City Council - Regular Meeting

[clears throat] I'm getting Good evening and welcome. City Council is now in session. Please stand for the invocation by Council Member Butler Barlo, which will be followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Let [clears throat] us pray. As we meet tonight in this final month of 2025, we take a moment to ask for blessings on we the public servants in the government of this city of Suffuk that we may do our work in a spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice. Help us use our authority to serve faithfully and to promote our common life together. We ask blessings on the staff of this same city. Let them do their work in the spirit of service to the community with patience, respect, and care for all citizens. Blessings on the citizens of Suffukk that we in times of conflict engage one another without hatred or bitterness that we listen for the voice of reason amid competing claims and that we work together with mutual forbearance and respect. and blessings on the leaders of our commonwealth and of our country that they may inspire us to be at peace among ourselves to reject all forms of violence to remember that we we may disagree without being disagreeable and to be a blessing to all other nations of the earth. Amen.

Amen. [clears throat] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The Freedom of Information Act certification is required at this time. Madame Clerk, please present the resolution for consideration. A resolution certifying the closed meeting of December the 3rd, 2025, pursuant to Virginia Code section 2.2-3712 is presented this at this time. Now therefore be it resolved that the city council of the city of Suffach hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirement of Virginia law and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard discussed or considered by the city council the city of Suffach in the closed meeting.

Council motion would be in order. What's your pleasure council member Williams? So move. Got a motion for approval from council member Williams. Council member Bennett. Second. Second from council member Bennett. Is there any discussion of the motion? Hearing none. Council members, prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madame clerk, please record the vote. The motion is approved by a vote of 8 to zero. We now move to approval of the minutes from the August 20th, 2025 work session and regular meeting. And a motion would be in order. Council member Williams. Move to approve.

Motion for approval from council member Williams. Council member Recctor. Second that motion. Second from Council Member Recctor. Is there any discussion of the motion? Hearing none. Council members, prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madame clerk, please record the vote. [clears throat] The motion is approved by vote of 8 to zero.

We have no special presentations this evening. At this time, we will consider the removal of items from the consent agenda and adoption of the entire agenda as presented. Removal of any item from the consent agenda would only be necessary if any member of city council wishes to vote on specific items separately and a motion would be required. questions and requests for information on specific agenda items can be addressed during the consideration of the consent agenda after the agenda speakers. If any member of city council wishes to remove an item from the consent agenda to be voted on separately, a motion would be appropriate at this time. Hearing none, a motion to adopt the agenda as presented would be appropriate at this time. Council Council Member Recctor move to approve the agenda presented. Get

a motion for approval. Council member Recctor. Council member Butler Barllo. Second. Second from council member Butler Barlo. Is there any discussion of the motion? Hearing none. Council members, prepare to vote. [clears throat] Please cast your vote. [laughter] Madame clerk, please record the vote. The motion is approved by a vote of 8 to zero. Madam clerk, do we have any agenda speakers this evening? No, Mayor Duman. Hearing none, please present the consent agenda items for consideration.

Item number seven, an ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia Technology Trust Fund. Item number eight, an ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the United States Department of Agriculture for the summer food services program. Item number nine, an ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the OBC Healthc Care Foundation for the Suffach Public Library Early Childhood Development Program. Item number 10, an ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Animal Friendly License Plate Program for Animal Shelter Services. Item number 11, an ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the OBC Healthc Care Foundation for Lake Me Park. Item number 12, an ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development for the Homeless Shelter Project. Item number 13, an ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality fiscal year 2026 competitive litter prevention and recycling grant award for the city of Suffach litter prevention and recycling program. And item number 14, an ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from Tractor Supply Company Foundation for the Suffach Police Department and the Suffach Animal Shelter.

Mr. Manager, please provide an overview of the items.

Mayor, vice mayor, members of council. Uh, consent item number seven. The city's received $3,500 in fiscal year 2026 technology trust funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia compensation board to be used by the clerk of the circuit court for the annual fees associated associated with the Tyler Technologies application used for criminal and civil cases. Adoption of the ordinance will increase the plan revenues and expenditures of the general fund by $3,500 and does not require local match. Consent item number eight. The city has received $48,028.39 in funding from the United States Department of Agriculture for the summer food service program which is administrator which is administrated by the Department of Parks and Recreation and provides breakfast and lunches to childrens at qualified sites during the summer. Adoption of the ordinance will increase the plan revenues and expenditures of the consolidated grant fund budget by $48,20.39 cents and does not require a local match. Consent item number nine. The city has received $2,500 in a grant award from the OBC Healthcare Foundation in support of the SUFFK Early Childhood Development Commission for its project ready set go bags. The funding will be used to offset the cost of printing resource material shared with all new families who birth children at Centa Obiso Hospital. Adoption of the ordinance will increase the plan revenues expenditures of the consolidated grants fund by $2,500 and requires no local match. Consent item number 10. The city has received $1,860 in funding from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Animal Friendly License Plate Program. This program provides funding in support of localities for the steriliz sterilization of dogs and cats. Proceeds generated by the purchase of animal friendly license plates. Adoption of the ordinance will increase the plan

revenues and expenditures of the consolidated grant funds budget by $1,860 and requires no local match. Consent item number 11. Cities received $50,000 in funding from the Obese Healthc Care Foundation for the construction of a splash pad at Lake Meade Park. Adoption of the ordinance will increase the plan revenues and expenditures of the capital projects by $50,000 and does not require a local match. Consent item number 12, the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has awarded the city a grant in the amount of $500,000 for the homeless shelter project. The former Regal Inn motel located on Prudin Boulevard is currently being renovated to a homeless shelter with a planned operating date of January 2026. Adoption of the ordinance will increase the planned revenues and expenditures of the capital fund budget by $500,000 and does not require a match. Consent item number 13. The city has been awarded $5,000 in a grant from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Competitive Litter Prevention and Recycling Grant Program. Funding will be used to assist with litter cleanup in Shingle Creek in the downtown area. Adoption of the ordinance will increase the plan revenues, expenditures, and consolidated grant fund by $5,000 and does not require a match. Consent item number 14. The city has received $1,000 in funding from Tractor Supply Company Foundation as part of their hometown heroes event. The donation will be used to purchase food and supplies for the Suffach Animal Shelter and the Police K9 unit. Adoption of the ordinance will increase planned revenues and expenditures of the general fund by $1,000 and does not require a local match.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Manager. If there are no questions about the items, a motion would be in order to approve the consent agenda as presented. Council member Williams. Move that we approve. Motion for approval from Council Member Williams. Council member Johnson. Second. Second from Council Member Johnson. Is there any discussion of the motion? Hearing none. Council members prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madame clerk, please record the vote.

The motion is approved by vote of 8 to zero. Uh moving forward, we have no public hearings, no ordinances, and no resolutions this evening. Uh we do have three staff reports. Uh first one is referencing voter precinct review. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview. Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council, interim deputy city manager Gary Jones will provide an overview and recommendation on the relocation of two voter precincts. Good evening, Gary.

Good evening. Thank you, Mr. manager. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council. As the manager stated, I'll provide a brief update on some opportunities to create some new voter precincts in the city. Uh, as a result of constructing two new capital projects in the northern part of the city as well as downtown, uh there's an opportunity to relocate two voting precincts from nonityowned facilities to city-owned facilities. First one I'll talk about is in the Nansman Voting Bureau, uh the Huntersville precinct. It's currently utilizes the VMass Center located on University Boulevard. We're proposing that the new fire station 11 located on Harborview, I'm sorry, Harborview, Hampton Rose Parkway in Harborview be uh utilized as the uh Nansman voting barrel precinct. As you know, we opened the uh station 11 facility back in the summer. Um, and the good thing about this facility is it was designed when it was designed and constructed, it was designed with that uh very um specific thing in mind that it would become a voting precinct. Uh, it's currently being used as a training space for the fire department as well as a community room for the public. Uh the way it's set up, it's able to operate as a voting precinct without having to interrupt the operations of the fire station. It has its own entrance and exit and directly adjacent to public parking. The second precinct is in the Suffukk voting barrel. Uh the lakeside uh precinct currently utilizes the Morgan Memorial Library as a voting location. We're proposing the new downtown library which is under construction just uh two blocks away uh to be utilized as the new

voter precinct. Uh uh the vote the library will be ready in the uh spring and very similar to the fire station is set up very nicely to be able to accommodate a voting precinct. It has its own separate entrance. You do not have to interrupt the operations of the library during voting day. uh has its own entry into the um facility, the large meeting room that's on the front located on Washington Street, and has access to um uh 54 parking spaces as well as on street parking in the downtown. These proposed locations have been vetted by the registar. Um there's going to be a public hearing that will be required in the future to consider these sites. uh and staff will also be working with the registar to look at potential other future uh new locations for voting precincts throughout the city but of course that will be a separate effort. I'll be glad to answer any questions. I have the registar here as well as members of the electoral board to assist with any questions that you may have.

Council questions or comments hearing none. Um, I couldn't think of two better locations than what we've got. Two brand new facilities which we built both facilities uh to be used as for multi-purposes and these will definitely get the job done. We got the parking, we got the lighting and yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Thanks. Okay, if you go right to the next presentation, Kevin. Yep. Capital or next staff report. uh will be a capital improvement project update.

Mayor, vice mayor, members of council, as you are well aware, uh we are in the midst of the capital improvement plan, uh the 2026 project. What we'd like to do is walk you through a number of recent updates on projects that are active related to construction or potentially in the engineering phases that may you may have questions about as we move forward with the uh the CIP presentation. Gary Jones, interim deputy city manager, will provide the overview on the projects and we have a number of our department directors uh in the uh chambers today that could answer questions you may have on these projects. Thanks again, Mr. Manager. Um I will give you a brief snapshot, and I say brief because I'm not going to go into a lot of detail on each project, but uh as manager mentioned, we have several uh projects that have been funded over the last year that we just want to give you an update on where we stand and that they're moving forward. Starting with the first project, it's the Saratoga East parking lot, uh, which is also known as the old Virginia pilot building, Sunrust Building, parking lot, right off of Saratoga Street. The project is to redesign the former pilot building, Sunrust Building, parking lot to have better circulation to improve landscaping and lighting. Uh, it will increase the parking capacity in that area by about 20 spaces. Design is complete. is currently in the process of going through final site plan review. Uh we look to get this thing under uh construction here at the very first part of the year and uh have it ready for the spring and summer events by the time they happen downtown. Virginia Pilot Building first floor renovation. Uh, as I've given you updates before, this is going to become a space to accommodate the Commonwealth Attorney's Office as well as a police department space on the first floor of the recently acquired uh, Virginia pilot building. The project gets to renovate the entire first floor to serve those two departments. Uh, demolition is

underway. Renovation design is 95% complete and we'll be soliciting bids at the first of the year and will take about a year for construction. February 2027, we expect to complete this one. Phoenix Bank Stabilization and Plaza, as you've seen, uh it's been a long time coming. There's a lot of work starting to happen at the Phoenix Bank. Uh I'm excited about this one because I've been Phoenix Bank has been attached to me for about 20 years and uh it's moving forward in a very positive direction. As you've seen that we've done a lot of stabilization work, which is the first phase of work there. Um that is about 70% complete. We're in the process of also designing what we're calling the Phoenix Bank Plaza, which is basically the improvement of all the street streetscapes uh along West uh East Washington Street from Colon Street all the way down to Tin Street uh to improve it with creating a u better outdoor space to supplement the space, the indoor space that will happen at the Phoenix Bank as well as improved lighting, landscaping, and parking. We'll add be adding about six parking spaces um on that vacant uh parcelation to uh the Phoenix Bank. Uh we're looking to uh complete the stabilization work uh sometime first of the year around February and then we'll go into the plaza construction and have that ready sometime by the summer of 26. One of the other things that we're going to be doing at the Phoenix Bank, uh as you've driven by Phoenix Bank, you probably noticed there been some work done on that large big blank wall there. Uh what a great opportunity to show some nice u colorful community murals on that wall. So u thanks to our downtown um development director uh Miss Lisa Blekeley. She's been able to secure on loan force from the uh Virginia African-American Cultural Center in Virginia Beach some community murals uh which you see on the screen there. We'll be rotating these in and out for probably the next year or so. So, we'll

add some nice color as we continue to improve make improvements at the Phoenix Bank, you'll see some nice color added uh to that wall. Uh and as we move forward with the uh stabilization of the Phoenix Bank, especially at the front entrance, as we rebuild that front entrance, we'll you'll also see some other opportunities to tell some history about the Phoenix Bank, some history of East Suffuk. Um that leads to some other things that that have happened in our city. Driver Elementary School demolition. Uh this has calls for the demolition of the 2018 closed uh 55,000 foot elementary school uh in Driver. Uh it's constructed in 1968. Uh we uh will plan we trying to get the contract uh ready to start construction within the next 30 days or so. Uh we had a bit of a small setback. The first contractor that was a little bitter uh withdrew their bid. So, we're now negotiating with the second contractor and getting that contract negotiated and executed. So, we'll hopefully get that ready and up and running because we want to have this demolished and uh the site ready for use um by March of uh 2026. Okay. We have three projects underway down at the uh what we call the Carolina Roads Op Center. Uh we'll have an access road project, the transit building project, and the fire burn building project. Uh this has been a busy complex. If you're familiar with this complex is currently where the new parks and recreation operations center is. Uh we're in the process of constructing the fire training burn building, which is about 90% complete in construction. Uh we have the access road underway which is about 20% complete and the transit building which uh will be a 6750 foot transit operations building uh being done by public works and that one is about 95% complete in design

under parks and recreation have a few things going on. uh Pewville Parking lot expansion. This project calls for the expansion of about 10 spaces uh to support the activities at the Pewville Park in Pewville. Our design is about 90% complete and is anticipated to complete construction in the winter of 2026. Nan River boat ramp, also formerly known as the Brady's Marina. Uh the project is to construct a boat ramp into the Nansman River to improve and to also improve the entrance into the facility. Uh this project is 90% complete with design and we expect uh completion of the project in the spring of 2027. The Suffach Seabore Coastline Trail uh the project is construct a multi-use trail connecting downtown to the city of Chesapeake. Status of this one is 90% complete and we anticipated uh with anticipated completion in the fall of 2027. Driver transmitter site Monogram uh park uh we're in the process of redesigning the monogram ball field as well as expanding it with another ball field uh adjacent to it. That design is about 30% complete and this one's expected to be completed uh in the spring of 2027. the former schools admin I'm sorry, former schools maintenance building uh uh demolition of Freeny Avenue. Uh if you've been by there recently, you see that it's no longer exist. That's been an ISO in the community for a while. Uh it's going to make way for supplemental space for the East Suffuk Recreation Center, some outdoor space for that facility. Um it was a demolition of the 33,000 foot facility uh that was formally operated for many, many years by SUFFK schools administration staff. Uh that one is about 90% complete. We're in the process right now of finishing up

some site work and we'll wrap that up by the end of this year. Few transportation projects to talk about public works. The route 10 or Garwin Boulevard improvements. Uh Garwin Boulevard widening will expand the roadway from four lanes uh to six lanes uh extending from the Suffuk Bypass to the South Hill Point Boulevard. Design is nearing the 60% plan development. The route 17 of Bridge Road widening. This project continues to widen Bridge Road from Shoulders Hill Road intersection project limit east to east plumber boulevard. The project is currently at 6% plan development and the route 460 prudent boulevard widening. This is to widen 460 from four lanes to six lanes between Route 58 interchange and Lake Prince Drive. The status of that is is currently in preliminary engineering and public utilities projects. Recently completed is sewer pump station number four replacement in the Boston neighborhood. It replaced a 1960s pump station. um temporarily pumping during construction has been going on and it's one of the largest capacity stations in this in the city. Also under construction in the Chucker Tuck Burrow, the Oakland area improvements. This is the as you know the Arper project, Arper funds project. It is for a new water man and piping service. Um new sanitary sewer gravity system, pump station and force man. um septic tank abandonments and sewer connection um and DEQ ARPA grant and drainage

improvements. Anticipated completion is late 2026. Also under constructions, Butler Lake dam improvements. Um this is the water supply dam at Lonear Lakes. Uh it's earth dam rehabilitation which includes clearing and grubbing dam face regrading and protection increased dam face erosion protection and armoring. Uh there's been also several leaks that have been repaired as they've been moving forward and the anticipation uh the anticipated completion of this is January 2026. Also under construction is existing pump station 17 replacement. As you see here, this is the old This picture shows the old pump station, which is the old ingground station in the Kilby Shores area. And the project is to relocate and replace existing pump station. It's 90% complete. Includes a new gravity uh sewer and new sewer force man, which is 30% complete. Anticipated completion is March 2026. And there's a picture of the brand new station. That's that's a nice looking station. Um it's about two blocks away from the uh original station. Also under design is a Cedar Lakes Drive water system improvements is for the replacement of previous well system water distribution system. Has a newer larger diameter water manes and new fire hydrants. Resurfacing of the all of the asphalt pavement for the access road to it. and it uh recently received a Virginia Department of Health construction permit. It is anticipated uh to be completed in February 26. That completes my list of uh projects. I'll be glad to answer any questions and as the manager said, we have department heads here to help you to help us with any questions you may have.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Jones. Council, questions or comments? Council member Bennett. Yeah, on the uh rated marina. I thought that was uh going back to it. I thought we were further along on that than [clears throat] uh what we are saying here 27 I thought it was next this uh this coming year. Yeah, we we're wrapping up a sign right now that it has to go off for bid for construction then have to be constructed. So what are we waiting on now? I know that um the core have come together with dredging. What what else are we waiting on? It's

not an issue with that is simply a matter of finishing design and then once again getting it out to bid, get it under contract and then start construction. Okay. I would add to that point um the the dredging has not occurred but is scheduled to occur and coincides with the opening of the date in here. So uh the dredging completion is very close to when we look to complete this. So it they marry uh up really nicely together. Okay. Thank you. Y council member but labor. I actually had the same comment that maybe that was supposed to mean 2026, not 2027. But thank you for the clarification and hope we can speed it up every chance we get.

Move along as fast as we can. Council member Williams. I got you. Yes. Um Gary, um I have a question about the Saratoga East parking lot. I noticed that the parking will increase by 20 spaces. Yes, sir. What What's the current amount? How many parking spaces do we currently have? If you look at that site now, one of the big obstacles that doesn't allow for any parking is the old drive-thru building that was at the bank. That's going to be demolished. So, that parking lot's going to expand into that area. So, that's where you're going to be picking up a lot of the spaces. Okay. Where that old drive-thru, remote drive-thru for the Sunrust Bank is located. Okay.

Okay. Um and I just want to make a comment on the um Phoenix Bank. Yes, sir. Um stabilization plan. Um I'm excited. You're excited. The city is excited about what's going on with the um Phoenix Bank. I just want to commend you and commend staff um for doing a great job. We're just looking forward to the completion of that project. And thank you,

council. Any other comments or questions? Um if not, this is um [clears throat] to me a very impressive list of projects that are coming to fruition. Some couple big ones getting started, but we're also in the next 6 to 12 months going to be wrapping up a bunch of projects that we've been working on. We're, you know, we're spending money across this city and we're spending money in areas that I think warrant it, that are going to provide services to all our citizens. So, you know, I think things are working the way they're supposed to. Uh, Brady's Marina, I think we lost track of the fact that that project was delayed because of the right-of-way acquisition issue to get the roads widened, you know, where we're dealing with the church or dealing with the farm on the other side. those discussions which were probably you know [clears throat] estimated to be 60 or 90 days turned into more like six or nine months I think before that was formalized so that I'm sure had an impact on how we could proceed with whatever design work we were doing but now that we've got that done we're full steam ahead that's correct okay thank you very much and what we got next here okay our next staff report will be regarding ing the compensation and step plan review. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview.

Vice Mayor, members of council, a motion was passed at your November 19th city council meeting to provide a presentation on the compensation plan review executive summary report that's been provided to the council. This evening's presentation will provide a general overview of the Suffach compensation and step plan. It will touch on how we compare to our neighboring cities and provide insight into our recruitment and retention as well as provide recommendations to remain competitive. This evening, you'll hear from Jessica Stallings, our director of human resources, and Brent Esper, the compensation manager. Good evening.

Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, members of council. Thank you for having us this evening talk about the compensation and step plan review. We'll start off with a little bit of a background. Um, when SUFFK implemented the step plan for all employees in April of 2022, Suffach was the only municipality at that time offering a step plan for all employees. At that time, the only step plans in the local market were for sworn public safety um positions. Also at that time, SUFFK intentionally set some of the pay rates to lead the market for certain positions to address competitiveness and retention concerns. So, what has changed since April of 2022? Um, all localities have made significant changes to their compensation plans. Portsmith and Virginia Beach now have step plans for general employees. And Norphick has implemented a step plan adjustment for sworn public safety positions in October of 2025. That really ch changed the landscape of the market and all of Norfick employees will be moved into a step plan in January of 2026. What that has done um it has changed again the landscape of the market. Norfolk's new minimum rates significantly lead the market. An example of that is a Norfolk fire recruit starting rate is 57142. So that is a recruit coming off the street, someone that has not had any training to be a firefighter. Comparatively, suffix firefighter AEM pay range starts at 55303. and that is someone that's already completed the academy which is a year long and has certifications. So based on historical trends, it's expected that Virginia Beach will at

least meet Norfolk's new rates. And Chesapeake is also working on revising the rates as a result of Norfick changes. So I'll hand this over to Brett Esper that will talk a little bit about his analysis. Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, members of council. In looking at the structure of the public sector step plans in place in the region, SUFFK is the only city to not have a step movement every 12 months. Oh, I'm sorry. [clears throat] I'm sorry. Let me back up. It's the only city to not have a a step plan movement every 12 months during the first nine years of the plan. While other localities have weight periods that last longer than 12 months, these do not occur until years nine or 10 of their respective plans. Because suffix step plan implements weight periods that last longer than 12 months starting in year four, we essentially lose all competitive advantage as an employee progresses through the steps. The chart below show the chart on the slide um shows how the first nine years of SUFFK fire step plan compared to others in the region. While fire is shown in this example, this is representative of how suffuk step plans are all currently structured. As you can see with the highlighted cells, SUFFK longer than 12-month wait periods happen three times in the first nine years as compared to other cities that are consistently providing 12 month steps. In addition, I'd like to draw your attention specifically to Norfick and Portsmouth. Norfick steps are consistently 3% increases between steps and Portsmouths are 4% increases between steps. In comparison, suffix increases between steps fluctuate between 2 and a.5% 3% and 3 and a.5% dependent on the step that the employee is in. The combination of the 12 month steps and percentages that consistently are

greater than those offered by SUFFK only compound our competitiveness issues. In addition to the step plan and the step movement, city council has provided cost of living adjustments as shown on the chart in this slide. Since suffuk cost of living adjustment is independent of the step plan, this allows city employees potentially to receive two increases during the plan year. In other cities such as Norfol, instead of a cost of living adjustment, they use a general wage increase and that's tied into their compensation plan. Since 2022, SUFFK has provided a total of 14 and a.5% of cost of living adjustments to its employees. In looking at a sample of employees who have been with the city since the step plan was implemented, the current plan structure provides much greater growth opportunities for public safety positions. As you can see with the public safety employees in this chart, since their plan was designed with a focus on promotion, employees and fire and police have seen more significant salary growth than non-public safety employees. Comparatively, looking at non-public safety positions such as engineers and custodial workers, the volume of promotions during the same time frame is significantly lower. In addition, it should be noted that the total earnings growth for these positions is just slightly higher of the cost of living adjustments provided during the same time. A significant contributor to the discrepancy between public safety and non-public safety increases is how the plans are structured. Particularly in fire, the pay ranges are so close together that an adjustment at the bottom will create a ripple effect that goes all the way up through the deputy chief level. [clears throat] Moving on to some recruitment numbers on this slide. The chart on the left speaks to applicant flow for recent

recruitments in HR. For comparison purposes, the chart on the right shows some benchmarks for public sector applicant flow. For those positions with a green applicant to position ratio, the applicant flow falls within public sector benchmarks. Those that fall red, those that are highlighted in red fall short of these benchmarks. Fortunately, SUFFK has not seen a compensation related impact to our applicant flow for positions such as fire recruited engineering technicians. While fire recruits are currently a hot topic in the lab in the local market, our applicant flow for these recruitments currently falls within public sector benchmarks. On the other hand, SUFFK struggles to attract or attract um SUFFK struggles to attract applicants to more highly skilled positions that are not exclusive to public sector employers such as attorneys and engineers. And this public versus private sector compensation challenge is not unique to SUFFK and is not new. All public sector organizations have and continue to share the same struggle. Voluntary turn turnover. This slide shows some voluntary voluntary turnover statistics to help provide context for what I'm going to share on the on the slide after this. Uh a voluntary termination is any time that an employee leaves the city on their own accord. In 2024, the average voluntary turnover rate nationally was 13%. Public sector turnover rate at a state level is typically around 10% and locally that's between five and 9% depending on the position. As you'll see on the following slide, SUFFK voluntary turnover rate has shown consistent improvement in 2023. In other words, we're doing a better job retaining our employees. [clears throat]

The chart on this slide shows SUFFK's voluntary termination since 2023 by department. Before divi diving into the department level detail, I'd like to ask you to focus on the bottom row, which shows turnover rates for the city as a whole. In 2023, we had a voluntary turnover rate of just over 12%. That improved slightly in 2024, and 2025 is currently trending at 8 and a half%. As you look at each department, those in that are highlighted in red have voluntary turnover rates that exceed the overall city rate and the results vary greatly by department. For example, looking at fire, they have consistently had some of the best retention numbers in the city since 2023. A review of their termination data indicates that the overwhelming majority of their voluntary turnover is due to recruits not completing fire recruit training or normal age retirements. In comparison, looking at social services and other public facing department, retention consistently has been a struggle during the same time period and that's with some intensive HR retention focused initiatives that we've been working with them on. Now, concurrently to the deep dive on the compensation plan, we had a uh an employee climate survey that wrapped up around the same time. So, I'd like to share some information with that, too. Um, we've been conducting stay interviews with employees who have uh been with the city for between two and three years. And what we're finding is that employees stay primarily because of the positive culture, enjoyment of their work, strong co-orker and manager relationships, and working place workplace flexibility. That said, compensation and benefits are motivators for continued engagement. Um, the competitiveness of the compensation benefits was identified as a key area for improvement. In addition, 23% of employees shared that higher pay or

better career opportunities could lead them to look for opportunities. These points further emphasize the need for suffix compensation plans to remain competitive. And so we have some recommendations that Jessica will now present.

So what now? Um, first we want to start off by saying there's no easy and equitable solution to address significant compression in market issues. Our recommendations would be that there is a comprehensive consultant compensation study to review market rates for all city positions and recommend a new more competitive compensation structure. We also recommend a consultant-led comprehensive review of overtime utilization, special pays, and staffing levels across the city to identify cost efficiencies and ensure competitiveness and best practices are followed. Uh to add a little further on to the recommendations, um if if council for their consideration, uh we are closing out the 24 25 year uh audit. And so uh it's not unusual for us to bring to council in the winter months some considerations uh for some savings to put some projects forward. uh we could look at some of those savings to initiate uh a study that Jessica talked about sooner or immediately or begin that process versus waiting for the next budget process. Uh that would be a July opportunity.

Council, any questions or comments? And if [clears throat] that were the case, we we'll bring that up at budget time to see if we can consider the initiating the the study during this year.

Yeah. So, typically, traditionally, what we've done is we bring you an ordinance around this time or the next few months that show uh some savings that we realized uh usually from staff savings um and and attempt to uh direct them to maybe a project that has a shortfall or something that's come up recently. And this might be one of those considerations. Uh so if if there is a interest in heading this direction, this could be something that we bring to a future agenda item in the next uh 30 to 45 days. Okay. Thank you, Council Member Wright.

Yes. Um I just want to say thank you for putting together this information, Miss Stallings and Mr. Esper. Um when I requested the information it is because I wanted to ensure one we take care of our staff see where we are and then make the proper adjustments. So um within your summary you have provided and I want to first say I do commend suffoc for leading the way in 2022 and setting setting the standard. Um but as with anything else as time passes by and things change we have to take a look at it and make the proper adjustments. So, I do thank you for putting the time together there. Um, I am hopeful and looking forward to seeing us implement some of the changes um sooner rather than later and maybe put together um some comprehensive ways forward to ensure that we remain competitive and to ensure that our greatest asset which are people um are taken care of. So, I just want to say thank you for putting this together and I I will be vigilant in ensuring that we kind of stay on top of this. Thank you,

council. Any other questions or comments?

Um, if not, quick comment. Thank you very much for putting this together. Um, I wholeheartedly agree with um engaging a consultant to do a thorough study uh that would uh delve into all the compensation um across the board. uh with all our employees to see if there's any best practices or what have you. uh in regards to some of these other issues, there is one thing I'd like to bring up that uh I had preliminary conversations uh with city manager Moore when he was here and I haven't I've been a little uh remiss in not talking to u manager Hughes about the same thing and that was the ability to to develop a program which would allow employees to accumulate addition annual andor six leave. Right now, it's a use it or lose it. And the thought process in my opinion is, you know, if it's use it or lose it, we have employees that are just going to use it because they don't want to lose it. But especially in uh public safety when those individuals are out, then we're replacing them with folks at time and a half. And the thought process was to provide an incentive uh since they weren't going to lose that time. And it was suggested that uh maybe half of what is accumulated each year be deposited into a retirement account. So rather than losing it, that money could be deposited into an account which would accumulate and also uh have earned income on it. So, that's something I'd like to look into uh during the budget at this particular budget because it would be I think um outside of the compensation plan. I mean, it could be maybe worked into the numbers, but I don't think one is necessarily dependent on the other. So, maybe something we want to look into

and I can address that if you like. Yes, please. Um there's been a a good amount of effort by Jessica and the staff in the finance department to try to move that concept that was introduced last budget cycle forward. Um everything's always sounds easy and then implementing it has some some IRS and some other issues to it. That being said, I believe we made some headway. Our benefits consultant currently has it. I think we're nearing the stretch. And so the idea would we would introduce a final product in the budget process and hopefully have it in place for our next uh open enrollment opportunity next January. Thank you, Mr. Manager. But council member Wright,

yes, I do have one last question. Is there anything and I don't know if it's appropriate to talk about it here or wait until we come up with an agenda to have further conversation but since we already have established that we are behind um and even in waiting to get the compensation p um plan done we actually fall further behind. Is there anything that can be done? Um, and I guess I don't want to use the cola. I don't want it to use that, but is there anything that can be done to put our employees in a better, more competitive position? Um, not necessarily cola, but something along those lines. If we were to do use cola, increasing the um percentage to bring them. So we don't fall further behind because by the time we get through a compensation study, see where we are, we it's a possibility we're going to fall further behind than what we are. So is there any and it may not be best to discuss it here. I'm not sure, but I I just want to know is there anything that we can do to kind of bridge the gap from where we are with the other localities?

It's a loaded question. Um uh essentially uh to to give it a proper response, we would just need to spend the time understand what the budgetary impacts are and ensure that whatever recommendation uh was thought through that it uh has an an equitable fashion across the entire uh city. And so um it' be something that we need to spend some time on and come back. And uh to that point, I think we need to wait for this study because what can happen, I know the last time we did an extensive compensation and classification study. The worst thing we could do is increase compensation to a particular level. Then after when the study comes back, it doesn't warrant that and you got to take it away from them. I mean, I know what we did uh when we did have the other uh rather extensive compensation and classification that in since we're doing it citywide, I mean, you know, for all our staff, we'd have to look at every position. And some of those positions actually came in under what the employees were already being paid. Now, we didn't reduce anybody's pay, but it remained stagnant until it got to that point where it went up there. So, I think it's um could be opening Pandora's box a little bit. Uh, and with that being said, the last uh, last time we did a study, we did, not only did we just implement the study, but I remember 911 operators in particular, we were we were woefully short in recruiting 911 operators. And we went through the study and we were sitting in a room and I think my question was, what is it? The money wasn't a huge number. And I just said, what's what's it going to take for us to be number one? in Hampton Roads. What's it going to take? And that's what we implemented. You know, we set something over and above that. So, and it didn't take long before we attracted 911 operators. Some of them had been here, left Suffach,

gone to Alaw White in particular, I think came back to SuffK. We did the same thing with the with our [clears throat] employees that were compensated at the very bottom of our pay scale. We had employees that were making less than $15 an hour at a time. And rather than to go strictly because we'll have the latitude to do some of these things, we increased the bottom level to a minimum of $15 an hour to try to have some type of livable wage. And so we we made some allowances then at that same time, but I think it's it's it's dangerous to do before we get the information back because if it doesn't align with what we've done, we're going to have an issue. So that's my thought. Okay. If there aren't any other comments, thank you very much for your presentation and we will move forward. Find out where we are. Okay, that is our last staff report. We do have a motion for this evening, which would be to schedule a city council work session for Wednesday, December 17th, 2025 at 4 p.m. unless canceled by the mayor and the interim city manager. And a motion would be in order. Council member Williams,

move for approval. A motion from approval from council member Williams. Council member Butler Barlo. Second. Second from Council Member Butler Barlo. Is there any discussion of the motion? Hearing none. Council members prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madame clerk, please record the vote.

Motion is approved by vote of 8 to zero. We now move to non-aggenda speakers. Madam clerk, do we have any non-aggenda speakers? And if so, please explain the guidelines.

Yes, we do have non-aggenda speakers this evening. Each person registered to participate under the item of business entitled non-aggenda speakers shall limit their remarks to the services, policies, and affairs of city government and shall be permitted five minutes for presenting for the purpose of presenting their matter. Speakers appearing before city council will not be permitted to participate in the following activities. To campaign for public office, engage in personal attacks, promote private business ventures, or use profanity. speakers who violate these rules will be declared out of order by the presiding officer and will immediately yield the floor and be seated. Our first speaker is Wendell Waller, 2019 me Parkway representing the Western Tidewater Free Clinic uh uh wishing to uh thank the city for its contributions to their agency. Good evening, mayor and vice mayor, uh members of city council, city manager, and Mr. Hutchkins and staff. I need not introduce myself. I think you all know who I am, but I come before you uh this evening as the board chair of the Western Tidewater uh free clinic. On behalf of our board and patients, we want to thank you for your support. Your support will help us continue to serve the very high-risk patients who stand in need of us and keeping them out of the emergency departments unnecessarily. In fiscal year 2425, we served 1,72 city residents through 900 9,462 visits and 626 dental patients for a total of 2,38 visits. To date, we have helped over

8,200 unduplicated patients with more than 234,000 visits, providing over 326,000 free medications. And the value of those medications is more than 64.4 million. That's free medication. Let me share with you briefly Tony's story and the name has been changed to protect his privacy. Tony became a patient at the Western Tidewater Free Clinic seeking comprehensive care. He benefited from both our medical and dental services, recently receiving full dentures that transformed his smile and his confidence. Tony now speaks highly of the clinic, praising the incredible dedication of the nurses and expressing his appreciation for the support he receives. Recognizing his complex health needs, the clinic referred him to a network of specialists including an endocrinology, cardiology, gastroenterology, dermatology, and vascular care. The clinic also provided crucial medications to combat his low iron and vitamin D deficiency. Additionally, he received attention from a volunteer nurse practitioner to address skin lesions and heel spurs and consulted a volunteer opthalmologist for his persistent dry eyes and chronic migraines. His journey was further complicated by a rare genetic disorder

that was characterized by tumors in the endocrine glands. Reflecting on the profound impact that the clinic had on his life, he stated the following, and I quote, "If I wasn't able to be seen at the clinic, I don't know where I would be right now. Without the medications I need, I may not be here. When I called the clinic, I knew they are going to do everything in their power to get me the help that I need, and I could not be more grateful. End quote. Tony's story is a testament to the essential role that the clinic plays in providing lifesaving care and support for those in need. And I want you to know that your financial backing to our clinic enables us to serve those in dire need within our 2,200 square mile service area. And I want you to know that we deeply appreciate your ongoing support and commitment to the mission of our clinic. It is because of your support that helps us to create a home for patients, increase health care accessibility for everyone in our community and to promote better health outcomes. So once again, I do want to just thank you for your investment in the clinic and we invite you whenever you have an opportunity to stop by and tour our facility. I think you will be well pleased and well impressed with how we are doing business at the free clinic and you will be able to see firsthand how your investment is making an impact. Again, I thank you.

I'll be willing to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you, Mr. Weller. Thank you. Our final speaker this evening leaving.

Excuse me. Our final speaking speaker this evening is Will Webb 810 Dunville Avenue representing self-regarding parks and green space. Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, and members of council. I'm here tonight because Suffach is at a critical moment. A moment where the decisions we make today will determine whether our children, our grandchildren, and the generations still to come inherit a city with the parks, green space, and outdoor opportunities that every growing city deserves. Suffach is the largest city in the Commonwealth by land mass. Yet, despite all that land, we lag far behind our neighboring localities in total park acreage and available green space. Today, Suffach has roughly 1,400 acres of parks, and nearly 1,200 of those acres sit in a single location, Lonear Lakes Park. It is a wonderful resource, but it's not enough. That leaves only 200 acres of parks for the remaining 428 square miles of SUFFK. For comparison, Ches currently has 3,500 acres of parks, Virginia Beach over 7,000 acres, and Newport News over 8,000 acres. Meanwhile, the reality is clear around us. Land prices are not going down and large parcels are rapidly disappearing. Every year we wait, parcels are developed, subdivided, or priced beyond reach. Once that land is gone, it is gone forever. That is why we must act now. While there is still land left to purchase, and while we can still shape the future character of this city, a practical and strategic starting point is already in front of us. The VOTE parcel currently under consideration for resoning. Acquiring this parcel would not only provide immediate green space, but would also serve as a foundation for future needed additions. Let's also remember the city and the EDA has donated over $5 million in land and improvements for VOTE to relocate to Northgate. Our interim city manager is keen on

creating a riverwalk for downtown Suffach. And this would create purchasing the VOTE site an anchor, a destination for a project that would otherwise just be a boardwalk behind Walmart blows and the old big lots. The city is in need of a larger centralized event space for hosting civic gatherings, high school graduations, and more. While I enjoy sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at the SuffK State of the City with you and 500 other guests, I'm not sure how much longer we'll fit in the conference center. Wouldn't it be nice to hopeo host this captivating event in a nice new sports flex and event space co-located with athletic fields, Suffach Public Schools, newly renovated administrative building, additional water access on the Nansman River, and other muchneeded amenities, all at the repurposed VOTE site. That is all possible. We just need the courage and conviction to make that strategic investment. From there, the city should proactively identify additional parcels, especially larger tracks and strategic locations, and pursue them before development pressures close those doors. We should also put all available tools to work. The Economic Development Authority is already empowered to acquire land. It can and should use be used to help the city secure key parcels while they are still somewhat affordable. The EDA can purchase property, hold it for future public use, and assist in establishing the necessary infrastructure through conduit funding and related mechanisms. The tools exist for exactly this type of forward-looking investment. The council knows as well as anyone, SUFFK is growing, and it's growing fast. New homes, new businesses, new residents, all wonderful signs of progress. But with that growth comes a responsibility. A city expanding at suffix pace cannot afford to treat green space as an afterthought. If we wait until every parcel is spoken for, our children will pay the price. And

speaking of children, many of you up here have kids or grandkids, nieces or nephews that call Suffach home. You know firsthand how important it is for young people to have places to explore, play, breathe, and just be outdoors. Parks are not simply amenities. their investments in public health, quality of life, environmental resilience, and long-term economic value. When generation when future generations look back, they will either thank this council for its vision or wonder why SUFFK with all its land and all its potential didn't protect enough of it for them. Tonight, I'm asking you to choose the path of vision to invest now so that our residents today and tomorrow have the green space they deserve to purch to pursue a purchase of the VOTE parcel. to proactively secure additional lands where possible, to direct the city and the EDA to act quickly and strategically in those acquisitions, and to recognize that public land access tomorrow requires both uh requires bold public investment today and not just one or two parcels or projects, but a portfolio of land that will allow the city to better get ahead of future growth and development. We know it's coming and the responsibility falls to this body to make the needed strategic investments to ensure a brighter future for Suffach. In closing, Suffach is a great city, but it will be an even greater one if we ensure that its natural spaces remain open, accessible, and preserved for generations to come. Thank you for your time and for your commitment to the future of this community.

That concludes the speakers, Mayor. Okay. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, [clears throat] we're now moved to new business. Madam Clerk, do we have any additions to tonight's agenda? We do have two items for this evening's uh addition to the agenda. Under new business, um, a motion to nominate and appoint the following individuals to the respective bodies. The downtown advisory committee, this would be an atlarge appointment. The nominee is Susan Blair. And the fine arts commission, the nominee is Linda Bunch. Council, a motion would be in order. Council member Bennett, move for approval. A motion for approval. Council member Bennett. Council member Williams.

Second from Council Member Williams. Is there any discussion to the motion? Hearing none. Council members, prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madam clerk, please record the vote. The motion is approved by vote of 8 to zero. Uh is there any new business items for consideration that require the action of city council? Hearing none, we'll move to announcements and comments. And at this time, I'll ask if communications department has any announcements.

Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, city council, city manager. I'll start the announcements off with a reminder that the city of Suffach will observe the upcoming Christmas holiday. City offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 24th at noon and will reopen on Monday, December 29th at 8:30 a.m. Trash and recycling collection will operate on a one-day delay and Suffach Transit will not operate on Christmas Day. In exciting news from the IT department, interim city manager Kevin Hughes has appointed Rob Salic as the new director of IT. In this leadership position, SIC will oversee the city of SUFFK information technology department, directing the enterprise technology strategy, operations, cyber security, infrastructure modernization, customer service delivery, and long-term planning. Rob brings extensive experience in enterprise information technology having served as interim director, assistant director and network manager for the city of SUFFK. Prior to the city of Suffach, Sailic worked in the technical roles in the private sector and served in the United States Army where he supervised and maintained communications and network systems and information systems. Sick holds a bachelor's of computer information sciences and network security from ECPI University. Rob is here with us this evening and congratulations on your appointment. The economic development team has celebrated a couple of ribbon cutings last month. On Friday, November 21st, Reed's Place celebrated the opening of a new affordable housing community named in honor of Dr. Margaret Reid, Suffach's first black female physician. Dr. Reid serves the community throughout the Wellbaby Clinic, leaving a lasting impact on countless families. This new community represents new beginnings and continues her legacy of service. And Chipotle Mexican Grill officially opened on November 24th at their Godwin Boulevard location. This highly anticipated restaurant brings Chipotle's signature fresh customizable options to

our growing community and features convenient and convenient Chipotle Lane drive-thru for mobile pickup orders. For more information, visit chipotle.com. Also on November 24th, the city of Suffach in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health and the American Red Cross conducted a large-scale multi- agency emergency preparedness training exercise. The simulation focused on activating and operating an emergency shelter in response to a major natural disaster, giving agencies realistic training in providing care, support, and essential services. It also allowed emergency personnel to test communication systems, resource allocation, and inter agency collaboration in a controlled environment. This exercise underscores the city's ongoing commitment to emergency preparedness and community safety. Thank you to all all agencies who helped make this training a success. On November 20th, the Suffach Police Department held a badge pinning ceremony to welcome 13 new officers to the city. This tradition marks not only at the beginning of an officer's service, but also their commitment to upholding the values and responsibilities of the Suffach badge. We are grateful for their willingness to serve and look forward to the positive impact they will have on the community. Congratulations to Chief Buoie and all of the new officers. Suffach Public Works is pleased to announce that all travel lanes are now open along the Route 58 Holland Road Corridor improvement project. The 3.1 mile widening adds one new eastbound and one new westbound lane, extending from the route 581332 bypass to just under a mile west of Manning Bridge Road. These improvements will increase capacity and help traffic flow more efficiently. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit remains at 35 miles per hour and speed enforcement cameras will continue to operate until the project is completely fully completed. The project is anticipated to

be completed in early 2026. For more information, visit sufficva. uscip and the holiday season is in full swing and SUFFK parks and recck would like to remind residents of upcoming festivities. The festival of lights is now open at Sleepy Hole Park and admission is free. For a full listing of hours and updates, visit suffach parksandrec.com. And if the lights don't get you into the holiday spirit, the annual holiday parade sure will. Next Saturday, December 13th, at 7 p.m., downtown Suffach will transform into Toyland, bringing floats, equestrian units, marching bands, and festive lights down West Washington and Main Street. The grandstand will be located in front of the former Sunrust building. For more information, visit suffach parksandrec.com. And breaking news. We are excited to share the results of this year's National Night Out campaign. After months of hard work, community support, and a wonderful night of events, the official rankings have been released. Let's check out this video to see how Suffach placed and join in on celebrating this incredible achievement. [music] HEAT. HEAT. [music]

[music] [music]

Congratulations to all of our public safety officials and to our 27 community locations that held events this year on this welldeserved achievement of seventh place in our population category. And finally on your screen there are the many ways residents and businesses can stay connected to the city of Suffach. Thank you and have a great evening. Thank you Miss Moore. Uh we'll now move to announcements by council. Council member Butler Barlo.

Got you. Gotcha. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just want to thank uh everybody the uh we had a school board a joint school board city council meeting during our work session. Thanks to everybody for their comments and we know that we have a lot to work on, a lot to think about, but it was good to have a productive discussion. Um, looking forward to meeting with the A advisory committee tomorrow evening and um, I know that everybody is busy filling up their calendars with December events and I wish everybody good luck in doing as many fun things as you possibly can and I will see you again in two weeks. Council member Bennett.

Thank you. I'll be brief too. Uh, first I would like to say uh, to the Lawrence family, Mr. Tommy Lawrence uh passed away in the funeral this past Saturday was 106 years old. So he lived a long good life and he worked uh at our church for many many years as the section there and um he was a great man of honor and I had a great city. So he will definitely be missed. So just want to send my condolence out to Mr. Law's family. Also, uh I received a text message about the app on railroad crossing. Mr. Manager, do we have something like that now where you can put on the app with trains and all that?

Uh there is a group uh by a former Norfolk Council member Andrea Mlen. I believe it's called Oculus and we are a pilot testing location. I believe there's seven or so sites in Suffach, some in Portsouth and some in Norfol. And so we're working we have a meeting I believe in a week or so uh to see what the future of that holds outside of the the pilot. So uh to be continued.

That's a great tool. I think uh as many trains as we have crossing in the city and um I got this one from uh Wonderland Forest right where they have the side tracks and they only have one way in and one way out. So that would be a great tool that they could use to know exactly when the movements are. So, I'd appreciate staying on that and trying to do what we can to uh help them as well. Also, uh we had a great meeting with the school board this afternoon and I think it's great discussion. We have a lot to look forward to trying to u find money to do and um I think we had a very good discussion and I just want to say congratulation to I see where in the $500,000 that we got for the shelter. I don't know who wrote the grant but that's a great uh thing that we have there with that and the need is great here in Suff the homeless people. So [clears throat] want to say congratulations to whoever wrote the grant to get that money. I think that's a great help there with u trying to get that and we will be finishing that up by early third part of the year. I hope right now the plan is to be open by mid January. Uh we're hopeful that we'll have a briefing for you at your next uh council meeting uh to share more details.

Okay. because the weather began to change and they're talking about a little snow this weekend. So, uh, we got a lot of homeless people out there we need to try to start looking at. With that, I say good night, Council Member Johnson. I'm

I'm going to try this because I feel like I need to, but bear with me. Congratulations, Rob Sal. We're happy to have you on board with the city. [clears throat] National Night Out. Seven is pretty good. That's That's good. Next year will be five, but that was pretty good. Um [clears throat and cough] u visited the homeless shelter with with another council member, Shelley Barlo, and it's amazing. I mean, I'm I'm so thrilled that we have got this well underway. I'm sorry it's not open now because these cold nights I think about them, but um I think we're we're moving in the right direction. We've got other local looking at us for the way we're doing it. So, I think we're heading in a good good path on that. And one more thing, and I have to say this because of who I am and what I represent, but Mr. Webb, your comments are recognized. There are those of us that realize we don't have enough parks. We don't even have a clear enough parks. I turned 70 the other day and my two-year-old grandbaby came home from Richmond and said, "Grandpa, I'm taking you to the zoo." And they'd arranged a back back, you don't need to know this, but I [clears throat] thought it was cool. at the zoo, the Norfolk Zoo. And I tell you what I was so impressed about with the Norfolk Zoo. Huge piece of property, wide open spaces, but the park in front of the zoo, the trees were this big. They'd been there forever. And that's all she could do is go up to the trees and put her arms around them and talk about how amazing it was. That's what a park is about. And we can't have enough of them. So I I don't I agree with you, Mr. Web. Sometimes we have to step outside the bounds to do things that we know are right for the world. And Suffach is such a beautiful city. We've got so many opportunities. Let's look like Europe. Let's look like these areas that don't let their trees die. Don't let the towns get eat up with construction. Let's let's have a different kind of city. So, I agree with you. Sorry, but I needed to

say that. And with that, I'll say good night. Okay. Council member Wright.

Okay. Good evening. Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Um, we've covered a lot of topics during our work session and here tonight. And even though we have challenges, we still have so much to be grateful and thankful for. So, I hope everyone had an opportunity to reflect on the things that we do have to be grateful and thankful for. To the constituents of Sleepy Ho Burrow, I want to say that I am making my rounds and making phone calls to start scheduling my 2026 HOA visits. So, you'll be seeing me soon. I look forward to um working with you all. I want to thank um or welcome the 13 new officers um to the force. We need them. Uh we greatly appreciate all the work that our first responders do, our police officers and our firefighters. Um I want to also welcome Mr. or congratulate Mr. Rob Slic um for your uh promotion to your position. Welcome. And the last thing that I'll say is I am grateful and thankful for the members of this board. We have our differences at times. We don't always see eye to eye, but what is important is I think that everyone has the right heart and the right intentions to do what is right for the city. Sometimes that requires difficult conversations, but I'm grateful and thankful that none of the decisions we make here are based off of anyone opinion, but by the collective vote of all of the people. and I'm just grateful and thankful to work with a good group of people. And the last thing that I will say is I am grateful and thankful for the staff because they put up with a lot. With

that, I'll say good night. Council member Richtor.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I'll be brief. Um Chief, congratulations on the badge pinninging of 13 new officers. That was an impressive um impressive ceremony, and we're glad to see it. uh for everybody that attended the grand illumination that we held at the festival new festival park. Um I think that was an exceptionally well attended event. Seemed to go off very well. Uh Rob, welcome aboard. Um congratulations to you. We look forward to working with you and just want to remind everybody that the parade is coming up Saturday night. Um if it's uh bundle up. I think it's going to be a little chilly out there, but um everybody come have a good time and be safe and and go home. And then Jennifer, congratulations on the National Night Out. Um seventh place. That's for our category considering where we are relative to the size of the category. I think that's that's hugely impressive and uh is a great testimony to the commitment that you and your staff and the rest of the city make to make sure that that event uh is a great event. And um I guess with that I'll say good night, Council Member Williams.

Thank you, Mayor. Um I wanted to I want to

Oh, I know what was going on. [laughter] U just want to um just expound on what um the other council members had said as it relates to the um joint meeting tonight. It was a good meeting. very informative. Um, and I think collectively we can work to um, continue to um, work on this school board's concerns as well as um, watch our city grow in the right direction. I want to thank uh, Miss Brandy Johnson with the neighborhood development services for being responsive whenever I have called with some any um, citizens concerned. and I just want to thank um her and the department and I just want to mention that I attended the friends of Porsmith Juvenile Court Gayla last night. Um so on a Tuesday night but um I just wanted to reach out to that staff and that committee and just let them know it was a first class event. And with that I'd like to say good night. Vice Mayor Ward you here.

Yes. Uh

yeah, gotcha. Well, um I really appreciate Councilwoman Ebony writes what she said about that uh all of us different different opinions feel different about different things but the most important thing you got to respect people how they feel about things that concerns them. I thank thank you for saying that and just hope that you really mean that because all of us are different you know all of us been through life and different ways and other things a lot of things don't mean that much but a lot of other things do different people and when I speak I like to speak about what I feel not what you feel but what I feel thank you so much um I want to share this with you Because every time I go to this event, it just amazed me that we have somebody like that in our community. I never forget when I I'm going to tell this story if you all just wait. Listen. I never forget when I uh found out about what this man was doing and I asked somebody, "You got to let me know." I got introduced to this guy because certain like that certain things walk but being who you are uh prove you got to prove to me not what you say but what you do and I want to thank this because I I I use the word I use God and some of my talk and and I believe but I want to thank Councilman Leotis Williams.

I met him like maybe 15 years or so ago, but like I said, I wanted somebody to touch introduce it to him and he did. Ever since then, we got closer and closer. But I want the city to realize this. We have somebody in this city that started I think he said maybe 175 turkeys or whatever. I'm wrong. He'll correct me later. To see what he put together over the years, maybe 13 or 14 years, is amazing. This ain't no corporation. Is a corporation, but you know, big corporation, you know, Amazon or big corporation. It's it's one it's one man. One man. And I and I said and I listened to the people speak the other day. And I told him I ain't want to speak. And so I didn't want to speak cuz every time I see him do something such as that, I never forget if y'all don't forget when they had coage and I was thinking how he going to pull this off. I'm saying what are you going to do? How he going to get them turkeys? He said I'm going to get it done and he did. And I when the other day and like I said every time I come I just like when I can't come I was giving doing something hurricane victim. But what I'm saying is that he's different because we can he he can be touched. It's not no president of doing something that we don't know who he is. But he is a community person. And for him to give out that many turkeys and over the years it pressed me. Every time I come, I'll be so proud that I know this guy and this guy is reachable. So I don't know what lies in the future for him. But I want suffer to really and truly realize that we have somebody special. And I told him that and he

[clears throat] don't mind me. I I told him, you know what I'm saying. I said, you know, Leotis, when the idea came to you, you was obedient to God. And God took you, the plain person, and put this together because you was obedient. you believe that you can do this because a lot of time people do things and don't believe but I want to let you know man I appreciate you to the utmost of what you have doing with that turkey giveaway and other people they have commercials somebody having turkey wave but I said they ain't got you got Leis Williams they might give it but they don't have you and I really appreciate you man I want you to know that cuz I try to tell people all over come here and every time I See them lines get longer and longer. Thank you, man. I really appreciate that. Okay. Okay. Uh I want to thank the city cuz I brag a lot about the city and that's why I try to get behind things that they say they need and all that type of stuff. Uh we had a Pewville meeting. I'm so proud of the city cuz they did a great job. Kevin, thank you for bringing the the team there. uh we we answer a whole lot of questions. I think even when we was leaving some people that uh was there said they want to go forward. Don't worry about what happened backwards. They want to go forward. And I thank y'all for coming. You and Gary and Parks and Wreck and police people. We thank you all for coming. Y'all really made my evening. And I had a personal uh situation my family, but I still came because I wanted to wanted to see that. I really appreciate that. Um the free clinic, man, that's another mouth. That free clinic is great cuz I I have witnessed that myself and I think that, you know,

they doing a great job. Thank Mr. W for coming. But I I really they have my vote at all times because that's something that we have again that people come from all over to that free clinic. And um police chief buoy I seen something on TV today and uh I want to ask you cuz I want to know are you up on it? Is that Virginia Beach got a got something that for translate different nationalities? You aware of that? I'm not aware that they do it or they doing it now? They got like a little badge up here that will transform you know you got different people speak different languages. Yes sir.

Are you aware of that? I am aware of that and it's been a discussion we've been having for the past two weeks about should we compensate bilingual police officers who speak different languages. Well, you get that you get that uh that you know what they talking about they'll do it for you. Yes. Yeah. So, I just want you I just want you to know if when you come up there I'm with you. when you we need it cuz when you know it now we have a lot of different nationalities here more than years ago and I I learned that from the voting they call them others but we got a lot of a lot of different uh we've been talking about that for the past two weeks so it's funny that you bring it up

no it ain't funny how our way of doing things I seen on TV and I thought about that and I hope that uh we we we put that in on your budget of what we got to do to get it okay all right So, with that, I'm going to say God bless.

All right, I'll go ahead and wrap it up. Um, I think I'm being brief. Um, I also want to recognize the passing of Tommy Lawrence. I had the pleasure of actually attending that 106th birthday, which is pretty amazing just to be in the presence of someone who's actually 106 years old. And not not long thereafter, and I'm terrible on names, but I I went to 103rd birthday. And I swear that guy was in better shape than I was. I mean, he got up, he was walking around the room, and but [snorts] you know, we to actually see someone and be able to talk to someone at 106. So, just imagine what that individual experienced, what they saw, they'll never know about. You know, it's even hard to look back 20 or 30 years and think about what has changed in the last 30 years, but to think what's changed in a century and lived it, it's almost like a TV show. So, uh, my condolences to the to the family. U Mr. Salic, congratulations. You're elevation to department head. You're joining an exceptional team. So, I'm sure you'll pick up the baton, as they say, and carry on. National Night Out. I mean, that's awesome. I mean, last year was the first year that um we're in the 100 grand 100 to 300,000 population. We came in 10th, which pretty good. Now we're seventh. That's outstanding. Uh and it doesn't happen I mean, you talk about a team effort. That is a team effort. It's not just about media. It's not just about the city. It's not just about our citizens. It's not just about our businesses. It's not about our civic leagues. It's not about our homeowners association. It's about everybody coming together, especially with our first responders, with our police department, with our fire department, you know, and that has been a it's just an example of

once again what makes this city great. It ain't the land, it ain't the assets, it ain't the growth, it's the people. So, congratulations and thank you to everybody that was involved there. Next year, we'll shoot for what do you think? six, seven, five, four. We'll see. We'll see what happens, but we will do our best. Um, couple things going on. I already mentioned I did go to YMCA impact social event that they had and um, they presented, you know, some of the initiatives that they are involved in during the year and how they've contributed to our community, to our city, and I want to thank them for their efforts and everything they do. The badge pinning is always one of my my favorites. 13 new officers and I might say, you know, really engaged officers. You not that we've had any bad ones, but when I speak, I like to watch people their body language and what have you, you know, whether they're listening or not listening, whether they're agreeing with what you're saying, you know, because you can tell. And most of those officers, like when the chief was speaking, not so much when I was speaking, they were kind of looking at, but but when the chief was speaking, they were glued in. They had eye contact and most of them the heads were bobbing up and down. That means they're buying into what he was saying and they meant it because that's an involuntary reflex. So, I think we got a great group of people and I think we're poised to retain those individuals. Also, uh Reed's place uh ribbon cutting. I mean, if we could pop up about 10, 15, 20 more uh developments just like it. I mean, it was awesome. It's in a great spot. Uh they are attainable housing, uh workforce type housing, but very well done, and we should continue to find

avenues to promote and incentivize that type of development as we move forward. Uh the festival park was a great venue for the grand illumination. Uh it was a little dark in there, but maybe it's my sight. But I mean it was it was a great venue. A lot of people there. Everybody had a good time. Plenty of police presence. I know everybody felt safe. Uh Leotus, I could talk about your turkey giveaway, but can't quite follow up with the vice mayor, but I haven't been I think it was 23, right? 20 23rd. I've been to about 15 or 16 of them. and uh used to get in back of the truck and help hand out those frozen turkeys. We don't do that anymore. Uh that is a job. And the first time I showed up to do that, that was supposed to be what I was doing, helping to hand out turkeys. And I didn't bring any gloves. Does anybody know what it's like to try to hand out frozen turkeys without gloves? Believe me, you're better off forgetting your pants than you are your gloves. I never made that mistake again. Uh but thank you for everything that you do and the the citizens that you have served, you know, over the years. Uh Chipotle, another addition to this end of town. I've been preaching it for years. Like as I listen to the criticism, how come we don't get anything? North Suffach gets everything. We put everything in North Suffach and it's just kind of like wait and it will come. You know, when you have the rooftops, when you have the individuals to patronize these businesses, they will come. and we're seeing it. And when we really saw it was when Publix came. That told a huge story. That investment in that type of of grocery, which is an upscale grocery. They do not make those investments without a ton of marketing research, who we got coming, what the demographics are, what they perceive. I did talk to a regional

manager at Chipotle, which really made me feel good. Um he was from I want to say place someplace in Carolina but his his region is the whole east coast almost and we were just talking and he said and he started talking about how nice everything looked talking about the route 10 corridor. He said I've never been anywhere and done a ribbon cutting with just everything looks so good. it's nice and uniform and you got all you know the um the landscaping you know the sidewalks just everything looks so great and I said well it's you know part of what we've been doing and when you look back it really did look pretty good but I like it when people are here from out of town out of state that travel across the country or up and down the east coast and they comment uh positively on what we have going on in Suffach but once again they had to do their homework Mark. So, with that, I'll go to my quote of the night. It's a little long. I actually took it out of the newspaper. Uh, it's a piece of an article, just a couple paragraphs of an article that, uh, was written by Bla1 Coup. She's actually the archbishop, archbishop of Chicago. And it was um related to Thanksgiving, but I thought it was particularly appropriate. And I'm going to skip over all of it, but part of it is it talked about in 1863, halfway through the Civil War, his brother fought brother American battlefields, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving. Notably, he did not frame this observance as a chest thumping declaration of military victory or as a decree of national greatness. Instead, he called upon Americans to find unity in gratitude itself. He invited us to

recognize even as we tore ourselves apart that we remain the people blessed by quote fruitful fields and healthful skies. One can practically hear today's political media racing each other to cause such a message quote out of touch. But Lincoln understood that the practice of giving thanks could get bridge chasms that politics and war had torn open. He offered hope that acknowledging our common blessings might preserve the union when little else could. And I'll skip a couple sentences and close with the true character of America is found in our capacity as a pilgrim people to find reasons for hope and gratitude and to share those blessings with others. And with that, I will say good night and ask for a motion to adjourn. Councilman Williams. Move for approval. A motion for approval. Councilman Williams. Do we have a second? Everybody want to hang out? Council member Recctor

second. Second from Council Member Recctor. Any discussion in the motion? Hearing none, council members prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madame clerk, kindly record the vote.

Motion is approved by vote of 8 to zero. This meeting stands adjourned.