City Council - Regular Meeting

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, which will be led this evening by Byron Burton, representing Boy Scout Troop 259. Let us pray. Inspire each of us to work more faithfully for justice and dignity of life everywhere. We remember the hurts of exclusion and prejudice, but we know that you can raise our vision above all barriers and give us wisdom and courage to make this a better world. Amen.

Amen. Ryan, please come forward to the podium. I pledge algiance 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. Madam clerk, please present the resolution for consideration. Resolution certifying the closed meeting of February the 18th, 2026 pursuant to Virginia code section 2.2-3712 is presented at this time. Now therefore, be it resolved that the city council of the city of Suffuk hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirements 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. Council member Williams approval and a motion for approval from council member Williams. Council member Recctor. Second that motion. Second from council member recctors. Any discussion of the motion? Hearing none. Council members, prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madam 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 November 5th, 2025 work session and regular meeting. Council, what is your pleasure? Council member Williams. Move for approval. A motion for approval from council member Williams. Council member Johnson.

Second. Second from council member Johnson. Any discussion of the motion? Hearing? None. Council members prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madam clerk, please record the vote.

Motion is approved by a vote of 8 to zero. specialist appreciation month. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council, February recognizes and celebrates benefits specialist appreciation month. Joining us this evening is Harry Chromemer, our director of social services, and Danielle Williams, our assistant director of social services. Uh they will be here to accept the proclamation, as well as share some more information on the important work they perform in our community. Madam clerk, will you please read the proclamation? Whereas the SUFFK Social Services Department has provided benefits to the most vulnerable residents of our community through programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the temporary assistance for needy families, foster care, employment services programs, auxiliary grants, and energy assistance. And whereas Virginia's governing body continues continually seeks to enact legislation that supports local benefit programs and impacting our community, thus empowering benefits program specialists to promote individual self-sufficiency among our citizens. And whereas these stellar professionals continue to navigate the complexities of evolving policies and procedures across major benefit programs and requiring adaptive transitions to ensure that residents receive the correct benefits. And whereas benefit program specialists provide ethical public service by respecting human dignity, demonstrating personal integrity, promoting professional standards, and ensuring the

accurate application of current policies and guidance. Now, therefore, I, Michael D. Doom and mayor of the city of Suffach, do hereby proclaim February 2026 as benefit program specialist appreciation month in Suffach, Virginia, and encourage all our residents to recognize this month by acknowledging and celebrating their valuable contri contributions to public service. and witness whereof I've here unto set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Suffach to be affixed this 18th day of February in the year of our Lord 2026.

Good evening, Honorable Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, distinguished council members, city manager and staff. You know, I'm delighted to be here tonight. Uh I have with me Miss Danielle Williams, the benefit program assistant director, who's going to shed some light on why it's so important that we recognize the amazing work that the benefit specialists do on a daily basis. So with that, I'm going to turn it over to Miss Williams, and if I have permission, I will follow up to close it out. Miss Williams.

Thank you, Mr. Chromemer. Good evening, Honorable Mayor Duman, Honorable Vice Mayor Ward, distinguished members of council, and Mr. City Manager. On behalf of the benefit program staff of social services, thank you for tonight's recognition of their hard work and their dedication to the citizens of the city of Suffuk. The benefit programs team consists of 68 employees, some who are here today. If you stand up, please be recognized. Thank you. These 68 employees dedicate themselves to meeting the need of some of our most vulnerable residents. Here's a snapshot of what that looks like in SUFFK over the past seven years. At the end of fiscal year 2018, these employees managed 5,458 SNAP cases. At the end of fiscal year 2025, the case increased to 6,2 I'm sorry, 6,257, a 14.64% increase. Medical assistance cases increased from 8 8,214 to 13,777, an increase of 67.73%. Childcare cases increased from 104 to 287, an increase of 175%. What did not increase was the number of staff managing these case loads. Tan cases, which is the only cash assistance program DSS offers, decreased from 307 to 237, a decrease of over 22%. These case loses resulted in a combined 21,604 clients served in fiscal year 2018 and by fiscal year 2025 client participation grew to 30,688. This is highlighting expanded access to essential services. Of note, the substantial increase in childcare cases and the decrease in tand of cases is a reflection of our employment services program, workforce development center and partnership with economic development and finding particip participants employment opportunities to become self-sufficient. Mr.

Okay. So, Miss Williams has provided you an o overview of the tremendous work that the benefits specialist staff do. But as I looked at these numbers, uh, a term came to me and it's an economic term called diminishing returns, which in essence says that at some point as you continue to increase the workload, you're going to see a smaller increase in output. So how does that apply to social services staff? In 2018, you will see since 2018, the numbers have increased, but as Miss Williams uh alluded to, the number of staff have remained constant. So, we may be at a point where there may be some diminishing returns, which we don't want to hap happen because guess what? We value ourself and pride ourselves in making sure that we do the best customer service possible. So, with that said, as you begin to do your budget deliberations, I want you to think about this presentation and think about these numbers and think about what we can do for the citizens of suff. Now, we thank you for the proclamation. We have we are very appreciative of the proclamation. We thank you for your support, but most of all, we thank you for the opportunity to serve, to protect, and and to be that steady voice for those that are embarrassed, the children, the adults, the disabled, veterans, you name it, we serve them. So, we thank you for that opportunity. And we ask that, as I said, you think about the budget. Just think about it. We serve, we protect, and we are the voice for

those that don't have a voice a lot of times. So, thank you again. We have an advisory board member here. tonight. There are no items on the consent agenda. However, interim city manager Hughes has information regarding agenda item number 13. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview. Uh, mayor, vice mayor, members of council, we have received a request from the applicant to defer resoning RZN 20250000004 Riversbend to the March 18th city council meeting. Uh, before we move on, I previously

disclosed that I have a conflict regarding agenda item number 13. The Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council has advised me that I may preside over procedural matters related to this item, but I will not participate in the discussion or the vote. Therefore, a motion to amend the agenda to continue consideration of item number 13 to the March 18, 2026 meeting would be in order. What is the pleasure of council? Council member Williams. Move for approval.

Motion approval. Council member Williams. Vice Mayor Ward. Second from Vice Mayor Ward. 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 a vote of 8 to zero. At this time, a motion to adopt the remainder of the agenda, excluding agenda item number 13, would be appropriate, which the pleasure of city council. Council member Recctor, move to approve the rest of the agenda. Got a motion for approval from council member Recctor. Council member Wright. Second. Second from council member Wright. Is there any discussion in 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. Madam clerk, do we have any agenda speakers this evening? If so, please explain the guidelines. We do not have any agenda speakers this evening. Mayor Dum. That being said, we have said we have no consent agenda. So, we will move to public hearings. Our first public hearing is a resolution to adopt the capital improvements program and plan for fiscal years 2026 27 through 203536. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview.

Mayor, vice mayor, members of council, at your February 4th work session, you are presented with the proposed 2027 through 2036 capital improvement plan. At that meeting, there was a couple of motions to uh see if we could work into the existing CIP some amendments or additions. They were the baseball field lights at Holland, the Nansman River High School, the uh ability to move it up in the CIP, as well as the addition of the Kimberly Bridge project. I'm happy to report that our our staff uh has been able to work these projects into the CIP. So, the CIP that was posted on the website uh in the city clerk's office and in your package reflects these additions. Uh to give you a little bit of more of an overview of how we uh made these modifications. I'll touch on that briefly and then allow uh Stephanie Wells to hit on the the financial overview and then Gary Jones is going to walk you through the CIP. and sitting around Gary as our department heads that can answer questions if you have them during uh the the end of the public hearing. So, uh we were happy to uh be informed that our previous request uh to the federal government through Senator Kaine uh as well um as Senator Warner were able to fund the Townpoint Road sidewalk project. So local funds, we had one a little over $1 million. Uh we were awarded $1.5 million for that project. That allowed us to uh then subsequently fund $500,000 in the parks and wreck capital maintenance for the Holland baseball field light project. We added

$250,000 for the design work moving forward on the Driver Elementary site. We added $300,000 for open space. Uh that line item as it relates to Nansman River High School. We have moved that project up from beginning in year 2930 to 2829. And then the Kimberly Bridge project at a cost of $98 million is now in years 32 through 36. And with that, Stephanie will walk you through the public hearing. Good evening, Stephanie.

Thank you. And yes, in this presentation tonight, we did include also those same requests and changes. And those changes with the detail, as Mr. Hughes has said, is available to the public both online and at the clerk's office, and you can also visit the library. Moving into our CIP process, reiterating this from the last presentation, we do start even before September. The departments will start collecting what they know that they need to request and they submit them in September and October, November, we begin to have our meetings, our meeting in December with the planning commission. We do provide a presentation to them and then January they will vote to adopt the recommended CIP that has been presented to council uh February 4th and then the recommended and requested changes have been added to the CIP and is being presented to you tonight and as we mentioned already is available to the public in April the first year the CIP will be included in the annual budget. CIP purpose. So, this is a plan to address the city's capital needs. It is a 10-year plan with a focus on the first five years. We use this plan as a financial planning tool, not only for our operating budget, but also for future year projections and also for financial policy compliance. We have to stay within our guidelines that have been adopted for not only what we use uh for PGO which I'll talk about shortly but also things like our debt service. So we do use it for policy compliance. The document is updated annually. We come here and present to you each year this plan and the board does uh sorry the council does review and adopt to

approve after a public hearing. The first year of the plan is the upcoming fiscal year and it's included in the city manager's proposed budget that you'll all receive in April. So what are the priorities? I mentioned this at the last meeting as well. Obviously completing ongoing projects. The CIP is a fiveyear and 10-year plan but when we approve the budget we do adopt only the first year of that plan. So we may begin construction one year and in order to make sure we include the rest of construction for something say like a school, we do have to have this plan in place so that we're making sure to complete all of those ongoing projects. Large maintenance items obviously will go into the CIP pro uh CIP plan. uh anything from a new library, a new uh sorry, a new building, any of the new buildings, uh playgrounds, lots of facilities, transportation, roads, all of those uh maintenance items are included. We want to leverage state and federal funds. It's obviously a huge help to our citizens to have a less direct cost to the taxpayers making use of matching funds for those grants. enhance the quality of life for our citizens. Public safety obviously being uh top of their minds, but also transportation, schools for children, where they get to play at the playground, is there a library to go to? All of those things enhance their quality of life and is important to our citizens. Maintaining affordability is also very important. uh trying to avoid tax increases, large debt issuance that later on can cost the taxpayers a lot of money in debt repayment. Also, compliance with the key financial policies as I've already mentioned, integration of council priorities. We

are given direction by things uh that you vote on throughout the year, but also we have the comprehensive plan that we consider when we're including our CIP projects. There is the UDO that we consider but also the council has adopted a vision and there's eight target areas in that vision. The first one being public safety but also things like the quality of life, education, um transportation, all of those things are important to council. Obviously we have to address regulatory changes and sometimes those are also included in the CIP. So, this is a 10-year overview for all of our funds. On the lefth hand side, our major uh capital project funds, general government, utilities, storm water, refues, you will see, has nothing in the five years. Transit fund, we have one project. And then fleet fund has nothing in the first five years. This is a 10-year plan. If you look at under yellow for 2627, I'm just highlighting again that that will be in our budget, our upcoming budget. The tan or oranges peish cells there, those are the changes that were made based on council priorities and changes or requests and the changes from the last presentation. And again, that's just highlighting 2627 what you will see in the operating budget. So looking at just general government for a five-year overview on the left hand side are our six main functions that are included in the CIP. The green column there is our first budget year but this is a five-year plan. The red numbers are again what's changed since the last time Mr. Hughes has already mentioned everything that was considered by or requested by council. The outy

years the school being moved up a year. You'll see that under the public schools starting in fiscal year 29. And to help balance the projects, we did adjust transportation. So how are we going to pay for this funding sources? The funding sources there are on the left hand side and we have state and federal grants. Yes. But if you look at prior year state and federal grants most recent years, that was a lot larger number, just to point out that that was due to transportation projects. And so when you see that our project cost has gone down for this CIP compared to say prior year CIP, that's a big um difference there in those transportation grants. I do want to mention our transfer from general fund and capital reserve. general fund does budget for both of these and we use not only PIGO, in other words, revenues that are coming into the city during the budget year, but we also use that capital reserve fund where we put our budget surplus each year. Uh portion of it goes to the capital reserve. Also, under our general obligation bonds, we mentioning again that we do have a $35 million a year goal to remain within that $35 million issuance every year. We are maximizing that for the full five years and that's really important because uh you know we we can increase our debt level but when we maintain a low debt load it it avoids increases in cost. You know interest is very expensive. Low debt load allows us to maintain a high credit rating which keeps the cost of our debt down. If you have creditworthiness just like personal credit and you get better uh interest rates. My last slide here is just an overview

of our general government programs again but by percentage. And you can see here our public schools are at 40%. It's gone up drastically from the last presentation I gave because we did move up that uh Nanzamon addition by a year. So that significantly increased the public schools spending. Uh transportation is at 25%. Public safety is at 21% because we do make use of the camera funds, the camera ticket funds for a lot of our public safety projects right now. So that's been really beneficial for our overall CIP cost. and I will let Mr. Jones come up and do the rest of the presentation.

Thank you, Stephanie. I get the fun part. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council. Mr. Manager, as the manager stated earlier, uh on at your February 4th meeting, you were presented the entire CIP, which was mainly the first five years in the plan. I will not do that tonight. I will give you the first the first year projects uh and focus on those starting with parks and recreation capital maintenance $816,000 plus $500,000 for upgrades, repairs, and maintenance of parks and rec facilities. Fiscal year 27 includes funding to complete the Lake Me splash park and as the manager mentioned, an additional $500,000 for the Holland ball field lights. Lonear Lakes Park, $650,000 in fiscal year 27 for improvements to the access route. Seabard Coastline Trail phase 3C $1.5 million in grant funding in fiscal year 27 to extend the trail between Nansman River High School and Pine Treeway. Great Dismal Swamp Park. $911,000 in grant funding in fiscal year 27 to establish a park near the entrance of the Great Disal Swamp Wildlife Refuge. More parks and recreation. Holly Lawn Cemetery improvements 216 thou I'm sorry $210,000 in fiscal year 27 to construct new roads to open the final section of the cemetery. JFK ball field lighting, $1.3 million in fiscal year 27 to install field lights and construct a building for concessions and restrooms at the new JFK middle school. As you know, that school is under construction. Ballfield lights are not needed by public schools, but is needed by parks and recreation. So, that's why we're doing it this way. former Driver Elementary School site,

which man the manager just mentioned, an additional $250,000 in fiscal year 27 for planning efforts for the reuse of the site as a park following the demolition of the old school building. Community input would be a part of the planning process. more parks and recreation gateway beautifification $75,000 in fiscal year 27 to beautify corridors leading into the city. That's an ongoing effort throughout the city. Holy Neck Recreation Center and Park $210,000 in fisc year 27 to conduct a feasibility study for a recreation center or park in the Holene Neck area and this will include the Southwestern Elementary site which is also including the old historic Nansman County Training School site. This feasibility stud will be done with community input. The Martin Luther King Jr. memorial $300,000 in fiscal year 27 to create a memorial to commemorate Dr. King's speech during the Freedom Fund rally at Peanut Park on June 28th in 1963. It will serve as a place for reflection and education about the history of the city of Suffuk and the civil rights movement. The development of this memorial will incorporate significant community input. Looking forward to that. public buildings and facilities starting with public building capital maintenance, $1.7 million in fiscal year 27 for renovations, repairs, and system upgrades to city buildings and facilities. It also includes funding for security upgrades and the exterior restoration to Riddics Folly with the visitor center and train station exterior restorations in the subsequent years. GI courts building improvements, $400,000 in fiscal year 27 for interior

enhancements to the courts building, including the design of a new courtroom on the third floor. Morgan Memorial Library use $125,000 in fiscal year 27 to conduct a feasibility study for the upcoming vacant memorial library and city space needs. As you know, we're opening the new downtown library, and when we do so, we need to take a look at how we want to reuse the old building. Moving into public safety, fire and rescue, fire apparatus replacements, $1.55 million in fiscal year 27 for one fire engine replacement that has exceeded its useful life. ambulance replacements, $1.92 million in fiscal year 27 for the replacement of three ambulances uh that have uh outlived their useful lives. Fire station 4 replacement at Lake Kilby, $9.5 million in fiscal year 27 for the construction of a new fire station to replace the aged and undersized existing fire station 4 on Pisc Road. Station 9 upgrades Kings Highway $1.4 4 million in fiscal year 27 for building upgrades to the fire station in Chuckeruk which previously served as a volunteer station public safety police police training center in Herville an additional $1.2 $2 million in supplemental funding in fiscal year 27 for building modifications and site improvements at the former Wherville Community City Building uh to be used as a training police training center to include K9 training. Holland Road Precinct 3, $900,000 in fiscal year 27 for design and $9.1 million over fiscal years 28 and 29 for

the construction of a 13.5,000 square foot police precinct with community meeting and employee wellness areas. The precinct is projected to be located in the Holland corridor. Moving to transportation, Garwin Boulevard improvements, $1.25 million in fiscal year 27 and $5 million over fiscal years 29 and 30 to widen for the widening of a 1.5 mile span of Godwin Boulevard from Kings Fork Road to the Suffuk Bypass. Route 17, roadway widening, $9.2 2 million from fiscal years 27 to 30 to widen and extend travel lanes in both directions, add and improve turn lanes, replace signals, and provide bike accommodations from just west of Winwood Lane to Harbor View Boulevard. This a combination of state and federal funds as well as local funds. Shoulders phase two and three, $17.8 8 million over fiscal years 27 and 28 to widen shoulders road from Lake Hawk Lane to Pewville Road. Improvements will include a four-lane divided roadway with multi-use path combination of state and federal and local funds. for transportation. Godwin interchange $1.75 million in local funds in fiscal year 27 to match $12.9 million in state and federal funds received. The project will reconfigure the US Route 58 ramps and Goblin Boulevard by constructing additional turn lanes east road will road intersection $700,000 in fiscal year 27 and $2.2 $2

million in fiscal year 28 to construct a right turn lane at will road onto East Constance Road combination of federal and local funds. Will Roy Road and Progress intersection $700,000 in fiscal year 27 and $1.8 million in fiscal year 28 for turn lane and signal upgrades combination of federal and local funds and more transportation. Miscellaneous roadway improvements, $200,000 per year in local funding to connect missing sidewalk segments. Replace wooden curb cuts and decorative enhancements. Townpoint sidewalk, as the manager mentioned, $ 1.5 million in fiscal year 27 to install sidewalks along sections of Townpoint Road in Pewville. This is a fally funded project via the community projects fund and awarded on February 5th, 2026. Uh, sponsored by Senators Warner and Kaine. Norolk, I'm sorry, North Suffach Connector. $750,000 in fiscal year 27 to study a new two-lane roadway alignment connecting Nansman Parkway to Solders Hill Road in proximity to Suffuk Meadows neighborhood. Hunter Court sidewalk $231,000 in fiscal year 27 to install sidewalk along the cold shopping center entrance at Hunter Court adjacent to the new fire station 11 property on Hampton Roads Parkway. Harborview Boulevard pedestrian improvements, $350,000 in Route 17 taxing district funds programmed into fiscal year 727 to modify and add ADA curb ramps, audible pedestrian signals

at signalized intersections, crosswalk updates, and sidewalk connections. Prudin Boulevard Route 460 improvements provides for road winding, median construction, sidewalks, and closed draining system along Prudin Boulevard to the bypass. Previous funding of 31.1 million in state funding and 6.2 million in developer contributions, $92.9 million in state and local funds programmed in fiscal years 23 to 33 for construction. Kimbley Bridge replacement, as the manager mentioned, a new insertion into the CIP, $98 million in fiscal years 32 through 36 for the replacement of the Kimbley Bridge on Main Street. Moving to public schools, Northern Shores Elementary addition, $3.2 million in fiscal year 27 to complete construction the additional two-story wing, restrooms, cafeteria extension. The project will provide additional student capacity and eliminate the much dreaded mobile units. Elephants Fork Elementary School, $59 million over fiscal years 27 through 29 to replace the over 40-year-old existing school with a new 800 student elementary school. Schools administration office $7.6 6 million over fiscal years 27 through 29 to address the space needs of the school administration office. S public schools currently leases space in the professional building in downtown public schools more uh I'm sorry more public schools schools major repair system replacements $18 million over fiscal years 28 through 31 for repair and replacement of heating and cooling systems roofs storm water

drainage infrastructure as well as testing for abatement of hazardous materials N River High School addition, as the manager mentioned, was moved up one year, $42 million over fiscal years 27, I'm sorry, 29 through 31 to provide the construction of a two-story addition to Nansville River High School. And as you can see in the chart below, this is the priority of some of the other projects in the out years for the schools. Moving to neighborhood initiatives. Neighborhood improvements. $1.5 million in fiscal year 27 to provide closed drainage and street improvements in the Lloyd Place, Rosemont, and Pleasant Hill neighborhoods, as well as funding for future projects to be determined as identified through neighborhood needs assessments. Open space improvements, $250,000 plus an additional $300,000 in fiscal year 27 for property acquisition and improvements such as neighborhood parks and other quality of life enhancements. Downtown implementation plan initiatives $3.56 million in fiscal years 27 fiscal year 27 for projects identified in the downtown Suffukk master plan. Projects include streetscape improvements, public art, mural projects, Sunrust bank redevelopment, wayfinding, gateway improvements, and real estate acquisition. I also want to point out that included in this particular fund is $1.9 million for improvements to the ongoing Phoenix Bank building project. The building will be completely renovated to become a community hall to serve the public. The planning process will include significant community input. Moving to public public utilities, taking a look at their five-year

overview, they have planned expenditures of $125.6 million. And you can see the funding uh revenue sources uh which is revenue bonds to the tune of $92.8 million and then transfer of public utilities cash $32.8 million. public utility projects, water source development and water treatment plant expansion, $4.59 million in fiscal year 27 and $43.8 8 million over the first five years for the surface water treatment plant expansion, groundwater permit renewal, edr well evaluation, reads ferry well rehabilitation and water source development charges, water distribution and transmission system expansion, $7 million in fiscal year 27 with $43.3 million over the first five years for projects to include the Pittsk Road transmission main extension and the western suffer transmission improvements. Water system upgrades $4.275 million in fiscal year 27 with $20.2 million over the first five years to replace aging water meters, water service lines, and address regulatory requirements and find and fix repairs. Sanitary sewer extension, $600,000 over the first five years to extend sanitary sewer into existing developed areas that are currently without sewer service. Sanitary sewer system upgrades, $4.65 million in fiscal year 27 and $17.6 6 million over the first five years for management operations and maintenance to protect against sanitary sewer overflows. Find and fix repairs, pump station,

electrical and mechanical upgrades, and neighborhood sewer improvements. Storm water 5-year overview planned expenditures of just under $18.5 million with uh revenue coming from storm water revenue bonds of 12.6 6 million and transfer uh stormwater fund cash, $5.8 million. Stormwater projects, citywide drainage improvements, $500,000 per year for the design and construction of drainage improvements in areas experiencing flooding issues. Downtown infrastructure improvements, $100,000 per year for design and construction of drainage improvements to reduce flooding in the downtown area. Whaleville Village drainage improvements, $1.5 million over fiscal years 27 and 28 to address flooding issues in the Wherville area. Woodro South Suffuk drainage $1.5 million over fiscal years 27 through 29 for design, rightway, and construction of drainage improvements to relieve flooding. Oakland drainage improvements, $4 million programmed in fiscal years 28 through 30 for design, rightway, and construction to address flooding in the Oakland area. Phase one will include drainage improvements along Pimbrook Lane and transit. The five-year overview, plan expenditures of $2.8 million, plan revenue, general fund, $2.6 6 million and just under $200,000 in state and federal funds. Transit operations facility, $2.8 million in local and state funding in fiscal year 27 for the construction of an operation facility to store and clean

the city's transit buses. The facility will include office space, garage storage, and a secure gated parking for the large vehicles. The new facility will be located in the city's operations complex on Carolina Road. And of course, the next steps are tonight. You're here at your public hearing. So after your public hearing, I have all these wonderful staff here to uh answer any questions you may have, and I'll be here to answer questions as well. That concludes my presentation.

Thank you, Mr. Garrett Jones. Uh before we open the public hearing, Madam Clerk, will you please explain the timing system? This is a public hearing and each speaker is asked to provide their name and their address and will receive three minutes to offer their comments. This is a public hearing with the first speaker. Please come forward and provide their name and address. Good evening. My family's here tonight. They wanted to have a few words with you.

Go ahead. Ma'am, can you please uh give us your name and address? Um, my name is Desmond Key and I live at 4414 Marlin Avenue. Sometimes me and my grandma take walks and we have to walk on the side of the road and that is very dangerous to walk on the side of the road with no sidewalks. What if a car isn't paying attention and hit someone? If they lean the car too close to the side to the edge and boom, lawsuit and hospital bills.

My name is Dax Key. I think we need my name is Dax T and I live out 4414 Marlin Avenue. My name is Dax Key and I think we need s too. I like going to the park riding my scooter on the seabboard trail and and there is no way to get there without putting all of our bikes and scooters in the car to drive there. Please help us. Hello, my name is uh Dylan Eckles. I live at 4414 Milan Avenue. Um our side um sidewalks are important for Pewsville, but it's so proper but so is proper drainage. Our ditches are full when it rains. This give us gives us even less time to walk down our streets that like sidewalks. It also causes dangerous situations for vehicles coming around the curve from Bellsville into our neighborhood of Peville. Many vehicles have fallen into the deep ditch since it was dug and the drainage has not been approved. I was born here in Suffuk, moved to Porcel for a bit, then came back a few years later. Um me and brothers like to go to the park, but we can't do it without walk. We can't walk there because you just be walking inside the street and cars be just zooming by because no one really cares about the speed limit here. So that's why we need sidewalks.

Yeah. My name is Wayne White. I live 4216 Cold Train Avenue, South Virginia. Uh we brought our grandkids here today because they said we wanted to say something at city council. So uh a couple other things about the parking lot at Pewville Park. Okay. I don't know if that was part of the agenda for tonight, but we do need more parking spaces at Fuseville Park and uh we definitely want to get sidewalks before somebody get hurt or killed. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Carolyn White. I live at 4216 Cold Train Avenue in the city of Pewsville, Suffach, Virginia. I'd like to say first of all, thank you for all of the officials that came out on our December Civic League meeting. It was such a great meeting. Officer Buoie was there. Thank you, officer. I see you, Gary. Gary was there. Gave us all this good news about the CIP. So, you're wondering why we're here tonight. We came here tonight because on February 4th meeting, I wasn't here, but I heard that the sidewalks is a joke. to the city council. I don't think sidewalks are going to be a joke when it's going down in Huntersville. So, I just want to let you know we hear you. We see you. Thank you so much for those who Kevin, you were there, too. Thanks, Kevin. Did a wonderful job. All of you, thank you for coming and thank you for including us in the sidewalk, even if it's a joke. But I brought the kids here tonight to let you know there's no joke when someone's killed. Some of us know that, some of us don't. But I just want to make it clear. We want sidewalks. A number of things that I listen to tonight, especially about Pewsville Road being widened. People from New York are here. They moved here and they said, "How is it that we come off exit six, exit 10 off of I664 and we got four lanes on one part of Puesville?" I said, "Well, that's Chesapeake." Cuz Chesapeake did what they were supposed to do in 2006. Suffuk failed to do their work. Now you're trying to clean it up. Praise the Lord. It's time. 20 years. Thank you. Have a

wonderful day. I got to take these kids home because they were asleep but they wanted to speak. God bless you. Hello, my name is Pamela Brandy. I live at 6 516 Pearl Street, Chesapeake, Virginia 23321. even though you all claim me as a resident for the city of Suffuk that I'm not. But my concern and yes, thank you for all coming out to our uh civic league meeting and everything and what you shared and all but I had a lot of question then and still have questions and listen to what was said tonight about you know money that's going to go into different communities and all there is no true breakdown in details of concerns that uh I had that I was listening to the open space improvement. Uh exactly what open space that you're talking about and we are being charged for storm water system even though we don't have that. Um and we hear about you know different communities that you're going to work on the drainage. Well, Puville been talking about drainage gutters and sidewalks for years. You all didn't know the problem that we were having. And you know to talk about a joke of a sidewalk and saying that you can only do a section of Pewsville Road. We need to do all of Pewsville uh Town Road to be able to help these children in our community. And there's been accidents on Townpoint Road. You also put out a sign that says, you know, high water on Town Corn Road when it rains

and it floods. And again, as these children say that they have problems trying to get to the park to play with and even when you talked about the park and the amenities and things that Pewville Park should have that you haven't did yet, we need you to really take consideration because again, as I've said before, you do a lot of things around Pewsville, but you're not doing it in Pewville. And that is the problem. And that is why we going to continue to come. We will continue to speak about the problems that we having and the unfairness and the unjustice that you're doing to this historical black community founded by free slaves. And I see you again. And also for whatever whoever that uh lady was that says that oh um I spoke of not being a suffic resident, didn't want to be a suffic resident. That is correct. I do not because I chose to purchase a land where I wanted to live at and I'm not happy by being moved by the city because we have a right to choose to purchase and buy land anywhere we choose to live at.

Next speaker, please. for sure. As you know, for those that don't know, the reason why I'm taking my time, I'm legally blind, but I made it. Uh certainly, we honor the Lord for our being here tonight, and we do give respect to uh the mayor, vice mayor, and city manager, and all the members of city council. My name is Felton Woodfield. I live 5210 Portmith Boulevard in the city of Portsmith, Virginia. I come tonight to give support to the Martin Luther King uh statue that would be placed at Peanut Park. Um for those that do not know, I thank my brother. He gave a very beautiful presentation there of Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King came here June uh 28, 1963 on behalf of the um uh uh Southern Christian Leadership Conference along with the local 2426 retired union. He came on behalf of Reverend CJ word, Reverend um uh DW Lamb uh and of course Moser Riddick and there was others and then there was others that are living today that was that brought him in such as Mrs. is u uh Bennett, Councilman Bennett, uh Udy Woodfield and others that are living today that was there when Martin Luther King spoke and they participated. Martin Luther King when he came to speak the city to the those that population uh June 28th uh there was 10,000 people that was present on that day. I'm hoping when we get the

monument, I'm just trusting and hoping that we double that number. But people from all around came to uh witness Martin Luther King as he spoke. I have an article that gives that statement uh that Martin Luther King uh came and he spoke uh for those 10,000 plus people that was there. My asking of you tonight is please support this effort. As you heard those young people, this is my article. Uh if you heard those young people as they spoke tonight, they spoke so powerful because Martin Luther King when he spoke during those days from what I've heard from others, he spoke and he motivated, he lifted up, he stimulated persons all around, not just blacks, whites, uh Chinese, Japanese all around. He spoke to those persons and they were inspired. He gave them a dream. That dream that he spoke about and all of us are so familiar with I have a dream speech that he spoke. He gave those individuals dream. Well, what would this statue do? This statue will give dreams to our young people. They will have dreams. They will be able to sit out there in the park. Our senior citizens, our retirees will be able to sit in a park, focus theirselves on the statue of Martin Luther King. And yet, they will still have dreams. they will have dreams that they can pass on to uh their grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on. But I leave you tonight by saying not only will they have dreams, but they also will have hopes. As the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who just passed away a few days ago, he said, "Keep hope alive." And I believe when young people come out there and see that dream, when age people come, when you come to see that that that statue, you'll be able to say, "Let's keep hope alive. Let's keep

hope alive that young people will get off of drugs. Let's keep hope alive that young people get off the streets. Let's keep hope alive that we can be proud of the city of suffer. That we can look up and say we got a mock that a lot of cities do not have." and that is Martin Luther King spoke here in the city of suffer June 28th 1963. Thank you. Our next speaker please.

Good evening. I'm Charles Lavell. I live at 3905 Pewville Road in the city of Suffuk. I heard that and looking at the report given tonight that they're widening shoulders hill road currently on Pewville Road on any given day from around 300 pm till 6:30 sometimes even 700 p.m. from the 664 exit, exit 10, all the way to shoulders hill, it is like a parking lot. And so my concern is that once you widen Shoulders Hill, will that increase the traffic even more so on Pewville Road when it currently now can be a parking lot from exit 10 to Shoulders Hill for a good three and a half, four hours. And so while you are addressing the widening of Shoulders Hill, I hope there is something that is being done to address what will become a Pewville Road when there are only two lanes. And right now, one of them stays filled up completely most days from around 3:00 p.m. to 6:30, 7 p.m. Uh, in addition to what Dr. Whitfield has spoken in regard to the monument of uh Dr. King. It would be a tremendous signal and a symbol for the city of Suffukk and that it would show that we are a city that believes in unity, that we are a city that believes in love, the things that he promoted

mostly while he was on this earth. There are many things that the city can look forward to as we are rapidly becoming the most populated city in the state of Virginia. Nothing would be uh a better presentation of the city than to have a statue of someone who stood for unity, who stood for hope. And as this city becomes to Virginia, what Atlanta is to Georgia, what Dallas is to Texas, what uh Philadelphia is to Pennsylvania, that monument would demonstrate that we are a city of brotherly love, that we are a city that desires to uh be united, and that this city will be one moving forward will set a standard for the state of Virginia and this city. The statue would really tell that story for the city. Thank you for your time. Have a good evening. Our next speaker, please.

Good evening to the mayor and officers. My name is Reverend Barry Sus. I live at 1056 cineber Virginia. Uh I am pastor of Mineral Spring Baptist Church. Uh assignment was tonight for the pastors of Suffach to come out and to give support of the MLK monument as well as the restoration of Phoenix uh bank. And I do that my that's what I'm here tonight. And um I think it's uh well needed and also um I was going away from Suffuk for 31 years. And for 31 years, um, I've always felt that Suffuk was safe and I want to personally thank all the people who was here back home for keeping Suffuk safe while I was gone. Thank you.

Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, members of council. I'm Valerie Boyin, 119 Sumar Street, Suffuk, Virginia. I'm here tonight to speak on behalf of the plans for the MLK Memorial Monument and also the Phoenix Bank. I'm here on behalf of the NAACP, Suffach Nanceman Branch. The NAACP is the oldest civil rights organization in America. It also is the oldest civil rights association in the Commonwealth of Virginia. and we envision an inclusive community rooted in liberation where all people can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination. I'm also here on behalf of Alpha Cappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, the first all female sorority formed uh primarily for African-American women on the campus of Howard University in 1908. It's also the first African-American sorority that was chartered here in the city of Suffach in 1954. So, on behalf of those two organizations, I want to say thank you to the city for the plans thus far, Mr. Hughes's work with the Martin Luther King memorial uh foundation. We appreciate the efforts of the city, the initial renderings and such, and we are fully in support of continuing plans for that and the restoration of the Phoenix Bank. Uh also, as a student of the original Southwestern School, formerly Nman County Training School, that's where I began my my formal education in first grade. I want to thank you for the plans to do a study of that uh particular property. It it's really u breaks your heart to see what's happened to that original school. It was a historic school in the city of Suffuk and we want to resto restore all of our history and so these properties are very important to our community. So thank you for your efforts and again we fully support those initiatives. Have a good night. Good evening, city council members and

mayor Doom. My name is Shemica Council. I reside at 210 Greenfield Crescent, South Virginia 23434. I stand before you today in full support of completing the renovations of the historic Phoenix Bank of Nancement. This project was the forefront between 2003 and 2005. For years, it was delayed. It is truly encouraging to see the city moving forward once again. This building represents more than bricks and mortar. It represents hope. The community surrounding this building deserves to see visible progress. The beautiful canvas displayed on the side of the structure has already sparked imagination and aspiration. People are asking questions. They see possibility. They see promise. Many refer to the area as the old fairgrounds. Historically, it was the first arrival point for many traveling here by train. Whether from neighboring North Carolina or far from far as far away as Japan, Africa, and Italy, the fairground was once a vibrant hub of culture, opportunity, and entrepreneurship. From the 1920s through the 1960s, it resembled our own version of the Harlem Renaissance. It was a safe haven for African-Americans and Japanese immigrants. There were thriving businesses, doctors, dentists, lawyers, restaurants, and even a hospital. Many businesses, business owners worked on the ground floor and lived upstairs. It was a self- sustaining, proud and flourishing community. Revitalizing the Phoenix Bank of Nasmin is not just about restoring a building. It's about honoring the legacy and re reigniting the spirit. Some may ask, why am I so passionate about this one building? I will tell you, I did the research

at North State. I was told I wouldn't find no information, but I did and I'm going to continue to push it. Thanks to Mr. Jones, thanks to Jer Phillips who used to work here um some years ago. um we've been working on this project and for some of the um I would say I'm not going to say older but I would say seniors um older than me some of them have gone on and I feel like I need to carry the torch um I am passionate because building holds stories they hold identity they hold memories when we restore them we restore pride when we invest in them we invest in the community and when we open those doors again we send a message that history matters and so do the people connected to it. I hope we can soon celebrate the grand reopening of the newly renovated Phoenix Bank of Nance and once again allow it to stand as a beacon of progress for suffer. And I'm going to ask, can we do a renaming of the area? I'm just throwing it out there as a just it would be called Freedom Square. I think that would be appropriate for the area. Thank you for your time. Good evening, council, honorable male Duman, and honorable mayor, Vice Mayor M Ward, and distinguished members of council. My name is Larry Parker, 1829 Mountainside Avenue. I also serve as the pastor of the Pontigo Baptist Church 4901 dear path road as the president of the suffer interomination ministers alliance also known as SEMA we are here

tonight to support the efforts of the MLK foundation uh to erect a monument in honor of John of the John Major for justice Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. recognizing his visit to our city on June the 28th, 1963. We're also proud of the fact that as we celebrate our 50th year later this year, that some of the founders of SEMA were in attendance that day and responsible for bringing Dr. King to our city. And so we hope the city council will join in the efforts as well to help bring this project to fruition as we believe it will have a positive impact on our city as we will all continue to help fulfill the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King. Hello, Jenny Wilman, 4305 Aninsley Court South. Nice to see y'all again. As usual, wasn't going to speak, but something that was said tonight in this presentation about making sure we maintain a certain amount for bonds. I agree with that. Right. I'm pretty conservative in a lot of different ways, especially financially. I think that's a smart move. But who's ever heard the expression being poor is expensive, right? There is a big cost to deferred maintenance. And I encourage you when we think about the needs in this city to look at some of them with that lens because what cost are we incurring by kicking that can down the road? You might say that's why we're in the situation we are. How many police stations should we have by now? how many schools should have been rebuilt. So, I would just encourage you to let's look at proactive investment because we know that that's typically cheaper than

dealing with a crisis that emerges by that deferred maintenance. So, I encourage you to look at it with that lens really carefully and let's not say we can't do stuff. Let's figure out how we can and move towards that. Yes. Thank you so much. We have our next speaker, please.

Good evening, Will Webb, 810 Dunville Avenue, Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Council, and City Manager. As we discuss adding the Kimberly Bridge back into the CIP, we have a rare strategic opportunity to solve two problems with one vision. The bridge sits less than 100 yards from the intersection of Constance and Maine, an intersection that currently ranks as the 10th most congested in all of Hampton Roads. According to the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, it is the only section intersection on this side of the Interstate 64 loop that makes the list. Operating at a level of service E, this intersection is a bottleneck that defines the downtown experience for many. By returning the Kimberly Bridge to the CIP, we have the perfect vehicle to address this. It would be prudent for council to direct staff to expand the scope of the Kimberly Bridge project into a comprehensive corridor improvement. It is counterproductive to repair the bridge only to have traffic immediately back up onto it because of its failing intersection a few yards away. Let's leverage the engineering and mobilization costs of the bridge project to finally fix the constants and main bottleneck. By addressing these as a single gateway project, we save taxpayer money, reduce long-term construction fatigue for our downtown businesses and residents, and finally fix the failing grade at our city's at one of our city's most critical crossroads. Thank you. All right, next speaker, please. Do we have anyone else present who would like to speak at this time? Hearing no additional speakers, this public hearing is now closed. Council, a resolution has been presented for your consideration. What is your pleasure?

Council member Johnson, I move to to approve the capital improvement budget. presented today. We got a motion for approval from council member Johnson. Council member Wright. Second. Second from council member Wright. Is there any discussion of the motion?

Hearing none. Uh before we vote, I'd just like to comment. I want to thank the city manager, all the staff, and this is a very very comprehensive involved uh process. It started before the first of the year. And for those of you that were there that listened especially to to Mr. Jones go through the myriad of projects we have just imagine that's the boiled down version of what everybody wanted to look at. That's what the end result was after months and months of doing mainly prioritization because each year capital improvement projects compete against each other because there's only so much money. Everybody can understand a need, everybody can identify a need, but what we need to work at is the resources to address those needs. When you look at our capital improvement plan, and we do call it a plan because the only thing that's etched in stone is this year because our needs change. Some of our long-term needs are the same, but we also have short-term issues that come up, short-term opportunities that come up. One thing that's a couple things that stand out because of our fiscally responsible way of budgeting every year. We normally over the years we've been blessed with what we call a budget surplus. But over the next five years, there's $121 million $121,335,264 plugged into that CIP for cash that comes out of the re reserve funds and also our operating account. So we are fortunate that we have positioned ourselves to be able to respond in the event that we have an emergency, a need of some type that we did not

anticipate or we need funds in reserve to possibly for matching grants and we have the opportunity to do those. So when you look at the CIP, not only look at the money that's being spent, but you need to see where the resources are, where the funding is coming from. And when you see the word grant, that means that that funding that was received from the state and the feds is earmarked for a particular purpose. You cannot take it for one that if it's granted for one purpose, we can't move it to another. So bottom line is I'm I'm very satisfied with our CIP. uh the city manager, we've listened to our constituents. The city manager has listened to our council members. We've made adjustments to the CIP uh to provide uh some services and some improvements. I believe the allocation of resources when you look across our city has been equitable. the myriad of we are completing we have completed a lot of road projects and we are completing some major road projects you know just 58 we got shoulders hill 17 these are huge projects that are coming to fruition but one of the most frustrating things is as I mentioned before we can identify what our needs are but what's frustrating is having the resources to make that happen so if there's no other discussion we do have a motion on the floor for approval. If there's no other discussion, council members, prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madame clerk, kindly record the vote.

Motion is approved by a vote of 8 to zero. Our next public hearing is an ordinance to reszone and amend the official zoning map in the city of Suffach to amend the previously approved profers for properties located to 2821A and 2821 Holland Road, zoning map 32, parcels 39, excuse me, parcels 29 Astric 2 and 29. and to change the zoning from M1 conditional light industrial zoning district to B2 general commercial conditional zoning district for a portion of a property located at 2821 Holland Road zoning map 32 parcel 29 account numbers 154 0000521 and 1541300 0. This is RZN 20258 conditional. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council, Kevin Weine, director of planning and community development, will provide the staff.

Thank you, Mr. Manager. Mayor, vice mayor, members of council. Items nine and 10 on your agenda are companion items uh resoning that would allow for the issuance of a conditional use permit related to a truck stop travel plaza. Uh this first presentation I'll walk you through the resoning request which actually impacts some profers that were originally approved back with the original resoning for the Westport development on Holland Road. Uh this is where the property is located along Holland Road. Um it is within our employment um I'm sorry this is a commercial corridor um designation in our comprehensive plan. Uh presently the property is owned B2. Um however some profers associated with the property limit its ability to be developed with a truck stop. That is one of the conditions that they wish to amend. Overall the property consists of approximately 30 acres um that are zoned B2 today. They would incorporate another two acres or so that are zoned M1 uh that would serve as a drive aisle for that proposed truck stop as mentioned. So the original resoning with this was approved in 2008. Um specifically it did not allow for the establishment of a truck stop travel plaza. Uh they are looking to amend conditions uh specifically related to that prohibition of that use uh to seek that conditional use permit that would allow for it. Ultimately, three of the uh conditions are proposed for amendment. Uh this is that 1.9 almost 2 acre piece of uh the property that is now M1. Uh they are looking to change that to B2 as well.

So there are several conditions uh that will remain the same as it relates to the original resoning. Uh specifically, they're not modifying conditions 1, five, or six. Uh but the conditions that they are amending all come back to their ability to establish a truck stop travel plaza on the site. Uh one being the owner applicant shall provide a traffic and roadway improvements consistent with an updated at this point traffic impact study um entitled the Westport Retail Park Trip Generation Comparison Memorandum. Uh this incorporates the trips generated by that proposed truck stop use into an updated TIA. Condition three, they would modify um the list of uses um by allowing the establishment specifically of a truck stop, travel plaza that was previously a use that was um prohibited. And then condition four will replace the fourth uh profer. This goes back to uh the conceptual layout that was presented uh with that original resoning request and that has since been updated to incorporate and depict a truck stop travel plaza on the site. And here is that exhibit you can see on uh the right hand of the site that would be uh coming east uh towards the downtown area. That is the 8 acre piece that would be utilized uh as the proposed truck stop that will be considered as part of public hearing item 10. Um ultimately uh just to give you a little preview, the truck stop proposed in this case would be 6100 square ft of retail space. Uh they would have 16 passenger vehicle fueling lanes. Six of those would be truck fueling lanes. Um

37 passenger vehicle parking spaces and 30 truck designated parking spaces. That those truck designated parking spaces are a result of some unified development ordinance amendments uh that we have incorporated that specifically require truck parking spaces uh on these types of uses um based on the number of fuel pumps that they have um and other amenities that they serve the truck community. So staff has reviewed this request as it relates to um the change in profers as proposed against the comprehensive plan as well as the unified development ordinance. Uh we believe this use is consistent with the character uh and intensity of commercial uses uh within the surrounding properties. Additionally, uh this is at the front of an industrial park that's under development and a use of this nature would certainly uh be a companion to the industrial users and logistic users part of the site. Um so we are recommending that uh approval of this request um to you all and at the planning commission's meeting last month on January 20th they have voted uh 7 to zero to recommend approval of this application before you all uh with the profers as offered. Uh that concludes my presentation on this item. I'll be happy to stand by at the conclusion of the public hearing. Should you have any questions?

Thank you Mr. Wine. Before we open a public hearing, madam clerk, will you please explain the timing system? This is a public hearing and each speaker is asked to provide their name and their address. We will have a 10-minute period for the proponents, a 15-minute period for those in opposition, and then an additional fivem minute period for rebuttal. This is a public hearing. Will the first speaker please come forward and provide their name and address? Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Vice Mayor. All right. I'm sorry. Before we start the public hearing, Councilman Johnson has an announcement. Comments,

a brief comment. I just want to clear the air a little bit. I I have completely um regarding item nine. My business, Johnson's Gardens, is affected by the proposed reszoning and conditional use permit as the property question is next to my business. However, I can participate in the vote for these items fairly, objectively, and in the public interest. And that's what I'd like to do. So, I'm just making it clear that people people know where we are and there's nothing going on here. I just want you to know what what it's about. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir. Please go on.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor, members of council. For the record, my name is Rob Beaman. I'm a local land use attorney at the Troutman Pepper Lock Law Firm. Here today on behalf of the applicant, Racetrack, Inc., uh joining me this evening are Carrie Collie, who's the development project manager for racetrack, and Jeremy Ye with Kimley Horn, who's our civil engineer on this project. I first wanted to thank Mr. Wine and his staff for all their work on this application over the past several months and for the recommendation of approval. I think Mr. Wine did a great job of of sort of giving you all a complete overview of the application, but there were just a couple of items I wanted to highlight if I may this evening. Uh first, the proposed racetrack store would not be sort of a a full truck stop. Uh instead it' be a combination of a traditional gasoline station and convenience store with additional pumps and parking spaces that have been sized to accommodate larger trucks, but it would not include scales or showering or laundry facilities, uh power hookups or other amenities that you typically see at a larger, more intensive truck stop. Secondly, as Mr. Juan indicated, we have worked with staff to make sure that this uh site is designed to be in compliance with all the new design criteria that were recently incorporated into the UDO for these specific types of uses, including the provision that requires the additional uh truck parking spaces on site. And finally, um, as is noted in the staff report, this use is compatible and and complimentary to really uh some of the surrounding land uses, which are predominantly industrial and and uh commercial in nature and is also consistent with the uh comprehensive uh plan designation for commercial and employment generating uses on this property. And with that, we certainly thank you for your time and consideration of this application, and we'll stand by for your questions. Thank you very much.

Thank you. We have our next speaker to speak in favor of this ordinance. Do we have anyone else present who would like to speak in favor? Hearing none. Do we have anyone present who would like to speak in opposition? Is there anyone present who would like to speak in opposition? Hearing no additional speakers. This public hearing is now closed. Council, an ordinance has been presented for your consideration. What is your pleasure? Council member Williams. Move for approval. Got a motion for approval from council member Williams. Council member Johnson.

May I'd like to second it. I've spent a great deal of time of course studying this and a gas station belongs on this site. There is a need. Tractor trailers are going to be coming in and out of there and this is probably the perfect place to put it. So I like to second it. Okay. We have a motion on the floor for approval. Is there any further discussion of the motion? Council member Wright.

Yes. I just had a question. I know that our new ordinance for trucks requires has some requirements concerning way stations and showers, whatever. So, this location doesn't have those things, but they're still I just want to confirm they are still providing parking. Um 37 passenger vehicle parking spaces and 30 truck designated parking spaces even though they're not required necessarily required. Oh, they are. Okay. So the ordinance for the trucks, it wasn't contingent upon like a way station or a shower.

It was and uh they're essentially two categories if I have that right. So you either have a weight component or you do not, but both have requirements as it relates to adding truck parking. Easy day. Thank you. Okay, council. Any other questions or comments? Excuse me. I just want to clarify. Is there an amendment to this item? There's not. Okay. I think so.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Uh before you all, there is a revised ordinance associated with this uh making a modification to section three of the ordinance which called out the incorrect zoning designation. Um so it's a minor amendment uh that is before you all this evening. It would be appropriate to uh when you act on it to approve it with the amended ordinance in front of you. Okay. So a question. Council member Williams. Would you like to restate your motion with the amendment?

I move to approve with the attached amendments. Okay, we had a second from Councilman Johnson and Councilman Johnson is second that motion. Now, is there any further discussion? Uh before we vote, I just have one question. Condition four where it states that the applicant pledges that the proposed development will be in substantial accordance. You know what do we define as substantial and what protection do we have there? That would be I guess question for city attorney. Actually that would be a question for the planning director. He would be the one that does the evaluation.

Actually that would be a question for the planning director. So here is that conceptual plan as referenced. Um you can see they show the great detail with the actual truck stop here. Um but they do show a general layout as it relates to uh parking, building location, uh roadway connections, um and um in some cases specific users. Uh we would use this um as our guiding document when we evaluate the site plans um to ensure that uh circulation, building sizes, uh things of that nature, uses all align u with this plan. Um we we do have some guidance within the unified development ordinance um as it relates to deviations from these types of elements. Um specifically that we utilize that for for site plan approvals as well as conditional use permits and that's deviation of 5% over what is shown. Uh we would be utilizing that as our guide um against this conceptual plan. So the 5% is substantial and the UDO regulations are cut. I mean they're etched in stone. We know what they are.

So you would review the rest of them.

Correct. Okay. All right. Thank you. Anyone else have any questions before we call for the vote hearing? None. Council members prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madam clerk, please record the vote. Motion is approved by a vote of 8 to zero. Item 10. Our next public hearing is an ordinance to grant a conditional use permit to establish a truck stop travel plaza on a property located at 2821 A21 Holland Road, zoning map 32, parcels 29 astric 2 and 29. Account numbers 15400521 and 15413000000. This is CUP 20255. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council, Mr. Wine will provide an overview on a very familiar project.

Uh thank you again, Mr. Manager, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council. I I won't keep you too long on this one. Um, however, uh, the action that you just took on that resoning paved the way, uh, for you all to be able to consider this item as well. Um, while the resoning impacted that entire B2 frontage, that 30 acres or so, uh, that this would apply to just that 8 acre site, um, that would serve the proposed use, that truck stop travel plaza that has been identified as a racetrack. Uh really quick refresher, 6,100 square feet um store is proposed um has those parking spaces as discussed. Those six fueling lanes means that we will have provided uh 30 truck designated parking spaces on site uh which is a significant um improvement for us from a reg regulatory standpoint. that ensures that there's going to actually be space on the site that can serve the uh the patrons of the convenience store. Additionally, we have been provided some elevations by the developer um that we have proposed as uh compliance towards as one of the conditions that we have recommended before you this evening. Um and once again uh similar to our evaluation of the resoning, we've looked at the UDO and the comprehensive plan uh specifically within the UDO, we have the uh criteria that we use to evaluate impacts uh to neighboring properties as it relates to proposed land uses. In this case, uh this is an appropriate land use uh within that commercial corridor um specifically when it's adjacent to an employment center land use type as well. Uh so it aligns with the B2 general commercial zoning district regulations um and it's compatible with those

existing uses. So we are recommending approval of this with those conditions as outlined within our report and the planning commission has recommended their approval of this item as well um at their January 20th meeting by a vote of 7 to zero. That concludes my presentation on this item. I can stand by at the conclusion of the public hearing. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Wine. Before we open a public hearing, Madam Clark, will you please explain the timing system? This is a public hearing, and each speaker is asked to provide their name and their address. We will have a 10-minute period for the proponents, a 15-minute period for those in opposition, and then an additional five minutes for rebuttal.

This is a public hearing of the first speaker. Please come forward and provide their name and address, and that's to speak in favor of this ordinance. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Vice Mayor, uh, again, for the record, Rob Beaman, local attorney at the Tropman Pepper Lock Law Firm, here today on behalf of the applicant. Our comments to the last application also apply to this one. So, we'll stand by for the council's questions. Thank you very much.

Thank you. We have our next speaker to speak in favor of this ordinance. Is there anyone else present to speak in favor? Hearing none, do we have anyone to speak in opposition? Is there anyone present to speak in opposition to this ordinance? Hearing no additional speakers, this public hearing is now closed. Council, an ordinance has been presented for your consideration. Council member Recctor, move to approve. Got a motion for approval from council member Recctor. Council member Wright second.

Second from council member Wright. Is there any discussion of the motion? Hearing none, council members prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madam clerk, kindly record the vote.

Motion's been approved by vote of 8 to zero. Our next public hearing is item 11, an ordinance to grant a conditional use permit to establish a truck stop travel plaza on property located on Prudent Boulevard, zoning map 25, parcel 57, asterric 57A, asterric 11, account number 254003517. This is CUP 202514. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview. Mr. Wine will provide the staff overview.

All right. Thank you again, Mr. Manager. Mayor, vice mayor, members of council. Uh there's a theme with these first three um or these last three public hearings rather. Uh this is for another truck stop travel plaza use and just so happens to also be a racetrack uh for Prudin Boulevard. Um these projects are unrelated uh but um similar requests. Uh this property is located on Prudent Boulevard. Uh the property in this case or the portion of the property that would be subject to the request uh is smaller uh 6 acres total in size. Uh this is along Prudin Boulevard at its intersection with uh the under construction Port Street uh in front of the Port 460 development. Uh so here you can see it is part of our commercial corridor land use designation as outlined in the 2035 comprehensive plan. And here you have that uh area you have uh the property in its entirety hashed out there. Uh but the cup area um the portion of the site that would be subject to the conditional use permit is the yellow area there. So not part of the cup um is the is the blue highlighted portion. So here we have the conceptual layout for the use as proposed. Um here you have the site uh slightly smaller. Um in this case they will have five fueling pumps. Uh so with that being said, they will be providing 25 spaces for trucks on site. Same size uh convenience store. Uh the racetrack market here is also

6,100 square ft. Uh it would take access from uh Port Street uh near a proposed traffic circle. um an additional access point there to the um believe that's the west of the site south and then um along 460 as well. Uh they will have um an access point. Um here you can see that uh right in right out off of 460 not directly into the racetrack site but um that would serve the commercial uses that ultimately they would have along route 460. Uh once again we do have elevations that have been provided in support of this application. uh those are a condition uh as recommended by staff of um should you elect to approve this application. Uh once again we've reviewed this proposed use against uh the unified development ordinance and the comprehensive plan. Uh we believe that it fits with the surrounding use types uh particularly with the undergoing development there and the type of use intensity that one expects along a route like route 460. So, as such, staff is recommending approval of this with those conditions as outlined within our staff report. And the planning commission at their meeting on January 20th um by a vote of 7 to zero, they have recommended their approval of this application to you all this evening with those same conditions. Uh that concludes my report on this item. I'll be happy to stand by at the conclusion of the public hearing.

Thank you, Mr. Wine. Before we open the public hearing, Madam Clerk, will you please explain the timing system? This is a public hearing and each speaker is asked to provide their name and their address. We will have a 10-minute period for the proponents, a 15-minute period for those in opposition, and then an additional five minutes for rebuttal. This is a public hearing with the first speaker. Please come forward and provide your name and address.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Mr. Vice Mayor, members of council. Again, for the record, my name is Rob Bean, local news attorney at the Troutman Pepper Lot Law Firm. here today on behalf of the applicant racetrack. Again, wanted to thank Mr. Wine and his staff for all their work on this application and for the overview that he just gave. Just a couple of things I wanted to to highlight on this application as well. This would be a nearly identical um use as the as what was previously presented to you just a few minutes ago. It would also not offer the types of services that you find at more intensive truck stops like uh showering facilities, laundry facilities, scales, or power hookups. and it also has been designed to meet all the requirements that have been adopted into the UDO for these specific types of uses. The only other thing I wanted to point out to council is um I believe all the other similar uses on 460 in this stretch are on the northern side of the road. So this would be particularly convenient for folks traveling east towards downtown and towards 58 to be able to pop in before they before they get on their way and not have to cross over 460. So with that, we certainly appreciate your time and consideration and we'll stand by for questions. Thank you very much.

Thank you. We have our next speaker to speak in favor of this ordinance. Do we have anyone else present who would like to speak in favor? Hearing none. Do we have anyone who would like to speak in opposition? Is there anyone present who would like to speak in opposition? Hearing no additional speakers. This public hearing is now closed. Council, an ordinance has been presented for your consideration. Council member Williams. Move for approval. We have a motion for approval from council member Williams. Council member Wright. Second.

Second from council member Wright. Is there any discussion in the motion? Hearing none. Council members prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madame clerk, please record the vote. Motion is approved by a vote of 8 to zero.

Okay. Our last public hearing is item 12, which is an ordinance authorizing the Senate Manager to execute a deed of easement with the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to convey temporary and permanent non-exclusive easements for the installation of an access to a water quality observation well on city-owned property located on the site of the Reeds Ferry well in the Chuckatuk Burough in the city SuffK. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview. Mayor, vice mayor, members of council, Mr. Paul Retell, the director of public utilities will provide the overview.

Good evening, mayor, vice member, members of city council. Mr. Manager. So, this public hearing is for an ordinance to authorize the city manager to execute a deed of easement with the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, abbreviated as DEEQ. And this allows for the construction and operation of a groundwater monitoring well that will be owned and operated by the DEEQ. So a couple things to point out with this uh with the execution of this deed of easement. This does allow the does grant DEEQ two easements. They're temporary permanent non-exclusive easements at the existing Reeds Fairy Well site. I have a slide coming up here that shows you the location of this. It's in the Chuckatuk burrow. So what these two easements do is they allow one for the construction and the installation of a groundwater monitoring well and then also once the construction is completed allows DEEQ to actually access our site. Uh it's on city property to go ahead and pull samples from this groundwater monitoring well and to test those for various constituents. So a little bit about this well as I mentioned it allows for the installation operation for this groundwater monitoring well. When you think about this well, think about if you would, for example, uh, put a well in for irrigation or for drinking water purposes. That's exactly what it is, except that this is much deeper. It's right adjacent to the Reeds Ferry Well, which is one of our high production wells where we draw groundwater and treat it at the G. Robert House Water Treatment Plant. So, the DEQ well will be right adjacent to it. Won't interfere with the operation of it. But even though it's very similar to a drinking water well, they will not drink this water. So they will come in and they will sample the water that comes out of this that is pulled up from the PTOIC aquifer and they will test it. They won't drink it. So they test it for various constituents. So what they will do is DEEQ as well as the US Geological Survey will use this well to monitor

water quality in that aquifer. It helps with regional planning for monitoring of uh of water quality and safety. So they'll look at a variety of different things with the water that comes out of this well. Uh one is they'll look at the aquifer level. They'll monitor the aquifer level to see if that changes over time. They'll look for saltwater intrusion because although we pull fresh water out of that well, obviously for drinking water purposes. Sometimes an aquifer can have some saltwater intrusion. So they'll be looking for that. The other thing to point out with this is this well site was jointly selected. DEEQ approached us and asked us if that we would allow them to put a well on our site. Uh we like to be good partners with DEEQ. They grant us groundwater withdrawal permitting rights and we're working with them on a permit renewal right now. Uh so this location was selected jointly. As I mentioned, I've got a slide here that shows the location of this well. So on the left hand side on that current aerial view, if you look off to your right on that slide, you'll see a red road. That's Route 10. Uh off to the right is Herald Drive. So if you're thinking if you're driving up to Chuckatuck and you're headed north and you're about to pass, I believe it's called Tidewater Motorcycles on your right hand side. Make a make a sharp left instead of going to the motorcycle shop, go down a farm road and you travel back. So if you look at the right hand slide, you'll arrive at the Reeds Fairy Well site. It's a fenced site. And then the white box in the lower leftand corner of that site shows where that new DEEQ monitoring well will be installed. So this is the plat that we've been working with them on. So, in the dashed line at the bottom of that, the outer dashed line, not quite sure what shape that is, but uh that would be the construction easement. Gives them some room to get in there, take the fence down, install this well, and then the smaller dashed uh box would be where the actual well will be located. So, they

hope to get many years of service out of this monitoring well, help the region uh and also just continue to monitor water quality in the region. With that, at the conclusion of the hearing, I'll be able to take any questions that you might have. Okay. Madam clerk, before we open a public hearing, will you please explain the timing system? This is a public hearing and each speaker is asked to provide their name and address and will receive three minutes to offer their comments.

Have our please, first speaker, please come forward. Do we have anyone present who would like to speak to this ordinance? Hearing none. The speaker is now this hearing is now closed. Council questions, comments, or a motion? Council member Bennett. Move for approval. Get a motion for approval from council member Bennett. 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. Madam clerk, please record the vote.

The motion is approved by a vote of 8 to zero. Item number 13, uh, ordinance has been continued to our March 18th, 2026 meeting. Our next ordinance is an ordinance to grant a conditional use permit to establish a commercial dog kennel use on property located at 6128 Old Myrtle Road, zoning map 23, partials 19 and 19A, account number 25119300 0 and 253071700. This is CUP 20254 and this item was continued from the November 19th, 2025 city council meeting. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview.

Mayor Res mayor, members of council, Mr. Wine will provide a overview on this ordinance.

Thank you again, Mr. Manager, mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council. As noted, this item uh was continued from your November 19th meeting in which a public hearing was held and closed. As such, we have an ordinance before us this evening um to consider a conditional use permit to allow a commercial dog kennel use at 6128 Old Myrtle Road. There actually two parcels involved in this uh one which is uh the larger parcel that uh contains the house and then a smaller parcel um that comprises uh the property as well. Uh the property is uh within our uh rural agricultural land use district and it is zoned a agricultural um use. The uh cup request in this case is to establish that commercial kennel. Um, currently they have 24 outdoor kennel spaces uh covered with a carport including a misting system and some uh custom canvas enclosure offering some additional protection from the elements. They are proposing to keep no more than 10 dogs at any given time uh for the purposes of breeding. Uh that is a reduction over what was previously proposed. Um, here we have that carport where the kennels are located. Um, you have that outlined in red. Um, and here's what that looks like uh on the site. Uh, there have been some additional improvements that have been made uh on site since your last consideration of this item. Uh, one of those is the um fence improvement here uh shown with some outdoor lights. So, as you recall um staffs reviewed

this uh application against the 2045 comprehensive plan and the UDO um and there remains some concerns as it relates to mitigation of potential impacts specifically with the adjacent residential uses. um most notably noise and odor uh that that could stem from uh the proposal. Um as the criteria that we utilize to evaluate these types of applications has not fully been satisfied, staff continues to recommend denial of this application. Um however it is important to note that uh there is an approving ordinance um in front of you all uh this evening should you wish to approve it. In that case um staff has proposed uh several conditions that it believes would be paramount for this operation to operate um in a manner that would alleviate um some of those concerns or uh would work to alleviate rather. Um, additionally, uh, should you wish, uh, to add an another condition, uh, to regulate the number of dogs that could be kept on the site, it's recommended, uh, that you all do that should you move to, uh, entertain approval. Uh, so staff continues to recommend denial of this application. Additionally, at their meeting May 20th um of last year, the planning commission uh voted 7 to zero to recommend denial of this application before you all this evening. Uh that concludes my update on this item. I can uh stand by to address any questions you may have. All right, council. Uh where am I? An ordinance is presented for your consideration. There's no public

hearing. So any questions, comments or emotion?

Council member Johnson, can can the um person step up front that we're asking for this, please? got a couple of questions just to clarify. Um,

your first name, I'm sorry, Samantha. What? Hey, Samantha. Hi. Um, it looks like you've done a number of things to make the facility better than what it is. What it was. How many how many dogs are you looking to do now? We've reduced it from 24 down to 10, which has been heartbreaking, but we have Um, how about as far as the building goes with the cold? How have you how have you dealt with the cold?

Um, so we have the canvas sides which has really helped um with the cold. Um the the longer sides goes down to about maybe a foot like 12 inches up. Um the dogs have blankets in their um dog houses. They have raised pet beds. Um and it has raised the the temperature the canvas having the canvas sides on there has raised the temperature on the inside. So it is warmer. So on a 21 degree day, what is what is the temperature in there? Um on a 21 degree day, I would say I think it raises it about 20 degrees. So 40. Yeah, it's been averaging right around 40. And they have

you considered I I know funding is limited and you own a small lot, but have you considered moving to a bigger lot? We are looking at at moving to another lot. My concern in all honesty is the noise. Yes. and and the level of odor and that's why we we installed the the fence, you know, to help with the the noise mitig mitigation as well. And the canvas sides definitely helps as well. I'm thinking about the dogs, too. I'm sorry. I mean, I'm just, you know, dogs don't like to be in a crunch space, even a small dog like that. And um I still have concerns. I'm sorry because I know you it's dear to your heart.

But I don't think number one, it would have to be 10 dogs. Um the odor, the cleanliness, your neighbors neighbors coming around at all? We have reached out to the neighbors. I've um sent a certified letter. I've tried reaching out via email. My husband has who's deployed has reached out via email. They won't respond to us. Yeah, they've responded to um But see, this is not this is not the kind of hearing where they can come forward. I know that's the problem. But I've reached out to them and I'm like, "Hey, you know, whatever I can do to help, you know, your concerns, like talk to me." My concern is I I don't I believe people should live their life and be able to do what they can do. But I'm I'm just not convinced that this is appropriate for for $10.

I I have Well, I have to go along with the city though. Would have to be some kind of understanding that there would be better oversight than what we've had in the past. Um and your neighbors need to be on board. It's a very small community, right? And and in all honesty, acre is not much. And I love dogs. Don't get me wrong. I got I um I'm just not sure this is right for that community. The only issue that we've had is with the neighbors who don't live beside us. They live in a completely different area in Suffach. We haven't had any issues with the renters. We're willing to do whatever. I just want to keep my 10 dogs. Like I've already had to rehome 14, which has been really, really, really hard. Yeah.

I just want to keep my 10 dogs. I'm sure with the with the city denying it though like they have I I I'm going to have a hard time. I'm sorry. But thank you, Council Member. Yeah. My question is if you're only allowed 10 dogs and you're breeding dogs and you have a litter of X number of pups, that's going to put you over the limit. So, how you going to manage that? Puppies are so from what I understand puppies are not a part of the total number of dogs. It's it goes by six months and older. Um as far as as

Yes. Okay. I thought a dog was a dog. Okay. All right. That was my question. Thank you, council. Any other questions or comments? Council member Richtor.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I just would like to point out that even if you are actively looking for another site to do this conditional use permit goes with the land. It doesn't go with the applicant. So um the next person that comes into this house or comes onto this property would have a conditional use permit in place already um to operate a dog breeding facility and they may not be as responsible as you as you are. And so that's one of my big concerns about it. Well, can I say one thing? My husband is military. He's not going to be retiring from the military for another four years. So, it's going to be three to four years before we are actually able to move from our location. Three to four years.

U Mr. Wine, can I get you back up here? I need to ask you a couple questions, please. I'm sorry. Let me get That's all right. I'll do my questions first and then we'll get to you push the button too late. Um, you mentioned additional conditions that if were to be approved, staff would recommend incorporating into the conditional use permit. Are those the ones that are enumerated? It starts off uh conditional use permit grants. Number two, site development activities conducted as part of a is it that page there? There's five separate things listed.

Uh, there are five separate things listed. Um should should you all um move to approve this uh we recommend those conditions. Additionally um those do not include a cap on the number of dogs. So it would be appropriate to add a condition related

looking at the conditions that staff is recommending in the event that we are considering doing it. You feel like these five things will adequately adequately address the majority of the concerns. I know that one of them animal waste shall not may shall be enclosed in a sealed and sanitary manner prior to being placed in a residential refuge container and be kept in completely enclosed structure. Uh kennel area for the keeping dogs should be enclosed in a manner to minimize noise and promote dog comfort to the maximum extent possible. These are well and good. And if we took those five and added to it the limit on dogs, adult dogs at 10 with two in the house or with 10, two in the house. Are you still planning on keeping two in the house as pets?

So 10 plus two in the house. It seems like that would address the concerns. My question is how diligent are we going to be in ensuring that these conditions are being met? You know, will we be having an inspection every six months, once a year, or do we have to wait for somebody to complain about it?

Um, we actively enforce uh conditions as it relates to uh any conditional use permit that has been issued in the city. Uh, additionally, uh, neighbors are quite good at letting us know if, uh, they are not complying with certain conditions. Um, and we have a team of inspectors, uh, that are are go out daily, um, across the city to ensure that zoning provisions are being enforced. Uh, so so we would be actively um, actively uh, investigating and inspecting sites uh, including this one for compliance to the conditions. me looking at it as an individual who's been involved with dogs my entire life, both with professional breeders and just being a dog owner, period. Uh, a lot of what the applicant is doing is indicative of a responsible breeder with contracts and buybacks and some of the other requirements she has in her contract. the initial application with the number of dogs was, you know, way off the charts. So, I think I think 10's still a little high, but it's a reasonable number. Uh, puppies kind of come and go. I mean, normally they don't have more than one litter a year, I would think. Maybe two. Yeah, normally they're maxed out at one litter a year. A reputable breeder, we're not talking about a puppy mill. And then they're probably They retired around four or five years old.

Four or five. See, I remember a lot of this stuff. You retired the dogs around four or five. And how long have you been doing this?

2012. So about 14 years. So I understand the concerns. Personally, I think that if all of these conditions are incorporated into the cup along with the $10 limit, then I would be in favor of it. So, that's just my position at this point. Um, Council Member Williams, I believe you had you still want to speak. Kind of caught you on the fly last time, Council Member Williams.

Yes. Well, actually, mayor, you kind of alluded to my question, but I I I still ask the um young lady um as it relates to the odor. Um what what type of mitigation what what have you done to maybe keep the odor down?

So, we clean the kennels twice a day. Um when I clean the kennels, we scoop it. Um it goes into a sealed plastic bag in a five gallon bucket. That sealed bag gets sealed each time and it goes into trash bin in our um it's like a shed that my my husband had built. It goes inside that and another um trash bin. Um we also do pressure washing on the the block um I'd say probably twice a week, sometimes more if it needs it. Um daily. We use a a water hose daily just to kind of you know get the extra stuff off just so it stays cleaner and there's no smell.

Thank you. Mr. Wise got a question. If we were to um approve this and you guys would do inspections, how often would the inspections be done? And would they be surprise inspections or will the the would she be told that hey, we're going to come up tomorrow or will they just be just pop up visitors? How is that? And do you have the manpower to do that?

That's a loaded question. Um uh for a city of 430 square miles, uh we do have uh four zoning inspectors um covering various uh parts of the city. Um, as far as a set schedule, uh, that that's not something that we typically work in, um, even with conditional use permits, but, uh, we we are careful to get out to these sites somewhat regularly. Um, and more often than not, those would be surprise inspections, uh, to ensure compliance with those conditions. Thank you, Council Member Barlo.

Thank you, Mayor. This is a very, very hard situation. It really is. Um, I'm a dog lover. I've had dogs all my life. Um, I've had a lot of dogs at one time, but I live on a big farm and I regret the amount of investment that you've had. I've I regret the fact that you've had to get rid of animals that you cared about. But I can't help but feeling that, you know, you you bought a home and a and you went down this road without having all the things in place that you needed to have to to run this business. And the thing that I'm concerned about now is you're putting the city in a position that we're bending and fudging and pushing and adapting and adding, you know, all kinds of provisions to ordinances that are fairly clear and that our planning commission and our staff have said, "We don't think this is the right business in the right location." And it doesn't make it easy. It doesn't make it an easy decision. And again, I I feel terrible for the fact that you have put in a lot of time and effort, but I just I I I wish you had done this in a different way. I wish you had gotten all of the plans in place and found out if you could or couldn't do this before you made all of this investment and then put us in the position of looking like the bad guys because we want you to get rid of your dogs because I don't think that's what this is. But I just um I can't ignore uh the fact that our planning commission and our staff is asking us to deny this. Um and I again I think The I think the most dogs I've had at one time was seven

big dogs

and that's a handful for one person. And I have the space and the help, you know, to take care of them. I'm not not doubting that you don't take care of your animals, but um this is a very intense um animal production facility and uh I just I I just I wanted to say my piece to the rest of the council. Um, I just feel like we've gotten this whole process backwards. And uh, again, I I hate that we're this far down the road that we're down, but um, and we can't go back and undo what's been done, but I just I can't support this. And I'm I'm sorry, and I I you know, as a dog lover, um, it's a hard thing for me to say, but I just, um, I don't see how we can support this.

Okay. Thank you. I do want to mention that I did do my due diligence online. There was not any information online for me to find as far as having a kennel in a commercial kennel in SuffK. Um when we went to um planning and development, they didn't they didn't give us the information that we needed. I went down to the tax um I think it was the treasur's office and I got a I guess it was a kennel license for 25 dogs. I they did they never gave me any more information other than you know if you have 25 dogs or less you have to have a you know a kennel license for 25 dogs. I didn't know that I needed anything else. In North Carolina, it's different. You don't need it's you don't have to go through all of this stuff to have a kennel. So, I did not know that. I mean, and and I want to like I want to do what's right, you know, by my family by by all of you by SUFFK. And that's why I'm here, you know, asking for, you know, the okay to have our 10 dogs. Not asking for 24 anymore. My dogs are my everything. Um, and it's not just a a business for us, you know, that makes income. I mean, it's our heart. It's our family's daily life. I have six kids. They help me with this. They love the dogs. You know, I've had to tell my toddler that we have to get rid of dogs and she's asking why, and she doesn't understand. It's been It's been very, very hard. Very hard.

Council, any other questions or comments? Um, I will say that very early on in this process, I uh got a call from Mr. Wood in regards to the application. And I'm I'm trying to recall the first conversation, but we talked for about 20 minutes or so. And to Miss Wood's point, when they went to get the application, because I think initially it said this 25 to 50 dogs, and it was like, well, that's a big number. So, we were talking. I said, "Why did you do that?" And he said to me, "Well, I told him I needed a kennel license and they said, "For how many?" and he kind of told him and he was just said they said well you want one for 25 to 50 and he said yeah that's okay so that's what he applied for I don't think there was any there wasn't any information given to them to lead them to believe that it was going to be an issue until it became an issue and that's based on the first conversation that I had was so in in regardless of which way we go with it, I just want to say in in fairness to the applicant, I don't think they knew what they were dealing with, you know, and when you go to staff and you say, "I want a kennel license, they're going to ask you something about how many you want it for." And I think his question was, "Well, does it cost more to get it for this or that?" She said, and the answer was, "No, just apply for it." And of course, and to Councilman Member Bennett's point, they don't know whether puppies count or not either. But puppies do not count if they're under six months old.

You know, they do not count towards, you know, what's allowed because you don't know how many puppies you're going to have a litter.

They pop out two or three, they pop out 12 or 15. You don't never know. So, um, I just I just wanted to mention that regardless of which way this vote goes that in all fairness to the applicant, I don't I honestly believe that they did know not know what they had to contend with, especially if you're moving from another state and you're doing the same thing. So, anyhow, that's where we are right now. Um, council, any other questions or comments? If not, I need a motion somewhere along the line for approval or a motion along the line for denial and a second. And then we'll vote. And that's where we are. I can't make a motion, so somebody else got to do it.

Council member Wright. Motion to deny. Here we go. Motion for denial from council member Wright. Council member Johnson. Second that, please.

We have a second from Council Member Johnson. Do we have any other discussion of the motion? Hearing none, we have a motion on the floor for denial. Is there any further discussion of the motion? Hearing none, council members, prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madam clerk, please record the vote. The motion The motion is for denial. So if you don't want her to have it, vote yes. If it's okay, vote no. Is everyone voted? The motion to deny has been approved by a vote of 6 to2 with Mayor Doomman and Vice Mayor Ward voting in opposition.

Okay, we'll move on to What do we got here? Lost my place. Okay, we have several res or at least one resolution. We have one resolution this evening. A resolution authorizing hospital to home LLC to operate ambulance services within the city of Suffach. Mr. Manager, please provide an overview. Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council, uh Miss Janet Days, director of economic development will provide the overview on the resolution.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Council. Well, I bring good news, good tidings from uh economic development. So, um I'm bringing forward this evening a resolution to authorize hospital to home uh to provide ambulance and EMS transport services in suffk in a non designated emergency response agency capacity. Uh this resolution is required as part of the state EMS licensing and confirms the city's approval for the locality where the agency will operate and maintain its presence. And so what they are, hospital to home is a medical transport provider. Uh it's licensed by the Virginia Department of Health and the services that they provide are listed there. Everything from non-emergency stretcher base to diialysis patient transport, hospital discharges and so forth. Hospital to home does not respond to 911 emergency calls unless specifically requested to do so through the city's emergency emergency medical uh system. Additionally, um hospital to home um is not seeking to replace or serve as the city's designated 911 responder. This is about supplemental transport capacity. I want to make sure that's clear. This is supplemental transport capacity. So, there are tremendous benefits of having hospital to home in our city. It adds capacity for non-emergency medical transport needs, especially dialysis and discharges and so forth. Provides event standby services if needed um for support and also supports interfacility transport options improving patient movement between medical facilities as needed. the city's approval for hospital home to operate in suffoc as part of the office of emergency licensing process including confirmation of their presence in the locality and non-desated service role and our local fire and emergency support this wholeheartedly. So standing by for

any questions that you may have um as it pertains to this resolution.

Council resolution has been presented for your consideration. What is your pleasure? Council member Williams. I move to approve. Get a motion for approval. Council member Recctor. Second that motion and a second for council member Recctor. Any discussion of the motion? Hearing none. Council member prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madam clerk, please record the vote. Council member Rector, can you please cast your vote? Thank you.

The motion is approved by vote of 8 to zero.

We have no staff reports this this evening, nor do we have any motions. We'll now move to non-aggenda speakers. Madam clerk, do we have any speakers this evening? And if so, please explain the guidelines. Yes, Mayor Doom, and we do have non-aggenda speakers this evening. Each person participating 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 the purpose of pres presenting his or her 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 Aaron Clemau, 113 Pitch Kettle Point Drive, representing self regarding developmental and environmental concerns. Good evening. My name is Erin Clemo. I live at 113 Pitchkett Point Drive in Suffach, Virginia. Mayor Duman, council members, Suffach citizens. Several neighbors reported bald eagle activity, including a nest on the VOTE owned property on Main Street. That information was shared with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and has since been geotagged in the nest mapper maintained by the center of conservation biology at William and Mary which is used by state and federal officials. I want to thank the neighbors at the Nansman garden who took the time to make sure that this was was officially documented. There's also some indication there that there might be a second nest that needs to be mapped. Protection is just about the tree

itself. It's about the buffer around the nest, minimizing disturbances from construction. Eagles return to the same nesting territories year after year. And once a disruption happens, it's very difficult to reverse. Mr. Jeff Cooper, a biologist with DWR, shared the following. The documented nest is protected by the bald and golden eagle protection act. The nest appears to be occupied based on public observations. Ideally, any land development or management activities should be reviewed by the US fish and wildlife service and DWR. DWR can help coordinate that process and provide technical guidance with any development in pre in the present and future. The bald eagle and gold golden eagle protection act simply means we need to be fully aligned with federal protections, permitting requirements and best practices before any land disturbances begins. The bald eagle is very much a cons conservation success story. And for the residents, if you see a nest, excuse me, take a photo and pin the location so it can be officially mapped and protected on the William and Mary CCB net mass mapper website. Excuse me. For me, this is about something deeper. It's about the quality of life in Suffach. Not just by us as citizens, but for the wildlife that shares this land with us. In a time when our nation feels divided and uncertain, Suffach has been given something rare and powerful, a living symbol of hope soaring above us, the bald eagle. At the heart of the great seal of the United States represents both strength and peace. And here in our

own backyard, that symbol is just not history. It's alive. What a profound blessing it is to witness these majestic creatures nesting, hunting, and raising their young among us. They are more than wildlife. They are a reminder of resilience, unity, and the promise of re renewal. Suffker deserves hope. Our citizens deserve hope and the presence of these eagles feels like quite quiet but powerful sign that the hope still lives here. Now, I have um some photos from the neighbors that they shared with me. So, I'm going to leave that with you. Um and also I have the actual nest itself. So, I'm going to I'm going to leave that in. It has the buffers um which will be talked about once if and when this development goes through. Thank you for your time. Our next speaker is Rachel Bellis, 501 Front Street, North Virginia. Miss Bellis present. Our final speaker is Kathleen von Wasan 5093 Kings Grant Circle representing self- reggarding warehouse usage. Good evening. Kathy Van Wasan, 5093 Kings Grant Circle. Um, I am a retired career teacher. I moved to SUFFK in 2020. And I'm here to ask the city council to pass an ordinance or a temporary moratorum on non-municipalrun detention centers and immigration processing centers. Why do we need to do this? Well, despite a large community opposition to the building of warehouses, many were approved by this council and they are now springing up

like mushrooms along the Port 460 and Route 58 uh logistic centers in our country. Well, I I'll tell you February 13th, five days ago, US Immigration and Custom Enforcement Agency put out a plan called the ICE Detention Re-engineering Initiative. They're going to put 96,000 beds in our country by November at a cost of $ 38 billion. In our country, we have seen scores of towns and cities blindsided by the purchase of warehouses by ICE. They're quietly buying these warehouses in these small cities and towns. Um, last week alone, they have bought at least seven warehouses. Some of them are more than a million square feet. Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas. The government does not pay any property tax on the property they buy. Here's something the all these places have in common. There was no public disclosure. There was no formal notification to local officials. They're often bought through a third party. And these sites often don't have the infrastructure that's needed like the sewer, the water, electricity. There's no engagement. Give you some examples. Handover, Virginia. It's Ashland. It's I think north of of Richmond. A 500 550,000 square foot warehouse for was for holding and processing. The Canadian company that owned it did not know who was buying it. When they found out, they withdrew the uh ability to get it. And the handover board of supervisors passed a unanimous resolution against a detention center. So that one they think that they might beat social circle town in Georgia population 5,000 DHS paid $128 million for a 1 million square foot warehouse. There was no consultation, no coordination, the no impact analysis by

local governing body. City manager said there won't be enough water, but ICE will not answer his calls. DHS bought a warehouse in Maryland despite the near constant protests of surrounding communities. Kansas City, Missouri, ICE planned to create a 7,000 bed warehouse prison camp. Luckily, a Jackson County legislator got wind of it and exposed it. They now have a five-year ban on pro on that prohibits non-municipal detention centers. It's a moratorium for five years. Lake City, Lake uh Salt Lake City residents picketed outside the site and the mayor told the warehouse owners that the warehouse doesn't meet code for ice facilities. So the owners pulled out of the deal. Chester, New York, population 12,000. They signed a petition. Out of 12,000, 10,000 people signed it to oppose an ICE detention center. More places, look them up. Hutchkins, Texas, Orlando, Florida. Per p precipit Marylville, Indiana, Marramac, uh, New Hampshire, Hagerstown, Maryland, Roxberry, New Jersey. That's the tip of the iceberg. I am asking council to enact a legislation that would prevent or at least throw road box blocks in the way of any DHS or ICE warehouse use in SuffK. If we pass this, but we never need it. no harm done. But if we skip the opportunity to be preemptive, it'll be more difficult to oppose later. I am sure that a lot of those communities that are now opposing this never thought they would be in this position. I'm I'm telling you right now, we are looking at like um five million square feet of warehouse space and it's not filled up. I don't know who the owners are, the Rockefeller Group, the Matten Companies that are involved in this. I

hope you know who they are because you might need to be able to talk to them. So, I'm asking council, can we do something to make it at least difficult or undesirable for a possible interest in our warehouses by those government agencies? Thank you for hearing my concerns. That conclude that concludes the speakers. Mayor, okay, we'll now move to new business. Madame clerk, do we have any additions to tonight's agenda?

The following individuals have been nominated for appointment to the respective boards and commissions. A. Anthony Harper has been nominated to the Economic Development Authority of the City of Suffach, the Wheville Burough Representative uh with an effective date of March the 1st, 2026. Our next nominee is also for the economic development authority of the city of Suffukk as the Nansmanboro representative and that nominee is Shawn Banks. The next individual has been nominated for the human services advisory board, Lucille White. And our final nominee this evening is for the Suffach Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Charlene Jones.

Council motion would be in order. Council member Williams. Move for approval. A motion for approval. Council member Williams. Vice Mayor Ward. Second. Second from Vice Mayor Waters. 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. Is there any business that members of council would like to bring forward for consideration? 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, members of council, Mr. City Manager.

I'll begin tonight's announcements with some great news about city departments partnering with the Booker T. Washington STEM Academy. Over the past month, representatives from economic development, communications, and the Suffach Police Department visited students to share insights into their daily work. From negotiating business deals and writing press releases to operating drones, the city of Suffach is proud to collaborate with these classes and give students a firsthand look at how local government works to keep the city running smoothly and safely. The Suffach Police Department held a promotional ceremony on February 11th to celebrate the advancement of 21 members ranging from senior animal control officer, senior communications operator, senior police officer, master police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and major. These individuals have demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and leadership over time. Congratulations to all who were promoted, and thank you for your continued service and dedication to our community. and the Suffach Police Department's Emergency Communications Center will undergo a virtual reacredititation assessment by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies or Kalia from March 20th through 28th. This process ensures the department meets more than 200 professional standards across policy, operations, and support services. Community members and agency employees are invited to submit comments via the online portal at suffachpd.com under the Kalia heading. Accreditation is voluntary and is a rigorous process achieved by a small percentage of agencies nationwide and reflects the department's ongoing commitment to professionalism, accountability, and public trust. Suffach Parks and Recre is now accepting applications for food and merchant vendors for the 2026 event season. Vendors are encouraged to provide familyfriendly offerings, creative

concepts, and original handmade goods. The 2026 lineup includes popular events such as the Extravaganza, Cultural Arts Fest, the TGIF concert series, Saturday Cinema, Stars and Stripes Spectacular, Taste of SuffK, Grand Illumination, Ice Skating at Downtown Festival Park, and the Festival of Lights Walk through Sleepy Hole Park. To apply, oh, I'm skipping ahead. To apply, visit suffic parks andre.com. And I skipped one slide and I don't know if I can go back. There we go. Okay. The Suffach Park, excuse me, the Suffach Public Works Department is currently conducting a citywide pothole blitz in response to roadway damage caused by the recent cold temperatures and precipitation. Crews are prioritizing larger potholes on primary roads, followed by secondary and neighborhood streets. Last year alone, Suffach Public Works repaired more than 2,000 potholes across the city's 1600 lane miles of roadway. Residents are reminded to drive carefully, remain alert for work crews, and report potholes at sufficva. us/pubworks. And city departments recently partnered with a SUFFK Super Bowl donation of kindness drive earlier this month. Departments were encouraged to donate non-p perishable foods and hygiene items, and the response was incredible. These donations were distributed to the SUFFK public library pantry, social services for kids, and the Suffach shelter. A sincere thanks to all of the city employees who helped make this drive a success. And the city of Suffach would like to inform residents that the GIS map services on the city's website will be unavailable on Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th. This outage will affect assessors online, ArcGIS online, and ArcGIS portal services

accessed through the suffic. During this time, residents may experience an interruption to online map services. The Great Suffach Cleanup is just around the corner and volunteers are needed. taking place on March 27th and 28th. This two-day city-wide initiative, excuse me, focuses on clearing litter and debris from our streets, neighborhoods, and parks. Last year, thousands of volunteers helped remove more than 70,000 pounds of trash from our city. To register or learn more, visit suffva. us/cleanup. and the city of Suffach public safety committee would like to remind the citizens of the public safety portal. This online platform empowers residents to share suggestions on community safety improvements and public safety matters and submissions may also be submitted anonymously. Residents are reminded, however, that this portal is not intended for reporting criminal activity and in the event of an emergency to please dial 911. For more information on the public safety committee and the portal, visit suffva. us. And lastly on your screen are the various ways residents can stay connected to the city of Suffach. Thank you and have a good night.

Thank you, Miss Moore. Uh we now move on to announcements from council. We're going to start with council member but

thank you mayor. Um first I want to say uh thanks to all the staff for the months and months of work that went into the CIP. Um, I think we have a really great plan. Uh, I know some of us there's wins there, winners and losers and and adjustments will be made down the road, but I think overall uh a really excellent uh consideration of the funds that we have available, the borrowing that we have the ability to do and uh addressing the the highest needs of the community um in a thoughtful way. So, just thank you so much. which I can't even imagine um what staff goes through trying to get everything in there that needs to be in there. So many thanks. Um also thanks to staff um to director of public works Benton and director of public utilities Rattell and to city manager uh deputy excuse me inter city manager Kevin Hughes um uh for attending the greater Oakland Chuck Tuck Civic League on Monday night. Mayor also was in attendance. We had a great community meeting. Um, a lot of excellent back and forth. Uh, good feedback from the citizens. Um, good reports um, on what the city's working on. And, um, it's it's really, um, gratifying to see municipal government government working to help the citizens and that in our community of Suffuk. So, uh, thanks again to the participation and, uh, the concern that everyone showed for the folks in the community. Um, going from that to my next comment, and this is again, this is not a criticism of anybody, but the vote that we had to take tonight um, for the dog kennel is um, very, very discouraging and very hard to do. And I know nobody up here

wants to make anybody's life difficult or hard or sad or complicated. Um, but we have rules in place and it's our job to help the staff uh follow those guidelines and rules. I think the concern that I have is what I heard from the young lady was she could not get the information that she needed to do what she needed to do. And we can't get every single situation right. But um it just feels like many many things went wrong in that whole process. And um I hate that for any citizen and I I'm not sure exactly what to do about it. But um I think that and I know that our staff um from the top down does a great job of communicating with the public and I encourage people to keep trying. Sometimes it's sometimes it's what you ask. You have to be really crystal clear on what you're asking because um staff is going to give you a standard answer of well you want a kennel a license. Um I think citizens have to be prepared to dig a little bit deeper. Um and staff also has to be prepared to ask questions to make sure that we're giving people the the services that they need. So, um, a hard decision tonight and, um, um, I think not great for everybody. So, I just wanted to add that on the end. But, um, otherwise, I hope everyone's having a good February. Glad to see some warmer weather. I was at a big farm meeting this morning. Um, farmers are facing a lot of really serious challenges from a lot of different directions, but we still had great attendance and folks willing to be optimistic about starting into another spring. So, um, hope we can all keep a little bit of hope alive and um, keep doing the things that we need to do and

hopefully all that we can to make Suffach a better place.

Thanks, Council Member Bennett. I'll be very very brief. First, I would just like to say condolence to Jesse Jackson on the passing yesterday and u that was a I've known him through the years and he's a great leader and a a person that really uh did a lot for the young people training and educating them on the right way to go and the right way to be. and I cannot thank him enough for the service that he gave to the citizen of the United States. U he's a great uh servant. Also, I'd like to congratulate the all the Motees in the police department. Uh Chief, I think that I think I knew most of them. I've been one or two that I didn't recognize, but uh want to say congratulation to them. And um also uh the speaker that came up uh man we can take a look at I would just like to get more information on about the warehouses because I did see something on the news about in North Carolina and other areas that they were taking warehouses and doing that. So with the number of warehouses we might have I just for my personal I think I don't know about other council members but I would like to have a little bit more information on process of doing things like that coming into a city how that go about it if we have to approve something or how it works because I don't know and I would like to be informed and educated on be prepared in case we do come up for that. So uh I would like to get a little bit more information on that and on the CIP. I thank everyone that came out tonight and spoke on the CIP. I think it was everybody was very pleased. Uh once I thought we were going to have more

people to come out and speak, but um I told some last night at a meeting that u about the u public hearing tonight and that was the time for them to come and share their thoughts, but they didn't show up. So evident they was pretty much satisfied with what you saw in the CIP. So that's I guess that's good. So again, thanks everyone for all that you all did putting that together and um the public works and all. I think you all have done an outstanding job trying to get the streets back in shape and there's a lot of potholes out there and I know you're out there trying to fill those up. So keep up the good work, Miss Day. Keep up the good job. Great job. Continue to bring good things to suffer that. Good night,

Council Member Johnson. I've got four things I want to highlight a little bit. Number one, um Aaron Clemo, thank you for for your presentation on eagles. I know my wife is sitting at home right now saying, "You better say something about that girl." Um we too are eagle lovers. I've got two nest on my farm and they're all over our city. I don't know how blessed we are in this city and we all for our heritage, for our patriotism that we can sponsor eagles. I mean, Virginia Beach has dolphins, but do they have eagles? Heavens know. So, when we see a eagle and we see something needs to be done to protect that eagle, it's everybody's responsibility. So, I I know what we're looking for here is a lot of people that don't support what we're going to do on the Aspen River. And I understand that. I I struggle with it. Our our river is of utmost value to this city and it's something that we should respect, maintain and look after. I'm not happy. I don't know how this is going to go, but I I know that we will protect that eagle nest. I know as a city we'll do it. If we don't, the federal government's going to require us to, which is what they should do. It's nothing any better than sitting on your back porch and watching two eagles sucking a snake off the pond and then dividing it between them. And it's amazing, guys, because when I was born, I when I was brought up, we didn't have eagles, but now they're here. I told several people the other day, we had a flock of of um white tundra swan come over and they stayed on the farm for a while. Unbelievable. I wish I could keep them here forever. Um but my point being, we need to respect our wildlife and respect our neighbors and respect conference conservation. And I hope it's something that this council can put more effort in as we go forward in the future. Um, the second thing I'm talk about the dog lady a minute. I've been on council 12 years. Not that it matters how long I've been here, but I've never

had one this difficult to do to vote down. We put rules in place for a reason to protect the communities, but your your heartstrings just go out. This lady so obviously loved her dogs and wanted what was right, which the setup's wrong. So, I hope as we go along that we number one, we'll come up with a rule for what we're going to do about people that want to breed dogs. Um, it needs to be better than what we've got now. Um, the other thing is with the warehouses and I don't disagree with this lady because we are responsible for our warehouses and I don't think we are the first warehouse here that has enough of a septic system to put 500 people in there. So, that's a good thing. But there's rules in place, right, city manager? I mean, am I right? I mean, she's saying, "How would we stop it?" But the truth is, you can stop it if you don't have that, you know, I I'm just I don't disagree with what she's saying. And it's things slip in sometimes. So, we need to make sure that we're aware and we've discussed it, right? What is um and the fourth thing was I was actually going to thank you for the CIP. I think this time it was done more cleanly and more about all the people of this city than we've ever done. And I I for one appreciate that and I I think we're going to have a really good year coming forward. We're excited. So, thank you. Um and with that, that's all I say. But thank thank to all of our Suffach citizens for being here and for being concerned and help us make the right decisions. That's all we can ask. Thank you,

Council Member Wright.

Good evening. Um, first I would like to thank Ryan Bertrand from Troop 259 for leading us in the pledge. Um, and I also want to acknowledge our benefits program specialist appreciation month and those who do the work. Um, thank you for being a valuable contribution to our community and ensuring that you provide much needed resources to the constituents of sleepy of the city of Suffuk. I also want to thank the staff for the CIP. Um the CIP holistically is a very good document, but I'm very excited about the improvements that are going into Sleepy Hole Burrow. So from Driver to Harbor View, um every area of Sleepy Ho Burrow is being touched in the CIP. And so on behalf of the residents of Sleepy Hill Burrow, I say to the staff and I say to this council, thank you. The fourth thing that I wanted to say is that um the kennel owner, I am a veteran, I am a a dog owner and so this was a very tough decision. Um, we have made it a point to when coun when the uh staff and the planning commission have voted no, we have said that we need to have a compelling reason and I was looking for that compelling reason and I just couldn't get to it. Um, but I just want to say that I do appreciate the service that your husband um your husband's service to this country. Um, I believe he's a Navy veteran and I appreciate the work that you are trying to do. Um, but I am sorry that the vote was what it is. Um, the next thing that I have is Bennett's Landing Homeowners

Association. Yesterday, um, we had a homeowners association meeting and I just really want to thank the staff. Our department heads work eight hours a day and then they show up for us in the evenings to ensure that our citizens are heard. So, I just wanted to give a special give special acknowledgement to our interim city manager Kevin Hughes, um, Director Benton, uh, Chief Buoy, Captain Diggs, Sheriff David Miles, and our Commonwealth Attorney Plus for showing up to answer the concerns of the constituents of Sleepy Ho Burough. And the last thing that I will say, well, there's two things. One, I I think it's very important and I can't say this enough and sometimes it doesn't seem this way, but community ga engagement is not a formality. It really isn't. Continue to show up. Continue to speak your truth. Continue to come with your research. You are making a difference. Even if you don't feel like you are, I promise you, you are making an a difference on this council. and I will speak for me. You are making a difference in how I make my decisions. I will end on this quote. It is a Jesse Jackson quote. If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it. And with that, I'll say good night.

Council member Richtor.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I will also be brief. Um we had our civic league meeting last Thursday night and our new president was um asking everybody u and we had about 20 people there at least which is a good attendance for our civic league you know to engage themselves with the council and to show up at our council meetings and to be aware of what's on the agenda um particularly with things that may or may not uh impact our neighborhood and they unfortunately probably didn't hang around for the whole thing, but we did have several members of our civic league meeting, the West End Civic League, that uh did adhere the president's advice and showed up to find out um what we're up to and and to check on us and and I hope to get good feedback from them as to what they observed while they were here. Um Chief, I want to congratulate you on your promotions. Um it was a great ceremony. Uh it's nice to see that. Uh you know, one of the things that I always look for at at those ceremonies is when you talk about the biographies of the officers that are being promoted, how many of them have been here for as long as they have. And I think that's a real testimony to how um your department has run that officers will stay around here and make SUFFK their law enforcement career. So you're to be congratulated for that. Um, everybody else has talked about the CIP. I'm just going to touch on it briefly. Like everybody else up here, I want to thank staff for all the hard work that goes into putting the CIP. I want to thank staff for listening to the comments not only of the citizenry, but also of the my fellow members up here on the dis as to what our priorities would be. Um, you know, as it says in the good book, uh, show me where your treasure is and and I'll show you where your heart

is. And I think if you look at the CIP and and 40% of it going to education and another 46% going to transportation and public safety. Um I think it clearly indicates that the we have the interest of the public um at heart. If you look at you know we start that process basically almost in September with starting to solicit staff members um department heads as to what their needs are, what their wants are are. And here we are, you know, in February, we finally get around to approving the final product. So, basically, half of the year is spent um mulling over considering the options um and weighing what's important to our citizens and having that reflected in the CIP. And I think, you know, this year we came up with a very good document. We It's a little bit like spreading mayonnaise on a bread uh for a sandwich. you there, you know, some places on it that you'd like to have seen the mayonnaise a little thicker. Um, but I think basically every part of the city got touched and is going to benefit from it. Then lastly, um, Councilman Johnson, I agree with you about the Eagles. I was coming down Main Street a couple of days ago and was coming u over the rise from the Chick-fil-A area and there was a bald eagle flying up Main Street with a fish in its talons. Um it was, you know, definitely an inspiring site. Um but I do have to point out they do have bald eagles in Virginia Beach. Um my brother lives there and we were there on Christmas Day and while we were out um getting ready for having a meal, there were two bald eagles that were flying over top of his house. So they do have bald eagles in addition to the um to the dolphins. We probably have more bald eagles. We have better ones, bigger ones, prettier ones, but

oh yeah, we do have dolphins that that will work their way up the Nansman River every now and then. Um, so anyway, uh, having put in a plug for the Eagles, not only here in Suffach and Virginia Beach. Uh, with that, I will say good night, Council Member Williams.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, I too uh will be brief. Um just want to um mention a few things, three things to um to be exact. Um first um I'd like to thank the uh manager and staff for putting together a great u CIP. I know there's a lot of time and effort goes into putting the document like that together. Again, I want to thank them for doing such a great job in putting that together. Um like to thank all the speakers for coming out tonight. Um you know, We really enjoy when the the our constituents and our citizens come to council to take a look at things and how things are being done firsthand and get an idea how the the decisions are being made here on council. Um Mr. Benton, um to you and your staff, um public works, thank you. I can't thank you enough um for the um completion of the two and 300 block of Web Street. Thank you. I've gotten a lot of calls. Um it looks great. So um again, I'd like to thank you for that. Um I would also like to throw a plug out there. Um I'm having a town hall meeting on February the 26. Uh one of two. One is in town and then the second one is going to be at the Curtis Artier. um rec center, but the one in town on the 26 is going to be at 7:01 East Penn Street starting at 6:00 pm. And that's the LW Center. Um please come out. Um you know, the the citizens of the Wellville Brow as well as other um people throughout the city. If you like to come, um staff is going to be there. We're going to um have a lot of questions and answers um and we're going

to have a good time. So, please come out and support uh the town hall meeting. And this again, this is our way or my way of getting the word out and letting you know that how important you are and what you say and what your concerns are is are important to me and to the staff of the city. And with that, I'll say good night. Vice Mayor Wood.

Yes. I attend uh the birthday celebration of Pastor Anthony Copeland. He was celebrating his 70 year 70 70 years old. And I must say I've been to a lot of events and that was one of the top events I went with to because it was enjoyment. I mean, uh, the hostess was nice, the people, all the people in the table was nice, and it was Christians there, but I enjoyed it was I enjoyed it that pastor, I call him Bishop Copeland, came in and when he came in, he was dancing. So, you go to these events and and it be a probably be a dance floor. they scared to get up like they don't know how to dance. But anyway, I had really enjoyed that all around that 70 year ann birthday and I mean that was a great great function to attend to have a good time and celebrate pastor Copeland pastors and suffer and his church and how important they all are in this city. I want to uh congratulate Mr. Sean Banks. Uh he's here with his family. Uh I met the young man about a year or two ago. I was very impressed with him. Uh he's on put him on the EDA and not surprised he here and have his family. Uh he's very concerned of suffer. He really loves suffer. And I think you'll be a great asset for on the EDA and you'll be on there for so many years. Definitely three years. Definitely three years. You know what

I'm saying? So anyway, thank you Sean and your family. I feel good tonight. And the reason I feel good is people came up and talk about sidewalks. It's a it's a little hidden joke that we have up this council about sidewalks. I've been talking about sidewalks for a while. And Pewsville, they build sidewalks, but they build it backwards. I wasn't on council then. They didn't they build it towards the woods. So, this been going on for years. When I got elected, I promise you, the second time the flooding, we got got that taken. We got a pond. Now you just hear we got $1.5 million for sidewalks. So that's something that you've been having needed for a while, but I got it. We have it now. It takes time time. And I want to go on the CIP too. This is one year when I really looked at the CIP. You all see half of what was needed in the in the city of Suffach. half it would we had to break it down to the money that we need to have to budget for and push it on. You just can't get it right away. A lot of things take time. We don't raise the taxes. So, we got to make sure that we can take out special priorities and and I know y'all did a good job. Y'all did a great job. I was in that room and I seen how it works and I thank y'all so much for bringing it forward. Pewsville, you said about the sidewalks, we got the sidewalks. You mentioned about the additional parking that's coming also. You didn't you say you didn't hear it. It wasn't there, but we we talked about that. So, that's coming. So, it's not like it going to happen tomorrow. It

take time and a lot of things cost money. So you got to do it couple of ways and we try not to raise the taxes to get it done. So the ways we do it, it benefit the whole city. I want to mention this here. I'm very much interested in the potholes myself. I mean I poll the warehouses. Somebody mentioned that in organization meeting and now I come up tonight And uh councilman asks and I don't know I don't know myself he asks what can we do and all I go back to this we the council I think that's our job so we don't have to ask that's our job so what can we do the council make a I think make a motion I don't know if that's right or not but I think that's how that's done things got to come through us uh it is black history month And that's what I love history. So I must put my little two cent in this. I give my condolence to Jesse Jackson. Um Jesse Jackson took over the baton. 1968 Martin Luther King got assassinated. Let's remember this. Nobody can duplicate Martin Luther King. He was special. God sent. He was special. Lived 39 years a legacy. We got a holiday bond. But when Jesse Jackson left, that injured the African-American community, took hope, took air out of us. So Jesse Jackson was there with him and he continued tried, he not try to do what Martin did. he'd have continued a hope with the

Rainbow Coalition in Chicago. He fought the war with him. So he knew what was needed. He also had his saying, which one of the C saying, "Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive." He kept us going. He had a dream. Kept the dream going his way. I met Jesse Jackson when I was like a little young in my media days and I met him at a conference and I interviewed him. Matter of fact, my son who passed interviewed him and my son bring up the question and asked Mr. Jackson. He said, "Mr. Jackson, when I was 10 years old, my father walked around with the bunts and everything and wanted you when you ran for president that calmed everything down. And after the interview, he shook my son hand and I told my son going to mass media north of state. You got to remember too and somebody said it today on a yesterday that Jesse Jackson went to other countries and br hostages and United States didn't ask him. He went there and there's not a hostage he what country he went to. He did not bring the hostage home. I'm just hoping he get his dues because everybody have a situation. When he ran for president, he had made a statement about New York City. Open mic, but he had his personal life. But if you can walk water, tell me, can you walk water? Nobody's perfect. But he did what God had him to do. And I thank him so much. I I recall when uh President Barack Obama won and they

showed the the people in the crowd and they showed Jesse Jackson crying. I remember that night. So I would just hope he get his dues and start being judged on some of the things that he did in his life. He did amazing things. I want to talk about a couple of people that we don't talk about in the city of Suffuk. It is black history. I got to give my condolence to one of the NAAC members. I see one of the presidents here. I know she remember King Salon Kafani. He used to work. He was the president state president about 10 years or more ago and you wanted to see somebody fight for you, he did. And when the elected officials, couple our governors came, Warner, when they met him, they knew they had a battle cuz he fought and he br issues for the black community. He was in Richmond. But what happened was, and I want to say this, he moved in Hampton Roads. A matter of fact, he moved in Burgers Grant. And one night, I got a text. I don't text, but I read it. And he said to me, "Good job." And I met him. He went, he was working with some type of education. And I be real missed because he was a fighter. A lot of time people look and you think said uh what way off on you. I think a lot of that might have. I also want to talk about another person in suffer. You don't hear too much about him. NAACP again, state president Rayfield Vines. Rayfield Vines live here. Rayfield Vinesfield.

Rayfield Vines lived here and he did a couple of things. Most of these people encouraged me. Redfield Vines as a young man he he boycotted store Woolworth and then when he boycotted Wworth I think he had to move away in suffer he might have got arrested but he moved away from suffer Ray Philvine was the state president and he came to one of the NAACP meetings when I was And what happened was we had to get a re dress committee and Rayfield Vine said what Charles Christian was the president and Rayfield Vine said to to us and he said to me the person you're looking for you might be looking in the mirror might see him in the mirror. So they encouraged me to run for president of NAACP. The next time is all I might don't want to hear his name. Well, that was the person who changed my mind about joining the suffer NAACP. Paul C. Gillis. If you don't recall, Paul C. Giller was the state president. He gave everybody problem. He you just didn't come with Paul with some things that you don't know what you're talking about. And the reason why I joined Paul Cillis is the reason why Allan Albertson had a opportunity to go to Georgetown and play in the NBA because after he got in trouble, Paul C. Gillis went to get him out of that trouble.

Paul C. Gillers was a fighter for this city. I never forget when me and Mr. Johnny Edwards had to fight for redistricting and one of the things he said to me I was president then he said when we got had to go to the courts it was some situ situation that we had to talk to the state know the national and he said to me we made we went against the city and the city had to write another app and he said to me and Johnny Edwards, "I didn't think you can do it." That encouraged me to keep going for the NAACP. I just want to mention these people cuz it mean a lot when people sit and try to judge you. When in your life you meet people that care more about others than themselves and all they want is fairness. That's all they be asked for. Fairness. not nothing given, just fairness. So with that that black history, I just want to let some people know about them people, especially the local. With that, I'll say God bless. Thank you. I'll go ahead and wrap it up. Um, in regards to the speaker that spoke of in regards to the detention centers, I also think it's something that we need to look at. You know, whether ours is it would seem like the zoning within the warehouse, whether it prevents that from happening or not. But in any event, it would be good to be proactive so we have something in place to address it if it does come up, regardless of how unlikely that may be. Uh, today We got a report in our work session, a report from the

assessor's office. Very positive all the way across the board. Uh commercial real estate continues to increase. Residential uh the percentage- wise commercial is increasing and residential is decreasing which is a good thing. As far as our tax base is concerned, we want the majority of the taxes to be paid uh by our businesses and commercial property. Uh it was also notable that there were 517 homes single family homes built last year. That's the lowest since 2019. So while we've gone through some rather robust growth spurts, it's it's quite evident that that's also leveling out to some extent. So give us an opportunity to catch up a little bit if you will. the I attended the we had an education committee meeting on the 9th first one that we've had in a while and it was very very very and for me to say very productive I mean we had an hour we had a meeting for about an hour and 30 hour and 45 minutes uh touched on some very relevant topics and most importantly it seemed like that everyone everyone at the table was looking at dealing with our problems or I won't say our problems or they're not problems or challenges um objectively try to make some decisions that are based on the data u moving forward. So I am very u optimistic that we will be able to accomplish a great deal working collaboratively with our school board and education system. uh the police department promotional ceremony. Uh great job. Once again, we talked about 21 individuals and doing this as long as I've done it. You know, now you know they're familiar faces. Um Major Farman

in particular, I remember when he got promoted to sergeant. So, I don't know if I've been here that too long or you've been promoting him too fast, but I remember when he was promoted to sergeant and I remember seeing his dad at every one of these promotion ceremonies. So, I felt an urge to get off the stage and go sit next to his dad, but I didn't do it. But congratulations to everyone who got uh promoted. Um, I want to take a minute to uh thank the hundreds of people uh for their outpouring of love and offering condolences to Fran and I upon the hearing of the passing of our golden retriever, Holly. A special thanks to the Suffach Humane Society for recognizing her and what a blessing she's been. Uh, everyone's kind words and support have really helped uh, soothe the pain that's uh, in our hearts. And I know she's just a dog, but Holly left us way too early. But in her short eight years on this earth, she touched many people as a therapy dog. She made lots of visits to oversee hospital, libraries, schools, nursing homes, and brought chair to pretty much everybody she ran into, whether she tried or not. Uh during her life she attended every national night out, every taste of suffk, every tree illumination, participated in several state of the city productions and I want to thank media for working with us the way they did. That's those are memories that I always have and much much more. Uh her last event was accompanying me to uh ring the bell for the Salvation Army this past Christmas. Uh she was with me greeting people as they walked into Belulk. They really didn't want to talk to me. They wanted to pet the dog, but that's okay. We want to make friends. Bring a dog. Um I had anticipated her being with me during the final term as mayor, but God had another plan. And with that, I'll go to my quote of the night, and that is one of my favorite

quotes by Will Rogers. And I couldn't agree with them more. And that quote is, "If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went." And with that, I'll say good evening and ask for a motion to adjourn. Council member Wright. Motion to adjurnn. And a motion to adjourn from council member Wright. Council member Williams. Second it. Second from Council Member Williams. Any discussion? Hearing none. Council members prepare to vote. Please cast your vote. Madame clerk, kindly return the record the vote.

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