Chesapeake City Council Meeting – June 23, 2026

The Chesapeake City Council met on June 23, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting included special presentations, approval of numerous budget and policy amendments, public comments on both agenda and non-agenda items, appointments to boards and commissions, and initiation of planning commission reviews for solar energy and zoning updates. All votes were 8‑0, with Vice Mayor Ritter excused.

Special Presentations

• Laura Hinton was recognized as a pioneering athlete from Great Bridge High School (1971) who became the first Black American to play football at LSU and was inducted into the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021. Council presented a resolution honoring his legacy.
• Reese Jackson, outgoing President and CEO of Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, received an Exemplary Citizen Certificate for over a decade of leadership that included expansion of critical care, cancer center, Level III trauma center, and behavioral health services.

Consent Calendar (Unanimous Approval)

• Seven ordinances were approved as emergency actions to align city code with 2026 General Assembly changes:
  1. Exempting drivers from reckless driving liability when passing a stopped school bus.
  2. Adding electronic payment orders to the list of instruments subject to a $35 penalty for returned payments (with a waiver for first‑time electronic order failures within 12 months).
  3. Establishing criminal prosecution immunity for minor victims of sex trafficking.
  4. Expanding individuals authorized to affirm traffic light violations monitored by automated systems.
  5. Providing public safety towing responders limited access to accident reports.
  6. Modifying the composition of the Towing Advisory Board.
  7. Prohibiting hydraulic fracturing and bioslurry injection in the Northwest River Watershed Protection District.

Regular Agenda – City Manager Items (All Approved 8‑0)

• Land Bank Authority – Ordinance updating principal office location and clarifying member requirements for the board and citizen advisory committee.
• Regional Mental Health Services – Resolution authorizing an agreement with Region 5 Community Service Boards for a regional framework for mental health services.
• Energy Costs – Transfer of $500,000 within the FY 2026 Public Works operating budget to cover increased energy expenses.
• Children’s Services Act – Appropriation of $252,438 in state revenue and $149,212 from the General Fund reserve for the Human Services Interagency Consortium pool fund.
• FY 2027 Operating Budget Amendments (13 sub‑items A‑M):
  • A: $94,007 for Community Development Block Grant and $2,355 for HOME Investment Program.
  • B: $2,500 for Police Department Virginia Camp Rules Grant.
  • C: $9,455 from Criminal Justice Services and $3,151 from seized assets for video conferencing equipment.
  • D: $292,109 in state mental health funds for the STEP‑VA initiative.
  • E: $2,000,000 supplemental principal debt payment to the Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank.
  • F: $340,000 reallocation for the rescheduled primary election (June to August).
  • G: $10,686 for a predictive wellness program for first responders.
  • H: $60,000 for the Fine Arts Commission.
  • I: $65,000 for increased court‑appointed counsel costs.
  • J: $43,185 and a 0.475 FTE for the Sheriff’s inmate workforce.
  • K: Appropriation of state revenue and fund balance for law enforcement overtime in the Crisis Intervention Team.
  • L: $86,800 for the city’s contribution to Hampton Roads Transit micro‑transit grant.
  • M: Language requiring quarterly reports of budget transfers.
• FY 2027–2031 Capital Improvement Program Amendments (10 sub‑items A‑J):
  • A: $500,000 for Unserved Areas Cost Participation III.
  • B: $400,000 for Citywide BMP Restoration II.
  • C: $450,000 for Traffic Signal Timing Improvements (new project).
  • D: $50,000 lapsed funding for Forest Lakes Stormwater Outfall Improvements.
  • E: $500,000 lapsed funding for Regional Broadband Ring.
  • F: $1,000,000 transfer from Joint City/School Garage to Public Works/Public Utilities Facilities Replacement.
  • G: Funding source change ($121,920) for Number 10 Lane Bridge from High Priority One‑Time to VDOT reimbursements.
  • H: De‑appropriation of $475,000 federal revenue from Advanced Right‑of‑Way Acquisition II.
  • I: Funding modification for Battlefield Park South Waterways Enhancement.
  • J: Language requiring quarterly reports of capital budget transfers.
• FY 2027 Operating Budget and CIP Amendments (item 7) – Omnibus approval including conversion of vacancies (e.g., five police officer positions to public safety aid positions; full‑time telecommunicator to part‑time) to improve recruitment.

City Attorney Item (Unanimous)

• Mulch Storage – Ordinance adding definitions for mulch/mulching materials and permitting limited temporary outdoor storage under specified conditions.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Agenda Items:

• Vic Nichols (self) criticized the lack of transparency in the budget process (energy cost increases, lack of summary totals, expired fund tracking) and raised concerns about planning commission conflicts and the appearance of “sneaking through” compensation ordinances.

On Non‑Agenda Items (8 speakers):

• Vic Nichols (again) challenged council to decline upcoming pay raises, questioned traffic infrastructure for Greenbrier, and urged action on a VDOT on‑ramp extension to the mall area.
• Steve Baggerly, Kate Durham, Dennis Hansen, Jimmy Culpepper (Hampton Roads Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons / Chesapeake Environmental Forum) urged council to adopt the ICAN Cities Appeal resolution calling on the U.S. government to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. They cited catastrophic consequences, the current arms race, and Hampton Roads’ vulnerability as a nuclear target.
• Bradley Moore (self, South Norfolk) promoted the annual July 4th parade and America’s Block Party, thanked Public Works for support, and highlighted the city’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
• Jennifer Knight (self, BallaHack Road) opposed hyperscale data center development, arguing the city is advancing deals with insufficient public oversight, risk to private wells and septic systems, and exclusion of citizens from stakeholder meetings. She requested a public benefit‑burden ledger before any economic development commitments.
• Jacob Phillips (Chesapeake Soccer Club) reported deteriorating soccer fields at Centerville Complex (lack of irrigation, safety concerns) despite the club investing $40,000 annually in maintenance. He expressed fear of retaliation for speaking. Mayor West and City Manager Price assured no retaliation and agreed to investigate.

Discussion Items

• Councilmember Newins requested a retreat discussion on council’s role in selecting stakeholder groups for policy input, citing accountability concerns. City Manager Price agreed that staff seeks community expertise but welcomed council guidance to protect staff from scrutiny.
• Councilmember Bunn asked for data on how many teams/residents use city fields like the soccer clubs.
• Councilmember King thanked the city manager for improving landscaping on Muscarat Court following a citizen complaint.
• Vice Mayor Ritter (absent) requested an agenda item to create an ad hoc committee for agri‑tourism policies; no objection.
• Mayor West asked the city attorney to research the council’s ability to take a position on nuclear weapons (non‑agenda issue); response pending.

Key Outcomes

• All agenda items (consent, regular, and new business) were approved by 8‑0 votes.
• Compensation ordinances for City Attorney, City Clerk, Real Estate Assessor, and City Auditor were passed; council clarified these provide a car allowance (consistent with executive‑level employees) and are not salary raises.
• Solar/Battery Storage – Two initiating resolutions were sent to the Planning Commission to amend the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance regarding local regulation of such facilities, responding to 2026 General Assembly changes.
• Zoning Amendments – Initiating resolutions sent to Planning Commission for (1) general zoning amendments to reflect 2026 state law changes, and (2) procedural changes to judicial review of Board of Zoning Appeals decisions.
• Appointments – Slate approved: Terrell Cuffee (Housing Authority), Cameron Miller (Interagency Consortium), Jacquelyne Wiggins (Citizen Advisory Committee), five Fine Arts Commission reappointments plus Carrie Spencer, three Human Services Advisory Board appointments, Kevin Greene (Library Board), reappointment of Jon Berry (Public Art Committee) with three vacancies continued, Matthew Vinson (Utility Review Board), and Councilmember Newins (Audit Committee).
• Closed Meetings – Held from 5:00 PM–5:40 PM and 7:58 PM–8:57 PM for litigation (City of Chesapeake v. Virginia Aviation Associates), real estate acquisition in Great Bridge and Deep Creek, and prospective business expansion discussions. Meeting adjourned at 8:58 PM.