City Council

CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA Regular Meeting of City Council Tuesday, June 10, 2025 1. Call to Order The Regular Meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Kochuba at 7:00 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 John T. Wood. 4. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Kochuba. 5. Adoption of Agenda A motion was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Skalak, to approve the agenda as presented. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Regular Meeting Minutes June 10, 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 There were none. 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. Tracey Wood, 215 Fairfax Avenue – Requests to address Council concerning the installation of a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Fairfax Avenue and Cottage Grove Avenue. Ms. Wood addressed the Council to amend her initial request for a four-way stop sign by also requesting the installation of speed bumps at the intersection, citing their effectiveness in reducing speeding. She asked the City to conduct a speed study on Fairfax and Cottage Grove Avenues and submitted a petition signed by neighborhood residents in support of the request. Mayor Kochuba thanked Ms. Wood, and Mr. Smith noted that, although staff findings did not support the installation of four-way stop signs, they would evaluate the possibility of installing speed humps and refer the matter to the Transportation Safety Commission for review. 10. Advertised Public Hearings A. A RESOLUTION NO 25-36 Regular Meeting Minutes June 10, 2025 Page 3 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GENERAL OBLIGATION PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BOND TO THE VIRGINIA RESOURCES AUTHORITY A motion was made by Mr. Skalak, seconded by Mrs. Luck, to approve Resolution No. 25-36. Mr. Smith advised that the City has applied to the Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) to participate in the summer pooled bond financing for the following projects totaling $6,054,198,000:  Roanoke Avenue Reconstruction  Brookedge and Spring Drive Drainage Improvements  Breezy Hill Avenue Stormwater Outfall  Yacht Basin Drive Outfall Rehabilitation  Mt. Pleasant Drive Outfall Rehabilitation Mr. Smith advised that the proposed resolution provides for City Council authorization for issuance of a public improvement bond to VRA in the maximum amount of $6,300,000 (for the above projects and issuance costs). The Resolution also authorizes the form of the Financing Agreement and authorizes the City Manager and Director of Finance to execute the Financing Agreement. Public Comment: None Council Comment: Mr. Wood stated that he felt it was important to approve the request in order to ensure that the long-overdue projects were funded. Addressing Mr. Slaybaugh’s concerns relating to a change in interest rates, Mr. Smith stated that it was an unknown. Additionally, Mr. Flippen, addressing Mr. Slaybaugh’s question, stated that revenue sharing was in the funding cycle; however, it would be November or December 2025 should those funds become available. There being no additional discussion, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Regular Meeting Minutes June 10, 2025 Page 4 Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS 11. Hearing of Citizens and Council Members Generally on Non-Agenda Items Pricilla Kinnaman, 1206 Elmwood Drive – spoke to the nuisance of chickens and requested that Council not allow them. Sara Eguilud, 107 East Perthshire Court – requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Nathaniel Minetree, 203 Homestead Drive – requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Michael Ellis, 1309 Hermitage Road – requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Cathy Blaha, 306 Yorktown Drive - requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Amanda Minetree, 203 Homestead Drive - requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Harry Smith, 808 Kinsington Avenue – thanked first responders and spoke to the current rise in crime, including vehicular violations. Mr. Smith rebuked Council for not contacting legislators regarding vehicular laws that tied the hands of law enforcement. Elizabeth Lancaster, 1701 Franklin Avenue - requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Sandy Wolfe, 402 Norwood Drive - requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Ashley Marks, 309 Morman Avenue - requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Garland Lancaster, 1701 Franklin Avenue - requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Elizabeth Cannon, 1307 Hermitage Road - requested that Council consider allowing chickens. Regular Meeting Minutes June 10, 2025 Page 5 After the comments, Mayor Kochuba polled the Council on whether they wished to discuss allowing chickens. It was the consensus of the Council to discuss and reconsider allowing chickens in the city at a future meeting. 12. Consideration of Uncontested Minutes, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Motions in accordance with the Consent Agenda A. AN ORDINANCE NO 25-FIN-7 (First Reading) To amend the General Fund Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, by appropriating $616,441, consisting of: 1) $3,718 in state funds from the Department of Criminal Justice Services to Public Safety ($2,834) and Judicial Administration ($884( and to Intergovernmental Revenues; 2) $11,000, of which $2,244 is in book sales, $2,035 is in donations, and $6,721 is in Assigned Fund Balance to the Library, to Miscellaneous and to Recreation & Culture; 3) $65,413 in Federal funds from Housing and Urban Development to Human Services and to Intergovernmental Revenues; 4) $11,310 in State Fire Aid to Localities to Public Safety and to Intergovernmental Revenues; and 5) $525,000 in Unassigned Fund Balance to Miscellaneous and to Deb Service & Transfers Out. Also, to amend the General Fund Budget by transferring $66,521 from Human Services to Health and Social Services and $4,912 from Public Works to Nondepartmental (Contingencies & Reserve). To amend the Economic Development Authority Budget by appropriating $100,000 in transfer from the General Fund to Operating Transfers In and to Economic Development. To amend the Stormwater Fund Budget by appropriating $425,000 in transfer from the General Fund to Non-operating Transfers In and to Stormwater. To amend the Water and Sewer fund by appropriating $124,033 from the Water & Sewer Fund Balance to Non-Operating Revenue and to Wastewater Treatment. B. March 18, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes C. April 8, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes D. April 8, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes E. April 29, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes Regular Meeting Minutes June 10, 2025 Page 6 F. Mary 13, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes G. May 13, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Vice Mayor Piotrowski, seconded by Mrs. Palmer, 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 25-14 (First Reading) Awarding a one-time bonus of 1.5% for all locally-elected constitutional officers and their Compensation Board-funded full-time permanent employees, as well as the General Registrar; or a one-time bonus of $600, whichever is greater. Awarding a 1.5% bonus to the members of the Electoral Board. Also awarding a $600 one-time bonus to full-time employees of all locally-elected constitutional offices and the General Registrar who are not in state-funded positions and thus not eligible fin the 1.5% bonus. A motion was made by Vice-Mayor Piotrowski, seconded by MR. Skalak, to approve Ordinance No. 25-14. Mr. Smith recalled the General Assembly approved funding to support a 1.5% bonus for all constitutional officers and their Compensation Board funded full-time permanent employees on July 1, 2025, provided the governing body uses these funds to support the bonus for these employees. The funding appropriated for this purpose is based on existing salaries on July 1, prior to application of the 3% across-the-board salary increase or any other salary adjustment effective on July 1, 2025. The state budget also includes funding for a 1.5% bonus for General Registrars and members of local electoral boards. Regular Meeting Minutes June 10, 2025 Page 7 Mrs. Sadler reported that the state portion was $24,458, with the City’s portion being $6,017. Mrs. Sadler and Mr. Smith clarified several questions from Council with overall support of this action . 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 provided the dates of interest and advised of the upcoming work session on June 17, 2025. 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 Regular Meeting Minutes June 10, 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. B. City Attorney Mr. Fisher advised that a closed meeting would be held at the June 17, 2025 work session. At that time, he, Mrs. Carpenter, and Dr. Caballero would provide recommendations regarding a new City Attorney. C. Director of Planning and Community Development Mr. Carter reported that the Planning Commission met on May 28, 2025, to discuss revisions to the City’s sign ordinance and held a Public Hearing on the same at the June 3, 2025, meeting. Mr. Carter reported that the Planning Commission voted to defer action to the Council. 16. Adjournment There being no further business, a motion was made by Mrs. Luck, seconded by Mr. Skalak, and carried unanimously on a voice vote to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 P.M. APPROVED: ______________________________ T. Gregory Kochuba, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________________ Pamela B. Wallace, City Clerk