City Council

CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA Special Meeting of City Council Tuesday, February 20, 2024 1. Call to Order. The Special Meeting of City Council was called to order by Mayor Kochuba at 5:00 P.M. at Violet Bank Museum, 303 Virginia Avenue. 2. Roll Call. Present: Councilman Kenneth B. Frenier Councilwoman Elizabeth G. Luck Councilman John E. Piotrowski Councilwoman Dr. Laura F. Poe Vice-Mayor Robert W. Wade Mayor T. Gregory Kochuba Absent: Councilman John T. Wood (arrived at 5:15 PM) Also Present: Mr. Douglas E. Smith, City Manager Mr. Hugh P. Fisher, III, City Attorney Mrs. Pamela B. Wallace, City Clerk 3. Tour of Violet Bank by City Council members and staff. A guided tour of the Violet Bank structure and grounds was given by Mr. Skalak, Recreation and Parks Director, and Wendy Alvis, Curator for the museum. Mr. Skalak addressed questions addressing Phase I and II renovations and the schedule of the work. After the tour, Mayor Kochuba advised there would be continued discussion at the upcoming Council Retreat in March. There being no further discussion, the meeting was convened, at which time, Council returned to City Hall for the remainder of the meeting. 4. Closed meeting pursuant to the Code of Virginia in accordance with the following provisions:  Paragraph A.1 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider an appointment to the Riverside Regional Jail Authority.  Paragraph A.1 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider the performance of the City Attorney. A motion to convene in a closed meeting was made by Vice-Mayor Wade, seconded by Dr. Poe at 6:05 P.M. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Frenier Special Meeting Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 2 Luck Poe Wood Wade Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS 5. Vote to come back into open meeting. A motion to reconvene in open session was made by Mayor Kochuba, seconded Vice- Mayor Wade, and carried unanimously on roll call vote at 6:43 P.M. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Frenier Luck Piotrowski Poe Wood Wade Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS As stated by the Clerk, the Council was in a closed meeting pursuant to the Code of Virginia in accordance with the following provision:  Paragraph A.1 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider an appointment to the Riverside Regional Jail Authority.  Paragraph A.1 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider the performance of the City Attorney. Consideration of the following certification: Each member will now certify that to the best of the member’s knowledge (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements of the act and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the Special Meeting Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 3 closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed, or considered in the meeting by the public body. Any member who believes there was a departure from the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii), shall so state prior to the vote, indicating the substance of the departure that, in his judgment, has taken place. Council members approved this certification, without any stating departure from the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii), by the following roll call vote: Vote: 7-0 Yes: Frenier Luck Piotrowski Poe Wood Wade Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS 6. Motions and Resolutions of Appointment A Resolution No. 24-8 Appointing Christina Sadler as an alternate member of the Board of the Riverside Regional Jail Authority for the remainder of a four-year term which ends June 30, 2026. An Ordinance No. 24-3 (First Reading) Awarding the City Attorney a bonus of $6,000. A motion was made by Mr. Frenier, seconded by Mr. Piotrowski, to adopt Resolution No. 24—8 and Ordinance No. 24-3 on first reading. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Frenier Luck Piotrowski Poe Wood Wade Kochuba No: None Special Meeting Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 4 Absent: None Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS 7. Declarations of Personal Interest A declaration was read by Dr. Poe and filed with the Clerk. 8. A Work Session on the following items: A. AN ORDINANCE NO 24-FIN-4 (First Reading) To amend the General Fund Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, by appropriating $64,103 to Public Safety consisting of 1) $21,230 in State Asset Forfeiture to the Police Department for the purchase of equipment; and 2) $42,873 in grant funds from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to reimburse for costs related to the NextGen 911 phone lines for the Fire Department. A motion was made by Dr. Poe, seconded by Vice-Mayor Wade, to approve Ordinance No. 24-FIN-4. Mr. Smith provided a brief overview of the appropriations in the ordinance; however, Chief Anspach provided additional comments supporting the appropriation to purchase equipment to outfit officers for the upcoming proposed October 1, 2024, Presidential Debate to be held at Virginia State. Mrs. Luck requested that accurate records of all expenditures be kept in case the debate is canceled. Addressing Mr. Wood’s question, Chief Anspach clarified that Colonial Heights offices would be responsible for escort services through the City, Crowd control, and general control throughout the City limits due to the increased number of people in the area. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Frenier Luck Piotrowski Poe Wood Wade Kochuba No: None Absent: None Special Meeting Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 5 Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS At the request of staff, due to time restraints related to the purchase of equipment, it was the consensus of Council to allow Chief Anspach to move forward with the purchase of equipment upon approval of the ordinance on first reading. B. Public Works Projects Update Mr. Flippen, Public Works Director, provided updates on the following:  Active construction projects  Non-transportation projects  Infrastructure projects (Water and Sewer)  Upcoming grant opportunities o State of Good Repair – This will help fund the Sherwood Hills bridge replacement and paving of the Boulevard from the Martin Luther King Bridge to Richmond Avenue. o Smart Scale – This will help fund Phase 2 of the Lakeview Avenue project and the Westover and Conduit intersection improvements.  Lead Service Line Inventory  Staff working toward accreditation by the American Public Works Association. After the presentation, Mr. Flippen addressed several questions from Council and provided updates on the roundabout signage and pond fountain, street light outages, and the number of downed decorate light poles along the Boulevard. C. Discussion regarding a joint meeting of City Council and the School Board Mayor Kochuba advised would be a combined meeting with the School Board at the April 16 Work Session; however, there was some confusion if it should not be held on April 23, 2024. After a brief discussion, Mayor Kochuba asked that the Clerk confirm with the School Board Clerk the best date for the meeting. 8. Adjournment. Special Meeting Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 6 A motion to adjourn the Special Meeting was made by Vice-Mayor Wade, seconded by Mr. Wood, and carried unanimously on voice vote at 7:40 P.M. APPROVED: ____________________________________ T. Gregory Kochuba, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________________ Pamela B. Wallace, City Clerk