City Council Work Sessions

City Council Work Session January 19, 2022 Work Session of the Suffolk City Council was held in the City Council Chamber, 442 West Washington Street, on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, 4:00 p.m. PRESENT Council Members - Michael D. Duman, Mayor, presiding Leroy Bennett, Vice Mayor Shelley Butler Barlow Roger W. Fawcett Donald Z. Goldberg Timothy J. Johnson Lue R. Ward, Jr. LeOtis L. Williams Erika S. Dawley, City Clerk William E. Hutchings, Jr., City Attorney Albert S. Moor, City Manager ABSENT None UPDATE ON 2021 REDISTRICTING City Attorney Hutchings introduced Robert Loftin, McGuire Woods, LLP, the City’s redistricting consultants. Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Loftin gave an update about the above referenced item. Members of City Council opined about the need to receive hard copies of proposal 1, proposal 2 and modified proposal C. City Attorney Hutchings said that hard copies could be provided to City Council. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Fawcett asked about the impact of redistricting on Harborview. Mr. Loftin advised that everything west of I-664 would shift into the Sleepy Hole Borough. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Fawcett queried about the inclusion of everything on the northside of Harborview in the Sleepy Hole Borough. Mr. Loftin replied in the affirmative. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Goldberg requested information about the overall impact of modified proposal C. Mr. Loftin stated that the modified proposal C results in 2.8% deviation, and the majority minority districts are Suffolk, Nansemond, Whaleyville and Cypress. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Ward queried about the current racial breakdown of the Suffolk Borough. Mr. Loftin said that the Suffolk Borough is currently comprised of 60% of minority citizens and 39% of white citizens. 1 City Council Work Session January 19, 2022 Referring to the presentation, Council Member Johnson sought an overview of the impact of modified proposal C on Holy Neck Borough. Mr. Loftin explained that the southwestern portion of Chuckatuck and the southwestern portion of Whaleyville would be incorporated into the Holy Neck Borough under modified proposal C. He added that the border on the eastern side of Holy Neck with Whaleyville will remain the same. Referring to the presentation, Vice Mayor Bennett called for a summation of the impact of modified proposal C on the Cypress Borough. Mr. Loftin reported that the southern part of Sleepy Hole would be incorporated into the Cypress Borough under the modified proposal C. Referring to the presentation, Vice Mayor Bennett queried about the deviation numbers for the Cypress Borough. Mr. Lofton said that the deviation is 2.1%, and the racial breakdown is 37% is white citizens and 62% minority citizens. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Williams inquired about the inclusion of Jericho in the Whaleyville Borough under the modified proposal C. Mr. Loftin replied in the affirmative. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Goldberg asked about the location of Whaleyville village. Mr. Loftin advised it is located in Whaleyville Borough. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Ward asked for information about the western boundary of Nansemond Borough under modified proposal C. Mr. Loftin advised that Interstate 664 is the western boundary of the Nansemond Borough under the modified proposal C. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Ward opined about the status of Pughsville in Nansemond Borough under the modified proposal C. Mr. Loftin stated that Pughsville remains a unified neighborhood in the Nansemond Borough under the modified proposal C. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Johnson opined about the legal defensibility of proposal 1, proposal 2 and modified proposal C. Mr. Loftin indicated that all three proposals are legally defensible. Council Member Fawcett moved to present proposal 1 and proposal 2 for a public hearing at the earliest feasible date. The motion failed to receive a second. Council Member Goldberg asked for clarification of Council Member Fawcett’s motion. Mayor Duman said that the motion only allows for consideration of proposal 1 and proposal 2. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Goldberg, moved to present proposal 1 and proposal 2 for a public hearing at the earliest feasible date. Council Member Johnson, on a substitute motion by Council Member Butler Barlow, moved to present proposal 1, proposal 2 and modified proposal C for a public hearing. Referring to the substitute motion, Council Member Ward queried about the public selecting the final map. Mayor Duman clarified that the purpose of the public hearing would be to receive public comment, not to select the map. 2 City Council Work Session January 19, 2022 Referring to the substitute motion, City Attorney Hutchings stated that he did not hear a specific date in the motion but explained scheduling a public hearing for the February 2, 2022, City Council meeting would not allow enough time to meet the advertising requirements. City Clerk Dawley asked Council Member Johnson and Council Member Butler Barlow if they were amenable to scheduling the public hearing at the February 16, 2022, City Council meeting. Council Member Johnson and Council Member Butler Barlow both replied in the affirmative. Council Member Johnson, on a substitute motion by Council Member Butler Barlow, moved schedule a public hearing to receive public comment on City redistricting maps proposal 1, proposal 2 and modified proposal C at the February 16, 2022, City Council meeting, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Butler Barlow Fawcett, Goldberg, Johnson, Ward and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 CLOSED MEETING City Clerk Dawley presented the Closed Meeting motion for City Council’s consideration: 1. Pursuant to Virginia Code Sections 2.2-3711(A)(8) and (A)(1), the consultation with legal counsel employed by a public body regarding specific legal matters requiring the legal advice of such counsel, and the discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for appointment and the assignment, appointment, and performance of specific public officers or appointees of the City, specifically the appointments as shown on the attached list for vacancies or term expirations for the Clean Community Commission, Early Childhood Development Commission, Economic Development Authority of the City of Suffolk, Fine Arts Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission, Human Services Advisory Board, Local Board of Building Code Appeals, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, Sister Cities Commission, The Planning Council, Tidewater Youth Services and Western Tidewater Community Service Board. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Goldberg, moved that City Council convene in a closed meeting for the above referenced purposes, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Butler Barlow Fawcett, Goldberg, Johnson, Ward and Williams 8 NAYS: None 0 3 City Council Work Session January 19, 2022 City Council convened in Closed Meeting at 4:51 p.m. The Closed Meeting concluded at 5:02 p.m. Teste: ____________________________________________ Erika S. Dawley, MMC, City Clerk Approved: _________________________________________ Michael D. Duman, Mayor APPROVED: JULY 20, 2022 4