Oh that would be quite a good letter.

So remember how to add it like we want to go out for it.

Yeah, but then you can do any more stuff now.

I don't know what we're there and we're going to go.

I don't want to look at it for the right class in the app.

All the approach.

Yeah, I'd find out right as well.

Yeah.

So I would sign into my toxic.

I don't have time to go to the channel.

So the black rule is that we're just going to go to the back.

So we do not have a half.

Yep.

I have the back one.

I thought that way is that.

Mayor, we have a quorum.

Thank you, Miss Vice Mayor.

Council is now in session.

I'd like to recognize Councilmember Ward.

Excuse me, I'd like to recognize Councilmember Ward at this time for the invitation and to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you.

Yes, great.

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

We celebrated two hundred and fifty years of freedom, and with so many beautiful events from Memorial Day through July fourth and near the end of July.

We tackled the city's budget, and we continue to make decisions that have a positive impact on all of our citizens.

We are thankful for budgets that support our schools, public safety, infrastructure, and families in general.

Bless our military and our veterans.

And God, in times such as these, where there is any hatred, replace it with love.

If there's any business, replace it with kindness.

And there is division, replace it with unity.

Bless this council and protect all those who continue to serve your people with dignity, respect, understanding, honesty, and love.

These three, but the greatest of these is love.

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

Councilmember Bond?

Here.

Councilmember Jeffrey.

Councilmember King, here.

Councilmember Newman.

Here.

Councilmember Smith.

Councilmember Ward.

Present.

Councilmember Whitaker?

Present.

Vice Mayor Ritter.

Here.

Mayor West.

Here.

First is the approval of the proposed agenda.

And before we go to that, I would like to uh acknowledge that the applicants for item E and uh City Manager One, Miles Millstone, uh, energy has asked for a withdrawal on these issues or on this matter.

And I would like to call on our city attorney to explain what should we withdraw this item, what that difference, is there a difference between that and if the council were to deny this item?

This application is a conditional use permit.

And under Virginia law, an applicant has a right to refile a conditional use permit.

There's no barrier like there is with the rezoning.

Um, because for a rezoning, you cannot file a similar application for a year after it is denied.

And so in this case, it is not a rezoning, it is a conditional use permit.

So that means if it is withdrawn tonight, it is removed, it's no longer an active application, but they can come back and file another application any time starting tomorrow or two years from now.

Same as if you were to deny it tonight.

It again could be refiled tomorrow or two years from now.

Thank you, Madam Attorney.

So I do know there are a number of people here who are uh to speak on this item.

However, since it will not be considered, I would like to ask for a motion to withdraw items E, F, and City Manager one.

Dr.

King?

May I I'd like to move to remove uh item E, F and City Manager um item number one.

Second that motion.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Any discussion from council members?

Ms.

Newitz, Councilman Nois?

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

May I ask the uh agent for the applicant a couple questions?

Uh first of all, let me I need to clarify for council uh our rule as in procedures outlined for speaking to uh speakers.

Uh you need to ask the presiding officer, which would be me, the question, and then I will decide if that question should go to him or to his manager or to other places.

There's not uh and if you have several questions, please ask them so we're not to avoid conversations with the speakers.

Thank you.

I just would like to ask what the reason is for the withdrawal of the agent for the applicant.

Um Ms.

Doans.

Uh the reason for the request to withdraw the application is one of the things that we learned through this process is that a substantial amount of information is really needed to support these applications.

And uh, you know, the City Council has approved one application about a year and a half ago, but the this process has uh informed us and hopefully the city that if if one of these projects were to move forward anywhere else in the city that a substantial amount of studies that need to be done, that usually are done on the back end need to be done uh prior to the council vote.

Mr.

Mayor, if I may ask, is the intent of the applicant to bring this back before the council at the same location?

Uh no, no decision on that's been made.

I have no idea whether they have an intent to bring it back or to look for somewhere else.

Okay.

That's your question.

Thank you.

Any other discussion on this uh motion?

May I just make a comment, Mr.

Mayor?

Yes, please do.

Um my concern, and I understand and agree with the attorney's um I guess analysis that a denial is the same essentially as a withdrawal.

My concern is um we received correspondence this afternoon from an agency saying that please support the withdrawal because they're going to take a couple months, get a public, get some more public input, and then be right back before us in a couple months with the same application.

That raises a big concern to me what the intent is of the request for the withdrawal.

So that is my concern in supporting the withdrawal tonight is um I'm opposed to this project today, I'm opposed to it tomorrow, I'm opposed to it.

In two months, three months after the election, before the election, and two years, I'm going to be opposed to it.

So that is my position and why I cannot support the withdrawal tonight.

Thank you.

I understand uh Ms.

Ritter.

Thank you.

Um I'm gonna follow on that, but on a little bit different tact.

Thank you, Dr.

King.

It is council's custom and practice when an applicant requests a continuance or a withdrawal, that that is granted.

However, we have a rule that has not yet come to council to regulate the timing of a continuance or a withdrawal.

At a time in our country when competence in government is not at the highest point it's ever been.

That's a nice way of putting it, I guess.

To have a last-minute withdrawal is very difficult for the people you want to influence.

That you want them to have an open mind to learn all they can about these installations, and yet knowing there's a great feeling, and I applaud the fact that you want to continue the educational process, but it does seem difficult for the people who have put the time and effort research, and they're here tonight, and I bet most of them would rather be at the dentist.

No offense.

No offense to my dentist, uh, for whom I'm quite fond.

So I I just wanted to explain that this is not something the council asked for, but it truly is the council's custom and practice to grant that.

But I would say not just to you all, but to applicants who may or may not be listening.

I'm going to make sure that rule comes forward.

And I want to make sure that whether the public approves of, is lobbying for or lobbying against any particular application that they've been given the city consideration of prior notice so that they are fully informed and have have that opportunity to accept or reject.

We just don't have that opportunity tonight, but I'm hoping with the council's new rule that that will become the custom and practice of applicants and this council.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Ms.

Any other Mr.

Bond.

Thank you, Mayor West.

Um I concur with the Vice Mayor's um views.

And um I plan tonight under new business um proposing that we do look at a new policy that will um give guidelines to our council and to applicants.

I definitely agree that it's truly not fair for an applicant to withdraw the day of.

I think hopefully we can review this in work session, but I will be um asking for a policy for us to consider for new under new business tonight um to alleviate this issue happening again.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Councilman Bond.

Uh I do believe, uh Mr.

Manager, that we've decided to do that one under retreat, and then so that we can all have a chance to have some input in that.

But I concur that it is something, and I appreciate both of you for bringing it up.

This is a direction we do need to go.

Are there any other proposed changes to the agenda?

Well, excuse me, we do have a motion for uh withdrawal items E, F and City Manager 1.

Uh please, there's no other discussion.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Madam Clerk.

Motion to grant the withdrawal of PLN Use 2026-002, Millstone Energy Center, remove public hearing item F and City Manager Item 1 from the agenda is adopted by a seven to two vote.

Thank you.

Are there any other changes to the proposed agenda?

Move approval of the agenda with the exception of the um items that have been withdrawn.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Catherine King, thank you.

Any other discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

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

This time I am very pleased to recognize World Changers Week's July 20 to 25, 2026.

World Changers is an organization that has spent more than three decades helping young people grow in their faith through their hands-on service to others by repairing homes, serving families, and strengthening neighborhoods.

World changers demonstrate that compassion and volunteerism and have the power to transform both communities and lives.

Rick.

All right, sir.

Mr.

Garnett, yes.

I CC.

So I am presenting this to you.

It's on.

It's on.

And I want to give this you to give to your folks.

Is there any other are there any other folks that you would like for us to have here?

Yes.

Could you call their names, please?

Yes.

Rick Gonzalez, Jean Owens, Kim Bliss.

They are part of my volunteer team that works here locally.

They are residents of Chesapeake that support the work they do.

They either oversee the job sites or they supervise with the job sites that we'll be working on.

We have approximately a hundred and twenty out-of-town guests that are staying at Indian River Baptist Church, spending the night there and then going out into our community and working.

That's some I'm introducing.

Yeah.

Any other comments?

It has been my privilege.

I am George Garnett, and I live on Chesapeake Avenue in South Norfolk.

It has been my privilege for well over 20 years now to be the construction coordinator for World Changers here in Chesapeake.

And I just really thankfully that I've been able to serve our great city through that and have these wonderful volunteers locally and out of town that come.

There are at least seven churches here with us from Eastern Shore, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina participating in this is just one year that we've done it.

We've been doing it over 20 years.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Mr.

Bunn, I believe you might uh have some comments.

You're pretty uh very familiar with this organization.

Thank you so much, yes, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um the last two years I had the act absolute pleasure to um be able to welcome this group and um just it's just an outstanding organization, they're a national organization.

Um these teenagers actually pay to be part of volunteering, which is absolutely amazing.

Um World Changers has been making a difference in not only not only our community but communities that are from for underserved communities um throughout the nation.

And I know that the coordinator from World Changers is here.

Could you would you come up for a second and maybe just say a couple words and introduce your teens that are here?

Because these teenagers actually raise money to come to be part of this.

If Mr.

Mayor, if possible, could you have the teenagers come to the podium too to be recognized, please?

The teenagers that are actually volunteering, sirs.

So these folks, um, two of them are Pennsylvania, right?

And then two of them are from uh North Carolina.

Um they did um come to serve.

Um how many years have you guys been doing it?

Uh this is my sixth year, my third year.

Sick third and sixth year.

They go to you know, cities all across um the U.S.

Our organization is across the United States, mostly on the Eastern Seaboard, but we do um go into the the middle of the country.

Um but they do, they come and they serve um uh on behalf of um just you know sharing sharing the gospel, but also um sharing the work that can be done for you know underserved uh cities and it has like Mr.

Garnett said, World Changers has been here for a long time, and so um it is a long-standing project, so we appreciate the ability to come in and and help your residents because it it teaches them good life lessons before we send them off into the world as citizens.

So we appreciate the opportunity for you guys to host us and to teach them these uh aspects and you've been doing this since 1990, since uh February 2004, according to the proclamation, the city council city of Chesapeake, Virginia adopted a resolution approving the City of Chesapeake sponsoring agency of the Chesapeake World Changers Project.

And since then, you have more than 3,750 world changer volunteers who visit this city and have affected and improved more than 325 families and ministry to South Norfolk and Indian River areas.

So I would like to present this proclamation to you all for the Victoria here, and thank you for the bottle on behalf of our city council and every one of the citizens of this great city.

Thank you.

Rick, could you get everybody up for a photo?

Oh, yeah.

Okay, all yeah, all of you all of you around the front and make sure Rick's in the center.

Miss Spice Bear.

Can I make a quick comment real fast?

Yeah, would you organize this?

All right, if we could have you all George.

All right.

I want to see everybody.

Rick Gonzalez, get your face up.

It's a good group there.

Thank you all very much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Mrs.

Vice Mayor, if I can make one additional comment if you don't mind.

Sure.

Well, while we're waiting for the mayor to come back to the podium, though, anyone out there in our listening audience that would like to be part of the World Changers, you can make a definitely positive impact on making some donations to the organization for supplies and for the repairs of the houses, though.

But again, I just want to congratulate World Changes and from Bauman Hard and our City Council.

Thank you for making a difference.

Really appreciate you.

Thank you, Ms.

Bond.

Council Bowler.

For anybody who ever wants to be mayor, that's the fun part of the job.

City Council meetings constitute a limited public forum.

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

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

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

Further, to strike a balance between maintaining order and honoring the public's right to express themselves, and as established by the City Council's rules of order, any speaker that delays, interrupts, or otherwise disrupts City Council's ability to conduct this meeting in an orderly manner by disorderly incident or disturbing action, speech or other conduct will be declared out of order.

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

No, sir.

Thank you.

Next is the council's consideration for public hearing items.

Would you please present item A?

PLN REZ 2025-019 Charlton Woods, Coastal Virginia Partners LLC applicant owner for conditional zoning reclassification of approximately 1.1 acre from R 15S residential to R 10 residential district.

The property is located at 4733 Charlton Drive in the Western Branch Planning Area.

Planning Commission recommends approval with the proffers listed in the official agenda.

Thank you.

Mr.

McMahor, what is the planning staff's recommendation?

The proposed rezoning is consistent with the low-scale neighborhood district and files a similar pattern of development as adjacent as adjacent residential uses.

Staff therefore recommends approval with proffers dated April 7th, 2026.

Thank you.

Are there any speakers, Madam Clerk?

Yes, sir.

We have two speakers.

The first is Grady Palmer, followed by Gail Gilmore.

Good evening, Mayor West, members of the City Council and staff.

My name is Grady Palmer, my business address uh 222 Central Park Avenue in the City of Virginia Beach.

And this is a uh small rezoning uh to support four new homes uh with architectural controls built into the proffers.

Currently, the the current zoning of the property, or which is R 15, which is a residential zoning district, does not have proffers on it.

So that's one uh big improvement uh is that uh with if you were to approve this project that would have architectural controls built into the to the proffers.

And one of the things I want to point out, uh the intersection of Charlton Drive and Barneswallow Drive.

If you've ever been out there, that is a very, very dangerous corner.

Um a little intersection.

There's a there's a tree for a long time there blocking the intersection.

So one of the improvements that will be made uh with this project is will it will make that intersection a modern intersection with curb gutter and sidewalks.

And so those are things that the if you approve this project, uh the the developer, the applicant will commit to doing.

Um so I think it will be a d drastic improvement over what's there now.

And so with that, I'll stand by for any questions.

I do ask for your approval.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Gail Gilmore, representing self speaking in support.

You just turned it off.

Good evening, Mayor West and members of the Chesapeake City Council.

I am Gail M.

Gilmore, and I reside in the 4800th block of Charlton Drive.

I have been observing the clearing of the land for the redevelopment and the upcoming building of the four large homes that will be built.

These homes will complete and fill in and will complement the already existing homes in our neighborhood.

There is also a development coming up in land has been cleared for what I believe will be about 12 or 14 homes on the corner of Bonswallow Drive and Charlton Drive.

One of the benefits of that development thus far has been that the deep ditches were filled in, just like the gentleman said earlier, that was a dangerous and still is a dangerous curve.

We're filled in to accommodate the new development while also making sure that the drainage is adequate for the rest of our neighborhood.

However, that curve when the deep ditch was there had been a potential danger because of how drivers would come around that corner, especially at night.

I am also grateful that the stretch of land behind our homes on Charlton Drive is being conserved for wildlife, although we have noticed heavier traffic of the deer foxes and raccoons.

I've always said that we live where the deer and antelope play, but we do love our neighborhood.

In speaking with our neighbors, we would like to be proactive and request if it has not already been considered that a traffic light will be installed at that intersection of Bonswallow Drive and Charlton Drive to control that flow of traffic around that curve.

We already have many people that exercise, ride their bikes, walk their dogs, and this would assist in more safety for both drivers and pedestrians.

From speaking with my neighbors, we welcome the new homes and potential families of Charlton Woods.

Thank you for your possible consideration for this matter.

Thank you, Ms.

Gilmore.

It's always good to see you.

Mr.

Manager, you've uh took note of that request.

Thank you.

Any other speakers, Madam Clerk?

No, sir.

Thank you.

A motion is in order with proffers.

Move approval this property.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Mr.

Bond.

Second.

Thank you, sir.

Any discussion?

Brief comment, Mr.

Mayor, and I want to thank uh Ms.

Gilmore for bringing that uh to the attention of not only uh the manager but the entire city council and having lived near there for the last 36 years.

There is certainly a need and um to get that corner straightened out.

Now we're gonna get a sidewalk.

Um, get rid of the big ditches, I think is already gone.

Um, and with respect to the request for uh, I know they would like to see uh in the future perhaps a you know street light could go there or red light, uh, but uh but that's something that would have to come up later.

We don't want to jeopardize this the approval, but it is an idea though, if uh traffic lightning is not that easy, but certainly I hope that uh planning they will I imagine might think about that.

But with that, I stand for approval of the project will be good for Charleston Drive and uh Vine Swallow and good for Western branch.

I'm always welcoming improvement in Western branch.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Other discussion, uh please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record motion to approve PLN REZ 2025-019 with proffers as presented as adopted by 90 vote.

Thank you.

Next item, Madam Clerk.

PLN use 2025-045 Empowerment Inc.

757, empowerment events venue and party rentals, LLC.

Applicant Rosa Shaw Charles Trustee owner for a conditional use permit to operate a banquet hall out of an existing shopping center tenant space.

The property is located at 2709 Campistella Road, Suite G in the South Norfolk Planning Area.

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

Thank you.

Mr.

McMayor.

As stipulated, the proposed use is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and adequately addresses public safety and operational concerns through continued oversight measures that have been reviewed and supported by the Chesapeake Police Department.

Staff therefore recommends approval with stipulations dated May 15th, 2026.

Thank you.

And do we have any speakers at this time?

Yes, sir.

We have three speakers.

Paradise Smith is here for questions only.

Linda Tyndale representing self speaking in opposition.

Speaking about the tower.

No, this is not the tower.

This is the empowerment, the party venue.

No, okay, we'll save you to later.

Marcus Bolton speaking in support.

Marcus Bolton.

Good evening, members of the Councilman, Mr.

West.

My name is Marcus Bolton.

I'm from 1217 Seabor Avenue, and six months prior, you guys made me a member of the South North Revitalization Commission.

So I took it upon myself to find private businesses that I am a supporter of.

I got to meet Paradise and be in support of empowerment because she does support the community.

I've worked with her for the past six months just trying to find different um escalations that we can find as far as finding something that can make this diplomations not be so great in the area where the businesses can be appreciated and not as far as deterred when they come to this area and start.

We have people that's trying to do things of the same nature, you know, do parties and events, and it's causing kind of a ruckus inside the area.

So this is a chance that we can do something positive and should that the people that they can actually start businesses and doesn't have to be uh unpermitted or underneath the table or things like that.

Um I really feel like this is a real good chance for us to be intentional, and that's to use that the word I use with the planning committee.

This is a real chance to be intentional with the business fronts inside the area and give the people in the area a chance to you know um be prideful about where they're from.

Um so, like I said, I'm really in support of paradise, but also just in support of us finding better business avenues and more things that can be lucrative for the people inside the community.

So, like I said, I just wish that you guys uh approve this, and also going forward that we just keep an open mind about what the area needs in general.

So I'm just in support of uh empowerment 757.

I hope you guys improve it.

Thank you.

I conclude the speakers.

Thank you.

Motion is in order.

Mr.

Whitaker.

Move to approve.

Second motion towards second with stipulation.

Thank you.

Uh any discussion, Mr.

Whitaker?

Yes.

Um, Mrs.

Smith, this has been a long time coming.

You've come before us some time ago.

Uh I see you've worked with staff, you work with the police, and uh very proud to support your business and your your future endeavors.

Thank you.

Uh Vice Mayor Redder.

Thank you.

Um, if I might to the manager.

Yes, ma'am.

May I ask a question of either Chief Sileski, Assistant Chief Lab Fair or Captain Bowman.

Whoever um you choose to come down, Chief.

I wanted to ask about working with the applicant and the police department.

I see he avoided sitting next to you, Kelvin.

Good evening, Captain.

Council Mayor, manager.

I'm Captain Bowman, second precinct, South Norfolk section of Chesapeake.

Okay, could you this app essentially the same application came before council and was turned down?

Much for the concern of the police department.

Could you just encapsulate for us how you worked with the applicant and how you were able to get this to a point that you all would approve and the city staff would recommend approval?

Yeah, absolutely.

Um the applicant has been very willing to meet with myself and members of the police department.

She's been very transparent and easy to work with.

We've uh came up with some stipulations for for the business and the conditional use permit, and she's agreed to all of them.

So she's been very easy to work with, and she's willing to open up this business, which I do feel is a good idea for the community, but just to the hours that we put in the stipulation, she's agreed to the no alcoholic beverages on the premises that she's gonna be responsible or have a responsible attendee there, and then she'll also notify myself and everybody at the second precinct before she does have an event there.

But she has been very easy to work with, and uh, we appreciate her willingness to you know be transparent and partner with us so we can make sure that you know she's safe, the business is safe and successful.

Thank you, sir.

Unless anyone uh else has a question for you, um, I'll go on.

But I wanted to get that on the record.

Thank you.

Um just take a seat down here in case there are other questions.

Sure.

I see some lights on, so maybe you'll be back in the spotlight.

Okay.

Um and I don't need you to come down, Ms.

Smith, but I want to particularly thank you for this.

And Mr.

Bolton.

This council is very supportive of business, and very supportive of small business because it's the backbone of our city.

So I don't want you to think we're looking for reasons not to have it, but what we are looking for is this kind of cooperation in a neighborhood that does experience safety issues that are concerns of those who live there and work there.

So I think this is a real testament, both to you all and to the police department of how things can work well, and I want to thank you so much for that.

And one more question, if I might, to Ms.

Lindley.

Mayor?

Yes.

Okay.

Ms.

Linley, there's an unusual, and this is how the city bent over backwards to help.

There's an unusual stipulation here on the timing that the applicant has agreed to check and put her business on the line for accepting and following through on what she has agreed to.

Could you discuss that just very briefly?

Yes, ma'am.

There's a stipulation basically saying that there's initial period of validity for the use permit for eight months from the date of issuance, which would be tonight if it's approved.

And at the conclusion of six months, the applicant is going to basically continue review or continue to operate based on the council review of compliance with certain factors that just include compliance with the stipulation, any calls for safe or safety or security to police.

So basically it's just a way to assure that the public health safety welfare is being met with this application.

As you noted it's not a standard stipulation, but um in this instance, there was, I guess, a discussion about an agreement that it was going to apply well for the situation.

Well, and again, Ms.

Smith, thank you.

Um sometimes these groundbreaking things form the basis for other businesses to be able to do what you do to prove themselves that they are exactly what they said.

Um and I appreciate again the city attorney's office and planning working with you on that.

And congratulations.

And I hope several years from now you will be me.

I am the first person in the city who was issued a use permit that would go with me and not my property.

So I was in that position also, happy to be there, and it worked out great.

Now it's the basis for many use permits.

So thank you again.

We welcome you and wish you all the success.

Councilmember Smith.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So Ms.

Smith, Ms.

Smith, I want to say thank you for staying of course.

I just saw you yesterday, and uh that that community needs your support.

And is it Marcus?

Thank you for stepping up and showing your support as well.

The community only grows by those examples that are set.

So you're leading the way and being persistent, will have others coming behind you to change things in that particular community.

So thank you once again.

Thank you.

Councilmember Ward is recognized.

I don't want to delay the vote, but I just also want to say thank you.

And even though we haven't voted yet, I'm sure you will get the support, but I really was impressed about the things that I was hearing and talked to you personally, but about things that you are willing to do and to go about the rules and to make sure that you work with our public safety officers.

And you know, small businesses really make up about 96 percent of the even the tax revenue coming into the city.

So I'm happy to see that and for this area, and that you're willing to work and make sure that all the rules and the guidelines are followed.

So I just commend you and for being patient, and you look at all those stipulations, and you have actually agreed to every single one of them.

It is impressive and something for others who go by.

So I'm happy about that.

Greg to work with you, and please let us know.

We're gonna have to vote.

You have to get to vote first, but we're just happy that you're here, and it's gonna be great for the community.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Councilmember Bonn is recognized.

Thank you, Mayor Wells.

I'll be very brief.

Uh, Ms.

Smith, congratulations.

I hope you make millions of dollars.

I hope you bring less of taxes to our city.

Um, but I want to just want to remind you too.

Depend on good mentors, the lady to your right of you, Pastor Renel Phelps is an incredible mentor, you sir.

Thank you, and good luck to you.

Thank you, but Mr.

Bond, that council member King is recognized.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I just want to possibly.

I'd like to thank you.

Complimenting you on your new business, and I'm sure that it's going to go very well, and thank you for working with us with all of these accommodations.

I think it's going to be wonderful.

And I want to ask you, Mayor, may I address the city attorney?

Sure.

Um, it states here that the initial period of eight months will be from the date of issuance, which you stated would be tonight, or the commencement of operations.

Can you clarify?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clarify.

Yes, so it commencement of operations will be when they get their CO and they open the doors.

And so it could be either of those dates.

Um, and it will be the later date with control.

So it's eight months from either one.

Correct.

Okay, thank you.

See no other lights.

We do have a motion for approval and seconded.

Please prepare to vote.

This is with stipulations.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Adam Clark.

Motion to approve PLN use 2025-045 with stipulations as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Thank you.

Next item, please.

PLN use 2026-007, 1715 Park Avenue Storage Yard, 1715 Park LLC applicant owner, Kimley Horn Agency for a conditional use permit to allow outside storage for a general contractor business.

The property is located at 1715 Park Avenue in the South Norfolk Planning Area.

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

Thank you.

Mr.

McNamare.

The proposed use is compatible with the pre-existing land use pattern of commercial and lay industrial uses and is consistent with the policies of the 2045 comprehensive plan to support the growth of small businesses staff, therefore recommends approval with stipulations, Dave, May 15th, 2026.

Thank you.

And do we have any speakers on this item?

Yes, sir.

We have one speaker, Kyle Long.

Speaking in support.

Are we all seeing?

Good evening, members of City Council.

Thank you for allowing me to speak on this project.

My name is Kyle Long.

My address is 5313 Tamworth Place in Virginia Beach.

I'm a civil engineer with Kimley Horn, who's here representing the owner of this property.

We've appreciated the opportunity to go through with planning commission staff this process and work through some of the conditions with landscape screening fencing to meet the overall design of the surrounding community and the neighboring parcels.

So I'm here to answer any questions you may have about the project.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That concludes the speaker's question.

Thank you.

We do need a motion with stipulations, please.

Whitaker move approval with stipulations.

Second that motion.

With stipulations.

Any discussion?

Dr.

Ward?

Seeing none.

Seeing none, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve PLN use 2026-007 with stipulations as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next item, please.

PLNU CT 2025-002, Cornland Park City Communication Tower, City of Chesapeake, applicant owner for conditional use permit to construct an approximately 199-foot-tall communications tower.

The property is located at 2908 Benefit Road in the Southern Chesapeake planning area.

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

The proposed communication tower is consistent with the policies of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan and City Council's desire for connectivity as it will promote the provision of wireless services to support the city private LTE network.

Staff therefore recommends approval with stipulations dayed May 15th, 2026.

Thank you.

And do we have speakers?

Yes, sir.

We have three speakers.

The first speaker is Vic Nichols, comments only, followed by Ashley Brown.

My concerns come in because in the documents it says that the City of Chesapeake will construct and own the proposed tower and will be the anchor tenant.

However, the tower will be constructed to accommodate at least three additional carriers.

We want to know who those carriers are, what their purpose is.

And until that is publicly made, how about putting a moratorium on this?

Because we want to know whether or not those communications are going to be used against us or not.

Thank you.

Ashley Brown, representing self speaking in opposition, followed by Linda Tyndale.

Good evening, City Council, Mr.

Mayor.

My name is Ashley Brown.

Live on Sterling Court in Great Bridge.

And just to follow up on the previous speaker, I also had the concern that other tenants may be putting specifically surveillance cameras up or license plate readers, any sort of surveillance equipment.

Excuse me.

So I wanted clarification if the applicant or the city could clarify if there would be any sort of surveillance equipment being put up, including but not limited to license plate readers at any point on the tower.

Um or will the city be uh allowing any of the tenants to put up surveillance equipment on any point on the tower.

Um just a comment.

Uh in Chesapeake alone, I believe we have over 350 licensed prate license plate readers at a time.

Um, and that's just getting more every day.

Uh in the larger Hampton Roads area, we have hundreds more.

I think the last thing I read was 600 flock cameras specifically.

And that of course doesn't include facial recognition.

Um I have a big concern, especially at it being at a park where our children play, where we have public space for you know, just kids are our third spaces that are um free for kids and families to hang out at.

Um, and our children especially deserve privacy, as much privacy as we can give them, and certainly don't deserve to be tracked when we're trying to just take our kids out to play.

Thank you very much.

Linda Chindale representing CELP speaking in opposition.

Good evening, Linda Tyndall, 1045 West Road.

Several weeks ago, I noticed the orange sign at Cornland Park and pulled over to get a quick picture.

All of a sudden, the daredevil crop duster dropped from the sky, spreading his magic and entertaining me with his dips and dives and turns.

He is amazing.

It's a sight to see.

That yellow plane never disappoints.

It was a one-man air show as he sprayed the Spence farms surrounding the Cornland Park, the Bear Quarter Cemetery, and the fire station.

Has anyone spoken to him about the 199 foot tower proposed in his flight zone?

I'm not sure how crop dusting is regulated with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Chesapeake Municipal Airport is only one mile from the proposed tower.

I may be wrong, but I think Cornland Park is within the airport impact area.

Their conical service surface restriction limits the height to 168 feet.

Plans have been published to upgrade the runway length from 5,000 to 6,000 feet, which would increase the airport impact area.

The longer runway would enable an airport expansion that is one of the proposed that is one of the purposes for the 40 million dollar South Central Water Main and Loop on West Road.

If the tower is approved at 199 foot, will that stop the expansion of the airport?

So my concerns with this proposed tower is interference with the Spence Farm, the crop duster, and the present and future airport impact area.

It seems to me that 168 feet should be the maximum height if allowed at all.

Thank you.

That concludes the speakers.

Thank you.

A motion is in order with stipulations.

I mean Vice Mayor Ritter.

Move approval with stipulations.

Thank you, ma'am.

Please.

Second.

Councilman Newens.

Any discussion, Ms.

Ritter?

Yes, if I might to the manager.

Mr.

Price, could Mr.

Miller come down?

Yes, ma'am.

Uh you turned it off.

Thank you.

Um would you mind introducing yourself, please?

Good evening, Council.

Vice Mayor, Mayor.

My name is Harvey Miller.

I am the assistant director of IT.

I'm also the broadband development officer in charge of many of these projects.

Okay, I just want to ask you a couple questions.

Yes.

When you say up to three additional carriers, is that cell phone companies?

Correct.

This is a telecommunications tower.

This would not be used for surveillance.

This is always used for another cell carrier.

Many sections across the city we already have poor service.

This would potentially allow what T-Mobile or uh any of the Verizon or any of those other carriers to load their equipment on that tower.

Whenever we're building a monopole like this, we always choose the rating.

So we could have made it more narrow where it's only our equipment, but there's a potential for the city to offset some of the cost for improving our infrastructure by allowing other carriers to be on there and for us to gather some revenue.

Okay, but that's a normal practice, is it not?

That is correct.

And once again, this isn't the type of tower that you would add any type of surveillance or flock cameras or anything like that.

Okay, which is a totally separate subject.

But um, do you issue an RFP for that, or do you just take how is it that you take and choose other carriers?

Um a couple of different ways.

We are represented by two other companies, one of which is Cityscape.

They manage our towers for us.

Um they would be approached by a company like T-Mobile.

We would have a chance to evaluate that application and determine if that's somebody we would like to do business with.

Okay, but there is an evaluation and you take all applicants.

That is correct.

We take all applicants and review them.

And before we make any decisions, that does come before certain levels of our of our leadership here.

Okay.

And would you say the city towers that we currently have?

We have a number of them, uh, the number escapes me.

We have seven established towers that we own, and we are in the process of erecting another five for public safety and and other types of infrastructure for the city purpose.

Okay.

So in that rural area of the city, is will that serve to assist our um first responders and law enforcement to respond quickly?

Absolutely.

It will help our first responders, it will help our public utilities department, um, and it'll it will help us communicate with our residents uh by making sure that we have wireless connectivity for any offices we have in that area as well.

Okay, uh one more question.

Are we uh involved at all in the towers on school properties?

Many of the towers on school properties are actually owned and managed by WHRO.

In some cases, we will add our Laura WAN or our private LT antennas to them, but right now all of the ones that I can recall are actually not controlled by us.

It's controlled by City.

And do you do you know, to the best of your knowledge, whether or not they have additional carriers?

Um they do as well.

Verizon, T-Mobile.

Um I live in Eagle Point, and I know we have horrible cell service there.

We're hoping we get another Rising antenna on at that local tower at the career center.

Okay, well, I'm sorry about that for you.

Yes, ma'am.

Um I am because I know that that's difficult.

Um but anyway, I I want to thank you.

I know in the school budget every year, they have about a $10 million cell phone fund.

And I'm not sure whether that's I haven't asked because it's their money and their property, but if that's from revenue for wherever these towers may be located on school property, it whether they actually receive 10 million dollars a year or is that built up?

We don't know.

We don't know.

That seems a little high, but there is revenue generated by having these towers as well.

And the city, excuse me, the schools, they do benefit from that.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Miller.

Other council people may have questions for you, but thank you, Ms.

Ritter.

Is no one just recognized?

Thank you.

No questions for Mr.

Miller.

Um Vice Mayor Ritter is actually answered the questions I had.

Yes, sir.

Um but I just wanted to thank Vice Mayor Ritter for her service on our regional broadband committee.

You can tell that she is obviously very knowledgeable in this, and it goes um a long way that we have a local voice on that committee.

So I just appreciate your service on that.

Thank you.

Well said.

Councilman uh Whitaker.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

Manager, um, I'm sure my kids frequent they call it the Ninja Park.

Uh there's a playground in very close proximity.

You have the Ninja Park right there.

Do we have any other installations like this this close to a park within the city that you can think of?

We certainly have others in parks and on school property and other.

We we would have to investigate whether from a proximity perspective, whether they're you know this distance or closer, but we definitely have communications facilities on parks and schools.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Could I could I just make one comment?

I wasn't going to do this, but you brought up a good point about the parks.

And everybody who knows me knows I live a life of anecdotal experience.

So many of you may remember a story a few years ago about a mother of five children who disappeared in Connecticut.

Her children went to school with my grandchildren.

And my daughter, who lives there, is pretty much a crusader, I guess that comes to her naturally.

And they started a movement in New Canaan, Connecticut, to put surveillance cameras at Waveney Park, which was the last known location of this lady.

To this day, that crime is unsolved.

And I know it's my daughter's contention and that of many of her friends that had there been a surveillance camera there, perhaps they could have at least brought this case to a conclusion.

So I know there are people very concerned about surveillance cameras.

I understand that.

But they also have very good uses.

They assist our law enforcement.

They have found elderly people wandering.

They've located runaway children.

So for everyone who's worried, I can understand and empathize with you, but these facilities serve good purposes.

And if it's your dad that's wondering, or some other awful thing befalls you, this is a wonderful tool to help find and solve crime.

So I felt like I had to say that because a surveillance camera in a park could have saved a life in Connecticut.

Dr.

King is recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I'd like to address Mr.

Miller.

Oh, yeah, you have to ask the manager.

Manager may address Mr.

Miller.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Miller.

I just wanted to ask about the height of the tower.

So the standard is not to exceed 175 feet.

Can you explain to us the rationale for extending that?

So the initial application read 199 feet, which is what was referenced earlier.

But whenever we initially plan these towers, one of the steps that's necessary is for us to reach out to the FAA using an FAA consultant based off of what our needs are, based off of the flight path, the area, and any other impacts, the FAA will give us a recommendation of maximum height.

In this case, they've given us a lower maximum height that still works for the usage overall of trying to install these technologies to help reach public safety and some of the other public utility instances that we're trying to work on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We do have a motion for approval.

Thank you, Ms.

Miller.

Please prepare prepare to vote.

This motion is with stipulations.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve PLNU CT 2025-002 with stipulations as presented as adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next is citizens' comments on agenda items only.

Madam Clerk, do we have any speakers?

Yes, sir.

We have 11 speakers.

How much time will be allowed?

Five minutes.

The first speaker is Vic Nichols, speaking on various items, followed by Mike Hoffman.

I'm speaking on new business item B in regards to the data centers.

Number one, concerns are is that basically we're going to do like we've done in years past.

It's controversial.

So we're going to wait until after the election and then we'll bring it back and pass it.

So that's one issue.

On page six, number 12, said that no data center would be built on the property.

So what is it?

We're going to build the data center somewhere around that or whatever, and why we have it or what?

I don't know.

In regards to data centers, one of the big reasons that I found people are very concerned about is because they're considering that all the surveillance that's being done of us goes to these data centers.

Okay.

You had flock employees have requested access to video feeds of children at a daycare center, did it over a thousand times.

It was all by grown men.

No none of them were fired.

Flock employees had requested a, I'm sorry, a flock vice president locked into a PD flock system and looked at a camera in the children's gymnastics room of a private community center.

He did not look at any other cameras in the entire 400 camera network that day.

So we're very, very concerned about all of these data centers that are popping up because while people do want to keep their photos and things like that, um, you know, photos don't exactly need this much space, guys, really.

I mean, you know, if we can sit there and put things on something this small, what do we need all these humongous data centers for?

I mean, that's that's in a nutshell, you all need to be much more transparent about what these things are doing.

And we also have so many environmental concerns that really are not getting addressed.

That is the problem with MBB.

Thank you.

Mike Hoffman, representing CELT speaking on new business item B, followed by Jeff Staples.

Good evening, Mayor West and members of the City Council.

My name is Mike Hoffman.

I live at 1206 Penal Court in Chesapeake.

I've been a member of the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council for the past six years, two of those years as Vice Chair.

But tonight I'm speaking for myself, and I also feel like I'm speaking for the voice of many others, members of the community of Chesapeake.

First, I would like to thank you for considering this resolution tonight.

I believe that taking additional time is the right decision.

Data centers represent one of the most significant land use decisions Chesapeake has faced in many years.

And I appreciate the council recognizing that this decision deserves careful consideration.

It's simply too important not to get it right.

So as I become involved with this process over the past several months, my own thinking is involved.

Initially, my focus was to establish the appropriate safeguards so if data centers were developed, uh we ensure the safety of the community.

But the more I've learned, I've come to realize that before we decide how we regulate these data centers, we first must answer that one fundamental questions.

Should large-scale data centers become part of Chesapeake's long-term vision for the community?

So I hope over the next several months, the Times used not simply to revise the language in the policy, but thoroughly evaluate this question by seeking information from every perspective.

City staff, citizens, industry, independent engineers, scientists, military representatives, utility providers, and communities across Virginia that have already experienced large-scale data center development.

Hold community meetings, studies, perform analysis, and uh look at the larger cumulative impacts.

I also want to encourage City Council to ensure that whatever standards ultimately are determined necessary are applied consistently throughout the city, including the coastal Virginia Commerce Park.

If protections are necessary in one area of Chesapeake, they should be necessary everywhere this use is permitted.

So ultimately, I believe the most important question for the city as you're going through this process will be: has Chesapeake demonstrated that large-scale data center development is truly compatible with our comprehensive plan, our infrastructure, our mission, our agricultural character, and the quality of life our citizens expect.

Will any regulations appropriately protect public health and welfare?

So if after a thorough and transparent analysis, the answer is yes, then move forward with a strong policy.

But if that case has not yet been made at the end of the process, I respectfully ask the uh not adopt a long-term policy encouraging this land use until that work has been completed.

We have the opportunity to make this decision before these facilities are built, so I respectfully ask that you make the most of that opportunity.

Thank you very much Jeff Staples.

Speaking in opposition, followed by Rogard Ross.

There we go.

Good mor afternoon, uh evening.

Uh Jeff Staples, 1453 Boxwood Drive in the Deep Creek section of our city.

However, tonight I'm speaking for the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council.

Um behalf of the CEIC, we are coming to you with our concerns about the possibility of data centers being built in Chesapeake due to their potential adverse impact on the environment, public health, and our quality of life, we recommend that no data centers be built in Chesapeake.

Data centers can place significant demands on water and electricity, generate excessive noise, contribute to air and water pollution, and threaten the city's tree canopy.

We are also concerned about the loss of actively used farmland and green space, particularly in the Fentress Overlay District and the coastal Virginia Commerce Park area.

Construction and ongoing operations could undermine the rural character of affected areas, and we ask that you also consider the risk of peat soil fires, aviation accidents, and reduced property values for neighboring properties of a data center.

Based on those concerns, we believe the city should carefully evaluate whether these facilities are compatible with Chesapeake's long-term environmental land use goals before enacting policy encouraging their development.

We believe this is the best option and critical to maintain the quality of life and protect the environment in Chesapeake.

Several localities have slowed significantly or restricted data center development, and we urge Chesapeake to do the same.

We are also concerned that the proposed ordinance and policy do not apply these same environmental protections to the coastal Virginia Commerce Park Planned Unit development.

If the city determines these safeguards are necessary elsewhere in Chesapeake, we respectfully request that comparable protections also apply to future data center development within the Commerce Park as well.

If the city determines the data centers should if the city council determines that data centers should be permitted through the proposed conditional use permit process, we respectfully urge City Council to retain the Planning Commission's unanimously approved recommendations, recommended environmental protections, increasing this, including increasing the setbacks and the noise standards.

Those recommendations reflect thoughtful consideration of public input and should not be weakened.

We also recommend if these come about, we also recommend quarterly reporting of water consumption, wastewater discharge, generator testing, and verified noise monitoring results that should be supplied to the city and also made publicly available.

The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council continues to believe that large-scale data centers present significant challenges, environmental challenges for Chesapeake, and thus are not an appropriate land use for the City of Chesapeake.

We want to thank you for your attention, consideration, and willingness to include the CEIC in this discussion.

And I'd also like to point out that we also sent uh emails to everybody's inbox and with more recommendations about setbacks and other standards that we'd like you to consider.

Thank you very much.

Rogard Ross, representing Chesapeake Sustainability Network, speaking in support, followed by George Reid.

Good evening.

And thank you very much.

My name is Rogart Ross, I'm at 3800 Livercross Place in Chesapeake.

So thank you for taking these steps to approve a moratorium on data centers and allowing for more time for public input on the guidelines around these facilities.

The first priority of the city must be to protect the citizens of Chesapeake from the negative impacts of data centers and protect our quality of life and safeguard the environment.

While a key benefit for the city of these data centers is the collection of new business property and equipment tax revenue, data centers will result in a many impacts on the community, including heat islands, habitat loss, noise, loss of green space, and these things will ultimately have health impacts on our citizens.

Another issue is the power that's being used by these facilities.

Virginia latepayers, including us here in Chesapeake, are basically paying 11 billion dollars to build the coastal Virginia offshore wind project that promises to generate 2.6 gigawatts of power enough to power 660,000 homes, basically all the homes in the Hampton Roads area.

But are we going to end up using those 2.6 gigawatts to power a dozen large data centers in the Fentrest area, or maybe two or three hyperscale data centers in the Fentrest area?

And if we do, are we going to have to invest another 11 billion dollars to build more power plants for the rest of us?

Do we end up building more methane gas-powered plants to power these data centers?

And where do we put them and where do we put the gas pipelines?

What communities will be impacted by those?

And during these diesel generators at the data centers, when there is a heat dome over us, and Dominion Power asks companies to cut back their power usage because of all the air conditioners running to keep our houses cool, will all these diesel generators kick in and pollute our atmosphere?

Ms.

Nichols asked, um, why are we building all these data centers?

Well, basically, it's for AI.

It's to push to put these large language AI models into every facet of our lives.

Aside from the debatable benefits of these systems in our lives, the big problem is they don't scale well.

And so we're building all these data centers in order to provide more and more AAI capabilities around us, and that is gobbling up land power, water, and memory chips.

AI is basically yet to answer the question of how all of this is sustainable.

As such, to protect the residents of the city, I strongly support the setback distances and the noise limits approved by the Planning Commission a few weeks ago.

In all of our decisions as we build these guidelines and work them out, let's put the health of our citizens and the health of our environment first.

Also, this evening, uh please clarify what's going to happen with the ordinance.

You're deferring the policy, but are you still going to vote on the ordinance on August 18th?

And is that a stripped down ordinance that is only closing the by light loophole, or is it going to do other stuff?

We'd like to know.

Thank you.

George Reed, representing New Chesapeake Men for Progress, speaking opposition, followed by Susan Sherbeau.

Good evening to our mayor, vice mayor, and fellow council members.

I'm George Reed.

I live at 1816 Varsity Drive in the south north of Portlock section of Chesapeake.

As has been stated, I will be brief because much has already been said.

The question to I have is how much is enough?

Right now, Virginia has approximately 663 operational data centers.

And another 595 are being planned or under construction.

What that does is make Virginia the Mecca of data centers driving about 30 percent of the world traffic and data centers.

So how much and where are we going with this?

It is projected in their reports that they are expecting to top out at 1,258 data centers across Virginia.

Sometimes it's good to jump in where everybody is running, but we need to take a step back and take a look at where we're going.

I was not impressed with the planning council recommendations.

I listened to the meeting.

How can you make a recommendation you have not of this nature and big without doing any risk assessments?

I guess they leave that to you.

These data centers, as you know, are high energy users with electricity demand projected to double by 2030.

This restrain local power grids, raise electricity rates.

Did I say raise already?

We've gotten a raise in January from Dominion Energy.

I expect before the years we might even get another one after they look at how much profit they want to make.

They also contribute to carbon emissions, particularly those that are operated with fossil fuels.

What is that environmental impact going to be?

Their cooling system requires a large volume of water, which can be a concern and drought prone or water stress region.

Jessie Currently is purchasing water from Norfolk Enforcement, drawing water from Lake Gaston, the Northwest River, two wells, and some auxiliary sources.

We just raised our water and sewage rate.

I think it was locked in for four years.

We're getting an automatic raise.

I think a serious look need to be looked at.

How sustainable our water system are.

I think either one of these lakes, Lake Gas, and Lake Gaston, I think it's a man-made lake.

How long is this going to last?

Environmentally, the carbon footprint of data centers are significant.

And a rapid expansion, especially the hyperscale that was mentioned facility, has raised a lot of concern, not just in Virginia, but throughout the state.

A couple of cities in the Midwest stopped them because it's put into big a strain on their systems.

And how is it going to affect climate change?

Also, many new data centers are located in disadvantaged communities, raising concerns about our environmental justice, unequal benefits, and overburden local resources.

As a resident of this city, we are pushing back.

When I say we, there are about 10 different organizations, including the Civil League and Community Organization, who are in opposition to this.

Yes, they're going to require and leave about 50 jobs.

Dr.

Reid, your time's up, sorry.

Next speaker, please.

Speaking in support followed by Ozanne Duran Good evening.

My name is Susan Sherbo.

I live at 1424 Wooderside Drive in Chesapeake, Virginia.

I like the idea of the moratorium.

I appreciate that a moratorium is being considered.

I think it's important to have a discussion that started last summer with our community and our different city groups throughout Chesapeake that other speakers have been talking about.

We began a conversation and learning about data centers, their hazards, the health and safety and environmental concerns.

I think that primary consideration should be our quality of life in Chesapeake.

We should be able to maintain that.

No neighborhood needs to be near a data center.

No wildlife needs to be near a data center.

We need to protect our wildlife areas, our natural water supplies.

We are famous for the dismal swamp.

We've been famous for the dismal swamp for how many millennium?

You know, we need to protect that.

That's our sponge, that's our aquifer.

We can't do without the dismal.

We can't pollute our waterways.

They are our water supply.

I think continued conversation during the moratorium should include ideas to reduce the CO2 and air pollution that comes and reduce and prevent the CO2 and air pollution that comes with data centers, the noise that comes with data centers and is impossible to live with.

Electricity needs should also be addressed.

If we can't protect our quality of life, we should not have data centers.

Thank you so much for your time tonight.

Thank you.

Ozanne Duran.

Speaking in opposition, followed by Linda Tyndale.

Mayor and members of council.

My name is Ozanne Duran.

I live at 1125 Lilake Avenue in Norfolk Islands.

Mayor and members of council, I have two points.

First, do not call it as a moratorium.

It is not one.

This resolution merely states council's intention to delay certain applications.

It does not prohibit every data center, and it allows this issue to be pushed beyond the election.

That is not protection.

That is delay.

The resolution says council still acts the framework necessary to make an informed decision.

That is not an excuse.

It is an indictment of this council.

You've had four years.

If council still cannot write enforceable protections, what were those four years for?

The people do not want this.

We just held a protest because council does not appear to be listening to its constituents.

No moratorium.

No more time.

Set strict limits on noise, water, buffers, power infrastructure, and public costs.

Make them strong enough to deter data centers from locating here.

Figure it out now.

Do not table it until after the election.

Second, if council forces data centers on Chesapeake under the guise of benefit benefiting the public, every dollar of local data center tax revenue must be allocated by ordinance before another project is approved.

Create a data center lockbox.

The money must not disappear into the general fund.

Fifty percent must go to education.

Chesapeake starting teachers earn about 3,800 less than Virginia Beach and 7300 less than Norfolk.

CPS's CIP has a $379 million gap and is 61% unfunded.

20% must go to public safety.

Chesapeake needs approximately 41 additional police officers to reach the proposed staffing target, requiring about $3.7 million annually.

This money must also support competitive fire, EMS, and dispatcher compensation as we trail well behind Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

Fifteen percent must go to stormwater and flooding.

Residents in Pewsville and South Norfolk continue to face flooding while drainage projects remain delayed or unfunded.

10% must go to small business development and incubator sites.

Data centers consume enormous amounts of land while creating relatively few permanent jobs.

Five percent must go to agriculture.

Chesapeake's farmers face development pressure, drainage problems, rising land costs, and inadequate processing infrastructure.

These allocations must supplement existing funding, not replace it.

None of this money may subsidize the data centers themselves.

Developers must pay their own infrastructure and public service costs.

The ask is simple.

Reject the moratorium and adopt strict restrictions now.

The demand is equally simple.

If you force data centers on Chesapeake against the will of its people, lock every dollar into direct benefits for those people.

Do what voters elected you to do, not what the data center industry is asking you to do.

I would like to spend a moment to talk to an informational video that the City of Chesapeake put out in the form of an interview.

In it, the city representative said that data centers store the internet.

Data centers primarily process data.

They do not store data.

Data is stored at hot and cold storage facilities.

We would still have internet without data centers.

It just wouldn't have the same amount of surveillance.

Thank you.

Linda Tyndale speaking in opposition, followed by Steve Cowan.

Linda Tyndall, 1045 West Road.

He's going to be difficult to follow.

I'll be brief.

Is this resolution just to get past November elections?

I want to elect City Council members who will represent me, not decide for me.

Please keep that in mind.

I prefer that data centers remain by right in industrial zoning, surrounded by industrial zoning, but with many restrictions and setbacks, create a three-mile island so that Chesapeake will have zero suitable sites for data centers, and we will not have to come down here for each and every conditional use permit.

Thank you.

Steve Cowan, speaking in opposition, followed by Karen Dole.

Hello.

Steve Cowan, 808 Brookside Arch, Chesapeake.

I mean, I echo a lot of the sentiment, especially at Mr.

Staples.

Um, so we won't belabor all the environmental energy talk conversations, but um, you know, at the last planning commission meeting, the city staff commissioners, they repeatedly leaned onto this notion that we have to rush these data center ordinances to prevent these.

They had a map of green dots uh across the map.

And if we don't pass these immediately, you know, suddenly we're gonna be turning these hyperscale data center campuses all over the city.

You know, even as at one point they even suggested that if we don't act like tonight, uh Greenbrier Mall could somehow become a hyperscale data center, you know.

And so one of those old tactics and selling a bad idea is creating some sort of urgency when it doesn't exist, you know, kind of kind of felt more like a uh being sold a timeshare at a resort than like good public policy.

But um, although I don't know, I might want a data center more than a Costco.

So I'm sorry, that wasn't job.

But uh the city's legal position was troubling.

You know, you know, they told us the Dillon rule prevents Chesapeake from like banning data centers, and that we'd be engaging in some sort of almost like a legal activity, but um it that seems to be an incomplete representation of Virginia law.

Um local governments have very broad powers to regulate development through zoning and land use ordinances, and it's done commonly.

Um so we can't ban them outright, understand that, but you could essentially create the ordinances such that you're banning them.

Um I feel like if city council directs the city staff that Chesapeake does not want data centers, they'll draft the ordinances to accomplish that.

And this legal staff would support those ordinances.

Um our closest neighboring city, Virginia Beach is doing it.

Um and Lord knows if they can get it right, so can we.

You know, as we do that, the developers lose interest.

You know, there's currently no hyperactive or hyperscale data center applications in Chesapeake today, and no developer has a like a vested right to build them if it's incompatible with our long-term vision.

Um, and there's really no damages on something that doesn't exist.

So I feel like this vision has to come from here and then work its bait down, and then you'll get the ordinances back to approve.

Um, but I do reject that this is some sort of legal risk to the city.

Um, Virginia's data center booms existed for well over a decade.

Um these awkward configured parcels on those green dots, you know, if they were truly prime locations, they would already have been constructed by now, especially considering they're currently by right.

Um so we all know they they need these mass quantity of acres to kind of produce the profit they would need.

Um we can't really confuse what we're talking about today with the data center fight from last year.

That was like a more amateur-ish attempt to kind of fit something into a site.

Um these are sophisticated companies with billions of dollars, and they need these huge massive parcels of land.

And so that's why it's so glaringly obvious that this land in the Fentress Overlay District is unnecessarily referenced and appearing in these planning documents.

You know, it sends a clear message of support that the city is basically encouraging you to go to that land to create your development, because otherwise, why would we purposely mention it?

Um I understand it's politically uncomfortable to admit that any sort of ordinances like this is steering data centers towards that Fentress Overlay district, but I mean it's exactly what they'll do.

Um ironically, you know, I'm a business owner in this area.

Um, and I would probably personally financially benefit if they built data center alley down Centerville Turnbike.

But you know, unlike these alliance groups that would kind of wish this into our city, I understand that greed at the expense of our own health and the health of our land is pretty much undefeated in all of human history as the wrong thing to do.

So, you know, that's kind of where this is probably my core issue right now and in Chesapeake.

Um, so I'm really looking forward to seeing people on City Council verbally openly, publicly say they're against these data centers too, because um it really can't be our voice.

It's got to come from you guys down.

So Karen Dole, followed by Richard T T, excuse me, Richard Tai Tai.

Karen Dole.

Richard Tai Tai.

Good evening, Mayor Council.

Richard Tai Tai is my name, I'll let 1147 Kingsbury Drive, Chesapeake resident for 35 years, retired Navy Captain, retired civil service marine corps capabilities manager, currently employed as a Chesapeake Public Schools teacher assistant with four teaching license endorsements.

I'm going to sign a short change what I gave the uh planning commission a couple of weeks ago.

Uh as I am speaking against data centers.

Uh as I said to the Planning Commission, uh this situation reminds me of an American literature classic, uh The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail.

The story is based on Thoreau's not willing, not being willing to pay taxes to a government seen as supporting slavery.

What then became the basis for his writing of the uh treatise uh civil disobedience.

Recall specifically that when Thoreau's friend Ralph Waldo Emerson asked Thoreau why he was in jail, Thoreau replied, my friend, why are you not here?

Advancing to the present day.

We are here and unified against data centers.

Why isn't everyone?

The City Council rejected the Centerville Data Center to be built last year.

Uh public opinion spoke then, and we thank you for uh listening to us, and we continue to speak now.

Yet we are continuing to air this the center's visibility in these four, despite having heard from countless experts and other local governments on the adverse biological effects and burdens unnecessarily placed on citizens.

Two wit.

One, potential for noise, over-illumination, exhaust emissions, and radio frequency exposure hazards.

Encroaching proximity to neighborhoods, increasing traffic dangers to children and bicycle riders, excessive power use that could result in city blackouts, egregious consumption of HRSD water that cannot be reused, thus draining from our already overpriced regional water supply.

And finally, the data centers companies proffered ruses of bringing large-scale employment and reduced taxes to our residents.

Why should we have to endure Henrico County government's recent power reduction or Fayetteville, Georgia's $150,000 water expenses to allow data centers to function?

Please do not let this corporate tail wag the city's dog.

Using other rationale, we don't know what we don't know.

We don't have the test of time to know the long-term biological and socioeconomic effects of data centers.

Aside from the neighborhood lot line proximity in their opposition, which you heard plenty of last year on the Centerville uh submission, uh the city's parents and school employees should be against data centers that would be allowed anywhere near our children's schools, public or private, established or planned.

Just because we can have data centers doesn't mean that we should.

Thank you for your time.

That concludes the speakers.

Thank you very much.

Next is uh our unfinished business.

Uh please uh the are there any uh unfinished business council members have it this time.

Councilman Newen.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um Mr.

Manager, we spoke I think in December about implementing an animal cruelty registry, and we followed up on that.

Um trying to get some more information on getting that implemented.

I think you've already talked to the police department, it is feasible and reasonable to implement.

So um I'd ask that we add to our August 11th agenda an item um voting to implement the animal cruelty registry uh moving forward in our city.

Thank you.

Mr.

Owens, Mr.

Councilman Whitaker.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um Mr.

Manager, uh today I took a little drive down West Road.

Uh a lot of construction still going on.

Um to my attention that the city has inspectors there.

There's also third-party inspectors.

Could you please bring council a report as to which set of inspectors may have authority with authority having jurisdiction?

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Vice Mayor?

Thank you.

Could I ask a follow-up question, please?

Sure.

I know we're not supposed to engage each other.

Correct.

So Mr.

Manager, and is Ms.

Fitzpatrick still here.

She you may want her to chime in.

I think it would be helpful to let council know in these contractual issues with contractors.

What is the parameter for having their own inspectors as opposed to what is the oversight of a city inspector?

Is that what you're that is correct?

Yes.

Okay.

We're kind of running into that on the South Side Network with the inspections and sign-offs, right, Ms.

Fitzpatrick.

I'm so she must dye her hair because I can't believe we haven't given her a whole head that looks like mine over the contract issues.

But I I think this is really important.

We don't want the Fox guarding the head in house.

I have a lot of faith in our inspections department.

Is that your contention, Mr.

Whitaker?

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other unfinished business?

Next then is new business.

Madam Clark, would you please present item A?

Request to establish an ad hoc committee focused on agritourism.

The purpose of this committee would be to evaluate current agritourism activity, identify opportunities to strengthen and support local agricultural enterprises and provide recommendations back to council regarding any needed ordinances or program initiatives.

Thank you.

A motion is in order.

Move approval.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Mr.

Second.

Ms.

Second.

Thank you.

Any discussion on this issue?

Yes, please, briefly.

We discussed this this afternoon with the manager about creation of this.

This is to be a citizen-driven group with the staff support recommended by the city manager, who I'm sure will give it to us.

Like to the basic framework as I see it is to have the committee with the with the help from the staff, because they can't do it by themselves, cut choose their own leaders and come back to council with recommendations on how to support and increase agritourism in the city.

Something I've been working on, I don't want to mirror other people.

So how would you like to do that, Mr.

Manager?

In terms of appointing staff?

Well, how how would you like to proceed?

Mr.

Bunn is going to be with me on this one because of his expertise in the tourism.

But how would you like to choose your staff?

So my recommendation would be that we get together, um, talk through the outcomes that you're trying to achieve with the committee, and that will help me determine which staff would be most appropriate to provide support.

Okay, thank you.

That'd be that.

Thank you.

Any other discussion?

Ms.

Mr.

Mayer?

Yes, sir.

Thank you so much.

Um Mrs.

Vice Mayor, if if a like a farmer or another citizen would like to be a part of this this committee, would they contact you to be considered or how do you how would you like that that'd be the handle?

I've I have asked other council people to send me suggestions.

You have, I've gotten a couple of others.

Um I know there are a lot of people who would want to be interested.

I think we want to be very selective.

I think we want people who are involved now.

Um just an off-the-head example would be the Berge family, um, who have been very successful, and other people who are providing value-added agriculture products and experiences.

So I'd be happy to take any names.

Don't want anybody's feelings hurt if they're not included.

Um, because this is a citizen group, um, I know that we will have people who want to do the right thing for the city and want to support and encourage more agriculture.

I don't know what their ideas will be.

We're certainly open to considering whatever they may recommend.

Thank you.

I would suggest, Mr.

Vice Mayor, that we include, as you said, every council member is certainly recommend someone, but the final decision should be cut decided by vote of the council rather than one person.

So we can do it like we do a uh one of our boards or commissioners.

Well, that would be fine.

I think recently there have been committees that have not come before the council.

And that's caused some heartburn, and this is going to be citizen-driven.

So I want to, you know, be careful when we put the names forward that we have people really committed to that, to um forwarding this.

I think the process benefits everyone.

Thank you.

Uh Councilman Smith.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh I will say to the Vice Vice Mayor Ritter, great idea as far as doing this.

But do we have any guidelines in place and when will we hear a report back?

I'm going to leave that up to the committee.

I don't want it to be a terribly long time.

Um, but you know, gathering people together, setting meetings schedules, and to their convenience, because many of these people are going to work, be working.

Um, but I I don't want it to take forever.

I I want it I would love to have things done by the early spring.

And I do appreciate the question, but I I agree with the Vice Mayor that these kinds of uh committees, it's hard to put a time on it.

But you know, it's uh but that they will know when they're done.

And I agree with the Vice Mayor, too, that we need to move it along as quickly as possible as well.

But we did I did one of these many years ago with um regarding proffers for business for uh development.

And uh they it was a very engaged uh citizen group, but it it was it was not possible to put a time frame on them, but it but they knew when they were done.

Uh we'd like to recognize council member newens at this time.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I guess a question of clarification um for the mayor, whoever the appropriate person to ask is, maybe the manager.

Is this a group that the um I guess what is the hierarchy of the group?

Is this a council run group that's going to be committed that's going to be commenced, or is this something that staff is going to do the organized organization legwork on?

How will this group be organized?

So the purpose is says in the uh proposal is that it identify opportunities and report back to council.

So it's primarily a council-driven group.

However, it's the I think Ms.

Ritter has made it clear to the manager we do need uh the staff, but that is his domain, not ours.

Uh but I I feel confident that the manager will select uh staff members to assist this group in coming up with these recommendations.

Thank you.

Yep.

Uh any other comments?

Questions?

We do have a motion for approval.

Uh seeing no other discussion, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

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

Uh next uh business new business item.

A resolution temporarily deferring planning commission recommendations and city council consideration of discretionary land use applications related to any proposed data center for eight months from the adoption of this resolution or until such time as City Council takes final action on the pending comprehensive plan amendment, whichever occurs first.

Motion is an order, Councilmember News recognized.

Move approval.

Thank you, uh, Councilman Newens.

Vice Mayor Ritter.

Any discussion, Councilmember Newis?

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, Madam Attorney, a couple questions regarding the resolution or the request that is before us for the resolution to defer.

Um, what is the rationale for the eight months?

The eight months was used because we are tying this to discretionary land use applications, which includes rezonings and use permits.

And the Virginia Code says that counties have 12 months from the date of an application to consider an act on the application.

Now that provision has been included, I guess, and interpreted to also apply to cities.

So if we have 12 months to act on discretionary land use applications, then stalling these applications for eight months will still keep us in line with state law.

Okay.

So we're placing a temporary hold on any applications that would be coming in that would need council approval.

Uh they would not be considered as far as data centers go for the next eight months.

Correct.

Or when the policy comes back before council, whichever is sooner.

Yes.

And there was a question regarding the ordinance.

Is the ordinance still planning to come before council in August?

The ordinance is still planning to come forward because that is kind of viewed as the phase one.

As the gentleman alluded to earlier at the planning commission hearing, they had a map showing that right now data centers are considered a by-right use, which means you can move forward toward towards developing a site without council approval.

And they're considered by-right right now in the office and institutional district, some business districts, and in some industrial districts.

And so there was a map showing all of the sites where data centers could be by right developed right now in the city of Chesapeake.

So what we're kind of considering a phase one is to close that by-right loophole and make sure that any data center that would come in the city in those districts will require a conditional use permit, so it will come before council for action.

And that's kind of our phase one.

And there are other things that could be done with other additional ordinances.

And I can go further into that if you like.

So I guess the importance of the ordinance is that will close or eliminate the by-right option for data centers.

And then this that we vote on tonight will hold any data center application.

So that will effectually hold any data center applications that need to come before council previously by right or even currently if they're conditional use.

Correct.

Okay.

So that's the importance of the ordinance needing to come forward to us still.

Yes, and that is why it's still on track for August.

Okay, but the policy is what's being continued.

Yes.

And that actually has a legal reason behind it too.

Do you mind explaining that?

Um while I was said before that the Virginia state law says that you have, you know, 12 month periods to act reasonably on a land use application.

If something is a by-right development, then to develop that site, you have to come to City Council and submit a subdivision plan, site plan, whatever is needed for your specific site.

And under state law, we do not have the legal ability to stall those applications.

There are specific statutes that impose really tight timelines for how how all how long we have to review a subdivision or a site plan.

And so that is why we're treating them differently.

Thank you.

And then there was a speaker that indicated I think some of our neighboring cities have adopted policies of banning data centers.

You talked last time that Virginia Beach is actually implementing a policy of different tiers, and that's something we want to consider looking at.

Can you describe that for us?

My understanding, I did speak with their city attorney.

My understanding is that they're okay.

I'm going to start one more step back, if you don't mind.

Yes, under Virginia law, we cannot just ban a use that the Virginia Code otherwise allows.

And there are several state code provisions that permit data centers.

And in fact, there's a lot of there's a lot of state law that permits it.

So that's the Dillon rule comment that was made at Planning Commission.

Because state law does consider that a use that is allowed, we cannot outright ban it.

However, we do have the power to regulate it.

And that is what Virginia Beach is doing, and I would almost liken that to our phase two, because they were not in the same situation as us where data centers are by right in so many zoning districts, so they're kind of able to be a little further down the path than we are.

If phase two is to say, okay, you have this overarching use of a data center.

And then you can look at subcategories within that use.

Hyperscale, which is a very large data center, or even just differentiating between those classes based on energy use or water use.

You know, you break that use down into subparts, and then you can have different zoning regulations for each use that will be tied to the impacts of that use.

And that's the whole basis of zoning.

So Virginia Beach is already there.

If council gives us direction, we can work towards that goal too.

But at this point of time, as I said before, we're kind of more in the phase one.

Okay, thank you.

And then if I may ask the manager about the public um input that the city is going to be seeking during this period, we we're continuing the policy to seek public input.

What type of things are we going to be doing and where can people, I guess, tune in or provide input?

So we'll have community meetings at locations around the city so that people can participate in in their own communities.

And what we'd like to do, the purpose of the policy is twofold.

Number one, it will give the um we've had a lot of different perspectives on things we should consider when applications come to the city.

And so it will help us frame up the criteria criteria for what the community would like to see us use to review those applications in the future.

Right now, there's no criteria because they don't need to be reviewed by the city largely.

They're they're mostly by right.

Um the second is um city attorney Linley mentioned sort of a phase one, phase two approach.

If in if in through the public comment we hear, you know what, there's additional tightening up that we would like to do of the ordinance, those um community um input sessions would allow us to bring recommendations back to council to say, you know, we've sort of closed the by-right option.

Now here's some additional considerations, whether it's hyperscale, whether it's based on power usage, water usage, or others.

We've heard the community um will continue to investigate best practices in the industry, and that would allow us to bring recommendations for future amendments to the zoning ordinance.

Okay, thank you.

And then Mr.

May, if I could just make a couple comments.

Yes.

Um I appreciate that the staff and the Madam Attorney bringing this forward to us so quickly.

Um I had asked for this to be put on tonight's agenda last week because uh one of our speakers indicated I watched the planning commission meeting too, several of us did.

Councilmember King was brave enough to come and sit here all night and watch the meeting.

But there seemed to be a sense of urgency that we don't have a lot of time.

We have to do something right now.

Well, I think this is what will allow us to pump the brakes, take a breath, get more public input.

It will, in my opinion, protect the city from any buy-right data centers coming without any kind of city input or public input.

It will protect us from data centers as a whole for the next eight months or until a policy is implemented, whichever is sooner, and it allows us more public input.

I think it's the best of both worlds.

It puts a hold on data centers for the time being until we get a policy in place.

And it allows more public input for us to have an idea of what the community thinks where, if there is an appropriate place for data centers in our city.

So I'm supportive of this.

I appreciate everyone coming out and speaking tonight on this.

I hope that you will engage yourself in the public um input sessions that we're going to have in the community and continue coming to council.

We will have that item on the agenda at the August 18th meeting, I believe it is, um, for consideration for the ordinance itself that we will still have to approve to close the by-right loop.

Um, but thank you.

Thank you so much, Councilman New and Smith.

Appreciate all you are doing on this and for council's uh consideration of it as well.

We do have a motion on four for approval.

Please prepare to vote, please vote and record.

Madam Clerk.

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

Do any council members have any additional new business items they'd like to bring up at this time?

Uh Councilmember Bunn.

Thank you, Mayor West.

Um, earlier tonight I um said that I'd like to bring up under new business.

Um, but I I I guess you've already talked to um city attorney at your 3 o'clock meeting, so do I need to ask for a request?

Are we gonna plan the time to talk about the uh discussing the policy regard regarding the request for withdrawals and continuously?

It would definitely be a discussion at the retreat and after that we can decide how to proceed.

All right, sounds good.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Bunn.

Uh Councilman Newlands.

Um Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

The um question for the manager, if I may.

There's been a number of complaints about um road signage and um specifically the intersection of Cedarville and Sanderson wanting a four-way stop sign.

I know in the past we have done a um traffic study there, and it has deemed that it's not necessary to actually have a four-way stop sign.

Do we have a policy if a traffic study does not support having a stop sign there?

Can we still implement it if we think it's in the best good for public safety?

I believe so, but let me uh I'll check with public works and police and we'll dispatch a response to Cal.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor Ritter.

Thank you.

Um we had this discussion earlier today about a new state law requiring solar facilities to have on-site battery storage.

Do we have any information on that?

So uh one of the many pieces of legislation the General Assembly approved this year would require that for all new and I believe existing um solar uh facilities, they would be required um to allow buy right battery storage facilities.

And so um, you know, if you have uh we have several existing facilities in the city, uh we also have uh proposals for new solar facilities from time to time.

And we're right now today, council would have discretionary ability to say yes or no.

Um we would no longer have that discretionary ability.

It would be um if a solar solar facility exists, that use becomes a buy-right um uh part of that uh facility, and for any new applications, um, if they wanted to um uh consider that as part of the um the application, we wouldn't be able to preclude um the battery energy storage facility as part of the solar um facility application.

So you say um proposed and existing that is a frightening thought.

Um we have already lost way over two thousand acres to solar facilities.

They're not farms folks, they're industrial sites.

Um there's one in my neighborhood in the Ventress overlay.

So it's concerning to me.

And it sounds like there is not much we can do, but do we want to look at our legislative package?

We could add that uh for your consideration.

Well, if you might ask, you know, Mr.

Westcott, who's good at this, um and talk to our um delegation about is this something we need to be concerned about, and if so, what are our opportunities?

I I'm really concerned that people are taking very, very strong stands.

And yet I heard no objection whatsoever to the thousands of acres lost in the Fentress Overlay district to solar facilities.

Not a word.

And you know, that is a concern that is active farmland being turned into an industrial site.

And should the battery storage go there, that's even more.

And you know, I realize there are 8,000 protected acres in the Fentress Overlay district that the Navy has purchased development rights for.

We don't have a policy on battery storage.

Do we need to update the solar?

Um, it may be time, and it may be time that we say we've done our part.

So thank you very much, and that that's all my poll tests.

We do have a uh closed meeting scheduled for August eleventh before our council meeting.

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

A motion to get inducting closed meeting on Tuesday, August eleventh, 2026, at 430 p.m.

in Chesapeake City Hall to discuss and consider appointments to city boards, commissions, and authorities for the purpose of discussing candidates for the land bake authority, the Chesapeake Redevelopment Housing Authority, Agricultural Advisory Commission, as permitted by Section 2.2-3711 A1 of the Code of Virginia.

Thank you.

A motion is in order.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Dr.

Ward, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to conduct a closed meeting on August eleventh at 4 30 is adopted by a nine-o vote.

Council Member Ward is recognized at this time for our benefition.

Blessing on uh council members and our citizens that we return to our respective homes, give us traveling verses, keep us safe.

These are the blessings we ask in their fishes and holy name.

Amen.

Don't like third time I thought you don't have to be a little bit different.