City Council

CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA Regular Meeting of City Council Tuesday, April 8, 2025 1. Call to Order The Regular Meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Kochuba at 7:01 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 Craig R. Skalak. 4. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Kochuba. 5. Adoption of Agenda A motion was made by Mrs. Luck, seconded by Mr. Skalak, to approve the agenda as presented. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Regular Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Page 2 Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS 6. Declarations of Personal Interest There were none. Before continuing, Mayor Kochuba recognized Ms. Debbie Walwer from the School Board. 7. Commendations and Presentations A. A PROCLAMATION Proclaiming April 2025 as “Month of the Military Child” in the City of Colonial Heights, Virginia. B. A PROCLAMATION Proclaiming April 2025 as “Child Abuse and Prevention Month” in the City of Colonial Heights, Virginia. C. Presentation of the City Manager’s Proposed FY2025-2026 Annual Operating Budget Mr. Smith, with the assistance of Christina Sadler, Finance Director, provided an overview of the proposed 2025-2026 Annual Operating Budget. Mr. Smith advised that the full presentation and in-depth review by the Council would be at the April 22, 2025, Work Session. 8. Reading of Manner of Addressing Council. Mr. Fisher read the Manner of Addressing Council. 9. Written Petitions and Communications by members of the Public and Council Members A. Chuck Page, 100 Robinwood Court Request the Council’s consideration to allow golf carts on City Streets Regular Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Page 3 Mr. Page requested Council’s consideration of allowing golf carts on certain City streets. Mr. Page presented positive aspects of golf cart use in neighborhoods and stated that there was established criteria within the state code supporting his request. Mayor Kochuba thanked Mr. Page for his presentation and advised that the Council will consider his request at a future work session after the budget work session has concluded. B. Alexis Shutt, 1221 Hermitage Road, Colonial Heights Requests the Council’s consideration of a safety proposal for wheelchair crossing signs on Ellerslie Avenue at the Colonial Heights and Rehabilitation Center. Ms. Shutt requested the installation of wheelchair crossing signs on Ellerslie Avenue near the Colonial Heights Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mayor Kochuba thanked her and directed Mr. Smith to have staff review the request. 10. Advertised Public Hearings A. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-6 (Second Reading) To adopt a revised Public Safety pay Plan that sets a new starting salary for Police Officer and Firefighter – EMT Combined; that provides a 2% increase between steps; that sets the Firefighter – Intermediate pay grade at 2% higher than the Firefighter – EMT Combined pay grade; that sets the Firefighter – Paramedic pay grade at 10% above the Firefighter – EMT Combined pay grade; and that increases by 1% the steps of each pay grade for all Police Department supervisor positions, all Fire Department supervisor positions, Communications Center positions, and Animal Control positions in the pay plan. A motion was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Skalak, to approve Ordinance No. 25-6. There being no comments from the public, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Regular Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Page 4 Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS 11. Hearing of Citizens and Council Members Generally on Non-Agenda Items Stephanie Webber, 910 Floral Avenue – Mrs. Webster, is the outreach coordinator for Once Upon A Child and sought assistance finding programs that may benefit from items available to Once Upon a Child. 12. Consideration of Uncontested Minutes, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Motions in accordance with the Consent Agenda A. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-FIN-2 (Second 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; 2) $14,020 in Police donations to Miscellaneous and to Public Safety; and 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 & 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. B. February 13, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes Regular Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Page 5 C. February 13, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Slaybaugh, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS 13. Introduction and Consideration of Ordinances and Resolutions A. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-8 (First Reading) Awarding the City Manager a bonus of $4,000.00. A motion was made by Mr. Slaybaugh, seconded by Mr. Wood, to approve Ordinance No. 25-8. There being no discussion, 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 Regular Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Page 6 B. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-FIN-3 (First Reading) To amend the General Fund Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025, by appropriating $376,211, consisting of: 1) $10,286 in State Asset Forfeiture funds to Miscellaneous and to Public Safety; 2) $1,000 in donations to the Police Department to Miscellaneous and to Public Safety; 3) $24,790 in state funds ($10,790 from the Department of Criminal Justice, and $14,000 from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs) to Public Safety and to Intergovernmental Revenues; 4) $66,521 to Human Services and to Intergovernmental Revenues ($47,867) and Miscellaneous ($18,654); 5) $4,912 to Public Works and to Intergovernmental Revenues ($720) and to Miscellaneous ($4,192); and 6) $268,702 in Unassigned Fund Balance to Miscellaneous and to Debt Service & Transfers Out. Also, to amend the General Fund Budget by transferring $454,500 from Nondepartmental (contingencies & Reserve) to Health and Social Services To amend the Capital Projects Fund Budget by appropriating $220,247, consisting of $87,338 to Miscellaneous and to the Breezy Hill Stormwater Outfall project and $132,909 to Miscellaneous and to the Appomattox River Trail Phase V project. To amend the Capital Projects Fund Budget by transferring $135,793 from Intergovernmental to Miscellaneous. A motion was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Skalak, to approve Ordinance No. 25-FIN-3. At the request of Mr. Smith, Mrs. Sadler provided additional comments and an overview of the proposed ordinance. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS Regular Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Page 7 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 provided the upcoming dates of interest for City events. At the request of Mr. Smith, Todd Flippen provided an update on the fountain at the I-95 – Temple Avenue interchange and the installation of the Colonial Heights welcome sign. Mr. Flippen advised of anticipated communication with VDOT and stated he would provide updates as the information is received. 2. 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 April 30, 2025. B. City Attorney Mr. Fisher reported that the Staples’ documents had been signed for the property located near Temple Avenue and the Boulevard. He also noted that the former franchise agreement with Dominion Energy needs replacement; and that his office had drafted a new franchise agreement. He hopes for final approval within the next couple of months. In conclusion, Mr. Fisher stated that he and Mr. Sprull had discussed revisions to the contract with Collegiate Baseball Experience (i.e., the Chili Peppers), and that once those revisions Regular Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Page 8 are finalized, a new contract will be presented to the Council. C. Director of Planning and Community Development Mr. Carter advised that the Planning Commission met for its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. At that time, staff provided an overview presentation on a Sign Ordinance amendment, and set a tentative work session for May 28, 2025, to review proposed changes to the sign ordinance. Staff will present to the Council at its May 13, 2025 work session. To conclude, Mr. Carter advised that the Board of Zoning Appeals was scheduled to meet on April 16, 2025, for three public hearings of variance requests. 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