Honey, we're not gonna stone.

How do we Honey, we're not allowed to tell you, and Honey, Mm.

Honey, Move.

However, Honey Honey Honey Mm.

Host Hugo Hugo Honey.

How do you come?

Hugo.

Hall.

Hall.

How to tell you?

How?

Hold on, Hugo.

Hall.

How?

Hall.

How are you?

How?

How do you stall right.

Hold on, Hall, Hall, Hall, Hall.

Hm.

Hm.

Hm.

Hm.

Hm.

Hm.

Hm.

Hm.

Hm.

Citizens, we thank you for our leaders and our followers.

We ask, Lord, that you strengthen and reinforce our commitment to serve and to care for each other.

We ask that you enhance our knowledge and provide us with insight as we manage the affairs and the business of this great city.

Please show us grace when we stumble and mercy for our flaws, for only you are perfection.

As we engage today, please help us to make our interactions display kindness and thoughtfulness.

Let us lead with integrity and dignity.

We place ourselves in this meeting in your hands and in the path of your righteousness.

Council Member Bond.

Council Member Jeffreys?

Here.

Council Member King.

Here.

Council Member Newman.

Here.

Council Member Smith.

Here.

Council Member Ward.

Councilmember Whitaker.

Present.

Vice Mayor Ritter?

Here.

Mayor West.

Here.

Madam Attorney, would you please provide the language for certification of the closed meeting held today at four thirty?

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 were identified in the close or the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered.

There's the approval of the proposed agenda.

Are there any changes to the proposed agenda?

Ms.

Ritter.

Thank you.

Um at this time we'll be withdrawing city attorney item one.

Thank you.

Second.

Thank you.

Okay.

Do we have a motion to accept the proposed agenda with one exception?

Move approval.

Good second.

Prepare to please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the agenda with the exception of City Attorney Item One is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

At this time, we're gonna do a presentation for 2026 Chesapeake Small Business of the Year, South Side Barbecue.

Today I am so pleased to recognize the business has become a true Chesapeake success story.

Each year, the Hampton Roads Chamber honors outstanding businesses that demonstrate excellence, innovation, and commitment to each city.

This year for the city of Chesapeake that distinguishes distinction belongs to South Side Barbecue as a 2026 Chesapeake Small Business of the Year.

What began as a bold vision by owners, Joe and Vicky Josu, has grown into a beloved hometown destination and a source of pride for South Norfolk and the entire city of Chesapeake.

Through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to serving others, South Side Barbecue has become an example of what makes our local businesses community so special.

So Joe and Vicky, please join me.

Join come to the podium, and I'd like to ask the economic development department to come as well.

And while they're coming to the while they're coming to the podium, I just want to point out that we had our LS company do a major event a couple of months ago, and with their money, they could have catered with any uh restaurant in in the in the not just the city but in the region, but they chose South Side Barbecue for the taste of the barbecue and for the good companionship of the Josues.

One moment, uh, go ahead.

Let's represent and then we'll do it.

This is just a small gift, thank you.

Sherry, did you want to say something before Mr.

Joseph does?

I have to.

Yep.

It is a great honor for me to be able to be up here with Vicky and Joe.

Um, in the time I've been here with the city, I have grown to to know them very well and and love them as part of my own family.

So they have catered my son's birthday, they have done a lot for a lot of people in this room.

So thank you all for what you do, and we are just so proud to be able to have them as our small business of the year for Chesapeake.

Thank you.

Excuse you.

Sure.

Joe would like to speak.

He's going to.

Okay, we'll handle that.

Yeah, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Oh, sorry.

Okay, one, two, three.

Thank you.

Now, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor West.

And I want to thank Vice Mayor Ritter, and it's good to see you back in your chair.

Also, want to thank the council for recognizing South Side Barbecue's Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year.

Go to City of Chesapeake 2026.

I also like to do a special thank you to uh Stephen Wright and his staff at Economic and Development for being their strong support that we have received.

I don't think we could have made this thing without uh without their support.

We would never have reached this milestone without dedicated commitment of the city of Chesapeake to revitalize the port the Point Extra Street Corridor.

Traffic flow issues were corrected with a new 22nd Street Bridge and alignment connecting to the newly streetscaped Pointexa Street, creating a smooth flow and additional parking.

A dedicated parking lot was also created to provide parking for continued growth, centrally located to provide access to businesses east and west on Windex Street.

With the infrastructure in place, business are businesses are investing, such as for kids.

Major investment made by that company with 120 employees that are in there every day.

The Overton family also built a retail and commercial space that was once on a very blighted piece of property.

And a new municipal center bringing city services to northern Chesapeake, all creating a customer base for ex for existing businesses and future businesses.

The corridor is now in the enviable position of needing additional retail and commercial space.

So thank you for sharing our vision of what Point Desh Street could and should be as a source of pride to the citizens of Chesapeake.

Thank you.

Next to citizens' comments on public hearing items.

So public comments must be relevant to tonight's agenda items.

When speaking, please focus your remarks on the merits of the item that you're speaking on.

Doing so helps this hearing fulfill its purpose of gathering relevant information for the voting body.

Additionally, the balance order with the public right to speak and as outlined in the city's council's rules of order and procedures.

Any speaker who delays, interrupts, or disrupts the meeting through disorderly, insolent or disturbing action, speech or conduct will be declared out of order.

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

No, sir.

Thank you.

Now is uh our consideration of public hearing items.

Madam Clerk, would you please present item A, an ordinance increasing the salaries of the mayor and members of city council by an annual cost of living adjustment effective July 1, 2027?

Please call the speakers.

Yes, sir.

We have one speaker, Vic Nichols, representing self.

The greedy desire or love for it is the foundational cause of various sins.

Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth will only come to poverty.

Proverbs 22, 16.

You know, I seem to remember a young African American mom who came here.

She lived in the apartments, and she was brave enough to come here and say, I need to be able to earn some more money, but I want my three kids to come to Chesapeake schools.

I don't want to go back to Norfolk, but I'm gonna have to if I don't have the money.

The problem was that we don't allow home-based businesses and apartments, and not anyone on council lifted a finger to help her.

What have you done to deserve higher pay?

Did you run for office so your business would get more contacts so you get more money that way?

I straight out asked people on social media, what have they done to deserve it, and nobody could give me an answer.

According to a study by Professor Kamenica, along with colleagues from Columbia University, Princeton University, and Dong Energy, raising politicians' salaries is unlikely to result in better governance.

In fact, it may accomplish the opposite.

The researchers constructed a variable to also define shirking, noting a member's voting record as to how often he or she signed the daily attendance record, but then left without attending sessions or things like that.

And they include that salary had an insignificant impact on both shirking and attendance.

Hoffman and Leon's research on higher salaries lead to higher performance and state polls suggesting they spend more time on fundraising, but no more time on legislative activities.

So our results lend caution to common claims that increasing salary would greatly increase the quality of government.

What do you do for people?

I've been up here for years.

You've never done anything on that.

In 2011, you paid over six figures, I think, for the Deep Creek plans.

What happened to them?

Do we do anything with them?

When Chesapeake, Southern Chesapeake rose up and gave a resounding no to data centers.

What's your response?

Is to go ahead and do it anyway.

They didn't care about what they thought.

Have you de bloated the budget?

What about mixed use?

The first time that planning came with mixed use on everything, a third of council said no to it.

But yet that's exactly what you're doing.

How about the way you treated folks off a restroad in that area?

They are forcing them once they sell their home and stuff like that, those things that they're gonna have to be on city water and sewer.

They don't want to be.

I'm sure the people moving in there probably looking at we don't want to be there either, but you're forcing them into that.

How about the lawsuits where anonymous personal accusations were passed around in executive meetings where no one could defend themselves?

That doesn't speak a lot.

Positives.

How about using the dais to interrupt African Americans who spoke on an issue after limiting their time to speak and how many people could speak on their behalf?

But you never interrupted the developers that came out for that particular issue.

I remember that very well because that's why y'all changed the rules on it, because I threw a fit on it.

It was disgusting.

How about only going after women if they say a mile profanity, but it's okay for the men to do it?

And one of that came from the dais.

But y'all deserve a raise?

There are people I know in the city who have done two jobs at a time, scurrying around to do that.

They deserve that.

You guys are able to find money for y'all to keep doing a raise every time to sneak it in because you know we wouldn't go for blowing it all the way up to the high levels, but you want to sit there and go, oh, we'll sneak it in this way.

I've got my real estate um results here, seven per over seven percent one year, over five percent two other years.

I didn't make a five to seven percent raise.

I didn't get a three and a half percent raise either.

But you know what?

I did in one year saved a company over a hundred grand.

Have y'all done the same?

Thank you.

A motion is in order uh to adjust the cost of living uh for city council members.

Uh is there a motion, Mr.

Bunn.

Move to approve.

Thank you, sir.

Do we have a second?

Dr.

King, thank you.

Any discussion?

Council members, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

A lot of people didn't have wait.

Oh, Mr.

Smith.

We take redo the panel.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

So I have to please.

Motion to approve the ordinance as presented is adopted by a five to four vote.

Thank you.

Next item, please.

Item B, an ordinance relocating the polling place for precinct 0036, Great Bridge Baptist Church from Great Bridge Baptist Church to Great Bridge Middle School due to the unavailability of Great Bridge Baptist Church for the August 4th, 2026 primary election, and locating the same in a building with more than one polling place requested by the General Registrar.

Thank you.

Are there any speakers?

No, sir.

Uh no a motion is in order.

Move approval.

Thank you, Ms.

Ritter.

Thank you, Councilman Smith.

Any discussion?

Just to be clear, and based on a new item of new business that I'd like to bring forward at the end of the meeting.

This is only for the August 4th, 2026 primary election due to the unavailability of precinct 36 Great Bridge Baptist Church.

And it will be moving for that one election to the Great Bridge Middle School.

So I feel is the registrar here.

Okay.

Would you mind sticking around?

Thank you, Ms.

Pinkerman.

Thank you, Mayor.

Any other discussion?

Seeing none, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

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

Madam Kirk, would you please present item uh D?

C is an ordinance designating certain public facilities as early voting satellite locations for the November 3rd, 2026 general election requested by the General Registrar.

And do we have any speakers on this item?

No, sir.

We need a motion, please.

Move approval.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Mr.

Ms.

Smith, second.

Thank you.

Any discussion?

See none.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

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

Next item.

An ordinance authorizing the Chesapeake Electoral Board and General Registrar to reapply for the Department of Elections for a waiver to administer a split precinct in precinct 005 for Pewsville.

Requested by the general registrar.

This item is requested as an emergency action.

Are there any speakers on who wish to speak on this item?

No, sir.

I motion is in order as an emergency.

Move approval as an emergency.

Thank you.

Second.

Thank you.

Ms.

Ritter.

Any discussion?

Yes, Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

Smith.

Yes, thank you.

I wanted to have the question asked in reference to the split.

Are we talking about splitting a location in Suffolk or Chesapeake?

And then are we talking about the actual facility of the YMCA or somewhere else?

Could that be shared for one?

And then the second question I have in reference to our relocation.

Well, the Masonic Lodge, if I'm not mistaken.

So I'm trying to understand that as well.

So if that can be shared from the register, I would appreciate it.

Mr.

Pinkerman.

There's no changes.

This is just considering what has already been in place, but we have to by law reapply every year.

There's not enough to make a new precinct from how she shouldn't.

So from there, can you come?

Can you come to the podium, please?

Or you can go there either one.

Let's do one.

There's no changes being made, but anytime there is a split precinct, we annually have to renew our waiver because we're really not supposed to have a split, but the way the lines were drawn for us, we have no choice, and there's not enough people in that split to create a new precinct by law.

Okay.

So this is something I have to come for every single year just to keep things the way they are.

So for nothing's changing.

So for my knowledge, could you share what that location is?

Pewsville.

I understand Pewsville.

The location, the building.

It they voted the YMCA, but nothing's changing.

That's what I'm asking.

Right, but nothing's changing.

They're all still going to be at the same location.

I understand.

I didn't know whether it was at that location or elsewhere.

Okay.

Okay.

That answer one question.

Okay.

The other one I would need to look up online.

I mean, that's an individual voter issue, and I believe we've already discussed it, but I'd be happy to look it up again.

Cresswood voting at the Masonic and on George Washington Highway.

One person.

I'm just talking about a resident that came to me.

I'm not I know it's right and we've already looked at it, I think, but I'd be happy to look at it again.

What was the result?

I think they had moved, hadn't they?

I think you we need to do that.

I don't think it's for open.

Yeah, I don't want to discuss a voter's personal business in front of everyone.

Well, let you get back to Mr.

Smith at a late.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Councilman.

Ms.

Britter?

Yes, it just for those people listening.

Could you briefly explain what a split what the split precinct is?

Sure, actually.

Uh there's actually two sets of voters in a particular precinct voting where there's two different ballot styles.

They have different districts, they have different congressional, they have different house and different Senate, but there's not enough people to legally make you have to have 500 people to make a new precinct.

There's not enough.

So those people still vote at Pewsville.

And we have to do this every year until they reach 500, or unless the lines are redrawn with the redistricting.

Okay, and uh is this are the voters from Suffolk and Chesapeake?

They're all Chesapeake.

Okay.

They're all Chesapeake.

Thank you.

No problem.

Stick around.

We'll do.

I should be.

Thank you.

We do have a motion for it.

Um, uh Dr.

Ward.

I think you answered.

Because my question was going to be now.

Are the people clear that they live in Chesapeake and they are voting in Chesapeake because that has been a problem for a few years that uh there's some living in Chesapeake, but they're being asked to vote in Suffolk or vice versa.

They're to vote in Chesapeake, and I've spoken with them a numerous times, and they they want to be in Chesapeake, they are in Chesapeake.

But some of their utilities, I believe, are coming from the South.

And that's the confusing thing.

If they're paying taxes in Suffolk and utilities in Chesapeake or vice versa, that is still confusing to residents, and they don't know if they get paid taxes in one city and then vote in another city.

I believe the city attorneys are working on a solution, if I'm not mistaken.

So council will recall that over the past year we've worked with Suffolk to firm up the boundary.

That's been unclear for for over 100 years.

Um there's been uh boundary disputes, but um we have um uh a resolution there, and actually I believe we'll be bringing you a public hearing in July, which is sort of the final step before we um uh uh petition the court to firm up that boundary.

Um the the issue that was was being discussed there, not about voting, but about um taxation is that for some reason Dominion changed people's um location on their their bills from Chesapeake to Suffolk and maybe vice versa.

Um, and so if that's not been corrected already, it would be corrected with the um revised boundary.

Thank you.

Because that is the concern one of the concerns that the residents have in Pewsville.

Right.

I appreciate that.

Thank you, Ms.

Pakerman.

No problem.

Thank you.

We do have a motion on the floor to approve as an emergency.

Uh please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Madam Clark.

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

Uh next to citizens' comments on agenda items.

Do we have any who wish to speak?

Yes, sir.

We have one speaker, Vic Nichols, speaking on city attorney item two, representing self.

I'm kind of concerned about giving the um the treasurer some leeway.

I've heard a number of complaints where it had been quiet for the longest time, and then this year there's been a number of complaints with people coming up about no one getting back to them.

Um calling up and not being able to get anyone.

So after hearing that, I tried to do the same thing.

I never could get anybody by phone.

Then I was told, well, the only way that you have is to email.

Okay, so I emailed, and that took a long time.

I was at least one of the lucky ones because people said they didn't always get emailed answers back.

And I had had a money order put in to them, and I said it's three weeks later, y'all still haven't cashed it.

So did we lose a lot of people, or what happened there?

That it it seems like from what they told me, they're gonna be several weeks into June before they actually get our bills done.

Um what's the problem here?

Because I seem to remember our previous um treasurer Ben White coming before the council asking for money to be able to hire a number of new positions, and it was given to them so that they would be able to staff and be able to take care of things.

So what happened, guys?

You know, what what's what's the scoop?

Y'all don't know what goes on in the offices here because y'all are the ones that approve the money to pay for those people over there.

So who's not watching?

Do we need a Chesapeake Doge?

I know you're afraid to give me the budget.

So what are we gonna do about this?

When are we gonna start to see the quality that we had in the past year or so?

When are we gonna start to see that?

Because I have never put in money weeks early, and it still has not been credited to the account.

That's a problem, guys.

A huge problem.

Thank you.

That concludes the speakers.

Thank you.

Next is our uh consent agenda agenda.

Uh Madam Clerk, would you please present uh item two?

City clerk item one resignation, Lori Williams, citizen advisory committee, city attorney item two, an ordinance amending the Chesapeake City Code, Chapter 30, entitled Finance and Taxation, Section 30-2 to grant the city treasurer sole authority to direct how payments will be applied to delinquent accounts.

Are there any items council members would like to remove at this time?

Thank you.

I'd like to remove um city attorney item two.

Thank you.

Second that uh we are removing that, so we do need a motion to accept.

I guess the motion the resignation I'll make that motion.

Okay, go ahead.

Um, I move that um we approve the single item left on the consent agenda.

Okay, we have a second.

Thank you, Dr.

King.

Any other discussion?

Are you all clear what we're voting on?

Ms.

Ritter, you have your light on.

I do.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I was gonna um, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion is to approve the consent agenda with the exception of city attorney item two is adopted by a nine-o vote.

We're in our regular agenda now.

We'll bring up item two.

Ms.

Ritter.

Thank you.

Um, would you like the motion first?

Um I I pulled this item, which I support in order for the city attorney to give a brief explanation in case anyone is confused about what this means.

So I am going to move that we approve city attorney item two.

And if I get a second, I'll ask Ms.

Lindley for a brief explanation.

Do we have a second?

Mr.

Jefferson, second.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um Ms.

Lindley.

Would you mind please giving a brief explanation of what this actually means?

Yes.

This will essentially align state code and local code because the Virginia Code provisions on delinquent accounts say that when a taxpayer comes in, their payments will automatically go to the most delinquent account unless the locality hasn't adopted an ordinance saying otherwise.

And many years ago, the City of Chesapeake adopted an ordinance saying that when someone comes in to pay their delinquent accounts, the amount will either go to the most delinquent account or to whatever account the payor designates.

Um obviously logistically that's not good for them or for the city, and so what we want to do is just align our local code with the state code so that when people come in to pay on delinquent accounts, it will always go to the account that is obviously the most delinquent accruing the most interest or penalties.

Thank you.

Um thank you for that opportunity, Mayor.

Any further discussion?

We do have a motion to approve uh consent agenda item two.

I think I made that motion and it was second.

Yes.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve city attorney item two is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next is our regular agenda.

Uh City Manager Price, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Item one is a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a lease agreement between 1025 associates LLC or Virginia Limited Liability Company and the City of Chesapeake for the purpose of leasing 3,120 square feet of office warehouse space located at suite 109, 1025 executive boulevard for the exclusive purpose of operating an office operational central supply for the city's mobile integrated health program requested by the fire department.

Council Member Newens is recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

My husband is an employee of the city and a member of its fire department.

I am disclosing this personal interest because city manager item one could benefit fire department employees.

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

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

Thank you.

Thank you.

Do we have a motion, please?

Move approval.

Thank you.

Second, or Mr.

Whitaker.

Uh please.

Any discuss uh further discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the resolution as presented is adopted by a nine-o vote.

Item two is request to appropriate $30,000 to the FY 2026 School Resource Officer Program requested by the Sheriff's Department as an emergency action.

Could we have a motion, please, Mr.

Bond?

Mr.

Bye.

Move to approve um three thousand dollars as emergency measure.

Thank you.

Second is thank you, Dr.

Board.

Second, is it?

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Any further discussion, Mr.

Smith?

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um my question is is in reference to saying $30,000 short for all reading number two.

I saw something saying one twenty-five five eighty-three for appropriations.

Could you explain the difference for me?

Uh yes, sir.

So um this is uh this is effectuating an agreement between the school board and the sheriff's department.

Um the uh the estimate at the beginning of the year the budget that they anticipate um um for that program and the revenues come from two sources.

One is from a grant program from the state, and the second is from the school board.

Um the amount that was requested last year and appropriated, did not include enough for the salary increases as part of the public safety pay plan that go into effect in July.

So this 30,000 is the remainder that's necessary to cover that shortfall.

Uh, but it's all money that's being paid for by um in this instance the school board.

We do have an motion to approve is an emergency.

There's no other discussion.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

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

Thank you.

Next citizens' comments on services policies and affairs of the city.

Non-agenda speakers.

Madam Clerk, do we have any speakers?

Yes, sir.

We have 12 speakers.

They will be allowed three minutes each.

The first speaker is John Morsey.

He is speaking on State Department Wildlife Resources and Ballahack and Douglas Road, followed by Vic Nichols.

Thank you.

Mayor West.

Members of the Council, my name is John Morse.

I reside at 3636 Ballahack Road.

I'm here with several members of my community, my neighbors and friends.

We're concerned about a proposal that's been made aware of to us that the old cartwright farm next to Route 17 is going to be turned into a public firearms hunting area by Virginia DWR.

Before I say anything else, I'm an avid hunter.

I'm absolutely a pro hunter, not only the city of Chesapeake, but in the state, both states.

I am not opposed to hunting in general any means, but I think this is a bad situation based on the place that they're trying to do it at.

Douglas Road would be the northern boundary.

This is a 12,000, excuse me, 1,200 acre agricultural field that they want to turn into public hunting.

And I just don't think it's a good idea based on the fact that most folks that use public hunting places I found aren't very aware of the areas around them as much as some of the folks who live in the area.

The other thing is I'm not necessarily think this is necessary.

Chesapeake already has Cavalier Wildlife Management Area, which is 3,003,800 acres for people to public hunt, a very appropriate place because it's in the middle of nowhere and very wooded.

They also have the Bear Garden WCS, which is 758 acres, and then if you go across the canal, the entire uh federal uh visible swamp refuge allows hunting.

So we've got a preponderance of public hunting places already.

I think this is something we need to look at as a possible uh safety issue, and that's why we're here today.

So uh what I'm asking for, I guess I'm not sure what the process is.

I would have expected that DWR would have in some way gotten input from the city of about whether this was appropriate or not.

Apparently they have not, and there's some people here that are gonna speak also in regards to that.

So thank you for letting me speak.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Vic Nichols, representing CEP, speaking on affairs of the city.

Um first item, it would be nice if the City of Chesapeake recognized Western Branch High School grad 2004 year, NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, he was a backup for Artemis II, and he will be um on the main crew for Artemis III.

I haven't heard Chesapeake say anything about that.

Second, um, I had said some things last time about being embarrassed at times to live here, and the response was people move here because they want to.

Well, there are people who are here and still here because their houses are paid off, so moving anywhere else wouldn't require greater expense.

So they're staying here, not because they want to, but because they're really stuck.

Second, is there are other places that haven't built more apartments or the like, so they're going to come here.

But a lot of them have indicated they were moving from Chesapeake and they were going to go down to North Carolina because the tax rates are better, and there's more space, they can get a house for cheaper.

I've had somebody that had an apartment here, is all they could afford for them to their two kids, moved down to North Carolina, they have a house, plot of land of their own, and they're doing very well on that.

So I would say I would disagree that everybody here is very happy, especially when council is going to vote itself extra money when the rest of us are kind of hurting because I have a 66-year-old who is working a full-time job and two part-time jobs, and they're just now going to have to work another about seven or eight hours at one of the jobs to pay to live.

On top of this, Virginia's decision to rejoin Reggie, it's going to boost our ratepayer bills by six to seven and a half percent next year.

Dominions asking the SEC to approve a surcharge to cover the 1.8 billion dollar cost of allowances it will have to buy from Reggie next month through February 2028.

So on top of y'all's deciding, oh, we gotta have more money, we're gonna get hit by VEPCO.

Then we have farmers that are struggling with a severe drought.

In Virginia alone, there's nearly 40,000 farms that are facing potential financial ruin because they needed significant rainfall and government assistance, and a quote was every crop were suffering, bad as I've seen it for the springtime.

But you guys deserve extra money, right?

Buffalo, thank you.

Virginia Renick.

Comments regarding proposed data center development, followed by Amanda Dolltree.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council.

My name is Virginia Rennick, as she stated.

I am from Virginia Beach.

I'm here because of the data centers.

What is happening in Chesapeake is not just a Chesapeake issue.

It's a humanitarian issue.

Just last week, residents and I stood before Virginia Beach City Council, and we made it very clear that people are paying attention.

Citizens across Virginia are waking up and asking the same question.

How much of our future are we willing to trade away before we are willing to say enough?

We're told data centers are progress, they're the future and they're necessary.

But progress from whom?

For the families who moved here because of Chesapeake's rural character, for the farmers who have worked this land for generations, or for the homeowners who invested in communities, not industrial zones, or is it for corporations looking for land power and a tax advantage?

If you want to understand why residents are concerned, look at what's happening in other communities.

In Mason County, West Virginia, residents are experiencing flooding that was linked to failures in erosion and storm water controls at the data center construction sites.

Families are reporting damage to their homes because the facility is before the facility is even operational.

In Violin, New Jersey, residents have spent months complaining about a constant humming noise and a bright industrial light that keeps them up all hours of the night.

Residents have brown water coming from their faucets, the same water they use to bathe, drink, and clean.

Their whites are now brown, and the air constantly smells of gasoline, sending everyone with COPD or asthma to the ER.

People didn't move to a quiet residential and rural communities, expecting to live next to facilities that operate 24 7.

Residents aren't asking complicated questions.

We're asking basic ones.

What happens to our farmlands, to our neighborhoods, and to water resources?

What happens to the character of Chesapeake?

What happened or sorry?

Why does it seem like citizens are always learning about these projects after conversations have already begun?

This is not how public trust is built.

The people who live here are not obstacles to overcome.

They are not a box to check during public outreach.

They are the stockholders, the taxpayers, and they are the voters, your voters.

I ask everyone here today, do you want data centers?

Last year, Chesapeake residents came together and spoke out against proposed data center in Great Bridge, and y'all listened.

Please listen to your comments.

Comments regarding proposed data center development.

Follow by Sue Scorbo Scorbo.

I could just uh clarify.

I'm not I hear the topic, but to my knowledge, there is not a proposed data center, but you're certainly free to speak, is if there were, but there is none that I'm aware of.

Is it okay if I make a statement before I go into my comment?

Just to your comment that I understand that there is no proposed data center at this moment, but I know that there are conversations about creating stricter regulations about data centers in the future.

Yeah.

Um, well, hello, prestigious members of Virginia Beach City Council.

My name is Amanda Dowdy.

I'm standing here before you today to discuss data centers.

Now, when I entered this journey back in January, I heard there was speculation of a data center coming to Newport News, my hometown.

Knowing how damaging these are to a community, I decided that someone had to advocate for our community, and that was going to be me.

Now, when I was early in this game, people of Chesapeake encouraged me to fight.

They told me they were successful last year, they gave me hope, and that's what I wanted for Newport News.

Now, why a data center isn't slated for Chesapeake at this moment?

There is a organization in this area to try to bring a data center to Chesapeake only a year after y'all denied the proposed one near Centerville Turnpike.

This organization is called Chesapeake Alliance.

Chesapeake Alliance is holding meetings for invited individuals like business leaders, stakeholders, and prestigious members of the public to educate them about data center 101.

However, these presentations are misguided.

I could speak for hours about how data centers pollute our communities in multitude of ways, the $2 billion Virginia is losing every year due to these tax incentives that data centers relieve and they are killing our planet.

Instead, I have prepared an essay for you with the sources cited to read at your leisure.

This does not include recent information provided by the UN on June 4th, 2026.

Recent updates include the amount of water used by data centers will be the same amount of water that 1.3 billion people will use by the end of the decade.

Now, this is an insult to the 2.2 billion people on this planet that do not have safe drinking water.

I understand that you are exploring strict regulations on data centers in the city, but I implore you to stand with your constituents as you unanimously have in the past and honor their wishes by keeping data centers out of the city of Chesapeake, period.

Please do not shatter the trust the community has instilled in you.

I will leave you an expert from my essay.

If you dump poison into a billionaire's pool, you will be charged with attempted murder.

But if a billionaire dumps tens of thousands of gallons of poison into our ecosystems, that's just business.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sue Sherbo, representing South Data Center, followed by Linda Tyndale.

Good evening, Mayor West, and City Council members.

I'm Susan Sherbo.

I live in the Green Bar section of Chesapeake.

And first of all, I would like to thank the Chesapeake rural community for jumpstarting our knowledge about data centers last year.

And I'd also like to thank the citizens and council members who've continued to build on that knowledge, the concerns and the concerns we've had about data centers.

We've also gained vital knowledge from other communities, some of whom spoke tonight about immediate and escalating impacts on family health, homes, expenses, air, water, and habitat for all creatures that are caused by data centers.

I read the April 2026 data center plan on the PDF, and I was surprised to see how much industrial green there was on the map for Greenbrier.

That's concerning because Greenbrier is a very well-balanced community.

And I think that the industrial areas should be marked more clearly on the map, and it would be fantastic if we could see a detailed map of industrial areas with street names for all of Chesapeake, so we know exactly what we're dealing with.

I think that I'm concerned that data centers might be approved without our knowledge, citizen knowledge, concerns, and engagement, and citizens should be viewed as stakeholders with opportunities for comment, frequent comment on data center policy and to be able to share their concerns.

Thank you very much.

Linda Tendell representing Cell, proposed data center development, followed by Jeff Staples.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a business meeting.

Please hold the clapping.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Linda Tyndall, 1045 West Road.

I recently studied the City Council work session dated April 21st, 2026 concerning data centers.

I would like to ask about the stakeholder committee.

It says it includes citizens.

How many?

Who are they?

Who picked them?

Do they have financial gain in play?

I want to be on the stakeholder committee as a citizen representative.

I have been a resident of Chesapeake for 40 years.

I work for Chesapeake Public Schools.

I am a mother.

I am a farm owner.

I value livestock, wildlife, and open space.

I have had hazardous material training.

I have learned a lot about stormwater and public utility projects.

I am certainly capable of advocating for my neighbors.

I am a stakeholder and a citizen, and I want to be involved.

I am volunteering to be on the stakeholder committee concerning the data centers.

I have the time and the energy to participate.

Please make this happen.

Thank you.

Jeff Staples, representing CEPS speaking on data centers, followed by Brandon.

Uh who's good evening, I'm uh Jeff Staples.

I live at 1453 Boxwood Drive in uh Chesapeake, and talking on data centers tonight.

So June 5th was a day early for D-Day, but it was like a modern-day D-Day for the fight against the invasion of Southeastern Virginia by data centers.

That is when Mayor Dyer from Virginia Beach said not just no, but heck, no, to mega scale data centers for many reasons that you have already heard.

I hope the mayor and our city council will announce a similar policy.

If data centers are not good enough for Etheridge Manor and Woodards Mill, they are not good for any area in Chesapeake.

In fact, the Data Center Policy Plan Development is suggesting that only one area that could still have buy right data centers is the coastal Virginia Commerce Park.

That would be the worst possible place in Chesapeake to put one of these data centers.

That thing would suck the Northwest River dry, pollute the air with burning of diesel and frack gas, and it will be smack in the middle of the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge and the Cavalier Wildlife Management Area.

Please read the room, read this, read the comments on the post about it, and join Virginia Beach and Suffolk in saying, heck no.

Thank you.

Brandon O'Hose.

Mr.

Rogers Wenders Warehouse, followed by Keith Williams.

Good evening, Mayor, City Council.

My name is Brandon Oyhouse.

I've lived in Chesapeake on and off pretty much my entire adult life.

I live in the Dominion Meadows neighborhood, just uh south of Grassfield High School, where I've lived uh with my family since 2017.

Uh getting right to the point, the Mr.

Rogers Windows uh warehouse located at 2100 uh Scenic Parkway, in my in my understanding is violating some key requirements uh outlined in the 2021 planned unit development document uh specifically as it relates to advertising and signage.

So just to give you a sense of the area I'm talking about.

This warehouse opened up in the fall of uh 2025, and it's effectively in the Dominion Meadows neighborhood.

The warehouse southernmost portion uh boundary line just runs up right against like residence fences.

Um so it's it's really kind of like in terms of how it feels and where it's at, it's kind of like just in the neighborhood.

So before I get into the specific violations, I really just want to uh first commend the group of people who wrote and approve the 2021 uh PUD.

I really mean that.

The document does a great job articulating uh not just the technical requirements for the Dominion Commerce part, but also the ways in which the technical requirements are designed to contribute to the character, the vibe, the overall aesthetic of that area.

The PUT includes language like continuous attractive setting, paying attention to visual and acoustic impacts, continuity of theme, attractive contemporary appearance, as well as verbiage that says signage shall be minimized and consistent throughout uh Dominion Commerce Park.

My primary issue is that the Mr.

Rogers warehouse is violating section three alpha of that uh 2021 PUD, specifically the uh section related to the prohibition of outdoor advertising, other than park identification and direction signs.

Understand I only have three minutes, so I'm gonna try to run through these as efficiently as possible.

Um, issue number one is the electric monument sign that he has there.

Uh that sign is broken into two halves.

The uh the bottom half is just a simple sign for his business and uh the other one that's kind of co-located with him.

However, the top of this sign is really just running ads 24-7.

Um, and I have videographic evidence I can provide to anyone that that wants to take a look at it, uh, just kind of spelling that out.

Um, additionally, that that uh top half of that sign um is also violating the permit that the city gave them.

Um, we don't have time to get into specifics on that, however, I just want to make that make a note of it as well.

Uh to me, the solution is just remove removing that electric portion of that sign uh entirely.

Uh, issue number two uh the warehouse employs over a dozen box trucks, so it has just gigantic uh Mr.

Rogers um advertising on both sides.

We can see it from both sides of the entry points for the for the neighborhood.

Additionally, there is a uh box truck that's parked strategically at a location that you have to run by um every every single time you're coming into that in and out of that neighborhood.

Um I'm out of time.

Um, there's definitely more I would like to get into here, uh, but I just wanted to bring it to you guys' attention, and I'm working through the internal processes to get this adjudicated.

Thank you.

Keith Williams.

Proposed Cavalier WMA off Ballahack, followed by Jennifer Economy.

Good evening.

My name is Keith Williams.

I live at 4148 Burdett Street.

I'm here tonight to express my concerns about a proposed um addition to the Cavalier Wildlife Management Area.

Um, there's currently a 3800 acre track off Ballahack Road.

Um they want to add another approximately 1200 acres, um, which would be on the western end of Allah Road, also bordered by Burdett Street.

Um, first off, uh it'll allow public hunting, which I am I am pro hunting.

Um, I'm avid hunter, and I have no problem with hunting as long as it's done safely.

The problem with this proposed the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, where they want to put this, is that there's a lot of residential properties that border on two sides of this uh this property, and my property borders two sides of it.

My in-laws property borders two sides of it.

They have a boarding facility, they have people riding horses on a daily basis around the perimeter of the property.

Um we did meet with the uh Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to express our concerns about this, and they basically said that um that this was a done deal and it was gonna happen.

Um I know that y'all are aware of this uh thing that's gonna you know that that's gonna possibly happen, but there's a lot of there's a really a lot of concerns here.

Um Route 17 being on another uh side of this thing.

Um it's just not a safe, just it's just not safe for this to happen it in this place here.

The current Cavalier Wildlife Management Area is so in all sense purposes in the middle of nowhere, doesn't really impact a lot of residential properties.

This here will, and it's a lot of safety concerns for this matter, and uh just wanted y'all to be aware of this.

Thank you.

Jennifer Economy representing CEF speaking on data centers, followed by Brian Stone Cypher.

Good evening, Mayor West and members of City Council.

I'm Jennifer Economy, 2708 Cedarville Road.

On May 12th, I spoke before you regarding data centers, suggesting a ban or moratorium.

The same evening the initiating resolution was approved.

Just recently, I reviewed the materials from your April 21st work session on data centers and noted in the proposal establishing a data center stakeholder committee with citizens identified as an important part of that committee.

I would appreciate clarification on whether this committee has been formally established and how citizens members were or will be selected.

I would also like to express my interest in being considered as a citizen stakeholder.

Last week I was invited to attend the Chesapeake Alliance's recent data center presentation, which provided a deeper understanding of the policy considerations and community impacts involved.

Since then, I have continued following this topic closely.

Brian Stonecyfer speaking on conversion of a thousand acres of cropland to wildlife management and utility lines, followed by Antonio Taylor.

Good evening, Mayor West and City Council members.

My name's Byron Stone Cipher.

I'm a president of Chesapeake Farm Bureau.

I do own a farm.

I live down on Ballahack Road that borders about 75% of the border of the Cavalier Wildlife Management area.

And I have had a lot of problems with trespassers.

They hunters get in the woods and they just wander around.

Even though I've got my property marked, um, it they still come over.

A lot of times I don't see them.

I don't report them to the game warden.

If I find them, I should run them off, and they always you know say, well, we didn't know we were on private land, even though they walk right past the trespassing science.

So anyway, that's going to be a problem for this new area that they're talking about creating because there are a lot more property owners and houses where this property is going to be at.

Um it's a safety concern, and I don't think it's a good idea.

I'm not sure what the city can do about it.

The other thing is it's 1200 acres of farmland that's going to be taken out, they're gonna let it grow up in trees.

All right, all right.

You know, we're losing farmland left and right.

There's not much left in Chesapeake now, and that's just a bad scenario.

The second item I want to talk about tonight is uh we've had some issues with farm equipment getting tangled up in power lines and utility lines.

Uh we have generated a letter, and it's pretty self-explanatory.

I'll let you guys read it, but we are concerned.

I'm here again, it's not a city problem, it's a utility issue, but somehow, if we could enforce and make the utility companies, the power lines and utility lines are supposed to be 18 feet above ground level.

And we've got 13 feet tall equipment that are getting tangled up in them, so you know, there's a disconnect here, it's not being handled correctly.

So if you guys could review that letter, I'd appreciate it.

See if there's anything can be done.

All right, thank you.

Antonio Taylor speaking on power lines and utility lines.

Good evening, Mayor, City Council, Dear Mayor West, and City Manager Price.

Chesapeake farms have been productive for generations, and given the conditions, we'll continue to be vital for years.

In addition to supporting the local economy, these farms play a vital and critical role with maintaining healthy environments and ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable food for food supply.

The Chesapeake County Farm Bureau probably presents the farmers of this community.

We wish to highlight a growing concern that continues to put farmers at risk.

Insufficient insufficient height and clearance over here at utility lines.

This is a problem.

Myself, one of my workers had a utility line on Woodamore Road.

My PC equipment is 13 feet tall, 13 feet.

The power lines that I read in Virginia Dominion Powers um letter, their line is supposed to sit up about 15.5.

Their power polls is about 30 to 40 feet tall.

The equipment nowadays have grown from the 60s and 70s and 80s to now.

So we are asking that if you all council could help us the farmers continue to grow our crops safely.

We've had four incidents within the last week.

That's not good.

That's not safe for the farmers or the community.

I mean, it knocks out the power.

My piece of equipment started a fire, and we had to put it out.

So we are asking for you all's help with Virginia Power and the other utility companies with raising up the telephone lines and power lines because it's a safety issue, and I am the safety chairman for Farm Bureau.

I'm also your planning commissioner, so I'm coming to you all asking you all for help because we really need help.

Thank you for y'all's time.

That concludes the speakers.

Thank you, and I want to thank all the speakers for being here tonight.

Uh Mr.

Manager, I understand there may be some awareness on this um property for public for hunting uh on your level.

Is there have we looked into this at all?

I'll have to check with staff to to see um where we're at on that, but we'll dispatch a report to council.

Okay, and if you would uh also get back to the gentleman spoke, uh Mr.

Rogers, without what kind of conflict would that would be.

And as far as utility polls, I know we don't have any authority, but is there anything we can do to take a look at that?

We have very frequent uh conversations with the utility companies um for for a variety of reasons, so we will make sure to discuss this um this issue with them and see if we can't help with the resolution.

All right, thank you so much.

Appreciate it.

Next on the agenda is unfinished business.

Does uh any council members have unfinished business they'd like to bring up at this time?

Mr.

Whitaker.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, actually, I would like to ask the city manager and the city attorney, um, about that cartwright track, the 1200 acre cartwright track.

Uh over off 17, there's an archery, what they refer to as archery track.

It's just over 700 acres that borders the Disible Swalk canal trail and 17.

In conversation, and and maybe even Miss Ritter might even know some of the history of that, how that was designated archery only.

I think that may uh somehow eliminate some of these trepidations that that some of our citizens have with that court by track.

Thank you.

Did you want an answer now or it originally started as a hunting track, approximately 800 acres that sits between the trail and the new 17?

And hunting went on in different ways on that property for a I want to say, Mr.

Morse, maybe you can just raise your hand if I'm correct.

Uh five or six years ago, or was it longer?

I think it's been our free only a little bit longer than that.

Right.

We um petitioned the state to change that to archery only because of the very heavy use of the trail, and the state complied with that.

Um that's the history.

That's about all I can give you on that.

But that was a request from the city to change it to archery only.

Okay.

Thank you.

Mr.

Smith.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I guess this question would be for the city manager.

This is in reference to Chesapeake Connects.

Could you give us an update on that as far as the project is concerned?

Um, as of yet, as a city.

Um, two pieces, and I'll I'll defer to the vice mayor if I if I get anything wrong.

It's really worth it having to know that so um Chesapeake Connects is the city's fiber optic ring, it's hundreds of miles that will connect um the entire city with high speed broadband internet.

Um that the city's portion is is um almost completely done and and and ready to be um activated.

There's a secondary piece um to connect into the regional network.

There's a regional fiber optic ring that's managed through South Side Network Authority, and um that piece is nearly done.

So that's um that's the piece that will allow the the um connection to the um transatlantic um uh cables for high speed internet for the region.

Um it'll connect to the regional ring, and then we will also connect to that regional ring.

So um those actually significant progress that will be made and and announcements later um actually this summer we we expect some some significant progress, but the city's ring nearly done.

South side network authority ring is um is pending, but uh my Vice Mayor Ritter might know the the end date better than I would.

Um that I can't tell you, neither can Ms.

Fitzpatrick, who is such a um support system for me on the network authority.

Um I will say Chesapeake was the first city to complete, and the foresight the city had in doing a design build portion of the five city ring proved to be an excellent um move for us.

So one city that's bigger than us.

If that gives you a hint who it is, uh sorry.

Anyway, they um they're not finished, and nobody knows when they might be finished.

It's really a source of frustration to the other members of the authority, but Chesapeake has done a great job, and all four are the other three cities, Suffolk's done, Portsmouth and Norfolk, with their own rings or the.

Yeah, I mean, we're ready to all pull fiber.

Very near, yes.

So we've been a success story, but I I will say, Mr.

Smith, um the work the city has done on both the network authority and on Chesapeake Connects has really been excellent.

It's on time, it's on budget.

We had great management, and the people in the city are gonna really benefit from access to high-speed internet and the broadband.

Um, so our staff really need Mr.

Manager to be commended for the hard work they've done.

And um you might want to talk about the Chesapeake Connects or Miss Fitzpatrick, but it's going to every public facility in the city.

I would say uh in the interest of time, and we actually have a South Side Network Authority meeting uh this week so we we can get to the remainder of the outstanding information and provide a report back to council.

Thank you, Mr.

Bod.

Thank you, Mayor West.

Um couple comments or I guess updates.

First of all, we had a couple citizens tonight talk about uh the process of how they can apply to be on the advisory, I guess committee or for data centers.

If I'm not sure if you have that information now or you could share with the with us later.

Okay, I'm sorry.

But I would just say that I believe the committee that they're referencing is the one Mr.

McNamara, the planning director referenced those that there's a group that's advising the planning department.

So it's a it's a group that staff put together to advise staff that is stakeholders um uh that they engage with uh during the um both the rezoning application that the council did not approve, and then in the work that council directed um to take a look at best practices with data centers to make sure that we're properly mitigating um any impacts.

Um so that I believe if I'm correct that the committee that was referenced is the committee that is advising staff.

Your principal committee, you know, the citizens committee that advises you on land use issues, including data centers and others, of course, is the planning commission, and and they will be engaged uh heavily throughout the process.

Okay.

And then secondly, we had another citizen.

I'm so sorry I forgot your name, sir, but has some concerns about I guess the electronics on this.

Could staff make sure you connect with them.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Uh uh Ms.

Noitz.

Um thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Council met with a citizen earlier that brought up the basketball program at the Cuffe Center is kind of falling by the wayside, it may need additional assistance.

Can we follow up on that and see if there's any additional funding or assistance council can provide to that program?

I know it is crucial to that area.

Yes, and then additionally to Councilmember Bunn's point regarding the stakeholder group.

I have a little bit of concern about staff picking who they want to advise them on how they should make a recommendation to council.

Can we receive some more information on um who's selected in that group and what the rationale is behind that, and then perhaps council can provide some input if there are additional persons that we would like to be involved in that?

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

Uh Ms.

Rutter.

Yeah, just a quick um I'm I have to share the concern on the um farm being turned into another hunting area, and not that I object, I don't I'm not a hunter, but certainly don't object to those who do.

But we've dealt for a couple of years with the issues of target practice, particularly and hunting adjacent to and putting in danger people who live, not necessarily on three acres, but people who live on large farms and they may be the three third generation of family that lives there.

So I'm sure Mr.

Westcott would love to take this on, and to contact the state agency, if it's a private sale from a landowner to the state, it's very difficult for us to exert anything, but it we may have the opportunity now to get in on um how I hate to use the term regulated, but uh the parameters of the hunting area, and so he'd probably be really good at this and uh tell them I'm changing my phone number.

Thank you.

I think uh I think Mr.

Whitaker's suggestion is worth pursuing.

I believe there was uh city property behind the commerce park off of Clearfield that had that uh requirement that you could hunt with archery, but that's all.

Um Mr.

Smith?

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Something else I wanted to add.

Uh after talking to the director of parts and recreation and tourism, uh, we talked about putting the program together for the summer for the youth.

Uh he has shared information with me in reference to Friday nights.

I think I got Friday night, Friday night hot shots.

So that's coming on online July the 10th, and that's for teenagers ages 13 to 19.

Uh, the facilities they're gonna use is Camelot Community Center, Dr.

Clarence Coffee Community Center, and New River Community Center, 7 to 10 o'clock on Friday nights, and then also they're doing something for the younger youth, a summer break camp for ages six through 13.

I'm sorry, yeah, six through thirteen, and that's gonna start June the 17th.

And that's during the day Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

And the locations is Chesapeake Care Center, Crestwood Elementary School, and Sparrow Row Intermediate.

So these are two good programs that I think will help give our youth something to do during the summertime.

And I was glad to hear that they're moving forward and making this happen.

I'm not sure if it's already on the city's website, but if it's not, it will be coming soon.

And I think citizens are gonna be real pleased with this this project.

Thank you.

Mr.

Smith, thank you so much for that information and for uh pursuing that issue.

We certainly appreciate that.

Uh Dr.

Ward.

Yeah, just um, I finished business.

I guess it is a new business.

Uh Mr.

Manager, I know you had expressed earlier that you wanted the historical village to be finished um by uh well anyway, by June 12th, we know that's not quite there, but uh could you check with public utilities because between I don't know Hansbury Hanbury architects and Rigsford and uh E.T.

Gresham, they're you know, feeling that the pipes are there, and we just need the public utilities, the city to connect.

And I know you're trying to get it into the um there, but I'll just say what's going to be happening in the next uh I guess century, but to get it on that historical uh map.

We if you could check into that since the pipes are there, but we don't have the city, you just need the public utilities to connect the water, and they're having to almost like bust in water.

Um, and we have a lot of visitors coming for 250, and it's on that list of places.

So if you could check with David Jiggins and the public utilities, because the pipes are there, but just need to make that connection with the city of water as soon as possible.

I know we tried to make it you wanted to be there on the 12th, uh, and then the time capsule, the deadline for inserting uh projects is the 12th.

I don't know if that's what you were working toward, but anything you can do to help uh the public utilities in making those connections since the pipe shot in the ground, we would truly, truly appreciate it.

And Northwest, oh, that that park is just amazing.

It is absolutely beautiful.

Got the tour that I know tourists are gonna want to be there, um, as part of the 250 and what Chesapeake is doing.

Thank you, appreciate that.

Thank you.

Next is uh new business.

Do council members have any new business items that would be new business?

Oh go ahead, Mr.

Bun.

Mr.

Bunn.

Thank you, Mayor West.

Um, this afternoon I had the absolute pleasure of um giving one of our young residents, um Bryson Moran, a tour of City Hall and just his excitement for city government and he's just such an inspiration.

He's involved with the police explorers.

Um he's a student.

Well, he's a graduate from D Creek High School's um science academy.

He's currently a student at Oldman University, and his life goal is to become a member of our police department.

So when I recognize um Bryson, he's here tonight with his wonderful parents, Josh and Amanda, and um just to the parents you raised an incredible, I mean incredible young man.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, if I could I I had a chance.

Um, um, to meet the young man today, and uh what impressed me most well, in addition to wanting to be a police officer, he read the entire budget cover to cover.

So thank you.

Appreciate it.

Is he old enough to be on city council?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Bunn.

It's Ms.

Ritter.

He is an awesome young man, and um I hope we see you very soon at a police graduation after you finish your degree.

Um, I thank you for sticking around, Ms.

Pinkerman.

Again, I'm gonna have to change my phone number.

So you can't call and yell at me.

Uh when you did this temporary change to Great Bridge Middle School from Great Bridge Baptist because it was unavailable, it got me thinking about a discussion I may have had with previous members of the electoral board about being able to use a facility for multi-precints.

Some of our, I know that the schools are not enthusiastic about being polling places any longer, and recently with the referendum, they really weren't aware it was coming and ended up having to go to virtual learning, and then you know, there are other I know that you have other problems.

I'm not asking you to do this for November, but if you would take a look at the possibility of say using a facility like the conference center, which you could I know there are a lot this much more complex than it sounds because you'd have to have consistency, but the way I see the layout, we could easily have two to four precincts in that building, it's adequate parking, it's greatly increased handicap parking, it's ADA accessible, and having gone to so many polling places in the city, um, we'll take the schools out of it, but some voters have to walk a long way, and the handicap parking is quite limited.

So, you know, places like Greenbar Library, Indian River Library, for people who go there, it's just a tiny small distance extra to get to the conference center, if that's a good place.

So if you would over the course of time, um take a look at whether or not you think that would be a viable possibility.

Are you talking about specific precincts going there?

Well, I would uh no, I would take your advice on that.

Well, part of the problem would be that voters have to be within, or the polling place has to be within a mile of the border of the voting place has to be within a mile of the border of the pre of the precinct.

Well, somebody needs to tell whoever did the crazy lines years ago, when a neighbor could walk, I can walk to three polling places.

Well, not this week, but if I'm healthy, uh, if a neighbor of mine can walk to three polling places, Fentress, Butts Road Intermediate, and Centerville, they vote at Great Bridge Middle School.

Someone needs to explain that.

My linear mind cannot accept that.

That's a lot more than a mile.

The polling place has to be within a mile of the border of the whole precinct.

That's okay, to go from where I live in Fentress to Great Bridge Middle School is significantly more than a mile, no matter where the line's drawn.

So years ago when they drew those, I I know what happened.

They were very misinformed about development potential when 8,000 acres have already of development rights were bought by the Navy.

You remember that.

I was in there, not very happy.

But all over the city, I know you do a really good job, but if there are places that we could consolidate, make it easier for voters, if that's at all possible.

I think that would be helpful.

Okay.

If you have particular ones in mind, if you could like the issue with the one person, if you could email me their information and I can double check that everything.

Oh trust me this is yeah.

Okay.

But I'll be happy to do that.

I'm not asking you do this right away, but if there's a way we can make it easier.

This is something we usually do with redistricting looking to make things better for everybody when everything's already changing so that it's not so many changes at one time.

But we can certainly go ahead and start looking at that ahead of time so that when the time comes I know it's difficult because it seems like we don't have two weeks that aren't encumbered by some election cycle now.

Thank you very much for the great job you do for our citizens.

Thank you Mr.

I do believe that concludes our agenda I would like to call on uh our attorney to give us the language for the closed meeting topic next week.

A motion to conduct a closed meeting on June 16th at 4 p.m in City Hall for discussion regarding a city council appointee specifically the city auditor as permitted by section two point two-3711A1 of the Code of Virginia.

Motion please thank you Dr Ward second.

Second thank you Mr Smith go by the by the list.

Please prepare to vote please vote and record motion to get motion to conduct a closed meeting June 16th at 4 p.m is adopted by 90 vote.

Council Member King would you please provide the benediction Lloyd we just thank you for this meeting we thank you for being here with us today we thank you in advance for delivering all of us home safely or to wherever our next destination may be in your heavenly name we pray.

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