City Council

CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA Special Meeting of City Council Tuesday, April 29, 2025 1. Call to Order. The Special Meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Kochuba at 6:00 P.M. 2. Roll Call. Present: Councilwoman Elizabeth G. Luck Councilwoman Tricia L. Palmer Councilman Craig R. Skalak Councilman Brad E. Slaybaugh Vice Mayor John E. Piotrowski Mayor T. Gregory Kochuba Absent: Councilman John T. Wood Also Present: Mr. Douglas E. Smith, City Manager Mr. Hugh P. Fisher, III, City Attorney Mrs. Jeri-Ann F. Tomlin, Deputy City Clerk The Clerk announced the purpose of the closed meeting. 3. Declarations of Personal Interest Declarations were read by Mayor Kochuba and Mr. Slaybaugh, then filed with the Clerk. 4. Advertised Public Hearing: A. ORDINANCE NO 25-9 (First Reading) Providing for a tax levy on certain personal property for the 2026 tax year, for general municipal purposes. A motion was made by Mrs. Luck, seconded by Vice Mayor Piotrowski, to approve Ordinance No. 25-9. There being no discussion or comments from the public or Council, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. VOTE: Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Special Meeting Minutes April 29, 2025 Page 2 Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS B. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-10 (First Reading) Providing for a levy on all real estate located in the City not exempt from taxation to be fixed at $1.20 for the tax year commencing January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026 for general municipal purposes. A motion was made by Mr. Slaybaugh, seconded by Mrs. Palmer, to approve Ordinance No. 25-10. There being no discussion or comments from the public or Council, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. VOTE: Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS C. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-2 (First Reading) Amending § 244-13 of Chapter 244, Solid Waste, of the Colonial Heights City Code by increasing the monthly charge for solid waste collection and disposal and for the collection and recycling of recyclable material. A motion was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Skalak, to approve Ordinance No. 25- 2. There were several minutes of discussion regarding the increased monthly charge, with Mr. Slaybaugh expressing his concerns about the increase. After the discussion, Mayor Kochba called for the vote. VOTE: Yes: Luck Special Meeting Minutes April 29, 2025 Page 3 Palmer Skalak Piotrowski Kochuba No: Slaybaugh Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion PASS D. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-FIN-4 (First Reading) Adopting the General Fund Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and appropriating the estimated revenues for the year for the objects and purposes stated herein. A motion was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Skalak, to approve Ordinance No. 25- FIN-4. There being no discussion or comments from the public or Council, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. VOTE: Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS E. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-FIN-5 (First Reading) Adopting the budgets for various funds for the fiscal year beginning July1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026, and appropriating the estimated revenues for the year for the principal purposes stated. A motion was made by Mrs. Luck, seconded by Mrs. Palmer, to adopt Ordinance No. 25- FIN-25. There being no discussion or comments from the public or Council, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. VOTE: Special Meeting Minutes April 29, 2025 Page 4 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS F. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-FIN-6 (First Reading) Appropriating and providing funds for financing the City of Colonial Heights Public School Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026 and approving such budget. A motion was made by Mayor Kochuba, seconded by Mrs. Luck, to approve Ordinance No. 25-FIN-6. There being no discussion or comments from the public or Council, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. VOTE: Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS G. Public Hearing on the Proposed FY2025-2026 City of Colonial Heights Annual Operating Budget Public Comments: Gray Collins, Commonwealth’s Attorney, located at 206 Waterfront Drive in Colonial Heights, Virginia, addressed the Council regarding the challenges faced by his office. He stated that the office is significantly underfunded and understaffed. According to established standards, the office should have 12 attorneys; however, it currently operates with only five. Special Meeting Minutes April 29, 2025 Page 5 Mayor Kochuba informed Mr. Collins that the City Manager would follow up with him to further discuss the needs of his office. Council Comments: Councilwoman Palmer requested that the Finance Department provide a quarterly report outlining the City’s budget status. Mayor Kochuba agreed with her request. Councilman Slaybaugh commended the Police Department for its continued hard work and dedication. There was no formal action on this item. 5. Work Session on the Following Items: A. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-FIN-3 (Second 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 to 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 Mr. Skalak, seconded by Mr. Slaybaugh, to approve Ordinance No. 25-FIN-3. Mr. Smith provided a brief overview of the ordinance with no changes. VOTE: Special Meeting Minutes April 29, 2025 Page 6 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None B. An ORDINANCE NO 25-11 (First Reading) to adopt a revised General Pay Plan Class and Salay Range with revised and new job descriptions and class specifications for certain positions; and to adopt a revised Public Safety Step Plan with one new job description and class specification. A motion was made by Mr. Slaybaugh, seconded by Mayor Kochuba, to adopt Ordinance No. 25-11. Initiating discussion, Mr. Slaybaugh proposed increasing public safety step raises by 2% instead of the planned 1.75%. In response, Mayor Kochuba noted that the City had already increased public safety salaries by over $2.4 million. Mr. Slaybaugh referenced Hopewell’s significant salary increases, prompting Mrs. Luck to point out that Hopewell’s police pay is relatively aligned with Colonial Heights. Vice Mayor Piotrowski added that Hopewell had raised taxes to fund these increases. Mrs. Palmer expressed concern that other localities were attempting to recruit Colonial Heights' public safety staff and emphasized the need to increase compensation to retain employees. Vice Mayor Piotrowski also questioned part-time wages and requested a report from the HR Director on how many employees currently earn $12.50 per hour. Mr. Fisher recommended the City conduct a general salary study using an outside consultant, noting that the last such study was conducted in 2001. Mrs. Palmer agreed, adding that several departments are struggling with staff losses and detailing the challenges with specific positions and pay grades. Mr. Smith supported the idea, suggesting a study should be done soon. Mayor Kochuba questioned the smaller percentage increases in steps 16–21 of the pay plan. Mr. Smih explained that higher-level staff might require more substantial step increases due to the salary structure, which could result in them jumping multiple steps at once. Mr. Slaybaugh raised concerns about pay compression, where employees in lower positions might earn salaries too close to those of their supervisors. Mr. Smith addressed this by explaining that promotions typically come with a 5% increase, rounded up to the next step, which can occasionally lead to compression issues. Mr. Smith estimated that increasing the step raise from 1.75% to 2% would cost about $57,000 and deferred the decision to the Council. He suggested either passing the current plan and revisiting it later or amending it immediately. Mr. Fisher cautioned that any changes Special Meeting Minutes April 29, 2025 Page 7 to the complex Pay Plan could have a significant ripple effect. Mrs. Luck also emphasized the importance of considering compression when balancing step percentages and flat dollar amounts. She warned against making the system too complicated or returning to an overly burdensome structure, especially since not all employees are covered by the step plan. Ultimately, Mr. Smith presented options, and Mayor Kochuba recommended approving the ordinance in its current form and revisiting the issue in June. The Council reached a consensus to move forward as proposed, with plans to revisit and further discuss the matter at that time. Mayor Kochuba called for the vote, approving Ordinance No. 25-11 as presented. VOTE: Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None C. Update on Sign Ordinance Revision Mr. Carter outlined upcoming changes to the City Code provisions on signs that would make them content neutral. Mr. Fisher provided clarification on how a Supreme Court decision has impacted local government regulations regarding signage. D. City of Colonial Heights Audit Statement City of Colonial Heights Audit Statement In accordance with requirements in the Code of Virginia § 1 5 . 2 - 2511, i f a l o c a l i t y ’ s a u d i t i s n o t c o m p l e t e d a s r e q u i r e d by this 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 Special Meeting Minutes April 29, 2025 Page 8 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 June 30, 2025. Addressing Mr. Fisher’s question whether an additional budget work session is needed, Mr. Smith stated he did not feel it would be necessary. 7. Adjournment. A motion to adjourn the Special Meeting was made by Mrs. Luck, seconded by Mr. Slaybaugh, and carried unanimously on voice vote at 7:51 P.M. APPROVED: ____________________________________ T. Gregory Kochuba, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________________ Pamela B. Wallace, City Clerk