City Council Meeting Agendas

City Council Regular Meeting September 18, 2024 Regular Meeting of the Suffolk City Council was held in the City Council Chamber, 442 West Washington Street, on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. PRESENT Council Members - Michael D. Duman, Mayor, presiding Lue R. Ward, Jr., Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett Shelley Butler Barlow Roger W. Fawcett Timothy J. Johnson John T. Rector LeOtis L. Williams Erika S. Dawley, City Clerk William E. Hutchings, Jr., City Attorney Albert S. Moor II, City Manager ABSENT CALL TO ORDER/INVOCATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Duman called the meeting to order. Council Member Butler Barlow offered the Invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CERTIFICATION City Clerk Dawley presented a resolution certifying the Closed Meeting of September 18, 2024, pursuant to Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Williams, moved to approve the resolution, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 A RESOLUTION OF CERTIFICATION OF THE CLOSED MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2024, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2-3712 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA (1950), AS AMENDED 1 City Council Regular Meeting September 18, 2024 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Council Member Johnson, on a motion seconded by Council Member Butler Barlow, moved to approve the minutes from the July 2, 2024, Work Session and Regular Meeting, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS There were no items under this portion of the agenda. REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Rector, moved to adopt the agenda, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 AGENDA SPEAKERS There were no speakers under this portion of the agenda. CONSENT AGENDA City Clerk Dawley presented the following Consent Agenda items: Consent Agenda Item #7 - An ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the Virginia Department of Transportation State of Good Repair Program for repaving sections of locally owned road segments Consent Agenda Item #8 - An ordinance to accept and appropriate additional funds from the Virginia 9-1-1 Services Board Public Safety Answering Point Grant Program for the Suffolk Police Department Referring to Consent Agenda Items #7 and #8, City Manager Moor submitted a review of the background information as printed in the official agenda. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Williams, moved to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 2 City Council Regular Meeting September 18, 2024 PUBLIC HEARINGS Public Hearing - An ordinance authorizing the acquisition of real property in fee simple and/or permanent and/or temporary easements, either by agreement or condemnation, for the Speights Spillway Bridge Replacement project Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Public Works Director Robert Lewis gave a summary of the background information as printed in the official agenda. Hearing no speakers, the public hearing was closed. Council Member Williams, on a motion seconded by Vice Mayor Ward, moved to approve the ordinance, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY IN FEE SIMPLE AND/OR PERMANENT AND/OR TEMPORARY EASEMENTS, EITHER BY AGREEMENT OR CONDEMNATION, FOR THE SPEIGHTS SPILLWAY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT Public Hearing - An ordinance to amend Section 31-407(c) of the Unified Development Ordinance of the City of Suffolk, Virginia; OTA2024-005 Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Planning and Community Development Director Kevin Wyne offered a synopsis of the background information as printed in the official agenda. Morgan Butler, 120 Garrett Street, Charlottesville, Virginia, representing Southern Environmental Law Center, spoke in support of the proposed ordinance, as presented. Hearing no additional speakers, the public hearing was closed. Council Member Butler Barlow, on a motion seconded by Council Member Johnson, moved to approve the ordinance, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 31-407(C) OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA; OTA2024-005 3 City Council Regular Meeting September 18, 2024 Public Hearing - An ordinance to amend Section 31-406(c) and Appendix A of the Unified Development Ordinance of the City of Suffolk, Virginia; OTA2024-006 Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Planning and Community Development Director Wyne provided a report on the background information as printed in the official agenda. Hearing no speakers, the public hearing was closed. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Rector, moved to approve the ordinance, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 31-406(C) AND APPENDIX A OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA; OTA2024-006 ORDINANCES There were no items under this portion of the agenda. RESOLUTIONS There were no items under this portion of the agenda. STAFF REPORT There were no items under this portion of the agenda. MOTIONS Motion - A motion to schedule a Public Hearing on the Draft 2025 Legislative Agenda for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, City Council Meeting Council Member Williams, on a motion seconded by Vice Mayor Ward, moved to schedule a motion to schedule a Public Hearing on the Draft 2025 Legislative Agenda for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, City Council Meeting, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 4 City Council Regular Meeting September 18, 2024 Motion - A motion to schedule a City Council Work Session for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., unless canceled by the Mayor and City Manager Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Bennett, moved to schedule a City Council Work Session for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., unless canceled by the Mayor and City Manager, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS Wade Bieber, 5646 Godwin Boulevard, representing self, requested more cycling infrastructure and signage for cycling lanes. Anthony Kramer, 110 Creek Lane, representing self, opined about his real estate assessment. Pastor Larry Davis, 204 Cedar Street, representing Cypress Chapel Christian Church, invited City Council to the church’s 275th anniversary in 2025. Dr. Andrea Parodi, 2655 River Watch Drive, representing the Nansemond River Preservation Alliance, opined about cement versus draining hardscape. Selena Thorton Manuel, 1921 Piedmont Road, representing the Parkside at Bennett’s Creek Homeowner Association, opined about concerns about tree trimming, trash can replacement and GloFiber. NEW BUSINESS City Clerk Dawley presented the following nominations for appointment to the respective bodies: Community Policy and Management Team (Parent Representative) – Wendy Terry; Virginia Municipal League Annual Business Meeting representative – Council Member LeOtis Williams and Virginia Municipal League Urban Section – Vice Mayor Lue Ward (voting member) and Council Member John Rector (alternate voting member). Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Johnson, moved to nominate and appoint the aforementioned individuals to the respective bodies, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 5 City Council Regular Meeting September 18, 2024 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Media and Community Relations Director Jennifer Moore provided a report on the following: ribbon cuttings for ESKA and Elliot Apartments; Taste of Suffolk; Route 58 Update regarding new traffic signals and traffic pattern; the Suffolk Public Library’s Shelf Bound Sound event; Suffolk Parks and Recreation Department’s Right on Target Archery event at Lone Star Lakes; 50th Anniversary Festival of Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge; and the City’s Public Safety Portal. Council Member Rector announced he attended the following events: National Night Out Appreciation event; Suffolk Christian Church First Responders Cookout; Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia Legislative Breakfast; Plein Air Festival; Sheriff’s Officer Senior Citizens Expo and Elliott Apartments ribbon cutting. Council Member Rector extended his condolences to the families of the late William Goodman, Jr. and Devonte Tillery. Council Member Williams extended his condolences to the families of the late William Goodman, Jr. and Devonte Tillery. Council Member Williams reported he attended the following events: ribbon cutting for Elliott Apartments; Downtown Advisory Committee meeting; Sherriff’s Office Senior Citizens Expo and Taste of Suffolk. Council Member Fawcett announced that he attended the following events: National Night Out Appreciation event; Taste of Suffolk; ribbon cutting for ESKA; Sherriff’s Office Senior Citizens Expo; the ribbon cutting for Elliott Apartments; and the vigil for the late William Goodman, Jr. and Devonte Tillery. Council Member Butler Barlow opined about the approval of OTA2024-005. Council Member Butler Barlow announced that her farm was one of the locations for the Plein Air Festival. Council Member Butler Barlow reported she attended the ribbon cutting for Elliott Apartments. Council Member Butler Barlow opined about the need for more cycling infrastructure and signage for cycling lanes. Council Member Butler Barlow opined about the upcoming 275th anniversary of Cypress Chapel Christian Church. Council Member Bennett opined about the upcoming 275th anniversary of Cypress Chapel Christian Church. Council Member Bennett extended his condolences to the families of the late William Goodman, Jr. and Devonte Tillery. 6 City Council Regular Meeting September 18, 2024 Council Member Johnson extended his condolences to the families of the late William Goodman, Jr. and Devonte Tillery. Council Member Johnson opined about the need for more cycling infrastructure and signage for cycling lanes. Council Member Johnson opined about the upcoming 275th anniversary of Cypress Chapel Christian Church. Council Member Johnson announced he attended the Taste of Suffolk and Plein Air Festival. Vice Mayor Ward reported that he attended the vigil for the late William Goodman, Jr. and Devonte Tillery. Vice Mayor Ward announced he attended the following: ribbon cutting for Elliott Apartments; Taste of Suffolk; Sherriff’s Office Senior Citizens Expo; National Night Out Appreciation event and 105th birthday celebration for Elder James Earl Hurt. Mayor Duman reported he attended the following events: ribbon cuttings for ESKA and Coastal Logistical Center; Plein Air Festival at Suffolk Art Gallery; National Night Out Appreciation event; Taste of Suffolk; Suffolk Sheriff’s Office Senior Citizens Expo; 105th birthday celebration for Elder James Hurt; ribbon cutting for Elliott Apartments and vigil for the late William Goodman, Jr. and Devonte Tillery. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Williams, moved to adjourn, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 There being no further business to come before City Council, the regular meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Teste: ____________________________________________ Erika S. Dawley, MMC, City Clerk Approved: _________________________________________ Michael D. Duman, Mayor APPROVED: DECEMBER 18, 2024 7