I have a lot of veterans, know a lot of them, uh especially even moving into Western branch.

But I would like to get some figures on that.

I know we need to have this clarification, but we also need to know how many people, how many veterans are leaving other cities and relocating in Chesapeake for a variety of reasons.

Yeah, so uh we can get that number, an updated number for council.

Uh I know we had it from a few years ago.

As you will recall, we were very proud to be able to work with the VA to get the facility located, uh co-located with Chesapeake Regional, um, and to bring services into the Western branch area.

So that was we're very proud to make that happen.

Um I know we had some numbers as part of that.

It was very competitive proposal.

We competed for that um facility, but we will update those numbers and get those to council.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Especially with our new hospital, you know, for veterans in both places, Green Barry and in Western branch.

Thank you very much, Dr.

Ward.

So all in all, we really do appreciate this report.

It's good news because especially considering all the challenges that we have, and so it is uh good for us to hear, and I hope for our citizens will appreciate all the hard work you are doing and your good management skills as well.

We do have another topic.

So let's move on.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So um switching gears a little bit uh in our business, you probably can't switch gears uh as far as between uh closing the books on the last fiscal year and then planning for 20 years into the city's future.

But uh that's the task we have today.

Um so if you could orient yourselves towards thinking about um the city and and our long-range future, um uh planning director Jimmy McDamara is going to give us an update on where we stand with the Comprehensive Plan.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, Madam Vice Mayor, and members of council.

I'm here again to talk about the Comprehensive Plan, and I'm here to give you an update at this point that we are coming close to the end.

So we've been at this process for uh over two years now, and we've talked ag nauseum uh with regards to the the involvement that we have had so far, whether it be you know uh five surveys, 39 events, seven focus area groups, ten geographic area groups, five sets of open houses with 21 meetings total.

Uh we've got one more to go.

Uh I'm going to give them a minor plug right now.

The the weather uh did not agree with us having our meeting last night.

Uh so we have rescheduled uh one more meeting for our master transportation plan that will be held on the 17th, so that's next Wednesday at Major Hilliard at uh from 5 to 6.30.

So that's one plug.

I'm gonna do it again later on in the presentation, just to make sure we're getting the word out there.

But this process has been so involved with our citizens, with our business community throughout the process, and we just really want to anchor into that as we uh provide our update for you today.

Uh last month, or actually it was it's been two months now.

Uh so uh planning commission heard this item on October 8th at their meeting and considered it.

And this is after their extended work session that took place uh in August.

So on August 13th, we had a work session with planning commission, went chapter by chapter uh through the document itself to uh really uh hone in on any uh changes that need to be made uh before consideration.

So of course on October 8th it was considered.

We did have two speakers in support of the plan and three in opposition uh when all came through.

Uh we had a recommendation of approval for uh by unanimous nine to zero vote.

Uh so very proud of this.

We think that the this shows the the amount of transparency and work that we've done so far, but we're not done yet.

So at Planning Commission, we knew that there is a need to continue to uh to to make this document uh as as good as it can be before we present it for you.

Uh we know that transparency is critical throughout the process, and that's continuing now.

Uh so what we're gonna talk about tonight mainly is all the changes that we've had between that planning commission process based off of uh input that we received from citizens and the planning commission and and where uh those changes have uh taken place.

At your settings tonight, there is a detailed handout that shows all of the changes that we have made to the document since that time.

Uh so that is provided to you for your consideration.

But to characterize these changes so far, uh most of them are minor type typographical errors and inconsistencies.

So you know we had a a quality control uh review of the document and things like the same number of decimal points in comparative percentages.

We've also made some changes to the maps to include uh several named lakes that were previously omitted, things like Oak Grove Lake Park and Lake Thrasher uh uh uh lake as well.

Um we've also made some changes uh with regards to the overlay policies.

So these were when we were going through the document itself and developing the document, we had several statements that we made with regards to the overlay districts, uh, and they were kind of passive statements.

Um active oriented, so there's usually a verb that goes with them.

And what we wanted to do is for consistency's sake was to uh to amend this language uh to include action statements so that we can continue to pursue these as as active policies throughout.

So you'll see an example here of uh really uh talking about uh putting these these action words in so that we can look at these as active policies as we move forward.

Other minor changes uh with regards to the character districts.

When we went through to make sure that we were consistent throughout each of these character districts, uh we did some make some minor changes.

Uh most of this was uh with regards to words like can versus may or should versus are, uh, and making sure that these were consistent throughout the document.

So minor changes have been made, but the substance of each of these uh character districts remains the same.

Perhaps the largest change uh with regards to uh the the consideration of the plan commission to where we are right now is the updated master transportation plan map, uh which was updated to reflect ongoing conversations with our consultants and public works.

In large part, the the backbone of the network remains the same.

There's not a lot of changes that have been presented with this plan.

Uh one of the changes that you will see is a focus specifically on these small area plans that have been adopted and incorporating some of these two lane roads that have not previously been uh adopted as part of the master transportation plan.

And this is critical, uh, particularly when we're working with potential developers uh uh who are looking at different properties.

Having the the network uh outlined in advance to show specifically where we want connectivity to occur helps provide uh uh information up front that helps make the process more streamlined, and it also helps us when uh with when negotiating with developers to make sure that we are providing the connectivity that is desired throughout these areas.

So, next steps, uh this is where the critical part comes in.

So we are scheduled for public hearing on January 20th, 2026, and this document will be in your hands, and we turn it over to you, and we look forward to having those conversations uh with uh with your uh your expertise on where we go from here.

Um staff is prepared to have meetings in advance, so if there's anything that you see with the document where you want to sit down and go chapter by chapter, there's something that is that is that is bothering you.

We we we stand ready to have these meetings in advance of that meeting to make any changes that are necessary.

So please consider that an open invitation.

Uh, we we would love to sit down and talk with you as we as we make our way through the process.

And with that, we're open for any questions or discussion.

Council members' questions, discussion.

Ready, thank you again, keeping us keeping us updated.

Mr.

Manager, you have anything else you want to add to.

No, sir.

Okay.

Council's now in session.

I'd like to recognize Council Member Whitaker at this time for the invocation and to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Father God, Lord, we thank you for your mercy, Lord, for your grace, for your love for each and every one of us, Lord.

Lord, we praise you, Father God, for being the reason for the season, Lord.

Lord, I pray, Father God, that you give each and every member of this council a measure of discernment, Father God.

Lord, that you give us wisdom that we may deliberate and righteously, Lord.

Lord, we love you.

We thank you, and we give you praise.

And it's in your son, Christ Jesus' name.

Amen.

Pledge of allegiance to the flag.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

Next is our certification of the closed meeting held to me after we do roll call, we'll do the certification closed meeting.

Councilmember Bunn.

Here.

Councilmember Jeffreys.

Here.

Council Member King.

Here.

Council Member Newens?

Here.

Council Member Smith.

Here.

Council Member Ward.

Present.

Council Member Whitaker.

Present.

Vice Mayor Ritter.

Here.

Mayor West.

Here.

Next is certification of the closed meeting held today, December ninth at four o'clock.

Miss Lindley.

A motion to certify that to the best of each member's knowledge.

Only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements were discussed.

And only such public business matters as we identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard discussed or considered.

Motion please.

Move approval.

Second.

Dr.

Ward, who was second?

Mr.

Bunn.

All in favor.

I mean, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to certify the closed meeting is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next is the approval of the proposed agenda.

Ms.

Ritter, do you have a motion?

Thank you.

I do.

I would move that city manager item number seven be moved for consideration by the council prior to the presentations.

Move approval.

Thank you.

We have a second.

Any discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Mayor West.

Motion to approve the agenda as amended is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next is the approval of the minutes of October 14, 21st, and 28, 2025.

Without objection, and if there are no changes or corrections, the minutes will be approved as presented.

Next is city manager item seven.

Madam Clerk.

An ordinance providing for the honorary street dedication of Campistella Road between Sunrise Avenue and Providence Road in honor of Reverend Jake Manley, Sr.

Requested by Public Works.

Motion please.

Move approval.

Second.

Thank you, Mr.

Smith.

Any discussion.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the ordinance as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next is our presentations, and I will turn the gavel over to our Vice Mayor.

Vice Mayor Ritter.

I will go down to the podium.

This is a certificate of recognition for post American Legion Post 280 SEALs.

The 2025 American Legion World Series Championships.

We have the distinct honor of recognizing a remarkable group of young men and leaders who have represented the city of Chesapeake with exceptional skill, discipline, and pride.

I would like to invite American Legion Post 280 SEALs, who I understand are all back in college, taking their exams, which is just where they belong.

But these I wish they were here to recognize these outstanding athletes who have brought national attention to our city by earning the title of World Series Champions, a victory that reflects not only their talent, which was considerable.

According to my grandson who played for the team two years ago, he said they weren't that talented.

But their teamwork, perseverance, and commitment to excellence.

Commander Antley and representatives, please join the mayor at the front.

Every player will be receiving a copy of the certificates for them.

Tracy, do you want to come up and take a picture?

Ms.

Antley, I'm sorry.

Well, I'm going to take a picture, so you're welcome to.

Thank you, Ms.

Ritter.

Mr.

Anthony, congratulations, sir.

Your good coaching, Larry.

Good job.

Appreciate you both.

And I'll give you an opportunity to speak at this time.

I just want to thank Council for your support.

Tonight's presentation isn't about the post.

I kind of look at us as the ownership group.

The got these kids through five games of Shelby is Coach Bowles.

And I'll give him a minute to have a few comments.

Thank you again for having us.

For those that may have been able to watch us play on ESPN in August for us to play for a national championship.

American Legion has been, they've had World Series National Championship for a hundred years.

They've had World Series National Championship for a hundred years.

This was the 100th season.

And only once before in 1985, a team from Midlothian won the national championship.

So we're the first team since 1985, and only the second team ever to win the national championship.

And I cannot tell you how many times they mentioned the word Chesapeake on ESPN.

So the boys represented our city.

And I I could not be more proud of our group of guys.

Grandson, that's right.

They were in the World Series three years ago.

But this team was able to win a national championship over Texas, who won a national championship two years ago and was uh runner-up last year.

So it was a big victory for the boys.

They represent our city.

Um, and there was nothing but compliments given to our young men, how they conducted themselves on the field and off the field.

So you'll be proud to know.

Coach, I really do appreciate your leadership and all the things that you mean to these young young folks.

Uh your coaching, I know is outstanding, and your love for the game and for the kids is amazing.

I'm not sure who's going to be handing these to the kids, but here they are, signed all at represented by your city council.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, sir.

Okay.

Are you gonna stay?

Um I'd like to call Mr.

Earl Sori, the director of the Department of Public Works of the Podium, please.

And also Mr.

Chris Hall.

Today we are honoring a valued and respective colleague, respected colleague of the City of Chesapeake, Mr.

Chris Hall, District Engineer, Hampton Roads District, Virginia Department of Transportation.

Mr.

Hall, we want to say thank you to you for your years of steadfast commitment to public service.

As you conclude your distinguished career with the Virginia Department of Transportation, we celebrate not only your retirement, but the remarkable legacy that you leave behind.

You have strengthened our region and ensured progress for the future.

We're most appreciative.

Mr.

Sorry and Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council.

It's certainly a privilege to be able to present this proclamation to Mr.

Hall.

I I think you all know that we've had a long-standing relationship with the Virginia Department of Transportation.

We we have quarterly executive uh team meetings, we have monthly uh project team meetings, you know, we're we're working together hand in hand every day, but I can say without hesitation that that relationship has never been better than it has been under Mr.

Hall's leadership.

He's been an innovator, he's been a very capable problem solver.

Uh quite frankly, he was very instrumental in helping us and helping the Corps of Engineers get the Deep Creek Bridge uh to construction.

Uh he led the efforts on the high-rise bridge replacement of the 64 widening.

He's been an advocate of for uh Team Chesapeake at the TPO, both in terms of project delivery and project financing, and uh it it's certainly an honor.

So, Chris, uh I want to uh present this uh proclamation to you.

Um I'm not gonna read the whole thing because it it really is uh uh a lot because you have done a lot.

You know, serving on HR uh TAC and HR TPO with you and watching you solve one problem after the other really has been amazing.

You're the kind of leader who looks for a way to say yes, and as a result, our city, not only our city, our region and our commonwealth have uh benefited from your leadership and all the amazing things you you've done.

So as you retire, you can tell your grandchildren and children all the wonderful things you've accomplished, and I would like to give you an opportunity to speak.

Thank you, Marin and Council.

I I just want to say I'm blessed.

Um blessed to be able to work with a team like this.

Um blessed to have a great team to work with our at the district or district staff and Mike Davis sitting back there as my predecessor or my successor.

Um, and you'll continue to have a great relationship with the agency.

And uh I'll just I'll just say um just want to thank you for the opportunity to be here and for you to recognize uh me.

It's it's a great privilege, and thank you very much.

Could I get you three?

So let me say one other thing before we take pictures.

So, Mr.

Hall, uh I would tell everyone who's watching this.

When you're leaving Hampton Roads and you're going to Richmond and you cut 20 minutes off of that ride because of the widening of all of those roads in the last 29 miles, think of the name Chris Hall and thank him for that because he was very instrumental in making all of that happen.

Not to mention, I forgot to mention, and thank you for that awesome opportunity to go under and watch the boring uh with Mary at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.

That was one of the things as mayor that I will cherish for uh the rest of my life.

It was quite an experience, so thank you, sir.

You want a picture in the middle.

Thank you.

Next uh go ahead, Vice Mayor, if I if I may.

Mr.

Sorry.

Um Mr.

Hall leaves some very big shoes to fill.

Uh Mike Davis is one of us.

He is a Chesapeake native, he is a graduate of Oscar Smith High School.

He has a Chesapeake resident.

Uh if anybody's up to the challenge, it's him, and we look forward to a long working relationship with him as well.

Thank you.

Would you stand so we could welcome you appropriately.

Um, for our next recognition, I'd like to ask Councilmember Bunn to share information about a project that the Gary Sinise Foundation recently completed in partnership with a local builder, bourbon builders, for one of our nation's wounded heroes and Chesapeake citizen, Commander Rob Ballard, United States Navy retired.

Sorry, I have to change that to the correct wording, and his family.

Mr.

Bunn.

Thank you so much, Vice Mayor Ritter.

Um, Mr.

Mayor, members of council, city manager, and honored guests and guests tonight.

Tonight we have the privilege of sharing a moment that reminded us all that there are still good news in the city of Chesapeake and good people around this world.

Every now and then we witness some something so meaningful, so much filled with compassion that it lists the entire community.

This is one of those moments through the Gary Sinise Foundation, commandered Robert Ballard, U.S.

Navy retired, was a recipient of an innovative newly constructed constructed home designed to assist him in maintaining his quality of life.

Um the builders are also here tonight too from urban builders, and we're gonna recognize them a little bit later too.

But can Commander Ballard earned his wings as a naval helicopter pilot and served in the Middle Beast East, Baron, and South Korea.

You can find his amazing story of bravery and courage on the Gary Sinese Foundation's website.

His service reflects greatly upon him, our nation, and so many veterans who call Chesapeake home.

Join me in a round of applause for Commander Robert Ballett, his wife Lindsay Kennedy, and Bourbon Builders, um Paige and Roy Wicksbrunn for their service to our nation and our community.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Mayor, if it's okay with you, I'd like to um ask um Rob if he'd like to say a few words, and then we're gonna ask um the builders, bourbon builders, to come up and say a few words too.

Rob Markman, uh, thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Bond, and uh thank you very much for allowing us to be here.

Uh it is a true honor to be a Chesapeake native or Chesapeake citizen now.

Uh I married a Chesapeake native uh who uh graduated from Great Bridge High School.

Um but we are blessed to be um House 97 for the Gary Sinese Foundation, just in case you don't know who Gary Sinise is, he was Lieutenant Dan for Force Gump.

Um so we are considered ambassadors now for the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Uh most recently, uh we spoke at Grassfield High School uh for their uh flag retreat back in Veterans Day.

Um that was in conjunction with the Gary Sunese Foundation and just recently this past weekend, uh we had the honor of doing Operation uh Snowball Express, which was um at the Norfolk Airport where we got to uh see all the gold star families um and I got to speak there.

Um and Gary Sinise uh helps in conjunction with American Airlines uh get them all to Disney World for five days.

Um so we get to be a part of that, and we're very blessed to be a part of that.

So thank you very much.

Thank you to Bourbon Builders, they're right behind us.

They'll talk uh in a little bit.

But Paige and Rory have been amazing.

Um they're part of the community here, and we're very happy to be here.

Um we're part of the RISE program.

Uh Councilman Bunn got a handout that he can hand out to all of you, what the Gary Snees Foundation does.

Um so we're very happy to be here, and uh thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Ballard.

And now we're gonna ask um Paige and Roy from Bourbon Builders to come say a few words.

And these these are amazing Chesapeake builders, by the way, Mayor.

They have been in business for over 10 years, and let me tell you, um, Mr.

Ballard is actually my neighbor.

I live down the street from his beautiful new home.

He brought the values of our houses way up.

So um at this time we'll turn it over to Bourbon Builders.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm not quite as eloquent off the cuff as Rob is, so I did prepare a little something.

Um, but thank you guys so much for inviting us.

Uh back in 2011, when um sorry, 2001, when I graduated from JMU, uh I decided to be moved to Norfolk to be close to family.

At that time, the Navy had moved us around so often that I had been to over 11 different schools in my 22 years.

Um I was young and still into the excitement that Norfolk had to offer.

But fast forward to 2012, Roy and Rory and I had started a family and wanted stability, a great school system for our kids, family-friendly neighborhoods, and community.

In other words, Chesapeake.

There's something about this city that forces us to slow down, and it's not just the bridge openings.

We seem to have more of an opportunity to view the sunsets, to play cards with the family, to mull over just how early is too early to set up our chairs for the Christmas parade.

We are a community, and that's why I'm here today to share with you how Chesapeake rallied awa around one of its own, the Ballard family.

The Gary Sinise Foundation reached out to Rory and I just shy of two years ago to ask if we wanted to build a custom home for a wounded veteran.

For those of you that are not familiar with this foundation, the houses they are built are mortgage-free, smart homes, specially adapted to the veterans' specific needs.

And as Rob had mentioned, his house is number 97.

Um in each home, the hallways uh are of over five feet wide to accommodate wheelchairs.

The blinds, lights, and door locks are controlled with a push of a button on an iPad.

Showers are specifically designed to allow for easy transfer and independence, and the list goes on.

The Gary Sneese Foundation quite literally answered our prayers to give to allow our business to give back to our community.

The day that we put up the sign designating that that would be the site for the next GSF house was an amazing one.

From that day forward until literally the week before home dedication.

Local businesses and neighbors called and stopped by to ask how they could help.

Garage doors were donated by Miller's.

The labor for landscaping was donated by Cooper's Creek.

The labor for hardscaping was donated by Hickory Hardscapes, all local Chesapeake businesses.

The fence was donated by Tywater Fence, the traffic detour signs were donated by Ross and Sons, and the list goes on and on.

These businesses and neighbors showed up.

And that's what Chesapeake does.

It's what the Gary Sinese Foundation does.

And it's what having such a tight-knit military community does.

We show up.

Because as I said at the House Dedication, it's not about us, it's about serving our fellow man, serving our neighbors, and serving the men and women who fight for our freedom.

Other wonderful organizations have also chosen Chesapeake as the location to build mortgage-free uh homes for veterans.

We've been doubly blessed as we've been asked by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to build a home off of Ballahack Road for Chief Petty Officer Mario McKenna.

And we hope to break ground in the next month or so.

I have no doubt that Chesapeake will show up for that project too, because that's what we do.

Thank you so much so much for your time and go Navy beat Army.

Yes.

Oh thank you for that last remark.

Thank you.

And um, Vice Mayor and Council, I did um but in your placements, um, information about the Gary Sneath Foundation, and if you'd like to contribute, feel free to do so.

Um, um, Mayor West, earlier today we did present um Burton Belvers and um Mr.

Ballard and his wife a small token of our appreciation, partly and part of um Bridge Johnson is a really cool Thomas Kincaid um decoration that is um entitled Welcome Home.

So it's very appropriate.

So thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Bunn.

Next.

Sorry.

Next, we have a certificate of recognition for Reverend Jake Manley Sr., an honorary street renaming.

Streets connect neighborhoods and lead us from one place to another.

By placing Reverend Manley's name along Campistela Road, we acknowledge that his life did exactly that.

He connected people, bridge divides, and led countless individuals towards hope, dignity, and new beginnings.

Today we recognize and honor the legacy of Reverend Dr.

Jake Manley Sr., a man whose life work strengthened the very fabric of our city.

His love for Campus Stella and for the people of Chesapeake was deep and it was genuine.

And so today, I proudly join his family, friends, and this community as the mayor presents the dedication of Campus, this portion of Campistello Road in his honor.

Thank you, Ms.

Redder.

I'm not done.

I'm reading the script.

I'm new at this job.

So, sorry.

May all who travel be reminded of a life well lived, a legacy that endures, and a servant leader who helped shape the heart of Chesapeake.

Ms.

Patricia Manley Smith, daughter of the honoree, please come forward to receive the certification.

And anyone else who might like to join her.

Yeah, I would like to ask uh Dr.

Casey, the pastor of uh Bethany Baptist Church.

Yes, ma'am, I understand.

Okay, thank you.

And before uh ask either of you to speak, I do want to take a moment to read this uh certificate because I think it does say, and Ms.

Ritter did a great job saying of all the things that uh Dr.

Manley did.

Um, but this is in addition.

The City of Chesapeake recognizes the life and legacy of Reverend Dr.

Jake Manley Sr., a United States Navy veteran, a visionary pastor, devoted community leader, whose extraordinary service strengthened families, uplifted neighborhoods, and transformed countless lives.

And whereas Reverend Manley's leadership at the Bethany Baptist Church and his commitment to substance abuse recovery, re-entry support, violence prevention, youth empowerment, civic engagement established established him as a pillar of hope throughout the Hampton Roads region.

His wavering wavering unwavering devotion to the Campus Stella community reflects a lifetime of service marked by compassion, courage, and unshakable belief in the dignity and potential of every individual.

Whereas the City of Chesapeake seeks to honor his enduring impact by dedicating the Campistella Road between Sunrise Avenue and Providence Road in his name, ensuring that his legacy remained visible and celebrated for generations to come.

Therefore, Chesapeake, with the support of uh Chesapeake City Council, formerly recognizes the honorary street dedication bestowed in memory of Dr.

Reverend Jake Manley Sr.

Good evening.

I am Dr.

H.

Patrick Kayson Sr.

And I have the privilege of serving as the senior pastor of the Bethany Baptist Church for the last nine years.

In that nine years, I've had an opportunity to serve the City of Chesapeake as the Vice Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Commission, a former member of the Camp Stella Youth Task Force, and my tenure as senior pastor, we've been able to give over 2,000 COVID-19 vaccinations during the pandemic and a numerous humanitarian efforts throughout the last nine years.

I share these accomplishments only to highlight one profound truth.

My ability to serve the city effectively in such a short span of time is directly connected to the shoulders upon which I stand.

My predecessor, the Reverend Dr.

Jake Manley Sr.

Created the various civic and community pathways that allow me and many others to lead with credibility, compassion, and impact the city of Chesapeake.

When we reflect upon the life of and ministry of Reverend Dr.

Jake Manley Sr., we recognize a man whose journey was marked by unwavering faith, visionary leadership, and boundless compassion.

For nearly four decades, as a senior pastor of the Bethany Baptist Church, Dr.

Manley served as a mentor, a confidant and guiding voice, not only to his congregation, but to pastors, civic officials, and community leaders across Hampton Roads.

His compassion reached far beyond the pulpit.

He championed the needs of the homeless.

He fought tirelessly for affordable housing.

He ensured children had hot meals after school.

He secures subsidized housing for veterans.

Though he received numerous awards, his true reward was not in public recognition, but in the dignity restored to those he served.

Dr.

Manley's life was definitely by wisdom, was defined by wisdom, resilience, and quiet strength.

He led with grace, served and humility, with love and conviction.

His legacy is not persevered solely in programs or accolades, but in the hearts of the countless individuals and families he uplifted.

He left a delegacy, a legacy that I now get the privilege to stand upon and to continue to build upon.

And on behalf of the Manley family and the Bethany Baptist Church, we would like to thank you for this honor and this presentation.

I stand back because I just feel rather cold today.

But I just wanted to say thank you so very much on behalf of the Manley family and the members of the um councilman and you may have voice.

I really am grateful.

And those all who have come out to support us.

I'm so grateful.

Yes.

And so, you know, tonight has been a night about talking, uh talking about individuals and organizations that make Chesapeake what it is.

And uh Dr.

Manley certainly I didn't have a great opportunity to know him well, but I just I know of the legacy and the impact that he's had.

And I want to also thank all of you for being here tonight.

Would you please stand and just be recognized?

It's a cold night, and so I know for you to come out on a cold night like this for the to honor a great man, uh it means a lot to us as a city.

So we thank and ask you, God bless you all.

And uh can I present this to both of you all?

Oh, right up here.

If anyone else would like to come out and take a photograph, please feel free at this time.

Oh well.

We have other families.

Oh, well.

Yes.

Yes, yes, I mean.

Everybody uh, can I say everybody?

Let's all smile.

Thank you.

You will see this on Facebook.

Send me a friend request.

I have it all over.

And I appreciate it greatly, all the guidance.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Mayor and Vice Mayor while they are sitting, I just wanted to say my own thank you and congratulations, Pastor Casey.

Having recognized Pastor Manley for so many years during City Council and School Boy Days.

I just want to thank Incominian for all that he has done and all that you continue to do in his first steps.

Thank you so very much.

Well, this year honor.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

Um thank you.

No, I'm gonna have McGavel right back.

Okay.

All right.

This city council's meeting constitutes a limited public form, therefore, public comments must be relevant to items on the council's agenda or otherwise reasonable considering the purpose of this meeting.

As established by City Council's rules of order and procedure, any speaker that delays, interrupts or otherwise disrupts city council's ability to conduct its meeting in an orderly manner by disorderly incident or disturbing action, speech or other conduct will be declared out of order.

Citizens' comments on public hearing items, Madam Clerk.

Do we have any at this time?

We have two speakers on item A.

Would you like me to read it in the record?

Yes, ma'am.

A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a lease with Glenn Weatherly Farms, LLC for 16.56 acres of farmland owned by the City of Chesapeake, located at 1102, Centerville Turnpike South in the City of Chesapeake, Virginia.

Requested by public works, and this is retroactive to January 1, 2025.

The first speaker is Glenn Scott Weatherly speaking in support, followed by Vic Nichols.

Well, y'all know what I'm Glenn Scott will in 1953 Long Range Road.

I own Glenn Willie Farms.

If y'all got any questions for me, let me know.

You know, I've been following that piece land of y'all for five or six years, you know, somebody maybe long on that.

But you got anything you want to ask me, let me know.

We will.

Thank you.

Appreciate what you do, sir.

Yes, sir.

Vic Nichols representing self.

If you appreciate what they do, and I certainly appreciate their farmers.

Is there any reason we can't move this to a straight $500 instead of the 600 sum?

I know I ask this like every time, but I think we should show some consideration to our farmers.

They're usually getting older.

There's fewer of them.

And there's nothing I appreciate more than the food that I get from them because the farmers, you know what I can trust them.

If if something goes bad or whatever, they'll tell me I don't have to worry about what I get for my money.

And that's trust you can't buy.

So out of respect for them, it's Christmas.

How about a present?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Motion is in order.

Retroactive January 1st, 2025.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Thank you, Ms.

Ritter.

Any discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the resolution as presented, retroactive to January 1, 2025, is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Thank you.

Next item, please.

A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a lease with Adams Outdoor Advertising Limited Partnership for approximately 0.421 acre of vacant land owned by the City of Chesapeake, located between Wilson Road and Pondexter Street.

Requested by public works and retroactive to November 1st, 2025.

And do we have any speakers?

No, sir.

Thank you.

Motion is in order.

Move to approve.

Retroactive November.

Metroactive.

Thank you.

Mr.

Whitaker and Dr.

Ward, any discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the resolution as presented, retroactive to November 1, 2025 is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next is citizens' comments on agenda items only.

Or do we have any speakers, Madam Clerk?

Yes, sir.

We have two speakers.

The first is Vic Nichols representing self, followed by Rogard Ross.

On City Manager Item 2, um, I want to say thank you in advance for this one.

You know, annual animal services is very important to me.

So I appreciate y'all approving this.

On the new business item A.

Um, I'm hoping this is just an initiating resolution, and we're not voting on anything really at this time.

On City Manager Item 8 on the legislative package.

Employing LEOs to address public safety needs.

How come the police won't allow volunteers to photo disabled parking spaces?

That's some of the things that could be done that would help the city.

It would definitely help the disabled, especially after the recognition y'all gave earlier.

And it doesn't cost you any dollars and can actually bring money into the city.

It's something I brought up earlier.

One city that actually started that particular program gained over a hundred grand in a year from the violations.

On reducing gun violence, you want to do that?

Arm the cops better than the criminals.

Delegate Cliff Hayes had cops tell him that they were outgunned by the criminals because they put auto seers on the on the back of the Glocks.

The new version 6 ones should supposedly take care of that, but they've already got sears for that.

I, you know, really, it doesn't take that much to change backplate.

I had a custom black plate done for me, and it was changed out.

I did that within a couple of minutes.

So this is something that we could do that would actually help our guys out there.

Next thing, we need to see statements from DAs or prosecutors that show their stats and their willingness to keep violent people off the street.

Because a lot of things that we're seeing lately is a lot of people that have these long arrest records, and they're coming off killing people, raping women, they're taking their cars and they're hitting people and stuff because we have prosecutors not doing their jobs.

So putting out some public stats for that would really be nice.

On the primary and secondary road funding, that is something you want each city to do.

Because you know what's going to happen?

They're going to take our money and send it to NOVA.

Then after that, RBA.

Then we'll get something, and you're going to have 81 screaming and complaining because all their money goes out there.

I've sat there and watched this at the state for years.

They do that.

Sovereign immunity.

To a point, I think we do need that on our elected officials.

The city is different.

And that way, that's going to do a lot towards a lot of the carping that people talk about, bad decision making on the hat on behalf of their elected officials.

Because when your skin is in the game, not just ours, makes a big difference.

On workforce ready students, a 2025 survey was done that found one in eight hiring managers plan to bypass recent graduates, with 37 percent of employers stating that they would prefer to hire AI over a young graduate because of poor work ethic, feelings of entitlement, and low motivation is the primary concerns.

Strong work ethic is shaped by cultural, familiar, and socioeconomic factors.

It can't be taught in a classroom.

So while some educators are trying to put those strategies in what they teach, you know, pride and work being just on time, the broader education system fails to align that with employer needs.

And there's a growing disconnect because what employers expect in terms of getting these kids is totally different from the reliability, the work ethic, and the skills that they need.

So that's something that we really need to take a look at.

In regards to FOIA, the in the the years past, what was put forth by at the time delegate Rome was just two hours.

That's all you get for free was two hours.

That's not a huge, huge deal.

Got a question for you.

How much does wind energy help locally versus other localities, data centers, and businesses?

I mean, we're the ones with all these, you know, all the wind energy and things like that, solar and all that coming up here, but how much of it actually stays here, and how much of it benefits somebody else?

And one thing I really want to see on the record, you're all against removing the car tax.

I just want to see that because that kind of is referenced in there.

One last um thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Rogard Ross, representing Friends of Indian River.

Good evening.

Um God Ross, I am at 3800 Riverclass Place.

Um, good evening, uh, Mr.

Mayor, Madam Vice Mayor, members of the City Council.

On behalf of the Friends of Indian River, I'm this is I'm pleased that the final version of the legislative package includes items like increased support.

Includes support for increased funding of the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program, the Virginia Agricultural Cost Share Program, funding for open space preservation, water quality funding, community flood preparedness funding, and stormwater local assistance fund.

You even got the uh Menhaden uh fishery management uh in there.

So some good environmental stuff in the um legislative packets.

In the Indian River area, we are disappointed that we do not see something in there about the hunting issue on the Indian River.

I came here in October when you had the work session about that, and I thought I left with uh some uh in the case and that that would be included in the package.

Uh I did not find it in there.

Um we are working with Delegate Anthony to try to draft legislation.

This is an issue where someone has set up a hunting blind end of a uh 155 yards away from houses in the urban overlay of the city and is really an inappropriate place for hunting.

So once we have a draft of that new legislation, I am very hopeful that the city will support that when it goes through the General Assembly.

Um thank you for your consideration.

Thank you, Mr.

Ross.

That's all the speakers.

Thank you.

Next is our consent agenda.

I would like to uh recognize uh Councilman Jeffries.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I am an employee of the City of Chesapeake and a member of its police department.

I am disclosing this personal interest because city manager item number two could benefit the police department employees.

Since the police department includes three or more people who may be affected, the city attorney has advised that I can participate if this disclosure is made.

I do not have a conflict that prevents me from participating, and I hereby affirm that I can participate fairly, objectively, and in the public's interest.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Jeffries.

Uh Madam Clerk.

City Clerk Items 1, acknowledgments for rezoning applications, public necessity, convenience, general welfare, and good zoning practice requires the following zoning reclassification request to be heard.

This request is not a public hearing item at this time.

This item is tentatively scheduled to be heard by the planning commission on December the 10th, 2025, and will be considered by City Council at a future meeting.

A PLN REZ 2025-008, Hanbury Manor Section 4.

Item 2, Refund, American Home Health Care, LLC, 11,377 and 19 cents.

Resignations, A.

Aesha Bugs, Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Health Care Board, B.

Robert Lee, Natural Event Medication Advisory Committee, and C, Dr.

Shirley Auguste, Transportation Toll Facility Advisory Committee.

City Manager Item 1, request for the authority to apply for a $10,000 Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry requested by Parks Recreation and Tourism.

Item two, request to appropriate $95,772 of donations and $4,828 of State Revenue to the FY26 operating budget of the Animal Services Division of the Police Department, requested by police.

Item three, request to accept and appropriate $69,412 received from the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Developmental Services to the FY26 operating budget for the purchase of an automated medication dispensing machine at the Chesapeake Care's Crisis Center, requested by CIBH.

Item 4, request to accept and appropriate $200,000 received from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to the CIBH Workforce Funding Grant requested by CIBH.

City Attorney Item 1, an ordinance repealing Chapter 30 of the Chesapeake City Code entitled Finance and Taxation, Article 16 and Title Property Tax, Section 30-517 entitled Separate Classification of Real Property Owned by Certain Surviving Spouses of Persons Killed in the Line of Duty to reflect changes in the Code of Virginia.

That concludes the consent agenda, Mayor.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Are there any items that council members would like to remove for discussion purposes?

Mr.

Whitaker.

Yes, Mr.

Mayor, I would like to remove item number three for discussion.

Item number three.

We have a motion for the approves proposed agenda with exception of item three.

Thank you.

Ms.

Ritter, second.

Second.

Thank you.

Ms.

Lewins.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the consent agenda with the exception of item 7 is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Thank you.

Next is our regular agenda, so we will look at item.

Pardon?

We'll look at uh item three from the consent agenda.

Uh Mr.

Whitaker.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh so uh Mr.

Manager, if you would, could you please explain to the people exactly what the nature and of this medication dispensing machine?

In my mind, uh I'm thinking of a almost like a snack machine or something.

This dispensing uh and when you read through the notes, when you read through staff notes, it doesn't really elaborate.

Um if you could please explain, I greatly appreciate it.

Appreciate the question.

Thank you.

So uh this is at the Heron's Cove Crisis Receiving Center.

It's a 24-hour um center where um so for example, if we have public safety um, whether it's police or fire, encounter someone that is in mental health distress, historically we would take them to jail or the emergency room.

This is now the third option that we created a few years ago, where we have licensed clinicians and practitioners and mental health professionals staffing this facility.

And so um the this particular apparatus is is the machine that dispenses any pharmaceuticals that are necessary for um for the uh clients at that facility.

It's it's a secure facility, it's only accessed, uh it's only able to be accessed by the clinical staff.

It has very significant safety protocols, but members of the public or clients can't access the area that it's in, let alone the facility itself, and there is very significant safety safeguards on the apparatus itself to just ensure that the clinician can access the medications, and then they actually scan the the um um identification of the client to make sure that the client is getting access to the appropriate medication from the so it's basically serving as uh as uh as the pharmacy historically would, but we no longer have access to 24 hour pharmacies.

Okay, and again, only medical professionals have access to this apparent.

That is correct.

Okay, thank you.

Any further discussion on a consent agenda for item three?

Seeing none, can we have a motion, Mr.

Whitaker?

Move to approve.

Thank you, sir.

Second.

Mr.

Jeffries, thank you so much.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

On the motion to approve city manager item three, I correct.

I said seven, but it's number three, is adopted by a nine-o vote.

Thank you.

Mr.

Manager, would you please present the item five is a request to add one license clinician two and one peer recovery specialist position to the complement of Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Health Care to support operations at the Harbor Hope Recovery High School, requested by Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Health Care.

A motion, please.

Ms.

Ritter.

Before I'd be happy to make the motion, but I have a declaration.

Oh, I apologize.

Yes, please.

I serve on the board of the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority, which is funding this request.

I am not compensated for my service on this board, and I do not serve on the authorities grants committee.

The City Attorney's Office has confirmed there is no legal conflict.

Nonetheless, I am making this disclosure in the interest of transparency and affirm that I can participate in this matter fairly, objectively, and in the public interest.

Thank you.

And with that, I make the motion to approve City Manager Item 5.

Thank you.

Can we have a second, please?

Thank you.

Mr.

Whitaker.

Any further discussion?

This is part of, it's in the backup material, but it's this is part of Chesapeake's obligation to the recovery high school, which will serve up to 25 students recovering from opioid addiction.

And these are fully funded by the OAA, the opioid abatement authority.

And it's through the grant program.

And so this doesn't involve taxpayer money, but it certainly is a wonderful opportunity for recovering.

And it's other than housing the facility.

This is Chesapeake's contribution to the school.

Is that correct, Mr.

Manager?

Any further any further discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the request as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

And before you present the next item, Mr.

Ritter, I do want to publicly thank you for serving on this authority.

It really is important.

I would like to recognize Deputy City Manager Wright.

Yes.

Who is leading the team on our recent half a million dollar grant for it's called STOP?

And it's particularly focused on education and recovery.

For the for a group that has the highest percentage of overdose deaths in the Commonwealth.

A very low number, but it's a big high percentage.

So thank you to Mr.

Wright for leaving that effort.

Between the two of you, I think we are well served.

Mr.

Bryce, next item, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Item six has two parts, both of which are consideration of amendments to the FY26 operating budget for approved FY25 carry forward requests request requested by budget and finance.

Item 6A is a request to appropriate 205,602 to the Human Resources FY26 operating budget for the executive leadership program, learning management program, and employee wellness initiatives, and transfer 158,147 from the general fund to the health care internal service fund.

Motion please.

Move approval.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

We have a second.

Please push the button.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Ritter.

We have a first and a second.

Any discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the request as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Item 6B is a request to appropriate $106,682 to the Central Fleet FY26 operating budget for replacement tools.

Motion, please.

Move to approve.

Thank you, Mr.

Whitaker.

Second.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the request as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Item 8 is a request for approval of the City of Chesapeake 2026 legislative package requested by the City Manager's Office.

A motion is in order.

Move approval.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Second.

Thank you, Mr.

Jeffries.

Second.

Any discussion?

I have a question on Mr.

Ross's request.

We talked about that earlier.

We did.

I don't see Mr.

Westcott.

Yay.

We're free.

Mr.

Manager, how would you suggest?

Would we add that request under legislative priorities or policy?

So it won't be a legislative priorities because we haven't sought a sponsor and we haven't seen the legislation that that is being proposed.

This is similar to the last time it came up, and if you recall, at the last minute, we had an indication that this was going to be introduced.

So I'm not sure if those concerns have been addressed, still haven't seen the legislation.

However, if it's Council's desire to support whatever is ultimately submitted for legislation, we would certainly do so and we would request it be under supportive legislative priorities.

Mr.

Ritter, if I may suggest, I think Mr.

Ross asked us to look what look at the legislation once it is presented to adopt it.

So I think in keeping with what he's asked and what the manager said, I think if we wait to see it and then uh act on it officially as a as a motion would be a good caution.

And we can very quickly respond if we're comfortable with the legislation that advances council's desire.

We can very quickly respond.

Mr.

Ross, if you'll stay in touch with us uh as far as the uh progression of that bill, we would love to be able to get behind it.

I think you are exactly right.

It is a dangerous thing to be doing.

Everybody okay with that?

All right.

Sounds good.

Where are we?

Number nine.

Number nine.

Thank you.

And before I read this, I will say, although he is not here tonight, David Westcott is the best in the business and represent the.

He is indeed.

Item nine is a request to vote.

Wait.

Oh, sorry.

Did we vote on eight?

We did not.

Thank you.

We do have a motion and a second on number eight.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the 2026 legislative package as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next is item.

Item 9 is a request to appropriate $380,000 to the PSOC Situational Awareness Audio Visual Upgrade Capital Improvement Project requested by information technology as an emergency action.

Motion, please.

So moved as an emergency action.

Thank you, Ms.

Nolan.

Second.

Thank you.

Mr.

Whitaker, any discussion?

Councilman Newlands.

Ms.

Whittaker.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the request as presented and as an emergency action is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next to our non-agenda speakers, comments on the services, policies, and affairs of the city.

Madam Clerk, do we have any speakers?

Yes, sir.

We have nine speakers.

Each speaker will be allotted three minutes.

The first speaker is Vic Nichols, speaking on affairs of the city, followed by Megan Baker.

Thank you, Councilman uh Councilmember Smith for speaking up, showing you cared about a group outside of your area.

I appreciate that.

Thank you to Vice Mayor Ritter for speaking up on the disabled parking situation.

I appreciate that very much also.

You know, that's a personal thing of mine.

On the Greenborough Senior Apartments, did y'all have the health department take a look into that issue?

Never heard anything.

I also sent an email following election violations to the city and got no response from anyone.

That's very disturbing.

So I guess I need to hit the state or do I go to the feds, be the better one?

So let me know.

There was an article came out that said Virginia Beach was ranked the number one caring city.

They beat us.

San Diego and Boston also beat us.

Might want to take a look into that.

On the legislative package, it states that the City of Chesapeake is opposed to all legislative initiatives and actions put forth by either the members of the General Assembly or a local government that require changes under amendments to the City of Chesapeake's Charter.

Well, when you want to change the Charter, you have to go to a member of the General Assembly to get it done.

So do we want to add unless approved by City Council in a majority vote to that?

My suggestion, because the way it's worded now, nobody would ever get any charter change cross the General Assembly and get it passed.

On our Second Amendment sanctuary statement that we made a few years ago, I'm requesting that Council reaffirm their commitment to our God-given constitutional rights, where the government is restricted from infringing on a right to own firearms.

A federal legislator recently stated we have more guns in this country than we have humans.

So one of the things that's going to be important is to create a registry, which is illegal, so we know where the guns are.

A registry is a tool that lets the government know exactly where to go with the law laner changes and ban certain guns against the SCOTUSBRWAIN decision.

Historically, in other countries, registration comes first, confiscation comes second, and then a number of us are murdered by the government third.

So I want to know where you all stand.

Do you stand behind our rights?

Especially women.

Do you stand behind our rights to be able to be equal or not?

Megan Baker speaking on public microchip scanning.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, Councilmembers, and City staff.

My name is Megan Baker, and I'm the creator of the Reunite Tonight Project, a community initiative designed to help lost pets get home faster, reduce unnecessary shelter intake, and strengthen the relationship between residents and Chesapeake Animal Services.

Every day, pets go missing in our community.

Many of these animals already have loving homes, but without quick access to a microchip scanner, good Samaritans often only have two options.

Bring the animal to the shelter or call for city resources.

This unintentionally increases intake, adds stress to an already full system, and delays reunification.

The reunite tonight project provides a simple, cost-effective solution.

Public microchip scanning stations place at trusted accessible locations throughout Chesapeake.

These stations allow residents who find a stray pet to scan for a microchip immediately and contact the owner with the hope that they do not have to stay at the shelter, and it helps families reunite quickly and efficiently.

There's no cost to the city, and the station signage and setup are already fully prepared by myself and by my family members that are helping me.

A key component of this initiative is community education along with the station.

We provide clear, friendly materials explaining the importance of microchipping.

Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your dedication to this Chesapeake community.

I look forward to hopefully partnering together to bring this resource to life and help more families reunite tonight.

So I'm requesting permission to place the first pilot station on Chesapeake Animal Services property.

Thank you.

Speaker, please.

Linda Tyndale speaking on the South Central Water Main, followed by David Wright.

Good evening.

Linda Tyndall, 1045 West Road.

I was here on October 28th to request your help after learning of the mandatory connection of my home to the water main that will be installed from Dominion Boulevard to the airport, Frank Williams Farm, the Northwest Annex, and onto the water treatment plant on battlefield to complete the desired loop.

While waiting to be copied on the staff recommendations to change the West Road homes, mandatory connections to optional, Vanessa Butler and I have conducted an informal survey of our established rural community of 42 homes and two churches.

We were able to speak with 40 property owners.

No one was aware that we had been POOFAD.

One hundred percent want the connection to be optional.

Three plan to connect.

Two of the three were told by a Dragus representative that they would be provided sewer connections as well.

I sent the design drawing.

They were given by email to each of you.

Two others are undecided.

That leaves 35 that are a hard no for city water hookup.

All have asked to see the plans for the project, specifically in front of their homes.

Individual images received by email are too congested to read on a phone or a tablet.

Several neighbors do not have access to a computer.

Perhaps a paper copy of each house could be sent to each property owner instead of the whole copy we wanted to share with neighbors.

This water main extension and sewer forced main just happens to pass through our established rural community.

It will have our road torn up for several years.

It is to benefit the airport and other future developments.

City Manager Price, please remind the staff that there was a City Council work session briefing on July 12th, 2022, entitled Public Utilities Franchise Area Expansion Options.

On page 19, staff had four suggested options for properties along new transmission lines.

Their recommendation was option two to expand PUFAs on a site-by-site basis.

I prefer option number four.

Design systems to serve designated areas and not areas along the transmission lines.

City Council, Mayor, Vice Mayor, I'm requesting, well, I'm not sure what to call it, an accelerated proffer modification comes to mind.

Perhaps a resolution to make the connection to the South Central Water Main Loop optional to the existing established properties and homes along the new transmission lines.

Time is of the essence as the work is scheduled to begin in less than a month.

Thank you.

Thank you.

David Wright.

Good evening.

My name is David Wright.

I'm here this evening to request that Chesapeake amend its code of ordinances to invoke a residential lighting ordinance.

And I have provided a hard copy to each of y'all tonight.

And that has some research has been done.

This would not be very difficult for the city to do this, nor do I believe it would be expensive.

There's currently no recourse to address sky glow, glare, and spillover from adjacent properties when you live in a residential area.

The Hampton Road cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Pocosan all have residential exterior lighting ordinances.

Modern exterior accent lighting and flood lighting that's sold today is largely LED.

And when unshielded, it illuminates some distance in a lateral direction, you know, across multiple properties.

The example ordinances have these issues addressed in them.

There are ordinances throughout the United States that have come about as a direct result of lateral spillover from modern LED lighting.

A number of lighting ordinances, including some of those that I have cited specifically address making their respective municipalities uh dark sky friendly.

The ordinance request document that I provided for each of you guys gives a good starting point for Chesapeake Development and Voke and an ordinance that is reasonable, fair, and affords protection against extreme residential lighting spillover.

And I'll note that a number of the ordinances, the better ones, they actually have sketches in there so that you know the um zoning people don't have to get involved.

I mean, you can look at these things and it tells you exactly what you need to do.

So if it comes to you know a contest, hey, it's right there in writing, and it's it's depicted.

It gives dimensions and tells you how to do different you know things.

So the use of the sketches and the figures is a good way to provide simple guidance regarding exterior lighting installation ordinance.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Rogard Ross speaking on the comp plan, followed by Vanessa Butler.

I've been here on that one too.

Good evening again.

Um got raw study at Hunter Libacos Place, and this evening I'm representing Tesape Sustainability Network talking on the Comp Plan.

I'm here on a mission.

Uh next month we'll be voting on the Comp Plan, which is our blueprint for the next 20 years for the city.

The draft that's been prepared by the planning department is uh quite good.

It describes a strong vision for creating a high quality future for the city that is proactive about developing necessary infrastructure that protects green and open space, works to connect people, and respects the unique parts, unique character of different parts of the city.

It presents principles on smart growth, focused moving of people across complete streets, uh, and has good policies related to the environment resilience in supporting rural areas.

There are very many aspects of this plan which should be applauded.

But we need more than just good work, good words when we uh do this.

We also need to follow up with good action.

When you walk out the back door of City Hall here, we have a very nice little native plant garden uh that was put in there by PRT.

To make Tespeak a healthy place to live in, that's in tune with nature.

We need a thousand, and actually tens of thousands of little improvements like that, those native plant gardens put in.

The Master Gardeners, the Elizabeth River Project, the Friends of Indian River, this Virginia Conservation Assistance Program we mentioned earlier on the Let's Live Package.

They're all working to educate residents, businesses, churches, institutions about the needs of doing this, how to do them, and providing even grant money to make these happen.

We need the city to support these efforts.

The comp plan, I said, says many good things.

It needs to say a few more good things about conservation landscaping.

But no matter what, we really need the city to support these efforts.

Mr.

McNamara invited you all to uh speak to the planning department and ask them any questions about this here.

I hope you will perhaps encourage them to include some more wording about this in there.

If you need any follow-up from me, I'd be happy to talk to you all individually.

Uh but this is something we really need.

It's not just the trees, it's also the understory where we need to make improvements.

Uh and with that, I'm going to wish you all a merry Christmas, a happy holidays, and a wonderful new year.

Thank you, sir.

Vanessa Butler.

Speaking on the new West Road Water Line, followed by Jennifer Economy.

Hi, my name is Vanessa Butler.

I live at 1021 West Road.

Uh my topic is the new water line, sewer line that they will be bringing down in West Road sometime in January.

At this point, I believe it is still a mandatory hookup, which is unnecessary for me because I have well and septic, and I am very happy with my well-in-septic.

It will impose a financial hardship for me with hookup fees that may be $3,700 for a hookup, another 4,000 for a plumber to run it to my kitchen.

And I've been told those figures are rather low.

It will also be a financial hardship because it will give me an unnecessarily monthly bill for the water used.

Most people were unaware that it had been made mandatory.

We got that information October 22nd.

Most people on that road that I spoke to do not want city water.

The three that did think it should not be mandatory.

It should not be, we should not be forced to have a city services that we do not want and do not need.

So for my declaration of independence, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, happiness would be to keep my well and my septic and my rural way of life.

So please do not make it mandatory.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Powell.

Next speaker.

Jennifer Economy, West Road Water Hookup, followed by Marquilla Moore.

Good evening, Mayor West and City Council members.

My name is Jennifer Economy, and I reside at 2708 Cedarville Road in the Hickory area of Chesapeake.

I'm here tonight regarding the South Central Water Transmission Maine and Loop Project Phase 1 on West Road.

This project is needed for the sewer extension to the airport.

But while infrastructure is important, forcing residents to abandon their own safe, functional and well-maintained wells strips away property rights and disregards the investments families have already made.

I ask, what do taxpayers truly gain from this infrastructure?

We've already seen the airport struggle to cover their own expenses of its failed system.

If major projects like this cannot sustain themselves, why should homeowners be compelled to shoulder another costly mandate?

My own family in Pennsylvania lived through this.

They were forced to connect to city sewer and water in their rural homes, paying thousands of dollars for something they did not need.

Worse, they were told that if they refused, a lien would be placed on their property.

That kind of coercion is not just costly, it's punitive.

I fear Chesapeake could follow the same path, expanding mandates into areas subjected to overdevelopment like mine in the Cedarville-Sanderson area.

Homeowners who have responsibly maintained their systems should not be penalized.

Connections should be optional, not compulsory.

Respecting choice, protecting property rights, and honoring responsible stewardship must guide decisions.

I urge you to consider making connection option making connections optional before it sets a president's precedent that homes that harms more of our Chesapeake homeowners.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Marquita Moore speaking on the comp plan, followed by Daryl Gates.

Good evening.

And I too would like to thank city staff and everybody who's been involved because that's a lot of work.

And it looks sounds like we're getting ready to cross the finish line.

So just want to point out a couple of things.

On page 278 of the proposed comprehensive plan, there are a list of adopted city council policies.

One that is listed has to do with the level of service policy.

And it says it was adopted in 2025.

And my challenge with this is I don't remember you all adopting that policy.

Now the last one I could find anything on was the one that you adopted in 2018.

And I was able to find everything about that.

The red line version, what was changed, what the final wording was, but I've not been able to find any information.

So I just thought I'd come directly to you to ask you.

Somebody had something to say.

Also, along that same line, the master transportation plan.

Or for some reason we no longer need to do that.

That would be step one.

Step two, list what's being added and why.

And everybody should have access to that information.

We shouldn't have to go to an open house, although we like your open houses.

But if everybody could just get that have that information available.

And just as a general, this is just a general public notice that for those of you who don't know, and I'm not talking, I'm talking to everybody, there is going to be a public information meeting.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next Peter.

Darrell Gates speaking on housing programs to help evictions and homelessness.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you, Mayor and Councilman and City Staff officials.

My name is Darrell Gates.

It's my first time speaking to you, but I'd like to go ahead and address the issue.

Um purpose of this proposal is to establish a transparent, fair and economically sustainable rental framework for LA LIHTC, low income housing and tax credit, and workforce housing committees with Chesapeake, Virginia, ensuring compliance with HUD regulations, protection of low-income residents from rent burden, stability of property owners, improved community outcomes.

Addressing the current issue.

Residents are experienced confusion regarding how rent is calculated under HUD LIHTC guidelines.

Many tenants face unclear rent calculation calculations, sudden rent increases, rent burdens exceeding 30% of monthly income, lack of transparent communication from management.

This proposal introduces a housing stability model that benefits tenants, owners, and the city stimulation.

Purpose housing stability model.

The transparent rent calculation framework publish HUD LIHTC rent limits for Chesapeake annually.

Require all LIHTC and workforce housing properties to provide tenants with written rent breakdown sheet showing applicable AMI category, 30, 50, and 60 percent.

HUD rent limit, utility allowance deduction, final rent calculation, income-sensitive adjustment layer for households with one income and dependents, rent shall not exceed 30 percent of actual monthly income or the HUD rent cap for their unit size, which is lower.

This keeps family house families housed while preserving program compliance, hardship and recertification protection, immediate recertification when income drops, temporary rent reduction aligned with updated income, 60-day grace period for families experiencing verified hardship, city partnership for rental stability fund.

The city establishes a rental stability supplemental fund to cover the gap when a tenant's 30 percent income calculation is below HUD's rent threshold.

This keeps properties f financially whole while protecting residents, expected outcomes for Chesapeake for residents, prevents homelessness and eviction cycles, build trust in local housing programs, ensure affordable predictable rent.

Mr.

Gates, we were uh we had a little bit of trouble here and everything you said.

If you could possibly provide your remarks if they're written down uh to Ms.

Madison, she'll share them with us so that we can make sure we heard all that you were saying.

Yes, sir, I will do that.

Thank you, sir.

That concludes our speakers, Madam Clerk.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Uh Ms.

Manager, there's been a number of items that were brought up today tonight, and I would encourage any council members that have any particular interest in any one of them to follow up with the manager or bring them up to an in the in the next meeting uh under new business or old business.

But if you would uh I I think there was a genuine concern.

Well, I think all of our genuine concerns, but I was a little concerned about not having some clarity on this mandatory hookup.

Yeah, so I just reiterate what I said last time.

Staff does not intend for um for folks to have mandatory connection on that line.

So that policy exists, I think in ordinance, it's also in policy and in practice, and that policy was designed for uh gaps in the service area where you have communities that don't have service area but are clearly within the service area, and so and and so that you know that that's how you extend service within the service area.

And so and and so that you know that that's how you extend service within the service area.

This is to connect a public facility that's not otherwise in an area we intend to serve with utilities.

So we're combing through our ordinances, policies, practices to make sure we remove that that the language about mandatory connection uh for that that project.

Uh we are going to recommend and we'll be bringing those changes to council.

We are going to recommend leaving in.

We have some incentives for people that want to connect.

Um it's much cheaper to connect when the project is being constructed than after the fact years later.

And we have uh payment plan options for people that um that want to connect that extend that um that that uh payment over a long period of time.

So we do we would like to retain that piece, uh, but we'll be uh uh bringing those uh amendments to council in the near future.

So I say several lights on.

This is really not a time for discussion from council.

I guess that if you have interest, you want to bring it up at a council member on the new business, that would be fine, but this is where we hear the council, I mean the citizens, not where we hear from other council members.

So we're gonna move on from there.

It isn't about the water hookup.

Uh well, anything that was discussed here can be discussed with the manager or at the future meeting.

Well, I was going to invite Ms.

Baker to the Animal Services meeting this week.

You don't need to come up Thursday, 415 at Animal Services if you would like to come and speak to the advisory board.

That's a good suggestion.

I think we do that's an interesting idea.

I think we'd like to hear more about, Mr.

Manager, if you would pursue that.

Next is appointments uh for boards and commissions, and I'm gonna turn to Gabile over to uh our vice mayor, Ms.

Ritter.

Thank you.

Um the council would like to request Ms.

Madison to read the slate of appointments scheduled for this evening.

Item A, Planning Commission, reappoint Clayton Sproul, appoint Lee S.

Hallard, and Antonio Taylor.

Chesapeake City Council Audit Committee, reappoint Francis X.

King.

Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Health Care Board, reappoint Brian Cuffey, Mark Davis, Justin Thurheimer, and appoint Alveda Alexander and Stephen for Sisi.

Item D, Citizen Advisory Committee to the Chesapeake Land Bank, Todd Mayfield representing Greenbrier.

Human Services Advisory Board.

The appointments include Hai Chung, Jerry Davis, and Valerie Rylan.

That concludes this slate.

Thank you.

At this time I would like to ask for a motion to approve the appointments.

Move approval them.

Thank you.

Dr.

Ward, is there a second?

Thank you.

Please vote yes.

Thank you, Council.

I'll hand it back to the mayor.

Thank you.

Ms.

Redder, and thank you for the question.

Motion is adopted by nine of the Thank you, Ms.

Madison.

Next is unfinished business.

Any council members have unfinished Ms.

Redder?

I mean, Ms.

Newens.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

Manager, I did just want to comment on the reunite project, uh, reunite tonight project that Ms.

Baker brought forth.

Um perhaps when we do speak with her about um implementing that project or partnering with her in that project, we look at locations that are open 24-7 that may be city facilities like our police departments, our fire stations, those may be more advantageous than animal services that already has microchip and staff um in place that can do that.

So I would like that for us to follow up on that at the mayor's request as well.

Um additionally, I know earlier this year um I had made the request, and then it had gone before the Parks Track Advisory Um Board regarding the Oak Grove Lake Park Renaming the lake specifically.

It's been nearly 14 years since we lost Officer Tim Schock in that lake to a dive training incident.

And um I know the board committee has reviewed that request.

I would ask and direct staff to bring forth an agenda item uh to council prior to the January 20th meeting for us to vote on renaming the Oak Grove Lake from Oak Grove Lake to the um Tim Officer Timothy Shock Memorial Lake.

Did you have enough?

That was it?

I got new business at all.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Any other unfinished business council members like to bring up?

Mr.

Wedaker.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Mr.

Manager, uh a little over a year ago, uh there was a lot of concern about the condition of Seaboard Avenue.

And uh if you could, would you be so kind as to take a look at that and follow back up with counsel is as to the status of that project?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Whitaker.

Any other unfinished business?

Seeing nine, let's go to new business.

Madam Clerk, would you please present this A?

An initiating resolution requesting the planning commission to consider and make recommendations concerning proposed amendments to the adopted Chesapeake comprehensive plan to amend the text, correlating maps, and technical document as necessary to adopt and incorporate the Deep Creek area plan requested by planning.

Move to approve as presented.

Second.

Thank you, Mr.

Bedaker and Dr.

Ward.

Any discussion.

See none, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the initiating resolution as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next item.

Consideration of proposed amendments to the City Council rules of order and procedure.

Version dated December 9, 2025.

Motion please.

Move approval.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayer.

Thank you, Ms.

Newens.

Any discussion on this item.

Seeing none, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Madam Clark.

Motion to approve the amendments to the City Council rules of order and procedure version dated December 9, 2025, as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Are there any uh council members who have additional new business items I like to bring up?

Ms.

Newens.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh Mr.

Manager, I'd send an email regarding an animal cruelty registry.

Um we've seen in Virginia two other jurisdictions enact this, one in Henrico, one in Richmond.

Uh the General Assembly passed legislation last year to allow localities to implement animal cruelty registries to keep track of anyone convicted of felony offenses or similar offenses that are lesser for uh our animal services, but also rescues or other um shelters to utilize.

Um I don't know if I need to bring this in an initiating resolution form to move forward on or um just a direction.

So I would then direct staff without objection to move forth on implementing an animal cruelty registry in Chesapeake.

Thank you.

And then um one additional request.

Um many of us, um, a dear friend to many of us, a colleague to all of us.

Um in the last couple of months, we all lost our dear friend uh Dr.

Vice Mayor Dieter Kay.

Um and there's nothing that I think can um truly honor the legacy he left this city, but we all know how much he loved and cherished the Western branch area and trying to keep his memory alive and to honor him and his sacrifice and his family sacrifice to this city.

Um I would direct staff to um bring forth a recommendation to council through the Parks and Rec Advisory Board or whichever would be the appropriate route in renaming uh the walking trail and western branch in his honor.

Ms.

Newens, I would like to ask you if you would consider uh changing your request to the staff to uh from bringing us a policy to uh recommending a policy with recommendations.

Regarding the animal cruelty registry.

Yes, yes.

I don't have any objection to that.

If staff wants to bring forth a policy with their recommendations, I think it's you know we it sounds like a good idea, but without hearing both sides, it's it would be hard for me to decide whether it's something I would support or not.

So a rec hearing from staff on with uh pros and cons would be good.

Thank you.

Appreciate you doing that.

Any other items council members would like to bring up under uh uh new business.

Thanks.

Next is uh closed meeting.

Madam Attorney, would you please provide the language for our closed meeting topic?

Yes.

A motion to conduct a closed meeting to one consult with the city attorney and staff regarding actual litigation where consultation in an open meeting would adversely affect the litigating posture of the city council, specifically regarding Salami v.

Collins at all, and two, to discuss an economic development opportunity regarding new businesses that propose to locate in the Greenbrier planning area of the city where no previous announcement has been made of the business's interest in locating facilities in the city.

All is permitted by Section 2.2-3711 A5 and 7 of the Code of Virginia.

Thank you.

Motion please.

Thank you, Ms.

Ritter.

Thank you, Mr.

Whitaker.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to conduct a closed meeting is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

It is 801.

Council will now go into closed session.

I think it's going for the power.

City Attorney Lenley, would you please provide the language for the certification of the closed meeting?

A motion to certify that to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements were discussed.

And only such public business matters as we're identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard discussed or considered.