City Council Work Sessions
Regular MeetingSuffolk, VA · August 16, 2023
Minutes
City Council Work Session August 16, 2023
Work Session of the Suffolk City Council was held in the City Council Chamber, 442 West Washington
Street, on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
PRESENT
Council Members -
Michael D. Duman, Mayor, presiding
Lue R. Ward, Jr., Vice Mayor
Leroy Bennett
Shelly 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
None
RVA757 CONNECTS GLOBAL INFORMATION (GIH) INITIATIVE
Dr. Charles Kiriakou introduced John Martin, President, RVA757 Connects. Utilizing a PowerPoint
presentation, Mr. Martin gave a summary about the above referenced item.
Vice Mayor Ward inquired about the inclusion of Suffolk Public Schools in the Southside Area
Network. Mr. Martin explained that the City’s investment in the Southside Area Network will allow all
member localities’ school systems to have better access to the internet.
Referring to the presentation, Council Member Rector asked about the opportunity for local
representation on the Global Internet Hub Industry Council. Mr. Martin said that currently all Global
Internet Hub Steering Committee meetings are open to the public. He added that in the future, there will
be opportunities for the participating municipalities to have representation.
Referring to the presentation, Council Member Rector queried about the methodology for advertising the
upcoming Convergence 2023 meeting in Williamsburg. Mr. Martin stated that he would send the
invitation tomorrow.
Council Member Rector sought information about any partnership between the Global Information
Initiative and Dominion Energy, as it relates to the energy used by data centers. Mr. Martin advised that
Dominion Energy has been an excellent partner and has been experimenting with alternative energy
methods to meet the energy demands of data centers.
Council Member Butler Barlow opined about the vast number of data centers and their large size.
Mr. Martin replied that data centers are not only filled with computers and they require a specialized
construction workforce to keep center running.
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City Council Work Session August 16, 2023
Referring to the presentation, Mayor Duman called for clarification about the funding methodology for
the Global Information Hub Initiative. Mr. Martin explained that the components of the Global
Information Hub Initiative belong to privately owned individuals, with the expectation of the Southside
Area Network.
2045 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Principal Planner William Keith Cannady submitted information
about the above referenced item.
Referring to the presentation, Council Member Butler Barlow asked for clarification about the difference
between village commercial versus village center. Principal Planner Cannady advised that village
commercial is a land use term and village center is a zoning term.
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 Community Policy and Management Team, Early Childhood
Development Commission, Economic Development Authority of the City of Suffolk, Fine Arts
Commission, Human Services Advisory Board, Library Advisory Board, Local Board of
Building Code Appeals, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, Sister Cities Commission,
Suffolk Clean Community Commission, Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and the
Tidewater Youth Services Commission.
Council Member Rector, on a motion seconded by Council Member Johnson, moved that City Council
convene in a closed meeting for the above referenced purpose, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Butler Barlow,
Bennett, Fawcett, Johnson, Rector and Williams 8
NAYS: None 0
City Council convened in Closed Meeting at 5:00 p.m. The Closed Meeting concluded at 5:06 p.m.
Teste: ____________________________________________
Erika S. Dawley, MMC, City Clerk
Approved: _________________________________________
Michael D. Duman, Mayor
APPROVED: DECEMBER 6, 2023
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Agenda
SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
August 16, 2023
6:00 p.m.
City Council Chamber
1. Call to Order
2. Nonsectarian Invocation
No City Council action required.
3. Approval of the Minutes
Approved 8-0
4. Special Presentation – Fall Events Update
No City Council action required.
5. Removal of Items from the Consent Agenda and Adoption of the Agenda
Approved 8-0
6. Agenda Speakers
No City Council action required.
7. Consent Agenda – An ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the
Virginia Department of Transportation for the Public Works Relocation of Zone C
Headquarters project
Approved 8-0
8. Consent Agenda – An ordinance to accept and appropriate Fiscal Year 2023-
2024 Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnership
Program funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development
Approved 8-0
9. Consent Agenda – An ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the
Virginia Outdoors Foundation for land acquisition for the future Hobson Park
Project
Approved 8-0
10. Public Hearing – An ordinance authorizing the execution of a lease agreement
for Box Hangar #7 at the Suffolk Executive Airport
Approved 8-0
11. Public Hearing – An ordinance to rezone and amend the official zoning map of
the City of Suffolk to change the zoning from RE, Rural Estate zoning district, to
RM, Residential Medium Density zoning district (Conditional), for property
located at Zoning Map 33, Parcels 48, 48A, 49, and Zoning Map 34, Parcel 26,
Account Numbers 251421000, 251419600, 251419400, and 250732000;
RZN2021-018 (Conditional) (This item was continued from the April 19, 2023,
City Council meeting.)
Approved 5-3 (Council Member Butler Barlow, Council Member
Johnson and Mayor Duman voted in opposition.)
12. Public Hearing – An ordinance to amend Chapter 31, Unified Development
Ordinance of the Code of the City of Suffolk, Article 7, Supplemental Use
Regulations, Section 31-714, Sign Regulations; OTA2023-006
Approved 8-0
13. Public Hearing – Consideration of an appeal of the decision of the Historic
Landmarks Commission in regard to request for an after-the-fact Certificate of
Appropriateness, HLC2023-00010, for property located at 111 Linden Avenue,
Zoning Map 34G16, Block A, Parcel 18
Approved 8-0
14. Public Hearings – An ordinance amending the Historic District Guidelines of the
City of Suffolk (This item was continued from the July 19, 2023, City Council
meeting.)
Approved 8-0
15. Public Hearing – An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 31, Unified Development
Ordinance, Article 4, Zoning, Section 31-402, Establishment of Zoning Districts,
Section 31-404, Zoning Map, Table 404-1, Section 31-408(n)(2), Specific FRRD
District Criteria, Approval Process, Section 31-413, Historic Conservation
Overlay Districts (HC), Section 31-420(e), Location and Design, and Section 31-
420(f) Streets and Alleys, of the Code of the City of Suffolk; OTA2023-004 (This
item was continued from the July 19, 2023, City Council meeting.)
Approved 8-0
16. Ordinance – An ordinance to amend Chapter 2, Article III, Division 7, “Historic
Landmarks Commission”, Section 2-323, Qualifications; vacancies; removal;
compensation, and Section 2-324, Duties, of the Code of the City of Suffolk,
Virginia; OTA2023-003 (This item was continued from the July 19, 2023, City
Council meeting.)
Approved 8-0
17. Resolutions
No City Council action required.
18. Staff Reports
No City Council action required.
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19. Motion – A motion to schedule a public hearing for the September 6, 2023, City
Council meeting regarding authorizing the issuance and sale of Stormwater
Revenue Bonds
Approved 8-0
20. Motion – A motion to schedule a public hearing for the September 6, 2023, City
Council meeting regarding authorizing the issuance and sale of General
Obligation Public Improvement Bonds, Series 2023
Approved 8-0
21. Motion – A motion to schedule a City Council Work Session for Wednesday,
September 6, 2023, at 4:00 p.m., unless cancelled
Approved 8-0
22. Non-Agenda Speakers
No City Council action required.
23. New Business
A motion to nominate and appoint the following individuals to
the following boards and commissions was approved by a vote
of 8-0: Suffolk Clean Community Commission - Susan P. Davis,
Alexandra Hobgood, Pamela Kearns, and W. Michael Lane and
the Suffolk Cities Commission - Maryanne Persons.
A motion to direct City Manager Moor to confer with School
Superintendent John Gordon to clarify the request from Suffolk
Public Schools for additional funding was approved by a vote of
8-0.
24. Announcements and Comments
No City Council action required.
25. Adjournment
Approved 8-0
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