City Council

CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA Special Meeting of City Council Tuesday, July 23, 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 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, City Clerk Mr. Smith recognized the Interim Public Works Director, Steven Smith, from the Berkley Group. 3. A Work Session on the Following Items: A. Recognizing Hugh P. “Chip” Fisher, III, for 19 years of service as City Attorney. 1. A RESOLUTION NO 25-43 Recognizing Hugh P. Fisher, III, upon his retirement for 19 years of dedicated service to the City of Colonial Heights. A motion to approve was made by Mayor Kochuba and seconded by Mrs. Palmer. VOTE: 7–0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Abstain: None UNANIMOUS PASS Special Meeting Minutes July 23, 2025 Page 2 Mayor Kochuba recognized Mr. Fisher and his family. He thanked both for their service to the City of Colonial Heights, stating that Mr. Fisher had served the Council and the community well during his 19 years as City Attorney. At the conclusion of Mayor Kochuba’s comments, Councilmembers provided their personal comments thanking Mr. Fisher for his years of service. Mr. Fisher then thanked Council for their confidence in him to represent them and the City during his years of service as City Attorney. B. Economic Development Update and Discussion Dr. Caballero first thanked Amber Wallace for her outstanding professional efforts over the past seven months. Dr. Caballero stated he would not be addressing any questions during his presentation, as it was an information-only presentation. He then provided updates on the following items related to Economic Development and Tourism:  Building relationships  Branding (new logo and website design)  Special Events and Tourism Plan  Development of a Strategic Plan  Improving communication between staff and customers  Identifying available sites  New businesses Continuing, Dr. Caballero stated that Economic Development “creates the conditions for economic growth and improved quality of life” and is the “intentional practice of improving a community’s economic well-being and quality of life.” Dr. Caballero also provided ideas to support short- and long-term economic development and tourism growth. To support this growth, Dr. Caballero identified four pillars of success: Sales Tax, Property Tax, People, and Investment. Explaining each pillar, Dr. Caballero discussed how each pillar would support both Economic Development and Tourism growth within the City. To conclude, Dr. Caballero provided the following Economic Drivers to support growth, development, and tourism, providing examples of each:  City Special Events  Quality of Life Amenities  Sports Tourism  Shepherd Stadium District Design Standards  Beautification Plan  New Housing  Dimmock Riverfront Plan  Boulevard Revitalization Plan Special Meeting Minutes July 23, 2025 Page 3 There being no discussion of the presentation, Mayor Kochuba thanked Dr. Caballero for the presentation and moved to the next item on the agenda. C. City of Colonial Heights Audit Statement 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 completion date for the audit report is August 29, 2025. Addressing concerns related to the extension of the City’s audit, Mrs. Sadler advised that staff continue to work through issues with the Tyler Munis System, have identified issues, and continue to work through them as they move forward. Mrs. Sadler noted there had been issues beyond the staff’s control; however, they continue to work through them. 4. Closed meeting pursuant to the Code of Virginia in accordance with the following provisions:  Paragraph A.3 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider the City’s acquisition for a public purpose of an approximate 4.44 acre parcel of real property, zoned Boulevard Business, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body; and to discuss or consider the City’s disposition of an approximate 19.83-acre parcel of publicly held real property, zoned Industrial, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body.  Paragraph A.29 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss the award of a public contract providing for interim City Attorney services, which would involve the expenditure of public funds, and to discuss the terms or scope of such contract, where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. A motion to convene in a closed meeting was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mrs. Luck. Special Meeting Minutes July 23, 2025 Page 4 Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski 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 Mrs. Luck, seconded by Vice-Mayor Piotrowski, and carried unanimously on roll call vote at 8:36 P.M. Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski 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 provisions:  Paragraph A.3 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider the City’s acquisition for a public purpose of an approximate 4.44 acre parcel of real property, zoned Boulevard Business, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body; and to discuss or consider the City’s disposition of an approximate 19.83-acre parcel of publicly held real property, zoned Industrial, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Special Meeting Minutes July 23, 2025 Page 5  Paragraph A.29 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss the award of a public contract providing for interim City Attorney services, which would involve the expenditure of public funds, and to discuss the terms or scope of such contract, where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. 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 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 stated departure from the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) by the following roll call vote: Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS 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 8:38 P.M. APPROVED: ____________________________________ T. Gregory Kochuba, Mayor Special Meeting Minutes July 23, 2025 Page 6 ATTEST: ______________________________________________________________ Pamela B. Wallace, City Clerk