City Council Meeting Agendas

City Council Regular Meeting June 4, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Suffolk City Council was held in the City Council Chamber, 442 West Washington Street, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. PRESENT Council Members - Michael D. Duman, Mayor, presiding Lue R. Ward, Jr., Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett Shelley Butler Barlow Timothy J. Johnson John T. Rector LeOtis L. Williams Ebony N. Wright Erika S. Dawley, City Clerk William E. Hutchings, Jr., City Attorney Albert S. Moor, City Manager ABSENT None 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 June 4, 2025, pursuant to Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended. Council Member Williams, on a motion seconded by Council Member Butler Barlow, moved to approve the resolution, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Johnson, Rector, Williams and Wright 8 NAYS: None 0 A RESOLUTION OF CERTIFICATION OF THE CLOSED MEETING OF JUNE 4, 2025, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2-3712 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA (1950), AS AMENDED 1 City Council Regular Meeting June 4, 2025 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Council Member Williams, on a motion seconded by Council Member Bennett, moved to approve the minutes from the March 5, 2025, Work Session and Regular Meeting, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Johnson, Rector, Williams and Wright 8 NAYS: None 0 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Special Presentation - A proclamation in recognition of “Elder Abuse Awareness Month” Mayor Duman presented the above referenced proclamation to Social Services Director Harry Cromer and Social Services Assistant Director Toya Taylor. REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA City Manager Moor announced that Consent Agenda #9 needs to be removed from the agenda due to an error. Council Member Johnson, on a motion seconded by Council Member Rector, moved to remove Consent Agenda #9 – “An ordinance to amend the job description for the position of Director of Public Works” from the agenda and adopt the remainder of the agenda, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Johnson, Rector, Williams and Wright 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 a grant from the National Rifle Association Foundation for the Suffolk Sheriff’s Department Consent Agenda Item #8 - A resolution to accept a donation of personal property for the Suffolk Department of Fire & Rescue Referring to Consent Agenda Items #7 and #8, City Manager Moor submitted a review of the background information as printed in the official agenda. 2 City Council Regular Meeting June 4, 2025 Council Member Williams, on a motion seconded by Vice Mayor Ward, moved to adopt Consent Agenda Items #7 and #8, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Johnson, Rector, Williams and Wright 8 NAYS: None 0 PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no items under this portion of the agenda. ORDINANCES There were no items under this portion of the agenda. RESOLUTIONS There were no items under this portion of the agenda. STAFF REPORT Staff Report - Solar and Truck Stops Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Planning and Community Development Director Kevin Wyne outlined the background information as printed in the official agenda. Council Member Wright inquired about the feasibility of establishing parking for tractor trailers in the northern part of the City. Planning and Community Development Director Wyne stated no developers have submitted any proposals that would establish parking for large trucks at this time. Council Member Wright queried about the possibility of establishing parking for tractor trailers at the regional level. City Manager Moor explained parking for those large vehicles is usually provided through private development, but if it is the desire of City Council, staff can explore that option. Council Member Johnson opined about the enforcement of parking regulations for tractor trailers. Planning and Community Development Director Wyne reported that the Pilot Travel Center was initially developed without a parking lot requirement through a Conditional Use Permit. He explained, when the facility transferred ownership, the new owner got a separate Conditional Use Permit to address the lack of parking. He concluded that once the Route 58 Project is completed, the new owners will start the overflow parking area. Vice Mayor Ward asked if there was a time limit for tractor trailers parking at the Walmart parking lot in the northern part of the City. Planning and Community Development Director Wyne stated that there is no time limit for tractor trailers parking on commercial properties. He further stated that parking enforcement is up to the property owner. 3 City Council Regular Meeting June 4, 2025 Mayor Duman asked about the relation of the truck scales and gas pumps to the enforcement of parking requirements. Planning and Community Development Director Wyne replied that the presence of a truck scale determines parking permission. Council Member Butler Barlow called for clarification about the requirement for business that attract tractor trailers to offer parking. Planning and Community Development Director Wyne replied parking requirements of ten spaces per door were instituted when the City adopted warehouse standards. Council Member Butler Barlow asked whether those standards provide enough parking for tractor trailers. Planning and Community Development Director Wyne explained that there is not enough data yet, as the City’s regulations regarding this matter have only been in place for 18 months. MOTIONS Motion - A motion to schedule a City Council Work Session, for Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., unless canceled by the Mayor and the City Manager Council Member Butler Barlow, on a motion seconded by Council Member Williams, moved to schedule a City Council Work Session, for Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., unless cancelled by the Mayor and the City Manager, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Johnson, Rector, Williams and Wright 8 NAYS: None 0 NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS Anderson Cuffee, 1129 Woods Way, Chesapeake, Virginia, shared his concerns about crime. Shameka Council, 210 Greenfield Crescent, President, Gamma Omega Sigma Alumnae Franklin- Suffolk Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, thanked Mayor Duman for providing a welcome letter for the Northeastern Regional Conference of Sigma Rho Sorority, Incorporated. Valerie Boykin, 119 Summer Street, President, Suffolk-Nansemond Branch of NAACP, invited City Council to attend their upcoming Juneteenth Town Hall Meeting. NEW BUSINESS City Clerk Dawley presented the following nominations for appointment to the respective boards and commissions – Early Childhood Development Commission – Libraries Assistant Director Minerva Hernandez Garcia; and the following nominations effective July 1, 2025: Historic Landmarks Commission William Bissell (architect/architectural historian) and Kermit Hobbs; Library Advisory Board – Jeffrey Benton, Sean Bilby and Harry Lee Cross; Parks and Recreation Advisory Board – Jean Carmen; Planning Commission – Thomas Powell; Sister Cities Commission – Donna Standish; Suffolk Clean Community Commission – Kathy Lang Russell; and Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority – Julpenia Hill. 4 City Council Regular Meeting June 4, 2025 Council Member Johnson, on a motion seconded by Council Member Williams, 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, Johnson, Rector, Williams and Wright 8 NAYS: None 0 Council Member Butler Barlow, on a motion seconded by Council Member Williams, moved to schedule a discussion of the process for selecting members of City Boards, Committees, and Commission be placed on the agenda for Work Session on July 2, 2025, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Johnson, Rector, Williams and Wright 8 NAYS: None 0 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Communications Director Jennifer Moore provided a report on the following: the City’s observance of the Juneteenth holiday; the ribbon cutting for Salty Shell on Bennett’s Creek; the 2025 Old Dominion University Crown Gala; the Route 58/Holland Road Westbound Lane Closure; the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Long-Term Single-Lane Closure on Route 58 East for the Southeastern Interchange Improvement Project; the passing of the Suffolk Police Department’s K-9 Scout; the homecoming of the USS Stout; the Parks and Recreation Department’s Summer Concert Series; the Suffolk Parks and Recreation Department’s Free Fishing Days; the Suffolk Public Libraries’ Parking Lot Pride and the availability of the Public Safety Portal. Council Member Wright announced that she attended the graduation ceremonies for King’s Fork High School, Lakeland High School and Nansemond River High School. Council Member Rector reported that he attended the following: the MSI Warehouse Ribbon Cutting; the Suffolk Clean Community Commission Volunteer Appreciation Event; the American Legion Post 88 Annual Memorial Day Event and the ribbon cutting for the Salty Shell on Bennett’s Creek. Council Member Williams announced that he attended the graduation ceremonies for King’s Fork High School and Lakeland High School. Council Member Butler Barlow opined about the 2025 Legislative Update provided by the Office of the City Attorney at today’s Work Session. Council Member Butler Barlow expressed her appreciation to the staff that attended the Suffolk Peninsula Community Partnership Town Hall. Council Member Butler Barlow reported that she attended the McDonald’s Ribbon Cutting. Council Member Bennett opined about traffic enforcement cameras on Route 58. Council Member Bennett reported construction debris on Shoulders Hill Road. 5 City Council Regular Meeting June 4, 2025 Council Member Bennett opined about sinkholes after the installation of GloFiber. Council Member Bennett announced that he attended the graduation ceremonies for King’s Fork High School, Lakeland High School and Nansemond River High School. Council Member Bennett extended his condolences to the family of the late Mrs. Sarah Milteer. Council Member Johnson opined about the local high school graduates. Vice Mayor Ward reported on a Women’s Conference. Vice Mayor Ward queried about the timeline for the opening of Fire Station #11. City Manager Moor advised that it would probably be operational in August, and there will be a ribbon cutting in late July. Vice Mayor Ward extended his condolences to the family of the late Mrs. Sarah Milteer. Mayor Duman extended his condolence to the family of the late Mrs. Sarah Milteer. Mayor Duman announced that he attended the following: the MSI Warehouse Ribbon Cutting; the Suffolk Clean Community Commission Volunteer Appreciation Event; the American Legion Post 88 Annual Memorial Day Event; the Suffolk Peninsula Community Partnership Town Hall; the Public Safety Committee Meeting and the memorial service for the Suffolk Police Department’s K-9 Scout. Council Member Williams, on a motion seconded by Council Member Wright, moved to adjourn, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Johnson, Rector, Williams and Wright 8 NAYS: None 0 There being no further business to come before City Council, the regular meeting was adjourned at 8:14 p.m. Teste: ____________________________________________ Erika S. Dawley, MMC, City Clerk Approved: _________________________________________ Michael D. Duman, Mayor APPROVED: OCTOBER 1, 2025 6