Provided legal support.

And then members of our transportation toll facility advisory committee behind me, including our TFAC chair, Mr.

David Schwind, and our T FAC member Dan Rosinski.

Fun fact with Dan, we have to get him home by 7:30.

His wife Karen Farrell is representing the city of Chesapeake tonight on Jeopardy.

So I don't know what's going to happen.

So yeah, this is our agenda for tonight.

So we'll go over the CTS overview and 2025 performance, and then we will uh go through some uh proposed revisions to our toll rate schedules.

And uh we'll we'll jump right in.

So a little bit of background on the CTS.

So the CTS is actually comprised of both the Chesapeake Expressway as well as uh Dominion Boulevard.

So uh the expressway opened uh originally the tolled portion in May of 2001, uh Dominion Boulevard.

Uh we actually had the ribbon cutting on Veterans Day of 2016 and opened for tolling in 2017.

So as hard as it to believe, these two facilities are coming up on their 25th and 10th anniversaries respectively.

And this just graphically shows how the CTS ties to the greater uh transportation network in Hampton Road.

So you can see uh yeah US 17 South shown in brown connecting to Dominion Boulevard and the gold, and then uh 168 uh South and green connecting to the purple section, which uh we know as the Great Bridge Bypass and the Grove Connector as the uh northern portions of that.

So we do have different tolling mechanisms in place on the two different facilities.

Uh the expressway is a hybrid system that has both manual and electronic toll collections.

Uh our EasyPass rates are strong there uh throughout the majority of the year, but we still collect roughly 30 percent of uh our our revenues in cash during the peak summer season.

Uh so that's why we continue to have uh those cash options.

Um and then on Dominion, that is all electronic.

Uh so tolls are collected either through Easy Pass, which accounts for 85 percent of transactions, or through uh toll-by-plate transactions, and that involves uh camera taking a picture of a license plate, a DMB lookup, and then generating a bill on any collections uh that that follow.

So with that, I will turn it over to Mr.

Eckert to walk us through our recent operating results.

Thank you.

And I'm just gonna hit a few of the highlights for the fiscal year uh ended June 30th, 2025, and then some other recent developments.

Uh so for fiscal twenty-five uh toll revenue on the expressway uh was basically break-even from the prior year, very modest decline while toll revenue on Dominion Boulevard increased by twelve percent.

So overall uh toll revenue for uh the entire system was up two million dollars year over year, about five and a half percent.

Uh interestingly, fiscal twenty-five was the first year uh toll revenue from Dominion Boulevard at uh 18.9 million was greater than toll revenue on the Chesapeake Expressway of 18.7 million.

Umperating expenses uh during the year were up 6.7 percent over the prior year.

Uh it was a material increase, but but was below forecast, which uh contributed to uh positive overall results for the system for the year.

Uh net revenues plus investment earnings were sufficient to make all of our required debt service payments and deposits to various uh operating and maintenance funds, as well as to make an additional debt payment on the Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank loan of 10 million dollars and deposit uh 10 percent of surplus revenue to the general reserve fund for the system.

So all of the revenues of the system stay committed to CTS, and uh we're now able to use we use 90 percent of any surplus to accelerate debt repayment and 10 percent of any surplus uh goes into reserves.

Um that strong financial performance uh contributed to a credit rating upgrade from Fitch uh last summer.

Uh Fitch raised their rating on the senior bonds for CTS by two notches from a rating of double A minus to a rating of AA plus.

Uh Fitch noted uh several strengths of the system that contributed to the rating upgrade, including uh the uh city council's adopted long-term schedule of future toll rates, uh strong traffic and revenue growth on the aggregate system, uh improved financial performance, the reduction of the debt burden as as additional debt gets paid down, as well as a change to the bond documents that allowed that 10% of surplus to be kept in reserves.

Uh those are the highlights for for the fiscal year uh we presented to the TFAC committee uh uh in the fall uh and made some recommendations uh with respect to uh toll rates and really a couple of key considerations when we consider whether the toll rate schedule needs any adjustments.

Uh there's a rate covenant included within the financing documents for the system's bonds.

Uh the primary covenant that we focus on is that net toll revenue must be at least equal to one times all of the required debt service plus required deposits to the renewal and replacement fund, the operating reserve fund, and any debt service reserve funds.

The minimum requirement is one point zero times those requirements.

We target 1.20, so we have some cushion in our forecast because uh certain events during the year, in particular weather-related events or um global pandemics can have an adverse impact on traffic and revenue that's hard to forecast.

And so we want to make sure uh we're projecting cash flows that that have some some margin for error relative to the requirements.

So we target 1.20 times coverage, and uh there's a little table here on this slide at the top right, shows in uh most of the recent years we've been above that target.

We forecast that we'll stay above that target for the next couple of years, uh, but then when we get into 2028, we're right at that 1.20 target, and then 29 and 30 were forecasting that we will be below that covenant of meeting 1.2 times all requirements.

Um we also you know, we pay attention to the rating agency feedback on the on the bonds.

That's a good external uh uh judge of of how the system is performing.

We've had uh nothing but positive uh feedback from the rating agencies going back to 2020.

We were uh both of our ratings were in the triple B category from from SP and Fitch, we now have both of those ratings uh solidly in the A category from those two rating agencies.

Um in order to continue to uh have positive feedback from the rating agencies and meet our targets on the rate covenant.

We are recommending some changes to the CTS toll schedules that have been in place for uh for a number of years.

So we're gonna dig into that next section and go through some of those proposed changes.

Uh so this first slide is is for the Chesapeake Expressway, and this shows uh historical and then the adopted future toll rates for Chesapeake Expressway going back to when it opened in in 2001.

Uh I'll focus on the two-axle toll rates.

Uh as you'll see, there's different rates for motorcycles and for larger vehicles as well.

You know, when Chesapeake Expressway opened, uh, regular users paid a $2 toll for a two-axle vehicle, and the city established a discount program that uh set toll rates for members of the discount program at 50 cents uh per transaction.

Uh those rates were in place for 10 years.

In 2011, a revised toll schedule was adopted that created a peak season weekend toll rate that is higher than the regular toll rate for the other days of the year.

So for usually 17 weekends a year on Saturdays and Sundays, uh, users who are not enrolled in the discount program pay a higher toll rate than the tolls in place for the rest of the year.

Um you'll see there's a box off to the right that references discount program peak weekend toll rates.

Under the current schedule, the discount program toll rates are no different on peak weekends than they are on on regular days during the year.

That uh right now it's at $1 is the uh is the discount toll rate for any day of the year.

Umted at the bottom are the enrollment fees for for that discount program.

The city charges a monthly fee uh related to that, and Dave will get a little bit more into the details of the discount program here on the next slide.

Thanks, Sean.

Um so just touching on a little bit of that history that Sean was laying out.

Uh so the discount program was was part of the initial offering of the expressway in 2001 to provide uh a cheaper option for those who frequently travel the corridor.

As part of it to be able to achieve realize those cheaper discount toll rates, there's an enrollment fee.

With uh it's currently $20 for your initial six months, and then another $20, uh $333 essentially per month, so that it's $40 per year.

And that $40 per year, that amount has remained unchanged for almost 25 years now.

Uh the other feature about the discount program is as Sean touched on, it was set that the discount rate would be 25% of the the regular two-axle toll rate.

Um initially there was only one set of rates throughout the year, uh, but in 2011, when the peak season with peak weekends were introduced, uh the discount toll rate remained at the same level throughout the year.

So that sort of currently it's it's a one dollar rate now on peak weekends when it's a nine dollar regular two-axle toll rate.

So quite a substantial discount.

Uh a couple things just to point out.

Uh the enrollments, uh, the revenues coming from the enrollment uh have been going up about four percent per year, and that's just by an increase in people who are joining the program since the annual amount has remained the same.

Uh and then sort of the composition of who's enrolled in the program, um, those in Virginia represent a little over 60% of those in the program.

Uh a little bit more about the discount program.

Uh so this slide just shows uh year by year the percentage of transactions by each of the payment methods on the top is the the discount program.

So after it took some time uh ramping up, it's remained really steady around 40% of transactions over the last 20 years, 10 years, with uh sort of the exception of during COVID in fiscal year 2021, where it dipped a little bit when people were were not commuting as much.

But it's it represents roughly uh 40 percent of the transactions on uh on the expressway.

And one other thing to put in perspective that um annual enrollment fee, as I said, it's been unchanged uh for 25 years, and that's sort of on this this figure, the red line on the bottom.

It's had a zero percent increase, whereas the two-axle toll rate uh went up by a dollar first in 2011 and then another dollar in 2021.

So now it's it's gone from $2 to $4, so $100 increase.

And over that same period, inflation has gone up 84%.

So uh the enrollment has really lagged uh inflation and and other cost increases.

Yeah, so given those circumstances, we've we've got uh two proposed adjustments to the Chesapeake Expressway discount program.

Uh the first would be a 75% increase in the discount program enrollment fee to bring that uh that fee again, which hasn't changed in uh over 20 years to bring it more in line with the changes that have occurred on the other toll rates for the system and on uh what uh inflation and the cost of operating the system has has been since uh the expressway opened in 2001.

So the two-axle enrollment fee, which is currently uh 40 dollars a year would increase to $70 a year, or on a monthly basis, that's an increase from $3.33 to $5.83.

Uh and then for uh vehicles that have three or more axles, uh the enrollment fee would also increase uh for those vehicles, it would be uh eight dollars and seventy-five cents a month uh for vehicles of that size included in the enrollment in included in the discount program.

Uh we would also establish forward-looking schedules so that when other toll rates on Chesapeake Expressway are adjusted in the future, we'll have these enrollment fees be adjusted in the future as well, so we don't end up with uh that mismatch that that Dave was pointed out in that chart where the other the other rates for the for the expressway are increasing, but but the discount enrollment fee is not.

So, in addition to increasing the enrollment fee, the other proposed adjustment to the discount program is that uh on peak summer weekends, so from mid-May till mid-September on those dates when the regular toll rate on Chesapeake Expressway is higher, we will have the toll rate for members of the discount program also be higher on those peak weekend rates.

Right now, the peak weekend rate is nine dollars uh on a Saturday or Sunday in the summer.

It's scheduled to increase to ten dollars uh this coming summer.

Uh we would propose that the discounted fee for members of the discount program move from the current level of one dollar on peak weekends up to two dollars and fifty cents.

So it would be twenty-five percent of the regular toll rate that that non-discount members are paying, consistent with that 25% level that was the original discount toll rate.

Um it's worth pointing out there would be no changes to the discount program toll rates for the other 330 some odd days a year that are not peak weekend days.

So all weekdays, the discount program toll rates will remain the same at one dollar.

There's a third change on the next slide related to uh the Chesapeake Expressway toll rates, and that is simply to add another 10 years to the adopted schedule of toll rates.

So the current schedule of toll rates, which was adopted in 2011, went out 25 years.

We're now 15 years into that 25-year schedule.

Uh we are we do not forecast that all of the debt related to the Chesapeake uh toll system will be paid off by the time the current schedule of tolls expires.

So while we're making these other adjustments or proposing these other adjustments to the toll rates, uh we're also proposing to extend the toll rates by an additional 10 years, and that's maybe easier to see on uh on this next slide where we've we've tried to present all of the changes here and and use some shading to explain them.

So uh there's a little green box off to the right.

That represents the proposed uh increase to the toll rates on peak weekends for drivers that are enrolled in the discount program.

Their rates for a two-axle vehicle would change from a $1 to $2.50 on a peak weekend.

Uh in the pink shading down below, we detail the proposed changes to the enrollment fees.

Again, for a two-axle vehicle, the proposed change to the enrollment fee is from three dollars and thirty-three cents a month to five dollars and eighty-three cents per month.

And then the blue shaded areas represent the addition of ten additional years to the adopted toll rate schedule.

Uh one of the things we always hear from the rating agencies and from investors when bonds are sold related to the system is the appreciation for the fact that toll rates have been set many years into the future, so that uh it creates greater visibility of of what future revenues were are likely to look at.

So uh that proposal here in the the blue shaded area increases the the term of the scheduled tolls.

And those are the proposed changes on the toll rates for the Chesapeake Expressway.

We also have some modifications to discuss uh regarding the Dominion Boulevard toll schedule.

Uh this slide here shows the toll rates that were adopted.

They were adopted in 2011, began charging tolls on that facility in 2017 with two sets of rates being adopted.

One set of rates is for users with easy pass uh that are paying by easy pass, those toll rates are on the left.

The current toll rate for a two-axle vehicle is a dollar and fifty-five cents.

And then the for those who do not have an easy pass and the toll has to be collected through uh a toll-by-plate mechanism, an additional two dollars is charged on top of the easy pass rate.

Uh so those are that two dollars has remained constant since the tolling began in 2017.

Um I'm gonna turn it over to Dave to talk a little bit about how that toll-by-plate function has been working.

So as Sean mentioned, when uh Dominion Open, the toll-by-plate or the non-easy pass rates were set at being three times the easy pass rate, and that was a difference of two dollars uh in the opening year.

And that fee was set to cover the additional cost associated with collecting that revenue, because it's not coming out of the transponder directly, but the image of the license plate, the RM fee lookup, and the mailing of the invoices.

So there's there's more cost associated with collecting that revenue.

And that $2 difference as Sean noted has remained the same.

And as you can see in the table on the bottom, the second row, the collection costs, while they had previously been on the order of three and a half to four million per year, they transitioned in in fiscal year 24 with the new contract coming on board mid-year.

And then by fiscal year 2025, those costs went up to 6 million.

And in that year, that was the first year that those costs exceeded the gross revenue that could be for everybody who is a toll-by-play transaction.

For reference, some of the other facilities in the area, the the midtown downtown tunnels and Jordan Bridge also have a toll-by-play premium to cover the associated costs with collecting that revenue for the tunnels is an additional four dollars and eighty-three cents.

For Jordan Bridge, it's an additional five dollars and fifty cents.

So instead of the differential being that fixed $2 amount, it's going to be a percentage equal to the original percentage that when tolling began of three times the easy pass rate.

So no changes are being proposed to the schedules for those users who use the Easy Pass.

And approximately 85% of all the transactions on Dominion Boulevard are paid by Easy Pass.

So as of the most recent year, those Easy Pass users are essentially subsidizing the collection of tolls from those users who do not have an Easy Pass.

So this adjustment will increase the share of revenues that come from the toll-by-plate users who are choosing not to have Easy Pass in order to offset those those higher collection costs.

And then similar to what we suggested on the expressway, we're also proposing to extend the tolling schedule on Dominion Boulevard for an additional 10 years beyond what was originally adopted in 2011.

So this schedule here presents the proposed changes to the Dominion Boulevard toll schedule.

Again, no changes to the easy pass toll rates on the left side here in the green area.

We're showing the proposed revisions to the toll-by-plate toll rates, which will now consistently be uh three times the easy pass rate for a two-axle vehicle.

And then the area in the blue represents the additional 10 years of rates that uh could be adopted now to provide that transparency and and uh greater uh predictability of revenue further out into the future.

So this next slide shows uh the projected revenue impact of the changes that are being proposed.

We've got three columns lined up here.

The first is the expressway discount program enrollment fees.

As we talked about, those are proposed to be increased by 75%.

So the additional revenue in fiscal 27, if that were to be enacted, is $545,000.

Uh we discussed the proposed increase to the discount program toll rates on those peak summer weekends.

Uh that's a relatively small share of traffic, and so the increase of revenue from that modification is projected to be 140,000 in the first year.

Uh the Dominion Boulevard changes to the toll-by-plate toll rates.

That has the largest impact of any of the proposed changes.

That impact would create an additional $2.2 million of annual revenue is the projection.

So across all of those changes, the total revenue increase is $2.9 million in the first year, and that's projected to grow over time as traffic grows on the facilities.

That's that target we had set of 1.20.

We were forecasting that we would miss that target starting in a couple of years.

With these changes, we no longer uh forecast that we would miss the target.

We would then exceed that target as we uh the improvement in coverage ranges from about 0.16 to 0.2 times uh based on our forecasted requirements.

Uh the next slide is just the the summary of of everything you have heard us describe.

On the Chesapeake Expressway, the proposal is to bring the discount program enrollment fee more in line with uh the changes that have occurred with the expressway toll rates over time.

Uh and we would establish future increases to that enrollment fee to keep pace with with the rate of change of of other toll rates.

The discount program toll rate would be set so that it is always 25 percent of whatever the regular toll rate is, so 25 percent of that on a weekday, and also the discount program toll rate will be 25 percent of the peak season toll rate during those Saturdays and some Sundays in the summer.

Uh the expressway tolls remain unchanged for users that are not enrolled in the discount program, and the toll rates for discount program users do not change on uh any days other than the peak weekend days.

Uh on Dominion Boulevard, as we mentioned, toll-by-plate toll rates uh generate additional revenue in order to cover the cost of collecting these tolls.

Uh we're not proposing any changes to the easy pass rates that are paid by 85 percent of the travelers.

Um we also consider that that these proposed changes to increase the toll-by-plate rates may cause some folks to uh uh adopt easy pass that have not done so already.

Um then overall on the system, we're proposing uh 10 additional years of the toll schedule.

Uh we've got a lot of additional slides to help answer any questions you may have, but that's the uh the prepared remarks we have for you.

And if I could add one thing, uh these proposals had been reviewed and endorsed by your transportation toll uh facility advisory committee, uh, and they also hosted a public information on this topic at the Central Library in December.

Thank you.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Mr.

Bunn.

Um Thank you, Mayor West.

A couple of questions.

First of all, thank you for your presentation.

Um question I have for you is do you have a percentage of how many are for the discount fee program or Chesapeake residents versus non-residents?

I don't think.

If you don't have that, you can get to the we can bring that information back.

Okay.

Just curious about that.

And then also, I wasn't really clear on the collection of the toll plate if they don't have an easy pass, because it seemed like you were saying we were losing money, but I don't think that's accurate.

Is that accurate?

I'll I'll take a stab and then y'all can jump in here.

So uh the the additional fee charged, the two dollars is to offset the DMV lookups, the the invoice and and the collection.

Uh that two dollars no longer covers that amount.

So ideally, you know, for for the ones that that uh would be faced with paying higher rates, that the simple solution is to get an easy pass.

And there's a lot of benefits to that.

It's not just you know, saving money on our facility, but with other toll facilities coming online, and particularly the express lanes uh on 64.

There's a lot of benefits in that.

So, you know, uh uh you know, if we had our way, uh everybody would have have an easy pass and there wouldn't be additional fees associated with it.

Thank you.

You have a questions?

Uh Mr.

Whitaker.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh I'd like to echo what uh Councilmember Bund said.

Uh thank you very much for your presentation.

Um I live in Southern Chesapeake.

I live on Ballahack Road, also a business owner, so I'm constantly going through the toll.

I could go through that toll eight to ten times a day with the amount of vehicles that I have.

So I'm going to probably ask the same question that Jeff did, but just in a different way.

Who qualifies for the discounted uh toll rates?

Yeah.

Any anybody with a Virginia Easy Pass, an easy pass issued by Virginia is able to enroll in the in the discount program.

Okay.

So it's not uh uh inclusive only to Chesapeake residents or businesses?

That's correct.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um I was of I guess since I have had an easy pass, I thought that Chesapeake residents and businesses were the only ones that actually could get the this kind of rates.

Um so I I appreciate that clarity.

Um thank you.

Dr.

Ward.

Um, thank you, Ms.

Mayor.

And I just wanted to make a comment.

I am definitely uh easy pass from the very beginning.

But I was just wondering because you know the projected increases, I can see uh the need for it, but are we doing anything to really let the public know about the projected increase?

Of course, you know, the rationale for it is understandable, but if you get more people knowledgeable of the um, you know, the values of the easy pass, uh it might help too, especially if they if we and we are projecting some increases for people like me, I am easy pass, and I do use it a lot.

I'm in Western branch.

But sometimes a lot of the times going to City Council meeting, I have to use a downtown tunnel.

But I'm just thinking if you could if there what are you doing, if we're doing anything to let the public get a heads up on these increases that are coming and the value of getting that easy pass uh rather than doing the bat plate, especially for Chesapeake residents.

So two things in that regard.

So we have partnered with VDOT on messaging regarding uh easy pass usage.

Uh we have gone to uh uh different special events uh to to promote easy pass.

Uh uh actually uh at our uh administrative offices on South Battlefield, uh we can yes service uh Easy Pass accounts uh in terms of uh uh how we get this information out to the public.

So you know we did advertise a a public meeting, uh the TFAC hosted uh uh uh uh a meeting where this information uh was provided.

Uh we can also push this out on the different uh social media you know platforms as well.

Thank you.

That's good.

Mr.

Smith?

Yes, I have a couple of questions or concerns.

I I see the price increase, but have you all thought about at all a reduction in price to get more traffic going on the expressway?

Because a lot of time traffic, people are going around the expressway and going down Battlefield Boulevard, yes, the Dodge paying the tolls.

So have you all thought about reducing the price of them to get more traffic going through the expressway for one?

Mr.

Cunho has studied that in depth, so I'll I'll defer to him on that.

Sure.

Uh yes, we we have looked at it as we've monitored the the uh performance over time on the expressway and and there there certainly are people who will uh avoid paying the toll and use battlefield, but with uh uh past toll increases as they've happened, it's it's always re um resulted in uh typically a small uh uh number of of reduction in trip, uh increase in revenue.

Um sometimes the the I mean after the most recent toll increase traffic, um it was uh a bit of a diff different time with uh in the middle of COVID, but traffic went up after the toll increase.

Um we've studied it, we've we've modeled it, and if if the toll rates were lowered on the expressway, then then revenues would go down, and we'd have to come up with some other revenue in order to maintain the those coverage ratios needed for the bonds.

Okay.

Then I have one more question.

Uh also in reference to the price increase for the fee.

Have you all thought about a reduction if you have multiple costs in your household to give them a reduced price?

Um that that's not something that we we looked at.

I I don't know if we fully know um in the enrollment if if it's multiple um uh uh transponders per household.

I'm not sure if that is information.

We could see if we could find that information, but we we hadn't uh looked at that.

In any break citizens can get, they would appreciate it.

So please take a look.

Thank you.

Ms.

Nois.

Thank you, Ms.

Mayor.

Just a couple quick questions.

I know that the there is an additional fee to offset the costs with collection.

Do you have the number or an estimate of how much it costs for one fare if they do not um pay their bill and you're having to do collection efforts, how much does that cost?

And if you don't know, if you could share that with us just so we can see the difference.

So if someone is not paying the toll and you're having to go after them to collect it, if that's two or three times the cost of the toll itself, that would be interesting for us to have that information.

Yes, ma'am, we will bring that information.

1070 a pop.

Okay.

It's 1070 a pop.

Well, with just the effort that you have to make, you have to pay for the paper, the postage, you have to, I mean, all the things, DMV fees, so all the fees combined.

If you could just show us on one collection effort how much that costs.

And then additionally, I always think it's unfair when people who follow the rules get penalized.

So I hate to see that we have a significant amount of outstanding collections.

Are we making any additional efforts to try to collect those monies?

Or is there anything that we can do as a council that can assist y'all with trying to assist in collecting those monies?

I just hate for us.

I I know it's it sounds like the people who aren't paying is the reason why we need to increase these fees.

So the people who do pay are getting penalized, not the people who aren't paying.

So if there's any ways that we can do something to assist in those collection efforts, I think that would be important too, and that may offset the cost increase that maybe we were taking a look at.

Thank you for that comment because you know that that that is uh very important.

So our collection performance is better now than what it's uh been in the past.

Uh one of the things that we have pursued for uh several years running is reciprocal agreements with the State of North Carolina on collection.

So, yeah, one of the strongest things that we have on our dispos at our disposal now are uh registration withholds through uh the Virginia DMV.

Uh a lot of times you have people won't pay their tolls until it's time to renew that registration or until it's time to sell that vehicle and then they're forced to pay those tolls.

We have no such agreement uh you know with the State of North Carolina.

If we had that, that would uh be a tremendous help and we continue to pursue that.

Okay.

That's excellent.

If there's anything we can do to assist or any legislative priorities that we can support, because I know in previous years, um if outstanding tolls were a reason that we could suspend a license with the DMV, just like fines and court costs and the General Assembly um ruled against that, and now we we can't suspend your license.

So if there's anything that you all see as something we can support from a legislative priority with the General Assembly or even just on a local level, please keep us posted because those collection numbers are pretty high.

We certainly will.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilman Litaker.

This will be it, I promise.

Um it appears as though, I mean, you're you're you're going up across the board.

And that that's quite a burden to our to our citizens.

Has there been consideration to just go up on peak weekends where you're really getting more tourists coming to and from and adjusting that rate instead of you know our businesses, our citizens?

Um you're suggesting a change to that peak weekend rate, not in the discount program, but for the uh uh anybody using the peak weekend.

We we had not looked at that now.

Um that we maintained the schedule that was put into place.

It's it's something that we could look at, but we it it wasn't one that looked at we looked at here.

Well, as somebody that lives at 168 in Ballahack Road, I can tell you there's a lot of people that come through on those weekends uh to the point to where they've had to change the signaling for lights during peak times.

Uh there is a lot of out-of-town traffic that's going to and from the outer banks uh uh that's kind of going around all of Great Bridge and the rest of Chesapeake to make it to their destination.

Uh that causes quite a bit of backups uh now into Moyak with all their growth and lights.

Uh so I I think it would be something worthwhile looking into that way we're not putting more burden on our citizens and more burden on our local businesses.

Well, what one thing I'll add in that regard is it's always a balance of the act between establishing a toll rate and then um you know forcing people you know from the expressway, you know, to to go around on battlefield boulevard.

So you know, as we look at that, we will have to keep that in mind.

We we don't want to take an action that then puts additional traffic on local battlefield.

Thank you very much.

Uh Dr.

King.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um just a quick question.

The collection cost in fiscal year 2025 exceeded the collected revenue.

Are we anticipating the same for fiscal year 2026?

Um if if the toll-by-plate rate is able to be increased, then that would um not be the case.

But if if there is no change, then uh yes, the it's expected the collection costs would be greater than the the gross revenue.

Yeah, and the proposed changes won't actually impact 2026.

So we're we're expecting that trend to hold.

The the contract related to the collection costs remains at that that higher level.

So we expect that phenomena to occur in 26 as well as it did in 25.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Jeffries.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Can you provide an explanation or rationale behind the drastically different fee schedules between the two locations?

That's resulted in the need for this 75 percent increase.

So it's really the difference in the makeup of the traffic on the two facilities.

So uh Dominion Boulevard is largely a commuter route, uh, whereas uh the expressway on the peak summer weekends is a tourist route.

Uh Dave can probably get into more details and and how those rates get set, but that's that's kind of the premise of it.

Yeah, it's it's a bit of the history as well.

Um the expressway when it was built, it was built for that the peak weekend to sort of relieve the traffic on battlefield and as uh serving tourists and and out-of-state traffic um plus being sort of a legacy toll facility, it had the manual cash toll collection uh manual uh booths.

And so to switch that to an all-electronic uh when your peak weekends have some 30 percent of the uh the revenue being paid by cash uh would be a big collection risk.

Uh it potentially would lead to the collective revenues being substantially less, whereas Dominion as a newer modern facility was was built and designed to be operated completely all electronic, and so it was put in place with the sets of toll rates of uh the easy pass and then the toll by plate with the additional premium to cover those toll collection costs.

Um so it's it's just a bit of a difference in the nature of both who the users of each facility are and sort of their history of of you know what their operations have been.

And that led to the decision for the small incremental but consistent increases versus no increases.

That's correct.

With with uh Dominion being uh all electronic, it's easier to implement annual toll increases, which a lot of the new modern toll facilities do.

Whereas on a facility that does have uh uh cash collection, um it's it's uh it's advantageous to keep those in sort of whole dollar in increments so the the collection process itself can go a lot smoother.

And so therefore the the increases happen staggered over a number of years just to get to another uh round dollar to make it easier for the collection.

Thank you.

Thank you and appreciate all the council's comments and questions.

You know, these are two very important projects that we've done over the years, the uh both of these, and so your stewardship and keeping an eye on the the prices and making sure that it uh has a vibrant and uh valuable future is is really important.

Certainly want to thank those members of the commission who serve voluntarily to to uh to look at these issues as well.

It really is important to us as a city.

I did want to ask one other question, Mr.

Manager, before we uh adjourn, but um this is not part of the scope of this report tonight, but you know, as many people are looking at the Chesapeake Expressway, particularly in the morning and afternoons, uh more traffic, more traffic.

Places where there is some discussion, maybe in the twenty twenty five plan, twenty forty five plan or whatever.

Um a way or a uh see it's on the list for expanding uh the expressway.

Sorry.

Uh, be it a regional route.

Is it is it is eligible for funding uh from the Hampshire's um Transportation Accountability Commission, so uh it is on the list for consideration.

I'm not aware that there's been uh any funds allocated, but that's something that we can uh continue to pursue.

Okay, well, we'll uh end our work session, and I'm beginning a regular meeting in twenty nine minutes.

Good luck to your wife.

We have a quorum.

Thank you.

Council's now in session.

I'd like to call me Council Member Ward at this time for the invocation.

And the Pledge of Alleges.

Dear God, we ask a special blessing on the City Council meeting tonight as we make decisions that will be in the best interest of our great city and our more than two hundred and fifty thousand citizens.

But we have a lot for which we should celebrate and be thankful.

We celebrate black history month.

We celebrate heart history month.

And God in times such as these, we want healthy hearts and we're loving desires field.

Where there is hatred, replace it with love.

Where there is bitterness, replace it with kindness, for there's division, replace it with unity, where there are wars, replace them with peace.

We want you to bless and protect all of those who strive daily to serve your people with dignity, respect, understanding, and remember that faith and hope and love.

They last on these three.

But the greatest of these is love.

These and other blessings we ask in your precious and holy name.

Amen.

Please join me now as we pledge through the American flag.

I believe this of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under our indivisible with a liberty and justice for thank you, Dr.

Ward, for that prayer.

Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll?

Councilmember Bunn.

Here.

Councilmember Jeffries.

Here.

Councilmember King.

Here.

Councilmember Newman here.

Councilmember Smith.

Here.

Councilmember Ward.

Councilmember Whitaker.

Present.

Vice Mayor Ritter.

Here.

Mayor West.

President.

Are there any per uh changes to the proposed agenda council members have at this time?

May I have a motion for approval, please?

Move approval.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Mr.

Second.

Thank you, Mr.

Buddh.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

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

At this time, I'll turn the gavel over to our vice mayor as I go down to the podium for a special presentation.

Okay.

It's my distinct honor, our distinct honor, to recognize a young man whose actions remind us that heroism is not defined by age, title, or position, but by character.

This Grassfield High School student, senior student, demonstrated the very best of who we are as a community.

Tonight we celebrate not only a heroic act, but an exemplary citizen whose integrity and courage bring great pride to the city of Chesapeake.

Um I'd like to call Hugh Pinop to the podium to accept a certificate, and he'll be accompanied by his father Lou and his mother.

Um I would yeah, draw your attention to the screens.

We have a video.

Come here, boy.

Come on.

Come on.

Hey.

Come on.

Come on.

Hey, I got you.

I got you.

I got you back.

Okay.

Hey, come here.

Come on, Phil.

Come on, boy.

Come on.

I'm gonna left.

You ready?

Come on.

I know.

It's okay.

Stay, stay, stay, sit.

Can you sit?

Can you sit?

Sit.

It's okay.

I know, buddy.

I know.

Okay.

I know, I know.

Hey, hey.

Buddy.

You're good.

Sit.

Good job, I know.

I'm cold, dear buddy.

I could break through that.

I don't want to scare you.

Because it's loud.

All right, buddy.

Hold on.

Come on, sit.

Come on, boy.

Or girl.

Come on.

It's okay.

Sit right here.

Come on, you gotta sit.

You gotta sit.

Come on, buddy.

You're cold, I know.

Hold on tight.

I got this.

Come on.

Yeah, I know.

I bet.

I know.

It's loud.

Yeah, just come here.

I'm here, buddy.

Oh no.

You're scared.

I'm scared too.

Oh cool, isn't it?

I know.

Wait.

Wait, wait.

I know I know I know they come.

Am I on?

I would like to actually read this plaque that we're presenting to the to Hugh.

In sincere recognition of exemplary act of courage, quick thinking, selfless compassion, who has illuminated the efforts of humanity in his hometown gained admiration from around the world.

Through decisive action and fearless resolve, Hugh Pino demonstrated a rare strength of character for a young man of his age.

In a moment that required bravery and calm determination.

He chose empathy over safety and compassion over comfort, embodying the highest ideals of humanity.

Hugh's actions, while humble, are nothing short of heroic.

His actions have inspired hometown citizens while also capturing attention.

His quick resolve reminds us of true leadership, is revealed in moments of crisis.

His example reflects the very best of our community.

The life that he saved was not just a lost animal, but rather a loving member of the neighborhood family.

So you, I would like on behalf of our city council and the 250,000 people we represent to present this plaque to you.

Now I would like to invite either with you to have to say something.

Well, just answer this question.

Okay.

What made you decide to do that?

What what motivated you there?

Um, I mean, there's someone or something that needed to be saved, so I know I have to act quick.

And um I just I don't know.

I will I don't know what would have happened if I wasn't, you know, fast enough to act.

So I'm just happy that I could save the day.

Yeah, you are awesome.

Good job, man.

Thank you.

Would you like to say anything?

Either one of you.

Yeah, just really want to say thanks uh for having us tonight, and certainly to the community that's just really it's been an outpouring of support and encouragement, and uh means a lot to us, so thank you.

Rick and the family real quick, we'll do group yes, sir.

Thank you.

I'm actually gonna spend some points with my wife tonight because I honored you, so I'm I appreciate it.

Um before you go, I'd like to um yield the floor to uh Mr.

Jeffreys, he has a couple words for you.

Just uh it was a pleasure shaking your hand before the meeting, pleasure meeting you and your family.

Uh I also wanted to extend a thank you to uh Matt Celino for actually bringing this to our attention, and I want to share with you.

I know uh Matt, because we worked together as police officers together for many years, what he saw in you, he truly possessed.

That's why that video made it to me.

I have no doubt in my mind that had he been on that shore uh in uniform with me a hundred years ago.

Uh we wouldn't have done what you did.

We would have probably swam for the dog.

We wouldn't have been smart enough to look for the boat.

But you have something special in you that that just doesn't exist in a lot of people.

Uh in 25 years of law enforcement, I can tell you that most people uh freeze in those moments.

No pun intended with the weather.

Um and you didn't, and that's why you had a hard time answering the question of why you did it.

You probably can't even answer that.

It's it's because there's something that's special in you that you can't describe it.

So congratulations to your parents, congratulations to you, and I wish you all the best.

Mr.

Jeffreys, thank you so much for bringing this.

We really do appreciate your role in making us all happen.

Uh it really is uh it would have been a shame had we missed this opportunity, but uh we're fortunate that you were you were there to to help us do this.

Thank you.

Um this city council meeting constitutes a limited public forum.

Therefore, public comments must be relevant to items on council's agenda tonight.

When speaking on an agenda item, please make sure your comments directly relate to the merits of the application, which means you focus on the details and the facts of the proposed agenda item.

Focusing comments on the merits of the application will ensure that this public hearing serves its intended purpose of gathering relevant information for the voting body.

Furthermore, to strike a balance between maintaining order and honoring the public's right to express themselves.

Excuse me, as established by City Council's rules of order and procedure.

Any speaker that delays, interrupts, or otherwise disrupt City Council's ability to conduct its meeting in an orderly manner by disorderly, insolent or disturbing action, speech, or other conduct will be declared out of order.

Uh turn the gavel back over to the mayor.

Thank you, Ms.

Vice Mayor.

Adam Clark, are there any speakers who wish to speak prior to the presentation of the public hearing items?

No, sir.

Thank you.

Would you please present public hearing items?

Public hearing item A, PLN Use 2025-043, Bethany Baptist Readiness Academy.

Beth Bethany Baptist Church, applicant and owner for a conditional use permit to operate a child day care and provide instructional instructional services in an existing church.

The property is located at 2587 Campus Stella Road in the South Norfolk Planning Area.

The planning commission recommends approval with the stipulations listed in the official agenda.

Thank you.

Mr.

McNamaray, what's the planning staff's recommendations?

The proposed use is consistent with the comp plan character district of mid-scale neighborhood and compatible with uses in the vicinity, and the use provides a valuable service which contributes to an improved quality of life for the community.

Staff recommends approval with stipulations day December 18th, 2025.

Thank you, sir.

Are there any speakers, Madam Clark?

We have Dr.

Caseon for questions only from Bethany.

Thank you, sir.

Motion please with stipulation.

Move approval with stipulations.

Thank you.

Second we have a second.

Mr.

Bide.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any discussion?

Any discussion?

I have no discussion.

Hopefully this will pass, but I will just come in.

Uh Dr.

Case and the great family of Bethany Baptist, but this is something that's really needed in the community, and I'm excited about it and happy to make that motion.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward and thank you, folks.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Madam Clerk.

Motion to approve PLNU 2025-043 with stipulations as presented as adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Thank you.

Next is item B.

PLN Use 2025-044, blank and ship home occupation.

Jacob and Peyton Blankenship applicants and owners for a conditional use permit to operate a physical therapy business as a level two home occupation.

The property is located at 2835 Meadowwood Drive West in the Western Branch Planning Area.

The Planning Commission recommends approval with the stipulations listed in the official agenda.

Thank you.

Staff recommendation, please.

The proposed level two home occupation as stipulated is compatible with the surrounding uses and accomplishes the City Council desired outcome for economic prosperity as it will increase the non-residential tax base.

Staff recommends approval with stipulations dated December 15th, 2025.

Thank you.

Are there any speakers, Madam Clerk?

Yes, sir.

We have one speaker, Peyton Blankenship.

Okay.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor and members of the council.

My name is Peyton Blinkenship.

My address is 2835 Meadowwood Drive West.

I know you all have the video and the notes from the previous month's town planning meeting, where I, in addition to seven of my friendly neighbors, extensively spoke in support of my business.

I'm not here to be overly repetitive this evening.

I just want to put a face to my name and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you.

Ms.

Bike and Ship.

Any other speakers?

No, sir.

That's it.

Motion, please.

Move it to over.

Mr.

Whitaker.

Second.

Dr.

Ward.

Thank you.

Any discussion.

Yes.

Stipulations.

Date the motion.

Yes, with stipulations.

Thank you.

Any discussion?

Oh, yes, at any time.

I see something great happening in Western Branch.

I just have to bring it to everybody's attention and be excited about you, young lady.

And you're going to do well.

And I live in Weston Branch, so thank you.

Thank you.

We do have a motion for approval.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Madam Clerk.

Motion to approve PLN use 2025-044 with stipulations as presented as adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Thank you.

Item C PLN Text 2025-007.

Special Overlay District's ordinance amendment.

An ordinance amending appendix A of the Chesapeake City Code in Title Zoning, Article 12, Sections 704, 705, 708, 709, 712, and 722 to bring the zoning ordinance into alignment with the recently updated South Norfolk Historic Design Guidelines.

The Planning Commission recommends approval of the version dated December the 16th, 2025.

Thank you.

Mr.

McNamara.

The proposed text amendment ensures that development standards codified in the zoning ordinance align with the architectural and site design principles set forth in the South Norfolk Historic Design Guidelines and promote consistency between the design guidelines and zoning regulations.

The proposed changes will facilitate a more efficient certificate of appropriateness process that lessens the burden for homeowners, the HARB, and city staff.

Staff recommends approval of version dated December 16, 2025.

All right.

Thank you, sir.

Speaker's Madam Clerk.

Yes, sir.

We have one speaker, Brad Moore speaking in support, representing self.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, members of the council.

Hopefully not that long to speak in favor of this text amendment.

But more to kind of go to what the Vice Mayor reminded everybody that speak to the merits of the application and the merits of everything.

But I think what goes to that is speaking on behalf of myself as a resident at 1300 Park Avenue, which is kind of in the center of the historic district.

It's really appreciated the amount of time and effort the planning planning department and particularly staff from the planning department have come and shown to this change that they just got done with the Herculean effort of updating the district guidelines, but then to come back and do another sweep and kind of help clean up that ordinance or you know if if you adopt the text amendment, um clean up that ordinance.

Um I know I can't speak on behalf of the Historic Preservation Commission, but I know there was a detailed presentation given there as a commissioner on that commission.

I do appreciate the the thoughtfulness that went into that.

Um I also appreciate on behalf of the South Norfolk Civic League, appreciate staff coming in and answering any questions we might have had.

Um also with the public engagement, taking the time, not just you know, individual groups where it's easy, but taking the time out on a compressed timeline to come and gauge public input on the in December, um, which is not an easy month to plan anything, um, much less something of this magnitude because it is it's important for the district.

And as a resident of the district, I hope others will, you know, kind of understand that this is part and parcel to the city working to keep their promise of preserving that district, and but to also understand that we're also in 2026 now, and when that the historic district was first formed and when those guidelines were first drafted, you know.

I was in, I don't know, I may have been in middle school and then not even high school.

All right.

Um but I I thank you.

That's not to the merits of the application, but it is to show that the city really does.

Sometimes it takes a little while to get things where they're going.

Um, but patience and perseverance.

I think the city kind of leads the way in working with the citizens to meet the needs of communities is you know just that 16 blocks in my community working and paying attention to just that small section of the South Norfolk Planning District.

Um it's really appreciated, and I thank staff and uh for all their hard work on this and um really appreciate you guys taking a consideration and adopting the text amendment.

Thank you, Mr.

Moore.

Thank you for all you do for our city and for your community.

Appreciate all your volunteer work and your always good to hear you what you have to say as well.

So thank you for being here.

That does conclude our speakers we do have a motion for approval version dated December 16, 2025.

Please we need a motion again yes please thank you very much.

We have a first and a move motion for approval and second please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve PON text 2025-0007 version dated December 16 2025 as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next on the agenda is unfinished business do we have any council members with any unfinished business Mr.

Whitaker.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor I've received some phone calls and emails from citizens here in the City of Chesapeake there's a lot of things going on statewide that brings concern back in 2019 uh the City of Chesapeake well let me read this this would be a little bit cleaner.

In December of 2019 this body adopted a resolution declaring Chesapeake a second amendment constitutional city that resolution affirmed our commitment and respect to preserve uphold the second amendment of the United States Constitution and the Virginia Constitution it has also expressed strong support for the right of law abiding citizens to keep a bare arms and urge the General Assembly and Governor to avoid any action that would violate this freedoms I say this because I think it's important that as representatives to this in the City of Chesapeake that we reaffirm that stance that was taken back in 2019 we do that again today.

So mayor I ask you what would be your how would you want to go about re making this reaffirmation of what was done in the prior council so being that they being that there's uh you're not really asking for a change this is something the council has already approved unless there's objection I think we can just accept what you are saying with approval.

So I'll throw it out to council members anyone have any objection to what Mr Whitaker is asking seeing none I see no reason to bring it before the council for a vote since you have a general consent general census of this thing.

Thank you appreciate you sir any other unfinished business seeing none how about new business Mr Smith Thank you Mr.

Mayor yes I would like to bring before the buyer today a motion to request for public hearing on council salary increase during this 2024 session the General Assembly authorized an increase in city council and mayoral salaries for the first time since the 1990s several surrounding localities have already updated their salaries to align with this new authority I believe Chesapeake should do the same serving on City Council is an honor but it requires a significant time commitment.

Our current salary structure makes it difficult many for many residents especially those with limited incomes to consider serving I want to ensure that public service on this council is accessible to broader range of people not just those who can afford to volunteer their time so I ask that staff prepare an agenda item to increase city council salary and advertise it is a public hearing item for City Council's March 2024 2026 meeting any objection to Mr Smith's uh a motion I won't treat it as an emotion since our rules haven't been changed that but we'll treat it as if anything else like we've done all other new business may I ask a question.

Yes ma'am thank you to Mr.

Smith is this a request for a public hearing or is this an agenda item to be followed by a vote an agenda item to be followed by a vote but we want the public input all right thank you.

So any other discussion about regarding this request Ms.

Newlands I just want to clarify Mr.

Mayor you're requesting if we have any objection to the item being placed on the agenda not necessarily if you object to the item absolutely thank you for clarifying that no objection to anything being placed on the agenda any other one helps has any objection Mr.

We are good.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Any other new business items, Councilman?

Ms.

I mean, Ms.

Ritter, would you please?

Thank you.

This is a request for the manager, please, or any staff you feel would be appropriate to address this issue.

This is a very uncertain time for people.

And I know that for each individual family or each individual, those times that you sit down and however you pay your monthly bills.

Some of these have become staggering bills.

And right now, I think at the top of many people's mind is the bill that they are receiving from Dominion Energy and from Virginia Natural Gas.

The rates have I'm not sure about the rates, but the bills have just skyrocketed.

And of course, we all realize that part of that is this tremendous cold weather that we have been experiencing.

However, I would like to request for the city manager's office.

I think and the mayor, if he chooses, to ask Dominion to explain the exponential increases in these bills.

But I believe that we are ex I personally believe that we're spending our money to pay back the or we're paying, the ratepayers are assuming the debt for solar, for wind.

There's an inequity apparently with charges for data centers.

I would like Dominion to address all of this as well as the upgrades in the transmission lines.

So I'm not exactly sure the best way to do it.

I hope they will be expeditious in their answer.

But I hope the people in Chesapeake, and I'm sure in the other cities, will know that we hear you, and we want explanations too.

We all have those bills.

We all have to sit down and pay them.

So if you could, and I I don't want to be a cynic.

However, I really am.

We expect some kind of a stock answer.

Maybe we could just emphasize that it's best to be direct.

And the more direct we are, the easier it is for us and for our citizens to understand.

Thank you.

Mr.

Manager, I I don't know.

Uh I I guess you this is does this seem like a reasonable consideration to try to get it for the Yeah, we have done this in the past when folks have uh uh issues that are sort of collective in the community and utility bills is one of those, so uh we'll certainly check into that.

I would I would like to piggyback on that, uh Ms.

Ritter with the gas as well.

I think I looked at it today.

I think the I don't even know what they call it, but per heat heating unit this time last year was $13, and this year it's uh $19.

So we might want to take a if we can get an explanation on that as well.

Mr.

Bonnie, did you have something you want to?

No, I was just gonna um echo what the vice mayor said earlier.

She said Virginia um Dominion Power, but also Virginia Natural Gas.

Thank you for bringing that up because I got my bill today in the mail with doubled from last month.

Ms.

Newens?

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

While we're talking about utilities, Mr.

Manager, I have received a number of um email complaints about water bills with questions.

Perhaps when we have Dominion come and address us, Mr.

Jurgens can perhaps give us a refresher.

There's a number of new council members.

And I know there is a process for your water bill if you have a complaint, how his team will handle that.

Um but I've also received some complaints about customer service not receiving timely responses.

So I don't know if there is a way we can address getting responses back in a quicker manner with the water department.

That one I can answer now.

We're actually uh going to begin rolling calls over to the customer contact center.

So we're we're triaging a um some some sort of frequently asked questions that the customer contact center can handle, um, and then ones that will need a deep dive into utilities, of course, will um go directly to into utilities, but we'll get somewhat connected with a human being immediately.

Excellent.

I just I think if we're talking about utilities, might as well include water.

I know I see Councilmember King's lights up.

She shared with me, she had an uh enormous water bill that was unusual herself.

So um like Vice Mayor Ritter said, we too feel the issues that others are feeling in the community.

So if there's a way we can address it publicly, I think that would be best.

Thank you, Ms.

News.

Uh up to King.

Thank you.

Um thank you, Councilwoman Newlands.

I do want to say I think the water bill investigation is going to be very important.

Um I was standing in the line to pay a $3200 water bill, and the line was backed up with five or six people with the same complaint.

Um I've talked to multiple people in the office to know resolve this a single person living in a house shouldn't have a $3200 water bill.

So I also would appreciate any help you can give, not for just me, but the other citizens that were standing in the line as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Dr.

Ward.

Thank you.

Um, Councilman Government and King.

Uh, we talked about this briefly with the manager I did during our dinner break uh because of the extreme difference in the utility bill, and I don't think the weather cold has anything to do with that.

Um I know we got the 4.9 percent increase, but we are we are really hitting our citizens with a lot.

And then we just heard about the toll increases.

So you got tolls, we got utilities, we got gas bills.

We are going to I think we really do need to sit down and look at all of the impacts um for the beginning of the year uh that's on our citizens because you it's being compounded.

Um I agree that everything that has been said whether it it we should look at all of it.

Utility, gas, column your gas V and you ever.

Um even with the tolls, uh, if there's anything that we can do uh to help relieve our citizens because this is not good.

Thank you.

Can you get my bread prices down?

I just can't.

Any other comments, Council members at this time?

Thank you.

Uh so I guess that concludes our new business.

So I do have uh a need to provide a language for February 24th.

This is a closed session that will be conducted prior to the February 24th meeting and a motion to conduct a closed meeting for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 445 p.m.

in Chesapeake City Hall, to discuss, consider, or interview prospective candidates for appointment to city boards, commissions, and authorities for the purpose of considering candidates for the Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission and Stormwater Committee as permitted by Section 2.2-3711 A1 of the Code of Virginia.

Thank you.

Motion, please.

Thank you.

Dr.

Ward, do we have a second?

Second.

Thank you, Mr.

Whitaker.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to conduct a closed meeting on February the 24th at 445 is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

And I do not believe we have a closed session.

Thank you.

So at this time I will call on Councilmember Ward for our benediction.

Dear God, we just want to thank you for all that has been said and done uh during this council session tonight.

And we are mindful of the impacts of all that's going on.

Weather tolls, increases.

And thank you so very much for allowing us to make some decisions and come up with suggestions to help our great citizens of our great city.

Now give us traveling mercies as we return to our respective homes.

These and other blessings we asked in our precious and holy name.

Amen.

Council is now adjourned, 704.

Yeah.

That's it.