City Council - Regular Meeting

So after doing the whole

Good evening

welcome to all. It's great to be back again this year, 2026. We're certainly thankful to be here, thankful for what we have. This Picosen City Council meeting is called to order. And I would like to make note that we have an an amended agenda tonight. Uh the item G, the public hearing scheduled for tonight, has been cancelled for tonight and we will advertise for that public hearing to be held at the next council meeting on January 26. So, moving on to item B, the invocation and pledge of allegiance will be led tonight by Councilwoman Jeannie Hover. Gracious God, we gather for our first meeting of this new year. We give thanks for the opportunity to serve our community together. We ask for wisdom as we listen, clarity as we speak, and humility as we make decisions that affect the lives of our neighbors. May we be mindful that behind every policy, every report, and every plan are real people with real needs. As we begin 2026, help us lead with integrity to seek understanding and to act with courage when it's needed. May our work this evening honor both the responsibilities we all love. Amen. 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.

Thank you, Jeanie. Item C on our agenda is a proclamation in recognition of human trafficking awareness month and I will read that at this time. Proclamation reads as follows. Whereas the city of Picosen, Virginia is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all individuals who live in or visit us in our community. And whereas human trafficking is both a crime and a public health issue that exploits the most vulnerable, undermining the well-being of individuals, families, and communities across generations. And whereas more than two decades after the enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, human trafficking persists, including the use of force, fraud, or coercion to recruit, harbor, or transport individuals for purposes of labor or commercial sex. And whereas an estimated 27.6 6 million people are currently subjected to human trafficking worldwide with cases reported in every US state and territory. And whereas while anyone can be a victim of trafficking, certain populations such as those experiencing abuse, poverty, homelessness, discrimination, or social isolation are all at elevated risk. And whereas trafficking occurs both in person and online and in a variety of industries including domestic work, restaurants, construction, agriculture and manufacturing. Victims may be exploited

by strangers, employers, partners or even family members. And whereas prevention efforts must focus on building individual, community, and societal resilience by addressing root causes such as inequality, social disconnection, and economic vulnerability. And whereas combating h combating human trafficking requires a coordinated communitywide response involving law enforcement, service providers, government, and the public. And whereas survivors of trafficking bring critical insight and expertise in the city of Picosen is committed to partnering with them to inform and strengthen services and prevention programs. And whereas every individual, family, and organization can contribute to raising awareness, preventing exploitations, and supporting survivors by learning more at acf.hss.gov/otip and human traffickinghotline.org. And now therefore be it proclaimed that Picosen City Council declares the month of January 2026 as human trafficking prevention month reaffirming our commitment to increase awareness and education on human trafficking and make resources available to assist individuals and communities impacted by human trafficking and build diverse public private partnerships to support a more comprehensive response. to prevent and respond to human trafficking. In witness whereof, we have here unto set our hand and cause the seal of the

city of Picosen, Virginia to be affixed this 12th day of January, 2026. And this proclamation has been signed by all seven council members. And we have with us tonight Miss Anna Glider. And Anna, we have this copy of the proclamation to present to you. you could approach the docs, please. And thank you for being with us and thank you for your public service. Thank you so much.

Yes, ma'am. Item D on our agenda, special presentations. We have two of them tonight. Uh the first is from the York Picosen Department of Social Services and we're very pleased to have with us Miss Denise Hall and Miss Margaret Aerk. Uh they're great friends to the city of Kosen and provide tremendous service to the overall well-being of this community. So ladies, the floor is yours. Yes, ma'am. Please do. I'm gonna let you drive.

Good evening everyone. I want to uh say special thanks to Mayor Hu, the city manager, city attorney, and fellow uh council members for allowing us to come and give our presentation today. So, as we start off here, um we give a presentation every year. And since we started at the beginning of January, um there's not a typo or correction. I'm presenting numbers to you from 2024. However, in our presentation, we are going to also talk about many of the activities that we've done throughout this current year. I'm sorry. Was I not speaking? I guess I wasn't. Thank you. I got it. Okay. Well, for York Picosen Social Services, uh for those of you that are not familiar both online or in person, um we believe in our mission statement that our mission is to assist in the basic needs of our citizens and to promote self-sufficiency and protect vulnerable children and adults. That's at the heart of everything that we do for all the programs that we provide. I don't think you have a summary of impact on that. Okay. Oops. Back. Summary of impact for 2024. We had 16,616 unduplicated count of uh DSS, Department of Social Services clients. 1,329 combined APS, which is adult protective services, and CPS, which is child protective services reports. 4,934 requests for financial assistance. and 710 service intake program. Uh we also had 409 child care and employment services for 2024. This one some of our spending to go over for social services. You can see here the

total of our cost um administrative costs purchase services client benefits and then the total percentage by by source. So as you can see in the chart that we provide here today that we provide a lot of services to both communities and it is important to note that federal and state matches a lot of the funds that we disperse and giving people the assistance that they need. When you look at local costs that's breaking it down to talk about how much is contributed from the localities versus the total cost and reimbursement. And when you see NER, that's not eligible for reimbursement. That's what NER refers to. And that's again in every social services. There's certain things that were not eligible for reimbursement, but by and large, the majority of just about everything we provide is. To look at the pie chart, when you see the expenditures by category, again, you can see the administrative costs are very, very low. um purchase services and client benefits take up the bulk of what it is that we provide in York and Picosen. So it's a total of 6% of indirect cost of staff and operations versus 94% of direct costs and client benefits. So you can see that that's pretty considerable. Um and again just another chart showing you how it is that we are funded by source um both federal, state and local. When you talk about the Department of Social Services totals, the total amount including not eligible for reimbursement costs spent on social services in the locality for fiscal year 2024 was 109,877 um and 594.

When you talk about the total amount spent on social services contributed by the locality, including not eligible for reimbursement costs, um you can see that that amount is significantly lower. Now, to go on to one of our favorite subjects that Denise is here with me, we're going to tag team a little bit on this. We decided to not just be all administrative in numbers, but we really wanted to talk about what the heart of Department of Social Services does. And um I would like to introduce Denise Hall, who is our community outreach coordinator, who does an amazing job. And for those of you that don't know, and those that may be online, um she is actually housed out of Picosen um in the same building that the city of public works is. And she does a great job. She's a busy bee. She's always going everywhere. um no stone is left unturned and always looking to see ways that we can improve and provide additional resources in our community and meet the needs. So giving back to our community and making a difference, right? That's what we're all here to do and um to be a part of. The picture that you see here was actually from this year. Um uh we participate every year in the food bank uh giveaway and drive and our month is November. So we find it humbling and appropriate that it's around Thanksgiving. Um and we with a bunch of staff of volunteers we go and we help assemble and disperse out uh food. Uh city of Picosen has always warmed my heart. This will be my sixth year going into hard to believe um since I accepted the position of director of social services but the city of Picosen does an outstanding job in their food drive and making sure that people in the community get their food met. Both localities do, but Picosen stands out in my heart

because I have participated in food drives for aging myself a little over 35 years. And I have never seen food drives like this done here. There are people waiting. They're wrapped around the corner. There's something special for everybody. Nobody's left unturned. Um, and in addition to that, there's special packages for the seniors and the aging population. Um, and I encourage anybody that wants to volunteer to get involved. This year, um, obviously it was at Mees Church. Um, and every locality in the state of Virginia, not just ours, um, was experiencing significant shortages and receiving those foods. And yet, I am proud to say that as a volunteer that also worked that event this year, um, no one was left unturned. Everybody went away with a significant amount of food to bring back to their home. So then we had what kind of spurred off of that and at the same time um so if I can be completely transparent and talk about for social services we've had many many different cuts this year that have affected the clients both in the city of Bakosen as well as York County. Um and it was very challenging. A lot of that had to do with the SNAP benefits and their food distribution. Their amounts were cut. Um there was also um many of you may have saw in the news that um it was a uh scamming situation where people's benefits were being taken just as their cards were being uploaded to get food. It was it was a a very fast scramble. We also then went into a government shutdown. Um that also increased our need and cost. Um, so we shifted as an agency and understanding the need in addition to addressing and donating to the Peninsula Food Bank over $100,000,

we also shifted internally and said, "How can we make sure that no one is left without food?" So, it became a food drive both internally and externally. and we had two community partners that were absolutely stellar and stepped up to the plate to help us support that because all of the food pantries were exhausted. We were getting phone calls constantly saying, "We can't handle your clientele coming our way." Um, but I would like to give special recognition to Emus Church in the city of Picosen for the outstanding work that they do in uh staffing their food bank. Um, they were willing for us to come. We had totally collected over 10,000 pounds of canned goods and um non-p perishable food that we were able to disperse between St. Luke's and York County as well as EMAs in the city of Pakosen. And so the townal monetary funds raised were just shy of $5,000. And that $5,000 went into a special welfare account um that is managed by my department. and we have many different line budget items, but that was specifically for any needs that we couldn't meet in addition to the food drive, in addition to partnering with the partners. So, it was all hands on deck to say towards the end ofear we we we had roller skates on.

That's that's for certain. Um, but a lot of good came to a lot of people. A lot of people were able to get their needs met. Um, and we were really really excited to have that partnership this year. um and we look forward to it ongoing in the years ahead.

And our community partners also included um the city of Possen Public Works. We received canned goods from all around York County and our community. So we cannot do this without partnering with all of you and we thank the city of Picosen for what you did to contribute and help out. We had a box out in the library so anybody could donate canned goods and foods. I picked that up like three times. It was full. So we thank you for being a part of this uh great effort to make a difference in our community. It was wonderful.

Some of the other things that we're really um proud and want to just bring um acknowledgement um to the city of Picosen and all of the residents. So, something that started in York County um in 2025, we received the Niko uh the National Association for County um officials achievement awards and that was for a community project that we head started in there within a school system and it was in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club. Um it grew very quickly. Um the room that you're seeing there is an example of a room that was dedicated within the middle school. Um York Yorktown Middle School to be specific. And it was furnished. We were able to bring together projects and we had o we have now well over 20 uh kids that are involved in there. It's in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club. It gives them a healthy outlet. um especially today when you're talking about the most vulnerable age for teens, for vaping, for learning, you know, fighting against bullying and the cost was nothing for them and it ends up being something that they can actively get engaged in. What we saw as a result of this project is that it grew and grew and grew and it's our desire Denises and I because this was our baby that we started that we wanted to see this grow um and go into the high schools as well as the elementary schools. The first step was we started here and so we're proud to say that this year we're in partnership with the city of Picosen to be offering this program in the middle school there and so we'd like to see it exponentially grow equally in both areas regardless of size. Um, another thing that we were able to obtain because the kids got so heavily involved in this, they were so happy to have their own space and their freedom and then also be taught a skill set. It's not just a drugrevention

program. It's how to be a leader, how to be a mentor, how to eat healthy, how to make better choices. It's all about empowering the student and how they can give back. And as a result of that, they gave back to the community by going out and doing their own volunteerism into the communities. And so we have now secured a vehicle that is shared between both localities so that those kids can be out and mobile and participate in the different events they have. So, we're super excited about it. I hope anybody that's watching online, anybody you know that has families, children or of that age, please look for that to come because it's a really valuable asset.

And that funding came from the opioid abatement funds that were available. And so Margaret and I just kind of said this would be a great opportunity to kind of get this program up and going. And so we submitted a proposal to York County and was awarded over $45,000. And um again this year we sub submitted another proposal which was um which was approved and that's where that vehicle came from that the Boys and Girls Club has that's going to be able to take the youth out and do community involvement as well as go back and forth between the two locations like Margaret was saying. So we're just excited for this program. It is free. Um, so anybody can reach out to the Boys and Girls Club who have any middle school children who want to be a part. We are in the early stages of collaborating with the city of Picosen who just submitted the opioid abatement proposal. We're waiting for results for that so that we can get this up and going in middle school. So we are excited.

Yes. And we're excited because I think both localities can see the benefit that it offers to the children. We all know that children left unattended will find something to do and so we would rather have them participate in something that is beneficial um to them. But it's just a great great program and it really talks about building leaders of all kinds. Um and it doesn't have to be educationally addressed as much as it is personally addressed so that they make better choices for themselves. So, now we roll into, we talked about government shutdown, we talked about SNAP benefits, we talked about running into the food donations, and we've been working on uh the Chris Heron project for Picosen, which we're excited to see get lifted off the ground. Now rolls in Christmas. Um, we had more requests this year for our department than we have ever had in 5 years, looking back since I've been here. The request started as early as October one. Um, we may, if the need continues to be as great as it is next year, actually have to make some additional steps because both Denise and myself were in Walmart until the day before Christmas and delivering grace at at there. But we are proud to say that not one resident of either locality that came forth to include those at the last hour and I mean the last hour got turned away or didn't um receive gifts and assistance of sorts from us. So we're very proud of that. um our Christmas donations um used to purchase the items for family in needs and we also had 54 gift bags for the Bayside Picosen residents which I think that um some of you may like to know. We've uh built a great collaboration and again I give Denise credit but I also need to give credit um for those viewers that are online to know that your fellow city

council members as well as mayor as well as city manager has been a part of that. So, we've done different things to uh uh acknowledge the staff as well as the residents. We've done different treats, different foods, and you know, it goes back to the thing that when we want to ensure that our loved ones are cared for, it also includes acknowledging the staff and going in where they're at. And so, that's been a really positive collaboration that we've had with them. Um, also to acknowledge some of the other because this is specific for Piccosen tonight, I do want to acknowledge um other Picosen community support uh the Picosen Baptist Church, the parish thrift store, and obviously the city of Picosen residents. Um, but that was our um we did have the giving tree tags. Um, this year they were located at Yorktown Library. We look to rotate that back and forth between the different localities. So I anticipate that this year we will be choosing in Picosen. Obviously we try to switch it every year. Another really popular event that we had um uh Denise and myself we applied for it was a one-time state funding dollars and we were awarded it. um really no other localities or very few out of 120 I think it was three localities in total that were awarded the $12,500. And so the initiative was to get more father involved in and doing some outings specifically in recognizing with our children that may have that absent. And that doesn't necessarily mean biological father, right? That can be grandfather, that can be uncle, that can be other partners that we had. But this year we were able to assist with 44 fathers um with up to two children and that they were registered from either the city of Picosen in York County. And

I will say that despite the disparency in the actual total number of residents that live in each locality, Picosen was heavily represented and we were really happy to see that. It was a great day. They all went um you know to Busushch Gardens. We had a catered lunch for them. We had a presentation for the fathers. We had a giveaway bags. It was really it it was a great event to see all the children come together. It was so successful that this year, even though we don't have the grant from the state anymore, it was a one one time and done. Um Denise has done a great job of raising funds and getting people to donate for us so that we could do it again. So this year um a little bit of a smaller scale due to cost, right? We have three different events that we are going to be uh supporting for the fatherhood engagement and specifically this year we're looking for teenagers 13 to 17 um and then obviously with a guardian of any sort age 21. So they're going to be doing like a little paint and popcorn uh provided event and um we're just really excited to look forwarding it. The location here in Picosen is going to be

it is going to be it has just recently changed. So, I've got them. It's going to be at the Odd um community center. So, I'll update the flyer and we'll get that out for uh to put out in the media so that we can

But any questions that you have or anybody that would like to participate in the event, feel free to call um our office. So, that's 3787-757-890-3787. Please make sure that you sign up and register for the event. Um, we hope to serve as many people as we can. This is just another one of the events. I believe this was at Pos Bayside of Picosen. I was I thought so, but I needed my glasses. That was one of the events that we had participated in this year. Um, just to show that we're out in the community about and uh what it is that we're doing. Yes, I received an email um from Bayside Picosen saying, "Hey, we would love for you to participate in this program and I just opened up and shared with our councilmen and they were right on board for to come and and represent the city over at that event." And so I thank you for coming and supporting that. And this is just another example of um working with uh within the city of Picos and the community partners working together along with public works. And uh for those of you that may not know to give full acknowledgement to a lot of our elderly or those that are needing some additional assistance with their housing or items that need to be fixed. Um Kirkwood Church, um their volunteers do all of that on their own time. Um, most of the time, like I said, the items are donated, but they're they're quick to come in and lend a helping hand. So, we're just also just acknowledging them tonight as a thank you.

Yeah. In this particular situation, the family needed help. I was able to kind of coordinate with um Pakosen public works saying, "Hey, can we w if we bring the stuff, all the trees or stuff to the road, can you help us out?" And then I also reached out to York County um their waste management and said, "Hey, can you wave I have volunteers coming in to drop off these tree branches and waste. Can you wave any fees for us?" And they did. So it was a community collaborative with various different departments working together to help this family clear all this debris off that was causing city code violations and different things that we needed to help out with. Um, and then of course, who can forget if you're in the city of Picosen, you cannot. And in memory of Dave Callus, um, because he always did since the very minute I started here, the Picosen Seafood Festival would never go without being, uh, noticed or announced. And so, um, since we have been in this inception, we have been partnering with them and volunteering for that fabulous event that so many people look forward to. So, there's just a couple of snapshots from this year. This is our fourth year and we do the condiment tents. So, um, social services, um, we volunteer all day long on a Saturday and then we just make sure the condiments are refilled and then it's just an opportunity for us just to to get to know the community and the community know us. So, it's a great opportunity. Thankful for that.

It's much like the food drive in that it's really important. And what's what's humbling for me as a as a director of a department is these are all staff that are volunteering to do this because they want to actually make that connection with their clients and see them in the community. And I can see it's very reciprocal when you see the reaction when they recognize that this is somebody that's assisting them with other needs that they may have. So we look forward to that continued collaboration. And then lastly, if anybody has any questions and also should anyone ever need assistance, please make sure to call our main line if you do not know it. I'll repeat it again. It's 7578903787. And I thank you for allowing us to come to the presentation. Does anybody have any questions for Denise or myself?

Well, thank you so much for your time today. I appreciate it. Oh, I'm sorry. I don't I don't have a question. I was just going to say we do thank you for the Posen mobile food pantry at the all the food you get. Uh we had a lot to give out just last week. Um and then an extra 80 pounds or whatever it was that came from Denise was like a welcome gift that we were able to turn right around. So thank you for that.

No, you're absolutely welcome. And and to to your point for what you all do at that food pantry, um I I can give you some the reason I'm doing 2024 and I explained this to my administrative board when we had our last meeting is is that our totale total numbers don't come out for all of our programs. That's why we're always kind of reporting a year behind. But he was able to extract one particular program and I just got it in the last three days. And the last 30 days, our SNAP totals for issuance doubled. And on average, we spend as a dual locality $255,000 that we issue out. So to think that in the 30s day worth of time because of new applications and things being received and people meeting those eligibility requirements, that's incredulous. Um, so the need's there, but you know, we're continuing to fight the good fight and uh make sure everybody gets the assistance that they need. But thank you again for having us today. Do I need to do anything to this? Okay,

Margaret and Denise, thanks so much for being with us. Uh we certainly appreciate y'all doing the presentation and we enjoy having presentations such as y'alls that is interesting, insightful, and has some entertainment value as well. So definitely value added to our council meetings and thank you for being with us tonight. Okay. Thank Thank you, Mayor.

You're welcome. Moving on to our next presentation, which I'm sure will be consistent with the first. Uh, Victory Boulevard is something that council members and staff get quite a few questions on and we've had these two gentlemen here with us previously and want to thank both of them for being with us again tonight. Thanks so much for taking the time and and this presentation is from the Virginia Department of Transportation specifically uh Victory Boulevard traffic Improvements uh the projects update. Uh we have Mr. Rossy Carol uh who is the residency administrator and we have Mr. Joe Lewig who is the engineer overseeing this project. So gentlemen, thank you for being with us. The floor is yours.

Thank you all for having us. I'm going to actually turn it over to Joe first. He's going to go through the construction piece um and then I'll go through the projects that are in design uh future projects that will impact areas travel public.

Good. Thank you, Rosie. Um, good evening. Uh, thanks again for the invite. Always pleasure to come to City Picosen. But, uh, yeah, what like Rossy said, I'm Joe Lewig. I'm the district construction engineer for VOD and Hampton Roads. Uh, going to speak about, uh, we have quite a bit, uh, of work going on currently and we have some future projects in the, uh, Picos and York County area. So, uh, going to talk a little bit about that. Uh so we have the I have been here before uh for the W Creek project, but we have a an ongoing project on Victory Boulevard, one on Route 13 uh 134 over Route 17 bridge rehab, some upcoming paving work, and then Rossi will uh go over some of the upcoming projects. It's uh very difficult to see that that uh picture but uh in the uh community but uh there's about seven projects current three of three of which are active uh uh one that's going to be coming online this spring and then we have several uh at the end of the year and uh in 2027. But, uh, good news that they all won't be going on at the same time, though it might seem that way, but, uh, as as projects and other ones are are in the pipeline to, uh, come online. Um, uh, so the W Creek Road project uh, ongoing. I know we we started this project back in March of 24. uh project purpose uh to raise the existing bridge elevation for emergency evacuation route to and to widen Rift Creek Road to accommodate future traffic volumes. There's our uh website that we we keep

uh updated, but uh I won't spend too much time on the background with with Creek, but I do have some updates. Uh I'm sure as you know the the car's road car's Chapel Road closure was implemented uh on January 5th. Uh this is a long-term full closure of Car's Chapel Road at the intersection of W Creek Road. Uh we do have a sign detour in place. Uh and and that work is really for the uh the bridge tiein. If you could see in in in in the photo, uh in the middle there um right right here is the new bridge and really that bridge has to tie into Car's Chapel Road. Uh so in order to do that we we have a closure in in place and uh uh and we also have to widen this this this embankment here on Car's Chapel Road to make a like a a right turn lane onto the future uh with Creek. But uh we have that slated uh it's going to take a good part of the year just about most of the year for that closure to be in place. Uh lot a lot of work to do. Uh we actually if you can see just imagine this bridge it's going to the alignment's going to clip the exist the existing bridge. So we need to demolish a portion of the existing bridge in order to build a new bridge. But before we can do that we have there's some water mane work that needs to be done that that that and and and various utilities. So uh it's going to take good part of a year. So the uh Carriage Chapel Road uh closure is going to be in place for that. Uh so uh also uh just an update uh on on the Hampton side uh we've uh done some road uh lane

reductions on that side and and some of the turn lanes on Commander Shepard. uh that that work is uh uh has related to a some HRSD sewer main work uh for some relocation. That work is uh on schedule to be finished by the end of this month. So um that will uh allow those uh turn lane closures to be picked up and and put that back to how it previously was uh a couple months ago. But uh so that that's good news there. Um moving into the Victory um Boulevard project um on currently ongoing on uh route 171. So uh this project is uh to prove uh capacity, safety and traffic operations along the corridor by widening uh Victory Boulevard from 5 to six lanes between uh Route 17 and Hampton Highway Route 134. So, uh that's uh this section, but uh to the right, the yellow portion to the right. Really what we're doing is we're adding a third lane from uh Route 17 to 134, and then it meets up with the existing uh right turn lane onto uh Route 134. So uh that part it that that's one component of the project and the other main component of the project is uh um to the left is essentially uh in the other direction that that that lane that exiting the Walmart parking lot area. Uh we we just we widened that out and and made a a third lane there and that was

just opened uh last week late last week. So that that was a Good news there. So, uh uh and and as part of the project there, we are adding a second eastbound left turn lane onto Hampton Highway um at the uh the intersection. So, just I know it's uh it this this project's been uh it's a very tough court. I don't I don't need to tell anyone that, but uh it it's it's it's very challenging with the amount of traffic, the amount of traffic lights, but uh uh we we have had our uh traffic crews out there trying to uh synchronize the lights better and monitoring it. But uh the good news is uh on schedule to finish this spring. So that that project uh late uh looks looks like late April, early May that we should be done with that project. So um that'll be good. Um moving on just a little more. There's the uh the lane that was just open. That's an old picture. It is now open. Uh and that's the construction as I said ongoing where we're uh currently working on that 30 eastbound travel lane between George Washington Memorial Highway and Hampton Highway. Uh we and pavement stripe in to extend the right turn lane at Kilm Creek Parkway and that that's been done and one of the two uh left turn lanes onto George Washington Memorial Highway. one of the two. So these are traffic impacts. So um so uh next project

is the route 134 over Route 17 bridge rehab in York County. Uh this is uh so we're rehabilitating the existing bridge uh route 24 route 134 over Route 17. We're currently in the first phase of construction uh with we have an estimated completion date in late 2026. So, and our traffic impacts here is the long-term closure of northbound traffic from Route 134 onto southbound 17. So, we uh close this movement from uh uh 134 on to 17. And uh now so that that's now closed. So, but so traffic has to go up to 17, continues on 17 and we and and those you know we do have a detour. You really have to make a U-turn here or once you get familiar with it, you you essentially stay on 171 up to 17. So, but it's signed and in place. Uh currently, like I said, currently in the first phase. Uh it it's we we're replacing the existing bridge deck. Uh once that's done, that all of that remains the same that that the traffic impacts. We just flip-flop the the traffic over a median crossover. So that's going to be in place uh through the end of 2026. So um

and then upcoming this so we do have a some paving work happening on uh essentially route 134 Hampton Highway will be resurfacing this year. Uh we've just awarded a contract to Branskum. So, uh, essentially it it it goes from Victory Boulevard um to in the eastbound direct direction from Victory Boulevard to the Brick Kilm Creek Bridge which is the uh with the Hampton uh York County line and then in the westbound direction it's uh from Big Bethl Road to the abupment of uh Brick Kilm Creek Bridge. So, um, this will be some daytime work. Um, like I said, we got Brans, we have Branskum will be, uh, doing it, but we really going to work with them to make sure that we at least finish the route 171 project, uh, because there is a potential for some conflicts right at the intersection of 134 and and uh, Victory Boulevard. So, that that that work will be happening later this year. and I'm going to pass it off to Roxy Carol for uh some upcoming projects and we have in design.

Good evening. Um like Joe said, you know, we have a lot of construction um smart scale, most of those are smart scale projects, some maintenance projects for resurfacing um in the area and then also we have projects that are in design uh that have approved funding uh for out years. So, I'm going to kind of go over the projects that we're currently in design uh that we have uh allocated funding for. Uh the Route 17 widening project is in York County. Um it uh yeah, I did it right way. It increases vehicle capacity. Uh you know, we've done a few phases of 17 in York County, widening it from four lanes to six lanes. This just moves this all the way up to Dimby Boulevard from where they left off with phase two at Wolf Trap Road. Um that is um that is currently be being designed. Um you have seen some work out there currently with uh utility relocation ups towards the dim um way. Uh there's there's a lot of utility under Route 17. So we've tried to get two or three of them working at the same time. uh and relocating uh utilities. But um currently, you know, the it should increase capacity, reduce congestion, improve safety and reliability, and support the economic development along 17. Um plans include to widening in both directions from four to six lanes. um from Wolf Trap Road to just north of Dembi Boulevard. Uh intersection improvements at Route 17 and Dembi Boulevard and traffic signal updates. Uh estimated advertisement for construction is later this year. Uh late this year. Um we are we're really close, but like I said, uh we have to get all

the utilities relocated. uh get the rightways all the rightway is secured and then we will advertise for construction and hopefully get very good bids um for that project. Uh we also have Victory Boulevard capacity improvements uh in the design phase that that is right down the road here. Um and that is to increase capacity, reduce reduce congestion uh during the peak travel times and improve multimodal multimodal mobility for for Victory Boulevard um from west of Bowman's Terrace to Big Bethl. And what that does, it adds well, let me get into project improvements east and west left turn lanes at North and South U Bowman Terrace. Uh also new eastbound right uh turn lane at Big Bethl Road. Um and also new shoulders along both sides of Victory Boulevard and a 10 10-ft shared use path along the north side of Victory Boulevard. Um if you can see in the picture there, that's sort of the location um where the project will be. Um hold on, that is the wrong part. Let me hit the project. There we go. If you look at the picture to the right, you'll see uh the location where this project will be be at. This also is going to be included with a shared use path project that goes east of Big Bethl. Uh both of these projects are designed separately but are going to be advertised together. Um and like I said, advertisement for this is fall of 2027, which you will notice from Joe's presentation will be after the completion of W Creek. Um, so we've looked at that trying to get everything done, but at the same time making sure that both projects don't coincide or conflict with each other. Um, allowing

ways in I will say that this project um is a two-lane road with no shoulders currently. Uh there will be some detouring that'll have to be done to construct uh at least the 8 foot shoulder and then we can shift traffic. Um we are looking at the uh we're studying the traffic impacts um of detouring in both directions dependent dependent upon originally we said all right we're going to allow eastbound always and just detour westbound. Um we think there's less impacts if we do that reverse. Um but we will we will wait for our consultants and engineers to come back with the study and try to make a decision from that. I can't tell you how long it'll take. Um but with the construction constraints, you just can't do it under traffic. Um it the queueing would be horrible with flaggers um during daytime. It's it's just a it's a tough tough location with limited uh pavement, you know, to to try to get through there. But once you get the uh once you get the eight foot shoulders in, then you can shift traffic over have traffic while phase two is going on, which will be the shoulder on the other side, share use path, those type of things under traffic. Um we also have the Victory Boulevard shared youth path project. Um that's to improve multimmoal mobility along the corridor, improve pedestrian access, tab high school and the community athletic facilities. Uh plans include construction of one mile shared use path on the north side of Victory Boulevard from Big Bethl to Sinclair Lane. It'll be a 10-ft wide asphalt path. Will connect pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the Yorktown Road. Um this will advertise the same time as the other projects. So, we're bundling both

of these together um as one project being it's right there in the same corridor. Um proposed shared use path is within existing rightway and offset of the road. So, there shouldn't be too many um traffic impacts associated with this project because a lot a lot of the work can be done outside of the pavement area. Um, and then maintenance traffic, like I said, we're still developing. That's part of the design of what the maintenance of traffic will be for that. And if you look at this map, this kind of shows or depicts the areas. Um, the yellow will be the shared use path project and the uh orange um is the Victory Boulevard capacity improvements project. Um, both of these are in design. Like I said, looking at uh um fall of 2027 for advertisement day. And that concludes what we have under uh design and construction. So be happy to take any questions um or any comments you may have.

Yes. Thank you for coming. uh when you were here last either in August or September question came up and it's on one of the there it is slide number five at the bottom I asked the question because you had construction of a 5-ft sidewalk on the west side and an 8ft multi-use path on the east side of the roadway in Picosen. This is the W with Creek Road widening project. And I pointed out that currently uh up where businesses are the west side is a 8 foot wide and the east side is a 5 foot wide. Was that going across? And you kind of looked at each other and said, "I'll get back to you." And I'm back

last. Obviously, it makes a difference to where you put the sewers and roadway and stuff like that. Bullet on page five.

So, make sure I have this right. You're saying that the based on the this here that bullet you're saying is opposite. That's correct. Okay. I got and that could have been a typo on our side. And I wondered on that on that very last project you talked about which was the uh Victory Boulevard,

capacity enhancements and the enhancements was that um although it's painted in orange, Victory Boulevard shared use path is in yellow. Is that is there going to be shared use paths all the way down just for that mile to Sinclair? So there's not there's not going to be No, there will be shared use path. So there is a shared use path incorporated in the capacity improvements. Okay. Um and then then you have the additional mile, right, which is a separate funded project, but it's going to be advertised. Okay. Is that they all will connect right there at Tab Yorktown High? I mean, does that mix use path going to continue all walks with Greek road?

Any chance of it? No. No, it will not. Um, so you may remember that there was a smart scale project at one time that really a multi-jur jurisdictional shared use path that ran all the way into Picosen kind of connecting this whole corridor um open and is still there but that project was cancelled. So, um, it it stops it stops there for now. That helps fuel county being canceled. Okay. Um, I have a question.

Sure. Uh are there again back to the Victory Boulevard uh enhancements projects? Are there any projections or metrics on how those capacity improvements are indeed going to improve traffic flow?

So the turn lanes ability not have to wait for traffic turning left, turning right, having the additional turn lanes certainly helps with traffic flow. It also helps with emergency services as well. It also gives you extra pavement out there so if something does happen you can get around a vehicle. Um so those type of things are what the shoulders the the because it's not actually adding a lane. It's adding 10 foot but typically adds a lane because the typical lane is 10 to 12 ft. Um but that allows those the traffic to get around especially if it's emergency services those type of things. And then having the uh additional turn lanes um also helps with throughput because you don't have to wait on traffic that's turning that type of thing. They get off the road you can continue on. But there's no new travel lane which you know so instead of one wide two wide can't do that but it does allow traffic to move through freer with less interruptions. And I didn't know if there were any particular metrics that you you know the analysis comes up with that says hey by adding these turning lanes and that um you know it can shave off 2.5 minutes or you know or anything like that. So what they do I mean a lot of these this project specifically ran through Smart Scale um and it looks at you know the county submitted the application for it and these were the request uh there's a scoring um you know as they're going through these projects they do some scoring uh pedestrian um economic development uh congestion mitigation all these type of things are being scored um and so those improvements provided a score that allowed this project to get funded um based off of those formulas. So, it does help. I just can't tell you that, hey, you'll be five minutes quicker to the

light at 17. Really, it really depends upon traffic, time of day, those type of things. Um but I think it will I think you'll see improvements really with uh emergencies. Um, another thing having the additional pavement if there was the evacuation or something of that nature, you have the ability to you have more pavement to work with through that area. Um, so they're the things that I would look at as positives um for that for that project.

So, another question about um possible future widening efforts. Would the location of the shared use path, would that inhibit if suddenly the Victory Boulevard um scored high enough to be a priority, would the new shared use path inhibit any future widening efforts?

So the so during the design, the shared use path is not up against the roadway. So there is a space between where the shared use path is and a ditch uh for for the section that's in yellow. Um so it's sort of outside of that. So it gives you some right away. And we're lucky that we have um a pretty good amount of rightway for that yellow portion there coming into uh to Picosa. Um like I said, we didn't have to buy any rightway to do it, but we we didn't put it right next to the road just in case there's any future development. Now, I'm not saying that the shared use path may have to be moved or something like that as part of construction when you get into design, especially around um any any waterways or uh outfall ditches, those type of things. Sometimes you try to bring them up closer to the road so you don't have a have to build a standalone bridge. Um but if in something like that may change the design just a little bit, but typically for this design, they're doing it away from the roadway. One more. Um, are there any capacity improvements east of uh to extend east of uh Big Bethl Road in works or that been approved? So, the only projects that I know that are funded, and when I say that, that's approved because you have funding in the six-year plan, are is this one here, which is the capacity improvement, and the ones that's currently under construction. I'm not aware of any other application for that corridor from there to let's say 17 or or 64 um for any additional enhancements at this time. That's not to say that, you know, future applications may come in that uh request for, you know, additional widening or or any mitigation type things.

Thank you. Question. So, you're talking about the score um and like when this application originally came in six-year plan, what's the time frame where that score was taken? Microphone. You know, I'm thinking things change and things may change by the time that was originally done. If you were to redo it right now and maybe there might be a better idea to do something different, how how does that work?

So, um, you know, the applications are submitted from each locality. Um, so it's sort of the locality's just thought on what they want to do with transportation planning, you know, what they want to look at to increase those type of things. Um, I'm not saying that some changes may not happen between the time it is approved. Um, some of these projects are accelerated, so instead of six years, it could be four years. It just depends upon how it falls in the six-year plan. Um but if things are changing um there are ways that you get no more no additional smart scale funds. But we've seen scope increases or or you know want to add this or something of that nature and it qualifies where the locality is partnering with us anyway as because they are a contributor of funding on this too that they want to add more funding to a project to do this or something of that nature. um that we always have that ability uh to look at those we're case by case basis.

So when would the score or when would that have been done for the particular project for for the for the project in red out there? Yes, I think that was

I wish I had my York County update with me, but I think it was either 22 or 24. I'm not sure exactly, but I think it was like 22 or 24. I mean, it would have been it would have been around about five years ago, four or five years ago. But I will say that they look at projected traffic volumes. You know, it's not they look at current, but they also look at projected traffic volumes for the time that that the project will be going on. So, there is some foresight with looking at those. Welcome And one back to the W Creek road extension. Um when gets down to being almost done and you go to paint lines on the road. Is it possible to put no passing lanes? There's three subdivisions down there that I would think should be no passing areas as you approach those three subdivisions because people trying to get out of there, myself and my neighbors included. And really surprising when you turn out and some someone especially now that the speed limit is 25 and some people don't agree with that and they decide that they're going to pass and you turn out turn left to come into the city only to find you're looking headlight to headlight at another car. There's no nassing position on that road. It'll be nice when there are completed that there be no passing areas by those three subdivisions which are intersections which I think are going to have the crosswalks if I would I

we'd have to look at the marking plans. I'm not exactly sure but we'll look at the marking plans and as it comes up. Do you remember what subdivisions those were? You were specific Woods Forest Park and I can't remember the name of the third one. What was the first one? I'm sorry. Huntwoods. Huntwoods. Second one is Forest Park. I got it. Two Rs. Is that Wood Haven? Is that Wood Haven? Believe it is. I believe it is. At least they'll give me a sub reference area.

But we'll we'll look at it and send something to uh Mr. Wheel. Any other questions? Council members, Mr. Carol, Mr. Lewig, thanks so much for coming back tonight. Thank you'all for having us. Well, very very in in insightful and appreciate your patience as well with taking the questions.

Yes, sir. That concludes our presentations tonight and we'll move into item E, audience for visitors. And we will now open the floor for public comment related to the city. And I have one speaker card. Uh, this is from Dr. Dawn. And I'd like to point out that Dr. uh represents and serves the city on the Colonial Behavioral Health Board. So Dr. All right, thank you for that and welcome to the meeting tonight. The floor is yours.

Thank you. Good evening everybody. I'm going to keep this as brief as I possibly can. Um, being cognizant that it is after 8:00 p.m. already and I'm sure you've all had a long day and so have I. Um, I'm just going to give you a rundown of how I'm going to give you this information and then see if you have any questions. So, I'm going to tell you who I am, why I'm here, um, what I know you can't do. Um, because you're probably wondering what I what I'm going to need from you. um what I'm asking you to do um ultimately. Okay. Um so who am I? So for those of you who don't know me, my name is Dr. Don. I'm a doctor of healthcare administration uh teaching professor and researcher for over 15 years now. Lived in Picosen for about a decade. Um I teach our national and international students um health anything healthcare administration. Um I teach at our local uh VPCC in their workforce development program. Um so I go all the way from workforce development to terminal degree programs. Uh and I have even taught in Saudi Arabia. So I have a very large reach of uh the amount of students and to whom I teach. Um and why am I here? So that's all fine and well. Um and I should also include I have a wonderful husband Brent uh who's a military uh naval veteran which is what brought us to Virginia originally. We're from another Commonwealth, Pennsylvania. Uh born and raised. Uh, and I have three um rescue dogs and I had three rescue cats. One died of cancer in July, unfortunately. So, now I have two. Uh, we were never able to have children, so it's just us and our pets. So, why am I here? Um, December 29th, my husband and I got back from a Christmas vacation and we have a little bit of time off. So, on our time off, we do two things. We vacation or we're home spending time uh with our animals. Um, we exercise, we do things like that. Uh we went to take our pups for a walk as we have every day for the past decade and there's three of them. They're little palm trees. They range

from 17 lbs to 8 or nine. Uh bear has gained some lbs over the holiday season as we all have. So he got a little bit heavier, but they're very little dogs. Uh two are senior. Uh we took them out and unfortunately we had an incident where we had been uh attacked by a larger dog. Uh breed doesn't really matter. um although it was a pivotal terrier mix and it left us in a very traumatic situation. So with this traumatic situation uh we of course tried to rectify it as quickly as possible and we received very little support and no accountability from the individual who owns the animal. Um so this of course um got us a little bit concerned as to what we could do, what we can't do, and what our recourse would be um for us as residents, as citizens, as as people. Um we have a neighborhood where we have a lot of small children. We have a lot of dogs. We have a lot of elderly folks who walk their small dogs and they take their grandkids out. Um, so when you're attacked by a 100 pound pit bull and you're two uh fairly young, strong people and were able to fight it off only after 3 minutes, you can only imagine what would have happened if it was a small child or one of our elderly um uh members of the community who were walking their animal that day. It would have been a disaster. So, with that being said, and with little recourse legally, this is really why I'm here speaking to you today. Um, and for all transparency purposes, um, I do intend on taking this to, of course, uh, the state, um, for, um, their support. And I've already reached out to the governor- elect um, governor's elect Spanberger and her, um, campaign. I have already gotten a response from her in her campaign saying that they were sending uh, a good amount of the materials that I had sampled to you um, to policy review. Okay. So, um that's the background of why I'm here. So,

keeping this again, trying to keep this as short as I could possibly keep it. Um we had a dog attack and I looked into the law and the law does not support uh the recourse that it needs to support in order to protect families, children, and of course, companion animals. Uh there's another side of this whole issue uh which I'll briefly mention because um I do usually keep up with not only health care but also mental health um and veteran issues and things of that nature. Um so companion animals are are property of course as you all know. Um and other states are changing that. Pennsylvania has changed it. They're another commonwealth and they are under a lot of the same restrictions that Virginia is under but they found a way to do it. Um, so that's really what I'm going to the state for. But how can you guys help? So what can you do? Um and and I know that we had mentioned um because we are um under you know um the Dylan rule, it makes a little bit more difficult um but the um the expressly granted um and the necessarily um implied um powers that you all have or that they have given to the local governments were given by the general assembly. So you can do more. So your reach does not have to be well the state gave us these basic rules and this is what we have to follow and other localities in Virginia have moved to um strengthen or to make their um accountability more strict. Um and what that does is that helps to divert folks who are going to do things that endanger not only society but their own animal. That's another part of this that I do want to express is that first and foremost, we are advocates for the animals, right? So, we're advocates for our animals and we're advocates for every animal. When

an animal is taken out and it doesn't have the proper gear, the proper training, the proper socialization, um, and it goes out into public and it's allowed to just go out there with not even a proper collar on, um, and it slips out of the slip rope it was in, which is what happened in our case. um it prevents a very preventable issue from being stopped. So we could have prevented it. I grabbed onto the rope myself. The dog slipped out of the rope and then you have a very slippery pit bull that there's nothing to grab onto with. So that's it really added to the stress of the situation and we could not gain control. um that hopelessness and helplessness of watching um a family member of yours, whether it be an individual person, a child, god forbid, or an animal, um you know, essentially being killed in front of you is is very heartbreaking. So, what you can do with our um legislative uh um actions here in Picosen is you can add greater detail to what we already have. You can impose stricter standards. You could address local conditions um and you could really make a strategic path forward that includes it includes maximizing enforcement with title 3.2. Um document all of the statutory deficiencies and I know that I sent you quite a lengthy email uh that does note a lot of those. Um you do have to acknowledge that after that incident uh there was a lot of nights of no sleep for multiple reasons. Um including you know playing it back in your own mind but then moving forward and saying like how do I correct this? What are the steps that I can take to write this wrong because our law doesn't actually protect the folks that it's made to protect right and I didn't know to care about this. So, the complacency that I had and my husband had and we had where we weren't bringing anything with us to protect ourselves. We never had to worry about it. We just figured we'd take the pups for a walk, they'd do their

business, we'd pick it up, we'd go home, throw their business out, and we'd go about our day the same way that we always had. And I think most people think that. And it's that complacency and thinking that we were safe because we live here and because we trust it and because we know our neighbors. Um, and because we know every dog on the block and their names and the names of the cats that are just indoor cats, etc. We didn't think that we had to worry about that. Um, and it turns out that we were wrong and we did have to worry about that. We're folks who travel quite a bit. Um, we've been to Mexico thrice, I think, in the past year or two and we never worried about not being safe. But yet in our own uh town that is typically very safe. Um now we have to worry about it. And I also have to think about making positive social change because the law doesn't support or really protect um its citizens and it really does need to do that. Um I know that most of you had children and grandchildren and you really have to think about them moving forward. Um not so much maybe you and definitely not so much me because I was already the victim of something like this. Um but for them um even though we don't have our own children I think it's something that really does need to take place here. Um so you can advocate for state level change. You could adopt a more comprehensive ordinance of course that's allowed up to the statutory limit and you are not there yet. You absolutely could do more. Um and you could explicitly acknowledge the statutory gaps and you could request more authority from the state. So you don't have to be complacent in what you ask the state um to allow you to do. Uh and typically in these types of situations and of course I had sent um the council some supporting information, documentation and of course references because I teach and that's what I do. But um you are allowed to go with something like this a little bit further

without the uh um the Dylan rule coming in and um tightening the constraints around you as it would with some other items. So you have a little bit more leeway there. Um as long as your local ordinances don't conflict with state law, um the state law doesn't necessarily need to authorize the subject matter because it's already on the books. Okay. So, there's a few things that you guys can do um in order to make your own city safer for yourselves, me, your children, your grandchildren. Um as far as as me saying, you know, I would like to see companion animals identified as family members instead of the same as, you know, farm animals or cattle, etc. that's a fight that I have to take on with the state government and it's one that I intend on taking on with them um to follow suit with other states that have already, you know, done that. So, um but that's what I'm asking um for you guys to do is to really support this um so we don't have other folks go through the same thing uh that we did and and some folks who may not have been as physically strong or as mentally strong or as young as we were. Um, and I think it turned out as well as it did because again, we had to be on the ground fighting with a 100 pound animal that really just had the advantage over the both of us terribly for three whole minutes. Um, and I I don't really think it would have turned out another way if it was a more vulnerable part of our community. And that's who we're here to protect today. So, we ask that you um you consider this and hopefully you add um something to the ordinance that can help protect the citizens of the coin a little bit better.

Dr. A, thank you so much for being here and and sharing that with us. And I do have some comments that I intended to make later in the meeting, but I think it would be more timely if I make those comments now. And this is with regard to chapter 14 of the code of the city of Posen, Virginia, division 3, section 14- 141, dangerous and vicious dogs. I'd like to remind the public that city council acted to add the state's provisions on dangerous and vicious dogs during the December 8th council meeting. Our city attorney, M. Wayne Moore is working with animal control to determine the best course of action for this particular incident that occurred within our city. And I've asked Mr. Moore and Mr. Wheeler, our city manager, to work with animal control to review our city ordinance to identify any further changes that may need to be made. So, just wanted to make that clear and thank you again for being with us tonight.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Yes, ma'am. I appreciate um your time. I appreciate the personal telephone call you made. Um Yes, ma'am. I think for leadership um in in the position. Um it's important to stay in touch with folks like that and it's a really good example for other other people and other leaders. So, thank you. Thank you so much. We all work together. It takes all of us. Appreciate that. Yes. You you Do we have another speaker? Yes, sir. Welcome. Would you mind sharing your name and address with us, please?

I'm Randy Neil. I'm on seven Oakmore and Kosen. I'm a physician, veteran of Foreign Wars, and a retired colonel. Reason I'm here is uh the VFW, the Veterans Reform Wars um were taking nominations for the firefighter of the year. And uh I called Chief Bryant um just last week with an impossible task to bring forth two nominees in a very short time span through no force of his own or my own. It just highlights what an amuse amazing place Picosen is because he took my call within 30 minutes I was in his office. He knew exactly what we needed and he gave me two nominees and they are very strong nominees and and it will work. But if I was in Hampton or York County or ch you know Virginia Beach that would never happen that's what's special about Picosen. You guys are always here. You're always attentive and you're always willing to take a phone call and I thank you for that.

Mr. Neil, thanks so much for being with us. Uh appreciate what you do for the community, what you have done for the nation and the greater good of all. Uh it is a special place and as I said at the beginning of the meeting, we're very thankful to be here and feel very blessed to have what we have and for that we are truly thankful. Thank you. And please thank Chief Bryant. Yes, sir. Certainly will. Thank you again, Mr. Neil. Uh, do we have any other speakers?

Very well. We will close the public hearing and we will move on to item F, uh, approval of the minutes. Uh, do we have a motion and a second to approve the minutes of the work session on December 8th, 2025? Move, Mr. Mayor. Second. Thank you. Any questions or comments? Christie, call for vote, please. Councilman Freeman, I. Councilwoman EMTT, I. Councilman Southhaul, I. Councilman Fi, I. Councilwoman Hubard, I. Vice Mayor Bunting, I. Mayor H. I. Mr. Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of 7 to zero.

Thank you. Do we have a motion and a second to approve the minutes of the regular session on December 8th, 2025? So move, Mr. Mayor. Second. Thank you. Questions or comments? Okay, Christie. Councilman F. Hi. Vice Mayor Bunting. Hi. Councilwoman EMTT. Hi. Councilman Freeman. Hi. Councilman Southhall. Hi. Councilwoman Hubard. Hi. Mayor Hu. I, Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of seven to zero.

Uh, thank you, Christie. Uh, as I said earlier, we have an amended agenda tonight since the public hearing originally scheduled as item G has been cancelled and we'll deal with that at at the next meeting after it's been advertised. Uh, we will move on to item H, comments of the city manager. Randy,

thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of council. Two items tonight. Um, one is a public announcement. Um, this week, weather permitting, will be the last um, day of significant work pertaining to the installation of the new traffic arm there at the main intersection at Victory Boulevard in Wit Creek. As you may recall, the um, the traffic arm closest to uh, Taylor Dental was hit by a motorist uh, some time ago and needed to be replaced. the the remaining significant step is the installation of the actual arm. The base is in place as is the the standup pole. That will happen um sometime this week, not on Friday. Um it will necessitate a brief uh 5 to 10 minute full closure in that direction and otherwise we'll be routing folks to with the PD and that should be the uh the last step of that. And uh also to stay with the theme of traffic uh related issues, uh Mr. Rossy spoke or excuse me, Mr. Carol spoke um about the u the car's chapel uh detour there. Um, we did, um, work with the gentleman that owns both the Vector 27 building and the Surfs Up restaurant to install a one-lane temporary road from the back of the Vector 27 parking lot to the Surfs Up restaurant. So, if you uh would like to continue to patronize that restaurant, I hope you do, and know that you don't have to go all the way around the long way to get there. Just go to the last parking lot on the right, take a turn, and you'll see that cutthrough road right in front of you. That's all I have, sir.

Thank you, Randy. Uh, we'll move on now to item I, Council Directives. Uh, Keith. Yes. Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, first thing I'd like to say is, uh, I was able to attend the Virginia DS competition on Saturday, the earlier meet, uh, third round. Poston High School had successfully made it to the third round. Unfortunately, they came up against Connor, I think it's Corner Canyon, Utah High School. Um, and watch that. It was they fell behind quickly. The team did uh caught back up almost and then it got into a slugfest. The most exciting one for me was the heavyweight class. I apologize for not knowing the students name who competed for Picosen, but it was a back and forth. Whereas in the lighter rounds, the students are flying all over the place. Um, in the heavyweight, it's like two bears grappling with one another. Uh, it went to at least two, I think it was a third overtime. Um, and the Picosen competitor prevailed. Uh, I think I twisted my back out using body English to try and help him turn the opponent over. Um, to to no, but he did win the match, which was great and a lot of fun. Unfortunately, they lost that round and then end up fourth overall in the tournament. As the announcer said, they they didn't lose, they came in second um because the phraseiology he used. It was just an amazing event. There were 10 matches going on at the same time, meaning 20 schools were out there competing against one another and it was just noise and mayhem and I don't know how the students kept their concentration on their opponent with all that noise and whistles and that was a good time. Uh I later that day I also had the opportunity to attend the rededication of the Mary T. Christian auditorium at Virginia Peninsula Community College. Uh when I worked there I had the opportunity to give tours to that building and that auditorium which was very nice at the time. It's even nicer. Now that it's

rebuilt uh for those may remember in April of 2021 it collapsed. Luckily no one was in the building at the time the campus was closed because of CO um and no one was hurt. Uh it took him four years to get the building back up and the auditorium back up and had great dedication and I envy the people that had the ability to perform uh sing and everything else that I don't I just have to rely on my good looks uh to get by that. Yeah, you can laugh. Thanks, bud. That's good. I was trying to keep a straight face.

Yeah, but uh thank you. And again, the mobile food pantry did a great job last Thursday, a week ago, um at servicing the people in Picosen. The numbers did drop off after the holidays. Um, but we expect it to get back up. And Mos Baptist Church, as was said earlier, is doing an outstanding job at providing food for the people that need it, not only on the second Thursday of the month, which is when we have the mobile food pantry distribution, but all the time as well. So, that's all I have, sir. Thank you, Keith. Do you have any?

Um, I just wanted to thank all those who came out for the special presentations. the department of um social services human trafficking awareness um for accepting that uh resolution for human trafficking awareness month um that recognition and for the gentleman coming out from the Virginia Department of Transportation um and their explanation of all the inconveniences that um everyone you know um is having to put up with. Hopefully down the road when everything's complete, we'll back on that and I know we'll be thankful it's over and hopefully enjoy some um some relief from the currentest that we have. Um those speakers that came out tonight, thank you for for being here and sharing your thoughts um and your concerns and us and for those that are here for other reasons. Have a good crowd out here tonight. So, it's good to see everyone comingate. Um, happy new year to all and wish everyone um, health and um, prosperity and a great new year ahead of you. Um, well, that's it.

Thank you, Debbie. All right, Mr. Freeman. I'd just like to uh comment on Randy and the city putting that road through to our surfs of business. That was a great thing to do. Y'all did great. Other than that, I have nothing further that hadn't already been said. Thank you, Mr. Freeman. Jamie.

Um, well, so many of the thoughts that I wanted to share are already offered. You know, happy new year. I hope everyone has very good luck with their New Year's resolutions this time. Um, have a couple on my own. Uh, remember that even though some of our sports and school system um close out in the fall, we have an active spring with some with so many groups um and our um arts and arts programs. So, please continue to support schools, keep an eye out for what's going on, and and show up for our kids. That's it. Thank you, Jeanie. Angie,

um, not much more to add. I'll just say, um, as a parent of a current middle schooler and a soontobe middle schooler, I look forward to the Heron Project Club and, uh, seeing how that comes into our school system and evolves. And thank you to everybody who has worked to um get get that off the ground.

Thank you, Angie. Appreciate it, Mr. Salo. Well, I would first like to welcome um everyone here that came out to the city tonight. I thank you very much for paying attention to your city and as government. I I would like to see all those chairs filled. Invite your friends next time. Um I ask all of you to participate. We have lots of boards and commissions. you can politicians and join. In fact, there's always a hole for someone to fit in somewhere. Um, I'd also like to thank everyone at home who's watching and paying attention because if you can't be here, that's best thing. And I wish everybody here and at home a happy new year. And my my second uh comments to everyone who came here to make presentations tonight. Um, and and Keith, my apologies, you hit my funny bone there. and it's I wish everybody a happy new year and and I hope it's better than the previous ones. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. South Hall. Appreciate that. Uh this meeting is another example why I look forward to the council meetings every time. um so thankful to live in a a close-knit community to where we can have this sort of so of civil discourse and the positivity that we can share and project. Uh we all know that negativity ages, but so is positivity. And so thankful to to be able to work with such a fine group of people and serve such a a wonderful community to where we can have this kind of positivity and thankful for the relationships that we share. Like to thank Mr. Jason Ernsen and Jonah Easley for their IT support tonight. uh could not be able to would not be able to have the meetings with without their efforts. So, thanks to all involved. And with that, uh can we please have a motion and a second for adjournment?

Move. Second. Thank you, Christie. Vice Mayor Bunting. I. Councilman F. Hi, Councilman Southpaw. Hi, Councilman Freeman. Hi, Councilwoman Huard. Hi, Councilwoman EMTT. I, Mayor H. I, Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of seven to zero. Thank you, Christie. And we are adjourned.