City Council

CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA Special Meeting of City Council Tuesday, October 21, 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: Also Present: Mr. Douglas E. Smith, City Manager Mr. Andrew A Meyer, City Attorney Mrs. Jeri-Ann F. Tomlin, Deputy City Clerk 3. Declarations of Personal Interest There were none. The Clerk announced the purpose of the closed meeting. 4. Closed meeting pursuant to the Code of Virginia in accordance with the following provisions:  Paragraph A.1 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider an appointment to the Greater Reach Community Services Board (formerly known as District 19 Community Services Board).  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.1 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider the performance of the City Manager (mid-year review). A motion to convene in a closed meeting was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mrs. Luck. Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2025 Page 2 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 Mayor Kochuba, seconded by Mrs. Palmer, and carried unanimously on roll call vote at 7:53 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.1 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider an appointment to the Greater Reach Community Services Board (formerly known as District 19 Community Services Board).  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, Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2025 Page 3 zoned Industrial, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body.  Paragraph A.1 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider the performance of the City Manager (mid-year review). 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 stating 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 6. Motions and Resolutions of Appointment A RESOLUTION NO. 25-58 Appointing Rebecca Lynch as a member of the Greater Reach Community Services Board for a three-year term beginning November 1, 2025. A RESOLUTION NO. 25-57 Appointing Erika Cowling to the position of City Assessor. A motion to approve was made by Mayor Kochuba, seconded by Mrs. Luck Vote: 7-0 Yes: Luck Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2025 Page 4 Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Wood Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: None Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS 7. A Work Session on the following items: A. AN ORDINANCE NO. 25-16 (Second Reading) To grant a special use permit to Duane Rankin on behalf of American Behavioral Health Group, LLC, allowing an approximate 135-foot- long, 7-foot-high aluminum picket fence with gate and automatic gate opener to be installed in front of the building line at 439 Jennick Drive. The property, also known as parcel identification number 68215600001, is comprised of approximately 3.32 acres and is zoned GB (General Business). A motion to approve was made by Mr. Slaybaugh, seconded by Mrs. Palmer. There being no discussion, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. Vote: 4-3 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Wood No: Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba Absent: None Abstained: None Motion FAIL Mr. Meyer explained that pursuant to the City Charter, a special use permit needed a minimum 5-2 vote to pass. B. Transportation Authority Support Letter Jay Ellington of the Crater Planning District Commission provided an overview of the role of a transportation authority and highlighted the district’s need for additional funding to Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2025 Page 5 support transportation improvements. He encouraged the Council, along with other localities, to work together in submitting a draft letter of support to the legislature. He noted that the City’s contribution could be funded through revenues from the local gas tax and by increasing the City’s sales tax by approximately 0.7 percent. There was no action taken. C. Draft Chicken Ordinance Discussion Mr. Smith provided an overview of suggested changes or revisions to be included in the draft chicken ordinance including:  Animal Control to oversee the application process and permit issuance, including the authority to deny a request.  Animal Control has the authority to revoke a permit if it is not renewed within the designated timeframe after its expiration.  An annual fee of $60.  A $50 penalty for first violation and up to $100 for subsequent violations. At the conclusion of Mr. Smith’s presentation, Mrs. Luck requested that her comments be included in the minutes’ verbatim. Mrs. Luck stated the following: “While the idea of keeping backyard chickens may seem appealing to some, our city should carefully consider the drawbacks before permitting them. The risks and challenges outweigh the potential benefits, especially considering we are a city, not an agricultural area like our surrounding counties. 1. Public Health Concerns Chickens are known carriers of diseases such as salmonella, avian flu, and mites. These can spread not only to other animals but also to people, particularly children. In a dense urban environment, the risk of exposure and transmission increases significantly. 2. Noise Issues Even without roosters, hens can be noisy, especially when laying eggs or if startled. In closely built neighborhoods, this noise can quickly become a nuisance and create ongoing disputes between neighbors. 3. Odor and Sanitation Problems Chicken waste produces strong odors if not cleaned daily, which is impractical for many owners. Flies and rodents are also drawn to chicken coops, creating additional sanitation and pest-control issues that could affect entire neighborhoods. 4. Zoning and Property Values Allowing livestock in residential areas blurs the line between urban and agricultural zoning. Many residents purchase homes in the city specifically to avoid farm-like conditions. The Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2025 Page 6 presence of chicken coops could negatively affect property values and deter future buyers. What's next? Goats, miniature horses? 5. Animal Welfare Concerns Chickens require specific care, space, and protection from predators. Too often, well- intentioned owners underestimate these needs, leading to neglected animals or abandoned chickens—problems the city may ultimately need to address. We already have an influx of fox and coyotes. Chickens will be another draw for them to come into the neighborhoods, which could potentially put children and citizens at risk. 6. Enforcement Burden If chickens are allowed, the city will need to create and enforce regulations regarding flock size, coop standards, sanitation, and noise. This adds workload and costs to city staff, diverting resources away from more pressing community needs. I’ve listened to more complaints in the past two years about chickens tearing up yards and scratching paint on cars than ever. Imagine how many complaints we’ll have if we make it legal to have chickens. Our code enforcers and police officers have more important things to do. While backyard chickens may seem harmless, in practice, they create health, noise, sanitation, and property concerns that affect entire neighborhoods. Cities thrive on clear boundaries between residential and agricultural living. No other livestock is allowed in our city. To protect public health, property values, and quality of life, our city should not permit chickens within its limits. The enforcement is my main concern.” Mrs. Palmer stated that there are currently residents in the city with chickens, and that there have been no complaints, to which Mrs. Luck replied, that was not true. Continuing, Mrs. Palmer stated that Colonial Heights was the only locality in the area that did not allow chickens. Addressing Mrs. Luck’s question, Mayor Kochuba confirmed that chickens were not considered companion animals. Mr. Smith injected that Dinwiddie County does not allow chickens in residential areas. Mr. Wood stated that no ordinance changes should be made until Council determines whether it wants to proceed. He agreed with Mrs. Luck’s concerns and added that allowing chickens would place an additional burden on citizens to monitor compliance, which could create friction and problems in a small-city neighborhood. He expressed opposition to permitting chickens and recommended not moving forward with an ordinance. Messrs. Slaybaugh and Skalak, as well as Mayor Kochuba spoke to not moving forward with an ordinance supporting allowing chickens. Mayor Kochuba asked if the Council should vote to move forward. Vice-Mayor. Piotrowski stated that Council should not throw the proposed ordinance out and should not say “no” to chickens without first hearing from the citizens. Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2025 Page 7 Hearing Vice-Mayor Piotrowski’s comments, Mayor Kochuba called for a vote to move forward with the ordinance in an effort to receive comments from the citizens. Vote: 5-2 Yes: Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: Luck Wood Absent: None Abstained: None PASS D. City Logo and Branding Presentation At the request of Mr. Smith, Assistant City Manager, Lenny Caballero, and Amber Wallace, Economic Development Specialist, presented new potential branding for the City. Mrs. Palmer expressed support for the new brand and logo. Council deliberated several ideas presented, including color changes to the city seal and placement of the word “Incorporated” on the seal. With no definitive decision, it was decided that several variations will be brought back for Council’s further consideration. Council discussion on the new brand logo was generally favorable. Mr. Wood expressed concern that the three-leaf design may not be emblematic of the city. At the conclusion of Mr. Wood’s comments, Mayor Kochuba called for a vote to move forward with the brand as presented. Vote: 6-1 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: Wood Absent: None Abstained: None PASS At the conclusion of the presentation, Mayor Kochuba recognized Amber Wallace for a feature article highlighting her work in tourism. Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2025 Page 8 E. General Activity Report Mr. Smith advised that Dr. Caballero had a few update items that he would email Council. F. 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 this statute, the locality must prom ptly post a statement on its website with the following information: o That the required audit is pending, o The reasons for the delay, o 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 November 26, 2026. 7. Adjournment. A motion to adjourn the Special Meeting was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Slaybaugh, and carried unanimously on voice vote at 8:30 P.M. APPROVED: ____________________________________ T. Gregory Kochuba, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________________ Pamela B. Wallace, City Clerk