City Council

CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA Regular Meeting of City Council Tuesday, March 11, 2025 1. Call to Order The Regular Meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Kochuba at 7:10 P.M. 2. Roll Call The following members of the Council and Council’s staff were present for roll call by the Clerk: Present: Councilwoman Elizabeth G. Luck Councilwoman Tricia L. Palmer Councilman Craig R. Skalak Councilman Brad E. Slaybaugh Councilman John T. Wood Vice Mayor John E. Piotrowski Mayor T. Gregory Kochuba Absent: None Also Present: Mr. Douglas E. Smith, City Manager Mr. Hugh P. Fisher, III, City Attorney Mrs. Pamela B. Wallace, Clerk 3. Devotion A devotional prayer was led by The Honorable Tricia L. Palmer. 4. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Kochuba. 5. Adoption of Agenda A motion was made by Vice Mayor Piotrowski, seconded by Mrs. Palmer, to approve the agenda as presented. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 2 Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS 6. Declarations of Personal Interest There were none. 7. Commendations and Presentations A. Presentation of the City’s Annual Contribution to the Colonial Heights High School After Prom Committee. B. Recognizing Financial Specialist Kathy Holladay and Building Official Bernie Murrel for their years of dedicated service to the City of Colonial Heights. (Mr. Murrel was not present.) C. A RESOLUTION NO 25-12 Recognizing Nancy Howerton Halbert for 50 years of service to the City of Colonial Heights. A motion was made by Mayor Kochuba, seconded by Vice Mayor Piotrowski, approving Resolution No. 25-12. After comments from Mayor Kochuba and members of Council, the Clerk read Resolution No. 25-12. D. District 19 Update Presentation by Terrelle Stewart, Executive Director. E. Presentation of the Proposed FY2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan. Before continuing, Mayor Kochuba recognized Mr. Steve Neece, a School Board Member, and Mr. Travis Ridley, the Assistant Superintendent. 8. Reading of Manner of Addressing Council. Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 3 Mr. Fisher read the Manner of Addressing Council. 9. Written Petitions and Communications by members of the Public and Council Members Acknowledging the passing of Mr. Herbert Small of E. Alvin Small Funeral Home and Crematorium, Mr. Wood requested that a resolution, recognizing Mr. Small’s contribution to the community, be presented to his family. 10. Advertised Public Hearings There were none. 11. Hearing of Citizens and Council Members Generally on Non-Agenda Items There were none. 12. Consideration of Uncontested Minutes, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Motions in accordance with the Consent Agenda A. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-5 (Second Reading) Awarding the City Attorney a bonus of $4,000. C. AN ORDINANCE NO 24-25 (Second Reading) To grant a special use permit, with conditions, to JoAnn Bogese and C. Richard Bogese, Jr., permitting commercial indoor sports and recreation use at 206 Temple Avenue, also known as parcel identification number 56000100046, which is zoned RO-Residential Office District. A motion was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Skalak, to approve the Consent Agena as presented. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 4 Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS 13. Introduction and Consideration of Ordinances and Resolutions Mayor Kochuba requested that Item A be moved to Item B, and Item B be moved to Item A. It was the consensus to switch the two items as requested by Mayor Kochuba. A. A RESOLUTION NO 25-17 To approve an economic incentive grant to The Kroger Co., subject to the approval of the Economic Development Authority and the company’s construction of certain improvements. A motion was made by Vice-Mayor Piotrowski, seconded by Mrs. Palmer, to approve Resolution No. 25-17. At the request of Mr. Smith, Dr. Caballero, Assistant City Manager, presented the following proposed terms regarding Resolution No. 25-17: 1. An economic incentive grant to Kroger for a total of $2,100,000, which shall be paid over a seven-year period in increments of $300,000, subject to the following conditions: a.) Kroger shall construct a Kroger Marketplace store of approximately 103,000 square feet at 114 Southpark Circle in Southpark Mall, offering expanded grocery operations, a pharmacy, general merchandise, and a fuel center; b.) The Colonial Heights Economic Development Authority shall approve this economic incentive grant and disburse the grant per the provisions of this resolution; and c.) The Colonial Heights Economic Development Authority shall pay Kroger the first $300,000 of the economic incentive grant after the Kroger Marketplace has been fully operational for one full calendar year; and, contingent on the continuing full operation of the Kroger Marketplace, the Economic Development Authority shall make $300,000 payments to Kroger after each of the following six full calendar years. The economic incentive grant is contingent on approval by the Colonial Heights Economic Development Authority (EDA). If approved, the City would transfer funds to the EDA at the appropriate times in the future to pay the incentive. After the presentation, Dr. Caballero clarified the proposed terms further. Mayor Kochuba concluded, noting that both the School Board and the Economic Development Authority supported the project. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 5 Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS B. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-FIN-2 (First Reading) To amend the General Fund Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025, by appropriating $560,302, consisting of: 1) $84 in Office on Youth donations to Miscellaneous and to Human Services; and 2) $14,020 in Police donations to Miscellaneous and to Public Safety; 3) $16,198 in state funds from the Department of Criminal Justice to Public Safety and to Intergovernmental Revenues; and $530,000 in Unassigned Fund Balance to Miscellaneous and to Debt Service & Transfers Out. Also, to amend the General Fund Budget by transferring $104,582 from Nondepartmental (Contingencies & Reserve) to Debt Service to Transfers Out. To amend the Capital Projects Fund Budget by appropriating $530,000 to Miscellaneous and to Shepherd Stadium Improvements. To amend the Capital Projects Fund Budget by transferring $639,605, consisting of $155,213 from Hamilton Avenue Repaving and $484,392 from Conduit Repaving from Riveroaks to Heron Drive to Conduit Repaving from Ellerslie Avenue to Riveroaks Drive To amend the Information Technology Services Fund Budget by appropriating $104,582 to Charges for Current Services and to Operating Expenses. A motion was made by Mr. Slaybaugh, and seconded by Mrs. Palmer, to approve Ordinance No. 25-FIN-2. Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 6 Mr. Smith provided highlights of the proposed ordinance, specifically noting donations to the Police Department from the American Legion and a private citizen. Additionally, Mr. Smith noted the appropriation of $500,000 for upgrades to Shepherd Stadium as discussed at the Council Retreat and several unexpected paving projects. At Mayor Kochuba's request, Matt Spruill, Director of Recreation and Parks, provided an overview of the proposed projects for Shepherd Stadium, noting that Chris Martin of the Chili Peppers will contribute an additional $100,000 to the project total. There being no further comments, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS 14. Unfinished Business, Contested Ordinances and Resolutions, And Items Removed from the Consent Agenda. There was none. 15. Reports of Officers and Documents Related Thereto. A. City Manager 1. General Activity Report  Mr. Smith introduced and welcomed the City’s new Fire Chief, David Bailey.  Mr. Smith reported that a $40,000 funding request for laptops for City detectives was included in draft 2025 bills from Senators Cain and Warner. Additionally, a $1.1 million request for a waterline project, sponsored by Congresswoman McClellan, was also submitted. Both requests are Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 7 contingent upon funding negotiations and the completion of the State's FY2025 appropriation process. Congresswoman McClellan confirmed that the waterline project is included in the House appropriations request.  Mr. Smith thanked Lewis and Christy Archileti for their litter clean-up efforts in the community and Mrs. Mary Ann Hamilton for her efforts in the Floral Hill neighborhood. Chief Anspach supported the Police Department’s continued efforts to address the City’s ongoing litter problems and shared a few upcoming initiatives supported by his department 2. Health Insurance Cost Sharing for FY26 Mr. Smith stated that the upcoming fiscal year's TLC renewal includes a 5.6% increase in health insurance costs. The City must submit its cost-sharing rates by the end of March. The City Manager recommends that the City cover 80% of the premium increase, with employees paying the remaining 20%. This increase applies to all plans except the Advantage 65 Medicare supplement, which is fully paid by the employee. At the request of Mr. Smith, Mayor Kochuba called for a vote supporting the City Manager’s recommendation. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS 3. Health Department Consolidation Mr. Smith recalled the Special Meeting on January 21, 2025, when staff presented an overview of the Colonial Heights Health Department and set a deadline of August 31, 2025, for the department to relocate to a new facility. In February Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 8 2025, Mr. Smith provided information from the Virginia Department of Health, proposing consolidating services at the Chesterfield County Health Department. At the City Council Retreat on February 21-22, 2025, the Council agreed to gather more information on the suggested consolidation at the Chesterfield County Health Department. 4. City of Colonial Heights Audit Statement In accordance with requirements in the Code of Virginia §15.2-2511, if a locality’s audit is not completed as required by statute, the locality must promptly post a statement on its website with the following information:  That the required audit is pending,  The reasons for the delay,  And the estimated date of completion. City of Colonial Heights Audit Statement The City of Colonial Heights' audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, is pending. The major factor for the delay of the audit is: delay in completion of the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 resulting in significant delay in the year-end close and audit work for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Our estimated date of completion for the audit report is March 31, 2025. B. City Attorney Mr. Fisher reported a busy month handling FOIA requests and subpoenas in his office. He also noted that the State has mandated the consolidation of City Code chapters related to stormwater management and erosion and sediment control, and his office is actively working toward compliance. Once completed, a consolidated chapter will be presented to Council during the summer. Additionally, there has been no further progress on acquiring the Staples property involved in the Temple Avenue Left Turn Lane Improvement Project. C. Director of Planning and Community Development Mr. Carter reported that the Planning Commission held a special meeting on February 27, 2025, and a public hearing on March 4, 2025, to review the proposed FY2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Staff provided an overview, and no public comments were received. The Commission approved Resolution 25-01, recommending the adoption of the proposed CIP. Mr. Carter advised that the next regular Planning Commission meeting was scheduled for April 1, 2025. Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 9 Mr. Carter advised that the Building Official and part-time Code Enforcement Officer positions were still vacant and asked for the Council’s patience until the positions were filled. 16. Adjournment There being no further business, a motion was made by Mayor Kochuba, seconded by Mrs. Palmer, and carried unanimously on a voice vote to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 P.M. APPROVED: ______________________________ T. Gregory Kochuba, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________________ Pamela B. Wallace, City Clerk